What To Do For Vacation?

We still don't know what we're doing for vacation this year. Maybe you can help us??!!

We've had many passing thoughts, including:

Cruise to Alaska or Italy or a trip to Brazil; I've also looked at Jamaica (ruled out due to crime), Bermuda, Bahama, (I know you just sang it in your head, so here you go "Come on pretty mama...") the Caribbean, and more. We really need to sit down and decide. Maybe you have a fantastic idea for us! I applied for my passport today and Doug's will be renewed soon; we just don't know where we'll end up.

We went to Hawaii and San Diego for our honeymoon... Angel's Camp and Big Trees National Forest the next year... Las Vegas, Monterrey, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Forest last year...so now what? We're leaning towards a cruise because NCL cruises are so much fun and so easy to book and enjoy.

Our Weekend Adventures

Our weekend started with a stop at Borders books - a guy was in line in front of us with his hand down the back of his pants, but I'll spare you the photo :) I actually took one LOL

Then we had dinner at On The Border. I had never been there, but we had a gift card to use, so we gave it a try - I was not impressed with the food. Doug, however, found a dessert he REALLY likes. He said he would go there just for this dessert. It was the Sizzling Apple Crisp and it really sizzled. They pour the topping over the ice cream and when it hits the hot skillet it boils and sizzles.Saturday: After I went to my laser appointment, we both got our hair cut. Here are photos from mine...my last haircut was May last year. The first photo is blurry because I couldn't seem to get a good one.Thanks for our haircuts Debbie!
We also went to dinner on Saturday night, we went with Debbie & Kevin and their daughter Rachel to celebrate not having to do the dishes. :) We went to Doug's favorite restaurant, Claim Jumpers. We had a lot of fun spending time with Kevin, Debbie and Rachel.

Sunday we headed to my parent's house to celebrate my step-dad's birthday. He made us homemade popcorn in his little popcorn popper, adding "Microwave popcorn sucks!"

It was kinda funny to watch my step-dad make popcorn because he's left handed and the door is for right handed people. He would fill the measuring cups and spoons with what he needed, then try to hold the door open with his right hand and reach through with his left hand.I got a photo of the decorations they've added to the outhouse:And now time for critter pictures:
My step-dad walked out to feed the deer and they came running as usual.I was trying to make friends with the tiny frogs: (there's a little frog by the hose at the top of this barrel)Thanks to my mom for a yummy dinner and my step-dad for having a birthday - we hope you enjoy the olives and Pico Pica for many meals to come :)

Doug took some sunset photos for me on the way home:

It was a great, but busy weekend; it was nice to do something different than the normal.

Justin Update

Justin had a rough night last night after the surgery. The surgeon put a pin straight through the tip of his thumb into the good bone in his hand. I can't imagine the pain he's going through. I wish I could take some of it for him. Then my mom told me my older brother smashed his finger between 2 bowling balls yesterday. Needless to say, I'm taking extra care with my hands this weekend :).

Here's an x-ray of Justin's thumb. I'm not sure you really want/need to see the actual photos, they're pretty nasty. There was so much pressure when he crushed his thumb that it split the skin open and his thumb was grey and hanging to the side. He sat in the decompression chamber (remember, he's an underwater welder, so he needs to decompress after diving) and straightened his thumb, which probably saved his thumb because it started to pink up. The Life Flight helicopter came for him since he was out on a rig in the middle of the ocean and flew at a lower altitude because he can't fly after diving.

I'm really impressed with Justin's company. The worker's comp. workers met him at the hospital and he has a safety worker he can call as needed for help or advice. They've offered to help him with whatever he needs and even drive him places. I'm so sorry my brother has to go through this and I really hope his pain/sleeping pills will keep his pain at bay. I'm just relieved it was only his thumb and not his whole hand or body; although that doesn't take away from the pain he's dealing with.

Thoughts And Prayers Please

My little brother, Justin, is headed into surgery today.

Frozen Yogurt

Doug and I took a walk the other evening to get some frozen yogurt. There were a million gnats on our way there and back. Here's a small creek we crossed on our way there.Look! They have the smallest Reese's Peanut Butter Cups I've ever seen!

Then we spotted some turkeys, I swear they're in this photo. They were walking away from us as we got closer. Stupid turkeys don't want to be my friend - could be because I call them stupid. HAHA

There's Doug with his 'stache, eating his frozen yogurt.

Fence, Sunset, 'stache and a Carnival

If you can't tell by the title, this is a very random post.

Here's a sunset on my way home a couple weeks ago. It's never as pretty in a photo: Here's a photo of our fence about a week ago:

I don't know if you can see the photo well enough, but when I opened the blinds there was smoke rising from the fence and I thought, "When did people move in next door? And what the heck is burning over there??" I went outside to make sure the fence wasn't on fire; it was steam from the sunshine on the cold, damp wood.

And, I have to get a photo of Doug, but in the meantime you can enjoy these:

Doug is growing a mustache for March Madness, nothing to do with basketball, but he is growing a mustache with some friends.

Last, but not least, Kristie and I went for a walk during our lunch break on Friday and headed over to the carnival across the street. It wasn't running, so we took a few photos and then headed to the store nearby for some flip flops - 2 pairs of flip flops for $5 - and 30% off! WOO HOO!!!

Spring is here! Have a great week everyone!

I Can't Hold My Phone??!!

You get to read an April rant since I don't have anything else to post about right now.

I can't hold my cell phone, but people can drive with a dog in their lap???? REALLY? Yeah, this is MUCH safer than me holding my phone to my head! And, I see people holding their blue tooth devices against their ears so they can hear better - I'm one of them - its the same as holding my phone to my head.

I've already complained about cigarettes being thrown or ashed out the window; not to mention the stench driving behind a smoker; they hold it out the window because even they don't want to smell it. I don't know when this world became an ashtray. Keep your butt, ash, and stink in your own car. - Sorry, that was a small side rant because the weather is getting better and I had my windows down while driving home yesterday.

Okay, back to animals. This applies to all animals, but I'm focusing on dogs.

People, do you realize your dog will be crushed into you because you will cause an accident and the airbag will go off.

Oh, and holy smokes!!! Leave your dog at home! You don't need to take your dog EVERYWHERE. They don't belong in grocery stores, furniture stores, etc. THEY ARE DOGS, IT'S AN ANIMAL, LEAVE IT HOME! I don't want your stinky, flee covered mutt around the food I'm about to purchase. I don't care if you bathe it, dress it up or call it a companion and try to pass it off as a service animal. It's not. We know it's not and I'd like to see the paperwork and tags that show it's a service animal - because the paperwork has to be carried with the dog at all times. I've even seen a woman put a service dog vest they bought online on a dog and bring it into a grocery store.

I see so much craziness on my hour+ commute every day.

1st Birthday Party

Here's the really cute cake my cousin made:And here is the birthday boy enjoying it:
I headed down to see my family and help celebrate my second-cousin's birthday. He wasn't too sure about cake, but seemed to like the frosting.

Take THAT Carpet!

Stupid pink spot.... The picture above is the pink spot after being cut out and the carpet after the repair. The picture below is the bleached spot being cut out.

And here's the bleached spot after repair...

Yeah hoo for Chris at Valley Carpet Care. Chris was a high school student of my father in law's and he also did the carpet cleaning before we moved in. And a big THANK YOU to my hubby for scheduling them to come out. Really, I think Doug was just tired of me pouring chemicals into the carpet. HAHA

When they fixed it, I actually said, "Awe, the pink spot is gone." Now I have to find something else in the house to fight with...believe me, I'll find something :)

3 Projects Completed!

Our fireplace has been repainted, we used a washable semi-gloss paint and it looks great! It took quite a mess in the beginning, but we're really happy how it turned out. The ceiling is all one color again! No more "white cloud":

AND! Doug finished the cart/shelf he was making for my kitchen appliances. I didn't like having the clutter on the counters and they are too big to fit into cupboards. We have a space at the end of our counter that's like a desk....so we have a rolling shelf that holds them now (they have plastic over them because I don't know how to sew to make covers for them).

I love my new shelf and it's so nice to have the mixer, ice cream maker and bread maker out of the way. Great job Dougie Fresh!!