Bad Girl Gone Vogue by acooper
I finally took the time to create a set in Polyvore. To check it out go to www.polyvore.com
Andy won a travel voucher last year and we finally purchased a vacation to London, Paris and Rome. Europe now consumes my mind. Every day I think about what I need to make sure to pack, attractions we must see and Europe related applications I can download on my iphone.
Any suggestions on must - see attractions?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!
10 things I love most about him:
1. His innocense
2. His sense of humor
3. His smile
4. The cute little love songs he writes.
5. His willingness to forgive me after I hit him in the head with a baseball bat.
6. His patience with me on the slopes snowboarding.
7. His crazy driving abilities.
8. His love for the gospel.
9. Strumming on the guitar
10. The cute little voice he had as a toddler.
ASU TAKE'S THE GAME
My friend Camille's little girl is such an attention getter. I walked her around for a little bit and was complimented, no lie, at least 10 times on how adorable she was. What a fun game! Once again, thanks Sherrill's for inviting us.
For those of you that haven't tried these yummy bath and shower goodies, I want to let you all know that they are excellent. My friends bought me a box of supplies for my birthday and I am loving them. Go to http://www.lushusa.com/shop and check out what they have.
LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS
At this time the media brings us daily news of more home foreclosures, companies filing for bankruptcy and higher unemployment rates. These are the times that I thank my Heavanly Father for blessing me; blessing me with Prophets who have been teaching us for years to prepare for these days, parents who have shown me that living beyond your means will only bring you short term happiness.
“If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet.” ( Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham [1941], 111.)
At this time the media brings us daily news of more home foreclosures, companies filing for bankruptcy and higher unemployment rates. These are the times that I thank my Heavanly Father for blessing me; blessing me with Prophets who have been teaching us for years to prepare for these days, parents who have shown me that living beyond your means will only bring you short term happiness.
“If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet.” ( Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham [1941], 111.)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
I wish I had taken more pictures. Everyone had great costumes. Three's Company was my personal favorite. Erna looks exactly like Suzanne Somers. Andy's costume as Lt. Dangle from Reno 911 was hilarious. He couldn't find an authentic looking gun, so he settled for a cowboy six shooter. The party was so much fun. I'm already thinking of ideas for next year's party.
I wish I had taken more pictures. Everyone had great costumes. Three's Company was my personal favorite. Erna looks exactly like Suzanne Somers. Andy's costume as Lt. Dangle from Reno 911 was hilarious. He couldn't find an authentic looking gun, so he settled for a cowboy six shooter. The party was so much fun. I'm already thinking of ideas for next year's party.
I discovered Audrey Kawasaki a couple of years ago and have always been in love with her paintings. They are so whimsical and somewhat seductive. I think I'm going to put a Kawasaki painting on my list to Santa.
The court writes:
The state has failed to provide sufficient justification for excluding same sex couples from the institution of marriage.
This decision is the exact reason why we need to vote Yes on Prop 102. If judges can change state laws on marriage like this in Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut, what’s to stop the same thing from happening here in Arizona? Only Prop 102, which secures marriage in the Arizona Constitution, so make sure you vote “Yes!” on Prop 102.
The state has failed to provide sufficient justification for excluding same sex couples from the institution of marriage.
This decision is the exact reason why we need to vote Yes on Prop 102. If judges can change state laws on marriage like this in Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut, what’s to stop the same thing from happening here in Arizona? Only Prop 102, which secures marriage in the Arizona Constitution, so make sure you vote “Yes!” on Prop 102.
ARIZONA STATE FAIR
I have actually never been to the state fair, so Andy and I went with a few friends. I'm not sure that I will ever be back, but we had fun time. I included a video of Andy and Brian ( a friend of ours) on probably the craziest ride they offered at the fair.
After we finished the rides, I decided that I wanted to head on over to the psychic tent. I have never done anything like that before, so I thought why not. One of her first questions, was whether or not I was Amish...weird question. Anyways, she said I would have two boys and a girl and that I would be really successful. I really didn't believe a word she said, but hey having 3 kids and being successful, sounds great.
Every year I get so excited for halloween. I love dressing up and going to halloween parties. This year I bought a pirate costume, not because I had been wanting to be a pirate but because I was at walgreens getting some toilet paper for my office and as I walked through the costume section it was the first one I saw that I thought would fit me. So, what are you ladies going to be for halloween?
Phoenix Art Museum
Andy and I went to the Phoenix Art Museum on Saturday. I have been wanting to go for awhile and since our Saturday was open we decided to go. For those of you that haven't been I encourage you to go. The building itself is a work of art and the exhibits are so interesting. The photo above that looks like something from the Matrix is actually pieces of burnt wood suspended from the ceiling. The black peanut above reminds me of the giant bean in Chicago. The black peanut has an opening on either side and I wanted to jump the rope and go inside, but security must have some secret telepathic powers because they were watching my every move. I'm really glad I went, next is the Botanical Gardens can you believe it, I haven't been there either.
WHY THE BAILOUT IS A BAD IDEA
I'm not trying to turn my blog into a political forum. I read this comment on Bill Moyers Journal and thought I'd share.
No to bailing out the rich so the CEO's that destroyed the companies can walk away with their millions.
