Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Plan To Do With My Three Day Weekend

1. Sleep late (Why can I never accomplish this?)

2. Dodge raindrops on Saturday. Which is much more fun than playing dodge ball, just ask any grade school kid. (preferrably the kid that's the most bruised from getting hit by the damn ball)

3. Work on both the stories I have started. There's a new fic based on Davy Jones that I'll be posting on my LJ soon. If you want it emailed to you, leave a comment here and I'll try to remember to do that.

4. Do a bit more shopping with money I don't have for clothes for the trip the following weekend. (You know, I really need more clothes!)

5. Find something to photograph. Last weekend's trip to Round Hill Park was a bust. I was really looking forward to pictures of the Windfarm in Mill Run and the animals at Living Treasures.

6. Have a tasty bbq in the back yard. Grill up those hotdogs and hamburgers! Now!!!

7. I plan to get more than a half hour of exercise in each day. Damn it, I want that scale to hit 130 again. My body has found it's comfort weight and it couldn't be the weight I want to be at.

8. I'm going to finish reading 2 more books. (little ones...cos I save the long ones for the work week)

9. I'm going to get my sis to color my hair for me. I don't wish to go to NJ with any gray showing. It's so wrong to have gray hair at 32.

10. Rearrange the mp3s on the Zen and burn some traveling music for next weekend. (This should be easy, except I'm traveling with a metal head and I HATE HEAVY METAL) Looks like I'll be making a bevy of 60's mixes.

11. Print directions for the AC trip and get directions to Lucy The Elephant. I refuse to leave NJ without seeing her up close and personal, even if its raining.

12. Finish the cleaning project I started last week. Some things take much longer than they should to finish.

13. RELAX

It's Hunk Time!

What would hump day be without hunks I ask you? It would be just another boring Wednesday that's what it would be.

These guys are my hunks and I'll drool if I want to.

About A Week To Go

It's almost time for my Atlantic City trip. I'm so excited. I don't know what it is about this place that makes me squee for joy at the mere mention of its name. I don't gamble enough for the lure of the slots to really be what excites me. Hell, I haven't been to Wheeling in months. And do you know what? I only miss the buffet. Oh do I miss that buffet.

I've been checking and rechecking the weather for the days up to the trip. So far the temperatures next week are looking to be in the upper 70's. Beautiful. If the rain clouds would just stay away I would be thrilled. Mr. Blue Sky only made a full appearance for me in NJ the first trip. However when I went with my friend Mary 2 years ago he poked his head out enough that I could get some gorgeous shots of the boardwalk. Last year the three H's were there. Hazy, Hot and Humid and not a sign of Mr. Blue Sky. Damn him!



Aw who am I kidding, it will all be good as long as it doesn't rain and I can see the ocean and the pretty lights



oh and this:



If I don't get to ride this I will be a sad sad girl.

10 days to go!!

Random 10 - Week 69

I ususally do this Music Memoirs meme over @ my LiveJournal, but today I felt like posting it here.

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

Quaker Steak & Lube plays some weird 80's music and then some.

Michael Jackson - Beat It (while my sister and I are singing Weird Al's parody lyrics)

The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (if it rained men in my area it would be a redneck storm...blech)

Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy (This song really freaked Michael out.)

Toto - Eye Of The Tiger

Ace Of Base - The Sign

Now for music that I listened to because I wanted to this weekend

Elvis Costello - The Element Within Her

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Carnival

Tom Petty - Zombie Zoo (Hey isn't that Marie Hayward's theme song?)

Herman's Hermits - Wild Love

Davy Jones - Hold Me Tight (I keep coming back to this song and is so strange)

I was at Round Hill Park yesterday, so my picture has to be of the ducks!



A few more Round Hill pics can be found here. I'll have more posted there later today too.

Today Sucked

Seriously, all my plans got shot to hell in a handbasket wrapped in a butaine (sp) blanket and someone tossed a match.

The rain showers washed my plans of going to the mountains away. So most of my day was spent being very very bored. At some point in the afternoon we attempted to go to Round Hill Park, so the youngest nephew could feel like he did something today. We managed to see the baby bull and another barn before the rain started back up with a vengence.

