Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A Day at the DPS


This photo has nothing to do with this post except that my day began with deciding between this carpet and another for the dining room. Actually I could have gone to more stores and searched through many more carpets, but that is not me. I found one I liked, and I am sticking with it. Also, I have no other photos for this post, and I felt the need for a photo.

Now on to the real post. I spent some time at the DPS today. That is really all I should have to say, if you have been there recently. Why was I even there, you might ask? Well, it has been ten years since I had my driver's license renewed. After that time, you must go in and have it renewed in person. Here are some random thoughts on my visit today.

1. Arlington needs more than one DPS office.

2. The physical building has not changed in ten years.

3. There was not one person working there that was younger than me.

4. If I had the ring tone on my phone that the girl behind me in line had on hers, I would be called a racist.

5. This same girl was going to go pay her warrant after she got her driver's license. All she needed was a license, someone to drive her, and someone to bring her $200.00. I would like to suggest a new cell phone ring tone also.

6. The stores surrounding this DPS office are very interesting.

7. They need more than one bathroom and maybe a bathroom monitor. I did not go in there.

8. I was grossed out to touch the thumbprint scanner and the vision test. I am not easily grossed out.

9. Vision and math tests freak me out.

10. After seeing my photo, I am not sure all the people working there were older than me.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Casa Manana, Again

Friday night was Casa night with Ben and Scarlett. At first, I felt like I didn't have time to go since we are trying to move. But boxes and packing can wait. Growing grandchildren cannot.

The play was Pinocchio. It was very good, and we all enjoyed it. As always, Ben and Scarlett loved getting autographs from the actors and scoring some souvenirs.

The Blue Fairy

Pinocchio, himself.

"Who's autograph do I still need?"

Scarlett getting an autograph.

Ben thought it was so funny that this actor called Scarlett a Princess.
Maybe next year Ava and Lucy can come in for the plays. Wouldn't that be fun?

Ava 
Lucy

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Winner

Thanks to all who participated in the Valentine's Day giveaway. Joanie was the winner of the drawing. Congratulations.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Boy, She is Popular

Ree held a Q&A
Last night, I went to Dallas because the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, was in town for a book signing. Yes, I have officially become one of those people that chases after people I don't even know, but that is the problem with blogs. You do know them. She communicates with me everyday. (I think my children are planning an intervention.)

I went early. Ree was scheduled to arrive at 6:00pm. I arrived at 5:00pm (which is early for a Brier), because I knew it would probably be well attended, and it was. I received a green bracelet. There were already a lot of people there. After visiting with some people in line to the bathroom, I figured out my bracelet color was way down the list, like in the five hundreds! Unbeknownst to me, they started handing bracelets out at 10:00am. (Just for the record, they handed out a 1000 bracelets.)

This is Jen and another friend mentioned in the credits of Ree's new book.
The whole Drummond family entered right on time. Ree spent about twenty minutes speaking and taking questions. She was pretty, funny, and not surprisingly, very smart and quick. Then she commenced signing books. I was seated (I had procured a stool) to her right and happened to meet two of her best friends. 
They were very nice, too, and said Ree was exactly like she is on her blog. They did mention that she has an extraordinary memory. That made me a little sad, because by this time I had decided to leave. I just knew if she met me she would remember me and invite me to the lodge one day.

I believe Ree is writing, "I wish it was Jan's turn" in this lady's book. 


On my way out, I realized other people were in line to have Marlboro Man and her children sign their books. I don't know if they were getting the whole families' autographs or just knew that they couldn't wait until 2:00am to get Ree's. I stealthily snapped a picture of MM, but left the children to their anonymity. The children were darling though. MM looked like he would give anything to be back at the ranch.

Knowing "green" was not going to be called until way after 10:00pm, I headed back to Mansfield. Although, my cookbook is not signed, it was fun to see Ree Drummond in person and find out she is the person you read about on the blog. 

But, Ree, I still want to come to the Lodge

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day Giveaway

Barry and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. We like to think of every day as Valentine's Day. Can I hear a collective "Aww" or gag?

However, two Valentine's days do come to mind. One was years ago when Barry presented me with a half, heart shaped box of candy that he and Chris bought and cut with a necropsy knife at the clinic. There are many messages I picked up from that gift, but I will not psychoanalyze them all here today.

One of the great things about not celebrating the obligatory day is when there is a surprise gift given. My favorite is this little painting that Barry did for me for Valentine's Day one year.


What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory? Share it here on the blog, and you will be entered in a drawing for a $10.00 Itunes gift card.

Rules:

1. You must comment on the blog. (not by email)  If you don't want to set up the google account, just post anonymously and sign your name in the comment box after your comment. If you have trouble doing it, then send me the email, and I will post it for you.

2. A random drawing will be held.

3. The contest closes Wednesday at 6:00pm CST.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

What Else Can I Sell?

Barry and I have been going back and forth about the dryer and washer that came with our new house. I wanted them out of there, and he (should I say it?) was procrastinating.
He did move them out of the house yesterday (with the help of Tom F) and tried to sell them to people driving down the street going to an Estate Sale in the neighborhood. I am sure our new neighbors were impressed. We had some interest, but the dryer was gas and our prospects needed electric. The Estate Sale people were really nice and told us to put them on Craigslist. (Should I say that is what I suggested we do around the beginning of 2011?) By, we, I  actually mean I was hoping Barry would do it.  

Last night around 8:30pm I decided to place the Washer and Dryer on Craigslist myself. (Do any other married couples relate to this avoidance of completing the task in hopes that the other person will complete it ?) I had photos I had taken of them and their model numbers. At 9:00pm, I asked Barry to check his email and see if anyone had responded. 

As he was, checking and saying, "No one is going to look at it until tomorrow" (which I totally think was a throw back in his mind to the Sunday paper classified), there was an email. Barry called the person and at 9:40am this morning, the washer and dryer were paid for and picked up. Barry even threw in a tie down for the man. 

Now I am inspired. Maybe I should just put my house on Craigslist. 







Wednesday, February 9, 2011

How Bout That Cowgirl?

As most of you know,  Scarlett is not crazy about having her photograph taken. I managed to get more pictures of her at the rodeo last week than usual. Toward the end, though, she wasn't being as cooperative. Her mom tried to help out by stealing her hat to get her to turn around. As you can see, she wasn't too thrilled about that. I do believe she might be stealing the hearts of some cowboys soon.



 " Turn around, Scarlett."  "Why did you take my hat?" "You are sneaky, Mom"

Monday, February 7, 2011

No Excuse

There is no excuse for not knowing the words to the National Anthem. That's all I have to say.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Legendary

The motto for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo this year was "This Thing is Legendary". Unfortunately, for the Rodeo the weather put a damper on the event, but we didn't want to miss it. So we braved the melting snow on Friday night to attend the rodeo.


We met Brett, Shannon, Ben, and Scarlett in the exhibit hall. Ben was really excited about an Indian he had seen. He couldn't quite remember where he had seen this Indian, but Barry and I followed he and Scarlett through the exhibits. We found the Indian, and Ben and Scarlett were thrilled to have their picture made with him. He was happy too, as it was a slow night in the exhibit hall. (I probably should have called this man a Native American, but I am not sure if he was truly a Native American, so I just went with Indian.)


Right next door to the Indian was the AT&T booth. With the beauty of technology, Ben and Scarlett also got a picture of themselves riding a bull.


Can you believe they drew the same bull, and they both scored an 81.


Then it was off to the rodeo. Just for the record, Ben and Scarlett have very mean parents. They would not let Barry and I buy them some cotton candy. I will admit that they had just eaten chocolate covered pretzels, so I guess their parents aren't that mean.

Earlier, at the exhibit hall, Ben and Scarlett had picked out pencils carved from a stick. They sell these pencils at Anthropology for $8.00. They were a much, much better buy at the rodeo. Ben picked one with some kind of dragon on it, and Scarlett chose a plain one. As it turned out hers was the better choice. By the end of the bull riding, Ben had begun to break out in hives. We believe it was from his pencil.
Barring the lack of cotton candy and the toxic material on Ben's pencil it was a fun time for all. 

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Paint and Poop

Cabinets Before
Before the ice and snow hit the metroplex, we had the new house painted and made a quick trip to Houston. My lips are also chapped but that has nothing to do with this post.

The Paint Part:
Last week, Southern Painting, spent the week painting our new house. They did a great job and were very patient with me as I still had some colors to try out. Luckily, the weather was good, and, as always, they got the job finished in a timely manner. 

Dining Room
Living room looking through to breakfast area
Kitchen
This is the inside of the pantry door with a chalkboard for notes.

The Poop Part:


On Friday, Barry, Bingo, and I headed to Houston to babysit Lucy and Ava. Jacob and Joanie had a wedding and were busy Friday and Saturday. We left on Friday and drove the RV, aka, Cozy Cottage to Houston. Joanie no longer has an extra bedroom, and the RV needed to be driven. We parked it in their driveway, and mainly only used it to sleep. Of course, we had to hang out in it a little with Ava every day. She soon knew how to turn on the lights and the television. It is amazing what a two year old can learn in a few minutes.

Lucy and Barry spent a lot of time together over the weekend. She seemed to really like her 'Poppy'.
I do believe the feeling was mutual.

Barry, Ava, and Lucy were playing in the backyard when Barry and Ava stepped into some poop. Since Barry was holding Lucy, I was the lucky one that got to clean their shoes. Ava had a brand new pair of tennis shoes that are very cute but have a million little crevices in the soles. I am not sure Barry changed any diapers either.
Great Uncle Mike visited too.

Ava attended a birthday party. A magician did some magic for the two year olds, and she came home with this hat. She and Barry spent some time practicing magic tricks. "Where's Ava?"

 There she is!

Even though we hated to leave those cutie patootie girls, we headed home on Sunday. 
Then, of course, the bad weather hit here and chapped my lips.