From a visit to Chapel Hill a couple weekends ago

....while I was at working/sleeping, Daniel & Jesus went to see Jesus' niece and her kids in Chapel Hill. The big one we call Junior, the little one is Angel. They are both precious! And Daniel enjoyed showing them the ropes on how to be a Big Boy.

Random tidbits

I bought some fun bumper stickers from cafepress.com and plan on putting one of the two on my car.
1) Baggins/Gamgee '08
or
2) Gandalf/Aragorn '08

I tried to post pictures of them but couldn't upload them. Anyway, who would get your vote? I have my leanings but am interested in seeing who YOU think would make a better prez/VP.

Other than that, there is not much different here. I will post some pics of our friend (my old friend, Jesus & Daniel's new friend) Ute's visit as soon as I get them uploaded to the 'puter. Tomorrow Kristy and Brooklynne are coming, and they are bringing Halleigh Jane!

Family Update

We are very happy to report that Hurricane Dean was greatly weakened from the monster that passed over Yucatán, to a category 1 storm that made landfall in Veracruz (which is where we have relatives). Dean's path took it right over the cities of Veracruz, Tuxpan, and Isla; we have family in 2 of the 3 cities. We have not yet been able to make contact with any of them yet, but the Veracruz state government is reporting that there were no injuries nor deaths related to Dean. This makes us very happy!

I was listening to the radio a couple days ago & the newscaster mentioned that this area needs something like 15 inches of rain to be out of the drought that we are in. 15 inches! I don't see that happening any time soon. And we are not the hardest-hit part of the state.

And, as always, the requisite picture:


Daniel calls this picture "Dos Igualitos" (two guys that are alike).

Cute Pic of Somebody Else's Child

I found this on neonatology.com. It's titled "The Laughing Premie." Sorry the quality isn't better but it's still worth looking at, IMHO. :)

An Ink Parlor Without the Hep C Risk

Brought to you courtesy of Crayola markers!

Lots of Friends

A Visit with Aunt Kirsi

At breakfast with Aunt Kirsi

Jesus with his new friend.

Picking up leaves at the park

New best friends

"Crazy? I don't think so!"

This is Daniel's new favorite saying. We do not know where it came from but we think it is funny. Also among our favorites:
"There are stinky guys in my room!"
"I need some of that pink stuff." (his kiddie mouthwash)
"Where are my little boys?" (his Lego figurines, that, thank God, were not made in China! We have to take the 'little boys' with us everywhere we go, almost.)

Other random thoughts:
1) I'm trying to give up Mt. Dew since it's nothing but chemicals and crap. I'm trying to caffeinate via green tea but so far it's not going well.
2) We need rain!!!
3) Please pray for the folks of Mexico who are bracing for Hurricane Dean. One of the projected paths takes him right over Veracruz, which is where we have family.
4) I will post pictures soon. Promise.

30 years ago

....30 years ago tomorrow Elvis died. I will admit to being a fan, and according to an AOL poll, 45% of my fellow Americans do too.

When I was younger I thought he was cute -- never mind the fact that he'd been dead 10 or more years by then. Now in my old age (or at least gray hairs), I realize it's not just that. There has been no voice like his before nor since. There is no one who has before nor since blended so many musical styles so seamlessly -- country, rock, blues, gospel, r&b, bluegrass, and classical. No one who has had the effect on music, society, and culture. His rendition of "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirit for hours.

Just for fun:
http://www.spinner.com/2007/08/10/elvis-presley-fact-or-fiction/

And here are quotes from other famous artists:
"Elvis is like the Big Bang of rock 'n' roll. It all came from there." -Bono

"Elvis is my religion. But for him, I'd be selling encyclopedias." - Bruce Springsteen

"I'm just a singer. Elvis was the embodiment of the whole American culture." -Frank Sinatra

"When I first heard Elvis'voice I just knew that Iwasn't going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss ... Hearing him was like busting out of jail." - Bob Dylan

"Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been a Beatles." - John Lennon

"Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor."
- Keith Richards

"Last time I saw him, we sang 'Old Blind Barnabas' together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There'll never be another like that soul brother." -James Brown

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building. Thank you and good night.

Boys will be boys....

...as evidenced by the fact that my wonderful husband has introduced our son to the world of Armpit Farting.

My life will never be the same.