Dancin' Down the Aisle

This is what we're going to do for Daniel and Erika's wedding. Only its going to be even better because I'm going to be the one dancing down the aisle.

Or not.

Did you notice that the bridesmaids bouquets are Gerber daisies? I love,love,love daisies and, if I get married during the right season, I want to have them in my wedding. :)

Dear Wal-Mart

Dear Wal-Mart,

I congratulate you on the entrepreneurial spirit you are showing by expanding our your local store. After my recent visit, I have a few comments that should be discussed at your next board meeting.

Firstly, by increasing the size of your store you are, presumably, hoping/excepting to acquire new customers. May I suggest that you increase the parking lot, not shrink it down the one-fifth the original size?

Secondly, please provide maps at the door of the store's new layout. Putting the car parts where the crafts used to be and the electronics where the household items used to be is somewhat disorienting. While trying to find the baby items(which miraculously happened to be in their usual spot), I turned to Toto and remarked that we really weren't in Kansas anymore.

Thirdly, thank you for placing your friendly blue-shirted associates in convenient areas around the store to ask at the most helpful times, "do you need help finding something?" It added such a nice touch to my shopping experience.

Fourthly, Jeff shouldn't have to be the only one handling all the customers at the cash register over in the garden department. Since you felt the need to make the garden center the temporary main entrance/exit, maybe you should consider using the cash register that was just sitting there doing nothing. Just a thought.

And lastly, I am forever indebted to the sweet women who let me jump in front of them in line because I was only buying two books, and they had half a cart-full. That's the stuff Wal-Mart email forwards are made of.

Thank you for your time and your consideration. I wish you all the joy and happiness that can only come out of successful board meetings.

Your opinionated customer,
Sarah

P.S. Watch out because the Christmas Tree Shop is starting their own store renovations. Not that you're really rivals, considering you were selling bubbles for $3.00 and CTS was selling them for only $1.69, but I thought I'd just let you know.

Meet Mason

Meet the "in the picture" Mason.

He's a cute little 16 week old puppy rescued from Saint Louis. His ears are oh so shaggy and his paws oh so soft.

Meet "the real" Mason.

A 16 week old puppy who has now been added to my responsibility list via being adopted by Lauren's family.

Today was the first day I watched him and Lauren. I barely made it home alive.


Don't get me wrong: I think puppies are(generally)adorable balls of fluffy and I love babysitting. But when you add babysitting a very active child on a very hot day with trying to keep track of a very active puppy(again, on a very hot day), you just might have a glimpse into my afternoon.

I now stop by their house before picking Lauren up at camp to take Mason outside for a few minutes. If only it stayed that simple...For over an hour and a half I pulled stuffed animals, papers, pens, remote controls, backpacks, boxes, the slipcovers that go over the arms of chairs, couch cushions, rugs, towels, and shoes out of his mouth. Then I had enough and he was banished to the place referred to as His Cage. We took him out a while later for a "quick"(the understatement of the century)walk. I don't think we'll be doing that again for a while.

On the upside, I learned a very valuable lesson today: I now fully understand why Mom never let us get a puppy when all five of us were little.

I even called her up and told her so.


Edit: I forgot to say that I do not like my feet being licked by dogs. Mason has a hard time understanding that one.

A Top Five Day

This past Wednesday just may have been One of the Top Five Days of 2009(so far). For the first time all three bridesmaids for Daniel and Erika’s wedding were in the same place. I think an appropriate name for it would be The Great Meeting of 2009.

I’ll Stop Using All Capitals Now.

The day defiantly succeeded everyone’s expectations. I knew we would have fun but Rudy, Dani(yes, they are both girls),and I just connected so well. We’re sort of like three peas in a pod except that somebody *ahem Dani* is a little more like a nut! I cannot wait to spend more time with them!

After we meet up we all drove to David’s Bridal. We had barely even made it out of the car when the excitement-o-meter shot through the roof because “Erika’s dress” was being showcased on a poster hanging in the store’s front window.(Dani’s family is making Erika's dress by copying the one Erika loved from the David’s.)

We each tried on a couple dresses then unanimously decided that we had discovered The One. The professional color is ‘wine’ but we all just call it The Dress We Absolutely Love. They’re just so pretty and elegant and princessy and girly all rolled into fabulous one dress. The skirt of the dress is slightly puffy and gathers up a little on the left side. It has just a hint of a train in the back. Because the dress is strapless, and the wedding is in October, we also bought Bolero jackets of the same color to wear over it.

I was only able to take a few pictures before we started trying on dresses but Erika took quite a few(besides, I was busy getting stuck in the dresses to take pictures). Hopefully she’ll send them to me soon so I can post them. The David’s Bridal website photos just don’t look as snazzy as we looked; even with our mismatching color dresses and no shoes! Oh, and we are going to have THE BEST EVER wedding photos. We’re already practicing our poses. Dani and Rudy have this whole John Travolta pose perfected.

After surviving the bumper to bumper traffic, we finally made it back to Erika’s and made The Best Pizza(sorry about the caps, I just can’t resist).

Don't they look divine? They were.

We even made one to look like Daniel.

Of course we had to take one of the bride with her pizza-faced fiance.

I think its safe to say that we are all Beyond Excited(and a little nervous)about the wedding. It seems so much more real now that we've been shopping for it! I've only been in one other wedding (I was a junior bridesmaid)but I know from other's stories that it makes all the difference in the world when you love the others in the wedding party!

Blog-Hop Recipes

I love food. I don't know if its the Italian in me, or just because I love cooking and baking(and because I'm so thankful to always have food in my house!), but I really do like food! I am so excited to share a couple recipes and get some great new ideas from you! 

Artichoke Dip

My aunt was the one who introduced us to the wonders and delights of artichoke dip. Even if you aren't an fan of artichokes and/or mayonnaise, combining them with the cheese and garlic is SO GOOD. We weren't able to find our recipe to I had to google it. Although I haven't actually used this recipe, I tweaked it a little to match the partial recipe I have in my head. Be prepared for people to stand around waiting for it to come out of the oven,then eating it before it cools down because they don't want to share it with others. I have seen this first-hand so I know its very possible. I've also seen said impatient people burn their tongues doing this.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

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14-ounce jars artichoke hearts

2 cups Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low fat)

2 cloves garlic

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Spoon into one or two shallow, oven-proof baking dishes. Bake the dip until golden on top and heated all the way through, about 15 minutes.

(The dip can be heated in the microwave if you need to warm it up faster.) Serve with crackers or small pieces of bread.

Slow-Roasted Garlic and Lemon Chicken

If you love garlic and lemon, this recipe is right up your alley(or right into your oven, but whatever). Its easy to make and comes out so delectable.

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1 chicken(3 1/2 to 4 lbs.) cut into 10 pieces

1 head garlic, separated into unpeeled cloves
2 lemons, cut into chunky eighths
fresh thyme
3 tablespoons olive oil
10 TLBS white wine
black pepper


1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
2. Put the chicken pieces into a roasting tin and add garlic cloves, lemon chunks and the thyme; just roughly pull the leaves off the stalks, leaving some intact for strewing over later.
3. Add the oil and using your hands mix everything together, then spread the mixture out, making sure all the chicken pieces are skin side up.
4. Sprinkle over the white wine and grind on some pepper, then cover tightly with foil and put in the oven to cook, at flavour-intensifying low heat, for 2 hours.
5. Remove the foil from the roasting tin, and turn up the oven to 400 degrees
6. Cook the uncovered chicken for another 30-45 minutes, by which time the skin on the meat will have turned golden brown and the lemons will have begun to scorch and caramelise
at the edges.

I like to serve this as it is, straight from the roasting tin: so just strew with your remaining thyme and dole out.

Note to Self

From the desk of Me, Myself, and I Inc.

Dear Self,
In an effort to stream-line productivity, please take note of the following:

* Writing a to-do list and putting a star by each one does not make the ones highest importance stand out.

* Reading blogs and clicking around on Facebook does not accomplish one little bit of school work(or any kind of work).

* Please remember that when you're wearing mascara and you open the door of a hot oven, more then likely the hot air will cause your eyelashes to melt together. This is generally painful and should be avoided at all costs.

* When applying for a job, it is highly recommended that you hand or send the application in; don't just leave it sitting on your desk.

