OFF TO THE HIGH SEAS

Avery and I are heading out for a week on the Carnival Conquest. It sails out of Galveston this afternoon and returns next Sunday. We have only two stops this time because of the Swine Flu craziness! Here is our itinerary:

Western Caribbean: Galveston, TX ; Fun Day At Sea ; Fun Day At Sea ; Montego Bay, Jamaica ; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands ; Fun Day At Sea ; Fun Day At Sea ; Galveston, TX

Here is our stateroom that we will be sharing. (just kidding) Maybe one day we will stay in a room like this! I have a new camera to play with so I will be sure and return with lots and lots of photos.

FYI WITH THE VET

PEAS IN A POD

This was my entry into my art journal recently.

CHICAGO TRIP

Chicago was fantastic last weekend. The weather was amazing so we walked all day everyday! Here are just a few of the 600 pictures I took while I was there.

DANCING WATER FUN

TEXTURED WALL IN A HALLWAY

FILENES BASEMENT ESCALATOR THAT WASN'T WORKING!!

NEWSPAPER STANDS AROUND TOWN

CITY OUTSIDE MY WINDOW AT NIGHT

CHICAGO MANHOLE COVER

SAILING SOON

I have been in Chicago for a few days. The photos will be shared soon. It was a fantastic weekend of wedding fun. My nephew was married and there was also a lot of sightseeing going on. But thinking ahead to the weekend, when Avery and I are sailing away, is my top priority! It will be so much fun that I made a journal page of it.

LADY LUCK

My husband was in Vegas this week for a convention. He dropped his business card into a bowl thinking he would NEVER win the car they were giving away. Well, guess what???? HE WON A NEW PORSCHE CAYMAN! Yep, we all can't believe it. They are suppose to ship it to him next week. That was really lucky! So he was my inspiration for my journal prompt on LUCK today.

THE CAT IN THE HAT

These are covers you might see on adult versions of Dr. Seuss!

SAVING LIVES

My oldest son Brent works as a Paramedic on the weekends. He loves his work and wants to continue his education to become a nurse anesthesiologist. All the while he still holds down a day job Monday through Friday. I am so proud of him!

SWINGING

I walk my dogs past our neighborhood park everyday. There is always one girl who is swinging. She isn't young either, probably about 18 years old. But she is out there a few times a week always swinging. I remember how relaxing it was to swing when I was younger. Back and forth, back and forth, over and over again. I think I will jump on that swing this afternoon...

This was my prompt for my art journal yesterday.

UNDIES FOR EVERYONE

Houston kids live in poverty and while they receive toys from generous donors at Christmas, few of us think about providing them with the most basic of needs: new, fresh underwear and socks."Undies for Everyone" will be collecting for the Houston Independent School District. Here's how it works: individuals will drop off new,still in the package underwear and socks at a variety of locations around Houston until the end of May. Volunteers will collect the items then bring them to a central location where everything will be delivered to HISD. You can help by going shopping at your local discount store and buying boys' and/or girls' underwear for kids aged 5-11 and dropping it off at from May 1 until May 31. Your help is needed and appreciated. Where to Drop Your Drawers!

1. Insight Optical 2406 Sunset Blvd 77005 2. Rice Epicurean Markets 3745 Westheimer at Wesleyan 77027 2617 Holcombe at Kirby 77025 5016 San Felipe at Post Oak 77056 3. Houston Hillel 1700 Bissonnet at Dunlavy 4. Artemis Hair Studio 4950 Bissonnet # 120 5. Christ Church Cathedral 1117 Texas Ave 6. Interfaith Ministries 3217 Montrose 77006

ARE YOU A SURVIVOR

Ok, I admit I am a big fan of the show "Survivor". I have watched every single season but didn't know that there were videos online that showed life after you get voted out. I don't know how I found it today but they are so much fun to watch! I love seeing how they are reintroduced to life with food and conveniences of a bathroom and shower. They call this place "PONDEROSA". The big finale is tomorrow night. I wonder who will win the million dollars????

JT

Stephen Taj

KARNES COUNTY

While we were visiting our friends in Kenedy, Texas we took a side trip to the Karnes County Museum. Here they featured an old jail, post office, court house, and the original homestead of John Ruckman, the founder of Helena in 1878. The home was built totally out of Florida cypress trees.

FLAT TIRE EXPERIENCE

I am so glad that I had decided to carry a journal and pens with me at all times. Yesterday I had a flat tire and while waiting for it to be fixed I was able to make a journal page about it.

FIRST CELEBRITY SWINE FLU FATALITY

First Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality And we all know who the carrier is.

COLOR QUIZ

RED is my color. What is yours? Just like people, colors have a distinct personality. Take this quiz to find out: http://www.truevaluepaint.com/content/Color/ColorQuiz.aspx

This is what it said about red: You boast incredible willpower and are capable of overcoming obstacles that would normally leave others shaking in their boots. You have a penchant for colorful environments and often impress others with your energetic bursts of energy. Your interests in many areas of life often leave you scattered, but when you focus you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

MOTHER'S DAY

http://www.dayformothers.com/

Taurus Mothers: Apr 20-May 20

The Taurus moms are always hard working when it comes to mothering. They are also very affectionate and protective. So, this Mother's day is the right occasion to help her to take a day off. "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." Abraham Lincoln. (do you think my kids feel this way?)

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother- Unknown

JUST BREATHE

This was from my art journal. It is a page I did a few weeks ago. I especially like the kitty curled up that is sleeping.

KENEDY, TEXAS

We spent the weekend in Kenedy, Texas with our friends; Kathryn and Ed Farris. They bought an old bank building and turned it into a second home. We attended their annual Bluebonnet Festival. Kathryn had so much fun throwing necklaces to the kids on the floats.

It was a lot of fun meeting the other couple who also came down from Houston, John and Shirley. Can you figure out who they are?

(Just Kidding)

There was lots of drinking:

Posing for the camera:

Eating:

Dancing:

And more eating!!!

I had to draw a page in my art journal about the weekend: