Take 5

1) Flip Flops: I just saw on the news that flip flops are horrible for your feet! This famous summer item is linked to ankle, lower leg, knee, and back pain. I ONLY wear flip flops in the summer. I like that they are comfy and that they keep me at 5'9" and not too much taller than my husband. They said that wearing them around the pool and around the house is fine. Well, I do that, but I've also been known to take walks in them too. I guess I'll have to wear my warm sneakers for that walk from now on.





2) Haircut: I had my hair cut Tuesday. I went in wanting a style that I found in a picture. I also wanted highlights. I came out with shorter hair that didn't look like the style I had in mind, and also a lot blonder than expected. Two of my worst haircuts have occured when I have brought in a picture. Why is that? I thought a picture is worth more than a thousand words. I guess I just get really disappointed when my hair fails to look like that of the one pictured. I'm learning to live with this head of hair and may even end up liking it after a while.

3) Cutting Coupons: I may start cutting coupons. I came across this website that seems to have a great strategy. Stores go through a 12 week (typically) cycle of putting certain things on sale. For instance, household cleaners will be on sale one week and canned veggies the next. You can get outstanding deals on certain items and stockpile those things. Pretty soon, you have stockpiled most of what you need and have saved big bucks. The site keeps track of everything. It tells you where to look, when to buy, and how to use the coupons. Have any of you used this? How did it go?

4) Red Wings: The Red Wings are Stanley Cup Champions. Did anyone catch this game?? Has to be the most exciting ending to a championship game that I've seen in a long time. The previous game built upon that excitement because you knew the Pens could make a comeback in the last few seconds of play. Osgood made the save and we saw the puck travel parallel to the goal line with just 0.01 second left. Wings celebrated and the Pens cried.

5) LOST: After the finale, I have a ton of questions. Here are a few:

• How does Christian (Jack's dad) play into all of this?
• Is Claire alive or dead? Was she unalive like Christian seems to be?
• Is Michael alive? Remember Hurley told Walt he was lying to protect those on the island, like his dad.
• Is Locke really dead? How come he's now Jeremy Bentham and off of the island?
• Where is the island now? Is it still an island?
• Will Sawyer and Juliette become an item since they believe Jack and Kate are dead?

Learning to be Thankful

Last night, we had Jill and Landon over to watch the LOST finale. I must begin by saying that it was a great show! But the names, oh the names! Sawyer is James, Kate is Monica, Freckles, and about half a dozen other names, Henry is Ben, and now John is JEREMY! Whoa. To read the significance of this latest name, go to Micheal's blog.

Any time we have company over, I become very thankful for our wedding gifts. Thanks for the china, dishes, silverware, glasses, crockpot, and linens! How could we have people over if you guys had not been so kind to us?! I'm also thankful for the dishwasher that can so easily clean all of those dishes!

I also have been reminded recently on how blessed we are to have Audrey. Just this week, God has shown me people that have gone through the following:

• Unable to conceive.
• Miscarrying early (over and over again).
• Miscarrying late.
• Delivering early.
• NICU
• Losing the child shortly after giving life to the child.
• Raising a child with severe problems.

I don't know why these things happen. I don't know why I was spared from these things. I know God loves each of us tremendously. We'll understand it all by and by. What I do know is that the child I saw yesterday that is living with severe problems is a unique child of God and a precious angel. I prayed for the young boy when he was born and it was a blessing for me to see him interact with Audrey. Two precious children.

Sometimes I get a little down when dealing with Audrey, my collicky (which has passed - whew!), allergic, and dificult tempered child. I know how easy-going some babies are and long for Audrey to be that way. I long to eat things that have milk and soy in them, like ice cream - yum! But I must remember that Audrey is perfect the way she is and I wouldn't have her any other way. I'm thankful that my dairy and soy free diet has kept most sweets away and makes it easier to lose the baby weight. And those smiles from Audrey mean even more!

LOST

You may wonder what Michael and I do when Audrey goes to bed around 7:30 or so. How in the world do we occupy our time? We watch LOST. A lot of it. A couple of months ago, our friends, Jill and Landon, had us watch the pilot episode. We got hooked. Since then, we have flown through seasons 1, 2, 3, and almost 4. Can you believe it? We will watch the last show tonight and watch Season 4's finale with the rest of the world.

If you are a LOST watcher, do you have any theories? I would love to hear what you think is happening. Also, who is your favorite character? Have they always been your favorite?

