Lost and found

Forgot to mention in the last post-- Today Izzy and I went up to the attic to look for my old Cabbage patch dolls. We found 'em, as well as a bunch of old books I've been thinking about... I was about to replace all of my Ramona books, but YEAH! they were up there. Also found some old Trixie Beldon books, (Since they are re-releasing them, I want to get the whole series...) and the book that turned me on to romance and historicals... West Against the Wind... great story about a girl on a wagon train to California.... loved it!

I love finding old things!

And she's off

Well, almost....

Today was so nice - vacation, and I didn't have to do a darn thing, except look pretty and get primped. M and I went in town to have our hair cut. Iz got a cut as well. We even splurged on mani's. M picked out a very cool silvery-purple, and I got a wild pink. (Note to self: don't try to buckle a child car seat with freshly mani-ed nails!) Spent money at K-Mart (KayyyMarrttt, can I helllp youuuu?) - Sorry hun, needed a few last minute things before I'm off to RENO - whoo hoo! I hope I can find a computer to update this thing... I'll have photos and such in a few weeks, unless I can figure out how to get them on mama's computer.....

Staying in Tahoe Tomorrow - should be very cool! I'm so excited!


Last night was fun... M and I were planning on going to Bud's but there were like 2 cars in the parking lot. We would have been there earlier but the little one just wouldn't fall asleep. So we ended up at Fox and Hound - cool place... we missed the Karaoke -- hey with 4 Rolling Rocks I was feeling pretty "good" but missed our chance. Now, no one will know of my fabulous renditions of Led Zep songs.... ( I don't know but I've been told ...Big legged woman ain't got no soul!) And I didn't goof up those lyrics...)

Anyway - we ended up at IHOP -- loved the International burrito... yum.... Had to pee like 8 million times, but overall, it was a cool night!

M picked me up at the end of the driveway after midnight, and we didn't get back till 3:30 - 4 am...ahhhh... felt like a teenager again! (we even got carded! cool!)

Later gators!

I am so cool, and let me tell you why

I have just figured out how to delve into the brains and guts of my computer and find the 25-character code for our Office update..., and let me tell you, it was no easy task.

I am also cool enough to figure out how to add cute little kitty cats to my Firefox browser... they are so cute.


Ok - enough with my coolness.

Don't you just love that picture? It's title: Princess Lisa On Crack... not that I'm a princess or on crack {Crack is whack} or anything, but I was having fun with the image editor. tee hee

Just finished reading Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips... good story... I want to run away to Tuscany for a while and hang out with hunky Italian men - I bet I could get lots of dates in my hot purple dress! SEP will be the keynote speaker next week at the RWA National Conference I am going to next week -- eek I am so psyched up for the trip! Just what I need to get more motivation to write :)

Going off topic, (had a THIC* earlier) what is up with Gwen Stefani singing about B-A-N-A-N-A-S I dont' get it? Oh, and in the song "Rich Girl" Eve is not singing about "Jew Cool Girls" but the Harajuku Girls. (See previous Lola post about my views on song lyrics.) Who knew!



*Tim Horton's Iced Cappuccino

Where in Ohio are we???

Howdy howdy! We are in the Buckeye Lake KOA (one of the few around Cols. with Internet access.) C's back up for more training.

This campground (or Kampground) is pretty neat... very quiet, and lots of beautiful trees around. Iz and I went for a walk next to the little creek running through the land. It was the coolest thing - as we strolled by the creek, we kept hearing little plop-splash plop-splash. Little toads and/or frogs (we couldn't get close enough to tell) were jumping in the creek right in step with us. For a moment I felt as if I were in a cartoon movie.

Today was hot, but we made it up here with no incidents. Got the camper set up with no probs. Iz ate dinner and is now sleeping.

Life is good.

Hello my name is Lisa and I'm a Harry Potter Geek

Yes, I was one of THOSE people. I went to my local mall last night, about 11:15 and waited to get the latest HP book. Fortunately, I had my name down on the list ages ago, so I could get a ticket, witch entitled me to up to 3 copies. I was number 86 to go in the store. I only got one, though. And a chocolate frog - yummy.

