It's Not a Phase

Happy 10th Birthday, Ryan!!

2009-04-12T10:16:00.000-05:00

(Ryan & Crystal)
Ok. So where has the time gone? My baby is 10 years old & I have no idea how it happened! Ryan was not the first baby we were pregnant with. Two months before we got pregnant with him, we lost a baby. We don't know why, but it was meant for God to take that baby back home to Him. We were devasted, but know that our Lord has a reason for everything. When we found out we were preggers with Ryan, we were very excited, but also hesistant. We didn't want to tell too many people at first & we were very cautious of things I did, ate, drank etc. My pregnancy couldn't have gone better & we laughed when we first heard Ryan's cries in the delivery room. (long story about the laughing, but of course there were tears too.) Ryan has always been a good kid. He's got Micah's laid back personality, sense of humor & long eyelashes. :) He does have my temper when he gets mad, but at least we don't have to wonder what he's thinking. Ryan does really well in school & his teachers have nothing but good things to say about him. "He's such a pleasure to have in class. He's a great kid. He's so helpful & considerate of others. He has such good manners." (I take full credit for the last one. LOL) Ryan has always had a passion for baseball. It's never been just a hobby for him, or just something to do. It is a part of him, that if ever taken away, would crush his heart. He just got his first out of the park homerun on March 31st ~ the first game of this season. Talk about proud parents!! But no matter if it's making good grades, getting endless compliments from teachers, or getting into the major leagues out of college, (no pressure, Bubby) we couldn't be prouder just to be his parents. He's such a good kiddo & while I'm sad that he's (already) turning double digits, I've loved getting to this point with him & I'm excited to see the person he becomes in the coming weeks, months & years.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, RYAN!!! We love you!

Please Read & Help!!

2009-02-23T20:08:00.003-06:00

Ok, not the best way to make a come back, but I thought this was very important to get out there...
I received this email from my SIL. It's from an OB/Gyn here in town that she used to work with. Please take the time out to make a difference..... Hopefully none of you ever have to experience something so horrible, but put yourselves in Shelley's shoes & ask what you would want done if it did.
Thanks for taking the time to read...

Hello my friends,
I write this to illustrate a grave injustice in our Texas laws and implore you to take 5 minutes read this and then act on Texas HB 494.
Dr. Shelley Ferrill is a Family Practice physician that attended medical school with me. She was on some of my clinical teams and, in fact, I tried to convince her to do OB/Gyn because she was great at it! In 2006, her husband of 8 years hired someone to have her killed. The hit man had a change of heart/mind and went to the cops, who set up a sting and busted her husband. There was no history of domestic violence....just the fact that her husband tried to arrange her murder to get her out of the way for his affair. This would have left her then 5 and 7 year old kids without a loving and devoted mom.
He comes up for parole in April of this year. In the wonderful state in which we live, he still has PARENTAL RIGHTS to see his children, although he tried to murder their mother. Can you possibly put yourself in her position and imagine being forced by law to allow the man who tried to murder you have time with your children? Texas HB 494 would change the law so that those who attempt to murder their children's other parent would have their parental rights involuntarily terminated. It is up for vote this session....session is happening NOW. His parole date is in APRIL.
PLEASE take the time to contact your State Representative and Senators to ask them to pass this bill so Shelley doesn't have to face letting her ex-husband/attempted murderer have visitation rights with her children. And yes, unsupervised visits are a possibility! If he had succeeded in murdering her, his rights would be involuntarily terminated. Why reward the inept criminal and allow him to continue his rights?
You can contact your state senators and reps by going to the following site and entering your address. It will tell you who your reps are and how to contact them. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm#FYI
PLEASE take the few minutes it takes and do so. If you think twice about doing this, please put yourself in Shelley's shoes and consider what you would ask others to do for your children or loved ones.
Here is a video clip of Shelley confronting her husband in court. Please watch it and you see the depth of love for her children and his complete lack of remorse. http://www.click2houston.com/video/11037048/index.html I've also attached a pic of Shelley and her kids. These are not anonymous news stories that happen to "other" people. This happens to people we know and care about. Shelley is my friend. Shelley is Garrett and Kaitlyn's mom.
Please help by contacting your reps. Time is vital. Please feel free to send to anyone who lives in Texas and ask them to act now.

5 Things

2008-02-18T18:29:00.003-06:00

I stole this meme from Tori. It was fun reading her's & seeing what things we had in common. It's a 5 things meme where I try to name something that nobody else would be able to say as their answer. Let me know if I was right or wrong!!

CD I Own:
Kris Kross - Totally Krossed Out, "Beverly Hills 90210" soundtrack, "The Heights" soundtrack

Book I Own:"Little Girl Lost" - Drew Barrymore biography from when she was like 14

DVD/VHS/whatever I Own:
"Donna Martin Graduates" & "Graduation" - episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 that I have recorded

Place Visited:
I got nothing! Ummm.....the Roadkill Cafe in Sturgis, SD

Piece of technology or any sort of tool I own: (I'm totally stealing Tori's b/c I can't think of anything else.)
I have a mp3 player adaptor thing that I can put plug into my mp3 player and then stick into my tape deck in my car. Then I can play my mp3 music thru the stereo system. I have this b/c I'm not cool enough to own a real IPod.
If you'd like to participate comment me your answers!

Life is Good

2007-12-12T20:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have been blessed in my life in so many ways that I'm sure I don't deserve. So, I always have MANY things to be thankful for. But, I'm taking a minute to focus on two awesome things in my life right now.....

# 1. My Crystal is gonna have a baby!!! I can't wait to meet the child I will spoil almost as much as my own. =}

# 2. My Tori is moving back to Texas!!! So glad you've finally found your way home. =}

Life is good. Love you guys!

Happy Turkey Day, Y'all!!!

2007-11-22T08:32:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please take a moment & reflect the things you truly are thankful for. & please say a quick prayer for our men & women in the military who can not spend this day with their families because it is their job to keep us safe. God bless!

Stacy-ology

2007-11-11T15:42:00.000-06:00

Stacy-ology
Rules: Let others know a little more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by "ology."
MOUTHOLOGY
Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A. Chipotle.
Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
A: Pasta.
Q.What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A. Hamburger & mushrooms on alfredo pizza.

TECHNOLOGY
Q. What is currently on your computer wallpaper?
A: Default nature scene.
Q. How many televisions are in your house?
A: 6.

BIOLOGY
Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A. Right-handed.
Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?
A. To my knowledge I've never had a cavity.
Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A. Yes & my teacher kept yelling at me b/c she thought I was faking.

OTHEROLOGY
Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
A. Don't know if it looks good, but I try to stick w/black.
Q. Have you ever saved someone's life?
A. I've never been in that situation. Thank God!
Q. Has someone ever saved yours?
A. Not that I know of.

DUMBOLOGY
Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: Nothing in my left pocket.
Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A. It's a flippin' great movie. What do you think?!
Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: My last ticket - it's been a few years.

LASTOLOGY
Q: Last person who called you?
A: Grandma.
Q: Last Person you hugged?
A: Ryan.

FAVORITOLOGY
Q: Number?
A: 18.
Q: Season?
A: Winter.

CURRENTOLOGY
Q: Mood?
A: Blah ~ I think I'm getting sick. :(
Q: Listening to?
A: Micah & Aaron playing Halo 3.
Q: Watching?
A: Myself answer this quiz.

RANDOMOLOGY
Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: Have a few days off at Christmastime.
Q: What's the last movie you saw?
A: "Knocked Up" & I was cringing the whole time b/c of the language. OMGosh!
Q: Do you smile often?
A: All the time. Life is good! =}

TAGOLOGY
If you just read this, YOU'RE IT! Just let me know :)

God Bless Texas

2007-09-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

This came to me via email & I thought I'd share. If you've never had the pleasure to visit Texas, you should come sometime. We really do ROCK like that.......

In Texas we really do pull off the road and stop for funerals......nobody moves until the last car has gone by.

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas . The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .. for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard who attended James, and some who served with him .. was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.

I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. These photos are awesome !!

Uggghhhh!!!!

2007-08-01T16:54:00.000-05:00

# 1. Computer crashed at home ~ hopefully fixed or new one soon.
# 2. Too busy at work to do anything on here ~ job security.
# 3. Sorry haven't posted my Good Mails ~ hopefully soon (see # 1)
# 4. Hope to send Good Mails out while on vacation ~ look for 'em.
# 5. Hope everyone is well!

Good Mail

2007-07-17T22:20:00.000-05:00

I have received my first Good Mail. WOO-HOO! I'm so excited! Things have been kind of tough lately & these couldn't have come at a better time. The fact that somebody put thought into something to make my day brighter is just an awesome feeling. Thanks so much!

Chel sent me this card & Pop Rocks ~ how cool are they?!

Tori sent me cards & envelopes (which some of you may see soon) & a note w/her always-sweet words. She always knows how to make me feel better.

Toni sent me a card & note pads, which I'm always looking for to make grocery lists.

Marcia sent me this adorable card & these awesome socks. They are SO soft & comfy. & how fun are the colors?!

I'm fixin' to go out of town for a couple of weeks, but hope to get a batch of Good Mail out before I go. Thanks again guys!

God Bless Our Troops

2007-07-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

I want to take a moment & thank ALL of our troops around the world. It's because of YOU we live free. We would all be lost with out you...God bless

You stay up for 16 hours

He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.

Interview Meme

2007-07-02T20:13:00.000-05:00

Tori had a post where she was interviewed by one of her readers and then offered to send her readers some interview questions that they could answer on their blog. I promised Tori I would answer the questions she sent me b/c I'm really bad about updating my blog. I figured that would give me a topic to post. I won't ask to interview anyone since nobody besides Tori comments on my blog, if it is ever read by anyone besides her. Here are my answers to the questions that Tori sent me:

1. What is your earliest childhood memory?
My grandpa (my dad's dad) was missing 1/2 of 2 fingers on one hand & 1 on the other hand (I think). I think they were cut off working w/a saw. Anyways, he would look at us & get this silly grin & then put the tip of his finger at the base of his nostril so it would look like his finger was shoved up his nose. It always made the grandkids laugh. I think I enjoyed it even more when he did it for Ryan. Just knowing that he was still that ornery inside after all those years makes me smile today.

2. Who in history would you like to meet and why?
Okay ~ I'm gonna by-pass the obvious answers & go for the mood I'm in right now. I would love to have met Rosa Parks. The strength & courage she showed when she refused to give up her seat on that bus is admirable. I wish more people had that kind of strength to stand up for what they believe in.

3. When and where was your 1st kiss?
I was in (I think) 5th grade. Where else? The skating rink.

4. What's your favorite personality trait about yourself?
I have a good sense of humor. Have you met my husband?! I have to being married to him. :)

5. What's your favorite hobby?
Do my husband & son count as hobbies?! I guess I don't have much of a hobby. Micah's softball & Ryan's baseball pretty much covers free time. I like to read magazines. Yeah, I'm pretty much a loser!

A Little Shift of Confidence in the Justice System

2007-06-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Screaming and crying, Paris Hilton was escorted out of a courtroom and back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her entire 45-day sentence behind bars rather than in her Hollywood Hills home.
"It's not right!" shouted the weeping Hilton, who violated her probation in a reckless driving case. "Mom!" she called out to her mother in the audience.
Hilton, who was brought to court in handcuffs in a sheriff's car, came into the courtroom disheveled and weeping, hair askew, sans makeup, wearing a gray fuzzy sweatshirt over slacks.
She cried throughout the hearing, her body shook constantly and she dabbed at her eyes. Several times she turned to her parents, seated behind her in the courtroom, and mouthed, "I love you."
Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer was calm but apparently irked by the morning's developments. He said he had left the courthouse Thursday night having signed an order for Hilton to appear for the hearing. When he got in his car early Friday, he said, he heard a radio report that he had approved Hilton's participation in the hearing by telephone, but he had not.
"I at no time condoned the actions of the sheriff and at no time told him I approved the actions," he said of the decision to release Hilton from jail after three days.
"At no time did I approve the defendant being released from custody to her home on Kings Road," Sauer said.
Assistant City Attorney Dan F. Jeffries argued that Hilton should be returned to jail, and said that was purely the judge's decision to make. "Her release after only three days erodes confidence in the judicial system," Jeffries said.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Sebastian April 1, 1991 - May 7, 2007

2007-05-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

On Monday, May 7th, I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life. I had to put my baby kitty to sleep. I got Sebastian when she was six weeks old; I was in the 9th grade. She was my baby; the first pet that was mine. She slept with me every night. When someone would spend the night with me, she would sit & glare at them b/c there was no room for her. I was grounded a lot when I was a teenager & she was always there by my side. She would share pretty much anything with me, as long as I was eating it. I can't tell you the number of times she had a sauce stained chin from sharing spaghetti with me. She'd back-talk ya all day & always had to have the last word. (She took after her mama!) I loved my cat & she loved me. When I moved out of my parents' house, she stayed there. That was her home & she was used to the other cat & she would have been lonely if I had taken her with me. (Besides the fact that Micah is not a cat person.) I saw her all the time though. The first thing I would do when I went to my parents' house was look for Sebastian. She was still my baby, even though we didn't live in the same house together. Every year on her birthday, I went to Long John Silvers, bought one piece of fish & took it to her. She loved her fish. This year on her birthday I wasn't able to do that. She had been on a special canned food for severe allergies. I won't go into all the details of her being sick, but from February to May she lost about 3.5 lbs. She was down to 5.2 lbs when we took her to the vet on Saturday, May 5th. Well, she decided she was done w/the canned food, so we were gonna try the dry food equivalent. The vet believed it was either her thyroid or her kidneys, but recommended trying the dry food to see if she would respond to that. She wanted nothing to do w/that either. From Saturday to Sunday night, she barely ate anything & by Monday morning she was refusing to eat. The vet said that when they start refusing food, that's pretty much the end. So I went to LJS, got her a piece of fish & she had her last dinner. She chowed the fish; ate every bite. Then we took her to the vet. I didn't want whatever time she had left to be spent being poked & prodded & having medicine shoved down her throat. I couldn't let her suffer anymore. We were with her the whole time; I couldn't let go of my baby. We brought her home and buried her in the backyard. I cry as I type this b/c I not only lost my baby kitty, I lost my friend. She brought so many laughs with her attitude & "charm." I'm so happy I had her in my life for 16 years. Thank you to those of you who have helped me get through this tough time. I know there will be good days & bad to come, but I'm comforted knowing the memories of Sebastian will help me through the bad days. I love you, Sebastian.

What is Your Elf Name?

2006-12-22T06:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, had to do a little lighter post from my last one. This one's fun. Click below to find out your elf name & comment me to let me know your's.....

Your Elf Name Is...

Happy Fluffernutter

What's Your Elf Name?

A Different Christmas Poem

2006-12-20T21:24:00.000-06:00

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice, I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl' on a day in December, "Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram' always remembers." "My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home". "I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother." "Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?" "It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long." "For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
* May God bless those who have risked or given their lives for our freedom.

Proud

2006-12-16T09:04:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to take a minute & say how proud I am of my parents. They've been together for almost 35 years (April 2007) & are still going strong. They only knew each other 3 weeks before they got married & have beat the odds & the doubts of all the "it will never last." They've had ups & downs over the years and have had to deal w/some tough issues, but they've always stood by each other's side. They've always been there for my brother & me and continue to be there for our families. Recently, they have found a new zest for life. They started working out & are both doing great. They joined a gym & seem to be sincerely devoted to working on their bodies & health. Since February, she has lost about 35 (?) pounds & he has lost about 25 (?) pounds. He quit smoking after 40+ years! Most importantly, they've joined a church & have been going every Sunday, along w/bible study before service. I think the peace they now have knowing Jesus Christ is on their side has filled a hole that they probably didn't even realize was there. They've always been in love, but now their eyes shine when they're together. They are more patient, understanding & excited about life. They hardly even take naps on the weekends anymore!!! :-) I just wanted to let everyone know how proud I am of them. Their recent changes are definitely for the better & I will be here to fully support them while they walk into their sunset together. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

Santa Part 2

2006-12-16T08:55:00.000-06:00

Well, I talked to the mall manager & she "made some calls." Turns out they do reserve 8:00-9:00 on Wednesdays for animals. They came back w/it's a liability issue ~ what if a kid was allergic? Which does make sense, but they agree it could have been handled differently & that if kids can't see him at that time, he shouldn't be visible to them. They did apologize for the actions of Santa's "helpers" & have offered us a free photo package w/Santa. I'm sure we'll accept the pics ~ we hadn't had any taken this year yet. I'm just thankful Ryan wasn't upset by it!

DENIED By Santa's Helpers

2006-12-13T20:55:00.000-06:00

Okay, so we're at the mall tonight. Ryan said he wanted to go & see Santa. (he doesn't know about Santa yet....) We go over there & Santa's "helpers" meet us at the entrance.
Helper # 1: "Santa's not seeing children tonight. He's only doing pictures with animals."
(Ryan is standing right beside me, hearing the whole conversation. I look around & see NOBODY waiting in line & NO animals anywhere around.)
Me: "He won't see my son?"
Helper # 1: "No, he's got hair all over him and everything."
Me: "Can't he just go & talk to him?"
Helper # 2: "No, he won't see him at all."
Me: "That's a real nice thing for my 7 year old to hear!!!"
(And we walk off.)
I AM SO PISSED!!!!! I don't even know what to say!!! I've never heard of such a thing. Okay, it's understandable for Santa to take breaks. Santa was not on a break! He was sitting in his chair, with no animals anywhere around, & his helpers were turning kids away. What the heck?! & Since when do they allow animals in the mall?! If they were having a special animal thing, they should have had the area blocked off so Santa couldn't even be seen. Ryan's less upset than I am ~ he actually told me Santa probably wouldn't bring me anything for Christmas since I was rude to that lady. (Thank God for childrens' innocence!) But what if it had been a 3 year old? How would one explain that to a 3 year old?! It was like an hour before closing, so I'm sure there wasn't anyone still working who could fix the situation. That's probably a good thing, b/c as mad as I was, I probably would have made a big scene, which would not have been good for Ryan to see. I do intend to make phone calls tomorrow until I talk to someone who will make this right. Please comment ~ am I over-reacting, or is my pursuance justified?

We're Almost There.....

2006-12-06T20:55:00.000-06:00

We close on December 21st! Here it is.....

Written in stone. :-)

(Okay, it's corny, but this pic totally makes me cry!)

I Didn't Mean to Lie

2006-12-05T20:58:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I know I said I was gonna post new pics of the house, but I need to wait til tomorrow, so I can get a better pictures.

I didn't mean to lie!
So, here's a recent picture of me & my baby.

Isn't he handsome?!

Fun Quizzes....

2006-11-27T21:06:00.000-06:00

Stole another idea from Tori. (Thanks, sweetie!)

You paid attention during 63% of high school!

51-67% You are smart enough to be ashamed of still scoring so low; remember that there are books in the world, full of information? Yes, books are our friends.

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

Your Language Arts Grade: 98%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
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You are 59% genius to useless knowledge!

Not too bad considering the difficulty of this test! You get credit for being pretty smart. This test was designed to test a broad range of general knowledge, and you did about average. Consider yourself a contender for easier tests!

General Knowledge Quiz
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You are 84% a Movie Freak.

You have seen a lot of movies. Friday night you are at the movies, Saturday night you are at the movies, Sunday night you are at the movie. Maybe Monday night watch a little football and skip the movie.

Do you know a lot of Movie Trivia?
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Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T09:24:00.000-06:00

T ~ Today - each day is a gift.
H ~ Health - my friends & family are all healthy (for the most part) & that's something that we sometimes take for granted.
A ~ Ability to walk, talk, hear & see the miracles of the world.
N ~ November 3rd, 1990 - the day Micah & I started dating.
K ~ Kisses from my son - for no reason.
S ~ Stories at bedtime.
G ~ God.
I ~ Insurance - I don't even want to know what my charges from last weekend's hospital visit would be w/o insurance!
V ~ Vegas, baby!! (the first trip Micah & I ever took alone - Feb. 2006) Very special!
I ~ Ideas - for blog posts that I steal from Tori. :-)
N ~ Noon - I actually get to take a 30 minute lunch at my new job!
G ~ Grandparents.

I'm Baaaaaack!

2006-11-23T09:12:00.000-06:00

Back up & running....YAY! I hate when I don't have my computer at home.
Here are a couple recent pics of the house. It's coming along fast. The brick we chose has been on back order & should be in any time. They're talking about closing before the end of the year. Said we are gonna have the biggest Christmas present we've ever had. We're excited! & we found someone to lease to own the trailer. Their application was approved yesterday & we're good to go on that. Everything's coming together; now we just have to figure out how to pay for it.....

Miss Me?

2006-11-13T09:27:00.000-06:00

Our computer crashed on Thursday 11/2, that's why I haven't updated in a while. The only chance I have to get online is at work & I don't think they'd take too kindly on me spending all my time doing personal stuff. So, hopefully we'll be back up & running soon. Please keep checking back.

Blazers Finish 1st!!!

2006-10-24T18:14:00.000-05:00

(Ryan is 2nd from the left, back row)

Way to go Blazers!!!!
The Blazers finished in 1st place! They ended the season with 10 wins & just 1 loss. They had a great coach who was truly there to help them learn. They also had great assistant coaches (including Micah) that were a big help. They focused on the basics of the game & working as a team, as well as believing in themselves as individual players. It was really fun to watch them; especially to see how much some improved over the season.
Ryan ended up w/the 2nd best average on the team & he was the only one to get a triple play! He had two homeruns, a couple of triples, several doubles & a few singles. The majority of the time he got to second base when he hit. He did have a couple of strike-outs, which bummed him out, but we reminded him that even professionals sometimes strike out.
Coach had a big end of season party at his house Saturday afternoon & the kids had a blast. Ryan is bummed though & can't wait for Spring so he can play again.
Ryan, we are so proud of you!!!

We Have a Frame!!!!

2006-10-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

WE HAVE A FRAME!!!!

Our house!

Back View

Progress

2006-10-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

In baseball news, Ryan's team lost their 1st game of the season on Thursday night. Honestly, they deserved to lose. They just weren't playing like they've been playing all season. They made silly mistakes & just didn't seem to be into it. They almost came back though; final was 8-6. Today, they came back w/a vengeance though & run-ruled the other team; final was 10-0. & Ryan got a home run!! Woo-hoo!!!
In house news, things are moving fast! They had originally thought we would be looking at an end of January/First of February close. Then they moved it to mid-January. But it may be even sooner. They poured the foundation yesterday. Anybody wanna buy a trailer?!

Progress....

We have foundation!!!

Good News All Around

2006-09-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

We had our first parent-teacher conference w/Ryan's 2nd grade teacher yesterday. She had nothing but good things to say about him. He is doing really well in all areas & she says he is "such a joy" to have in her classroom. She says he's a great kid. He got his report card; this is the first year he's had number grades. He had two 93s, one 95 & one 99; all Ss in special areas (P.E., art, music, health) & no Xs in behavior. He is reading two levels higher than they are "expected" to be at this stage. We are so proud of him! Then, last night, he got a two run homerun in his baseball game. He was so excited! It was definitely his day!
In other exciting news.....
We are buying a house!!!!! Yes, we're finally getting out of the shoebox & into a "real" house. We meet w/the builder sometime this week & framing should begin in the next couple of weeks. They are looking at completion mid-January, weather permitting. We are so blessed to have this dream come true. We never thought we'd be able to get a house like this one. It is about twelve miles from where we are now. It's enough out to get a little bit of a country feel, but still close enough that we can get to a big city quickly. Ryan is excited that we will finally have stairs; he's only been asking for a house w/stairs since he was about three. We are excited to have a fenced backyard & garage!! Will keep ya posted on the progress. For now here's a couple of pics; I know they're more exciting to us than to y'all!

Our lot!

SOLD!!!!

MySpace

2006-09-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

They've finally sucked me in. I now have a MySpace account.
Check it out at:
http://www.myspace.com/smax18.
I am going to keep posting on here though ~ you may just find duplicate stuff if you're bored enough to read both. :-)

Happy 5th Anniversary!!!

2006-09-14T09:04:00.000-05:00

Happy 5th Anniversary, Sei & Tori!

Love you!

Thought For the Day

2006-09-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

You might want to pass it along ~ too many people seem to forget.

In Memory....

2006-09-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already, please take a moment to remember the victims of 9-11-01. Please say a prayer for the loved ones they left behind, as well as our country as a whole. God Bless the USA!

Too Cute Joke

2006-09-05T19:52:00.000-05:00

All It Takes Is One....

