tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52929169828041164172024-03-05T09:07:08.798-06:00Simply Me, the way I see itSimplifying life, DIY, Lifestyle, Relationships, Family, Sports, and Entertainment, Country life.
Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.comBlogger752125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-82349436987046084712016-12-07T08:22:00.002-06:002016-12-07T08:22:39.519-06:00Hey, remember me?<br />
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Hi all. I have a really great idea for a blog post that has been on my mind for a few months but I lacked time. Recently I have found that I may have a little time to blog so let me catch you up on my roller coaster. So remember how I changed jobs in March because my employer for 15 years went bankrupt? Yeah, well I went to work for a nice little start up carrier but about 6 months in I was contacted by a friend who knew of a job opening at a commercial carrier, which was something I always wanted to do and so I made the jump. I made the switch because this company is stable and not going anywhere. I knew I had a good chance of ending my carrier here and I was finally having fun. But as sometimes happens, companies make decisions that are unexpected and mine decided to move the entire office, sans employees, to another state and combine offices. So that leaves me here, at home, working on a blog for the first time in months. <br />
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Now to be honest, I have been keeping very busy and I want to say to all the stay at home wives out there, you have my utmost respect. I can honestly say in the last few weeks I have been 'Unemployed' I have worked harder than I ever did working. I have painted rooms and trim and run to the super center more times than I want to count. I have cleaned carpets twice and spent a good 3 days decorating not only my inside of my house but my outside. Yes, it took 3 days. I climbed more ladders last week than I thought humanly possible. <br />
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So here are some of the Christmas décor photos. Time for me to do some job searches but I will get right on that new blog after. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Shelves the Hubs helped me hang. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wreath I made last year. PS the door will be getting a better color as soon as it warms up! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck and Doe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Front Yard Décor </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went a little lights crazy in the front</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then did the back for the chickens. Ignore the foot and a half of missing lights please. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just had to have it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also have a thing for Penguins! </td></tr>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-92001333305064306932016-09-13T08:20:00.001-05:002016-09-13T08:47:17.713-05:00Two years and counting<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 YEARS AGO TODAY!</td></tr>
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Happy Anniversary to the man: </div>
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Who makes me laugh even when I don't want to. </div>
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Who supports me when things go wrong and that has happened too often in 2016. </div>
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Who likes to argue with me about NFL being better than MLB, he's cray! </div>
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Who let's me be a mom to his kid. </div>
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Who taught me how to be an awesome chicken chick and duck diva. </div>
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Who opened a whole new world of hunting, fishing, and NASCAR to me. </div>
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Who supports me even when I tell him I want to change jobs for the second time this year. </div>
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Who loves me even when I am crazy, bitchy, or annoying. </div>
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Love you, babe. </div>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-66513891480665548302016-06-09T08:29:00.001-05:002016-06-09T08:43:43.082-05:00Being a FAN: Texas Rangers and beyond for the love of a team <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Being a fan: </div>
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It is no secret that I love baseball and more specifically the Texas Rangers. In years past I have spent up to 35 games a regular season at the ballpark. I was single and it was my entire social scene for a long time. While I don't have the time or money to make that commitment at this time in my life, I plan to be at the ballpark at least 10 times this season. When you consider the investment, 2-3 tickets averaging $35 each (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on my mood and bank account) plus parking at $15-$20 per game, the money invested is substantial and that doesn't even include beer, soda, and nachos or whatever else you choose to consume or not consume at the ballpark, none of it cheap. A night at the game for a family of 3 can easily exceed $200 and that is before you figure the cost of the shirts you purchased to attend and the refreshments you brought to tailgate. </div>
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But more than that there is time invested. even if you don't go to the games as much as I do, which is nothing compared to some people (who would probably not consider me a good fan, because I am not there enough) there are games on TV. At minimum, 162 games a season which I devote my viewing life to from the end of March until whenever the season ends, sometime in late October if I am really lucky. Do I miss a game? Sometimes it happens. I mean, life happens for all of us. Usually, I miss part of a game at most. </div>
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So when you are a fan, you get to know your team, the players and if you are on Twitter, other fans. There are no rules to being a fan except that you love the team. For me, I have a personal rule never to boo my team when I am at the ballpark. That does not mean however, that I can't be critical of a player or players who are hurting the team. When you watch a player struggle, usually you begin by feeling bad for that player and hoping they snap out of it. After a while however, they just become a burden to the team and as such, the fans. When a pitcher just can't find the strike zone he is frustrating to watch. When a hitter can't hit the ball and kills an offensive drive, he makes fans crazy. </div>
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There is an emotional investment in the team and fans are critical, even of their own players and you know what? We have that right. We can get mad when a player is hurting the team. We get to be upset when a player isn't performing up to his billing or contract. We spend our hard earned money and our precious time so we have a right to voice our displeasure. It doesn't mean we are bad fans. It is actually the opposite, we love the team so much that we are miserable watching a player who continually under performs and we don't follow the player blindly at the expense of the team. That doesn't mean we won't be thrilled if/when the player snaps out of it. That doesn't mean if, for example the Texas Rangers Shawn Tolleson finds the strike zone and becomes a machine, we won't all be cheering or if Prince Fielder suddenly manages to connect with the baseball and break out of his season long miserable slump, we won't all be calling him a beast again. It simply means we want the best players on the field every day and maybe that player is Sam Dyson or Jurickson Profar. </div>
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Some fans have silly rules, nobody over a certain age should wear a jersey. Nobody should leave the sticker on their cap. Caps must have the brims bent. Yada, Yada, Yada. There is one rule for baseball games: No WAVE! Okay, so that is my rule and believe me, my husband breaks it just to annoy me. The wave belongs at football games, end of story. Wear what you want. Wear it any way you want. Although know this, if you wear high heels to a baseball game, I am going to laugh at you. </div>
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Being a fan simply means living and dying with your team. You don't have to be mean to other fans, although some of us are. You don't have to be critical of players, although you have that right. You don't have to spend 10, 40, or 81 games a season at the ballpark, although some of us do. You don't need a large Twitter following to be a good fan, although some of us have them, it isn't a popularity contest. You don't need 3 pair of shoes, 35 shirts, 8 pair of earrings, necklaces, handbags, bracelets, and team rings, although I have them. (Seriously, I am like a walking billboard when I go to a game). </div>
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Some of the best Texas Rangers fans that I know live in other states Iowa, California, North Carolina and Canada. They love the team just as much as I do, maybe more. They are fans. They may not be the most vocal fans. They may not be the most critical fans. They may not be in attendance at every game or any game, but they are amazing fans. </div>
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So even if you are a fan of the Astros, Yankees, or the hated Toronto Blue Jays, it is your team. Own it. Shoot, you may not be a baseball fan at all, that's okay. Some people like football. Believe it or not, there are some Cowboys fans in Dallas-Ft Worth. I know. I know. Crazy, right. We even have a hockey team called the Dallas Stars and a basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, those teams have fans too. It's okay to be a fan of those teams too, I am. (Not the way I am the Rangers but I am to a way lesser extent, especially on the Cowboys who I just find frustrating.) </div>
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Fans: Love their team. End of story. </div>
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<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-63000517228128074882016-06-08T06:51:00.001-05:002016-06-08T06:51:51.816-05:00What I'm loving Wednesday #1 of 2016 Really?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1cjTpuE9f3t26S8o84qaAo1NV9k0m1xVUznzTSHASwS7eKUtY0B_EgO0TYvSb2Cu5axBnO0toYSLcBFp8sFiLIO8e6liwM1EUREf4PjtgDwm892hSsOAi8IvxsPeuoBiufc41BltFl0/s640/blogger-image-715583115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1cjTpuE9f3t26S8o84qaAo1NV9k0m1xVUznzTSHASwS7eKUtY0B_EgO0TYvSb2Cu5axBnO0toYSLcBFp8sFiLIO8e6liwM1EUREf4PjtgDwm892hSsOAi8IvxsPeuoBiufc41BltFl0/s640/blogger-image-715583115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hey there party people. Happy hump day! Is this really the first actual "What I'm Loving" post I have done this year? I can't believe it! I should be on my way to work by now but I thought I wold stop in to my blog and say hello and share a few things I am loving this week. Ready? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*I am going to start writing for our local backyard chicken coop tour blog. Yep, me. I'm super excited. I get to interview awesome coop owners and find out all about them and their chickens! Now for those who don't know, I always intended to be a journalist when I graduated high school and went to college but that plan went somewhere out in way left field. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN4gfo5L-2oTBcmwupPSLhubPd2CgAcgmLFExPocns5O82pBDq2ZS8uo6G4FrLDoHzvcAnbtrNNOKVY-FLVVQL1MCvF9_jGYqQcW836hKKY3vHtN1UMYZ5O1ggH03183WzwokZd14bH4/s640/blogger-image--1583956989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN4gfo5L-2oTBcmwupPSLhubPd2CgAcgmLFExPocns5O82pBDq2ZS8uo6G4FrLDoHzvcAnbtrNNOKVY-FLVVQL1MCvF9_jGYqQcW836hKKY3vHtN1UMYZ5O1ggH03183WzwokZd14bH4/s640/blogger-image--1583956989.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Speaking of chickens how cute does Patches look in her saddle? Now aside from being a totally fashion forward hen, this saddle is protecting her back feathers from my frisky Roosters. Patches and her hen friend Ruby are the favorites and they pay with missing feathers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvWTlPrJORjmKLb5deJnHoFnE3ZygYTadZR7nlrWLcYnSNHuFgueH5XFdVvqU5TFt9HVFd_PBgGOd3Kbx-r4eDKBbQ-Jj2CqH12XiwtKANiLPdt-JXpGEc6AClw7y7ElC586LMjbT2PE/s640/blogger-image-1242577037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvWTlPrJORjmKLb5deJnHoFnE3ZygYTadZR7nlrWLcYnSNHuFgueH5XFdVvqU5TFt9HVFd_PBgGOd3Kbx-r4eDKBbQ-Jj2CqH12XiwtKANiLPdt-JXpGEc6AClw7y7ElC586LMjbT2PE/s640/blogger-image-1242577037.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Baseball is making me very happy right now! The Rangers above and the Cubs below, are trying to make my dream World Series happen! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkF3YPLkNILVZDZoi2UEj69CZLhBEU83NXBbBV9XHxYHNZuPDoga3t7vrxT5L75mSXR3mU7F8UDMugboV4FYM-Vv5iYQxsPU6DyO2lPW0s8HMauUuLhErsaTfTCwALa6lx_t64YozqgI/s640/blogger-image--1327784965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkF3YPLkNILVZDZoi2UEj69CZLhBEU83NXBbBV9XHxYHNZuPDoga3t7vrxT5L75mSXR3mU7F8UDMugboV4FYM-Vv5iYQxsPU6DyO2lPW0s8HMauUuLhErsaTfTCwALa6lx_t64YozqgI/s640/blogger-image--1327784965.jpg"></a></div><br></div>*Yu Darvish the Rangers pitcher who returned from surgery and Juricksen Profar who is a shortstop but has also played second and now first is also returning from surgery and both have been very good. Yu Darvish is probably my favorite current player and I am so happy with the idea of Profar moving to first that I tweeted this last night: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKhx8QBetBf7pRhpAzJRMFrzuxN1gAgg6BCsOQZm22IJleHv_9DuuVT-Ui6VCD0GNCkYdeOYAwOd7oY5qS2-pu-zaqCiuRT5j9X4VlqQDSWsFgLs7IHnyn1Om80FPH1qkIZ5x39H1TKA/s640/blogger-image--1126747314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKhx8QBetBf7pRhpAzJRMFrzuxN1gAgg6BCsOQZm22IJleHv_9DuuVT-Ui6VCD0GNCkYdeOYAwOd7oY5qS2-pu-zaqCiuRT5j9X4VlqQDSWsFgLs7IHnyn1Om80FPH1qkIZ5x39H1TKA/s640/blogger-image--1126747314.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*I am loving that the dogs got a bath last night. They needed it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OqxyWvt58fZIJKZHGVTjeN2SddFgXY4LQuXj9i9BqoZyzTJ3COkyyMTVLO7-u-WqFGRTfQSwYkRoO_nx5q0fCM78CiN2gQPRp5d6pjUXLppa5Tq7-1IhT2_KdNpJEBHw3b-Zg6c2Yko/s640/blogger-image--1194995631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OqxyWvt58fZIJKZHGVTjeN2SddFgXY4LQuXj9i9BqoZyzTJ3COkyyMTVLO7-u-WqFGRTfQSwYkRoO_nx5q0fCM78CiN2gQPRp5d6pjUXLppa5Tq7-1IhT2_KdNpJEBHw3b-Zg6c2Yko/s640/blogger-image--1194995631.jpg"></a></div><br></div>And I am loving that mama hen Lemon takes her babies out and shows them the lay of the land and important stuff like the garden. Of course being kids, they don't listen! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So what are you loving? </div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-64491330314361146322016-06-06T06:29:00.001-05:002016-06-06T08:31:12.098-05:00Take me out to the ballgame!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I'm a little or lot behind on blogging. My new job is kicking my butt. These photos are from the game at the end of May when Yu Darvish returned after almost 2 years. </div>
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He likes going to the games but he hates me taking selfies. Before the game all my Rangers bling set off the metal detector. That's never happened before. I may have had one too many bracelets on. </div>
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Yu has made one home start and one road start now. Both wins. I missed him. </div>
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Here is the updated standings: </div>
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Okay so other things I have been doing besides baseball? </div>
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I actually painted my nails twice. This is a shocking development, believe me! <br />
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Tending to the flock, of course. I volunteered to do some work with the local coop community. More on that later.<br />
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Reading: I am currently reading Riffs of Regret by Micah Chaplin. I don't know much about the Indy music scene but the characters are so real that it doesn't matter. </div>
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Reminder: it's Opening Day: </div>