* The Design Girl is having a blog-makeover giveaway. Don't forget to enter.

* Please, please, please try to come up with something much more exciting for WILT then: "Orontophobia is the fear of teeth."

Any improvements in these areas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The President and Staff of Me, Myself, and I Inc.

Lauren and Dan's Wedding

Last Saturday we were so excited to attend the wedding of our church friend,Lauren. She had waited so long to get married that(I think)it made the day extra special. I used to be a little worried about when she'd get married; not because I thought she wasn't "good enough" to get married, but because its just seemed young men were ccompletely missing a wonderful girl!

July 11th, 2009

Congratulations Lauren and Dan!

The bride arrives

This picture is so cute!

Katie, Marissa and I

That little cutie on the right is Devin, one of the ring bearers. The baby is Audrey. I didn't get a great picture of her but she is so cute and tiny for her age(but she is very long-look as those legs!)

The beautiful flower girl, Kirah(Devin's sister)

my brother Andrew and his girlfriend Debbie

I don't think Ryan needs any other name except Mr Way Too Adorable

While Queen Gram rides by in her Royal Coach...her Servant Dad follows behind pushing the Royal Walker.

During the cocktail hour Daniel, Erika, Elizabeth and I went on a walk. More accurately we were in search for The Hunt for Great Picture Taking Places 2009.(don't you just love the creativity we put into our titles?) It was a beautiful day and the conference center had such grounds it wasn't hard to find many Great Places.

Disclaimer: no alcohol was consumed by minors in the taking of this photo

the soon-to-be sisters in law : )

Is there anything quite so romantic as standing under an arbor holding hands?

♥ I absolutely love this picture ♥

Less Words Wednesday

I found this beautiful dragonfly last week when Elizabeth and I were out for a walk. I rescued it from a sad and lonely death on a hot sidewalk and used it for a photoshoot gave it an honorable funeral on a lily. I wish I could have gotten better pictures of it because the green and black were so striking.

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WILT- Volvo's are a very expensive brand of car to repair.(hey, I never promised that what I learned today would be awe-inspiring! ;) )

Weekly Blog Hop

Incase you haven't heard, this weeks Blog Hop topic is Three Things You Don't Know About Me. So without further adieu:

*

The most famous people I have seen are Josh Groban, Sarah and Todd Palin, and Rudy Giuliani. I've also seen the world champion of the Alaska Iditarad. If you don't know who that is, don't feel bad because I didn't knew either. He was campaigning with the Palins and basically just sat smiling on the stage the whole time. I just don't want to hurt his feelings by not mentioning him. ;)

**

I have never flown in an airplane; we always drive to our vacations. I wouldn't mind flying but now its turned into almost a see how long I can go without flying thing! I don't mind driving at all because we've made such fun traditions. We always listen to books on tape and play the "find a license plate from every state" and "count how many Cracker Barrel signs there are between home and Florida" games. I know you're just dying to go on road trips with us! :)

***

During Stellan's hospital stay in Boston, I made and sent this blanket to him. I thought he'd like the stripes and cute little monkey. :)

Crafts & Sewing

Of all the things on my to-do list for the summer, most of them *surprise surprise* haven't happened yet. But during my tuning-out-of-most-electronics week, I was able to accomplish a few crafty things.

I finished this apron for my friend Lauren, who just got married on Saturday. She's a green, brown, pink, Paisley(actually, I'm more the Paisley one!)girl so when I saw this fabric, it said LAUREN all over it.

A sweet,sweet lady from church, Mrs Carter was very sick with cancer. I wanted so badly to make her something, but I knew that it should both pretty and useful. I finished this tissue box on Tuesday and very sadly she died the next day so I was never able to give it to her. Her daughter also goes to church with me so I wanted her to have it instead. Mrs Carter was one of those people that you can know for only a year but they just become so special in that short amount of time.

I made these two necklaces for Mrs Carter's two adorable grandchildren, Anna and Jillian. I am completely convinced those two get cuter every week. They almost always wear matching dresses and bows and are such little ladies. I just love them to bits. I was looking for charms that said "I love Grammy" but since I couldn't find one, these were just as good(and probably even better)because they, and their Mom and Grammy all love butterflies and dragonflies.

