tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67276208020094925132024-02-18T20:45:00.066-08:00Sophie's What's UPRandom thoughts and stories that I like to share.Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-29209456816864295352021-08-18T12:41:00.002-07:002021-08-18T12:41:43.087-07:002017 - My year from Hell Part 3 - Refinancing my Home<p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3sok4QZD7kUw5-yiUzzyFflYTZ2fw1NOOA6heURlZHRqhmq1AC4M2WQYwf926NrjGCTAJoJ4V04J63gMb_Cge6R3n8AGgXJT27EAdHuNQEUVLNaVRfEgler6x9pOrZamC4bdmp4pYWM/s4608/20200420_155220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3sok4QZD7kUw5-yiUzzyFflYTZ2fw1NOOA6heURlZHRqhmq1AC4M2WQYwf926NrjGCTAJoJ4V04J63gMb_Cge6R3n8AGgXJT27EAdHuNQEUVLNaVRfEgler6x9pOrZamC4bdmp4pYWM/s320/20200420_155220.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">That's my home. It's a townhome and the middle of a set of 6. Three stories of all mine. Ok and the bank's as well. I bought my home in August 5th, 2007. Just before the big crash when all lending stopped for homes. I was lucky to get in just under the stoppage and after the bubble burst so I didn't pay top dollar. It was brand spanking new. I was the first owner. All mine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now you have to understand that I had been a renter of apartments for over 30 years. I had dealt with old cheap carpet. White walls that you can't paint or you can but then you have to paint them back to white when you leave. Who wants to do that?! Ok I know a couple of folks have done that but not me. There is that thing where you have to cart your laundry and share the washer/dryer (and hopefully someone before you didn't wash colors that bleed before you) and later in renting career I was able to afford the apartments that had their own washer/dryer. But still. In my own home there is no dumpster. I get my own trashcan. Ahhhhh I was loving this "all mine" thing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> It was worth all the hassle to sign away my life in 2 inches of paperwork. The proverbial "sign here", "initial there", "initial that you signed here", "sign her that you initialed that". That took an hour and I know how celebrities feel. Jeez. That whole process was VERY intimidating. I had a really good interest rate for 2007. It was 6.75%. Everyone else was at 7% or even 9%. So I thought dang I did good. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Flash forward to 10 years later. Now everyone has either refinanced somewhere in the 3% or 4% range, or given their home back to the bank and moved one, or took the loss. I chose to stick it out. I had a job that was literally only 2 miles away and all my shopping was within that 2 miles. I had a unique home that I had waited all my life for. There wasn't any other place I wanted to move too. Why do anything. I was making my mortgage and all my other bills. I wasn't saving any money to my savings but I would later I thought. It then became painfully clear that I really needed to refinance. I had worked on my FICO score to get it to the 650 or higher. It was finally in a place that I could leverage it. I was so afraid of being taken because I had so many stories that was what kept me from doing it earlier. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I contacted my mortgage company and it turned out to be quite a bit easier than I thought. I didn't negotiate (as I suck at negotiating) or anything. They offered 4.25% and that was 2.25% better than what I was paying. Oh heck yeah! I'll take it. I thought I would need all that same paperwork as before. But it was quite a bit easier. Just a couple of paycheck stubs, some bank statements etc. Scanned them in and sent them off. Now it was a waiting game. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I forgot about the appraisal. Oh man. I have 10 years of junk and family members stuff in my house now. So goes the mad rush to clean up as best as I can. The appraiser was so nice. She explained the process and she took some pictures that took about 10 minutes. Whew! That wasn't near as bad as I thought it was going to be. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1 month later I was contacted to meet the notary to sign all the papers. That is what surprised me. The length of time it took to get it approved. So off I go to a Starbuck's and sign away my life again. Another round of </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"sign here", "initial there", "initial that you signed here", "sign her that you initialed that". And it was done. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was so sorry that I hadn't done it before. But that loan process was so intimidating. Now that I have gone through it I feel a lot more confident. But that is life. I was just so intimidated that I couldn't see past the process. That is what took me so long to say to myself "just get it done". I do feel that whole thing help me in growing up a bit. I went through a rite of passage so to speak. And I did it all by myself. I was so proud of myself. Plus I saved over $500 a month on my mortgage. Who doesn't want that! Ha!<br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-73848022866835621102021-08-14T02:06:00.005-07:002021-08-14T02:06:58.345-07:00Our American Rights<p><span style="font-family: arial;">OK I am not trying to be political here. But I get something off my chest. This by no means is new. I have seen numerous quotes, opinion pieces, not to mention just plain news about how out rights are being usurped by the current mandates designed to abate the transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID 19). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am just going to say it. I support any and all means to designed to inhibit the transmission and confine the those who have been exposed and possibly carrying COVID 19. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There I said it. It is not ambiguous or confusing. I have a disclaimer though. In March of 2020 when we were all told to go home that the state of California was on lock down I totally disagreed with that move. I thought it was an overreaction to this flu. So it was the super flu. But anyone with a normal immune system, in my mind, meant most of us, could fight off this seasonal flu no problem. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> I am here to say that I was totally WRONG. I have not been brainwashed by the democrats who are socialists in disguise. If that were true I be shocked to find out I am a socialist since I do identify as a democrat. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But seriously, I was terribly wrong. I have known people who have had this disease. They ranged in age and in severity. I am grateful I have not contracted this disease. It was everywhere from hardly affecting family and work to nearly a death sentence and on the spectrum in between. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The question really is requiring someone to get a vaccination is it a violation of our right to choose? A violation of our right to get a vaccination or not to get a vaccination. Yes, everyone has the right to make that choice - or do they? At what point is a requirement to come back to work only if you are vaccinated is an overreach? I am not a learned council on constitution law or any other kind of law. But I can address this from my personal point of view. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I believe in the right to make your own choices in life and how to live your own life. Freedom of choice is inbred in us Americans like we are to like Apple Pie. But too much of our rhetoric today is about what we are guaranteed by the Constitution and like our politics is all one sided. What happened to common decency? I believe that we lose our right to make choices when we endanger others by that choice. In this case when someone invokes their right to not get vaccinated and is therefore in a heightened chance of contracting and disseminating a proven lethal disease they are then no longer free to make that choice. They are making a decision for others by leaving themselves open to this disease and by interacting in some way with others without any protection they are taking the choice to be healthy from others. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By not protecting themselves and being around others who may or may not have been vaccinated they are then saying they care less about their fellow man than they do about themselves. That is very selfish. I understand their may be misgivings on the safety of the vaccine for themselves both now in the future. I get that. But if you weigh what nearly every medical scientist has stated that it is generally safe and there are protocols in place if someone has an adverse reaction, and that person still says no to vaccination then that individual is short sighted and selfish. They by definition need to isolated so they cannot hurt others. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We are a social group, we humans. We need each other for a variety of reasons. So you give up the luxury of making a choice when we interact with each other. There are certain requirements that necessitate the dismissal of certain rights. It's not something we can put on paper or legislate. This is a about, well, sportsmanship as they would say in the sporting world. It's about thinking of someone else before yourself. It's about feeling more for your fellow man/woman then you do for yourself. We Americans were at one time the epitome of that understanding. Where has that gone? Are we so individualistic that we can't come together for a common societal good? I still believe that we can do this. I believe we just need to be reminded of what sacrifice is and what it looks like. There are a great many folks out there that have done exactly this. Made a sacrifice. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice. I ask you, the reader, to ask yourself where are you on that continuum? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /></p>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-27429292254164532092021-07-30T14:17:00.006-07:002021-07-30T14:18:27.445-07:002017 - My Year from Hell Part 2 - My Babies. My Children. My Cats.<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">EXIDE</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">My Big Boy. My Sylvester. My Exide. He had all those names. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Yes these 2 were everything to me. I am not blessed to have children of my own but I had these two. 2017 was a banner year. I am so glad it's no longer with us. We are well past it. But it still lingers. 2017 was the year I had to put my cats down. Not a good year.</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">My Big Boy (Sylvester) was first. He had been having a challenge to his health for 3 years already so it was not a surprise that it was time. But that spring when that time came it hurt. I had him for over 18 years.He was just a little guy when I heard myself say to the little tykes at my door that asked for some food that if they didn't find anyone else I would take him. I closed the door and already knew I was getting a kitten and chastised myself. "YOU SAID WHAT?!" Ha. He was so cute and fit in my hands. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">He grew by leaps and bounds and was eventually 25lbs and as big as a medium sized dog. He sat like a dog as well. He had a best temperment. Nothing bothered him. He loved to be held and as long as I paid attention to him he didn't care what I did to him. I could clip his nails no problem. He loved to be brushed and purred so loudly that if I was on the phone the other person could hear it. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Speaking of phones - when I had a land line (way before cell phones) if anyone called he was answer the phone. I swear. He would paw the phone off and then meow into the receiver. I just couldn't get him to take a message or hang it up again. When my father was in emergency with bladder stone the nurse called then wondered if he had given her the wrong number and said that something answered but not sure what. He then moaned and said that was her cat. The nurse had to keep trying to call me. Finally got through. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">But his health was not good the last couple of years and I didn't dare leave him. So I can say that I did not leave my house for longer than 16 hours at any given time. I was ALWAYS home to give him his medicine, food and water and love. I couldn't do anything else. He had always given me so much love how could I not be there for him. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">I often wondered if he was a human person who would he be? He was so not cat like but he had so many human qualities. Dang I loved that cat so much. Whew! It's getting a bit warm here. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">JULES</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">My baby girl. My Jules. My Julien. So small but ruled like the Queen she was. She was linked to my Big Boy. She was all girl too. Since she was 1/3 of the size of my Big Boy she would lure my Boy to play. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"> They would get pretty rough and when he was finished he would just lay on top of her to quiet her down. She would scream like there was a blood-letting or something. He would be jolted and let her up and look at her as if saying "What Up". She would run about 2 feet away and then look back and say well are coming after me? Total Queen Diva. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">She hated being held and all actions were on her schedule not anyone else's. The only time I could love on her was when she was in heat. Then she was nice and lovable. I didn't fix her early on because she was an inside cat and my Boy was fixed. Then as she got older no vet would fix her. Or it was outrageously expensive. One of those decisions that you make regarding any animal. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">She was devastated when my Big Boy didn't come back after taking him to the vet that last time. She looked for him for days. Then she declined quite quickly. Within 4 months she was gone as well. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"> <b>GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"> Though my babies are gone I have not forgotten them. They are always with me in my thoughts. I have never gotten this close to an animal before and wonder if I ever can be again. In some ways it was a relief. I didn't have to give them their medicine everyday and watch them for signs that would lead to a vet visit. I could go and travel somewhere without feeling guilty or trying to find someone to watch them for me. But I also don't have anyone in my bed in the morning sleeping next to me. I can honestly say that I loved them more than anything. And all these years later still miss them. </span><br />
