Sydney's Story

We have moved!

2009-12-20T00:56:00.001-06:00

Check out a bigger and better version of this blog at http://www.odnarb.com/blog

The Twilight Hoopla

2009-12-19T20:01:00.001-06:00

I've been wanting to say something about the Twilight saga. Let me preface this with the fact that I HAVE read the series, twice in fact, and did enjoy it. It's a fun read! It's like a PG Rated version of the Underworld series of films, which I enjoyed.

Something bothered me a bit on the first reading, and it bothered me even more the second time, and that was a lot of the relationship between Edward and Bella. I'm not even talking about the whole vampire thing, but their entire codependency thing and Edward being so controlling. Is a relationship where they can't bear to live in a world without the other really a thing to celebrate? Is Bella really a strong female role model for girls? She can't seem to stand on her own two feet, and partakes in risky behavior to get attention.

And what about Edward telling her who she can hang out with, and her trying to sneak around him? What about him having family member spy on her when he is away? Am I the only one that found that a little bit creepy?

Perhaps I am just becoming quite the old fuddy-duddy. While I'm at it, get off my lawn.

Remember this at Christmas Time

2009-12-09T19:30:00.001-06:00

> Subject: Remember this at Christmas time .....
>
>
>
>
> REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME
>
> According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and
> female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop
> their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to
> mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give
> birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition
> depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to
> Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known.... ONLY women would be able
> to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one
> night and not get lost.

Daddy ate my fingers!!!

2009-12-08T17:23:00.001-06:00

-something to think about ;>)

> > DADDY'S GONNA EAT YOUR FINGERS
> >
> > I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was
> > having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said,
> 'Daddy,
> > look at this' , and stuck out two of her fingers.
> >
> > Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny
> fingers
> > in my mouth and said ,
> > 'Daddy's gonna eat your fingers,'
> > pretending to eat them.
> >
> > I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing
> on
> > the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.
> >
> > I said, 'What's wrong, honey?'
> >
> > She replied,
> > 'What happened to my booger?'

Eeeew!!

2009-11-19T17:32:00.000-06:00

I got this in a forwarded email called "Pumpkin Pies."
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

I check my texts and emails while driving!

2009-11-13T23:02:00.002-06:00

Yup, you read that right. I do. But before everybody flips out, let me explain.

I normally wouldn't use a blog to hawk a product. I recently discovered an amazing application for my BlackBerry that could save lives. It is called Drivesafe.ly.

Drivesafe.ly reads your text messages and emails aloud. It does a great job, too. I've tried to mess with it by typing in words that might throw a machine for a loop (my maiden name, for example), and overall it is very, very good at getting them correct.

You can get a simple version of this software for free. For $14, you can get a more advanced version that has more options. Both the free and paid versions allow the user to set auto-responders (away messages) for your texts, emails, both, or one or the other. That way you can let your impatient friends and family know that you can't reply at the moment, but that you heard their message. Or, you can shut that off and make them wait. It's up to you.

It comes in handy for things other than just driving. Have you ever been eagerly expecting a reply, and something arrives while you are elbow deep in fixing dinner? You wash up, set things aside, lose your momentum, and excitedly grab your device. But as you open the message, you realize sadly that it is a forwarded email from a relative of kittens wearing hats, instructing you to in turn send it to ten friends or everybody that you care about will lose their right thumbs in a gardening accident.

I do see it's downsides though, too. If you have somebody who likes to send gossipy, snarky, or profanity filled messages, you had better be good at remembering to disable the program when necessary. I could easily see this leading to hurt feelings.

But overall, this really is a really nice program. Sure, the best alternative would be for us to all slow down, and not exist with such an immediate mentality. But, that is where we are, and it is only going to get worse. A program like Drivesafe.ly is a perfect fit for the person that is attached to technology. There is no reason to be reading your text messages while driving when programs like this exist. You can keep your eyes on the road AND keep updated at the same time without killing yourself and others.

Drivesafe.ly is available for BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile phones. Soon they will have one that will recognize your voice to send replies. You can go to http://www.drivesafe.ly to get it yourself if you are interested. It really is worth it.

Looking for a good read?

2009-11-10T23:03:00.004-06:00

I've not posted one of my "book reports" in a while. I shall rectify that.

Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, and is the first book in a series following the life of Ender Wiggin. I am not one that normally read scifi, but was intrigued when a friend told me that she greatly enjoyed it, despite her being even less likely than me to pick up something out of this genre.

Ender was born shortly after a war between Earth and a species of aliens called the Buggers, a violent insect-like race. Another war was on the horizon, and the international fleet looked for talented children to be groomed as future commanders for future battles. Normally families were limited to two children, but Ender's family was a special case. Both of Ender's older siblings were extremely talented, but not quite what the fleet was looking for. Peter, the oldest, was too ruthless. Valentine, the middle child, was too kind and loving. The fleet requested that Ender's parents have a third child, and in Ender, they found the perfect balance of Peter and Valentine. At six years of age, Ender was selected by the fleet to be taken away to battle school. At the battle school, Ender joined other prodigies in training for war with the Buggers. It is quickly obvious that Ender has unrivaled talent, and could easily be the hope for the future of the human race.

Even if you are not a scifi fan, I would recommend Ender's Game and the rest of the series. Orson Scott Card is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His characters are so rich, and the stories so original. This isn't really the story of space ships and aliens, but a story about humanity and relationships, and how people can endure mental and physical hardships.

Sunset at the North Pole with the Moon at Closest Point ...

2009-11-09T13:22:00.000-06:00

This is an amazing photo. I received it in an email, so I can't verify
whether or not it is real.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Sunset at the North Pole with the Moon at Closest Point ...
How's this for a picture….

This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest
point last week.
A scene you will probably never get to see in person,
So take a moment and enjoy God at work at the North Pole.
And, you also see the sun below the moon,
An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated.
You may want to pass it on to others so they can enjoy it.
The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this:
'When someone shares with you something of value,
You have an obligation to share it with others!'

Lacking the Football Gene

2009-11-06T23:01:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again, a time when I spend a good deal of my
time scratching my head in confusion. It's a time when formerly
sensible friends and loved ones suddenly start speaking in tongues.
Most of you call it football season.

I don't get football at all. It's not that I don't get sports at all.
Hockey, soccer, and tennis all make perfect sense. I've been known to
catch a baseball game. The overall game of golf makes sense, and I'm
slowly figuring out the details. I am currently watching my favorite
NBA team on ESPN (and typing this during halftime). But football?

I've tried to understand it. My husband tries to explain it to me, as
have other people. I'm still drawing a blank. I see a bunch of guys
moving around the field randomly. They continually gather into groups,
only to split apart and violently slam each other into the ground. It
seems to me that it is usually they guy with the ball getting creamed
by guys of the opposing team, but I'm not sure that is always the
case. Between skirmishes, the guys wander around aimlessly or stand
idly until they appear to be needed. Sometimes they turn off the clock
when they do that, sometimes they don't. That baffles me. It's like
watching an alien species move around in a patternless manner.

Am I missing a necessary gene for decoding football? Is it just me?
I'd hate to think that I am alone.

Fwd: Iowa puppy mill shutting down - need to place dogs

2009-10-16T10:41:00.003-05:00

I got this by email. Apparently the Corgis have already been spoken for. Anybody looking for a nice pet? I'm glad that the puppy mill is closing, but it's sad that they use rescues to clean up
their mess :(

_______________________________________

To: AmandaJohnson@fsbmail.net (@fsbmail.net)
Subject: Puppy Mill closing - need help placing dogs!

Permission to crosspost!

Hello everyone! We have been contacted by a local couple that is
getting out of what I consider, the puppy mill business. The dogs have
all been kept in kennels and used to have puppies. She has given me a
list of dogs and on top of that she has some more cocker spaniels as
well. As you can imagine, no one has vaccinations, but we can get that
done at a low cost to the receiving rescue, and can try to get as many
spays and neuters at low cost as possible if desired by the receiving
rescue. Here is the list of the dogs that we need to find rescues for.
We are much too small of a rescue to take on this many dogs so any and
all help is greatly appreciated!

Male Welsh Corgi born 6/1/04

Female Welsh Corgi born 5/31/04

2 Female White Toy Poodles 1 1/2 years old

Female Cockapoo 5 years old

Female Saint Bernard born 3/29/07

Female Weimeriner born 9/13/06

Male Weimerdoodle born July of 2009

Female White Miniature Poodle born 1/19/03

Male rat terrier born 2/14/08

Female rat terrier born 2/14/08

Male white toy poodle born 3/19/06

Male black standard poodle born 7/18/07

Male Collie born 5/12/08

Male Wheaton terrier born 7/17/05

Male Wheaten/cocker spaniel mix 2 years old

Shepard/chow/collie mix - age unknown estimated around 3 by owner

Male Yellow lab born 8/16/06

I know this is a big list but any help is appreciated! We just don't
have the room to accommodate all these dogs and the living conditions
of this place from what I am told are not the best.

Thanks everyone!

Amanda Johnson

Rural Iowa Animal Rescue

Rowley, Iowa 52329

319-961-4465

www.ruraliowaanimalrescue.com

Looking for a particular type of recipe website

2009-09-26T01:05:00.001-05:00

I know that they exist, I just don't remember where I have seen them.

I want a website that gives me a week long menu and shopping list of simple, healthy dinners for my family. I don't want to have to think or choose, I want somebody to tell me what to cook and buy. It has to be relatively simple stuff. I'm a working mom to a toddler and don't have a lot of time to putz around in the kitchen.

Any ideas?
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

The Number One Rule of Protesting

2009-09-16T21:12:00.002-05:00

If there were ever something that I felt SO strongly about that I was
inspired to protest, I think that you need to make sure that your
signs have correct spelling and grammar. I may not be perfect at
spelling and grammar myself, but I would take extra care to be sure
that my sign was correct. It's hard to be taken seriously when you
look like an idiot.

The Saga of my Arm Problems

2009-09-12T22:48:00.002-05:00

So a few months ago, my right arm started hurting. At first, I thought that it was just a minor strain, must have lifted something too heavy, or did who knows what. But, then it never went away. Nathan had been urging me to go to a doctor for weeks and I resisted. By that time, I knew that it wasn't just a minor strain, and worried terribly about a rotator cuff tear, as that is where the issues seemed to be coming from. There was a day that I had free to go to the doctor, but mine wasn't in. There was a PA available, and I figured that would be fine.

The PA had me do some range of motion exercises, and then decided that my problem was a bicep strain. No radiographs or MRI, just the range of motion exercises. The physical therapist had me do range of motion exercises, too. And, he decided that it was my bicep and Impingement Syndrome. At least he was closer. I started in on physical therapy, and I never felt like I was getting anywhere with it. I went for 4-5 weeks of it. I was doing BETTER, but I really think that I was just adjusting, not that my arm was improving. They talked about discontinuing the PT. I assumed that it would just continue to get better, then.

Then last Saturday, my arm became so painful that I could not move an inch. It felt like somebody was ripping my arm from my body. I had some Darvocet left over from when Syd was born. That took the edge off, but didn't cure it. The next few days were pretty painful, but tollerable. My father-in-law is the King of Arm Injuries, so I got a sling from him to use. I couldn't sleep, couldn't find a position that was tolerable. I called my doctor on Tuesday, and finally got a referral to an orthopedic specialist.

That night, I had another acute, painful attack. This one was so bad that the Darvocet didn't even touch it. I was in agony, and just wanted somebody to hack my arm off with an ax. I knew that at least the stump would heal. It was intolerable. Nathan ended up taking me to the ER at midnight, while his parents came into town to watch Syd. I told them in ER that I had an appointment with a specialist, I just needed pain meds. They got me some Vicodin, and I downed one in the ER waiting room. I was able to sleep the rest of the night, but didn't like the way that the Vicodin made me feel.

Thursday morning I finally saw a specialist, Jess Prewitt-Emerson, a PA at Orthopedics PC. They took radiographs right away, which were extremely uncomfortable. I went into the waiting room, and soon had a diagnosis. There was an obvious cloudy band around the rotator cuff area, Calcific Tendinitis. I was given a steroid injection into my shoulder, and sent home with oral medications. My arm hasn't felt this good in months. I go back for a recheck in a couple of weeks, and probably another injection. We shall see.

I'm grateful that I am finally on the road to recovery. I'm just annoyed that it took this long. I feel like I missed the whole summer because of it. I didn't go out as much, as it hurt to push Syd's stroller. It even hurt to just walk the dogs.

Hopefully it is all uphill from here.

Clay County Fair 2009

2009-09-12T22:12:00.003-05:00

It's official, I'm getting old. I had fun, but the magic just isn't the same anymore. I imagine the fact that I've not been feeling well had a lot to do with my mood. But, I just always remember there being so many things that I wanted to buy, so many things that I wanted to eat! I was looking forward to a Mud Pie, but that stand isn't there. I was bummed. I had some other things, and ended up with heartburn. It was opening day today, and it was just SO busy. There were booths that I probably would have wanted to look at, but there were so many people in the way that I didn't bother. Nathan did buy a copy of Vicki Myron's new children's book about Dewey and had Vicki sign it for her. We will let her have it when she gets older, so that it doesn't get trashed right away.

I'm going back on Thursday afternoon to hang out with Evan and Jalyce. That should be nice. It won't be as busy, and maybe I'll actually get a chance to look at things.

'First Family' by David Baldacci

2009-08-20T15:07:00.001-05:00

This is the first that I've picked up by this author, and it was of
course one in a series, but I was still able to make sense of it
without reading the preceding books.

Sean and Michelle are former Secret Service agents turned private
detectives. When the President's niece is kidnapped, the First Lady
calls her old friend, Sean, for assistance. She wants somebody that
she can trust on the case, that is less likely to be hindered by
government procedures and politics. The book is interesting, as you
are eager to find out why the girl was taken, but I also felt sympathy
for her captor. What drove him to do such a thing?

It's a quick and engaging story, and I didn't find it to be too
predictable, as it seems a lot of books are these days. I really
enjoyed this one, and will likely check out more of Baldacci's work.

'Long Lost' by Harlan Coben

2009-08-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

This is the first that I've picked up by this author, and it was of
course one in a series, but I was still able to make sense of it
without reading the preceding books.

Myron Bolitar is an ex-NBA player that now works as an agent for
celebrities. He gets a call from an old friend who is desperate, and
is in the midst of a strange mystery surrounding the death of her
child ten years prior. Myron gets wrapped up in the investigation,
which becomes a whirlwind involving terrorists and questionable
identities.

It was a very interesting storyline, far-fetched yet not so out of
reach by today's technology and radical terrorists. It was a fun and
fast-moving story.

'Lost Boys' by Orson Scott Card

2009-08-20T14:51:00.001-05:00

Wow. This book was amazing, and nothing like I expected. It made me
cry and disturbed me, but I also found it beautiful and touching.

The book is about a young Mormon family that moves from Indiana to a
town in North Carolina. Step, the father, is a software developer. His
wife, DeAnne, is a stay-at-home mom. They have three children, Stevie
(age 7), Robbie (age 4), and Elizabeth (age 2), with another baby on
the way. Stevie has trouble adjusting, and has a teacher that is quite
cruel to him. Soon, he begins talking to imaginary friends, which his
parents attribute to his stress of moving and difficulties with his
teacher. All the while, the town has had young boys disappearing,
beginning before the family arrived in town, causing a panic with area
parents.

The family background is very autobiographical on the part of the
author, who is himself a Mormon. One of the interesting aspects of the
book is the insight given into the rituals and beliefs of Mormons.
Another bit of fun is the nostalgia aspect, as Step is a software
engineer in 1983, just as the PC is being introduced. Commodore 64 is
the reigning King in this world, with doubts that the PC will ever
take off.

This was a wonderful book. It has a very original storyline, and was
probably influential in several other books and movies that have since
been released since this book was published in 1992. I highly
recommend this book, but be sure to have a box of tissues handy as you
reach the end.

More Zoo Pictures from my Sister-In-Law

2009-08-19T15:32:00.003-05:00

These were sent from my sister-in-law Ann, from 8-15-09 when we all
went to the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls.

Freecycle

2009-07-16T22:49:00.001-05:00

Freecycle is mostly a source of amusement. It's always incredible what kinds of things that people ask for. Got an iPod laying around that you aren't using? LOL

Today, there was one that really made me shake my head, that was sad on so many levels.

~~~~~~

I am looking for a free puppy for my neighbors. They had a dog and somebody came by and stole him took the chain and all in the middle of the night. Looking for a puppy that is young enough to be trained, or an older dog that is good around children. If you know of any please let me know!!!
Thanks you!

~~~~~~~

*sigh*

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Heart Shaped Box - Joe Hill

2009-07-12T08:43:00.002-05:00

Judas Coyne is an aging rock star with a collection of various morbid items, often gifts from fans. When he finds a ghost for sale in an online auction, he can't resist himself and purchases it. He gets a supposedly haunted suit in the mail. Soon he begins to see the ghost around his home, and eventually he realizes that this isn't some random ghost, but one that has personal interest in him.

This was a great read, and the first that I've read by Joe Hill. It is very suspenseful with a very original plot. I look forward to more books by this author.

Double Identity - Margaret Peterson Haddix

2009-07-04T23:17:00.002-05:00

Bethany is a teenage girl that has been spoiled all of her life. Her parents pretty much give her whatever she wants, and she has had an ideal childhood. Then suddenly, her father becomes extremely overprotective, and her mother falls into a deep depression. Suddenly, they get in the car and drive across the country, only to leave Bethany with an aunt that never knew existed, and is just as clueless about the situation as Bethany. Her parents disappear, and tell her that it is too dangerous to contact them. People in her aunt's hometown look at Bethany as though they have seen a ghost. Soon, a strange man comes looking for answers, and Bethany realizes that there might be more danger than she realizes.

