Casting Call...

Ok, it has long been understood that this year we are doing an 80's party for Kim's birthday so with that in mind, I am in need of people to help. It will be New Year's Eve, of course, and invites will come sometime between now and then, but keep the date open. Also, it most definitely is a costume party and those with the BEST 80's costumes will be rewarded. Tricia, I'm sure I can pencil you in as a winner already! I can't wait to see what you come up with. Anyway, those who have any ideas for decorations, music, or are willing to help, please email me at brian_horak@cox.net. We can't let Kim in on ALL the secrets can we??

THE LOCATION IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
AND ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR MUSIC NEED TO BE EMAILED OR POSTED!!!!!

New Oasis

I got a call from Jason while I was at the ASU football game (go Devils) and he said there was a new video from Oasis on their website.  So, I had to check it out and it's definitely worth posting. It's back to oldschool Oasis and I like it.  

And the winner is...

PANCAKES.....Yeah!!!!  

Sorry waffles, but there had to be a loser!!! 

(if only Elise would have voted for you 

and not for French Crepes you would have tied)

A few things that have been on my mind...

There have been a few things on my mind lately (I know, weird huh?) and I would like to throw them out there for debate:

1.  Why would our parents choose to live in this hell hole we call Arizona, and why have we followed their erroneous decision and stayed here to melt???  I know this doesn't pertain to all of you so for you wise individuals that managed to get away, don't rub it in!

2.  Is it wrong to want to run the moronic drivers off the road, half of which don't belong there, and then hang them from the underpass so that all the good drivers can stare and mock them for being the lousy drivers they are?

3.  On a similar note, why don't we have a "Illegal Immigrant Celebration Day" and when they all show up in a symbol of solidarity and pride, we herd these wonderful money and resource sucking individuals into cattle trucks and take them back to Mexico or where ever they are from.  

4.  What has happened to bar soap?  I used to like bar soap but now we have this flower or fruit smelling goo that we put on these "puffs" and rub all over our body.  Where did the bar and wash cloth go???  

5.  If I KNOW the Church is true then why do I have to go?  It's not like they are going to get me to believe any more than I do.  I already believe.  And on that note, why do I have to wear garments???  They are so stinkin' hot and uncomfortable and I know that it's more miserable for the women. Sure, I know why we do, but man, can't we just wear like patches or something. I like to feel free!!!

6.  Why does Dr. Pepper taste so good???  I can't get enough.  I want to drink it by the gallon.

Just a few and there is more but I'll save them for next time.  I'll let you chew on these for a while. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to the best person I know - My Mom.  Isn't she gorgeous?  Don't be mad that I posted a picture.  You look awesome!  This is one of my favorite pictures of you!  Anyway, here are some things you should know about my mom:

1.  She is kind.  She will do anything for anybody.  She doesn't know the word "no."

2.  She is fun.  She tells silly little jokes, you know, the kind that make you cringe, but you just can't help but laugh at because they are so bad.  Example:  When someone asked where the bananas were, her repy was:  "In the peel."  I'm proud to have gotten some of her sense of humor.

3.  She takes notes about everything.  I'm not kidding - everything.  She has notes on Conference and Church talks, but she also has notes on episodes of SYTYCD.  We made fun of her one time for taking notes at a Sun's basketball game - not kidding.  But whenever anyone asks when something happened, she knows right away where to look to find out, and she always has notes on it.  She is a dedicated journal keeper.  100 years from now, her descendants will know exactly who she was.

4.  She is fair.  At Christmas time, she makes sure she spends the exact amount of money on everyone.  If she takes one grandkid on a special date, then she'll make sure that she takes each of them on one.

5.  She is fun.  There is no one else that I'd rather see Mamma Mia with 3 times.  She is my favorite lunch date, shopping date, movie date.  

6.  She's into pop culture.  Anyone who knows her knows her obsession with Jacqueline Smith or Emmy Rossum.  It's fun.  I love that she reads people magazine and that I can talk to her about pop culture.  I love that she loves SYTYCD and Gilmore Girls just like I do.  I love that she likes some of the same music and books.  We always have something to talk about.

7.  She is sympathetic and empathetic.  If you are hurting, so is she.  If you are happy, so is she.  If you are upset, so is she.  You never have to go through any emotion alone.  

