*rant*

Yup- an official rant!

Son#1 has been basking in the Arizona sun for about 10 days now and the only time he calls is to tell me he is thinking of staying there. Now I should be happy that the boy has finally decided to fly the coup but I know better. He is impulsive and really never thinks through the initial "ah-ha" moment. (If you have been reading my blog long you probably already knew this) I love the boy but he needs to think a bit more before he drops out of school the second he meets a girl!

Step is moving into Son#1's room while he is away (can't let the guestroom be without a guest can we) and she waits for the apartment she applied for to come open. Tuesday was her latest OB appointment and neither BFD or I could go. peanut cub is doing fine. I learned this week that BFD is not happy that I used peanut for the baby- apparently the last mom did...GRRRRRRRR, looser...

*slight interuption* My Algebra teacher just walked in my office *HOLY CRAP*

Now I forgot what I was ranting about. damn.

Cub names:

• boy- Adrean Dravin
• girl- Issis Rayn

I love my kids....somedays...

Work is good

This past week we opened the Self-Help Law Center....

Family

Most of the year I am very thankful that most of my sisters live in other cities & states. This week I realized how much I miss their kids.

They like to go places with me...

Even though I carry my camera everywhere & constantly take their picture...

they can be so cute...

or funny...

I just like to hang out with them most days..

Except for when they get ahold of my camera...

But when they leave next week I will miss them still...

Lists

Many years ago I started lists on 43things, 43places, 43people & all consuming. That bucket movie came out and now everyone has to have a list.

I think I need to tweak my lists...I change my mind so frequently while reading everyone's blogs.

Mr. Bourdain.... again

I'm starting to figure out what it is that is so attractive about him. He is a romantic writer and he can make even the most sarcastic remark sound sexy when reading his script. But tonight I watched the best episode yet!
The contest winner was (not to my surprise) a woman...but not a tall, sexy blonde but an average looking woman who happens to be Arab-American. Now, I have my bias' but I have no real personal negative interaction to base a prejudice against anyone from the middle east. Danya was an amazing person and she deserved the win (Since I didn't dig up any cool ideas & enter I can't complain much.) She presented Saudi Arabia in a very real way - no camel-riding-gun-toting-zealots, just people. The market place was filled with women in their abais and men in thobes making it appear to be a sea of black and white. But the people they spoke with smiled, laughed and joked as everyone on every other episode. She had Tony meet her family and friends as well as convincing him try foods she herself did not know or sometimes like but it gave a bigger picture of a culture we tend to shroud in dark clouds of terrorism.
When I take a minute to reflect on my personal perceptions of Saudi I envision a very generous nation- my friends from back in the day who were stationed there never talked about anything scary or dark. They complained about no alcohol but they came back 30 lbs lighter and buff.
What an impact the media has- my thoughts are jumbled with the bomb-wearing terrorist and the kids in snapshots from the airmen who served there.

It was an excellent show. If you get a change watch it.

I wonder if it is available for download yet.

Friday fun!

Happenings:

• Took Son#1 to the Fort for another appointment.
  
• Dragged the hubby along for company
• Stopped by the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine & grabbed a bucket of gravel
  
• Worked full time for two full weeks.... got the exact same paycheck as when I worked part time. *scratches head*
• Shipped Son#1 off to Dad in AZ ... for a MONTH!
• watched the hubby go to work at 9PM... he won't be back until 5AM.
  

gee I can't wait for Monday now!

#4 HOLY CRAP!!!

I could not believe my eyes when I scrolled down this one!

MONTANA made it to #4 on the list of 10 places you have to see before you die! (not Great Falls but ANYWHERE in Montana is EXCELLENT!)

And I thought no one noticed our little state anymore......

He's possessed

I have complained, bitched & nagged my husband for MONTHS to fix my van. He always says he will do it when he gets time or has a day off. Months have passed & the van developed more little signs of age. I figured that I would have to hire a mechanic.

Last night I could not find him anywhere in the house. I searched the front & listened for the lawn mower but he was not around, then I opened the garage...

He was under my van!

He not only found the belt which was squealing up a storm all week but he inspected the other two & decided to replace all 3! Today he was up early to do a parts run. After fixing the belts he fixed the broken door handle & is looked at the broken window latch.

WOW.

I love my husband. Thank you sweetie!

I used to know it all

Then I tried to share my knowledge of Great Falls with the waymarking community & found I'm clueless about the history of some of the great places I like to visit.

So now I need to go visit the historical society & then I can finish my waymarking of Great Falls. I still have over 40 points to waymark from Helena. It is yet another endless task I chose to endure.
It keeps me out of trouble so I guess it is not that bad.

My best day of walking at work got me over 3500 steps and took me around the pond a few times!

BIGGEST mistake of my life...ever

I made it when I was in college and struggling to get by on student loans & food stamps...I had my mother cosign a loan. Now not only do I get harassing phone calls from SallieMae when I am 31 days late (because pay fell on the 27th day) but I get them from Mom too.......

I hope I never become my mother... DAMN IT!!

Peanut 7.5 weeks

Peanut 7.5 weeks
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

my grandbaby

The afterglow

After a great weekend with my hubby I am feeling pretty good. We purchased a new bed and spiffy new shoes then had a terrific dinner at the 3D. Yummy.

So as the new week begins I am back to the job- FULL TIME at last!- while the hubby finally gets a day off (he worked the 4th until 8PM).

My thoughts have turned again to new adventures.... not mine really but Mr. Bourdain....

I'm just giddy! Life is good.

A little relief from the heat

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary
Originally uploaded by ZhenPanda

Today I will be spending my time with this great guy.