Thursday, January 31, 2008

ANOTHER CHARLES STORY

Fishing, Fishing, Fishing! I live sleep and dream fishing. Once a week my Dad and I always go to the beach. One day I was out fishing with my Dad and all we were catching was whiting. Suddenly there was a gigantic fish in the water. I threw out my line and the fish caught it! I struggled to get the fish out of the water. I got the fish out of the water and my Dad told me it was a trout. "Yippe"! I shouted. That was one of my best catches.
My neighber came by and he had a bag of trout. "You must be as strong as a gorilla to catch those" I said. My neighbor left. For some reason my Dad didn't catch any.
- Charles McDougall, 4th grade.

IF I WERE A. . .

If I were a color, I'd be marigold
If I were a song, I'd be the Chicken Dance
If I were a food, I'd be french fries
If I were a car, I'd be a dump truck
If I were an animal, I'd be a water snake
If I were a place, I'd be Scotland
If I were a feeling, I'd be lonely
If I were a plant, I'd be a Mexican Sunflower
If I were a climate, I'd be a tornado
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a tuba
If I were a shape, I'd be a hexagon
- Charles Mcdougall in class.

Friday, January 25, 2008

TANNING BED

It's been a while since I layed in a tanning bed. I am all about FREE - like as in sun. But during the winter my body goes through this metamorphisis turning me from a tanned beach blonde to a nordic white brunette. I personally, prefer the tanned beach blonde although, I have often thought about dying my hair a darker color of brown in winter.

This year, however, we received tanning bed gift certificates from work so I decided to try to maintain somewhat of a tan throughout the winter with the help of several very, hot sunny days. Yesterday was nice but when the sun went behind the clouds it got downright chilly.

I am not very tan right now due to several busy weeks, so I thought it would be a perfect day to use part of my $60 certificate. - and because it was my bday and it could not have been a better day to pamper myself.

It has been years since I did a tanning salon and a lot has changed. After seeing the scene in the horror film Final Destination 2 where the girls burned alive when their tanning beds got "stuck" I've been leary. Of course the tanning bed manager went outside and got locked out so he couldnt save them or hear them screaming.

Anyway, I decided to give it a shot and overcome fear. I went in and for around $5 you can use the high pressure lay down bed that lasts only 12 mintues. There are also stand up beds and spray tanning. I enjoy laying down so I can relax.

The bed is in its own room with a chair and radio along with some toiletries like baby wipes, body spray and deoderant for afterwards. Needless to say, the bed looks like a casket with lights. I applied some tanning intensifier lotion and as instructed, I layed down and closed the lid over me after pusing the start button on the wall.

So as you are laying on hard plastic with bright lights all around you, you have these protective eye pieces that make you look like an alien. They have very small dark holes in which to see but I dont' like to open my eyes unless absolutely necessary. You can control the volume of the radio and the intensity of the light on your face. There is also this spritzer that will give you a fine mist of h2o if need be but the idea of water and electricity together kinda scares me. The tanning beds now also have air conditioning so you don't feel youself frying. You can control that as well.

Every tanning bed junkie I have ever seen has a playboy bunny somewhere that is still white because of the sticker you put over it each time you tan. I opted for the heart sticker.

After a mere 12 minutes and startled by the lights in the bed going off I got up and got dressed. I had my bathing suit on because I like tan lines and so does Jerome - plus it would feel weird laying in there in my bday suit. I didnt feel like I looked any darker so I went home and waited for the boys to get home from flag football practice. I know that if you take a shower after tanning you will stop the tanning process so I didnt.

Today, my tush is pink.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO


(click on comic to see larger view).

IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY
New York Post
January 24, 2008 -- A Venus-Pluto aspect on your birthday will bring out your passionate side - yes, you do have one! Whether you get passionate about a person, an idea or about a cause of some kind you will put everything into it and you won't tolerate anything but total and utter success. Failure is not an option.

FLORIDA TODAY
You cut through restrictions and make your own rules this year. The next 10 weeks represents a slow transformation, and the positive changes are lasting. Check out a self-employment opportunity in April. Traveling and socializing are featured in July. Summer education brings greater financial freedom. Libra and Scorpio adore you.

Ahhh, those sound positive. So far today I woke up (thank goodness), took Charles to school then came home and lazily watched some of my programs. One of them was that show about the lie detector test. It was ok, but they try to build up the suspense too much. You know, the drama music, the waiting, the panning to family members. .. .

The magazine was uploaded yesterday so I have a few days of rest from that. Then I went to treat myself to a pedicure (the $20 from Annette helped that out) but not before stopping at Wal-mart in search of some deals. I bought myself some long pants ( I currently only own 3 pairs that I like), some CUTE black bermuda shorts, a large black leather purse for $2 and 2 bras - one black and one white. The white was was only $2 too. Don't ya love a bargain? Then I went and got myself a roast beef sub with lite mayo, pickles, tomatos, lettuce and banana peppers from subway. I'll eat 1/2 for lunch today and 1/2 for lunch tomorrow.

When I got home, I put my bathing suit on and layed out for about an hour whilst munching on my sub. Then I used one of my gift certificates to a tanning salon across the street for a little more "artificial" sunshine since the sun isnt so strong now.

Tonight the 3 of us are planning on going to Red Lobster (with a gift card) and I already know what I am going to have; The pick 3 with Coconut Shrimp (my favorite), crab alfredo and crab legs so I can add more crab to the alfredo. I will also have a salad with bleu cheese and brocolli as a side. I really love the mashed potatoes but not with the pasta. Carb overload. However, knowing my luck Jerome won't eat his and he will offer them to me and I won't be able to turn them down.

Charles will more than likely have crab legs and fries. His usual. I am going to have to tell Charles to tell the waitress that it is my bday in hopes of a free dessert. . .

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

CHARLES 4th GRADE SEMESTER 2 REPORT CARD


My boy is such a smartie!!

Reading - A
Communication - B
Social Studies - A
Science - A
Math - A

Attendance - 1 Day missed.

Note from teacher - Charles has been progressing nicely. He has wonderful ideas for stories, but sometimes has difficulties getting all the details down. Once he is finished with an assignment, he will not go back and check his work uless I specifically tell him to do so. Needless to say, I make a point to remind him to proofread.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

RANDOM-NESS

Hello 2008. A couple of quick birthdays - Aunt Corrie, Mac and Annette. Tough to have a bday after Xmas. I hope you all enjoyed them.

Tuesday 22nd Charles has one of two orthodontist consultations. The second is on Feb. 5. I wanted 2 opinions. The 29th I get a cavity filled and get my teeth cleaned for my bday. (Thats what you buy yourself when you get old). Also, I am pursuing a free mammogram from the American Breast Cancer Society.

Charles starts flag football at school on Thursday the 24th and is looking forward to it.

We have been enjoying our Xmas presents. We just figured out how to get on the internet on the PSP. We also uploaded a few pictures and Charles' songs. He has greatly enjoyed using it. He really loves all his Playmobil stuff and the Dinosaur book in particular. We also enjoy looking for the artwork in the "find it" books.

I need to get MiniDV tapes for the video recorder. Very cool gift, I can't wait to use it. Jerome is looking forward to getting some surf shots. I intend to take that thing over seas somewhere. . .

I have used my new white sweater, Agner purse, Victoria's Secret sleepwear and umbrella. I plan on trying out the belly dancing lessons soon. Again, I want to thank everyone for such great gifts. I hope this year I can get better things for all of you.

I havent purchased many thing since Xmas except groceries. I recently went to Goodwill to look for long pants for Charles and found a pair of reversable Starters and another tan pair that zips off at the knee to make shorts. Both for under $10. I also found myself a couple of skirts and shirts. Some particularly cute ones in fact. It's easy to find great summer clothes when it is 50 degrees out. Just like it's easy to find coats and what not when it is hot out. Floridians . . . .

We are going on another field trip on the 30th and I tried to get out of it but Jerome, Charles and apparently the teacher really want me to go. It's nice to know I'm needed. It is a highway/charter bus trip to Xmas, FL to see some sort of Florida history festival. It will replace the St. Augustine trip which apparently became too expensive.

Both Charles and I really want to see Cloverfield, so we might go for my birthday. Dinner and a movie with my son and hopefully my 'husband'.

My DVR is empty these days. Mainly, Wife Swap, Reno 911, Girls Next Door (Hugh Hefners girlfriends), Desperate Housewives (when it is on), Criminal Minds, Mad TV and Celebrity Apprentice - which I am now hooked on. I tell ya, Gene Simmons is a hoot! If you watch it, I am convinced that he hung himself for the girls sake. The Baldwin guy is full of energy and "crap" as Alek put it. Carol Alt is still georgous and believe it or not but I think Amorosa is actually likeable!

Jerome and Charles are getting in to the Sarah Conner Cronicles. Speaking of Jerome, his resolution - AGAIN - was to quit smoking. Ask him if he did. I don't ask much around here anymore. . .

Work is ok, steady. My boss is a German woman going through menopause- so that should explain a lot. I work on the computer mostly so sometimes when I come home, it is the last thing I want to do. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are extremely busy since I get up at 6:30, work 2 jobs and get home around 8pm.

I have to kick myself in the butt soon and do a painting or two. I don't know why I am so inhibited. Is it because I don't have an area set up and ready to go? I have to drag everything out of the closet and set it up and clean it up - kind of a drag. Is it because I can't come up with any specific idea to paint about? Maybe I should quit thinking so hard about a subject and just paint. I am dying to use my new colorful Sharpie Markers Annette got me. I just gotta go for it.

I never considered myself an abstract artist. I am much more literal. I am into completing things and not starting something that could take a while. Literalism takes much more time and precision than abstraction. But sometimes abstraction is more fun because you don't have to think about it as much, you just go with the flow.

Subjects I have thought about painting; Beach scene-yawn, palm trees, exotic flowers, frogs, dragonflys, geckos, mixed drinks (could be fun), mermaids and sexy retro women. What do you think would be good subject matter?

Here is an awesome piece I found on the internet. It is a literal picture with a fun and sexy twist. I really like this quirky yet retro style and artistic view - It's something I would love to paint. Of course, it would have to be my idea but the same principle. What do you think?