My daughter wanted to play around with her digital camera and took this photo of me:
Which is so-so to me (I had about twenty gallons of water-weight gain going on in that photo....note to self: do not eat salty foods before having your picture taken), but she thought I should make it my profile pic. Which I did.
But, when it's smaller, I think it looks awful.
So I'm going with popular vote. Should I keep the new pic, go back to the old one, or use a totally different one altogether? She also took this one, which I'm not that thrilled with:
I have no idea what that one would look like smaller, but if it already looks crappish big, it probably won't get any better, lol.
So let me know what YOU would do. Old photo, current photo, bleh photo, or try all over again?
Oh, and while I'm asking you all questions, can you tell me what shows up in my sidebar where the Flickr box is? I set my photos to private since pervs were checking out my oldest and youngest daughters (*vomit*). I'm thinking of putting their photos in a separate, private album and just putting up pics of me and generic pics in the one that had been public.
Anyway, I still see my photos in my sidebar in the Flickr box, including the ones of my kids, so I'm wondering if anyone else can see them, too. Thanks!
Profile Pic
Wanna Be Invisible?
I am now the proud owner of a Coach handbag! Woot! Courtesy of a Christmas gift from my daughter (and a little help from Ebay. Yes, it's genuine...I made sure!)
My best Christmas gift this year? My husband telling me I don't have to pay down any more money to our household budget for the puppy. I still owed over $400. Holla!
I'll post photos of my gorgeous new bag, and my Christmas pup, whenever my laptop gets fixed. So, what else can you get for yourself on Ebay? How about these finds:
~ An empty Starbucks cup. A steal at $53 AND free shipping!
~ The ability to become invisible. And they'll even throw in a book that shows you how to bring dead animals back from the dead.
~ This handy dandy marshmallow roasting set:
Yes, you are seeing that right.
Consider me your go-to-girl for all things cool on Ebay, and you can thank me when you win that empty Starbucks cup. :)
For My Sweetheart
You are my world. Thank you for making me the happiest woman alive. No matter what life throws at us, no matter what obstacles we face, no matter the odds, you're "still the one." And you always will be. Thank you for proving to me that I always will be for you, too.
I will hold last night in my heart forever.
This is for you:
Luck Is....
....when you're tight on cash but can't resist getting a Venti, Soy, Decaff, Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks. And when you go to pay, the cash register lady can't figure out how to ring it up properly and gives you the drink for free.
Oh yeah. Good times. :)
Caring for Alzheimer's Patients
When it comes to Alzheimer's Disease, or most illnesses for that matter, much attention is focused on a cure...rightly so.
But what about those who are suffering with the disease today? What if a cure is never found while they endure their illness?
My grandfather was one such person. While our family hoped and prayed for a miracle cure, we also had to focus on caring for my grandad.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is an organization whose mission is to "provide quality care for quality of life to those who suffer from Alzheimer's.
The AFA has put out a wonderful DVD entitled, "Your Time to Care," that helps caregivers understand the demands of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.
I sat down and watched the DVD and let me tell you, this goes far beyond your basic "how-to" video. The DVD provides intricate details on caring for a patient and deals with everything that you would need to know, from bathing, to "sundowning," to wandering, and more.
It is filled with tips on not only understanding the patient and what they are thinking, but also on how to handle each situation.
Information is given on the difference between dementia from other sources and dementia from Alzheimer's (did you know that not all dementia is Alzheimer's, but all Alzheimer's is dementia?). You will see first hand how doctor's examine a patient, what area of the brain can be affected and how each patient is different in how they are affected.
In one part of the video, you see a man being told to remember three things: a pony, a nickle and yellow. He is able to receive and process the messages and repeat them back immediately. Five minutes later, however, he struggles to remember and can only repeat back two of the tree items, and even that took a lot of effort.
Nowhere have I seen such detailed, informative and helpful information for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. I wish this had been around when my family was caring for my grandfather.
My grandmother struggled without much help, knowledge or support from the medical community. At the time that he was afflicted, not much was known about the disease.
Now, with DVD's like "Your Time to Care," families can have an invaluable resource right at their fingertips. You can select different sections in the DVD and go right to the topic that you're most interested in.
You can purchase the DVD from the AFA's estore, where you can also find a perfect holiday gift. All proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. You can feel good knowing that your purchase is helping others to provide loving and capable care to Alzheimer's patients. And the holidays are a perfect time to give a holiday gift donation to the AFA.
If you know someone who is caring for an Alzheimer's patient, be sure to tell them about this amazing DVD!
Jamie Lynn Spears is Pregnant
You read that right. The 16-year-old star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101," and sister of Britney Spears is pregnant. I know.
First of all, I really have started to feel sorry for her sister Britney and all she's gone through. Something's obviously not right, but can you imagine going through whatever it is she's dealing with and having it all held under a microscope for the world to see and examine? I'm can't imagine that kind of pressure.
On another note, I LOOOOVE her new song, "Piece of Me." That and "Gimme More." So much so that I went out and bought her new album "Blackout."
Not only does "Piece of Me" sound incredible, but I love her attitude in it. I don't know that I'd be half as strong or defiant if I were in her shoes.
