RAIN! RAIN! RAIN!  Being a former "Atlantian", I am truly overjoyed with the news of measurable precipitation in Atlanta, Georgia.  I spent many hours at Lake Lanier and watching the news and reading the reports of the extreme drought makes me sick.  I understand that every part of the Country has their own "vice" and even here, in SouthEast Idaho, we are not immune from the drought we are facing ourselves. 

When your water resources are drained so low that there is little more than a ditch in American Falls, it scares me and I know it scares many other people - especially in the Ag industry.  All we are able to do is pray that we get sufficient precipitation to sustain another growing season and hopefully, help add to the deficit, here.

In Atlanta, they were going to run out of water for city usage - including consumption - by February.  Think about it - run out of water??  Unreal! 

Granted, the minimal rain they are receiving will not fill up Lake Lanier, but will HELP...Every little bit helps.  I remember listening to a local forecaster (talking about our drought a couple of years ago) stating that .5 inches of rain wasnt going to help much...sure wish I had his phone number back then...EVERYTHING HELPS!

Perhaps, the moisture Gods will be good to us too, this winter.

GINGERBREAD PRIZES!!!  WAHOO!!!

My Kylee won 2nd place for her gingerbread house in the youth division!!  Nice basket of goodies - movie passes, cold stone gift certificates!!  Best of all - THE BIG RED RIBBON!  She was so proud!

My house did not win anything, but it sold for 100 bux!  Can you believe, 100 dollars for a gingerbread house??  OMG!!  (Mine is the big white one - the Idaho Falls Temple)

And the beneficiary of the whole ordeal - HABITAT FOR HUMANITY!  What a worthy cause!  What a wonderful opportunity to donate and have some quality time with the almost-teenage daughter along the way!!

Truly, something GOOD to talk about today!!

Thanksgiving started off with a BANG!  That was my right front tire exploding at about 75mph at 6:00pm Wednesday night!  (I WAS DRIVING)  And, of course, I dont have "CHEAP" tires - no they have to be the BIG, 250 smackeroos, devil tires!!  The truck was loaded with pillows, blankets, travel bags, food, and a christmas tree, train set and decorations.  Oh, 3 kids and a shi-tzu too!  Oh what fun it is to ride...Over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house we go - my butt!  Aw, after about an hour, in 14 wind chill air - (and a concerned traveler that offered help - THANK YOU!!!) my dear hubby and 14yr son (who didn't see the need to bring a coat) got the spare on and down the road we continued!!

We made it safely, and without further drama.  After a late dinner (Grandma's house is in Jerome) we went to bed and all was well!  The 22 pound turkey only took 4 hours to cook!  And the preparation of dinner went without a hitch - except we cooked enough to feed half the town of Burley and only had 14 people over...Which meant - LEFTOVERS, LEFTOVERS, LEFTOVERS.  Oh did we eat WELL!!

Black Friday - Hey Marc...do you wanna get up and go shopping...R U KIDDING??  Heck NO!  They got up and went shopping; I slept in - quite the "gift" in itself!  Uh-huh!!  I suppose they didn't do to awfully bad - they only hit 3 stores and no injuries!!  I was watching the Boise station this morning and saw the hurricane that hit one of their malls - complete with police, ambulances and fire trucks!  And me in my robe - nibbling on LEFTOVERS!!!  And...a fixed tire.  Somehow, he found a used tire to fit my monstrosity of a truck for like 40 bucks...(I could have kissed the guy - probably a good thing I didn't go, huh??)

Now, I'm home - cleaning up my gingerbread house mess - My 12 yr daughter entered a monstrosity of a house at Mystique - probably 32"x20"x15 or so...and a Journal report talked of a 48 square inch house...obviously didn't see my 12 year olds...and mine - the Idaho Falls Temple - also, not mentioned  (Oh well - they were both magnificent!!) and setting up a Christmas Tree and it will be off to bed for a new adventure tomorrow!!

...hopefully - NO MORE BANGS!!! 

HERES TOO...
1. My family
2. My friends
3. My freedoms
4. My military support (really, if it's "ours" its partially mine)
5. My employer
6. My warm home
7. My cupboard full of food
8. Jimmie Johnson (2007 NASCAR Champion) - I still love Tony Stewart, though!
9. My dependable vehicle full of fuel
10. My clothes on my back, a warm coat and gloves
11. My HOT TUB!!  (Gotta get that one in there!!)
12. My church callings
13. My talents that I am able to use
14. CAMARATA!!!  This is gonna be a killer concert!!!
15. The turkey that gave his life for my dinner, tomorrow
16. Martha Stewart for showing me how to cook the perfect bird!
17. Texting on the cell phone - HOW COOL IS THIS - as long as you are not driving...
18. The un-abused internet and e-mail
19. My right to voice my opinion
20. Lots and lots of LOVE and KINDNESS
and lastly, but far from least - OUR GOD!!

