The Master List July 10, 2008

I’m too orginial to use the term ”Bucket List” to explain the list of things I want to do before I die–especially seeing I had this list WAY before the movie ever came out.
So, here is my “Master List” as this is my list to conquer and live by: 

An “X” = accomplished
 
1.) Find out if Pudding is a Viscous Liquid or an Amorphous Solid.  **Those who know me aren’t surprised by this…
2.) Go Sky-Diving or Bungee Jumping **Also very Cliche, but Heights is a #1 fear of mine, and someday I’d like to be able to climb a ladder w/o wetting myself and forgetting who I am for an hour.-So I might as well go big.
3.) Take a Safarri in Africa
4.) Visit Australia
5.) Tour NYC like a complete Tourist
6.) Have a Unforgettable (or an unable-to-be-remembered) trip to LasVegas*To go with 23*
7.) Write a Book
8.) Have it Published
9.) Own my own Business/Company
10.) Be a Motivational Speaker (once)
11.) Visit every State in the USA (and admit that airports don’t count)
12.) Do stand-up comedy (at least once)
X 13.) Learn to Live in the Moment
X 14.) Have kids (If God will let me)
15.) Start a non-profit
16.) Make Headlines *Hopefully for something that doesn’t involve me getting arrested.
17.) Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
18.) Own a small home in Key West, Fl.
19.) Swim with Dolphins
20.) Have the Biggest Bash ever for my 30th Birthday (So I mourn it less.)
21.) Visit Alaska
22.) Retire in Hawaii
23.) renew my Wedding Vows in a Cheesy Vegas Wedding Chapel w/an Elvis Impersonator…*only appropriate seeing my husband’s name is Elvis…Yeah, he’s gonna hate that.
X 24.) Learn to Worry Less
X 25.) Learn that a Job is only a Job
X 26.) Care Less about what people think of me
27.) Have Unlimited Income
28.) Own a Home
29.) Buy Another Car
30.) Get More Friends in our Town to go out with
31.) Take Another Cruise
32.) Own a St. Bernard

 

I will of course, be adding and checking things off this list as I go, but in the meantime, it’s something I always keep close and keep in my mind.  A book regarding this topic that I also always have close to my finger tips is: 2,001 Things to do Before You Die
I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/2001-Things-to-Do-before-You-Die/Dane-Sherwood/e/9780062734907/?itm=1

Don’t Lick The Dog! July 9, 2008

Strange things have been happening lately around here.  I took my cat to the groomer yesterday to get her shaved.  Apon her arrival home, my dog started humping her.  Great.
Kidlet has also started calling every vehicle she sees, every boy/man she sees and our cat, “daddy!”  I guess I get around.  (Oh, dear.)  It’s not quiet either…it’s all-out yelling it, which makes trips to Walmart rather interesting.
Friday is supposed to be one of the hottest & most humid days for us so far this summer.  That’s WONDERFUL considering that’s the day I’m at work in the Greenhouse.  I fully expect to leave a woman and come back a puddle of goo.  Gross.  Have the shower ready!  And I should probably just plan on burning my clothes that night.
Finally, I knew parenting would cause some weird phrases to leave my mouth, but I never in a million years would have thought I would have to say the following:
“Don’t lick the dog!”
“Don’t lick the cat!”
“Get the cheese out of your toes!”
“The cat is not daddy”
“Get the dog toy out of your mouth!”
“Don’t eat with your feet!”
I’m sure there will be more.  But in the meantime, welcome to my life. 