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I told y'all about Dropped Third Strike during the cover release. Well today is the day! <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The book is available on Kindle. Mine showed up this morning since I pre-ordered it. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here is the info on the book if you missed my other <a href="http://www.simplymethewayiseeit.net/2016/05/dropped-third-strike-must-read.html">blog.</a> you can find out all the ordering info there but the book is available today. Did I mention it is on Amazon? : </span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Summary:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s6" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Kate Marks is hitting it out of the park as general manager of the Portland Pioneers. Her childhood friend Reid Benjamin is struggling to hit anything at all and, as a result, has suddenly found himself out of a job. When Kate hires him as hitting coach for the Pioneers, she's determined to keep everything strictly professional, but she has underestimated Reid's charm. His proximity has forced her to face a past she would rather forget. Reid wants another chance, but Kate isn't convinced he's changed his game.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s8" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Title: </span></span><span class="s6" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Dropped Third Strike (A Portland Pioneers Novel #1)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Author:</span></span><span class="s9" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Micah Chaplin</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Release Date:</span></span><span class="s9" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> 6</span></span><span class="s10" style="line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px;">th</span></span><span class="s9" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> June</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Genre:</span></span><span class="s9" style="line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Adult Romance</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">------ EXCERPT ------</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As her brisk walk turned into a slow jog, Kate plugged her headphones into the treadmill’s console and looked up at the television in front of her machine. Her feet pounded against the belt as the one-liners and laughter of <i>The Office </i>chased work concerns from Kate’s mind. She didn’t watch much TV, but one of the guys she briefly dated had mentioned this show. While the relationship hadn’t worked out, his sense of humor had been one of his most endearing qualities, so Kate checked it out one night. She loved it immediately, and since the episodes were only 30 minutes long, Kate found it easy to catch up and keep up.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When the credits rolled, Kate began flipping through the channels. Unable to find anything else she could get into, she finally stopped it on the MLB Network, where they were discussing some of the latest transactions. It might have been a little too work-related for what was supposed to be off-time, but Kate couldn’t resist. Even before she’d entered the baseball industry as a professional, she’d had a hunger for constant information on the sport and the business behind it. As a GM now, she was always interested to see what her colleagues were doing. Most of the topics were old news to her, as she’d received calls and e-mails about various transactions and happenings all day. However, there was one announcement that nearly made her trip on the treadmill.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“After designating him for assignment early last week, the Mets have released outfielder Reid Benjamin. A one-time top prospect, Benjamin’s stock has been steadily dropping since his debut. He hit .250 with 30 walks and 120 strikeouts in his second season as the starting centerfielder after signing a five-year contract worth $100 million. Despite tallying 89 RBI, 20 home runs, and 40 doubles last year, he has not been able to put together a full season without injury or incident. His troubles off the field have also undoubtedly influenced New York’s decision. In the last few years, Benjamin has been arrested a handful of times on charges ranging from public intoxication to disorderly conduct. Just two weeks ago, he was kicked out of a popular nightclub after punching a bouncer. That appears to have been the final straw for the Mets. Benjamin now becomes a free agent. Between the size of his contract, his offensive troubles, and the late off-season nature of his release, finding work will be quite the scramble for him.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate’s gait stuttered a bit as the segment started. Fortunately, she was able to stop the treadmill and find the side rails with her feet before looking like a klutz in the near-empty gym. For several long moments after the TV had gone to commercial, Kate’s gaze remained on the screen, letting the name resonate through her brain – Reid Benjamin.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From a professional standpoint, Kate was not all that surprised by the news of Reid’s release. His off-field headlines combined with his declining value and a saturated outfielder market would likely leave Reid without a job this season. She actually felt a bit sorry for him, and that sympathy annoyed her. Why should she feel sorry for Reid? He certainly hadn’t done anything to deserve it.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate knew Reid well – far better than any of those scouts, managers, or GMs who had been drooling over him for years. Reid also knew her quite well – in ways she preferred not to think about. Much to her chagrin, they occasionally snuck up on her. Usually on nights when she let her mind wander a little too far into the past.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>This is not going to be one of those nights</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She unplugged her headphones and went over to the free weights section of the facility. For the next hour, Kate drove Reid Benjamin from her mind with every lunge, squat, and curl. After she stretched and cooled down, she showered and headed home for a quick late dinner and bed.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate’s reprieve from hearing Reid Benjamin’s name didn’t last long. Even though she was at her office by the ungodly hour of six, she already had three voicemails mentioning his name. The last one was from the team’s owner. She shook her head and took a sip of her coffee as she picked up the phone to dial his number and set him straight.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Please tell me you’ve already set up an interview with Benjamin,” Mr. Scott blurted out, almost before Kate could even say “hello.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I haven’t,” Kate managed to answer.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“And why not?” Mr. Scott demanded. “He would be perfect.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“For what?” Kate asked. “You’re aware of his history, right? On and off the field, he’s a huge liability. I wouldn’t sign him as a player, and I definitely don’t want him coaching and mentoring. Even if he wasn’t such a bad influence, he has no experience.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Clearly, you are the one who has not looked at his résumé,” the owner replied. “During the off-seasons, he went to his alma mater and helped fine-tune the mechanics of many players there. Most of them have been or will be drafted.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Then why was he so horrible at the plate?” Kate asked.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You know what they say – those who can’t do teach,” Mr. Scott said. “Interview and sign him. Fan Fest is in two days. I want to make the announcement then.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“OK, I’ll interview him, but I can’t guarantee I’ll hire him,” Kate said.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In her mind, the possibility was very doubtful. Her personal bias against Reid Benjamin aside, she could not imagine him as a proper fit for the Pioneers – professionally or otherwise. Neither his batting stats nor his rap sheet inspired her. Besides, who was to say he would be interested in a coaching position? Regardless, the owner had given her an order. She had to carry it through. Honestly, it wasn’t as though she had many other options. The other candidates had failed to impress her. Reid was likely to follow suit, but at the owner’s command, she had to at least interview him.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now she needed to figure out how to get in touch with Reid. His information was still in her phone contact list, but she wasn’t sure the number still worked. Years had passed since she’d even attempted to use it. Trying to shake that memory, she turned on her computer and opened her e-mail. The answer was in her inbox. More than one of the replies to her plea for help had suggested Reid and included his contact information. Some of them were time stamped before the evening announcement, so either they had insider information or they’d seen the writing on the wall. Interestingly enough, his number was still the same as it had been five years earlier. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone, dialing the number slowly.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When he answered sounding sleepy, Kate inhaled quickly. Knowing how his voice had once affected her – particularly when laced with the sexy, barely awake tone it carried now – why hadn’t she rehearsed something to say?</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fortunately, “Professional Kate” mode kicked in.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Reid Benjamin?” she asked in a cool, even manner.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Yeah,” he mumbled. “Who is this?”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He didn’t recognize her voice. Given their history and the time that had lapsed since their last conversation, this shouldn’t have shocked her or even bothered her. But it did. She felt a distinct and familiar twinge of pain. Somehow, she found a way to push on without sounding affected.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Kate Marks, general manager of the Portland Pioneers,” she said. “I’d like to talk to you about the hitting coach position in our organization.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There was a silent pause on the other end, and she wondered what was going through his head. Then she heard a rustle of fabric, which suggested he was sitting up or getting out of bed. The mental picture rattled her as much as his voice had. She closed her eyes, but that only made the image more vivid. She snapped them open and turned to look out the window, nearly pulling the phone off the desk in the process. She scurried to catch it and reposition it smoothly. She wondered if he had heard any of the clatter in his silence.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sorry, you woke me up,” Reid said finally. “Can you repeat that?”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate repeated what she had said, though she could hear a slight tremor in her voice that hadn’t previously been there. She hoped he didn’t notice it. The odds were in her favor though as Reid had never been particularly observant where she was concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Oh,” Reid said. “I guess the good news of my release traveled fast.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She heard a catch in his voice. She couldn’t tell if it was hurt or annoyance, maybe a combination of both. Kate, in turn, felt a little bad for her negative thoughts about him.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Yeah, I heard it last night,” Kate admitted. “I know it’s probably too soon for me to be calling you about this opening, but I felt like I needed to jump on you before someone else did.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate immediately regretted her choice of words, especially when she heard him chuckle. Apparently, he heard the unintended innuendo as well.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Well, you might be a bit late for that,” he said in a low voice, still clearly amused. “Except in terms of employment; I’m still open on that front. I could fly out next week.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Actually, I’d like to talk to you sooner than that,” Kate said. “I could make arrangements for you to be here this afternoon. We would cover the costs, of course.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“This afternoon?” Reid asked. “Wow…you must really be desperate. Well, OK, but I can handle the costs. As you know, I made a pretty good living while I was employed. I’ll call the airline and get back to you with my ETA. What was your name again?”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kate rolled her eyes and gave him her name again along with her number.</span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />As he hung up the phone, Reid smiled to himself. He hadn’t heard that voice in a long time, but he’d recognized it instantly. He’d never heard the woman speak in such a business-like tone – but he still knew who was on the other end of the line before she identified herself. Despite the years that had passed and the substances he’d ingested in the interim, Reid had never managed to erase Kate Marks from his memory, even though he preferred to have her believe that was the case. He would have preferred that to be the case too, but it hadn’t happened. Clearly. His reaction to hearing her voice on the phone was unsettling, to say the least. And now he would have to face her in a matter of hours.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Okay y'all, busy week. My boss is off so I am officially in charge. Pray for me. </span></div>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-76306946101636595692016-05-27T09:00:00.002-05:002016-05-27T09:00:15.965-05:00Dropped Third Strike: a must read!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3wa8bEIrx8bs4V8JgGWd5kHNZcroXpKGSEnRmSBkuREXc5b4RSj_UaTHwm-NF3kYbVIwzWVb986X15QybjGWtmxYGrM87LnzH4tJkEyZSxN7UO9luYH_E3vrkuL-774QEy6l_XjJUWw/s640/blogger-image--616783283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3wa8bEIrx8bs4V8JgGWd5kHNZcroXpKGSEnRmSBkuREXc5b4RSj_UaTHwm-NF3kYbVIwzWVb986X15QybjGWtmxYGrM87LnzH4tJkEyZSxN7UO9luYH_E3vrkuL-774QEy6l_XjJUWw/s400/blogger-image--616783283.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
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Okay y'all I have a treat for you, well really it was a treat for me. My friend Micah Chaplin asked me to take part in her cover reveal and I was lucky enough to help proof read her new novel before it hit the publishing mark. Micah is a big baseball fan (Texas Rangers, naturally, that's why we are friends!) and this is the first book in her Portland Pioneer series. (I have read them both and LOVE them!) It is a sweet romance and the characters are incredibly lovable and frustrating. I remember emailing Micah when I was proofing both books and telling her, hurry up, I need more, and let me be honest, I was very little help on the proof reading to her except to express my stupid, silly love for these characters. Here is a summary of the book. </div>
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Summary:</div>
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Kate Marks is hitting it out of the park as general manager of the Portland Pioneers. Her childhood friend Reid Benjamin is struggling to hit anything at all and, as a result, has suddenly found himself out of a job. When Kate hires him as hitting coach for the Pioneers, she's determined to keep everything strictly professional, but she has underestimated Reid's charm. His proximity has forced her to face a past she would rather forget. Reid wants another chance, but Kate isn't convinced he's changed his game.</div>
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Information about the Book</div>
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Title: Dropped Third Strike (A Portland Pioneers Novel #1)</div>
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Author: Micah Chaplin</div>
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Release Date: 6th June</div>
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Genre: Adult Romance</div>
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Publisher: Self-Published</div>
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Format: Ebook</div>
