Category Archives: Travel

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 21, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 20/21, 2012. (It’s midnight right now.)

Outside my window… dark. Actually pretty nice outside.

I am thinking… about Daniel starting school tomorrow. He has a new teacher and while he’s probably going to be fine, I’m a nervous wreck.

I am thankful… for a good trip to see family.

In the kitchen… ramen. I’m having problems eating and it’s a food that doesn’t irritate my stomach.

I am wearing… black shirt and Left Behind shorts.

I am creating… just this entry.

I am going… to try and get some better habits started this school year.

I am wondering… about creating a Facebook page for this blog. It’s probably not going to happen but it’s an interesting possibility.

I am reading… Clergy Killers by G. Lloyd Rediger. I probably would have finished it but I slept most of the way home today.

I am hoping… my clothes dry in time for tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… time with a friend tomorrow.

Around the house… lots of cats.

One of my favorite things… my recliner.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Morning Prayer, errands, and hopefully getting a haircut on Friday.

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7 Quick Takes: Camp Songs, Road Trips, and Speed Reading

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

It’s Shark Week on Discovery Channel. Someone posted this video of “Baby Shark” in honor of Shark Week and as it’s a camp song and as a former camp counselor, I think these songs need to be shared. This video is from a Boy Scout camp in Connecticut and as usual, the Boy Scouts know how to do these songs well.

— 2 —

I think we need to add The Penguin Song for good measure. It’s another camp song that I learned from some members of my Bible study in college who learned it as YMCA camp counselors. I have memories of standing outside Marianne’s (an awesome ice cream parlor in Santa Cruz) singing it. I’m pretty sure it would have been banned in the Girl Scouts because it looks like you’re mocking people with mental disabilities.

— 3 —

OK… throwing a question out to my readers. What were your favorite camp songs? They can be from whatever camps you attended — Girl Scout, Boy Scout, church, CYO, whatever.

— 4 —

By the time you read this, I’ll be down in southern California with Jon, Daniel, and my in-laws. Jon’s birthday is Saturday and he wants to take a weekend off. Since he hasn’t actually had one in like… a year, we’re doing it! He has a few surprises waiting for him on this trip so hopefully it will be enjoyable for him.

— 5 —

I got a few books read on the way down. No, I wasn’t the one driving. I finished The Wurst Is Yet to Come by Mary Daheim, read The Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin (a.k.a Andrew Shaffer — it’s a parody of THAT OTHER BOOK, stop judging me!) before starting/finishing The Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke, and starting on Clergy Killers by G. Lloyd Rediger. Yes, I do read that fast.

— 6 —

My in-laws are the only people I know with more cats than me. I think the current count is 5 or 6? My mother-in-law is seriously deserving of the hashtag #crazycatlady that I bat around the Twitter. My sister-in-law has three chihuahuas but we don’t talk about it.

— 7 —

Why yes, I’m aware that I’m not #1 this week in posting my Quick Takes. I’ve been busy taking care of my kid and attempting to be social with my in-laws? Oh yes… also catching up on Twitter and Facebook because I didn’t get a chance to be online until tonight.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 25, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 25, 2012

Outside my window… sunset. No idea how warm it was today — I wasn’t really outside for much of it.

I am thankful… for Sara’s package.

In the kitchen… dishes, dishes, and more dishes.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and black sweats.

I am creating… assorted things.

I am going… to the store for apple juice. (Back now.)

I am wondering… why some people think that someone signalling a lane change with a turn signal is a cue to speed up and keep them from doing so safely.

I am reading… Sugarplum Dead by Carolyn Hart.

I am hoping… this week goes smoothly with Jon gone.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Thursday.

Around the house… dishes to do from Saturday’s dinner party. My kingdom for a dishwasher!

I am pondering… way too many things internally.

One of my favorite things… snuggling with Daniel after his bath.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Breakfast Bunch on Wednesday and Bible study on Thursday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Travel Memories, Prayer Requests, and a Trivia Question

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Daniel starts back to school tomorrow. It’s not the regular school year — it’s summer school (an hour shorter each day) and goes for a month but it will be a good thing. Daniel needs structure and consistency and it’s a bit hard to get that when he’s home with me. I do my best to replicate his schedule at school (and to keep his naps consistent) but it’s better to have him with teachers who know what they’re doing. During the summer, they have water days on Fridays so we’re supposed to send a swimsuit and swim diapers to school with him. Daniel should enjoy that.

— 2 —

My trip down to southern California last week was awesome. The flights were mostly good — Daniel learned how to take off his seat belt on the way back so I had to hold it on and howled about that — but he slept most of the flight home. My father-in-law was ecstatic to have us down there and he spent as much time as he could with Daniel. We’ll back down in two months and I’m going to try and have us go down on long weekends if at all possible during the school year even if it’s just Daniel and I.

— 3 —

Brett’s Blogathon will be on July 27th starting at 7 a.m. I’m trying to come up with ideas like having a spare change challenge and all this will be announced on the Blogging for Brett site.

— 4 —

The [insert expletive] heat has started. It was 105 on Saturday when I flew in from Ontario and 102 the next day. On Wednesday (the first day of summer), it was 97. I’m thankful that it’s cooling down for the moment. I *need* to do some walking and it’s hard to do when it’s eleventy billion degrees outside.

— 5 —

After my grumpy post on Tuesday, I should probably enumerate some *good* things that happened on Tuesday. Les Schwab fixed my tire for free because it was my first time there. (We had been at the park while the tire was changed.) The woman at Michael’s gave me a really cool bag left over from their giveaway for me to use for the yarn I bought. (The recipient of the yarn product reads this blog so this is all I can currently say…)

— 6 —

I have a prayer request for y’all. My college friend Brian just had back surgery and is in a world of pain. This is the guy who carried me like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder to the health center whenever I’d sprain my ankle, forced food down my throat when I was too depressed to eat, and who is my incredibly wonderful surrogate big brother. Please pray for healing for him.

— 7 —

I have a trivia question for you. Where are the pictures used in my profiles taken? Here are the three I use:

A statue of Our Lady
Sunflowers
The ruins of the original church.

First person to answer correctly and tell me why this place is famous gets bragging rights. You may not guess if you are married to me or are related by blood or marriage. Combing my Facebook albums is also prohibited.

OK… Hevel got it right. It’s Mission San Juan Capistrano and it is the only mission in Orange County. There is one more trivia fact about why it is famous. Who can tell me? In an email, he got the return of the swallows. Thanks for playing everybody!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 18, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 18, 2012

Outside my window… sunny and hot but we’ve got a “Delta breeze” unlike the last two days when it was 105 and 100 respectively with no wind.

I am thinking… that I’m glad Daniel heads back to preschool on Friday even though we’ve had some fun while he has been on break.

I am thankful… for my secret trip to southern California to see my in-laws last week. My father-in-law was definitely surprised and it was the first time he had seen Daniel in 10 months.

In the kitchen… leftover pizza from yesterday’s Father’s Day dinner.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and running shorts.

I am creating… stuff for Brett’s Blogathon 2012 and this entry.

I am going… to Target and probably Michael’s at some point this week.

I am reading… Sugarplum Dead by Carolyn Hart.

I am hoping… my neck/back pain goes away.

I am looking forward to… maybe doing errands tomorrow.

Around the house… unpacking to do.

I am pondering… things related to my faith.

One of my favorite things… quiet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: WIC appointment Thursday morning, Daniel starting school again on Friday, and hopefully a lot of unscheduled time.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 11, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 11, 2012

Outside my window… hot hot hot. 95F today according to Weather.Com.

I am thinking… that I need to cut off my hair again. It’s been almost 3 months.

I am thankful… for the mini nap I got today while Daniel was taking his nap.

In the kitchen… oatmeal.

I am wearing… old black Arabic shirt and black running shorts.

I am creating… things for Brett’s Blogathon 2012.

I am going… to probably be spending a fair amount of time inside this week because of the heat.

I am wondering… if I should do a theme for Quick Takes this week.

I am reading… Sugarplum Dead by Carolyn Hart.

I am hoping… to get Daniel potty-trained this summer.

I am looking forward to… this weekend. That’s all I can say right now.

Around the house… I have house help at the moment which is seriously blessing me.

A favorite quote for today… “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.'” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Daniel waking up happy from his nap.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands and hopefully some water play with Daniel.

A peek into my day… Snow drifts in Montana — I needed a reminder of cold stuff because it’s so bloody hot here.

Snow drifts in Montana

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 12, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 12, 2011

Outside my window… dark. I need to do this before 11 p.m. 😉

I am thinking… that Castleville is an an addicting Facebook game.

I am thankful… for two episodes of Hart of Dixie tonight even if they weren’t the two best ones.

In the kitchen… anything I can microwave.

I am wearing… blue maternity shirt and black sweats.

I am creating… Christmas card labels.

I am going… to have a park date with Daniel and S (his physical therapist) tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

I am wondering… why I have a headache.

I am reading… The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It’s magic/fantasy and it’s keeping my attention though I could probably take/leave it. I have the new Margaret Maron from the library as well.

I am hoping… the cough reflex will please die down so I can stop feeling like I’m about to have an asthma attack.

I am looking forward to… the Golden Bough concert this weekend with my Dad.

I am hearing… the 11:00 news and the furnace.

Around the house… *whistles innocently*

I am pondering… many things in my heart.

One of my favorite things… the Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar given to me by my mother-in-law.

A few plans for the rest of the week… physical therapy tomorrow, peds appointment on Wednesday, therapies on Thursday, San Jose on Friday, and Golden Bough on Saturday.

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