Deal Alert – Check It Out!!!

Calling all you I’ve-got-10,000-shoeboxes-of-old-photos-that-I-need-to-do-something-with followers. Do I have a deal for you!


As many of you may know, I sometimes (okay, most times) take a long time to make a decision about things that are really important to me. Examples – should I go digital; what camera is the absolute, perfect, gotta have it camera; what photo lab is the absolute, perfect, gotta use it lab; where is that perfect, absolute, gotta buy it, elusive brown purse; should I paint my toenails today? You get the picture.


Anywho, a couple of years ago, I started tackling the boxes and boxes of older non-digital photos that I still had not put into some sort of album.


This is the way condensed version of boxes.






I gave up on trying to scrapbook everything. That was just never going to happen. In the meantime, I decided that I wanted to scan everything. Yikes. What a chore. I got a couple of years scanned before I realized that this was just going to be more than I could handle. So I stuck most every photo into slip-in albums. Good enough for now. At least they have a home.


In my search for the perfect scanning solution, though, I ran across a website that offered SPEEDY FAST photo scanning for a REALLY GOOD PRICE. I mulled this over for so long that I didn’t end up sending in any of my mounds of older photos for scanning.


Well…..about a month or so ago, I was lucky enough to get a hold of about 1,500 older photos from Doug’s past. Photos with his daughters. Priceless stuff. I have been feverishly trying to get everything scanned, but this task (of course) was turning out to be a much more time consuming job that I had Pollyanna-ish estimated. Wait a minute, that company. I headed over to Scanmyphotos.com for another look-see about their services.


Scan My Photos gives excellent directions (with pictures!) on how to properly package your photos for shipping to their lab. I sent in 1,000 photos last Thursday afternoon. FYI – these 1,000 photos fit comfortably in the Medium Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping box at the post office. Only $10.35 to ship (I think). Anyway, Scan My Photos touts super speedy scan times on their website. They are NOT KIDDING! My photos arrived in California on Saturday, Scan My Photos scanned all 1,000 photos on Saturday, AND they shipped everything back plus my photo DVD that same day. I received my order on Monday. Super Speedy Fast.


The scans are 300 dpi, perfect for most any project we want to create with these long lost photos. Can’t wait to make several hardbound photo books. Love this stuff.


Check these guys out. I am sold. Go for it, friends. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and search on their website for a link to their blog. There is a huge discount for scanning up 1,000 4x6 prints, good until the end of November.


Hurry, hurry. Let me know what you think.


Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Photograph” by Def Leppard

Fall Foto Fun Pt. 1

It’s amazing how busy we can get this time of year. Despite my sporatic blogging lately, I have actually had a full few weeks. Check it out.

I decided it was FINALLY time to clean out the van. Oh, I keep it relatively clean; no trash, no junk. I just never get around to vacuuming the inside or cleaning the outside. Fret no more. I got the van cleaned. And….

Of course.

Here are some pictures. Seriously, do you think I would leave you out of this fun?

I took the kids with me to vacuum out the van.

When the kids were little, I used to buy them all a treat so that they could munch on sweets while I quickly Hoovered out all the dirt. Yeah, there was a lot more dirt in the little kid days. This time, however, I made the teenagers wait until I was finished vacuuming. They were able to keep themselves busy with two of my cameras.

There were a ton of shots of each of the kids.

Then they remembered who was wielding the vacuum hose.

So flattering.

Good one.

At least my gray wasn’t showing. Ha, just joking. I don’t have any gray.

And here is the face of a woman who is trying not to put another $1.25 into the vacuum that has already cost over $7.00.

Now, on to the car wash. Fun stuff. Can you believe, in all these years, I have never taken any pictures while going through the car wash? Until now.

Creative, huh? Stay with me.

Doesn’t the bank like an impressionistic painting?

Okay, I know you are on an artsy photo high. Look at these patient teenagers.

And then they kids got their treats.

Stayed tuned for more hilarious hijinx tomorrow.

When was the last time you washed your car? Any pictures? Have you played in one of those U Wash It car wash places? You know, sans car?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Car Wash” by Rolls Royce

Overwhelmed

I had to dash to the grocery store this afternoon for the every two day refills of milk and juice. A gallon of milk and 4-5 bottles of juice. Every two days. Teens in the house. Ah, you get it now.

