The Ants Go Marching...80 by 100!

This weekend was interesting.

We celebrated the 20th birthday of my eldest rugrat. Which means I have a 20 year old kid. Which is just weird seeing as I am only 39.

Un-freakin-believable.

We FINALLY saw the sun for extended periods of time. Oh, it rained but just not the whole weekend. Actually, it POURED for more than half of Saturday but it cleared just in time for the fireworks. And Sunday was TOTALLY dry. And mostly sunny.

Un-freakin-believable.

We saw Jesus riding a bike downtown. Where we had gathered to watch the fireworks. Ok, and to have a few drinks. At a local pub. Which was NOT serving popcorn. Which I desperately needed. (Thanks Donna for going on a "popcorn retrieval mission!") And no, Jesus on the bike was not merely an alcohol induced apparition. Cuz I ONLY had one drink. And John and Laura saw him too. Yep, Jesus rides a bike. In Auburn, Maine.

Un-freakin-believable.

We also saw (actually more like heard) a DECIDEDLY NOT 21 years of age drunk gal screaming for "HER MAN!" in the same area we saw Jesus. Yep, she was drunk. And more undressed on the upper half of her then dressed. And slurring her words. And tipping over. And "NOT LEAVING THIS MOTHER EFFING PLACE TIL HER MOTHER EFFING MAN ARRIVED!" Did you get that? HER EFFING MAN...HER MOTHER EFFING MAN. Which she yelled about 100 times....loudly. In front of all the little kiddos there to watch the fireworks. In front of the Auburn police. The Auburn police THAT DID NOTHING.

Un-freakin-believable.

We spent the better part of the weekend killing GIANT EFFING ANTS. In my house. All over the place. Cuz the mother effers have apparently moved inside. Yep, they decided they had enough of the rain and needed to take shelter in La Casa del Twomey. And I'm miserable. Cuz 4 or 5 ants in your house is bad enough. But when 80-100 take residence in your home, enough really is enough! Pest control dude will be here between 9 and 11 today. To kill every last one of the evil beings. (plus, any number of the 59 other pests we will now be covered against) And he can't get here soon enough. Cuz ants in our bed is not my idea of foreplay. Ants....IN.MY.BED.

Un-freakin-believable.

My fundraiser did NOT increase by even $1.00 all weekend.

Un-freakin-believable...in a bad way. :(

Totally Funny yet Totally Inappropriate Cartoons

Click on the comics to make them bigger and easier to read!

Made me laugh...what can I say?

Note to men....ALL women are thinking this. It's our secret!

Pirate jokes are ALWAYS funny.

Saw this. Laughed out loud. Love it.

Who DOESN'T like a Fresh Prince joke?

and in a blink of my eye, he was 20...

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happy birthday cj

i love you

mom

Writer's Workshop - Oldie, But a Goodie!!

Mama Kat over at Mama's Losin' It has once again challenged her readers to a Writer's Workshop. Basically, she lists a bunch of writing prompts and challenges you to write about (at least) one. Go check it out...it's fun!

I chose MOTHER'S GUILT....TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

Cuz damn, do I have a guilty moment. One that although kind of, sort of, really wasn't actually my fault, still bugs me all these years later. Cuz I put my rugrat through a lot of trauma. And pain. And scared the bejeebus out of both of us.

All because I burned my nipples.

Place: My parents house in Massachusetts

Time: mid morning on a cool fall day in 1989

After my eldest was born, both he and I lived for a time with my parents. Since Shmoops arrived unexpectedly for John and I when we were both still young, my parents graciously allowed us to stay with them.

I was a stay at home mom for the time we lived at their house and had quickly set up a daily routine for my little guy.

On this day in particular, I had put Shmoopy down for a nap in his upstairs nursery and then went to the kitchen to clean his bottles. Back then, I tried desperately to do what "they" suggested. And "they" suggested that you boil the rubber bottle nipples and plastic rings in order to sterilize them completely.

Because "they" said it, I did it. (after all, I was only 19 years old and assumed "they" knew better than I did!) I placed all the nipples and rings in a pot on the stove and turned it on to boil. My plan was to stay in the kitchen and read a book while the stove was on and wait for the boiling to be done. Once boiled completely, I was going to rinse them off in cold water and then put them all away. Easy, right?

When I sat down to read, I realized that I left my book up in CJ's nursery. I ran upstairs quietly and grabbed the book. I was in and out of the room and my little guy never peeped.

As I started down the staircase to go back to the kitchen, I remember slipping on the carpeted stairs. And that's all I remember.

The next thing I knew, I awoke to the sound of the fire alarm screeching, my little baby crying hysterically and coughing and a thick layer of black acrid smoke hanging down from the ceiling. As I lay there on the slate floor at the BOTTOM of the staircase with a kick ass lump on my head, I began to realize what must have happened.

It appeared that when I slipped down the stairs, that I fell head first onto the wooden railing and knocked myself out. Knocked myself out long enough to allow the rubber nipples and plastic rings on the stove to completely boil through all the water and catch fire. Hence the black smoke that was now completely covering the downstairs of my parents large home and the upstairs (including CJ's nursery).

I someone managed to drag myself back up the stairs as I knew I had to get to CJ. I couldn't see 2 feet in front of me but I could hear him crying and knew where to go. My head was killing me but all I wanted was to get my kiddo.

After I found CJ in his crib (had to find him by touch since I couldn't see him through the smoke) I ran to the phone and managed to call Mr. Hallisicle. He called the ambulance AND more importantly called his dad. John's dad was the Chief of Surgery at 2 of the local hospitals and John wanted him to be ready to meet us at the Emergency Room. John was scared that something was really wrong with both CJ and me as we had inhaled a tremendous amount of smoke. And remember, CJ was only 7 months old.

John's dad was in surgery so John left a message with his dad's practice to tell him to get down to the ER quickly as his grandson and his soon to be daughter in law (yes, for those that are just figuring this out now, John and I were NOT married when CJ was born) were being rushed via ambulance for smoke inhalation. John also took a moment to explain what happened to the nurse he spoke with. He let her know that a pot full of rubber nipples and plastic caps had basically caught on fire and spread thick acrid smoke throughout the house.

Well, here's where the story gets interesting....

Ever play the telephone game? You know, the one where one person whispers something into someone else's ear, and then that person has to pass on the message to the next and then the next and so on? And remember how utterly ridiculous the message ends up sounding by the end of the game? What started as "Peter really likes Susan and wants to take her to the movies," works its way around and ends up as "Peter spit on Susan at the movies cuz she peed her pants." Or something like that. You get the point, right?

Well, by the time my very serious soon to be father in law received the message to head to the ER ASAP, he was truly afraid as to what he would find. Because by the time the original message, which got passed on at least 10 times, made it to his ears, it sounded like this:

"Your son's girlfriend and your grandson are being rushed to the ER via ambulance for serious smoke inhalation. Apparently your son's girlfriend seriously burned her nipples while boiling them. Your grandson inhaled a tremendous amount of smoke from the burning nipples."

It wasn't until years later, when I heard the whole story, that it finally made sense why John's dad rushed up to the ambulance doors that day with the most perplexed look on his face. Only years later after John and I had married and had Connor, did my FIL feel comfortable enough to tell us how HORRIBLY AWKWARD he felt on the long walk down to the ER. He would only say that he had absolutely no idea what he was going to find and that he couldn't help but wonder if I WAS in fact, the right girl for his son.

Can you blame him?

And can you see why it took several years for either of us to make eye contact with one another? :)

***While you're here, don't forget to go HERE to see the HUGE list of raffle prizes you can be entered to win if you donate HERE!

Some Things DO Manage to Seep In

My brain is mush. Stick a fork in me....I'm done. Well, not really. Cuz I won't really be done til my fundraiser/raffle is over. But I am a tad brain dead. And a wee bit discouraged.

Not because I'm unhappy at how the fundraiser is going (quite the contrary, I'm THRILLED with the prizes and have raised 63% of my goal so far) But I am concerned that I'm running out of people to bug (ever so nicely!) to make a donation. Which in turn gets them entered to win BIG PRIZES.

I've asked everyone I can think of. I've blog surfed and made mention of my fundraising link all over the place. Heck, I've even written to my local paper and asked them to mention what I'm doing. (which they did but not sure anyone read it!)

But I'm not sure what else I can do to SPREAD THE WORD. (other than plead with y'all to DONATE and/or forward the link to everyone you know) Which is why my brain is mushy. Cuz that's basically all I think about.

Thankfully, a few things HAVE crossed my mind since I started down this fundraising journey. These things managed to distract me for a brief minute or two because, well just because.

Bet the last two things his mom says to him before he leaves the house are, "Do you have clean underwear on," and "Don't forget to duct tape your crack!"

Why didn't I wear this dress to our Senior prom? I mean, I HAD a red bikini and I'm pretty sure my mom had a red tablecloth lying around somewhere.
Next time I'm at McDonald's, I'm gonna have to give Ronald a second look. Cuz apparently, he's one sexy mofo.

Got this pic sent to me in an email. Still can't believe it's real. Or that someone didn't notice how **ahem*** awkward this looks.

Chubby hedgehogs need love too.

Was considering giving up my beloved "if I could mainline it directly into my veins I would" Diet Coke for something new but not sure this is it.

Too bad kids toys don't come with spell check.
I need this. Now. In a bad way. Cuz I already LOVE chewing chocolate. So inhaling it ought to be orgasmic. Le Whif lets you take a "hit" whenever you're jonesin' for some chocolatey goodness. But without the calories. Can you say HEAVEN????

Not sure why EVERYONE CAN USE EXTRA NIPPLES, but if EVERYONE has some, I WANT SOME TOO!!

It Is NOT Weird...

*To talk to the shredder in my office like it's a porn star. Which I found myself doing yesterday. When it didn't want to accept the gazillion pieces of paper I was trying to shred. Nope, it's not weird at all to stand in front of that toothy monster and say things like, "You KNOW you want it" and "I've seen you take more" and "If I push it in faster is that better?" Nope, not weird at all.

*To believe with every ounce of my being that there are more people out there that WILL DONATE TO MY FUNDRAISER. Cuz I KNOW y'all KNOW people. And I KNOW that y'all could NICELY bully SOME of those people into donating. The prizes are awesome and the cause is a worthy one. Nope, it's not at all weird that I TOTALLY BELIEVE y'all can help me reach my goal by GENTLY strong arming your homeboys...your peeps....your posse if you will. Nope, not weird at all.

*To obsessively check for errant stray hairs that COULD (GOD FORBID) sprout off my chin. Cuz although it hasn't happened to me yet (GOD FORBID) I KNOW people that have currently experienced this horror. To the tune of a 1 inch PLUS thin whispy hair that had apparently been shacking up on her chin/neck area. Which she told me about. And now I can't stop checking. Nope, it's not weird at all to buy a teeny tiny weed whacker and stand ready to whack the hell out of the first (GOD FORBID) flyaway chin hair that I find. Nope, not weird at all.

*To pretend that eating a Reece's Peanut Butter cup (ok, fess up wiener woman...you KNOW it was more like 6) will NOT cause me to gain weight if I chew quickly. Like really quickly. Like SOOOO quickly that I barely got to enjoy it or taste it. Which is why I needed like 5 more. Nope, not weird at all to think that my rate of mastication (chewing people, chewing!) MIGHT effect my calorie intake. Nope, not weird at all.

*To be truly, madly, deeply in love with the most adorable sock monkey quilt ever!! Which was just gifted to me yesterday. By Gretchen, a most talented and creative artist/blogger. Gretchen sent a gorgeous quilt for the raffle AND this most amazing sock monkey quilt FOR ME!! (I do love me some sock monkeys!) As a gift! That I get to keep!! Nope, not weird at all that I'm going to be a 39 year old woman sleeping with a sock monkey quilt. (and John, of course) Nope, not weird at all.

All mine. :)

Soft and pink and flannel-y on the inside. :)

Cute and sock monkeyish on the outside. :)

No Sir, I Don't Like Them At All

Every so often, when I'm left alone with my brain for far too long, I play the WHICH ONE OF THESE NASTY THINGS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE?

Cuz it's always good to know how you would respond in a "gun to the head, must choose in the next 2 seconds or else" moment.

Plus it's NEVER boring to analyze exactly WHAT you think you CAN and CAN'T tolerate. Nope, never boring. Trust me....I know.

What's even MORE FUN is when y'all play along with me. When y'all take a minute and decide which one of the following you would pick if you HAD to pick one. When y'all consider the options then leave a comment telling me which one would be THE ONE for you.

(Don't bother saying you wouldn't take any cuz DUH, no one would if they had THAT choice. But the rules of THIS game say you MUST PICK ONE. So do it. Now. If you want to. Or not. It's up to you.)

This form of strep infection usually starts in a bruise, scrape, or small cut. The area becomes red and hot to the touch and then the infected tissue starts to die. The skin will gradually darken to purplish or black, and large, blood-filled blisters called bullae will begin to form. And I thought getting a Mt. Vesuvius size pimple on my chin was rough.

Lymphedema, also known as "Good lord, what happened to your (insert limb name here)" is a non curable medical condition characterized by a buildup of fluid in the soft tissues of the body, most typically in the arms and legs. It's painful and disfiguring. (wasn't sure I needed to add that last part cuz DUH, we can see that's it's disfiguring and therefore assume it's painful)

Genital warts in the mouth. Yep, that's what I said. Genital warts. In. Your. Mouth. (I'll give you a second to recover.) It IS possible, and although treatable, there is no guarantee they won't come back.

African worms called loa loa in your eye. Your eye + worm = Yummy. These little wiggly critters are left courtesy of a generous mango fly. How nice of him, huh?

So....what's it gonna be?

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Which "poison" would you pick??

Blame My Parents....

Too bad I'm going to be cremated and placed in an urn that John will be required to carry with him from room to room...

cuz my name looks sort of spiffy on a headstone.

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And yes, I AM weird and I DO think about these things.

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DISCLAIMER: The fact that I'm happy to see my name on something as morbid as a headstone is TOTALLY my parent's fault. After all, they are the ones that gave me a name that growing up, I could never find anywhere! Do you know how depressing it is to be the ONLY ONE in your peer group NOT to have a teeny, tiny license plate on your bike with your name on it? Or to be the ONLY ONE at camp without name stationary to write letters home on? It's a wonder I'm as normal as I am.

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DON'T SAY ANYTHING!

:)

One Really IS the Loneliest Number

I'm a 39 year old woman that hates sleeping alone.

There, I said it.

"My name is Hallie and I'm a sleepalonephobe."

"Hi, Hallie."

(Mock me if you will but I bet there's a support group out there somewhere.)

Anyone interested in being my sponsor? Anyone willing to be the voice on the other end of the phone when I call at 2:30 in the morning to say I'M ALL BY MY FREAKIN' SELF?

(Don't all trip over each other as you race to get in line!)

Cuz sleeping alone is for the birds.

(Do birds sleep alone?)

But I had to do it last night. Cuz John had to work a once in a blue moon overnight shift. Cuz someone in UPPER MANAGEMENT (said in a snooty voice) had to be in the store when some computer system got switched over. Switched over from what to what I have no idea. John may have told me but (as much as I adore every friggin' inch of him) when he starts talking about all things related to the BIG ORANGE BOX, I only hear Charlie Brown's teacher.

You know the one I'm talking about, right? The "WA WA WA WA" you hear coming from Chuck's grade school educator whenever old Chuckie Brown is at school? And while we're on the subject....would it have been so difficult for Charles Schulz to actually draw ONE MORE cartoon character? Was creating a teacher with a real voice SO out of the realm of possibility? But I digress...

John worked for whatever reason and I was alone. ALL BY MYSELF. (Did I mention Connor is gone til Sunday?) And I wasn't happy.

So I did what I could to pass the time.

At some point throughout the evening, I:

*Chewed ice. Don't ask. It soothed me.

*Tried to have a conversation with Diablo, Connor's corn snake. (Note to self - Diablo is even LESS of a conversationalist at 11pm than he is at say, 2pm)

*Thought long and hard about chocolate chip cookies. About how much I NEEDED a chocolate chip cookie. About how much it sucks donkey balls that I didn't have any chocolate chip cookies.

*Listened to Sir Chomps-a-Lot chomp A LOT on his back toenails. Gross no matter how many people are in this house.

*Stared at the raffle prizes I have received so far. Wondered how hard John would kick my ass if I ordered a bunch of this stuff for myself. Cuz I can't win any of it. And I LOVE IT ALL.

