triple 9's

so, it's been ages and eons since i've written anything . . . but today was a special day that it required a date stamp on the ol' blog.

life is going well; i just got my associates degree in general studies and i'm going on to get my technical degree in accounting. the bug is getting huge: 2 1/2 now and growing like a weed. she still has an excellent sense of rhythm and loves to dance. she's getting smarter everyday and i consider myself proud and fortunate to be her mom.

my sister, the one living down in arizona, is getting remarried to her male clone in october. he's a cool dude and they're very happy and it's totally awesome that she's finally found someone that makes her smile all the time. :)

that's about it. life is life . . . till next time!

cloudy with a chance of meatballs

i remember this book when i was a kid and now they're making and movie about it. i'm kinda excited to see this story animated. :)

up!

artwork

the bug and i had a little crayon time. here are the results:

yeah! happy square root day!

days like today only happen 9 times a century:

03/03/09 = 3x3=9

the last one was 02/02/04 (2x2=4) and the next one is 04/04/16.

you should all feel enlightened and proud to be alive during this momentous occasion.

goose with an identity disorder

on the 20th of february, the bug turned 2 and so we took her to the zoo. while we were there we took a look at the flamingos, and in the crowd i noticed a me-too-iguana. see if you can spot the one thing that doesn't belong. :)

obituary

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

scandinavian jumping bug

last week grandma, grandpa, the bug and i went down to AZ for my niece's baptism. while there we all had a chance to catch up with family and the bug got to meet all sorts of cousins for the first time, as well as getting some serious trampoline exposure (now EVERYTHING is a trampoline).

the couple days before we left for AZ, we were able to catch up with my other sister and her son. it's been a busy and hectic month, but well worth it.

still to come this month is a reception, a scout dinner and the bug's 2nd birthday.

on a completely unrelated note, this really hasn't been my year. while i was cooking up a seafood feast for my sister while she was in town (she lives in indiana), in my haste to get things done i managed to pour boiling oil on myself, leaving 2nd degree burns on my thighs and on the tops of my feet. so, january i sprain my ankle and february i attempt to deep-fat fry my lower limbs. i'm hoping this is just a bad beginning and not a trend for the year. i mean, i've heard of flower of the month clubs and stuff like that, but this is just ridiculous.

on a happy note, i was approved for a federal pell grant, so i'll be going back to school in april and it's gonna be paid for by the government. i've decided to go into an accounting program and eventually get my MBA . . . so what if i'm almost 30. better late than never, right?

well, peace out homies and enjoy the pictures.

those crazy mormons and their shenanigans . . .

super bug!!!

put the bug in a blanket tied like a cape and you have super bug!

Super Tessa!

bug in the snow

not many people liked the grand dumping of snow that we got, including the pug, but i loved every second and so did the bug. :)

enjoy the pictures!

tessa in the snow

i broke my 28-year streak . . .

so, i've spent my entire life without sprains, stitches or broken bones. i've jumped out of airplanes, rollerbladed for miles, snowboarded down mogul-ridden slopes, hiked up and down mountains, and how do i sprain my ankle? after all these years and adventures? by stepping down from an inflatable slide at jump planet.

an inflatable slide . . .

heavens . . .

my m&m family

a ways back i found this site where you could customize an m&m to look like you, so i did my whole family. :)

become an m&m

santa, christmas, and miscellaneous weirdness

i know, i know . . . i'm a little late for the holidays and for most everything else, but, here's some pictures from that long ago year of 2008.

a neat thing this last Christmas is that the bug didn't freak out when she met Santa like she did last time.

enjoy!

Christmas

laser cats! 3D!

backyard carnival

goodness . . . i'm realllllly late on posting this, but better late than never, right? so, on august 23, 2008, my neighbor had a little end of summer carnival for her grandkids and my little bug was invited. it was loads of fun.

enjoy the pictures!

Backyard Carnival