I'd like a new plasma TV please

Wanna know what chaps my hide? It’s not that we had to rush out and buy a flat screen television. It’s not that we had to rush out and buy a new love seat. It’s not that we had to rush out and get surround sound and a new high definition DVD player. It’s that my husband, Mr. Spendypants, insists on buying these things when they first hit the market. He is like super consumer. I would prefer to wait a minute. Do some comparative shopping. Wait for sales, that kind of thing. Had we done that very simple thing last year, we could have bought much larger plasma tvs for the family room and our bedroom instead of settling for one television in the family room and then keeping the ancient, knob turner we have in the bedroom. I’m surprised they made color televisions back then, let alone television that had more than 13 channels.

Who said I didn't like modern furniture?

I’m not really a fan of most modern furniture types. I prefer the older, weathered look for my furniture. However, I did see a glass dining table, with some straight dark brown chairs, and for just a minute, I thought about redoing my dining room in dark chestnut wood panel on the bottom half of the wall, with a pale chartreuse green on the top. Complete the look with some sepia colored still photos and a soft cream rug. I totally should have gone to design school.

Thank goodness!

Thank you all for the good thoughts and prayers. My boss' son, the three year old who had heart surgery last week is going home tomorrow.

What a relief they all must be feeling!

Mounts are not those tall things with trees growing on them

When we bought our flat screen television, I thought we could just sit it on a shelf and call it good.

Boy was I wrong. The dogs almost knocked it over twice. They were constantly brushing up against it. Half the time, we couldn’t see over them to watch TV (did I mention I have three English Mastiffs?). Finally one day my husband said we needed to get the hardware to put the TV on the wall. I was against this because I thought it would give our family room the look and feel of a hospital waiting room. Not exactly the warm fuzzy I was looking for. The very next day, husband came home with all the makings tor surround sound and wall mounts and for the first time in 15 years, I almost admitted I was wrong. Not out loud of course, but in passing I did say that the TV looked really good up there and I was glad I could see it now.

Baby steps people. Baby steps.

Finally, I see some results, but what exactly is a Kettlebell?

What exactly is a kettlebell you ask? Me too. Because at first, I thought it was some kind of a kitchen tool or perhaps a bell of some sort that would indicate dinner was ready on a farm or ranch. Au contraire. In fact, Kettlebells are these really nifty looking hand held weights, that almost resemble an old cast iron kettle. I really like the way they look because, unlike regular dumbbells, you can hold one kettlebell with both hands, opening up a wider range of movement and toning. Currently, I have dumbbells, sometimes, it is hard to hold both of them and raise my arms up above my head, and then lower my hands behind my head, working that one muscle under the inside of my arm. I think one of these kettlebells might just be what I have needed to make working out easier. And with Christmas right around the corner? I foresee a few of these handy little tools on my Santa list, and the workout video too. Because if I have one complaint with regard to working out, I get bored with the same video every single day. I currently rotate between three, so adding a new one isn’t a stretch for me. And, since I’m down 20.3 lbs from where I was in July, I’m even more motivated than before!

I need a new office chair

We are in the process of remodeling our den. It used to be the spare bedroom. Now, we have a nice hide a bed, two book cases and an archaic dinosaur of a computer desk in there. Honestly, the room is not big enough for this desk. I have been looking for office furniture that will match the new décor, while still offering me the feel of a working office/den, since heaven knows I spend more time in there than I do any other room in the house what with homework and telecommuting and my home business. Gees, it’s a wonder I have any spare time at all now that I think about it.

Need good thoughts and prayers

One of my bosses in Utah, whom I adore, has a two year old son who is having his third open heart surgery today. Please send lots of good thoughts and prayers their way. Thanks.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Did you know there are 56 days until Christmas? Scary huh? My husband, whom I adore, will begin taking down the Halloween decorations and lights tomorrow, and by next weekend, he will have gotten all of the Christmas decorations down from the attic. He will begin stringing lights on the house and in the yard. He will map out where the Santa and reindeer and sleigh will sit. He will place snowman and geese and the Christmas Moose in their places. He will strategically place the artificial christmas trees magically transforming our desert landscape into a winter wonderland. On Thanksgiving night, he will flip a switch, the music will play and the lights will dance in tune. The trees will sparkle and the geese will look like they are floating on ice.

I cannot wait!!

Car Accessories. It's almost christmas!

My husband is an automobile junkie. He is addicted to new cars and trucks. In his mind, he should have a new truck at least every two years. I do not share his auto buying enthusiasm. In fact, buying cars and trucks makes me a little sick to my stomach. The thought of spending all that money makes me gag. Needless to say, along with his love of all things auto, he also loves buying the neat auto accessories that spice up his vehicles. Granted, I have asked for a new set of floor mats and this year I am asking for a cargo liner to protect my carpet, but other than those two things, oh, and a wireless hands free bluetooth thing that stays in my car, I don't need any other automobile accessories. But maybe that new stereo with the GPS navigation. Santa could totally bring me that!

I want an outdoor fire pit

Remember the joy of camping and spending time outdoors with family and friends? Gathering around campfires in the mountains or at the lake and telling stores? Bring those memories home with a new outdoor fire pit. Savor the evening by the pool with the warm flicker of your own fire while you enjoy good friends and good conversation. Relax without leaving your back yard. Here in Arizona, outdoor fire pits are everywhere. All of my neighbors have one and my family is considering one too. For me, being able to sit in my backyard, listening to the sound of a bubbling brook waterfall and smelling the sandalwood burning is equivalent to my own personal oasis in the desert.

I had never considered an outdoor fire pit until this year. We have lived in Arizona five years and now that fall has finally arrived, the yards are filling up with laughter and conversation. The night sky is calling and in the distance, the coyotes are howling. We are watching movies on the patio and enjoying being outside for the first time since May. This is the time of year we all stop cursing the scorching desert and embrace what she offers, beautiful night skies, flowers and cacti in bloom and breathing in the fresh air. The only thing missing is the ability to sit in front of my own backyard fireplace with the ones I love. This is especially appealing to our family as we don’t always have time to go camping or to the lake. We are busy with work and after school activities. Also, in this economy, we are cutting back on trips and vacations also. Having the ability to sit in our own backyard and enjoy the feel of a campfire, makes owning an outdoor fire pit even more justifiable for our family. The way I figure it, my fire pit will pay for itself the first time we opt out of paying for a camp spot and packing groceries and filling up the truck with gas and driving three hours away. And we get to sleep in the comfort of our own beds. That beats a blow up mattress and sleeping bags any day!