Very funny!

I love this.

Cookie Exchange

Here are some of the pictures from the cookie exchange. The crazy part is I didn't get one photo of the cookies! They were just beautiful and it was so much fun.
My boxes turned out very cute although they were flimsy. So next year I will have to do something different. I did a salad luncheon and it was a hit. I also learned a new secret for making the rolls. I made the dough two days before, shaped them the next day and left them in the refrigerator until the day of the exchange. It took about an extra hour to an hour and a half longer to rise, but it worked perfectly. Made the preparation much easier. The only bad part was we only made 5 dozen each and that wasn't enough to last the entire month so I still need to make more cookies. It is hard not sampling them and keep to my diet. I am doing good but very tempted.

Christmas is in the air!

I have decided to do a cookie exchange! Yes, I am crazy and I should have planned this weeks ago, but who knew I'd still feel like doing it. So the first item on the agenda is to decorate the house. Normally that is a week long project if I am not doing Real Estate. But I am really busy at work so it is going to take longer. All I have left is the Christmas Village and the Garland, both major projects. I hope to get them done today.

Today I am going to bake my cookies. I think I found a fantastic recipe. It is a flaky shortbread with a apricot filling. I had to buy some special Grand Mariner stuff that cost a fortune so it better be good. I am just hoping everyone who said they are coming does.

This is going to be a crazy weekend. My cookie exchange is Friday, the High Priests party is Saturday and the neighborhood party is Sunday. In addition to that I am teaching Relief Society on Sunday and have a listing appointment on Saturday and showing two buyers houses on Friday and Saturday. December is suppose to slow down. Not fair! But lots of fun.

Trip to Washington

At last I am posting our trip to Jim and Janeal's. It was just breathtaking beautiful. They live right by this beautiful lake, up in the mountains. Some of the photos are the surrounding area and the Puget Sound. Their house is like a vacation retreat. We had a wonderful time visiting them and can't wait to go back

Heart full of thanks.

It's the end of the day. Of course, I ate way too much, but it was so yummy! The turkey was a little too dry, but the dressing was outstanding. The pumpkin pies and cheesecake were so good, but the rolls not as good as usual. I froze the rolls and then let them thaw before I baked them. Guess I need some work on perfecting it. Overall, it was a great feast. Shelli had to go to the Howells and Mike had to work so it was just Suzann and kids, Jim and me. But it was really fun. The kids were very funny today. We still did everything like usual. It wouldn't be the same if we didn't. It seems like so much work to be gobbled up so quickly, but it really feels like Thanksgiving.

I am so grateful for my wonderful family. I love each and every one of them so much. It is amazing that it is possible to love so many so deeply. I have learned from personal experience that love multiplies. I also love to see the family traditions being passed on to the next generation. All day, different ones called for cooking tips. Hope everyone had a great day.

Tomorrow will begin the house decorating. I hope to have it completed before Sunday. I would love to have everything done before December even begins. I am going to try to have a cookie exchange next week so I have to get organized!

WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit bbb.org



verified at http://www.snopes.com/fraud/identity

Home again

We are now home and wishing we weren't. We had a fun trip to Lauri's in AZ. We left on Thursday and drove. It was a pleasant trip, very ugly, but nice and slow. Best of all - my phone wasn't working most of the trip.

Friday we went to Zach's football game. They lost but Zach did great. He is one of the biggest boys on the team. How did he grow up so fast? After the game we went to dinner with everyone including Zach's girlfriend Lauren. She was a delight. Sweet, kind and beautiful. Also a cheerleader, but we won't hold that against her. I think Zach will hold on to her as long as he can. She says she will wait until after his mission. It will be interesting to see. She would be a good addition to the family, but since he is only 17 a lot of things can change.

Saturday we went to Cracker Barrel for their fantastic breakfast. I wish we had one here, but I would weigh 300 lbs if we did. Afterward I went shopping first with Rachelle and then Lauri. It was fun and we found some cute things. Lauri needed a dress for Eric's wedding and she found a perfect one. She looks fabulous in it.

Lazy Sunday

Yeah! Today is conference Sunday. That means I get to watch TV in my PJ's! Actually I have on sweats, but you get the idea. The one Sunday I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and what do I do? I wake up anyway. So I got dressed and went down to the pool to get it ready for winter. It took four trips up and down the stairs to get all the chaise pads, umbrellas and other stuff to the garage. Everything is put away and the rains can now come. It is kind of sad to see summer end. I still have to clean up the patio area and put stuff away. It looks bare with everything put away. It will be my luck we will have a heat wave in two weeks and I will wish it was all back.

Jim is fixing breakfast, pancakes and bacon, not on my diet. Hope I don't gain too much this weekend. I will be back on track on Monday. Jim is looking really good, I am not as good as he is even though I cheat less. Not fair. My mouth is watering at the pancakes! Hmmmm!

I am looking forward to the conference talks. My heart is heavy worrying about my family. It is so hard to be so far away from everyone when things go wrong. I am grateful for prayer. It seems it is the only weapon I have. I hope it brings comfort to those I love so much. I am so mindful of what Austin is going through. Such a hard thing. And Rommers, looking horrible but at least going to be allright and then today Zoe. Poor little baby. It scares me to death. I understand that everyone goes through trials and difficulities but I wish I could do something to make it easier. So I worry and I pray.

New Carpet

Yeah! We just put new carpet in the living room and dining room. It looks almost the same (without all the stains and smell) so you probably can't tell the difference. But it came with a 10 year warranty against stains, so how can you go wrong? I also bought the invisable fence to keep Betty Boop out of that room. She has a special collar that gives her a little shock if she steps on the carpet. She seems to think it is the carpet that is bad. Just wondering if when she is trained anyone wants to borrow it for the kids? :)

Baby Shower

I had a fun baby shower for Nicole Dunn last night. She just adopted a little girl and so I offered my house to host it. No problem. Unfortunately the person who was going to do games, couldn't come. Only one person who was to bring refreshments sent them. Lucky for me I always worry about these things and sent Jim to Costco for a big cake. I thought it would be for backup, but thank heavens it was here or we would have had no games and no refreshments. Crazy. It was a good turnout, about 35 people showed up and she was very appreciative. I was glad to do it, but hate it when someone says they will do something and then blows you off. I would rather just do it all myself and know I won't have any last minute surprises.

I did buy a really cute water dispenser for it that I will get lots of use out of. Unfortunately, I called Pier One and asked if they had any water dispensers and was told they one had a ceramic lemonade one. Sounded like it would work, asked how much. She said $15.00 so I told the girl to put it by the cash register and I would send Jim down. He went and it was cute, very happy, until he said, "Do you know how much this thing cost?" I told him $15.00. No the girl lied....it was $50.00!!!! I would never have bought it if I had a clue. But too late now, they don't do returns and it is really cute. What a pity.

A night under the stars

We had a fun night last night. Maren Romney got married and we went to her reception. It was in their backyard. It had been extremely hot durning the day, but cooled off just right for the evening. They had set up a million candles on tables, in trees, down walkways and it just sparkled. They had a full size band, all members of the church, playing and it was just great! Pres. Haynie was on the drums! Didn't even know he played! Just loved it. I am sure they switched to pop music after we left because they had a DJ set up. It was really fun relaxing under the stars visiting with friends. Of course, we couldn't eat anything. The only temptation for me was wedding cake. I really love wedding cake. The very sad part - I gained 1.5 lbs this morning and no cake. Not fair! Jim is really doing well, his Santa belly is almost gone. Why is it so much easier for men? I am committed even if it is going to take me twice as long. Dad booked a trip to Hawaii in February and I want to be smaller by then. Our Hawaii miles were about to expire and we didn't want to lose our free trip, so we will be enjoying ourselves courtesy of Hawaiian Air, hooray!

