Show Us Where You Live- Bathroom

It is Friday again. I know this week went way too fast. This weeks Show Us Where You Live Friday over at Kelly's Korner is all about bathrooms. I love my bathroom. True it isn't all the way done but that is okay because I have faith that I will win the arguement. My husband's life would be so much easier if he would just do what he is told. We are currently argueing over the baseboard and window trim. I know it sounds stupid and we will just blame that on him.

So without further todo here is my bathroom. Before pictures can be found here.

This is the vanity and sink. Everything in this bathroom is made for a tall person. The counter comes up to my hip. After we get the counter done it will come up even higher. Yay... On the counter you can see the little clock I got for Christmas from my grandma and the little butterfly chair candle holder from PartyLite. We only have the one sink so there has to be two different kinds of soap on the sink becasue heaven forbid my husband have to use something 'fruity' smelling. We just got the bull nose tile to finish the counter last night. Hopefully be the end of the weekend my counter will match my floor.

I love the color. It is called Tree Tops. I had originally wanted a green call Happy Camper but decided it was too green. My husband is stillteasing me about it.

I love having the washer and dryer in the bathroom. Anything to keep me out of the basement where I trapped this.

Beside the toilet is Mason's little toilet seat, the poor child is afraid he is going to fall in, and Austin's magazine rack. For years he has asked for a magazine rack in the bathroom. I finally gave in when he said I got to pick the color.

On the back of the toilet is a little basket full of little boy undies. Potty training is hard enough without having to search for clean little boy undies all day.

Above the washer and dryer are 2 baskets. One keeps my hair dryer, curling iron, and straightener plus some misc crap. The other one holds towels and wash clothes. Doesn't the toilet paper look so classy up there?

Beside the washer and dryer is my ironing board and Mason's snow pants. I was going to put them away last week but I figure he won't fit in them come winter anyways so I left them so I can find them a good home.

Hanging above the toilet is my PartyLite hanging votive holder. To say I love candles is really an understatement. I burn a candle in this holder everyday. I know you would think that would be expensive but I have a huge stash from being a former PartyLite consultant. Not to mention the $180 in gift certificates that I need to get used.

My husband has even stopped complaining about the 'smell'. Smart man.

The blank space on this wall is where the towel rack is going to go if we can ever decide on one.

I splurged and got the curved shower curtain. One of my favorite things about this bathroom is the light above the shower. My husband tried fighting me on it until I found this light fixture at Home Depot for $10.

I didn't clean before taking photos today. Those are my ties from work hanging up there and I didn't realize Austin's work shirt was up there when I started the washer this morning.

Mason's bath toys and bubble bath.

Hyde the wonder dog, as in it's a wonder I haven't killed him yet.

This room has a nice spot of sunshine on the floor from about 8:30 to around noon, depending on the time of year. Hyde can usually be found in one of the sun spots through out the house all day.

Austin tiled the floor all by himself one weekend when I was at my folks. He said it was better to do by himself becasue then I wasn't in the way. Whatever works for him I guess.

I have been searching for just the right shower curtain for feels like for months. I just haven't found what I am looking for yet. I might have to break down and actually tear out my sewing machine and make my own.

If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am looking for something bright and playful.

The window is waiting for some trim and the wall is waiting for some paint. I don't remember why we didn't paint this area. If I remember right it had something to do with the tub.

In case anyone was wondering what Mason was doing while I was taking photos. He was standing at the gate in the kitchen screaming at me. I don't know what his problem was, he had Eeyore to keep him company and Cars playing in the living room. Men...

My all time favorite feature of this bathroom is the pocket door. I LOVE it. It was totally worth all the headache and hassle.

Hope everyone enjoyed my bathroom.

What Excitment?

Me: So did you have any excitement while I was gone?

Hubby: No.

Me: Then why is there bird poop on my mirror and the window sill?

Hubby: Bird poop?

Me: Yep, bird poop! Unless it was you...

Hubby: I don't recall a bird being in the house.

Me: Really. What do you recall?

I'm still waiting on his answer.

How does someone not notice a bird in the house? Really!

I guess I should just be excited the house is still standing.

Show Us Where You Live- Office

Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is hosting the Show Us Where You Live Friday. This week it is offices. We have been working on our office for a little over a week. It is no where near done but I'll show you anyways.

My new desk. You can find out more about this desk here.

That level is 4 feet long. I am 5' 3". I cannot reach clear to the corner.

We were getting ready for Mason's birthday party and that was evidently code for my husband to pile everything in the office. Especially if it didn't belong in there.

This is the old desk.

My husband has been working at the desk lately and I don't know if he gets bored and decides he has to look at something while the pages are loading or what. For some reason he went through the stack of bills and they are now spread out all over inbetween his candy wrappers and such. I've explained to him that if he can't stay out of stuff and throw away his own trash that he won't be allowed in here.

To the left you can see two of the paint samples on the wall. Neither made the cut. The brown reminded me of cat poo and the green looked like smushed peas.

Just a different view of the new desk.

The candles hanging on the wall are going to stay but the curtains are going. They came with the house and I just never got around to changing them.

This is not the color we are sticking with. I hate it!! It looks pink during the day and really orangy in the evening. I figure better to decide that now before we put the second coat on.

I just couldn't decide before and Austin suggested a red color so that is what I did. Um... can you say s-t-u-p-i-d. I have decided on a teal or turquoise color. Austin will just have to get over it.

Don't mind the dining room, the office threw up all over it. For such a tiny room it sure did hold a lot of junk.

I have these pictures blown up 20*16. I just have to decide which ones to put in here.

This one also. I would like to get it in blown up in canvas wrap also but for the moment the price is putting me off.

Depending on how it will look against a teal/turquoise wall this one might be going in here also.

So that is my office. Totally a mess at the moment but should be completed in the next week or so. I'll be posting updated pictures when we are done. My husband was upset about having to spend more money to paint it again so I had to rationalize with him. Exactly how much money am I going to make if I have to sit in a room I hate. Yep he didn't too much after that.

Clothing Optional

Wednesday I noticed it got real quiet while I was washing dishes so I had to go investigate. I walk into the living room to see Mason in just his diaper sleeping in Austin chair.

1. What happened to his clothes?

2. Thankfully he still had his diaper on!

I Am The Princess At My House

Princess Hateful Raquel and her husband Dan were out last night to give Mason his birthday present. They pull up on motorcycles. I couldn't believe it. What in the world did she need a motorcycle for. She is dangerous enough in a car. Austin and I had a good laugh about it after she left.
I wondered why she was so willing to come ALL the way out here. In her words it is just soooo faaaar. Now we know.
Nothing quite like having a spiteful sister-in-law to spice up life. My little sister might be a bitch but she isn't deceitful and conniving.
I'm sure grandma will be calling tomorrow to tell me something that Raquel has said. Should be fun. Good thing grandma loves me and believes me over her own granddaughter.

Ugh... Paint...

So I tried my 3 sample paint colors last night and didn't like any of them. As in I would go crazy with any of those colors on my walls. I had more color swatches with me and asked Austin's opinion. It is always fun to ask his opinion. He doesn't like the oranges, yellows or browns.
I asked about the reds and he said "Light red would be okay. Nothing too dark. I don't want to be sitting at the computer and be thinking 'red room, red room'."
Last time I checked 'light red' was also known as pink. So I brought that up and he said "More red than pink. I don't want to feel like I'm sitting in cotton candy."
Then I get this urge for Turquoise but more green than blue.
I am going to chuck this all up to hormones. I'm usually a very level headed individual but this color choice is making me crazy. I spend a huge amount of time in the office and so I don't want to pick the wrong color. I don't want more green because the carpet is green and the bathroom is green. I don't want it to feel like the bathroom if that makes sense.
Then I get this thought about a light lilac color or purplish gray. Then I wonder about slate gray or medium gray.
I guess the color I finally choose will be just as much of a surprise to me as to anyone else. I am determined to get it painted today. Like in before I go to bed this room will have some color of paint on its walls.
If I didn't know better I would swear I was nesting. No way that is going on though Aunt Flo took care of that threat.
My poor husband. I feel bad that he has to put up with me when I am like this. Only sometimes though because I know a majority of the time he totally deserves it.
Wish me luck I'm off to buy my paint! What about stripes...

Few Things

Austin's sister, Princess Hateful Raquel is coming for supper tonight. She was unable to make it to his party because 'something came up'. I don't believe it for a moment but anyways she is coming for supper and I haven't told Austin yet because he will bolt and then I would be here alone with her. Not my idea of fun. So I have some cleaning to do. Not much but the dishes need washed. My ankle hurts so stinking bad that I just don't want to stand on it and wash the stupid dishes.
I sprained my ankle over a week ago and it hurts still. Yesterday I actually went to the doctor to have it checked out. After x-rays and everything the doctor can't find any broken or fractured bones. She thinks I might have tore that little muscle on the outside behind the ankle bone. She told me to take it easy. I have been on my feet a lot lately. Cleaning and sorting through kitchen cabinets. I am trying to getting everything cleaned out so that I can paint them on the inside. I have never liked the red and after Mason has been playing in them they need to be organized.
I went and got samples of paint yesterday for my office. I just can't decide. I brought home samples of a light yellow, medium green, and a warm brown color. We'll see. I would like to get the samples on the wall today anyways. If I don't like any of those I have a couple of other paint swatches that I am thinking about. I'm usually not this indecisive. It is driving me nuts. I thought I wanted a warm color but then I saw this really pretty blue color and now I just don't know. My helpful husband suggested that I just paint each wall a different color. After I decide on a paint color I need to decide on curtains. Yay that should be tons of fun! I have been looking for a big mirror to go on one wall but they are expensive so I might improvise and just get a big cheap mirror from WalMart and just have my husband put trim around it on the wall. I am still deciding. I do know that the Cincinnati landscape is leaving.
I had the urge to clean my red shelves yesterday. Thankfully, I resisted the urge. As if I don't have enough projects going on right now.
I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and spent a total of 5.31. It was a rather disappointing trip. I was looking for some interesting fabric but was let down. I also went to Joann Fabrics and nothing jumped out at me so I am still on the hunt. Looking for fabric for a shower curtain since I can't find one in stores that I like.
Next week I am taking down the wallpaper in the dining room. No debate on paint color there though. I have a really cherrie (as in upbeat) rose color for beneath the chair rail and a white for above. I need to decide if I want to stripe the bottom or leave it alone. My husband will have to be out of town when I paint that room. For sure it is a ask forgiveness project because I refuse to ask permission to anything inside the house. I figure he has the whole garage he can do what he wants in there. I wouldn't complain if he made it a man cave. Well as long as I was welcome in it anyways.
Well I have tons of stuff to do so I better get to it...

Yay!!

So Austin finally went back to work today. I had to restrain myself from doing my happy dance after he pulled out of the drive.
I know I'm horrible.

Oh, so easy!

So my husband has been on vacation this week driving me nuts. I have been having to create stuff for him to do.

I told him that I was painting the office a pink color and I thought he was going to flip. He was not one bit happy with me so I told him that I would paint it a different color if he made me a new desk. He then asked what color I would paint it. Surprised me a little I figured he would ask what kind of desk. Good thing I'm quick thinker and asked what he had in mind for a desk.

By asking him what he was thinking about for a desk it allowed him to go off on some big shpeel about good points and bad points on desk. Placement in room and everything that goes with it. I had to sit and listen to *engineer talk for a little bit but it was a good way of avoiding the color question. I needed to keep the color in my control for bargaining purposes.

Thankfully we were thinking the same thing for the desk so I didn't have to use the paint color bargain too early. He wanted it a little taller than I did but I figure it is easier for a short person to work around something tall than it is for a tall person to work around something too short.

I then told him that the wood didn't have to look great because I planned on painting it. Talk about instant mad. It was rather fun to watch but I told him if we stained it a cherry color and varnished it then he lost all veto power on paint color for the room. There by getting everything I wanted.

What I got-

• new desk
• my paint choice for the office
• total power over color theme and decorations
• nice cherry stain for the desk

What Austin got-

• tall desk

I clearly won that exchange and he thinks I don't know how to manipulate him.

