Monday, June 24, 2013

Friend Makin' Monday - Ten Simple Questions

I have never been so happy to see Monday arrive! It was a crazy weekend, you can read HERE

I posted that Sunday morning before we met my sister & niece to go to a little waterpark by her house so I didn't get to tell the news!  Miss Angela got to drive for her first time! She was so funny. One of her friends was with us, so I asked Taylor how brave she was, then pulled over on a dirt road and asked Angel if she wanted to drive. She almost fell out of her door getting out to run over the the driver's side. She did really well, she didn't hit any mailboxes, trees, or go into the ditch. And she made the turn into my sister's driveway without hitting the gate!


OMG - LOOK! Me in a bathing suit!!  That's my Activelink thingy clipped on my strap.


Now onto the goodies....


If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section over at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Ten Simple Questions

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?   OMG, look how red my nose is!!!  Second thought was "hey - I am only slightly pink, not fried!"

2. Do you prefer to pay for things with cash or plastic?  Depends on the amount.  If I'm running into the store for a few small things, I prefer to use cash.  But getting gas, groceries, or critter food - plastic.  

3. What is one word that you use too often?  "Asshat".  I use it regularly while driving.  Also "asshattery" which means the actions of an asshat.  I'm so glad that the girl's friends are old enough not to be shocked by such language, since they always giggle at that.

4. Who is the last person outside of your family who said “I love you” to you?  Hmmm.  One of Angela's friends.

5. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone and mailed it?  Christmas.  I am still in contact with my second grade teacher and I send her letters every year.

6. Have you ever been called upon for jury duty?  Twice - but the first time I'd just left for bootcamp and was excused.  The second time was last summer.  I actually made it into the courtroom, but didn't make jury selection.  It's probably good, since my first impression of the people doing the suing was "trailer trash".

7. How many keys are on your key ring?  3.  Car, house & work file cabinet.

8. List two characteristics that you want to change about yourself.  I wish I was able to make small talk better. I'd have to think about the second one.

9. Do you bring your own shampoo and conditioner when you travel, or do you use what the hotel provides?    I take my own.  I'll occasionally use the hotel ones.

10. What is your birthstone? Do you like it?  Peridot.  I like it.  Until it was lost, my class ring glowed in black light.  Very cool.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to head over and link up in the comments! Happy Monday, friends……









Sunday, June 23, 2013

"Don't Stop the Party" 2013

This post is gonna be pic-heavy because that's how I roll.  And I will apologize about the crappiness of some of them, since 3/4 of the way thru dress rehearsal, my camera decided to lose focus, then crap out entirely. Now the lens won't even retract.  It never took really good action shots to begin with.

Friday night was Miss Angela's dance recital.  As usual she was awesome!  She's really improved as a dancer in the past 2 years or so.  And from some of the things she did in the dances (solo bits, duo bits with girls from level 4, being the only one from level 3 in the jazz line dance, etc) and stuff they do at the studio, I really think they are grooming her to move up to the upper level of the comp team!!


   I am filled with a feeling of relief and yet some sadness, since her last practice on Tuesday was the last one ever in that studio.  The owner, Terina, is leasing (buying?) a much larger place and it is going to be so much better than the tiny place they have now.  I can't wait til she starts summer classes so I can go check out the new digs!

The timing of the recital couldn't have been more perfect, since Miss Angela went to a friend's house last Thursday & got sunburnt on her back.  Went to the same friend's house Monday & burnt some more.  Then went to the beach Tuesday and got burnt on the front.  She had just started to peel Thursday & Friday And now her back is just gross. 

"Thunder" by Prince & the New Revolution
Not my idea of ballet music, but it worked!


Being goofy while walking thru the dance.
The studio is so small the teacher wanted to make sure their spacing was right.

 She went into her back walkover from this pose.


They did part of the dance with the younger girls
who danced to another Prince song. 

"Dance"






"Shake"
I cheated with these - the following are from their first comp.
The "Line" dances include all 4 levels of the comp team.
Plus, at the recital - they kept their hair in the bun and
it didn't work with either of the hiphop dances.





"You Make Me Feel" by Cobra Starship





She nailed her leg-hold turn, I was so thrilled!
It comes in a part of the song where there is a pause
and all the other girls are just posing. 

