YELLOW

It was a crazy weekend. We went to visit my grandma on Saturday. That was the first time I'd been there in months. We had a great time. Sunday was spent with my 2 youth riders getting ready for the horse show. I'm so proud of them. I let them out in a large pasture just to let them relax and get used to their horses without me being right up under them. I stepped in a fire ant mound. I HATE THEM. I beat my shoe out and stepped in another one instantly. Then, the lesson was over. I can't wait to let them show. I hope to get lots of photos and even some video if possible. We've discussed the fact that ribbons aren't important ;) and we are only there for experience and fun. I don't know if they believe me. But I'll make it fun for them if I have to sew my own ribbons for them.
Oh, the video has nothing to do with the post...so...after while crocodile.
Quote of the Day:
"This is parkour. Internet sensation of 2004. And it was in one of the Bond films. It's pretty impressive. The goal is to get from point A to point B as creatively as possible so technically they are doing parkour, as long as point A is delusion and point B is the hospital." -Jim Halpert

PREP

I'm exhausted. Getting ready for stuff and trying to finish up other stuff is really starting to get to me. This photo (however bad as it may be) is the epitome of how I feel. So, I'll just plug along and hope by some small chance they let John out of Iraq early to come home and drive me around so I can at least sleep between appointments. At least my horses are pretty. Lilly is getting new shoes. It's a spotted type shoe she has never worn before. She'll probably hate them. We are gearing up for our next big show. I have found 2 youth riders (yes!) and I finally have horses that are in great shape. I think all together we have 9 classes to show in...no more than that...Lilly and Cole are in 3 of the same classes. I'll have to get Lilly and IV and a sugar bit to keep her going. She gets the laziest horse in the world award. If you can come cheer us on or at least cheer on my youth riders it would be awesome. I may have found a home for the baby orange kitten (Stevie) but baby Rain is still up for grabs...not everyone at once now.

John's Birthday is tomorrow!!!!

Quote of the Day: "Who's been saying there's another person inside of me, working me with controls!?" -Kevin Malone

9/11

"I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot." ~Gary Hart

Slow Day

Can you feel the weather changing? It's almost cold outside. I'm so excited. That means it's almost time for a horse show. One that I can actually go to and not heat stroke my horse and myself. I've been riding a lot trying to get ready...well...the horses ready. Today turned out to be a catch up on sleep day. I did put the baby kitten out on the porch. Baby Rain can see great but the orange kitten still doesn't have a clue that I'm not a cat. He doesn't have a name yet. Still working on that but if I can't find them a good home I'll end up keeping them. Don't tell John.

Quote of the Day:
"Michael and I have a very special connection... like an umbilical cord." -Dwight Schrute

Oh, save us!

I need help. Not just mental health (well, maybe). I went to water the office kitties today and found a baby orange kitten in the food bowl. And, guess what, he's blind. It's the brother of baby Rain. I can't keep these kittens. I have too many cats at home. Hopefully...and according to the vet...the blindness is temporary. The mother cat has a deficiency that is causing the issue but with good food it should be corrected. Rain is already seeing light and dark differences so I think she should be fine. This new kitten doesn't have a name so if you can't take him maybe you could at least help with a respectable name. I'm pretty sure John is already signed up for eharmony looking for anyone who hates cats. If you know of anyone looking a cute pet please let them know.

Quote of the Day
"At that moment I was just, so happy. I mean everything that Dwight does annoys me... and I spend hours thinking of ways to get back at him. But only in ways that wouldn't get me arrested- and then here he comes and says he says, 'No, Jim - here's a way.'" -Jim Halpert

Baby Rain

Now up for adoption (or just come take her please!)

Baby Rain: Rain is approximately 5 weeks old. She is negative FIV and has just been dewormed. She is, however, blind. What am I going to do with another cat! The vet thinks the blindness is temporary and when she is fed properly her sight will return. She functions rather well without her sight...other than wandering out in the parking lot where I found her. She cries a lot and forget locking her in a pet carrier. She's pretty good at dismantling the door to get out. She is currently playing in the computer wires under my desk. Not the safest place for her but you try and tell her that. If you are interested please let me know. She needs a good home and that home isn't mine.

Quote of the Day
Michael Scott: And there's clouds. There's clouds in the sky. I think it's gonna rain. Bad for business.
Dwight Schrute: Well it would if they were altocumulus, not cirrostratus. Get your clouds right.
Michael Scott: Shut up.

Sparkly Things

Carroll, Jimmy, my mom and I played interior decorators last Sunday. I've been wanting to decorate John's spare bedroom for awhile. We painted it (hired someone to paint it) a very sunny yellow but couldn't decide where to go from there. Then I had an apostrophe! Cottage Chic! I bought a antiqued chandelier and yellow/blue toile curtains (the ones with people and farm scenes on them). Most of the photos came out a little dark but we tried. The sheep painting was a birthday present from Martha and it now resides in the kitchen. I really like decorating that little brick house and when I'm finished I might mess it all up so I can do it again.