Up, Up & AWAY!!! July 9, 2008

IT’S OFFICIAL.  OUR HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 31ST!  THE DEPOSIT IS DOWN!  IT’S A GO!!!!!!  YAY!  Another dream coming true!  I really don’t think I could ask for a better husband than the one I have.  He’s up for anything and believes anything is possible.  He’s amazing.  Without him, I wouldn’t be doing 1/2 of these things.
I think this may be the best summer in a REALLY long time.  We haven’t done anything extravagant, but trips to the park with kidlet, or our weekly get-togethers with friends and cook-outs are really making the summer FEEL like summer.  I’m LOVING it!–Sorry McDonald’s for ripping that off…
The Hot Air Balloon Rally is this weekend, which I’m especially exicted to bring my camera to.  (Yes, I’m aware of my geek status, and I’m okay with it.)  Look out Flickr!!– come next Tues., I’ll be testing it’s server capacity.
Also, my God Son is due TOMORROW!!!!  I’m so freaking excited!!!!!  I have someone to knit for for the rest of my life!  Also, we have it worked out that we’ll be doing an arranged marriage between kidlet and him…okay, not really, but the thought of it makes me excited.

Realize What? July 5, 2008

I’m writing in a moment of peace as Hubby has taken Kidlet with him to run an errand.  We had a great 4th of July!  We enjoyed the parade, family, and fireworks. We saw guys in skirts, a deer driving a car and kidlet got see her 1st Fireworks which she did without so much as a peep.  She was great!  Ironically, the guys in skirts freaked her out the most.  You can catch pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbauman80/  
Today is a bit quieter, but we have some friends coming over tonight for a camp fire, which I’m really looking forward to.
I’m stuck in my head today.  Not a great place to be.  I find myself at an unexpected crossroads and I’m stuck in my head weighing the options, the possible consequences…running scenarios…all trying to figure out what’s best.  In this minute, I’m missing my younger days before the adult responsibilities of marriage and kids.  Looking back, I took that time in my WAY too seriously.  I’m in the “Big Leagues” now where every decision matters so much more cause it’s not just you.  Somebody REALLY needs to write a Manual on Navigating the 20’s.  I don’t think I’m qualified to do it just yet.  In the end it boils down to a balancing act between living life and being responsible.  Drat.
On a completely different, and random, note: Can somebody explain the song “Realize” by Colbie Caillat?  Even looking up the lyrics…I don’t get it.  Guess that’s not the only thing I’m not realizing at the moment…. Damn this blonde-ness.

Thelma and Louise July 2, 2008

I’m writing this with a heavy heart today.  My Best Friend called last night and told me that she has a tumor in her breast and although it’s not cancerous, it’s an aggressive grower and needs to be removed.  I’m scared.  The word “tumor” is pretty intimidating (even though it’s not cancerous) and she’s my age.  Furthermore, we have a plan that since my husband and her b/f are older than us, her and I are going to retire together and pull a “Thelma and Louise”…minus driving off the cliff. –At least that’s not in the plan YET.
She means SO Much to me!  She has taught me more than anyone I know.  She’s shown me not only how to dream, but how to go out and make those dreams come true.  That is the MOST valuable lesson I have learned so far, and I’m truly convinced that if she wasn’t in my life, I wouldn’t have done a fraction of the things I have.  She’s the biggest inspiration I have ever known. 
I know she’ll get through this with flying colors, and I’ll be there for ANYTHING she needs.  If I could CHOOSE my family, she would be first choice.   12 years of friendship (maybe longer…she’s the one with the steel trap for a memory)…it’s just amazing.  SHE’S just amazing. 

Walking the Line :) June 30, 2008

It’s June 30th.  About 7:00p.m. Kidlet started WALKING!!!  I’m so freaking excited!  Unfortunately, Hubby missed it as he’s off tending to a Camp inspection.   I’ve been stressing so much about her not walking yet.  I guess she was just a late bloomer.  Now, to go and buy some duct tape. 
Work was busy today.  We had a lot of work for a funeral tomorrow and I found myself in front of the ribbon rack this afternoon, trying to find some thing appropriate to finish an order with.  I realized all the ribbon I was looking at was either to drab, or too “Yay, you’re dead!” 
Yes, welcome to my world, where I spend my days riding that fine line between not showy enough, and too “Yay, you’re dead!”  
On a different note, after dealing with a week of ”Amish Television” and 2 stat-icy stations, our Satellite is FINALLY back running.  We butchered 80% of the trees in our backyard in order to open up the view to the lake, but also in hopes of getting better satellite reception.  We found out today that we missed 3 trees that were our main problem.  They’re cut now too and mission: On-Going Entertainment is accomplished. –> Not Pres. Bush on an Air Craft Carrier accomplished….ACTUALLY Accomplished.  Anyone need fire wood?
Anyway, it’s a good day.  I’m still rolling naked in the blissful anticipation of the Balloon Rally and our Balloon Ride.  I’m loving life! 

