tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76814272497192552362024-03-14T11:03:53.755-07:00Eclectic Ecstasy<i>This is not your momma's blog...</i>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-5214972811976534132013-07-17T10:52:00.000-07:002013-07-17T10:53:28.820-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Blissful Reunion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAs5ucGhpGfQKbX-ZUVvsggsxlEU2Th6kFiidO44LaCUmSIykPKF4iffRcRPd1PqDUJedEwGuCeP9Rztf7tn6nVJ0IYq8roXmtcA0SvS30OPKg3Oof5wb6xj14rkTVoZlKCOP26p4uJLq/s1600/_MG_6075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAs5ucGhpGfQKbX-ZUVvsggsxlEU2Th6kFiidO44LaCUmSIykPKF4iffRcRPd1PqDUJedEwGuCeP9Rztf7tn6nVJ0IYq8roXmtcA0SvS30OPKg3Oof5wb6xj14rkTVoZlKCOP26p4uJLq/s400/_MG_6075.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband, children, grandchildren and I--all in the same place for the first time in over six years.(<i>photo courtesy of Kanika Clavejo</i>)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-23258560184592021052013-04-03T10:41:00.001-07:002013-04-03T12:39:16.491-07:00Wordless Wednesday - My Happy Orange Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIfog_St_3ul7AmwFP8bbFdAjZgBERW8ufHyQswwNeD9gtP_KwpJb-ESU6uuDdpOUc1pxad8C9mc_2jSBwn6PRUuNygeTdzvM-FQtcWw58_JKznIDi7ADkKl0YmJsIjFGe_XvSpi02ANh/s1600/orangetree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIfog_St_3ul7AmwFP8bbFdAjZgBERW8ufHyQswwNeD9gtP_KwpJb-ESU6uuDdpOUc1pxad8C9mc_2jSBwn6PRUuNygeTdzvM-FQtcWw58_JKznIDi7ADkKl0YmJsIjFGe_XvSpi02ANh/s640/orangetree.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-77663316677606373772013-03-28T16:45:00.003-07:002013-04-03T12:38:05.078-07:00Dipping a Toe Into the Shallow EndI am trying to ease myself back into blogging and I have so much to share that I find myself mentally reviewing what and how much I want to share first without vomitblogging all of it out into one post. Some of the topics that I plan to address eventually are:<br />
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<ul>
<li>my adventures as a color guard instructor</li>
<li>my adventures as a color guard performer (yes they are two separate things)</li>
<li>the state of my garden</li>
<li>new social media outlets that I now try to navigate</li>
<li>family and pet updates</li>
<li>my new role providing leadership support to women around the world</li>
<li>some general philosophic observations</li>
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Since chronologically, most of the things listed are intertwined on my timeline, I will begin with my musings as a color guard instructor.</div>
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Two years ago, before I went on blog hiatus, I was teaching color guard and winter guard to a group comprised of students from two high schools. One of the schools was a recently-opened, new high school and as a result, the band-related performing arts programs were still sorting through some red tape and therefore remained combined for three years. Yes, THREE years. Bureaucracy is alive and well at the scholastic level, and I will address that very fact multiple times for emphasis of a variety of reasons in multiple posts. </div>
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But I digress; last school year(2011-2012), the school band programs were finally separated and I had the great fortune of remaining with the older more established school. It meant that logistical and support processes were already in place and in general, I did not have the hassle or start up cost for a new program. Adding to that benefit was the new teacher who was hired at the old school. He and I had forged a great professional relationship during his teaching internship at that very school. It has been truly wonderful working with someone I respect professionally; who also was new, fresh and had innovative ideas for making a successful band program.</div>
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At the time of his installation, I also became an official employee of the school district as the band(teacher) assistant. This served to minimize the bureaucratic issues somewhat, although some new and even more frustrating issues arose as a result. I am now in my second year as band assistant and surprisingly, this year has been more challenging than the first.</div>
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At the time of the split, what was formerly a band of approximately 100 students became two bands of 90 students and 40 students, respectively (with the addition of incoming freshman accounting for the math incongruence of those numbers). Surprisingly, the larger number of students attended the new school, following the split. So I found myself literally with no color guard to teach, doh! Some fast recruiting efforts brought me four color guard students for the Fall marching season. We made that work, and as they were all rookies, we set expectations appropriately and had a fun and challenging season. </div>
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Winter guard ramped up and we added a fifth member to the team, however the configuration of five only included two of the original four. Additionally, I found myself in the position of being the only instructor for the first time since I began teaching color guard. I was always a member of a staff that consisted of between two and four instructors during the previous seasons. I fully felt the weight of being responsible for all aspects of managing the team. For this reason, having a small team proved to be beneficial to me as a solo instructor. The skill set of those five logically indicated that they compete in the novice category for winter guard. The novice category contained the largest number of competitive groups and my little group of five finished in the middle of the pack at championships. Knowing that they virtually had no skills and experience at the beginning, I considered that a successful season. </div>
