Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 29th

Today's word is Original. I thought of Coca-Cola first, the original formula. This is my drink of choice, and for younger readers, you might not even know there was a formula different from original. "New Coke" from the 80s, although a bust, still lives in my memory.

I also thought about original artwork. We have lots of that around here.


But this pictures is original in two ways.
Last spring, 2006, part of J's Troupe group wrote an original musical play (the songs were all Disney), and then put it on. J got the part of Timon, which you can see here---he's in the yellow costume. He's singing "Hakuna Matata" with the Pumba character. I loved it and am very impressed with the kids who wrote it.

And this is also original because J is one of the most original people I know. He does not shy away from being who he really wants to be (like I always have). He is weird---he admits it---but he loves being a stand-out. He doesn't want to follow anyone. He wants to take something and make it his own, somehow. He's an original.

I am recovering from a slumber party of B's. We had three girls over last night, and I'm a bit sleepy this afternoon. ;-) They had a real fun time at B's "Spa Slumber Party" as we called it. This was our first slumber party, and for her 9th birthday, I think it was just perfect. They did all the things B planned---baked potatoes for supper, cookie cake for dessert, foot whirlpool, sleeping in the living room---everything except painting toenails, which they just didn't get to. Lovely guests! A little loud sometimes, but lovely all around, though.

I should post pictures really soon!

Friday's Feast, September 28

Appetizer

How are you today?

I feel pretty fine---now that I'm done cleaning up the house for B's party tonight. That's why I'm posting this evening instead of morning!

Soup

Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis.
I watch Survivor (Thursdays) now that it's back, Monk (Fridays) although it's in re-runs now, and hmmmm . . . What Not to Wear. There are more!

Salad

What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced?
Well, I don't remember it clearly, but my Mom and I got under a bed one time when there was a tornado. I was 3 or so because my mom was pregnant with my sister. I'd say tornadoes can bring out fear, but the other times I've been close I guess I was too naive to know it was a tornado or that it might hurt me. I remember watching three tornadoes in the distance from the balcony of my dorm (why was I not in the shelter?). Another time, we were leaving for school, and I was like, "Wow, the wind sure is strong!" Well, it was a F1 tornado about 3 blocks from our house.

Main Course

If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be?

I guess Germany or Austria, just to visit. I took German in high school, and I ahve always wanted to go somewhere to use it. Not that I can remember too much! ;-)

Dessert

What do you usually wear to sleep?

The perfect thing for me is P.J. shorts and a sleeveless top. But usually I wear a T-shirt and shorts.

Friday's Feast, September 21

Appetizer

What is your favorite type of art?
I've always liked the Impressionists---you know--- Monet, Renoir, Degas. But then again, I like lots of things, and can appreciate lots of different stuff. I took Art Appreciation at UNT! :-) I like Folk Art, music, handcrafts, children's art, dance---my motto is always "Variety is the Spice of Life!"

Soup

When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it?
I guess it's when I went to my parents' house and not only did they cook for me, but they bought me and the kids a meal at Taco Bueno.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you?
On the inside, I'm very emotional! 9!

On the outside, I'm more like a 6. I used to be a 4. I'm letting loose! ;-)

Main Course

Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails?
Huh. Just replying to whomever? Real People? Only a few minutes!

I spend a lot of time going through my e-mails, though. I am on several lists I get an e-mail for every day or week. An hour (but not every day).

Dessert

To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat?
78 in the summer. This is the mode we are usually in around here! Our heat goes back and forth---Larry likes it warm, I put on more clothes!

School and Stuff

J has said this week that his favorite subject and favorite teacher don't align. Which to me, is good, because it means that there are two classes he likes! :-)

J said his favorite subject is science. This doesn't surprise me. He likes that "discovery" and the topics are interesting to him. He's always tried to figure things out.

His favorite teacher is Mr. D---the band director. This is also very good, because if he's around long enough (the teacher!), J will have him for a class for three years running. And he's got J in a very vulnerable spot, in my opinion. Either J will love band or hate it---depending on how it's presented to him. With FUN and encouragement or with drudgery and discouragement. J holds grudges with his teachers, too, so it could've gone bad. But it didn't!

I can't wait to take a picture of him and his french horn!

