Cranberry & Pineapple Continued.....Again.

[ImMarcik]

Wow Heidi, Joey & Tyler are growing up. They are so cute!

 

[Jsme]

Oh those are great pictures Heidi.

Those type storms you descript are a bit scary. I am glad you guys are OK. Were your cars in the hail? If so look for hail damage. OK you can tell I am married to an insurance guy. lol

 

[Jrsy Boy]

So all those attitudes kill me. I have been judged by too many people in my life. I try really hard not to judge someone because I do not feel it is my place. After all I am only human and how can I judge someone when I do wrong as well?

The worst is that you think that a church would accept anyone but there are so many that have become elitist and have definitely strayed from the path. The church where Tammy's mom goes that I don't like, when Alex was little Tammy used to take him to MOPS there and the other moms never made her feel welcome because she wasn't at church every Sunday. Then, in the past few years, the pastor has decided that they need a bigger church so, like you, the congregation was asked to pay for this new mega-church building. It seems that all a pastor has to say is "I prayed on this and this is what God has told me to do" and the flock will follow.

Last night we had the craziest storm I have ever witnessed. It happened around 11:00 pm. The wind picked up and slammed our bedroom door, thankfully it woke us up because it was pouring down rain and coming into the window. As soon as we closed the windows, the storm really picked up. It got really really windy and started hailing. It hailed for about 15 minutes and we got about 4 inches of hail. The lightning was really bad and scary. The wind was so bad that it uprooted some of the bigger trees. The hail shredded my flowers and all my tomato plants, I am so bummed. It was the loudest storm I have heard and I was scared as there was also tornado warnings right in our area. On my way to work this morning, I saw a lot of uprooted trees and tons of hail left over. Leaves, branches, etc covered the streets. It appears my work got it even worse because their are park benches and picnic tables turned over and blown away and I guess all the power went out in all of the buildings around here. Some places have power lines that are down and they are asking those people to stay home.

We only ended up with rain and I didn't see any real damage in our neighborhood on the way to the light rail station this morning, but apparently a tornado touched down somewhere in Englewood.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am so upset right now. I have every other friday off and have done this for 5 years now. Just last year, my dad was able to do the same so we have the same day off so it works well with camping and skiing. Well my boss came to me and told me that I can no longer have Friday off and I have to choose between Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

The storm was so scary! We heard the tornado siren and didn't know what to do as it hadn't hit us yet. Within just a couple of minutes, if that, we got it pretty bad. We still have some hail and trees are shredded. Our Sentra was out and so was our truck that pulls the trailer. We dropped off our new Highlander at the dealership late yesterday. Praying it was in the garage. Then there is the trailer in Monument. I think we better drive down there to check it out since the storm made it to Colo Spgs. What a way to check out our vinyl siding that we put on last fall. LOL

I have felt somewhat at peace with myself over not going to church anymore and now with this discussion it has made me feel 100% better. Glad it isn't just me seeing the change. Out here like Jrsy said, there are so many mega churches and you now what it takes to build those! Mega donations. I remember our pastor lived in a very small home, nothing fancy. Just wait till Heidi chimes in but a friend of hers dad is a minister of a mega church. Then there is a friend of mine whose husband is a minister and they laughed when they said the members pay for their house. WOW! Selena, you experience was truly horrible. I am tickled pink that Tammy found a church right before her diagnosis. I know for a fact that they got her through and I am thankful for that!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Just wait till Heidi chimes in but a friend of hers dad is a minister of a mega church.

His parents drove the fanciest cars (several) and have a huge beautiful house on the lake which of course the church owns that the congregation bought for him. Everything inside that house was beautiful. My uncle and aunt attended that church for awhile but left due to the big business thinking of the church.

 

[Jsme]

Jrsy I forgot add and Sandy reminded me...I do not believe you guys finding a church was just a fluke either. God does work in mysterious ways and sometimes we do not realize just how mysterious those ways are. Thank goodness you were able to find a church to help give Tammy, you and Alex the strength you needed.

I hate to say it but church is becoming a joke. I gew up like you did Sandy. In a small church. Nothing fancy. We did have a parsonage for our pastor but it was nothing fancy and back then they were happy with whatever they had. Now the preacher at the church I grew up in, by the way the church is huge now in standards of the town it is located in, sold the parsonage. He bought his own house out of his salary from the church. He is a good man. He does not take a lot of salary and it is voted on by the congregration.

It is a gorgeous day here. The last few days have been so nice. No humidity is wonderful.

The kids and I did a bit of shopping. I bought a few things for the party. A few banters, silly string and things like that. I also bought a few new things for my small bathroom everyone will be using.

Precious and I are going shopping tomorrow for everything else.

We are now thinking of doing bobbing for mini bottles. I have a large container we can do this in. I found a parrot pinata at Walmart but did not buy it because I need to pass it by her first. Make sure we are on the same page.

I was going to go buy plastic margarita glasses but could not find the kind I wanted. I might have to go back out later to look some more. If not we will just use Solo cups. The party is outside on my deck. We do not need glass.

I did buy some Tiki torches because we have mosquitoes bad here in the evening. I also have lots of citronella tealights and several tealight holders I am going to put around.

I still have not found shot glasses but as I said we are probably going to go to Ikea when we go to Charlotte to Trader Joes. I am going to see about a few more glass pitchers for the margaritas.

I am thinking of making Sangria. Haven't made up my mind on that yet.

I have a pair of birthday sunglasses and a pair of margarita sunglasses. I am going to make her wear those as well.