*Ran from my bedroom screaming after noticing the giant ass Hallie eating spider sitting under my bedside table. Decided it didn't make me any less of a brave woman when I finally reentered the room to kill the 8-legged effer myself....only to find out it was a black hair clip. (Note to self #2 - black hair clips look EXACTLY like giant spiders when the S.S. Ambien has set sail.)

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ANYONE STILL IN LINE FOR THAT SPONSORSHIP POSITION??

:)

Today's a NEW DAY!! Much Better Than Yesterday!!

Two weeks ago today, I launched my fundraising site. It went live a mere 336 hours ago. (give or take a few). And although the naysayers abound, I am proud to say that I have already surpassed the 50% mark. Which means I am MORE than half way to my $5000.00 goal.

And today, cuz my stomach feels somewhat better and my face is NOT in a toilet, I can honestly say that I feel really good about how far I've come. Today, I actually believe that although difficult, it's not impossible to meet my goal. Or dare I say (with every body part I own triple crossed!) surpass it?

I won't lie to you..there are days I TOTALLY DOUBT myself and think I'm six shades of crazy for ever thinking this is possible. Just can't help it. I'm a perfectionist and I'm tough on myself. Add to that a healthy dose of self imposed neuroses and an almost nightly relationship with Ambien (which, if you're not familiar with my nighttime lover, tends to grossly inflate what ever it is I happen to be worried about) and you get an occasional bout of self doubt.

Thankfully, it doesn't last long and I feel more encouraged by my progress than discouraged. Not to mention, when I'm truly in a fundraising "I suck donkey balls" funk, y'all are there to pick me up (and or kick me in the ass) with an encouraging "SCREW THE NAYSAYERS" cheer!!

I love that! And honestly appreciate it more than you know. And will certainly need it again (and again and again) in the future, cuz fundraising can be a tough nut to crack!

But today, this fundraising newbie is ONE HAPPY HALLISICLE.

The money is trickling in...YEAH, only $2390.00 to go!!!

The raffle prizes are starting to arrive....holy shit are y'all gonna get some freakin' amazing stuff!

And I'm "meeting" a whole bunch of new people...people that have come out of the woodwork to share their feelings on organ donation and/or their personal experiences. People have even donated money in memory of loved ones that have lost their battle while waiting for an organ or in honor of someone STILL waiting.

How awesome is that?

But you know what's been the single best outcome of my endeavor thus far?

People have told me that they have decided to BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR. That they have either changed their mind and now WANT TO or had never given it any thought before and are NOW WILLING.

And that, my blogger friends, is worth every stress filled, worry laden moment I've had.

Please Make Today the Day You Say Yes

I'm sick. Which makes me cranky. And tired. And none to pleased that my face has been intimately connected with the toilet in our bathroom.

And because I'm sick and cranky, I'm also moody....moody cuz I'm starting to believe the naysayers....the naysayers that readily proclaim I will not only miss hitting my $5000 goal but that I might not even make $3000. And then I get sad and aggravated and frustrated and tired.

Cuz damnit, I want to meet that goal in the worst possible way. I want everyone who reads this blog (and I know there's a lot of you) to agree to donate, even if it's just $1. Cuz every single dollar helps. It truly helps. And who doesn't have one single dollar lying around to help raise awareness for organ donation?

And by donating, you are entered to get the prizes you can see by clicking on the link in the upper right hand column of my blog. And the prizes keep coming. Prizes worth a crap load of money. Amazing prizes that you would be thrilled to win. Seriously.

So for me......sick unhappy Hallisicle, please donate and help me reach my goal. PLEASE?

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN WIN and then GO HERE TO DONATE AND POSSIBLY WIN THOSE AMAZING ITEMS.

And please forward this link to everyone you know.

I would honestly like to make it through this day without vomiting anymore. But even better than that would be to see lots of kind and generous people help make a difference today. If you've considering donating, why not today?

PLEASE?

THE LIST of RAFFLE PRIZES - EVER GROWING!!!

As a way to entice you all (and everyone you know!) to give BIG to my fundraiser, I am listing all the raffle items I have received so far. This is merely THE TIP OF THE PROMISED ITEMS ICEBERG but it's a start. Hopefully, these items will wet your donating whistle and will motivate you to GIVE, GIVE, GIVE!!!
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This list is growing everyday as more amazing items get dropped off. And yes, I am STILL accepting donated items for the raffle. You get a free entry in the raffle for doing so AND multiple shout outs on my blog. (and Facebook).

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Please, please, please continue to forward the link to my fundraiser to as many people as you can. Although the prizes are awesome and I'm so happy that you might win something amazing, my main goal remains raising money for organ donation awareness. Which means I need MORE PEOPLE TO GIVE!!

Alice from Wandering Wonderland took time out of her very busy schedule to send me this $25 gift certificate to Starbucks. Which I SOOO appreciate. Cuz Alice is a little preoccupied lately...a little detained otherwise.

See, Alice is about to (any second now!) give birth to an adorable bouncing baby boy named Austin. Yep, Alice is going to be a mommy for the very first time. Which is why I am EXTRA thankful that she wanted to donate to my fundraiser. I mean, come on....she's a little busy incubating yet she STILL managed to get this to me!! She's awesome (and gorgeous as is the daddy to be) which is how I know that little Austin will be quite the looker!

Several months ago, I attended a SCENTSY party. Having never heard of the company, I was a bit skeptical. But after seeing the awesome products they sell, I was sold! Jen Audette sells these unique Scentsy warmers that use a 25-watt bulb to melt wax slowly, maximizing the fragrance time. With no flame, soot or wick, the Scentsy system is a safe way to enjoy more than 80 Scentsy fragrances. The wax lasts up to 80 hours, you can change between scents as often as you like, it's made of petroleum wax which is the safest wax out there and at its maximum temperature the wax will not burn your children or your pets.

Jen has graciously donated a $25 gift certificate to her SCENTSY website and will ship anywhere in the country. I LOVE the warmer I bought. Can't say enough good things about it!

Someday my camera skills will improve. Until then, this is best (of about 50) pics I took. This gorgeous set was not only donated by but also created by Helen @ Reddirt Woman. It is three strands of coral (dyed red) and turquoise, with chips, beads, a bear fetish and sterling misc. spacers. It has sterling silver cones with a feather on each end and a sterling silver clasp. The earrings are 5 short strands from a spiral finding with fishhook ear wires. It retails at $95. It is simply beautiful. And substantial. You can tell just by holding it that this is a serious piece of jewelry. I really hope whoever wins this will consider taking a picture of themselves wearing it cuz I can't wait to see it on!

It's even prettier in person! Trust me. It's beautiful. And it was donated by Gretchen @ Bananas and Toddlers. And it's so pretty. Did I say that already? It's 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. It would look adorable on a little girls bed or as a decorative piece in a spare bedroom. It's green and pink and has a vintage flannel backing. Gretchen included care instructions that said USE IT! and ENJOY IT!! Which means it doesn't have to sit and collect dust for fear of ruining it. And it can be machine washed!! It just screams SOMEONE LOVE ME!! Gretchen has her own ETSY STORE and loves custom orders!!
Joanie from Joanie's Random Ramblings added this awesomely yummy raffle prize to the mix. And again, I want it. (I seem to want most of this stuff, don't I?) Friday's has awesome appetizers and delicioso mixed drinks. And I'd be happy to accompany whoever wins this. Seriously. Keep it in mind. I'm fun. Really, I am!
I have a BFF. Her name is Kimmy. (or Blender Kimmy when she's moody) I talk about her a lot. Because I adore her. And consider myself lucky to have her in my life. She has a nap Blanket that I immediately snatch up when we're hanging at her house. Cuz that thing is just about the SOFTEST DAMN BLANKET I HAVE EVER TOUCHED. It's amazing. Truly "I want to rub it all over my body but that might be weird" amazing. It's from Brookstone. And it's amazing. (Did I mention that?) Kimmy has generously donated one of these "soft as a babies butt" blankets to my raffle. In light blue. Which I now want. But can't have.

But you can, if you win.

At least SOMEONE will be happy.

I finally have, in my hot little hands, 2 tickets to the Sept 9th Red Sox vs. the Baltimore Orioles baseball game. And SERIOUSLY WANT TO PRETEND THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN TO ME AND GO TO THE GAME MYSELF!!! (insert evil chuckle)

My bestest friend from when I was knee high to a grasshopper and her awesome husband donated this fantastic raffle prize. Sandy and Mike are ridiculously generous and didn't hesitate for a minute to toss these my way. These will be the cornerstone prize of the NEW ENGLAND prize package and are so far, one of the most coveted prizes.

Can't wait to see who wins these tickets. Maybe he/she will take me??? HINT! HINT!!

My incredibly talented friend Maureen donated 30 hand stamped greeting cards. And every one of them is adorable! Maureen is the person who makes the rest of us look bad during any card giving occasion. Hallmark can't hold a candle to Maureen's amazing and unique creations. I would be thrilled to keep these for myself but figure she'd notice if I didn't post them up here!!

Came home this afternoon to find that Debbie had mailed me a raffle prize!! How nice is she?? Blogger peeps are good peeps. I've had the pleasure of "meeting" many wonderful and generous people. I say meeting in quotes cuz although I feel like I KNOW all of these awesome people, I haven't actually met them in person. Doesn't matter though...they are friends nonetheless.

I TOTALLY think whoever wins this should rent THE HANGOVER when it comes out on DVD. Even if you've already seen it. Cuz it's THAT FUNNY!!

Also found this OH SO AMAZING $50 gift card to Starbucks in my mailbox this afternoon. Steph from My Daily Life graciously purchased this specifically for the raffle. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. And her. Cuz Steph has done A LOT for this fundraiser. She's given so much personally AND has been a one woman cheering section for me when I get stressed. She's just been great and I can't thank her enough. Because of Steph, one lucky person will get to enjoy a crap load of goodies at Starbucks!
One of the greatest parts of this fundraising deal so far has been seeing people generously offer up what they can for this raffle. All kinds of people have donated items, including some of my former classmates from Andover High. We've all reconnected via the crazy world of Facebook and have been able to catch up on each other's lives. Ed, one of my new FB buddies but old schoolmate, offered up a TOTALLY AWESOME raffle prize. He has very generously donated $175.00 worth of steaks to be delivered directly to the winner. The lucky recipient will receive an Assorted Steak Box from Dole & Bailey. Dole & Bailey is the oldest Food Purveyor in the country, founded in 1868 in the original Fanuiel Hall Market Place and today is considered by many to be the finest Butcher House in the United States. The box will consist of an assortment of perfectly aged and trimmed Filet Mignon, NY Strips, and Delmonicos. The retail value of this gift is $175.00.

Are you licking your lips and sharpening your steak knives? I sure as hell am and I can't even win the darn thing!! (the pic above is just one I yanked off the Internet. I have no idea if the steaks in the pic are even good ones. Ed is probably mortified that I just slapped up any old pic of raw meat! But I didn't know what else to do!! Cut me slack, huh?) :)

Let's get one thing straight....my photography skills are not great. At all. And I feel bad about that. Cuz this gorgeous sterling silver cuff donated by Teresa at SilverMade Studio is MUCH NICER than the picture makes it out to be. MUCH, MUCH NICER. But no matter how hard I tried to get a better pic, this was the best I got.
Teresa makes modern, everyday his & hers jewelry. In her spare time, she smashes metal, solders silver and grinds stones. Her work is really unique. And I like it all. The cuff she sent has the word DANCE on the outside and....

the words LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING on the inside. It also has a red gem hanging off one end. And yes, I know this pic is blurry. Again, I TRIED to get a better photo but no such luck. If you hop over to Teresa's store, you will see great pics of her other items. (Wish John had more reasons to wear cufflinks cuz she has some awesome ones!)

Not at all sure how I've lived to the ripe old age of 39 without ever knowing about this southern treat, but I'm not happy! This is a New Orleans King Cake and it, along with a bunch of other tidbits, can be shipped right to your door if your name is picked!! Trish, my most favorite New Orleans-er, has graciously donated this delectable goody. She will have it sent right to you from Haydel's Bakery, which Trish SWEARS is THE BEST!!

King Cakes are a delicious danish dough, braided with cinnamon and sugar, baked to perfection and topped with fondant icing and Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold sugar. The cake is shipped along with a package of Chicory, carnival beads and doubloons and a few other surprises.

Not only is this cake yummy (according to Trish) but it's fun!! Tradition dictates that a tiny plastic baby be baked inside and whoever receives the baby must buy the next King Cake or throw the next party!! Weird and totally cool at the same time!!

(And my competitive nature would make me want that baby in the worst way!!)
I may not be able to win this (or anything else for that matter) but boy do I want to!!

Came home today to find not one, not two, but FOUR $25.00 gift cards to L.L.Bean. Can you believe it? How awesome is that??? This very generous donation came from my coworker and friend Carrie. Which doesn't surprise me at all cuz Carrie has an enormous heart. Seriously. Her heart must be 10 sizes too big for her chest. (You know the heart the Tin Man wanted in the Wizard of Oz? Carrie's got it!) She's truly that amazing. Carrie gives when you least expect it without question. She's been there for me and my family numerous times and her friendship means a lot. Hope everyone out there gets to work with people as wonderful as Carrie. :)

My most fantastic, bestest brother in the whole wide world (hands down) donated this amazing Venus 8-Cup Porcelain Carafe Drip Brewing Machine by Saeco. (Well, not EXACTLY this one cuz this one is white and his is black) From Starbucks. Cuz that's where my most favorite brother works.

(ok, he's my ONLY brother but he's still my favorite!)

I SHOULD know what his actual title is but (don't kick my butt Dave!) I don't. I do know that he is some sort of New England territory bigwig but that's about it. I WILL ask him later but I fear if I call him again (I've been a BIT pushy about him telling me WHICH coffeemaker he is donating so I can post it here!) he will hang up on me. (Love you big bro!)

This coffeemaker is for those with an eye towards fashion and a taste for great coffee. The carafe was designed exclusively for Starbucks...its elegant porcelain carafe can keep coffee hot for hours.

This gorgeous gold plated, bangle bracelet with clasp was donated by my awesome neighbor Donna Lafean. Donna is an Independent Advisor for Lia Sophia Jewelry. She has a website where you can easily peruse the latest catalog of items and quickly and easily place an order. Donna will happily ship anywhere in the US so feel free to order no matter where you live!

Donna also donated this beautiful cut Crystal, gold plated necklace and earring set. The necklace is 16-19" around and is really a showstopper. The three items donated total $140.00! WOW!!! Although the picture is a pretty good one, it really doesn't show how spectacular the pieces truly are. Actually ALL the items Donna has for sale are pretty impressive! Head on over and give her your business!!!

This anatomically correct pendent comes from DOMINO EFFECT, the maker of funky game piece jewelry and art. Domino Art Pendants are a great addition to your funky jewelry. They use large 2 in. acrylic dominoes to make these cool pendants. Each Domino is covered with resin, which gives it a great 3d look and a glass like finish that is strong and durable.

Funky Dominoes make great pendants, key chains, charms, magnets...the list is almost endless. They use images that are a little off-the-wall, but they also bring instant compliments and are great conversation starters.

This mini drop pendent was donated by Luna Clay Design. Luna Clay specializes in artistic designs, handcrafted quality and limited quantities - for unique individuals! Shopping at Luna Clay Design for your very own, exclusive piece of jewelry and unique art piece is like finding an old out-of-the-way boutique with an artsy store front, and you know you just have to come in…

This amazing group of greeting cards comes from Catherine Otto. Catherine specializes in "mixed media" art. Her work includes paint, paper, embroidery and found objects. These cards are prints of pieces Catherine has created. There are 14 cards in all and everyone of them is unique.

Catherine ALSO donated this awesome piece of art. It says, "The key to growing love is in heart." Could there be anything more perfect for this raffle? Catherine says that she's intimidated by perfection and that warmth comes from imperfection. She likes old, rusty, peeling, stained and imperfect pieces...just like her! (Her words, don't you love it??) This framed beauty is really large...my photo of it doesn't do it justice. It's 2 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. It's really impressive!

My very good friend, Anne Marie, donated this grouping of items from WCVBTV Boston. The set includes a coffee mug, teddy bear, tote bag and a fleece lined, size medium, Hakers golf shirt. She also donated 2 passes to the Planetarium at the Boston Museum of Science,

4 passes to the Franklin Park Zoo,

4 passes to the Museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and,

4 passes to the OMNI Theatre at the Boston Museum of Science. Ann Marie not only donated this all but she hand delivered it to me all the way up here in Maine!! How great is she? All of the item's she donated will be added to the NEW ENGLAND prize package.

Marissa at re:Vision donated this totally cool, totally funky record bowl. I love it!! And the best part? The record they chose to donate is Bach's ORGAN MUSIC. Get it? Organ...as in ORGAN DONATION!!! Brilliant!! These bowls are great for organizing counter top clutter, fresh fruit, or even potted plants (they already have a drainage hole!)

Marissa and Amanda's store makes handmade designs for eco-friendly living. They make fun accessories, funky jewelry, and cozy items for the home from completely recycled or repurposed materials. How cool is that? Go check them out!!

This shockingly beautiful necklace and earring set was donated by Nina of Nina Devine Designs. Nina has been creating jewelry art for over 15 years and is lucky enough to live in Hawaii!! (I am BEYOND jealous) Nina specializes in quality pearl and gemstone designer jewelry. She uses sterling silver, 14 kt gold and 14 kt gold filled findings and wire. I can't describe how simply stunning this necklace is. And unfortunately the picture doesn't do it justice. It's made out of crazy agate, amethyst, pearls and sterling silver. The earrings match perfectly. I would LOVE to own this myself. Hop on over to her store and take a peek at her other items. Only one lucky person will win this set but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't shop for other gorgeous items!
Melissa over at Remembering June Jewelry Design donated one of her favorite pieces for my raffle. It is beautiful and looks fantastic on (I know cuz I modeled it for a brief moment!) Melissa is new to selling on the internet but has been making and selling out of her home and her mothers salon for awhile. She loves making jewelery. If you need something with certain colors she would be happy to put something together for you. Melissa works mostly with gemstones and shells but can work with wood or glass if requested. Custom orders are always welcome!!
"SWEETHEARTS"
"GOD'S GIFT"
"HIGH HOPES"

These wonderful and unique prints were donated by Robert Bretz from Paint All Night Studios. The set is signed and numbered and comes from his "Simpler Times" collection. Robert has generously donated the very last copy (100/100) of each print to make it a cohesive set. At his suggestion, I will split the 10 prints into two sets of five to be included in two separate prize packages. This way 2 winners will each have 5 amazing prints to frame and display. The prints literally made me smile which is the goal of the artist. "Our simple goal is to create art that will put a smile on your face." Mission accomplished! Take a minute and go check out Robert's work. He offers both prints and original pieces. I've highlighted 3 of the 10 prints on here for now but will add the rest shortly.

Kelly from The Glass Dragonfly donated this adorable sterling silver pendant from a company called Little Jewel. It is quite possibly the cutest little charm I have ever seen. It would make the perfect gift for a new mom or a mom to be. If you win it and are neither, you'll have a great gift on hand for the next baby shower you attend!!

My friend Chase Allen, a model and poet, donated a copy of her book, Passing on the Left. It is her own poetry-photo art book which contains 9 poetry pieces and 22 images. Chase signed the copy and wrote something special for the winner. If you want to purchase your own copy (if you don't win this one) you can do so HERE. The pictures are beautiful and her poetry is amazing. Great book to have on your coffee table as it will surely foster some interesting conversations!

Bina (my friend from the blog world) had her coworker Leah make this trio especially for the raffle. And I must say that not only is it incredibly unique, but it's really pretty. The necklace is 2 strands of tiny red and black beads with a black cross pendant. Leah added a small dangling charm off the clasp that says BELIEVE. How perfect is that? The bracelet is a matching multi strand twist of black and red beads. The earrings are simple dangling posts of silver with black beads at the end. Leah does not have a website for her items but DOES take requests for orders. If you are interested in having Leah make you something, please contact her at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com.

After I received Bina's donated items, Leah contacted me separately and asked if she too could donate something. (UM, YES PLEASE!!) :)

Leah sent along two beaded book thongs (aka bookmarks). And one of them was for me!! Yep, she told me that she made two but one was for me to keep. THANKS LEAH!!! I love it and am already using it. I HATE plain bookmarks so this is really a treat. The one for the raffle, pictured above, has a genuine Swarovsky crystal and real pearls. It is really pretty and such a cool idea!!

As I mentioned above, people can contact Leah at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com. She doesn't have a website, but IS taking orders. She makes bookmarks, jewelry, cell phone charms, suncatchers for cars or home, keychains, and gem trees. She can send you pics of what she has in stock if you're interested.

Lori, an awesome blogger and talented artist, donated not one, but TWO stunning necklaces. Both of these pieces are outstanding. I can't decide which one I like better!! This one is a Pineapple Quartz 40mm square pendant with czech fire polished glass beads and antiqued brass accents and chain.
This one is a Carnelian Red Agate square and Carnelian Red Agate faceted pear pendants with copper accents and copper chain. I can't wait to see who wins these items!! Check out Lori's website to see her other showstopping pieces. Her work is amazing...every piece will get you tons of compliments!

Jelena from Change of hART donated these GORGEOUS earrings. She wrote on the card she included, "I hope you like the earrings." Like them? I LOVE them!!! They are fabulous! And they are heart themed which couldn't fit this fundraiser any better!!

For the months of July and August, Jelena has generosly offered to donate 10% of the proceeds from the sales of any heart related items in her Etsy shop to this fundraiser!!! IS THAT AMAZING OR WHAT???

Jelena's store includes unique sophisticated adornments for every budget. She encourages you to purchase one of her unique pieces or allow her to design a custom adornment tailored to your specific needs. In other words, challenge her to make you something as awesome as these earrings!!
Dee Thompson, another one of my great blogger friends, donated a signed copy of her HOT OF THE PRESSES book, Adopting Alesia. It is the story of her 2 year journey to adopt her daughter Alesia from Russia. Dee also sent me a copy to read and review on my blog. I'm almost done with it and can tell you that it is a heart warming story of determination in the face of adversity. Dee and Alesia were MEANT to be a family and their story is incredibly inspirational. For those of you that DON'T win this item, you can head over to Barnes & Noble and get yourself a copy!! Dee would really appreciate it!! Go! :)

My wonderful in-laws have donated an authentic lobster feast for two, mailed directly to your doorstop! This awesome gift (which I would kill to have!) includes 2 live Maine Lobsters, fresh Maine Steamer Clams, Shrimp or Mussels, Clam Chowder or Lobster Bisque, fresh Vegetable, Butter, Lemon, metal shell cracker(s), seafood picks, bibs and Lobster cookbook.

Are you salivating already????
(Obviously, I don't actually have this in my possession. This prize will be mailed directly to the winner!)

Cindy from Stardaisy's Charming Creations donated this organ donor awareness pin and coin purse. Cindy is one of the few people I found who actually designs jewelry to honor organ donor recipients or donor family members. I was really honored when she readily agreed to donate a few pieces for the raffle.

Julia aka BRAINELLA, donated these handmade mugs and a pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee to go with them. The mugs are awesome. John fell in love with them immediately! He is always on the lookout for the PERFECT COFFEE MUG and he thinks he may have found it. (Too bad he can't have it!!) Guess I know one thing I can buy John for Christmas! Head over to her ETSY shop and check out all the goodies she has for sale!


This bright and cheerful Vera Bradley messenger bag and matching wallet were donated by Lisa, a friend of mine from high school. Lisa was the very first person to offer up a donation all on her own. (I had asked one family friend to donate an item already but Lisa was the first to offer sans asking!)
These items came from
The Handcrafter's Barn which Lisa owns along with North Country Cottage.
They are both located in North Conway, NH. North Country Cottage is a country gift store, specialty foods, candles, bath and body, lodge and mountain decor. The HandCrafter's Barn is a year round craft mall where they sell the handmade crafts of artisans and crafters. There's jewelry, pottery, photography, etc. They also carry gifts like Vera Bradley, and home decor.

Lisa not only donated the Vera Bradley items, but she also donated this necklace...which I happen to think would look awesome with a casual shirt and jeans. It's got earth tones and a laid back feel. I really like it!

And if all that wasn't enough, Lisa ALSO donated a $25 gift certificate to
North Country Cottage. Is she amazing or what? I think I will include this in the NEW ENGLAND prize package as it must be redeemed at the store. (never expires) Figure whoever wins the NE package, can take a day trip up to North Conway and do a little shopping. Not too shabby, huh?
This stunning handmade pillow comes from Olive. Olive makes unique & whimsical pillow art and home decor. She has her own Etsy store which you need to check out!! I have already fallen in love with at LEAST 10 items!! She is truly talented.
Olive also donated this adorable handmade pin cushion which makes me ALMOST wish I sewed. I say almost cuz it ain't gonna happen!! But I'd still like to own this cuz it's just that cute.

I live in an amazing neighborhood and have the most fantastic neighbors. Amy, one of these wonderful neighbors, donated this collection of 7 store front wall hangings. They are really cute and would look perfect in a front entrance way. Or any other place you might like to hang them!

Vegas Princess, one of my bestest blogger friends, donated a Shower CD Clock Radio with Digital LCD Display. (Which John tried to keep!) It has a 20 track programmable CD player, AM/FM radio, LCD alarm clock, shower mirror and is wall mountable. I bet I'd sound MUCH better singing in the shower if I had one of these! Ok, maybe not, but a girl can dream can't she??
My amazing neighbor Laura donated this $125.00 collection of Arbonne skin care products. Arbonne's skin care products, based on botanical principles, became a reality in the United States in 1980 and are now shared throughout the world through Arbonne's network of Independent Consultants. Building on these same founding principles, Arbonne's product line has since grown to include both inner and outer health and beauty products that are unparalleled in quality, safety, value, benefits and results!

Laura's donation includes Body Whip (8.5 oz), Body Wrap (7 oz), Body Scrub (7 oz), Shimmering Shower Mousse (9 oz) and a candle. All items are Mandarin Cashmere scented.

Laura has also GENEROUSLY donated to pay for the shipping of one prize package! Thanks Laura...you're the best!

This adorable baby hat was donated by Nini from Nini's Handmades.

It's even cuter in person than it looks in the picture! Almost makes me want to have another baby! (John said no. LOUDLY) Nini's Etsy shop offers baby hats and other accessories. (There's a cupcake hat that I want to buy NOW. For myself. But I'd look weird. So I'll wait til someone I know has a baby.)

Linda, blogger extraordinaire, donated a $50 VISA gift card. So you can use it to buy whatever you'd like!! Pretty cool. huh? Linda was one of the very first people to offer up a prize for the raffle which I appreciate more than she knows.

My fundraising effort has special meaning for her as her father-in-law is currently waiting for a heart. Which means, Linda's family knows EXACTLY what we went through 6 years ago with my Dad. I pray everyday that her FIL gets his heart so that she too, knows the joy in seeing a loved one start over.

Ever met someone and knew instantly that you like them? Recently I met one of my BFF Kimmy's friends from the town she lives in and liked her from the get go. Bonnie just seems like a really easy going and friendly person and is someone I hope I get to hang out with again soon.

Not long after meeting her, Bonnie and her husband Jed did an awesome thing....they donated 4 tickets to the August 21st Sea Dogs game here in Portland!! I was blown away at their kindness. These tickets will be part of the NEW ENGLAND prize package so that whomever wins can actually attend the game. Having been to a Sea Dogs game, I can tell you first hand that you will have an awesome time!
Becca, the Senior Editor of Alaska magazine, donated a 1 year subscription. She sent me 2 copies to take a look at which I had so much fun doing!! The pictures are breathtaking and the articles were really interesting. Both John and I read them both cover to cover. And now want to go to Alaska. You will too. Trust me. :)

Raffle, Raffle, Raffle

As a way to entice you all (and everyone you know!) to give BIG to my fundraiser, I am listing all the raffle items I have received so far. This is merely THE TIP OF THE PROMISED ITEMS ICEBERG but it's a start. Hopefully, these items will wet your donating whistle and will motivate you to GIVE, GIVE, GIVE!!!

~~~

Starting tomorrow, you will find a permanent link to this list in the upper right hand corner of my blog. I will update this list daily or as often as raffle prizes arrive on my doorstop. (Once I have an item physically in my possession, I will add it to the list. So keep em' coming!) That way, you can hop on over and check out what you can win!

Cool, huh?

~~~

This list is growing everyday as more amazing items get dropped off. And yes, I am STILL accepting donated items for the raffle. You get a free entry in the raffle for doing so AND multiple shout outs on my blog. (and Facebook).

~~~

As the raffle gets underway (August 3) I will begin to highlight each prize package for the following day. Prize packages will be determined and set in stone by the time the raffle starts. Once all items have been received by me, I will distribute them amongst the 25 prize packages I will be raffling off. I have over 90 items promised to me so far (90 items - can you believe that??) so each prize package will have several amazing items.

