Welcome to Silly Insanity

Ok...here's the short version. My old car died that's 15 years old. It died the day we got paid with the last of what we were going to put towards the down payment of a new car. So that weekend we were approved for a car loan from my bank and then went out to look at a few cars that we downloaded info from the Internet. We went to look at the first one on the list since it was what we wanted and to check out the low price for the very recent year of the car. Well we liked it and there was nothing wrong with the car. So we made the bank rush the closing on our car loan on a Saturday before they closed at 3:00PM. Only one bank in the local area actually had someone there that could close on the loan for us, everyone else apparently had Saturday off. Se we got the check and went back to the dealer and handed all of our money over and drove our used 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan home.

Less than a week of owning our new car that has working air conditioning, 4 doors, lots of space and better gas mileage....the windsheild decided to crack from a cold spell. It was going to cost me $189 for a new windshield, and I got $190 from junking my old car. At least the old car was still useful for something. So this was the extra long April Fools Day, replacing the the windshield. The guy said he normally can get those done in and hour to an hour and a half. It took nearly 5 hours to get the old one off! The adhesive was really stuck, and an over zealous robot at the car plant jammed the winshield wiper arms on the posts a little too tight. No matter how hard he tugged and greased the bolts they would not come off so he could get to the bottom edge of the windshield. He had to go rent a certain hand tool to pry them off. We didn't get the car home until 10:00 at night.

Now we just have to make sure that we can get the new license plates on time.

In other news.....

I've been crocheting some stuff in my spare time. Ok, I'm still doing it while sitting in church, I gotta stay awake somehow for the boring parts. Here's some pics that I'm not putting under a cut, because I don't feel like it.

Current Mood: lethargic

Very long day, and a car repair that should have only taken an hour was 4-5 hours later. But you get to hear about it later since it is past my bedtime. G'night.

Current Mood: tired

We've had numerous phone calls telling us that President Hinckley died today at 7:00PM at 97 years old. Most remember his sense of humor and the big push for getting temples accessible to more members of the church. Also that he talked with the media numerous times and reiterating that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are indeed Christians. The state of Utah is going to miss seeing him around frequently, but are rejoicing in his life and eager to welcome whomever the new prophet will be. :)

Best present ever, the parents went down to my grandparents house for Christmas and hubby and I have the house to ourselves for a few days. :)

Lets see...for Christmas I received a basket full of ponies from my nephew that his mom found in the thrift store. There were some in there that I don't have and they look great! Baby Moondancer is missing her tail though. Pony fruit snacks that taste a little old, but ok, and homemade pony magnets! A few Ponyville sets and a couple pony ornaments that I must have missed somewhere or didn't go looking for.

Got some various dessert mixes that look really good, a cookie cookbook, purple silicone spatulas that I love.

A lavender denim skirt, fuzzy blue socks, a stretchy lavender shirt.

Hmmm....a pop-up fairy calender, dragons drawing book, pretty wall clock, candy, two gift certificates and a $20 check coming from a Canadian bank. We'll see if my bank wants to cash it, lol.

Hubby and I had more fun making everyone else's Christmas presents. We made t-shirts for everybody with funny sayings on them. Especially matching them up to their personalities. Then I crocheted slippers for everyone, finally finishing the last pair 11:00PM Christmas Eve. The girls' slippers worked up much faster. It's the mens' feet that hog yarn and take all day to do. My wrist was killing me, even with the wrist brace on it. I think I counted up 16 empty yarn bands after doing that. It was then that hubby realized that he helped pay for a lot of yarn. :) We even added a bunch of stocking stuffers for everyone. Most of it was stuff that I've been collecting all year and the rest were dollar items from the craft store. This family likes making things, and random toys don't seem to thrill them all that much. I haven't added up what we spent yet, but there's a zero balance on the credit card and money put into savings this month. So I'd say we did pretty good this Christmas.

Current Mood: creative

Here are pictures of my completed crochet projects thus far.

Doctor Who Season 12 scarf:

( Pics under cut )

Just a little crocheted costume for a pony:

( Hogwarts Ginny as a pony )

Current Mood: drained

I've been working some long hours between work and home chores and I still can't get time to work on the pony tree stuff that needs to be finished by Thanksgiving.

Oh yeah, my family is donating a Christmas tree to the Festival of Trees fundraiser for the Primary Children's Hospital this year. This particular hospital basically functions solely on donations and grants for children up to age 17, even if the family doesn't have health insurance or enough insurance for their children. The hospital and donors will pay the bills. This tree is going to be decorated entirely in My Little Ponies, the colors are pink and white and there is a table and chair set and a unicorn bookshelf too. I think it's a bit late to ask the MLP community if they'd like to donate something that is MLP (preferably G3s) to the tree, but if they still want to before Thanksgiving, I'd let them. Most likely this tree will be bought by someone for their Christmas display and then donated to a family or even to the hospital that needs gifts this season. I'm trying really hard not to put something too valuable under the tree since I have visions of a 3-year old tearing it apart Christmas morning, lol. I'd really appreciate tips on where to locate the new MLP Christmas decorations and the wrapping paper too. The earlier the better since Toys R Us was completely wiped out before Christmas last year....

Ok...I'm still really tired and trying not to get sick or worse if I already am. So I'm going back to bed now, thanks.

Current Mood: blah

Yup! Hubby and I went and saw Monty Python's Spamalot last night, since I wanted to see it since I heard about it when it was in New York. :) It was hilarious! It stuck to the movie pretty well and the jokes are still funny when a stage actor get ahold of them, lol. The French Guards did a whole lot more taunting than in the movie. *giggles* And there were gratuitous gay jokes and Jewish references as well. I love that the "round table" was a roulette wheel when they went to Camelot, lol. I suppose that's enough and I don't want to spoil everything. We bought the soundtrack so we could laugh at the music some more, and the program has the Finnish credits in it too. :)

Next play on my radar is Wicked, in 2009. Yeah Salt Lake gets all the good plays later than the bigger cities.

I'll finally post one of these things, only because it isn't a billion questions long. :)

1. Who was your first date?
Bob (*waves* Hi Bob!)

2. Who was your first roommate?
My husband. At least he cleans up after himself, lol

3. What was your first alcoholic drink?
Liquid Tylenol, no really, they used to put alcohol in it before the new formula. Other than that....I don't drink.

4. What was your first job?
Ulta3, in the main office. It's Ulta now for those of you that actually have a store in their state.

5. What was your first car?
1992 Nissan Sentra, *sighs*, I still have it and hubby is breaking things on it. Getting a new one next year. *nods*

6. Who was the first person you texted today?
I never had texting on my cell phone, don't want to pay for it either. What's wrong with just leaving a voice message?

7. Who is the first person you thought of this morning?
Hubby

8. Who was your first grade teacher?
First Grade? That was back in California, years ago. I can give you the second grade teacher's name, Mrs Huffle.

9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
Illinois, we were moving out there

10. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was with you?
My brother, we went out through the hole in the screen in my bedroom window to play after dark. :)

11. Who was ur first best friend, and are u still friends with them?
Heather, I have no idea where she is now.

12. Where was your first sleep over?
I have no idea, had a few though. :)

13. who's wedding was the first u were in?
My aunt's as the flower girl when I was five.

15. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Sleep-in.

16. What was the first concert you ever went ?
One that I actually paid for? Mannheim Steamroller. And a whole bunch of free ones long before that.

17. first tattoo or piercing?
Neither. I don't feel like keeping track of earrings.

18. First foreign country you went to?
Not sure if the Bahamas count.

19. First crush?
Could have been Jared, or Jason....hmmm

20. When was your first detention
Maybe third grade, don't remember what it was for though.

21. What was the first state you lived in?
California

22. Who was the first person to break your heart?
Dave

23. Who will be the first to repost this?
Whoever sees it first and wants to?...ditto

I heard he was home battling pancreatic cancer and I get up and he died early this morning. I really did like listening to him in his Turandot performances.

Hehe, ok I was a mutual friend's house last night to help celebrate a birthday and so we were talking with our friend's daughters and got on the subject of cell phones. I guess I was aging myself when I told the 13 year-olds that we didn't have cell phones in high school, but a lot of kids would have a beeper. Then one of the girls asked, "What's a beeper?" *facepalm* Uh...ok, imgaine that someone calls you on your cell phone, but you couldn't answer it or call them back with it. All it would tell you is what phone number called you and a short numerical message. They looked at me and simply stated that modern cell phones were a whole lot better, lol. Forget about outdated clothing fashion, technology ages you a lot faster!


Other than that fun, hubby and I spent most of the day yesterday making lots of jam and jelly. We made peach freezer jam, strawberry banana split ice cream topping (really good), sugar-free peach jam (made with Splenda), Plum jam and pomegranate jelly. I made lots of strawberry frezer jam a couple days ago. Hmm...need to make lots of bread now, lol.

Last entry was in May and it's August now. I guess I've been really busy.

--Let's see...I've been working on the same Dr Who scarf since March. At least I passed the half-way point, lol.

--Been making stuff to sell at the summer fairs.

--Hubby has been re-organizing all of my craft stuff several times and I try to remember where he puts it, grrr.

--Been listening to the Harry Potter books all over again up to the last book release. And I went to the midnight party dressed up and had fun with all the other crazy people and then read it really fast. It's still a weird epilogue...

--Started drawing again, but just mini pictures for ATCs.

--And getting stuff on our list of things we wanted: Bosch Kitchen mixer, fixing up the car, storage space and my newest find (badly needed too), a 250 GB external harddrive. I can now ditch the old tower and cannibalize it for parts. I just mainly work off my laptop now, but will have to get a new tower eventually. The laptop belongs to the company.

And for some randomness, here's a pic of the cat inspecting our art installment in the shower.

Yeah, I turned 29 this past Saturday and got spoiled rotten. My best friend from Chicago came to visit for the week and took me all over the place to have fun. We went to Park City to the Tanger outlet mall, to Antelope Island where she and her 2 year old waded ankle deep in the Great Salt Lake, um went to Hogle zoo and got some good pictures of the animals. Then we went to Olive Garden where she paid for all of us; me, my husband, my brother and one of our friends that was in town. Plus she bought me a lavender and white Coach purse. *blinks* Don't know where I'm going to use it yet, I bet the first use I get it dirty. I'm so rough on my purses and shoes, I just plain wear them out. I've never seen her spend so much money on one trip out here.

My husband got me a mini die-cut machine for scrapbooking and an entire set of letters to go with it. It's so much fun to play with. I want to know how much of a discount he got it for, I know how much those things are... I also got from my husband's family some craft supplies ( a bunch of markers, foam sheets, glue sticks, mini paper cutter, spatulas and a mini omlette pan) Lol, weird bunch of stuff, but it's fun. :)

I also paid off my credit card that I've had for 10 years and they changed the account number twice. I also cancelled it too, yes! *boogies* I don't need it anymore and have been living off the checking account for sometime now. If I still want a card for emergencies, I'll just get my name on my husband's account and use that card.

Known as Ponyfeatherz on the MLPTP and her favorite signature picture with Applejack with the apple basket on her head, "Applesauce anyone?"

"STEPHANIE DAWN BLAYLOCK

Graveside service for Stephanie Dawn Blaylock, 26, of Gainesville is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Fairview Cemetery with David Gray, minister of Hillcrest Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.

Ms. Blaylock went to be with her Lord on April 30, 2007, in Frisco.

She was born May 22, 1980, in Denton to Steve and Starla Griffith Blaylock. Stephanie was a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ. She enjoyed life and loved her computer, being a member of “My Little Pony Trading Post”, watching cartoons and drawing. She also enjoyed living on her own at the Gainesville Garden Apartments.

Survivors include her parents, Steve and Starla Blaylock of Gainesville; brothers, Cory and Trey Blaylock, both of Gainesville; and nephew, Julius Blaylock of Gainesville.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Cherry Blaylock; and by her grandfather, Raymond Griffith.

Visitation will be at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday."


She was in a horse riding/car accident last November and been in a coma since then. Friends and family have been keeping in touch with the community of her progress, ever hopeful that she would wake up. But she's been getting frequent infections and fevers that the doctors had problems isolating the cause. I assume that, an infection could have been the cause of her passing away on Monday.

Both the MLP Arena and the MLPTP are sending the family flowers to wish them our condolences.

Current Mood: sad

Blasted weather changes. I get the worst headaches and congested sinuses by my ears everytime the air pressure changes. It's not because of the pollens either, I'm not really allergic to plants that way, it's when the weather changes rapidly. I'll be glad when summer settles in.

Current Mood: headache

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

Midland. The Midland (please don't confuse with "Midwest") itself is the neutral zone between the North and South. But just because you have a Midland accent doesn't mean you're from there. Since it is considered a neutral, default, "non-regional" accent you could easily be from someplace without its own accent, like Florida, or a big city in the South like Dallas, Houston, or Atlanta.

Take this quiz now - it's easy!

We're going to start with "cot" and "caught." When you say those words do they sound the same or different?

Same Different Same, no wait I mean different, maybe, a little bit different...

Current Mood: bored

Does anyone else have problems with this?





We'll probably never get any fruit off our trees if this keeps happening.

Current Mood: cold

My hands are still sore after the projects I finished yesterday. First one up was removing the old caulking from the bathtub, soap holder and around the window frame that's in my shower. (I still think having a wood frame window in the shower is stupid, the finish on it is all worn off.)

Anyway, I had to use a flat screwdriver to chip away at the old stuff just to get it off. Apparently it wasn't peeling, cracking and moldy enough to come off easily. Then under that, there was some of the tile grout that wasn't very smooth under it and I chiped away at that to make a more smooth surface. The shower wall is completely tiled....amazing we still managed to keep the grout white in a 20+ year house. It was a trial squeezing out white caulk from a large pump so that you had just enough and not have it ooze all over the place. I don't know how many damp paper towels I used just to clean up all the oops'. I didn't get any on my clothes or anywhere else there isn't supposed to be sticky silicone goo. But my hands were a mess and it recommended to use mineral spirits to take it off. Why the heck would I have a supply of that in my house? Goof Off worked just as well.

Second project was repairing the cat scratching post. When we bought it, it was covered with green carpet. The cats shredded the carpet completely off the post and left the carpet alone on the base and the top level. I fixed it the first time by winding sisal rope around the post with a staple gun. The same two cats have successfully shredded that rope off the post in a heap at the bottom. So it was time to get more rope and a bigger staple gun. So it's a new scratching post now, and maybe the cats will leave the furniture and carpeted stairs alone. Whoever puts carpet on a scratching post is insane! The cats just think that clawing carpet is ok, no matter where it is in the house. I just have to fix the other scratching post now, they took the carpet off of that one too.

Current Mood: industrious

Yes sir, we finished filing our taxes. We get a grand total of $34 from the state of Utah and have to pay Federal and Social Security $805. It would have been nicer to get my federal taxes back and the Earned Income Credit rather than having to pay hubby's taxes from working as a contractor last year. But we were ready to pay some sort to Uncle Sam, glad it wasn't the $1009 we originally figured. I'm sure we won't get the Earned Income Credit next year, hubby will make well over $14,000 in wages this year...darn.

Now if we can just iron out the health insurance mess that hubby purposely stirred up. Trying to show a continuous coverage in health insurance for him so that the new one will drop the waiting period. Exasperating!

Current Mood: blank

Today, after it is considered spring in these parts, there is falling a nice blanket of snow outside my window. I know! The fruit trees have already started to bloom on some of their branches and it is cold enough to freeze the rain into fluffy balls of white stuff. So there is nothing we can do about it and our poor trees will probably suffer with a nasty cold. But those that like to go out and play for Easter weekend can go skiing in the mountains...I don't like to ski.

In other news...my husband and I are keeping a close watch on the finances just to make sure that things start up and close like they're supposed to be. For the month of March, we are double covered for health insurance. Just to make sure that my husband's benfits started up with no surprises so that we could fall back on my individual plan as a backup. His benefits still have him on a pre-existing condition waiting period for his allergy shots, but at least we're covered. Now were just watching to make sure that my previous individual Blue Cross policy will be turned off April 1, the day before the next month's premium of $300.20 for the both of us, medical and RX only. Hmmmm..... $100 a month through hubby's benefits (medical, dental, vision and RX) or $300 a month for an individual plan, no contest there! Blue Cross is alright if you don't mind calling them all the time to see what is going on with your claims, they don't talk to anyone.

We're getting closer to having our taxes done. My grandfather is coming up next Monday to prepare my mom's taxes and help us with ours. We're hoping that we won't have to pay $1000 in taxes because hubby worked as a contractor last year, but we have at least double that stored in savings just in case something stupid happens. We're hoping that the taxes I earned from last year, an earned income credit, donations and medical expenses with greatly reduce that number.

And one final money watch. Citibank decided to discontinue the use of their Verizon Visa cards and wants to change it over to an American Express. Um....ok, this is the second time since I've had an account with them that they just randomly change the card number on me. I'll have to re-register online just to pay the dumb thing through the Internet. It's supposed to show up at the very end of this month and my next billing cycle starts April 5. I better have it all set up and taken care of before the next cycle starts. If you haven't noticed from all the news stories about how credit card companies charge interest, it's in your best interest to pay the card the second the next billing cycle starts so that you don't get stuck with the daily interest rate until your payment finally gets posted. From the time the next cycle starts to the time you wait for the paper statement to show up and to the time you spend mailing in your check to have it post....you just added nearly an entire month's worth of interest to your account from last month's balance. Yeah, interest...it never sleeps. Make it work for you and put it in your savings account.

I think that's the end of my financial babbling. Good for you if you understand it. :)

Hey, to those that have seen Pan's Labyrinth, could you explain to me the "R" Rating? Is it violence, language, something else?

My husband and I really like the visually beautiful movie trailers, but we want to know what the "R" rating is for before we consider seeing it. Don't worry about ruining the storyline for us if you need to explain something. We like to be cautious about what we watch. Thanks!