 

I Could Crap Candy June 29, 2008

How many times can I blog in one day?  I dunno.  Doesn’t matter I suppose.  Just came across some GREAT news and found a Hot Air Balloon Company about an hour from us.  You know what that means?  No hotels, 1/2 a tank of gas, and easy rescheduling! (If needed)  I’m so excited right now, I could crap candy.
Here’s a pic of the company’s newest Balloon:

As if all this excitement wasn’t enough….I also found a this to go to:  http://www.wausauballoonrally.com/
I can’t wait!  I haven’t been to a Hot Air Balloon Rally since…well…a very long time.   Those are going to be some AWESOME pictures!  This is turning out to be one of the best summers in a long time….maybe ever.

 

 

The Addiction June 29, 2008

As most of my posts include something to do with my Cattleya Orchids, I thought I would post overall pictures of what the Addiction looks like.  Granted, they’re not spectacular, but it gives people a chance to either say, “That’s not as bad as I pictured,” or “Holy Hell!” 

Top Shelf

Bottom Shelf

Overall View

Hopefully this aides in my recovery, but then again, I’m not sure I WANT to recover.  That’s right.  I don’t want to be a quitter.

It’s a GO!!!!! June 29, 2008

Wow.  Big news today.  The Hot Air Balloon Ride is a Go!!!!!  I talked to Hubby yesterday and he agrees that it’s a good idea.  So, I have the go-ahead to do more research and let him know how much money we have to save for it.  I told him in exchange for this awesome experience, we don’t have to do gifts.  I think that was a big selling-point.
We also got to go out last night.  It was an early night though as most everyone was tired.  We were home at midnight, which was fine.  I got some really bad pics of me last night though.  Feel free to laugh.  It’s why I write this thing:

Crystal, Sally and I

Tony (also known as “Chef”) and I

There was also a new drink (at least to me) last night.  Vanilla Doc, Cranberry Juice and Cream.  Oooh la-la!
Next week is just movie night at home with Hubby and I.  Although, I do have to say that having a Social Life again is REALLY nice.  I’m going to miss it come the end of Camp.  That’s the ONLY thing I’ll miss though.

Full of Hot Air June 28, 2008

This August make 5 years Hubby and I have been married.  As always, he wanted to go Camping.  Umm, no.  Not this year.  I took a look at my “Bucket List” and thought maybe we should use this mildstone as an excuse to take a Hot Air Balloon Ride.  So, I’ve been pricing and at $184.36/person it’s expensive, but I can’t help to think still worth it.  I mean, really, it’s a once in a lifetime thing.  So, I’m going to do my best to make it happen.  I don’t think it will take too much pleading to have Hubby agree.  Hell, I’m even willing to sleep in the car and pack our food to make it happen. 
I’ve asked our friends along (Grace’s Godparents) and I honestly expected a “no” right off the bat seeing they’re having a baby July 10th.  But they surprised me in wanting to know more details before they decide.  So, I’m REALLY excited about that.  I think I’ll talk to Hubby more about it today.  We only live once and I want to make the most of it!

I was hoping for a family trip back to the park this afternoon, but there’s a 60% of thunderstorms with small hail.  
We’re also hoping to go out tonight, as this is the last weekend Hubby’s Boss is here before he leaves for his new job in Pittsburgh.  We really like him and are going to miss him so much.  As I write this Hubby is scouring Camp for a Babysitter tonight.  Wish us luck!