~~~

Please, please, please continue to forward the link to my fundraiser to as many people as you can. Although the prizes are awesome and I'm so happy that you might win something amazing, my main goal remains raising money for organ donation awareness. Which means I need MORE PEOPLE TO GIVE!! :)

~~~

THE LIST

(lots more to come!)

Marissa at re:Vision donated this totally cool, totally funky record bowl. I love it!! And the best part? The record they chose to donate is Bach's ORGAN MUSIC. Get it? Organ...as in ORGAN DONATION!!! Brilliant!! These bowls are great for organizing counter top clutter, fresh fruit, or even potted plants (they already have a drainage hole!)

Marissa and Amanda's store makes handmade designs for eco-friendly living. They make fun accessories, funky jewelry, and cozy items for the home from completely recycled or repurposed materials. How cool is that? Go check them out!!

This shockingly beautiful necklace and earring set was donated by Nina of Nina Devine Designs. Nina has been creating jewelry art for over 15 years and is lucky enough to live in Hawaii!! (I am BEYOND jealous) Nina specializes in quality pearl and gemstone designer jewelry. She uses sterling silver, 14 kt gold and 14 kt gold filled findings and wire. I can't describe how simply stunning this necklace is. And unfortunately the picture doesn't do it justice. It's made out of crazy agate, amethyst, pearls and sterling silver. The earrings match perfectly. I would LOVE to own this myself. Hop on over to her store and take a peek at her other items. Only one lucky person will win this set but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't shop for other gorgeous items!

Melissa over at Remembering June Jewelry Design donated one of her favorite pieces for my raffle. It is beautiful and looks fantastic on (I know cuz I modeled it for a brief moment!) Melissa is new to selling on the internet but has been making and selling out of her home and her mothers salon for awhile. She loves making jewelery. If you need something with certain colors she would be happy to put something together for you. Melissa works mostly with gemstones and shells but can work with wood or glass if requested. Custom orders are always welcome!!

"SWEETHEARTS"

"GOD'S GIFT"

"HIGH HOPES"

These wonderful and unique prints were donated by Robert Bretz from Paint All Night Studios. The set is signed and numbered and comes from his "Simpler Times" collection. Robert has generously donated the very last copy (100/100) of each print to make it a cohesive set. At his suggestion, I will split the 10 prints into two sets of five to be included in two separate prize packages. This way 2 winners will each have 5 amazing prints to frame and display. The prints literally made me smile which is the goal of the artist. "Our simple goal is to create art that will put a smile on your face." Mission accomplished! Take a minute and go check out Robert's work. He offers both prints and original pieces. I've highlighted 3 of the 10 prints on here for now but will add the rest shortly.

Kelly from The Glass Dragonfly donated this adorable sterling silver pendant from a company called Little Jewel. It is quite possibly the cutest little charm I have ever seen. It would make the perfect gift for a new mom or a mom to be. If you win it and are neither, you'll have a great gift on hand for the next baby shower you attend!!

My friend Chase Allen, a model and poet, donated a copy of her book, Passing on the Left. It is her own poetry-photo art book which contains 9 poetry pieces and 22 images. Chase signed the copy and wrote something special for the winner. If you want to purchase your own copy (if you don't win this one) you can do so HERE. The pictures are beautiful and her poetry is amazing. Great book to have on your coffee table as it will surely foster some interesting conversations!

Bina (my friend from the blog world) had her coworker Leah make this trio especially for the raffle. And I must say that not only is it incredibly unique, but it's really pretty. The necklace is 2 strands of tiny red and black beads with a black cross pendant. Leah added a small dangling charm off the clasp that says BELIEVE. How perfect is that? The bracelet is a matching multi strand twist of black and red beads. The earrings are simple dangling posts of silver with black beads at the end. Leah does not have a website for her items but DOES take requests for orders. If you are interested in having Leah make you something, please contact her at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com.

After I received Bina's donated items, Leah contacted me separately and asked if she too could donate something. (UM, YES PLEASE!!) :)

Leah sent along two beaded book thongs (aka bookmarks). And one of them was for me!! Yep, she told me that she made two but one was for me to keep. THANKS LEAH!!! I love it and am already using it. I HATE plain bookmarks so this is really a treat. The one for the raffle, pictured above, has a genuine Swarovsky crystal and real pearls. It is really pretty and such a cool idea!!

As I mentioned above, people can contact Leah at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com. She doesn't have a website, but IS taking orders. She makes bookmarks, jewelry, cell phone charms, suncatchers for cars or home, keychains, and gem trees. She can send you pics of what she has in stock if you're interested.

Lori, an awesome blogger and talented artist, donated not one, but TWO stunning necklaces. Both of these pieces are outstanding. I can't decide which one I like better!! This one is a Pineapple Quartz 40mm square pendant with czech fire polished glass beads and antiqued brass accents and chain.

This one is a Carnelian Red Agate square and Carnelian Red Agate faceted pear pendants with copper accents and copper chain. I can't wait to see who wins these items!! Check out Lori's website to see her other showstopping pieces. Her work is amazing...every piece will get you tons of compliments!

Jelena from Change of hART donated these GORGEOUS earrings. She wrote on the card she included, "I hope you like the earrings." Like them? I LOVE them!!! They are fabulous! And they are heart themed which couldn't fit this fundraiser any better!! Jelena's store includes unique sophisticated adornments for every budget. She encourages you to purchase one of her unique pieces or allow her to design a custom adornment tailored to your specific needs. In other words, challenge her to make you something as awesome as these earrings!!

Dee Thompson, another one of my great blogger friends, donated a signed copy of her HOT OF THE PRESSES book, Adopting Alesia. It is the story of her 2 year journey to adopt her daughter Alesia from Russia. Dee also sent me a copy to read and review on my blog. I'm almost done with it and can tell you that it is a heart warming story of determination in the face of adversity. Dee and Alesia were MEANT to be a family and their story is incredibly inspirational. For those of you that DON'T win this item, you can head over to Barnes & Noble and get yourself a copy!! Dee would really appreciate it!! Go! :)

My wonderful in-laws have donated an authentic lobster feast for two, mailed directly to your doorstop! This awesome gift (which I would kill to have!) includes 2 live Maine Lobsters, fresh Maine Steamer Clams, Shrimp or Mussels, Clam Chowder or Lobster Bisque, fresh Vegetable, Butter, Lemon, metal shell cracker(s), seafood picks, bibs and Lobster cookbook.

Are you salivating already????

(Obviously, I don't actually have this in my possession. This prize will be mailed directly to the winner!)

Cindy from Stardaisy's Charming Creations donated this organ donor awareness pin and coin purse. Cindy is one of the few people I found who actually designs jewelry to honor organ donor recipients or donor family members. I was really honored when she readily agreed to donate a few pieces for the raffle.

Julia aka BRAINELLA, donated these handmade mugs and a pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee to go with them. The mugs are awesome. John fell in love with them immediately! He is always on the lookout for the PERFECT COFFEE MUG and he thinks he may have found it. (Too bad he can't have it!!) Guess I know one thing I can buy John for Christmas! Head over to her ETSY shop and check out all the goodies she has for sale!


This bright and cheerful Vera Bradley messenger bag and matching wallet were donated by Lisa, a friend of mine from high school. Lisa was the very first person to offer up a donation all on her own. (I had asked one family friend to donate an item already but Lisa was the first to offer sans asking!)
These items came from
The Handcrafter's Barn which Lisa owns along with North Country Cottage.
They are both located in North Conway, NH. North Country Cottage is a country gift store, specialty foods, candles, bath and body, lodge and mountain decor. The HandCrafter's Barn is a year round craft mall where they sell the handmade crafts of artisans and crafters. There's jewelry, pottery, photography, etc. They also carry gifts like Vera Bradley, and home decor.


Lisa not only donated the Vera Bradley items, but she also donated this necklace...which I happen to think would look awesome with a casual shirt and jeans. It's got earth tones and a laid back feel. I really like it!


And if all that wasn't enough, Lisa ALSO donated a $25 gift certificate to
North Country Cottage. Is she amazing or what? I think I will include this in the NEW ENGLAND prize package as it must be redeemed at the store. (never expires) Figure whoever wins the NE package, can take a day trip up to North Conway and do a little shopping. Not too shabby, huh?

This stunning handmade pillow comes from Olive. Olive makes unique & whimsical pillow art and home decor. She has her own Etsy store which you need to check out!! I have already fallen in love with at LEAST 10 items!! She is truly talented.

Olive also donated this adorable handmade pin cushion which makes me ALMOST wish I sewed. I say almost cuz it ain't gonna happen!! But I'd still like to own this cuz it's just that cute.

I live in an amazing neighborhood and have the most fantastic neighbors. Amy, one of these wonderful neighbors, donated this collection of 7 store front wall hangings. They are really cute and would look perfect in a front entrance way. Or any other place you might like to hang them!

Vegas Princess, one of my bestest blogger friends, donated a Shower CD Clock Radio with Digital LCD Display. (Which John tried to keep!) It has a 20 track programmable CD player, AM/FM radio, LCD alarm clock, shower mirror and is wall mountable. I bet I'd sound MUCH better singing in the shower if I had one of these! Ok, maybe not, but a girl can dream can't she??

My amazing neighbor Laura donated this $125.00 collection of Arbonne skin care products. Arbonne's skin care products, based on botanical principles, became a reality in the United States in 1980 and are now shared throughout the world through Arbonne's network of Independent Consultants. Building on these same founding principles, Arbonne's product line has since grown to include both inner and outer health and beauty products that are unparalleled in quality, safety, value, benefits and results!

Laura's donation includes Body Whip (8.5 oz), Body Wrap (7 oz), Body Scrub (7 oz), Shimmering Shower Mousse (9 oz) and a candle. All items are Mandarin Cashmere scented.

Laura has also GENEROUSLY donated to pay for the shipping of one prize package! Thanks Laura...you're the best!

This adorable baby hat was donated by Nini from Nini's Handmades.

It's even cuter in person than it looks in the picture! Almost makes me want to have another baby! (John said no. LOUDLY) Nini's Etsy shop offers baby hats and other accessories. (There's a cupcake hat that I want to buy NOW. For myself. But I'd look weird. So I'll wait til someone I know has a baby.)

Linda, blogger extraordinaire, donated a $50 VISA gift card. So you can use it to buy whatever you'd like!! Pretty cool. huh? Linda was one of the very first people to offer up a prize for the raffle which I appreciate more than she knows.

My fundraising effort has special meaning for her as her father-in-law is currently waiting for a heart. Which means, Linda's family knows EXACTLY what we went through 6 years ago with my Dad. I pray everyday that her FIL gets his heart so that she too, knows the joy in seeing a loved one start over.

Ever met someone and knew instantly that you like them? Recently I met one of my BFF Kimmy's friends from the town she lives in and liked her from the get go. Bonnie just seems like a really easy going and friendly person and is someone I hope I get to hang out with again soon.

Not long after meeting her, Bonnie and her husband Jed did an awesome thing....they donated 4 tickets to the August 21st Sea Dogs game here in Portland!! I was blown away at their kindness. These tickets will be part of the NEW ENGLAND prize package so that whomever wins can actually attend the game. Having been to a Sea Dogs game, I can tell you first hand that you will have an awesome time!

Becca, the Senior Editor of Alaska magazine, donated a 1 year subscription. She sent me 2 copies to take a look at which I had so much fun doing!! The pictures are breathtaking and the articles were really interesting. Both John and I read them both cover to cover. And now want to go to Alaska. You will too. Trust me. :)

~~~

Check back daily - there's tons more to come!!!

It's Tough To Be Morbid When You're Tired!!

You know you did a wee bit TOO MUCH PARTYING this weekend when all you can come up with for a MORBID MONDAY post is this pic of a bunch of deformed frogs.

But you REALLY know that you did a wee bit TOO MUCH PARTYING this weekend when you can't look at this pic of a bunch of deformed frogs without humming the CAN CAN or songs from A CHORUS LINE.

Yep, my brain did a bit TOO MUCH PARTYING this weekend.

But I wouldn't trade it for a minute!

John and Kimmy. Two crazy peas in a pod.

John is SOMEWHERE in this pic!!

One Hallisicle, two sisters.

Ryan can hula like nobodies business!!!

Dancing fools!!!

Rubberband Man

THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

THE WRONG WAY.

Got Vodka????

THIS IS A GUMMY BEAR.

THIS IS A GUMMY BEAR THAT HAS BEEN SOAKED IN VODKA FOR 24 HOURS.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me...

That I've been doing it wrong all these years????

~~~

I do NOT sit with my my knees higher than my hips.

(This isn't gymnastics people. I'm not getting ready to tuck and roll!)

~~~

I do NOT use a foot rest.

(How comfortable do I really want to be on the toilet?)

~~~

I do NOT lean forward.

(What if I fall off?)

~~~

I do NOT rest my elbows on my knees.

(Next you'll be telling me to rest my chin on my fist. I think NOT!)

~~~

I do NOT bulge out my abdomen.

(Jeez Louise...how hard are you supposed to push?)

~~~

I do NOT straighten my spine.