Last night when I got home from work he had the desk portion finished and in the office. He isn't putting drawers under it. Instead we are putting our file cabinets under the desk. We don't generally have a need for drawers. I don't keep clutter and our pens and pencils are in a pencil holder on top of the desk. Envelopes are kept in the kitchen. Stamps are kept in my purse.

Next on my to-do list is to box up all my books and take the bookshelf up to Mason's room. It literally just collects junk and I'm tired of it. I figure it matches Mason's bedroom fairly good and he can keep toys or other stuff on it. We will have to attach it to the wall so I had better be sure.

I'm sitting here looking at my new desk thinking it is missing something and it dawns on me I need a little bookshelf/bench under my window. If only I had thought about all this on Monday to keep him busy. I need to brainstorm on how to get it from my husband without giving up anything I've already gotten. Maybe I'll mention it after I get the room painted.

My poor husband really never stood a chance. I'm the middle of 5 kids so I have been manipulating people for years.

*engineer talk is anything that I don't care about or am not interested in. Austin uses it as filler to formulate his arguments. After a bit it stops being 'engineer talk' and ZING! ZING!! ZING!!! All these reasons why we should or shouldn't do something. A couple times he has stopped mid-sentence. Annoying as crap.

Show Us Where You Live- Childrens room

It's Friday.

On Friday I read Kelly's Korner. A couple of weeks ago she started this Show Us Where You Live. I haven't got to join in before because I've been busy and we haven't been home so my house wasn't really "picture worthy".

This week it is Children's rooms.

Next week is Home Office. We have been working on ours so hopefully it is ready for pictures on Thursday!

Mason's room is very plain. I just couldn't see putting a lot of money in something that he would only sleep in. The sides of the ceiling are slanted so there is nothing hanging on the walls. His dresser and closet are actually built-ins on the wall with the door. For lack of a better description they are crude built-ins that need a little love. I actually don't have a picture of them because really what is so interesting about a little boys closet. Blue shirt, green shirt, white shirt, red shirt, cars shirt, whal-e shirt, blue jeans, brown jeans, blue shorts, brown shorts. Wow! Exciting!!

Mason's crib and a dresser.

My comfy but disgusting looking recliner.

What his room looks like today. He has been sleeping in the 'big boy' bed since Christmas but won't stay in it for nap. One of these days we will tackle that problem.

The dresser is now to my back and left in this photo.

The 'big boy' bed was my husbands in high school. It is an extra long twin. As in special order sheets extra long twin. Mason don't care what his sheets look like as long as the top green and yellow John Deere blanket is on there.

Austin in high school wanted a black bedroom to make his mom mad. He settled for black sheets. Mason now has 3 sets of black sheets.

It is so cute watching Mason get in and out of bed. The mattress and box spring are so tall that we opted not to put the bed frame under them. Any more 5:30 wake up calls and we just might though.

Austin made the crib. Start to finish. I love it and can't wait to use it for our next child.
If I had been standing back just a couple more feet you would see Mason in this photo. Yep! My procrastinating husband didn't even have the crib done until Mason was a couple of weeks old. Austin blames it on Mason being a couple weeks early but I'm not buying it.

I made the curtains. I need to add the light blocking material to the back. When I made them I wasn't real concerned about it. Mason however needs it to be pitch black to sleep, at night anyways.

I also made the blanket. I never did make a bumper or crib skirt.

You'll notice the pictures before showed the crib with the front down. With this up I can't touch the mattress. Needless to say Mason has never tried to get out of it.

Mason's big boy bed. Honestly the most comfortable bed in the house. As soon as I can rationalize it to myself that my son needs sheets that aren't black I will get him a different color. Knowing me he may go to college with these same sheets.

There are no toys or books in this room because it is upstairs and we don't spend a whole lot of time up there. An old farm house in Iowa guarantees it will be freezing up there in the winter and really hot in the summer.

9 days

How can it possibly be just 9 days? Mason is turning into a little boy right before my eyes. I can't believe it.



I think I'll stay in denial for a couple years longer. I waited so long to have him that I'm not giving up without a fight. I don't care if he does become a 'momma's boy'.

Not even two and already breaking windows.

Might I add; breaking windows on Daddy's time.

Invisible...

I love hearing from my neighbors. I do. Really. Just not when the conversation starts with, 'You have two heeler pups, don't you?'

Evidently our outside dogs have been around terrorizing visiting the neighbors. ALL the neighbors within a 2 mile radius. Not good. So very not good! Especially in the shoot, shovel and shut up neighborhood we live in. I think the only reason no one has shot them yet is because they know they are only pups and that they belong to me.

We didn't know that they were doing this. Every time I go out to check on them they are laying on the back steps but that is only a couple of times a day.

I filled my husband in on what our dogs had been up to and he decided that we could install an invisible fence. I mean really he had no other choice he was willing to do. I gave him 3 options.
1. Build a fence around the property.
2. Keep the dogs in the dog run attached to the kennel.
3. Put in invisible fence.

So that is what we have been doing the last couple of days.

We have 3 acres and he wanted to fence in all 3. I bought 2000 feet of wire but I think we will end up having around 500 left over.

We borrowed a friends edging tool to cut the line in the ground. Then Austin went back over with the shovel and I followed on my hands and knees doing the actual burying.

I was so proud of myself the first day. I didn't complain at all even though I obviously got the short end of the stick. I mean for crying out loud it was raining and chilly and there I am on the ground burying this wire. Up, down, up, down over and over again with the stupid dogs getting in my way and keeping track of Mason. I don't know why my husband couldn't keep track of the kid considering he was standing up but anyways. Buddy kept trying to bite at my hair that was blowing around and Red was trying to steal the putty knife I was using. Poor Hyde was just trying to stay away from those 'big' pups. The worst though was when Buddy brought me half of a dead snake. Like a 4 day dead snake. Totally gross and smelling of death. Even though it smelled and lingered I didn't mind because it could have been much worse. How you might ask. Well, it could have been a half dead snake, still writhing around and p*ssed off.

As always I am counting this as a little victory.

Yesterday morning I woke up and couldn't hardly move. My hamstrings and back muscles hurt so bad and after last night my side muscles are hurting. Worse yet my husband has no, I repeat, NO sympathy for me at all.

That was until this morning anyways. (insert diabolical laugh here)

Last night as we are working on the fence my husband running the edger goes for the ditch to cut up through the middle of the grove. I wanted to go along the edge of it in the yard. We fought a little about it and Austin ended up going the way he wanted so I calmly explained to him in my shrew good wife voice that he was on his own and to come get me where our path would meet. Needless to say he didn't get to that point last night and woke up all stiff and sore this morning. Oh, did my little heart soar at his first little grunt getting out of bed.

He actually had the balls to complain. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even complain. Me! The Queen of complaining.

I told him I could sympathize with him but that tonight we are going to put my bra on him with our bowling balls in it and then we would see how he feels tomorrow. He didn't look too thrilled with me but had the good sense to shut up at least.

Finally after 9 years he is showing some sense. All I have to say is that this little invisible fence had better work. I'm afraid if it doesn't it will be me doing the shooting, me doing the shoveling, and me shutting up about the whole thing. Well, at least to Austin anyways.

Can you imagine what he would say if I even suggested shooting his dog. Even though it is his dog that causes the trouble. He just had to pick out the trouble maker.

While I Work, He Will Play

This is what Mason does while I try to get paperwork done and bills paid.
Today I have been finishing up some photos for a friend and so Mason has had run of the dining and living rooms. I find it easier to just clean up during nap time than to worry about what he is throwing about the place. Let me rephrase that, it is easier to work while Mason is occupied destroying my clean house than to make him pick up and have him crying, screaming, throwing a tantrum standing at this gate being loud. I do keep an ear out for him pounding stuff on the windows and coffee table. I can only imagine the fit his father would throw if he actually broke one of them but for now I'd like to keep the score the way it is. Dad=1 Mom=0
He likes to close the door and dig in the plants so I have to be sure to keep it open.

I know this photo isn't focused real good but it really shows that innocent face he comes and guilts me with.

He has really done a number on the mess today. Believe it or not this is the 'clean' room today.

I love how he likes to put on hats. He always has them on crooked and throws little fits when they bump into things.