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I will now jump ahead to the current school year (2012-2013). The Fall marching band program included seven color guard students with three of those having experience from the previous year. I wisely brought in a very talented instructor to share design and teaching duties. Our marching season was wrought with new complications. We met the challenges--succeeding with some and failing with others. Valuable lessons were learned(you can teach an old dog new tricks,and I am a testament to that very thing). </div>
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We are now finishing up our winter guard season, with Championships scheduled just over one week from now. Our winter team consists of eight students, who should have been placed categorically in the novice division again, however, they have worked hard and strove to pursue a higher level of skill and execution, and that led us to enter them in the next category--the Intermediate Division. with four competitions behind them, they have placed consistently, and we count it as a success that they have never finished in last place. We head into Championships with realistic anticipation, knowing that they have already surpassed all initial expectations. We are very proud of their efforts and know that we have witnessed something extraordinary by being privileged to instruct eight young dedicated and talented students. Unfortunately for us, four of them are seniors. Thus, our rebuilding years for the color guard and winter guard teams will still be in progress for the next few years until we have a few more years of incoming freshman to help fill out the ranks and allow them successive years to build skill and experience.</div>
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I wanted to set this stage as background for future posts on my trials and tribulations as an instructor and I may back track and tell a few related stories that I find compelling. So for now, I have given you perspective and a quick and dirty timeline. I will fill in most of the holes later, and I hope my stories delight you as much as I in my telling of them.</div>
NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-79236726907231585042013-03-22T14:57:00.001-07:002013-03-22T14:57:48.888-07:00I Am Back and Ready to RideHas it really been two years since I last blogged here? I lost my blogging mojo back then and just could not find the drive to get back to it. I did, however, miss it and now I finally feel the desire once again. Much has changed; and some things--not at all. I will be posting about all of it, eventually. I am involved in some exciting new activities and I want to share much of it with you.<br />
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I will be brief for now, just to kick-start this space back into the thriving craziness that embodies my thoughts, feelings, wishes, desires, compulsions--you get the idea. <br />
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I have so much I want to share--both joys and sorrows, though the sorrows will be few; as I do not dwell for long in the land of darkness, I only occasionally pass through it and acknowledge it briefly. I am trying to do some good things in the world--be a good listener/leader/follower; a good wife/mother/sister/friend. I am trying new things, re-trying old things, taking risks, seeking enlightenment and generally, enjoying life. I hope you are too and that something here may occasionally strike a note of concordance. And if not, hopefully you will just be entertained. <br />
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Anyway, I will ask forgiveness for my delinquency and move forward with hope and the challenge to convey that which compels me at any given time--read at your own risk. I welcome comments and contradicting opinions, but if you troll me, then you will be booted back under the bridge.<br />
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Cheers to a new stream of consciousness to be published here!<br />
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NeColeNeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-19076417511324427402011-02-16T07:41:00.000-08:002011-02-16T07:41:24.062-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Smile Pretty for the Camera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr86bz5LTHT-YKpjeibecDovLdXgmTtdLUbUfkaXMcpl2sU1oVhqwjQXna0Kq30Rv2Gc3c-1_JVdj-GpDnvgdBj67ljzYfiqQOIXann-PqjNC3C0aREJo1698i-b8R-z35Ya3DcL5A925n/s1600/sarahsmile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr86bz5LTHT-YKpjeibecDovLdXgmTtdLUbUfkaXMcpl2sU1oVhqwjQXna0Kq30Rv2Gc3c-1_JVdj-GpDnvgdBj67ljzYfiqQOIXann-PqjNC3C0aREJo1698i-b8R-z35Ya3DcL5A925n/s400/sarahsmile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When you're smilin', when you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you...</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-34283196383175656902011-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:002011-02-01T12:00:18.393-08:00Random Tuesday Thoughts - Snowpocalypse (NIMBY)Here we are yet again. Grab your coffee and throw a blanket over your knees, especially if you are currently in blizzard land. It seems the heartland is being slammed by mother nature in what my buddy <a href="http://www.avitable.com/">Avitable</a> describes as Snowlocaust. However, at my house it is 60 degrees and sunny. Oh, and I think the wind is supposed to blow. Sometime. Today. Maybe. Lalalalala (I think I just heard a telepathic collective "SHUT UP" from my family members who live in Oklahoma)<br />
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I have pledged my loyalty to<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/"> Keely</a>. She leads us through the valley of random, and I fear no evil, because her zombie-thwarting skills are tops. Click on the button below to read about her latest <strike>zombiequest</strike> adventures at BlissDom.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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February snuck up on me, how about you? Oh, you are organized and have a good grip on reality? How's that working for ya? Wow, did that sound sarcastic? Sorry, I'm actively <strike>torturing myself</strike> trying to lose a few pounds and the first few days make me <strike>testy punchy stabby</strike> edgy.<br />
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This weekend I made mango bread. It was pretty good and I used this recipe: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chinkys-Mango-Bread/Detail.aspx">Chinky's Mango Bread</a> except I didn't add the raisins, and I used mango from a jar. Still, it turned out well and my husband and kid <strike>and the dog and I</strike> ate two loaves in two days.<br />
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Egypt--hmmmmmm.<br />
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I saw a great documentary about the first notable deaf major league baseball player <a href="http://dummyhoy.com/">Dummy Hoy</a>. Don't go all politically correct on me about the inappropriateness of calling a deaf person "dummy". He lived in a different era, and that is the name that he himself chose to use. His story is fascinating even if you aren't a big sports fan.<br />
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Hubs, Kisa and I watched "The Social Network" last night. It was good and I can see why it is up for some awards. We have Temple Grandin on deck for the next viewing. I try to see the various award-nominated movies each year.<br />
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I do the Twitter thang and I love how restaurants seem to know that I <strike>am a glutton</strike> love food. So they follow me. And, I usually follow them back. Black Bear Diner in Sacramento is the latest of my food groupies, so on Sunday, when a friend invited Hubby and I to dine there, I was eager to check it out. I'll put my stamp on the place for good food, good prices and great service. In fact, the services was so great, that they let us sit undisturbed and immersed in conversation for twenty minutes after they closed. It was then that I happened to notice the restaurant was empty and some of the waitresses were sitting in a back booth counting their tips. Doh! The staff was very gracious as we paid and scooted out the door. (Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any manner by Black Bear Diner. I'm sure they don't even know I write a blog).<br />
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Well peeps, I gots stuffs to do. To all my homeys is the snow zone, <strike>eat lots of oreos and drink lots of wine</strike> stay warm and safe.NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-70866438155179215002011-01-26T10:26:00.000-08:002011-01-26T10:26:46.779-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Fun Family Fotos<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlo6pxwRaxS37V0xbguYWgWTPe8ajp4zAF4nnbl9M6vnOawLasvnbjqioAdzjF-ty83BxgjxWcXw_zBe88ECHuYwdjGLb5gOeRMVvc5bkMJAtMyYz_DNSiHSTCWjy_IuKS2QfcooPgyda/s1600/puffyxmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlo6pxwRaxS37V0xbguYWgWTPe8ajp4zAF4nnbl9M6vnOawLasvnbjqioAdzjF-ty83BxgjxWcXw_zBe88ECHuYwdjGLb5gOeRMVvc5bkMJAtMyYz_DNSiHSTCWjy_IuKS2QfcooPgyda/s400/puffyxmas.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">nuff said</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV61oXThb5Ck36vyKgdmbbeiZF-1xUNXAWS0aQJzlNfhDfmja3767SE9TaSugHgUOan_Ty5Db8TZHv4z4sTBESWugOD7pL3H4Oo2C5A5VwzoXU2pv2CxxiEKQnxAwui-FCCdf17gmMhHpx/s1600/gameface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV61oXThb5Ck36vyKgdmbbeiZF-1xUNXAWS0aQJzlNfhDfmja3767SE9TaSugHgUOan_Ty5Db8TZHv4z4sTBESWugOD7pL3H4Oo2C5A5VwzoXU2pv2CxxiEKQnxAwui-FCCdf17gmMhHpx/s400/gameface.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">in our family, this is known as game face</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEiU28IaXpmmAP3ktZldoySaThCsyXrW_SPcxyWg9vL1iMss3g39IxLgnrmKbLZ3ABxYjZ4LkVkLdCjgkDKG5fy-YsNWxicg3GhYhkN743m3gRyzuJBwDkPw0YMmESKyKk3gZ0dZ_ELAb/s1600/akka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEiU28IaXpmmAP3ktZldoySaThCsyXrW_SPcxyWg9vL1iMss3g39IxLgnrmKbLZ3ABxYjZ4LkVkLdCjgkDKG5fy-YsNWxicg3GhYhkN743m3gRyzuJBwDkPw0YMmESKyKk3gZ0dZ_ELAb/s400/akka.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">proof that the nut doesn't fall far from the tree </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEiU28IaXpmmAP3ktZldoySaThCsyXrW_SPcxyWg9vL1iMss3g39IxLgnrmKbLZ3ABxYjZ4LkVkLdCjgkDKG5fy-YsNWxicg3GhYhkN743m3gRyzuJBwDkPw0YMmESKyKk3gZ0dZ_ELAb/s1600/akka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-74421535837933064382011-01-19T01:00:00.000-08:002011-01-19T01:00:05.682-08:00Wordless Wednesday - What Does Your Dog Taste Like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9rfPI00Z_3Rx0yB7yGlOQTyIcLeV7fWLXybC46GBlb5XvFTEG1YT5RjpqVphYoHY_TdUh1rgYMtFKTmZvJy5DA8w7_pbo2hyphenhyphengueDoc7Y5xZgWATXF2r2hio2cY7NmStbRgFjddcCJqrb/s1600/wwksa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9rfPI00Z_3Rx0yB7yGlOQTyIcLeV7fWLXybC46GBlb5XvFTEG1YT5RjpqVphYoHY_TdUh1rgYMtFKTmZvJy5DA8w7_pbo2hyphenhyphengueDoc7Y5xZgWATXF2r2hio2cY7NmStbRgFjddcCJqrb/s400/wwksa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't know why my kid always has her tongue out in pictures. Teenagers--sheesh!</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-47745087773222094842011-01-18T11:03:00.000-08:002011-01-18T21:52:00.528-08:00Random Tuesday Thoughts - SchizorandomKeely and world domination. I should be so lucky to be one of her minions. If you want to worship at the cult of Keely go <a href="http://www.theunmom.com/">here</a> or click the button to be whisked magically away. It will make you younger and thinner...and prettier (would I lie?). <br />
