....just sitting here winding down from the day and thinking about how fast time flies.  And it seems the older I get, the faster time flies.  It seems like it's only been a few days since my last blog update, but looking back at my blogs, the last one was Dec. 26th! Wow!

And, I'm thinking about how soon Spring will be here.  But it feels like Spring already.  Heck - with all the rain we've had, and warm weather - in the 70's - you'd think it is Spring already.  I know we'll have a few cold snaps to come, but we're 2 weeks into Winter and in another month or so that's it for the most part. 

Anyway, we started off our week ready for a fresh start.  Lauren jumped up out of bed on the first holler....excited to see her friend Hopey (Hope) again.  I was ready to go and conquer the world.  And Chris was ready to go as well.  I think Chris and Lauren conquered a lot , and I spun my wheels more than anything,  but I did have good intentions.  Every time I made it to one destination to do something, I got called away to another.....I managed to make it half way (maybe) through getting the apartment ready to rent, before the nice little old lady from across the street caught me and  carried on about politics, and anything else you can think of.....I finally got away 2 hours later when I realized I was suppose to meet someone at the storage units (30 minutes earlier).  Then took a quick run by moms house to see if  she had rabies (hee!)...  Actually went to set a trap out, because mom got scratched by a stray cat 4 or 5 days ago, then she saw the cat yesterday, with it's mouth all rabid looking, twitching and unable to eat the cat food that mysteriously appears on her font porch occasionally.  She said the cat tried to eat at it but couldn't open it's mouth....after checking the internet, we see that paralysis of the jaw and throat are signs of rabies, nevermind the twitching, funny looking eyes, slobbery mouth, and the fact that the cat had lost it's inhibition to people 1 week ago....see the pattern???? ....cat never let her touch it until a week ago, then all the sudden doesn't mind, then claws her and runs like a cat outta .....

Anyway, by the time I left there I had just enough time to run in Walmart in a zippy and grab 2 or 3 things I needed....  made it out in 15 minutes, only to be 5 minutes late picking Lauren up....fortunately they were late getting out too!  By the time we got home and spent 3 hrs on homework and ate dinner it was 7:30, and the day was gone.  So I guess I'll try again tomorrow!  There's just not enough time in a day!!!

So I'm hangin out around the house, doing the after Christmas cleanup....took down the tree, got allthe clutter up, and set Katie (my irobot) free to clean my floors up.....I made it through the living room with cleanup anyway.... I'll move to the rest a bit later....

But I decided to go on and hook up/install my new Lexmark All-In-One WiFi (wireless) printer , and it is awesome!  First, I can kick back on the comfort of my couch, read my blog, check my email and - oh! I need to print this one....so I just click print and shazaam! It prints on my printer....no cords, no having to go to the other room and plug a usb from my laptop to the printer, then print, then undo the cords and travel back to the point I started......NICE....

And since its all in one ..... that is....print/scan/fax & copy (some all in one's are only 3 of the 4 things) it's soooo convenient!  It'll take my faxes and store them if I want and I can retrieve them on my computer & edit them . Then I can scan a page and save it to my computer and edit it or whatever.  I also am really loving that feature because so many companies are now going from faxing to sending us emails of the pages rather than faxing.  It's actually really convenient to do....as easy as faxing because it ust scans the pages (from 1 to several, at once) and a screen comes on your computer that says "what do you want to do? Fax or send in emal? select one, and pick your number or email and shazaam! done again! When sending it in email you can save a copy of the fax on the computer and have a hard copy if you want. It also has email to fax and lots more features....pic bridge, several card slots on the printer of different sizes....

If you decide you want the convenience of modern technology (for $104.00/including shipping & insurance check out Ebay, that's where I got mine - new  (cheapest on the net!)....or google seach for one) keep in mind that you have to have a modem/internet connection that is already wireless....or just get you a wireless router (cheap too $40-$60....less on Ebay/new) . if your like me and already wireless with your computers (ie...browsin the internet from the front porch with no wires attached to your laptop  it's a cinch to install.  Provided that you know your wireless connection password....this isnt the same as your computer password...if you dont know it...call your internet provider (for me it was at&t) and they can tell you easily.  Mine was some number they had on the outside of the modem....like a serial number, but not.

It really is worth the call.....if you like wirelessly typing from your kitchen table....you'll love wirelessly printing from it too!  That's my tip of the day  (hee!)....tip #2 - go with Lexmark....I've always sworn by their printers because they are reasonably priced....usually have refillable cartridges (or cheaper cartridges if not) and I haven't experienced any glitches with their stuff in the past.....on the other hand...I've had nothing but bad experiences with Hewlett Packard HP printers - nightmares! ...So....just payin' it forward FYI...

Gotta go put me a roast on for dinner - chow!

So here we are, this wonderful Christmas Eve.  We celebrate Jesus Christ and share in the joy of giving. I've always treasured these times when when can share time together as a family, and see the magic in the childrens eyes, the beauty of the lights, and remember the one that has made it all possible & and blessed us so....Jesus Christ.  However you celebrate this time, take the time to remember  and share with someone what it is about.