Hurley is my favorite. I love the comic relief he brings. I would like to think that he would be my friend in real life - aside from the fact that he's in and out of the looney bin all of the time.

Why I Dislike Timer Warner Cable This Week

I've always had bad feelings towards TWC.

The two redeeming qualities it has are these: 1) stays on during storms...cable totally beats satellite when it comes to this 2) We're able to afford a sports package that includes the VS channel. It proved invaluable during the playoffs. We couldn't afford to have VS when we had satellite.

Now, some pretty aggravating things have been occurring since Monday this week. Most channels have a pause or a mini-blackout every 30 seconds or so. You completely miss a portion of a news story, an interview, or a play in a win or go home hockey game. Also, they have completely blacked-out several channels at a time while trying to repair them.

Last night, we went to a going away party for one of Michael's coworkers. As usual, the DVR was set to record American Idol. This morning, I turn on the tv to see how this FINALE went last night. I get 62 minutes of an infomercial on chronic pain followed by QVC. Thanks, TWC.

I'll have to watch all of the singing on youtube.

The Truth Comes Out!

I recently saw a news show with past Idol contestant (and Dallas Stars Anthem singer), Celina Rae. She spoke of how the show tries to get certain singers voted off. She showed the news host how the band's music was too loud when Carly was singing. She pointed out how it was frustrating Carly as she sang. Just one of the many ways American Idol tries to sway the vote.

Now, you probably know what happened last night on American Idol. If not, go here. Paula "Where's My Brain" Abdul couldn't follow the new format of judging. They had to hold their judgement until everyone sang one song and then quickly dole it out. She critiqued TWO of Jason Castro's songs when he only sang ONE. She said she looked at David Cook's notes, but she did not. She blasted the faux second song of Jason's. That would have been the criticism for David, but she said David was her favorite. ??? Could the judges or producers write out what they are going to say even before the song is sung? Is this just another way to sway the vote? What do you think? BTW, I thought Jason did a fantastic job! His and Syesha's were my favorites last night. I'm sure one of them will leave this week.

Rock N' Roll

Audrey rolled over today! I know most of you don't really care, but there are some of you out there that do. I was in the kitchen and I heard her begin to become unhappy. I walked into the den, where I had laid her on her back and she was on her tummy. She does not like tummy-time. Actually, she hates it. We did a better job today than ever when I did give her tummy-time. She was able to keep her head up over 1 minute without any fussiness. So let's hope this continues.

So, I think she's teething already. Drooling, fussiness, low fever, gnawing on everything, and her sleep is so inconsistent. Please let that tooth or teeth come in soon!

On other things that are not all about Audrey, Michael and I are now a fan of another TV show. It probably was a good thing that 24 did not start up this January since we needed to take care of a newborn. As things have settled down some, we may be in need of that one really good show. Jill and Landon have been trying to get us hooked on LOST for awhile. We had dinner with them Sunday night and they really, really wanted us to rent the pilot and watch it with us. I do believe I'm hooked. We've got the first season in our queue at blockboster.com. Please don't tell me anything about this show since I'm not very far into it yet!

Last Friday night, we had one of Michael's best friends from high school and her husband over for dinner. We had so much fun! I hope we get to see Liz and Hunter often. I'm so glad they moved to Texas!

My American Idol Prediction

I am placing my bet on David Cook. I really like David Archuleta and I also have to root for Rockwall boy, Jason Castro. Doesn't Jason have the most gorgeous eyes?

It's the Old Switcharoo Trick!

If you are like me, you really enjoyed watching Get Smart a few years ago. Despite how corny Agent 86 and Agent 99 were, I couldn't get enough. Now the Get Smart movie is coming with Steve Carrell as Max and Anne Hathaway as 99. I love both actors, but wonder if they can pull off this classic in a long movie. If you see this movie this summer, you must let me know if it is good. I probably won't see it until it is out in DVD form.

Seems like Dallas has gotten fond of the old switcharoo trick recently with the trades to bring Jason Kidd to the Mavs and Brad Richards to the Stars.

The Mavs have been a likable team for a handful of years now. Jason Kidd has brought strife before, will he again? I won't deny that he is an excellent guard, but is he good for the team? Let's hope so!

Can you believe I haven't followed hockey enough to know if I like the Stars' trade? I do know that I LOVE Jussi Jokinen and like Halpern and Smith. I do have faith in Brett Hull's opinion, so I will just have to see where Richards takes the Stars.