Seriously????

I mean really is this necessary???? In order to "join" the AARP (American Association Of Retired People) you need to be 50!!!!!!!!!! HELLO!!! I am only going to turn 40 on the 24th of November ---

I wonder how many people get these?????

I can't even stand it!!!!

First, I am sicker than a dog --- no scratch that YESTERDAY I was sicker than a dog today I am only as sick as a dog:) The next 48 hours are going to be fast-paced and crazy!!!!

Tomorrow (Halloween) I am selling popcorn (I think) then as soon as I am done there I am setting up my Halloween backdrop and shooting the photos for Brendan's 1st middle school dance - shooting the dance from 2:30 to 4:30 - rushing home - unloading all my gear - trick or treating..............home -- sleep (I hope) up at 6 -- shower, dress and up to Joy's house cause..........

We are going to OREGON!!!!! I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!! Playtime in Eugene!!! a full day of creative mind!!!! It's gonna be great!!!!! We are leaving early (getting coffee -- must have coffee) stopping at a super cool scrapbook store in Salem, a bit of lunch and then on to Eugene:) I can't wait -- I really need to refresh my creative juices.

I'll try and get on to post some pictures of Brendan and Whitlee!!!!

hummmmmmmmmmmm

I just don't know --- I really like the idea of "personalizing" ones blog I think that I should not be deciding what the blog will look like when I haven't slept in more than 24 hours.......

hum.............................

I don't really have time to play with it right now -- I have a school photoshoot in the morning (see....I'm blogging instead of preparing).........................YIKES!!!!

A different look.............

playing around..............Do I like it or not???? We will see:)

RIP Bob

Found out that the grandpa of my god-children died on Friday -- he had been fighting cancer -- Death SUCKS!!!! Brendan started crying when I told him -- He asked why do so many people have to die -- how do you answer that..............

How do you explain it????

death..........to a 4 1/2 year old???

Sadly, my children are no strangers to death --- Since Brendan was born we have lost in no particular order -- Wilma (Jeff's Grandma), Bill (Jeff's Grandpa Rowe), My Mom, My Step-mom, Tim (My Cousin), Bachan (My Grandma), My Uncle Rick and Rick (My Brother) -- tonight while I was proofing some of the 600 or so photos I took of our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with Steven, Sharlene and Matthew I was I'ming with someone who had questions about the memorial book I made for my brother. Whitlee asked what I was doing so I told her I was answering questions about the book I made about Uncle Rick - she then burst into tears.................................

"I miss Grammy and Uncle Rick" she wailed as only a 4 year old can do. Now, I get that she misses Grammy -- the kiddos loved the heck out of her!!!! But, she had never met Rick -- she had talked to him on the phone -- but she had never actually met him. We tried to find him when we went to Hawaii shortly after she was born but couldn't locate him. She asked for a photo of Rick -- it is next to her bed along with the picture of her dad, brother, a popsicle stick and her most- awesome high school musical photo. She said she missed him and when I said "I do also sweetie" she asked if we could call him on the phone -- How do you explain that you can't --- and then explain the follow up ..... WHY??? She asked if I had his phone number in my phone -- without thinking I said yes.....How do you explain that the thought of deleting your brothers phone brings you to tears??? Maybe you don't -- Maybe, you just hold on to your little one - hug them - and talk about fond memories.

Brendan only talks about the people we have lost when it is just he and I. I think it has to do with his age. He misses everyone -- he has such a gentle soul -- it's hard for him -- being 12 and trying to "be grown up".

My boy.............

Last night my boy proved to be wise and mature above his years. While I will not go into the situation, Brendan on his own and against my personal wishes (because I wanted to shelter him!!!) stood up and spoke his mind for what he believed was right. To speak the truth even though it directly contradicted someone who he considers a friend. And, when "other" adults who are not his parents spoke for him when given the opportunity to speak he spoke for himself and spoke the truth --- He has grown into such an amazing young man.

November 1st............

Look where I am going on November 1st!!!! I can't wait!!!
http://comeplayeugene.blogspot.com/

I am going with my friend Joy --- she has been down there once --- to say that I am excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!!

When Joy came back last time she RAVED on how cool it was:) :) I was green....not ill...green with envy:)

AND...to top it off ALI EDWARDS WILL BE THERE --- we all know my love and affection for ali:) - who by the way is pregnant with a baby sister for the amazing Simon!!!

What a great super amazing exciting way to start off my birthday month!!!!!!

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????

So, here's the story --- When I was pregnant with Whitlee (and my water broke) I was on extreme total under no circumstances get out of bed bed rest. Both Jeff and Steven knew that this was a disaster waiting to happen. The solution???????? Get Stephanie a laptop so she isn't shooting people from the bedroom window:)

Now, if you know me.........and if you are reading this odds are you do........we all know what a ginormous KLUTZ I am!! Now, I embrace my inner geek fully and completely!!! But knowing me and after Steven scarred the infant working at the Best Buy by going into great detail of how they (Jeff and Steven) were going to use the laptop to start a porn website (that story STILL cracks me up) they got what we refer to as the idiot-proof warranty -- this means I could literally DUMP a bucket of water into the laptop and they have to either fix it or replace it. This warranty is PERFECT for me!!!!!! The Warranty is for 3 years...........this makes the warranty end in 2006 -- in 2006 we renewed the warranty for another 3 years -- OK, 2006 + 3 = 2009 - the current year is 2008........Now, since we got the computer we have replaced the mother board twice, replace each of the fans (there are 2) twice and replaced the power port 3 times. Each time there has been no issue things have been handled fairly well

About 3 months ago the screen on my laptop started blinking --- like there was a short in it -- Steven has been telling me for a while that I need to replace the computer -- get one that will suit my needs better. Well, when we got our tax return (yes, I know taxes are done in April BUT we did ours in August) I was able to get a new laptop -- since "the beast" my old laptop is still under warranty this is the plan -- FIX IT!! Then Brendan can use it and he and Jeff won't have to jockey for the big computer. So, off we go to talk to the "GEEK SQUAD" YIKES!!!! What concerns me is that people LET THESE PEOPLE WORK ON THEIR COMPUTERS!!!! The genius that was working that night literally argued with me for 15 minutes that we DID NOT renew our warranty --- FUNNY, how once I asked to see not only the geek squad supervisor but the store manager ------ HELLO HOUSTON!!!!! We found your warranty. Dude, seriously..........it's under the same number look at the dates!!!!!! IDIOT!!!!! I explain to the brain child that is "helping" me that the screen is blinking and the power port is overheating again. He informs me in his "I am a member of the GEEK SQUAD and simply know more about computers than you" voice and attitude that laptops don't blink like there is a short in it......Sadly, my mommy patience is running VERY low at this point -- I said really never??? (in my dude, seriously this is going to end up as a major fail for you voice). I power up the laptop and GUESS WHAT???? The freaking screen is BLINKING!!!!!! What????.........it's what???? blinking???? I thought that laptops NEVER DID THAT!!!! hum.............What??? I knew what I was talking about --- yes, genius other wise I WOULDN'T BE BRINGING IN MY FREAKING LAPTOP TO GET IT FIXED!!!! BAM...we fill out a work order -- it will take 1 to 3 weeks to fix it. 7 days go by and I get a phone call -- Hi, it's Katie from Best Buy Geek Squad -- I just wanted to let you know that your laptop is back and fixed you can pick it up anytime. WOO HOO KATIE ROCKS!!!!!!!!! We (Brendan and I) wait for Jeff to get home from work -- we have dinner and then run up to Best Buy to pick up "The Beast" I power it up....no blinking screen things look good...............HOUSTON we have a problem........when facing the computer I glance down at the lower left portion of the laptop and imagine my surprise when I CAN SEE INSIDE THE FREAKING COMPUTER!!!!!!!!! That's right in their "haste" to put "The Beast" back together they didn't put it back into the casing correctly causing the thin area below the touch pad to crack........that's right CRACK!!! I pointed this out to Katie who, by the way was WONDERFUL! She immediately made out a new work order for them to repair the computer (a new housing case). She apologized PROFUSELY and said they would call as soon as it came in.

I'm sitting home today.........ring ring...........ring ring..........

ME: hello
VOICE ON THE PHONE: Hi, Mrs. Cunningham?
ME: Yes
VOICE ON THE PHONE: this is Katie from Best Buys Geek Squad
ME: Oh, hello
VOICE ON THE PHONE: I wanted to let you know that your computer is back -- I check it and it's fine.
ME: They gave it a new case???
VOICE ON THE PHONE: yup
ME: perfect I'll be in tonight
VOICE ON THE PHONE: Great!!

I get off the phone call downstairs to Brendan --- I let him know that "The Beast" is back and we would go get it after dinner.

Now, it is fair to say that Brendan is REALLY excited -- he has been trying to remain calm about the entire thing -- but he is excited that he is getting the laptop. He is so excited about getting the laptop that he doesn't mind the fact that he will only be able to access the internet from downstairs -- we trust him but he is in fact a 12 year old boy:) No internet in room:)

We go up to Best Buy --- I hope to see Katie........................NO, guess who is working tonight?? The freaking genius who tried to convince me that laptop screens don't short out ---------------

He goes into the back to get "The Beast" --- brings it out ---- hum........it looks the same.......I open it up............well, I see that they have at least put it back together correctly ------BUT THEY DIDN'T FIX THE FREAKING CASE!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the same case and although the computer is put back together correctly there is STILL A CRACK IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!! After 20 minutes of "NO -- This is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!" This is my deal --- I PAID FOR THE IDIOT PROOF WARRANTY!!!!! The warranty is STILL VALID!!!!! YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT BROKE THE CASE ON MY COMPUTER WHILE THEY WERE FIXING IT!!!! I AM NOT ACCEPTING "they won't fix it" HELL YES I WANT TO PRESS THE ISSUE --- YES, let's take it to corporate --- No, I don't have any problem calling them myself -- NO, I AM NOT SIGNING THE RELEASE --- YOU have to fix my computer ---

Am I wrong??? I don't think so!!!

I called Jeff to make sure I wasn't being "emotional" or "overly sensitive" - he said I wasn't. Steven said the same thing -- in fact, Steven pointed out that even if I didn't have the warranty -- the fact that THEY broke the casing while THEY had the computer means THEY have to fix it. We'll see what will happen in the next few days.

TO BE CONTINUED...

happy............

BIRTHDAY TO YOU.......................



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....................................



HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR FAVORITE SISTER IN LAW SHARLENE........................



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!