There's a school dance for J this Friday. I don't know what to think. I told him that he shouldn't worry about how he looks dancing---no one s really paying attention to that! And Lar said, "And if they are looking at you, they don't care how you dance!" True, true.

We will get going on Girl Scouts this next week. Tomorrow is out parent meeting. I am so excited to get her Handbook and Badge book. I will probably get to lead two badges during this school year. The two other leaders will get to do the same. We are going to present our choices to the girls and let them vote on it. Here are mine---

Architecture
Learn about different styles of architecture and get started designing your own spaces. Here’s a chance to let your creativity out.

Being my Best
When you have a good opinion of yourself, you take positive risks and avoid negative ones. You make and keep friends, and you’re successful in life! Try this badge to build the skills you need for being your best.

Caring for Children
Keeping young children happy and safe requires a lot of patience and good judgment. Learn some important child-care skills with these activities.

Visual Arts
Works of art follow rules and patterns. Understanding them can help you appreciate the beauty of art and improve your own artwork.

World Neighbors
Your neighbors are not just the ones who live nearby. Your neighbors are also the people who live all over the globe. Learn about them with this badge. (Christmas activity.)

B is in 3rd grade, and can stay in Junior Girl Scouts through 6th grade. Even with 4 years, she'll never get all the badges in that book! It's really so fun---and challenging.

A contest for us photographers . . .

I thought I'd post about a "project" I saw on Snapfish. It's called America at Home: A Closeup Look at How We Live. Click that link to find out about it yourself. I thought I might at least use their themes for my days this week for the photo blog.

Monday---The Big Tour
Tuesday----Morning Rush
Wednesday---Mid-day Madness
Thursday---Dinner Time
Friday---Your Sanctuary
Saturday---Home Treasures
Sunday---Bedtime Rituals

Now, the only compensation you'll get for winning is a free copy of the book, unless your photo is chosen for the cover. The contest starts on Monday the 17th, and you can get your photos in until Midnight Sept. 25th. I think you can submit 31 photos.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 15th

This week's theme over at TN Chick is Plastic. We have a lot of plastic around here! I am always excited to see the kids playing together---imaginatively. This was from the summer of 2006. Despite the fact that we don't really watch American Idol here in our house, the kids set up a Littlest Pet Shop Idol contest. I think J was the one who made the sign on the computer for the backdrop, and he even got the songs together on the CDs for each act to sing. Oh, yes, each plastic toy had a song to sing and the kids played this out!This picture was probably taken by J. Guess what this plastic lady's song was? Cruella DeVile, of course!

I had to show the whole scene, too. Look at all that plastic! Barbies, Littlest Pet Shop toys, He-Man, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse---they are all here!

Next week's theme is Paper. Stop by and see what's up with paper here!

PhotoHunt

Friday's Feast, September 14

Appetizer

When was the last time you visited a hospital?
In July, to visit Larry's Dad.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
I don't know how to answer that question. Is it asking me if I want to climb up a corporate ladder or up a educational ladder? That's not really who I am. Well, maybe the education. I'm not too interested in getting a prestigious job, so that number would be 3. I have other goals for myself in my work, and I aim at achieving them, and I have spiritual goals for myself---and in this way I am ambitious, I think to a 7 level.

Salad

Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukulele tings healthily.)
Always buy doughnuts on murky, eerie nights.

I picked this body part because I have a weird pain in my abdomen---all last night and this morning. I'm calling the doctor when the office opens---even though I kinda feel better now.

Main Course

If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?

I still think we need to start a book club with my friends. But for a name . . . I just don't know!

Dessert

What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?

Ha! What flooring? My floor still looks like this in 75% of the house.

I wrote a really good post last year on 9-11. Can't top it! And nor do I have the time today.

http://sliceofjennyslife.blogspot.com/2006/09/where-were-you-when.html#links

I am so busy, I am doing good to keep up with my other blog, my picture-a-day, Project 363 blog. Check out that one if you want to see what's up with me!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 8th

This week's theme of music comes to you from the 4th of July weekend. The first shot is my dad playing his tuba in a big band he's in.
This second shot is from the parade earlier in the day this Independence Day. For me and much of my family, band was a big part of school life. This is my high school marching band now. My sister and I marched in this parade every year we could, and we did the Flag Corps, as these kids are. I played oboe, my sister trumpet, but also cello in private lessons. My hubby played clarinet, bass clarinet, sax, and tuba! My parents met while in college marching band---Memphis State University at that time. Mom played french horn, and Dad played tuba. Dad actually plays a little bit of everything---he taught junior high band right after college.