No Mason does not have a halo. The sunlight is shining in the window and hitting a yellow turtle pillow that is on the floor.

I have absolutely no clue where he picked this move up from.

Two Weeks

In two weeks I'll have a 2 year old. I want my last year back. It went way too fast. He is just so naughty. So very naughty.
Everyday he empties the toy box. EVERYDAY!! Tuesday we played outside so my house was safe. Wednesday he dug in my plants so that there would be dirt on the floor to play with his cars in. Yesterday he found crayons that I thought were on the top of the tv stand and colored the wall paper in the dining room. Blue and black crayon. Today he dug in the trash and found a little container with some BBQ sauce in it from last night. He took it to the corner of the dining room and rubbed it all over the wall, floor, office door, his jammies, and his hair.
That was just this week. It has been a relatively good week for him. Poor child acts just like his dad. Unfortunately you can't break nature.
I swear all I do all day is follow him around and clean up his messes. I can't even do the dishes during the day anymore because he thinks he needs to 'help'. We both end up drenched and the floor gets washed.
On second thought I don't want this year back. How old do they have to be to start preschool? Momma needs a break. By the time afternoon rolls around I am doing good to keep my eyes open. The little squirt is just wearing me out.

10 years

This summer I have my 10 year class reunion. Where did all that time go?

I'm actually a little nervous about going. Does that sound crazy?


I know I am an adult and my high school fears and insecurities shouldn't bother me anymore but they do. I am not the same person I was back then. I was, for lack of a better description, a loner. I had a couple of friends that were girls but I don't know if they would have been described as "best" friends. I worked all the time and when I was off for the weekend I was driving to Ames to hockey games. I didn't hang out with any one group of girls. I can't say as that I really even wanted to. I'm sure some of them were nice but the majority weren't. They were catty and talked down to me and that was okay. Back then that was okay. It sure wouldn't fly now. Amazing how time changes things.


Looking back I see that there were strong and weak members in every group. Every group also had one person that they thought needed protecting. I was unwilling to give in, I was unwilling to coddle anyone. I didn't fit in with these groups. I didn't care who wore what, or did what, or who said what. I also didn't care who I insulted or slighted. Sadly I didn't care to an extent who insulted or slighted me.


I find that I am still this way. I try really hard not to insult anyone but sometimes people have got to be put in their place because I will only take so much. My friends and I are very domineering women. We don't take the push but give the shove. Amazingly we don't care who wears what, or did whatever or said whatever. When I look back on different memories my first question to myself is "Was I laughing?" If I was laughing I had a good time. All those other memories are not important. They helped make me who I am but I don't enjoy looking back on them.


Most of my memories have guys in them or Austin and hockey games, that or working. Lord knows I did plenty of that.


Sometimes I am envious of Austin when it comes time to go to these things. He went to a huge school and didn't even know half his class. He can go in find who he wants to see and not have to worry about making small talk with the kids he didn't like or that didn't like him.

I think...

I think spring is finally here. It took forever to get here.

Same as every spring my husband is harping for a new motorcycle. He says there is a vibration in his. Um... So... is a wheel going to fall off? Will you die if it stops running? Of course all the answers are no. We just new tires put on the one he has.

In other words he will get over it.

He is going to have to because I am forking over the money to buy a different one.

Photoblog

I have created a photoblog. Check it out here.

I am thinking about doing a 365 photo journey. I just don't know if I have that much perseverance, stamina, will, desire time. Time is precious and I just don't have that much.

My husband has told me that I can do anything I want to do. Like I really needed his permission... Anyways I have decided to take my photography up a notch. The way I figure it is that I might as well get paid to do what I love. My photos have been in several calendars and can be found in the homes of family and friends.

I am currently waiting on a couple of releases so that I can post more photos so for now you will just have to deal with my camera phobic child. I know what kind of sick joke is that. I have to be sneaky getting his photo. He scowls when he catches me and while that is cute I don't want all my photos of him to be like that. I've told my husband that our next child had better a cute and sweet little girl because while Mason is cute he is definitely not sweet.

While I am building my portfolio all my services will be free. Well, not all my services, just the ones pertaining to photography. If anyone would like some free portraits all I require is a signed release. Can't get much cheaper than free.
I am excited to see how all this turns out...

Looks Good To Him

My husband has been playing around with my monitor again. I calibrated my monitor so that it showed true color and he went in and messed with the colors so that they are really bright. Unfortunately it makes the shadows really dark. Better yet he doesn't remember what he did. He thinks it looks good like this. Great.
I really did try to explain to him that while he might think it looks good by the time I get done playing with a photo in photoshop that it will look like crap to anyone not viewing it on my computer.
He looked at me like I was speaking Greek. I can dumb it down no more than that. I mean he is an engineer he should know better. The problem is that he just doesn't care any more than that.
I explained to him in my shrew like good wife voice that he is no longer able to touch any settings on the computer. Every time he gets on the computer it seems to run slower and slower. I don't know if he thinks he is helping but I see it as a hindrance. I finally had to put a KEEP OUT sign on my office door.
Believe it or not that is not the worst thing he did yesterday. Nope. I swear sometimes I think it is him that needs the babysitter.
Last night we had some popcorn storms blow through here. High winds, heavy rain and hail. Where was my husband you might ask. Well, he was outside with MY CAMERA. MY CAMERA!! I couldn't believe it. He couldn't understand why I was mad at him. Seriously! For crying out loud he had my camera outside in the rain and wind unprotected.
I couldn't think of anything that he treasures to use as an example so I used his motorcycle. I said, "Lets pretend for a moment that you I took the engine of your bike apart and then pushed it out of the garage and into the rain." (at this point I thought he was going to throw up)
He replies, "You wouldn't." I tried to explain to him that that is basically what he did to me. You can't take a camera out in the rain.
To top it all off he used both batteries till they were dead. Come on really if your gonna use my stuff at least leave it as you found it. At least that is the rule with the car. Always give it back with more gas than when you got it.
I didn't realize it was rocket science. Obviously it is. Did I mention that we have been married almost 9 years. 9 long frustrating years.

Step Stool

Grandma Robin got Mason this little step stool for Easter. Now I always have a little 'helper' in my way.
(I thought I was uploading these to Mason's photo blog but I didn't. Can I just say it had been a long day...)

Sometimes

My new 50mm 1.8 lens finally came in. I was hoping it would come earlier in the day so that I would have a chance to play with it before Austin got home but it didn't. Nope the UPS guy followed my husband in the driveway. Austin might have been a little surprised.
I didn't get to play with it. I got it put on the camera but that is about it. Because of the Women of Faith thing I have going on this weekend I needed to get to town and get my hair cut. I had decided that while I was in town I would fill the gaps in my wardrobe. I ended up getting a couple pair of capris, a couple shirts, a cute pair of shoes. Got my hair cut and even my nails done.
It had been so long since I have done anything like that for myself. It felt good.
I just have to question why it has been so long. Is there a reason. Other than being a mom. Nope. I just need to take the time.
As I was explaining this to my husband he was looking at me like I had fallen off my rocker. Like I was being selfish.
I then had to put my foot down and said "Get over it! From now on every other Wednesday I am going to go do something for myself."
He just sat there looking stunned.
Finally I said "Say something".
He said "I'm just shocked. You don't usually behave like this."
He got me curious with that so I asked "Like what?"
He said "Like a girl! I think you should go and do whatever makes you happy, you are kinda outnumbered here."
Yep, that is what my husband said.
He really is a complete and total push over... Especially since my hormones have been all over the place. It is like he is handling me with kid gloves.
I might as well take advantage of the situation.

Is crazy contagious?

Monday night at work was boring. It was slow and the sandwich cooler was making this awful noise. Imagine a dog coughing up a hair ball. Really bad noise. Business was slow because it was chilly out and kinda misting but not really. Just one of those lovely weather days we get here.
So I played on my phone all night and pretended to be busy. Yes you read that right I pretended like I was working.
There are cameras pointed at me all night while I am behind the register so I put my phone in my pocket and grab the broom. I walk out of sight of the camera and play on my phone. My boss thinks I am a hard worker because it looks like I am always doing something.
Anyways it just felt like crazy person after crazy person came into the store. And they all wanted to talk to me. I don't get it. Why me? Do I look crazy? I understand that I went to work with my hair wet and it was sticking out and misbehaving making me look crazy but I'm not. Even some of the crazy acting people had seemed normal the last time I worked so is it possible to catch crazy?
I sure don't want to catch it. How horrible to have all the cashiers in the world whisper 'CARAHRAZY' after you leave somewhere. Not that I ever do that. You know I'm nice and say 'Well wasn't that just sweeeeet'.

