"I don't want to be on 'Hoarders'!!!"

I think that was what I said today when I explained that some serious purging needed to be done in the "master bedroom".

I sacrificed... I put 12 bags/purses in the "go away" sack.

The biggest purge was makeup and lotions whose expiration dates have long passed. They were taking up valuable space and I was amazed (and thrilled!) by the space that we gained with all that removed from the shelves!

My ancestors were hoarders... my grandma... my dad... so it's only natural that I would become a hoarder, but fortunately my OCD-tendencies make it impossible for me to be comfortable in chaos. This gene bypassed me but has landed squarely in my oldest child who refuses to part with anything and has the bedroom (basement, garage, truck interior) to prove it.

Who knows what I will find in the next round of purging??? I found some pictures tonight that I was missing. I was glad to see them again. :)

Rentel's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Those of you who know me well know that I do not concede defeat very easily.

I concede defeat to Kevin Rentel's baking abilities.

Kevin has this INCREDIBLE chocolate chip cookie recipe. He makes the cookies and brings them in to school. There are actually audible heart palpitations among us when he whispers "I brought cookies!" (He has to whisper it b/c if the students heard him, they would storm his desk area searching for them. He can/does reward the kids with promises of baking cookies for them.)

They are like little puffs of heaven with chocolate chips delightfully distributed through them. They literally melt in your mouth like every proper chocolate chip cookie should. I got one warm from the oven tonight... fabulous!!!

(Another blog will have to be devoted to his Lemon Blossoms, aka The Cupcake Bastards, but the recipe for those can be found on Paula Deen's website. Kevin has altered it a bit. )

Once upon a time, he gave me the cookie recipe and I attempted the chocolate chip wonders. My husband, who had been previously gifted with Kevin's baking, said "Leave the baking to Kevin".

Apparently, Kevin has the magic touch with his culinary skills. :)

It's good to work with younger and talented people!!!

My blog backgrounds

Apparently, my blog backgrounds expire Friday.

Apparently, I need a degree in computer science to read the HTML to redesign this.

This was a much easier process when I created these blogs.

So, if you read this on Friday, you may see a white background to my ramblings. Maybe I can make Kevin figure it out :)

No more transfusions in my future so I have to start on school work. ugh.

A Tower in Pisa

I love this picture!

There was a huge area of grass around the Tower surrounded by chains and with signs that read (in ENGLISH) "Do Not Step On The Grass". So, of course, there were hundreds of tourists all over the grass!!!

We did the right thing and stayed on the sidewalk. :)

Christy suggested this pose and I am glad she did because I loved it the minute I saw it in my camera! It only took us one try to get that shot!

Choosing European pix

We finished our 7th infusion today. Hopefully, we will complete the LAST one tomorrow morning. Then we are off to St. John's for bloodwork and hopefully, the PICC removal!

Today I sorted through my pictures from Europe and determined which ones I want to print. I also sorted through Christy's and "stole" some of hers. I sorted through about 1700 pictures and chose only 90-some pix to send to mpix for processing. :P

I think my choices are unusual from what I normally would choose. I chose people pix with the monuments, some of Tyler just being himself, and where we posed in front of a great scene/backdrop. But the majority I chose were architectural... Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa... but also just doorways, windows, views we took from heights, etc... I'm going to put some of them together in a wall collage, but I chose a couple of shots that I'm going to enlarge and put on my classroom wall for those "mini-mental vacations" I try to take about once an hour. :) One of my favorite shots is pictured here... I took it from the top of the castle that Tyler, Christy, and I climbed in a little town in Northern Italy.

To Blog or Not To Blog...

So many thoughts... do I really want them all out there in cyberspace for all to read?

Self-editing has to occur... and I can't self-edit very well (as can be confirmed by my English-teaching colleagues who must edit my written work -- LOL!). I really need someone to pass my ideas by and that person can say "nope, you can't write that in your blog!"

So... I stick with "safe" topics that won't offend or get me in trouble with anyone. Hmm... kind of boring.

But what to write about today??? I could discuss football helmets that don't fit... or entertaining a restless 6-year-old i.v. transfusionist... or DirecTV's "service"... or the fact the dogs barked at something all night long...

Everyone needs a way to communicate their ideas/feelings/concerns/frustrations. A blog seems a peaceful way to piece everything out... and then... if you are feeling adventurous... you hit the "publish post" for all the world to see.

I was told today that it's a lot cheaper than therapy and that's certain! It also saves me from verbalizing something "from the hip" and gives me that time to "self-edit" that I so desperately need :)

Christy's blog

Christy is writing great blog material! Follow hers too!!!

http://skinnygirlconfess.blogspot.com/