A young guy from Pennsylvania moves to Florida and goes to a big "everything under one roof" department store looking for a job. The manager says, "Do you have any sales experience?" The kid says, "Yeah. I was a salesman back in Columbus, Ohio." Well, the boss liked the kid and gave him the job."You start tomorrow. I'll come down after we close and see how you did." His first day on the job was rough, but he got through it. After the store was locked up, the boss came to see him. "How many customers bought something from you today?" The kid says "One". The boss says "Just one? Our sales people average 20 to 30 customers a day. How much was the sale for?" The kid says, "$101,237.65". The boss says, "$101,237.65?! What the heck did you sell him?" The kid says, "First, I sold him a small fish hook. Then I sold him a medium fish hook. Then I sold him a larger fish hook. Then I sold him a new fishing rod. Then I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said 'down the coast,' so I told him he was going to need a boat, so we went down to the boat department and I sold him a twin engine ChrisCraft. Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that 4x4 Expedition." The boss says, "A guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a BOAT and a TRUCK?! Is that right?" The kid answers, "No, the guy came in here to buyTampons for his wife, and I said, "Dude, your weekend's shot; you should go fishing!"

Dedicated to "Our Balls"

2006-09-02T10:37:00.000-05:00

Okay, get your minds out of the gutter. "Our Balls" are our best friends, Jason & Crystal. (yes, Crystal Ball :-), Cute, huh?) There has been alot going on lately; they just bought a new house & were moving; we were getting ready to send Ryan back to school; the fair was in town & I worked the booth both weekends it was here. (we've been working on something else too, but that's another post....stay tuned.) So, we haven't really been able to spend alot of quality time together this last month or so. We're usually always together, so the break was really weird. Last night they came over & we hung out. We played cards & listened to the radio (& sang along pretty badly) & had alot of fun. (a typical night together) We generally act like a bunch of goofballs & it's great b/c it works. Micah played softball w/Jason a few years ago; that's how we all met. We've gotten really close over the last couple of years. They absolutely love Ryan & he loves them. They're his Godparents & treat him just as I know they will their own children; when they get around to having any. :-) We are truly blessed to have Jason & Crystal in our lives. They are part of our family & we can't imagine life w/o them. Just wanted to tell everyone a little about "our Balls" & to let them know how much we love them.
# 1 - Crystal & Micah # 2 - Jason & Stacy
# 1 - Ryan & Crystal # 2 - Ryan & Jason

Beautifully Stated

2006-08-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

My best friend sent this to me & I thought it was worth passing along. A moment of perspective in the middle of day-to-day life.......

Beautifully Stated

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Our Baby is a 2nd Grader

2006-08-15T20:37:00.000-05:00

Big day today. Ryan started 2nd grade. Let's see, I teared up after he said his prayers last night. I teared up a little before we left the house this morning. I teared up a little after I walked out of his classroom. But when I left the building, I full out cried. Yes, I'm a big fat bawl baby.
It's not like I didn't know it was coming. It didn't happen out of the blue. I'm just having a really hard time w/him growing up. It's happening way too quickly for me. What happened to our little boy?! The one that used to get so excited to see cows. The one that used to love Barney & sang along w/all the songs. (our personal favorite? "...and the green grass grows all around, all around & the green grass grows all around." - those w/kiddos know you just sang it in your head!) The one that so proudly pronounced his name "Ryan Mackell." The one that loved to sit in my lap. Now he's seven years old & stands just below my shoulders. Where did the time go?! Every now & then he still climbs on my lap & wants to cuddle. & even though he weighs about sixty five pounds & has a really bony butt, I welcome him w/open arms. I cherish those moments b/c I know there are fewer & fewer of them ahead w/each day that passes.
He had a good day though. He was cool w/ me taking pictures this morning at home, but did not want me to take the camera to school. I figured that was fair enough. Didn't want to embarrass him. He didn't get either of the two teachers he was hoping to get. His teacher, Mrs. Worrell, seems really nice though. (He had said at Meet the Teacher Night that he heard she was nice.) She sent each kid home w/a note that said, "Thank you for making our first day terrific. You deserve a kiss & a hug. Love, Mrs. Worrell." How sweet is that?! I thought that was a good way to make them feel special on the first day. He didn't get Remedy in his class again, but their classes are next to each other & each grade goes to recess at the same time. So they'll still see each other alot. (& of course there are the weekends.)
So, here we are w/another year facing us. It makes me sad, but I'm excited about how much more he will learn this year. I'm so impressed by all he's already learned. Most importantly, I think he's excited & that's what really matters.

Mad Libs

2006-07-21T18:04:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you did a Mad Libs?! This one's a little different though, because you know the sentences ahead of time. It's still fun though.
Please play along. Copy this letter to my comments and fill in the blanks. Then, if you want, copy the blank letter to an email (since none of you have set up a blog yet) with your name after "Dear," send it to me & I will fill one out for you...

Dear Stacy,

I _____ you. You have a nice ______. You make me _______. You should _______. Someday I will ______. You + me = ________. If I saw you now I'd __________. I would build a _______ just for you. If I could sing you any song it would be _________. We could __________ under the stars.

Love, _______________

(P.S. ______________.)

Guilty Pleasure (?)

2006-07-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have absolutely zero use for Paris Hilton. I think she's one of the most worthless people on the face of this planet. She's a spoiled brat with tons of money that she doesn't appreciate & totally does not deserve. She's skanky, air-headed, way too skinny & not very pretty. (so tell us what you really think, Stacy! & no, I don't say these things b/c I'm jealous.) Okay, so I act like I know her personally or something. Whatever. Sounds harsh, I know. I wish no harm on anyone, but other than that, I think she's basically taking up space, air & article sections in my magazines that could be better suited by Nick Lachey (YUMMY!!!).

Having said all that........
(I can't believe I'm actually going to admit this!)

I like her song, "Stars are Blind." Let me re-phrase that. I don't just like it, I'm totally digging it. I even bought it off of Yahoo music. I'm not sure what it is. It's got a catchy beat & a catchy hook. I know, I know. I'm fighting a serious battle here. It's like I'm supporting the Anti-Christ or something. I'm trying to convince myself that it's more "studio magic" than actual Paris Hilton that I'm enjoying. They can make anybody sound good with technology, right? If I keep saying it's the producers that made the song sound good, does that make it okay to keep listening to it? Is there anyone who can back me on this one? Any supportive (or ridiculing) comments are duely noted & appreciated.

Sweet Song....

2006-07-08T17:31:00.000-05:00

This is such a sweet song by a group named Heartland. My dad says he thinks of me everytime he hears it & I thought I'd share the lyrics....

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each other's face
So much in love you're alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one, She told me so
And she still means the world to me, Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything, Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be her's
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it's still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful woman with you
Be the same freckled face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be her's
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it's still hard to give her away
I loved her first

From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first

Happy 1st Anniversary!!!

2006-07-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

Happy 1st Anniversary, Jason & Crystal! We love you!

Can We Say Yummy?!!!

2006-06-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

Three words -

Nicholas Scott Lachey

End of post.

Mean Green Takes 2nd!!!

2006-06-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

(If you received an email from me today, this is the same thing, so save your time & stop reading.)

Warning--- A total bragging just ahead!
After a great season of baseball, Ryan's team, MEAN GREEN, came in 2nd place in their division. Although they didn't finish first place in the play offs, they ended the season with the best overall record. Including play off games, their record was 15 wins, 4 losses, 1 tie. They did an awesome job & we are all SO proud of them.
Play offs was double elimination. They lost their first play off game through no fault of their own; the coach didn't have his stuff together, didn't make sure everyone knew about the game & we were 3 players short. They still did good though, considering. They then played 4 games in about 18 hours; two games Friday 6-2-06 night & two games Saturday 6-3-06 morning. They won the first 3 of these games. The team they played against in the 4th game, they had to beat twice to take 1st place. They lost to them, so that finished the tournament.
We found out early in the season that Ryan was the youngest player on the team. The other boys were 8 & 8 1/2 (some pushing 9), while Ryan just turned 7 in April. He held his own with no problem & was the only player on the team to get MVP 3 times this season. Alot of the others only got it once. He was on the coach's All-Stars list, but was not chosen by either of the All-Stars coaches. He was told they usually choose the older kids who will be moving up to play on the All-Stars teams, but to keep playing how he did this season & he will definitely be on an All-Stars team next year. (they don't do All-Stars in the fall.) We told him even though he didn't make the team, he is, without a doubt, an All-Star. :-)
He's bummed now that season is over & can't wait til September, when fall ball will start. From as early as we can remember, Ryan has loved baseball & I'm convinced that if he keeps the passion for it that he has now, we'll be watching him on tv some day. Mark my words................

Se7ens

2006-05-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

This is my se7ens list - per Tori's request.

7 things I want to do before I die:
~ at least one more Susan G. Komen 3-day
~ take Ryan to Disney World
~ swim with dolphins
~ renew vows with Micah
~ enjoy the wrinkles I will have accumulated (we earn those!!!)
~ watch Ryan fall in love & get married
~ be a grandma

7 things I can not do:
~ put a spin on a bowling ball
~ watch the Notebook, Steel Magnolias, or Titanic with out crying (no matter how many times I've seen them)
~ bring myself to try raw oysters, tofu or caviar
~ stay mad at Micah or Ryan when they smile at me
~ get rid of my Micahball (yes, I still have it!)
~ wolf whistle
~ make farting noises w/my armpit (okay - sorry! Ryan makes fun of me for it though.)

7 things that attracted me to my boyfriend/spouse:
~ his piercing blue eyes
~ his long eyelashes
~ his sense of humor
~ he's athletic
~ his loyalty to friendship
~ his protectiveness of his mother
~ his shyness

7 things I say often:
~ Mind your business.
~ Whatever.
~ So there ya go...
~ Gotcha. (Micah's personal favorite - not)
~ Woo hoo!
~ Whaddya think?
~ Gosh!

7 books I love:
~ Love You Forever
~ Life Laughs (vulgar, but some funny stuff)
~ Monster at the End of This Book
~ Why We Walk
~ How Did God Make Me
~ A Pocket for Corduroy
~ Diary of a Worm
(yeah, I know most are kid books, but I love Ryan reading to me)

7 movies I could watch over & over:
~ The Notebook
~ A Walk to Remember
~ Disney or Pixar movies
~ Steel Magnolias
~ most anything w/Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon or Adam Sandler
~ A Knight's Tale
~ Grease

7 (okay, 11) people I'd like to hear se7ens from:
~ Kay D.
~ Kay S.
~ Crystal
~ Monnie
~ Mom
~ Lisa
~ Sarah
~ Andrea
~ Tina
~ Melinda
~ Melody

What Are You Gonna Be When You Grow Up?

2006-05-22T20:27:00.000-05:00

So, what are you gonna be when you grow up? This should be an easy question to answer at thirty years old. Right? Yeah, you'd think. But, here I am wondering- just what am I gonna be?
First & foremost, I am & always will be a wife & mom. Those are my most important jobs & will be til the day I die.
For the past six years, I've had a stable job that I didn't worry about. I knew where my paycheck was coming from & I knew I had a job until I didn't want it anymore. (that definitely came w/strings, but that's a whole other story.) I was good at my job & I was comfortable, but no longer happy. On May 9th, I quit my job of six years. I had provided notice, which was to be fulfilled until June 2nd, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I left on May 9th.
Micah works, but unfortunately the things we've become accustomed to require both of us to have full time jobs. My last job was sitting at a desk & I'm not so sure that's what I want to do anymore. I enjoy being active, up & doing stuff. Definitely don't do that w/a desk job. & I definitely don't like the fact that my derriere has spread out to places it shouldn't oughta be. But what else can I do? All of my experience is sitting behind a desk. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the experience, skills & knowledge I've acquired, but can I take it anywhere else?
I want a job where I make a difference in peoples' lives on a daily basis. I love working w/babies & children. I would work day care, but they're so over-worked & under-paid here. Several times, I've thrown around the idea of going to school to be a labor & delivery nurse. I would love to witness the miracle of life on a daily basis. But I'm just not willing to devote that much time that I feel should be for my family, on a career. I always have the thought in the back of my mind - what if. What if I went to school (while working as well) & missed out on stuff in Ryan's life, or my marriage falls apart b/c I chose a career? What if I put all that time (& money) into it to find out it's not what I truly wanted? What if I only have a short time left in this world & I focused it on something other than the most important things in my life - God, family & friends?
If anybody has any suggestions, please feel free to comment. I have an interview on Tuesday & one on Thursday. Both desk jobs. What if I'm destined to sit behind a desk the rest of my life? What if.........

Welcome to My Post

2006-05-18T16:42:00.000-05:00

Hi! My name is Stacy & this is my first blog. I'm not generally up to speed on the newest & greatest in technology, so please bear with me. I've been reading my friend, Tori's, blog for a couple of months now & really enjoy it. I thought I might enjoy posting one of my own. At the very least, maybe get stuff off my chest that might not otherwise make it's way out.
I guess I'll use my first post to introduce myself & my family. Like I said, my name is Stacy. I am 30 years old & live in Denton, Texas (where I was blessed to meet Tori in jr. high school.) I was born in Indiana, but we moved here in 1981, so I consider myself to be an official Texan. I met my husband, Micah, in Computer Lit. class in 7th grade. Never really talked to him though until 8th grade. Once I started talking to him, I don't think I ever wanted to stop. By the beginning of 9th grade, I decided that I was "in love" (as much as one can be at that age) with him and (if I remember correctly) Tori got us together. He asked me to "go with him" on Nov. 3rd, 1990. We were married on Nov. 3rd, 1995. I was blessed to find the man I was to spend the rest of my life with at such a young age. We've had our ups & downs & there were times when things were rough, but I think that comes with the territory of getting together so young. As with any teenage girl, my dad always used to just grumble & say "It's just a phase. She'll get over him." (thus the title of my blog) But now my parents adore him & admit they couldn't have chosen a better man for their little girl.

This is our son, Ryan Alexander. He was born April 12, 1999 (3 days after Tori's Isabel.) He is our only child & such an awesome kid. From the beginning he's had his dad's disposition & sense of humor. (He totally has my temper though.) This kid has a passion for baseball like nothing I've ever seen. Baseball is the first thing he would ever sit still to watch on t.v. Not Barney, Elmo or Teletubbies, (thank God!) but baseball. We used to have to tape games when it was off-season b/c he didn't understand why he couldn't watch a game. When he started T-Ball, he had a really hard time b/c he'd been hitting (soft, squishy) balls that were thrown to him. He didn't want to hit off no stinkin' tee. But he adapted & is now in coach pitch. He is doing really well & is the only player to have gotten MVP twice this season. Just yesterday at practice, I laughed b/c when the other boys were "dying" b/c it was hot & they "needed" a drink, he was in the coach's face, ready for the next drill. We had to make him go off the field to get a drink. I'm convinced we'll watch him play major league ball some day. & hope it lasts long enough for him to support old Mama & Dad. :-) Ryan is a great kid w/very good manners, which I'm proud to say he uses even when I'm not around. He is considerate of other people's feelings & calls kids out that are lying. That's probably his biggest pet peeve. We have to remind him to mind his own business. He is the only kiddo we are going to have & we can't imagine life without him. He is such a blessing.

Well, that's us in a nutshell. Hopefully I can keep this thing up so I can keep in better touch with people. Thanks for taking the time to read about us. Oh, I'm a huge procrastinator, so my page will probably be a "work in progress" for a while....