Fantastic Friday

(Post title in honor of today's release of Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer).

It's been a while since I've posted any Friday fun links; let me see what I have saved up:

• There's a trailer out for National Treasure 2. I hope this one is as good as the first. Looks like something fun to do during the Christmas break.
• Have fun playing around with all your friends' and family's names at Anagram Genius. For instance, my husband's name works out to "Narcotic Karen boy."
• Word game fun with Babble. As if I need something else to distract me right now.
• While I was at the orthodontist with Halle on Wednesday, I thumbed through a copy of a PC magazine and came across and article about the top freebies for your PC. Here are a few I thought looked interesting:

1. Meebo: Sign onto several instant messaging services in one place. Not an application, but a website.
2. BackPack: a way to keep your "to-dos, notes, ideas, and schedules online."
3. Pageflakes: customizable homepage... similar to ones you can make with Google and Netscape, but more control over layout.
4. Home-Dock Deluxe: Not for your PC, but for your TV/IPod. If you have a newer video IPod, this cool gadget will help you "Access and enjoy your entire iPod music and movie library right from your sofa". View your videos, listen to your music, and enjoy the album art all on your TV.
5. Jam Jacket: I actually saw this one when I went to look at the Home-Dock. Looks like something Emily could use; she has spent half the car ride to school just untangling her ear bud wires for her IPod. Fits 30GB IPod videos and the 2nd generation IPod Nanos.

That's about it for today. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Duplex

As soon as Brian gives the folks at the base housing office the word tomorrow, we will officially have a house waiting for us on base in July. As the post title might suggest, it is a duplex. If you're the type who is interested in floor plans, you can see the first floor here. The second floor looks like this. It will be a big change.... We'll be downsizing from around 3400 sq. ft. to somewhere around 1400 sq. ft. Ay caramba!

In other news, Joel has his first loose tooth. He's been working on it for about 3 or 4 days now. I have a feeling he'll have it out within the next day or two.

I was cleaning up some dry beans that had spilled next to my desk earlier (they came from a miniature clay flower pot that had been fashioned into a pen/pencil holder) and had an uncontrollable urge to nurture my inner 2nd-grader. So now Halle and Joel know both versions of the "Beans, beans" poem. My dad would be so proud (and wonder why it took me this long to teach it to them!).

Just stuff

Lots of random things bumping around in the old grey matter today. I figure why fight it? So hang on: this is going to be a mish-mash of topics.

Spring Reading Challenge update: Still working on those last few non-fiction selections on my list. I'm about 1/2-way through Yancey's Prayer book (replacement for Where God Was Born), and more than 1/2-way through Lucado's Facing Your Giants. Same with How to Read the Bible... and Not a Tame Lion. The non-fiction is kicking my rear, I guess. But I did finish the fiction list and have added about a dozen more titles to the read column (since my last update, where I added 9 titles)... unfortunately, I returned many of them to the library without recording the titles; ones I can remember off the top of my head are Gardenias for Breakfast, and Private Justice & Shadow of Doubt (2 Teri Blackstock novels). Books I have here at the house that I've finished are 2 more Blackstock books, Line of Duty and Trial by Fire, Lisa Samson's Club Sandwich (I think my favorite of hers so far), Judy Baer's The Whitney Chronicles, and Confessions of a Super Mom (Melanie Hauser).

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The free concert last Saturday night was pretty good. We didn't bring lawn chairs to sit on the ball field and didn't want to stand up in front of the stage, so we made ourselves comfortable in the stands for the show. Lincoln Brewster was definitely better than Todd Agnew, but I enjoyed listening to the things Todd had to say in between songs. (I really think Todd's music is best enjoyed by listening to a studio version rather than live... there were lots of times he just didn't sound like he was quite where he should have been vocally.) Things got started later than they were supposed to and the kids got restless, so we ended up leaving before Todd finished.

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Joel has now moved up to the next level in his gymnastics class. I had promised him a uniform once he moved up, so we got that yesterday afternoon. Maybe I can get a picture of him in it today. Because he moved up, I had to switch days for gymnastics; He and Halle's classes run concurrently now so that we are at the gym for 1 hour on Tuesdays instead of 1 1/2 hours on Mondays.

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So now I've been to two different ladies' functions for church, the breakfast a week or so ago and a "Ladies' Afternoon Out" this past Sunday afternoon. There were a few more at the breakfast than at the last function, but a few of the same people were at each. Plus Brian and I attended a newcomer's class Sunday afternoon/evening, where we were able to meet some more couples, one of which is another homeschooling military family. It really looks like we will be able to be involved as much as we want/need to here.

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More book stuff: I've been lucky to be on the receiving end of some giveaways on other blogs lately. Lara just sent me one of the few Francine Rivers books I haven't read yet, Unshaken. And I was the lucky winner of one of Camy's weekly giveaways, Too Good to Be True, by Trish Perry. And then a few days ago, Carrie drew my name for a giveaway she was sponsoring and I'm looking forward to receiving The List, by Robert Whitlow, from her. I guess I will stop whining that I never win anything now!

Spring break has broken

Our spring break begins today. Emily is out of school until the 16th. Unfortunately, we won't be going anywhere. Brian just got back from a 3-day trip back to MO to visit his mom in her new nursing home (see story on that here and here). He got home after midnight last night and was up and off to work before 7 this morning (a bit later than usual, but he isn't in the O.R. today). He and Noah will be ferrying over to San Francisco to see the Giants take on the Dodgers this evening. Emily's school choir is singing for the Good Friday service at the church we've been attending tonight. Then tomorrow is a pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt there. The calendar for next week is blank, other than gymnastics on Monday and Brian's moonlighting in Sac on the weekend. I suppose I could be thankful for that.

I've been saving up links for today, so enjoy:

99 Balloons: Go watch this Igniter video about one family's experience with a special baby.

My pal Thumper is known for her unsent letters she posts at her place. Now she's created a place for the rest of us. I can't describe its meaning or purpose better than she can:

It's anger bubbling just under the surface. That guy who cut you off in the parking lot or the idiot who deliberately threw a fist full of french fries out his car window, laughing as they stuck to the face shield of your helmet as you wrestled to keep your motorcycle upright. The Woman in McDonald's screaming at her teary-eyed two year old. The talking head on TV seemingly in need of a proctologist to find his remaining gray matter.

It's grief puddling do deeply you're about to drown. The father you didn't get to say goodbye to. The grandparent whose love you miss in tanglible ways. The pet who was happy to see you, loved you unconditionally, no matter how bad your mood.

It's a missed friend. A lost love. A secret you need to share with someone, even anonymous strangers online.

It's the letters you've always wanted to write, but had no where to send them to. Dear So and So... unsent letters, finally sent.

Have you played Snipe yet? It's addictive.

Amy at Whole Hearted Life posted Five Things I Learned by Friday. What have your kids taught you?

Have you seen the Jesus action figure?? Watch Dixon Kenser's thoughts on it.

The Television City Chronicle is a must-read for anyone who watches TV. Perhaps these posts will help Heroes fans pass the time until April 23rd. There's a little something there for everyone.

Google's latest product: GMail Paper. Be sure to click the "Learn more" link. (Yes, this was Google's April Fool's joke this year. Classic.)

And now for the YouTube submissions of the week....

Emily led me to this one... Blood. It's not funny! (Oh, yes it is.)

How to Paint the Mona Lisa with Microsoft Paint. 'Nuff said.

He was injured... injured bad:

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday in the park

Today marked the third day in a row we've walked to the park with the kids... but this time we had ALL of them! It was so nice to have Emily along; she can be a real blast to hang out with. We all had fun playing frisbee in the open space. Campbell absolutely loves being there, running around (on leash) and lying in the grass. I really think he misses having a lawn to play on. Since our landlord abhors lawn care, our back yard is nothing but a big patio and a whole lotta mulch with weeds sprouting up through it. Brian sprayed weed killer on the weeds a week or two ago, but they haven't died off yet.

I wish we had taken the camera with us today, though. At some point during our time there, Noah had lifted Campbell up to the drinking fountain for a drink of water. Later on while I had a hold of his leash and was getting ready to take a drink for myself, Campbell stood up on his hind legs and began getting his own drink. He really had to stretch to get it, but he stood there for a good 20/30 seconds, lapping up the water like he'd been doing it for years. It was too funny. Hopefully we can remember to take a camera next time, so I can snap a picture to post.

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I'm already 2 books down on the Spring Reading Thing; I've managed to get in 1 book a night the past 2 nights (yeah, I'm staying up til a little after midnight, but it hasn't killed me yet!). I've finished the first 2 books of Karen Kingsbury's Firstborn series, and can't wait to start the 3rd. I might actually have time tonight to read the 4th as well, because I don't think I'll be watching any TV. Yahoo!

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I've been collecting some stuff to share for a little while and figured today was a good day. Hope some of these bring a smile to your face!

The Melinda Doolittle School of Humility: Emily and I caught this last weekend on E's Soup and could not stop laughing. Rated PG-13 for language (3x). (Edited Friday 3/23: Looks like the clip was removed for terms of use violation. Glad at least one person got to see it before it was taken down.)

Thanks to Carrie at Mommy Brain for this great Heroes parody. It's helping pass the time while I wait for the next new episode. Can someone fast-forward to April 23, please?

How about this nifty little invention?

Noah and I read about Where's George? in his UMag (magazine for young account-holders of USAA Federal Savings Bank) he got in the mail earlier this week. We visited the site and entered some of our paper money into the database so we can hopefully track where it goes.

Stuff on my mind

So much going on here and so little time to write it... I've got 30 minutes before I have to take Emily to school and will try to get it done by then.

I'll let you head over to my hubby's place to hear his news. It is a mixed blessing, because it will mean more TDYs (that's trips out of town for you non-military folk), maybe 6 more a year. Just what I've always wanted; 6 more weeks out of the year as a single mom. Well, hopefully by the time this calendar year is over, we'll have the funds to maybe accompany him on one... the kids have always wanted to see San Antonio, and Washington, DC would make a great field trip as well.

Emily let a friend at school use her cell phone earlier this week (use as in take it and keep it for a period). When she got it back, it wasn't working. Turns out her friend got it wet. We don't know how and she isn't saying. She hasn't even apologized to her. Thankfully Brian thought to take out insurance on this phone, so a replacement is supposed to arrive today. Emily is splitting the $50 deductible with him. I don't think she'll be letting her phone out of her sight again.

I found a neat Countdown Clock you can add to your sidebar. Wish I had something to countdown to... Oh wait!! I kinda do... maybe I'll add one later.

Another widget for your blog: MeeVee. Share what you're watching. It's too big for my sidebar, or I'd put one on here.

Make a customized Starbucks graphic for your computer. What's your drink? Mine's a grande peppermint nonfat, no whipped cream hot chocolate.

Read in World magazine this week:

It's a good thing Rebecca Johnson wasn't wearing a skirt. The 24-year-old's baby came so quickly, she didn't even have time to make it into the hospital in Connellsville, Pa. Instead, she told a reporter for the Daily Courier, "I didn't know what happened until he was in my pant leg." Despite being born down his mom's pants, doctors said the 5-pound, 15-ounce baby was healthy.

Brian and I are headed to see Mark Schultz and Big Daddy Weave in concert tomorrow night. It's been a long time since we've been to a concert, so we're looking forward to it. We saw Big Daddy Weave back in Omaha about 3 years or so ago, but this will be our first Mark Schultz concert. Hey Jim... we'll be thinking about you!

That's all the news for now!

Last I heard...

Seen at Zoot's... thought it looked like fun!

You go to Google and type in your name along with the phrase "last I heard he/she was" and see what you get. Find out what you're up to these days...

Last I heard, she was taking massage therapy classes at night. Ooh, that sounds like fun, but I'd rather be getting than giving.

Last I heard, she was living in Iowa. Let's make that one state west.

Last I heard, she was no longer teaching. Obviously, that is so not true.

Last I heard, she was still hangin' on, but barely... Ssssshhhh! It's a secret!

Last I heard she was quite far ahead in the polls. I'm not sure what polls that would be. That one scares me.

The last I heard she was pregnant again. Bite your tongue!

Last I heard she was going to go be a cop. Cop, mom... what's the difference?