While I meandered through the dairy section, I was confronted by all the Christmas decorations already crowding the aisles and topping the refrigerated yogurt and egg cases. Geez. I am not a Scrooge. No Bah Humbug here. I would just like a break from the way too early onslaught of merry, merry, merry. For years when I was a pro photographer, the holiday season was EXTREMELY busy for me. In fact, it was not uncommon for FedEx to deliver that last couple of wedding albums on Christmas Eve as we were on our way out the door to attend Christmas Eve services. A little late, ya’ think? I have to admit that my personal greeting amongst certain friends was, “Merry Damn Christmas.” Yeah.

Anyway, as I went through several life altering changes, I made a conscious decision to keep the grump out of the season. My kids were so excited; how could I be anything but happy for and with them? And then I met Doug. Even more reason to perk up. Got it.

Have you ever been transported back in time because of a sound, sight or smell? I remember when I played in the bell choir way before the kids were born. The group of us went down to Vidalia, Georgia one weekend for an intense workshop. When we checked into the REALLY OLD and NOT redecorated since the early ‘70s motel, I got the eerie feeling that I was in my late grandmother’s house. I could even smell beans cooking. You know, the beans that cook all day long and taste so luscious? There was a terrarium in the lobby. OMG. My grandmother. And the motel rooms had the same OLD and NEVER changed bedspreads from that same early ‘70s era. To top it all off, there was a large objet d’art on the wall of a rooster made out of glued on beans. OMG. My grandmother…and my mother. Man.

Well, when I was at the grocery store today, I smelled the very strong scent of cinnamon pine cones. It was incredible. I have never really decorated much with these, but the scent was overwhelming. Memories of Christmas’ past came flooding forward. And then the ultimate of memories hit me like a ton of bricks. Nicholas.

I have sensed this crippling heartache creeping up on me in the last couple of weeks. I cannot ignore it, but I certainly tried to. For those of you who aren’t aware, my oldest son Nicholas left at age 13 ½ on July 6, 2006. Nicholas was always a very difficult and troubled boy. I tried everything under the sun to please him, raise him correctly, have fun with him, and ease his constant hatred and anger toward me. What I worked hardest at was helping him to understand just how much I love him. Nothing ever worked. Nicholas got himself into lots of trouble. He left me to live with his dad 3 years, 4 months and 3 days ago. I haven’t heard from him since. I keep trying, but nothing yet. Maybe one day.

Nicholas’ 17^th birthday is coming up in December. I thought I would be able to breeze on through till that day. I would deal with my emotions that day. Then I would move on and continue to live my life. My good life. I worked hard to make myself realize that my life could still be good and happy. But the memories are sometimes too much to bear.

That cinnamon scent. I suddenly realized in the grocery store that I needed to hurry and get out of the store. My eyes were filling up with huge tears. Nothing would stop them. Hurry, hurry. That cinnamon scent was everywhere. Christmas morning with Baby Nicholas. I have never been happier in my life as the day I first took a glimpse of my little boy. I thought I would never be able to recover from the grief when that little boy cast me aside for what appears to be forever. I don’t know.

I hurried to my van and shoved the groceries in the back. Hurry and grab a tissue. And keep from completely losing it right there. I felt a heaving cry coming on; I managed to halt it for now. Gotta go home and rustle up dinner for the kids. Gotta be the strong Mom. I can do this.

I wondered why I was feeling so crushed again after all this time. Certainly I had recovered, right? No, it’s always there. No matter how the Logical Teri assures me that I did my best, the Broken Heart Teri needs a little time to feel this devastation again. I guess that’s what you do. You open up, plunge in head first, and absorb all the true emotions in the moment. I know I’ll feel better later. Okay, then I won’t deny the painful feeling. Or it will indeed eat me alive.

I need to put a different memory with the cinnamon scent. Part of me doesn’t want to, though.

I am so overwhelmed with memories right now. I believe a long walk is calling my name, wretched feet be damned.

I’ll be okay. Thanks for listening.

