525600 minutes,,,

I just love this song and I just love my friends!!

One down...452 to go

Some people are ashamed to admit they are infested. Well, maybe not INFESTED, but definitely inhabited. But not The Niemeier's! We have RATS. Not IN the house, but in our attic and AROUND the house, just to clarify. At night, it sounds like WWF (World Wrestling Federation) or Friday Night Throw Down in the Octagon in our attic and more frequently in our bathroom wall. The first night I heard it, it WOKE ME UP! It sounded like Curt eating Doritos right beside me in the bed! Except the Doritos were wrestling and squeaking. Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! So over the past few weeks we have made a trip to Ace Hardware to become learned in the ways of rat poisoning and trapping. Since Curt would be the one to crawl around in the attic to search and recover dead rats, he decided on the "Live Trap and Make them Someone else's rat wrestling entertainment." He ordered the trap and it came promptly in the mail in a few short days. Much excitement here, let me tell you. The instructions were inside the cage and there were a few moments where we couldn't figure out how to get the trap open...(sigh). After mild modification by Curt to make it function correctly, peanuts were added and it was set out on a pile of wood where they like to hang out. (side note: I suggested we get rid of the wood and was informed that the wood was "custom made for each window for hurricanes and it was $100's worth of GOOD WOOD!" Just a suggestion.) Anywho, no rat in the trap for almost 24 hours until peanut butter on a cracker was added and THEN...one rat. He got his tail caught in the door, God love 'em. I think he was quite embarrassed. After much "oooohh and ahhhh how cute; look at his ears and "don't stick your nose to close, didn't you read '1984'?!!!---the rat was taken about a mile down the road to a church and promptly dumped---ok shaken--- out of his cage peanut butter cracker for the road. Charity begins at home, ya know...all God's creatures.

Now that is tight

This is the conversation that ensued after my 15 year old modeled his "newest" thrift store find...

Will: Hey Dad, how do you like my new pants? Curt: Holy cow what are those? How did you get into them? You're not leaving the house in those. You are not wearing those to school---not even out of the house. They really look uncomfortable. Dana, what do you think about these pants? Where did your junk go? Where did you get those? Will: Thrift store. Curt: What made you want to buy those at a thrift store? Will: Well they said size 26. Curt: What size are you? Will: 30, but they were so long I thought they would fit. Curt: Can you sit in them? Don't they squeeze the hell out of your junk? Will: well yeah, a little. Curt: They ought to make you feel weird. Will: yeah. Curt: take those off and get your homework done. Dana: he looks like a British rock star. Will: I need some cooling lines in these...like they do in the Hoover Dam. Curt:Will, Take those off and do your homework!!!

The 3 D's...

So lucky to have such great friends!!! "I get by with a little help from my friends..." Have a great day everyone!

Energy and then some...

You know...I can hardly sit down and blog this due to the huge energy rush I have from my meds. People...I tell you, if these weren't so bad for you in the long run every mom would be USING!! Wait, illegal drugs are crap for you and people still abuse them! Guess this secret hasn't be "outed" until now. Whew!
Anywho, enough about drugs.
Living in a houseful of males has it's moments. Some things you have to smile about. Well, because they are funny. It is usual that my sweet husband wakes my oldest child for school. (The youngest somehow gets up, gets dressed and eats breakfast without prompting.) So, Curt walks into Will's room one day last week, "breaks wind" rather loudly and states, "Will, your alarm just went off. Get up." Without opening his eyes my sweet sleepy 15 yr. old smiles and says, "Thanks Dad". Now is that love? I think my 11 yr. old was jealous he didn't get the same courtesy.

Time to Reflect...

With such trying times and unrest in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a person who has impacted people across the globe.
Larry LaPrise, the man that wrote 'The Hokie Pokey' died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started...

Fantastic Friday and Stuff...

Well, my friends, it's amazing how much a little energy and organization makes you feel like a different person. Apparently PMS and a major med switch are not good timing. You know I'm not one to whine...well OK, I whine some, bit try not to do it. Anyway, I just wanted to send out a heartfelt "thank you" to you all. 'Helpin' a sister out' is what my friends do best! Thanks for the phone calls and food and just hanging out! God love my husband for hanging in with me this week xxxooo! Jen and I drove to Orlando today with the intent of grocery shopping at Whole Foods (the closest one). Well, after a stop at IKEA (2 pillows a cool bag and hanging rack thingy not in photo) and lunch at Whole Foods, we decided to amend our plans. We grabbed some grains and nuts from the Bulk bins and scrammed over to Florida Mall to buy Bare Escentuals Mineral make-up! Ha! I had my "eyes did" and Jen bought some blush. After a quick stop at Harry and David's for some Salsa and Chutney, we jumped in the car and beat it down the Bee Line to Melbourne. We called the kids and said we would be a tiny bit late. They hung out together until we arrived.
You know feeling good is so great. Sometimes I forget what it is like to be my old self. I am so grateful for friends who pray for me. I am sure pray for me to be myself again. On a light note, how about praying for me to be Jennifer Aniston? Curt just might agree!! Hee Hee!!!

Sam's 2008 Championship Throw Dough Performance

Just Take Your Medicine, already...

First this at 0730...
Then this...

New meds start today. I am looking forward to the energy that the IV steroid will give me, but not to the "Ick" feeling the Methotrexate could give me. Oh well, what can you do? Those little orange pills don't look so bad, do they? The 2 big calcium tabs are the gaggers. The yellow one is Folic Acid. Suppose to help keep my hair from falling out. Could have used that starting 6 months ago, let me tell ya. The good thing is I only have to take the Methotrexate once a week. I'll increase the dose each week. I can't find anyone my age with this disease, so I'll blog about it in hope that we can connect and compare notes!
In the mean time, with all of the energy I am suppose to have, I might take the offer of painting and organizing the house of my friend and neighbor, Jennifer...Thanks Jen!!
l, Dana

Now that's strong....

and gold...and musclie...and ummm, riveting... :)