Quote of the Day: "Jim Halpert. Pros. Smart, cool, good looking. Remind you of anyone you know? Cons. Not a hard worker. I can spend all day on a project and he can finish the same project in a half an hour. So that should tell you something." -Michael Scott

Tired of being tired

This week has been a rough one. I can't quite put my finger on why it's been so strange. Maybe it's because it has started to sink in that I can't pick up the phone and call Martha whenever I want to. I have to wait for John to call before I can talk to him. I send them about a million emails each just to tell them little everyday stuff that happens. Most of it isn't worth telling but it's good therapy. John had a rough day earlier this week. He sent this photo because so many things went wrong during the actual mission he forgot to get any "action" shots. This is a "I just got back late from a mission and I don't feel like being happy," photo. I like this one just as much as the others so it doesn't matter to me.

Quote of the Day:
Holly: Can anyone think of things that are over-the-line time wasters?
Stanley: This meeting.
Andy: Heyo!
Michael Scott: Can't set 'em up like that.

Bonk!

We went and played at John's house last night. We needed a place where we could run and get dirty and not have to worry about the road. We may or may not have but definitely did play on a tractor. I'm not saying which one so the one that doesn't crank this morning...we didn't play on. Martha has been sending us regular updates and photos of baby Laurel. We have shown them to Noah. He usually says "Ok," and runs off to play. We bought a new train ($5) from the Dollar Geoweoweo. It looked pretty cool until we put the batteries in and turned it on. It scared all of us so bad Granddaddy had to turn it off. It runs about a million miles an hour and makes a creepy noise. Noah now stands in the hallway and looks at it but won't go in the room with it. Me either. You definitely get what you pay for. Before bedtime I tried to read him a book (every child needs culture right?). Something about Cowboy Sam. It was so boring I caught him watching the news.

Quote of the Day: "We found ourselves on the, less prepared side of things when Stanley had his-- when his heart went bezerk. And I knew exactly what to do but in a much more real sense I had no idea what to do. So I thought we should have a CPR training class. And... of course you can't get the practice dummy, unless the instructor comes along with it. Red Cross... racquet." -Michael Scott

Rule #1 - Broken

Noah came into the office today and said "where are the fish?" I had seamonkeys that all died but how do you tell a 2 year old his favorite thing in the office is dead. Then we were stuck on the fish subject. I remembered before Noah was born Martha told me to never ever ever buy him a fish or she would kill me. She was serious. But, she left the country. So, she's not the boss of me. Nemo lives at my house right now. I'm willing to share custody if Martha is.

Martha called and said they landed and are doing well. Then the phone cut off. I'll update as I can.

Quote of the Day: "If your parents never had children, chances are you won't either." -Dick Cavett

Growing and Growing and.....

My children are growing up. This is baby Frederic. I know you can hardly recognize him from the other video. He looks, well, exactly the same only slightly bigger. I love the barely there white dot on his nose. It will soon be time for him and his fuzzy brother to make a trip to the vet for some...cough...altering. But, that takes $$ and it'll have to wait a few more weeks. So, I'll just keep videoing and taking pictures. Maybe I should start scrap booking them. That's normal, right?

Quote of the Day:
Michael Scott: Let me just cut to the chase, Dwight. I want you to fall on your sword for me.
Dwight Schrute: Ohh not gonna happen. I did fall on my sword once. I was running with it in my belt. Won't happen again.

Tank

So, stupid blogger won't let me upload 2 videos to one post. Conspiracy. This is Tank my very cute kitten. He's getting bigger and bigger. I'm pretty sure his dad was a walrus. If you listen very closely you can hear John talking on my cell phone. I was multi-tasking. I'll put Frederic on later. Today is crazy at the office and I'm pretty sure I have some form of the plague. That comes with a sore throat right? AHHhhh!!!

p.s. Happy Fricken' Birthday Miranda!!!

Michael: Paaaaammmm!
Pam: What?
Michael Scott: Come here please.
Pam: Tell me before I come in there.
Michael Scott: I want you to rub butter on my foot.
Pam: No!
Michael Scott: Come here please, I have Country Crock.
Pam: No.

What A Mess

I went riding yesterday. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. I had to go run the horses out of the shed and then to the gate (that they have knocked down) and run them up to the barn. I was able to get a good look at Lilly when she was in the crossties. She was a complete mess! From her knees down on her front legs and her hocks down on her back legs she was swollen, red, and her hair was gone. She had terrible scabs and some bleeding also. When I checked her on Wednesday she was fine. Her nose also had some sunburn. I do have to keep sunscreen on her during the summer because she has pink skin and burns easily. But, her legs are a different matter. I know horses can get "scratches." Basically a fungus from the area they're living in being too wet. That's not the case in her pasture. Some white horses get are photosensitive and react badly to harsh sunlight. Could it be that? Maybe. Or, fire ants (pire ants: according to Noah. I haven't seen ANY fire ants in that pasture. WHAT IS GOING ON! I washed her with cold water and the swelling went down. I put medication all over her and then some face protection for flies and sunscreen. She looks ridiculous. I'll check her today if the weather isn't too bad. If she isn't improved I'm bringing her in the barn. She hates it but she doesn't have choice.