This is a very quick read, aimed at older children. I would recommend it to older elementary and junior high students.

Relentless - Dean Koontz

2009-07-04T23:09:00.002-05:00

Cubby Greenwich is a bestselling author. His newest book gets reviewed by Sherman Waxx, the country's premier literary critic, a reclusive and enigmatic man who can make or break a career. When the review is published as being extremely critical of Cubby's new novel, he gets curious and wants to get a glimpse of the mystery man. A brief encounter at a restaurant reveals Waxx to be more than just a bit odd, and soon Cubby and his family are running for their lives from a determined stalker intent on destruction.

This is a fun read, and Koontz fans will enjoy it.

Tunnels - Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams

2009-07-04T23:05:00.002-05:00

Will Burrows is a 14 year old boy that lives in a London suburb with his parents and younger sister. The family is not particularly close, but Will and his father have bonded over one common interest, archaeological digs.

Will and his father unearth an old subway station that had been abandoned for more than a century. The two of them thought that they were on the brink of a great discovery, when Will's father vanishes without a trace. Will is certain that his disappearance has something to do with the digs. So, he and his best friend, Chester, set out to find his father.

This was a very enjoyable read. The characters, setting, and plot are very original. I highly recommend this book for older children and adults alike.

Chasing the Dead - Joe Schreiber

2009-07-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

Sue is a single mother of an 18 month old girl. One day she gets a phone call from a strange man, telling her that he has kidnapped her daughter and her nanny. When she realized that it is true, she descends into a nightmare. The book is told over the course of one evening of Sue trying to rescue her daughter. What starts out as a crime drama quickly takes a supernatural turn, and you have no idea what is going to happen next.

I particularly enjoyed this book as I am both a horror nut and the mother of a girl the same age. I could relate to how Sue felt if my daughter was in danger.

This is very fast paced book, and a pretty quick read. If you are looking for something short, fun, and scary, I highly recommend it.

Blaze - Richard Bachman

2009-07-04T22:58:00.001-05:00

Blaze is a simple man who endured a childhood of abuse. As an adult, he leads a life of petty crime, and soon meets up with George, a scheming man with bigger goals. Their money-making schemes get bigger and bigger, until George comes up with a plan to kidnap the infant son of a rich family. After George is killed, he haunts Blaze, and continues to encourage him to go ahead with the plan. Soon Blaze has a baby in his possession, and his big heart and affection for the baby clashes with the ruthless ghost of George, all while the authorities are cracking the case and moving in.

Blaze was written by Richard Bachman, a pseudonym of Stephen King. The original manuscript was written in 1973, but not released until 2007. It was a fun, quick read, and an engaging story with characters that make you care about them.

Black Creek Crossing - John Saul

2009-07-04T22:51:00.002-05:00

Since I don't have a lot to blog about being that I am ridiculously boring, I thought that I would talk about books that I've read lately and will post about them when I finish one. Since I'm writing staff picks at work, might as well post them here, too. I don't choose anything to cerebral. I have enough distractions between work and a toddler, and tend to lean towards easy reads or I will never get through them.

The first book I will talk about is Black Creek Crossing by John Saul. It's a fun, quick read, and pretty typical of his work.

Angel Sullivan is a teenage girl that is ostracized by her classmates. When her family moves a small town in Massachusetts, she is excited at the prospect of a new beginning and an opportunity to make friends. Unfortunately, she is bullied again at her new school, but she makes friends with Seth, another social outcast.

Seth informs Angel of the dark history of the house that her parents had purchased, an old house dating back to the 1600s. There have been rumors about the house being haunted for hundreds of years. Angel and Seth seek out to learn the truth about the house, and unleash a terror that cannot be stopped.

Update on Harry's Tail

2009-07-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

I was able to get some amoxicillin to give him orally. I think that it is looking a lot better. He loves getting half a hamburger bun (with a pill hidden in it) three times a day.

I think maybe I've got an idea on how he tore the skin. He lets himself out the screen door. I wonder if he got he tail caught while it was closing?

Between Harry's tail injuries, and dealing with Brando's "Happy Tail" for years, I'm seriously considering docked breeds in the future. I do like Aussies...

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Grant makes the local newspaper!

2009-07-03T23:35:00.004-05:00

I forgot to add this here to my own blog!

Grant made both the Lakes News Shopper and the Dickinson County News this week. Same article, same picture, but the DCN printed it in b&w. Click on the picture, and it should become large enough to read the article. I made a tinyurl link at http://tinyurl.com/grantxander , but I don't know if the Lakes News Shopper links expire. I had to save this!

The boy in the picture is Xander, the son of some friends of ours.

Another Tail Injury

2009-07-02T22:54:00.001-05:00

Harry was acting like his tail was bothering him again last night. Looked at it, didn't see anything obvious. Tonight he was licking it, but it seemed to bother him less. Looked at it and there was puss coming out of the end. Fabulous!

I wonder if he did something at the kennel over the weekend. Or could it be an insect bite? Wish I still worked at the vet. I don't have the access to radiograph & other medical equipment that I used to. Doh!

I soaked it in hydrogen peroxide. Now the end of his tail will probably turn orange! It looks better. Put on some panalog, too. Hopefully it's just a soft tissue injury. It's really hurting, I can tell.

After the last 8 months, I'm half wishing that Malinois were a docked breed!

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Brando and Rusty

2009-06-16T20:47:00.002-05:00

For those of you that remember my ex-dog, Brando, and my mom's dog, Rusty...

Brando is obviously doing well. Rusty has been diagnosed with bone
cancer, and is holding his own. I think both look good for old men
pushing 13.

The statues are characters from Beverly Cleary books: Henry, Ramona,
and Ribsy. The books take place in my mom's neighborhood.