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<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Well, well, well, here it is Tuesday--again. Every week like clockwork. Dang punctual if you ask me. For me, Tuesday means <strike>torturing</strike> teaching teenagers at winterguard rehearsal. Someone has to so it might as well be me.<br />
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My oranges are just about ready. They are still slightly too tart for my taste, but soon orangeapalooza in my backyard! Oranges are my all time favorite food (sorry chocolate, I love you but not quite as much).<br />
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Last Saturday, I put my kid on a plane back to the heartland to start her freshman spring semester. She had a fantastic fall and spring looks promising! My Hubby's buddy Bob arrived the same day. Bob is a world-traveling geocache <strike>addict</strike> expert. They are off <strike>boozing and gambling in Reno</strike> discovering geocaches as we speak. <br />
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Confession time--I have some <strike>quirky and weird</strike> unique ideas and opinions. For example, I really don't like watching videos online. I really really don't. I'd much rather read a news story or tutorial than listen and watch someone present the information in a video. I find I'm not alone in this--my husband is the same way. If I want to watch a video, then I have my TV. I guess that means I'm <strike>old and crotchety</strike> not embracing technology as much as others. DON'T JUDGE ME!<br />
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I also have <strike>an addiction to</strike> a little thing for the strike through code.<br />
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Regis is retiring. I'm going to miss him.<br />
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Oh the sun is shining! I've barely seen it in over a week. We have had lots of fog here. I'm going outside to play in the garden and enjoy it while I can. Later taters!NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-45741205262741211992011-01-04T11:12:00.000-08:002011-01-07T12:31:20.133-08:00Random Tuesday Thoughts - Speaking of Which<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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First things first. Gotta give props, click on <a href="http://www.theunmom.com/the-un-mom/2011/1/4/where-are-my-hover-shoes-dammit-random-tuesday-thoughts.html">Keely's</a> fugly button above (her description, not mine) and check out her randomness. It's randomly random aka awesomely awesome!<br />
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So....(sheepish side step to the right) how you doin? Me, well I could be here all day if I start that business. But anyway...<br />
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Kids, school, colorguard, holidays, blah, blah, blah. Speaking of colorguard, we are officially up and running with our winterguard season. Our show is going a different direction from previous years. The past two years have been slow, balladish (I made up that word) and poignant. This year, I wanted to change it up, so we are going with an up-tempo, <strike>more butch</strike> industrial/techno show so that we don't get pigeon-holed into one set style. I think it's a good way to keep it interesting and teach my guardie youngsters to embrace change. I am blessed to have my daughter home from college for another ten days, to help design and teach the show. Speaking of which...<br />
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My kid had a banner first semester of college. She managed to get all A's and a B, while maintaining a rigorous schedule as part of the OU Pride Colorguard. She's had a whirlwind break, first flying home then flying back to go to the Fiesta Bowl, and today she flies home again then flies back and starts spring semester in a few weeks. I am so incredibly proud of her, and to boot, she wrote me <a href="http://imasooner.blogspot.com/2010/11/dear-mom.html">the sweetest letter</a> a few months ago. I can't ask for more, speaking of which...<br />
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She is the third of my four children. They are all in various states of the education process. They are all happy, healthy and succeeding in their academic pursuits. I am incredibly proud of all of them, I am so very<br />
blessed. Speaking of which...<br />
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My husband and I just celebrated six wonderful years of marriage. Nine plus years of this segment of the relationship and thirty-five years of being soul-mates. If you do the math, yes, we were eleven when he sent me the note in world studies class and I circled yes. We've only been coupled just over eleven of those years--collectively. But we do have an enduring love that has lasted all thirty-five years. In total, it's a cool story which he thinks we should peddle to Lifetime. He is full of ideas, speaking of which...<br />
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He writes a <a href="http://introspectiveextrovert.blogspot.com/">blog</a>! It is frank, often humorous, insightful, and politically incorrect. Now, he and I and two of our kids write blogs. The dog will probably soon be writing one too. Speaking of which...<br />
