Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Eve

As the evening of the last day of the year approaches, take a moment to count your blessings of 2008, and prayerfully look ahead to 2009.
We have been amazingly blessed this year, and I trust that God has wonderful things in store for us in 2009.
What have been your greatest blessings of 2008, and what are you praying for in 2009?

Prayer works!

Thank you so much for your prayers yesterday. Stellan and Kayleigh are showing signs of improvement! Praise God.
Here is the latest on Tuesday.
Please continue to keep all these darling babies in your prayers.
Thanks!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

And more prayer.

Okay, today is the day of depressing blog posts.
Here is another family who needs prayer. Their little girl, Tuesday, is sick with cancer.
They ask people to pray with them on Tuesdays for Tuesday.
Obviously, they could use your prayers any day of the week.
Thank you.

Prayer PLEASE

The most amazing thing about blogging is that I consider myself a "friend" of many other bloggers around the world. I've never met these people, but in some cases, I know them as if they were my own family.
Many bloggers tend to use their blog as a diary, of sorts, often opening up about the most intense of emotions and situations.
Two such bloggers are MckMama and The Freemans. These two blogging families have engaged me, and thousands of others, as they write about the ups and downs of parenting.
Both families have children with special needs. MckMama has an infant son who is currently suffering from RSV. The Freemans baby girl is a preemie who fights for her life everyday.
Please visit their respective blogs, and as you do, say a prayer for these babies. As a mom of a young boy, I hope to never endure what these parents are struggling with minute-by-minute.
Thankfully, both families are strong believers, trusting the good Lord every step of the way. For that I am very happy.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Doctors' opinions of financail bailout package

The Allergists voted to scratch it, and the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve, and the Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
The Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
The Pathologists yelled, 'Over my dead body!' while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, the Radiologists could see right through it, and the Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, 'This puts a whole new face on the matter.'
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water.
The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists left the decision up to some a**holes in Washington!

Excuse the profanity, but a friend sent this to me as a forward, and I thought it was cute enough to pass along.

Merry, Merry

Hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas. We are recuperating from a lot of chaos, too many calories, much giving, and most unfortunately, the flu!
We are happy to be sort-of normal again as we approach the New Year.
Enjoy reflecting on 2008 as we venture into the many new blessings of 2009.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Sabbatical

Over the course of the next few days, I will be taking a sabbatical. Rather than the typical two-month sabbatical, my break will only last until Monday. 

I will be spending the remainder of the week traveling with family, thus I don't anticipate much time with my computer. 
I am looking forward to the break, but I will miss my friends in the blogosphere!
In the meantime, Merry Christmas.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Parents.

A man in Jacksonville calls his son in San Diego the day before Christmas Eve and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough."
"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Denver and tell her."
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this,"
She calls Jacksonville immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Christmas and paying their own way."

A friend sent me this. Thought you'd enjoy it.

Look, if you dare.

A friend shared this link with me. The injuries are pretty bad, so be warned. The hardest one for me to look at was the horse. Why is it so much harder for me to look at an injured horse over an injured human? I must be cold-hearted. Or not? I don't know.

Politics is good for the soul.

It's been a while since I posted anything political on this blog, but why not stir the pot a couple days before Christmas? 

If you followed my posts pre-election, then you know exactly who I voted for and why. So it should be no surprise that I VERY much support Obama's decision to ask Rick Warren to deliver the invocation in January. I'm a BIG fan of Rick Warren, and y'all know how I feel about Obama. I heart him. 
I cannot wait for January 20th!

Monday, December 22, 2008

ArtsCow pulled through!

Thought you all would like to know that I FINALLY received the 100+  Christmas cards that I ordered from ArtsCow. Thank goodness! I hit up the post office this morning, so most of the cards should make it in time for the big day. Woot.

Happy Birthday, Colo!


Colo, the Worlds First Captive Born Gorilla and the oldest gorilla in a zoological park, turned 52 today!

According to the Columbus Zoo's website: "Colo was the world ’s first western lowland gorilla born in captivity on Dec. 22, 1956 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Now the matriarch of a very large family, Colo gave birth to 3 offspring, who have produced 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Thanks to Colo, the Columbus Zoo is recognized worldwide as a leader in gorilla breeding, care, habitat and conservation. At a time when gorilla populations are severely threatened, 30 gorillas (and counting) have been born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium."
Happy Birthday, Colo!

Have I mentioned?

My sister is the coolest ever. Not only does she adore my son beyond what might be humanely possible, but she is going to Cambodia because she has a ginormous heart. I heart her.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Can't help it, this made me smile.

Installing a husband

Dear Tech Support,
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.
In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as NASCAR 6.0, NFL 5.1 and Golf Clubs 4.1.
Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.
Please note that I have tried r unning Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?
Signed,
Desperate.

Dear Desperate,
First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.
Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed,
Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.
However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6. 1 is a very bad
program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta. Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)
In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0-program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3..0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.
Good Luck!
Tech Support


*I received this as a forward. Thought I'd share.

I'm surprised this hasn't happened to me yet.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

In recovery

I am recovering from a very bad day of throw-up and other nonsense requiring immediate action in the restroom. 

I woke up yesterday morning feeling nauseous, and within an hour, I was huggin' the toilet tightly. I'd like you to believe that the night before was wild and consisted of me dancing on table tops thus leaving me horribly hungover yesterday, but we all know I'm not that fun.
Rather I simply fell victim to the ugly creature that goes by the name flu.
Today I am feeling better though not 100%. I'm taking a day to rest and will be back at it tomorrow. 
Until then, I'll be on my couch nibbling on crackers and sucking down Sprite.

Friday, December 19, 2008

What's your blog's personality type?

Find out for yourself

Alidotes is ESFP, The Performer!

Do this.

Or else.

What happens in Heaven

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.'

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them. 'I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. 'This is the Acknowledgment Section,' my angel friend quietly admitted to me.. He seemed embarrassed 'How is it that there is no work going on here?' I asked.
 
'So sad,' the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.'

'How does one acknowledge God's blessings?' I asked.

'Simple,' the angel answered. Just say, 'Thank you, Lord.'

'What blessings should they acknowledge?' I asked.

'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy .'

'And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.'

'If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .'

'If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.'

'If you can attend a church or synagogue without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.'

'If your parents are still alive and still married ....you are very rare.'

'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.'

*This was another forward that I received. It simply puts things into perspective for me. All too often I wake up complaining that I'm still tired, but how often I forget to thank the Lord, that, indeed, I woke up.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

I am disgusted.

I am disgusted, absolutely DISGUSTED beyond belief, about this situation. How can anyone be so blatantly hateful and pig-headed. Oh, I am just mad.

Check out my son's nursery.

His nursery is featured today at Raising Peanuts. Check it out.

The Freeman Family

Please continue to pray for the Freeman family.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

An email exchange between me and the hubs.

From me, sent a couple hours after I informed hubs that the dog keeps eating our son's toys:
Jaeger is scared of the red blanket. If it is bunched up on the couch, he won't jump up and lay on it. It was on the couch, all sprawled out next to me, and he just stood there next to the couch trying to figure out how to get up without getting on the blanket. The minute I moved the blanket, he jumped up. Weird.

From hubs:
That is weird. Put Henry's toys on that blanket from now on.


My husband is so smart.

Can you turn a complaint into a thanks?

I AM THANKFUL

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ...

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


I received this as a forward and thought I would share.

Seeing is believing.

This is genius!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Sorry!

I deleted the last post. It was a video of cartoon Santa dancin' a jig. And let's just say that you could see the moon. But something went coo-coo with the link. So I deleted it. Sorry 'bout that!

This website just makes me smile.

Not to mention, it makes me want to get my craft on.

Pray for Kayleigh.

She NEEDS prayer.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Because if you're gonna smoke . . .

Then you should have to pull your cigarettes out of this. 'Nuf said.

Dang!

At 62 years old, W's got reflexes! Dang!

Wha' Happened?

And yes, you are reading that correctly. It's "Wha," not "What." If you've seen A Mighty Wind, then you know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Anyway, I'm not exactly sure wha' happened to alidotes over the weekend, but I think I have a hunch.
Basically the template I was using was a downloaded template, and the "backdrop" was pulled from Photobucket, I believe. Photobucket must have pulled the image leaving alidotes and its backdrop all-a-muck. Let's just be thankful that the image wasn't replaced by something disturbing or inappropriate, because that happens, you know!
I will revive alidotes to its unique glory, again, but I need some time to think about what I want and let my creative juices flow. 
Guess that was the big-man-upstairs way of telling me that alidotes needs a makeover. 

Sunday, December 14, 2008

I thought this was sweet.

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say ... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

PLEASE do this!

There's no excuse not to do this


Xerox - you rock!

Today's the last day!

There is also a 10:30am service on December 14th.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

I kinda like this guy.

I better see you there sometime in next 30 hours!

There is also a 10:30am service on December 14th.

Will I see you tonight?

There is also a 10:30am service on Sunday, December 14th.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Linky Love

I've been tagged!


Lara, at Lara's Place, tagged me. 

I guess I am technically going to break the third rule because I am not going to tag anyone, and I don't know enough about tagging etiquette to know if people are going to be angry about that or not, but whatcha gonna do. 

So instead of tagging five specific people, I'm "tagging" anyone who wants to participate. Just let me know if you choose to do so.

Just copy and paste THIS and everything below up until my Five links:

I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!

They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…

There are Five Rules:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you
5. Lara’s Place is the meme originator. (an active link is appreciated)

———– end copy paste ———————————–>

My Links:
1. Aunt MoMo's Corner - This is my sister's blog about aunthood. My sister is the best aunt ever. And she is going to Cambodia because she is AWESOME. I love my sister.
2. allrecipes - Yum. At allrecipes, I type in what I'm searching for and then sort by rating. It's a guaranteed delicious time.
3. Vista - This is my church. It's the best church ever. Toward the top of the site you will see a link to Mike's Blog. Mike's our pastor. He is the best pastor ever.
4. ButterflySparks - She recently designed our Christmas cards, and I recently asked her to make me a custom header. I love her unique and organic style.
5. craigslist - Because I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't obsessed.

I am Tagging:
1. You
2. Your mom
3. Your sister
4. Your mom's mom
5. Your dog

ArtsCow Update

Thanks to all who offered me advice about the ArtsCow situation. I received an email yesterday that my order has been reshipped! Cross your fingers that I'll receive 100+ Christmas cards, all in one piece and in the package, soon!

Very important announcement

I have a very important announcement to make.

My sister is going to Cambodia!

My darling little sister, Morgan, has been given the opportunity to do missions work in Cambodia. God has been working in her heart, and my brave sister accepted His request! In February, 2009, she will travel to Southeast Asia to serve an orphanage in Prek Eng.
She is traveling with a group from our church, and they are serving through a third-party organization, Asia’s Hope. Our church currently has a long-term missionary serving the orphanage, and if you check out her blog you can read about how God is using her in Cambodia.

Finally, if you want to help my sister, she can definitely use 1) lots of prayers, and 2) financial support*. Please let me** know if you are willing or able to help her out in either of those ways.

Morgan – I am so proud of you, and those precious children will be blessed to have you.

*All donations are tax deductible.

**Contact: alisonkhooper{at}gmail{dot}com

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Please consider.

Please consider Design Mom's request.

How'd you sleep last night?

A friend sent me these pictures in a forward. Please be thinking of these remarkable men and women as the holiday approaches. 

Sending love and prayers their way.




A Menorah?

I'm not Jewish, but if I was, I would want a Menorah that looks like this.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Love me some Kenny & Dolly.

My cousin posted this on his fb. I had to share!

Christmas MeMe

This MeMe came from Rebecca. I think there were a total of 25 questions, but I narrowed it down because I didn't have answers to all of them.

Let me know if you decide to participate!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate. Seriously, people, eggs or chocolate? That's what I thought.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrap (with recycled paper, of course) - unwrapping is half the fun!
3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?
Both are delightful.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Must buy mistletoe.
5. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
As a kid, my sister and I would exchange on Christmas Eve.
6. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Lights, ribbon, string, popcorn, ornaments - basically, we dump an entire craft store on our tree.
7. Snow. Love it or dread it?
LOVE the snow. I said "snow," not slush or sleet or ice. Just snow.
8. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Electronic keyboard?
9. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Jesus is the reason for the season. Duh.
10. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Pie. Apple pie. More pie.
11. What tops your Christmas tree?
We haven't topped ours yet. We are leaning toward a star. Stars are good toppers.
12. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Depends on to whom and from whom.
13. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Canon in D - that song makes me all emotional and sentimental. Tear.
14. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?
Seriously? Some people don't like candy canes? Weird.
15. What do you want for Christmas?
A couch. We need a new couch. Okay, fine, I want a new couch.
16. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
Not so much.
17. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ’s?
I don't understand this question. In other words, do I wake up Christmas Eve and put on a holiday gown just because it's Christmas Eve? Uh, no.
18. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
Family. Who else?

Now it's your turn!

Be there.

December 14th there is also a 10:30am service.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Love this.

I am totally in love with this site.


I am second.

Way to go, OSUMB!

The Best Damn Band in the Land has been invited to march in the 2009 Inaugural Parade! Way to go, Buckeyes!

Please say a prayer.

A dear friend of mine is scheduled for a D&C this morning. She lost her baby at 12 weeks gestation just over a week ago. After undergoing a D&C, she learned that she had a molar pregnancy. Because there is a risk that the molar pregnancy left cancerous cells in her body, she must undergo another D&C to remove every last cell. Pray that the procedure is successful and that both Mom and Dad are at peace during this difficult time. They have been optimistic and gracious throughout this entire ordeal, thanking God for the blessing they do have, their healthy and vibrant two-year-old daughter.

Thank you for thinking of them.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Advice, please.

Okay, I need some advice.


Last week I ordered our Christmas cards from a company called ArtsCow. They came recommended, and the added bonus is that they are cheap. I ordered 100+ cards, and I ordered them in plenty of time to have them sent out before Christmas.

I opened my mailbox on Friday to find a package from ArtsCow. An opened package. An empty package. A WHAT-THE-HECK-IS-THIS package.

It appears that the seal on the package bust open and all 100+ cards fell out. Here's the catch: ArtsCow is headquartered in Hong Kong. My package traveled from Hong Kong, and now my 100+ Christmas cards are scattered between here and China, literally.

So, who is to blame? ArtsCow for their less than sturdy packaging? USPS for delivering a clearly open and empty package (seriously, who delivers an empty package?)? Or the Hong Kong post? And if the latter, how do I communicate my problem with them? 

I don't know what to do. I've emailed ArtsCow twice, and I am eagerly waiting to hear back from them. The website offers a phone number but it is not a functioning number (red flag!). If I don't hear back from them in 48 hours (their site stated that I would receive an email response in 48 hours), then I plan on filing a dispute with my credit card company. If that is the case then I will waltz my booty into Sam's Club and order my cards through them. That way I am doing everything in person. 

It's quite a shame, really. I hope ArtsCow pulls through, but I'm skeptical. I'll keep you all posted, but in the meantime, please let me know if you have any suggestions!


So what do you think this smells like?

I'd love to know what you think.

If you know my Dad,

then you know he needs this.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Need to shed a tear?

Okay, last "porn" post.

Are you over these yet?

Noah's Ark

I received this via email as a forward.


Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark . .

ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

To be continued . . .

In the country with my hubbie's family. No Internet access on my computer, so I am borrowing my mother-in-law's. More posts tomorrow, I promise!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Growin' up with weims

I grew up with weims. This video sums up my childhood well.

More, um, porn.

The video says it all.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Porn.

Alyssa, this one's for you!

Too cute!

These are too cute!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Nostalgia.

I had one of these as a kid, and I want one! Actually, it wasn't the exact same one, but a similar toy. Oh, I want one so badly!

Dixie Blinking Bum

My elf name is Dixie Blinking Bum. What is yours

Shame on PepsiMax.

Shame on them. Shame on them.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Check out my guest post!

I'm a guest contributor today at My Precious Pennies. Check it out!

We could all use a smile in the sky!

Check out what the Australians are seeing.

Say a prayer.

A friend of mine is doing missions work in Cambodia. She recently asked us to pray for another missionary who is trying to get from Cambodia to Thailand but is stranded due to the airport crisis over there.
Say a prayer for her travels.
And if you watch the video, did Dan Rivers say "lady boys?"

Monday, December 1, 2008

Jesse Tree

This year my family is starting the advent tradition of Jesse Tree. Shannon, at Rocks in My Dryer, does a great job of laying it out for her readers. Are you starting any new traditions this year?

More hysteria - REMIXED!

Absolute hysteria

I haven't been that into Oprah lately, but my favorite Oprah anything is when she does her Favorite Thing's shows. I actually could care less about half of the stuff, but I LOVE the audience reactions. Seriously, is this absolute hysteria, or what?



Sunday, November 30, 2008

Dear Santa, I'd love a Hawaii Chair.

In case you still don't know what to get Mom for Christmas.

Think she'd like these?

Tag. You're it.

Rebecca posted this on her blog, and I'm following suit. There are no instructions. Just comment on the words below!

Clothes: I used to enjoy clothes, but lately, I shop for clothes that hide things. It's all about hiding things.

Furniture: My couch is my friend.

Sweets: Also my friend.

City: Um, I don't know.

Drink: Diet Coke. Lots of Diet Coke.

Music: All of it.

TV: Depends on the day.

Film: Camera? Video? The film of baby slobber that's collecting on all my sons' toys?

Coffee: My best friend.

Now it's your turn!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Turkey Day desserts gone wild

Hopefully your Thanksgiving day dessert(s) looked better than these.

Devastating tragedy

I cannot believe things like this happen - Greed literally killing a person. Devastating.

30 questions

  1. Where's the person who absolutely takes your breath away? Heaven.
  2. What do you think of the last person you had a conversation with? His poop stinks!
  3. What time did you go to sleep last night and why? 11pm because I had 800 things to do after smelly-poop went to bed at 10pm.
  4. How is your heart lately? Warm.
  5. What is your favorite kind of weather? Pure Fall.
  6. Who would you trade lives with for a day? My dog.
  7. Have you ever been in the newspaper? Probably.
  8. Last baby you held? My favorite baby.
  9. Ever made yourself cry to get out of trouble? I'm a girl. That's how we operate.
  10. Are you single? Depends on who's asking.
  11. Did the one person who hurt you most in your life apologize? Such a person doesn't exist.
  12. Who was the last person that texted you? Probably Sara.
  13. Do you get dressed up to go to work? Ha!
  14. Have you ever worried that a ceiling fan would fall on top of you or something? No, but that reminds me that Lori's mom wouldn't let her tan, not because of skin cancer, but because the top of the booth might fall on top of her and kill her.
  15. When did you last go to the beach? This is depressing me.
  16. Are you someone who worries too often? Only about money. But I try to remember what the Notorious B.I.G. used to say, 'Mo money, 'Mo problems.
  17. What does your hair look like today? I can't see it, but I imagine that the color is fabulous considering I have a kick-butt hair stylist.
  18. Do you know anyone who drinks a lot? Unfortunately.
  19. Are you in a good mood right now? Yes, but I'm exhausted.
  20. Do you have a friend that knows everything or mostly everything about you? Absolutely - her name is Morgan.
  21. Who were you with last night? My hubs and baby and friends from church.
  22. What was the first thing you did this morning? Prayed that God would make the noises on the baby monitor go away.
  23. Who was the first person you saw? My dog.
  24. Did you kiss or hug anyone today? Hubs just kissed me on the forehead.
  25. Who have you called today? No one, yet.
  26. When's the last time you cried? Can't remember.
  27. Would you take a bullet for anyone? My son.
  28. What are you listening to right now? The garbage truck.
  29. Do you like to cuddle? With Henry.
  30. What was the highlight of your day so far? It's too early for highlights.
#2 & #3 refer to my son!

Now it's your turn!

Friday, November 28, 2008

I LOVE rap. I LOVE LeCrae.

Wanna participate?

Let me know if you want to participate in a book exchange. Basically, you send a book to a child, and then you send out six letters. Assuming your recipients participate, your child will eventually receive 36 books. Only email me if you are interested and willing to participate. 

If so, send me your mailing address. You can email me at alisonkhooper{at}gmail{dot}com.
I just sent out my book; we will see if Little Bear gets a few in return!

Brendan Foster is my hero.

You may have heard about Brendan Foster. He is an amazing spirit. I say "is" because his spirit is so alive.
Brendan Foster is my hero.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving 2006

I MUST share the story of my most memorable Thanksgiving to date: Thanksgiving 2006.


Two years ago my parents hosted Thanksgiving at their house. On the invite list was my immediate family, my Dad's extended family from Western Pennsylvania, my cousin's wife (my cousin is a firefighter and worked that day so he could not be there), and my then-boyfriend.

At the time, both my sister and I lived at home. I was going to grad school, and my sister was apartment shopping. Additionally, my parents have a weimaraner named Heidi, and my sister has a weimaraner named Hans. Heidi and Hans are part of the family. Most people are slightly offended by the way we treat our dogs - we allow them to beg from the dinner table, sleep in bed with us, and lounge on the furniture. But as my dad always says, "if you don't like my dogs then you can leave my house!"

This is important to note for two reasons: 1) Hans has a big role in this story, and 2) My dad's family from PA aren't big "dog" people.

About an hour before our guests were to arrive, my sister and I decided to hit up the grocery store for a couple of last minute items. My sister will tell you that she doesn't like "Thanksgiving food." She's a macaroni & cheese and pizza kind of gal, so dressing and cranberry sauce don't score too high on her list of yummy foods. We were going to the grocery store for mac-n-cheese.

After grabbing the final item and putting it in our grocery cart, we stopped by the in-store Starbuck's for coffees. While standing in line, my phone rang. I answered.

Mom: "You need to get home right away."
Me: "What's going on?"
Mom: "Hans has been hit by a car."
Me: "Are you serious? Okay, we're on our way." 
Click.

I looked at my sister. Hans is her life. That dog is her baby - honestly, she thinks breast-feeding is sort-of gross, but she would breast-feed that dog if she had to. I know that is a horrible visual, but it's the truth. 

So my sister is now looking at me like, "what's going on." I say to her, "we have to leave, now." She asks, "what's wrong?" I didn't have the heart to lie. As soon as I told her, she dropped everything - groceries, coffee - and started running to the car. I remember running behind her and watching her. She was trying to run but because she was in hysterics, she just sort-of shuffled out of the grocery store while making strange wailing noises.

We arrived home in record time (we only lived 2 miles from the grocery) and found my parents holding Hans. He was alert and on his feet, but his eyes were bloodshot and his tail was tucked, and he looked a bit beat up. Because our family from PA was on their way, I decided to stay back with my cousin's wife while my family took off with the dog to the puppy ER.

Soon after, our guests arrived. Because my mom had been in charge of the dinner, and because my mom was now at the puppy ER, my Great Aunt helped pull things together (even though she is ancient and not functioning so well). I can remember sitting at the table with my distant family and feeling sick to my stomach. I was so worried about the dog. And of course, my family from PA didn't understand. They are farmers, and they don't have relationships with animals as pets. I totally respect that, but they just didn't understand how badly I wanted them to leave so that I could be with my family and dog in that moment. 

After what seemed like forever, we received a phone call from my sister. Hans was going to be okay! He was going through a battery of tests to make sure that there was no internal bleeding, but he would survive. Now that everyone could relax a bit, my parents decided to leave my sister with Hans at the vet and come home to be with their guests. I decided to go to the vet to be with my sister.

It just so happened that my then-boyfriend (now husband) was on his way in town from his parents house to spend the rest of Thanksgiving with my family. Like a hero, he arrived just in time to pick up my sister, the puppy, and me from the vet. My then-boyfriend and I had only known each other a couple of months at that point, but I knew he was "it." He was so helpful during that difficult time, and even though he wasn't raised with pets like I was, he was willing to do whatever needed to be done for my family.

I will never forget that Thanksgiving. Thank God that Hans was okay, but he really gave us a scare. As it turns out, Hans was hit by a young man who was learning to drive. It was not the boy's fault at all. Hans darted into the street between two parked cars. The boy never even saw him coming. Fortunately this took place on a cul-de-sac thus the boy was driving slowly. I imagine that it really shook the boy up - can you imagine hitting a dog while you're learning to drive?!

Amen!

Thank you!

Thank you for reading Alidotes


As we approach 2009, I am working on updating my blogs to better reach my friends and readers. I don't anticipate that much will be different with Alidotes, but if that changes, you all will be the first to know!

In the meantime, thank you all so very much. I love this blog as it allows me to blurt out exactly what's going on with me in the moment, and many times, without a filter! Thanks for joining me on this wild ride.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Turkey wrestlin'!

This is what ThanksGIVING is all about!

Bringin' back the Soulja Boy

Don't ask me how I found this (honestly, I was looking up a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving). And this has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but I got such a kick out of it, that I HAD to post it! And if you know me, you know how much I LOVE this video.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Here she goes again.

Oh, Maxine.

THANKS for your support!

I won!

Not sure what earrings have to do with ole' fogies belly bumpin' - but, heck, I'll take 'em! Thanks Mrs. Fussypants!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Why?

A friend sent me these. They definitely make you think, Why?

  • Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?
  • Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
  • Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
  • Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?
  • If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
  • How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
There were more, but these were my favorites.

How to Prepare a Turkey

A friend shared this with me. It provided me with a good chuckle.


How to Prepare a Turkey!

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

It was a good weekend to be a Buckeye.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Unnecessary request fail

fail owned pwned pictures

Shopping cart failure

Cute or Ugly?

You be the judge.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Rock on, Buckeyes!

GO BUCKEYES!


I'm sorry, but I had to post this!

I'm sorry, but this disturbed me.

Love ya, Sarah Palin, but pay better attention to your surroundings. And note to viewers, turkeys ARE HARMED in this video.

Friday, November 21, 2008

A very cold tradition.

Check out these crazy Buckeyes.





This video is from 2006, but every year it's the same wild party the Thursday before the big game. Go Bucks. Beat Michigan!

Go Bucks. Beat Michigan!

Beat the Blue!

Go Buckeyes!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

USTREAM.TV

I have a friend who is obsessed with USTREAM.TV puppy cams (you know who you are). I have to admit, they are pretty darn cute.
Check it out, and let me know, are you addicted???

Think about it.

A friend sent me this quote. I LOVE it!

"People nowadays take time far more seriously than eternity." -Thomas Kelly

VOTE FOR ME!

VOTE FOR ME!

Come on, it's funny.

Some people are comparing the Motrin ad to this ad (in terms of it being offensive). I think this ad is hilarious. What's the big deal?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Motrin ad UPDATE!

Thanks for the query, Denise! Here is an update.

This made me chuckle

The facebook of Genesis.

A whole lot-of-fuss.

All the fuss over this ad has given me a headache. I need a Motrin.

*Thanks, Denise. Read this to better understand why the Motrin ad caused such a stir (and why it was pulled). It's quite amazing what can happen because of a bit of social networking (and never underestimate the power of a few angry moms!).

Another clip from Ellen

If you've never seen this before then you'll probably pee your pants. And if you've seen this before, you'll probably pee your pants. 

*and Sara, I could not find the rest of the Kitty video - I searched, and searched!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

An inspiring family

A while back a friend introduced me to this blog. Blogger mom and her family are amazing. They moved into a less than desirable part of the city in order to serve the people of that community (per God's calling). Additionally, they are actively pursuing adoption of two little girls from Liberia (they have three children of their own). 

They parent uniquely and beautifully, and I admire them.
One of their goals is to educate their children about food and where it came from. They do the majority of their grocery shopping at farmer's markets with their children in tow.
I read this recent post and was inspired. I would love for my family to make the shift to eating mostly organic, local and homegrown foods.
This link directs you to their blog. I could not figure out how to link directly to the post. The post is "November 16, 2008."

These are my people.


Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

So it begins

I have been blogging since February, but it was not until yesterday that I received my first negative comment following one of my posts


I have always asked people to be honest and express their opinions - that's the fun of the blogosphere. But until yesterday, I never experienced a negative response to one of my posts.

After first reading the comment, I felt my blood pressure rise and my heart begin to race. But I quickly realized that it was so cool! Someone actually read something that I had to say (although in this case it was a post of a letter from a third party), and my words caused them to actually "feel" something. I love it!

Unfortunately, the individual who commented did not leave their name or a link to their website. It's not a big deal, I simply find it interesting. I'm constantly dishin' out my two cents but I think there is something to be said about someone who posts an anonymous comment. Just a thought.

Oh, and how interesting that I have never received any negativity from my political posts or controversial posts regarding abortion, etc., but it was the post about de-stigmatizing self-mutilation that struck a chord with someone. Not sure what to make of that, but it's interesting.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I received my first negative post, and I can officially say that I am part of this crazy little world called the blogosphere!

Monday, November 17, 2008

And the winner is...

SNW!


SNW answered 3.5 questions correctly. A close second was auntmo with 3 questions answered correctly (yes, it was a tight race!).

So what are the answers?

Q1) Who did I label as a cougar in a previous post?
A1) Betty White! Remember this video clip? *auntmo, Sarah Palin was a good guess - she's a cougar for other reasons, though.

Q2) I have two tattoos, where is this one located on my body (none of my tattoos are in areas that would be hidden by undergarments)?

A2) My foot! That foot has seen a lot of action - that's the ankle that I recently broke.



Q3) Who lives here?

A3) Don't you all remember my BFF? She is the adorable owner of this lovely house in Cabot Cove. I seriously could watch Murder She Wrote all day.


Q4) Why would someone bake us this cake?

A4) This is where Sara received a 1/2 point. Yes, it was presented to us (technically to me) for a wedding-related event, but more specifically, it was the cake at my bridal shower hosted by my mom's best friend.


Q5) In a previous post, I discussed a book that I had recently rediscovered. What was that book?
A5) Blue Like Jazz! An absolute awesome book by the amazing Don Miller.


And, SNW, you will be getting a copy of that wonderful book. I know you are busy, but maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas break will allow you time to read it. I love it.
And because I love the earth and online auctions, I will be sending you a gently used copy that I purchase on eBay. Hopefully it arrives in your mailbox soon! Way to go!!!

Thanks for participating in my 100th post contest! It was fun while it lasted. Until next time . . .

Contest ends in 4 hours.

You are only 5 questions away from the grand prize...
Contest over!

Kitty!

Morgan, this one's for you!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

100th post contest

Wanna participate in a contest? Check out the details!!!
Contest over!

Guess I won't be an astronaut when I grow up.

Send a message to Burton

This came from NAMI StigmaBusters:

The Burton Snowboard Company in Vermont, an international leader in the sport industry, recently unveiled its “Primo” line of snowboards, featuring graphic images of self-mutilation. NAMI is protesting the company’s insensitivity to public health concerns.

For people living with mental illnesses, self-injury unfortunately sometimes is a means of coping with severe emotional stress. Physical injury becomes a surrogate for emotional pain. The Burton images reinforce impulses toward such violence and essentially trivializes them.

Spectrum Youth & Family Services in Vermont , which provides housing and services to homeless, foster and at-risk youth, has protested the toxic snowboards by suspending its participation in Burton’s “Chill” program— which provides free snowboarding lessons to disadvantaged youth in cities around the country. Chill’s mission? “To build self-esteem.”

In a newspaper article , Spectrum’s executive director objected also to a Burton snowboard line that features Playboy models, which is being protested by other groups: “I think I have the right to get on a [chairlift] this winter with my 5-year-old and not have him subjected to any of these scenes…I think I have the right not to have my son ask me, ‘Daddy, why is there a picture of someone’s naked bottom on that snowboard? Why is there a picture of a bloody hand all over that snowboard?’”

Please send Burton a message:

  • Primo snowboards are a public health hazard.
  • Self-injury is not a sport. There is nothing athletic about self-mutilation.
  • Graphic illustrations of bleeding fingers are insensitive and trivialize a symptom of mental illness.
  • Be one of the good guys. Stop toxic marketing. Support mental health education instead.
Contact:

Mr. Laurent Potdevin, CEO
Burton Snowboard Company
80 Industrial Parkway
Burlington, VT 05401
info@burton.com.

StigmaBusters involved in youth-oriented programs are especially encouraged to contact Burton’s Chill Program to emphasize that the Primo line is a black-eye to the good the company tries to do. They are at risk of losing goodwill and credibility.

Katherine McConnell
Burton Snowboard Company
Director of Chill Program
katherinem@burton.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

100th post CONTEST

This is my 100th post on alidotes! Rock on!


So, I whipped up a little contest for my loyal readers.

CONTEST IS CLOSED!

I'll close the contest Monday evening at 5:30pm (eastern). 
To participate, leave a comment with your answers to the five questions listed below. I'll hide the comments until the contest ends on Monday. Not that any of my peeps would cheat, but if there was chocolate in the teacher's lounge, and no one else was in the teacher's lounge, I'd eat the chocolate.
Also, make sure your contact information is located somewhere on your blogger homepage. If you win, I need to be able to contact you!
Oh, and is there a prize? Yes, of course there is a prize! But I can't tell you what because that's part of the contest. Woohoo!
The winner will be the person to answer the most amount of questions correctly, and if there is a tie, the prize will go to the person who answered first.
Take it away!

1) Who did I label as a cougar in a previous post?

2) I have two tattoos, where is this one located on my body (none of my tattoos are in areas that would be hidden by undergarments)?


3) Who lives here?


4) Why would someone bake us this cake?


5) In a previous post, I discussed a book that I had recently rediscovered. What was that book?

Speaking to my heart

I stumbled upon this man's blog - very random considering he lives in Holland. Anywho, this post spoke to my heart. It says a lot about where I am coming from as a pro-life Obama supporter.

My new favorite picture


Whassup?

Friday, November 14, 2008

MoMo & Henry, Say Cheese!

Check out the MoMo & Henry photo shoot at Aunt MoMo's Corner!

GET YOUR PHOTO BOOK

You have the rest of today to redeem this coupon for a free photo book! Thanks, Oprah and Snapfish!



Girlfriend can walk.

That's right. This girl can walk. Sure, it ain't pretty (I sort of look like a girly Quasimodo), but I can get from point A to point B relying solely on my two feet! This girl is getting her life back. Hallelujah!

*To be exact, I am working with a physical therapist to get full range of motion back. She said that if I am a good patient, I will be back to jogging in 4-8 weeks! Praise the Lord!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Did you know? Leaves hurt fish!

Don't hurt the fish! The Ohio EPA is asking residents to keep leaves on their lawns and out of the storm drains: "When leaves pile in the street, rain can carry them into storm drains and ultimately into rivers and streams. Too many leaves in waterways causes algae to bloom, which in turn soaks up oxygen that fish need." It's recommended that residents bag leaves or rake them to the lawn above the curb where rain runoff will soak into the ground (thus allowing the lawn to eat up all the yummy nutrients). And if you don't have a good solution for all your leaves - start a compost! We live in a condo, and we built a small compost bin in our backyard. It's been a wonderful catch-all for a lot of our food waste. Plus, it is earth friendly!