Can Aimee Mobile-Blog?

2009-06-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this, yes she can!

This picture might even show up. That would rock.

Aimee (from her mobile)

My new library project - "Tales with Tails"

2009-06-04T19:02:00.002-05:00

The library board gave their approval!! I'm so pleased, I could explode! Rather than type out all of the details, here is a link to the brochure that I made for the program.

Tales with Tails Brochure

Woo hoo!!!!! This calls for dancing bananas, I think.

Forwarded... Cute And Funny!

2009-05-23T15:58:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Curry <curry163@mchsi.com>
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 11:10:19 -0500
Subject: Moms
To:

-----

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moms

All answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me... He just used
bigger parts..

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use
string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2.. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2 I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he
get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and
YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's
such a goof ball...
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause
that's who you get to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine..

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some
kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd
get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did
it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on
the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS,
GRANDMOTHERS, AUNTS
and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good
laugh!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

--
Aimee
http://www.odnarb.com

5-10-09

2009-05-10T23:34:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

I am up too late, working on my website. It looks good on my Firefox browser, but weird in our stripped down IE. If you could, give me an opinion on how it looks to you.

http://www.odnarb.com

As you can see from pics and videos, Sydney is growing like a weed, and walking. Before long, she will be talking back to me. Well, I already thing that she does. I just can't understand what it is.

I am enjoying my new job a lot. We have big new plans on the horizon. I will be ecstatic if it pans out.

I am half asleep, and my ability to spell and make any sense is showing. More later...

Today I am Truly Proud to be an Iowan!

2009-04-03T16:12:00.002-05:00

I worry about this going down in a big Proposition 8-type ball of fire. But right now, I am truly proud to be an Iowan, and give huge props to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Iowa court ruling transforms the gay-marriage map
By DAVID CRARY – 24 minutes ago

Until Friday, only states in the Northeast and bordering the Pacific had granted broad legal recognition to same-sex unions, but that changed with the Iowa Supreme Court ruling ordering that gay and lesbian couples be allowed to wed.

An updated look at the national landscape:

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE:

Before the Iowa ruling, only Connecticut and Massachusetts allowed same-sex couples to marry — also as a result of decisions by the states' high courts. Same-sex marriages began in Massachusetts in May 2004 and in Connecticut last November.

California briefly allowed gay marriage last year before a voter initiative in November repealed it. The outcome of that vote is now subject to a lawsuit contending that the ballot measure should have been subject to consideration by the legislature.

CIVIL UNIONS:

In Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey, same-sex couples can enter into civil unions that entail the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, but gay-rights activists in all three states are pushing for full-fledged marriage rights.

Vermont's House this week joined the Senate in overwhelmingly voting in favor of gay marriage, though it's unclear whether a threatened veto by Gov. Jim Douglas can be overridden. New Hampshire's House passed a marriage bill in March, which now awaits a Senate vote. In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine has pledged to sign a gay marriage bill that has been introduced in the legislature.

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS:

California, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have domestic-partnership laws that extend many of the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. Hawaii and Maine have more limited laws extending certain spousal rights to same-sex couples.

In Maine, a bill to legalize gay marriage has nearly 60 co-sponsors in the Legislature. Gov. John Baldacci, who opposes gay marriage, says he hasn't taken a position on the measure.

CONSTITUTIONAL BANS:

Voters in 29 states have approved state constitutional amendments that ban gay marriage: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment empowering the Legislature to outlaw same-sex marriage; lawmakers did so in 1998.

FEDERAL RECOGNITION:

Under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. government does not recognize same-sex unions, even those that are legal marriages in Massachusetts, Connecticut and several foreign countries.

OUT-OF-STATE RECOGNITION:

New York is distinctive in recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere even though it has yet to authorize such marriages within its borders. A gay-marriage bill passed the lower house of the New York Legislature in 2007, but the Senate majority leader, a gay-marriage supporter, says he doesn't have the votes at present to get it passed in his chamber.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Kid's Science Answers

2009-03-31T18:55:00.001-05:00

This came as an e-mail forward, and probably isn't even true. It's fun to think that a kid really said them, though.

If you need a good laugh, try reading through these children's science exam answers

Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? (brilliant, love this!)
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? ( e.g., abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does 'varicose' mean? (I do love this one...)
A: Nearby.

Q: Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarian Section.'
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome

Q: What does the word 'benign' mean?'
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.

Kids Are Quick

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________ ________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it!
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with 'I.'
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.
_________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher.

New Job!

2009-03-30T21:09:00.003-05:00

After 12 1/2 years in veterinary medicine, I am mostly out. I'm only going to be working at the clinic for like one Saturday a month. I gave my two weeks notice at the gym this afternoon.

Why, you ask? On Friday I accepted the position of Special Projects Coordinator at the Milford Memorial Library! Here is a link to the website: Milford Memorial Library. And if my Facebook pals would be so kind to become fans of the page, I'd greatly appreciate it! Link: Milford Memorial Library on Facebook.

I start tomorrow doing some training. I'm looking forward to this experience, and new beginning.

For those that remember Brando

2009-03-22T22:08:00.002-05:00

Brando stayed with my ex when we split, and he's doing very well. I
think it did him good to get away from Grant and Harry in particular.
Yeah, he's fat, but he's 12 1/2 and a spoiled only pet. It hurt
leaving him behind, but it was what was best for him.

My mom still gets visitation, and gets him for playdates with her dog,
Rusty, who is 2 months older than Brando. The two of them are best
friends.

Good Times!

2009-03-22T13:23:00.003-05:00

I know that all of you are going to find it hard to believe, but Nathan and I actually went OUT last night without a child in tow! Can you believe it? I hardly can! We met some friends up at the Taco House for supper, then headed down to the bowling alley. While waiting for league to finish, we played pool in the bar. I suck at it. We were entertained by a woman that was either mentally ill or on something strong. She hit on all the guys in a strange, undecipherable way, and gave me a hug. Whoever she was, I hope that she got home safe. I bowled a carrier high 79. Go me!