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<br /></p>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-63615736137922691632021-07-28T22:43:00.002-07:002021-07-28T22:43:52.987-07:002017 - The Year from Hell Part 1<p><span style="font-family: arial;">2017 was my year from HELL. Yep I mean that. It was also my year that grew up the most. So it was a blessing and, yes, a curse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>CANCER!!!!! WHAT????</b> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It started out with me dealing with a sonogram on my left breast to scan for a possible tumor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In late November of 2016 I went in for my biannual mammogram. I get a call that they saw something and wanted another mammogram. So I go back into the hospital (University of California at Davis Medical Center otherwise known as UC Davis) for a follow up thinking it wont be anything. Then I find out that what they found was just water filled milk duct. Nothing to write home or get worried about. But they want a sonogram to be sure. Okaaaaaaay. If you have too, I think. So I then have the sonogram. Well the original thing was nothing. Whew! But then they found something in my original something. Uh oh. Now they want a biopsy. Not in a rush as it was so small at 2mm. Fine. Get that scheduled for late January 2017. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I forget about it totally. In the meantime my babies are sick since they are going to 17 years old it's not unexpected. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1uHWH_tFTfnG6SBLfLXolxIvHSDpuAzkYmP-18ViBLhNyhM7ntm9w1heslIx3PO3o8GhbhI-wUYbRr5S0ztErEmNmFodJPaJcYibmxUsH4VwKNr9dj9FXRjDkqIx_1dFuhyphenhyphenJSzJJz4U/s5312/20160130_133659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5312" data-original-width="2988" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1uHWH_tFTfnG6SBLfLXolxIvHSDpuAzkYmP-18ViBLhNyhM7ntm9w1heslIx3PO3o8GhbhI-wUYbRr5S0ztErEmNmFodJPaJcYibmxUsH4VwKNr9dj9FXRjDkqIx_1dFuhyphenhyphenJSzJJz4U/w217-h340/20160130_133659.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I had not spent a night away from them in 2 years because my Big Boy needed his medicine each day. So it goes. I am working and moving along with my life. I periodically talk to my mother from time to time and that's really all there was to write home about. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now the biopsy comes along. I go in and it takes a couple of hours. The actual biopsy is about 10 minutes. The rest of the time is just getting ready and situated. I get poked a few times then I didn't feel anything at all. Just watched everyone opening up plastic stuff. Then it came time and they got what they needed. I get the results back in a few days and it was quite a bit of medical jargon. But it essentially was breast cancer. But at that time they called it DCIS. It had not spilled out to the surrounding tissue yet. It stayed in my milk duct. I was then set up with a surgical consult. Great. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the meantime I received a really impressive packet from UC Davis about what to expect and questions to ask and who I should take with me to appointments. I part that impressed me was the part where they will provide someone to go with you if you don't have anyone so they can an extra pair of ears and ask questions that you don't think to ask. In retrospect I should have done that. But being the independent person that I am and didn't want to inconvenience anyone I go by myself. Not one of my best decisions. Oh well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So I go by myself and the upshot was that we scheduled surgery for March 25th, 2017, since it was an in and out. I would be in surgery in the morning and out by noon. Whohoo. It was a Friday so I could recover over the weekend and wouldn't need all the following week off but could work 1/2 days on Thursday or Friday. I think to myself great. It will work out with month end and I could get all my work done.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The day comes and my friend Jo takes me to hospital. But I had to go to the Cancer Center first. It is a whole different building some distance from the main hospital. Since my tumor was so small they had to put wires in to point to the spot. I had no idea what this entailed. I would soon find out. <b>DON'T EVER DO THIS!</b> UC Davis is a teaching hospital. So you have to be okay with lots of young doctors doing the same things. Or in my case putting wires in my breast to point to the spot and it was her very first time. We can say Ouch! Basically I had to be smashed on the mammogram machine so they could find the spot and then in go the wires. This whole process took about 1/2 hour. Yes. I had to hold my breath repeatedly, hang onto the nurse's hand, wince, almost started to cry that whole time. It sucks! If you have to do this it's not worth it. Wait until it gets larger or dissolves on it's own. Seriously not worth it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From there was the only fun part. I was put in a wheelchair and an ambulance took me over to main hospital. I didn't have to figure out where to go first or anything. They just wheeled me to registration then up the per-surgical area. Got me in bed to wait for my surgery. That was really the fun part. I didn't have to do anything. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I said that UC Davis is a teaching hospital. So I get my gown on and get my IV started. This is where every resident will come in and ask you your name, date of birth, and "What are we doing today?" Bear in mind that I am lying in bed with wires (yes real wires) sticking out of my left breast very plainly. And each time they ask me "What are we doing today?" I want to be so sarcastic and say what do you think? Don't you see these wires? Of which I obligingly say Left Lumpectomy. One cool thing though. I was cold and instead of getting heated blankets they put this lightweight paper thing with lot of air pockets and a heater at the end of the bed. It was really nice and warm. Loved that thing. There was a mix-up in the times and children had to go first. So I was there for about 3 hours before even getting the good drugs that says you're next. Yes I was hungry. Yes I was bored. Not a single nurse or doctor that checked on me was the same one twice. Residents mostly. Just like on TV some are really nice and some are just, well, less then chatty. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Off to surgery I go. They ask me AGAIN ... Name, DOB, What are we doing today? I am pretty looped out by now and toyed with playing with them and making something up but I kept it straight. Then I woke up and I get the care instructions while I get dressed and off I go in the wheelchair for my friend Jo to pick me up. Where there were several others getting picked up so there was a line of cars. I had to wait my turn. In the rain. Yes. In the rain. I was thinking this was too funny. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I had to go to the pharmacy to get some pain killers and they wanted me to come back as they were backed up. I am still in my surgery jacket. No I am not coming back. My friend Jo got them to fill it right away. Can you believe that?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was just fine and went back to work on Tuesday for 6 hours. I will not do that again. I will take the whole week. Thank goodness my supervisor made me go home at noon each day that week. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Fast forward to a month later and all was good. They got it all and it wasn't all that bad. But now comes some more craziness. I am referred to radiology for a consult. I go through everything with the resident and doctor and nurse in a very tiny room. The upshot was that it was up to me if I wanted radiation therapy or not. They refused to advise me one way or the other. WHAT?! I pressed them saying I am not educated on this subject and I need their recommendation. Nope they will not give it. It was totally up to me. By this time I have had it. So I chose not to engage their services and thank you but I am going home. If it comes up again then I will deal with it at that time. Seriously if you are not going to advise me then I am going home. And I left. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">FYI - I am glad I didn't but go through with it but 4 years later to the day I have been diagnosed with DCIS again in the same breast but in a different location. I still don't believe if I had had radiation therapy that it would have prevented this occurrence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So this was the first big thing that happened in 2017. What a story hunh. But there is some really sad things to come in Part 2. <br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-79013988762624945372019-03-12T14:30:00.000-07:002019-03-12T17:14:26.855-07:00What I Learned in my Adventure <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh my my my. I can't believe it's been 2 years since I last posted on here. That's worse than Ree Drummond, <a href="http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman</a>. She has posted infrequently now as well and she is also my source of inspiration. Ha! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is so much to say and I have had so much happen in the last 2 years. Now that I have processed it all, I can start putting it down here. It involves my cats, death, my mother, refinance of my home, breast cancer (no death as I am writing this entry and I am not a ghost), depression, isolation, awesome friends, volunteering, and faith. So all these are to come. It's been a ride!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Speaking of a ride. I will start with this past Sunday. It's not bad, just really adventurous. I was not hurt in this tale and no one was killed so that is the good part and that I have a great story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been volunteering at a horse rescue organization called <a href="http://www.allaboutequine.org/">All About Equine</a> for about 8 months now. Getting there is a whole another story. Each Sunday evening except when I was really sick this last winter (another story) I assist in feeding (or anything else that needs to be done) about 40 to 50 horses. It's about 20 miles from my home so a real drive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was nice and the sun was shining (haven't seen much of that guy lately) and it wasn't that cold yet. But still I had 3 layers on but was pretty warm. So I decided not to take my Carhartt jacket with me. (Mistake!!!!!!) The weather report said 20% chance of rain. Usually when it's a low percentage you can figure no rain, or just a few drops for a short time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am there with my usual stuff. I have my water bottle, gloves, snack, reading glasses and phone. All good. There are usually 4 of us there with me being the only Green (lowest on the security ladder). Blair and Darwin are both Yellow and pasture approved. Then our shift leader Annie is a Red. I can only work with Green rated horses and the Yellows get to work with both Green and Yellow rated horses and Reds get to work with all the horses. This is for our safety as well as the horse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a map of the facility with where each horse needs to be for the night written in their color as to can handle them. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So we start with the feeding of the mini horses. My favorite. I like them and they are easy. Done. Then onto the paddock or outdoor stall horses. These horses have an outside stall but are let out in rings or pasture during the day. So we need to get them into their stalls (large trust me, not like barn stalls). I usually play a support role in this escapade. Typically I am behind another fence or manning an emergency gate. Well I found out why. One horse was haltered and being led to his stall and the other horse was to follow nicely. WRONG. The other horse bolted! I climbed the railing to get out of the way. He eventually found his home. Then the second horse was supposed to the same thing. NOT! Same process and outcome. Whew! That's done. We all laugh nervously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next in the process is to put 2 bales of hay on a cart and be ready to feed the 20 horses in the pasture. But first Annie, Darwin and Blair need to get them into the corrals so we can fill the various barrels with a flake or 2 of hay. Easier said than done. They got 18 of the 20 horses in so I had to not help and just man the gates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then all hell broke loose. We saw the lightning then heard the thunder. Then a few drops of rain. Now is this area if there is a 20% chance of rain that usually means a few sprinkles for 5 seconds and move on. Well the 20% hit this day. The heavens opened up and it rained HARD. Coming down in sheets. I hightailed it to the Barn to get out of this bucket of water. Too late. I was already soaked through 3 layers. We still had some horses to feed close to the Barn and set out to feed them. Then we came back to the Barn and started refilling the bins and start to sweep. In the meantime, Annie and Darwin let out the pasture horses to eat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was able to get some video of that downpour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now
comes our leader. She is in charge of this entire organization. What
she wants goes. And she wanted more hay for the horses in the pasture.
Another bale's worth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So Annie and Darwin go off to feed the pasture horses again. Now the rain finally was letting up and the steep path was now VERY muddy again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blair and I were watching out the door of the Barn and laughing to ourselves for leaving our raincoats at home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then we hear a HELP!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blair bolted and ran to help out Annie and Darwin. I ran behind her yelling "You open the gates I will close them." She was 20 feet in front of me running faster than I. But I was going all out and thought if I get stuck in the mud I am going to do a face plant big time. Luckily I made it to the first gate and the second and the third and finally to Annie and Darwin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Annie was head to toe all mud. Standing but really shaken. Her iPhone covered in mud, glasses broken. But she was alive and walking. Darwin finished the feeding and we escorted Annie up to the Barn. Took about 20 minutes as there were not any speed barriers being broken. Poor thing was covered in mud. I managed to get her glasses back together and washed so she could see. Blair got her hands and face cleaner. Got a cold pack for her ribs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They were feeding and 2 horses ran her over. 2 BIG horses that is. That is why they are put in a corral to so they don't run over the volunteers. Live and learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what I learned: </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't go into the pasture with hay when there are horses in there. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bring a raincoat no matter what the % of rain says.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Always have my hat with me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Always have my gloves with me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can run in the mud and not fall down.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep a sense of humor. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh and by the way Annie's day was even harder. She had locked her keys in her car and her husband just had knee surgery so he can't drive. Darwin took her home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I also learned that someone can have a worse day then you.</span><br />
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Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-20162931356448443362017-01-04T17:52:00.000-08:002017-01-04T17:52:10.806-08:00My Favorite Concert ... EVER!I am not going to mince any words. I am just going to straight out say that I had the best time. I mean it. Really. I mean it. The best time. It was 20+ years ago but I still say it was the funnest concert ever.<br />
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Who you ask?<br />
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Who?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">POISON</span></b><br />
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Yep that long haired, 80's band.<br />
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I have really gotta say that that concert was "nothing but a good time". He He He Sorry I had too. LOL<br />
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But it was - really. Just a so much FUN!<br />
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I went to this concert with a date no less. One of my rules is do not go to a concert with a date. They get mad when you are dreamily drooling over the lead singer and are not paying any attention to them. They just don't understand that this is FANTASY. For 2 hours and well then next day we girls get to fantasize about how awesome it would be to be with those band members. It really is just fantasy but a dang good one. Well the dates just don't get it. They want it all about them. After all we can make it all about them any other time but not that night.<br />
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So, yeah, I had a date and this is when I really realized that I was getting on in years. I sat in the second tier directly opposite the stage. It was perfect. I could see whole stage and not have to fight anyone to get out of way. I could sit there and enjoy the concert. As I looked around I saw other local bands around us as well. They were to too cool to smile and have a good time types. They looked like they were of the Motley Crue types. They were interesting to watch as I checked in with them at various times throughout the concert. More on that later.<br />
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So there we are. My date and me sitting there waiting for the opening band to start. Now that band is the real reason I was there. It was a local band that had MADE it. I knew these guys way back when. And I wanted to see them and share in their success. After all I had been to so many local bars to see them over the years and her they are. Opening up for one of the most popular bands in America at that time. Dang!!!!! Their name is (because they are still around) TESLA. Not the car. The band.<br />
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They came on and they were just as I had remembered. GREAT. Love it. They were on it. Thanked all of Sacramento for being there for them all these years, etc. Ahhh! Dang this is a good night so far. My date is loving it. I checked on the band behind me and they nodded periodically as if to say Cool they did good.<br />
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Now we are waiting for the main headliner. As usual there was electricity in the air. Anticipation and excitement. And it didn't let me down. Or anyone else. It was like watching their videos. They were running everywhere and playing and singing and well just exciting. The crowd was into it and the lights were dancing all around. I thought this just can get any better. Then they did some of their more popular songs and it did get better.<br />
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I am still in my seat but just enjoying every single second of it. Singing along myself. My date is enjoying himself. I check in with the band in back of me and they are even nodding their heads and enjoying themselves. Still cool though. After all they have a rep to consider.<br />
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Then came the slower portion of the concert. This is where the lights dramatically lower to stage black with a single spot on an empty microphone. Just like you see in the variety shows on TV and other concerts. It was so effective. Then we heard the familiar guitar chords being strummed off stage. The opening sounds of their biggest hit "Every Rose Has It's Thorns". Crowd goes wild. Then I saw it. It was like that time my brother threw that ball and I saw it coming but couldn't get out of the way and ended up with my one and only black eye.<br />
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I have to tell you something about Sacramento. We are weird. Other places throw roses, or other flowers, bras, phone numbers, etc. We throw ... wait for it ... shoes. Yep it's shoes. I have been picked up and had my shoes taken off of me and thrown on stage. It's hilarious to see rock bands duck at the shoes are coming at them like a shooting gallery at a carnival.<br />
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So there I am, watching something unfold that I had no idea how to deal with. Because we were up in the second tier I wasn't blinded by the lights. I could see the crowd below. I just happened to look down as something caught my eye. I saw from pretty far out a young man throw a shoe. It was so far out that I thought in that split second that it wouldn't even reach the stage and it was going to hit someone on the head. Then it happened. Here is the lead singer Brett Michaels himself walking to the microphone. There is no way he could see it coming. There is no way that person who threw the shoe could have known it was reach the stage. But it didn't just reach the stage. It hit the microphone square on just as Brett Michaels reached it to start singing. The timing was perfect. No way that man planned it. But it hit Brett Michaels right in the mouth. That hurt. It hurt and stunned him. He had a look of what just happened. I immediately looked at the crown and that young man had the presence of mind to high tail it out of the arena. He was gone in a shot. Before anyone figured out what happened. Smart dude.<br />
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But then all hell broke loose. Brett Michaels was furious. He found someone in the crowd and singled him out. The crowd turned on that person and started to push and shove him around. I saw the security start to get ready as the crowd on the floor started to get pretty whipped up in the emotion of what was happening. It was starting to get a bit dangerous. Security had reached that poor person and get him out of harms way. But everyone was still hyped up. I looked around us and there was serious concern on everyone's face. We were all looking for the exit. Even the band behind us. We were wondering if we should make a break for it before it got even more out of control. At this time it was on the verge of full riot.<br />
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But to Brett Michaels' credit he appeared to recognize the seriousness of the situation and took control of the crowd and calmed them down. It took a bit of coaxing from him but the crowd did listen to him and calmed down enough that reason came back. We all looked around at each other, including the band behind me, and we all had the look of relief. We settled back in our seats to see if Poison was going to come back onstage as Brett Michaels had exited with the crowd under control by this time. I wouldn't have blamed them for walking off and say F you all.<br />
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But they didn't they came back on stage and finished the rest of the concert as if that whole incident never happened. Including encores.<br />
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We were leaving and all we could say was that was one fun concert. Other than the almost riot, that was the funnest concert I have ever been to. Honest. I still remember it and get a smile on my face.<br />
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Thank you POISON!!!!!<br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-40517182939041028032016-08-08T15:07:00.001-07:002016-08-08T15:07:28.182-07:00Evening SkyI gotta tell you that there have been so many awesomely beautiful sunsets earlier this spring.<br />
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I worked alot of hours and I would see the sun go down from my office and I would take a break and go out to our parking lot and see this wondrous vision. Well, OK, to me this wondrous vision as opposed to my office.<br />
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This was in April of this year. Just really nice coloring. I could see the promise of this sunset. I could just imagine the orange and red hues about to emerge.<br />
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I also would see these.<br />
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But the best one is this one. It was if the sky was on fire. I have not seen a sky like this since. This is where God was showing us all his glory. Sorry for the religious reference but you get my meaning.<br />
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I have not seen it's equal and I doubt I ever will.<br />
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Just awesome.Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-36880336227539624232016-08-02T18:06:00.000-07:002019-03-12T13:16:18.611-07:00Being Single?Erma Bombeck once wrote a book titled "Life is better over the septic tank." Well, we always say that the grass is greener over there. I can honestly say that being either single or married the grass is always going to be greener over there.<br />
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I am single and I am ready to not be single. I have to admit that there is a freedom in being single. For instance:<br />
<ul>
<li>I don't have to share the bathroom. </li>
<li>I can take as many or as long a shower as I want. </li>
<li>I can cook whatever I want whenever I want. </li>
<li>I don't have to be home at a certain time or check in with anyone. </li>
<li>Plus the most enviable one is I have sole possession over the remote control.</li>
</ul>
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But for the greener pasture side of things:<br />
<ul>
<li>I don't have anyone to share the bathroom with and I miss him shaving and me putting on my makeup and doing my hair tussle. It can be fun. At least that is what I am told.</li>
<li>No one to take a shower with either. Hint hint, wink, wink. </li>
<li>I don't have anyone to cook for or have anyone to eat whatever I cook with at the dinning table, couch/sofa, or even on the floor for that matter.</li>
<li>I don't have anyone wanting me to come home either. Wouldn't it be really nice to say "Honey, I'm home." And have something other than a meow come back at me.</li>
<li>Ok - sole possession of the remote control is cool. But no one to share watching TV with. I am willing to compromise. I think.</li>
</ul>
There are many other examples but you get the drift.<br />
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So what to do about his scenario? That is where I have a problem. I live in a town that has a ratio of single women to single men is about 8:1. Most of the single folk want to be single. These folks tend to be divorced. Need I say more. I go to church and there are mostly women and married men.<br />
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I don't stay home in my little cocoon all together. I go out to dinner and attend events. As most of my friends will tell you that I am not all that shy either. I will go up and say Hi to someone.<br />
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I was at a baseball game with some friends and my single girl friend had her boyfriend with her. And he asked my friend why I was single since I was so fun and nice looking. Note: He said that not me. But wasn't that nice?! I sure don't hear that very often.<br />
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Now I know what you are going to say. There is the online places. Match.com, etc. Well I am old fashioned and I kind of draw the line there. But I am seriously considering it. But other than online, what is a girl (ok a mature woman) to do?<br />
<br />
Open to ideas.<br />
<br />
Have a great day!!!<br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-55271813702954102422015-06-12T17:29:00.004-07:002015-06-12T17:29:55.044-07:00Bucket List, Cont...To add to my previous post about the list I have started on things I would like to do or experience before I leave this earth. Also known as a Bucket List.<br />
<br />
So in no specific order, here we go.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Go to Scotland - I have dreamed of going to Scotland since I was little girl. Ok, so at that time it was something to do with the Bay City Rollers. But still for some reason I have had a dream (and to this day) of going to Scotland and hiking in the Highlands, exploring Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mall, and heading over to Glasgow area to see a very old but vibrant city. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Fall Colors of New England - I live on the west coast in California. We don't get those vibrant colors that more extreme weather areas typically see. I have always dreamed of see the fall colors of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Maine. I want see those wonderful oranges and yellows and browns of Fall in New England and drive over covered bridges and see the ubiquitous church steeples of the small towns. Wait - did I already talk about this one? Yep I did. Well it deserves another mention. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Go on a Cruise - I would like to go on a cruise sometime in my life. Not just the 3 day cruise to Puerto Vaillarta or some place in Mexico. But a real 7 day cruise out at sea. To see what everyone is so excited about. After all I grew up watching the Love Boat after all.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>I would like to see famous battlefields - Such as Gettysburg, Lexington, the Alamo, Normandy, Culloden, . My Dad went to Gettysburg and was a Civil War/WWII buff. I, too, have a great interest in history. But my Dad's impressions of the many battlefields and has seen reenactments he has seen were very special to him and to me. I have hears so much about these battles and what the men and women went through that I would like to see these for myself.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I would really like to work on a real working Ranch someday. I know it's weird and you want to say "Hunh?". But to revisit something of the Wild West and be on horse and gather some cows and rope something. That's just sounds pretty nifty.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>How about Disney World. I hear it great! Just to say I have been there. Ride the rides and see all kinds of attractions. Yeah I would like to go there someday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Then there's Australia. To see the Sydney Opera House and the great outback. To see where the Thorn Birds only talks about. </li>
</ul>
So that's the current list. Just like in life the list changes, grows and shrinks. But these have really stood the test of time. <br />
<ul>
<li>To round out the Travel portion of my List - There is London and all the sights to see there. Who knows maybe even see some Royalty. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-19943212562418006802015-04-03T15:15:00.001-07:002015-04-03T15:30:55.159-07:00Bucket List<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't have a bucket list per se, but I do have some things that I would either like to do or experience before I leave this earth. Which will not be ANYTIME soon. I intend to be here, making everyone subject to my endless diatribe of political and social commentary. I consider this my gift to humanity. Ha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, that said, here are couple of things on my list (in no particular order):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Learn to be proficient on a horse. That means not just riding well but also the care and maintenance of said animal. Still in progress. (I need to get in better shape first so this one is bit off the radar right now.) </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Allow a dog to adopt me some day. Because you know we don't own our pets they decide that they want us around. I have had many cats as pets over the years but I would really like to have a dog someday as a pet.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have been to Paris, France so that is not one of my things on my list. I was 14 at the time but I can say I did it and I have pictures to prove it.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would like to see the fall colors of the New England. I have seen all those pictures of the gorgeous colors in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Especially the covered bridges and all. Ahhhhh. I really want to see it for myself someday.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would like to live in a climate where it snows for a few years and see what everyone is complaining about. I have only seen snow fall 4 times in my life and that was not anything to write home about. Especially since I was home at the time. But still. It was gone as soon as it hit the ground. Only once was I in a snow storm and that is a story for another time.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are several other things on my list but here is the one that I am getting too ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have entered my crocheted afghan/blankets into the Sacramento County Fair. I have always wanted to do that. I am so excited. Now, of course, I need to finish them but I am great about that. I have a goal. A deadline. A drop dead deadline. I am not so far out of college that I can only finish anything if there is a deadline to submit. So I have one. I know they are not ribbon worthy and I am OK with that. I just want to see what happens and experience the process.