End of summer and a new book

So summer is ending, or at least summer vacation is, and we're on to a new book. I'm looking forward to meeting again as the last meeting was so fun and relaxed. Lanette has picked the new book choice and without further ado it is The Man from St Petersburg, by Ken Follett. Happy reading and see you in September!

http://www.amazon.com/Man-St-Petersburg-Ken-Follett/dp/0451208706/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249490283&sr=1-7

Yeah the bookclub has met again and is on to a new book! Sarah has chosen The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh. Not to be confused with the last book we read, they are different! Look to meet in early July!

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Palace-Novel-Amitav-Ghosh/dp/0375758771

Wow! It's been a long time...Fall Colors!lol

Hi Everyone,

So the Twelve Oaks BookClub is up and at it again!  What a long pause.  I am so happy we actually had the meeting for "Who Killed my Daughter?" I wish we could have discussed the book more since it really is a haunting story but it's been such a long time since we read it how could we?  So I hope we can put all of our effort into kicking butt on the next book and meet soon to discuss it.  What book it is?  Well glad you ask... The book we will read next was picked by faithful member Shalini!  Yeah!  The book is called "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.  From what we discussed it seems to be a great book for discussion!   So once again our other fellow member Lanette will send out the e-vite once Shalini gives us the info on when and where to meet.  Hopefully we'll have a great turnout!  So enjoy the read!

What the heck!

I went to big lots today for the first time in a long time. As I tried to grab the cart to put Nova in I noticed they were chained to one another. At first I thought "Maybe they do this so they can bring them in easier and forget to unlock the chain", but next I noticed the coin slot. They want a DEPOSIT for the carts! WTF??? When did they start happening and is this going to the be new thing all the stores are doing? If so then let me tell you they are going to have some pissed people mainly the ones like me who never have change on them. Not using cash as much as reduced the amount of change in my pocket or in actuality the bottom of my purse. Therefore now I have to remember to bring a darn quarter just to get the cart to buy their merchandise. WTF?

I just can't get over this.

BTW as and FYI I went to my super secret change stash and now it's in my purse so that I am prepared.

What the heck?

To make a long story short this is how it went down:

"Hey you need to re-do your book club site!"
"Why"
"You are taking up space on my server or (some other computer mumble jumble that I spaced out)"
"Fine by me blogger is free!" (see the rhyme?)
"Tell your friends"

so this is it the new site or really the old site I just copied and pasted the past post too. As of the 15 the old site is no longer mine. It's sad but I'll be fine.
(look another rhyme)

Saving the best for last

More about the next book choice
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-10-03 04:05.
Once I found out about the book Who Killed My Daughter by Lois Duncan I visited the website that is dedicated to solving this horrible crime. It is a very through site with more information that has been discovered since the book has been written, also there is an excerpt from the follow up book Mrs. Duncan is writing. Once I read the book I left a message on the site for her. The following is the message and question I left and Mrs. Duncan's reply.
Question: I grew up reading your books and recently decided that I wanted to reread them. After going to the Albuquerque (where I live) Page One bookstore I looked for the books but they were out of them. Then one of the rep told me about your story and I knew that I wanted to read it. I got it from Amazon. I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter and the way she was taken from you and your family. I am disgusted at the way APD treated this case and you as well. I am so sadden to hear that they have not made any effort to solve this case and am somewhat frightened to know that NM is so heavily involved in this mess. I have set this book as the next book to read for my book club. I hope that with continued interest Kaitlyn's case will never be put to rest until it is solved.

Here is the link to the site and my question/reply
http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com/

Do you still make contact with her by psychic or after she sent to the note in the civil war book did she cross over?
Asked on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 at 09:09:33 PM

Reply: Thank you for making the effort to order WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER?. I hope that you, and anyone else who is reading this and lives in Albuquerque, will suggest to Page One and other book stores that they stock this book. If there's one place in the country I want it to be easily available, it's Albuquerque.

I did continue to have what I consider "visitation dreams" for several years after the book was published. Then, in one of those dreams, Kait said, "I can't do this anymore." I asked her, "Why?" and she said, "It's been too long." I never had a visitation dream again.

