Thursday Thirteen #16

Because I have recently determined that I have the most bizarre animals ever created, this week brings you...

Thirteen strange things my dogs have eaten or otherwise destroyed

1. Power cords. Apparently this is haute cuisine to one mini schnauzer and one shih-tzu. Trixie (shih-tzu) destroyed the cord to our first digital camera and the one to my husband's cellphone at the time. Molly (mini schnauzer) destroyed one to MY last cellphone. I had to get a new phone because of her. 'Spensive little brat. Funny thing is, some of these cords were plugged in and being used at the time of consumption. It's a miracle they didn't get hurt.

2. Vomit. Ewwe, gross, I know. Trixie has been known to eat not only Molly's vomit when it contains recently eaten food, she also has eaten human vomit found in a pile outside the apartment building we used to live in. I almost killed her. I wanted to. I also wanted to Lysol her mouth, but I think they sort of frown upon that these days. I did, however, scrub her mouth, teeth, and tongue with a baby wipe. And then I cried. No, bawled.

3. Furniture. Trixie used to chew on our old dining room table set. Baaad dog. Molly made some leeway on some antique chairs we were storing here for my parents AND a couple of nice wooden TV trays we have.

4. Walls. When Trixie was a puppy, I caught her trying to chew a wall. A WALL!!! Please explain to me how you chew a wall?!

5. Wasabi peas. Ok, so this one can be blamed on my husband and his buddy. They like to eat dried peas that have this hot wasabi coating on them and see how many they can stand putting in their mouths at once. One day they were goofing around and thought, "hey, I wonder if the dog would eat one". Well, she did. She spit it out about 50 times first, but she ate it. And another, and another. And you thought *I* was cruel for scrubbing her mouth with a baby wipe.

6. Every squeak thing in every dog toy ever made. It's like an obsession with Trixie. Must.kill.the.squeaker. Can't.stop.until.it's.deeeaaaaaddd! Then she eats the evidence.

7. Plastic clothes pins. Thank goodness she hasn't eaten the metal part, but the plastic part? I can't tell you how many of THOSE have been regurgitated around here.

8. Earwigs, spiders, and other such creepy crawlies. Molly? She just tosses them up in the air and then rolls all over them. But Trixie, she eats them. Yumm.

9. Paper. From used kleenex and feminine products to paper towels, receipts, and yes, money... they love to obliterate any piece of paper-like material they can find. And like the rude stinkers they are, they leave all the billions of pieces for me to pick up.

10. Toenail clippings. Trixie apparently has a taste for her sister's toenail clippings. They're like little black dots of heaven...

11. Fuzz. Tennis balls, beware! You will lose your fuzz if you come to my house.

12. Carpet. Ok, so they don't eat the carpet, but if there is anything that smells interesting in it, Trixie will lick a spot of it until it's completely flat. We call them "crop circles" because that's exactly how they look. How in the world my dog can lick perfect little crop circles into our carpet, I will never know.

13. Sand paper. See post below this one...

Strange, frustrating, comical dogs. But you gotta love 'em. No one ever said they were normal, but they do keep life interesting.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #15

I have zero writing creativity today. I think maybe The Rock Chick's curse is catching! Even so, her Thursday Thirteen this week is so much more interesting than mine is going to be.

Eventually, a friend and I are going to have a meme of our very own about product reviews. We keep talking about it, but neither of us has actually started it yet. But in honor of that, this week's list is:

Thirteen Things I Can't Live Without

1. My Lysol. If you've read any of my blog before, you probably know how much I *heart* Lysol. Being the germaphobe I am, I like to keep my kitchen and bathroom Lysol-ed. Plus, it comes in handy when one wants to go about killing spiders and scorpions. *grin*

2. My Oral-B Triumph. I've tried several different power toothbrushes, and this one is hands down the best I've tried. I'm an obsessive tooth brusher. When I brush manually, I end up brushing for at least twice as long as you're supposed to, and I also brush sort of hard. Even still, I simply can't get my teeth as clean as I can with the Triumph. It makes me feel like I just flossed even if I didn't. Even my dentist noticed the difference at my last visit, and I've only had it for a few weeks. We've actually had one for about a year and a half, but I stopped using it because it was in the back bathroom, and I'm never in there when I want to brush my teeth. So I bought a second one. My hubby still uses the first one. Speaking of teeth, I *didn't* need a filling last Friday after all! The little bitty cavity I had disappeared, which leads me to...

