Off for a 6 AM fishing trip...

Sam had some friends sleep over last night so they could get up to go fishing at 6AM. I was going to go with them but I have a killer headache and its awfully muggy out so I decided it was a better idea if I stayed home. They almost forgot to take their bate...lol. I reminded Sam before they shoved off. Yep, you can't catch much with out your squid and spirit. So far, they have called me twice. Once to find out what the fluke size limit is because Eric caught one, but it wasn't a keeper. The second time they called me to find out if their is a size limit on crabs because they caught one and then Sam had to go because they caught a Sea Robin. Hey, at least they are catching stuff, it keeps them out there and the house stays quiet. lol.

FRICK FRACK!

Oh, let me tell you, I'm not a happy camper right now. I could cry. I bought this shadow box frame at Anthropologie on sale and I used my gift card to buy it too. I wasn't about to pay the original price of $168.00 but when I got the gift card I didn't feel bad about spending a lot less because it was a gift, not money I actually worked for. Well, it has been sitting in my bedroom, in a protected corner, waiting for me to hang it up. I suddenly felt ambitions today and when I unwrapped it, I found a huge curvy crack that ran from the top to the side and the bottom. It's a curved piece of glass that can not be replaced. To top it off the inside is going to have to be chipped away so that I can get a piece of flat glass to fit in the opening. I was about ready to cry when I realized it was damaged. Sigh......well, there is nothing that can be done now. I think it cracked because the wood expanded in the humidity of the basement. I'd bet money on it. It's wedged in their pretty tight. Oh well. These things happen but I'm not sorry I cursed like an angry sailor when I discovered the crack. I think a little foul language was in order.

I'm kind of sad...

I just watched the final show of The Price Is Right with host Bob Barker. I've been watching his show on and off for so many years now that I find it a little sad to know that he is hanging up the microphone. He's had a heck of a run though, hasn't he. 50 years in the business, 35 years on T.P.I.R. You can't wish for more than that.

My Grandma and Grandpa Slater were big morning game show watchers. I remember watching with them and hearing Johnny Olson announcing for Bob. When I was older, I watched T.P.I.R during summer vacation. It was a morning staple. When I grew up and didn't have time to devote to the show everyday, I caught it when I could. Chris Leach used to watch it...Sam loved watching it too. Tonight he was yelling at one of the contestants, "It's a 4!" "IT'S A FOUR, PHILLIP!" "A FOUR!" Then when Phillip picked a three to lose, he yelled, "A three! A three, no, no, its not a three, its a four! Then when Bob made his call...it turns out that both Phillip and Sam were wrong, it was an eight. I brought that to Sam's attention and pointed out that if he doubled his prediction he would have been right. Sam said, "well I knew it wasn't a three." Ah good times. How lucky was Denise.... the final Showdown winner ever. She was wearing this bright shirt that said she was born 9 days after the show started. The lucky duck won two convertibles, a thousand dollars on the wheel for landing on the $1.00 and on a spin off. She also walked off with a Cruise to Greece and Turkey and a new grill.

Well, I will have to live vicariously through Denise....I never made it to the show. I never got to experience the excitement of hearing, Annette Kaster, COME ON DOWN, you are the next contestant on The Price Is Right!" I never got to high five strangers and jump around like a nut case and make bad bids on the items they displayed. I wanted to bid One Dollar when the other contestants seemed to bid too high. I wanted to run up those steps and plant a big wet one on old Bob's cheek. I wanted to play Plinko, Hole in One, or Cliff Hangers. I wanted to have a chance to win a new car or walk away with a clock radio or a bedroom set. Dang it!

My friend Susan Goracke waited in line to see The Price Is Right a few years ago when her daughter was living out there. She got up at some ridiculous hour to stand in line for tickets. She made it in there, she watched the show, she wasn't called down, but she got to yell out what she thought the lucky people should bid. That is as close as I will ever get to the being there myself. Oh well, I have memories of Grandma and Grandpa making their bids. Hopefully Bob **has** a great retirement.

**Please note that I fixed the grammer issue I had...thanks to my Mother. **

Ranie's Birthday gifties to me...

OK, I know it has taken me forever to post this but I was looking for the post card she sent me. I know I still have it. I never get rid of postcards. I remember saying to myself that I would put it somewhere safe until I wanted to post about it. Now I have no idea where that safe spot is. It's driving me nutso.

On to the presents. Raine was away for my birthday. She had to go to Italy with her hubbie to attend a wedding so they made the most of the trip and went on a little vacation at the same time. While over there, she picked up my birthday present. She labored over what to get me and in the end came up with something she knew I would like. (I wasn't afraid of this...Raine always gives the best gifties) How sweet was it of her to drag my birthday present around Italy with her?! She's the best. Well, I LOVE my presents. I love everything she gave me...the hand marbled paper, the cards, the tiny lace butterfly that I will put into a memory quilt in the future. Don't try to pin me down on dates or anything, I'll make the quilt when I am feeling inspired. I have an idea book going already. My very favorite thing is the small silver box that she bought me at the Santa Maria Novella. I do have a passion for small trinket boxes and silver boxes as well. I placed the little round box on my dresser immediately so I get to admire it everyday.

I'll post the postcard when I find it and I'm saving the cover of the birthday card she sent me for another day. I just love the cover, it makes me laugh so hard. I have a feeling that I will be inspired to blog about it one day soon. Thank you Raine!

Snow in June...

A while back...I won an homemade ornament contest on Sara's blog. As my prize she was going to make me some homemade crocheted snowflakes. She had planned on making a blizzard for me but she's a busy camper. I think she felt bad about not making more, but seriously, I didn't expect more than one. She ended up making four for me and they arrived in the mail the other day. They are super pretty and glittery. I can't wait to put them on my tree. Actually, they reminded me of a thought I had last year as I packed up my Christmas stuff. I might just start an ice and snow tree. Yep, a themed tree. You can't beat that. Thanks Sara!

What a mess...

Well, the contractors came today and made a ton of holes in the walls and ceilings. This house was like a big game of OPERATION. We have some issues right now and they needed to get in there to figure out what exactly was going on and how to fix the problem. Well, We are happy to announce that two of the issue are easy and quick fixes. The other's are a little higher on the Fujita Scale. In total we have SIX huge holes. Each in a different part of the house. Don't you wish you were here...sucking in that dry wall dust with us?! Come on, you know you wanna.

Tonights view from the backyard...

My Swap partner got her package!

I see that Karen received her swap package today. Finally! I've been waiting for it to arrive. I'm limited in my crocheting and knitting so I really had to think hard about what I would be able to make. I finally came up with the photo album idea. This is the second one I made because the first one looked totally pathetic and I must have made 10 flowers before I finally called it quits and decided the last one was as good as it was going to get. You can't tell from the picture but I used beads as the center of the flower. Then I went to Kare's site and printed off some of her Sadie pictures to put inside the album. I also sent her a bunch of other stuff because she had been having such a crappy week when I was preparing it. She needed to be spoiled a little bit.

What every garden needs

It's that time of year again. Yep, we have been finding floaters in the bay. By floaters, I mean dead horseshoe crabs. They bob around in the waves . Over the years we have enjoyed scooping them out on an oar and bringing them back to the back yard where we place them in the flowerbeds to dry up and finish their rotting process. Sounds gross huh! Sometimes they are stinky, especially if they had not been dead and floating around for that long when we find them. You can always tell they are fresh when they ooze forever when you scoop them out of the water. Luckily the two that I found this week were dead for quite a while and they were not as stinky. I figure I will leave them in the flower bed all summer and they will be ready to ship off to some unsuspecting kid this fall. They are a fun thing to donate to a schools science lab too. Especially in land locked areas. You know you want one....admit it! lol.

Gifties from the Desperate Housewife

With my camera out of commission I wasn't able to post this little surprise. DH sent me a cute little package of stuff from New Brunswick. The lobster sucker was worse for wear, his poor claws were crushed but it didn't affect his taste. He was delish! Plus the fact that he was shattered made him much easier to share. Sam has a cold and I wouldn't have let him have a lick if Mr Lob was not in bits.
I had some of the tea with my breakfast toast this morning. Yummy! There was a damp chill in the air today so tea was required. I have not used the napkins yet. I know this sounds silly but I didn't want to get them dirty....lol. I know, I know, that is what they are meant for but they are new...and so cute! I might have to have a few people over for lobster this summer and if I do...I'll use them. I promise! Thank you so much DH....It was so sweet of you!

7is the magic number.

7 Random Things Meme
I've been tagged by Sue! I needed to post something so this should get me started again... Here are the rules:

List 7 random things about yourself on your blog. Tag 7 others. Leave a comment on their blog to direct them to your site to get the rules.

1. My favorite number is 7, what a cowinkadink.
2. I'm not one of those people that dislike the telephone....nope, not at all.
3. I recently came up with a great practical joke...hehe, take a bottle of suntan lotion that is almost empty and add a tube of "day time" Ben Gay....it doesn't have a strong odor like the original version. I know, I know its mean but I would love to see the look on their face as their arms and legs start to get really warm. You have to make sure they know it isn't made for the face though...so keep that in mind.You know you wish you came up with that idea first...so don't even try acting shocked.
4. I'm in a great mood because my camera was repaired, free of charge and I got it back today...Oh Happy Day!
5. I have not been reading my stock pile of books for quite sometime now. I should feel bad about that.
6. I love watching movies and have gone to 3 in the last week.
7. I'm so excited about my vacation...basically because I need a break from this house and all of the things that are breaking down around here. Let's face it, its time to see Rue again!

I'm not officially tagging anyone. Basically, I am breaking the rules but who is going to fine me fore it? The Blogger police?! I think not. If you read this, you can choose to do it or no, its up to you.

Grrrr

We had issues around here and by "WE" I mean, they had issues and I had to fix them for them. Our modem was having issues. Come to find out the cable company we use for our internet connection had issues. These guys thought it was a computer problem and they did all kinds of things to try to get it working and in the process broke the modem and the cable wire that we were using. I had no idea about that so I spent a lot of time on the phone with the cable company trying to figure out what they goofed up. Come to find out that They forced a cord into the port and broke the center of the port. The plug wouldn't fit all the way in anymore. Fun. Anyway, we...meaning me and tech guy from the cable company...we used an ethernet cord and everything is working again. More on my weekend and events at a later date. I have to go outside and get some stuff done.