I can't wait to start my next projects: matching mother/daughter aprons and pillowcase dresses!

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WILT-Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair. Yet another reason to like Tom! ; )

A Post of Dedication and Education

You know how all great books are dedicated to a really special person? Well, this post is dedicated to my long-lost friend from up north, Mr Sun. He has made more then 1 appearance this past week, and after 72 days of rain, I am eternally grateful. In the spirit of Not Me Monday, I was not so glad to see him that I actually took a picture of him.

Now on to bigger and better things. You have no idea how many posts I started and didn't finish last week because I wasn't able to post them.This was largely due to the fact that our computers -and especially the internet- do not like tub-fulls of rain and constant thunder storms. Its like the computer, rain, thunder and lighting all have some kind of conspiracy going against us. I so wish I could just buy a couple new computer but as a very wise bride on 'Say Yes to the Dress' said, "I would have to sell one of my kidneys for it and I kind of like my kidneys."

That bride and I truly would be kindred spirits.

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I said something in a previous post about the saying "you learn something new everyday". I decided recently that if would be so cool if I actually kept track to what I learned. Knowing myself as I do(and I've been with me for a while now), I would probably end up with 365 little pieces of paper with random facts written on them that would get lost in little corners around the house. Instead I'm going to share my new-found knowledge with all of you! At the bottom of most posts from now on, I'm going to write WILT, aka What I Learned Today(the creativity of that name is stunning)*, and the fact. So everything will be in one place, I'll be able to find it, and we can all learn something! Feel free to join in too! : )

WILT~ The !Kung people live in parts of Botswana, Angola, and Namibia

* Edit-I just realized that it should be called LSNED,Learn Something New Everyday instead of WILT. What do you think?

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Lynette is having a giveaway from one of my favorite baby clothing stores, Faith Baby. See over on my sidebar under "special sites"? I already have a link to Faith Baby because I just love their products. I love the onsies that say "Mommy's answered prayers" and "all God's grace in this tiny face".

Not Me Monday

Once again its time for Not Me Monday. My brain is not so useless right now that I can't think of something amazingly brilliant to say right here. Moving on:

* I did not eat Strawberry Rhubarb pie for breakfast.

* Lauren's mom did not forget to let me know her husband was picking Lauren up from camp so I did not drive all the way there only to find out she had already been picked up.

* I did not stupidly ask the camp staff (who were probably younger then me, an experienced college-ager) "today is Thursday, right?". I mean, how embarrassing would it be for me to get the days mixed up?

* I did not trip when I was leaving a memorial service for our friend and go drunkenly crashing into the door.

* I was not so embarrassed that I didn't want to turn around to see if anyone saw it.

* I did not feel oh-so-special that the policeman stopped all the traffic on a very busy road just for me so I could go waltzing across at my own leisurely pace.(Actually I was just hoping not to trip and make another drunken-looking fall).

* I most certainly did not think while waltzing across the road "wait til I write this for Not Me Monday!".

* I did not take a pair of capris off the rack at the thrift store and say to Mom "these are cute Mom; do you want to try them on?", only to have a lady turn around and tell them they were hers. Now that I think about it,I must have exceptional fashion taste since someone else thought they were cute too. (Please don't say anything about how some people in thrift stores are *ahem* dressed and how unfashionable it can be. That would really burst my bubble.)

* I did not not take many pictures during the ceremony at my friend's wedding because every time I did, everybody people would look at me and it was just too much pressure.(I'm not a fan of being looked at by large groups.)

* I did not get slightly frustrated with the wedding photographer because he seemed to know just what I wanted to take a picture of and stand right in the way.

* I DO NOT want to wish MckMama a fabulously wonderfully birthday!!! ♥ Nope, not me!

Weekly Blog Hop

I decided get in on the fun and show a favorite picture for this weeks blog hop. I love looking at others' pictures and hearing/reading why they're special! The picture I wanted to use wouldn't upload *sigh* but since I've been wanting to put up this picture for a while, why not do it now?

♥This is my brother Daniel and his beautiful fiance,Erika♥

I wish you could meet them-they are just so cute together. Daniel has always on the more serious side but since he's gone to college and, especially since he started going out with Erika, its so funny to see how he's changed. He's definitely twitterpated!!