We started off our day and headed to moms to add a few more lights to her porch.  We exchanged gifts while we were there.....Mom got a Roomba - she soooo desparately needed, and Shawna a Nintendo DS...we were quite surprised when she opened it to find that someone had apparently returned it to the store(so mom bought a return item), and had replaced the new nintendo that was in it with and old , scraggley, beaten and broken one.  Fortunately, Walmart allowed a swap out - whew, said mom!  LaLa got her a my little pony set, and  barbie, honey got a new shaver & I got this cool inversion system that I'd been wanting but hadn't gotten around to getting for myself.  It's really cool, and we've all been swinging upside down like a bunch of monkeys on it.  It definitely decompresses the spine, and ladies, all be it shortlived, it even raises your cheeks to their natural resting spot b4 they dropped....as well as other things...hee!  Definitely noticed the released pressure on the spine though.

Our trip to Walmart was pretty interesting....it's not so nightmarish when you just kinda drop in with no destination.....just wonder around to get that good old Christmas Eve spirit, and watch everyone else hustle and bustle......while your just a chillin.....funny watchin them all actually!!! Actually I was standing there with Lauren and Chris and this chick was totally in her own world behind me....she's stretchin' all around and in between trying to get the last little bit of something off the picked through shelf behind me.....as I turned around and looked at her she says "excuse me, I'm just gonna get back in here"  and proceeds on behind me bending down.....she looked me right in the face and never even realized as I said "T_A_M_M_Y!!!"  .....should've just said BOOOOOO! and scared her to death...hee!  She looked up and stared straight through me....still didn't even realize who I was....was funny !  She was  a woman on a mission.....get in....get it....get out!! It was certainly like a maze getting out, getting trapped between buggies and people.....

We finished off the afternoon with some yummy El Vaquero, and here we are....getting ready to nestle into our beds.....tracking Santa at NoradSanta.org , and soon all will be quiet in the house .....not a creature stirring.....not even a mouse!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

So, I got up bright and early this morning, ready to hit the flea market and see what kind of neat Christmas decorations I could find for the yard.  Last weekend I lucked up and got a super size Santa & Frosty  to go with my Tigger and Goofy.

Well guys....I just typed 2 more paragraphs telling you all about how today, I too, was thinking about where I was going to put a  garden this Spring  (honey will love my ideas....heee).....and browsin Ebay for plants/trees....cause I couldn't get my rump to cleaning......and about what I'd done this week AND WHATTA YA KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ZIP - GONE-SPLAT...............Vwahla.......it all disappears.....

so----------sorry......I'm pickin up where I left off......I'll let you guys imagine what I said (heeee).....

so any way......I set Katie off to clean my floors, I cleaned a tad and started a load of clothes washing...then I decide to check my email and it seems we've been thinking the same thing (talking to you Gin...since you're prob the only one watching ))) ....too cold to wanna go out, too cozy to get motivated to clean.....so now I'm waiting for this week....wonderful 68-70' weather so I can get out and do some of the things I wanted to do today ....outside , that is....

Thought I'd share some funnies with ya'll on this dreary & rainy day...enjoy

        http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rp-yH3P6FpHT9D59z9oG3A

and another    .....      http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K6drqn9ejMETIMl79fFmJg

Okay, lets share.....I was trying to think of what I could ask Santa for......and I really can't think of much, well ....anything......so I thought I'd ask what ya'll want from Santa.....or better yet....what do you think I need from Santa??????????  Every year I tell myself I'll make a note thoughout the year of some things that I want  but never seem to get around to gettin for myself.....then I never do it....so - so far Santa won't be comin' down the chimney to see me....

HELP ME!!!! I don't wanna miss my visit from SANTA!!!

P.S.  My suggestions for fantastic gifts....irobot (for anyone with hardwood floors....you can get em as low as $100.00, depending on just how convenient you want it to be....I suggest starting with a cheaper one....you can always buy add on accessories)....and another idea is the Wii , Lauren's already asking Santa for one....from what I hear, it's a blast....and it usually wouldn't be my type of thing....but I really want the wii Fit game, for a good workout while I play...I've declared war on Lauren if she doesnt get one from Santa because I don't wanna have to spend the $250.00 for the Wii system, then abt $80.00 for the Fit game with accessories....TIP....Amber thought she might get one for herself and she said you'd  really have to make calls daily around town to find anyone with these this time of year, but you can find them like that,....and prob wont even wanna think about Ebay....they tend to jack things like this up to $600.00 bucks or more (and actually sell them) because they know desperate folks will pay to get it.

So someone calls to ask for a reference on someone you know personally....or not so personally....how do you respond??  Do you tell them what you really think, or reserve yourself?....that is, if its one of "them" kinds....you know, the one you wouldn't trust with your wallet at Christmas time .

Well, firstly, as a landlord that's gotten some of the crappiest references I find it offensive that someone tells me I should "stay out of it" when I'm asked for one.  I mean really.....why would they bother asking, if they didn't want to know?    Why do I ask for references, if folks aren't gonna tell me the whole story ....or their version of it .  Granted , there are 10 sides to every story, you can usually figure out or get a general idea of what a person is about .