Where are you?

Ok, ok, I know everyone loves facebook, and you are all spending too much time on it. But you got me into this blog stuff and I want to know what is really going on in everyone's life. So take a day off facebook and post on your blog at least once a week! If you don't my pool is no longer available!!!! Really, I mean it. Facebook is fine for a quick update, but it not nearly as interesting as your blogs. And I hope it never is, you shouldn't be saying the things on facebook you say on the blog. The blog is more like a personal journal and facebook is more like Hi. I want to see your blogs, I really don't care if your friends are giving you animals for your farm or playing Mafia with you. I want to know about you and your families.

I have been crazy busy in the last few months. Lots of new escrows with both buyers and sellers. I don't think this is going to last so I am pushing as hard as I can while the opportunity is here. I am very worried about the economy in the next year or two. There is no way a gov't can sustain a 9 trillion dollar debt. Things are going to get bad. I am grateful most of you have secure jobs.

I really think this is the time to stock up on food. Food prices are going to rise sharply next year. A good way to start is buy one extra a week. One extra can, one extra flour, or 1 extra frozen vegetable if you have a freezer. You will be surprised at how quick it all adds up. And you won't even notice that you are spending the money. Don't buy a small can, buy the big size. Just buy one more of something you are already buying. Also, be sure to store water. It is the most important of all.

Jim and I are both losing weight, his is quick but mine is slow and steady. No one has told me it looks like I am losing weight, but I can feel it in my clothes. It is painful and I wish it was easier. But we are determined.

Unbelievable!

Stella Awards
It's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'! For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico , where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy.

Here are the Stellas for the past year:
*SEVENTH PLACE*
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.
* SIXTH PLACE *
Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps
* FIFTH PLACE *
Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish. Keep scratching. There are more...
*FOURTH PLACE*
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
* FIRST PLACE *
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down?
$1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
Are we, as a society, getting more stupid.... or are more members of Congress serving on juries these days?

New recipe coming

I just glanced at my side bar and my mouth started watering. I can eat chicken right now, but not that one! If you want the recipe hurry, because I am going to get rid of it pretty quick. I am up 2 lbs on my diet. Hope I don't quit. I am going to give it two more days and if I don't start losing I am going to have to do something drastic. It says cherries are OK, but maybe I'm eating too many. They are so good it's hard to stop. I guess it is back to the apple - disappointment!

Crazy busy at work and I am not going to get a break until September. I know I shouldn't be complaining after last year it is good to be busy, but I do need a day off. Sunday doesn't count and last Sunday really doesn't count. I just want to hang out by the pool and read. If there was anyway I could get away I would go see Lauri. She is struggling with all those babies. Hang in there Lauri help is on the way. Thank Heaven for Dream Dinners, they ease a mother's guilty conscience.

Look for my exciting new recipe, it is called "plain with nothing on it celery sticks". Very easy to make.

From Aunt Lynda

I was in the pub yesterday when I suddenly realized I desperately needed to fart. The music was really, really loud, so I timed my farts with the beat.

After a couple of songs, I started to feel better. I finished my pint and noticed that everybody was staring at me.

Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my iPod.

Thanks Lynda for the laugh.

Is it week's end or week's beginning

Not quite sure if today is the end of my week or the beginning of the new one. I don't think I am up to dealing with a new week, so I'll report on the last one. Kristi and family left yesterday. We will miss them. Betty Boop is really mopping around. She misses Shawn. They were the best of buddies and it was so cute. Avery and Mckenna had a great visit and didn't want to leave(I love that). I really wish I could just travel and visit a different family every month. It seems like once a year is not enough. We loved our time with them.

It is crazy busy at work. Don't know how long it will last so I can't complain. I would rather be busy than have nothing to do. I have several new listings that should sell, so I am hoping for a little future business. As long as interest stays low, it should be good.

I am doing quite well on my diet, although I can't see a change, the scale is moving. Finally in the right direction. I think I am losing it all over since my clothes don't feel that much different. Although I do remember wanting to wear my fat pants a few days last month. You know, the baggy ones with elastic?

I went to a seminar on social networking all about how to use facebook, twitter and blogs. I am motivated to at least give it a try. Stay tuned, we'll see how I do.

The Bathing Suit

My friend Angela sent me this gem.
Subject: The Bathing Suit ...have you bought one lately!!!!!

When I was a child, the bathing suit for the mature figure was boned, trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as engineered. They were built to hold back and uplift; they did a good job.. Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl with a figure carved from a potato chip.

The mature woman has a choice - she can either go up front to the maternity department and try on a floral suit with a skirt, coming away looking like a hippopotamus who escaped from Disney's Fantasia, or she can wander around every run of the mill department store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a designer range of florescent rubber bands.

What choice did I have? I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room. The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch material. The Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe, by NASA to launch small rockets from a slingshot, which give the added bonus that if you manage to actually lever
yourself into one, you are protected from shark attacks as any shark taking a swipe at your passing midriff would immediately suffer whip lash.

I fought my way into the bathing suit, but as I twanged the shoulder strap in place, I gasped in horror - my boobs had disappeared! Eventually, I found one boob cowering under my left armpit. It took a while to find the other. At last I located it, flattened beside my seventh rib.

The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups. The mature woman is meant to wear her boobs spread across her chest like a speed bump.. I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full view assessment.

The bathing suit fit all right, but unfortunately it only fit those bits of me willing to stay inside it. The rest of me oozed out rebelliously from top, bottom, and sides. I
looked like a lump of play dough wearing undersized cling wrap.

As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the prepubescent sales girl popped her head through the curtain, 'Oh, there you are,' she said, admiring the bathing suit .

I replied that I wasn't so sure and asked what else she had to show me.

I tried on a cream crinkled one that made me look like a lump of masking tape, and a floral two piece which gave the appearance of an oversized napkin in a serving ring.

I struggled into a pair of leopard skin bathers with ragged frills and came out looking like Tarzan's Jane, pregnant with triplets and having a rough day.

I tried on a black number with a mesh midriff and looked like a jellyfish in mourning.

I tried on a bright pink suit with such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear it .

Finally,
I found a suit that fit - a two-piece affair with a shorts style bottom and a loose blouse-type top. It was cheap, comfortable, and bulge-friendly, so I bought it. My
ridiculous search had a successful outcome, I figured.

When I got home, I found a label which read 'Material might become transparent in water.'

So, if you happen to be on the beach, or near any other body of water this year, and I'm there too, I'll be the one in cut-off jeans and a t-shirt!

The fattening week

Oh yes, I am going to gain some weight this week! I feel it coming, I can't stop it. May as well just accept the inevitable. Today I have a 3 hour lunch at a good restaurant downtown. So of course, I will be eating. Tomorrow I am going to lunch with Cathy Grey and Kelly Chapman, that should be fun, I see Cathy regularly but seldom get together with Kelly. Wednesday is a special business meeting to teach me social networking at the Rancho Bernard Inn, breakfast included. Then my vacation starts on Thursday and I plan to spend a lot of time laying around and doing nothing, especially nothing that makes me sweat. I will diet in August or maybe September. If I have time I am going shopping for Muumuu's, that should solve the problem.

The Countdown

Oh my, it is only a week before Cassia's wedding. Everyone will be coming in on Sunday so the clock is ticking on getting everything done. I have made great progress, but there is still a lot to do. The front yard is ready. I planted new roses and they are doing great. My favorite is a white rose named, Pope John Paul. Every morning I go out and sniff the Pope. It smells wonderful. I also planted some unusual colors and they look great. My only problem is my gardina is turning yellow. Anyone know why?