However, I still occasionally have dreams that are different from regular dreams and contain information about the case. When our private investigator follows up on it, it turns out to be valid. I don't know if that information is coming from Kait or from some other source.
Answered by: Kait

I am going to ask Page One to re-order some and give them to my mom and sister to read. I think once you read this book you will be as touched by it as I was.

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After the break the book will be
Submitted by Natalie on Mon, 2008-09-22 03:47.
Before I tell you what the new book is I wanted to give some info. Since we have usually taken the holidays for a break we will do that this year but take and extra month. That will give Misty time to bond with her new baby if he ever decides to be born.lol Shalini is pretty busy with her paper and Heather with work. Sarah is in her first trimester so I know she is tired. I think the rest of us are busy, I know I am suppose to be getting my sub test done and my applications stuff for cnm. I am sure Kim and Lanette are busy as well so lets just take a break and get refocused so we can come back and start new. If anyone would like to get together before the holidays lets do that! Ok so since the last meeting consisted of Misty and I then there wasn't anyone to suggest a new book. Everyone is busy so I am calling the new book. It will be Who Killed my Daughter by Lois Duncan. Now I picked this book because I have been wanting to re-read her books I read many moons ago. Many are out of print and when I asked the book lady from Page One she recommended this book. I came home and did some research and am very interested in reading it. If you want to look at the info go to her website. I think this book will make a good discussion.

Most likely the libraries will have the book but amazon has it used for a penny. With shipping it was $4.00.

Ok well I look forward to discussing the book but I hope we can have a movie night or something before the New Year. I'll keep you posted.

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The turnout
Submitted by Natalie on Sun, 2008-09-14 22:55.
We had our meeting last night for The Giver. Sadly only Misty and I could make it. Sarah was not feeling well as was Allyson so Lanette was out. (Hope the baby and Sarah are better:( Shalini has been busy with her paper and Heather is out of town along with Kim. Sharon has been swamped with school. Therefor we held a little meeting last night but I think this book deserved to be discussed further. What I would like to do is to revisit the book at the next meeting. Further instructions to come...

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September book choice
Submitted by Natalie on Mon, 2008-08-25 18:33.
Misty has picked the sept. book choice. It is The Giver by Lois Lowry. Since she is almost ready to pop the book is a small one with less that 200pg so everyone should have an easy time reading this book. And you have to read it and finish it because the ending is one that we need to talk about. It is an easy read that you'll enjoy. You can find out more at this link. If you go into a store to buy it you'll find it in the childrens' section. Also Misty said that Page One too has it as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Giver-Lois-Lowry/dp/0440237688/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219688822&sr=1-1

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Sarah's new addition!
Submitted by Natalie on Tue, 2008-08-19 16:58.
Sarah has some exciting news. She is going to have a new baby! At this point it's pretty early so I don't have a due date to share but sometime next year there will be yet a new baby to share at our meetings. So far that makes four new little ones that we will have added. Are we a fertile group or what? Congratulations to Sarah and Chesley!!!

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My letter of Rage
Submitted by Natalie on Thu, 2008-08-07 03:51.
This is a copy of the letter I recently had posted on My3cents.com and addressed in an e-mail to Target to pretty much told me that I stole my camera from their store. (By telling me they have no "record" of my purchase even though it's on my bank statment!!!)

As follows

My husband and I increased our shopping at Target because we no longer wanted to give Wal-Mart our money. In the past 8 months we have easily spend at least $2,300 which is a lot for our family and we were happy to spend it at Target opposed to other stores. On May 9th, 2008 we purchased several items from Target. The main purchase was a Kodak EasyShare M893 IS Digital camera. This was a special purchase for me because it was my mother's day present. Off and on we have had some small problems with the camera but not huge ones. Then on the 3rd of August it stopped working. I had the box and all the inclusions but did not have the receipt. I took the product back to Target to be informed that I didn't buy the product from their store. I explained to the associate that I did buy it from Target but at the location closer to my husband's office. They told me that it showed up as a silver camera (mine is orchid) and that it wasn't registering on my visa or on my blank check. I then remembered that my husband paid the bill for it and returned 2 days later with his visa card. Again I was told that it wasn't from there but they then decided it was but couldn't find a record of it being on his card. They told me I could go to the location I bought it from and they would check their report from the day I purchased it and it would show up. I did as they told me and when to the location I purchased it from and had the same problem. They said it was from there but was not registering on the computer. I asked for a supervisor and a young man showed up and said he would look on the report for it. He came back and said that he didn't find any indication it was sold then. I explained to him that I had the purchase on my bank statement and asked him if he wanted me to find out the exact amount and he said that if I did that they would be able to find it. I called my husband and he gave me in info so I wouldn't have to leave the store. Then I called my bank to find out the exact date of purchase (5/9/08) and the date it showed on my statement (5/12/08) I returned to the customer service counter and was informed that the supervisor left (he told me he was going to do the research). She then asked for another supervisor and a young boy showed up. I again explained to him my situation and he said he would look up the info, but not before he stopped to chat it up with another young boy. Then after several minutes he informed me that on the 12th there was not an amount equal to what I had stated. I asked him why he didn't look at the 9th like I requested and he said "You want me to look at the 9th too?" which I again told him what the date of purchase was and he left only to return in a few minutes to tell me there was not a purchase amount like mine and that they couldn't do anything. I then asked for his supervisor but of course she wasn't there and he told me she had the same policy. Once home I called the target hot line only to get a foreign person on the phone. I again explained my story only to be told that they were sorry for my disappointment but that she couldn't help me. When I asked her why my amount was on my bank statement but why not on their computer she again told me she was sorry about my disappointment. After several more comments like that I then asked for her supervisor. She then transferred me to another representative who again told me she was sorry for my disappointment but that policy is policy. Frustrated I hung up and spent the rest of the night trying to decided if I will ever shop at Target again. It is also worth mentioning that my camera was just one in a long list of products I have purchased from Target only to have had to return or be disappointed with. I am not sure why this company would rather lose a customer that is likely to spend 7 to 10% of their yearly income at their store than to replace a $160.00 dollar camera? I am so DISAPPOINTED in their customer service that I think it will be a long while before I can return to their store.

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The best time of the year!!!
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-08-01 15:41.
I have to say that I am getting excited again. It is quickly coming up on my favorite time of year. The time between August-December is just the best time of the year. To begin there is the excitement of going back to school. (Now that I have my own kids I see it still). Next comes the smell of chili roasting. I have blogged before how much I love that smell but I just have to say again how I love it. Then comes the lower temps which is always a plus although not being pg this summer I have to say that it has been less horrible this year although I have kept the kids in a lot and done the parks when the temps go down. Anyway then is the color change followed by all the great Birthdays. Actually we kick that part of with Kennedy’s and then we have at least one family member having a b-day every month until Jan and Feb, then March and April we get some more. This year we have an added b-day with my little Nova!! Just thinking she should be walking by Thanksgiving is crazy! Let’s not forget the Holidays. I start to look forward to Halloween in Sept. I love to think of all the cool costumes these girls can have. I am really pushing for vampires this year; want to do a whole Smile box to the Vampire song from Juno. Then there is Thanksgiving which this year I think I am going to let someone else host this year! Then one of the best things of all, 99.5 plays non-stop x-mass music from Thanksgiving till New Years! That it awesome and my fav thing. I might have to put some on today just thinking about it. On to the Parade of Lights with Shane's work team. That was so much fun last year I am really looking forward to it this year. Then comes the shopping of presents. Not the best part but you know it's still not too bad. Now comes Christmas and all that it entails. Let’s begin with the tree. I love it love it love it. I love the tree part!!! I just hate taking it down:( You begin to wonder when will It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Story, and Elf, and A Very Brady Christmas come on? (Just kidding about the Brady one!) Then comes the wrapping of presents and putting it under the tree. Now the only part about wrapping that I detest it the final hour of x-mass eve when my beloved mom pulls out all the presents she didn't get wrapped! Let me tell you that when you are dog tired and wrapping the 44th present when you can hardly keep your eyes open and all you care about it getting it done and Fred is trying to come into the room but can't because his stuff isn't wrapped and you and April keep fighting over tape and Mom lost her pen again and lets not forget that the stupid bows (I never put bows on my x-mass gifts they are a waste of material!) that have the sticker that never works right well that present comes out looking like Kennedy wrapped it. Then the morning comes, too early of course, but it comes and the kids are just thrilled and then the tear fest begins but it was a happy day! Then there is the sharing of stories over the dinner meal and families memories of Christmas past and I am getting weepy now as we remember our loved ones who we have lost but not really. And that is why I love it. Then the next few days are pretty good too but then comes the new year and then I start to get sad because my fav. time of year is pretty much over and I have to wait for 7 1/2 months for it again.

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This is one of my favorite urban legends
Submitted by Natalie on Tue, 2008-07-22 02:26.
Paleoanthropology Division
Smithsonian Institute
207 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20078

Dear Sir:

Thank you for your latest submission to the Institute, labeled "211-D, layer seven, next to the clothesline post. Hominid skull." We have given this specimen a careful and detailed examination, and regret to inform you that we disagree with your theory that it represents "conclusive proof of the presence of Early Man in Charleston County two million years ago." Rather, it appears that what you have found is the head of a Barbie doll, of the variety one of our staff, who has small children, believes to be the "Malibu Barbie". It is evident that you have given a great deal of thought to the analysis of this specimen, and you may be quite certain that those of us who are familiar with your prior work in the field were loathe to come to contradiction with your findings. However, we do feel that there are a number of physical attributes of the specimen which might have tipped you off to it's modern origin:

# 1. The material is molded plastic. Ancient hominid remains are typically fossilized bone.

# 2. The cranial capacity of the specimen is approximately 9 cubic centimeters, well below the threshold of even the earliest identified proto-hominids.

# 3. The dentition pattern evident on the "skull" is more consistent with the common domesticated dog than it is with the "ravenous man-eating Pliocene clams" you speculate roamed the wetlands during that time. This latter finding is certainly one of the most intriguing hypotheses you have submitted in your history with this institution, but the evidence seems to weigh rather heavily against it. Without going into too much detail, let us say that:

* A. The specimen looks like the head of a Barbie doll that a dog has chewed on.

* B. Clams don't have teeth.

It is with feelings tinged with melancholy that we must deny your request to have the specimen carbon dated. This is partially due to the heavy load our lab must bear in it's normal operation, and partly due to carbon dating's notorious inaccuracy in fossils of recent geologic record. To the best of our knowledge, no Barbie dolls were produced prior to 1956 AD, and carbon dating is likely to produce wildly inaccurate results. Sadly, we must also deny your request that we approach the National Science Foundation's Phylogeny Department with the concept of assigning your specimen the scientific name "Australopithecus spiff-arino." Speaking personally, I, for one, fought tenaciously for the acceptance of your proposed taxonomy, but was ultimately voted down because the species name you selected was hyphenated, and didn't really sound like it might be Latin.

However, we gladly accept your generous donation of this fascinating specimen to the museum. While it is undoubtedly not a hominid fossil, it is, nonetheless, yet another riveting example of the great body of work you seem to accumulate here so effortlessly. You should know that our Director has reserved a special shelf in his own office for the display of the specimens you have previously submitted to the Institution, and the entire staff speculates daily on what you will happen upon next in your digs at the site you have discovered in your back yard. We eagerly anticipate your trip to our nation's capital that you proposed in your last letter, and several of us are pressing the Director to pay for it. We are particularly interested in hearing you expand on your theories surrounding the "trans-positating fillifitation of ferrous ions in a structural matrix" that makes the excellent juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex femur you recently discovered take on the deceptive appearance of a rusty 9-mm Sears Craftsman automotive crescent wrench.

Yours in Science,

Harvey Rowe
Curator, Antiquities

Variations:

* Sometimes the letter is directed to one Scott West of Newport, Rhode Island. In those versions, the curator who supposedly wrote the letter is Harold Jameson, not Harvey Rowe.

Origins: This tongue-in-cheek "letter" has been entertaining netizens in e-mail since 1994.

A story that good should be true. But it's not.

The letter is a charming bit of fiction; none of the details check out. Harvey Rowe of the Smithsonian doesn't exist. (Which is indeed our loss. What a talent for gentle sarcasm!) Moreover, the Smithsonian doesn't have an antiquities department.

If you call up and ask to speak to the mythical Harvey Rowe, the operator will put you through either to Anthropology or the Smithsonian's public affairs officer. Either way, you'll be greeted with "There's nobody here by that name." You won't be the first such caller, either. Far from it, the Smithsonian is heartily sick of being asked about Harvey Rowe.

There's also no hopeful backyard paleontologist busily excavating the land around his clothesline and implacably sending specimen after bogus specimen off to the Smithsonian. That too is fabrication.

There is a Harvey Rowe, but not of the Smithsonian. In the spring of 1994 and while a graduate student at MUSC in Charleston, South Carolina, he wrote what has become known as the Smithsonian Barbie letter. In a fit of creativity, he tossed off this mythical response to a backyard digger, then shared his writing effort with a small circle of friends. One of those friends sent the piece to others, and thus Smithsonian Barbie entered into the world of e-lore.

Barbara "dig it!" Mikkelson

Last updated: 9 April 2007
See Full Article

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The books we have so far read in recent order
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-07-18 20:23.
• Savannah from Savannah by Denise Hildreth
• Stardust by Neil Gaiman
• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
• Schuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter *
• Cane River *
• Twlight, by Stephanie Meyer
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck*
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden *
• The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards *
• Running with Scissors
• The Cat Who Went Bananas! By Lillian Jackson Braun
• "Night" by Elie Wiesel.
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The secret life of Bees

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Something that I'll never forget
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-07-18 05:16.
Today I read that Michelle Duggar is on her 18th baby. I am fascinated with her and her family, not because I want an army of children by any means but the fact that she had been through 16 pregnancies amazes me. I also read something about her today that I didn't read before, after her first child was born she went back on bc and had a miscarriage. That seemed to cause her and her husband to stop preventing and start accepting and praying for as many babies as they could have. Now 41 and she is having her 18th. Anyway it caused me to think about the miscarriage I had. I think about it a lot actually, at least a few times a week. It isn't the heartbreak that it was in the beginning the pain has eased but still I know that I was suppose to have another child, that I did have another one. Then I think "Well if I had that baby I wouldn't have Nova" and I cannot imagine my life without her. However it was an experience that I would not have like to have. The odd thing about it that until I had mine I didn't really know many people who had had one, especially my age. Then once it happened I discovered so many people had experienced it. It is like a horrible club that you suddenly are a par of without wanting to join. Wile I was pg with Nova that I constantly thought I was going to loose her, a fear that I didn't have with the other girls. For the first few months until I got to that second trimester I just waited for her to stop growing and for the pg to go away like before. Even after the first trimester I still had the fear, it lessened but it still lingered. One thing I thought was ironic is that most people wait until the second trimester to tell people just in case something happens. I never did that before, with Ava and Kennedy I knew at 6 weeks that I was pg. With the baby I lost I found out about the same time but I only told my immediate family and my parents and sister. My brothers didn't even know. And look at what happened. With Nova I briefly thought I would wait but that felt wrong and didn't. Luckily my miscarriage was a one time thing. (I hope that never happens again) Once I had her in my arms I FINALLY felt like I took take a breath and let it pass. I think that having Nova so soon was a blessing to me, one that I didn't seek or really want but she was there nevertheless. Until I found out I was pg again I thought about the miscarriage everyday and it was heartbreaking. Nova didn't replace that baby but she lessened the pain. This is what I was thinking about with the Duggar Family. Maybe that is a small small part of their reason for having their enormous family, because for them preventing one caused them to loose one and they don't ever want to go through that pain again. For that I completely understand. Recently the bookclubers and I were discussing the pains labor and for me my miscarriage pain was the worse. The combination of delivering (I was early but still I went thorough labor) and not having something to have after it was unbearable. I remember calling my mom and asking her if she ever thought I would be normal again. (I also called my mom after Shane and I had Ava and told her I think I made a big mistake!lol Hormones cause you to have some moments) 21 months and a beautiful baby girl later it is better but not forgotten. And tonight I have a better understanding for the Duggar Family.

Just a little bit more

The new and improved book choice is
Submitted by Natalie on Wed, 2008-07-16 15:16.
Savannah from Savannah by Denise Hildreth

http://www.amazon.com/Savannah-Denise-Hildreth/dp/0849944554

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The August book choice
Submitted by Natalie on Mon, 2008-07-14 22:53.
Sorry ladies we had to make a last minute change so stayed tuned and I'll send out the new and improved pick. If you want to know the book that Sarah had chosen e-mail me and I'll let you know because it looks good.

Keep an eye out for forthcoming e-mail regarding the new choice.

Natalie

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First NKOTB, Now FRIENDS...
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-07-04 03:34.
The highly anticipated film production of TV series Friends has finally been given the go-ahead, MailOnline is reporting. Cast members Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer will reprise their roles for a big-screen adaptation ‘within the next 18 months’, according to insiders.

The actors have been inspired by the recent success of Sex And The City, which recently hit cinemas worldwide. The highly anticipated film production of TV series Friends has finally been given the go-ahead.

A source said: ‘Jennifer, Courteney and the rest of the cast are keen to reprise their roles, under the right circumstances. ’The box office success of Sex And The City has really got their wheels spinning about how a Friends film could be just as big, if done right.

‘Timing and the script are really important, but now that Courteney and Jen both have production companies, they can potentially get very involved in those decisions.’ Talk of a reunion for the loveable gang from New York’s Central Perk has been bandied around Hollywood ever since the show aired its final season in 2004. While Cox, 44, LeBlanc, 40, Perry, 39, Kudrow, 45 and Schwimmer, 41, were believed to be keen on the reunion, Aniston, 39, is believed to have dragged her heels.

Now, however, she is keen to move ahead with the project, which will be produced by Warner Bros.

OK PEOPLE YOU HAVE THANKED ME FOR THE NKOTB COMING BACK, NOW YOU CAN THANK ME FOR FRIENDS. LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO AND WITH LUCK WE WILL HAVE A NEW GWTW MOVIE MADE. I'M JUST LIKE SHANE BRINGING ALTERNATIVE TO GRANTS!!!

TOLD YOU I AM A TREND SETTER, BRING ON THE SLOTH!!!

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Something I can't get out of my head...
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-07-04 03:14.
The monkids or Monkey Kids. Maybe you saw them on the Outsiders the other night. People who for varied reason adopted Monkeys to raise as "children". I just can't forget about that program. I can't even tell you what I think about the people who take this on because I have mixed feelings for them. I feel sad for them in a way. For whatever reason many of them cannot have children and therefore need to fill the void that they have. One lady said she had an empty nest syndrome and got her monkey so that she would never be without a "child". And this is the one I just can't stop thinking about. First her "daughter" dresses up better than Nova. She had her everyday clothes, and her dresses, including at least once fancy dress. This is only the beginning. Her "daughter" eats at the table in a high chair and for the most part obeys the parent better than most human kids or humkids as they further be refered to. She eats a lot of crap though, like lollipops, candy, and monkey fries. (French fries). Amazingly she isn't overweight like some of the monkids. One monkey showcases was really chubby. It was odd to see a fat monkey and the fact that he looked like a chubby scary version of Eddie Munster didn't help this impression. And his bedroom was beyond any humkids fantasy let alone a monkid. Sadly he eventually turned on him mom who came to the realization (as most owner seem to) that these children were wild animals and no matter how dressed up they were or how loved, their innate nature was wild. Not all parents come to that conclusion, the lady with the "daughter", who's "kid" bite another child at the playground (Hello! If you have a humkid and you are at the playground and you see a monkid you should, as an adult, looked past the clothes and accessories and NOT let your child play with the monkid. Even if he does have cooler sneakers than your kid, even if he has the latest IPOD, it doesn't matter. Don't give into the peer pressure, children and monkids do not mix!) Anyway this "mom" continues, along with the dad who get mad when his "daughter" is referred to as a monkey, to raise her baby just as she had for 18 yrs! Yeah, 18 years! Is it just me or is that just a tad to long to be changing diapers. (Yup that right! Diapers Diapers Diapers)

Sometimes you got to wonder what the next trend is going to be. Remember when people got those hermit crabs were popular? You could wear them in a necklace? Maybe I'll be able to start the next animal trend. Like a sloth. I'm going to wait until these girls move out on their own and then get me a sloth. A big fat one with all it's shots.

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So you think you have an original name? Maybe? Maybe not?
Submitted by Natalie on Thu, 2008-07-03 02:34.
HowManyOfMe.comThere are861 people with my name in the U.S.A.How many have your name?

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The Hell that is Radio Disney's Jonas Brother's Party!
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-06-27 03:11.
Why I thought that a night with screaming Jonas Brother's fans would be fun I do not know, what I do know is that Radio Disney needs to get their stuff together before they throw another party. You have no idea how much Ava was looking forward to this event held at the Balloon Muesuem. It has been advertised for at least a month and after watching "Camp Rock" she eagerly anticpated this night. So we get to the event and it was packed, although it wasn't as big as the Junie B. Jones book signing but still there was a decent crowd. However the problem was that the set-up was horrible. The "big event" was suppose to be a competetion for the all coveted "Signed by the Jonas Brothers ""Guitar"". Notice my double quotations about the guitar:( Ok, so there was a set up in this small corner of the RD DJ's, and then a space, and then kids and their parents. But so many parents were crowded that Ava and Kennedy couldn't even get to where the kids were sitting, much less see anything. Then we realized that the "contest" started and basically the kid who had the most family there to clap for her won. Oh yes let me tell you about the ""guitar"". Normally one assumes that a guitar is a musical instrument not a cardboard cutout that might have a "signature" on it, (and by "signature", I mean photo-copied stamp). But you would be wrong as we were. So at this point we realize that the "highlight" of the evening was pretty much over. Luckily we got there before they ran out of the Camp Rock poster that Ava was really excited for and the other free crap that they got. Once home I realized that we just collected a bunch of junk RD has had for a while seeing as how one of the free stuff was Easter Egg decals of Enchanted. (Now I know what I am going to be doing tomorrow)
The only saving grace of the evening was the fact that the Balloon Museum was free to view tonight. That part was actually nice and with the rising price of gas it justified the trip out there. We spent the rest of the evening checking out the ballooning stuff. Then we go to a cool thing where you can do a virtual simulation of being in a hot air balloon. We got to watch two kids hang out in it and not get off of it even when Shane and I loudly commented about how they were giving away free Nintendo WIIs (a lie). That didn't work so Shane came in with "Now their giving away Nintendo Wii's, and still they didn't move, not even when Shane upped the ante with "Wow, naked girls!". Needless to say we didn't get to experience virtual hot air ballooning but we did get to try to make a tornado. Eventually the time ended with a slightly disapointed Ava but with a good old fashioned trip to Starbucks for some liquid happiness.
To recap the night

Jonas Brother's Camp Rock Party.....sad
Radio Disney as hosts of party......sucked big time
New Balloon Museum..................ok to visit since it was free
Kids who didn't give up ride........losers
Jonas Brother's signed "Guitar".....suckiest thing of all
Calming cup of Starbucks Coffee.....priceless

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Guitar Hero
Submitted by Natalie on Tue, 2008-06-24 02:08.
Well pretty much everyone in my family loves Guitar Hero. Mom can't quite do it, her carpel tunnelhurts her hand to bad but she can hit the green notes.lol Dad was really good, better than most of us on our first try. Dusty thinks he is good, but sadly he is not. Shane of course is good, what else is new. I have a song called Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs that I enjoy playing and listening too. The only thing I don't care for is the characters of course but then again it's suppose to be Rock and Roll so go figure. One night I was doing a guitar battle with "The Devil", a character from that you play at the nd and we were battling on the Devil went down to Georgia when Ava and her friend Ally came into the living room. I was concentrated as you have to when you are up against him and so Ava knew not to bother me. She turned to Ally and said "Hold on Ally, my mom is battling the Devil" to which I am sure Ally was confused.lol Needless to say that broke my concentration and I lost. Luckily the only thing that got lost was my battle and not any souls.lol I eventually beat him but still cannot beat Tony Morrell. One day!!!

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Happy Father's Day!
Submitted by Natalie on Mon, 2008-06-16 04:31.
Shane's father's day just flew bye! First the day began with the five of us just hanging out in our bed laughing and loving our little family. Then as Shane showered the girls got ready so we could take Daddy for breakfast. Shane got out the the shower and we made sure he wore the father's day shirt Ava made him last year in Kindergarten. It's a fantastic shirt that had purple puffed paint that says "#1 Dad" and the her hand prints in teal. Quite a pretty shirt I must say! Shane almost "forgot" to wear but I made sure to remind him. Then we headed for breakfast only to find most places with huge waiting lines. Shane decided, (since it was his day) that we would grab a McDonald meal which wasn't great for me but the kids played and had fun and we relaxed to it was worthwhile. We had planned to go to the Antique shop on San Mateo but as it was closed we headed for Joann's Fabric instead. Shane helped me pick out some great quilting mags and then a color wheel since my sense of color compliments is pretty bad. After picking up some supplies and more we came home and relaxed. The kids played while Nova and I took a snooze and Shane played PS3 golf. I laid on his lap and slept and Kennedy fell asleep in Nova's car seat.lol Then once he got me awake (it took some doing) we had a little Bar-B-Que and had a good dinner just our little family. Then after cleaning up and baths Nova feel asleep and Shane and I watched Cloverfield. I got bugged at the ending which if you watched it you know why. I didn't work on Kennedy's quilt as I planned but I did cut it out last night and planned by layout. It should be really cute and I plan to take my time and work slowly on it. I just want to finish it by her birthday. Nova's turned out cute, even with all the errors I made. I just have to remember that practice makes perfect. Shane and I are planning to make one together once I make Ava hers which I found a great pattern in a mag today that we might do. But to get back to Father's day I am happy it went well and look forward to it again next year! Hope all your men had a good father's day too!

Love to Shane who is a terrific father!

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The June book choice
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-05-30 02:04.
Heather has picked the book Stardust by Neil Gaiman as our new book to read. She said it is in paperback and also available at the Library. It looks to be a fun lighthearted read. Just as a FYI I got some info from the long haired dude at Page One and he said that it looks like Page One Too will be joining into one building.

Looking forward to the book discussion and look forward to the e-vite from Lanette once Heather determines a date and time and place. Here is to hoping her closing on her house goes well!!!

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Memorial Day
Submitted by Natalie on Fri, 2008-05-30 01:58.
I can only say how blessed I am to have the family that I have. It is hard to explain how wonderful they are. My grandma was a part of a close knit family, the Richards. She was one of seven siblings; John, Ruth(granny to me), Rose, Laura, Tom, and the twins Teddy and Deannie. I never knew John, he passed as a young man but the five sister and Tom were all very very close. Growing up there was hardly a summer that went by that we didn't attend some type of pot luck or get together with everyone. And as we grew up the family grew and grew. When my granny passed her sister, my great aunt, filled that missing space and became extended "grannies" to us Nichols kids. Sadly the past few years as seen all of the sister pass one by one. They went in order as well thankfully they didn't go together and we still had one or more to hold on too. Deannie passed away last year and with her death all of sister were reunited leaving only my Uncle Tom. That was a hard thing to see this weekend because his wife passed a few years ago as well. Thankfully he has a wonderful daughter that he has moved close too so he is not alone. What I noticed this weekend is that as my Granny and Aunts are gone their children, my aunts and second cousins have once again moved in and filled their void. As we were at my Grandparents grave I lost my strength and began to cry and was just so full of grief and sadness. Shane of course was comforting to me but it was Linda, Laura's Aunt who came by my side and swept me in a hug and just talked to me and reminded me that not only are my Grandparents reunited with each other but the sisters are back together as well. And of course she and my other "aunts" were here to fill their place. Her words really were such a comfort.
The other hard part of the weekend was seeing Brent's (my cousin)grave. His headstone was beautiful. It has a carving on the black marble of the tree and the stars that he would see at his home. He is so missed by everyone that it is still hard to speak about. He touched so many lives and truly inspired us.
Oh yeah the lady who bought my Grandparent historic home ruined it and the neighborhood completely. Now she is trying to sell it. Lets just say that I hope she has to take a loss on it.

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