3. Fluoride. Yes, it's toxic and I'm supposed to be all about the natural crunchy stuff, but that stuff works! The hygienist gave me a fluoride treatment at my cleaning last month and it made my little cavity vanish! I know it was there because I'm the one that first found it before I even had my 6-month exam. I don't like the idea of putting it in tap water, but as far as topical fluoride? Oh fluoride, I love you so.

4. Lindt Lindor Truffles and Ghirardelli Twilight Delight. Because I have to get the money's worth out of that fluoride, you know. Those of us that are chocolate snobs and love the truffles call them little pieces of heaven. Ahhhh. As for Twilight Delight, it's 72% cacao, but oh so smooth and not in the least bit bitter. I'm actually surprised that an American chocolate company finally got it right. All other chocolate is simply inferior and should bow down before the Lindt and Ghirardelli kings.

5. Annie's Mac & Cheese. Who says adults can't love mac & cheese just as much as they did when they were kids? Move over blue box, because Annie's Homegrown Organic is the best boxed mac ever. You might remember a couple months ago I fiddled around with the Easy Mac (which was a waste and a disaster and a shame to mac & cheese fans everywhere). While that was not a good experience, it gave me a craving for mac & cheese that I haven't gotten rid of yet! We've been buying Annie's for a few years now, but don't eat it that often. However, recently I found little individual serving packs of Annie's Organic in white cheddar flavor. It doesn't come in its own cup, but that's ok... less waste, right? It actually tastes *good* out of the microwave. I love this stuff, and it's so convenient and fast. I *heart* you, Annie. You're welcome at my dinner table any day.

6. My memory card reader. I take a lot of pictures with my digital camera, and transferring them to the computer is so much easier with this little number. I don't waste camera battery power, and it is *so* much faster this way. Best $12 I've ever spent.

7. My cellphone! I have a Motorola Razr V3 and love it. I haven't quite figured out why so many people hate theirs. I really have not had any problems with mine. I just wish I would have sprung for the pink one!

8. The Bernzomatic 3 in 1 Micro Torch. You already know I have a love affair with my torch. It makes me shiver with excitement. Who knew melting metal could be such fun?

9. Our satellite with DVR. We just got satellite service a few months ago. Before we got it, we had digital cable. The digital cable had a couple more channels that we don't get with satellite, but we haven't really missed them. And now we have DVR. How did we ever live without this little gem?? I don't watch much tv, but when I do, it's nice to have a tool that records my favorite shows without me having to remember them every week.

10. My Lortone Tumbler. Nothing can put that mirror finish on metal like my Lortone professional rock tumbler does! I use it almost every day. My jewelery making buddies joke that if you have a house fire, you grab your Lortone first and your silver/gemstones second. *grin*

11. My Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Oh wait! I don't have it yet. I simply cannot go on. *sigh*

12. Carrots. One of God's greatest creations. I don't know why I love them so much, but I do.

13. Comet. Yes, rhymes with vomit, but cleans kitchen sinks like no other. I use it because my momma uses it, and she must know best, right?

Perhaps next week I'll list 13 things I hate! Happy Thursday, people.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #14

So it has been a very long time since I have participated in Thursday Thirteen. The last one I did was a little negative, if you recall. I wrote about things you shouldn't say to people having trouble conceiving. Whew. That was back in May. It seems so long ago. I've changed since then. Some good, some bad. I've had some healing and some big disappointments. But overall, *most* people have been very kind and supportive towards me. I'm glad I wrote that post.

