I can't put it down......

I love to read.

I really do.

What is it about a good book ?

And then when you read lots of good books, in a row !

It just doesn't get any better than that.

I never really want to finish a good book.

I start to slow down near the end,

afraid that when I finish,

I won't find another book as good as the one I'm reading.

Some books I read,

sit all day

and if I only get a chance to read a few chapters each night,

before bed,

that's enough.

~BUT~

every now and then,

I find a book I just can't put down.

I go everywhere with it.

I dog ear the pages that have paragraphs so deep,

that I re-read them a few times

in order to really feel what I'm reading.

Sometimes then I even close my eyes,

so I can better picture the characters that are living in my head.

Then I want to read those paragraphs OUT LOUD,

to the world,

just to see their reaction.

I said to my sweet hubby yesterday that I was going to waste the day away,

because all I wanted to do was read my book.

He turned his head and said,

"oh Buff, reading is never a waste of time, silly !"

Gosh I love that man !!!!

{I'm reading Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult~this is the one I can't put down and I just finished Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky}

~both of these books have "law" related issues and I swear that in a previous life, somewhere, somehow, I spent time in a court room. Or maybe it's just from my time spent as a CASA a few years ago and the hours I spent supporting juveniles in front of a judge......but whatever it is, I love law when it's at a level that I can understand~

what makes my family happy......

Take any cake mix and DON'T add the eggs and oil.....

instead, add one 12oz. can of any diet soda....

mix {by hand or mixer} and bake according to the directions on the back.

{a chocolate cake mix works best with a dark diet soda, like diet pepsi and a yellow or white cake mix works great with any light colored diet soda}

Once it's cooled, smother it with LITE cool whip.

Then decide how many pieces you want, as it's easier to cut it now...

before the fruit goes on.

Add your fruit, any fruit.....GO WILD !!!!

ENJOY !!!

*this is a weight watchers recipe*

but you'd never know it !!!!

And who is this in the kitchen with me while I'm baking ???

Come closer......

There she is.....never more than a few steps away from me !!!!

kinda like this...............

This is where I go on Saturday mornings. With hopes of looking like this someday....

well, kinda ~sorta~ maybe !
But in my head, this is what I picture.
A beach chair to call my own,

where I can sweat under the morning sun.....
instead of at the gym.

But then my "Daily Om" said this.....
"dedication is more to devotion than to ambition,
thus it requires that you be as enthusicastic
about the process of striving for a goal,
as you are about reaching it"

So if you're looking for me this morning,
I'll be at the gym with visions of pina coladas in my head !!!
{pictures by flickr}

out of my league....

I went to a scrapbooking SHOW today

and I've decided that is one place where I just really don't fit.

~~~~~~~~~
Granted, I love some of the scrapbooking supplies,

I mean otherwise, why would I go, right ?

But I'm not a scrapbooker.

Nope.

Not one bit.

I once dabbled in it, but it didn't really fit me.

~~~~~~~~~

Instead, I do mixed media art,

but no "real" scrapbooking....

{and the reason I know this

is because I don't use the word "lay-out!"}

~~~~~~~~~

Anyway, at these shows, I stick out like a sore thumb.

Scrapbookers have a certain look that I don't have.

They wear T-shirts with scrapbooking logos.

They carry scrapbooking bags to use while shopping.

They speak a scrapbooking language I don't understand.

~~~~~~~~~

And they LOVE scrapbooking supplies.

Boy, do they LOVE their stuff !

Enough so as to push me out of their way in order to get "a fix."

And not once did I hear, "excuse me," which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine !

I bet they don't act this way at home.

Don't get me wrong....I did buy some great stuff.

~~~~~~~~~

But before I go again, I'll have to think seriously about it..... deciding if it's worth taking my life in my hands just for a fabulously designed 12x12 paper, where the woman behind me acts like it's the last one that's ever been produced.

Or maybe I'll jump in and join them, while proudly wearing a

"queen of the crop" T-shirt....or not.

~~~~~~~~~

{now hold up....if you are a scrapbooker reading this, I'm only dissing the act of shopping in a scrapbookers environment...not you personally. I don't want any "hate" mail with, "you said blah blah blah...... And other than the fact that I always say, "excuse me," everything I wrote above perfectly describes me when I'm at a flea market.....except there, I wear my T-shirt that says....

~~~~~~~~~

GET OUT OF MY WAY PEOPLE

THAT'S MINE

I SAW IT FIRST

{just kidding....well, sort of}

what ???

This was outside the gas station yesterday.

At first it made me laugh....and then I cringed a little.

Do you think someone out there wanted to apply for a job here,

but then saw the sign and mumbled to himself,

"quality.....hmmm......

I'm not sure if I fit that description"

and decided instead

to go back home, feeling like a loser ?

I mean really....

Isn't everyone a quality person....

somehow, in some capacity ?

And who are we to judge ?

Now don't get me wrong....

they might not have the right talent or skills for the job,

but quality.

~qual-i-ty~

kwa-le-te/adj.

1:peculiar and essential character:nature

2:degree of excellence

3:high social status

4:a distinguishing attribute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WE are all human beings....

WE have opposing thumbs...

isn't just that a HUGE and wonderful quality ???

A big orange breast.....

It's Wisconsin....

and it's still winter here no matter what the calendar says.

And for all of you reading this from a warm weather state,

we are still getting "sneaux".....

our total for the season is over 104 inches so far,

and they say we aren't done yet.

Just makes you want to move here, huh ?

Makes me want to vomit.

~BUT~

look who flew in to cheer me up.

He's a pretty bird alright.....

so orange, so puffed up....

trying to stay warm....

I bet he's wishing he'd stayed south just a little longer.

Actually, I think I heard him say a few 4-letter words

even while I was taking pictures of him.

{and in case you're wondering.....

this is a real photo that I took !! No flickr and most importantly, NO photo shop !!!}

an egg filled weekend.......

{original bunny photo by flickr....and then I decorated it for easter}