Now I Remember...

This week I am at CIY (Christ in Youth) Move conference. It's really a high energy, deep week of learning about and worshiping The Lord for high school students. This is my 3rd year going as a sponsor and I really love it, but...
I now remember the things I don't like about Move:
1. Communal living...aka: roommates and shared bathrooms.
2. Walking EVERYWHERE! This year our dorms are about a mile from everything else.
3. Meal lines and trying to find a place to sit with your group.
It's not much to sacrifice for such a wonderful experience, but I'm already tired of sweating and my back hurting!
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Sexy Man?

I spent most of the day driving from one town to another to get various things and run errands. While at Wal-Mart this morning, I parked next to this vehicle. When I saw the sticker of the middle-aged man in a ball-cap sporting a beer I belly, I about died laughing! I just HAD to take a picture!

I also made a 200 mile round trip for a new iPod. None of the stores close to my small town had one that was a 32 gig Touch... I didn't have time to wait for it to come in the mail because I leave for a week-long trip on Monday, and I wanted it for the trip. I was pleased to find out that I could get a 2 year Best Buy warranty that would cover everything but total emersion in liquid. That way if this iPod gets 'wet' because ofcondensation, it's covered!
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

There's A Storm A Brewin'

I'm out feeding calves and it looks like there is one wopper of a storm coming. I'm really not sure I'll be able to get done before it starts pouring. I'm praying that I do, and that there's no lightening!
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Chores

So I'm now doing part of my Mom'sz daily chores. Annie (the calf) gets bottle fed and gets to eat some grain. I don't remember what happened to her mother, but she's an orphan...and cripled. She's gets to eat grain out of the bucket because the other calves bully her and won't let her next to the creep feeder where they get fed.

There are tons of flies out here and they are driving me nuts, but as soon as Annie is done eating I will feed thhe rest of the cows and calves and then I'm done. I'm lucky today because none of the rest of the cows are trying to get into Annie's bucket. It's probably because Mom's not here and they're not used to me.

My mom has four people doing the chores she normally does. She didn't want to make any one person do all the chores because they take around two hours to do.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

It's A Small Town 4th of July!

I thought I would show everyone a pictorial of our local 4th of July parade. This is the first time in years that I've been to a parade in town. Mom and I went to see the kids because they were on the church float. We always have really good seats because my grandparents live right next to parking lot where all the floats line up which means we are right at the beginning of the parade route.

Everyone's getting ready for the parade in the parking lot by my grandmother's house.

There were planes and helicopters flying overhead...not sure why.

This is my brother's church's float. It is based on their Vacation Bible School theme.

One of the big draws for the parade was trying to get 100 clowns. I HATE clowns. They are not funny; they're scary. Am I the only person who's seen Stephen King's It?

Betsy Ross drove by. Notice the guy driving the truck is sticking his tongue out at me.

One of the local churches decided to show their patriotism by decorating their float as a deer/turkey stand... only in the Ozarks!

Right before this picture, Lady Liberty stuck her tongue out at me!
I told her it wasn't very Lady Liberty-like.

This clown scared me the most...and it came right up to me while I was holding my nephew. Scared me to death.

Laura Ingalls Wilder showed up.

Yes...it is exactly what it looks like.

For some reason, there are always people driving 4-wheelers...

Here's some patriotic people!

Ronald Regan, James Monroe and Honest Abe all came by.

Here is the cult/commune that lives down the road from me. They always walk in the parades.

This lady is dressed as Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross

Of course the horses always end the parade...and leave behind presents.

It was fun watching the parade, especially when you know most of the people in the parade. I had several float drivers who stuck their tongues out at me...one picked his nose for the camera. We were sitting in my great-grandmother's driveway right at the beginning of the parade and had my youngest nephew with us. Everybody threw candy at him, and he also got a fireman's hat and a wooden plane. He waved at everybody that went by; it was so cute. Now I can't wait for the next parade!

All The Crazy Things

I've had so much going on lately, but at the same time, not much really. I've had the last two weeks off. There have been a few days here and there where I had things to do (mostly involving that stupid fireworks stand...baaahhhh!), but mostly it's been up to me to decide what I want to do, how much I want to do...that sort of thing.

I've done a lot of reading. I love to read and I don't take much time during the school year to do so. I read every day, but usually just about 10 minutes before I go to bed; nothing substantial. I've stayed up late twice this last week reading into the wee hours of the morning. It's nice to be able to do that once in awhile. Hmmm...that reminds me, I've really got to update my list of books read on my blog...

I've had the whole cat-sickness-thing going. For over a week now my cats have had this terrible cold. They have sneezing fits that are sometimes scary. Then there is Noel who came back home after being lost for over a week. I am so happy she's home, but she has obviously been in a fight and her eye looks terrible. I started them all on antibiotics today and have been putting medicine in her eye. The swelling has gone down, but now it's all full of puss...yuck. I'm just praying she doesn't lose her eye. At this point, I don't think that's going to happen, but...

Noel the day she came home.

Then there has been the convergence of the commune down the road. They keep buzzing by my house at 60 miles an hour...as if it's not a gravel road and people don't live on there! I swung by on Thursday to see how many people were there; it wasn't as crowded as I've seen it in the past. I've seen it so crowded that the entire field is full of tents and RVs.


I've spent two separate days bleaching the floors and surfaces. One day I worked on the kitchen and just yesterday I worked on the bathroom. I can't do too much at once because the bleach smell is overwhelming and probably toxic at some point. I did get a lot done and feel so much better about the house. I'm not a cleaner by nature, but I grew up in my Mom's sterile house, so I sort of crave cleanliness...I just don't produce it on my own. While I was cleaning the bathroom, I decided to get the hard water build up off my shower head. It's really easy...all you have to do is tie a baggy full of vinegar over the shower head. The vinegar removes the hard water build up...no scrubbing!

Before/During

After

Next week will be my last chock-full week of the summer because it is Junior High camp. Although I don't have to be out at camp all day, I like to be out there as much as possible during high school and junior high weeks, so I probably won't be home much next week. After next week, I'll be out at camp a few days a week, but probably not all day long. I'm hoping to get more books read! And...more house cleaning done. Plus there is still the big project of the summer...Painting! I really need to get my bedroom and living room painted this summer.

Well, I guess that's it for now. We'll see how much trouble I get into this coming week...

The Cult Bus

As I was driving home, down my county road, I caught a glimpse of yellow coming my way. I knew immediately what it was...it was the cult bus! Luckily I was close to a field entrance because they drive way too fast down the road and it would have been hard for that bus and my car to both fit on the road...I probably would have been ran off the road. I'm sure they were headed to thge river. A couple of years ago I was in my yard as they were coming back from the river and there were people sitting on the top of the bus yelling and whooping and taking pictures. Crazy city folk.



Their annual summer retreat is in full swing this weekend and there are hippies and Hindus everywhere. I believe the 'cult', as I call it, is actually a new age Hindu commune. The people that run it wear long orange robes and are Indian (not the Native American kind). They are nice and don't bug anyone, but I hate this summer retreat. There are city people from all over the country, along with the young hippies, that converge right next to my house. They drive up and down the road (that my cats like to nap on) at high speed and have been known to pick all the blackberries along OUR fence line. And there will be at least one night this weekend where I'll be able to hear music and other stuff coming through the woods because they set up speakers outside. It's just all really annoying!

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Found!!!

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Noel has been missing for over a week. I just found her outside. She's been hurt and her left eye is swollen shut, but I've looked at it and I think it will be fine, but may take her to the vet tomorrow if it looks worse. I'm not sure what kind of animal she's gotten into a fight with. I'm just glad she's back...I had counted her as lost forever.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel