Stitch and Bitch Club

Swiped from Fen who swiped from Juliet... and yes I still live.

2011-12-06T05:32:31Z

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate, extra chocolate please.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When i was young it was both. Santa hasn't come to my house for years 8-(

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Tree is colored lights. I don't do house lights since we live way back in the trees where no one would see them anyway

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nah, I don't need that stuff to get kissed 8-)

5. When do you put your decorations up? Weekend of Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Spritz Cookies. I remember Mormor (Swedish for maternal grandmother) making them and eating them dipped in chocolate pudding... mmmmmmmmmm Ja sure Jag betcha!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Any Christmas at Grandma Ruth's house. She always had a droopy Christmas tree on this on table (which I now cherish at my house) with big glass balls and C4 lights on it with a big sparkly star on top.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? About 10 when I finally realized that Santa's handwriting was the same as my dad's.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, one on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas afternoon after daddy got home from work at noon.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? A menagerie of collected ornaments since I was a baby. the oldest surviving one is from 1974. Mom made ornaments every year for everybody and also got us kids a new store-bought one each year. Matt and I have been buying one for ourselves ever year since we were married.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Both. As long as I don't have to go out in it.

12. Can you ice skate? No. A broken ankle and 2 knee surgeries are definitely prohibitive.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? An old wooden desk that I still have. I'll be passing it on to my niece next Christmas, as she will be old enough to appreciate it.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and Church

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cherry Crumble. I just eat the Crumble part.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Eve service at church

17. What tops your tree? Our topper is a silver wire-art star with a big crystal hanging in the middle.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!

19. Candy Canes: *Takes candy cane out of her mouth* What?

20. Favorite Christmas show? Muppet Christmas Carol

21. Saddest Christmas Song? There's a SAD Christmas Song?

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? "What Child is This"

haven't posted for awhile and it's not even about me....

2009-10-07T05:03:05Z

it's about PUPPY!!

meet Freya, anneebrat's German Shepherd puppy.

DBAD

2009-08-13T05:18:21Z

http://fragbert.livejournal.com/442522.html

says it all... blessings on my f-list!

Writer's Block: Music for Thought... swiped from Alyce

2009-06-23T03:42:11Z

fast and furious celtic.

Relay for Life Time!

2009-04-25T19:08:19Z

A bit of news I have today
A bakeless bake sale is on the way
These busy times, now who could bake
Pies or cookies or even a cake?

You'd be surprised if you counted the cost
Of materials, heat and time you've lost
Cooking for a sale is extra work
Yet nobody really wishes to shirk.

So I've thought of a plan that grand
And felt quite a few of you would understand
Click this link and donate the price
Of a pie or a cake or something nice.

Without fuss or bother, you've done your part
I'm sure you'll give with a willing heart
This is the end of my little tale
Wishing success for a Relay bakeless bake sale!

yeah, yeah, yeah, long time no post...

2009-03-22T06:32:15Z

life is cruising along at the mediocre setting, so no reason to post about boring stuff. until today.

today, i turned forty. what is the big flipping deal? i still feel the same. i still refuse to act my age. and thankfully, i still don't look it.

anyway. we had a little birthday party at the local mexican restaurant . i have been mildy suspicious, because hubby has been all sneaky about something for the last week. (i was hoping for new kitchen cabinets) but daddy comes walking in with this box that definately was not cabinets (well, like we could wrap those anyway) and when i saw it, i realized how utterly cool my hubby is, either that, or he's been watching ace of cakes a wee bit much.

here is my birthday cake:

this is the HAVOC vehicle from gi joe (for those who are not well versed in 80's cartoons) & cross-country is the driver. i LOVE cross-country... matt refers to him as his "competition"

if you want to see more pics and the construction thereof, go here : s33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/Serpymatt/HAVOC%20Cake/

this, plus the raphael (YES. the teenage muntant turtle) cake that i knew about- who could ask for anything more. (well, i did get the ultimate star wars trivia book too)

Ahem.

2008-12-16T01:26:04Z

Would all of my lovely friends on the list in the midwest and east coast PLEASE TAKE YOUR SNOW BACK!!!!

Thank you.

Baby update

2008-11-16T05:57:21Z

not this month.

Baby update

2008-11-05T03:13:39Z

i've been on a freaking roller coaster. yesterday was rock bottom after losing bert kitty- today sky high when i went to the dr's for a check to make sure i ovulated.

uh, hell yeah. dr. m (who reminds me a lot of mr. bean, btw)found that not only did the dominate egg pop from the left, but 1 possibly 2 others from the right side went as well. which means, no matter which way they go, matt's troops should hit *something* (and if 20 million troopers can't hit a target, then how on earth does this human species keep having babies?!?!?)

so. what does that mean? i could end up with triplets. or not.

have a blood test friday, and then the preggers test on 11/15/08. the official one. you think i'm not going to be peeing on a stick next week?? psh.

much wailing and sorrow

2008-11-04T03:42:21Z

we lost bert this morning. he had a embolism, nobody saw it coming... daddy said he was sleeping on his lap, got up, and went to the porch to do his business or a get a bite of food. he heard a thud and when he got out to the porch, bert was dragging himself towards the door. mom scooped him up and ran for the vet's but there was nothing we could do and mom had to put him down.

i couldn't get there fast enough.

i managed to stay at work a few more hours and get critical stuff done, then went to pick his body so we could bury him out back. i buried him up under the pine tree, near abbigale. there's lots of ferns and wildflowers that grow back there.

this, in a word, sucks.

Writer's Block: Short Days

2008-11-03T00:41:52Z

football, cats and cross-stitching.

Request

2008-11-02T05:39:14Z

some of you know that i have been dealing with fertility issues. today we had a procedure done (best way i can say it is that matt's swimmers were dropped right into the pool) so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that this will be the thing that does it.

thanks.

Bertie-Bert-Bert!

2008-10-31T04:36:33Z

Update:

He's doing wonderful and tomorrow will be another check up but Dr. Sonja thinks we got it licked!'

Thank you for all your kitty healing prayers!

because nmissi did it....

2008-10-26T16:28:29Z

Your result for Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test...

Musical

31% Logical, 20% Spatial, 37% Linguistic, 27% Intrapersonal, 4% Interpersonal, 51% Musical, 16% Bodily-Kinesthetic and 47% Naturalistic!

"This area has to do with rhythm, music, and hearing. Those who have a high level of musical-rhythmic intelligence display greater sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, tones and music. They normally have good pitch and may even have absolute pitch, and are able to sing, play musical instruments, and compose music. Since there is a strong auditory component to this intelligence, those who are strongest in it may learn best via lecture. In addition, they will often use songs or rhythms to learn and memorize information, and may work best with music playing in the background.

Careers which suit those with this intelligence include instrumentalists, singers, conductors, disc-jockeys, and composers." (Wikipedia)

Take Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test at HelloQuizzy

Bert update

2008-10-26T04:02:24Z

He's hanging in there... not mouth breathing which is a good sign, but still a wee bit labored. Mom was able to mix his meds into his gooshie food and he fell for it so we didn't have any trauma tonight.

He goes back to Dr. Sonja on Monday and we'll see.

Bert

2008-10-25T04:28:59Z

About 7 years ago, a quartet of kittens were apparently dumped on my parents' back driveway off a rural road. After much cajoling and seeming brutish methods (garden hose in the culvert) we caught them. They were christened Growler, Emma, Little Girl and Pee-Wee.

Emma came home with me, as being a tortie, and that I like matched sets, has developed into a little butterball that we call the "self petting cat" (just let your hand hang down off the couch and she'll do the rubbing). Little Girl evolved into Oreo, because of her black and white coloring (altho she looks more like a skunk impersonator) and Growler stayed Growler, altho my brother tried very hard to rename him Ernie (to go with Bert) and Pee-Wee evolved into Bert because when he jumps up, he always announces it with a berrrrrrrrrrrtttttttt! Growler, Bert and Oreo still reside with mom and dad and Freckles the wonder dog (we wonder about her).

Anyway, on Tuesday mom noticed Bert was breathing a little funny. That turned into labored on Wednesday. She called the vet and got him in on Thursday. He spent the night there and the diagnosis was thus: his chest was filling up with fluid for no apparent reason (no trauma or anything we could see) and he couldn't breathe. They drained his chest and and he seemed to do better. I called today (Friday) to verify that this was not genetic and my Emma could befall the same (she can't) and checked on Bert. He was doing much better.

So I tootled out to mom & dad's tonight to do some clean up in the garage I'd promised daddy I do, and while there, Bert was home! He's still breathing a little ragged. Mom said that the vet had said nothing about meds, if he could go out, whatever so we let Bert be Bert.

Kelly from the vet called and said that the new girl had forgotten to give mom the food he needed to be on, the medicine he needed, and the instructions to keep him as quiet as possible to let his body heal. By dinner he was labored breathing again. When Kelly stopped by, we gave him his meds and all hell broke loose.

The trauma and excitement of giving him his meds literally took the wind out of him... he ran and then staggered, then collapsed, gasping, panting and foaming at the mouth. Kelly ran out to her car for her phone and called Dr. Sonja. She said bring him in NOW.

We did, she drained more fluid, and told us it was touch and go. He needed to be isolated from the others with his bed, litter pan, food and water as close to him so he can rest. She will call tomorrow to check on him, but it doesn't look good. This is a condition that could happen once, or just keep reoccurring. The sad reality is that if it's reoccurring, mom & dad just don't have the extra $400 lying around for treatment every time it happens. They've already made the decision to put him to sleep if it comes back.

So all you cat moms and cat dads out there, say a prayer for Bert. He's not mine, but I'm already fighting back the overwhelming grief of losing another cat.

swiped from the boid

2008-10-03T04:07:55Z

Make sure you post this in your LJ. You put your answers in the comments

1. Are you currently in a serious relationship?

2. What was your dream growing up?

3. What talent do you wish you had?

4. If I bought you a drink what would it be?

5. Favorite vegetable?

6. What was the last book you read?

7. What zodiac sign are you?

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

9. Worst Habit?

10. If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?

11. What is your favorite sport?

12. Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15. Tell me one weird fact about you.

16. Do you have any pets?

17. What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

18. What was your first impression of me?

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22. What color eyes do you have?

23. Ever been arrested?

24. Bottle or can soda?

25. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

26. What's your favorite place to hang out at?

27. Do you believe in ghosts?

28. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

29. Do you swear a lot?

30. Biggest pet peeve?

31. In one word, how would you describe yourself?

32. Do you believe/appreciate romance?

33. Favorite and least favorite food?

34. Do you believe in God?

FOOOOOOOOOTBAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL!

2008-08-05T04:00:20Z

thank God it's august! that mean football preseason!

anneebrat loves me!

WES JANSON, YOU ARE MIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!

2008-07-27T06:16:42Z

*gleeful star wars pilot moment*

I HAVE THE FAB FOUR!!!!!!!!!!

*does happy dance of the great and mighty wedge*

mega post to catch clap you up

2008-07-07T21:54:30Z

currently i am home from work, helped anneebrat paint her kitchen over the three day weekend and when i woke up this morning i could.not.move. so been going from sitting for a bit to standing for a bit back to sitting for a bit. walking like a hunched over zombie i'm waiting to hear back from my massage therapist friend to see if i can get in for a session and get my back to CALM the hell down. great. she just called and her car is fritzing. maybe later if her hubby can get it to behave.

so anyway- been awhile, huh? here's a few highlights of late:

garden gremlin team total is now at $3950.91. someone please donate $49.09 to get us to $4000! clicky!
we are now navigating the wonders of college. serpymatt started his pre-reqs for nursing this summer.
i got promoted to an admin assistant 2 at work- up from an office assistant 3. about $50 more a paycheck.
i now have a myspace page... it's garden_gremlin@myspace.com. looking for friends. still blogging here though... i may or may not start cross-posting. not sure yet.
anneebrat is still lost in dr whoville.
we now have an answer to the miscarriages. it's a condition with way to many syllables that is commonly known as MTHFR. (yes it looks like what you think it looks like, which is ironic considering my loathing of the f-word) we see a specialist next week. babies are still a possibility. just gotta outsmart my body.

catching up on stictchies: done for my work secret pal dee-dee
baby prezzie

done for work secret pal judy bruinhilda 's very very late christmas prezzie (that's yokai and kolhe, sorta)
done for work secret pal pam
another baby prezzie
final gift for church secret pal mindy

i have 2 others still in finish up stages, well, one is done but i'm not posting the pic until i send to her.
</div>
and lastly, a meme swiped happily from nmissi
In five words, explain what ended your last friendship?
friendships never end. just hiatus.

How was your prom night?
a blast. technically went with friend michelle since we couldn't get dates. found out once we got there that rob had been trying to call me all day to ask me to the prom, but there was another gal with my name in town and he was calling the wrong one. mom made my dress and i still have it somewhere.

Do you have any famous relatives?
not that i'm aware of.

Have you taken out loans to pay for college?
nope. now, for the hubby- that will be a different story.

What did you receive last in the mail?
a notice from my medical insurance about a new program they're starting.

What beverages have you drank today?
cherry pepsi and water

Do you leave nasty messages on people's answering machines?
nope

What's the most painful surgical procedure you've had done?
wisdom teeth pulled... they dry socketed. never would wish that pain on anyone, except maybe the ex <eg>

What is out your back door?
the deck we built last summer that is safe to walk on, the lawn that i do battle with on a weekly basis. neighbors' houses. hoping to fix the last with some fast and furious growing bushes to block out their houses

Do you usually go out on the weekends?
define "go out" if you mean to like dinner and movies and clubs, not usually. if you mean out of the house, yes. normally to church on sundays and errands on saturdays.

Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
no. makes it all frizzy (curse of natural curl)

Have you ever visited a planetarium or do you even know what one is?
hell yes i know what one is and have been to several- one in vancouver bc, another in san francisco and one on the east coast, can't rememer exactly where.