But today, as I participate in TT again, I figured I might write a more positive list. Seeing as summer is almost gone (wow, this year has flown by!), I decided to list:

Thirteen reasons I am looking forward to Autumn

1. My husband's birthday is in September! He might not enjoy his birthday much, but I enjoy it. We're not big on doing gifts, but I have a surprise for his birthday this year. He knows there is a surprise, but has no idea what it is. I'm one of those people who finds out about a surprise and goes crazy until I find out what it is. He's sooo not like that. This bugs me! I want to drive him crazy with anticipation, but it just does not work. *sigh* Maybe if you help me taunt him?

2. November 11th. Veteran's Day, yes, but also our anniversary. This 11-11 will mark 8 years since we met, 7 years since we married, and the rest of a lifetime to go on being in love. Aww, I love my man.

3. We're giving away free jewelry! The Belles' Summer's End contest ends in September, and we'll be giving away a $25 gift certificate to the person who is randomly drawn from the newsletter list. If you haven't signed up yet, click here and do it fast! We also have another exciting contest in the works. This one will be hosted on a friend's site, and we will be giving away jewelry worth $100! I'm not sure when exactly that one will be going on, but I will let you know as soon as I know, so check back often. :o)

4. Bye-bye heat. Summer's end means cooler weather. Cooler weather means lower electricity bills! Now, since we moved into our house, our electric bills really have not been that bad. But I do love saving money, so I will be thrilled when they go down a little more.

5. No more appointments! I have a dental appointment to fill my last (very small) cavity on Friday, then after that I should be doctor appointment free for a while. Unless I decide to try out the acupuncture, that is.

6. New flooring. I'm not sure exactly when, but we will be ripping out carpet and laying down some nice wood laminate flooring in the living room, hallway, and master bedroom. I'm hoping it will be done by the end of the month. I'm SO ready to rip up this carpet. Have I mentioned I hate carpet?

7. The holidays are right around the corner. This means big bags of candy, more orders for our business, and a sense of family togetherness. I'm not sure what we'll be doing this holiday season, but I'm hoping it will be a good one.

8. New seasons on tv. We have a DVR now, so we should be able to keep up with tv shows. I'm not sure why I'm excited about this one, since we don't really have any shows planned for fall. lol Oh well. DVR is just fun.

9. Baked goodies. Now that the weather will be cooling off, I plan to bake more. I've really slacked off on baking in the past couple of years. I love freshly baked things like cookies, brownies, and breads. I look forward to having more goodies around. I especially look forward to my homemade pumpkin and apple breads - perfect autumn yummies!

10. Warm drinks. I haven't been drinking too much hot stuff lately, and I really miss my hot tea and hot apple cider. As the weather starts to get cold, my beverages will do the opposite!

11. Less traffic! With school starting again, there will be less cars on the road and less people in stores during the hours I am commonly out. Ah yes, I love it when school is in session. :o)

12. Labor day. Unfortunately, my husband has to work over the weekend, but he should have labor day off. That's something I suppose. Days off are always good. He just gets way too few of them.

13. Every month that passes brings me one month closer to being a mom, one way or another. I have no idea when it will happen, but it WILL happen. I'll get there, and autumn brings me that much closer.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #13

After someone said something a little insensitive to me last week, I almost posted something along these lines then. But, I decided to cool off first and now that I'm "over it" I thought it would make for an interesting Thursday Thirteen. I realize that most people are just trying to be helpful, but I also think most of the time people don't think before they speak. Infertility is a touchy subject and is very painful, and you never know who is touched by it since it's not normally a visible problem. I have chosen to share some of our struggles, but many choose not to... and thanks to more than a handful of insensitive people, I now know why. So, in honor of those of us who spent mother's day wondering about and perhaps mourning over the unknown futures of our motherhood, here are:

Thirteen things you shouldn't say to people having trouble conceiving (or just to be safe... anyone, really...)*

1. "Have you considered adoption??" Personally, YES, we have considered adoption and I plan to adopt someday regardless of whether or not we have biological children. However, why is that anyone's business unless I choose to make it their business? Sometimes it takes a little while to grieve the children you may never have. You have to be ready in SO many ways to adopt... emotionally, financially, mentally... Don't assume someone hasn't considered it, and don't assume they SHOULD consider it. Ever. Not everyone can or wants to, and that's okay.

2. "Just relax!!" If stress was a main cause of infertility, half the population would not be here. Relaxing will not fix infertility. Taking a "fertility cruise" or other such nonsense will not miraculously cause your body to grow a child. Not to mention, it's virtually impossible to relax when you find out you can't get pregnant as easily as you think you should and there are a million and one things you have to think of, and you live your life in two week increments. This is one of the most insulting things people can suggest to someone struggling with this issue. If only it were that easy.

3. "Maybe it will happen if it's God's will..." For people who don't believe, it sounds crazy and downright mean. For those of us that do, it's just plain painful. Yes, I believe in the will of God and it's in His control. That, strangely, does not offer comfort. It really just reminds me of the fact that the Lord doesn't always truly give us the desires of our hearts (or at least not always in the ways we hoped and planned). Don't presume to know His will for my life, please. Thanks!

4. Any other Christian cliches, for that matter. "It's in His hands" "It will happen in His time" "Give it to Him" and on and on and on. I'm not a Christian cliche type of gal, obviously. If you want to offer religious comfort, pray with me and for me.

5. "Is your husband avoiding ______, ______, and ______? (Insert heat producing clothing items, activities, or possible fertility impairing consumables of your choice.)" Would you like to come over and make sure our house isn't baby-making-proof? And is it really your business what my husband wears under his pants?!

6. "My cousin's neighbor's aunt's dog sitter knew a woman who was having trouble conceiving her 3rd child and after nine long months of no luck, she tried ______ (Insert awkward, overly personal, didn't-want-to-know information here.) and she got pregnant! Have you tried that?" First, if you were pregnant with a successful pregnancy in any amount of time less than a year, you're not infertile and most people who really are don't want to hear your "advice". Be thrilled... it's not a club you want to join, believe me. Second, those who ARE infertile are usually obsessed with gaining information on the topic and have heard just about every "remedy" in the book (and off the books, even) and have probably tried them all at least 10 times, naively thinking that maybe... just maybe... they'll get lucky.

7. "If you would not have used birth control when you first got married, you wouldn't be having this problem now." I have no nice words to say about this one, and I hate birth control. It's nice how people that hardly know you love to diagnose your issues, whether they be physical or even supposedly spiritual. (As if God really punishes someone for using the evil hormonal pills by withholding the blessing of a child from them. Yes, people really believe this. I know... wow.)

8. "It might be because of your weight." or "Maybe if you just lose/gain xx pounds, that will help!" It doesn't matter if you're skinny or fat, people love to ask if your struggles are because of it, one way or another. Unless you're my doctor or nutritional counselor, just don't go there.

9."Some women just aren't cut out to be mothers." This one hasn't been said to me, yet, but to others. I'm going to have to stop writing about this one now, in case there are little eyes reading my blog.

10. "You should be thankful you don't have a baby yet. Once you have one, you won't be able to _____ anymore!" (Insert whatever thing you can think of that is supposedly more important than a child. Yeah, when it's put it THAT way it's not so easy to say, is it?) Sadly, this one is most often said by mothers. Tell you what... I'll trade you my sleeping late, still hot meal, extra money, nice house, and childless vacations for your baby. Sound like a good deal? Didn't think so. Remember that next time you try and use this to "encourage" a struggling woman. Most of us would give the world to have cold meals and sleepless nights because of a child.

11. "Just stop trying, and that's probably when it will happen." Riiiiight. Nope, sorry, didn't work.