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Sarah the dog is happy and healthy. For a diabetic dog, she has beat all the projections. Our vet is amazed that she isn't blind, but so far, her eyesight seems great. Except...a few weeks ago, during the lunar eclipse, she decided to chase a cat...that turned out to be a skunk. Maybe the eyesight ain't so great, hmmmmm. I was awakened by my frantic husband to assist with the de-skunking. It was not fun for us or for her. Somehow, I suspect she didn't learn to leave skunks alone. We are all being more diligent about when and where she is off-leash. Speaking of which...<br />
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That's all the random I can spare today. I must dive head-first into my task list. Toodles!NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-92100742202652616332010-11-10T06:50:00.000-08:002010-11-10T06:50:31.899-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8idhU8cvCB7lrCGQd3CIg-NV2TZ3_KwXHosLFx1kK7FZD_pT-BIUQSiRqCWsZwsF982YUmUO6SlhnWKkdeqEIEtr4MkZIyzGi9nzvdNsL-KM5Za8jAethaS1wVpOxuPnUb0MWkbTUf7GP/s1600/K2C+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8idhU8cvCB7lrCGQd3CIg-NV2TZ3_KwXHosLFx1kK7FZD_pT-BIUQSiRqCWsZwsF982YUmUO6SlhnWKkdeqEIEtr4MkZIyzGi9nzvdNsL-KM5Za8jAethaS1wVpOxuPnUb0MWkbTUf7GP/s400/K2C+046.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My grandmother holding my granddaughter </div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-54966027923696496322010-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:002010-10-27T09:50:01.023-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Blast From The Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXnzMQz0zu5U_Ju1geXI7qy6uv1BItaP5j5cz6qsHGWnbnUmyKRRIlKu_6NT2IdFfCf7cpQPZVjSxwk2iNn859quxslsvM6GHdbt1XuWO3eTb3LZFVqtK1F8zB2Qe-QjghNR-Pp3CAys3/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXnzMQz0zu5U_Ju1geXI7qy6uv1BItaP5j5cz6qsHGWnbnUmyKRRIlKu_6NT2IdFfCf7cpQPZVjSxwk2iNn859quxslsvM6GHdbt1XuWO3eTb3LZFVqtK1F8zB2Qe-QjghNR-Pp3CAys3/s400/037.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Kindergarten teacher now reads stories at the library every Wednesday to a group of preschoolers that includes my granddaughter (I'm 45--do the math lol).</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-5925873489006111332010-10-13T09:25:00.000-07:002010-10-13T09:25:19.063-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Confirmation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuif1RhyZExJ5ItSJUiCMQsSlVXjKN19Q4_YNPcNXWN-mlYcwEfK3lpDtMnUhdIHTEFgLoyfVT6X6aRs3rggBtMVVJgqE5AL-uy04-fwEEIpVlhu6dip1q9UqSOjzkAkl_IzdDaAIBu0sV/s1600/badass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuif1RhyZExJ5ItSJUiCMQsSlVXjKN19Q4_YNPcNXWN-mlYcwEfK3lpDtMnUhdIHTEFgLoyfVT6X6aRs3rggBtMVVJgqE5AL-uy04-fwEEIpVlhu6dip1q9UqSOjzkAkl_IzdDaAIBu0sV/s400/badass.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I <strike>shamelessly stole</strike> borrowed this image from a blog that I read called <a href="http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/">Neurotic Physiology</a> at <a href="http://scientopia.org/blogs/">Scientopia.org </a>(In case you had any doubts about how much of a nerd I really am)</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-20912795889448941322010-09-15T04:48:00.000-07:002010-09-15T04:50:19.603-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Got Carrots?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUV527kcD4iMW87d8x7mCLytj025yuPtHAnDt3JiczIoNa-ZbistARPbaDJ6eATnvP0dr90G2sUEmWksKuehKjwTje7ttyB_qHuWdvrgt_p88M8CiV5OQOITK8tybpLDXHwwDtd5xO3e0/s1600/killercarrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUV527kcD4iMW87d8x7mCLytj025yuPtHAnDt3JiczIoNa-ZbistARPbaDJ6eATnvP0dr90G2sUEmWksKuehKjwTje7ttyB_qHuWdvrgt_p88M8CiV5OQOITK8tybpLDXHwwDtd5xO3e0/s400/killercarrots.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I need to buy stock in ranch dip</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(WWBBD - What Would Bugs Bunny Do?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-68177703717424552262010-09-08T10:53:00.000-07:002010-09-08T10:56:17.580-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Boomer Sooner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70KKG8MNeL7kpT0JGDBxYoSdr8Y699je7rdKP5dra5KN4NXpRpMjNqTBYGNCjMG6EbpjTIlqZFiMT6zDHYq4x2P2t1qDWPZHgphqrh1NSUr2zXoDxOTiiDIdYuWCAMCQBzGLs7rzX8Pqa/s1600/Boomer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70KKG8MNeL7kpT0JGDBxYoSdr8Y699je7rdKP5dra5KN4NXpRpMjNqTBYGNCjMG6EbpjTIlqZFiMT6zDHYq4x2P2t1qDWPZHgphqrh1NSUr2zXoDxOTiiDIdYuWCAMCQBzGLs7rzX8Pqa/s400/Boomer.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">OU stud - Boomer the Mascot (he's not really on that man's head--I think--AWKWARD!!!)</span><br />
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</div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-80465451569960791782010-09-07T07:07:00.000-07:002010-09-07T07:07:25.822-07:00Random Tuesday Thoughts - Oh the CobwebsUh...uh...uh...trying to reach...almost got it...there! The last of the cobwebs and atchoo! Crap it's dusty, but nevertheless...<br />
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Keely has been redecorating and designed a new button, oh look something shiny!<br />
<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Be sure and hit up her blog, she makes me <strike>point</strike> smile and laugh regularly. <br />
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Blogger is behaving a little oddly, so hopefully this will be published successfully, if not...well, there's always chocolate!<br />
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I've been seriously neglecting this blog, but much like the disobedient child, I'm attempting to return to the "mother's knee" of my readers and beg forgiveness yet again. Folks, I love to write and hope to settle in for more consistency and less sporadic and random (no pun intended, ok maybe a little pun intended) efforts to be a contributing member of <strike>blithering idiots</strike> the blogosphere. However, I am still mired in my life and it still has priority; so no promises. <br />