What is your favorite flavor of pudding?
chocolate fudge

Describe your keychains:
minimalist because of key control booth at work. i do however, hold fast to my edward keychain from full metal alchemist. (i have al too, but he broke)

Where do you keep your change?
in an old gallon jug by my front door for our relay for life fundraiser

When was the last time you got up and spoke in front of a large crowd?
define "large" i speak at church ofter. that's about 100 people. anything bigger i'd have to say my wedding 5 years ago- we had about 200 people there.

What kind of winter coat do you have?
we don't have winter here on the coast of washington, so i usually layer under my normal jacket if it does get cold. i have a waterproof windbreaker for our normal rainy weather.

What was the weather like on your graduation day?
it didn't rain.

Do you sleep with the door to your bedroom open or closed?
open. if i closed it there would be feline hell to pay.

Is there anything purple within 20 feet of you?
crap loads of relay for life stuff.

What is the strangest thing you've put in the microwave?
catfood

Can you speak any Japanese?
domo aregato mr roboto?

Do you look good in the color yellow?
so they say

Do you spit or smoke?
nope

What is your favorite color(s)?
relay purple and x-wing pilot orange

Ever played an instrument?
flute, piano, irish whistle, recorder, voice

Do you believe in Bigfoot, or Sasquatch?
i live in the pacific northwest. we're bigfoot central!

Ever been to a palm reader?
nope

Did they tell you the truth about your future?
kinda hard to if i've never been

What are you thinking about at this very moment?
that emma needs to get out of my computer cabinet *shoos cat*

Have you ever received a black eye?
several

What is your biggest current disappointment?
that we don't have kids.

What are some of your favorite drinks?
cherry pepsi, earl grey tea.

Do you have anything that hurts on your body at this time?
hips, back and neck

Have you ever ridden in a taxi?
yes.

What is the last alcoholic drink you had?
a sip of a white russian at my bridal shower

Did you do anything special last night?
no. just finished painting anneebrat 's kitchen and wanted to sit down

What is your very favorite food?
mom's fried chicken
</div>
Okay, time to go do something else for awhile

picspam

2008-06-05T02:28:12Z

you can go here to see the piccies from this year's Relay for Life events. the team has raised just over $3600 towards our $4500 goal. If you want to donate, there's still time!

make with the clicky

A brief announcement..

2008-04-29T14:00:13Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY anneebrat!!!!!

WIN THIS QUILT!!!

2008-04-08T03:13:45Z

Two six-foot guys are standing on a church pew holding this up. It's huge!

Close up of the details
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Garden Gremlin Relay for Life Team is raffling off this BEAUTIFUL 98"x110" machine-sewn, hand-quilted quilt worth $500. Tickets are $1.00 each. You need not be present to win. Drawing to be held on May 31st, 2008 at noon at the East County Relay for Life Event. How can you get in on the fun? All you need to do is make with the clicky. Once on the main page for the Garden Gremlins team, click on DONATE and follow the directions. For every dollar you donate you get 1 ticket. Then email me HERE and let me know so I can put your tickets in the drawing. Good luck and thank you in advance for supporting our team!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T17:31:53Z

hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season!

home

2007-12-07T06:57:16Z

power came back on sometime last night. we're home tonight... sleeping in my own bed, showering in my own shower... yay!

we were very fortunate, the worst damage we had was my gate to the back yard was ripped off its hinges when the latch failed and it flapped in the wind. the roof is fine, as is the shed that the neighbor's ham radio antenna is resting on.

we lost about $250 worth of food... not as bad as i thought. going to check w/ homeowners insurance and FEMA about some help with replacing that. good side is that we were forced to clean out the fridge and freezers so any food we needed to toss before and hadn't has been. and the fridge and freezer have been totally washed down on the insides.

had a full day at work today- playing catch up.. prolly will be for a few days.

serpymatt will not be going to work for a bit- tahola is said to be down at least 10 days. anneebrat went back to work today and found out since she doesn't have vacation time yet- she doesn't get pd for the time she was off because of the weather, which i think SUCKS.

okay- dish washer is going, cats are happy to have human slaves again, and i'm beat. i'll be in *my* bed.

ah, normalcy!

Stitch and Bitch Club

Swiped from Fen who swiped from Juliet... and yes I still live.

haven't posted for awhile and it's not even about me....

DBAD

Writer's Block: Music for Thought... swiped from Alyce

Relay for Life Time!

yeah, yeah, yeah, long time no post...

Ahem.

Baby update

Baby update

much wailing and sorrow

Writer's Block: Short Days

Request

Bertie-Bert-Bert!

because nmissi did it....

Musical

Bert update

Bert

swiped from the boid

FOOOOOOOOOTBAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL!

WES JANSON, YOU ARE MIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!

mega post to catch *clap* you up

picspam

A brief announcement..

WIN THIS QUILT!!!

Merry Christmas!

home

mega post to catch clap you up