ThanksGiving at the Brown House

Busy day today. The kids helped me get everything ready and Greg cooked. I don't mind so much just doing the dishes. After the food, a loud and raucous game of Munchkin--a card game similar to Dungeons and Dragons. I couldn't figure out the rules, but enjoyed crocheting and watching the kids play.

Thanksgiving Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen favorite games to play after eating Thanksgiving dinner. Or any family dinner for that matter.

1. Poker--We're a real gambling savvy family. Even my ten year old can bluff with the best adult.
2. Apples to Apples--As long as I get the 'electric chair' card.
3. Munchkin--Don't ask me the rules, I just pretend I know what I'm doing.
4. Progressive Rummy--I love this game, I usually win.
5. Greed--Dice game that rewards daring and insanity.
6. Bullshit--My kids are just full of 'it'. LOL
7. Monopoly--Pass go and collect $200 dollars.
8. Wii Bowling--Finally, an game that might let us work off that extra helping of stuffing.
9. Uno Attack--Draw Four! Everybody!
10.Scrabble--The writer in me does have a slight advantage here.:)
11.Boggle--See reason above.
12.Life--Takes forever but never a dull moment.
13.Scattegories--Keep those answers PG rated!!

My TTT Reasons to go to the Gym

Also posted on Writer's Retreat Blog.

For this week’s Thursday Thirteen I thought I’d list the reasons why I should go to the gym. I was a good girl this week, been there twice! I’d love to get back to where it’s a habit, not something I forget.
1. Exercise has been proven to relieve depression and I so don’t want to go back on the Paxil.
2. Exercise releases endorphins, nature’s own pain relievers. Helps with the arthritis the cold weather brings on.
3. Increased flexibility can never be a bad thing.
4. Better quality sleep, not that I’ve ever had trouble sleeping. 
5. Increased lung capacity. As an asthmatic it’s the next best thing to a lung transplant.
6. Improved self image and sense of well being. That’s right, I work out! Bragging rights galore.
7. Nice excuse for some more ‘me’ time. No phones, nagging kids or chores to do while I’m there.
8. Better memory recall. No sense in learning all the things I have and not being able to use them. Now, what was I saying? I’ve lost my train of thought. Oh, yeah; list. Right.
9. Longer life expectancy. Good reason!
10. Improved bone density. No broken hips for me in my old age. (Note to self, this doesn’t negate the bad effects of Diet Coke on Calcium absorption! Keep the Big Gulps to one a day.)
11. More resistance to infection and in flu season that can’t be over rated!
12. Weight Loss, need I say more?
13. I already paid for it! I pay my monthly dues whether I use the facilities or not and I hate to waste money!

Dawn Comes to Visit!!

Dawn is a friend I met on the internet. I spent a weekend with her and some other friends last summer in Seattle.

Yesterday, Dawn came to visit. We went to a nearby restaurant for dinner then roasted marshmallows in our backyard when it got dark. Here she is with her sweet little Sophia.



It was cold for an August afternoon, mid 70's. We ate outside and enjoyed the break in the heat.




Dawn has the prettiest eyes.

I'm thrilled spitless, Sophia however looks bored.

Dawn's mother, Theresa came along. That's my Holly Dolly there next to her at the table.

Alex's Football

This picture was taken after Alex's football games at Murray. It's his 15th birthday and they won. All four of the kids look happy at the same time, something that doesn't happen in reality very often. I use it as my screen saver on my cell phone.
Alex looks sufficiently worn and rugged after the game, Holly, Jenny and Max are leaning in and having fun too! I cheered so loud I lost my voice and Greg let the referees know when they missed a call.
Alex is starting to get in shape for this year's season, I personally can't wait for a few crisp fall nights to sit in the stands and pretend I'm back in Pep Club again.

This is a headstone I found while at a funeral for my uncle. Notice that there are three children buried here, siblings, and that they all died the same day they were born. I can't believe that some poor family had to bury three children within a few years of each other. How horrible would that be to deal with.

And this was not a grave from some pioneers crossing the plains in the 1800's, this is 1940...in the United States of America where health care was available. I tear up everytime I see this picture.

This is what happened to me on my last trip to Las Vegas. On the fourth pull of the handle. I won $1000! It was a penny machine so I was convinced that I'd won 1000 pennies, hey, $10 is a good jackpot, right. I argued with the lady who kept trying to give me the money, 'It's not in a straight line, it can't be $1000!" Finally she said, "Do you want this money or should I keep it?" I took it. Still unconvinced I'd won it fairly, but now with it enough to quit arguing.

Greg and I are going back in a week or so, with our next jackpot we're paying off the house and buying two tickets to Australia! See ya soon, Byz!

Having absolutely no luck posting a picture here from my computer. I had these grand plans to put up a pic a day and blog with it, kind of a family album, family history and communicate with my friends at the same time. Where are those computer savvy kids when I need them? At school, you say? Oh, yeah. Right where I left them this morning.

Last April Fools Day, Max, eight years old at the time, managed to turn everything on my screen to one side, rotated one quarter of a turn. Thought it was funny. When I tried to do my writing, my neck got tired of craning to one side, so I turned the whole monitor on it's end, so I could see better. Wrote a whole two chapters of Silk Sheets like that. When they returned home from school, they really thought I had been creative solving the April Fools joke they had played on me. Two quick key strokes put everything right again. Little gremlins!

My Gentleman Son--Max

For the past few days, as I leave for work, my son Max walks me to the car and opens the door, closing it behind me like a true gentleman. Quite a feat for a nine year old if I do say so myself. How did I get such a thoughtful son?

This is a picture of him with my grandson, Tommy Boy, hiding under the dining room table in their secret hideout. Notice the sleeping cat, Garfield, and the large black dog, Sammy, hiding along with them. Looks like only boys allowed!

Max has started to really enjoy doing his oral book talks and nonfiction reports in front of the class. His reading, and math skills are growing exponentially as well. Not bad for a little 3 pound premature boy.

I still remember holding him as an infant,in my arms and watching the new century ring in with fireworks and the terror that only Y2K could inspire in my heart. We managed to survive that imagined disaster, and many real ones as well over the years. What a boy!

Wicked/Truth/Claudia

Posted a new WTC chapter today! My beta sent me four other chapters ready to go up and I have two others very close to ready. And joy of joys, I've figured out where to end this, finally. It's wonderful to have a plan and not fly by the seat of my pants as we come into the final stretch.

Hope to finish this series up soon, need to find some original fiction to work on. I can do it, just look at my Writer's Retreat flash fictions!

My First Blog!

Here's my first blog. Watch me grow!