After that, we went to Quaker Steak & Lube for dinner. The wings there are fantastic. We each ordered a different flavor of sauce for our wings so we could get a sampling. So far I like all of them. Yum! For dessert we had apple nachos. Another yum.

Dinner was the highlight of my day.

I think that's pretty awful when the only enjoyment that comes from a 24 hour period involves food.

Even my rant of the day involves food. After dinner we were going to bring Krispy Kreme donuts home for my mum only to find that the damn place closed at 4:00 p.m.

WTF is up with that?

Do they not know that when you want a donut you want it now! Not in 10 hours.

ARGH!

It's time to forget today happened and move on to tomorrow.

The mall and then some

I decided that today was going to be the day when I went shopping for a few vacation clothes. I mean what fun would vacation be if I didn't buy a few things for the trip?

I was looking forward to saying a fond farewell to Kaufmann's at Washington Crown Center, only to find I was too late.



The signs for the takeover had already gone up. I should have known that they would be there considering I already had my Macy's charge card. I wept for the loss of 100 years of shopping that were done in the stores throughout the Pittsbugh area. Macy's had a good sale though, so I spent 20 bucks on some tops for my trip.

After a futile search for cute things at Dots, the nephew (the older one this time) and I went to Garfield's for dinner.



This margarita was probably the best part of my day. It was made with Margaritaville mix and cranberry. Mmm Mmm Mmm.

And if that weren't enough, after I spent money that I don't have at the mall, we went to Rita's for a Gelati!



A Gelati is italian ice (in this case raspberry) and frozen custard of the vanilla variety. Yum. Yum. Yum.

It was a very tasty day indeed.

I Need More House!

Not as in a place to live, the tv show, sillies. I'm addicted to this series thanks to USA Network. It's part of my Friday night lineup that is now finished until January. No new Monk or Psych until January. I think I might die until then. At least on Sept 5 the new House episodes start to air on Fox! Yay! More Hugh Laurie.

I don't know what it is about him that I really love. Yes, I know he's not what most would consider attractive, but I think he's got that geeky sexy going on. Plus he's got these gorgeous eyes they seem to enjoy playing up on the show.

I'm a sucker for a geeky face with a pretty pair of eyes. It helps his character is completely snarky.



Seriously how could you resist this face?



That's one lucky lollipop.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 86

From the ladies @ Music Memoirs

Top 5 places you like to buy music...and 5 songs that you love from your most recent purchase (s). (They can be from one cd or album download or different cds.)

I buy music from a lot of places but these are my 5 favorite places

1. CD Universe: This online site has the best price 98% of the time. Their shipping is fast and I've never had a problem with an order so far. (knock on wood)

2. LaLa.com Trade CDs you don't want for ones that you do for $1.75!! Used CDs for $1.75! No joke. I just got my first months billing and I swapped 17 CDs for $29.75 and the first disc when you sign up with billing info is free! And when you sign up a trading member you get a cute t-shirt. So come on, who wants an invite!

3. Walmart - Not because of any great selection, but because if it's new and top 40 or well known they most likely have it.

4. Borders Books & Music: This used to be my favorite shop. I used to be able to find everything under the sun there. But the prices are outrageous and over the years the selection has dwindled. Still when I want something on a release date and I'm out and about, I can count on finding it there.

5. Amazon.com: This site trumps Best Buy on my list, because of the Marketplace. I can find just about everything here for a price. Sometimes the price is good, sometimes it's not.

Bonus: Download site

All Of Mp3.com If your planning on downloading an album from I(f-ing)tunes, allow me to point you to this site. So you're going to spend 10 bucks on an album download. Go here and prepay 10 bucks and you get about 7 albums or as many tracks as you nab for 10 bucks. They're available in vary file formats and qualities and no protection! Screw you Apple! I wouldn't buy a ipod if it was the last mp3 player on the planet and I had no music.