My Thanksgiving wish to you is that you have a SAFE, HAPPY and PRODUCTIVE THANKSGIVING.  The dishes will wait - get up from the table - grab your kids, your dog, your significant other - and take a walk.  And talk about the things you see and discuss what you are grateful for!

My friend e-mailed this to me...I have to share.  I have some of the best friends in the world.  Some are local, some are not.  My best friend in the world lives in Dallas, and we only see each other a couple times a year...but I never understood the concept of a "best bud" until I met her...

Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against   the sorry idiot who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the heck away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy butt.

A world without friends is not a world I want to be a part of.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!!!

I try to post "happy" things, but I really must get this off my chest...  

IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE SOMEONE COME UP BEHIND YOU AT AN ALARMING RATE, GET OFF YOUR @%#* CELL PHONE AND READ THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN.   YOU WERE DOING 20 IN A 50!!  IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MANEUVER YOUR AUTOMOBILE SAFELY AND TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE AT THE SAME TIME, STAY OFF THE PHONE! 

I drive approx 4.2 miles from my office to my house.  I counted 7 people on their phones - One that nearly caused a wreck, one that decided the green light meant PARK, and one that liked BOTH LANES...(including a city of Pocatello employee)

MY GOSH PEOPLE - GET SMART OR STAY HOME!!!

Now I feel better, but it wont solve anything...

How about a FREE CAR WASH at XTREME CLEAN??  Now that's something GREAT to talk about. 

Thanx to the Suttners for my squeaky clean pick-up!!  You're the best!!

Struggling with weight loss??

I joined an online community 18 months ago called sparkpeople.com.  It is a free site that you register for, create a name/information page and then participate in what you choose.  It has Nutrition, Fitness, and a plethera of other individuals like myself all over the world doing the same.  I have learned SO much about the body and its physiology, about nutrition, about calories and what they really mean, and about me too!

Well, I was part of a Biggest Loser Team for a year or so when the opportunity presented itself to me to become the administrator.   This "challenge group is of one of the BIGGEST LOSER challenges. It is comprised of 10 teams of 25 people and this current challenge, in connection with the show, we added a surprise BLACK team. That is a total of 275 members!!

We have lost 939 pounds in 7 weeks collectively. That is approx 1.78% of our starting weight. I have one team that is at 3.375% of their starting weight, which is phenomenal as compared to the tv show.

We have retained around 70% of our starting 275 members after 7 weeks. We have logged over 263,000 cardio minutes.

This has been an amazing opportunity for me to bring together this group, and watch the individual leaders (all 11 of them) learn, grow and motivate their group.

I just wanted all of you to know that despite all the drama and problems you may face with your lives, there is success out there just waiting to be had. Sometimes it takes more than that Slim Quick pill - sometimes it takes getting up off that couch and turning that tv off and going for a walk - sometimes it takes a little KNOWLEDGE about what is going in your mouth and how often - sometimes it takes a place to find others, just like yourself!!  Do not get discouraged! Just keep on keeping on!!

And if you are struggling...sparkpeople.com - Its FREE!!  And when you get there, come find me!  I'll show you around!

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS NOT STRAIGHT -
There is a curve called FAILURE;
A loop called CONFUSION;
Speed bumps called FRIENDS;
Red lights called ENEMIES;
Caution lights called FAMILY.
You will have flats called JOBS -
But if you have a spare called DETERMINATION;
And an engine called PERSERVERANCE;
Insurance called FAITH and a
Driver called JESUS -
YOU WILL MAKE IT TO A PLACE CALLED SUCCESS!!

My moons are out of alignment or Mars is in retrograde or something - I am certainly needing to visit this formula more often!

Have a great day!!

VETERANS DAY - I had the day off!  That is one great thing, but it is sorely shadowed by the best reason to shout about...CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS!

Everyone should go to...LetsSayThanks.com - you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and send it to a service person serving in Iraq.  This is pretty cool - Kudos to XEROX for doing this.

When you see a veteran in your every day lives, young, old or in-between - be sure to stop them, look them square in the eye, give them a firm hand shake and tell them THANK YOU.  They will appreciate it far more than you will know!!

21 reasons that will make you a happier, better person.  (Shared with me by my best friend in Texas)

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully and sincerely.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN.  When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN.   Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Some make more sense than others, but they do make some sense!

I had a wonderful experience today at a local business, and it got me thinking about our wonderful little city!  I live in Chubbuck, but work in Old Town.  It takes 15-20 minutes to drive home, so going home for lunch is not typical.  And I get a strict lunch hour between 12 and 1, so if I bring my lunch to work, I usually end up working through my lunch.  So therefore, I must leave the premises.

 
That being said, one can conclude that I eat lunch “out” nearly every day.  I would like to thank the wonderful ladies at Quiznos, today – I guess I’m such a regular that they know what I order and had already started my lunch before I ordered it.  They were slammed busy and had a large call in order to boot.  But they are always smiling and professional and very enjoyable.  Thank you to QUIZNOS!!  I have also had wonderful experiences at some of my other favorite stops – Sandbaggers, the Sand Trap, El Jacalito, Chopstick Café,  even Jack in the Box.  So happy to see that Food for Thought is up and running – they were sorely missed this past summer.  However, to Bouillion Soup – I waited nearly 15 minutes one day and no on would wait on me…I suppose I am not the only person that has walked out angry.  And to KFC…you really had a good thing going there with the trans-fat change – but you’ve also lost your mojo.  Raw chicken is not appealing to me.  There is way to much competition for business to have substandard service and product.   
 
A wonderful article in the paper today comments on the variety of restaurants in our little city and how quickly it’s grown as of late.  Those of you that run a restaurant – Good food; good service; reasonable price; and customer service…that’s what will keep your doors open long after others close.  When you r customers walk out of your restaurant and think “dang, that was good” and not “did I really pay 12 bucks for 3 chicken strips?!” you will be poised to run a successful business.  Not only because you are doing a good job, but the word of mouth can be priceless to the business as well as the customers.

 
To those underpaid and under-recognized workers in the restaurant industry that take a little bit of pride in what they do and do it to the best of their ability – I say “Thank you!  Job well done!”

Well, I suppose the TRUE HOLIDAY SEASON IS upon us - as noted by a phone call the other night wanting a commitment to build another Gingerbread House for the Habitat for Humanity Fund Raiser at the Mystique Theater.  Wow - That is only a few weeks away!  Which also means the Christmas Parade is a few weeks away, and all the Old Town Festivities!  I usually play some Manheim Steamroller at the Library before the Parade.  AND I HAVE NOT EVEN STARTED PRACTICING!! 

Well, how's that for a little "rush" awakening??  I'd better get busy trying to find something unique and wonderful for my gingerbread house.  Last year -- poor planning on my part!  This year...I'm gonna wow the sox off of everyone...(Heck, maybe I'll just make a cave and call it GREEN!!!)

If you have not had the opportunity to go to the Mystique for the Gingerbread Houses Show, it is definately a DO NOT MISS!!!  And if you like Mannheim SteamRoller, I will keep you posted on when you can catch a LIVE show!! (Well, just me on the piano...but I do LOVE TO PLAY!)

Does the fact that FRIDAY is finally here count?

Man, it has been a long week.  And I thought LAST WEEK was long...My 12yr dtr plays basketball and practice on Monday and Wednesday nights - Well, not THIS past Wednesday - The team opted to go "trick-or-treating" instead of having practice...well like DUH!! 

I sing with the Camarata singers and we doubled up on practices this week - not to mention the learning of some hebrew text - THIS will be a challenge to sing way up "high" in the stratosphere...for those of you who know Hebrew "ch" - not a pretty image, eh??  BUT...I will do a bit of bragging right now...
THE CONCERT ON DECEMBER 8 WILL BE WELL WORTH ATTENDING!!!

Now, I have to go home and try to put my house back to normal for a couple of weeks - throw out the dead jack-o-lanterns...(Of course, I carved MINE into a "mooning pumpkin" - it was GREAT)  But I refuse to put up the Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving - and since it is so very early this year...(Less than two weeks)

At least it's Friday!!!

Hooray for Stephanie Palagi and the Old Town Gang!!!

I work for an Old Town Business on the South end of the "strip" and we were literally amazed at the participation level of the trick-or-treaters yesterday.  Granted, with a little help from our friend, Ma Nature, yesterday was near as perfect of a Halloween as I can remember.  And the Old Town Gang has really put together an amazing treat for this city!  Our trick-or-treaters increased 30% over last year, and it was a great opportunity to see friends and neighbors. 

Thank you Stephanie, and thank you Old Town - We had fun yesterday and I know a great big bunch of kids and parents did too!!