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is one of the afghans. I love the spring colors and it's really easy and fast.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the one I am really proud of. Yes, and of course Jules as well. She wouldn't get up so I could finish this piece. It's a Queen size blanket. I didn't originally want it that big but that's what always happens on these projects. And NO, those holes will be braided up when I finish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was pretty easy to enter. It's all done electronically now. There is even a charge to manually enter something. The instructions were all online and very clear. I guess they have been doing this a while. He he. So I am really excited to finish these and get them ready to be judged. Now I just need to find something to drape them on for viewing. I can't wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well that's it for now. My new obsession. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Until next time. </span><br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-15200116804168735532015-03-31T16:19:00.001-07:002015-03-31T16:19:27.352-07:00Slacker, SLACKER, SLACKER!!!!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am such a slacker. I had such a good time writing this blog last year. I looked forward everyday to writing something new and sharing and writing and sharing. I thought this was a blast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then life happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still read blogs but I can't seem to find anything to really get behind to write about. Yet I think of topics all the time. Of course I said the same things that everyone says - You have to write everyday to keep in the habit, or Fake it 'til you make it, or just write about anything, or you are such a loser!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I read somewhere that most bloggers only have about 50 entries then they run out of things to write about or interest in writing about what is happening. When I read that I said to myself "That's NOT going to be me." He he ho ho ha ha he he. Yeah right! I am at 50 and there you go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am so disappointed in myself. But then I thought well who am I to think I'm special and wont fall into the same traps as others have. I am human and a regular person too. OK I am special too but not when it comes to this activity. So stop beating yourself up kiddo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's what's been happening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. My brother passed away last December. I got the word that he had cancer (a very aggressive type) in July and that he had less than 3 months to live. He hung on for an additional 2 months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I went to see him just before his dementia set in to say goodbye. It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. It was quite nice actually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He was staying with his brother (no blood relation to me) and his wife who are SAINTS! I really mean that. They are WONDERFUL people for everything they did for my brother. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">MARK STEVEN SHIFFER (</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">born March 1, 1954 in Monterey, CA) </span>died on December 3, 2014 in Denver, CO. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know he is in a better place. He is with our other brother and our father and all our aunts and uncles and cousins that have passed before. He is out of pain and and can now fly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because I was basically on a death watch - waiting for word on my brother - almost everything else was put on hold, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. So comes the new year. It's going to get better I tell myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I make my new year's resolutions like so many others. The usual ones like losing weight, get into shape, be healthy. Well that last one was because in the meantime I have been having some health issues with regard to . . . well let's just say I was in the throne room. A LOT. So I was finally diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I take medication now and am finally feeling myself again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not only was I prescribed medication but also ---- get this ---- exercise. And he said Cardio type of exercise. You know what that means. I envisioned all those get up and go types of exercises that are put to music with the instructor wearing a microphone shouting "Come on you can do it! Just 1 more verse!" or something like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or the ever dreadful, I can't even say it, ok it's .... it's .... running. EWWWEEEEE. I hate running. I am <b>allergic</b> to running. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was reprieved. I need to walk nightly. Well at least 3 times a week anyway. I can do that. I like that. So me and my FitBit are walking these days. I quite like it actually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's pretty much what has been going on with me, at least the high points anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's now spring - and I have more good things going on that I hope I will write more about. Some really fun things too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I may not write every week but I will get more posts than once every 6 months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">See you soon. </span><br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-38889785282360403352014-07-10T17:30:00.001-07:002014-07-10T17:30:19.822-07:00Happy 4th Rodeo Style<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy 4th of July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What a day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was HOT! Like 100 degrees hot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I didn't care. I braved the heat! I tool our Light Rail to the next town called Folsom. It was the 54th Annual Folsom Rodeo. I so didn't want to fight traffic and find a place to park, etc. So I decided to take Light Rail. I like Light Rail. They do all the driving and I just sit back and relax. That's nice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So off I go. It was about 6:30pm and the Rodeo started at 7:00pm. I figure it would take about 20 minutes to get there. Even though it was UPHILL all the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I double checked the timetable about getting back home. Oh NO!!!!! The last train left at 7:09pm. How could I have overlooked this wrinkle? I was so screwed! Really. That is so not me. What happened? How am I going to get home? I totally freaked. Then I remembered that I had a friend that was going as well. Luckily she would give me a ride back to my car. Whew! Crisis averted, I can enjoy the rest of the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then off I go on my walk to the Rodeo Arena. I walk UP Sutter Street which is still in the old time west tradition. Quaint stores and some restaurants. You really feel like it's 100+ years ago. It's all up hill alright. I get the end (about 4 blocks) and I ask a passerby if the Rodeo Arena nearby. "Are you walking?" he asks. Well, ah, yes. You have LONG walk ahead of you. Oh no, no, no. Did I do it again? Well no help for it so just keep walking. Another 3 blocks then turn right for two more blocks then turn left for 3 more blocks. UPHILL! It's 100 degrees. By the time I got the Arena I was WET! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But there I am. I am so excited.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOn3xR42RYmWOMgNE6Bz9tnYJSFJFgT0K6FYXkcNEhb5r0-VKBn7brqysTOK0FUonx-sQOCa5ebyxKEyE6HKHqgC5z1zF6cY4MsA-K0oN-DSXrQzAR-0bqC7jQbPZF7j3lkG5wisw7aY/s1600/20140704_192734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOn3xR42RYmWOMgNE6Bz9tnYJSFJFgT0K6FYXkcNEhb5r0-VKBn7brqysTOK0FUonx-sQOCa5ebyxKEyE6HKHqgC5z1zF6cY4MsA-K0oN-DSXrQzAR-0bqC7jQbPZF7j3lkG5wisw7aY/s1600/20140704_192734.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I found my seat. It was concrete. Yes Concrete. Not even smooth concrete. It was rocky. If you put your hand down it scraped it. But it was a seat. The even was totally sold out. People everywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I drank my water bottle in 3 seconds flat. So off to get a soda now. I get back and there is someone sitting in my seat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Me: Sir, I believe that is my seat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mr.: Yeah well I am sitting here now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Me: But that is MY seat. It says so right here on my ticket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mr.: Well you can find another seat. I am sitting here (grins). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Me: (Staring at him in disbelief) Well I need to sit there. So you need to move.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mr.: Well you can sit there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Me: (Wimp that I am) I sit down and hope no one challenges me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So the Rodeo started. It was fun. The sun finally bowed down on the horizon and there were bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AYi4jwTTTk3DJxvi-SI4uf1NIo8b_HdqXRL40eqBoTZ-ZaFbYebzIvZrpmtmLfCHxOpQ2zyVohNZaVz1eEvm5_C0S_pfv1vT2cOK_qrCYqTg3OtzD5BIAVOTnDKVboSXLvfK4vPBwTE/s1600/20140704_210916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AYi4jwTTTk3DJxvi-SI4uf1NIo8b_HdqXRL40eqBoTZ-ZaFbYebzIvZrpmtmLfCHxOpQ2zyVohNZaVz1eEvm5_C0S_pfv1vT2cOK_qrCYqTg3OtzD5BIAVOTnDKVboSXLvfK4vPBwTE/s1600/20140704_210916.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGgueX9WpuIVF52I1-gEzkQCBAKeQ3SaXGOP4rCRqhdUo5tQkOJWWDI4cck2Fk4sUgkmbsYN4G6D4QjFfxkSPpnVF2aUegQHjI-aOiiu3OHinPOMtjXnxUNPVv1culc1ZLgMQ90rECNM/s1600/20140704_212100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGgueX9WpuIVF52I1-gEzkQCBAKeQ3SaXGOP4rCRqhdUo5tQkOJWWDI4cck2Fk4sUgkmbsYN4G6D4QjFfxkSPpnVF2aUegQHjI-aOiiu3OHinPOMtjXnxUNPVv1culc1ZLgMQ90rECNM/s1600/20140704_212100.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sorry for the fuzzyness but they went by pretty quick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then my battery started dying and well that was it for the photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I do need to tell you about the little mutton chop kids. They were so cute. They were between 6 and 8 years old and they had to ride a sheep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D3od4hId8EsfW-kVv6qyK-wPxHxpDgCamskwDZNF625zuTL3gmV01IWcH610rFNf9dYgNf3FA_XHIGVyADfGmNHos5UGpwc_soaw63bbrpAFHihladArLjQ-gXNkZRpi6D8h20Evdi8/s1600/20140704_204543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D3od4hId8EsfW-kVv6qyK-wPxHxpDgCamskwDZNF625zuTL3gmV01IWcH610rFNf9dYgNf3FA_XHIGVyADfGmNHos5UGpwc_soaw63bbrpAFHihladArLjQ-gXNkZRpi6D8h20Evdi8/s1600/20140704_204543.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This one little girl hung on for dear life. She even won! Yeah for all the little girls out there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXCd5rh-mtb18S-f-0koMgSeWivd97zYcA09lbKK-n0Zty_dRfx3lLp8rusVgScbWGW4tV99pjomS9LZxHQ_dSHVlYCyZPXmXicfVuDwR8_Dvo143w8jul2RIlvUepWmj12uYBwKMahE/s1600/20140704_205655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXCd5rh-mtb18S-f-0koMgSeWivd97zYcA09lbKK-n0Zty_dRfx3lLp8rusVgScbWGW4tV99pjomS9LZxHQ_dSHVlYCyZPXmXicfVuDwR8_Dvo143w8jul2RIlvUepWmj12uYBwKMahE/s1600/20140704_205655.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then there were the swearing in of about 20 cadets into the Marine Corps. God bless them. I shed a tear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then came the Motocross. I didn't think I would like that very much. Boy was I wrong. That was COOOOLLLL!!!! Yep it was exciting. I felt like I was at an Evil Kneivel event. They were very exciting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then came the AWESOME fireworks. That was too cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I found my friend and she game me a ride to my car. What a night. A really nice 4th of July. </span><br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-86304082206928673032014-06-18T17:23:00.002-07:002014-06-18T17:23:32.355-07:00I love our Starbuck's<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I moved here 7 years ago, there was NOTHING here. It's a new subdivision and there was just alot of dirt, pipes, 2 x 4's, and the promise of something special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then came the little shopping center. I was so excited. Building of something coming. There was a rumor that there was going to be a Lowe's and a Chili's and a Starbuck's and a Panda Express and a Pandera's. Ok, I know that's a lot of "and a" but seriously the rumors abounded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pandera's just materialized (7 years later) and Panda Express just came across the freeway earlier this year. But the other 3 were the first. I was so excited when I saw the Starbuck's logo go up and couldn't wait for it to open. It was the first one in our part of town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As time has gone on it is still one of my favorite places to go. I walk through the local park and down the street (which looks like Main Street USA) and take my computer and spend some serious quality time with my coffee and the internet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over the years I have gotten to know the baristas. They have changed over the years of course but I frequent the establishment enough that they all know me quickly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I should also tell you that I have a pretty serious Starbuck's cup collection going. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvuRETzn92H856YM6y9y0tm2O-W9hdEOZ7TgbUCCE78Fq7_7tygxuQAeAYhPU3A8R6PqKO5HhLR85dihyQqRFXMump3H2FKvKgqUpD05IvU9HPk5ZgodTsTIS2mnIjtgtxJZyy6JhNiY/s1600/20140617_224618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvuRETzn92H856YM6y9y0tm2O-W9hdEOZ7TgbUCCE78Fq7_7tygxuQAeAYhPU3A8R6PqKO5HhLR85dihyQqRFXMump3H2FKvKgqUpD05IvU9HPk5ZgodTsTIS2mnIjtgtxJZyy6JhNiY/s1600/20140617_224618.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The purple one above just broke about 30 seconds after I took this picture. I really like that one too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpAkdt3cF3pqnpY-j-Yg8t_jCM5Bf9PnGm-0u8PZLfSY1ZFUEEDUJzD9_59yKQxgcJogpgxUo6vB36K3dqdZdykoiuU3xTnaaH6ps56n8uKW0n_zMPn6VrTIn_LY_vj0DDQkaOYIxwqQ/s1600/20140617_225520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpAkdt3cF3pqnpY-j-Yg8t_jCM5Bf9PnGm-0u8PZLfSY1ZFUEEDUJzD9_59yKQxgcJogpgxUo6vB36K3dqdZdykoiuU3xTnaaH6ps56n8uKW0n_zMPn6VrTIn_LY_vj0DDQkaOYIxwqQ/s1600/20140617_225520.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love these huge cups for coffee and hot chocolate when it's cold and rainy out.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of course I get the cups that celebrate my favorite cities. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X9DVmFC7yumWNuOkLGWhk5BA_7jc0vIjQXqT_QfG4xbtgsyIN7kp9YdgPndiSP6XKYFx37RutdchNhNbm6_1iDcZWs8UdVjkrLALAMzJpdShmvavQLOmQT3f_4xo4k_OsF-p4PRUrrE/s1600/20140617_225650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X9DVmFC7yumWNuOkLGWhk5BA_7jc0vIjQXqT_QfG4xbtgsyIN7kp9YdgPndiSP6XKYFx37RutdchNhNbm6_1iDcZWs8UdVjkrLALAMzJpdShmvavQLOmQT3f_4xo4k_OsF-p4PRUrrE/s1600/20140617_225650.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love these pictures on this cup of San Francisco. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgJuSAMtEwh193ThP4mI1t8wh0j0XRni17fnyqp1MYC5J8TLxAMkH6F6TnjbEIVEWjP3Fpg_XavmrvGyWb3kupCEgcJCxYV-czqP2YI7qT7-eekyzp8JYAhoptE3uc48Ba02W6UEoSE/s1600/20140617_225635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgJuSAMtEwh193ThP4mI1t8wh0j0XRni17fnyqp1MYC5J8TLxAMkH6F6TnjbEIVEWjP3Fpg_XavmrvGyWb3kupCEgcJCxYV-czqP2YI7qT7-eekyzp8JYAhoptE3uc48Ba02W6UEoSE/s1600/20140617_225635.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And of course my Home Town.