(Posture MATTERS in the bathroom? Really?)

~~~~

Wonder if it's too late to change?

Writers Workshop - I LIKE Being Prompted!!

In my quest to notify everyone EVERYWHERE about my AMAZING FUNDRAISER/GINORMOUS RAFFLE WHERE YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN PRIZES TOTALING OVER $3000.00 (Didn't know about it? Are you living under a rock? :) CLICK!, I stumbled upon an awesome blogger. A blogger that writes an awesome blog.

I read back over a whole bunch of her stuff and I already love Mama Kat over at MAMA'S LOSIN' IT.

And even if she didn't mention my fundraiser in her blog (which is what I asked her to do in a comment) I would have gone back for more. Cuz she had me at hello.

So imagine my surprise when I hopped on over to her blog yesterday and found my name mentioned as part of a really cool writing assignment called, YOUR ASSIGNMENT, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT. Mama Kat posted 5 writing prompts and challenged her readers to pick one and write about it. (From what I can tell, this a regular challenge)

And one of those prompts was inspired by THE LETTER I wrote to my Dad's donor family. How cool is that?

How could I NOT participate in this assignment? I mean, it's the least I can do to say thanks for sending people my way...people that just might (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) donate and enter to win all those kick ass prizes. SERIOUSLY AWESOME PRIZES. TO BE WON. BY YOU. IF YOUR NAME GETS PICKED. FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE 25 PRIZE PACKAGES.

Even a dollar will you get you entered!!! Please????? PLEASE?

I decided, because I'm so darn excited about inspiring a prompt, to write about ALL FIVE!!! Imagine that.....little old introverted (cough, cough) me choosing to talk more. Imagine that.

PROMPT #1
Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page and share two “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
This one was easy. Love gettin' the ball rolling with an easy one!!

"I think you're right, Malory agreed. "He clicks into fantasies, lets us get a look at them, experience them. Mine, being an artist and married to Flynn. The perfect house, the perfect life." ***Key of Valor by Nora Roberts***

On the edge of your seat, huh? :)

PROMPT #2
What do you aspire to be?
I think I'm supposed to say squishy, mushy, nicey nice things like the best mom and wife in the whole wide world. Or a true humanitarian. Or the person who puts an end to world hunger.

But honestly??? Although all those things would be amazing, I just don't see them happening. Well, except for the first one cuz warts and all, I AM the best mom and wife I can be....most of the time. (At least in my family. But maybe not in the world.) Unless they really drive me crazy. Then maybe, just maybe, I'm slightly LESS than the best. Let's call it semi-best.

What I realistically aspire to be is a true and loyal friend (one that knows what to "vault" and what to share), a mom that her kids can always come to (no matter how much they KNOW I will want to kill them), a person who always remembers to laugh (cuz laughter is truly the best medicine), a life long learner (even if I'm ONLY learning something simple each day) and a champion of causes near and dear to my heart (check....go here FUNDRAISER - like how I worked that in???) Oh, and if I could be a concert pianist and write a best selling novel, that would be ok too! :)

PROMPT #3
Share a piece of unsolicited parenting advice...only I'm soliciting it.
Again, I bet the PC thing to write is something about loving your children no matter what and remembering to thank God every minute of everyday for the blessing he has bestowed upon you.

I DO do those things but come on.....those are no brainers. My advice Mama Kat? Expect the unexpected every minute of everyday. Cuz kids are nothing if not constant surprises. Good and bad. I ADORE my two kiddos but whenever I start to think things are running normal and smooth, one or both of them reminds me that THERE IS NO NORMAL.

And you know what? That's ok. I just thank God I'm young enough to still have the energy to deal with (notice I didn't say happily accept?) the many "surprises" they have presented me over the years.

PROMPT #4
Tell us about your blogline...how long have you been blogging, when did you start, what were/are your goals for your blog, etc
I have to laugh when I think about this cuz all I can hear is my Dad saying, "Your blog has veered TOTALLY away from what you initially intended it to be." (He likes to say this often. And even though he's right, he'd say it if he wasn't. Cuz my Dad? The one that got the new heart six years ago? Did you know I'm holding a fundraiser/raffle? IS NEVER WRONG.)

I started blogging almost 2 years ago as a way to stay connected to my oldest son as he entered the military. Figured it was an easy way to keep him updated on the goings on at home and to update family and friends on his latest and greatest whatever.

Which is what it did for quite awhile.

Until I discovered the lure of the blog world. And oh, what a seductive lover the mighty blog can be!!

Cuz no matter what I talk about, someone, somewhere, will (most likely) respond with a comment. Cuz if I need advice, need to vent, need a laugh or just need to need, someone, somewhere will listen and maybe (hopefully) answer me. Cuz, bloggers are supportive and caring and tolerant and ass slappingly funny and seem to never bore of my rantings. (like some family members I will not mention by name!)

And even if you are bored and disinterested in my topic of the day, you just MIGHT come back tomorrow and give me a second look.

How freakin' cool is that?

So now, my blog is the number one tool in my arsenal to stay sane. Which means I will talk about whatever happens to be rolling around in my head. Minus anything having to do with "the bedroom." Cuz my kids read this and I am NOT, NOT, NOT, paying for them to attend therapy to remove certain visuals from their minds. Oh, and I also won't ever purposely hurt anyone I care about. Life is too short and I'm just not that mean. I MAY tease them but I will NEVER hurt them intentionally.

Yep. I'm FULLY addicted to my blog and not afraid to admit it. :)

PROMPT #5 (THE PROMPT INSPIRED BY MY LETTER!)
If you had 5000 dollars to give away or donate to a charity...explain what you would do with it and why.
I bet y'all can guess what I'm gonna say!!! (And if you can't, you are TOTALLY BUSTED for skimming this blog post and not really reading it!!) :)

I would happily and with the biggest damn smile on my face, go to my FUNDRAISING/RAFFLE page and donate it ALL to my fundraiser!! Nothing would make me happier than to instantly reach my goal (cuz I still have a long way to go...HINT, HINT!) and to see that fundraising thermometer (go look, you'll see what I'm talking about) turn ALL RED!

But even more than that? Giving that money to an organization that helped foster a mindset that enabled one family to donate their son's heart to my Dad, would be a true honor.

I think I'd be walking on cloud nine for a long time after that.

In This Case, Anonymity = Cowardice

If my fundraiser offends you, I'm sorry.

It was never my intent.

~

If you disagree with organ donation,

I respect your right to have your own opinion.

~

My mission is not to change your mind, it's to make sure you have enough information when deciding what's right for you.

~

Yes, I may seem pushy as I beg and plead for your participation.

~

But fundraising takes work.

~

It's not easy and I get far more "no thank yous" then I get "yes I'd like to help."

~

But I won't be deterred.

~

Because it's too important.

~

And once I set my mind to something,

I'm determined to see it through.

~

Having watched my loved one travel along this journey, I KNOW what I'm doing is the right thing.

~

I pray that "YOU" never have to walk in my footsteps or face a preventable death of a loved one.

~

"YOU," then, may not be so quick to judge others who believe in giving the greatest gift one can give.

~

Let's never meet in a dark alley...

lest I somehow recognize "YOU."

Twisted Stuff Amuses Me

Make it stop.

If you could get an anonymous hug, would you?

After seeing this, I think my Barbies had it good.

Redneck fire alarm. I didn't want to laugh but I did.

I like this. John LOVES this.

Anyone in the mood for a Big Mac?

Want to help me try to beat the world record for most people dressed as Smurfs in one place? I only need 2510 blue buddies.

http://www.sadtrombone.com/

Wish I could download this to my phone so I'd have it at all times.

It could come in handy.

Don't forget to DONATE!

If These Aren't Morbid, What Is????

I can't stop thinking, "Hook, Line and Sinker." But that makes no sense. But it's the first thing that popped into my twisted mind.

It's actually really quite sad that that "thing" isn't growing in the other direction. At least then, she could sub in as a coat hook if there was ever a coat hook shortage.

Seriously though, has ANYONE ever seen anything like this??? What could it POSSIBLY be?

I NEED TO KNOW!!

On one hand, I wanna know who and why?

But on the other, I can't think of one explanation that doesn't leave me gagging.

I can't stand to have my face close to the inside of a toilet bowl when I'm forced to worship the porcelain god. So to think someone CHOSE to kiss it all over makes me light headed and weepy. Doesn't he/she (don't want to assume it's a female!) know that making out with a toilet is frowned upon in most countries? (I say most cuz assuming all just seems cocky.)

For the love of all things holy, can someone PLEASE ask this man to take HIS finger OUT of his face? Cuz unless he's gettin' paid BOKU bucks as a sideshow circus freak, there's just no need to do this. No need AT ALL. Well, is there? Is this some sort of dating ritual I missed out on cuz I've been with John since I was 16 and his eye socket to nostril path happens to be blocked? Is this actually a quailty people look for on MATCH.COM? Is this sexy and I'm just TOO MARRIED to see it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to click on my fundraising widget (see it over there on the right?) and give what you can.

EVERY.SINGLE.DOLLAR.HELPS.

I am ridiculaously proud to say that I have already raised slightly over $1000.00 in only 4 days. I'm actually proud to the point of tears.

I'm proud. My Dad is proud. We're all proud.

But I have a long way yet to go to reach my goal.

So PLEASE give if you haven't and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE continue to spread the word about the raffle to all you know (tell them how awesome the prizes are!). You can forward this link http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey or add the widget to your blog.

Or if you really want to go the extra yard, (and make me cry...it really did!) you can do what Vegas Princess DID. I was blown away. :)

Whatever you do, remember that I'm forever grateful.

***And yes, I am STILL accepting donated items for the raffle. And yes, I am seriously bummed that I can't win any of this great stuff!

His Heart, Once Removed

In honor of today, the 6th anniversary of my Dad's heart transplant, I am reposting the letter I wrote to the donor family one year ago. Cuz although today is about my Dad and the greatest gift he has ever received, it wouldn't have been possible with out them.

Dear Donor Family,

How do I start this letter? How do I put into words what I feel? How do I say everything I want to say, everything I NEED to say without causing you pain?

To thank you for my Dad's new heart is to remind you of the heart you no longer hold close. To thank you for giving my Dad life is to remind you of the life you lost. To thank you for giving me time with my father is to remind you of the time you will never have with your child.

It's been 5 years today, yet in some ways it seems like just yesterday. And ironically, this 5th year anniversary falls once again on Friday the 13th. Does that mean anything? Does that matter? Does your family still consider this the most unlucky day? Does it seem wrong that we now think of it as the luckiest?

I think about your family all the time and I wonder if you think about ours. Do you think about that day? Do you wonder about the people your son helped, the people that started life anew because of your generous gift? Do you especially think about the person that walks this earth with your beloved boys heart beating deep inside? And do you wonder if it beats strong in memory of your son?

Let me assure that your son did not die in vain. His organs helped many people, one of which was my Dad. Your son gave him life when there was no other hope. Your son ended my father's 98 day hospital stay whereby we watched him grow wearier each day. Your son allowed my 59 year old father to embark on the next chapter of his life without the fear of his own impending death. Your son gave my Dad a brand new birthday.

I remember sitting in the waiting room that night as your son's essence became one with my father. And I remember as I watched my 2 sons sleep in that waiting room, thinking that your gift would allow them to grow old with the world's greatest grandfather. But more than anything I remember feeling more conflicted than ever before. After all, MY Dad was being given a chance but YOUR son's chance was over.

I still remember riding down in the elevator with my father as your son's heart was being rushed to Boston. I held his hand until the very last minute, until they made me say goodbye. That goodbye was the single hardest thing I've ever had to say. No one knew if he'd make it through the surgery and no one knew if the heart would take. My goodbye could have been goodbye forever. In that moment it felt like my heart was breaking in two.

But that goodbye came with a little bit of hope. And a twinge of excitement. And a tremendous amount of positive energy. And yet, at that very moment, your goodbye came with none of that. Your goodbye was not filled with hope. Your goodbye was final.

Donor family, do you understand what you gave us? Can you grasp how much you changed my life for the better? Do you realize that in giving of your son you became part of my future?

Your son is in everything my Dad does. In every moment we spend as a family. In each new memory we create. Your son is there. And is loved. And is respected in a way that is indescribable.

The very first moment I walked into ICU and placed my hand on my dad's chest and felt your son's heart pumping strong, I knew it would be alright. And I felt almost an immediate sense that your son would help raise my Dad up and help him continue to live a happy and fulfilled life. Your son was only 19 when he lost his life so tragically which meant that my 59 year old Dad was to receive the heart of a young man. A heart that if not for that horrible car accident, would have beaten strong for your son for 60+ more years.

But instead, that healthy 19 year old heart became my Dad's new lease on life. It became the moment my Dad was reborn. It became and remains the most important part of his body.

By honoring my father today and celebrating his amazing 5 year post transplant accomplishment, we also honor and remember your son. This day is a day of celebration and remembrance for two families: a celebration of continued good life for my Dad and a remembrance of your son's short but amazing time on this planet.

Thank you donor family, for giving the biggest gift you will ever be asked to give...the gift of life. You will always be this families hero, as it took supreme strength of character to consider other's needs during your devastation. I honestly believe that your son will be remembered forever in our family as he is truly only a heart beat away.

God Bless you all. We remain humbled by your kindness and generosity.

I pray that I will be writing you another letter 5 years from now as I've clearly told my Dad that he has a lot more living to do...not just for him and not just for us....but for your son as well.

With profound gratitude and tears of happiness,
Hallie

Please consider donating today in honor of my Dad and in the memory of a beloved son. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.

The raffle is growing everyday and the prizes total over $3000.00.

In donating whatever amount you can, you will also be entered to win one (or more) of 25 amazing prize packages.

How can you lose?

Please forward this link to everyone you know.

http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey

Thank you.

Six Years Ago Tomorrow....

...a strangers heart was placed into my Dad's chest.

...I learned to appreciate Friday the 13th as a lucky day.

...I said goodbye to my father not knowing if it would be the last time I saw him alive.

...I sat in a waiting room during the longest night of my life.

...I allowed my kids to eat nothing but licorice and cheese curls at 2:30 in the morning.

...I thought if my Dad's chest could handle getting a new heart, my kids bodies could stand a little junk food overload.

...I tried to prepare myself for the worst.

...I prayed my ass off for the best.

...I sent good mojo thoughts to the medical team delivering my Dad's new organ.

...I hoped that his surgeons would have steady hands and luck on their side.

...I realized that waiting IS the hardest part.

...I wondered about the donor.

...I mourned for a family who was losing their loved one.

...I thanked that family for saying yes to organ donation.

...I cried both happy and sad tears.

...I breathed a sigh of relief when they said it was over.

...I promised to someday do something to honor that moment.

You wonder why I'm going at this fundraiser BALLS TO WALL and why I'm begging and pleading for prizes? Why I'm determined to raise as much money as I possibly can and why I'm pleading with you all to spread the word about my raffle?

I'm raising money for organ donation awareness as if my life depended on it cuz 6 years ago tomorrow, my Dad's life DID depend on it.

Cuz 6 YEARS AGO TOMORROW, a strangers heart was placed inside my father.

And I got my Dad back.

How could I NOT do what I'm doing?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In honor of his actual 6th transplant anniversary, won't a few of you who have been considering donating a prize, do so? (I'll give you 2 extra entries if you donate a prize before Monday. It doesn't have to actually be in my hands by Monday. Just let me know what you will donate before then!) Drop me an email and say you will! fenwaydog@roadrunner.com

Won't the rest of you consider one of the following?

*posting/linking about the raffle on your blog - http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey

*adding the raffle widget to your blog

*forwarding my fundraising page to everyone you know - http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey

*asking fellow bloggers to do any of the above

*entering the raffle yourself - you just might win a crap load of awesome prizes - http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey

But most importantly, no matter what else you do, please consider becoming an organ donor.

My Dad is living prove that it can make a difference.

BREAKING NEWS!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!

The raffle is underway!!! The raffle is underway!!

Yes, I am STILL begging and pleading for more fantastic donated prizes. (Won't you PLEASE donate something if you haven't yet? You get a free entry just for doing so!!)

But I decided to get this show on the road and launch the TAKING A CHANCE ON LIFE raffle of 2009!!!

See that cute link in the upper right hand corner?

Well, do you???

GO THERE!!!

NOW!!!

And donate.

So you will be entered to win one of the MOST FANTASTIC 25 PRIZE PACKAGES EVER!! (You can actually win more than one if you donate enough money!!)

It's that easy!!

What are you waiting for???

GO! GO! GO!

(And if you add that widget to your blog OR mention this contest by linking directly to my blog, you will get ONE FREE ENTRY as a thank you!!!) Make sure to leave me a comment if you do so I know to give you an entry. :)

I'm so damn excited!!!

Pick a Winner!

At work yesterday, I saw all three of the following:

The "picking my thong outta my butt/relieving my atomic wedgie" pick.

The "how big is that corn husky, shell thingy that's stuck between my molars" pick.

And the "If I don't make eye contact with them, maybe they can't see me pick my nose" pick.

~~

All in the same day. By three different people. All working in my office building.

~~

And it got me thinking....

~~

Which one repulses people the most?

~~

My guess is that most of you would say the nose pick. Cuz let's be honest. The thought of watching someone dig around their nostril in hopes of snagging a dried piece of snot (or not so dry as the case may be) is just nauseating. Add to that the fact that some people then put the aforementioned nugget in their mouth and I want to cry.

~~

Alas, that's what I saw today. I saw it and damn near died. And then I threw up in my mouth a little. Cus that is simply disgusting.

~~

Yeah, nose picking may just be the most repulsive.

~~

But then I start to think more about the other two.

Cuz neither of those is a walk in the park either.

~~

The least offensive (in my humble WWoW opinion) is the teeth pick. It just seems less gross. Well, less gross if your hands were not previously handling garbage, rotten food or bodily secretions. Then it would be hella gross and I'd be back to the little bit of vomit seeping into my mouth.

~~

What IS gross about the teeth pick is the SOUND that accompanies it. The sucking in of air, slurping up of spit and sucking on your tongue...all in hopes of dislodging the offending particle. As was the situation I witnessed today. I actually knew (by sound) what the person was doing before I even saw them. Which, if you haven't already surmised, brought AT LEAST the taste of vomit into my mouth. That, and a little bit of the Special K bar that revisited me. Not good.

~~

The wedgie pick is not in and of itself the world's most repulsive act....IF you do your business quickly and privately and move on with your day. I mean, let's face it....fabric has a way of migrating where it's not supposed to be. Fact of life, right?

~~

But when the wedgie picker in question commits the act of wedge removal as if they are diving into the Greater Barrier Reef, I take umbrage. Sever umbrage. Cuz nothing good comes of a person's fingers crammed into their crack (which is now, in some ways, shoving the material farther IN) gyrating side to side as they "discreetly" (see PUBLIC FREAKIN' HALLWAY) try to right their fabric wrong.

~~

And don't even get me started on how many fecal particles (yes, there are fecal particles even in the air around your back door) have now attached themselves to the fabric as it's pushed and pulled away from your crack.

Say it with me......VOMIT IN MY MOUTH.

~~

And can anyone with absolute certainty prove that the thin layer of clothing you have between the fingers trying to forge a wedgie rescue and your inner sanctum, is enough to keep those particles OFF YOUR FINGERTIPS???

~~

I shudder to think about it.

~~

Oh, and vomit just a little.

~~

Which leads me back to my original question....

~~

Which one repulses you the most?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leaving you with a 30 sec video of my wrestling wiener dogs.

Cuz I didn't want you leaving on a "fingers in your butt crack" mental note.

Plus, my video loader FINALLY worked and I was afraid to delete it and try to add it another day. What if it never works again???

Make sure you turn up your volume so you can hear the sounds of gnashing wiener teeth!!

(Oh, and the sound of Connor drumming in the background to Rock Band!)

~~

***Don't forget to DONATE!! You get a free entry into what's turning out to be a kick ass raffle full of unbelievable prizes!! I'm not joking people!!

Keep It Coming!!

I really never want to BE someone else. Nor do I really ever want to walk in someone else's shoes. Cuz I like being me.

And I assume the feeling is mutual....

People don't want to be me nor do they want to walk in MY shoes.

(although I do have an adorable pair of COACH clogs you might enjoy!)

But just this once, I wish y'all COULD be me. For at least a little bit.

For at least a little while.

Maybe a random hour or two each day for the next few weeks.

Cuz in that short amount of time, you too, could experience what I'm experiencing. What I encounter when I open my email, check my blog or hop over to Facebook. Cuz I'm feeling the love....and I don't mean that at all sarcastically.

I don't cuz it's true.

And it's all because of you. And you. And maybe even you.

You people are awesome.

I asked and many of you replied.

I wish each of you could experience the sense of awe and happiness and joy and pride I feel when someone contacts me to say that they want to donate. I swear my heart grows 10 times too big for my chest every time someone reaches out and says "count me in." Cuz your generosity means more to me than you can possibly imagine.
The donated gifts are beyond my wildest dreams. And although I still need MANY MORE (hint, hint, hint.....triple deluxe mega hint!!) I have been wowed by what I have been promised (and started to receive) so far.

*gift cards
*stunning jewelry
*$200 worth of steaks
*lobster feast for 2 to be mailed wherever you live
*expensive high end cosmetics
*gorgeous artwork
*tickets to the RED SOX!!!!!!
*handcrafted items that make me weak with jealousy

(you people are freakin' talented)
*Starbucks coffee maker
*and more!!

Is your mouth hanging open yet? Are you drooling with anticipation? And better yet? Are you motivated to get off your duff and donate something yourself?
(I really hope it's the last one!)

READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

Have I mentioned how excited I am about this? :)
~~~
Ending with a few funnies to keep my good mood going!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the girl in pink. Although the lady in red looks like she'd be a hella lot of fun too. (I may or may not look exactly like one of these two when John forces me on The Tower of Terror in Disney.)

I don't have a cat but I assume this is a talk best had at home. Can you imagine if they have to learn about this on the street?

I always suspected microwaves had a bigger purpose than just popping corn. Nice to finally have my suspicions confirmed.

You'll know it when you see it...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And my new most favorite cartoon:

The Morbidness is Coming....But Not Today!!

Too much happiness left over from yesterday that I decided to skip my Morbid Monday entry by one more day (or maybe two, depending on my mood!)

John and I had a most fantastic, absolutely amazing, no wonder I adore him more and more each year, anniversary yesterday. The day was perfect from beginning to end.

We spent the day hiking at a local state park which included sitting on the rocky coast basking in the gorgeous sunny day. We managed to find a secluded area where no one else dared bother us. We brought a picnic lunch (and yes, that included Diet Coke!) and just spent time remembering why we chose each other 18 years ago. (actually, it was 23 years ago but God gave it his seal of approval in 1991!)

We had such fun.

We wrote in the sand.

We watched 2 horseshoe crabs mating in the water.

We separated those same 2 horseshoe crabs when they climbed up on the beach.

(If we couldn't do "that" in a public place why should they?)

We sat and watched the beautiful water as it lapped against the shore.

And we took pics of the Osprey nesting on the island sanctuary located in Casco Bay.

We ended the day shopping in Freeport and managed to treat each other to a few anniversary goodies. (clothes people...what the heck were you thinking?)

It was the best day I've had in a long time.

Thanks John for making #18 perfect.

I love you.

Came home to find a bunch of donated raffle items ON MY DOORSTOP!!! And the promise of more waiting in my email!! I was so excited!!

Please remember to hop on over and READ about my endeavor. June and July are my COLLECT AS MANY DONATED ITEMS AS POSSIBLE months so that I will have the GREATEST DAMN RAFFLE EVER in August. So if you haven't yet donated something, committed to donating something or even considered donating something, you still have plenty of time.

~~~

And yes, for those that have asked...if you'd like to avoid having to deal with buying/making something and then shipping it to me, you CAN send $$$ as your donated item. I will collect this prize money and use it to buy gift cards. No problem at all. (I totally get that sometimes dealing with the shipping of donated items is just too much of a pain in the arse. But mailing cash/checks is as simple as slapping a stamp on an envelope!)