The poor have already paid the penalty and saw this coming long before the middle class and rich did. Savings? When every last dollar goes to survive - savings are a joke. Retirement? 3 jobs at 20 hours a week do NOT get you retirement plans. Living out of their means? Yeah - putting food on a table is definately living beyond your means. Health care is the emergency room - but in my area you better have wallet in hand. So, we take them out of the equation.
The middle class are doomed - they just are now beginning to realize it. It's too late for them too.
So - who do the bailouts truly profit? Corporations - and the heads of those corps - not the lowly office staff. Those were 'downsized' years ago.
Let the corporations fail. Let the American people wake up to how the government has bowed and groveled at the feet of lobbyists who cared nothing for the People.
Bail them out - and they learn nothing but that any greedy decision they make won't hurt them - their wallets are protected. So - bad management will continue because Uncle Sam is there with the checkbook - and the slaves work harder to earn his gold.
Other countries Shouldn't trust our goverment, our corporations, our financial industries - don't keep dancing to the top 1% of the population. But then......... shall we look at the millions our politicians make? So - it is their own wallet they are protecting on the backs of the hard-working American. Is this the Christian way we keep hearing about?
I contemplate this - the markets collapse - the rich actually begin to worry about their millions, and the average American who is the true backbone of this country finds ways to survive. Barter systems still work. We learn to work as a people again - and not as individuals out to get theirs by sacrificing their neighbor.
We say we want a small government - then ask it make decisions that make the US more a communist or socialist nation. We preach democracy while denying our own people democracy.
Enough is enough! What happens when the next bail out comes - and the next - and the next? Big Brother needs a new pre-occupation. All it will take is 1 country who owns most of our business' and debt walking up and saying 'Pay Up'. But I fear the saying is true -money talks. The America I love is dying.
No to bailing out the rich so the CEO's that destroyed the companies can walk away with their millions.
The poor have already paid the penalty and saw this coming long before the middle class and rich did. Savings? When every last dollar goes to survive - savings are a joke. Retirement? 3 jobs at 20 hours a week do NOT get you retirement plans. Living out of their means? Yeah - putting food on a table is definately living beyond your means. Health care is the emergency room - but in my area you better have wallet in hand. So, we take them out of the equation.
The middle class are doomed - they just are now beginning to realize it. It's too late for them too.
So - who do the bailouts truly profit? Corporations - and the heads of those corps - not the lowly office staff. Those were 'downsized' years ago.
Let the corporations fail. Let the American people wake up to how the government has bowed and groveled at the feet of lobbyists who cared nothing for the People.
Bail them out - and they learn nothing but that any greedy decision they make won't hurt them - their wallets are protected. So - bad management will continue because Uncle Sam is there with the checkbook - and the slaves work harder to earn his gold.
Other countries Shouldn't trust our goverment, our corporations, our financial industries - don't keep dancing to the top 1% of the population. But then......... shall we look at the millions our politicians make? So - it is their own wallet they are protecting on the backs of the hard-working American. Is this the Christian way we keep hearing about?
I contemplate this - the markets collapse - the rich actually begin to worry about their millions, and the average American who is the true backbone of this country finds ways to survive. Barter systems still work. We learn to work as a people again - and not as individuals out to get theirs by sacrificing their neighbor.
We say we want a small government - then ask it make decisions that make the US more a communist or socialist nation. We preach democracy while denying our own people democracy.
Enough is enough! What happens when the next bail out comes - and the next - and the next? Big Brother needs a new pre-occupation. All it will take is 1 country who owns most of our business' and debt walking up and saying 'Pay Up'. But I fear the saying is true -money talks. The America I love is dying.
THE HOSTEL
Every year Andy goes to San Diego for ICSC. Last year he stayed at a beach house owned by the uncle of one of his co-workers. This year his co-worker (Josh) called his uncle to reserve the beach house only to find that it was reserved by someone else. This left Andy and a few others looking desperately for an affordable hotel near the convention center in the Gaslamp Quarter. The only thing he could find at an affordable rate was a hostel ( seen below). Now from the outside of this hostel you wouldn't think they had anything to worry about, but when he and his friend opened the door to the room they saw two twin beds, a little desk and industrial grade carpet. They tried to flip on the lights but turns out they didn't work so they turned on there 15" flat panel t.v. for some lighting. The hostel didn't have AC, so they turned on there mini ceiling fan with 8" blades.
The mini ceiling fan wasn't cooling the room down so they opened the window. The place really started to cool down with fresh San Diego air and that solved the air problem, but it also introduced a new issue. Just across the street were the tracks of both the light rail and amtrak. Both of which seemed to roll slowly through the intersection at 15 minute intervals. The constant ding, ding, ding of the railroad gates and the blaring train horns all night long reminded them of why they'll never stay at a hostel again.
BIRTHDAY PARTY
Thank you Camille for planning a bithday party for me! You're such a good friend and I'm lucky that you're a part of my life.I also want to thank all of you that were invited for coming to celebrate with me.
P.S. Jim, thanks so much for the cake. Not only was it delicious, but one good looking cake....right Jake? I wonder if the icing has a paper backing?
Jocelyn, don't kill me for
posting this picture but I had to
because I think it's so cute.
The view from Camille's roof
is amazing.
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