Quote of the Day: "In the Schrute family we believe in a five-fingered intervention. Awareness. Education. Control. Acceptance. And punching." -Dwight Schrute

The Skinny

I just bought another veil. It's my new favorite. I bought one several months ago but when I got it I just wasn't blown away. Then I found the very first one I had ever looked at on a website by accident. I snatched it up. I am so excited! It should be here hopefully by tomorrow. Maybe I can post it on the blog. I've already shown it to John so it won't matter. Also, John just shipped 2 chai sets and an Iraqi flag home. It's going to be a fun mail week. I know I've already posted this picture of John but I don't feel comfortable posting the pictures he has sent me on my blog. They have other soldiers and Iraqis in them and I want to make sure everyone stays safe. I survived the camping trip with Mike and his teen class at church. I had a good time. Nobody really slept much. I tried to in the bed of my truck on an air mattress. It's hard to sleep when people keep prank calling your phone from about 20 feet way. Ahhh, good times!

Glass

Carroll, I owe you a dollar. I didn't pay you enough for the cake plates...but I LOVE THEM! My mom thought the blue one was really cool. I haven't shown them to John yet (I guess I have now). I can't wait to use them. It does mean, however, that I'll have to cook something. Or maybe I'll just put candy in them. Hmmmmm, better idea. John's birthday is coming up Sep 23rd. I know it's early but I'll be getting a box together to send over if anyone wants to contribute. Ok, gotta go.

Quote of the Day: "I have a very important decision to make. We need a new copier. We need new chairs. And I need to figure out a way to keep this money without having everybody hate me." -Michael Scott

ALMOST LOST!

I reached down to check my necklace today and it was GONE! AHHH! The chain had come apart and the pendant was nowhere. Then the phone rang and delayed my search party attempts. But, I found it on the floor. Crisis averted. It's my favorite necklace and I would have been really sad. Plus, I didn't want to have to tell John that the first gift he gave me I flushed. Now I don't have to. In local news, I rode Lilly and Cole. It was pretty uneventful. I'm actually surprised I was able to catch Cole. He hasn't been ridden in weeks just because he runs from me. Plus, I'm not that dedicated. I usually just grab Scout instead and he's happy for the attention. John seems to be doing well. I wish he was doing nothing but I'll have to settle for close to nothing. I ate Taco Bell 2 days in a row. It's been a strange week and I felt like I needed it. That puts the "try on the bridal gown again" off for at least another week. We will start repairing some of the beading soon and then on to the alterations. I'm very excited!!

Dwight Schrute: Who stands to benefit from our downfall?
Jim Halpert: The Mob? Maybe NASA?
Dwight Schrute: Could be the mob. But then Dunder Mifflin would need to be a front for money laundering and there is little evidence of that.
Jim Halpert:Is there some evidence of that?

Stuff etc.

What is with the huge thunderstorm rolling through? I'm afraid to answer the phones here. Is is going to do this all day? I'm sending John a big box today the youth group at church got together. I went through it, and uh, it's pretty interesting stuff. We also added letters. Since I can't get him to read a book those will have to do. I have so much paperwork to do here at the office and an insurance auditor is coming tomorrow. Nothing is ready for him. At least I don't have to water trees at the barn today. One less thing. John, Noah has a lot of questions concerning farm equipment. It would be nice if you addressed some if not all of them. Martha resorted to making up words. It'll work for now but he's eventually going to find out his momma is full of it.

Michael Scott: Sir...! I placed a bunch of golden tickets into five seperate boxes and somehow they all ended up at Blue Cross. How did this happen?
Darryl: Were the boxes near each other?
Michael Scott: Irrelevant.
Darryl: I put three pallets on the truck to Blue Cross once a week. They use a lot of paper.
Michael Scott: Ok. I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be honest. What is a pallet.

FOR JOHN

Please distribute these appropriately. If you need Safety Patrol tips ask Martha. She was one in middle school. I can just see her with the little stop sign now.

Quote of the Day: "You've been granted level 3 security clearance. Don't get too excited, that's out of 20." -Dwight Schrute

sad

I just wish we showed this kind of respect for a fallen soldier.

The Elusive John

John has been out of contact for several days but Noah wanted to sing him a song yesterday in the car on the way to his house. I let the camera roll. Yes, I know it's an Airborne song and doesn't exactly apply to John but Noah doesn't know that. We went and played on some of the tractors at John's house also...shhhh...don't tell anyone. We hope to hear from John soon but we know this kind of thing can take awhile.
A lot is happening over there so please keep him in your prayers. We love you John!

Quote of the day: "The Michael Scott Paper Company is a dream that I've had...since lunch. And, I'm not giving up on it that easily." -Michael Scott