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIWYIQj1jwojr2JmI95uPJfP-qke8oF8KgluxuAvg6yHTxDRbJsXz_qEKVASRrmtK-mHuEFrwCTFPOiCaU-T7wxHWTr2em9jTsNa94wyzFoVyeOp7H8XKCR8M8ESHgQ32NjCgC5koZ9g/s1600/20140617_225720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIWYIQj1jwojr2JmI95uPJfP-qke8oF8KgluxuAvg6yHTxDRbJsXz_qEKVASRrmtK-mHuEFrwCTFPOiCaU-T7wxHWTr2em9jTsNa94wyzFoVyeOp7H8XKCR8M8ESHgQ32NjCgC5koZ9g/s1600/20140617_225720.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even has the statistics on the back of the cup. Cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But what I really love is the Cheer's feeling I get. You know that place where everyone knows your name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Plus they are so silly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73juV75kyBOn4ZsHJnVpXoYJc9ge83pJaxG6Se512nOzVoRmJIRAtHpJzcXjpWWSbtFTJGcYvUwk-PiaIC7Kp94EnL8XkeRqx2QNiV3cOKGkqpzehxBfqyADK1LCHUoW2O2FpCaDbzr0/s1600/100_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73juV75kyBOn4ZsHJnVpXoYJc9ge83pJaxG6Se512nOzVoRmJIRAtHpJzcXjpWWSbtFTJGcYvUwk-PiaIC7Kp94EnL8XkeRqx2QNiV3cOKGkqpzehxBfqyADK1LCHUoW2O2FpCaDbzr0/s1600/100_2475.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">She knows my name. Should I be worried?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But this is something special that she did for me. Not only does she make my special drinks just the way I like it and encourages me to try something new but she kept my latest addition to my cup collection for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was a crazy day. There was a special on Fraps that day and I had the best time just watching these baristas work. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2gcae62Q5smboiiuo-A9VsJUow2NEPI9e0JQHnmGdXo3JusqdBnnPZce2qMFRzWbXaQ9l-6mqurdAWQe2UP4EkNKV3F_BZ4azr07XRgssTey4QUEXAFLF_IFrWbxq9WvSOt6zobER2I/s1600/100_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2gcae62Q5smboiiuo-A9VsJUow2NEPI9e0JQHnmGdXo3JusqdBnnPZce2qMFRzWbXaQ9l-6mqurdAWQe2UP4EkNKV3F_BZ4azr07XRgssTey4QUEXAFLF_IFrWbxq9WvSOt6zobER2I/s1600/100_2476.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is what a part of the counter looked like.They used all these plus more during the time I was there. Whew! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I forgot my cup.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgZYnIW7GJOIzfBGizPC7rSUyQN-3GpFKfWx-jKiysPNm_2YUeMOjT18JJCxjSLnRwlJlOUUvaUSad1z6DTEH4QjhCQn3cjvXso7sVfpt7rZ0TRnZv38TsvRbtkNFz9cjlRylRQQgTu0/s1600/20140617_224747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgZYnIW7GJOIzfBGizPC7rSUyQN-3GpFKfWx-jKiysPNm_2YUeMOjT18JJCxjSLnRwlJlOUUvaUSad1z6DTEH4QjhCQn3cjvXso7sVfpt7rZ0TRnZv38TsvRbtkNFz9cjlRylRQQgTu0/s1600/20140617_224747.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was pretty. And a lovely addition to my collection for spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well this was easily a month ago and we kept missing each other. Finally yesterday she gave me my package. I had given it up for lost and now here it is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I LOVE MY STARBUCK'S!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-3544822881760571102014-05-30T16:30:00.003-07:002014-05-30T16:31:20.858-07:00The County Fair! Lord it was HOT! Part 2<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had a blast at the Sacramento County Fair last weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the real reason I went to the Fair was the Bull Riding event. It was only one night so it was Saturday or not at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After checking out the rest of the Fair and all the kiddos and their animals it was time to go to the Bull Riding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now it was just Bull Riding. Not a full Rodeo. I actually like full Rodeos better. They have not only Bull Riding (ok the marquee event that it is) but also Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing and much more. The Bull Riding was really exciting too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv3S6szUDbljL1k0PQ6BPn0_1OJK0-yUmgYG0OLXDw-DNt2vQ1WgJH-0xhhuX704PGSTGY5jAl3-0NCMMwKQhOsSyFAL-Tp_p-Dv2lNgWTccJCE9w-uemoTokHk_U5PSxBEHvLNozARs/s1600/20140524_184203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv3S6szUDbljL1k0PQ6BPn0_1OJK0-yUmgYG0OLXDw-DNt2vQ1WgJH-0xhhuX704PGSTGY5jAl3-0NCMMwKQhOsSyFAL-Tp_p-Dv2lNgWTccJCE9w-uemoTokHk_U5PSxBEHvLNozARs/s1600/20140524_184203.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2rS_BlU7Zp0hWJTqRlx078lXBjsEOapSMmPSRkRMijuE0jHtJBk_lBzMWfZc-a4SC-91iCfypFmLiT8kAopplBfSfnHlB7Jc8UDkb9hLGt0460tEoxxyUfNdAmC8oc-2yIhDF514drI/s1600/20140524_184344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2rS_BlU7Zp0hWJTqRlx078lXBjsEOapSMmPSRkRMijuE0jHtJBk_lBzMWfZc-a4SC-91iCfypFmLiT8kAopplBfSfnHlB7Jc8UDkb9hLGt0460tEoxxyUfNdAmC8oc-2yIhDF514drI/s1600/20140524_184344.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">These were just as I was sitting down. Basically only half of the area is needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was HOT!!!! I mean really HOT!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Did you get the idea that it was hot? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">No?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well let me tell you straight out. It was HOT. There.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now that we got that settled.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6ra4WjbaUF3V9y5LjhFUZwfMZdgCFtaj3MHtOokaOE_RVggnl-dNVxKSPDv-4rFMezVu7EP0KZ7y3hyxBqAOBt4eI2GT4c6ot8IHbemSrhnplxSWO9Oe3WuoC1xdNjExTHX8BpoivaA/s1600/20140524_184643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6ra4WjbaUF3V9y5LjhFUZwfMZdgCFtaj3MHtOokaOE_RVggnl-dNVxKSPDv-4rFMezVu7EP0KZ7y3hyxBqAOBt4eI2GT4c6ot8IHbemSrhnplxSWO9Oe3WuoC1xdNjExTHX8BpoivaA/s1600/20140524_184643.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was this little guy. He was adorable. He was having a great time all night. Dad was looking after him the whole time. It was so cute. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemLAlmfkmy6RHbiA_zCTOCdprVdMOWDII8LEnmvF1JKbjEGld2Jh7oq6woNYqCeDwtQX6GLgKkebneoMt2UeArwzNCUGWuI_t4sTWCFDzFZFHdqZ_-Ri_rUwDqtXmA-uZ-XDUsTQuGFQ/s1600/20140524_184601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemLAlmfkmy6RHbiA_zCTOCdprVdMOWDII8LEnmvF1JKbjEGld2Jh7oq6woNYqCeDwtQX6GLgKkebneoMt2UeArwzNCUGWuI_t4sTWCFDzFZFHdqZ_-Ri_rUwDqtXmA-uZ-XDUsTQuGFQ/s1600/20140524_184601.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of course there had to be a big truck somewhere.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMLgzhNuVfSIfWWd0Z_E8gAyLGOJO-L7psMoFbIIDTvVcDiSF4ra0JZ58WVGIRl7zlGo-nxcjYwH8L3x9XzyVEFxc4xERe7IYu2VgXc7JOgmTxNxZLFywqtA5TIFELWj63YuxFUQ5Us0/s1600/20140524_190508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMLgzhNuVfSIfWWd0Z_E8gAyLGOJO-L7psMoFbIIDTvVcDiSF4ra0JZ58WVGIRl7zlGo-nxcjYwH8L3x9XzyVEFxc4xERe7IYu2VgXc7JOgmTxNxZLFywqtA5TIFELWj63YuxFUQ5Us0/s1600/20140524_190508.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvouvM8D9XXbXn0Y6s5S22LlRQ4Wafyq9f5iiYojm0edl-lpRroYuDdFO0GBkzY9ZRmeA4AI1_C4tAgJv_B7NS7qtsScJ7UbMxFntFxAUovD_qPBFrRSMhpkcFc7RtLXoZEZdJtKWt-tU/s1600/20140524_190559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvouvM8D9XXbXn0Y6s5S22LlRQ4Wafyq9f5iiYojm0edl-lpRroYuDdFO0GBkzY9ZRmeA4AI1_C4tAgJv_B7NS7qtsScJ7UbMxFntFxAUovD_qPBFrRSMhpkcFc7RtLXoZEZdJtKWt-tU/s1600/20140524_190559.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was a salute to our men and women serving our nation and memorial for all those who have given the ultimate price in that service. Very moving. I teared up. But I always do. I am mess at parades. I was saved that there wasn't a marching bank around. I would have been a total disaster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There there was National Anthem sang by this cute young lady. She did a good job. But after she was finished and she started to walk back behind the shoot (or shute?) she was stopped. A nice young cowboy came out. She apparently knew him and waiting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Awwwwweeeeee. Sniff. Sniff. She said "Yes". Of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I missed the actual proposal but I did get the good stuff. You can count on me to get the really important parts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then it came time to start all the bull riding. There were going to be 30 rides in the first go around (that is what they call first selection process) then a break, then the top six go for the top prize. Only the top six get any money. So alot of riders are going to need a ride home that night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So the first few all didn't last more than 3 seconds if that. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Bk1rpAYEnq-TVnz0aGBl3cg5VxSFA8ojdLjS_5DQIWmiVKiXgIohbx6yVG-7SW4X4pkpFcPmlQosKXw_fsw4UJMy0AbD72GjoLgg7FC81nou9jJgzKaKPLz2Z3cYV5vbpFpMg2TWV8/s1600/20140524_191917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Bk1rpAYEnq-TVnz0aGBl3cg5VxSFA8ojdLjS_5DQIWmiVKiXgIohbx6yVG-7SW4X4pkpFcPmlQosKXw_fsw4UJMy0AbD72GjoLgg7FC81nou9jJgzKaKPLz2Z3cYV5vbpFpMg2TWV8/s1600/20140524_191917.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ouch!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here we go!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hunh? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's gotta hurt.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Where am I again? Oh yeah. Running!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank goodness the Bull Fighters (clowns) are there. They keep the bull occupied so the rider can get to safety. Wonder what their insurance rates are?</span><br />
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There there is this guy. He was a hoot. He was hilarious. He was funny. He was CRAZY!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It doesn't look like it here but he was all over this arena. Talking to the crowd and keeping everyone entertained in between the riders. It takes a while for the riders to get all situated on the bull. My guess it takes some talking oneself into even getting on the bull. Especially since they make that snort noise that is such a warning. Jeez.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IrX8DUrX_i-9bnE_drbftHQvVJ5Srk_lcNUyCANmdHEZ7U5fUhQVPumh3XtSdlGduHT0M_QYBMTUPzzlqfcLJmMeZCye8VQXncypk1rSNlq-T-kZJRrLevvqdMmtMp4R49QHLUW2On0/s1600/20140524_201257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IrX8DUrX_i-9bnE_drbftHQvVJ5Srk_lcNUyCANmdHEZ7U5fUhQVPumh3XtSdlGduHT0M_QYBMTUPzzlqfcLJmMeZCye8VQXncypk1rSNlq-T-kZJRrLevvqdMmtMp4R49QHLUW2On0/s1600/20140524_201257.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For some reason the bulls just didn't want to go back into the pens. They had a heck of time getting them into the pens let alone to stay there. So as they were trying to get a bull that was just ridden in the pen two more escaped. I think they just wanted some more attention from the cowboys and the crowd. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They must have know it was Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding weekend so they wanted some of the limelight too. But that's just my theory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All in all there were only four bulls that were ridden. So they added two more that lasted the longest. These two almost got the 8 seconds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Speaking of 8 Seconds, has anyone seen that movie? I loved it. But then Luke Perry is nice to look at. But it is still a bit of tear jerker. If you get a chance, check it out. I was watching this movie with my mother and grandmother one night and they enjoyed it. Then it was at the end credits and they realized it was about a real person and they were mad at me. Why? Then they started really crying. So it is a real good movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the break there was a bunch of kids that got an opportunity to ride a mechanical bull.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They were so cute!!! They got a water bottle as a prize and it could have been gold trophy. They held it up with pride they did. They ran all around and it was so cute. Did I tell you how adorable they were? Well they were.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now onto the final go-around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's just say that this picture is kind of what happened. The first five were all bucked off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So it was left to only one rider. It was his to Win. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well he did it. He stayed on the bull the full 8 seconds and he won the night. He was awarded $6,000 for his troubles. Not bad for 16 seconds (2 rides for 8 seconds, get it?) worth of work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh and the rider that proposed earlier? He was bucked off earlier. I guess he other things on his mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So there you go. It was a fun and exciting evening. I just might do it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-11105101133004354662014-05-29T19:03:00.002-07:002014-05-29T19:03:11.294-07:00The County Fair! Lord it was HOT!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yep. I went to the Sacramento County Fair last Saturday. It was fun. I love seeing the all the little kiddos showing off their projects. Whether that be a cow or goat or horse or picture or horticulture. It is so cool to see what they can do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was also 95 degrees! Have I told you I don't do well in the heat? Well I DON'T! Seriously, I don't do well in the heat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I remember one time when it was a hot summer day and my mother and me were sitting out at the pool at our apartment (yes we were roomies back then.) We spent the entire day out there. Periodically dipping into the pool to get cool (me more often than my Mom for sure.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the end of the day, we went in and were discussing what to eat for dinner. She was all hyped up and ready to conquer the world. The sun had really given her energy and she even wanted to go shopping. Now my mother HATES shopping. I can't tell you how much she hates it and she wanted to go shopping. Wow. How could I pass this opportunity up? But, here's the thing. The sun ZAPS me of all my energy. It was everything I could do to making on two feet to the bed for a nap. All I wanted was sleep. So off she went to the grocery store for food and off I went to the bed for sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well it wasn't quite that bad that day at the fair. But I did have one of the ladies manning a booth ask me how I handle the heat. I said you just make a decision that you are going to handle it. Look for cool areas and shade and take advantage when you can and just deal with the heat when you had too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So with that in mind I made a B-line straight the the air-conditioned tents where the vendors hawking their wares were. Yep I know how to beat the heat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also, the other air-conditioned tent had the exhibits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This was a cool Exhibit. All about camping in the 1940's and 1950's. They had those chairs that rocked and really cool vintage tables clothes and aprons. It was really interesting. With cooking demonstrations too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There were projects by kids with planting vegetables in wheelbarrows and then painting them. They were cute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was really cool photographs too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I went to the kiddos showing their horses in western handling. That was interesting. Some handled their horses really well. I loved seeing the sequin blouses and tops with black jeans and matching chaps. Also had to have the matching saddle blankets. But it was all about the horsemanship. Usually it's mostly girls but there were some boys this years too. Looking studly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I made my way over the barn area. I just made up my mind that I was going to deal with the heat. (And take advantage of each and every fan I could find. Sorry Mr. Pig but you have mud, I need the fan for a bit. Move over Ms. Cow. I NEED this cool air from your fan right now.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I saw some cool judging with all the 4-H'ers. They look so cute in their white and green uniforms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I got to see some cute goats being judged. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This kiddo had a bit of a time wrangling her goat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I looked over and saw the turkeys. They were soooooooo cute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I saw this. Sorry it's blurry but it so surprised me. They leaned over and picked their turkeys up by their feet and held them there. What?! The girl at the end was having a hard time and couldn't hold her turkey poor thing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally she just put her turkey down and said I just can't hold him. But it was one of the more ... shall we say .... unusual things I had seen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then it was over the cows. I like the dairy cows. They are big and pretty. Always seem to be calm. Must be something about being a mom I guess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Around and around they went. These were mostly teenagers. They were my size and had to be to handle the largess of these cows. But it was so cool to see how they handle them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So after the judging they tied them up for a bit. I was up close and personal with little lady. She was trying to get me to milk her as she was pretty full but I resisted. I was mountain of strength and I said that it would soon be time. She just needed to wait a bit. There I told her. But isn't she just so cute?!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ok I need to eat now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yep. I found the corndog stand. Off I went to get as many calories as possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There were the usual attractions. Like a really cool band was playing and I love to watch the hypnotist. I hope I didn't get hypnotized. Why am I screeching like an owl every time the phone rings? Nope. I wasn't hypnotized.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then there was this attraction that I had a hard time with. Morally speaking. It was called Walk on the Wild Side. They had a several exotic species of cats. A tiger, and several others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And this little guy/gal.</span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And this one too. </span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The issue I had was one of exploitation. Should these animals be put on display like this was my thinking. I finally came to the conclusion that they were there for teaching purposes. Some of the folks there had never seen these animals in any other setting than either a zoo or in a book or on National Geographic channel. It appeared they were taken care of so I went with the educational angle. Made me feel a little better anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then it was off to what I really wanted to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bull Riding!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Next time.</span><br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-15316970720875132122014-05-18T21:55:00.001-07:002014-05-18T21:55:13.852-07:00What summer means for my baby.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's time to shed. That's what summer means. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My baby sheds since he is a long-haired cat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Boy does he shed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to brush him every night when it first gets warm. I keep thinking that I will take all his hair out soon. But there is always more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My poor baby just sits there and meows. He loves his brushing each night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to get everywhere when I brush him. He just purrrrrrrrrs. And I if I stop . . . let's just say he lets me know when he is displeased. </span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"You better not stop."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"You are so in trouble if you do."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"That's right. You better keep brushing if you know what's good for you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I get tons of hair off him. It's sort of like cleaning when you haven't in a while You can really see where you have cleaned With him I can see that all my hard work is worth it. And it's hard work alright. My arm gets a workout. It's actually a sore I can hardly lift it. Ok not quite that bad but still.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76hyfs7vg7PZGQk7K4HijCwfGHkw90WbeXl6T2RgWPTCIQVXpvV9T0KGXAXyvG7IR8cxnKGY-AA9ROLlruF4Zr1F8KifE2tuvvaFb2_80iR37tHOpQuwo5Cb_bSa7x3IhiUahIH66DkA/s1600/20140515_210640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76hyfs7vg7PZGQk7K4HijCwfGHkw90WbeXl6T2RgWPTCIQVXpvV9T0KGXAXyvG7IR8cxnKGY-AA9ROLlruF4Zr1F8KifE2tuvvaFb2_80iR37tHOpQuwo5Cb_bSa7x3IhiUahIH66DkA/s1600/20140515_210640.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a full brush each time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also, <i>HE</i> dictates which side I get to brush. There is no holding him otherwise. If he doesn't want his right side brushed, we don't brush it. At least not without a fight. Just like kids. That's another reason why IS my baby.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I will tell you that if I don't give him this . . . I WILL be sorry. I will find a present the next morning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrUCSagV9oInLrCV57hfar2HJTcg7ddBJ33lHlsBsmWxEsHo9dsu3wE0QgBvsHnHkf_6CqD2nNcURfrmroeOGBeChH8I3KxYbLlxnyCrj6Q8LIHVJqsuqRWgrhBk_IM2Td4ZSWqgFFpo/s1600/20140515_210931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrUCSagV9oInLrCV57hfar2HJTcg7ddBJ33lHlsBsmWxEsHo9dsu3wE0QgBvsHnHkf_6CqD2nNcURfrmroeOGBeChH8I3KxYbLlxnyCrj6Q8LIHVJqsuqRWgrhBk_IM2Td4ZSWqgFFpo/s1600/20140515_210931.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank goodness he loves it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And am thankful I have him. My baby!</span>
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-52970615493059576052014-05-14T12:15:00.001-07:002014-05-14T12:15:22.809-07:00Bags!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bags galore!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love bags. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love purses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am a pursaholic! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I watched ones of those make over shows for the home once that was helping a woman clean out her house. She had so many bags. She had rooms full of bags. The folks who were helping her had to discard most of her bags. I so felt for her. I was so in sympathy with her. I felt her pain when they tossed her bags. But it was a lesson for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I then looked at all the bags I had strewn around my home. I was a little embarrassed. I had bags stuffed inside of other bags. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I decided right then I was not going to be this woman. I am better than that. I can control my . . . my . . . well my . . . <b><i>habit</i></b>! <b>Yes I can!!!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So ever since then I have really been keeping my bag collection in check. Well until a few months ago anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I fell off the wagon folks. I admit it. I looked at my collection and realized that it was time. I had Ikea bags (yes more than one), WalMart, Delta Dental (I received that on at a craft fair at my park), Rancho Cordova (same thing, different event),Michaels (craft store), not to mention all the grocery bags I have and miscellaneous bags I have been collecting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I weeded them out and . . . and . . . really tried to throw them away. I really did folks. I did. I really did. But I kept thinking that I could use them for something someday. Then I realized that that kind of thinking is how I got here. If I didn't do something with them I would then be classified as a HOARDER! Nooooooooooo. That can't happen. No!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I did it. I put them in the trash bin. Then I took out the trash so I couldn't look at it and take them out again. Yes I did. I DID IT!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I went to Target and I saw these. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKcS07jOINDg101pBCBNqddAvXAc7CaF4rB3uHxtb1ur7UW3UZspua-8ThdD_8EiUg9qMeWSlfp53BuXyvHSx30dathxWC7I586OeziGTOQQA2ilpRY_mumTh_ssQqOveelBaRIaaGIE/s1600/20140513_183850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKcS07jOINDg101pBCBNqddAvXAc7CaF4rB3uHxtb1ur7UW3UZspua-8ThdD_8EiUg9qMeWSlfp53BuXyvHSx30dathxWC7I586OeziGTOQQA2ilpRY_mumTh_ssQqOveelBaRIaaGIE/s1600/20140513_183850.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh my. I love this purse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This so me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I gotta have it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How much? Wait a minute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then I saw these.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4U3nupLPuk71J8WzZuVELZH1KC4rwPx_rziM-JQ0TIATHgY8cEJWA9CKBcIX7G7ynoFpPm4uSaDTvPa2lQFvOq05gH5KtWF1lXCPyBHjr74w_blC2gcsrb5u2vERio7fWgMr5JOvZMg/s1600/20140513_184039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4U3nupLPuk71J8WzZuVELZH1KC4rwPx_rziM-JQ0TIATHgY8cEJWA9CKBcIX7G7ynoFpPm4uSaDTvPa2lQFvOq05gH5KtWF1lXCPyBHjr74w_blC2gcsrb5u2vERio7fWgMr5JOvZMg/s1600/20140513_184039.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They are so cute! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Love the colors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's spring time, yeah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then I saw all these.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXbLEo3NCbix5wIS-FtNsWO_7T5x7UBaLaIgqH_XFPF_PQohBX-iSobLXGDQE72E1EPxNoWj1Ajo6qdnmoOfu1a1a-XUk9UBB896m9yEoC3SuhWd95sfKNPSOM5OoLnaz7WX-RimPoJ4/s1600/20140513_183924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXbLEo3NCbix5wIS-FtNsWO_7T5x7UBaLaIgqH_XFPF_PQohBX-iSobLXGDQE72E1EPxNoWj1Ajo6qdnmoOfu1a1a-XUk9UBB896m9yEoC3SuhWd95sfKNPSOM5OoLnaz7WX-RimPoJ4/s1600/20140513_183924.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh No. Here I go again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-90799473040485244552014-05-12T18:37:00.000-07:002014-05-12T18:37:18.395-07:00My Baby!!! I love my baby!!!!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yeah - "We know!" you are saying. But I really do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't have any children but I do have my two cats. I have one who is 25 lbs and the size of medium size dog. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-4hxmCAQa2punlhlwUWGFF-3_Zzr95r_cDwIzwdY5bfkdzx_5rQfvhJGotNXmLpWL38ThTYcaQEkxdje4p8MBsbfhMrVfWbwvj3tmLssn8bNhhBzFfBjvpFAJc0d2GwvQSM3PtI8eT8/s1600/20140426_170309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-4hxmCAQa2punlhlwUWGFF-3_Zzr95r_cDwIzwdY5bfkdzx_5rQfvhJGotNXmLpWL38ThTYcaQEkxdje4p8MBsbfhMrVfWbwvj3tmLssn8bNhhBzFfBjvpFAJc0d2GwvQSM3PtI8eT8/s1600/20140426_170309.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He is so dog-like that I can play fetch with him. He is my everything. I never thought I would feel this way about a cat but ... dang, I love him. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hf3EQ8XPjtY/U215L8CTd0I/AAAAAAAACwk/Bapn-puMWGs/s1600/20130704_224831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hf3EQ8XPjtY/U215L8CTd0I/AAAAAAAACwk/Bapn-puMWGs/s1600/20130704_224831.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I have an 8 lb cat that is the boss of the house. She even runs my Big Boy as I call him. She says whether or nor he can eat. If she wants the food first she makes sure he stays out of the kitchen until she is done. So funny. He actually stays on the carpet and not one paw hits the linoleum in the kitchen until she says it's ok.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They are not from the same mommy and daddy but they are so connected. Especially since they have been living together in sin (if he could do any hanky panky they would have but I fixed that. he he he) for 14 years now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Hey you. Get that camera out of my face!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He's gotten so grouchy lately. So demanding. Sheesh!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0DBDYs8tJgNgo1gPfAdAMP3lJXYpv8aKbI7PzQCKcyDmZSvLgdcNI7ZsHhJItVjFkmxaLjbu6zcj5ni8Yv6pCVuQjsA2LxDyBeivo8xk9tCSZAUq6P6VfyBGfipkmFawxBDNMJkJ62M/s1600/20130305_070301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0DBDYs8tJgNgo1gPfAdAMP3lJXYpv8aKbI7PzQCKcyDmZSvLgdcNI7ZsHhJItVjFkmxaLjbu6zcj5ni8Yv6pCVuQjsA2LxDyBeivo8xk9tCSZAUq6P6VfyBGfipkmFawxBDNMJkJ62M/s1600/20130305_070301.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"It's good to be the King!"</span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jeez! How can I resist this face? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Mommy can you please get me some chicken and feed it to me?"</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Sure Baby!"</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Let me see if your sister wants any."</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pmO4gN9F3NN1YaQeRNhVina1Wl9vcK-2ChhfULQ1slj2cFhNF6IXDtMZdWQTGh-JTNUMtn4jLAI2XGAzl0jdw7vBUbaOykHsNOKN9Z6mHSMoGOwj8itIJFAmZoJyjA5ryXQW8oXkQPI/s1600/2012-01-01+12.48.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pmO4gN9F3NN1YaQeRNhVina1Wl9vcK-2ChhfULQ1slj2cFhNF6IXDtMZdWQTGh-JTNUMtn4jLAI2XGAzl0jdw7vBUbaOykHsNOKN9Z6mHSMoGOwj8itIJFAmZoJyjA5ryXQW8oXkQPI/s1600/2012-01-01+12.48.14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Did someone say food?"</span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Do you have to?"</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"Yes, my son. It's the right thing to do."</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qDHrSAasI_b20LZgnSreIB2b_eUpJU_hTrX6rZUikWcooST-bkjQRXIQaficCpHBXXSU_qhYDqZE-NTMXYj_qC6XSvm9M-I8ZPjiO_wD2oafOSSoXRRqPzKYiNnnOlcT1Uuxy1VEULc/s1600/2012-03-25+14.55.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qDHrSAasI_b20LZgnSreIB2b_eUpJU_hTrX6rZUikWcooST-bkjQRXIQaficCpHBXXSU_qhYDqZE-NTMXYj_qC6XSvm9M-I8ZPjiO_wD2oafOSSoXRRqPzKYiNnnOlcT1Uuxy1VEULc/s1600/2012-03-25+14.55.02.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"OKaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But then they sleep together and I just can resist. Awwwwwweeeee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Life is sure good, isn't it?</span><br />
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Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-36001020942932090822014-05-07T21:10:00.003-07:002014-05-08T13:20:16.916-07:00For the Love of a Good Book<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a kid I hated
reading and writing. I was into Math. Math was my life. I loved anything
having to do with math. I hated it when I had to read something out of
the newspaper and then summarize it for me. I tricked my folks
into reading to me and article instead and asking what it meant. They did it
for me - until they caught on and then I had to do it myself. That was a
dark day. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But
then I had my 5th and 6th grades in the school library and we had to pick
a book and do a book report. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh nooooooo. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am in for it now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh crap. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
don't know how to do a book report. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't want to read a book.
Ewwwweeee. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How boring. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why can't I do extra credit math problems
instead. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had to read a book. A deep breath, much sighing, much
procrastinating later I decided I couldn't get out of it and I ... and I
... well I looked for a book. I looked for a really thin one to read
real quick. But my teacher was onto me. She said it had to be a certain
length. Crap! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then
I found it. The book that started everything. The book that taught me
to read and enjoy it. The book that took someplace else. The book that
said the is the doorway to a new life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The book was "On the Bank of
Plumb Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Yep that was the one. And this was
before the series too. They hadn't even made the pilot yet. Oh how I
love that book. My first book that I read from cover to cover. I loved it
so much I begged my mother to get if for me to read at home. Once she
recovered from her shock she bought it for me. I still have that book today. I have
moved it with me each and every time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Loved the series of books and the television series too. But who didn't.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This
was the first of many books I have read. I dream of having a library in
my home just like you see in the movies. With the ladder that runs
around the floor to ceiling shelves. I have so many books and I love
looking at them and I say to myself "I have read all these books."
Ahhhhhhhhh. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well
like everything else, life takes over. I didn't read for a long time.
Then Romance Novels came into being. That was a godsend. I loved romance
novels. I read those like drinking water (ok soda in my case - you can
read my water issues <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6727620802009492513#editor/target=post;postID=3476309199619863360;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=35;src=postname">here</a>.) Then I had my favorite romance writers. I would devour these books since they were only about 150 to 200 pages long. But I loved the adventure of a different time and place. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was a problem though. These books were pretty formulaic. After you have read about 30 of these books or so you catch on to the formula. Whether it be a western set with a wagon train in the 1850's or an heiress in the 1700's Britain or girl stranded on the high seas at the mercy of a misunderstood pirate. The formula is pretty much the same. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now I don't know about you folks but I got a little bored. Plus I needed more. Something more to chew on. Then I found the next book that did the same thing that Laura Ingalls Wilder's books did for me as a young girl. I found a book that would transport me somewhere else. I found the book that would intoxicate my being for the next 22 years now. </span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I found "Outlander". I found Diana Gabaldon. She is a wizard. She is a magician with keyboard. She is AWESOME. She was the reason I read again. Her first book was Outlander which then spawned an entire series. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is 890 pages long. It had all the same things as a romance novel but MORE. So much more. It has damsels in distress, it has scottish moors, it has horses, it has a handsome Hero in trouble. It has adventures. It has it all. Plus it is a heroine that is smart and doesn't fall into the same traps as all the others. I fell in love with this book. It was published in 1991 and I was hooked. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I call this author the James Michener of Romance novels. There is so much detail and breadth of scenery description that you think you are there. I felt like I could smell the heather. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's now being made into a mini-series and I can't wait. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Or can I. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Will I be disappointed or impressed? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Will I be engrossed or bored?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have to confess I am bit nervous. Maybe it was best left in my imagination. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well whichever it's done. I will be watching. and hoping and dreaming.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now the best is yet to come. The eighth book is coming out in June and Diana Gabaldon will be here in June 4 days after the release of her book. I can't wait. I will be there and and and I don't know what but I will be there to meet her. I am so excited and I will keep you posted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I will be reading and reading and dreaming. </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-61440982976784662552014-04-30T14:23:00.001-07:002014-04-30T15:37:30.617-07:00Turkey's, We have Turkey's<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes we do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now if you live in the country or in a rural area that is a big "So What!" But I live in a city. We have something like 800,000 people. All right, so it's only 67,000 but still a lot of people. AND we are next to Sacramento which has well over 500,000 people, for real. We have industry and warehouses and and and industry. So it was a surprise when I looked out the window and I saw a turkey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes. I saw this little guy. I actually have no idea if he is really a "he" or "she" but I am going to go with "he". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, to be honest, we have turkeys at this time every year, but it's still a surprise when they decide to show up. They are wild here and sometimes we even have something like 20 of them running around. But this is the first one I have seen this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I spied him (though our dirty windows) and I stalked him until I got a picture of him. Yes I did. He ran but he couldn't get away from me. Heh Heh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I zeroed in on him and took his picture before he even knew it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then he ran away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then End. Well, until next time, which will be probably tomorrow. I hope he decides to hang with his family or friends and they come too. They are fun to watch. </span><br />
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<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-88926520590202164512014-04-29T16:11:00.000-07:002014-05-02T10:54:34.541-07:00Ol' Doc Thompson<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I have said before - I am a city girl. But my family on both sides are what you would call country folk. OK so they aren't but <i>their</i> families are. My father's family is in Iowa. That really small town I have blogged about before called Oakland. (Yeah I know every state has their own Oakland.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Farming is the main (only) business there. All other businesses support farming. My cousins have all farmed. That's what guys do there. Either they farm their own farms and/or hire out to other farms. Well my cousin Jim was no exception. One summer I went back to stay with my Aunt and Uncle and meet my cousin's new fiance. I was about 12 or 13 years old. I had such a great time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We were hanging out one day. My cousin Nettie and my soon to be cousin Joyce. We decided to go horseback riding as Joyce had 3 horses. But their was a problem. There was only 2 saddles. She asked me if I could ride a horse. So here I am trying to look like I know what I am doing but in actuality had absolutely no idea what so ever. I thought how hard can this be? I've see how many episodes of Bonanza and it looked easy. Heck I can do that. People have ridden horses for eons - I can do that. So I said Sure I can ride. Pffft. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My cousin Nettie said she wanted a saddle for sure. Joyce wanted the saddle so I get the horse without the saddle. I am riding bareback now. Just getting on the horse without looking like a utter complete idiot was worth an Oscar in my book. But I did it - somehow. So off we rode for a while through some really dry grass and not hardly any trees. Bear in mind that it was about 104 degrees out. Ok it was 95 but it was <b>HOT</b>. So after about an hour or so we were really feeling it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We stopped to figure out what we were going to do next. We knew we were going to the demolition derby that evening but should be go back now or what. We were really excited about going to see the cars bang up against each other. It was the most excitement the town had seen since the 4th of July parade. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well as luck would have it there was a clump of trees not too far away. But being the know-nothing kids that we were, we were talking in the middle of field in the hot sun. Well my horse had had enough of this. He saw that shade and decided to make a line straight for that shade. Problem was he didn't bother to tell me about his plans. I was already leaning to one side talking with my cousin when off the horse went. Well, then off I went. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I remember seeing the ground get bigger and bigger. Just like in the cartoons. I put my hand out to break my fall and didn't know any better to just bounce and roll with it, but instead tried to be strong and just land my feet. I ended up landing on my hand which then broke my arm and then my face met the ground with force. I ended up with a mouth full of dirt and a pretty good cut on my lip from my braces. Can we say ouch and not very lady like!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I get myself up, embarrassed as all heck and realize my arm doesn't work. Joyce took me back to my Aunt's house where we figured it's time to see the doctor. But the regular doctor was out of town that weekend, of course, it's my luck. Therefore, I had to go to the retired doctor instead. Ol' Doc Thompson. The same doctor that delivered my dad.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bear in mind that I have heard story after story from my own father along with my uncle about Ol' Doc Thompson. How he used to scare all the kids with stories and threatening them with the skeleton in the closet if they didn't behave. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So off we go to Doc Thompson's house. He is 84 years old at this point. As we went over to his house we were met by his wife with such a warm smile that I didn't even notice my arm. Then Doc Thompson came out and said "So this is Charcoal Eddie's daughter." My dad's name is Charles Edward - you get the drift. He was always dirty as a kid. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are ushered into this office that I imagine saw many a patient (including my dad and all his friends at one time or another) and I sit there. He examines my arm, and does the all encompassing "Hmmmm" and "well, let's see what we have here" and more of the "hmmmmmm". He actually looked at me over his glasses. I felt like I was in an episode of Little House on the Prairie.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don't have a broken arm but torn ligaments. It still needs a cast so he gets the plaster ready for the cast. But here's the deal. He is 84 years old. He <i>moves</i> like an 84 year old. One speed - <b>SLOW</b>. When I inquired how long this would take to get the cast he informed me that if I argued any more he would bring out his skeleton he had in the closet. My mouth was hanging open that he actually thought that would work. But evidently it did since I pretty much kept quiet from then on. I did chuckle to myself from time to time that he actually had a skeleton in the closet just like my dad said he did. Heh heh. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now it's all done and we are leaving. It was daylight when we walked in and it was evening when we walked out - - - <b>three hours later!</b> We missed the demolition derby too. I was so bummed about that. But hey I had a cast to show for it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Calling Mom and Dad was another story though. I let my Aunt do that one. That's what adults do. Right?! </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-86023182318251911312014-04-24T18:38:00.000-07:002014-04-24T18:39:29.068-07:00Breezeway Bar and Grill<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What can I say about this? Well I was young and single. I was not in my right mind. That's my story and I think I will stick to it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was living in a small apartment complex. Only 40 units total. It had 5 buildings with 8 apartments per each building. I was in an upstairs apartment (facing west YUK!!! Can we say HOT!!!!) There was a washer/dryer for each building located on the second floor. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Under the Washer/Dryer room was a breezeway with stairs on either side. I think you can see where I am going here. The apartments were average size and the average configuration. Pretty boxy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had a made friends with another wild and crazy and single woman living diagonally from me. My friend to this day Krista. We would do almost everything together. We would cook meals together, go out on the town together, watch movies (Toe Pick!!) together. We were just really good friends. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well it was basically the single building. All of us were single in that building. So we had eight apartments that really liked to party. So one neighbor would pick up a case of beer, another neighbor would cook the vegetable, I would bake the dessert, we would all pitch in for the meat portion and Krista would blend the drinks. Strawberry Daiquiris anyone? Margarita? What ever your pleasure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well we also had a dart board and we hung it outside in the breezeway. So we would gather in the breezeway, eat dinner, drink those marvelous drinks, and play darts and visit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to tell you that the summer evenings in Sacramento area are awesome. After a really hot day of anywhere from 95 to 105 degrees it will cool off to the mid 70's. Really nice delta breeze would come up from the San Francisco bay area as the sun sets. Really, really nice. Great for walks in the evenings. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well we would gather outside and enjoy each others' company. But on occasion it would get a bit out of hand. Thank goodness were all home and didn't drive. That probably added to the excess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One night we were have a few too many cocktails and it was getting a bit boisterous. I still to this day don't know how this happened but I had a headache and went upstairs to lay down for a nap. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lesson to be learned here is LOCK YOUR DOOR! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I didn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My so called friend, Krista came up to check on me. I was passed out on the sofa which was right by the front door. Krista, having taste tested many of her own concoctions, thought it would be funny to put a dab of shaving creme on my forehead. Well I didn't budge so she took a feather and tickled me until I woke up. And sure as, well you know what, I touched my forehead and thinking it was whipped creme tasted it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">EWWWEEEE. It was peppermint shaving creme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By this time ALL of my neighbors were watching and laughing their you know what's off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I realized what was up I decided on retaliation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's just say that it looked like it had snowed when were done. There were empty cans of shaving creme everywhere and no one had anymore. It looked like something out of The Great Race with Tony Curtis and that famous pie fight they had in that movie. We were all covered in shaving creme and we were slipping and sliding everywhere. All the while laughing and behaving like . . . well like . . . like children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lord it was fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Henceforth, from that night on it was called the <b><i>Breezeway Bar and Grill</i></b>. </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-56596939655529902422014-04-23T10:09:00.002-07:002014-04-23T10:09:21.485-07:00New Style<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am still searching for a nice style that suits my blog here. I thought this will be good for Spring and Summer. So let's go with this one for while. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let me know how you feel about it. Do you like it? Not like it? Don't care either way? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have a great day!</span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-38925776323335514182014-04-22T13:56:00.001-07:002014-04-22T13:56:05.055-07:00What's with the buzzing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is
a gorgeous night out the other night. I decided to take a walk. Actually I
needed to get new light bulbs for my front porch. They have been out for
over a week and I have been procrastinating in getting more. So I decided to
walk to Lowe's since it's only a couple of blocks away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They were closed
so I then decided to go for a long walk around the neighborhood. It was
really nice. Lot so folks walking their dogs and basically doing he
same thing as I was doing. Enjoying the night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the entire time this
bleeping helicopter was buzzing. Going around and around. Ok I know they
are just doing their job. They are trying to assist officers on the
ground in apprehending a criminal of some kind. Usually they have their
light on and actively searching when engaged in this activity. But they
did not have their light on and were doing really wide circles very low.
Go figure. 20 minutes later they are still buzzing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now I am starting
to get a bit nervous. Should I go straight home and close the windows
and hunker down? Should I throw caution to the wind and say up yours I
am going to take a walk no matter what. Should I be looking in all the
bushes and making sure no one is </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">around that may look suspicious? Well I decided to go with the "up yours" scenario. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDwIAOopZnc1Y1j5ZZ3PgYn7JNnhX6RCW3Yc9tjspMxPNNVGg1uRs3DB0iCZHpQKUpoNy8tjdl9aula6yJYo-86wcZRhSTWfH6o0mzsjWlzzaGl9PTrFv9_bnEZraNKxqQ-g3HfdS57A/s1600/20140417_212238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDwIAOopZnc1Y1j5ZZ3PgYn7JNnhX6RCW3Yc9tjspMxPNNVGg1uRs3DB0iCZHpQKUpoNy8tjdl9aula6yJYo-86wcZRhSTWfH6o0mzsjWlzzaGl9PTrFv9_bnEZraNKxqQ-g3HfdS57A/s1600/20140417_212238.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So here is what I was looking at when I decided this. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOEXJsLqsPcKc_AAOeg61dT69dvk7xeap7tfq-2jlFJw6d0t5etLgI1Fj3nDufd0i-gj7Kd6xCDfqb2PxjIW_4ASDUDb2OiFsEXeKclqb_GLhhecx6ECofs7-qc-dsFoMSU1oQzCKZ9M/s1600/20140417_212253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOEXJsLqsPcKc_AAOeg61dT69dvk7xeap7tfq-2jlFJw6d0t5etLgI1Fj3nDufd0i-gj7Kd6xCDfqb2PxjIW_4ASDUDb2OiFsEXeKclqb_GLhhecx6ECofs7-qc-dsFoMSU1oQzCKZ9M/s1600/20140417_212253.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And this.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wtbo-w13o7hKbQbYiDh02Tm-HWDzBr5RdPBFVnggNy47Rs7nmzk3525oziMJNc8IihPogFwoqcOE5p4bWOCa-40TMLSZf4dkHGjGJWfUfTH-D7aDiOzqiwkXoycdxEBVWvNNOVoSy9U/s1600/20140417_212256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9kHNzgqA7KXuLij_k1h7jYdmFSbCq3qX0n9nrszrJglDVZHoWSjCn1xT_DZEXMCiSCATiS2B9YrfdIWofn7FKg-8kxBCIqau1P4mxImsG2LxL2Yuym77ndNoZR6NKSHaLjLh7Wz-6Jw/s1600/20140417_212426.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And this.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wtbo-w13o7hKbQbYiDh02Tm-HWDzBr5RdPBFVnggNy47Rs7nmzk3525oziMJNc8IihPogFwoqcOE5p4bWOCa-40TMLSZf4dkHGjGJWfUfTH-D7aDiOzqiwkXoycdxEBVWvNNOVoSy9U/s1600/20140417_212256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wtbo-w13o7hKbQbYiDh02Tm-HWDzBr5RdPBFVnggNy47Rs7nmzk3525oziMJNc8IihPogFwoqcOE5p4bWOCa-40TMLSZf4dkHGjGJWfUfTH-D7aDiOzqiwkXoycdxEBVWvNNOVoSy9U/s1600/20140417_212256.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not a car in sight. No one other than the couple I saw walking their dog. I still don't know what was up. But I kept walking and it felt great to get out and stretch my legs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Criminals beware I am walking.</span><br />
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bVm8MTWXJHc%2FU1C9g7n23ZI%2FAAAAAAAACg0%2FlPHRQW5yDJ8%2Fs1600%2F20140417_212256.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wtbo-w13o7hKbQbYiDh02Tm-HWDzBr5RdPBFVnggNy47Rs7nmzk3525oziMJNc8IihPogFwoqcOE5p4bWOCa-40TMLSZf4dkHGjGJWfUfTH-D7aDiOzqiwkXoycdxEBVWvNNOVoSy9U/s1600/20140417_212256.jpg" -->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727620802009492513.post-3565166911868443762014-04-20T20:28:00.000-07:002014-04-20T20:28:04.288-07:00Happy Easter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Easter everyone!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a time for great weather (at least here anyway) which then makes for great easter egg hunts. When I was younger I was the master at finding the easter eggs. I loved to find all the eggs. It was my own inner detective working on coming out. I would look under the benches, in the plants, under and in the BBQ. My Dad had to get creative in hiding them. Then came the day that I didn't find them all. He was really clever. He would have to even outsmart himself. Because that year in June we found the last easter egg. Yuk!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH58FBi-x4o-XqIQ4YpGftMT68I9b_BziMLwoGpQH7lu6NuikERkVC-QI-7XKg0QsYiX7fmTE9mPMKmEv3xT76wgMQNM_7oFKyrDCG1CYY4xsfXumGcFIB82ucV5g8rkWh91uH8AMer94/s1600/SLD0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH58FBi-x4o-XqIQ4YpGftMT68I9b_BziMLwoGpQH7lu6NuikERkVC-QI-7XKg0QsYiX7fmTE9mPMKmEv3xT76wgMQNM_7oFKyrDCG1CYY4xsfXumGcFIB82ucV5g8rkWh91uH8AMer94/s1600/SLD0020.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My mother loved easter because she got to make a huge batch of egg salad. She eats it like dip. In no time it's gone. Even to this day I make egg salad and I have to hide a portion so I have some for my sandwich.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Warning - - - bit serious. I am hesitant in sharing this area but since it's my What's Up this is what's up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But then there is the reason for Easter. Since I live here in CA you can make a claim that we are not just christian here. There are sizable Jewish, Muslim, and other non-Christian communities here. But for my family we would go to the high holy days with Easter being one of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now just for some background, I have been out of going to church for quite some time. We had a falling out, you could say. (Definitely a story for another time.) But I have been missing a family with which to worship corporately. That's a fancy way of saying I miss my church family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I really didn't want to go back to my old church. After all you really can't go home again. It's NEVER the same. So I decided to go church shopping. I found a really big church not too far from where I live that is really out in the country. It is really a big, shiny, fancy, Non-Denominational church. I have always been in small neighborhood churches of about 100 or so and where members volunteer to bring some sort of goodie for social hour after the main service. So i thought what the heck, go for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This church was VERY different. But I wanted different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I pulled up in front the police were directing traffic on the road. I thought it was because of Easter services were so big. I missed the first one and was attending the later one thinking it wouldn't be as full since it would be closer to meal time. I drove into the parking lot I basically went with the flow. I finally find a place to park and follow the crowd in. Up a lot of stairs as it's really hilly there. I love Easter because everyone dresses up. I love seeing little girls in dresses and Easter hats. Mom's all dressed in the best. Young men in button down shirts and slacks. Some even had a tie on. Whew. I loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then I get in and it was a bit overwhelming. I bit like a theater and they called it that as well. The worship area holds 1,423 people. I was shocked. But I wanted different and here I am. I forge ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I find a place to sit. It's just like being in a theater. This is different but kind of cool. I see a stage with instruments and 2 screens in the air. I start having the feeling that I used to get at concerts. I am excited and starting to get pumped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Euqp-R6wdcKR0sZsyLHSvWsjpLT8Bi416QvwCoSF0TkUmBZ7HuSiSYT6KTFJr-93eOr6RncRGwdqf4Z1A8qzKvZjvKYMDoWb6j75FDAdyGVZGoyWm6Fvq-7TYJudQiCXE-he0WBfXI/s1600/20140420_105525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Euqp-R6wdcKR0sZsyLHSvWsjpLT8Bi416QvwCoSF0TkUmBZ7HuSiSYT6KTFJr-93eOr6RncRGwdqf4Z1A8qzKvZjvKYMDoWb6j75FDAdyGVZGoyWm6Fvq-7TYJudQiCXE-he0WBfXI/s1600/20140420_105525.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then came the countdown to beginning. It starts with 5 minutes and you can feel the anticipation. This is going to be cool. The band starts playing the first of three songs. None of which I have heard before but those around me had an were singing along. The words were flashed on the screens. These were really nice songs that were catchy and praise worthy. But what I was really struck by was the presentation. It was like going to a rock concert. I really am trying to keep an open mind but at this point was analyzing what is lacking that this type of stimulus is needed to present the Word. Then I found myself being sucked in. I really really like it. It was stimulating to the senses with the light show and band, upbeat words of welcome and then a very low-key communion and offertory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then came the sermon. The message. The most important part. What I was waiting for. What kind of message does this church provide? I wanted to know. The Senior Pastor came out in jeans, sneakers, and something of what I would call an Aloha button down shirt. I get that he didn't want to be pretentious. I get that he wanted for everyone to feel comfortable and that it is our intentions that matter not the manner of dress. But I also believe that there is that one day you need to show your respect. Respect for yourself and others. I believe that this is that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I also have to say that his message was clear and entertaining and current. He used real world examples that applied to his audience. I enjoyed his message.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I really had a good time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The only thing I can say is that when the service was over most everyone left. There wasn't of a social stand around and talk part. But then they were there for the message. That is the only thing I see as lacking for me. I really need that social interaction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since I am church shopping I will be checking out a Presbyterian church next week and we will see how that goes. Until then I bask in the glory of this message.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks for being there all of you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Easter!!! </span>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783766315952720601noreply@blogger.com0