Month: August 2010

  • New Photos

     

    How was everyone's week?

    Mine was horrible.  

    And this week is going to be even worse.

    I'm not going to bore you with the details, it will just put me in a bad mood.

    LJ is gone until Tuesday for a business trip.

    It's just the fur-kids and I.

    I've been working on getting my computer a little more organized this afternoon, editing photos and then posting them so I can transfer them over to the external hard drive.  My laptop is waaaay overloaded with photos!

    Here are a few of my favorites...

    A couple of them aren't too bad.

    I wish I had more time to spend on my photography.

    And learning Photoshop editing.

    Most of these were done with just a simple crop and some contrast adjustments.

    One of these days, I'd love to get some actual prints of these.

    Until then, digital is all I can afford.

    I got a lot of laundry done today, made a killing at Goodwill and bought a whole new fall/winter wardrobe, and got some photos edited for post reviews this week.  I think that's good enough for tonight.

    I'm going to go jump in the shower, head out to grab some fast food, settle in front of the tv for an hour, then head off to bed and read for a bit.  

    I've got a great book I'm reviewing for All Dog Blog right now!

    ,

    Erin

  • Jensen & Jared

     

    Has gotten SOME of the stuff on her list done today, but I'm done with fretting over things not finished.  I'm only human and I physically can only do so much, ya know?  I'm about to wrap up computer work for a little bit, and go downstairs and spend some time with the Hubbs and the Bubbs (totally didn't mean for that to happen! haha).  I might take my laptop downstairs to just keep an eye on some things, finish up some emails and do a little research on ad/rate cards while watching Supernatural.  LOVE that show!  Highly recommend it!

    Noise: [True Love Way - Kings of Leon]

    Right?!  Yum.  haha

    Alrighty, Lowell's calling me to come down, GTG!

    ,

    IB

  •  

    Noise: [Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman]

    I have a feeling today is going to be a very strange day.  I overslept, thought Lowell had too, only to turn over and see nothing but bed!  He'd left almost two hours previously and apparently when I called him and told him about it, he said, "I tried to say good-bye and kiss your forehead but you swatted it away like a fly!"  haha, I do NOT remember THAT at all.  I also remember having a very strange dream last night too.  And of course, I should have come straight to the computer to start writing it down when I got up at 6am to use the loo, but I went back to bed instead.  Believe me, I thought about it, but that bed!  Since I got the mattress pad and featherbed put on over Christmas, and new pillows and awesome sheets...it's tough to get out, or to stay out!  One of these days I'll get into a schedule like that I hope, but not today I guess.

    Noise: [Stinkfist - Tool]

       

    I've been on some blogs here, some professional-looking, purchased domain, and lifer bloggers, and I considered going that route too.  I'm still not sure what I want to do here.  I know I need a release for sure, and I know I want that to be here, but do I want anything, or something else too?  I know I want the ads gone and to be able to put up my own (or not), but how much do I really want the public to know about me?  I know no one reads this now, but what if some day they do??  I don't want to have tip-toe around the public, or have to change me.  I want to be myself for now, and I think that is exactly what I need for now.  And maybe forever.  Who knows.  But those professional blogs are VERY very VERY tempting right now.  The clean layout.  The personal ad space.  It's all very tempting!  However, first and foremost...I need to get All Dog Blog up to par before focusing any of my attention on here.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done there still, and I can't imagine the increase in readers/followers if I got it to where it needs to be.  It's growing in numbers every month, even every day now, and I'm excited to see where it's going to go.  

    I need money.

    Noise: [Strip the Soul - Porcupine Tree]

    Ain't that the truth.

    Things to do today and in no particular order:

    Get a few posts done on ADB
    Laundry
    Pick up check/cash check
    Dye hair (the gray is out of control!)
    Vacuum
    Start reading books for review
    Design mailing inserts
    Pack giveaway winners' packages/address them
    Finish Pet Head review
    Go to Ace Hardware

     

    And that's pretty much not all.  I have a lot of other little things to get done I won't list here.  Waste of time.

    Time for a coffee refill, do a couple posts, go through some emails, jump in the shower, and head out to knock some stuff that list!

    One of these days I'll get to take some photos, I WILL!

    ,

    ib

    Noise: [Livin' on the Edge - Aerosmith]

  • Sisters

    This is just a really great email my mom sent me, and I loved it so much that I thought I'd share it with you.  I don't have any blood sisters, but I do have some wonderful girlfriends who are nothing short of sisters to me.  We may not see each other every day, but I think of them every day.

      

    Read on...

    A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced  tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about  life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life  and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the  ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

    " Don't forget your  Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get  older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter  how much you
    love the children you may have, you are still  going to  need Sisters. Remember to go places with  them nowand then; do things  with  them.'

    'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL  the women...
    your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your  other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women.  Women   always  do.'

    What a funny piece of advice!' the young  woman thought.     Haven't I just gotten  married?      Haven't I just joined  the couple-world?    I'm now a married woman, for  goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the  family we may start will be all I need to make my life  worthwhile!'

    But she listened to her Mother. She kept  contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years  tumbled   by, one  after     another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom  reallyknew what she was  talking about.    

    As time  and  nature work their changes  and their mysteries upon a woman,   Sisters are the  mainstays of her life.

    After more than 50  years of living in this world, here is what I've  learned:

    THIS SAYS IT ALL:

    Time  passes.

    Life happens.

    Distance  separates.

    Children grow up.

    Jobs come and  go.

    Love waxes and wanes.

    Men don't do what  they're supposed to do.

    Hearts break.

    Parents  die.

    Colleagues forget favors.

    Careers  end.

    BUT.........

    Sisters are there, no matter  how much time and how many miles are   between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can  reach.

    When you have to walk that lonesome valley and  you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your  life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you  on, praying  for you, pulling for you, intervening  on your  behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

    Sometimes, they will even   break the rules and walk beside  you...Or come in and  carry you out.

    Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers,  aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our  life!

    The  world  wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this  adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know  how much we would  need  each  other.

    Every  day, we need each other  still. Pass this on to all the women who help  make  your life meaningful.

    Amazing.  Love it.  So true.  

    Do you have a sister?  

    Do you REALLY appreciate her?

    ib

  • Mornin' Ya'll

     

    & Good mornin'.

    Not much excitement happening around here, just the usual weekly grind.

    I'm off today, but certainly means I won't be lounging around all day!  I've got TONS of blogging to do, posts that need to be written, emails to be written, books that need to be read and reviewed, products to review, photos to take, etc.  Like a said before, the work never ends!! <3

    'Green Berries' 2009

    Just had a run-in with the new neighbors.

    Oh the drama, but that's for another post.

    The plan for today is to get some posts done, send out some emails to our contest winners which ends today, run to the store to get some sugar, hair-dye, and see if anything sounds good for dinner, drive over to Ace hardware on Rangeline to see if they have FreshWave dog shampoo for a review and giveaway, and that's about it in between laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc.  Should be an interesting day of home-work, chores, and errands.

    Hope you like the photo, I took it last year around this time.  I have quite a few new photos to post from last year that I haven't shared, but nothing new from this year unfortunately.  Between work and blogging, I haven't made the time to get out and get anything new.  Maybe one of these days, when Fall comes, I'll take a day to venture out!

    What do you guys have going on today?  Anything exciting??

    ,

    ib

  • Happenings As Of Late Vol. 1

    I woke up a little later than I would have liked to.

    But since I was up until 4am, I'd say waking up at noon isn't too bad!

    It feels really good to be back on Xanga.  Like REALLY.

    So much so, I'm thinking of just purchasing a Lifetime sub and get it over with.

    I love it here.

    I attempted to do a switch over to Blogger, but it SUCKS.  It's SO much more difficult to use!  It's a pain in the ass to get your post to look like you want, to get pictures uploaded and placed in the post where you want, you are constantly attempting to fix HTML code, and trying to find a layout without paying...well, FORGET IT!  That was basically the last straw.  I somehow lost my layout I was using, the website either went down or it got deleted and it was down for a few days (I was waiting for it to come back up!), and when it didn't I attempted to search for a new layout, with NO LUCK AFTER 2 HOURS OF SEARCHING.  Plus, everyone else was using it, and that was initial reason for leaving here.  If everyone else was using it, it must be great right?!  Gawd.  Horrific.

    Yes, ridiculous.

    So I decided to see how I felt about coming back here.

    I did a quick search for a layout, found one IMMEDIATELY (the one you are seeing), and did a post to see how smoothly it would go, and well, I'm BACK.

    And for GOOD.

    I think I should just go ahead and purchase and become a Lifer so I don't feel tempted to stray ever again!

    I probably will this week, if I can keep posts going here for a few days!

    My goal:  Post everyday BEFORE starting work on All Dog Blog.

    I need the release here.

    [Source: Unknown]

    I'm listening to some Kings of Leon (I love days where my toughest choice is either APC, TOOL, or Kings!), eating a Lemon Poppy Seed muffin from the batch I made yesterday morning (oh sooooo good), having a Donut House, and getting ready to do some posts over at All Dog Blog.

    Last night I went back and read a few posts I did here and I remember it like it was yesterday.  I guess I haven't been gone as long as I thought I was, but it did seem like FOREVER!  Anyway, I had mentioned about starting a website and letting you know when it was up and running.  Well, I thought I'd let you know, it's up and running!  I've started another blog that focuses on dogs called All Dog Blog and I LOVE it.  It's becoming my life, and it's a great thing.  I've gotten to converse with some really great people over emails, gotten to try some really great products for free (in exchange for reviews), and absolutely LOVE everyone of my readers.  If you've got a dog, go check it out!  It's a lot of work, and it's constant and never ending, but I wouldn't want it to be any other way.  One day I hope to be able to focus on it exclusively, be making money from it (I already make some), and quit my day job.  That's the plan.  I'm beginning to take it a little more seriously, and I know I need to if I want to be able to do that.  Slowly, all-nighters are creeping into the schedule, and my planner is getting overloaded by the minute with things to do, or things I want to do.

       

    Lowell's been gone all weekend visiting Casey, and to try out his new golf shoes he got for his birthday (from me), and the gloves he ordered from eBay on the cheap.  I miss him.  :(  And when he's not around and I miss him, it usually comes out in anger and pretending I DON'T care whether or not he's here, and that is soooo not the case.  I'm sure he's caught on to that by now (after six years).  He just called to tell me he's got two more holes and then he'd be on his way home and be here in a few hours (Casey lives in South Bend, IN), and I pretended like I didn't care.  I'll send him a text message in a minute to tell him to hurry up and to be careful.  :)  I'm so backwards.  But he gets me, so that's all that matters.

    <I love eating poppy seeds>

    Wow, ramblings going on here.

    Okay, I have LOTS of work to get done today (have to work all day tomorrow), so I'm going to sign-off for a little bit here and do what I have to do.  When I need a break, I'm sure I'll be back!  We have a lot to catch up on Xanga loves!  Plus, I need another muffin and a coffee warm-up! :)

    ib

     

  • Back

    I can't believe that I let myself fall again.

    Again, to the conformity.

    But I'm back.

    Back to where I belong.

    ib