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Currently, my day job is instructing students in the fine art of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_guard_%28flag_spinning%29">colorguard</a>. I do it <strike>for the money </strike><strike>and the glory and </strike><strike>because I am a fascist dictator who loves pointing my finger at impressionable teens</strike> because I truly love it. That, and it gets me out of the house.<br />
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Last month, my husband drove the third of our four children to college 1200 miles away. There's only one kid left at home now, oh and the dog. The empty nest is looming and we've got a little over two years remaining until that comes to fruition. I should probably be planning for that? It's funny, years ago when my kids were all underfoot, I imagined that life post child-rearing would be a wonderful relief--the reward for a job well done. Now, it just seems weird. I am certain though that I will adjust quite nicely as I am one who embraces change readily (stop laughing).<br />
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Even though I've been neglecting you here, I've kept up with reading (and occasionally commenting on) the blogs I follow. I've also discovered some new blogs; among them are some startups by family and friends. So to show that nepotism is alive and well (and the nut doesn't fall far from the nutty tree), here is a list of new blogs by various friends and family in random order of course.<br />
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<a href="http://cadence-momspot.blogspot.com/">Pink Epiphanies</a> - by my daughter in law as she navigates her life and faith in marriage and motherhood<br />
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<a href="http://imasooner.blogspot.com/2010/09/number-one-so-far-anyway.html">I'm A Sooner!</a> - by my kid, the one that just left for college (college fodder)<br />
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<a href="http://paperlanternsandwhitefeathers.blogspot.com/2010/09/they-echo-me.html">paper lanterns and white feathers</a> - by my other kid; her self-proclaimed "musings of a twenty-something"<br />
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<a href="http://lebedafamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/family-reunion-scrapbook.html">life with the lebedas</a> - by a friend of my daughter in law's of which I accidentally stumbled upon<br />
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<a href="http://leftbreast.blogspot.com/2010/09/reflection.html">My Left Breast</a> - by the wife of a high school classmate as she navigates the diagnosis of breast cancer--compelling, insightful and inspirational<br />
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<a href="http://buttermilkandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/08/old-school-seltzer.html">Buttermilk And Bacon</a> - by the husband of a friend who loves, what else, buttermilk AND bacon!<br />
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Gratuitous naked man shot!<br />
<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/AVvXsEgoqNlh4hzZvixz8fz9pD6LxU_AbYDwfSb5OhPR-4qlO7AOubMeRuSimM-3UyOY1HHip2qJJ2hx8y-ppAXdtSh5vcaQxKuSIedlqIddTbGiIiqHd-orwehyphenhyphenTGi0Ij9356PVHMKHoyLhYyNw/s1600/jeffpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqNlh4hzZvixz8fz9pD6LxU_AbYDwfSb5OhPR-4qlO7AOubMeRuSimM-3UyOY1HHip2qJJ2hx8y-ppAXdtSh5vcaQxKuSIedlqIddTbGiIiqHd-orwehyphenhyphenTGi0Ij9356PVHMKHoyLhYyNw/s320/jeffpool.jpg" /></a></div>Just kidding! It's my hubby and he has swim trunks on--I swear!<br />
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That's all the random I have for now. "Tune in next time when grandpa says"...Not a damn thing because he's flying with the angels and doesn't get good cell service(Heaven must be in a cell phone "dead" zone) OH STOP GROANING! It wasn't that bad (ok, maybe it was).NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-83267408065750463262010-08-18T16:21:00.000-07:002010-08-18T16:21:16.916-07:00Wordless Wednesday - I Love My Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXhxQ6d2NSl-YWVgE__WVyv0tr_lI9gL4P39ASlzJ_2ovHerWMFo0BEi9vVEALNgqvGnRIPuQw3a65Iu8gVun235rLyrd4mS64czM_kv1xurV00ygCKITcOLxaobmDTr3IOK4vueDLCF9/s1600/wwmensar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXhxQ6d2NSl-YWVgE__WVyv0tr_lI9gL4P39ASlzJ_2ovHerWMFo0BEi9vVEALNgqvGnRIPuQw3a65Iu8gVun235rLyrd4mS64czM_kv1xurV00ygCKITcOLxaobmDTr3IOK4vueDLCF9/s400/wwmensar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-18463962096867946912010-08-11T08:31:00.000-07:002010-08-11T08:31:25.710-07:00Wordless Wednesday - College Bound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIA7ArHujq4S3BKVoPfMWxkvoHteYAU_W4miw9wFCqD8Ff8inAt1fuM6HvJxeAbxVHRDlEPWVU_fOK3M97R0b_lYgeEGIH2osZSbI3N6IIeCsDJjrQnZfgxuQv_9PXXml4WRJNuZWn5wj/s1600/alyssanme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIA7ArHujq4S3BKVoPfMWxkvoHteYAU_W4miw9wFCqD8Ff8inAt1fuM6HvJxeAbxVHRDlEPWVU_fOK3M97R0b_lYgeEGIH2osZSbI3N6IIeCsDJjrQnZfgxuQv_9PXXml4WRJNuZWn5wj/s400/alyssanme.