I just finished watching Twilight. It wasn't as good as the book, of course, but passable. None of the characters look like how I imagined them.

Now to catch up on weekend errands and projects. I should start making lunch.

Appreciate Life!

2009-03-19T11:32:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, my grandfather passed away. On the same day, a good friend lost somebody dear. Both losses were due to health issues not uncommon in the elderly, and while both difficult to those close to them, not completely unexpected.

Sometimes it takes the untimely death of somebody you know, or a celebrity, to really make you wake up and smell the coffee. How can a healthy woman have what looked to be a minor fall, get up from it feeling fine, have a headache an hour later, and then be dead two days later? That could be any of us. I'm a total clutz, I'm half convinced that this WILL be the way that I die. My husband doesn't wear a helmet when he rides his bike, and refuses to even after I bought him one. I have friends that ride their motorcycles without helmets.

I'm not sure if I want to stop and appreciate life more, or always wear a helmet, and wrap myself in a bubble paper protective wrap? Perhaps both is needed. I'll try not to take my friends and family for granted as much as I have. And if you see me or my child in a helmet, wrapped in bubble paper, and wearing a life preserver, I'm just being sensible and prepared.

Happy 3.14159265 Day!

2009-03-14T22:32:00.003-05:00

That is Pi, if you didn't realize that. Apparently I missed Talk Like A Pirate Day yesterday. That makes me sad :( But, not like I did anything to celebrate Pi Day. I did not encounter any circles that I felt the need to discover the circumference of.

I had a good morning working at the clinic. Janet, my mother-in-law, wasn't feeling well so Syd went out to my aunt and uncle's place. She loves visiting Val & Terry! Even better, my cousin Nick's kids were visiting, so she got to play with Jac & Diego. I got a few pics of the three of them. Mine was the least cooperative.

After leaving there, Syd and I went to Menard's for dog food. Then we came home and chilled out. I burned a frozen pizza while Nathan was at a bowling tournament. I finished reading the book, Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, that I started last night. I'll start the fourth and currently last book in the Twilight series when I go to bed. I don't know if this is the last, or the last for now. I've refrained from finding out much about them until I finish this one.

I'm hoping that we can go to the Taco House tomorrow, now that they are open for the season. I figure that this is false hope though.

Yes, I'm so exciting! Wait until you see what kind of adventurous pickles I get myself into tomorrow!

Friday, March 13

2009-03-13T20:51:00.002-05:00

Friday the 13th! Woooooo!! Nothing bad happened, not that I was expecting it to. I am not superstitious!

I worked at the gym in the afternoon. It was relatively uneventful, other than something that a guy working out told me about the Taco House. I'm not sure that it was disturbing enough to make me not want their food, though. In fact, I asked Nathan to pick some up on his way home from work! He didn't want to drive from Emmetsburg to Milford and back to Spencer, so he brought home Taco John's instead. I want me some Taco House, though.

Harry's face is looking better. It's still painful for me to mess with it, but he lets me. The swelling isn't as hard, and when I squeeze it, only blood tinged serum comes out. Glad to not see any puss. I'd prefer to not have to put him on antibiotics, as they always upset his stomach. He is losing some pigment on his lips, though. Last time that happened, I switched the water bowl from plastic to stainless steel and it went away. It occurred to me that he has been drinking out of an automatic water station that came with the automatic feeder that I bought for the cats. I'll have to put the auto water station behind the baby gate so that he can't drink out of it.

Other than that, not much else is happening. I finished 'New Moon' last night, and started both 'World War Z' and 'Eclipse' tonight. I only started 'World War Z' because I had a few hours before I picked up the last two Twilight books. I'm turning into a book fiend. Thanks to Erica for letting me borrow those last two, so that I didn't have to wait an eternity until Nathan got them back in at the library.

Well, it's time to run a bath for Syd. Until next time...

Dangerous Breed Warning

2009-03-13T12:27:00.001-05:00

I got this in an e-mail, and in a note on Facebook. I worry that this
could happen to us someday.

If you are an owner of a dog that belongs to a "dangerous-breed" category and also have a small child, please take this as a warning. Don't leave your dog with the child unattended under any circumstances. Only a little moment was enough for the following to happen. See the photo below:

Thursday, March 12

2009-03-12T22:00:00.002-05:00

I wonder how many people actually read this? I've gotten a little feedback that some do, but I wonder if it's worth the effort to update it as often as I have been trying recently. No worries, I will likely fall off the wagon and stop posting again.

Today I worked 3 - 7 at the gym. It was overall pretty uneventful. Thursday nights seem to be getting busier and busier, though. It's a good thing, and I hope that it continues on into the summer.

Harry's face looks less swollen, but if I palpate the area, the swelling seems hard. He let me look at it inside his mouth, and I don't see any purulent discharge. If I squeeze it pretty hard, he cries. He's such a good dog. There is a little bit of an odor, but being that I don't go around smelling his breath on purpose and taking notes on it, it might be the same. I chose not to jump to antibiotics just yet as mouth wounds tend to heal fast, and everything seems to give him violent diarrhea and vomiting. And when that is already a common side effect of most antibiotics, they and Harry's gastrointestinal tract are a messy combo. I just hope that it doesn't get infected.

I'm almost done with the second book in the Twilight series. I think it's called New Moon? Not sure, I just consider it Book Two and am devouring it. Can't wait to get on with the third! I was a bit dismayed with an early turn of events in the book, but it's getting awesome and exciting again.

Better get back to my book, and let Nathan have the computer...

Something else for me to be neurotic about...

2009-03-12T18:32:00.003-05:00

Maybe I need to start finding recipes for homemade soap!

Click Here For Original Article

Group: Cancer-Causing Chemicals Found in Baby Bath Products

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 12, 2009; 6:02 PM

More than half the baby shampoo, lotions and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two cancer-causing chemicals, the organization said today.

Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson& Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic baby lotion, tested positive for 1,4 dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.

The chemicals, which have both been characterized as probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency, are not intentionally added to the products and do not appear on ingredient labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product begin to break down over time, while 1,4 dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.

The organization tested 48 baby bath products ranging from bubble bath to shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.

"Our intention is not to alarm parents but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkin, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the federal government to more aggressively regulate personal care products such as shampoos, lotions and makeup.

Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards.

"The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson& Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."

The European Union has banned 1,4 dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion, and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful.

A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4 dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotions.

Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have failed to consider the cumulative impact of chemicals in personal care products.

"The levels we've found are relatively low and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkin said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."

In addition, government studies have not examined the impact of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said.

Several Democratic lawmakers said the report was evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs reform.

"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans."

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.

The report can be found at www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub

Luckiest Guy EVER

2009-03-12T11:39:00.000-05:00

I just had to share this video. This guy is SO lucky to be alive. Amazing!

Wednesday, March 11

2009-03-11T22:32:00.003-05:00

It was a good day at work. I like it when we are busy!

Harry managed to injure himself trying to bite Grant. Grant has some bruising on his muzzle, but Harry has a laceration inside of his lip. Serves him right! Both dogs were bathes and smell very nice.

I finished the first book in the 'Twilight' series tonight. I'm really enjoying these books. Now, off to lie in bed and dig into the next one!

Tuesday, March 10

2009-03-10T15:50:00.002-05:00

It is afternoon on March 10th. We are having freezing rain, and Syd and I have stayed home all day. Nathan went to work is usual.

I did not update my blog from yesterday, but I worked in the morning at the clinic, and in the afternoon at the gym. The missing dust mop was found!

Yeah, I said that I would pay more attention to my blog, but I did not promise that I would be reporting anything exciting...

A couple of Sydney Videos...

2009-03-10T13:34:00.001-05:00

Baby's First Black Eye

2009-03-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

So far we have been lucky, not a lot of bumps and bruises compared to a lot of kids by this age. It doesn't make me feel any less terrible about her first black eye. It looks worse in real life.

Sunday, March 8

2009-03-08T19:46:00.003-05:00

I'm going to try to get a little bit better about blogging. I am going to do things a little bit differently. I'm not sure that I will upload as many photos here, as it doesn't seem to be working as well. But, off to the side you will find a link to our extensive online photo galleries. My mobile pictures are uploading there fine, and this is also where I am storing photos that I am sharing from the regular cameras. Honestly, I think I will be sharing more photos by doing it this way. Also check out our family website at odnarb.com. I've made a lot of changes, and think it looks nice. I've added a Twitter status update both to this blog, and to that page, so you can see what I'm up to most of the time.

Things have been good around here. Nathan had something exciting happen. I'll just copy and paste from his blog to share...

Thank you all for your interest in the grants the Palo Alto County Libraries received through the local casino gaming license holder. Over $1.6 million in grants were given away to worth organizations in and/or serving Palo Alto County. All of the grants awarded were 25% matching grants

For my part, I was involved in the writing of six grants: two for Emmetsburg, two for Ruthven, and two for the Palo Alto County Library Association. All six of the grants were awarded. What a thrill to get to up to accept that many certificates!

At Emmetsburg, we are being funded for a Playaway startup collection. The grant is a $10,000.00 project and should buy 150-200 Playaways for adults, young adults, and children. Both fiction and non-fiction titles will be purchased.

The Friends of the Emmetsburg Library received a grant to do a Books for Babies program. The Friends will put together their own kits with custom-embroidered bibs, board books, and early literacy materials donated by the Library Service Areas. All babies born at the Palo Alto County Hospital will receive the kits. The total project was $1,523.00

At Ruthven, we had our Summer Reading Program to Remember Grant project fully funded ($2,000.00 project). With this we are looking to enhance our summer reading program by buying extra materials, hosting multiple outside programmers, and going all out in all regards for the SRP.

Also at Ruthven, we are looking to redo our children's are with new furnishings and a new shelving unit. Total project costs: $3,600.00.

The Palo Alto County Library Association is looking administer a $7,500.00 project in putting a digital multimedia projector in each library in the county. The projector can be used for in-library programs and can be checked out to bona fide community groups.

The Palo Alto County Library Association also applied for and received a grant for a membership for each of the county's five libraries in the WILBOR Audiobook Consortium, a $4,560.00 project.

Though I did not write it, my library at Emmetsburg will be positively affected by Iowa Lakes Community College receiving a $2,260.00 project to install automatic doors to the library complex.

Other libraries in Palo Alto wrote and got grants, too. Graettinger was awarded a grant for an $8,700.00 project to digitize their newspaper collection. Mallard was awarded a $2,200.00 project to use for technology upgrades. The biggest of all was the Graettinger Community Schools $36,142.00 project to update their library media center.

It was indeed a great night for the libraries in the community. The best news is that we can do this again next year at this time!

I'm very excited about all of this, and very proud of my husband!

Otherwise, things are the same as ever. Syd is getting bigger, and is about ready to start walking. I am getting tired of winter.

Today we pretty much stayed around the house. We had Papa Murphy's for supper. It was good.

Sleep Killer

2009-02-15T06:58:00.001-06:00

Somebody has had me up since 4am, and is pretty pleased with herself! I had no idea that 'The Wiggles' were on this early. She's dancing in this picture.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

2009-02-12T20:19:00.001-06:00

Cheeseburger Macaroni - Not only a food, but a fashion statement!

Yum!

2009-02-07T15:39:00.001-06:00

Sock Eatin' Babe

Restaurant Fun

2009-02-06T20:24:00.001-06:00

Sydney having fun at Monterey

14 month portraits at Walmart

2009-02-03T21:18:00.001-06:00

We got her one year pictures done a little bit late. At least she
doesn't look that different than she did two months ago!

A While Bunch O' Pictures

2009-01-25T19:05:00.001-06:00

It occured to me today that I hadn't taken pictures off of the Sony
camera in a while, so some of these are nearly a month old. Some taken
at home, some taken on a day visiting Grammy & Grampy Clark. I'm sure
you can tell which are which!