We have exciting musical news this week as beginning band student J has been asked by his band director to switch to one of his "special instruments." J was going to do percussion, but as they have a bunch of kids wanting to start on percussion, Mr.D, as they call him, was trying to balance out the band. J agreed to play french horn.

I will have some musical pictures of J later. :-)

In an attempt at trying out Blogger's new video upload, here's a sample of Dad's Band. I's the end of "In the Mood." Enjoy!

LAYER 1On the OutsideName: Barbara S.Birth Date: December 7th 1941Current Status: Married for the past 39 years.Eye Color: BrownHair Color: All Grey with a few black hairs.LAYER 2On the Inside
My Heritage: English and FrenchMy Fear: Being alone one day.My weaknesses: Pocketbooks or Handbags.My Perfect Pizza: Plain cheese Pizza.LAYER 3
Yesterday, Today and TomorrowMy thoughts first waking up : Is it time to remove my knee brace??My bedtime : After 11:00 pm.My most missed memory. Having my kids at home and being involved in their lives.LAYER 4
My PickPepsi or coke :coke , which is rarely.Single or group dates : No dating here.Adidas or Nike : NikeTea or Nestea : Unsweet tea with Splenda.Chocolate or Vanilla : Chocolate Cappuccino or Coffee : Coffee.LAYER 5
Do You ****?Smoke : Tried it when I was 20 and quit 37 years ago.Take a shower : Love showers .. just got a new shower head.Have a crush : no one .Think you’ve been in Love? Three times in my life, but married the best one.Go to school : 44 years ago.Want to get married : I am married and plan on staying this way.Believe in yourself : Most of the time.Think you’re a health freak : NoLAYER 6
In the PastDrank alcohol : yes.. like winesGone to the mall : A few times in my life.Been on stage : Yes. in a Fashion show , when I had lost a lot of weight.Eaten sushi : Hate it.Dyed your hair : Yes ... not at present.LAYER 7
Have You Ever***?Played a stripping game : Not that I can remember.....LAYER 8
HopingGet married: I have been married for the second time.LAYER 9
In A Guy
Best eye color : Blue.Best hair color : Black with a little gray.Short hair or long hair : Short.LAYER 10
What were you doing?
A minute ago : doing this memeHour ago : sleeping.Month ago : working out at PT..Year ago : Enjoying my work with my babies.LAYER 11
Finish This SentenceI love :Husband and Family. I feel : a little stiff in my knees.I hate : cockroaches.I hide : different things and forget where I hid them.I miss : Being in my 30's .. best times of my life.I need :a body lift!!!
TAG
The cat is out of the bag: I´m a rotten onion...... and therefore I tag:Anyone who wants to do this meme .... please help yourself.....

Friday's Feast, September 7

Appetizer
Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel?
Satisfied

Soup
What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn?
Cooler temperatures! I love a day where you need a jacket in the morning and need to shed it by afternoon, day when jeans and a T-shirt are comfortable---not too chilly, not too sweaty.

Salad
Have you ever had any bad experiences online?
I can't think of anything that's happened that's really awful---but I don't do much live interaction with people. Just some bad pop-ups every once in a while.

Main Course
Name three things that make you happy daily.
A Coca-Cola
Getting the kids in the car after school with all their stories of the day
My lip balm I put on after I brush my teeth before bedtime

Dessert
What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without?
I really like my sorting basket for laundry. 3 sections keeps me going with the laundry all week.

My 9 Names

Thanks Tabicat for sharing this one with me on MySpace!

9 names
1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Jennifer

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)
Jenizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Red Giraffe

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (your middle name and street you live on)
Elizabeth Teton

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first two letters of your first name)
Adaje

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, and favorite drink)
Purple Coke

7. YOUR VERY FOREIGN NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, 1st letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dad's middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, and last letter of your grandpa's first name.)
Eaeasre (I thought I might not get a vowel here!!)

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents middle names)
Ann Erskine

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets)Black Angel A pet of the past makes a good name, too----Black Brownie. :-)

Miss November

B drew a picture for the school lunch calendar last year in her Art class. We found out in May that her drawing got accepted for the calendar, and more excitingly, for one of the big pictures for the month. They have several smaller pictures around the sides of the calendar, and give all the kids credit.

So this is her drawing of a turkey beating a drum, the theme for November. (Or it could have been a Rock Star turkey, too.)

The artists were all kinds of ages from 16 different school districts. You can see her trademark sun and cloud with hands, smile and sunglasses. Being the Mom, I think it's just brilliant, of course, right down to the golden caps on the sun's teeth.

Today we got the calendar from her Art teacher, who got two. There should be more at school someplace we can pick up. For each month, the calendar lists each school day's breakfast and lunch choices (two choices of entree per day per meal). Every elementary school in our district is on the same schedule, so everyone in our district potentially has B's picture in their home! ;-)

Strange thoughts

Something weird happened to me on Wednesday last week. I had been up at my school working on stuff, went to pick up the kids at their schools, and then onto Wal-Mart, I think it was. We got home in enough time to gobble down some dinner and go back out to church. Larry was meeting us there, he coming straight from work. We were singing songs before class (our short "devo" is before class), when I looked down and realized that I was wearing shorts. At church. !!!!!

I have never in my life worn shorts to a church service. Until I was 10, I went to church wearing a dress or skirt for every service. I couldn't even wear shorts at church camp when I was going on the 1980s. Granted, I have been pretty casual at church these past 15 years or so. Jeans are totally fine. Nice pants on Sunday mornings are even okay (although I usually still pick out a skirt or dress!). And even Capri pants are my norm in the summer on Sunday or Wednesday nights. But I had just this summer gotten these long khaki Bermuda shorts, which seem to be in style this summer. They are even acceptable at my workplace---shorts to the knees.

Okay, my shorts were only about 4 or 5 inches shorter than my capris, but intellectually, this was a super big deal. I've crossed some kind of line. And no one said a word about it. But I won't be doing it again, if I am thinking about it!

Other funny church-related thoughts:
When I am sitting here at the computer desk, I have several links I click on regularly. Several programs I open up and use over and over. Two buttons in particular make me think of songs.

"Transfer All"
When I am uploading photos from my camera, I always choose to upload all of them to the computer. I choose "transfer all" and think to myself " . . . I will transfer all . . . " to the tune of "I Surrender All" .

"Map in Motion"
Another obsession of mine is the local radar map. I like to know if it's going to rain here, when it might happen, if a storm will develop, what county is getting this afternoon's showers, etc. I like it! I am pretty good at looking at a map and guessing if it will rain in my area in the next few hours. This is extremely important if we are trying to go swimming. So to see the motion of the rain, I click on the button labeled "map in motion" on weather.com. Can you guess what song that brings to my mind? "Man in Motion" from the movie St. Elmo's Fire. That hit #1 in 1985, when I was 14. Lots of songs from my teen years are really stuck in my brain!

Actually lots of weird stuff goes on in my head. ;-)

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, September 1st

I couldn't think of any "dirty" photos I took of my kids recently, but babies are cute even when they are dirty. So I turned to our albums of J's first year for some dirtiness . . .

This is really the "after" picture of these others. This is how dirty you get if you eat popcicles on the patio.

These were when J was about 8 months old, in July of 1996. I made little apple juice popcicles for him, a familiar flavor for him. The red popcicle was made of Kool-aid. I wrote in the album that he was trying to hold the popcicle by the cold part!

It's nice toremember the baby J this week as he has started middle school---6th grade. It's going well, and he seems happy so far. It's nice to remember his cute little baby body, juice dripping down on his arms, feet all dirty, soft, sweet hair barely covering his head! Awww! He's very different now!

I also think of my Grand-daddy J, who J was named after. Today is his birthday, although he passed away in 1992, before J was even born. We kid J that he talks to himself like that side of the family. He really can't help it---it's in the genes. ;-)

Check out more dirty pictures at TNChick's blog!

PhotoHunt