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spread your wings and fly Baby Girl (I promise your parachute will open)</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-38925273352107953512010-08-04T12:26:00.000-07:002010-08-04T12:26:59.893-07:00Wordless Wednesday - One Day's Tomato Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQApPy_X_kT9MRSWViAT1cntkPQI3DGVcrtFiHqIlfPZcWTNJU6-CQYknGb8MV_Dd2jCmW7Q2XzhyphenhyphenVOGuQRPbZkYvU9KEYwJzY_5E8qPzOgrtCMMuG02X-tun4XKSFk1CoYTPShsqlwgxa/s1600/tomatoI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQApPy_X_kT9MRSWViAT1cntkPQI3DGVcrtFiHqIlfPZcWTNJU6-CQYknGb8MV_Dd2jCmW7Q2XzhyphenhyphenVOGuQRPbZkYvU9KEYwJzY_5E8qPzOgrtCMMuG02X-tun4XKSFk1CoYTPShsqlwgxa/s400/tomatoI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">one plant (Early Girl)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qUWQxGxA-S82ey5hknq7hiuEh01OYmiWlX3CDjfljYPh5nTwqAfAz98lqM9RV009BUziDZtmZgEeF9Ljb3HXcOHnWC_g8pARf6__Y8wRcIlXlaxBWI6xgsL8tJwNzG8bhuEbSHnbg1t6/s1600/tomatoII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qUWQxGxA-S82ey5hknq7hiuEh01OYmiWlX3CDjfljYPh5nTwqAfAz98lqM9RV009BUziDZtmZgEeF9Ljb3HXcOHnWC_g8pARf6__Y8wRcIlXlaxBWI6xgsL8tJwNzG8bhuEbSHnbg1t6/s400/tomatoII.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...a few more (some German Queens and Bush Goliath)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9g8DiUoG-seeRXolX9ZjxowgCJfQyWRbkgc0kQoCTqQiO0r3Mm5WamihsZZX5pe_dKR_cK-_7CocEMv1dT-sMz-R8jDMMutZasMq99TXWuMcxtXMgxPfqQt4HAvIPIAYp2_Dj_3BYfiA/s1600/tomatoIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9g8DiUoG-seeRXolX9ZjxowgCJfQyWRbkgc0kQoCTqQiO0r3Mm5WamihsZZX5pe_dKR_cK-_7CocEMv1dT-sMz-R8jDMMutZasMq99TXWuMcxtXMgxPfqQt4HAvIPIAYp2_Dj_3BYfiA/s400/tomatoIII.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">needless to stay, I will spend significant time making sauce and other goodies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...now off to harvest the miniature tomatoes (cherry, grape, golden pears etc.)</div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-59975014110855072742010-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:002010-07-28T13:00:25.938-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Summer Rapidly Coming to an End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU59c6srEhS7vLY-_vc7SGXoOd0hxNg7A4i5ORnnu9hVzu9vcvwvYx-NslqCtQeR7Ph00GIulb4vaNwormR_SoPGq-Mx4PgYLLaDp4vJJTTPbH_aoorS_VnrbHjQh7_DD3tvWr-qs_b7iU/s1600/treshermanas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU59c6srEhS7vLY-_vc7SGXoOd0hxNg7A4i5ORnnu9hVzu9vcvwvYx-NslqCtQeR7Ph00GIulb4vaNwormR_SoPGq-Mx4PgYLLaDp4vJJTTPbH_aoorS_VnrbHjQh7_DD3tvWr-qs_b7iU/s400/treshermanas.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...<span style="font-size: x-small;">soon there will only be one kid here(oh and the dog is staying)</span></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-51071637084937952072010-05-11T12:09:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:10:40.140-07:00Random Tuesday Thoughts - Where the Hell Have I Been<a href="http://www.theunmom.com/"><img alt="randomtuesday" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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If you are normal and like to hear about butts (or even if you are abnormal and don't like butts) be sure and stop by <a href="http://www.theunmom.com/2010/05/define-normal-anyway-random-tuesday.html">The Un Mom</a><br />
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Okokokokok...ok...so where I've been. Not anywhere special, just incredibly busy and had family needs and unexpected events that required my full attention. My father gave me three pearls of wisdom to use to guide my life: 1. Be positive 2. KNOW what your priorities are, and 3. Be spiritual. Number two came up and required my focus to be elsewhere. I realize that I left everyone hanging in the middle of my weight-loss series, but I will pick it back up this week. Hopefully, you will grant me the benefit of the doubt and help me get back into the swing of blogging.<br />
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Luckily, I squeezed in time to read your blogs and found new sources to appreciate which helped me relax during the most intense parts of my absence. Those of you who write faithfully (and some of you who don't) kept me sane and I want you to know I truly appreciate your writing.<br />
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So, on with the random, after all, it is Tuesday.<br />
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I just received my dog's license renewal in the mail. It lists her as a pit bull. OMFG! She is NOT a pit bull! She is a lab/jack russell mix (we are assuming lab mommy/jack russell daddy lol). Whoever pushed the pit bull button at the county office made an error. I feel compelled to correct it. <br />
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There's snow in them there hills! It snowed in the Sierras yesterday about an hour from me. It's the middle of May, wtf Mother Nature? I think this has been the weirdest winter since I moved here eight years ago (my how time flies).<br />
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The garden is mostly in. Peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, onions and herbs are already producing and being harvested. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, okra and strawberries are going strong and are on schedule. My fruit trees have fruit on them though the plums and nectarines are still small and green. My orange tree is just now blossoming and it smells so heavenly.<br />
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My birthday is next week, 45 will be the new number. I'm gonna put on my tiara, prom dress, stripper boots and glitter on my face then head out to my favorite dance bar with my hubby and good friends. It's how I roll on my birthday; I let my freak flag fly high!<br />
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I learned a new little trick. My daughters love the rotisserie chickens at the grocery store. I usually use up any meat, that is left over from rotisserie chicken, in soups, salads and other dishes. But on a whim one day, I decided to see if I could make chicken stock from the leftover carcass and guess what? It makes a great stock that is perfectly seasoned. As one who is frugal and always looking to cut costs in my home budget, I'm delighted to make something that I use so frequently and often pay $2.00-$3.00 per quart to purchase at the store. Try it--just fill a stock pot with water, add the chicken carcass and bring to a boil then simmer on medium until you have a thick golden broth/stock. Strain to remove the remaining chicken parts, skim the fat off the top, store the broth/stock and use as needed. I freeze mine in quart containers.<br />