12. "So when are you going to have kids/make me a grandma/make me an aunt/uncle/great grandma/cousin??" or "Why aren't you pregnant yet??" It's bad enough when this question is asked when you don't know the person's struggles... once again, it's a very personal issue that is only your business if I make it your business. But once you DO know and you STILL ASK? Wow.

13. "HAVE YOU SEEN A DR???" Not everyone wants endless medical testing and expensive treatments that can promise nothing. Some choose the medical path, and that's fine. Others choose a more natural one, and that's fine too. Not everyone can afford medical intervention, and not everyone wants it. It doesn't mean one of us wants a baby more, or that she hurts less than the next woman. But don't ask. It's just rude.

So what CAN I say, you ask? In most cases, there's not much to say at all. Unless you've been there and honestly know what it's like, it's normally best to just support us with prayers, a shoulder to cry on, a voice to scream with, a passage of the Word that offers hope and encouragement, and (for those of us who don't mind it) hugs. People who offer their prayers and I KNOW they are really praying from the depths of their hearts bless me the most. Ask us what you can do to help, and most importantly, just be there when we need you.

*This is not directed at any one person.
If you have said these things to me or anyone else, just check yourself and move on with a resolution to do better next time. For those of you who are my close friends and closest relatives, you know that you are exempt from (some of) this list.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #12

Thirteen TV shows I thought I'd never get into but now really like.

This is a weird topic for me since I don't watch much television anymore. Usually just a little in the evenings and on the weekends when hubby and I rent DVDs - mostly shows.

1. Lost. I used to wonder why people were fanatical about this show until we rented season 1 on DVD last year. I get it now!

2. Medium. (My mom is probably freaking out right about now.) Yeah, yeah, yeah, so she talks to dead people... but I love the family dynamics in the show and the comic relief. The middle daughter cracks me up! Did you know it's based on a real person? Yipes.

3. The Dead Zone. Oooh, creepy. I've always wondered if the theory is true about not using all of our brain power and what we could accomplish if we could tap into it. However, I'm not sure I'm willing to be in a coma for several years to test that out.

4. Monk! It's so quirky you have to love it. Plus, I'm totally him - only not quite as normal.

5. Gilmore Girls. It sounded so cheesy until I started watching it sometime after I got married. Then I got my hubby hooked. It's sort of gone downhill lately though.

6. House. I'm NOT normally a fan of doctor/hospital shows... but House I love! He's the man you love to hate and hate to love all at once. The writing on that show is so good!

7. Law & Order SVU. Such a dark subject matter, but it's a great show with great actors.

8. Everwood. I was sad to see it end, and they ended it at such a bad time.

9. Smallville. Actually, this is one of my husband's favorite shows, but I like it alright even though I'm not normally into the whole super hero thing.

10. Alias. I didn't think I was into the whole spy thing either, but this was one excellent show. I was sad to see it go as well.

11. The 4400. It's really cheesy, but for some reason I like it even though I thought it was about aliens for the longest time. lol

12. Friends. I never really watched it during its peak, but afterwards we got into it and enjoyed it. It's corny, but has some really funny moments.

13. All of those birth shows! I get mad and roll my eyes during a lot of them, but if one is on, I'll stop what I'm doing and watch it anyway. Push 'em out, push 'em out, waaaaay out!

Ok, so now that I have blogged about television shows, I feel the need to do something really intelligent. Like solve world hunger or at least the national budget deficit and health care crisis. Oooh wait... I think a birth show is on...

Thursday Thirteen #11

Thirteen things I do not want to meet in a dark alley. Or anywhere, really.

1. Spider of death! Ok, so it's just a spiny orb weaver... but umm, any spider that has spikes on its bum is just SCREAMING to leave it the yahoo alone. I think I'll do just that, thank you!

2. Capybara, better known as giant rodents. I had guinea pigs growing up, and they squealed bloody murder. Can you imagine a 150 lb giant guinea pig squealing? Scary.

3. Neon Yellow Sssssslithering ssssssnake. I don't care what good pets you might think they make, pythons are not a girl's best friend. Oh look... this one looks like he just swallowed my favorite pair of Manolo Blahniks.

4. Giant amazon centipede. As if the little tiny ones that make me cry weren't enough, God saw fit to make giant ones.

5. Ugly dog. Another ugly dog. But wait, there's a bonus ugly dog! There really are no words...

6. Pink fluff. Actually, it's not the pink fluff that would creep me out so much, but rather the person who thought this was a good idea.

7. This thing that I'm guessing meows. Again, there are no words...

8. The King. *shudders*

9. The shrimploborpian*. Why? WHY would someone willingly pick that up??
*(Special kudos to my friend Erin's husband, Andrew, for the "shrimploborpain" name. No creepy crustaceans were harmed in the naming of this bizarre freak of nature.)

10. Creepy Scary Alien Fish Gang. Viper: apprehended for pushing illegal krill in the local fish schools. Currently serving a life sentence. Dragon: presently being held for attempting to steal the identity of the well known life form from another planet movie star, and conspiring to use that identity to find and tourment Sigourney Weaver until she agrees to make another Alien movie. Please, Dragon, enough already. Suspect X: the fish formerly known as Astronesthes (must be said with jazz hands). His only crime was being born with a weird name. Last but not least, our ring leader... Ever M: still at large, Ever M. is wanted on 9 counts of finned robbery, 3 counts of potential mercury poisoning incidents, and over 20 counts of causing women and children to scream, "MY WORD, WHAT IS THAT THING?" Ever M. is a violent criminal. If you see him swimming down your block, DO NOT attempt to approach him. Instead, dial your nearest Red Lobster for proper catching, filleting and serving. Rest assured fine citizen - justice will be served (and hopefully with a side of Cheddar Bay Biscuits).

11. Rolly polly of death! Seriously, if you saw a potato bug that big, wouldn't you freak out a little?!

12. Big nosed sad nasty blob thing. I think it's supposed to be a fish, but can one really know? It looks pretty slimy, and what the sam hill is hanging from its mouth??

13. Finally... the creepiest most terrifying thing God has ever put on our planet. Admit it, you know you laughed. Or fainted. Maybe even cried a little. Either way, you know I'm right.

Thursday Thirteen #10

Thirteen reactions I had about the Thursday Thirteen meme coming to an end

1. Aw, crap. I was really starting to like this.

2. Oh well. Now I don't have to make my brain work so hard every Wednesday night through Thursday evening trying to come up with something semi interesting.

3. Hmm. Maybe I should make up my own lists every week anyway just to be weird.

4. Maybe not. I'd probably get sued or something.

5. Should I find another meme to join? Some of them are pretty lame, but there's bound to be another good one, right?

6. Maybe I'll just start my own... like Snarky Saturday. Anyone? Anyone?

7. I guess I can use all my new found free time pondering the great wonders of creation. Like chocolate. And duckbill platypuses.

8. My poor friends and family are going to be so bored and heartbroken in the absence of my weekly lists!

9. ROFL. Riiiiiiiight.

10. My husband will probably be quite thrilled that I will no longer be shrieking, "Help me come up with a Thursday Thirteen! HURRY! No, that's not good enough. It needs to be clever, honey. CLEVER." on a weekly basis.

11. Well, at least I'm ending on #10. Monk would be *very* pleased!

12. Ooh. Monkish Mondays. Now that one might take off...

13. So long, farewell, auf wiedershen, goodbye. Goooodbyyyyyeeeee!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #9

Thirteen acronyms that prove I spend waaaay too much time researching this whole baby thing! Are you a "want a baby NOW addict"? Do you know the baby bug lingo?

1. TTC

2. BD

3. CD

4. DPO

5. BFN

6. BFP

7. LP

8. POAS

9. AF

10. OPK

11. LH

12. HPT

13. FSH

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #8

In honor of the soon arriving Valentine's Day, I thought I'd list...
Thirteen Fun Things to do with Chocolate!

1. Have an authentic chocolate spa treatment.

2. Make some chocolate fondue and serve it with fresh cut fruit and pound cake.

3. Try your hand at carving a chocolate sculpture.

4. Bake my mom's Fudge Goody Cake!

5. Model a chocolate dress.

6. Try something totally zany like chocolate covered bacon, or chocolate covered bugles or chocolate covered grasshoppers and blog about your experience, please.

7. Treat your spouse to some sensual chocolate body frosting fun... and don't blog about your experience, please!

8. Visit the chocolate museum.

9. Have fun with with your kids making chocolate finger paint.

10. Try a bowl of chocolate pasta (hold the marinara).

11. Give yourself a moisturizing chocolate facial.

12. Make some homemade hot chocolate and cuddle up with the ones you love.

13. Buy a bag of one of my favorite chocolate treats ever and send me some!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #7

Thirteen Things I Thought I'd Never Do

1. Deal with infertility and the heartache it brings month after month after month.

2. Have two root canals, 1 crown, and 4 fillings in less than one year.

3. Pick poop out of a dog's mouth. Daily. For over a year.

4. Willingly have a third dog in my home for more than a day! (Though he's probably leaving this week.)

5. Be more concerned about health and healthy eating than how good my food tastes.

6. Become a religious flosser.

7. Turn in well over 30 songs and poems all at once to the US Copyright Office.

8. Marry a policeman, fireman, or soldier. I married the latter and am so glad I did. ;o)

9. Start my own business... twice! (And do my own taxes... yikes!)

10. Count down the days until it's time to release bodily fluid onto a little tiny stick (and have to set up a reminder in Outlook with a "DING!" to do it!)

11. Be out of church for so long.

12. Become a forum addict and blog stalker.

13. Feel so sad and empty with no end in sight.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #6

Thirteen Things I'd Never Do as a Millionaire

1. Buy ridiculously expensive new vehicles. I'd get a nice one, for sure, but an overpriced one just for the status? No thanks.

2. Buy a McMansion.

3. Tell people that I was a millionaire. lol (See? Maybe I am already. Guess you'll never know, eh?) ;o)

4. Wear designer labels just for the name (or maybe even at all!) That's one of the biggest wastes of $$ I can think of.

5. Look like a millionaire.

6. Buy designer label stuff for my dogs! (Ok, maybe that is the biggest waste of $$ I can think of!)

7. Hire a cook. A maid? Probably. A personal shopper? Perhaps. But a cook? Not a chance.

8. But any non-organic food products, if organic was available to me.

9. Shop at Wal-Mart! *GAGGGG*

10. Rest until we found a treatment that would take my husband's pain away.

11. Spoil my children with too much "stuff" and fail to teach them the value of honest work and wise money management.

12. Become more wasteful than I already am (which is already too much).

13. Forget where I came from and keep all the blessing to myself.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #5

Thirteen Things I'd Never Do as a Mother

1. Cloth diaper. Sorry all you cloth diaper lovers, I just can't do it. I've seen what comes out of baby's butt, and I'm not sticking my hands in the toilet to get it off. *lol*

2. Open a bag or package or box of food - not yet bought and paid for - at the store and let junior eat it while shopping.

3. Wash my kids' mouths out with soap. I just don't think I could do it!

4. Put coke in junior's bottle. *shudders*

5. Lick my finger and then use it to wipe junior's face!!!

6. "Clean" a pacifier by licking it and wiping it on my jeans. *double shudder*

7. Pierce baby's ears. It's just not for me, no offense to baby ear piercing moms out there. ;o)

8. Go into debt for junior's birthday/Christmas parties/presents.

9. Do that weird infant potty training thing. Holding a screaming newborn over a toilet isn't really the bonding experience I'm looking forward to. *lol*

10. Let any hormonal boys come anywhere near my gorgeous daughter without at least my big, strong husband and a fully loaded M-16 between them. ;o)

11. Help junior out of the potty he fell into before grabbing a camera and taking a priceless picture with which I can blackmail him on the night of his first date.

12. Make my children wear ugly outdated clothes just because I'm getting old. *lol*

13. Say "never". *snicker*

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #4

Thirteen Skills I'd Love to Master in My Lifetime

1. Wire wrapping & other metal workings

2. Piano playing

3. Guitar playing (lead!)

4. Sewing

5. Photography

6. Photoshop

7. Managing my panic attacks

8. Keeping Molly from peeing on the carpet

9. Woodworking (no, I haven't started yet, but it looks so cool!)

10. Swirl, sniff, slurp, and spit (anyone up for a fine Pinot Noir?)

11. Keeping up with my house *groan*

12. Painting a wall and not making a mess

13. Procrastinating (hey, I had to list one that I've already mastered, you know...)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen Texas Christmas Carols

1. We Snuck Up On and Shot a Deer

2. Oh Mesquite Tree

3. Keep Your Snow! Keep Your Snow! Keep Your Snow!

4. Maybe It's Cold Outside?

5. Away in a Ranger

6. Oh Come, All Ye Immigrants

7. Lovely Weather for a Hay Ride Together With You

8. It's the Least Sweltering Time of the Year

9. Up at the Truck Stop

10. Carol Ain't No Belle

11. Joy to the World, the Cowboys Won! (Yeah... right...)

12. Santa Got Run Over By My Chevy

13. I Heard Daddy's Suing Santa Clause

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Things I Would Want with Me if I Got "Lost"

1. MY HUSBAND, OF COURSE!

2. At least a 3-yr supply of chocolate.

3. Lots and lots of toothpaste and floss since I've become a flossing maniac.

4. John Locke... so we're only on season 2, but it seems like he's the guy to know on the island.

5. Sunscreen... my fair skin burns so fast.

6. Lots and lots of batteries and a cellphone that works everywhere in the world (yeah, in my fantasy land they'd exist!)

7. Can we say hand sanitizer???

8. Toilet paper, please.

9. A few books that could be read over and over again (the Bible would be a good pick for sure.)

10. An umbrella.

11. Duct tape... my husband is a veteran, I think he could do anything with duct tape.

12. My puppies. No worries of urine smelling carpet on the island!

13. Jack Bauer. Ok, wrong show... wrong location... wrong tv channel... but come on! The Others wouldn't stand a chance against Jack Bauer. You know you'd want him there too. ;o)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #1

Thirteen Things That Ticked Me Off This Week

1. My stupid tooth that won't stop bothering me, even after paying over $700 to get it fixed.

2. The grocery checker and bagger who would not listen to me when I told them something funky was leaking out of a package I bought.

3. My silly dog who refuses to learn to stop pooping on my floor, yet is too darn cute for me to stay mad.

4. The people who take advantage of my husband.

5. Finding out that carrying a carton of icecream by it's lid is NOT a wise idea.

6. Someone stating that I am mad at mothers who chose to not wait to have their children.

7. People who act like they understand things when they really don't have a clue.

8. People whining about trivial matters when other people have serious problems yet handle them with grace (LOL No, not me... I'm not graceful!)

9. The person that almost ran me over as he zoomed down the street going way too fast today.

10. Dropping little bitty tiny beads (that cost a few cents each!) all over the floor and having to grab them all up before the dogs get them.

11. Finding out that cloned meat and dairy could be on our shelves soon, possibly unmarked as such.

12. Getting too full to move after eating only 1/2 bowl of soup.

13. Living in an unfair world where people get what they don't deserve while the people who do deserve it are left high and dry.

Yeah, you can see it hasn't been a fun week. ;o) Maybe next week will be better and I'll post thirteen things that made me happy! :o)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants