The economy...

It's hard not to feel guilty for Sean and I to not have YET been horribly effected by the economy. But... then again, I know people around me, bring effected. My sister has a house loan with an APR, and she was already forgiven for being behind on it. Now she is behind again. BUT... she also just bought a new TV and entertainment center. Now, I am mad. On one hand, she isn't making ends meat, but really she is just spending when she should be paying a bill. So I guess it is an issue in their marriage, since I am sure he is spending and not paying the mortgage. UGH!! Do I have the right to say something. Sure! But, how do you tell your sister that she is missing something. UGH!

Back to the economy. So, I hear that Obama wants to help mortgages that are behind, have APR's, are in foreclosure, etc. BUT... that leaves out those like Sean and I. It says "no, you can pay for your home, even though a BANK told you it is worth more than you ever hope it to be now. YOU and your family are STUCK and simply don't need our help." This makes me ANGRY! I know that I have two incomes, can currently make the payment and my FICO score is nearly 700. BUT... I worked damn hard to keep it there. Declared bankruptcy a little over 7 years ago, and worked our butts off to provide what we do have. So, now I am being told I am stuck with what I got.

I think that the government should give each adult (LEGAL adult) a certain $$ amount. Each person then has the right to buy a car, house, get out of debt, rent a roof, buy food, or just shop and spend the $$. Wouldn't that help?? Wouldn't that be better than giving money to the auto industry, the banks, etc. Those places would still get money, it would be simply be shared and in the approval of each american.
I wonder what would happen if every government employee was told that they were being given a 2% pay decrease (or what ever #). Every car CEO be told "you screwed up, and here's your pink slip, we are hiring someone at a lower pay, to do your job better"
I know that I am MAD, frustrated, and completely have little hope and currently NO trust in my kids future. I don't know what to do.
There are families needing immediately help, not 3 months from now... not having to wait for a stimulus package to effect things.
I also know that a simple solution to fix some things... is to stop building more. We are currently getting more MAX lines. (train like mass transit) Yet the bus company is looking at which lines they will stop service on, because the budget is falling short. How can you be spending more, and yet making cuts to services already here?
The whole thing is MIS-MANAGEMENT. No simple answer, but yet the dumb answers being brought forward, or just STUPID.

I know... I am simple minded. Food, shelter, schools, and love. (through in a pet or two and my camera, and I am good)
Everything will never be equal, but I think we can all do a better job striving for it.

Egg dying layout...

I had a fight with my cricut design studio software this morning. It won a few battles, but I won the WAR!! Hee-hee!
I finally figured out how to drag and move images on the mat. :)
I cut lettering into egg shapes for the title on my layout. I also cut solid egg shapes in a rainbow colored paper; to put behind the white egg shapes. I added a couple extra eggs to the corner of the layout too.
Quick (not so) but EASY next time now that I get the program a bit more. I wish I had a laptop and could take the DS program to crops.
Hope you enjoy the idea!

Acne...

Kids get acne. We are dealing with teaching Jordan about cleaning his face more often. BUT... now my DOG has acne. Oh my! I never dealt with that one before. Our lab just turned a year. (WOW! already!!) She developed little bumps on her chin awhile back. I finally googled the issue, found they are called papules. Well actually that just means bumps on the skin that are less than 1/3". But, I found that dogs can get acne. I really think this is what she has. So, I am going to try using tea tree oil face wash on her for a bit.

So, if you aren't totally grossed out at this point, and still with me...LOL

My day was pretty uneventful. Work, felt sick, made dinner, scrapbook two layouts, watched "little people big world" and "jon & kate plus 8", now back on the computer. WOOHOO what a day of adventure!! LMAO

I am enjoying my new Nikon camera. I LOVE the zoom lens. I have yet to figure out how to blur the background in my pics; but that will come. I am probally going to be stuck in the house on Wednesday again this week. I was looking forward to my idea of taking my camera, hoping in my car, and going for a drive. I just don't want to go in the RAIN. Good ol Oregon, rain will kill most plans made. :)

Anyhoo... here are my layouts from this evening. Hope you find a little inspiration to make a layout of your own. :)

It might be an addiciton...

Ok, I admit it... I am addicted to scrapbook paper. Michaels has a huge amount of new slabs too. From K & Co. to Colorbok to g.c.d. studios... oh my!!
I even saw a slab of chipboard "monogram punch-outs".

Oh too much fun!! I had to take a pic and share. :)
Now off to make a layout or two after I figure out what dh and I are eating for dinner. The kids are still sick and eating chicken noodle soup. I generally eat soup for lunch now, and the idea of having it for dinner isn't sitting well. Might be another Taco Bell night.

cel phone service...

You really don't know how much you use something, until you don't have it. My cel phone service is wishy washy today. At&t tells my husband that they have a tower down in our area, but our phones "should be" using the 2nd tower in the area. Well... the phones are making calls. And the down side... I just paid the bill last night, completely. I am normally a few days past due, no late fees... but past due. I just pay it when I think about it.
Of course, pay it on time and I guess I shocked the service. LOL
Guess it's time to try and not think about what I would do in an emergency, without a phone... and go curl up in a blanket and read. :)
Hugs, ya'll

Little Lady Bug layout...

A new layout... this feeling is great! Completing layouts!! Completing albums. Woohoo!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So are you the romantic? The gooshy one? The "Why do we celebrate love ONE day a year" type? I think I am a little of all of the above. I like the fun of gifts, giving, thinking about those I love, etc. I also think it is so silly to have a day that means so much, when we should be sharing love and caring every day of the year, for mental health. :)
Sean and I went shopping the other day and agreed to choose each other a new watch band. It is something useful and needed, yet reminds us of each other and the day spent together.
We are heading to a movie tonight, I think. I want to see "friday the 13th". A true valentine movie, if I do say so. Hee-hee!!
I think we are going to take the kids to Sonic for dinner, and give them a little treat too.

Hope you all enjoy the holiday, in some way!

Hugs, Rebecca

nothing too special... pretty simple layouts...

These are pretty simple... but I am finally getting layouts completed again. :)

nothing too special... pretty simple layouts...

These are pretty simple... but I am finally getting layouts completed again. :)

assisted suicide...

My friends sister is dying from cancer. Her bone cancer has made most of her bones so brittle that they are breaking. Her neck is broken, her arm is broken in two places, and the pain meds aren't worth anything anymore. She is looking into the process of assisted suicide. While I don't agree with anyone taking their life, I am torn on this one. Is it wrong for her to be done with this life? Is it God's way that she use the meds to end her life. Would God have made the meds a possibility just to test us, and whether we would choose suicide? Is it really suicide? I am torn. I just don't know. I do know that she has no life. She can't even get out of bed to pee without breaking something more. Even to say that the day after she chooses to take the meds for death, to simply overdose and fall asleep for good; she could hope for a cure, or recovery from this. When is it enough?
I guess I wish that God would just finish things for her, quickly, and not make her choose this right or wrong. :(
Then there is my friend and her family and friends. The stress of living through the passing of their loved one. UGH! It's so sad!!!
Ok... I just needed to vent. I don't know what else to do. I want to do things for my friend, but I don't think there is much needed now, but to pray that this ends quickly. :(
All I can do for now is to try to be there when she needs a break and just needs a friend to talk to. :)

Time to look for a photography class...

Well... my day started not so great yesterday, but ended pretty well. Sean bought me a Nikon D-60. WOOHOO! I got him a PS3 this week too. (Tax refund partially GONE) LOL
The rest of our refund will be paying off braces, bills, etc.
Anyone happen to know of some great FREE photography sites, classes, videos, etc.?

What a day!

It's not even noon, and I feel like I have completed enough for an entire day, if not two. What a day! I am frustrated, upset, depressed, pissed, mad, ... I just can't decide.
I got my two kids off to school easy. (That doesn't always describe my morning with them) Then I thought "Yeah, my day off from "work", as I crawled back under the covers. I have been staying up late and reading "new moon", which I finished last night.
I wake at 9:45am, to Jordan (now 14) and picking arguements with me. UGH!
We then realize he has missed the bus, and I run him to school. No biggy, not late, just adding to MY "What is his problem" attitude, and making me angry to be a parent at the moment. (oops, did I admit THAT?)
I come home and vaccum. Eww! The animals are beginning their spring shedding!!
I then grabbed the new organizer I bought yesterday, built it, and filled it. I am pretty happy with it for now. I am sure it will be a little more hassle to get to my paints, but they are now in my scrap space and NOT behind my bedroom door anymore. :)

So... now do I scrapbook while I am upset and emotionally drained, or do I go grocery shopping??
Oh, wait... I could go make coffee and sit on the computer. Humm... LOL
Hugs, Ya'll!

Superbowl Sunday

Yep... it's superbowl sunday! I have taken Meghan for our annual superbowl sunday trip to the store. This year was a trip to walmart. I got T-shirt on clearance for $1. Everything in the store that is clearanced $5 or less, is now $1! Can't beat jammie T's for Meghan, for $1. :)
We also got chips, salsa, and junk food for the big game. I read some "New moon" (which is getting REALLY good finally). The kids and I have watched most of the "Puppy bowl" and Kitten half time on animal planet. (These rerun all day, btw! DVR is already set to tape!!)
Dash (our lhasa-pom) was caught watching too. I couldn't grab my camera fast enough though. He sprawled on my bed, flat on his belly, as soon as the puppies began to bark. TOO CUTE!!

Tonight will be another trip to the nickel arcade for us. We have coupons expiring tonight, and the boys both got their birthday entry coupons too. Another nearly free family event.

I am looking at buying a Nikon D60 or a Canon Rebel. I just haven't found the best deal yet. I am watching Circuit City to see if I can catch one as soon as the 20% sale gets a little better. I guess if I don't catch them, I wasn't supposed to get it there. Hee-hee!!

That's about it for me... oh, Meghan and I got two more scrapbook layouts made last night.