I can't believe it. We actually got our Christmas tree in November. That's very unusual for us. (And that shiny stuff? That's sunshine, in the Pacific Northwest in November. That's also unusual for us.)
My little blue-eyed Lily can't handle sun in her eyes. (And that little one in the shade? That's one of the ever present neighbor children who went with us. We don't seem to be a family of 4 any more.)
What's inspiring you today? Take part in Robin's Monday's Muse at Cinnamon & Honey.
What the ?!?
With the holiday's in full swing I absolutely, completely FORGOT about Virtual Girls Night Out. How bizarre. I believe it's the first time in a year and a half that it didn't even enter my mind.
My dear blog friends, I think you are wonderful. I hope you'll forgive me. (I'm oh-so-very tired.)
(*Thanks Martha for the reminder in your post :-> )
I'll put up a link for those that still want to connect. VGNO!!!
We shall see if I will be away from the Internet for one whole day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you find many things to be thankful for.
Be well, stay healthy, hug often.
I don't enjoy being in the stands, or anywhere near other parents, during a child's sporting event. Most people are so competitive that they lose their sense of right and wrong and become the biggest JERKS!!! (To put it so-o-o-o politely.)
I feel I can support both teams. I want the kids to have a good time. Of course I would like it if my child's team won, but if the game is well played by both sides, good sportsmanship, talent being discovered, kids laughing and having fun, then I don't care who wins.
My oldest is in 6th grade and decided to join her grades volleyball team (a little bribery with chocolate helped ;-> ). The volleyball season went pretty well. Her team got better with every game and she looked forward to Saturdays - not the 9:00am games though, we all still had to get up early. Well the season ended with a tournament last Saturday. And, unfortunately, it ended on the worst note possible. And that is all thanks to the 6th grade volleyball team from Glencoe Elementary in Portland, OR.
The children from Glencoe Elementary 6th grade volleyball team swore at the kids on our team during the game and flipped them off. The 6th grade volleyball coach from Glencoe Elementary was verbally abusive to his team AND to ours. It was out of control.
I will be researching the rules and regulations of Portland Parks and Recreation to see what can be done to prevent this from happening again. I will be contacting the Principal of Glencoe Elementary to see what she has to say for their schools representation.
I’m proud of our team; they did the best they could. I’m proud of our parents; they held it together as best they could. The team should look back on the season knowing they proved themselves worthy of being in the tournament and proud for pushing through when faced with such hostility. Great job Astor Eagles!
I'm kinda burned out this week. I think the weather (rainy, windy, grey) plays a part in my weariness. I have so many things that I would like to be doing, but my energy level is way down. And when I go to sleep I just keep thinking about all of the things that I should have done that day, or more things that need to get done and there I am, looking at the numbers on my clock, telling myself that I should be sleeping.
Ugh. I know what I need, a Virtual Girls Night Out.
*New to the Friday night blog-hopping party? This is what you do: Check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers by clicking on their blog link. Leave some comment luv with a message of "Happy VGNO!" Go blog-hopping!*
Time For Some Tunes!
I am just loving Glee. I laugh out loud at every episode, and cry at every episode too. Here's a little bit from this week. (Dang commercial at the beginning!)
Cast of Glee "Somebody To Lean On"
(You might notice Lea Michelle who originated the role of Wendla in Broadway's "Spring Awakening". That show is fantastic!)
Time For A Cocktail!
Chocolate Cocktail
Ingredients:
*2 oz vodka
*1 1/2 oz creme de cacao, white
*Hershey Hug or Kiss for garnish
*powdered cocoa for rimming
Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with cocoa.
Suddenly the dreary grey clouds and rain aren't so troublesome ;->
Time For A Party Game!
"I Will. I Won't. I Wish".
*answer these questions with the first letter of your last name*
~I Will: Have more laughs at myself when getting so stressed out.
~I Won't: Harp on the weather anymore
~I Wish: Human-kind would be just that, more Human and more Kind.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
We Have A Winner!
And the lucky winner of the $25 certificate from Ecostore USA is the one and only JAM from Just A Mom! Congratulations!!! (She's trying to take a 2 day break from blogging. Well, we'll see how that goes ;-> )
I'll have more fun giveaways coming soon.
OK now, have fun at our Virtual GNO. Sign MckLinky and take part! Visit those that sign-in. Go blog-hopping! And I would love to meet your blog friends. Post our party on your blog and hopefully they will join us. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so I can follow you :->
Guess who Rob went to see...
Take part in Jen's A Thousand Words Thursday. Please visit her site and link up!
I see the magazines full of holiday decorating ideas. The houses are absolutely beautiful and the families appear so happy. The children are wearing their nicest sweaters and their hair is combed to perfection. Even the family dog appears to have a smile.
I always buy these magazines, year after year, hoping to be inspired. I think 'This year I'm going to paint the living room', or 'This year I'm going to learn to sew and make my own curtains'. I mean, look at how happy these families are in their perfectly decorated homes and their plates of baked goods on the counters!
But honestly, I'm going on year 13 of having pale white walls and curtains I bought on sale at Target. My "List of Things to Do" is so long it could be mistaken for a short novel. I don't know why I don't have the drive to make the things I dream of making. I guess I missed out on the "Domestic Goddess: Maker of All Things" gene. But I'll keep buying those magazines. The covers are so pretty, I'll use those as holiday decorations ;->
It is so-o-o cold and rainy today. Drag! If anyone is thinking of moving to the Pacific Northwest Fall is NOT the season to do it in. Wet, wet, wet. Cold, cold, cold. Let's warm things up and get cozy at the Virtual Girls Night Out!
*New to the Friday night blog-hopping party? This is what you do: Check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers by clicking on their blog link. Leave some comment luv with a message of "Happy VGNO!" Go blog-hopping!*
Time For Some Tunes!
Yep. It's Friday the 13th. This tune is from an album titled "13 Songs". (I'm going wa-a-ay back here ;-> ) Turn it up!
Fugazi "Waiting Room"
Oh man, the memories this brings back. Being young was fun!
Time For A Cocktail!
Falling Leaf Fizz
Ingredients:
1 part Vodka
4 parts of sparkling wine
Dash of simple syrup
1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin butter
Pinch of pumpkin pie spice
dried apple chip for garnish
Preparation:
Place vodka, pumpkin butter, spice and syrup in the bottom of a champagne glass.
Stir well. Top with sparkling wine and garnish.
Goodness gracious. That should warm you up. A couple of those and I'd be out on the couch! I might skip the pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving and have this instead ;->
Time For A Giveaway!
I've been using Ecostore USA products for a while (so has my dog - good pet shampoo!) and now Ecostore USA would like to offer Ann Again... and again readers a chance to win $25 in product for yourselves.
To Enter To Win:
1) Become a Follower of Ann Again... and again. *1 Entry (If you are already, let me know. And yeah!)
2) Visit their site No Nasty Chemicals/Ecostore USA and sign-up to receive their newsletter *1 Entry
3) Follow Ecostore USA on Twitter: @ecostoreusa *1 Entry
4) Follow Ecostore USA on Facebook *1 Entry
Winner will be announced on November 19th. USA Residents Only. Good luck!
VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project"
The rock's at Gena's "Relax and Enjoy All The Serene Moments". I can't wait to see her picture! She's recovering from illness so let's send "Get well soon" wishes her way. Then it's off to Stacy's "Random Thoughts" then heads to Amythest Moon's "Life, Music, Laughter". Would you like to participate too? Just e-mail me your mailing address and I'll add you to the list. I'm at annharrisonATcomcastDOTnet.
Let's get going with the VGNO. Make a cocktail, turn up the tunes and go blog hopping! Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have left their blog link. Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. That's what the VGNO is all about. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so I can follow you :->
Yes. Guitar Guy has a new love
Nah. I'm not jealous. Much
Do you see the beautiful Mermaid and her pal the Dolphin?
Absolutely gorgeous work done by the artists at Breedlove Guitars in Bend, OR
Take part in Jen's A Thousand Words Thursday. Please visit her site and link up!
To Honor
To Respect
We have lost too many
No politics
Honor
Happy Veteran's Day
*There's a site that offers a unique way to honor the memory of the men & women who served our country with dignified Military Tributes. Tributes.com. This site also offers on-line support groups. Tributes.com
When I look over our Halloween pictures I truly believe that we put a large part of our true personalities into what is supposed to be our "Alter Ego" Halloween costume.
Take my little Lily --- Before
After --- She was a Princess Kitty (Her creation - Dad's make-up job)
Lily is very much like the personality of this costume. (She wore the ears and tail for weeks before October 31st.)
Then we have our 'Tween Katie --- Before
After --- That look! Be afraid, be very afraid!
Now, Katie didn't want to use the vampire teeth I bought so Rob had some fun with them.