Bonus: Concerts

Concerts offer CDs that are autographed and they often offer discs at a slighter cheaper price, especially if they are a UK act and the discs aren't readily available in the US. (This is the one thing I will thank my moodykins for)

5 songs from my recent purchases

Hold Me Tight - Davy Jones (Just Me) Bought at his July 29th show at Falconi field
Walkin After Midnight - Madeleine Peyroux (Dreamland) LaLa.com
Too Late - Keri Noble (Red Wine Til Daylight)Bought from Keri's Website
With One Look - Elaine Paige Bought from LaLa.com
Beautiful Girl - Sophie B. Hawkins Bought from LaLa.com

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things that make me go ewww!

1. Elvis Costello and his wife sharing a liplock.



Though I wonder at myself for right clicking on the damn thing.

2. Marie Hagward erm Hayward.



God that woman is scary!

3. 200 + pound women in binkinis. That is something noone needs to see. Not now. Not ever.

4. Butt cleavage. Even on a twig-like woman, I don't want to see this and I can't believe that in some instances its done on purpose



A little more fabric is needed I think.

5. When roadkill doesn't get cleaned up and the roadkill is a cat! That not only makes me go eww, it makes me cry. I don't care whether the cat is feral or a pet, I hate to see them or any other animal squished on the side of the road.

6. Micky Dolenz. I used to crush on him when I was little. That was before he got fat and bald and had to compensate for the lack of hair on his head by growing a beard.



7. Baggy pants that hang down over the butt so that you can view the wearers boxers. What is up with the boys that do this? This is so unattractive. I don't really want to see anyone's undies. It's slightly better than the crack of their butt though.

8. Any song or video sung by Celine Dion or the bevy of pop tarts and boybands that have less talent than my kitten Oogie who's only talent is escaping whatever room I've put him in.

9. Any insect that I've never seen before. (flies, ants, bees etc are fine) All other creepy bugs make me scream and shout, as the Oingo Boingo song goes.

10. Nicole Richie and any of her friends or ex-friends.



Feed her. Buy her a whole McDonald's worth of food! Force feed her if necessary.

11. Paris Hilton, I figure if her friend (ex-friend) makes me go ewww it would be wrong not to include this talentless piece of crap on my list. I don't want to look at her and I really don't want to listen to her. Make her go away!

12. The whole JonBenet thing. Why ewww? Because of the way that poor little dead girl was exploited in the pageant circuit by her family. I'm in firm belief that if she hadn't been doing that she'd still be alive and my news would be filled with different crap than it is today. Little girls should not be made up to look like trumped up whores at 6 by their parents for a beauty pagents. That's just icky!

13. My hair. Which refuses to do anything I want it to. Ewww! Ick! and Argh!

Happy Hump Day

The last hump day before the new school year. It bothers me that summer is over for the kids next Monday and I don't even have kids! Where the hell did the time go? Why were my moodykins not around to share the summer with me?

The lack of moodykins has been weighing heavily on me right now. I guess that means I should get out the hunks, to brighten this Wednesday up.







Two new hunks this week, Hugh Laurie and Michael Crawford.

A Good Radio Day

Can I just say that I love WPKL (The Pickle). Today they played I'm A Believer, Last Train To Clarksville, I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock N' Roll Band), Nights In White Satin and Young Girl.

That many good songs in one day is downright unbelievable. 2 Moodykins songs in one day is downright awe inspiring. I only wish the second song they played wasn't Nights In White (f-ing) Satin. I get all nostalgic about concerts when I hear that song. As much as it's not a particular favorite of mine, when it's done live it's truly incredible. Hearing it on the radio makes me want to get out the lighter and sway and squee and rush a stage that just doesn't seem to be located in my office.

I shouldn't really be feeling so down about the whole concert thing when I saw the guys 3 times last year and 2 times the year before.

I guess I should be happy that I'm at least hearing them on the radio. That in itself is amazing. Mind you they aren't in Pickle's regular rotation, but they do get played. (At least those two songs do)



I miss blondie moodykins so much. Have I mentioned that?

Now if only Pickle would start playing more Herman's Hermits and maybe a few more Three Dog Night songs, then I'd be really happy. With my luck they'll start playing Old Fashioned Love Song and I'll get it stuck in my head again for another week.