This is the one where she is the only level 3 girl. 








"Turning Tables" by Adele

 Sadly - this is the only clear shot I got,
since this is where the camera crapped out.
She did a tilt jump with another girl nicely, tho!

"Run The World" by Beyonce


 Must.Look.Fierce.



"Loud" by Big & Rich
No action pics of this one at all.  :(

I always forget to get pics of her at the auditorium with everyone and her flowers!!

from one of the teachers

Saturday morning

This is the second year that her dad drove in (from Nebraska!!) to see her dance.  At least I knew he was coming this time and got him a ticket so he didn't have to sit off by himself.  He came over for a couple hours Saturday to visit with her and bring some porcelain dolls that his mom left her in the will.
I have to confess I was excepting horribly creepy baby dolls with those creepy staring eyes, but they are more like Christmas tree angels.  Not too horrible.  But most of them will get a nice box and tissue paper to live in.
It was still pretty awkward since Angel doesn't know what to say to him. This is only the 2nd time she's seen him since she was 2!!  I did more talking with him than she did.

Later on we went out the NWS office in White Lake to visit Randy doing Field Day and also have some dinner with him.


I got a really tasty steak out of the deal and we got to watch a weather balloon launch, so it was fun.

Randy, Ted, & (I think) Kip.

On the way home, we picked up one of Miss Angela's friends to spend the night and here in a little while we are going to meet my sister & niece at a little water park near her house!  I am ready with the SPF 45 sunscreen!  I hope I don't blind people with my pasty white body!

Have a great Sunday!!


Monday, June 17, 2013

Friend Makin' Monday - Just Wondering.....

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day! I took the hubster out to dinner Saturday night when it was less crazy and then the breakfast Sunday morning. My entree wasn't bad, grilled mahi-mahi with rice & broccoli, but the appetizers killed me. Those deep fried onion straws & mini cheeseburgers. And of course a lovely beverage that I could have chugged several of.


Yummy Cabana Colada & onion straws

Now, onto Friend Makin' Monday!




If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section over at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Just Wondering

1. Do you wear glasses and/or contacts? Yes. I'm blind as a bat without them.  I usually wear contacts since I have to wear sunglasses outside.  I wear glasses when bumming around the house.

2. Do you have summer vacation plans? If so, where are you going? We always take a week off before the girl has to go back to school.  Last year we went from Hell to Paradise.  This year we're tossing around ideas of driving across Michigan to Lake Michigan and heading north along the coast and up to Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore.

3. What is your favorite food to eat for breakfast? I've been having oatmeal way too much lately.  My favorite has got to be a Tim Horton's BELT - egg whites, bacon, lettuce, tomato & cheese on a 12 grain bagel.  Which has to include a Boston Cream donut & giant cup of iced coffee.

4. Do you enjoy window shopping?  Yes.  I like people watching, too.

5. What is your favorite candle scent? Oh man.  We were just at Yankee Candle Saturday, too!  We bought a small Red Velvet Cake candle that is pretty nice.  I have a pineapple / coconut one that I like a lot.  And I have the car jars (air fresheners) in Coconut Bay, Sun & Sand and Pineapple Cilantro.  I highly recommend those, since they can destroy the stench of dance shoes left in a car on a warm day for several hours. It took 3 days to air the car out after that episode. So I always have car jars now!

6. If you had to choose between going to a zoo or an aquarium, which one would you pick? Hmm.  Both!

7. How many times do you plan to exercise this week? I just came in from a 1.5 mile walk around the yard at work with a co-worker.  I don't exactly have a plan.

8. Do you speak another language fluently? Sarcasm?

9. What are you currently reading? Savage Conquest by Janelle Taylor.  I like my historical romances.

10. What are you looking forward to most in the coming week? The girl's dance recital dress rehearsal is Thursday night & the recital Friday night, so that.  However I'm not looking forward to A) dropping $600 on summer school for a certain girl (insert many expletives here) and B) the ex coming to town for said dance recital.  This will be only the second time he's seen her since 2000.  At least we know he's going to be here this time.  Last year, he just showed up unexpectedly!

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and say hi to someone new this week. Happy Monday, lovies! =)