And, you have different kinds of references....like the straight forward "did they rent from you?" , "how long?", "did they pay rent on time?".....and then you get the "would you rent to them again?" ....ha!  That can turn it all around....like, just because you paid on time and rented for 2 years from me doesn't mean I'd want to rent to you again....cause you had pets that unrinated all over my floors, and you forget to clean the apartment and empty the moldy food out of the fridge b4 you left....or you left me that nasty 2 year old soap scum around my tub and it like to took 2 years to clean it......now it's payback.....heee!

Then there's the old "personal reference"....so what do you say when they outright ask "so what do you know about this person?" heeeee.....well.....you know....um.....well.....hmmmmm.....needless to say, it can be an obstacle for you, or you can make the best of it and have a good old fashioned venting session....it's always good for the soul to vent right? I mean c'mon, haven't you ever wanted to really lay it out there and say "yeah, well when we were in grade school she picked her boogers............and ate it!           " eeeeuwwwwwwwww!

Then you get the "after-thought" references.....you know....the ones who meant to ask for a reference b4 they rented to them, but somehow missed it .....now, that they are in trouble....well....NOWWWWW they want to call.  Well, what do ya say?  Me?  Ya didn't bother callin b4 you rented, dont bother callin now....now that you've figured it out on your own that is....you know...this should be called the "beggin for mercy reference", whatcha think?

Anyway, I just thought I'd blog on this subject since it happened to me today....no - not the booger eatin part- dingy! The PERSONAL reference part....it sure got the old mind to rattlin ! Got any crazy reference calls you want to share?.....luvvvvvvvv to hear em!

All has been casual and relaxing over the weekend.  I spent a few hours working on things for the blog yesterday.  Accomplished transferring a lot of pics to picasa, so I can eventually change my homepage and include them.  Didn't quite figure out how to put the  picasa frame on it with the changing pictures.  Guess I may end up needing some help....we'll see.

Lauren spent the night with granny , so Chris and I watched Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel and fell asleep abt 9:00 and slept more than we have in a while.  Then we ran in town for some yummy El Vaquero and made it back just in time for Chris to take Justin hunting this afternoon.

Im ready for the rigamarole of Christmas and the holidays....and I'm soooo ready to get back in the groove and crack back down and get some good excersize.  So - here's to the last of a great 2008!!! Despite the economy and gas prices - we've been blessed and have accomplished so much!!

CHEERS  !!!!

We had a wonderfully yummy Thanksgiving Dinner at Pate Farms with Richie, Ginger and all!  Just wanted to take a minute to share the pics!!

Click the image above to view the web album

What an exciting afternoon!  And what a wonderful gift right before the holidays!  .....

Honey came in hollerin', "Come on hon, someone just stopped me on the road and told me to be really careful, that there was a baby deer in the road ahead - lets go see if we can find him!"

So we all we jumped in the car, Lauren following closely, and drove back and forth up and down the road looking.  A week or so ago, one of Chris's subs had told him that he thought he knew whose deer it was.  He said a friend of his named Bill Harden had raised one and he had gotten out about 3 weeks ago.....so Chris hopped on the phone and called him.  

As we were driving up and down the road another neighbor stopped us and said, "Are ya'll looking for a pet deer?"  Seems he had been going back and forth between her house and her moms, at the end of the road.  Then , Lauren and I got out of the truck and walk down the road like nuts, hollerin' "Dancer! Here Dancer"    ....and outta the blue another neighbor pops her head out from her back porch waving at us....Guess where ole Dancer was....Yep - he'd made the rounds alright   He knew he was gettin some good feedin'         around this neck of the woods!!!  He'd been fed cracked corn by us, whole corn by this neighbor, green beans and other veggies by the mother and daughter....some good eatins!  But apparently he was use to that kind of caterin. 

When his owner pulled up, and walked to the drive hollerin his name, his ears perked up and he just stopped and stood there like   "Am I hearing what I think I hear?" .....and he was!

His owners were very happy to see him, and although it was a little sad for all of the neighbors (including us!!) to see him load up into the back seat of the truck, we were all relieved that he would be safe.  We were so worried he was gonna be shot, with all the hunting land out back and all.  Anyway - his real name is DANCER , and he was bottle fed when he was a babe, he sleeps in the house  and is part of the family.  The owner pretty much takes in anything the game warden brings in to them.  They've adopted an owl and a bobcat too!  We are all a bunch of animal lovin fools arent we!!!  But they all,  truly are, " mans best friend", and they bring us so much unconditional love and joy.

Dancer had apparently met another neighbor too, that had loosely put an orange plastic tape like collar around his neck.  Probably a good thing.....being that bright orange, hopefully the average Joe would realize he was a pet. Oh - and lets not forget his little girlfriend  !!!  The neighbors' that he was at last, said he'd come up with another deer, but the other ran off....Chris passed the other deer while he was in the the woods looking too......ah - the tales of little Dancer!

Anyway, I told them all about our website so they can see just what their sneaky little lover boy has been up to. 

He was a joy!! Hopefully some of them will share their stories with us...and maybe the Hardens will send us some updates on him - we'd love to hear from them!!