~~~

One last thing before I sign off for today.

You may have noticed a new widget located in the upper righthand corner of my blog. See it?? I put it there so that y'all couldn't miss it. I hope each of you might consider becoming a donor on the National Marrow Registry in the next few weeks. It's an awesome way to help out someone in need.

And for the next few weeks IT'S FREE!!!

~~~

It usually costs about $100.00 to add your name to the list so this is a great way to be proactive while not spending money out of your pocket. If you qualify to be a donor (there are a few simple yes/no questions you must ask yourself prior to signing up) they will send you a swab kit for you to use at home. It takes about 2 seconds to swab the inside of your mouth and then to mail the swabs back in the prepaid box included.

~~~

I did it 2 years ago, during another free registration period, and have been on the registry ever since. Never been called but will gladly help if needed.

~~~

Hope y'all will consider signing up.

~~~

It's free and easy...what more can you ask for?

~~~

(If you are interested, don't wait. The free registration period runs until 6/22 OR until they run out of the designated amount of free kits)

~~~

Whatcha waiting for? :)

You Still Take My Breath Away...

For 23 years, I've loved him with an intensity that scares me at times.

For 18 of those years, I've been lucky enough to call him my husband.

He is everything I wanted and everything I didn't know I needed.

Til death do us part seems like too soon an ending to this most wonderful journey.

~~

Thank you for choosing me to walk by your side all these years.

It's truly been MY honor.

Happy Anniversary.

Happy Hallie!!

I'm in SUCH a good mood. Yep, I am.

Cuz eventhough there are a million things to worry about (John's hand, kid stuff, car stuff, house stuff, lack of PRADA stuff, etc.) I feel pretty damn good.

Why, you ask?

Let's see.....

I managed to grow a few things that flowered at my house. Which in and of itself is a damn miracle. Cuz things die at my house. Green things come to my house to commit Planticide.

Yes, I know I didn't really do anything other than provide them with a yard to grow in. Yes, I get that they're perenials and would come back REGARDLESS of what I did or didn't do. And yes, I even understand that they aren't anything special.

But tough dots all you nay sayers!!! They flowered in MY yard and I'm taking FULL CREDIT for their beauty.

(Which will only last about 1 week so I'm gonna enjoy it it!!)

I love them and they are ALL MINE. And John's. And Connor's. And CJ's by proxy. And the wieners. And the snake. And all the fuzzy, wuzzy bumbly bees that seem to love them.

Yep, I grew them. And I'm happy. :)

I have a fun filled 3 DAY WEEKEND ahead of me. A weekend filled with a kick ass Festival in the Old Port, hiking in an awesome state park, drinks with friends, a movie (maybe) and a very special day with my man.

And the best part? It appears that the weather MAY COOPERATE!! Which means all that outdoor stuff can commence and I won't have to be a whiny pain in the ass complaining about the rain or cold!! (Cuz God, can I complain!)

Yep, it will be an awesome weekend. And I'm happy. :)

My quest to gather donated goods for my AUGUST RAFFLE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION (man, do I need a better name for that or what?) is off to an AMAZING start!!! People are offering the coolest stuff...stuff I am going to be sad I can't win!! (I figure I can't enter. Cuz if I won, it might look a BIT suspicious!)

I'm so excited for y'all to see what goodies lie in store for the raffle winners. By the time August 3rd rolls around, there will be EVEN MORE stuff cuz I am no where done hounding y'all to keep donating!!!

(Please say you'll donate!! What are you waiting for?)

And remember, even if you donate, you can still enter to win!!

Please hop over and READ about the raffle if you haven't already. And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, continue to spread the word about my need for more items. I've already received 3 donations from people that were NICELY BULLIED by other bloggers to get their butts over to the WWoW and donate!!! I love it!!
(BTW, bullying for a good cause is totally ok!)

Yep, donations are coming in. And I'm happy. :)

Spilling The Beans....

Ok, Ok, ok. ...I'll talk. No need to badger me anymore. Cuz I can't stand it. And I'm too wimpy to put up with it.

***As a side note, I would suck at being tortured and would SING LIKE A CANARY if ever truly tortured for information. Cuz apparently, when I'm brimming with excitement over a really cool project, I can't keep the details to myself.

Shine a light in my eye via one lone bulb? I'LL TALK!

Threaten to kick my wieners? I'LL TALK!

Give me a purple nurple or Indian rug burn? I'LL TALK, I'LL TALK, I'LL TALK!!

Basically, just do anything to make me even slightly uncomfortable and the info is yours.

Can you imagine if I was ACTUALLY tortured? :) "No need to water board me Mr. Evil Torturer, cuz I'll tell you anything you want to know!"

Cuz honestly? I WANT to share this info. I NEED to share this info. I HAVE to share this info.

And probably should have yesterday. But I naively thought I hadn't given the whole idea enough thought. That I didn't have all the details squared away. That I was totally unprepared to start the ball rolling.

But you know what? I'm not any of those things. Cuz truth be told, I have known EXACTLY what I want to do and how I want to do it for AT LEAST 6 months. (so I'm slow to motivate, don't hate me)

And actually.....I have really wanted to do this for the last 6 YEARS. (so I'm REALLY slow to motivate, what's it to you?)

See.....6 years ago, my life changed for the better. Cuz I got my Dad back. From the brink of death's door. And my life has never been the same.

That miracle was made possible by the incredible generosity of one family....one family that chose to donate their 19 year old son's heart to my dying 59 year old father. Which, to this day, remains the single greatest gift my family has ever or will ever receive.

Pretty awesome, huh?

For the past six years, I have desperately wanted to DO something to honor my Dad. And the donor family. And the donor himself. And the incredible gift that was given.

Oh, I've talked up organ donation as much as I possibly can and urged everyone I know to consider donating. I even recently started a FACEBOOK group (LINK) called WHY NOT DONATE WHAT YOU CAN'T TAKE WITH YOU, just to have an added vehicle to spread the word.

But lately, none of that seemed like enough.

And I wanted to do more.

Which brings me to my latest project.

A project that will officially get underway on August 3rd and will run for 2-3 weeks.

And will take the form of a raffle.

An AWESOME raffle. With prizes that y'all will be chomping at the bit to win.

Cuz if the donated items I have received so far (well, I don't actually have them yet but they have been promised to me!) are any indication of those to come (and there will be more cuz I plan to keep begging for donations!), y'all will be psyched to enter the raffle.

I will officially post the rules as Aug 3rd gets closer. For now, I can tell you that you COULD win TONS OF GREAT PRIZES by simply donating a dollar to enter the raffle. JUST ONE DOLLAR. (although I hope you'll donate more!)

Cuz if you donate more than that, you will have even more chances to win.

Chances/virtual raffle tickets will start as low as one entry for a buck and will climb to 25 entries for 20 bucks. (And if someone wants to give even more than that, hell, I'll give you tons more entries!! Why, a mere $100.00 could get you 150 entries!!)

Plus, there will be two ways to get FREE entries.

*If you donate an item for the raffle....one free entry.

*If you have a blog and mention/link the contest....one free entry.

It's that easy.

My objective? To raise as much money as possible via the raffle. Which I will in turn, donate in my Dad's name (and the donor's memory) to a wonderful organization that I will announce shortly. (Still waiting to verify that they will gladly take the money. Can't imagine they won't but just want to check first!)

But in order to raise a crap load of money and to meet the ridiculously high goal I have set for myself, I need your help.

Which is what yesterday's blog post was about.

Cuz in order to have a successful raffle, I need a butt load of donated prizes. Did I say a butt load? Well, I meant it!! The more, the better.

Cuz although people are generally ok giving to a good cause, it never hurts to add in the possibility of winning something great. Nothing wrong with that!! People like to win and if the KICK ASS PRIZE PACKAGE(S) I have to offer, entice you to GIVE BIG, then we're all winners!!

I am happy to report (REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT) that I received a bunch of very generous offers yesterday for raffle items. Which I am SOOOOOOO very happy about.

But I need more. Much more.

Which means I need y'all to spread the word about this contest. Send people over to my blog or link this information in a post. You can even cut and paste this entire post if you know someone that might be willing to donate a prize. Paste it right into an email and hit SEND!!!

The more y'all help me spread the word, the more amazing the prize package(s) will be. Which will mean more people will enter to win. Which means more money generated.

And lots of money raised means ONE SERIOUSLY HAPPY HALLIE!!

So what do you say?

Think you can help? Got something to donate? Know someone that might donate? Feel like helping to spread the word? Think I can ask anymore questions?? :)

PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING!!!

Did I forget anything? Contact me if you have ANY questions! fenwaydog@roadrunner.com

I thank you in advance for all that you might do! And I apologize in advance for bugging y'all til you agree to donate something!!

Just kidding....sort of! :)

PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP???

I need your help. ALL of your help. And yes, I'm talking to you...and you...and even you.

Cuz I'm gearing up to do something pretty cool. Something for an amazing cause. Something near and dear to my heart. (Hint #1!)

But I need help. Help from anyone and everyone willing to lend a hand.

Cuz this thing is too big for me to handle alone. And it's success will, in part, depend on the generosity of others.

And although I am not quite ready to announce all the details, I AM getting excited. Cuz it's something I'm passionate about. And it's something I've been meaning to do for the last 6 years. (Hint #2!)

For now, what I AM ready to do, is to ask for your assistance. To look around your home, your workplace, your studio, your purse, your wherever and make a commitment to help me.

And to contact me.

If you can help.

What I need from you will help make the end result ALL THAT MUCH BETTER. What I need from you will ultimately make my undertaking A HUGE SUCCESS. What I need from you will end up helping others IN A BIG WAY.

Curious?

Here's the scoop....

I need stuff for a GIANT RAFFLE. Stuff that will combine together to form the coolest PRIZE PACKAGE this side of, well....the world!! (Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration but it will be uberly impressive!)

*If you're an artist, might you donate a piece of your art?
*If you're a crafter, might you donate a handmade craft?
*If you're an author, might you donate a copy of your book?
*If you're a photographer, might you donate a picture?
*If you're a blogger that reviews products all the time, might you donate one or two of those items?
*If you work for a company that makes a cool product, might you ask them to donate one?
*If you aren't crafty AT ALL, (like me...sigh) might you consider buying something to add? A gift card, a cool "whatever" or a unique "must have?"

Get the idea? If you knit, stamp, macrame, paint, photograph, make jewelry, design anything, have a store you might like to draw attention to, whittle, paint, etc.....would you consider tossing something into the mix?

Basically, if you're willing to donate it, I'll take it. Cuz the PRIZE PACKAGE will be as cool as y'all make it. And so far, it's pretty cool. First two requests I threw out, got awesome results. And both amazing items are being worked on as we speak.

Pretty awesome, huh?

Two things to note.....

*If you donate an item, you can still enter to win the contest. Your donation does NOT exclude you at all. As a matter of fact, it might just get you an extra entry.

*By donating an item, you will get several public shout outs here on the WWoW as well as the many other blogs (some with big followings) I have recruited (and I plan to recruit many more!). Which means, if you have an ETSY shop or an at home business or just want to draw people to your blog, you'll get INSTANT results from all the people that will wander over and check you out!

And one other REALLY IMPORTANT THING....

If I KNOW you make something cool or have the opportunity to hook me up with something raffle worthy, I just MIGHT come knocking on your blog. DIRECTLY. Which means, you can run but you can't hide. Cuz this "thing" that I'm doing is so damn important to me that I'm NOT afraid to beg for donations. I'm not. Just you wait and see.

Plus, I have several people working with me to secure donations. And they too, are not above bullying y'all into contributing. Of course, they'll bully you in the nicest possible way!! (If you want to help me out gathering donations, I would love that too!! Just drop me a line.)

This "thing" I am doing will take place in August so there's plenty of time to get off your rockers and HELP ME OUT.

And yes, I know (don't we all) that times are tough for everyone. And that donating is not high on every one's list right now.

But I still believe, given the opportunity, people can and will give if they are able. And it's for a great cause. One that has effected those near and dear to my heart in a big way. (Hint #3) Which means, by offering to donate SOMETHING, you are offering to help me personally. And I'll never forget that.

I won't.

Ever.

I mean it.

Leave me a comment or email me directly if you can help. Or if you have any questions.

I plan to talk more and more about this as the time gets closer. And to spread the word about the big CONTEST/RAFFLE as far around the blog world and Facebook as I possibly can. Cuz in order to meet the "pretty lofty goal" I set for myself, I need tons of people to enter come August.

And you know what? I totally think I can do that.

And if the PRIZE PACKAGE is as fantastic as I suspect it will be, I won't have any problem getting people to take a chance and enter.

Good cause + the possibility to win a kick ass awesome prize package = win, win for everyone!

Whatcha all waiting for?

Contact me!!! fenwaydog@roadrunner.com

Thanks in advance from the bottom of my heart. :) (Hint #4!)

(Almost forgot to mention... please, please, please, direct people you know that might donate an item, over here to the WWoW. The more people that know, the better!)

HINT #5

Hint #6
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=97380670249

Guess with all these hints, I was more ready to tell you what this all has to do with than I thought!!

But I can't help it....I'm just so excited!!

Laws Are MEANT To Be Broken

I haven't yet visited all 50 states in the good ol'
U S of A.

And I doubt I ever will.

Cuz some states have laws on their books that I just can't tolerate.

Which means, unless these states change their laws, one certain blogger named Hallie WON'T be visiting anytime soon.

In Alabama, it is illegal to buy a bag of peanuts after sunset and before sunrise the next day. Apparently buying Doritoes is ok. But peanuts? Don't even think about it. Which sucks cuz I ONLY crave peanuts once the sun goes down. I mean, how gauche would it be to eat them BEFORE sunset?

In Arkansas, a man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month. Who tracks this? Are men given a score card on their wedding day that they have to produce during random spot checks? Or are the wives expected to report the "YOU'RE IN TROUBLE NOW ASSHOLE CUZ IT'S STILL MAY AND YOU ALREADY MESSED ME UP ONCE THIS MONTH," beatings?

In California, it is against the law to set a mousetrap without a hunting license. This one I MIGHT actually agree with. Cuz setting a mouse trap is no laughing matter. After all, someone could bruise a finger nail. Having been to California once before, I think I feel much better knowing that someone couldn't just PLACE a mousetrap without that all important license. Just makes me feel safer.

In Florida, owners who leave elephants at parking meters must pay the same fee as for a vehicle. Totally unacceptable. And although I've already visited Florida, I MIGHT NOT move there as planned if they don't change this. Cuz it just doesn't seem fair. Not sure why, but it just doesn't. (Note to self...find out how much leaving a meerkat at a parking meter would cost.)

In Iowa, after love-making, men are not allowed to take more than three gulps of beer while lying in bed with their partner or holding them in their arms. This HAS to be changed. How else can I expect to drink FOUR gulps of Diet Coke post coital if my man can't take THREE long chugs off his COLT 45?

In Massachusetts, mourners are not allowed to eat more than three sandwiches each at a wake. Their joking, right? I mean, this can't possibly refer to those cute little cucumber sandwiches that are OH SO POPULAR at wakes. Maybe they are JUST referring to three helpings of THE REALLY BIG SANDWICH?

In Missouri, women are prohibited from wearing corsets because "the privilege of admiring the curvaceous, unencumbered body of a young woman should not be denied to the normal red-blooded male." Bullshit!! I just packed for my trip to Missouri yesterday and all I packed was corsets!!! Cuz corsets are DA BOMB! And are SOOOO COMFORTABLE!!

In Minnesota, it is illegal to pass a cow in Pine Island District without tipping your hat. I'm sorry. I just can't do it. Cows and I do NOT get along. And I will not tip my hat at ANYTHING that cops an attitude. And OH BOY, do cows have shitty TUDES or what? Now, if Minnesota wants me to bow to a pig, I will happily oblige!!

In New York, having sex with a porcupine is illegal. If I had known this before visting NY as many times as I have, I would NEVER have entered this backwards thinking state. Cuz NO STATE tells Hallie who she can or can't get jiggy with. Who's to say that porcupines don't make fantastic lovers???

In Oklahoma, anyone found making ugly faces at a dog can be fined, arrested or jailed. Oklahoma, much like New York, is not open minded. Cuz sometimes making an ugly face at a dog is the quickest way to bond with our four legged friends. At least that's what I think when I see John glaring at my wieners!!

