The For Sale sign's in the yard...let the house shopping begin. In the meantime we're on our way to our favorite hotel to celebrate our wedding anniversary. That's right, 29 years ago today (new year's eve) we were married. To celebrate I got a wrap of marquis diamonds to go with my original solitaire...very sparkley!
I hope everyone has a fun, safe new year's eve and a wonderful '06!
Dec 31, 2005
Dec 28, 2005
It's Ready
It's taken since Thanksgiving but we're finally prepared to put the house on the market. We were all set to sign on the dotted line with a realtor until my husband realized we had to pay them 6% of the total selling price (3% to the listing agent and 3% to the selling agent). He couldn't believe it! And I see his point. 6% of the money we actually walk away with would be fair...but 6% of the whole price seems outrageous. So I looked around for a realtor who charges less...and I found one! $1200 up front to the listing agent. But we have to sign before the end of the year because in 2006 they are no longer offering the flat fee deal. Why can't anything ever be easy?
It would be interesting to see how this all turns out if it wasn't my actual LIFE we're talking about. Sooooooo many decisions...a few more gray hairs.
It would be interesting to see how this all turns out if it wasn't my actual LIFE we're talking about. Sooooooo many decisions...a few more gray hairs.
Dec 26, 2005
What a Merry Christmas!
Here we are after our Delicious Christmas Surprise (see post below). The weather was gorgeous and the day was perfect including lots of presents and a luxurious nap in the afternoon. Hope everyone's day was a memorable as mine!
Dec 21, 2005
Delicious Christmas Surprise
Recently I received an e-mail chain letter instructing me to send the person on the top of the list a recipe and then add my e-mail address to the list and send to 10 friends...and so on...and so on...and so on...
Some people would think this is a lot of fun and a way to get some delicious new recipes...
I am not one of these people as I am less than handy around the kitchen. So this is the recipe I sent out on my e-mail:
Delicious Christmas Surprise
Note: This recipe is easy and clean-up is a snap, but requires some planning and can be expensive to serve. Finding the right ingredients for Delicious Christmas Surprise is imperative.
At least 3 weeks before Christmas:
Search the Internet for restaurants and hotels open on Christmas Day in your area.
Dial the phone number rapidly. If there is no answer, repeat.
Set aside a table at a specific time for a certain number of guests.
Christmas Morning:
Stir.
Slip on fluffy robe until completely warm.
The family room should be at room temperature.
Make sure the Christmas tree is lit.
Open gifts at a steady pace while pouring eggnog into wide-mouthed mouth.
After the presents are completely done, go to bedroom and whip on one of the fashion gifts you received.
Add a jacket or coat to taste.
Dash to the restaurant or hotel.
After being seated, it is recommended to step rapidly to the buffet tables laden with delectable salads, entrees and desserts.
Serve and enjoy!
Some people would think this is a lot of fun and a way to get some delicious new recipes...
I am not one of these people as I am less than handy around the kitchen. So this is the recipe I sent out on my e-mail:
Delicious Christmas Surprise
Note: This recipe is easy and clean-up is a snap, but requires some planning and can be expensive to serve. Finding the right ingredients for Delicious Christmas Surprise is imperative.
At least 3 weeks before Christmas:
Search the Internet for restaurants and hotels open on Christmas Day in your area.
Dial the phone number rapidly. If there is no answer, repeat.
Set aside a table at a specific time for a certain number of guests.
Christmas Morning:
Stir.
Slip on fluffy robe until completely warm.
The family room should be at room temperature.
Make sure the Christmas tree is lit.
Open gifts at a steady pace while pouring eggnog into wide-mouthed mouth.
After the presents are completely done, go to bedroom and whip on one of the fashion gifts you received.
Add a jacket or coat to taste.
Dash to the restaurant or hotel.
After being seated, it is recommended to step rapidly to the buffet tables laden with delectable salads, entrees and desserts.
Serve and enjoy!
Dec 19, 2005
NOTE TO SELF: Next year take off the week BEFORE Christmas
OMG...we're so busy at work I have absolutely NO time for my personal business like online Christmas shopping or blog posting! Whoever made the schedule thought it would be fun to make us do 2 weeks worth of work in 1 week...with half the staff. Now, I wasn't very good in algebra but I think X = sucks in this case.
The net result is that the people who are off this week will have NOTHING to do when they come back on the 27th...because we will have done it all. Oh well, I just have to keep my nose to the grindstone until the 23rd and then I'm off for 11 consecutive days...come on Christmas!!!
(Hmmm...I may need to change my grown-up Christmas wish to nose reconstruction.)
The net result is that the people who are off this week will have NOTHING to do when they come back on the 27th...because we will have done it all. Oh well, I just have to keep my nose to the grindstone until the 23rd and then I'm off for 11 consecutive days...come on Christmas!!!
(Hmmm...I may need to change my grown-up Christmas wish to nose reconstruction.)
Dec 15, 2005
To Kill An American
There was a news report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is so they would know when they found one.
Written by an Australian Dentist...
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
Written by an Australian Dentist...
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
Dec 13, 2005
The Book Meme Challenge
The Duke of Earl tagged me with this meme and now I have to come up with 15 things about books. Well, I guess I don't HAVE to. But you know me...I'll jump on anything to distract me from writing my own book. Wait! Does that count as one? It does in my book...
2. Book 'em, Dano. This phrase was the first one that came to mind...and to tell you the truth I have no idea who Dano is...or if that's how it's spelled. It may be from Hawaii 5-0 but I don't think I've ever actually seen an episode.
3. Writing a book is really really hard...unless it's just a couple of pages...then not so much.
4. I've written 2 1/2 books...reminds me of my favorite sit-com...2 1/2 Men.
5. My favorite author (poet) is Dr. Seuss...I do so love him, Sam I am.
6. One time my mother and I were arguing about a verse from the Bible. She said, "Have you even read the Bible?" And I said, "No, but I saw the movie."
7. Stephen King and Anne Rice are good if you like ghosts and bougainvillea.
8. Flirting with Forty and Blondes Have More Felons are book TITLES I have written due to be published next year.
9. I'm a slow reader. I find myself proofing the pages and most of the time thinking, "I can write better than this." Come on...you know you do too...
10. I love the scent of books but I hate libraries. I think I was abused by a librarian as a child.
11. I actually write for one of the BIGGEST books around.
12. I prefer paperbacks because they are easier to hold.
13. My first novel took 6 years to write. I started out on a Smith Corona electric typewriter, switched to a Magnavox word processor and ended up on a Gateway computer. I've never tried to market it. It's a ghost story called The Third Time.
14. My second novel is being shopped by my agent. Hmmm...haven't heard from him in a while.
15. My third novel is 4 chapters away from being finished.
Phew! That was harder than I thought. Okay...now I'm tagging Nankin and Bill. You're it!
2. Book 'em, Dano. This phrase was the first one that came to mind...and to tell you the truth I have no idea who Dano is...or if that's how it's spelled. It may be from Hawaii 5-0 but I don't think I've ever actually seen an episode.
3. Writing a book is really really hard...unless it's just a couple of pages...then not so much.
4. I've written 2 1/2 books...reminds me of my favorite sit-com...2 1/2 Men.
5. My favorite author (poet) is Dr. Seuss...I do so love him, Sam I am.
6. One time my mother and I were arguing about a verse from the Bible. She said, "Have you even read the Bible?" And I said, "No, but I saw the movie."
7. Stephen King and Anne Rice are good if you like ghosts and bougainvillea.
8. Flirting with Forty and Blondes Have More Felons are book TITLES I have written due to be published next year.
9. I'm a slow reader. I find myself proofing the pages and most of the time thinking, "I can write better than this." Come on...you know you do too...
10. I love the scent of books but I hate libraries. I think I was abused by a librarian as a child.
11. I actually write for one of the BIGGEST books around.
12. I prefer paperbacks because they are easier to hold.
13. My first novel took 6 years to write. I started out on a Smith Corona electric typewriter, switched to a Magnavox word processor and ended up on a Gateway computer. I've never tried to market it. It's a ghost story called The Third Time.
14. My second novel is being shopped by my agent. Hmmm...haven't heard from him in a while.
15. My third novel is 4 chapters away from being finished.
Phew! That was harder than I thought. Okay...now I'm tagging Nankin and Bill. You're it!
Dec 9, 2005
The First Time You Made Love (rerun)
For those of you new to the site, welcome! Freaky Friday is the designated day for sex talk on my blog.
***IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER*** This is sexually explicit material and may not be suitable for younger members of our blogging audience.
If network television can do it, I figure it's good enough for me. Back for your "viewing" pleasure is the original freaky friday post while I'm busy selling my house and getting ready for Christmas...
I'm sure everyone has fond (or not so fond) memories of that special time and place in your life when you lost your virginity. My husband still gets angry eyes when I mention my high school sweetheart's name (Brent). I suppose I should feel bad about not saving myself for my wedding night, but I don't. (Even now I would hate to think anyone gets married so they can fulfill their sexual urges.)
It was a very special time in my youth and I cherish those memories. Yes, we were young...17. But it was after the advent of the Pill (and I had enough sense to be on it) and before AIDS, so you can see what a magical time in history it was. And your chance of avoiding those other pesky sexually transmitted diseases from another 17 year old virgin was very good.
When I think about it now, I'm surprised we knew what to do. But I guess because we'd been dating since the 9th grade (this had to be the longest foreplay in history) we'd climbed every mountain except one...or would that be a valley? So it was a natural progression. Anyway, I remember it being very nice, well as nice as it can be in your twin bed, hurrying before your Mom gets home from work. But, you know, after a while, the whole "where and when will we do it next and will we get caught" adrenaline rush becomes just as addictive as the sex itself. And once you start...well...there is NO turning back. Not that we ever even considered it.
I guess the most "daring" place we "did it" was in the practice room in the High School band room. Second was out in a field at my grandparents ranch. Of course there were the standard car back seats and my room...(only child, both parents worked.)
There was one thing I hadn't counted on. You see, we were in love...had been for a long time. And we had expressed that love in every way possible. So when I went away to college and he stayed home, and found someone else, well, it was almost like getting a divorce...only my support system didn't understand that. There was no hand-holding and help to get back on my feet like you would get during a real divorce.
It really, really hurt.
But anyway, I digress. Anyone brave enough to tell about their first time? Come on...you can post anonymous if you want.
posted by Karyn Lyndon @ 5/20/2005 05:10:00 PM
Dec 4, 2005
'Tis The Season For Multi-Tasking
Fa la la la la...la la la la.
Sorry...my social calendar has kept me way too busy to post regularly..not that I'm complaining. But the phrase, "The behinder I am the hurrieder I get" applies to me lately. Last night I went to a holiday party for my division at my bosses' house. We were supposed to bring a dessert and two white elephant gifts (my apologies for any slur to elephants...none is intended.). Since I had a holiday brunch starting at 8 a.m. Saturday morning for my Romance Authors organization and then had to have a nap to recover from eating that much that early, I forgot about bringing stuff to the party.
So at 7:15 that night we were dishing banana pudding from a local bar-be-que place into one of my Tupperware containers and crumpling dollar bills into gift bags--all in the car on the way to the party. It was fun...if you like stress.
Today I had a family brunch and my monthly critique group and managed to squeeze in another nap. While I was at my group, the rest of the family had an assignment to put up the tree. See below...
Okay...so this is last year's picture but the tree looks exactly like that, except there aren't any presents under it yet.
Maybe I can shop and wrap presents in the car on the way to the next party.
Sorry...my social calendar has kept me way too busy to post regularly..not that I'm complaining. But the phrase, "The behinder I am the hurrieder I get" applies to me lately. Last night I went to a holiday party for my division at my bosses' house. We were supposed to bring a dessert and two white elephant gifts (my apologies for any slur to elephants...none is intended.). Since I had a holiday brunch starting at 8 a.m. Saturday morning for my Romance Authors organization and then had to have a nap to recover from eating that much that early, I forgot about bringing stuff to the party.
So at 7:15 that night we were dishing banana pudding from a local bar-be-que place into one of my Tupperware containers and crumpling dollar bills into gift bags--all in the car on the way to the party. It was fun...if you like stress.
Today I had a family brunch and my monthly critique group and managed to squeeze in another nap. While I was at my group, the rest of the family had an assignment to put up the tree. See below...
Okay...so this is last year's picture but the tree looks exactly like that, except there aren't any presents under it yet.
Maybe I can shop and wrap presents in the car on the way to the next party.
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