On to Jamie Lynn. I've been in her shoes. Well, not exactly. I did get pregnant at the age of 16, but I wasn't a celebrity with tons of money.
My daughter just celebrated her 18th birthday, and my husband and I have been together for 19 years (married 18). We started with nothing and made a life together, so I believe Jamie can do the same, especially since she's ahead of the game financially.
I admire her for having the courage to give life to her child, especially in the face of the media and all the heat she's going to take. Maybe she'll be able to write her own "screw you" song to the media soon. Hopefully she won't have to. Hopefully they leave this poor girl alone and won't drag her down like they have done to Britney.
Okay...stepping off my celebrity soapbox. :)
This Could Only Happen to Us
Note: This post has been deleted, edited and then reposted. Which means comments that were made before were also deleted. Those who left them know why and I thank you SO very much for understanding and for your encouragement.
Sunday night was my family's Christmas party, hosted by us in our house. My stomach has not been good and completely let me down just a few hours before the party. So I ended up on the couch with my heating pad while Amanda had to finish cleaning.
My cousin and his girlfriend just had a baby and she is the most adorable thing ever! Her face is absolutely perfect! You have no idea what it does to me to hold that baby in my arms. She fit so perfectly...like a miniature puzzle piece snuggled in my arm.
Here's the most horrible thing that happened to us at any Christmas party ever, though (except for when we knew it was my uncle's last Christmas because he was dying from lung cancer).
We have a kitchen chair that isn't too sturdy. Ironically, my uncle who was a well-built man, sat in it his last Christmas here. So, as wobbly and unsteady as it is, we can't bear to part with it.
My other cousin's husband....we'll call him "K"....sat down in that chair tonight to feed the baby. He knew it was weak because Rob had warned him, but, being human, he of course didn't think about that as he was holding his grandaughter in his arms.
Suddenly, there is a loud crash, our kitchen table gets pushed across the kitchen and we see "K" and the baby on the floor. My mom saw the baby hit her head on the hard kitchen floor. She's a month old.
"K" is a heavy-set guy and I know he was embarrassed. Here he was, a grown man, on the ground in front of everyone, having just dropped his grandaughter. He looked like he was going to cry and I thought I would too because I hurt for him. It had to be so humiliating, frightening and just plain awful.
So, they went to take the baby to the ER to get her checked out. I had the pleasure of turning them away from the shit hospital near us (and boy do I have a story on that place for you! I'll save it for another post). I sent them to the one I take Natalie too and they took C2 in right away and said she was fine after examining her.
Only in our house.....
Lewis Birkhead Visited My Blog?!
Oh my gosh. I am so exhausted and my to-do list just gets longer and longer. My New Year's resolution is already planned....getting back to visiting my blog friends. I hope you can bear with me until after the holidays. I'm just trying to survive at this point.
I wasn't planning on posting but found this tonight and just had to share it with you all.
Go to this post and pull up the Haloscan comments.
Mmm hmmm. THAT one. OH MY FREAKING GOSH, right?!!!!
I know I probably look like a total loser to Lewis if he's reading this now, but I have no shame, lol!! I'm excited, dammit! I wish I could be all (say this in as formal an accent as possible), "Oh well hello, Lewis. How are you? Thank you for stopping by."
But that would so not be me. No, I see/hear from a celebrity and I lose all bodily control, lol.
When you're a stay-at-home mom and the highlight of your day is getting to get a night off of cooking and eating shitty McD's instead...well, this is just awesome! *grin*
Thanks for making my night, Lewis! Even if I do feel stupid now knowing it wasn't you at the restaurant! :)
My "Snow"phie
This week, Sophie saw her first snow. This is the result of her first venture into it:
Just one paw out and then she jumped back in the house. (The other marks are from icicles dripping). Then...
Just a few minutes later she went crazy. Can you spot her in the snow? Look for the cute black nose.
It's so much fun watching her "first" everythings. She is my sweetiepup!
This is her favorite sleeping position:
On her back, front paws folded over, back legs spread eagle, lol.
And here's a close-up of my cutie pie:
She LOVES laying under the Christmas tree and it is the most adorable thing ever. I really need to get a picture of that.
Every night, she walks up to me in bed, runs right to my shoulder, lays flat on her belly, puts her chin on my shoulder, sighs, then falls asleep.
Okay, I'm done bragging. Now I'm going to go cuddle with my furbaby.
Christmas Giveaway
Ugh....I can't believe how busy I get this time of year! Okay, once again, I'm behind on responding to comments. And blog visiting? I forget what that even is. I have NOT forgotten you guys and I still stand by my promise to get around to see you all as soon as I can. I really, really, really miss you all!
If you're still here reading me, first of all THANK YOU! Secondly, I have a giveaway going on that's close to my heart over at my other blog.
It's for my friend Bruce Littlefield so I'd appreciate any and all shout-outs you can give it. Not only is his latest book a blast, but Bruce himself is just the sweetest guy you'll ever meet so I really want to get the word out on this for him.
And, get this. He's offering something from his very own tree along with an autographed copy of the book! (Bruce, if you have any extra pickles, I'll take them! LOL)
All the details can be found here. Thanks and good luck in the contest! Oh and here's a video of Bruce's latest appearance on The Today Show:
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