In Wisconsin, it is illegal for a man to fire a gun when his female partner has an orgasm. This is simply assinine. How else would a woman know when she's done?

In Pueblo, Colorado, it is illegal to let dandelions grow. I can never move to Pueblo. Cuz dandelions are just about the ONLY thing I CAN grow. They're flowers too. Well, they flower don't they???

In Hartford, Connecticut, it's illegal to educate a pet dog. Although I TOTALLY disagree with this law, since smart dogs rock in my book, I fear that we should move to Hartford ASAP. Cuz we can't teach our wieners bubkiss...and we've tried. What they know how to do....they do cuz THEY want to. We're just along for the ride.

In Utah, garden birds have the right of way on all roads, and having sex in an ambulance is banned. Might be ok with the bird law cuz garden birds really should be able to go wherever they want on any road whenever they want. But the ambulance sex law HAS TO GO. Cuz having sex while strapped to a gurney in a vehicle shaped like a box as the sirens are blaring isn't just my fantasy, is it? It's yours too....RIGHT???? RIGHT?????

In Illinois, it's illegal to sit by a fish pond in your pajamas. Screw you Illinois. Not only am I ONLY packing PJ's when I come to visit, but I'm sitting by every freakin' fish pond I can find. And if you DON'T change this law Illinois, I just MIGHT sit by those ponds in my summer PJ's. Which, in case you're wondering Illinois, IS MY BIRTHDAY SUIT!!!!

Suck on that Illinois!!

Oh wait, that sounds a little perverted, doesn't it?

Bubbles Mean Stop

I discovered something about myself that I did not know.

When I have a stomach ache, I can not produce a Morbid Monday post.

Cuz although I thought NOTHING freaked me out (well, besides THESE which I won't blog about ever again) apparently morbid pics DO bother my stomach.

Cuz no matter how much I tried to put together all the different pics I had for this weeks MM installment, I just couldn't do it.

To be more exact, my stomach couldn't do it. My stomach doth protest loudly. My stomach said HELL NO.

And I think it was serious as evidenced by the bubble of vomit that kept working its way up my throat. That's right....I said vomit bubble. Or multiple vomit bubbles as the case may be.

So I stopped trying to compose what would have been a pretty morbid MORBID MONDAY post. Cuz I DON'T like throwing up. At all.

And I was going to if I kept looking at those pics.

So I'll hold the pics til next week and instead pose three questions to y'all. Cuz questions are FAR EASIER for my upset tummy to deal with than in your face, full color photos of all things morbid related.

Answer if you will cuz interested I sure am.

*For ONE MILLION DOLLARS (said in my best Dr. Evil voice) what's the single grossest thing you would be willing to eat?

*What is the grossest and/or most morbid thing you have ever seen?

*What's your biggest fear? I'm not talking about serious life altering fears, like the death of a loved one or complete blindness. I'm talking about a thing...something that terrifies you as much as (gulp) 8 legged (gulp) furry (gulp) can climb up onto the ceiling and drop on my head (gulp) look like they should be on leashes (gulp) spiders scare me. And don't say you don't have one cuz everyone does.

Answer one or answer all. But damn it, just answer!

I'll be waiting.....and working hard to keep those vomit bubbles at bay.

Saturday With Sarah

Spent Saturday in Massachusetts visiting my family. Saw both my parents and my brother which was great - I don't get to see them as much as I'd like.

But the real highlight of the day was getting to spend several hours with my niece Sarah. Who is walking. And talking. And on the go non-stop.

This is how the day started. Sarah is a VERY serious little girl. She looks like she is constantly contemplating whether she actually needs you in her life. I took about 3,492 pics that look like this one. She is very serious indeed.

She continued be someone serious for an hour or so.

You can't see it from this angle, but she was staring at Connor in a very serious way.


And repeatedly checked him out with that "WHY are you this close to me?" look that she does oh so well.

But after kissing her Daddy goodbye...

Pointing at the helicopter as it flew by...


Texting her toddler buddies on my phone....

And walking around with her curls shining in the sunlight...


Happy Sarah emerged!!!

And smiled!!!

And laughed!!

And giggled!!

And melted my heart six ways to Sunday!!

And stayed happy the rest of the day!!

It was an awesome sight to see. That little girl has a beautiful smile. And because she doesn't share it all that often, I appreciate it so much more.

She was happy hanging out with her cousins.

And getting some one on one lovin' from CJ.

And yelling out loud with Connor.

(Notice how BOTH of their mouths are wide open?)

It really was an all around fantastic day....one I hope to repeat soon.

Couldn't leave without posting a pic of the note CJ had taped to his door for Connor. When we arrived at my Dad's, this was what Connor found.

I love that my kids both have an awesome sense of humor and try not to take life too seriously.

But even more than that, I love the love they have for each other.

Pictures I am Currently In Love With - Yep, That's Right...I LOVE Them. What's It To You?

Why the hell didn't I think of this? I have only EVER completed 2 sides at once. Go ahead and make fun of me. I know, I suck.

Morbid subject matter but brilliant set up. Why, when I look at my finger, do I ONLY see a finger? I apparently lack a creative flair.

What kind of dog is that and does it shed?

The GREATEST senior picture ever. Hands down. Nothing has ever been or ever will be better.

Bottle fed my two rugrats yet STILL adore this pic.

Long live the boob!!!

Don't ask me why I love this pic. Cuz I have no idea. I DON'T even like GI Joe but I DO kind of like squirrels.

Odd, huh?

I want to hug this thing. No apologies for my weird desire. It screams I NEED A HUG.

I usually hate the icanhasacheezeburger pics. But this one? Well this one had me at "rest now."

If you're not laughing, you must not have a pulse.

Oh, and Alice? Tell Erv I said HI! :)

It's Your Last So Make It Good!

During my travels along the World Wide Web, I came across a list of Final Meal Requests from 12 Death Row inmates in Texas.

1)Two bacon double cheeseburgers, French fries, onion rings, ketchup, cole slaw, two diet Cokes, one quart of milk, one pint of rocky road ice cream, one pint of fried okra, salad dressing, tomato, and onion

2)One cup of hot tea (from tea bags) and six chocolate chip cookies

3)One whole fried chicken (extra crispy), salad with Thousand Island dressing, French toast, two diet Cokes, one apple pie, and French fries

4)Two 16 oz. ribeyes, one lb. turkey breast (sliced thin), twelve strips of bacon, two large hamburgers with mayo, onion, and lettuce, two large baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, cheese, and chives, four slices of cheese or one-half pound of grated cheddar cheese, chef salad with blue cheese dressing, two ears of corn on the cob, one pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and four vanilla Cokes or Mr. Pibb

5) One bag of assorted Jolly Ranchers

6)Eight soft fried eggs (wants yellow runny), big bowl of grits, five biscuits with bowl of butter, five pieces of fried hard and crisp bacon, two sausage patties, pitcher of chocolate milk, two pints vanilla Blue Bell ice cream, and two bananas

7)Pizza (beef, bacon bits, and multiple types of cheese), 10 quesadillas (5 mozzarella cheese, 5 cheddar cheese), 5 strips of open-flame grilled beef, 5 strips of stir-fried beef, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, sweet tea, double fudge chocolate cake, broccoli, and grapes

***8)Justice, Equality, World Peace

9)Fifteen slices of cheese, three fried eggs, three buttered toasts, two hamburger patties with cheese, 2 tomato sliced, one sliced onion, french fries with salad dressing, 2 lb. of crispy fried bacon, one quart chocolate milk and one pint of fresh strawberries

10)Strawberry shake and cheesecake

11)Two boxes of frosted flakes and a pint of milk

12)T-bone steak (med. to well done), french fries and catsup, whole kernel corn, sweet peas, lettuce and tomato salad with egg and french dressing, iced tea, sweetener, saltines, Boston cream pie, and rolls

And it got me thinking.

Thinking about what I would choose as my last meal if ever on Death Row facing my imminent execution.

Cuz apparently, there's no limit as to what you can request. Or as to how much or how little you can ask for. (although it clearly said that not everything requested was provided)

Which somehow makes it all that much harder to choose.

DO I want to make a glutton of myself, stuffing as much as possible down my throat on that last day? (Thereby risking whorfing it all back up at that final moment?)

Or do I just want to eat a little bit of the few things I truly adore, savoring each bite as if it were my last? (which IT would be so that works)

The whole concept is mind boggling.

And a bit overwhelming.

And something I can't stop thinking about.

Cuz although I have no plans in the near future to BE on Death Row, one can never be too prepared.

(Leave it to me to be the only person on Death Row MORE concerned about my last meal than about my pending, yet unavoidable demise.)

All I have so far is a SHIT LOAD OF DIET COKE, lobster and A BUTT LOAD OF HOSTESS CUPCAKES. The rest is still a work in progress.
***Adding - dark chocolate covered soda crackers or dark chocolate covered pretzels and crab cakes

I plan to update this post throughout the day as I perfect my final meal choices. (Sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation, aren't you?)

In the meantime, anyone care to toss their

FMR (Final Meal Request - get with the program people)

into the ring?

What would y'all choose?

What can't y'all (pun intended) LIVE WITHOUT?

***Noble request but can't imagine it filled him up.

A Post With No Point - It's All Over the Road...So What?

But what if I WANT him to do THAT?
It can actually be used RECTALLY. Does hearing the theme song to Spongebob Squarepants (Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?) while this is jammed up your butt, lessen the childhood trauma?

Wonder how hungry I'd have to be to think CHEESEBURGER IN A CAN would be a tasty treat?

Kimmy, John and I can have fun anywhere. This is us posing at a baseball game. And yes, John IS in the pic. Notice how he can only make rabbit ears with one hand! :)

Fenway will sleep anywhere. Apparently a freshly folded pile of clean laundry (that Connor was supposed to put away) makes for a comfy pillow.

Got this in an email. Caption under the pic simply read,

WHY RAINCOATS ARE YELLOW.

~~~

My Dad sent me this pic in an email with the subject line: FODDER FOR YOUR BLOG. Although I don't think it's a real pic, it made me chuckle.

Plus, I love that my Dad keeps his eye out for blog worthy stuff. :)

When you walk out the door in the morning and see this in the sky......

.....just go back inside, have another cup of coffee, and stay home.

It's NOT going to be a good day.

~~~
Saw this on a list of rules for men.

The only pink things that men can like are lady parts and the inside of a steak.

Never quite thought of it that way.

You're Such a POSER!!!!

Nothing morbid yesterday out of respect for Memorial Day. Just didn't feel right posting morbidness on a day of remembrance and recognition.

~~~

Instead, today I offer a bunch of VERY INTERESTING/AWKWARD photos...photos that make me really wonder what people were thinking when they posed like this. Not saying anything negative about the actual people IN the photos (although I could but won't in case these pics contain one of y'alls family members), just that the poses/set up for the shots are UNIQUELY UNUSUAL....to say the least. I found them on the web posted for all to see so I guess the people pictured in them were happy with the outcome.

~~~

Not sure I would feel the same way but to each his own!

Totally GET that having a baby is a beautiful thing. Also totally GET that a pregnant woman is beautiful. But totally DON'T get this pic. The hand on the butt? The fact that he looks like he's a 12 year old member of the Backstreet Boys? The cartoony backdrop? Nope, don't get it at all.

Rabbits and birds.....seriously???? Wonder if this was their engagement photo?

You KNOW I love me some pot bellied pigs but even I think this a BIT much. Maybe if the piggy wasn't wearing a tshirt.....

WTF???? Say it with me...WTF??? Who the hell takes a family photo with everyone holding their favorite plush animal? And don't you just love that the kid in front went totally AGAINST the teddy bear theme? What a freakin' rebel he is!!

Loving your pussy cats is one thing, but LOVING your pussy cats like this is

JUST. PLAIN. WRONG.

I don't even know what to say about this one.
Just at a total loss for words....

I totally get that this woman has a BIG squash, but could this pose be any more inappropriate? You just know that Schnauzer died a little inside when she made it sit next to her.

Um, excuse me young lady holding the coconut? You appear to have a serial killer in the making just over your left shoulder.

Can't decide if the giant sword or the shredded pants make more of an impact in this photo. And are we supposed to assume he used that sword to shred both his pants AND the flag?

The only one in this pic that shouldn't be mortified for dressing like a complete ass, is the baby. And that's only cuz he/she didn't have a choice. The other two should be imprisoned for public embarrassment.

What might have simply been 2 younger brothers posing with their 2 older sisters has somehow become a pic that just makes me want to take a shower. Cuz something about the way this looks, just screams HELLA WRONG on so many levels.

Really wasn't so bad until they went all HANDS ACROSS AMERICA on each other. Looks like their playing a jacked up game of TWISTER using only their arms.

And lastly? Well, this one isn't actually a problem with the posing so much as a problem with a "part" of the pose. Truthfully? The real problem is that the family didn't look closely at the photo before sending it out as their annual Xmas card.

(Sure makes Elaine's nip slip on Seinfeld seem mild by comparison!)

Funny, Funny Stuff!

THINGS YOU LEARN FROM HAVING KIDS

* A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
* If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
* A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
* If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
* You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
* The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
* When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
* Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
* A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
* Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
* Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
* Super glue is forever.
* No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
* Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
* VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
* Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
* Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
* You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
* Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
* The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
* The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
* It will, however, make cats dizzy.
* Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
* 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
* 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Say It Isn't So

Does anyone take these:

Stick them in here:

And then slather them with a coating of this?

John does.

And I'm BEYOND disturbed.

And when I told him I thought he was EFFED UP in the head for doing so and that NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD DOES THIS, he challenged me to find out. In other words, ask the blog world.

So I'm asking.....does anyone, anywhere butter their Pop Tarts?

He's My Brother....

Yesterday I got to meet someone that I've wanted to meet for a very long time. Cuz this person could very well have been someone I am sort of related to. Well, related to by marriage. Well, more like related to by marriage by proxy.

See, SUE, could have sort of, kind of, just a little bit been my sister-in-law. Sort of. Cuz Sue's sister Karen dated my brother Dave one hot summer many moons ago.

And in a weird twist of fate, one that reminds us how small the world actually is, I "found" Sue and her blog one year ago. Totally by accident. Without knowing who she was or how we were sort of, kind of connected.

Once we figured out how our lives had kind of, sort of intersected all those summers ago, we started talking about someday meeting in person. Cuz truth be told? Sue is someone that I just KNEW I would love in person. Cuz she's cool. And funny. And down to earth. And she had me at hello.

So when the chance came up for us to meet, I jumped...along with Mary Ellen who has also come to know Sue through this crazy blog world.

We met at a local pub, along with Sue's friend Becki (also fantastic) and got to know each other IN REAL LIFE!! And you know what? I was right. I LOVE her as much as I thought I would.

It was like I've known her my whole life. The conversation was easy and never felt awkward. How awesome is that?

We made plans to get together again this summer. And I for one can't wait. Cuz if I loved Sue this much the first time out, I can only imagine how much I'll adore her sister Karen (my bro's former summer flame!) :)

After our "way too short" visit ended, I got to thinking about my brother. Cuz really, in an indirect way, David is responsible for bringing such an awesome person like Sue in to my life.

I love Dave a lot. And although we haven't always had a perfect relationship, I consider myself intensely lucky to have him as my ONLY sibling. Cuz he's pretty awesome.

In honor of my bro whom I love so much, I give you this jaunt down memory lane. Please keep in mind that we had NO control over how we were dressed and that when there are 2 kiddos, ONE of them HAS to be the fatter one. Which was obviously me! (the word pudgier comes to mind!)
Back of the pic says "DO THEY LOOK SLEEPY TO YOU?" Newsflash Mom, if you put that much crap in a crib, how can you expect a kid to sleep? Isn't the bigger question, "WHY ARE WE IN THE CRIB TOGETHER?" :) (Taken 9/19/72)

Caption on back,"DON'T THEY LOOK BRAVE?" Should have said, "WHY MOM, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DID YOU CUT MY BANGS AT A SLANT?"

Nice pigtails and denim get up Hallie! But in my defense, Dave DOES have a weird thing goin' on with his jaw.

Not much to say about Dave and I in this pic. But a WHOLE LOT to think about my Mom's stylish outfit!!!

I'm sure I was asking for a PRADA bag. Dave was probably just thanking Santa for blessing him with such an amazing sister.

York Beach, Maine - looking sexy in our beach attire. Weren't we a little old to be playing with pails and shovels????

Me...10 months old and fat. David...3 years old and not. 39 and 42 years old now, respectively, and still proportionately built like this. Dave is just damn skinny!! Can't a sister catch a break?

Apparently Ft. Lauderdale brought out the inner swimsuit model in me (BWAHAHAHA!) and the outer Shawn Cassidy hair on Dave!! :)

1971 was the year my mom decided it was ok to dress David like he was a member of a Barber Shop Quartet and me in the world's ugliest paint smock. I fear she actually took us out in public like this.....

Dave and me hanging with our favorite Grammie. All three of us look like BEFORE pics on a segment of WHAT NOT TO WEAR. Dave....the hat? WTF? Grammie...the hair? Birds nest in there much? Me....need another donut fatty? Let's hope that outfit had some GIVE to it.

Well, this pic certainly explains why I look so chunky in the above pic. Notice how I am in a "Oh God, there's cake in my line of sight" stupor while Dave seems unimpressed? All these years later, cake still makes me drool but Dave can live without. (Foolish non-cake loving mortal!!)

I think someone took pity on us both but mostly me. Cuz taking the pic in B&W helped soften my already soft enough features. I look fat and and slightly angry (probably thinking of that cake) while Dave just looks cute. I love him but damn, how'd he get so lucky in the gene pool?

Well, What Do YOU Think?

I can NOT get this song out of my head.

I can NOT stop watching the video.

I can NOT stop singing/humming the song.

And I don't even LIKE the damn things!!

But when that little green jiggly guy comes hopping across my screen, I damn near burst.

Cuz he's just that cute. Cuz he's just that adorable. Cuz he's singing a song that's just that addicting.

(And it certainly doesn't hurt that the little bugger reminds me of a yummy Jello shot!)



If the video isn't working, you can just click HERE!

Well....what do y'all think? Like it? Hate it? Singing it right now? :)

Hallie Likes Her Blog...Hallie Really Does

Had such a good time this weekend belatedly celebrating my BFF's 36th birthday.

Posted this pic IN REAL TIME AS IT HAPPENED on Facebook but am slapping it up here as well. Cuz (shockingly) not everyone that reads my blog is on FB. Seems like lots of bloggers are straddling the blogging and the FB world but not everyone has succumbed to Facecrack. I must say it is kind of fun to be able to post a pic immediately which is what FB and my handy dandy cell phone allow me to do. But ultimately I'm a blogger at heart which is why most things eventually end up here anyway! :)

LONG LIVE MY BLOG!!! What the hell would I do with out it?

I'm feeling random (surprised, huh?) so random it is. Seems like random thoughts, random crap and/or random pictures make me ONE VERY HAPPY HALLISICLE!!

I'm considering talking about Hallie in the 3rd person. Cuz Hallie likes to refer to herself as Hallie just like Bob referred to himself as Bob on BECKER. Bob was awesome. I loved Bob. Even if you hated the show, Bob was worth sticking around for. In other words, Hallie hearts Bob.

If flow charts were all this fun, I would SOOOOO have paid more attention in school.

I never knew sloths were so freakin' scary looking. I didn't think they were exactly cute, like in a fuzzy koala bear way, but I had no idea they were scary in a "Dawn of the Dead" way. And I don't think it's their razor sharp claws that make them so bad ass. I clearly think it's their "scary thing from the Goonies" facial expressions.

That thing had a name, right?

Lefties boobs are the size of righties head. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Would men and women have different answers to that question?

Just SEEMS wrong? WTF!! It IS WRONG!!!

Whoever wrote that caption is a tad bit too open minded for me.

They say an elephant never forgets. Which, based on the expression of the "receiving" Dumbo, would appear to be true. She seems to actually be smiling just a bit, doesn't she? :)

Everywhere I look, there's a wiener in a window. Wonder if there's a spray or a creme I can get to take care of that?

I SAID NO...END OF DISCUSSION

There is VERY LITTLE IN LIFE that I FORBID John to do. Very little. Cuz even though I'm his wife and the woman who painfully gave birth (UN-FREAKIN-MEDICATED) to his two children, I don't feel it's my place to stop him from doing those things that might bring him pleasure. I really don't. Which is why I generally grin and bear it when he informs me that he wants to do something I'd rather he not.

~~~

Ok, ok, ok...I don't actually sit back and say NOTHING. After all, this is ME were talking about! I DO, if truth be told, share my STRONG opinion as to why I think he's a butthead for wanting to do whatever it is I object to. But I ONLY give him my opinion....I DON'T tell him NO SOUP FOR YOU, ONE YEAR. (swap out SOUP for whatever activity I don't agree with and ONE YEAR for FOREVER)

~~~

BUT (and it's a big but) I have FORBID him from doing two activities.

(So far, it's worked)

Two activities that if a problem occurs, he can EASILY DIE FROM. And if not die, become a SERIOUSLY DISABLED VEGETABLE.

~~~

Yep, two activities scare the shit out of me and I've put my foot down. Cuz as long as we have kids to parent (see "rest of our lives") I want John in one piece....one ALIVE piece...cuz I don't plan on single parenting for even one minute. I expect us both around and in good fighting form (cuz you need to be able bodied to parent our two wonderful sons) for as long as humanly possible! :)

~~~

And before y'all that DO partake in the first of these two FORBIDDEN BY HALLIE activities lecture the hell out of me, let me tell you that I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. Cuz no matter how much y'all might tell me that this activity is PERFECTLY SAFE or ENORMOUSLY ENJOYABLE, I will still believe what I've seen up close and personal. Cuz I worked in a hospital for 6 years and I saw some bad shit. Bad shit that was a direct result of this activity.

This huge laceration (which before repaired, resulted in degloving) happened when someone was "enjoying" this activity.

And this gaping head porthole is a direct result of someone "enjoying" this activity WITHOUT adequate protection.

Wonder if this guy really "enjoyed" the experience that left a giant chunk of his back on the highway.

No matter how much I try to guess what this guy was thinking either right before or right after this happened, I highly doubt the word "enjoyment" was running through his head. Just don't imagine the phrases "fence post through your crotch and out your side" and "highly enjoyable" are used together very often.

~~~

Anyone want to guess what activity these people were "enjoying?"

~~~

I'll share the second FORBIDDEN BY HALLIE activity in a future post....if I can find pics to go with it. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the accidents that result from THAT activity are so bad, there seem to be very few pics out there. Guess the end result is so awful, no one dares take photos!

Funny Stuff

THE FINAL EXAM
At Duke University, there were four sophomores taking Organic Chemistry. They did so well on all the quizzes, midterms and labs, etc., that each had an "A" so far for the semester. These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to go up to the University of Virginia and party with some friends there. They had a great time - however, after all the hardy-partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, they decided to find their professor after the final and explain to him why they missed it.

~~~
They explained that they had gone to UVA for the weekend with the plan to come back in time to study, but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on the way back, didn't have a spare, and couldn't get help for a long time. As a result, they missed the final.

~~~
The professor thought it over and then agreed they could make up the final the following day. The guys were elated and relieved. They studied that night and went in the next day at the time the professor had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.

~~~
They looked at the first problem, worth five points. It was something simple about free radical formation.

~~~
"Cool," they thought at the same time, each one in his separate room, "this is going to be easy." Each finished the problem and then turned the page.

~~~
On the second page was written:

(For 95 points): Which tire?

Apparently Jello Isn't ALWAYS Good

Erma knew that Minnie was bringing a Jello mold to the pot luck,

but she brought one too.

And her’s had fruit floating in it.

Who could compete with floating fruit?
When Minnie asked Erma why she brought the same dish to the party she just smiled and said "Oh honey, they aren’t the same! Mine has fruit!"
That Erma was a passive aggressive pot luck bitch.

Couple of Quick Things

Saw the surgeon yesterday and all is well (knock on wood) so far. There's no sign of infection and he can move his fingers. They took some of his stitches out but left some to ensure that the incision stays closed.


They also changed his splint to a lighter and less bulky one. The Occupational Therapist asked him to start both passive and active exercises which hurt like a bastard. But John's a trooper and will do them as directed.


After all...He's a man on a mission.


And that mission ends on a golf course.

I suspect he'll get there sooner
than his doc would like!

~~~

Even injured and in pain, John is still a great guy. How many men do you know that would (with NO prompting at all) start wandering through the woman's department looking for work out clothes that he thinks would look cute on his wife?
While in pain?

John never ceases to amaze me. Not only did he WANT to look, but he encouraged me to try on a bunch. And then he gave me his opinion on which looked the best. Ok, he also offered (with a giant smile plastered on his face) to "feel" if they looked good on me. Confused? Don't be. John is just weird. Cuz he thinks work out pants can only look good if they feel good on my butt. But not necessarily feel good to me. (although that's important too) They also have to feel good to him when he squeezes my butt. That's my man. :)

~~~

Had to make a run to Wally World yesterday for gauze, gauze and more gauze. The dressing on John's hand needs to be changed daily which means we need many rolls of gauze. Which we didn't happen to have. Imagine that. With the mega number of surgeries John has had in the last few years, we DON'T have gauze rolls. We have gauze pads but not rolls. Who DOES have 10+ rolls of gauze on hand?

So off to Wally World we went. For a quick shopping trip. In and out. No big deal.

And it kind of was. We got what we needed (plus 10 extra items that somehow fell into our cart) and managed to find a check out line that only had 60 gazillion people instead of the normal 80 gazillion.

Which is why, as we stood behind the 60 gazillion people waiting for our turn, I had WAY TOO MUCH TIME to look around at my fellow shoppers. Which, in hindsight, I wish I hadn't done.

What is it about Walmart in Maine? Why does our Walmart seem to attract the strangest and smelliest people in the land? Add to that their inability to wear clothes that fit (I'm truly not trying to judge but if you appear to weigh upwards of 300 pounds, I am quite certain that your shirt size is bigger than a small) and their general lack of teeth and you get a bumper crop of odd looking people.
It's unreal. And it never fails. Walk into our Walmart and you can expect to see people, the likes of which you have never seen before.

I wonder if this happens to anyone else at Walmarts throughout the country or is it just a localized phenomenon? (If it wasn't down right rude and possibly illegal, I would take pics of some of these folks. Cuz seeing is believing. And believe you me, these people are everything I described and more!)

~~~

Tonight is the night that we paint the town red in honor of my BFF's 36th birthday. We have grandiose plans to stay out all night (or until Kimmy turns into cranky Kimmy, oh say, around 10:30) and to have more fun than ever before. (that will be hard cuz damn, have we had TONS OF FUN before!)

Kimmy PROMISES to have a shot of tequila AND a shot of something else. I suspect she will also have a few beers or a margarita or two so there is A CHANCE (albeit it small) that she really will be as fun as she says.

Whether we get PARTIALLY FUN KIMMY or BED SPINS FUN KIMMY (fingers crossed!), we are psyched to spend time hangin' with the BK's. Cuz we love them both and could probably spend every night with them and not get bored.
We just click that well.

I HIGHLY recommend that you all get your own KIMMY.
Just try to get one that has a low level of blenderness!!! :)

Happy Friday to y'all!!

10 Pictures On Parade

Dug down into my never ending file of pictures that made me stop in my tracks. Well, maybe not something that dramatic but they did make me want to keep them. Cuz they all tickled my fancy. And you're never too old to have your fancy tickled!

And before you ask, I have NO IDEA why some pics intrigue me and others don't. As a matter of fact, I think that would make an excellent research project....that and discovering what the hell makes me tick. Cuz even I KNOW that little miss Hallisicle is playing with a UNIQUE deck. (I'd have to be to have a BFF like Blender Kimmy!)

Any takers? Anyone out in Bloggyland want to be the first to delve deep into the recesses that make up Hallie? (Does that sound just a little bit naughty?) ;)

Just to be clear, only 8 of these pics are from the infamous THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO HMMMMM file. The other 2 are brand new, hot off the presses, probably won't interest you in the least but it's my damn blog and I'll post them if I want to.

Well isn't that a fine how do you do??? :)

This one almost made me wet my pants. Cuz it's beyond brilliant. And I totally want to meet the person who has a mind that works like this. Cuz that person is one funny shit. And it wasn't my car he hit, so all's good!

Cuz roaches with cancer are no laughing matter.

I just know there's an amazing caption in there somewhere. But damned if I know what it is.
I ALWAYS suspected parents favored one over the other. It's nice to have my suspicions confirmed.

New picture #1.

My adorable Fennybell looking out Connor's bedroom window. She loves to see the lay of the land. Can I just add that I think I have the cutest damn wiener in the whole wide world?

Haven't we ALL felt like this???

I've said it before and I'll say it again....MUPPETS ROCK MY WORLD. And people that look like the Muppets that rock my world???? FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!!!

All seals (or sea lions) should be mandated to suck on a pacifier. Use super glue if need be. Cuz they look hella cute all plugged up!

New pic #2.

Diablo was feeling neglected. He informed me that he has not had enough blog time devoted to him. To drive the point home, he stuck his tongue out at me. Who knew snakes could be so freakin' pushy?

No words needed other than BEST PICTURE EVER.

A Walk Down Connor Lane....

He loved Elmo. Almost as much as he loved his bottle.

Practicing his HOME ALONE face.

The beginnings of a teeny tiny mohawk. Explains a lot.

One cool cat. With boots.

No kid (well, besides CJ) loved his "B" more.
That thing went everywhere with us!

Sneaking in this pic of CJ so you can see that he really loved his "B" too!
(But not the same B!)

Listing to the left!

Rockin' the popped collar. What a cool Easter dude he was.

PLAYGIRL called. They want their pose back.

The kid liked to smile. Can you tell?

He had the cutest little round head...like a slightly furry cue ball.

He cheesy smiled on command.

(Don't ask about the powder/flour - I have no idea.)

Cheeseball smile, TAKE TWO!

And one more cheesy face for the road.

You'd look this way too if you had just been snipped!

Is It Just Me?

How do you end a blogger relationship? Has anyone had to? Or am I the only one that finds myself facing this dilemma for the first time?

To clarify, by blogger relationship, I mean "relationship" in the loosest sense of the word. Cuz I don't know many of the bloggers I read in real life. Very few bloggers are my IRL friends. Not that many, MANY, of you couldn't be. Cuz truth be told, so many of you rock my world on a daily basis. And so many of you have crept into my "what could I be doing right now instead of (pick one) folding laundry, washing dishes, mowing the lawn, picking up dog poop, etc" thoughts that I frequently have. Cuz those are the thoughts that turn into, "Damn, if Blogger "X" (fill in your name here) lived nearby, we could TOTALLY hang out right now." Cuz hangin' out with a bunch of you seems like a really cool idea.

What I mean when I say "end" a relationship is really quite simple....you STOP READING their blog. For whatever reason. Done. No more checking it out on a daily basis. No more wondering what "they" are up to. No more feeling antsy if you miss your daily dose of their blog.

Oh...it might not happen over night. And you might not go cold turkey. You might simply check it out less and less often until one day you realize it's been DAYS since you hopped on over. Been at LEAST 2 WEEKS since you even thought of them. Been at least a MONTH since you wondered if they posted anything new

And then you ask yourself why? (Cuz damn, if bloggy guilt isn't a real freakin' thing, a real thing NO ONE told me existed)

And that's where I am today.

Did something change? Did that blogger totally alter the way they once wrote? Did he/she do a 180 degree turn about from the blog I fell head over blog heels in love with?

Or did I change? Do I no longer have a need to read about (pick one) their kiddos, their job, their funny take on their coworkers, their weird, yet lovable dysfunctional family, etc? Did I come to expect a certain "something" from them and then one day realize that I'm not getting it anymore?

WTF?

And what does that say about me?

When did I become so wishy washy? When did I amend my bloggy tastes? And why the hell didn't I see it happening before it was too late?

Which brings me back to my original question:

AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO?

Has ANYONE else found themselves with a revamped taste (or lack there of) for blogs they once read daily?

And if so, how did you handle it? Did you comment less and less but slowly enough as not to appear guilty of abandoning ship? Or did you simply disappear into the bloggy night, potentially leaving that person wondering what the hell happened to you? (assuming their readership is small enough that they'd even notice you were gone)

***And just to add an extra layer to this interesting dilemma, has anyone found themselves called out on the carpet by the very blogger(s) that they are no longer interested in reading?

As in, has anyone received the "where have you been, haven't seen you around my blog, miss you and hope you're still a reader" email?

(FYI...if y'all say that you've NEVER stopped reading a blog once you decided you like it OR that your tastes in blog haven't changed EVER, my bloggy guilt is going to get the best of me. Just thought y'all needed to know that.)