Swine Flu

http://www.kcci.com/health/19315056/detail.html#

My sister-in-law, Princess Hateful Raquel, is the one standing up in the top photo. She was so excited to be on tv. Best yet she thought she looked good.

I know I'm being catty and mean but I just don't care today.

Women of Faith

This Friday is the Women of Faith conference in Des Moines. My husband has known about it since January. Last week when I reminded him that he needed to ask his mother if she wanted to babysit on that Friday he acted clueless.

Well at least until I grabbed his phone and pulled up his calendar with showing that he had accepted my invitation and added his own notes. You would think he would be smarter than that.

As it turns out his mother has to work that day so it came down to Austin taking the day off or his sister, Princess Hateful Raquel, watching him.

Austin put in for the day off.

I really didn't care either way. I figure it isn't like we would be leaving her a car seat so she couldn't go anywhere and Mason can fairly well fend for himself and annoying the shit out of a saint play by himself.

I might not like her but I trust her to take care of my child because she loves Mason. Worse yet he loves her...

Snake season...

Red and Buddy are natural snake killers. 3 so far and it isn't even May yet. Yay!!
I have to say though that I was a little surprised by how BIG those 3 snakes were and I saw them after they had been killed.
Those dogs are worth every aggravation and trust me there are a lot.

No Excuses!

I have no good excuses for my lack of blogging. Well you know other than the hormonal bitchiness that has become my life lately.

The Metformin seems to be doing its job. Thankfully! Now if I could only remember to take it at the same time everyday... I've now got it in my phone on a daily reminder, annoying but it works.

Last week I bought Photoshop Elements 7 and have been playing around with it a little bit. I don't generally have time to get on the computer very much anymore with the weather starting to get nice. So needless to say I haven't been getting much sleep.

It rained all weekend so we are inside today. Thank God for tv and IPTV. My little boy is trying to drive me nuts. Literally.

Mason thinks it is great fun to throw tantrums at my feet. He doesn't even have to be in trouble or told no for this to happen. Nope it could be something stupid innocent like his car falling off the table, or my favorite, Hyde sniffing his little monkey. I know some of you are thinking so just walk out of the room. I do and guess what the little boy just picks himself up giggles and follows me to the other room and proceeds to continue throwing his tantrum at my feet.

I seriously doubt there is any of me in him. He is just a little replica of his father. It is on days like today that I have to check my sanity.

I don't think Austin will be letting me go to Best Buy alone anymore. I went in to buy Photoshop and came out with photoshop and a new tv for the kitchen. I have been thinking about a new tv for awhile and my tv fund finally got bit enough. It is a miracle it did because I kept taking out of it for my photography purchases.

I decided the tv in the kitchen didn't have to be anything special. Basically able to change volume and channel was enough so I got in on a pretty good sale. I had to do something because my old tv would no longer turn off and was starting to smell if it was on for more than 20 minutes.

With the left over tv money and what I had in my photography account I had more than enough to buy my new lens that should be here on Friday. FRIDAY!! I should have enough to get my flash by the end of May.

Austin was a little worried about my timeline. Ha! I might have neglected to tell him that he was getting paid 3 times in May. If he gets paid 3 times in May then so do I. Amazing how that works out. I get 75 in fun money out of his pay check and then all of my checks in May go to fun money. If he was that concerned about it he would just take over the budget. I don't see that happening so he will just have to get over it.

I have to work tonight. Our assistant Manager quit last night. Our manager is a nut job and she got fed up and just quit. He had better not have changed my schedule. I am not even digging him out of this mess. Someone else can have the hours.

Forever

I love this song...

I catch my husband singing this song. So cute. I love his voice but as soon as he knows I can hear him he gets real quite and pretends he wasn't doing anything.