Standing and Playing

2009-01-18T12:46:00.001-06:00

Sydney is mastering the Stand, hanging onto things, of course!

No Escape

2009-01-18T11:03:00.000-06:00

Now there is no escape for the dogs!

Standing Tall

2009-01-16T18:31:00.001-06:00

Look what I can do!

A bunch of pictures

2009-01-11T17:04:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures taken in early January. Sydney is just starting
to pull herself up onto her feet. The rather ungraceful picture of her
leaning over the toy fridge door is her second attempt at it. The
first time I couldn't get to my camera in time.

Pink Snow Suit

2009-01-09T21:28:00.001-06:00

Pink snow suit

Sleepy Babe

2009-01-01T15:53:00.001-06:00

Sleepy babe

One Cool Shopper

2008-12-26T11:30:00.001-06:00

Playtime cutie!

2008-12-26T11:25:00.001-06:00

Playtime cutie!

Stylin' Babe

2008-12-26T11:23:00.001-06:00

Snowflake jeans, and shoes like Mommy!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T22:53:00.001-06:00

Sydney hopes that everybody had as merry of a Christmas as she did.
She got some wonderful gifts. The kitchen she is playing with in these
pictures is one of many that she got. Sadly, Nathan was pretty sick
today, so only Sydney and I went out to Grammy & Grampy Clark's place.
We brought home a doggie bag for him, though. Hopefully he will feel
good enough to eat it soon.

Also included is a rare photo of me. Don't get to used to that.

Sydney Meets Santa Claus

2008-12-20T16:00:00.001-06:00

It could have gone better, but it could have also gone much worse.

Snow Dogs

2008-12-20T09:21:00.001-06:00

The dogs are not pleased with the snow.

A whole bunch of early December pictures

2008-12-17T13:17:00.001-06:00

These are some snapshots taken during early December that I was just
clearing off of my camera.

Syd and friends

2008-12-15T15:05:00.001-06:00

Syd on the couch with Grant and Harry

Pictures from Syd's Birthday Party

2008-12-15T15:02:00.000-06:00

We had Sydney's first birthday party on November 23rd, a day after her
actual birthday. She actually didn't eat much of the cake. We had a
good time, and had friends and family over.

Photo Posting Test

2008-12-12T13:31:00.001-06:00

Let's see if this works! If it does, there should be like 11 pictures.

Been Neglecting the Blog...

2008-12-12T13:21:00.002-06:00

Sorry! Shortly before Halloween, Blogger stopped accepting posts from my cell phone. Since that is how I was doing most of my posting (babies seriously cut into internet time), the blog has been neglected. The phone issue appears to have been resolved, so you should be seeing more things here!

New thing

2008-12-11T17:09:00.001-06:00

New thing she started doing. Cute, huh?

Pic: Work Out Gear, or Something

2008-10-07T20:06:00.001-05:00

Pic: Bashful

2008-10-01T21:38:00.001-05:00

Bashful

Pic: Cute Baby Girl

2008-09-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

The Shopping Cart Dance

2008-09-02T17:14:00.002-05:00

I apologize, you will have to turn your head to watch the video. But I promise, it's worth it!

Jumping Baby

2008-08-25T20:25:00.002-05:00

Happy 9 months, Princess!

2008-08-22T13:18:00.003-05:00

Sydney turned 9 months old today! I took these this morning at the park.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Baby

2008-08-19T15:00:00.001-05:00

Why I don't want a Labrador

2008-08-12T09:13:00.001-05:00

Just SOME of the hair removed from the tub after giving a Lab a bath

Sydney's Makeover

2008-08-07T13:15:00.003-05:00

I had WAY too much fun on a makeover website called the Makeover-O-Matic.

Here is Sydney normally...

What if she had inherited her daddy's eye color?

Some nice hairstyles, if she weren't bald. Here she is with Mary J Blige's do...

Paris Hilton Hair...

Gwen Stefani hair...

What if she had dark hair and eyes, like Daddy?

The Jon Benet Ramsey look...

This stuff is hysterical!

Pic: Apparently trying to whistle

2008-07-25T17:47:00.001-05:00

Pic: Just Cute

2008-07-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

Pic: Attempting to Feed Herself

2008-07-24T19:35:00.001-05:00

Pic: Going For A Stroll

2008-07-24T19:33:00.001-05:00

Taco House Art Photo

2008-07-24T19:30:00.000-05:00

Taco House Art Photo

Pic: Close Up of the Honeybear

2008-07-04T17:59:00.001-05:00

Pic: The Honeybear and Daddy

2008-07-04T17:48:00.001-05:00

The Honeybear and Daddy

Pic: Big Girl!

2008-07-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

Big girls don't ride in infant seats!

Pic: Sitting Baby

2008-07-02T20:07:00.000-05:00

Look at me, I'm sitting!

Update on the Rabies thing

2008-06-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

Well, after some digging, I found the number for the laboratory online. It took a while to get transfered to the rabies department, but I finally did, and it was NEGATIVE!!!

I am irritated, though. He said that they sent out a letter two days after we submitted the sample. So, apparently they don't call? Had I not been aggressive about this, I wouldn't have found for a week or so! I mean, hello! This isn't a cholesterol check!

Adventures in Eating

2008-06-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'd say she likes sweet potatoes.

Syd's new sunhat

2008-06-10T17:47:00.000-05:00

"Like my pretty new sunhat? I got it from Grandma Johnson!"

Little Miss Independent

2008-06-05T23:08:00.001-05:00

Somebody can hold their own bottle!

Activity Center Fun

2008-06-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

Sydney loves this thing, and has recently discovered the mirror on it.
She makes faces at herself for minutes, which is a long time for her.

Just another cute pic

2008-06-05T16:55:00.001-05:00

Video: Baby Einstein Play Center

2008-06-05T11:19:00.003-05:00

Enjoying her Baby Einstein Play Center