BLOG DAY 2007

12:01 AM Posted In Edit This 7 Comments »
Blog Day 2007

Here are some wonderfully interesting blogs that I found in my search! Some from Kansas like me, and a couple who enjoy photography as much as I do! Enjoy!

A HOMESTEADING NEOPHYTE
A simple living homesteader who is also from Kansas!
COUNTRY DOCTOR'S WIFE
Building a farmhouse and living in Kansas!
YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOUR DEAD
Also from Kansas, and he likes to run. A lot.
A FRAME AT A TIME
California photography at its best!
FURIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY
A VERY interesting photoblog!

HAPPY BLOG DAY 2007!

DAY TWO OF HUTCHINSON, KANSAS BOMB THREATS AT DILLONS STORES

12:38 PM Posted In , Edit This 17 Comments »

Photos by Rebecca Bridges/Copyright 2007

HUTCHINSON, Kansas - Another round of bomb threats have occurred again today at the Dillons Stores in Hutchinson, Kansas. Three of the stores, located on 4th Street, 5th Street and Adams, and 14th and Main Street, have all received similar threats today.

Businesses in the area of the 14th and main street Dillons store were forced by police order to close up shop due to another round of bomb threats. An officer on the scene said all that was known at this time was that there was a bomb threat called into the store, and that no one was inside except for a few Dillons employees and law enforcement working the case. Streets have been blocked off around the area as well. It is unknown at this time if the caller was the same person as the one who made the threatening phone calls yesterday morning to the Dillons Store on 30th Street, or the same Dillons Store on 14th.


Law enforcement check the propane tank storage unit outside the 14th and Main Dillons Store for evidence of the possible presence of a bomb.


Streets have been barricaded and residents asked to avoid the area due to the possibly dangerous situation. At this point there are no reports of injuries or hostages being taken. There has however, been a demand for money.


HFD personnel wait for information.


The TV people live on the air.... more as it comes in.


Above is a map with the locations of the Dillons Stores pinned in blue. Hutchinson is a community of about 40,000 people.


Dillons Store at 14th and Main Street

UPDATE: 1:45 PM - Police believe that only the threat at the 14th and Main Dillons Store was related to yesterdays bomb threats. It is speculated that the other two were hoaxes. All three stores are now cleared and open for business.

LOOKY WHAT I GOT!

10:45 AM Posted In , Edit This 7 Comments »

Psssst! Looky here at my cool new dog tags! When I was a kid, I used to snatch my dads military tags and wear them to school I loved them so much. I special ordered these from a place called QuickTrophy.Com. They specialize in sports themes, so if your kid is into sports, you can order a set for their entire little league team as mementos of the season. They even have some for cheerleaders, and folks who love music. They will print them with your choice of logo, 3 lines of text, and in your choice of a variety of colors. Of course I don't play any sports, but I love me some Nascar, so naturally I ordered myself a purple (who would have guessed) dog tag with my nickname and the numbers of my favorite drivers. Mine will be used however not for memento, but for good luck charm to wear on race day baby!!


This is my dog tag walking out the door with my teenager.... I think it's safe to say the kids will love collecting these for achievements, and showing them off proudly to their friends. It even came with a tub-chain so it's ready to wear. One thing I thought about, was asking them if they could do a blank one - (without a theme logo) - so I could have one printed with medical alert information. I do not like wearing the bracelet - too old lady looking - but one of these would be cool-my-kinda jewelry! I was totally happy with mine, and the price was extremely reasonable as well. I got mine about 3 days after I ordered it, so not a bad turn around time at all.
Now - to figure out a way to snatch my new good luck charm away from my teenager. Sheesh...

HOSTAGE SITUATION - DILLONS BOMB THREAT

4:13 PM Posted In Edit This 13 Comments »
Photos Copyright Rebecca Bridges 2007

Sharp Shooters set up a perimeter around the 30th Street Dillons Store in Hutchinson, Tuesday. An unidentified man apparently tried to rob the store and threatened to blow it up, holding more than 100 people hostage since about 11:30 this morning.


Even the police helicopter was brought out to aid in the search for a man who told the store manager to have the hostages inside to start taking off their clothing. The man claimed he could see what was taking place inside, and that if anyone walked out he would shoot them.


Turtle?


Every Law Enforcement department in town was on the scene, including the SWAT team who had entered the store to search for the man.


I wouldn't be surprised to hear that a bank downtown was robbed during the commotion. So far no news on that.... I hear Alice's Restaurant playing in the back of my head now.


Marked cars, unmarked cars, vans disguised as unmarked vans.... lots-o-stuff!



The TV people have landed....

I heard MANY different stories on this one, so the truth may be somewhere in between it all, but one news station reported that a man was inside the grocery store with a bomb strapped to himself, holding hostages. Another report said that a man called the manager at the store and was carrying out his crime all via the telephone. I have to wander if it was probably the same guy that caused an hours long standoff between himself and the police last week, by not being where he was rumored to be. Police threw tear gas into an empty apartment, unable to find the suspect..... There's that music again..... with the 8x10 color glossy pictures and the circles and arrows..... It is still unclear at this time if anyone has actually been involved in anything.

EDIT: NEW INFORMATION FROM KSN NEWS!
"KSN has confirmed this incident is connected to several other threats made at banks – and banks inside grocery stores – across the country."

FULL STORY IN THE HUTCHINSON NEWS HERE 9-29-07


Ok - so seriously, I would much rather see better safe than sorry on something like this, than take any chances with anyones life. Our cops are awesome here, and they do what they have to do to protect us no matter how silly it may seem to some. Crime has to be taken seriously no matter if it has actually been committed or not.

Now - would someone do something about the fuckwad pussywhack that stole my Daddy's narcotics out of his locked mailbox!? Either the mailman is completely schnackered right now, or my stupid stepbrother used his key and stoled the pills. He did get arrested finally, but it was for having a rolling meth-lab goin on. Dumbass.

UNDER THE BLOOD RED MOON

6:09 AM Posted In Edit This 11 Comments »

My first time photographing an eclipse. I found it very difficult to get complete focus, but my long lens does not have a large enough aperture I think.


I sneezed and got mooned twice!


The colors coming off the moon were spectacular. This one was not a photoshop tie-dye job!


This was so incredibly neat to watch, and worth getting up at 4:30 in the morning for! I hope you all snuck a peak at it too!

Check out some other awsome eclipse photos at MAFIA'S place, PRAIRIE DREAMS, SPICY BUG, and WUNDERGROUND! If you wanna show off yer moon too, leave me a comment and I will link you!

MOONING YOU....

12:35 AM Posted In Edit This 17 Comments »

I wonder if people in different places of the world see a different moon? This is the moon in my back yard....

LANDLORDS SUCK DIRTY ....

8:23 AM Posted In Edit This 9 Comments »

It's only 8:30 in the morning and my house is 90 degrees inside with the windows and door open and 12 or 57 fans going. I have been trying to call all 3 "contact" phone numbers for him, one of them his stupid fatfuck son Matt, and no one will answer a damn phone. I even texted the asshat - nothing. In this town - you can't just pay for repairs and take it off the rent. My stupid landlord won't be back from China until the 30th and it's supposed to be really fucking hot all week. It's too hot to breathe in here, much less shut the bathroom door to take a shit. My brother in law came and looked at it (he's an AC dude by trade) but the motor is fried and there isn't any place to get the part on a weekend. Oh well. Maybe the heat will dry up some of the mold and my nose will stop bleeding.... cocksuckers.

SOMEBODY WON IT!

11:14 PM Posted In Edit This 3 Comments »
Here's the lucky winning powerball numbers, making someone out there $314.3 Million bucks rich.

8/25/2007 2 8 23 29 35
19

The next powerball jackpot for 8/29/2007 is $15,000,000
Cash Option is $7,000,000

Congrats to the lucky ONE who purchased their ticket in INDIANA! I hope it was someone who needed it at least.

Our pool won $3 - let's smoke.

SHANE'S SUNSET

9:45 AM Posted In Edit This 7 Comments »

My little boy is really having a blast taking pictures lately. When the sun started setting last night, he ran in to me and squealed for the camera, ran back outside and started hollering for me to come and look. The sky was beautiful after the storms had passed, and the colors were amazing. To him, the circles of light created by pointing the camera directly into the sun were amazing. I like his fresh little spirit. No rules - all is beauty - no inhibitions. That's the way it should be. I wish we could all see through the eyes of a child.

LIGHTNING CRASHES

3:46 PM Posted In Edit This 6 Comments »

Our house got stuck by lightning last night. Ok, well some part of it anyway. It took out our phone lines, and with that the DSL, and completely fried our air conditioner. In Kansas - you need your air conditioner. I NEED IT! So I call the landlord - get some dude who tells me - landlord is out of the country..... Obviously the phone company did their job, but I think I'm going to be out of the country when the rent is due next month.

BLOGGER LOTTERY POOL!

4:37 AM Posted In Edit This 19 Comments »

DateNumbersPBPP
08/22/2007* Powerball Winning Numbers
1237404850374

The next jackpot for 8/25/2007 is $300,000,000**
Cash Option is $140,300,000


I am thinking we should have a blogger lottery pool. People do it at work all the time, and this would be so flippin cool if we won! I say there should be 20 $5 shares. That would buy 100 lottery tickets for this humongo Powerball drawing. Each share would receive $4.9 million after taxes. So if you put in $5 bucks - you get $4.9 million. If you put in $10, you get 2 shares totaling $9.8 million. So do you want to join me? I will put in $10 for 2 shares. If you want your share, email me at kshippychic@hotmail.com and I will give you the addy to send your money to my paypal account - OR scroll down for the paypal button. I will go and buy 100 tickets if we get enough people to buy all the shares. If not, I will buy what we have the money for. To make sure you know I'm honest (I always would be) I will scan in the lotto tickets I purchased and email you the photos so you have all the numbers, the serial numbers of the tickets, ect. The Drawing is Saturday, so I need to have everyone who wants to join in, email me and send the cash by Friday at 6PM. I will go straight after that to purchase the tickets.
If we won, we would all need some financial consolidation software just manage all of our new money! Ooooooooooh what a problem to have!

Don't forget to check this out as well! Blog Day 2007!

Blog Day 2007

SECOND GRADE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SUCK!

5:57 PM Posted In Edit This 13 Comments »
BEFORE
Hello - this blog contains closed captioning for..... the mean kids who can't read Haahaaaaa!!
My son said some of the boys at school were calling him a girl because his hair was long. I tried to explain to him that it is ok to be different. He wasn't buyin it. So I did what any mom would do and took him to have his gorgeous little curls chopped off. *sob*


After.... *more sobbing*


Happily ever after - at least for today. I strongly dislike mean parents who teach their children to be mean and nasty. They suck.

MY FIRST DRAWING LESSON

10:42 AM Posted In , Edit This 1 Comment »

Ok, so it's not as bad as I thought - my drawing is, but the class itself I mean. I want my brain to open up and let the information in, but it is so much different than seeing something already created and taking a photograph of it. I do think I am going to like this class after all though. He said he would grade us based on our own abilities, not those of some scale of talent. I think we walk through life seeing things, but never really looking at them. I want to begin looking at the world around me, seeing the details and appreciating them for what they are. That would be a good thing.

I SOLD A PRINT!

5:41 AM Posted In Edit This 6 Comments »
Image Copyright Rebecca Bridges 2007
"Fireworks #8"
I sold a 12x12 print of this one and shipped it off yesterday to the buyer! I had it printed on metallic paper - from the lab that Mafia Wife introduced me too. I have to say it was stunning!! It felt good to finally sell some work too, I mean that is what I want to do in life. This one went to someone in Florida. Yipee! I only sell 10 of each photograph as limited edition prints, hand sign them and number them, and after that it's poster time. I have only ever completely sold and entire edition of my "Bubbly Blue" photo. Pretty cool says me!
PPhead's sister is home from the hospital - they couldn't find what was wrong with her. SO they just send her home - no problem. I think she needs to go to her own doctor soon though, because it can't be safe having blood pressure that low. They did say that her heart was fine, and that's where I worry a little - they said my dad had gas, and he was in complete renal failure. Stupid dummies.
Dad is doing good with dialysis, getting used to it now, and feeling much much better. He's been signing up for all kinds of no exam life insurance because he says he wants to make sure if something does happen to him, that we don't have to pay his debts or go broke buying his urn. With all the health problems he has now, there is no way he can get regular life insurance now. We have sat down and had "THE TALK" about everything he wants done if he leaves us. I hate talking about that shit. It makes me cry. I know it's a part of life, but I am only 35 years old and shouldn't have to think about losing my Dad so young. Hell he is only 60. He can't even get on the transplant list now for another almost 2 years because of the bladder cancer. That and he has to quit smoking. Even if I could give him one of mine - the doctors wouldn't do it. Anyhow, at least for the time being, Daddy is feeling good enough to get out of bed, leave the house, and do a lot of fishing! I plan on joining him this weekend. Just me an my Daddy at the fishin hole!

THE BOOK QUIZ

4:55 AM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »


You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
by Mark Twain
With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black
and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less
it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time
understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your
adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.
Take the Book Quiz

MY SKOOL IS STERTED TOO....

9:43 PM Posted In , , , Edit This 0 Comments »

Well here's what we'll be doing in my Intro to Digital Photography class. Mostly stuff I already know. Yawn. I asked to test out and go to the next level - but not possible. I did get a free trial copy of CS2 to use this semester. Seriously, we are talking more about computers and techy crap like Norton, and Illustrator more than anything. It's like a typography re-run. Today boys and girls, I learned that the difference between a Mac and a PC is simply personal preference. Oh and here's one - For putting up photographs on the web, your resolution needs to be 72 dpi. Like we all haven't known that one for a million years. Newspapers print their photos at 150 - 200 dpi, and most home printers as well. Going beyond 300 dpi on a cheap printer is just wasted time. I also get to spend half my life on stupid message boards - they actually are grading us on how much we participate on them. If I wanted to do stuff like that - I would be doing it now. Oh well does my blog count as a message board. Well the biology one is not even as fun as blogging. Nope. I tried to draw on Monday - and totally laughed at myself and lack of any kind of talent in that area. People who can look at something and re-create it with a flippin pencil are completely amazing to me. My drawing was supposed to be a bottle, book, and block, but it turned into a big paper ashtray. Yeah - this should be fun alright..... Boy I can't wait for speech class to start. No.

LAST ONE IS OFF!

12:15 PM Posted In , Edit This 7 Comments »

Click the pic to enlarge - this is what her teacher sent home with her today! Made me cry!!


Rye at school for her very first day!! She was sooooo excited!! She didn't even care that we were leaving she was so ready! They are baking a gingerbread man today!!! Did you do that in Kindergarten?? I DID I DID!! I remember we cooked him and he ran away. We ended up finding him outside in the bushes and eating him - kinda morbid if you think about it. But at age 5 it is a total blast!


By the stage in the gym.
She got her little name tag from the teacher, and smiled for the picture. I have three sets of these now. Going off too kindergarten. I didn't even cry this time - I kinda skipped out of the doors and to my car! I had to go to school though, for my digital photography class. Come to find out it is more about using photoshop on a Mac. Introductory. We went over the syllabus and junk, and most of it is stuff I already know. So it's just going to be boring as hell. This means I have NO fun classes this semester. I can't figure out this online biology crap to save my life, so I get all pissy and just play pogo. Derrrrrrr I so stoooopid.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AND PRICES

11:28 AM Posted In , Edit This 4 Comments »
Some thoughts on the wedding I am shoooting, but this time charging $875 for. I won't make much of a profit, (Less than $350) but I think I have enough practice runs under my belt to ask for a decent price. I learned a valuable lesson from the last one - get the deposit UP FRONT. The last time I did a wedding, I damn near had to hire a commercial collection agency to get my money. She finally paid me over 6 months later, after I wrote her a final letter with the word attorney in it. The funny thing is, the bride from that wedding called me a couple weeks ago, and wanted to know if I still had her pictures!! I do have them archived, but there is no way I would do business with people like that again, wedding or not. Photographers with limited experience - how much do you charge for doing a wedding? When do you ask for your money? Should I be making customers sign a contract of some kind?

FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!

5:50 AM Posted In Edit This 2 Comments »

My pouting little princess Rye.
PPHead and I are both driving miss Riley to school this morning so we can usher her off with hugs and kisses to the world of all day kindergarten. Then we can both have a cry in the car. Our last baby is flyin the coop already. She amazes me everyday, and it is so hard letting her go. But after we drop her off, I have to go to school as well, and PPHead will be going to see his sister in the ICU. Life won't stop, and sometimes I hate that....

PLEASE SEND PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS...

5:40 AM Posted In , Edit This 1 Comment »
PPHead's sister is in the hospital in the ICU. They first thought she had a heart attack because she was having chest pains, but they are watching her and are worried about her really low blood pressure. They have her all hooked up to the blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and EKG machine to keep an eye on her, and I'm sure it must be a lot scary for her son to see (The son she adopted from me so yes I am scared for him.) Good vibes needed.... My husband is a wreck. :(

MORE NATURE PICS

9:28 PM Posted In , Edit This 1 Comment »

Another duck from the nature center - he just got up real close and let me pet him. I don't recall ever petting a duck before. Do you ever just get out into nature and realize how beautiful it all is. How simple but so complex? I wonder if ducks feel sad or lonely, or if they are just happy all the time just being ducks?


My grandmother used to pick cotton till her fingers bled. For very little money. Aunt Sissy might have a story about that. We saw these at the nature center and they were labeled as dark cotton. I'm gonna keep going to check on them and see what they look like when they burst. So simple, yet so complex.

MORE FAT PILLS

9:20 PM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »
I found something else in the weight loss department called Miracle burn. The Hoodia ingredient in it is 100% Certified Organic Hoodia from South Africa. I wonder if it is a magic plant. I wonder if it will make me skinny. If I were thinner, would people take me more seriously? Would I get a better job? Would I feel better about myself? At what cost do I want to be skinny?

SOMEDAY PHOTOGRAPHER

11:02 AM Posted In , Edit This 3 Comments »

This is Shane Michael, who is 7 and a half, and these are his photographs.


Nature - not too bad, but the whites are blown. I think he did awesome for composition!


Black and White - well, he has a unique vision. He titled this one "Parking Lot" LOL!
I think we will roam around some more this week and shoot some more photos before he decides exactly what he wants to enter.

I have committed myself to yet another wedding, but this time I'm charging $875 for the whole deal. I won't come out of it making very much of a profit, but I think I have enough practice runs under my belt to ask for a decent price. I have done too many for free! And lesson learned from the last one - get the deposit UP FRONT. This bride will be handing me $500 before the wedding, and the rest when she gets her proof book and places the order. It is at the end of September, so at least the Fair will be behind me, and school will be at least back to routine. Yippee!

I NEED TO GET ORGANIZED!

10:54 AM Posted In , Edit This 0 Comments »

I should be doing my biology homework right now, but I'm not. You know why? Cuz I can't find ANYTHING!! PPHead and I have been shopping around for new office desks, in the hopes of finding something affordable, that has tons of storage, and will fit all my computer components. I have two classes online this year, and no place to put the gazillion books I need. Plus I have to smoke while putering, and always have two cameras ready to go. I also have two printers hooked up and need a place for them that isn't in my way as well. I had to give up my office room a while back because the oldest didn't want to share a bedroom with little sister anymore. Yay. It is driving me insane - er.

TOO MANY TOMATOES!!!

10:47 AM Posted In , Edit This 0 Comments »

This is my kitchen table full of tomatoes. I have more than we can eat and more than we can give away. If anyone lives around my area and wants some free garden fresh tomatoes, please come get them. PLEASE! I think I have about 50 pounds of them in various places in my house. I have even made tomato base and frozen enough to last through the winter!! HELLLLLP!!

MEN AND THEIR TOYS

10:40 AM Posted In Edit This 2 Comments »

PPHead wants to send his truck to some show on TV that tricks out yer old vehicle. I can't remember the name of the guy that does it, but it's like Foos or I dunno. He whines all the time about getting more truck accessories for the thing because it is supposedly pretty unique. I'm like - "How bout some brakes.... and um new tires?" It's just a Ford for shit's sake!

KIDS AND CAMERAS AND DUCKS OH MY!

10:52 PM Posted In Edit This 4 Comments »
PPHead and the kids at the nature center.
I think the poor little duckies were hungry. They came right up close to us begging, but we had forgotten to bring any bread for them. Shane Michael was on a mission to take some pictures for his State Fair entry. He is entering the nature, and black and white categories. He tried to use my big Canon, but it's way too heavy for him to steady and focus. So Halie let him use her little Kodak, which worked out a lot better for him. He can see the photo with both eyes before he takes it. He got some pretty good shots too. He's my little photog in training. Proud mommy moment!

ANGRY LITTLE BOY

10:35 PM Posted In Edit This 3 Comments »

Shane wasn't happy with momma. He wanted the camera....
Speaking of cameras, Canon is supposed to have a new body - the 40D - (sounds like an open tip bras size) hehee! Anyhow - this puppy will supposedly cost around $8000 for just the body. I don't guess I will be owning one anytime in the near future. Whine.

SWIMMING DUCK

10:29 PM Posted In Edit This 0 Comments »

I don't know what he was eating, but he sure was a cutie!

ATTEMPTED TEENAGE PORTRAIT

10:21 PM Posted In Edit This 2 Comments »

Well here's the best one I could get out of Halie. She looks like she needs to be checked into a drug rehab a little bit. I think maybe its the dark eyeliner. People tend to judge her just because her shirts are black and her hair is pink. I hate that. We were driving down the road minding our business today, and this truck full of boys pulled up beside us and started singing to her - singing. They were cute little goth boys....

LOVE BLACK AND WHITE

2:16 PM Posted In , , Edit This 3 Comments »

Here's a good one I got of Rye yesterday. I'm going to have it printed for the living room, and hopefully by the end of the day I will have a black and white photo of each of the other two kids as well. Wish me luck! Since they canceled the race for today, nothing else to do but play with the camera!

HOLY CRAP ALREADY!!

2:01 PM Posted In Edit This 0 Comments »

This is just getting a bit out of hand I would say. What the heck would one person do with $245 MILLION bucks? Um, well I plan on winning it. Yes I said it's mine. Don't worry, I will be sharing. I've already started shopping for my new Orlando vacation home so I can take the kids to Disney every summer. Next drawing is on Wednesday. So I won't be around on Thursday because I will be speeding down the road to cash in my ticket..... Yeah.

WHEN FAMILY PICTURES TURN BAD!!

11:42 PM Posted In Edit This 4 Comments »

I just wanted a picture of the three of them together - smiling - at the same time. This is what I got instead. About a billion times. Someone always blinks, or sneezes, or moves, or does something off the wall - like fall off the wall.... A full day of this and I have yet to capture the perfect picture of my three kids. At least this one is relatively funny since I caught the boy in mid smart-assness.
.

And again my son - "MOM - can you see up my nose? Look at my eyeball!" I had planned on doing this a few days ago - warned the kids I wanted a photo. So what's my son do? Smacks his sister in the forehead with a CD. Now she has a nice little purple line there. Why do boys throw things like that anyways? All he could come up with was the usual "I dunno." So I respond with the usual "You just wait until yer Daddy gets home!" His CD player and all his CD's are bye-bye now. Jeez...

FISHING WITH PPHEAD

5:40 PM Posted In , Edit This 3 Comments »

This is one of my husband's many tackle boxes - essential for going fishing you know. Why he has so many, I do not know. I tell him he should just go throw a couple bucks into the river and call it a day. He says he needs this much fishing tackle to catch fish. Where are the fish man?? Maybe it's some kind of thing for guys, like a lot of women have a thing for shoes. We have shoes, they have hooks, lines, and sinkers. I just need a hook and a hot dog and I'm happy.

SCREWED UP SATURDAY

2:59 PM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »

I'm screwed...

DEF LEPPARD CONCERT!! OMG!!

12:32 AM Posted In Edit This 5 Comments »


I WANT some Def Leppard concert tickets!!! They are coming to Oklahoma City on September 5! Granted they aren't my Nickelback, but during the 80's they were one of my favorite bands. Their songs each remind me of very specific times in my life - very WILD times at that! Oh how we used to dance to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" - so much friggin fun!! I never got to see them in concert back in the day, so I wonder what they sound like live? Anyone ever had that pleasure?

IT'S REALLY HOT HERE IN KANSAS

4:07 PM Posted In Edit This 4 Comments »

It's hot here. Really hot. Like, melting hot. The thermometer says 102 in the shade, but it feels like 110. I think it's going to stay like this forever..... my sweat is sweating. Maybe the sun can fry me skinny.....

MA'AM I HAVE YER CHICKEN...

7:45 AM Posted In Edit This 8 Comments »


I found some sexy costumes for ya Mackey!! Ok so maybe I should wear one too? Halloween is coming you know. What could be better than a hot sexy chicken??



Maybe just a chicken mask?? Very sexy. Have you noticed that the stores are already filling up with Halloween candy and costumes? Ours have anyway, since the beginning of August. Re-tarted. But I do love the holiday, so I will probly start digging out my decorations as soon as we take the pool down. Unless it stays really hot out and we don't take the pool down until December. You never know - this is Kansas after all!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - CONQUERED!!

3:43 PM Posted In , Edit This 9 Comments »

Halie and her always pink first day of school hair! And look! She is smiling!!


Shane Michael - not so excited. He liked it at home. Go to school kid!


Halie catches a bus to school, but Shane and Riley have to be driven out to the country. It's worth the drive, and even though I complain - the money - to put them in the schools they go to. The elementary school has actually had to turn kids away because so many want to attend. Shane said his first day was ok, but he can't stand kids that don't listen to the teacher. He's a genius you know. Halie should be walking in the door any second - so I can get filled in on all of the summer gossip and find out who's pregnant this year. Not my kid - thank the heavens! Poor Rye has to wait till Tuesday for her first day, so she was kinda lost and lonely. She was sooooo happy when Bubby came home!

FISHER-PRICE, MATTEL ISSUE MASSIVE TOY RECALL

7:31 AM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »
This may be old news to some folks - but I have just started hearing about it all in the last week or so. Everyone with children should take a look at the recall lists, and make sure they don't own one of the lead poisoned toys. I am appalled that a company responsible for children's safety would overlook something this huge. Lead paint in toys?? They went the cheap route without concern for our kids' safety and health. Maybe they should stop importing the shit from China. I think we personally own every Dora toy known to mankind - this should be fun. I couldn't believe all the stuff for kids that are being recalled. Everything from shoes, to pacifiers, to baby swings and bassinets. Please check the lists, and make sure you are keeping your kids safe!! Mar - you need to check on that Harley Davidson Power Wheel your mom bought for Maddy a while back - it's not safe either....

Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Description: The recalled involves various figures and toys that were manufactured between April 19, 2007 and July 6, 2007 and were sold alone or as part of sets. The model names and product numbers for the recalled toys, which are all marked with "Fisher-Price," are listed below. The toys may have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF marked on the product or packaging.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Fisher-Price. Consumers will need to return the product and will receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the consumer's choice (up to the value of the returned product).

Consumer Contact: For additional information contact Fisher-Price at (800) 916-4498 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at www.service.mattel.com

BACK TO SCHOOL AND OTHER JUNK

12:00 AM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »

I got my freakin books for school. $450 and they didn't have two more that I need to buy yet. I don't know how these people sleep at night. Really, someone tell me how a flippin book is worth $150 big ones? And why do I need three books for one stupid class? AN ONLINE CLASS!


I had to go back to the doctor on Monday for my girly junk tests, and my blood tests for liver, cholesterol, diabetes, and the likes. Just a check-up type of thing that needs to be done every so often ya know. So Mar calls and says my cholesterol one came back on the high side, and that I need to take meds for it now too. (I can't win) In case your were wondering, Mar is my durable power of attorney in case I get loonier or something, so it's cool that my doc would talk to her. I haven't called him back to get the prescription yet or even make another appointment. I don't want more pills. I don't want them. I take enough already, and this new shit could damage my liver. So no. I'm not gonna do it. Not yet. Anyone who knows me at all knows my insistence that yogurt can cure almost anything. I got me some of this Promise Activ Super Shots stuff. I am going to ask the doctor to give me three months - just let me try some different things.... like um, no fried chicken and some of this yogurt drinky stuff. I really like the DanActive drinks - we use them already for a boost with our immune systems. And no I ain't bein paid to say it either. I like the flavor of this new stuff too - it's pretty good. So if I can manage on my own without more pills then damnit I am gonna give it a go. If in three months it is still lookin bad, then I will take the stupid pills. The sad part is I know why it's high, and knew it was comin to this. Both my folks have problems with it too. And I grew up on fried everything. One thing I don't understand is that I mostly fry with pure oil that has NO cholesterol. So I dunno. Yippee - I need a bigger old lady pill box.
Oh yeah - THE LOTTO - is up to $210,000,000 - wouldn't that be a sweet day! The next drawing is on Saturday - gotta get me some tickets! I won $7 again!

BOOOOOOLSHEEEEEEIT!

5:06 PM Posted In Edit This 1 Comment »
video

Some boooooolsheeeeeeeeeit for Mackey. Yes I know it's all wonky and the light sucks - I never claimed to be a video maker! Mack just likes the men with a southern drawl don't ya know.

MY SQUASH IS JUST A SQUASH...

8:23 AM Posted In , Edit This 10 Comments »

Snatched it off the vine! The odd green spaghetti squash from my garden.


Hmmmm, looks the same on the insides.

I steamed it for a while, then fried the stringy goodness in butter. Tasted the same. No new veggie on the horizon from this garden. :(
So mine was just an odd colored squash, different on the outside, the same on the inside... but Castaway on the other hand has a true mystery in his garden!!

SOMETIMES YA JUST GOTTA HAVE FUN!

7:24 PM Posted In Edit This 10 Comments »

My super cool Aunty Sissy with the kiddos here, otherwise known as "Aunt Cleta Faye" or "The Butterfly Lady" - she might kill me for putting up this picture. Heehee! I love her soooo soooo muchly.
Mafia Wife had mentioned how cool it was to be able to meet so many blogger buddies this summer, and I have to agree completely. I got to go to Canadia and see Mackey's fabulous new animal print bedding in person, meet Evydense, meet The Mob family, and most recently Leann and her son! Earlier in the year I got to meet Angry Shane, and of course last year the loverly Va-JJ, who have both given up blogging for wedded bliss. I wish I didn't have to meet Simply Amethyst at the time I did, but I got to see her after her whole town had been destroyed in the Greensburg tornado. There are more people I would love to meet - Spicy Bug for shure. She taught me to bake cream puffs! LOL! Miss Sassy too, and damn ok - a lot of folks!
It has been one heck of a year - full of some really awesome, memory making times in my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world!

SUMMER'S END....

10:03 AM Posted In Edit This 7 Comments »
Today is the last official day of summer vacation for us. Rye goes to her kindergarten screening tomorrow, and in a bit I have to go grab all my books and junk for my classes at the college. Thursday is the first official day of school for the kids, and mine is Monday. I am excited to go back to school. Enough of this being at the house too much! Everyone has had their shots, checkups, and dentist appointments, now all that's left is the eye doctor appointments. School supplies and clothes are ready to go, and all the new pencils are sharp! Of course it is supposed to be scorching hot for a few weeks yet - go figure. Now I have to work on getting my photos for the fair ready, and hey, before ya know it, it'll be Christmas again already!! *sigh*

FAMILY FUN PHOTOS!

1:37 PM Posted In , Edit This 10 Comments »

My Rye, she's 5 and sooooo excited to be starting all day kindergarten in a few days! I on the other hand am a bit sad about losing my little mermaid to the school building! :(


Daddy PPHead with Shane (Shane is 7) on his back as always, and Rye showing off her new swimming skills. This summer I have managed to teach both kids to swim without a life jacket!! Of course at the lake they have to wear one anyway, but here at the home pool I am always with them so I think it is pretty cool!! Neither one of my little ones had a clue how to swim until now.


And my grumpy Halie - She's 16 - what can I say? Despite her pouty face, she's a good kid, and I am proud of her. No one will ever use HER for a door mat!

PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER

7:01 AM Posted In Edit This 5 Comments »


Perseids meteor shower - the only one I caught on camera! Much more difficult than I thought. I can't wait for the one on September 1st - truly a once in a lifetime event!

NEW PEOPLE, NEW ADVENTURES!!

12:13 PM Posted In , Edit This 9 Comments »

If you are looking for your BOXABUDDY photographs from Saturday night, August 11 at McGraws, Please visit MOBILEPROJECTORS.COM
OR DIGITALANDPHOTOARTFORSALE.BLOGSPOT.COM
All the photos will be up within the next few days and available for purchase.

Soooo Saturday night, I got to meet another blogger from right here in Kansas!! This is Leann, and her son Shad who own and operate T&S Mobile Projectors. Leann asked me if I would like to come out and photograph the BOX-A-BUDDY contest at McGraws here in town. They do the Videography and DVD production, as well as put it all on a big screen presentation. It was really pretty cool. I have never been to so much as a boxing match - much less one where some drunk guys decide they can take on a big bubba after a few shots of whatever the poison! It was CRAZY!! I haven't ever photographed something like that, and the lighting was hell to work with, but I got a few good shots in. After PPHead got home from work, we met Leann and Shad for breakfast at the IHOP, and had a great time talking and getting to know them!


Leann was so sweet, and had made me these buttons before she came up to Hutch! She also brought me some cuttings from her patchouli plant so I can start my own! I'm going to give it a bit of TLC and see if I can nurse it back to life - it smells soooooo good!


You know, I hadn't been in a bar for a few years, and lemee tellya - drunk people crack me up! Towards the end of the evening, I was totally ready to get on out of there and back to the comforts of not so many people around. I was starting to get a bit panicky. I did face one fear last night though, and that was entering a huge gathering of people - alone - and doing my job without freaking completely out. It was a great learning experience as well, and I got to meet another awesome lady to boot. I even stayed out till almost 4 in the morning which is something I NEVER do! I had a great night! Thank you Leann, for showing me a "kick-ass" time!

TODAY FROM THE GARDEN

1:03 PM Posted In , , Edit This 2 Comments »

We plucked our first watermelon from the vine this morning!! The kids can't wait to dig in an get sticky!!! I would say it weighs a good 8 pounds or so. Not too shabby!


My garden mix tomatoes have started giving me pear or tear shaped little tomatoes - oh so good in a salad! Just funny lookin!


This is my kitchen sink full of HALF the tomatoes I brought in this morning. Time to load the back of the truck and head to the K-Mart parking lot!! Garden Fresh Tomatoes - 50 cents each!


Yes - I am already making tomato base. I'm gonna freeze it and use it for some hella good chili this winter!! Oooooh Yeah!

MY SECOND GRADE BOY

4:58 PM Posted In , , Edit This 10 Comments »

We went to Hot Topic yesterday and cleaned house on the big store closing sale. Everything in the store was half off - even on the clearance items. I ended up getting 5 new T-shirts for myself, a HIM T-shirt for Rye, and this kickass NIN T-shirt for Shane. We were messin around and he wanted me to take his picture in his awesome new shirt. I know it's not that great, but we really need some different indoor home lighting. So anyway, being in second grade now, he wants to dress in what HE likes, and doesn't care what the other kids are wearing. When his teacher came to visit however, we were informed that this shirt would not be appropriate attire for second grade. I'm thinking "at least it doesn't say FART on it!" (Remember Braeden's T-shirt?) Then Rye's teacher came to visit and turns out her HIM T-shirt is definately not appropriate for kindergarden. I am guessing because of the big pink heart-o-gram. Sooo I guess self expression is not allowed in grade school. If high school were that way, Halie would have nothing to wear - all her shirts say something snarky or have HIM on them. Me - I got a new KORN T-shirt AND a SLIPKNOT T-shirt!! Yay ME!! I'm in college and I can wear whatever the hell I want. "You cannot kill what you did not create."

I WON THE LOTTERY!!!

9:52 PM Posted In Edit This 8 Comments »

I DID! SEVEN WHOLE BUCKS I SAY! Ok sorry bout that.... I bought 10 tickets for our Powerball lotto - which by the way is now up to $161 Million for Saturday's Drawing - OMG! Out of those 10 tickets, I had 4 of the numbers plus the powerball, which if they had been combined on one ticket - would have won me $10,000. But no. My winner had 2 numbers and the Powerball for a grand total of $7, that I am going to use to buy 7 more tickets for a chance at the big one. I think this time I am going to use a pickityourself ticket. I got a fortune cookie the other day with the number 19 listed twice as my lucky number - that never happens - so 19 is my first pick. Then the number 4 for my powerball. SO anyone else wanna throw me some lucky numbers to use?? You know I will share!!

WOULD YOU HAVE COSMETIC SURGERY?

2:44 PM Posted In , , Edit This 10 Comments »

I would - Oh YES I would. Since I was in the seventh grade I have wanted rhinoplasty (a nose job). It's my Daddy's an Grampa's nose - and does not belong on a girl. Since having three kids and breastfeeding every one of them, I now would also like a booby-putter-backer, and some serious liposuction. I think I would have to lose some more weight before I got it all done, but if I had the money, I would do it for myself. I think some people get a bit carried away with having too much done, but for those that choose to have some work done here and there, I think it's wonderful that we have that option. I don't want to be tripping on my nipples when I am 60 ya know?

AUGUST STORMS

10:10 PM Posted In , , Edit This 7 Comments »

Images Copyright 2007 Rebecca Bridges




Lots of lightning tonight, but also lots of rain, so not much opportunity for me to get out in it. I think it was about 105 with the heat index this afternoon. Usually it's already been this hot by now, but it seems to be just now coming on, and is going to stay HOT all week. At least my garden is getting some good watering right now. Some very weird but perdy skies out this evening too. Maybe I will stay up late and watch?!

DON'T EAT IT!!

11:06 PM Posted In Edit This 8 Comments »

Oh mah god, cuss it all t' tarnation. Don't evah try t'eat th' okra raw. It tastes like shit. An' slimah ohmahgod is it evah slimah. Ok lesson larned, cuss it all t' tarnation. ah jest wanted t'see whut it'd taste like. Yo' kin ett prackically ennythin' else in th' garden raw, so whuffo' not th' okra. Eww. So hyar is mah okra. Don't ett it yet! Fry mah hide!
Ah ran acrost this hyar right fine site fum someone's blog on blog sploshun but ah didn't ketch th' link. Shet mah mouth! Yo' kin change th' "dialeck" of an intire website, o' jest a couple pareegraphs eff'n yo' want. Ah got a fine pee-pee pants laugh out eff'n it, an' ah especially loved th' swedish chef dialeck - too fricken funny! Fry mah hide!

HARVESTING THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS

11:08 AM Posted In , Edit This 3 Comments »

This is what the head looks like before the seeds are pulled.


From one head, I got all of these seeds, for giant sunlflowers. There is enough to replace the packet I purchased for $2, over 30 times. I still have about 5 heads left to take apart. I could salt roast these and eat them, but I will be using them to re-plant the sunflowers next spring! If we are still stuck in this house, I will be lining the fence to my back yard with them. Not only will they be pretty, but they will provide an added bit of privacy. I love the sunflowers so muchly!

I DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!!!

9:50 PM Posted In Edit This 9 Comments »

This is mainly for Castaway, who is growing some rogue vegetables in his garden! This is growing on my what is supposed to be yellow spaghetti squash vine. There are actually 2 of them like this on there! I don't know why this happened, although they are planted adjacent to my watermelons. I'm not even sure when to pick it to see what it will taste like. I can't imagine a cross between a squash and a melon tasting very good though - ewwwww!!

THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW

10:42 AM Posted In Edit This 7 Comments »

Last summer when the Mackey's arrived - they came bearing gifts! They brought these cool little plants to us that grow in a can. When it sprouts, the bottom two little leaves have words and pictures on them. I finally gave one a shot about a week ago - and this one grew with a heart on it. I don't know how they did this, but it is kinda cool!

Have you ever sat around and got to talking about various things, and had a conversation turn in to complete absurdity? This happens to me often, but a few years ago my husband asked me to make hash browns for breakfast and I said I couldn't, because we didn't have any in the freezer. He says, "Well just use potatoes." I was shocked - potatoes?? Hash browns are made from potatoes?? I honestly thought they were some kind of soy product. Who knew?
In a different conversation including my Dad and my kids, I found out that bananas grow on trees. Not bushes - trees. I almost made a $10 bet that I was right and Dad was wrong - he urged me strongly to look it up. Even my kids were screaming that bananas grow on trees. Thank god for the Internet or I would have still been looking for banana bush seeds.
Most recently the topic of "What IS a plasma cutter?" came up. I thought it was something that separated plasma from blood. Nope. Not even a medical device. Just call me stooooooopid....

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH 141 MILLION BUCKS?

10:42 AM Posted In Edit This 5 Comments »

The Multi-State Powerball Lottery is up to $141,000,000 for the drawing on Wednesday. Can you even FATHOM having that kind of money?? I would take the annuity, which would set me up with $3,290,00 after taxes per year, for the next 30 years. I could live with that. Every year, I would immediately give away $1,290,000 to my family and friends. The first year I am pretty sure I could spend the leftover 2 million. I would pay off my debts first, then build a huge House on a farm, a Mini-Van, Truck, Tractor, Motor home, Boat, Tickets to the Daytona 500, some 4-wheelers, a Pink Hippy Bus, Shane wants a sweet hot rod car, oh and I would pay Nickelback to come over and play a private concert in my barn. Yeah! After that I would just put money in some savings thingys so after my 30 years is up I will still have millions of bucks to pass on to my kids and grand kids. I would have my own little photo studio at my house, the coolest cameras ever, and I would still stay in college and finish my degree. I think PPHead could quit working though and become a professional fisherman or something. I would totally want to set up my own little organization that helps people that are in need, or down on their luck. PPHead wants to rehabilitate old houses and give them to families that need them. Really, if you think about it, what else could you do with all that money?? After you are out of debt and have a home and transportation and a cool vacation, the rest is just excess. I would still wear my Linkin Park T-shirt and jeans - I'm just not a country club kinda girl. I would make my kids graduate from college before they ever got a dime of trust fund money too! I would still have the most awesome garden and a humongo corn square, and maybe even try my hand at some wheat. I would get a nose-job - totally. Then, I would drive around on my tractor with a big ol' straw hat and my overalls. Life would be so cool!

DON'T SMOKE THE OKRA!

10:31 PM Posted In Edit This 8 Comments »

I think my landlord thought I was growing something a bit suspicious. I caught him in my garden snooping around. It's just okra maaaaan....


So by now everyone has heard about Aquafina's water coming from a tap instead of some crystal clean mountain stream. They say they really do filter it though - really. I don't understand why people pay so much money for water in a bottle anyways. Why not just get a bottle and put a water bottle filter in it? Pour water in the thing from your own tap and save a buck and a little piece of the ozone while yer at it.

TWO FLYS SHOE FLYS

10:00 PM Posted In Edit This 13 Comments »

Get
A
Room.

I need some tick eating chickens.

TODAY FROM THE GARDEN

10:10 AM Posted In , , Edit This 5 Comments »

Today I thought I would share some pictures from INSIDE my garden of life. Up there is my very first watermelon of the season. I have a second one also, but it is not as big. These are supposed to be seedless, but I have yet to see a truly seedless watermelon. Maybe there just won't be so many black ones. I mean, a spitting contest can be kinda fun, but not all day long.


This tomato plant actually surprised me. I planted a packet of seeds instead of a plant like the rest of them, and I did it way later than the rest as well. They are what is called a salad mix of tomatoes, and I have no idea what is actually going to come off of here. I think I am supposed to get some yellows and oranges as well as red ones. I guess I will have to taste them all to see if they are ripe or not.

MA'AM IS THIS YOURS??

12:14 AM Posted In Edit This 6 Comments »

I want one of these for my backyard. No more mowing, free milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, whipped cream, coffee cream, buttermilk - I mean my god the options are endless with one of these things!
INSANE!

THANKS FOR THE WELL WISHES.....

2:48 PM Posted In Edit This 11 Comments »
So I'm home. The interview was a disaster. I said um alot. Most everything else sounded like garble. Ended up he wanted more of a sales person than anything else, maybe two or three days a week, no chance on getting my internship there - too much work he said. Asked about me living out of town for work - did my husband go? No I said. Did the kids go? Well of course I said. Who cares? I know how to run your computer, and any idiot can answer a phone. I am home, taking off the mascara, brushing the curls out of my hair. It's my own fault for setting myself up to fail. I don't fit in with those kind of people and I never will. I could sure go for a nice Florida vacation right about now. Sit around on the beach with all the old people and drink scotch or something. It was really hot here today, and I was sweaty a little. When I got up out of the chair to leave, my dress was shoved halfway up my ass. He walked me out.
I should have turned around and went home when I saw the pretty guy in the leather mini skirt riding his bicycle down main street, black gorgeous hair blowing in the wind. Mission aborted.

TO THOSE I OWE....

10:00 PM Posted In , Edit This 7 Comments »

Mar came by tonight to collect. She got her video game, hat, MP3 player, some salt, and of course a really big bowl of tomatoes.
She said: "Do ya wanna go to the shore?"
I said: "Si!"

I will get everyone elses stuff mailed out this weekend. Fur shure.

Did you know that you can't send letters to Canada with American postage stamps?? Me neither. So learned the lesson of return address is a good thing to add. Do'h! Sorry lost mailings - I don't know where you went.

I got my resume all done and printed on perty paper. I even shaved my legs for the first time since I left for Canada. (Cuz I don't own pantyhose) My interview is tommorow afternoon. I'm trippin - cuz i'm a lil' freaky like that. A bit vomity actually. I have to pick which funeral outfit to wear. That's it for professional looking in my closet - the funeral dress and the funeral skirt that I have to saftey pin to make it stay on cuz I got it when I was fatter and now it's way to big. At least they are both long so they will cover up my tattoos. I have to remember to sit like - a lady - jeeeez. STOP IT! STOP GIGGLING!
I hope you pee yourself Mackey D. Oodle!! (She wants to see me in a dress and steal my Linkin Park T-shirt!!) Oh gawd I hafta dig out my make-up too. I hope I can remember how to put it on.....

SUNFLOWER FIELDS FOREVER...

1:40 PM Posted In Edit This 6 Comments »

Every year between Nickerson and Sterling, Kansas, someone living in a big ol luxury home plants this field full of gigantic sunflowers. I wonder if they know how muchly appreciated they are for doing this. I love it when they are in full bloom, and all the eye can see are yellow heads of goodness. I drove by too late for the full glory this year i'm afraid, but I hope the folks who do this continue to do so for a long long time. You just have to be there to really see the beauty of it all.


Just to make you hungry, one of my ripe juicy red tomatoes, all sliced and ready for a yum yum sammich! We had BLT's again for lunch with an awesome garden fresh salad. Ok so, someone please swing by and pick up some of these tomatoes before they go bad!! I have about a six pound bag full that need to get ate!

TODAY FROM THE GARDEN

1:03 PM Posted In , , Edit This 7 Comments »
The garden is really giving me quite a bounty now!! This morning I got some okra, cucumbers, a spaghetti squash, a gob of tomatoes, and a humongo zucchini! I also snatched up a handfull of banana peppers and another yellow squash.I am now officially in possession of way more tomatoes than we can eat, so it is time to set up my corner stand and also give some to my neighbors! Don't you love it when your gardening friends show up with a bag of red ripe tomatoes?? I always did when I didn't have a garden myself.
September 2007
July 2007