Today's Daily Blog Song - "Overcome" by Live

I’m Obsessed

As many of you have probably deduced over the last year and a half, I have a few obsessions. Some may call these quirks, some may suggest I seek intense counseling. Hehe. I choose to label these as simply eccentricities. Sounds much more exotic, yes?

My blogger friend Minka has bestowed the following award upon me.

How cool is this?!?!?!!

Like I needed reminding, but anywho. Hahahahaha

I am so humble. Hahahahahhaa

What is up with all that laughing?

Okay, seriously. In order to completely accept and embrace this award, I have been asked to share FIVE of my obsessions, um, eccentricities. I feel the exoticness oozing all over the place.

Here we go:

1. If you have been a Thinker Fan since the beginning (and, seriously, who hasn’t?), you may remember my “concern” with touching meat products with my hands. Cooked or uncooked, this just totally creeps me out. No matter how much I wash my hands, I am convinced that I have left just enough yucky stuff under my nails enabling me to surely contract salmonella. And with the H1N1 thing around, a girl’s gotta be careful. Consequently, I have very dry hands that are in constant need of super duper hand moisturizer…which I keep nearby at all times.

2. When I get an idea in my head, I can’t move on until I have worked out every single, teeny, tiny detail to my utmost satisfaction. For instance – and this one may make me sound just a wee bit obsessive – about a year or so ago, I determined that it was necessary for me to decide immediately whether I should make digital scrapbooks, regular scrapbooks or a combination of the two. Oh, and should they all be 12x12, 8x8 (which I could print myself), hardbound books, individually printed pages…and on and on. You see how this might drive a girl nuts? I toiled over this for MONTHS! I have no idea why this had to be settled once and for all, forever and ever. Geez. Resolution – the Calm and Practical Teri told me to just chill and do whatever I wanted. Live in the moment. Geez. Why couldn’t I think of that? Oh wait, I did. Oh wait. Oh.

3. I am on a mission to find a new brown purse. Let’s preface this with “I Hate Shopping.” So this finding a new brown purse thing is giving me a headache. I finally found a new black purse last weekend. Really great sale that unfortunately involved me actually stepping into the store and picking out that new black purse. Yuck. This old brown purse must be replaced soon because it is starting to tear up. Yeah, I’m that woman who uses things to death. I got this purse on clearance at Tarjay about 8 years ago for $3.25. I swear I did. I do not have to spend a lot on a purse to feel good about it. The main criteria for my new brown purse: (a) a GREAT deal, and (b) it has to be small enough to just barely fit my wallet and teeny tiny spy camera. If I get a purse too big, I may be tempted to cram a bunch of junk in it. Forget it. Okay, I’m done with this one. I am getting antsy just thinking about the shopping thing.

4. I MUST put my clothes in order of color. I find it helps me choose more quickly what I want to wear everyday. My husband only noticed this exoticness a couple of years ago. If I feel like blue will make me look fabu that day, I want to speed to the blue section and pick. Red…any day is great for red…head over there and grab it. Yeah, boring, but it’s me.

5. Okay, I’m going to lump a couple of things together in this last category. This may be the thing that pushes me a little out there, but hey. Since I was in high school, I have the need to push down all the little buttons on the soda cup lids that restaurants use. Makes the drink taste better, maybe??? Also, I have to fold over any napkin that has writing on it. What if that writing rubs off on my mouth, and I don’t know it? I would look weird(er). If the traffic light turns yellow while I am crossing under it, I have to kiss my hand and touch the inside roof of the car. This is supposed to help me avoid getting hit or getting a ticket. It’s worked so far. And last but not least, it is crucial that all the paper money in my wallet face the same direction. Yes, yes, yes.

That’s it. If any of you want to play along, go for it. You can leave a link on your comment or just list a few obsessions right here.

Most importantly – don’t hold any of this against me. A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do.

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH

Geez, there's that weird laughter again.

Whatever.

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by The Police (about a school girl obsessed with her teacher…another story for another day!!!)

Just Boo-tiful

Yep, it’s my Halloween recap post. And it’s about time that I post, huh? I caught myself taking a little snooze from writing. Seriously, I missed it. This brain is so full of stuff that I just need to put it on paper, or in cyberspace, or whatever.