I didn't dress up, but there were a few who were dressed up. Also, I think I was "cursed" or maybe even "jinxed" by some punk 10 year old. He was sitting on one of the benches in the mall, paging through the green tome, and as I walked past him on the way to the exit he muttered something - I didn't catch it. I didn't even bother to turn around, but I do know no one was behind me. Now if only I could figure out which curse he used....

So I get in the car, it's about 12:20 by now, and head to Tim Horton's for 2 Iced Capps... was home and started reading by 1am. Chad, however, was teasing me with the spoilers he heard on the radio. I didn't want to hear them - told him he could tell me in a few hours and in went the earplugs.

I was making great progress through the book - Harry was back at the Hollow with Ron, and suspicions abound about certain characters. No big scenes with Dudders, though - I kind of liked those. He heads back to school on the Hogwarts express, where there is lots of kissin' going on. Oh, and something happens to Harry, which he probably had coming. Anyway - could only read for about 4 hours last night, and Chad came in and we, um, talked. (Decision: Read HP or talk to hubby that I haven't seen in a week - you make the call.)

So it's morning, read off and on, (went swimming, attempted to clean the house and thought better of it,) and finished the book by 7 pm. Later than I did want to finish it, but hey I finished it. Chad read some of the last chapters to me as I was getting the Izster and myself ready to go to dinner.

My review: its good. I think I liked Order of the Phoenix better, but this one has some suprises. I love Rowling's descriptive language and how she develops charcters as foils for one another. Oh, and the spoilers Chad heard on the radio - correct!

Grrr... how long to I hav to wait to find out how the series is going to end!!!!

Mr A - We'll miss you!

Mr. A

The English teaching profession lost a great teacher earlier this week. I got the call from fellow classmate, Michelle. He passed away on his birthday, aged 63.

Mr A was not your ordinary teacher. He had his quirks, and his cool collection of chess pieces. I always loved walking into his room, located all the way at the end of Junior hall. Books, books, hand-made posters, checkerboards, books, papers and did I mention books? He had funny phrases to help you remember things like gerunds and the difference between independent and dependent clauses. His tests were always very interesting... typed out on an old typewriter, with little sketches penciled in.

I think back to many of my classroom practices, and thanks to Mr A, I was able to make class a little bit more exciting (well, in my mind at least.) Even though I didn't realize it then, he had a tremendous impact on how I taught in the classroom.

Some of my favorite Mr A moments:

• The BIG ELEVEN grammar sheets. (with sentences like, The toe wiggled thoroughly, who could forget adverbs!)
• The daily prayers with Bible verse and picture
• The Pink Panther ........ da-dah, da-dah, da-dah da-dah da-dah goooooooo Knights!
• The poster of Mike Tyson with Trickster
• K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid.)
• Keeping things from flying out the windows on nice days
• Getting Mr A off topic was never really that hard
• The Lit Magazine
• The research paper, with all of the little note cards stuffed in manilla envelops
• Skipping over parts of Huck Finn and the Crucible (see above, about getting him off topic - we ran out of time, so we skipped things.)
• His school spirit
• The orange jacket he wore when he walked to school
• Asking for our imput on Metzger park

You were a cool teacher, Mr A. Thanks for all of your hard work, your dedication to your students, and the energy your brought into the classroom. You did make a difference, and you will not be forgotten.

How does he do it?

No computer access for a week? I think not... I'm at a public library in Columbus. I'm bumming my old buddy Jim's card for some access cuz i'm "feenin"........

Nice honey I'm hoping you didn't really call work to make sure I wasn't b.s. ing you about having to come to Columbus... Do you really think I'd be dumb enough to not make sure everyone lied for me if you did call?

Just kidding... I really miss you and Izzy... I'll see you tomorrow night and hopefully you'll find a place for us to take the camper for the weekend... A place where you can get access and Izzy and I can spend some time together.

I love you both more than anything in the world.....

With hubby away

Well, it's been a few days, and I already feel like I am back in college. I haven't seen dear hubby for some time (and no, he's not playing cards!) He's out of town for business. OK... that sounds bad, like he's up to something he shouldn't be, but trust me he's there. I called work to see!

So, Iz and I have been hanging out, windows open, no AC because we like it that way! The pool's been very nice, although a bit chilly yesterday and rainy today. I've kind of cleaned the house, but hey - he's not coming back until Friday, so I've got time.

Just finished Julia Quinn's book It's In His Kiss, which would have to be my second favorite after Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. I've been on a Regency kick lately - even saw Vanity Fair last night.

Other recent movies: Napoleon Dynamite; Mean Girls Both were amusing to watch.

Ohhh - check out my profile to see my new picture and also my wish list. Haven't had time to add too much to it, but feel free to buy me stuff!!!!!!

Ironton...what more can you say...

Found these interesting links today....

City of Ironton
**all the info you ever need for the city

History of Ironton
** this is from a site about Ironton Footbal (yes, you have to capitalize both words, even when you speak about Ironton Footbal)
**A few paragraphs down, read about Buckhorn -Yep - that's where I lived when I first moved here, "Ironton was a typical river town with an active "red light" and "bootlegging" district around Third and Buckhorn Streets"

Our Welcome sign, plus a story.

I didn't know this about money.

Pictures of the '37 Flood (note to self: take pictures from today in the same spots!)

Nevermind note to self, some are already taken: current pics of Ironton

This is just down the road from me...Rally on the River

How could I leave out the Grand March.... notice the flowers, some are bigger than my wedding flowers, and I had a good size bouquet! Oh, and a prize goes to the one who can spot the orange tux.

Scroll down about 14 pics, and you'll see mention of some of my former students!

Cool postcards from the state of Ohio! (including Ironton.)

Ironton-Russell Bridge then and now

Why Birds love Ironton.

I guess I'd better lock my doors! Murder!

At the Pen... if this were r reported today, I am sure it would be violating all kinds of "civil rights"


OK enough for now...

Enjoy!

Good idea/Bad idea

Good Idea:
It's a good idea to store unwashed dishes in the oven when you have company over.

Bad Idea:
It's a bad idea to forget about them for several days after company leaves.


Good Idea:
When limited on counter space, it's a good idea to store your now clean dishes on the stove, while you wash others, until you can stack them and put them away.

Bad Idea:
It's a bad idea to turn the wrong burner on when you are cooking and doing the dishes, especially if dishes are stacked on a burner.

As a side note: If anyone would like to replace the broken dish (um, why the above is a bad idea) click here

An open letter to....

Hello, and you know who you are!

I just wanted to remind you that you really should leave things alone, especially things that involve the TV. I mean, I like my TIVO, and right now, it's feelings are hurt because it's taping a blank screen. It is taping a blank screen because someone has decided to mess with the satellite to get a better picture. In messing with the picture, you managed to totally dislodge the dish, and also to conk yourself in the head (I hope you fell better, though). Next time, just leave it alone. Know when you are in over your head. I have learned this lesson the hard way. We still have a kitchen sink (a leaky sink is better than no sink!) and it's only because LifelessID and myself decided to let someone else deal with it. (Well, that, and we couldn't get the main water valve off, but that's a different story.) True, the post the dish is currently on is rather shaky. Wood fences tend to get wobbly after 20 years. Also, screws fall out all of the time. The world's an imperfect place. (Bolts that go through metal, may also fall out, but they . must have really wanted out of the holes because it takes a lot to get those puppies out!)

While you may find it amusing to sit with a walkie -talkie and listen while I sing "Mellow Yellow" to the clicking of the signal tester, it does get rather boring. Having a 4 year old try this isn't a good idea without supervision. I hope you weren't taking her advice, as I've discovered she just likes to shout random numbers into the walkie-talkie while playing on the computer.

You are good at so many other things. Stick to them. They make me happy, and keep the tv signal coming in clear. Leave the mechanical things alone until you have more practice, or at least until you are going to be home without TV as well.



I love you.
L

More ramblin's at mi'night

Have you seen the ipod commercials? the one that sticks in my head is the one with the rollerskates with the music by Gorillaz... anyway... I know I can rollerskate just like them. I mean, I could be the 4th person doing the steppin' (look for the shot of the 3 guys in blue) Especially with my iPod. Anyway - here's the clip if you missed it on the telly: http://www.apple.com/ipod/ads/rollerskating/