We are beyond excited about their October 24 wedding. The way I see it, the sooner they get married the sooner the babies, aka nieces and nephews, arrive! :)

The photographer did a stellar job with this picture, if I do say so myself! ;)

Your Friendly Neighbothood Patriotic Weekend

We started off our 4th of July weekend by watching Spider Man 1. For whatever reason, we've seen Spider Man 3(hereafter referred to as S.M. as it takes to long to type)at lest 4 times already this year and since most of us hadn't seen S.M. 1 or 2, we got both of them out of the library and watch 2 a few weeks ago and 1 on Friday.

Talk about anticlimactic--seeing the series backwards. I mean, honestly, you know that Spider Man will live through falling(or being pushed) down 500 stories and getting smashed to the ground.

Anyway, by the middle of the movie Mom was starting to talk about why we weren't watching a more patriotic movie since it was almost Independence Day. I brought up how S.M. is "your friendly neighborhood Spider Man" and how 'friendly' and 'neighborhood' really do describe America. My sister Elizabeth popped in right then and said "he is wearing red, white, and blue."

Thats what I was trying to say.

By the time the movie ended, Peter had told Mary Jane that he couldn't love her(except if you watch number 3, he really does love her. He proposed and everything.),that Green Goblin thing had died, and I wasn't happy that they watched S.M. 2 without me because I don't know what happened in it. Did they fall in love? Did Spider Man die? Why do I really care since I am not at all a fan of superheros?

After the movie, we went out to see the fireworks shot off from a local baseball field. I love fireworks; they're one of my favorite parts of the 4th of July. They didn't have the best show this year but it was nice to see "live" fireworks anyway. This amazing fireworkography is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood fireworkographer.

Saturday we went to the parade we've been going to for the last couple or ten years. We had to leave before it was finished but I'm pretty sure we only missed more candy-throwing, water-spraying floats.

Next on the agenda was a cookout at Katie's house. They had 5 families over which brought the grand total of kids up to 27. Consequently the line for Four-Square wrapped around part of the driveway and we had 7 chairs set up so the faint of heart(and legs)could sit while waiting their turn. I doubt we even needed the chairs because people we going in an d out of the game so fast that we barely had anytime to sit down before we had to jump up again. It just gave things a more homey-feeling. Please don't ask how well I played; its a touchy subject.

I'll stop talking now and just get on with the pictures since you're probably tired of me talking, talking, talking. You're welcome.

I have never been so impressed with grass-cutting as I was here. Jimmy cut the grass under the volleyball net into the shape of a flag. How patriotic.

me, Katie and our friend Erin

Elizabeth(my sister), Jennie(Katie's sister), and Sarah(who by the way, moved here from England. Its very interesting celebrating the 4th of July with English people because, you know, this holiday is celebrating our independence from them.)

I almost forgot that we watched the Boston Pops at night. As usual, it meet and exceded the expectaions of all previous years. It almost had a more "homey" feeling this year. Neil Diamond, a guest singer, sang one of Red Sox fans favorite songs "Sweet Caroline". I have absolutely no idea why this song is played at every game in Fenway because it has nothing to do with baseball. If you happen to know, please tell me. It must be because it says "so good(way better then the Yankees) ,so good(way better then the Yankees), so good(way better then the Yankees)." But thats just a guess. ; )

Not Me Monday

Once again its time for your favorite way to start off a new week--by talking about all the things you didn't do the week before! You're not the only one either because you can head over to mycharmingkids.net and read everyone elses "not me's"

* I was not very impressed that the girl at the camp where I pick up Lauren(who I babysit)remembered, on only the second day, who it is that I pick up. I did not suddenly realize on the way home that she knew because I told her who I was picking up before she told me to drive a little farther down the pick-up line.

* I did not like one of the other new Not Me Monday logos just a tad more then this one(although I do like it more then I did at first).

* I did not plan Lauren's allotted tv viewing time so we would have the lest possible time playing the never-ever-ending game(???)of school/summer camp/sleepover/I tell you what you have to do even though you're the one who's really in charge. What kind of babysitter doesn't let the child play what they want unless its dangerous or deadly(which can basically be the same thing)?

* I did not eat 3(or maybe more)of the Lindt chocolate balls in Lauren's mom's candy jar, leaving only 2-3 for next time I'm over. But if I had done that, I would have been doing them a favor because they were clearly leftover from Halloween. (btw, if you want to send me a bag of Lindt chocolates, you just might be my new best friend.)

* I did not eat a hot dog with my fingers and justify it by saying "well, everybody else is so I guess I will too." I mean, we all know that "just because everybody else is doing something doesn't mean you should."

* I did not lock the van doors but leave the windows rolled down enough that I could just reach in and unlock them.

* I did not realize once again that I am now old enough to think that 15ish-17ish year old boys are cute as in little boy cute without anyone thinking "oh, you like him!!". Let me rephrase that, they might still think it, but I can say 'oh, he is cute as in little boy cute' without caring what they think.

* That last sentence did not slightly confuse me.

* I did not stop doing a makeover on my garden so I could write this. My garden does not makeover itself. Nope, not me!

Land That I Love

Proud to be an American

Today is one of my very favorite holidays. Right up there with Christmas, I look forward to it and get so excited as the day gets closer. I love my country and am so proud to live here-not just on this one day in July but on every day of the year. We must always remember to not take the “little things” like running out to Wal-Mart, going to the movies, or even planting a garden for granted. Only if theses things were taken away from us would we fully realize what we have. Let us do everything we in our power be grateful for this country and always remember the ones that have served, are serving, and will serve to enable us to live here in peace.

When I was looking for a video to put up and found this one, I knew I just had to use it because it was performed in my state by the Boston Pops, who I undyingly adore. We were able to attend one of the Boston Pops concerts on the 4th a couple years ago and although it rained most of the day and our canopy fell over, I was so excited to finally be there. Sadly we can't go this year, but we'll be watching it! :)

"I'll take a couple more $100's please."

A few months ago Grandma and I went to the bank. It was supposed to be a quick trip because Grandma just needed to get some cash from the ATM machine to hold her over until she could get her new checks in the mail.

But it wasn't quick.

First we had some difficulty just finding a place to park. There was about 12 parking spaces and about, um, 20 cars trying to get in and out. You do the math. That's right, not enough spaces. Grandma decided she'd do a fancy little half-turn-around/half-back-up/something that I totally thought wasn't going to work. And it totally didn’t work. But I admire Grandma for her efforts because that was some very interesting maneuvering she did. At one point I wanted to melt down in my seat and not be seen by all the other drivers but I thought that would probably be breaking the Never Leave Your Grandmother When She's in the Midst of Difficulty code of honor. And I would never break the code and leave my Grandma. We finally got into a spot after backing up, going forward, backing up, going forward, backing up, going fo.....I think you know whats coming next.

Once we made it inside the bank, we had to wait for the guy in the blue shirt and baseball hat to finish using the ATM. He was rather interesting to watch because he was talking to the machine while he was using it. What is it that you say to ATM machines? "Come on, you can do it! Just give me a couple more $100's! "

We also pondered the sign hanging on the wall behind us. It showed some smiling Spanish people and proclaimed loudly, in Spanish....................who knows what it said? That's just the point. We don't know what it said cause we don't speak, read, or barely understand Spanish. For all we know it could have been telling us not to stare at guys in baseball hats who talk to the ATM machine.

Finally we progressed into the ATM room; you know, that little room with two doors and about 2 feet of extra room to turn around in. Here we faced a new problem: the machine would accept her credit card but not her top-secret password numbers. This might happen to other people but those people can say "well, maybe I just don't have the number right." We had the number right. We know it was right because Grandma produced, on a little piece of paper from the bank that she always carries with her, her top-secret numbers.

Because we like to be high-security with our top-secret numbers.

We never were able to get the money, even after repeated tries. I thought we were going to ask the bank tellers for help and then once again produce that top-secret number paper in front of the same people we met out in the parking lot. But we didn't have to.

Grandma and I had a fabulous time at the bank, thank you for asking. I'm sure she was so glad she asked me to go with her because, in her words, I "know how to run those kinds of machines".

I guess I just don't deal well with top-secret numbers.

Wordless Wednesday

Not a very cute picture but a fairly humorous one. :)