Rob --- Before
After --- The Ogre 
Now, is this truly his personality? Nah. I think this is when my theory goes awry. (I hope!!!)
I've done something that I usually mock in others.
I've put out some Christmas decorations in November.
WHAT?!?
I found a red table cloth at an estate sale that I couldn't resist and a beautiful table runner that I just had to have. And of course I need to see how everything looks.
I'll probably put it all away before Guitar Guy gets home. Christmas in November? I'm not ready.
Wait? How can this be? This week marks the 20 year anniversary of the release of "Say Anything". 20 Years?!? Lloyd Dobler I love you. And in honor of you (a.k.a. John Cusack) and the Screenwriter/Director Cameron Crowe, this Virtual Girls Night Out is dedicated to you.
*New to the Friday night blog-hopping party? This is what you do: Check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers by clicking on their blog link. Leave some comment luv with a message of "Happy VGNO!" Go blog-hopping!*
Time For Some Tunes!
No surprise here ;->
Peter Gabriel "In Your Eyes"
This song sends my spirit away every time I hear it. Every time.
Time For A Cocktail!
Boom Box
Ingredients
1 part Smirnoff® vodka
1 part white wine
1 part coffee
Directions
Add Vodka and White Wine to the coffee. The coffee must still be hot.
Ummm... I don't know about this one. But I'll give it a try :->
Time For A Question
Has anyone ever had a mad crush on you and did crazy things to get your attention? I haven't had anyone blast a love song from a boom box being held over their head but I can think of one crazy situation that freaked me out quite a bit. I was pretty young, maybe 13, and this boy was out of control! He did all kinds of things with the intention of making me like him but it scared me instead.
One day when I arrived at school, my classmates were standing outside the entrance laughing. When I went through the doors I saw painted on the edge of every-single-stair leading up to the second floor the words "I Love Ann Bibbee" (maiden name :-> ). I was mortified! Needless to say, he did not win my heart.
There have been other crazy times, I'll share more later. So, what about you? Anyone go above and beyond to get your attention?
VGNO "Heart Shaped Rock Project"
The rock should be at Gena's "Relax and Enjoy All The Serene Moments" soon. I can't wait to see her picture! Then it will make a stop at Stacy's "Random Thoughts" then head to Amythest Moon's "Life, Music, Laughter". Would you like to participate too? Just e-mail me your mailing address and I'll add you to the list. I'm at annharrisonATcomcastDOTnet.
Let's get going with the VGNO. Make a crazy cocktail, turn up the tunes and go blog hopping! Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have left their blog link. Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. That's what the VGNO is all about. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so I can follow you :->
I think my girls have given up on the idea of having their stuffed animals all to themselves. When Benny and I return from taking them to school he always picks up a stuffed animal from their room and finds a cozy place to land. What a guy.
Take part in Jen's A Thousand Words Thursday. Please visit her site and link up!
I went to the Portland Women's Show yesterday at the Oregon Convention Center. I supposedly won the tickets from some other show I attended (probably when I entered another giveaway trying to win a spa weekend for two no doubt). I asked my 11 yr. old if she wanted to go with me and at first she said no. Then I added 'There's probably going to be food samples there' and she quickly changed her answer to "Yes!"
For those that enjoy these shows, let me just say, well... I'm glad you enjoy them. Yes you can try out a lipstick that supposedly won't come off until you are darn good and ready for that stuff to come off. You can get your ring cleaned with a product that will also clean your eyeglasses and car dashboard but won't irritate your delicate skin. You can even get a little back massage from someone wearing a vibrating glove. (Image having this done while the salesperson is touting their new line of "Personal Pleasure Products" that they would just lo-o-ove to show you if you book a home party. My daughter is standing RIGHT HERE lady! What's the MATTER with you?!?) Mom had a lot of explaining to do with that last one.
Overall though, I was bored and insulted. It's really just a gathering of salespeople trying to get you to buy their products. Yes, most women do like to shop. But is this all we're about? No. You know it's not.
I was hoping for some inspiration, for some bits of wisdom that could help spark a great discussion between me and my soon-to-be 'Tween daughter. Instead we discovered that Tree Top has a new juice out that contains 20% fiber and your daily requirement of fruits. (I can imagine her diary entry, "Dear Diary, I feel so regular now!")
Well, the day wasn't a total loss. She and I did spend time together. And after attending this show, she said she was in no hurry to grow-up, it looks too boring.
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