The joys of having to listen to radio at the office! It's probably a good thing no one is around much, so they wouldn't see me dancing to The Zombies Time Of The Season.

No one needs to see me dancing!

La La Dot Com

I'm waiting to see how much my bill is from LaLa this month before I send any more CDs out. I'm getting really impatient. I want more new music and $1.75 is a great deal on used CDs. I've got 2 more days until they bill me for this months discs.

I'm pretty sure I spent 30 bucks on the site last month. Any other time I'd be disgusted with myself for spending that much money on CDs. But do the math, 30 dollars worth of music or so is something like 17 CDs!

Squee!

Plus I've gotten rid of a bunch of CDs that I don't listen to or want anymore. (or rather those discs that make you think, why the hell did I buy them)

Heck, I've even got 2 new Christmas CDs for the coming year's mix! Woot! I've got a head start on Christmas!

I wonder if I'll get this one any time soon



But this is the one I really want for the holiday



I blame the moodykins for my love of Christmas music. Damn them!

The End Of Summer

This is the last week of freedom for the kids in my school district. I've convinced the nephew that we should have one last hurrah before he goes back to class, so next weekend will have a little bit of running in it. I'm not sure if that will be the best thing to do, but hey, the kid deserves some fun before he goes to school.

He's had an eventful summer though, much like I have.

He's been to Hershey, to the park. He's been to the Davy Jones concert at Falconi Field. He's been to both Idlewild and Kennywood multiple times. He's also gone to the flower show and Wheeling to Oglebay.

If he complains about not doing anything this summer I suggest we sock him in the nose.

It's been a really good summer for doing things. I can add a trip to Erie into my mix which was lovely.

Had those Moodykins....erm The Moody Blues actually toured this summer, I would say it's been a nearly perfect summer. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.

I'm Not In The Mood

These last two weekends have really been a killer. Yesterday I scrubbed out the bathroom. Not fun. Today I'm hunting down another cleaning project or something to do. It's too hot in my house for some reason.

I hate this. I'm hate running around for nothing, but I hate sitting at home. I want to do something, but I don't know what. I'm sick of everything. I'm sick of worrying about my weight. I'm tired of sitting in front of this computer, but there's not much else to do. I don't want to waste gas, because I need money for my Atlantic City trip in 2 weeks.

In a word I'm miserable.

Malls do nothing for me, because I don't have money to spend. That's pretty much the same for Wheeling. I dont' have money to throw away and I really need to conserve my calorie intake for my weekend in Jersey. I'm going to come back such a fat cow. I know it.

I have music on but I can't hear it. It's just noise to me right now.

I'm like that Bacharach and David song that everyone covers: I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself.

There was a time when I'd make a mix cd, but even now that bores me. Especially since I don't have anyone to trade CDs with. BAH!

Maybe I should just go back to bed and wait for Monday to start. Double yuck!

I've now officially slipped into childish mode. This has got to stop. I need something to do!!!!!

One Two Three SCREAM

For the second week in the row I spent several hours in the ER with a family member. This time it was dad, AGAIN. His knee went out on him yesterday and he took a spill, before I got home from work. He fussed and whined and was generally a baby about it, until I forced him in my car to the hospital.

When he's in pain, he's no longer a robust 80 year old man, he's a rather obnoxious 2 year old. (And I mean that in the most loving way possible)

Many hours and several x-rays later we are sent home with super dooper pain killers and the need to see an othopedic (sp) surgeon. It seems there's no joint left in his right knee and he'll probably need replacement surgery.

This fall is so not going to be fun. Because of my two parents, my mother is really the stronger one. (This was not always the case) And as my father is the driver of the two, I'll probably be doing all the shopping/banking/doctor taking, which is going to be a huge issue, but one I'll have to overcome somehow, someway.

Keep all my family in your thoughts and prayers please.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 85

Top 5 songs to help you vent your frustrations

1 Boingo - Insanity (Long Version): This song has kept me from killing people in the worst of road rage episodes.

2. The Moody Blues - Vintage Wine: This song is so cheery that when it plays it takes any problems away. It also sticks in my head for hours ...no....days at a time.

3. Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Killing Jar: Siouxsie songs always help release tension. I like this one and most of the Peepshow CD. It's one of my favorite Siouxsie discs.

4. Elvis Costello - Tart: I don't know what it is about this song, but screaming Tart always makes me feel so much better. And damn it, this song sticks in my head too.

5. Erasure - Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me: This is another one of those songs that just wipe away any problems when you're singing it at the top of your lungs while stuck in traffic somewhere. It also makes people in passing cars call for the men in little white coats.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things that would make me a very happy girl right now.

1. A day off that didn't involve running around here and there or a trip to the ER. Just a nice day of relaxation. Hmm, even a day without the computer might be nice.

2. Those 10 odd pounds to go away as easily as they showed up. Damn those unexpected guests.

3. If my house would miraculously clean itself. I'd be happy to have a situation like that lady in Charlestown, WV that came home to find her house cleaned. Apparently one of the neighbors ordered a cleaning service and they had been coming to the wrong address! I'd like to direct on of them to my address!

4. One more hour of precious sleep. Granted I could give myself an extra half hour in the morning and it wouldn't affect much of anything. (I'd just start blogging in the afternoon again) The only problem is, my body really likes waking up at 5:30 a.m. Apparently my body is off its head.

5. The money fairy to stop by with presents. The car trouble set me back at the worst time. (Less then a month before the Atlantic City trip) Damn that Bernie!

6. I would love it if one of my next LaLa discs were ones that were a little bit hard to get a copy of. Oh the joy I would have if I could nab a Nick Lowe disc I've been looking for.

7. If I could actually work on a story I've been writing most of the year. I've totally lost interest. This has happened before, but I've always been able to pull out of my writing funk. This time, I just can't even bring myself to open the works document. I think it's my subconscious telling me this story sucks.

8. If I could do something by myself and not feel guilty about it. I've gotten to a point where I feel bad when I spend money because it could be used for bills or for my trip. I've given up on the concert for this Friday because even though the show is free I'd still end up spending too much money in Pittsburgh.

9. I'd pass out from joy if the Moody Blues announced an East Coast tour or plans for a new album. OK, I probably wouldn't pass out. If the later was announced, I'd probably have a heart attack.

10. The passing out would occur if Elvis Costello would finally do an album that I could listen to the whole way through and enjoy. This hasn't happened since When I Was Cruel for me. And I hate The River In Reverse more than I hated North.

11. And while I'm on the subject of albums. I would be gleeful if Duran Duran released that album that was supposed to be released this summer. For those of you not familiar with Duran Duran, when they say summer 2006 that usually means fall of 2008 at least.

12. If a certain friend that lurks around here would pick up the phone and give me a call. Jennifer knows who she is :P.

13. I'd love to come up with a photo opportunity that didn't end up costing me lots of money.

Hump Day = Hunks

God will someone please tie me up so I stop doing ridiculous stuff rather than the stuff I need to do? I'm getting nothing I want done. Though thank god, my car is fixed. I still need to put gas in it and go to Walmart. I also need to get my butt in gear with some different exercises. I'm thinking of joining Ediets once my Curves membership is up. Either that or I need to invest in some exercise tapes again. I need something, anything really. Hmmm I think I need hunks. That should help!



 
 
 
 

Aren't they all lovely? 

Busy Week

My car is in the shop. It should be done before I'm done with work, but that won't save me from having to have my father drive me there today. ARGH!

I really need to buy food for work at some point this evening. I also need to get to Walmart in the next few days to get my dental rinse. Blech!

I've been trying to get a walk in each day or at least 20 minutes on my ski machine, because I'm not going to Curves anymore. I can't take the woman that owns the place now, and I don't want to drive to go to another one. Plus after October I don't want to pay 29 dollars anymore. I could be using that money to pay off bills. Which is more important really.

I have to run to Target too, but that should be able to wait until the weekend. Lordy, I just want one day where I can sleep blissfully til about 8 or 9 o'clock. At least I don't have anywhere I have to be this weekend. Except maybe that free concert at Station Square that I wouldn't mind attending, but if I don't make that I won't wither away and die. Right now sleep really seems to be my top priority. I want lots of it, but considering all the stuff I have to do after work, the chances of me getting much of that seem to be quite slim.

Come to think of it, sitting down to read isn't looking like it will happen either. (And I have a pile of books to read that's turning into a mountain) I need some "me" time. When am I going to get it?

Dead Tired

The human body is not supposed to deal with amusement parks two weekends in a row. It's just not kind. It's fun, but not kind at all.

I really enjoyed Kennywood for the first time in ages. It's never been a particular favorite of mine when it comes to amusement parks. I love Idlewild for its small quaintness and Hersheypark for its excitement. Kennywood lags behind for some reason. Most likely because it wants to be one of those big parks, but it doesn't quite make it. It can't. It's stuck up on a hill above the Monongahela River sandwiched between West Mifflin and Homestead. Can you say, welcome to the ghetto?

My legs ache terribly and so do my feet. I think we walked the length of the park at least 3 times if not more, which is amazing considering the length of the lines for most of the good rides. The lines were so long that the only roller coaster that we went on was The Thunderbolt. It was long but that line actually moved. I was pretty sure if I had stayed home that I'd see the line for the Racer and The Jack Rabbit out my bedroom window! (And Kennywood is a mere 40 minute drive from my house :P)

My only consolation is that I took many many photos while I was at the park. So while I'm suffering with leg and foot pain today I can look at the pictures and remind myself of how pretty the park was.

If you want to see some fountain pictures, click here.

Off To Kennywood

I do believe this is my last amusement park until October when Idlewild does Hallowboo. Thank god! I can only take so much when it comes to amusement parks, and though I like Kennywood, it's not my favorite park, hence my not having been there in something like 7 years.

Until I get back with pictures of the park, why don't you go and look at some of my Flickr photos or visit my photoblog.

Hopefully I'll get home at a more reasonable hour this time, but I doubt it. My sister's family likes to stay until the park closes. I'm going to be a very very tired girl come tomorrow morning.

Wish me luck! I hope my legs don't fall off and I hope I don't eat at all the eating rides. ~wink wink~

Frustrations

Today started out as a pretty good day. My nephew and I headed out to Trax Farms where I bought another hibiscus for only $6.50, then went to get some breakfast pastries at Panera Bread, after that we had lunch at Arby's, capping things off with a shared raspberry gelati at Rita's.

The trouble started as I got on the Toll Road aka RT 43 and my Service Engine Soon light came on aka Your Car Is Dying Light. It went out, but came on one more time while I was on the highway.

Not a good sign. Thankfully the car chugged it's way home, without giving out. Now I have to worry that it's only a catalytic converter, which my mechanic thinks it is, and not something larger. I can't afford anything else. Bernie the Beretta (named after Bernie Barlow) is about 17 years old and I can't afford another car. In fact I couldn't get a loan for a car if hell froze over and the devil co-signed for it with my soul as collateral. All I can afford if this car kicks the bucket is another 1000 dollar clunker. Nuff said. There is no Mini Cooper or Ford Focus in my future.

Oh and Blogger isn't in the mood to let me post my photos from Trax today. I got another lovely butterfly photo that I really want to share but everytime I try to upload, blogger says, I don't f-ing hardly think so.

ARGH!

I think I should probably shut the computer down and go to my room and curl up with a good book.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 84

Top 5 songs that you liked as a child that you still like now.

1. Memory from Cats: I'm pretty sure the version I listened to as a child was Streisand's version. This one is done by Elaine Paige who created the role of Grizabella on the West End. This song was always on WSSH back when I was little and needed the radio to fall asleep. I loved this song long before I became a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals.

2. Daydream Believer - The Monkees: When I was 4 or 5 a local tv station, WPGH used to play the Monkees every afternoon at about 4 o'clock after the cartoons ended. I loved the show. I was going to marry Davy Jones. I'm still waiting for my proposal, in fact. Damn that man is slow!

3. No Reply - The Beatles: This song came from Beatles 65 or Beatles For Sale if your from the UK. This was the album I found and promptly stole from my brother, because it had another Beatles song that I've always loved, I'll Follow The Sun. I still have that LP too.

4. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club: The first time I heard this song I was at a roller rink for either a party or girl scouts. I can't remember which it was. My mum and I both loved this song. And thus began my hopeless crush on Boy George, of all people! This song will always make me smile and tap my foot. OK, it makes me bounce around the room.

5. Here Today - Paul McCartney: I bought Tug Of War because of the song Ebony & Ivory but there were two other songs I fell in love with after I had my copy. This song about Lennon is one of them, the other is Ballroom Dancing. (I love Macca sillyness)

Flower Shopping Again!

Ok, I caved. For years I've wanted a hibiscus. My hard drive is filled with multitudes of photos of hibiscus that are everywhere but in my yard. Well my parents went to Trax Farms in Finleyville and asked about the cost of a plant. Woot! They were less than 20 dollars and would be on sale this weekend.

OK, why didn't I wait? I know how Trax's selection ususally is at the end of the season. Sure they'd be cheap, but they'd also be picked over and probably not the color I want. I don't want a white hibiscus, however pretty they are. I want a colored one. One that will stand out. So I called Martin's in Rostraver. Double Woot! They had them too!

So for a mere $15.00 I brought home a huge hibiscus! I don't have a picture of the one that I bought. I made sure it was just getting ready to bloom, so it would last longer this season. I do have a photo of one that looks just like it.



More photos are on my photoblog. Go enjoy the floral beauty

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I'm looking forward to in the coming days, weeks, months....

1. Going to Kennywood for the first time in many many years. I've never really cared for this park. Mostly because of it's location on top of the hill in the West Mifflin/Homestead (read: ghetto) suburbs of Pittsburgh. The park is fun, but I think I like every other amusement park I've been to better.

2. Seeing Peter Noone in concert on Oct 14.



I love my badly dressed Brits!

3. Buying some more taffy at Frailingers in a few weeks. This year when we make our pilgrimage to the East Coasts land of lights and slot machines, we will have a cooler with ice! So I can bring chocolate home too.

4. Eating at one of the many yummy restaurants on the boardwalk

Like this one.



5. The new album by Diana Krall



I need to preorder this very soon.

6. The opening of the Tropical Forest Conservatory at Phipps. It's slated to open at the beginning of Nov! My camera and I can't wait.

7. Seeing the ocean again.



I love water!

8. One more trip to the Laurel Highlands to Ohiopyle and or Living Treasures.


9. Getting to see the Pier at Caesars in Atlantic City. It should be completely open by the time we go in Sept. Yay! Not that I can afford to buy anything there. Boo!

10. Egg sandwiches at this wonderful little spot on the boardwalk.

11. Taking the driving tour of the Washington County Covered Bridges, assuming we can afford to drive. GAH! Gas is supposed to hit 4 dollars a gallon in my neck of the woods by the end of summer. Looks like the fall and winter months will be very boring.

12. The cooler weather. I love temps in the upper sixties to mid seventies.

13. Hopefully being able to buy a new camera with 12x Zoom before Christmas.

Hump Day!!

Another week halfway over. I can't believe how fast this summer is flying away.

Where is my life going? Bring it back! And if you can't bring it back, bring me a hunk!







Any of these hunks will do nicely, thank you very much.

The African Daisy

I was talking about my African Daisy yesterday, and Jill wanted to see pictures, so I'm going to post a few, because I'm still hot, tired and my brain can't function to type more than a few words.

Blech! Where's the cold front that was supposed to be here? Where is it?



That was one of the daisies at McShane's in Belle Vernon.



This is the one we bought.

After the first blooms fell off a few more sprouted up. Oddly they weren't as pretty, but then again our garden was full of other flowers and they might not have received adequete sunlight. That could explain why the pink looked so dull the second time around.




Usually you only get 2 blooms from these daisies, this year my pink one decided to make up for it's not so pretty 2nd bloom and it came back one more time.



Prettier than ever! I did have a red one and a yellow one this year. I wonder if the yellow one will come back for one final encore. The red daisy was a volunteer, so I'm just happy we got one bloom from it.