50 Things About Me:

1. Do you like blue cheese? No, I like most cheese but I HATE it.

2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? Yes with a friend in high school.

3. Do you own a gun? we have one

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I don’t but I like their lemon berry slush
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes, always. I have “white coat syndrome”.
6. Do you like hot-dogs? Yes, much more than I used to when I was young.

7. Favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Got to have coffee

9. Can you do push-ups? No!
10. What’s your favorite meal? Spaghetti and salad
11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring
12. Favorite hobby? Blogging
13. Do you work with people who idolize you? Strange question…NO!
14. Name a trait that you hate about yourself? almost no willpower
16. Middle name? Reneé
17. Name 3 thoughts at this moment:I just ate too much, I need to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer, I wonder what I’m going to order to eat on our date
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: nothing
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? coffee, coke, water

20. Current worry right now? a sick aunt—can’t get the underline to leave????
21. Current hate right now? the oppressive heat

22. Favorite place to be? home
23. How did you bring in New Years? lying in bed watching TV
24. Favorite place to go? like on a trip?…to see Cliff’s mother
25. Name three people who will complete this? Maybe the mysterious S. Le ???
26. Whose answer do you want to read the most? anybody who does it
27. What color shirt are you wearing? aqua
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Never have but I think I’d like it
29. Can you whistle? Just a little, not a tune
30. Favorite color(s)? blue, yellow, red, pink
31. Would you be a pirate? No
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? mostly hymns and oldies
33. Favorite girl’s name? Hannah
34. Favorite boy’s name? Daniel
35. What’s in your pocket right now? nothing
36. Last thing that made you laugh? a blog buddy’s blog
37. Bed sheets as a child? flowers, I never had character sheets and didn’t miss them as a child but my brother had some
38. Worst injury you’ve ever had? broken left femur
39. Do you love where you live? Yes
40. How many tv’s are in your house? 4
41. Who is your loudest friend? I don’t have any loud friends right now but when I worked I had a coworker/friend who was so quiet at work but when we left the office to go to lunch, she talked SO LOUD!!!
42. How many dogs do you have? two chihuahuas *smile*
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Maybe my husband???
45. What is your favorite book? one of Mary Higgins Clark’s mysteries…always a page turner
46. What is your favorite candy? Reese’s
47. What is your favorite sports team? Um let me see…the Memphis Tigers of course! I also like the TN Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and TN Volunteers
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Beulah Land
49. What were you doing at 12 AM last night? Sleeping
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? I’m thirsty and need some water

Tamy gave me this special “You make me smile” award. She got it from a friend of hers and it was inspired by a drawing made by the lady’s son! Isn’t that sweet?

Colin gave me this Genie for good luck on my blog.  My regulars might not know Colin but he is an amazing blogger from the UK and he knows a lot of technical computer stuff and keeps everyone up-to-date on the latest from Madeleine McCann. Anybody who would like to get one of these awards, just nab them because you know you deserve them!

Thanks Tamy and Colin!!

I’ve known people in life who have seemed to have no hope. No hope for a better future, no hope of happiness, and no hope of a wonderful eternity spent with God. To me that is one of the saddest things on earth…to have no hope. I pray today for people who have no hope.

Today I am thankful for:

• the rain during the night Tuesday night…our yard and tomatoes needed it so badly. We water but I don’t like to. It is so much better when it comes naturally!
  
• a home to live in. When I worked in the mental health field I saw so many homeless people. At a shelter one time, I saw a whole homeless family including a beautiful little girl. How sad is that? I often take our home for granted but try not to.
• great authors so I have something to read. I truly admire their talent for finding the right words.
  

What are you thankful for today? Head over to visit Iris for more thankful people. Just click on the icon.

For more Wordless Wednesday participants, click here.

About twelve or thirteen years ago Cliff met Cindy where they both worked and we have been good friends with her and her husband and children ever since. We started babysitting their two girls when they were about 4 and 2 and Goldie was a puppy. Cliff and I would go over there on a Saturday night (even when we were dating) and keep their precious little girls while they went out to eat and to a movie, etc. Cliff and I came to love those two little girls so much and their sweet yellow lab too. The youngest little girl called Cliff “Ciff” when she was little. Great memories. Through the years we have also gone over there to let Goldie out to do her business almost every year when they went on vacation. The last time we babysat was about three years ago when their little boy was about four. Being the dog lover that I am, (Cliff was going to let Goldie out a few nights ago while they’re vacationing in Florida) I wanted to tag along so I could see Goldie. (After going around the world to tell a story, this is the point of it.) I was so shocked and saddened to see little Goldie has gotten to be a little old lady. It is so sad to watch her try to get around with her little arthritic hips. She was a shadow of the healthy dog she used to be and so slow moving. I guess I had not prepared myself for her having gotten so much older in three years. She was always such a sweet baby. Cliff brushed her for 20 minutes to get rid of some of her shedding hair and she loved it. I was a little sad to see she didn’t seem to recognize me but it was so good to see her.

^ Cliff loving on her.

^Their house…they’re a lot wealthier than us.

^ Her little arthritic hips.

FOR TODAY July 21, 2008

Outside my Window… sunny and not a leaf blowing on the trees. The high today is 102°. Oh my!

I am thinking…about how to design the bulletin board to look really cute.

I am thankful for…air conditioning.

From the kitchen…pork tenderloin, broccoli I think and some type of pasta.

I am creating…a bulletin board our Sunday School class has to put up at church for August.

I am going…to dust the living room today.

I am wearing…a tank top, shorts and flip flops.

I am reading…The Survivors by Dinah McCall

I am hoping…that the dog across the street has plenty of water for this horribly, hot day.

I am hearing…a show on the History Channel.

Around the house…chihuahuas sleeping, no dirty clothes in the laundry basket and Cliff just left for work.

One of my favorite things…coffee!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…work on the bulletin board, call about an insurance thing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

For more Simple Daybooks, click here.

This Sunday Mercedes’ theme is Summer Salads. To say I am obsessed with this salad is a little strong but I have made this salad every summer I’ve been married and my mouth waters just looking at it. I do it a little different than this recipe but since I haven’t made it yet this summer (not sure why), I had to borrow the picture and recipe from Kraft. I don’t slice my cucumbers and tomatoes and onions…I ALWAYS cut them in bite size chunks. It’s much easier like that. And I don’t use reduced fat dressing and I let it set in the fridge and I make it in a bowl instead of a plate but otherwise, it is identical to mine. I’ve got to make one really soon.

For more summer salad recipes, visit Mercedes Rocks.

We ate at On the Border last night. It was pretty good. Cliff and I switched up what we got. I got the Fajita Salad and he got a combo meal. It sort of started off bad. Some lady sitting in the table next to our booth was coughing, coughing, coughing. Cliff was going bonkers listening to it and I have to admit, it was starting to bother me some too. He is more sensitive to sounds and they bother him more than they do me. Anyway, he went and told the hostess we were moving. She said okay just pick out a place. We got on the other side of the restaurant and could no longer hear her. It was better. Later during our meal, Cliff got a little choked on a jalapeno seed and started coughing and I said see that’s probably what happened to that little lady.

We talked about Memphis politics and former state senator John Ford being found guilty among other things. Then we went to Sears and looked around since it is right beside the restaurant. We saw a friend we both worked with from another agency and chatted with her a while.

On the agenda today…wash darks and do things around the house.

Today, July 18, 2008, is Tuffy’s 3rd Birthday!

What he has done today:

• got a bite of my breakfast cereal
• ran out into the backyard and barked
• ate a few bites of his food
• chewed on the tail of his brown bear to his right in the picture
• posed for his 3rd birthday pictures

Update: Just for my birthday, mom gave me some of the meat from her Taco Bell for lunch…¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!!

Please say a prayer for my friend’s little boy Jesse who is undergoing major surgery on his ear while I type this at 9:58 AM CST.

Update–Jesse is out of surgery and in recovery. 10:40 AM CST

Another Update–Jesse is in some pain and he has an incision around his ear but he is doing great!  Thank you so much for your prayers!   9:20 PM CST

Joy at Joy of Desserts is having an ice cream recipe roundup today. Go visit her and get some great ice cream recipes…just in time for hot, summer weather.

Here is my entry!

Vanilla Ice Cream

1 vanilla bean cut in half

3/4 C. sugar

5 egg yolks

1 C. half and half

2 C. heavy cream

dash of salt

Add sugar and egg yolks to a pan and blend well. Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean and add it to the egg mixture. Add the bean pod also. Add the half and half. Over low heat cook the mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture is thick and creamy, about 10 minutes. (You can also use a double boiler)

Remove from heat and let cool. Whisk in the heavy cream and a dash of salt. Chill thoroughly. Remove bean pod before freezing.

Transfer the cream mixture to your ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturers instructions.

I am so thankful today that God looks at the heart and not the outward appearance. I wish more people did. Having had Rheumatoid arthritis for 40+ years, my fingers are crooked and my wrist is bent and I walk with a limp. This causes a few people to stare which, I guess, is human nature but also rude. They tend to stare more when I’m in a wheelchair than when I’m walking…go figure.

But one day when I get to heaven, I’ll run up to my Father with a perfect gait and fall at His feet and thank Him for the privilege of being His child. I’ll thank Him for my afflictions because if they caused ONE person to accept Him as their Savior, it was all worth it. Every painful step and every rude stare and every ugly comment will have been worth it all.

Today I am thankful for:

• the somewhat cooler temperatures this week!
• the McDonald’s iced coffee Cliff got me Wed. morning and for the fact that he spoils me sometimes
• my blog friends who keep me company daily…I definitely consider them friends
• my friends who I never call enough but they still consider me their friend…thank you
• my computer…my best connection to the world

For more thankful people and our host Iris, click on the pretty Thankful Thursday icon at the top.

]]> http://rampy.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/thankful-thursday-25/feed/ Gina http://rampy.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/wordless-wednesdaybegging-chihuahuas/ http://rampy.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/wordless-wednesdaybegging-chihuahuas/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:24:35 +0000 Gina http://rampy.wordpress.com/?p=1246

Cliff and I eat at a bar in the kitchen. It is just the two of us so it is very convenient.

^ A closeup of Mandy under the bar waiting for some of our supper.

^ Tuffy under there too licking his lips in anticipation of a bite.

For more wordless people, visit here.

We decided Tuffy needed to go to the vet Saturday because he was itching so badly. It wasn’t fleas; it was his shedding that was doing it. *These pictures are all different than the ones on Tuffy’s blog.

Here’s Tuffy and Cliff waiting in the office. He is snuggling because he is so nervous.

Here he is on the exam table which is also a scale. He had gained a pound.

Here is Tuffy with Dr. Miller whom we just love…I don’t think Tuffy is too fond of him though. See Tuffy sticking out his tongue…a sign of stress.

Finally getting to go home. This is what he looks like when he is howling and he was howling here because he hates to ride in a car and he couldn’t get home quick enough.

He got an allergy shot and some pills for something else. Needless to say, they know us very well there.

No, not the sweepstakes. But Oh Wow!! Just a few weeks after saying I never won anything in my life, now I win an apron from bloggy land for publishing my Bucket List. I am so excited. Here is the post announcing my win! Thank you Apron Lady.

My dogs also got a wonderful gift from their great pal and mine, Rusty and his sweet mom and I got a postcard from my good blog buddy Mercedes. Fun times!

Here is the one I requested!!!

FOR TODAY Monday July 14, 2008

Outside my Window…trees with leaves that barely move in the still air

I am thinking…of all I need to do in the house and how I can make a schedule

I am thankful for…visiting with my mother Sunday

From the kitchen…haven’t decided yet on one of the veggies but I’m having baked pork chops and zucchini

I am creating…an organizer for myself

I am going…no where the rest of the day; I just got home

I am wearing…shorts and a t-shirt

I am reading…things online about organizing

I am hoping…my supper turns out good and Cliff likes it

I am hearing…silence; just the hum of the AC

Around the house…I need to go through my closet and get rid of some clothes

One of my favorite things…the TV show Big Brother starts again

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…make out a grocery list, design a bulletin board for church

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

A Giant Panda at our Memphis zoo on loan from China

For more daybooks, click here.

This week Mercedes’ theme is ice cream in honor of National Ice Cream Month. When Cliff and I both were kids, our parents used to make homemade ice cream…usually vanilla. It was the best thing on earth. I haven’t had any like it since even though some do come close. Cliff and I no longer make ice cream but I found a recipe online.

Vanilla Ice Cream

1 vanilla bean cut in half

3/4 C. sugar

5 egg yolks

1 C. half and half

2 C. heavy cream

dash of salt

Add sugar and egg yolks to a pan and blend well. Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean and add it to the egg mixture. Add the bean pod also. Add the half and half. Over low heat cook the mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture is thick and creamy, about 10 minutes. (You can also use a double boiler)

Remove from heat and let cool. Whisk in the heavy cream and a dash of salt. Chill thoroughly. Remove bean pod before freezing.

Transfer the cream mixture to your ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturers instructions.

Today is going to be very hot…95°. It’s already 93 at 10:00 am so I believe the high was not predicted right. Whew.

I need to do a load of darks, dust the living room and prepare the Sunday school lesson for tomorrow on Barnabas (I have to teach because our teacher is on vacation.) What I’m doing right now–blogging and watching Kimora Simmons’ show and waiting for Cliff to get up.

We went to Olive Garden to eat yesterday on our date. It was pretty good. I got the eggplant parmigiana and Cliff got spaghetti with meatballs and Italian sausage. What we talked about…Jesse’s gaffe said under open microphone about Obama , Obama saying gas is going to be $12 a gallon, our plans for tomorrow, etc.

Then we went to our “favorite old married couple’s place for a date”…the library. I got a mystery/romance book by Dinah McCall, The Survivors.

Then we went by Baskin Robbins and I got a Heath® ice cream and Cliff got a sugar free banana something.

Then we came home and Cliff went to sleep and I watched TV with my babies.

Reason can answer questions, but imagination has to ask them.

This cartoon has nothing to do with ice cream (well it does sort of)

but I just had to share it.

So cute!