2nd Bedroom/Office

Living Room, Part B

Living Room, Part A

Cute Kid Alert: Chloe Lynne

Had a great day today celebrating the next Miss Pretty - Chloe Lynne, who will be joining us in November.

I'm so excited to meet the little diva-in-training!

Congrats to my gorgeous cousin Tiff and her wonderful husband Chris!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I hate football. I feel like it takes forever and I'm never quite clear what is going on. But, I like good food, like chili, ribs, wings and chips with various dips. And I like beer (in a blind taste test, Bud Light is my actual favorite). And I like fun people like Dangordit and his family. And that is how I ended up inviting myself to Gordit Giants Day last fall.

See if you can spot me in the picture below, representing my family football allegiance.

The football hardly bugged me at all and I had a super fun day with some awesome people.

I'm hoping to get invited back this year. Or at least get a copy of the 2009 cookbook because these people sure know how to do it up right.

Some Happiness for Today

Time for a smile - Miss Sally enjoying a little Starbucks following preschool open house.

In Remembrance - September 11, 2001

This isn't going to be my most eloquent post. I find words to be inadequate today. Eight years ago, the journey my family was on took a sudden turn, as did the journeys of so many other families. I was in NYC that day. My memories are of that. The story doesn't end there. New York City and the World Trade Center was only the beginning.

Remembering September 11, 2001 - a nice piece on remembering at the Pentagon.

President Bush Launches Attack on Afghanistan - I was going to pull some of my favorite quotes from this speech, but realized it was going to be nearly the entire speech. I will pull this "We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it." and this "We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."

My journey got me to safety that day. Ultimately, it took my father to Afghanistan, but that had a happy ending as well - my family members are all safe, happy, healthy and on US soil today. Not all families were that lucky. And so many families are still in the middle of their journey.

Please take a minute and remember those lost eight years ago and in the time since, as well as those still in the struggle.

Photo from www.september-11th.us

Robbie Williams - Bodies

Song Quiz Results and Winner!

I'm Baaack! Don't despair, dear readers. Just because I haven't been on Musings, it doesn't mean I've been living in a cave. I've done some very fun and very awesome things this summer - some to report here and some not. :)

First things first - long overdue winner announcement to my song challenge.

And the big Musings winner, with 15 points, is Kristen!!! Congratulations! I owe you a prize, to be determined by me. I bet you are beside yourself with excitement. Below are the answers for all readers.

1. You better watch who you talking about, running your mouth like you know me – Nelly: #1
2. I don’t mind you coming here and wasting all my time. – The Cars: Just What I Needed
3. Shot through the heart and you’re to blame. – Bon Jovi: You Give Love a Bad Name
4. I used to ride with a vending machine repairman – Sheryl Crow: Everyday is a Winding Road
5. There’s a time and place for everything, for everyone – Van Halen: I Can’t Stop Loving You
6. Homeboy, I came to party - your girl was looking at me. – NORE: Nuthin
7. I’m lying alone with my head on the phone. – Air Supply: All Out of Love
8. They’re picking up the prisoners and putting them in a pen. – Don Henley: All She Wants to Do is Dance
9. Cause you’re beautiful (like no other). – George Michael: Flawless (Go To The City)
10. Are you ready for the new sensation? Well, here’s the shot heard ‘round the world. – David Lee Roth: Yankee Rose
11. There’s another world inside of me that you may never see. – Three Doors Down: When I’m Gone
12. I never meant to cause you any sorrow. – Prince: Purple Rain
13. Work ourselves, fingers to the bone, suck the marrow, drain your soul. – Dave Matthews Band: Pay For What You Get
14. When you first left me, I was wanting more. – Lily Allen: Smile
15. Oh, you gonna take me home tonight. – Queen: Fat Bottomed Girls
16. When I start making love, I don’t just make love. – Clarence Carter: Strokin’
17. Love, I get so lost sometimes. – Peter Gabriel: In Your Eyes
18. Well, I see him on the TV - preaching about the promised lands. – Poison: Something to Believe In
19. Load up on guns, bring your friends. – Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
20. I live my life like there’s no tomorrow. – Van Halen: Running with the Devil
21. I won’t let you down, I will not give you up. – George Michael: Freedom
22. Living easy, living free, season ticket on a one-way ride. – AC/DC: Highway to Hell
23. When I come to the club, step aside. – Fergie: London Bridge
24. Captured effortlessly, that’s the way it was. – Chaka Khan: Ain’t Nobody
25. Here is the money that I owe you. – Everclear: I Will Buy You a New Life

I may try and do this again, but I promise to be more timely in posting results next time. Thanks to all readers who played along.

Boilermaker 2009 Finish

We really did it! Thunder and Lightning finished the 2009 Boilermaker and here's the footage to prove it. Once you take into account the 11:30 minutes it took us to cross the start line, you end up with my official time of 1:57:46 and my dad followed just 5 seconds later.

In the following video, skip to last minute and you will see my dad on the upper left corner - in a grey shirt and his army hat. In the last 43 seconds I come in on the bottom right - orange tank. I cross, smile and turn to see my dad.

UPDATE: The player doesn't seem to be working. Here's a link to the clip: http://www.wktv.com/boilermaker/50545952.html