Pictures from the last few weeks

Macie and I


Dog Pile!

Valerie wouldn't pose for just any picture, but we convinced her this would be fun

Val and I were bored while Chet was shopping

We must have taken at least 10 with different glasses

Chet and Me after church

Lauralee is visiting!

3am at work with my coworker Sonja

Alter Ego?

A cheerleader, Claire has the power of rapid cellular regeneration. allowing her to recover from almost any injury within seconds to minutes — though she does need larger, embedded foreign objects (such as a branch or a shard of glass) to be manually removed from her body, or bones pushed back into position for the wounds to heal properly. Various characters in the series imply that having her brain removed would permanently kill her; however, Sylar, after studying and taking her power, not only remarks that he wouldn't be able to kill her even if he wanted to, but that she will never die. In addition to simple healing, she experiments with the limits of her powers, cutting off a toe. A new toe rapidly grows into place. When her blood is injected into others, they are also healed, even if they were dead for a while, with no apparent ill-effects

Recently the singer Beyonce recently put out an album in which she entitled Sasha Fierce.

"I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created that kind of protects me and who I really am," the former Destiny's Child frontwoman said in a statement.

"Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage."

This who concept got me thinking. Does everyone really have an alter ego? Someone who they may not really be "them" but someone they can become if they need to. I think that this is most definitely something that I have. Growing up I was always a more shy person. However my mom always tried to instill in me, that how I feel that I am doesn't always have to be who I really am. But im comfortable being quiet and reserved. And so I have come to feel that there are two sides to me. This is the Rachel that I know and I am comfortable with. She is quite, and reserved. She waits until other people talk to her in a crowd. She is a real thinker and tries to keep all emotions in check. But there is another side to me. The "alter ego" per say. This Rachel is funny, and carefree. She approaches others and makes friends with all. Shes confident and emotional. Its quite funny to think about, I feel as though I have a split personality. But there really are two sides to me. Certain traits that kick on and off depending on my surroundings, situation and, quite frankly time of the month. I need an alter ego name...any ideas??? LOL

Puppy Love

My dog cooper is the most loving dog you will ever meet. Here is an example, Cooper and London love to play together. But sometimes after playing all day, they get tired and she will let him curl up next to her. They are just too cute! Macie had fun capturing them in action.

The Perfect Gift

As the Christmas season quickly approaches we are constantly reminded, actually more like bombarded everywhere we go, that we should start buying gifts for our loved ones and friends. Christmas stuff started showing up shortly before Halloween and its has hit full force now that Thanksgiving has come and gone. Some people are good and have most of their shopping done, but I am one of those people who will be finishing my shopping until the day before Christmas. Not because I am a procrastinator per say, but because I have a hard time coming up with "the perfect gift."

There are people in my life where I give a gift because they are a friend and its a common courtesy if you will. But then there are others that I really want my gift to mean something. To show that I truly care and I put thought into what I want to give. To me it shows that I know the person, I know their likes and dislikes, etc.

Although the growing exchangeability and liquidity of gifts are appealing to many people, several scholars argue that it is exposing the increasingly transactional nature of gifts -- and slowly eroding the reasons people started exchanging gifts in the first place.

"The very idea of the soul of the gift has been lost," said Antonio Callari, an economics professor at Franklin and Marshall College, who is interested in the cultural and psychological aspects of gift-giving. "The gift has lost its character as a gift and become a product, a commodity."

The idea of the gift goes back centuries. But gifts don't mean the same thing today as they once did: For one thing, people have far more stuff than they used to, which makes getting a truly unique gift less likely. A lot more gifts also change hands these days, which makes it harder to put a great deal of thought into each gift.

At the end of the day, as long as thought and love go into your gift that is all that should truly matter right? Is there really such thing as the perfect gift?

To you, from me, with love

A true friend

I wrote this when I was 19 in college...but I think that the information still rings true. It applies to friends as well as your partner, spouse or loved ones.

A friend is something that everyone needs. A friend is someone that can be counted on when help is needed, or just someone to be by our side. A friend is someone who knows all about who you are as a person, and loves you for it. A friend knows all your deep, dark secrets, and will not tell them to a soul. A friend can come in handy when you are feeling down. There is a quote that I really like that I think describes how a friend should be by Albert Camus. It says, "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and just be my friend." However, not everyone knows how to be a good friend. There is more to a friend than everyone thinks and I would like to tell you what I have learned that has helped me to become a good friend.

In order to be a good friend, you should know all about the other person, and love them despite all their faults. A friend is a close companion on rainy days, someone to share with through every phase of our lives. They forgive us and help to bring out our best, believing the good and forgetting the rest. Mother Teresa has told us that, "The true way and the sure way to friendship is through humility-accepting each other just as we are, knowing each other." You should love your friends for who they are, and the potential they have that make them great. As it was once stated by Charlotte Bronte, "If we would build on a sure foundation, we must love our friends for their sakes rather than our own." We are all fighting battles in our lives in some way or another, and we must understand that about all the people we meet. A friend is someone with whom you have common interests.

A good friend will help you out when you are feeling down. It was once said, "The human heart, at whatever age, opens only to the heart that opens in return." A good friend will stay by your side when you are going through a rough time, and they will help you get through it. A friend will listen to you, when you have just broken up with your boyfriend, or when you are feeling homesick, or even if you have just had a bad day. A friend will let you know that you are the only important person to them at that moment, your problems are what matter to them most. It makes you feel good to know that you have someone who cares about you that much. They will lend a shoulder to cry on when you need it most, and give up other things to help you out. Ed Cummingham once said, "Friends are those rare people who ask how you are we are and then wait to hear the answer." A good friend will know you as a person, and what you are all about. they know what makes you happy or sad, and what your dreams and aspirations are.

A good friend builds you up as a person, not someone who is constantly dragging you down. They complement you, and tell you that you are really a good person. they do not constantly point out your mistakes, but when they do, they do it in private, not openly. They are open and honest with you, and are very trusting of you. And there is nothing better in this world, than the encouragement of a friend.

A good friend is someone that we should all aspire to be. It is something that all people can benefit from. Friendship is not created by what we give, but more by what we share. Friendship makes a whole world of things easier to bear. The world is full of people, just waiting for us to extend a helping hand. A good friend is someone with a shoulder to cry on, and who believes in your dreams as much as you do. It is best said by Sydney Smith when it was said, "Life is fortified by many friendships. To love, and to be loved, is the greatest happiness of existence." Let us try to be good friends to all. This world would be a much better place, if we all could love and befriend each other.

Proverbs

A primary school teacher collected well known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by 6 year-olds, because the last one is classic!


Strike while the ...............................insect is close.
Never underestimate the power of...................ants.
Don't bite the hand that.......................looks dirty.
Better to be safe than......................punch an older boy.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll.........................stink in the morning.
It's always darkest before.......................Daylight-Saving Time.
You can lead a horse to water but......................how?
No news is...................................impossible.
A miss is as good as a......................................Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new.....................maths.
Love all, trust...................................me.
The pen is mightier than the.............................pigs.
An idle mind is............................... the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's.............................pollution.
Happy is the bride who.................................gets all the presents.
A penny saved is............................................not much.
Two's company, three's...............................the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what.........................you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and........you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as...............................Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not........................smacked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed.............................get new batteries.
You get out of something only what you.............see in the picture on the box.
When the blind leadeth the blind.......................get out of the way.

And the favorite:
Better late than.............................................. pregnant!

I want a kiss

A real deep heart felt kiss
Not the ones you give your kids (that motherly one)
Not the ones you get from your mama
I want a kiss

You know the ones your grandma use to give you on you cheeks that's wet... no not that kind of kiss
I want a real kiss
Not the ones that get all sloppy
Not the one a man give you when he's trying to figure out if your in the mood
No ... not that kiss
I want a kiss

Not the ones that your dad warned you about getting from a knucklehead
No ... not that kiss
Not the ones that you think u want when u shouldn't
No ... not that one
I want a kiss

You know the one that a single one thinks about
I don't mean a few months single women I mean a year and longer single women
That kiss that you sit and think about that puts a stupid smile on your face
That kiss that makes your whole body tingle
That kiss that doesn't have to involve a tongue but it last minutes
That kiss that you don't want to end that has all the passion in it
Yeah that kiss
I want THAT kiss