As shocking as it may sound, it rained on Halloween. Wow. No kidding. Wow. I was all set to lure all the little trick-or-treaters to our home. I bought the Big Costco Candy Bag. It filled this gigantic stainless mixing bowl. Gigantic, I’m tellin’ you.







We still had a good many little (and big) kids come up our steep driveway for the goods, though.



A few weeks ago, Doug alerted me to the big pumpkins at Kroger that were only $6.99 each. That is a great deal. I bought two. My plan was to create a masterpiece on each. Naturally. Well….time got away from me, so I relinquished the carving of one of the gourds to Mackenzie and her boyfriend. Cool enough.








Yeah, Mackenzie was a Boy Scout. She made her boyfriend dress up like a cat. Nice. (Oh, Matt was at a friend’s, so no pix.)







Don’t I look so engrossed in my art? But I finally got to see that my highlight job looks as good in the back of my hair as it does in the front. Sweet.








The teen units decided to pay homage to the Saw movies. Gotta love it.








It took me a few weeks to find just the right pattern for our main showpiece. We (okay, I) started a tradition a few years ago of carving the faces of dead guys on our pumpkins. I was truly looking for Farrah Fawcett, but I was not successful in finding a pattern. Darn. That would have been our first dead lady.



BUT…I found THE perfect pattern that was a huge hit with all our candy beggars. I heard excited comments from every single visitor. I must say, I am quite proud of my creation. Ladies and gentlemen (are there any dudes out there?), please feast your eyes on THIS!!!!






He just made the cut this year. Ooops, is it too soon? hehe. I am rude. Yep.



Anywho, I sent the teens out in the rain for more candy. Naw, they got to keep their loot. Doug and I chilled back at the ranch. We enjoyed Halloween our own way. TRICK OR DRINK!








Did you carve up a great pumpkin? Tell me about your best costumes ever. Did any Charlie Browns out there get a rock?




Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Thriller” by Michael Jackson….naturally.

Hard To Stomach

We are a family of foodies. Well, the adults are the more serious foodies with the teens partaking of interesting eats most of the time. Foodies love taking field trips to funky food markets. We did just that last Saturday. The adult foodies loaded up the teen semi-foodies and headed to a sort of nearby farmers market.

The place is HUGE. People were everywhere. There were all kinds of cool produce, meats, and seafood. We frequent a much closer market called Super H. Love, love, love that place. The prices are killer. We thought we had lucked out when we grabbed lobsters for $6.99…until they were $5.99 these past few weeks. This place has spoiled us.

So, anyway, back to this other farmer’s market. A few of the prices were just not quite as good as Super H, but we were open to try out the selection of many items that aren’t offered at our fave food store. For one thing, Super H is an Asian food market. This farmer’s market has a much more diverse and eclectic mix of foods and household items.

I loved freaking the kids out with my finds in the frozen meat section. Whole lamb, pig and beef heads. Amazing.

The kids particularly enjoyed all the sample food stands. Dumplings, cake, tortillas, dumplings, crispy ring things, dumplings. And then there was the soup sample. Matt was eating his sample when I showed him the frozen heads. He was then convinced that the soup contained lamb head. Mackenzie tried the soup and thought it was fine. Finally, I tried the soup. A little spicy, a little meaty, very yummy.

That’s when Doug pointed out that the name of the soup, Menudo, means stomach. Aaaaaah. I thought the kids were going to be sick right there.

It really was tasty, though.

Have you ever eaten anything before you knew what it was? Was it better than you would have expected? Will you eat it again?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” by Jay and The Techniques (yeah, a stretch, but it’s about food, right)

Rakin’ It In

Playing along with Candid Carrie today. Check out other bloggies’ photos after you relax here for a moment.

Step back in time with me to last Sunday. We had a break in the rain (gasp!), so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to create outdoor work for the kids. Hehe

Oh, they should’ve known it was coming. That tree on the side of the house is already dropping leaves. “Hey, kids, time for some fun!!!”

The kids weren’t interested in my desire for photos this week. Um, whatever. I thought I would be discreet. Here’s Matt.

Mackenzie’s feet were hot on this non-rainy day.

She decided to allow the paparazzi just one photo.

Just to prove I was actually there…oh, not raking leaves. Puhleez.

Whacha’ doin’ this weekend?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Memory of Trees” by Enya