8.  She is spiritual.  For years and years she would get up at 4:00 in the morning so she could spend quiet time reading scriptures and inspirational books and articles.  She meditated and prayed in the quiet morning hours.  With 5 kids in 6 years, she probably needed that time to make her sane because the rest of her day was crazy.

9.  She is patient.  Again, with 5 kids in 6 years, you'd have to be.  In all my memories of my childhood years, I never remember her yelling.  I'm not kidding.  I'm not saying that she didn't get upset with us, or discipline us, but she never raised her voice.  I never felt like she didn't love me.  

10.  She epitomizes creative parenting.  I remember doing morning family exercises to a song called "go you chicken fat go."  I also remember her gunny sack song.  When we didn't pick up our toys, gunny sack would come out and eat them up.  We'd have to pay a quarter to get them back.  

I could go on, and on, and on....

She is awesome.  I love you mom.  The best compliment I ever got was when someone told me I was just like my mom.  Happy Birthday!

Thanks Brian!

So, my husband watches a lot of sports - A LOT! He would probably disagree and say that he doesn't watch enough. Anyway, he is not picky about what he watches. He loves all sports - baseball, basketball, football, you name it. But, when the big 3 are not available, he will watch whatever sport is. I've caught him watching ping pong , bowling and even billiards on a few occasions.

So, it was no surprise a few weeks ago when I walked into the bedroom and he was watching tennis. Normally, I would roll my eyes and make some remark about how it's just a ball going back and forth and back and forth over the net. Nothing really exciting there. But then I saw who was playing.

And so we have my new celebrity crush - Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.

Exhibit 1:
As I was folding laundry and secretly watching the tennis match, Brian noticed I hadn't made any snotty remarks about lame sports. I casually asked who was playing. He could see right through me. I finally fessed up and said I thought he was cute and I may have made some offhand remark about how I'd just like to touch those arm muscles once. He won his match, by the way. I think it was the final match of Wimbeldon. It could have been the French Open. He won that too. And, just today he won the Olympic gold medal for tennis, and is now officially the #1 ranked tennis player in the world.

Much to my surprise, this is what I found as my screen saver this morning when I logged on to my computer. Brian had posted these 3 pictures and now they rotate as my screen saver.

Thanks Brian. You Rock! I'll watch Tennis with you anytime!

California Dreaming

Yesterday was a LONG, HOT day.  This picture is what got me through.  When I was mowing my mom's lawn for an hour in the extreme heat, this is what I thought of.   When I was sweeping the front porch, this is what I thought of.   When I was folding laundry and doing dishes, this is what I thought of.   When I was waiting in the line for 20 minutes to pick up Joe from school, this is what I thought of.  

I am happiest when I am sitting at the beach, with my toes in the sand, watching the sun set.  I have been dreaming of California all day.  I need to stick my toes in the sand.

O Happy Day!

Ok, so yesterday was a pretty great day!  The best I've had in a long time.  I have been looking forward to August 2nd for a long time now.  

Brian went out at midnight and bought me my copy of Breaking Dawn.  I read until 3:30 in the morning, and even then I had to force myself to go to bed.  I read until 2:00 last night.  I am nearly done.  I'm sure I'll read it again as soon as I'm finished.

We also got our tickets for the So You Think You Can Dance tour.  They went on sale at 10:00 a.m.  Brian and my mom both got on line to buy tickets to see who could get the better seats.  We were communicating over the phone.  I was just happy to get them.  I went 2 years ago in Los Angeles when Benji won and it was FANTASTIC.  I skipped out on the tour last year and have been kicking myself ever since.   I'm excited to be going this year.  Brian and Joe are going to go too.  I can't wait to see the dances live.  
Lastly, we went to see Mamma Mia once again.  This was the third time for me.  I think it was most fun this time because we went with so many people.  Laura, Tricia, and Trina even brought their feather boa's and stood up and did some dancing.  It was fabulous.  I'm going to have to go out and buy one for me.  If you look closely in the picture, you'll see Brian in the back.  He was the only male in our sea of women.  I didn't even have to drag him.  He wanted to come.  Come to think of it, maybe that's WHY he wanted to come, so he could be the only male in a sea of women.  Hmm...  Anyway, it was a fabulously great day.  I'm kind of paying for it today though.   The lack of sleep is giving me a huge headache.  Thank goodness for Motrin.

P.S.  I can't believe I beat Sheri posting this (she pretty much had the same day I did).  I didn't beat Laura though.  You are too quick.

Happy Day everyone!