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Whew! It feels good to shake off the dust and get back to blogging. To my faithful followers, I owe you my heart for your patience. Tomorrow will be Wordless Wednesday, then Thursday will be the next installment of "I've lost, but look what I've gained". Stay tuned!NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-69198558101624973322010-05-05T20:17:00.000-07:002010-05-05T20:17:29.407-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Ranunculus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NnBeSHfXexoeqGaRWJhchincQ9BzN-6u_ZrqqFCqYp17PgQ-B9XmsDmjDVW29A7efOxpktzXptSvsZjBg04bYgybu2cznVGcgwqLO62ULzaLjDh9N2ruwS3QmW-9Vxk4ZMW7PIE8y19l/s1600/ranunculus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NnBeSHfXexoeqGaRWJhchincQ9BzN-6u_ZrqqFCqYp17PgQ-B9XmsDmjDVW29A7efOxpktzXptSvsZjBg04bYgybu2cznVGcgwqLO62ULzaLjDh9N2ruwS3QmW-9Vxk4ZMW7PIE8y19l/s320/ranunculus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-65849956799786552952010-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:002010-04-14T10:12:09.408-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Got Blue?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIoRSHv_Kb8nn1tmGYEXU3lUIr1Jc4VsD0PJf7d2e3kA8Px2w-qaR3lONowfBmPWRSv1XwYm56QtQbyLyz5EEFvUW5d1blyGB2h_s66YJaElkYl7EHl4ueH13qrN9Wp-ipAq2IJK2sU89/s1600/bluemanvegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIoRSHv_Kb8nn1tmGYEXU3lUIr1Jc4VsD0PJf7d2e3kA8Px2w-qaR3lONowfBmPWRSv1XwYm56QtQbyLyz5EEFvUW5d1blyGB2h_s66YJaElkYl7EHl4ueH13qrN9Wp-ipAq2IJK2sU89/s400/bluemanvegas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-91634016682776985952010-02-04T13:16:00.000-08:002010-02-04T13:22:21.868-08:00I've Lost, but Look What I've Gained! Part VI...here I come slinking back with my tail between my legs after all this time. Hold on for a minute while I strap on my celice and put on my hair shirt.<br />
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My apologies once again. My absence was unavoidable. Now, let's see where did I leave off...oh yes...<br />
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I attended the informational seminar held by my surgeon and her staff in October. The very next day after the seminar, I called to schedule my first appointment. The first available appointment they had was January 24, 2006--three months away! I was surprised and disappointed at first, then I realized that my very busy surgeon was very busy because she was very very good at what she does. So I settled in for my wait. The holidays were approaching and I decided that I would not diet and fret over food, but instead, enjoy the last bit of freedom to eat foods I knew I would probably have to give up after surgery--possibly forever. I did not gorge myself and overeat, but I did not deny myself anything. I pushed guilty thoughts away and of course, my weight crept up even higher.<br />
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On the day of my appointment, I arrived at the surgeon's office feeling nervous and excited. My surgeon went over my personal history and asked me which surgery I wanted. She agreed that the Roux-En-Y procedure fit my personal needs better than the lap band. She explained in great detail all aspects of the surgery and recovery. One piece of information that she clarified was that my stomach would not be removed but instead would be sewn up and left attached to my intestinal tract after it was separated from the new pouch created to function in place of my stomach. This was done because the stomach can still provide valuable enzymes that then move into the intestines and assist in the digestive processes. My new small pouch would be attached to a lower portion of the small intestine, but my stomach would remain as a valuable organ. This however, did not mean that my procedure was reversible. Studies had shown that leaving the larger stomach portion in the patient was beneficial as long as it was healthy and still functioning.<br />
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She reiterated expectations, risks, prognosis and possible alternative outcomes. She answered all of my questions and reviewed my course of treatment both pre and post surgery. My weight that day was 259 and my BMI 41. I had gained back the 25 lbs I had lost plus some and that was a consistent pattern that I had repeated once again in my long struggle with weight-loss. I was given more paperwork, including hospital preregistration forms, advance directive forms, and diagnostic testing requests. I was also told to start trying liquid protein supplements to find one or more that I would like well enough to use extensively after my surgery. I was then scheduled for a pre-op visit on February 16 and given a surgery date of March 7. I left the office still feeling nervous and excited and that small bit of relief as I inched closer to the that date that would change my life--March 7, 2006.<br />
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to be continued...NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681427249719255236.post-83486729344160847822010-01-17T08:40:00.000-08:002010-01-17T08:40:53.210-08:00For My Sister...Just BecauseThe things we do for love<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More to come Monday... <br />
</div>NeColehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16604111381527313033noreply@blogger.com0