A Friendly Neighbor

For weeks, I have been patiently waiting for my little friend to come by. My century plant has had it beautifully delicious flowers for weeks now. I know my little friend has been waiting extremely long for them to bloom. So, where has he been?

I saw him the other morning finally. I was so excited. I love it when they come unannounced and have a bit to eat on my century plant out in front of my house. So, once I saw him I thought I would capture the moment for you all. Are hummingbirds hard to photograph? Well, I think so since they come and go so quickly.

I wait with persistence. I finally saw him again the next morning, while I was sitting outside on my swing drinking my coffee. I was estatic upon his arrival that I could not contain myself. I knew I had to move slowly to grab the camera. Now, I have taken a pic of a hummingbird before. Since, this was at sunrise and since I am reaching that age of not being able to see like a hawk anymore, the picture maybe be a little blurry. The is only because this is how I see everything anymore. Ugh! Getting old sucks!

Here is a picture of a hummingbird when I really could see. It was about 5 years ago. I am thinking that is the last time I was at my mom's house in California. Sad, I know but true. It is really far to drive out there. 20 plus hours. I have no time anymore or money for that matter.

Pretty Cool. These hummingbirds are like kids, they don't like to stop and smell what they are eating. LOL They don't like to stick around very long either. So, when you get a chance to capture it, it is very exciting. That is why I like the new blog that I found. You have to check it out. http://www.browerfamilyof5.blogspot.com/ I am excited about keeping track of her boys.

Anyhow, back to my friend.

Look at this picture where the hummingbird actually lands on the stem. Awesome!

Now, here is a pic of my friendly little guy coming to taste the sweet flowers of the century plant. Well, we call them century plants. Martha Stewart will probably call them something else. When I smelled the flowers I did not smell anything, all I got was a nose full of pink die. Looked like I have been snorting something.

I am glad I had that beautiful trailer in front of the house to help with the background. LOL

Hopefully, I can get some better photos later.

Hope you enjoyed.

BUNCO ANYONE?

I have to tell you that once a month I play BUNCO with a very fine group of ladies. We generally have a potluck dinner in which the host will prepare the main meal and the rest of the players will bring some concoction of food which they just so happen to digg out of an old recipe booklet to try out on us. Love you ladies. Still living so it must not be all that bad, although we have lost of few players, they say it was from retiring, taking a break, or different personality clashes. I say it could have been the food. :) Right, check out what I ended up eating "You know you're addicted," See, what I am saying.



No, really those ladies do know how to cook. I think they get a little nervous when I have to bring something. They do hate it when they come to my house because I always cook something healthy. I am just looking out for them. They will thank me one day or not when they are laid up in the hospital bed saying to me, "I should have listen to you."



We have a ball, and we talk about anything. We solve all the worlds problems and then some in about 2 hours. Now, why can't the govt. do that. They really need us BUNCO ladies to help them out.

It is such a fun time and a very good stress releaser. We have this wonderful lady who is trying to find a new career, job, or something. Bless her heart, she goes and applies for a position at the bank for the checks processing or something or another. She is suppose to take a ten-key test. So, she goes home and practices a great deal on her computer only to find out they bring out a real ten-key. Can you imagine, what the heck is that she says. LOL! We all busted up laughing so hard. Look, she was not born in the 80's so she should know what one looks like. Bless her heart she tries so hard.

i get stuck over at the losers table for about 6 games straight and finally I make it over to the big table. Look out you all I hate to lose. So, what happens, I get a BUNCO. What is a BUNCO, you ask? Well, a bunco is when you roll 3 sixes at the same time. I forgot to mention that you play with 3 die. It is harder than it sounds. Sometimes I wonder if those die are fixed. So, I end up the top winner.

Now, the prizes is what we really play for, and those ladies know how to pick them. I try and give away fitness classes, but they won't no part in that, nor do they like my Arbonne stuff. Too bad for them. They try to pin point on what it is that I like and to tell you the truth, I like alot of different stuff, but I am not a flower person, so don't try and give me flower stuff for my house. I love plants and I love it when my husband gives me flowers. i get on a streak and then I find something else to like.

Everyone likes the deserts. I do too. It seems like everyone likes to bring a desert, where is the real food people, we have ladies who need real food. Like those of us who actually exercise.

Well, if you have not played you should try and get a group together, you never know who you are going to get and these ladies are some really neat ladies. I love them.

You Know You're Addicted.....

I have like become obbessed with this whole blogging thing. Like I need something else to get into. I don't have time to clean, cook, do laundry or anything else for that matter. But then again who wants to do that stuff. This blogging this has really consume my life. I like though.

Take a look at what happened the other night when I came home from Body Chizel. I decided to eat a little, so I put together a little plate from what my family had already eaten for dinner.

I stuck in the microwave to heat it up for 2 minutes. Did you see that it was only for 2 minutes. I came into the computer room to sit down and check e-mail and blog stuff. I of course get consumed at looking at everything and signing up for this and that and my friend C.C. Almon told me to check out how to do something on Wordpress and of course it does not work because I have to upgrade. ugh! Anyway, so I am sitting in this chair for what seems like a long time and the microwave should have dinged by now. I keep typing and searching for fitness videos like I always do and get distracted and probably bought something too.

My daughter comes in to tell me that the microwave says 9:03, well which happens to be the same time it was on the stove clock. "So!" I said. "No, mother" she said, it is the time left on the microwave. What? I said. What the heck! I get my butt up off the chair that now has stuck to because I have sat in it for awhile waiting for my food to warm up for 2 minutes. Only to find out that I typed in 20 minutes for the food to warm-up. :( Look what happened.

This stuff is cooked, nucked almost disintegrated.

Well, just have to make another plate. Okay, Connor watch me to see if I put in 2 minutes.

I tell you it is rough getting old. I have to have her read things to me cause i can't see the small print. Frustrating.

What a Day in Dublin Texas

Father's Day was yesterday and we were just having a nice ol day. I watched Crusoe with Aidan Quinn. He is HOT! Then, I watched "Jumanji" with Robin Williams. I had not seen that movie in a long time all the way through. I love that movie.

Well, a friend of ours told us that he had gone to Dublin, Texas to see the Dr. Pepper factory. This place is in working order. They only serve a radius of 44 miles. The original Dr. Pepper place. It was really neat. Not very big and the people there were really super nice. The trip to get there was only like an hour and twenty minutes. Here are some photos of the place.



This is the Dr. Pepper sign outside. Look since 1891.








The Dr. Pepper sign on 377 coming into Dublin.








This is Jerry (the hubby), Connor, (my youngest) and then ME, sitting at the statue of Mr. Kolster who originally took it over from Sam Houston Prim. He owned the Dr. Pepper company for 67 years until he died.

I will tell you this, he collected everything Dr. Pepper. You could Dr. Pepper in everything.

We checked out the museum. We even got a little bottle of the original Dr. Pepper. They still make Dr. Pepper at Dublin with Imperial Sugar instead of that corn syrup. It really taste sooooo good. I really wanted more.



This bottle is so cute.















This is outside the building. A mural.


This is the nice part of the trip. So after we left the Dr. Pepper place we decided to head back home and take I-20. Well, not such a great idea. Take a look what happened next. We have damaged.

THE HULK MOVIE

THE HULK MOVIE

We just went and saw "The Incredible Hulk" with a friend of ours. He is really into Marvel comics as my hubby is too. Although, my hubby is very critical when it comes to movies made from comic books. He likes them to go along with the story line. Well, boo freakity hoo! Hollywood needs add some spice and yes I know you just sometimes can't get all the emotions of the balloons in the movies like you can with the comic book.

The movie really was pretty good. I am a huge fan of the original series. I love David Brenner. No one will ever be able to replace him or Lou. Speaking of Lou, he did have a small cameo part in this movie and boy does he look pretty good. Ed Norton, wow, what an actor. I have seen so many of his movies. He is great. He did an excellent job in this movie.

Liv Tyler did an awesome job too. The movie really did start off kinda of slow and then it picked up. Had to make the Hulk angry.

All in all I had to say I really enjoyed watching in the movie theater.

Take a look. Oh there is a surprise at the ending too.

Turbo Kick Party!

WOW! That is what I have to say about my Turbo Kick Party that we had yesterday. Everybody took it up a notch. We had such a blast. I want to thank those we came and put their turbo on. We even had a Turbo off.


I do have to be honest and tell you that I hadn't done Turbo in a while and it really kicked my booty. That is my favorite part in the Turbo Round. I love the booty part. Anyway, we did about 3 Turbos.


After the party was over I had bought some fruits for everybody to take and replenish their bodies. I think they liked it. Oh, team teaching with Mica was so much fun. I love it, we picked up right where we left off we did it at Dyess. I wish more people would come to Turbo. It really is like having a party and everyone was still smiling after all of that. Gets your body moving and groovin.


If you want to look at the pictures, click

You should come check it out.

Remember, "A year from now you'll wish you had started today."

Summer workout

It has been hot. Should I even say hot. Here in West Texas, the humidity has been up and the heat has been in the triple digits. What can I say, do I even feel like working out. Yes, by all means I need to get my butt moving. I have members at the studio who can on me to be there and ready to give them a good workout.

The summer months are also the slowest. Why? I keep asking myself this question. No matter what time of year it is, there is always room for just 1 hour to get a workout in. You owe it to yourself. You need to start now before the Dr. says you need to do something or else.

Remember, if you are going to start a workout program, you need to start slow. I see individuals all the time who get all excited and want to lose weight and take all these classes only to burn themselves out. What happens next you ask? Back to the same routine of eating bad.

Stop the madness, get yourself over to the studio and start working out with a great group of ladies and just have fun while you are keeping your body fit. Who cares what your look like or how you are doing, we will definitely keep you on track. I will push you and care for you and let you know what you can or can not do. I am there for you.

No excuses when it comes to summer time. Oh, it's too hot, or it's too cold, or the gas prices are too high, (even though they are) it is important for me to have you come to class. With that kind of attitude you will never go or start anything in life.

I leave you with this comment, "A year from now you'll wish you had started today."

Can't wait to see you.

Tips on Measuring Blinds

It has been a pretty good week after coming off of vacation. It is always hard to get back in the grove of things. I came back off of vacation only to find out that I did not have a paycheck waiting for me, but I did have quite a few faxes from Lowe's to go do some measurements and install a few blinds.

Let me give you a few tips I have learned doing this installs for Lowe's. I learned first that no two windows are exactly the same. Okay, even if your windows appear to be the same you still need to measure all the windows that you intend to get blinds for. One reason is that the sheetrock and the sheetrock mud can be different on each window. I have found some windows be at least 1/4" to 1/2" different. Here is how to measure windows for inside mount:

1. Measure the width at the bottom of the window sill. Also, decide whether or not you would like to have the blinds set flush with the sill or set back toward the window itself. This really does make a difference.

2. Measure the width at the middle of the window.

3. Measure the width at the top of the window.

4. Take the smallest measure to the nearest 1/8"

I would make a suggestion that if you are not able to read a tape measure without the fractions on it, you can purchase a tape measure with the fractions on it. The tape measures have the 1/8" marking on it. A very good investment. I have one and I love it.

Next you want to take the measure for the length.

1. Take the measurement on the leftside of the window again, measure if you want flush or if you want it set inside.

2. Take a measurement in the middle of the window.

3. Take a measurement to the right side of the window.

Now, it depends if you want the blinds to sit nice and flush to the window sill or not. I like to take the longer of the three measurements so that the blinds sit on the sill. I have found that some window sills are a little warped. So, if you take the shorter measurement then you might have the blinds swinging back and forth.

That is pretty much it. Then you want to take those measurements into your place of choice to give to your person who is going to order the blinds for you. Remember to tell them for this type of measurement that it is for an inside mount.

Come back I will let you know how to know if the blinds you are looking for work for your window.

Getting Started

I am back from vacation and I am already stressed out. I started the day off great. I am in a good mood. I taught my Yoga class this morning and they surely missed me. It is great to be missed. Then, here it goes. People are blowing up my phones, remember what I talked about earlier. Well, that did not so much bother me. I had a blind detail to go do and I was in luck and actually was able to schedule an install for one long blind.

Okay, this house had so many kittens. The lady asked me if I wanted one. I told her "No thank you, I almost got divorced over the last two I brought home" The kittens were cute. They can be cute at her house. Besides, she had a little girl who just loved them. They were really nice people.

So, after that I finally got in touch with the electric company that I had called last week. Well, not so much good news there. They wanted $500 smack a roos for a deposit to set up electric. Are you kidding me? Okay, well I called someone else, they quickly did a check and I did not have to pay a deposit until they found out it was for a business. What, what the heck is the difference? She did not even know. Electricity is electricity. They buy it in bundles anyhow. How can they be different? They are really hosing the little guy. How can someone make it in this world if you have greedy people taking advantage of the small business owner. Ugh! I will wait and see what the other company says. Can't move into my new spot because I have no electricity. Rats! I suppose until then, whatever. Someone please give me some advice.

Vacation, everyone needs one.

Well, let me tell you something, everyone needs a vacation. Take time out to really enjoy the beauty of the land. God's creation. You will be amazed of the spiritual revision that comes over you. I experienced this first hand. I have been really overcomed with some worries and just getting by, well, not really getting by. I have credit people calling and electric people trying to turn off the electricity and you name it they are calling. I have one calling right now as I type this. Ugh! Don't they understand, I have no money. Okay, so both my husband and I are really trying to make it with our own businesses. Somewhere along the lines, stuff got out of wack. The road is very rocky right now. I find myself digging out of a hole everyday. Just when I think I am making progress, something else happens, the hole gets bigger. I know some of you are in the same boat.

I have been turning to the Word and really finding my way back. So, I go on vacation with the family and have an awesome time. We went to Corpus Christi. Awe, what a pleasure to be down by the ocean and listening the waves coming to shore. The breeze was such a blessing. The power of the waves and the sun shining overhead really brought it all to heart. What my meaning in life was about. Who really brought into this world. I walked the beach everymorning and sometimes in the afternoon after I got bored laying out in the sun. I am really feeling great, no worries, no bills to pay, and no phone calls. This is really the way to live.

Padre Island is the place to go. Seems like people are just really friendly when they get next to God's creation. We went to the USS Lexington and had a little history lesson from the hubby and the next day we went over the the Aquarium to see the amazing sea creatures. This little vacation really just cleared my head. I kept thinking about the Psalms that I was learning before I left. Psalms 123. I kept lifting my eyes to the heavens and really thanking Him everyday for this beautiful place.

Then all of a sudden, I am slapped in the face with reality as we head home and the phones calls started and find out I do not have a paycheck waiting for me. What, now what am I going to do. I have checks bouncing and bills I have to pay. Now what? Well, I just leave to God's hands now and keep pressing on installing blinds for Lowe's and teaching my fitness classes.

I have to say, that I loved every minute with my husband and my two girls. What a nice family bonding time we had and much needed. We work really hard. We forget to really cherish each moment we have with each other. Everyone needs a break, I highly recommend it. Someday, I hope in the near future that I will be able to travel the world. It is on my things to do before I kick the bucket. HA! What a great movie.