Still not sure where the pinata can go but I am sure Jeff will figure that out. We do have a few large trees at the border of our property and a neighbors. We can always walk there and do the pinata.

 

[Jsme]

I have lost 5lbs now on my diet. I added some exercise today. I am at the point that only a lb or so is going to come off a week now and normally when I pump up my exercise routine I jump start my weight lose.

I have this week, next week and the next to lose 5lbs. I think I have lost a bit more than 5 but not quite 6lbs.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Good for you Selena. Great job on weight loss! I'm jealous. I have now started meds for hypo thyroid. It got worse after the meds and now they raised it. I feel like I will never get rid of this weight but I have to keep trying and quit feeling sorry for myself! I know it will be a long journey to get the thyroid levels where they need to be. The party is coming together quite nicely!

Heidi, Stacey just called asking if we can have the kids the full day on Saturday. Are you up for it? I told her we had plans to get ready for the trip. If we don't do it she will ask Bonnie. If that's the case, we probably won't see that much of the kids for 3 weeks. What do you want to do?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Mom - why the full day on Saturday? What was her reasoning? To hang out with the staff?

Here are some pictures of the storm we had that my mom took.

During:

The next day after:

 

[Jsme]

Mom - why the full day on Saturday? What was her reasoning? To hang out with the staff?

Here are some pictures of the storm we had that my mom took.

During:

The next day after:

Those pictures give you chill bumps. Wow. I have never seen anything quite like that in the summer. The closest was a storm that we were not home for. I think we were coming back from a day visit to my parents house. We had hail the size of golf balls. We got home about 15 minutes after the storm passed thru. We had been tracking the storm on the radio so we knew there was a strong possiblity we would have been hit. It is great we were not home because DH's car would have been outside. His side of the garage has his Harley and Erik's motorcycle housed there.

 

[Jsme]

Jeff and I sat down last night with a pad of paper and wrote down all I need to do for the party. I still have a whole sheet full of things. We figured this way I would be prepared. I am a list maker. I have to have them to live. lol

Mac and I are going to go hit most of them this morning. Well it will be almost lunch by the time she is ready. lol

This way tonite when I shop with my friend she can see what all has been done.

Jeff and I are going to the liquor store tonight or tomorrow together. We have to decide which tequila to buy.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Selena, Chris loves the tequila that we bought for New Years Eve. It was Milagro. I am a list maker as well. I have two going right now....one for the Yellowstone trip and the other for the cruise 3 weeks after the road trip.

Heidi and Marcie, got a hangover? You two were quite active with your Malibu last night. LOL

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Heidi and Marcie, got a hangover? You two were quite active with your Malibu last night. LOL

I did wake up with a headache, but I don't think it was related to all the drinking.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I did wake up with a headache, but I don't think it was related to all the drinking.

Ya right. At least that is what you are telling everyone at work!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Jrsy, what route are you taking to Yellowstone? Are you driving straight through? I am guessing you are. We probably won't because of driving a tad slower with the RV.

 

[ImMarcik]

Selena, Chris loves the tequila that we bought for New Years Eve. It was Milagro. I am a list maker as well. I have two going right now....one for the Yellowstone trip and the other for the cruise 3 weeks after the road trip.

Heidi and Marcie, got a hangover? You two were quite active with your Malibu last night. LOL

I was okay, just a little tired. I went to bed early tonight to make sure i got some rest.

 

[Jsme]

Hey I had an amazing drink last night. Well I actually had 3 of them

It is called Double Black Diamond http://www.firebirdsrockymountaingrill.com/f_dessert.html

It is so yummy.

They take fresh pineapple and marinate it in vodka for 21 days. Then they drain it and take the pineapple and puree it to mix into the vodka to make pineapple juice. It is to die for!!

I think I am going to attempt to make some at home.

Firebird's has martini and margarita night on Wednesday, $5. I also had the Firebird's martini dirty. OMG it was one of the best dirty martini's I have ever had. Yes, if you do the math I drank 4 martinis!! Then came home and popped the cork on the tequila and took a shot. Yum!

 

[Jsme]

We have been active today.

I exercised and wore myself out. lol

Then we left to take Coopie to the vet for his 3rd set of shots. One more set and his rabies and he can be neutered.

We then went on the quest for new rainbows for MacKenzie. Found them and then did a bit more looking while at the mall. For a gal who hates the mall so much I sure have been there a lot lately.

After we went to Kohl's. Jeff wanted some new pants but they did not have the name he wanted so I picked up 2 other name brands for him to try. I also picked up another top. Mac bought some Seven's.

After all of that we went to start her a checking account. Her employer does buisness at the same bank and she was able to get a relationship banking via her employer. Which is good. She has better benefits then the college account we were going to open for her. She she is under 18 she could not have an overdraft protection line. They added me to her account and linked my OPL to her account. I am not going to be on her checks but this does help so I can make deposits for her.

I am hungry! lol I am going to go eat some fruit. Low points. I have to lose a few more pounds!! I have not lost anything at all this week. It is discouraging. Of course the 4 martinis, shot of tequila, 1 slider, 3 wings, flatbread sandwhich and 2 jalpeno poppers did not help. But at least I did not gain weight yesterday.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Selena - that drinks sounds awesome. Let me know how it turns out if you try and make it at home. I still have my dad on my bank account. My bank is right down from his work and it makes it so easy to have him make deposits or withdrawals for me!

TGIF!!! In one week we leave for Yellowstone. It is such a bummer we missed Jrsy, Tammy and Alex by one week. Hope Jrsy is having a good time!

Marcie - VEGAS!!!!!