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Here is the Goodreads Link:</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30240528-dropped-third-strike">Goodreads Link</a></div>
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And you can pre-order the book here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dropped-Third-Strike-Portland-Pioneers-ebook/dp/B01FX1H8FU">Amazon Link</a></div>
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And just for the record, I already ordered mine and I will be reading it again, because I love it that much. </div>
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For all you music lovers, Micah has another passion besides baseball and that is music and you can read another of her charming romance novels here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Riffs-Regret-Micah-K-Chaplin-ebook/dp/B009FZZQZU/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1464357315&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=micah+chaplom">Riffs of Regret</a></div>
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I have this book in paperback and on my Kindle because I am an incredibly spoiled reader! </div>
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Please let me know what you think of this charming book.</div>
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Follow Micah (yes I follow her everywhere but I am not a stalker...yet!)<br />
<a href="http://unabashedly--me.blogspot.com/">Unabashedly Me Blog </a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/TheBestMicah">Twitter </a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MicahKChaplin">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1148999.Micah_K_Chaplin">Goodreads </a><br />
<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-21828345642479732352016-05-25T08:40:00.001-05:002016-05-25T08:47:29.994-05:00What I am not loving and what I am.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I know, I know. I haven't written a blog in 2 weeks and here I am writing about stuff I don't like. I apologize. </div>
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Here is what I am not loving right now. </div>
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*Major League Baseball: </div>
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They want to change the rules of the game in an effort to speed up game times by changing the rules of an intentional walk and changing the strike zone. These are not minor changes people. They change the entire history of the game drastically. Currently issuing an intentional walk requires the pitcher to throw 4 balls outside the strike zone and the catcher to catch the balls. This usually happens very quickly and without problems but sometimes a ball gets away and runners advance. I hate this rule change proposal which simply requires a pitcher to notify the ump that they are walking to batter and the batter takes his base. The strike zone is going to be raised above the knee...because pitchers are getting too many strikes called. What? This is the same strike zone that has been in effect in pro ball since the beginning of time. Pitchers are suppose to get strikes and hitters should be able to hit them. So stupid. </div>
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The Texas Rangers:</div>
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No, I don't hate my team but last week they announced plans to replace the current ballpark, a 22 year old beauty, with a new, domed amusement park like complex. There is nothing wrong with the current park except that they can't retrofit it with a dome and it is hot in Texas. Well no kidding. It's Texas. I wish they had built a retractable roof on The Ballpark too but I also love the charm of the current park and while the plans for the new couples are impressive, I can't help but think they are trying to compete now with Jerry World next door and not sticking with a traditional ballpark. Meh. </div>
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*My current work hours: </div>
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I am literally away from my home for over 12 hours a day. I hardly see my husband, dogs, chickens and ducks. It just sucks. Not to mention I am working my bottom off and getting nowhere fast when I am at work. Sigh. </div>
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*Social Media: </div>
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I don't know what it is about social media that gives people the feeling they have a right to judge your life but I am over it. I have quit reading NextDoor which at first I thought was an amazing app to keep people informed of things happening in your area. I have personally used it to reunite a lost owner with his dog. That made me feel good. Now people are mad about the lost dog posts! Plus I keep seeing posts on other social media that say "when a friend is making a mistake that will ruin their life and you can't do anything about it". I hate these posts. Maybe it's because I have personally been on the receiving end of these "tough love" posts and the reason? People didn't approve of my relationship. You know, the one that ended up with me happily married. Those people were wrong and instead of talking to me about their concerns they posted on social media about them. It just drives me crazy. Let people make mistakes and learn from them and keep your opinions where they belong. In a one on one conversation with your "friend" or to yourself. If you are wrong, you lose a friend. Trust me, your friend will get over it. I did. I just feel sorry for the people posting them. Someday they will look around and realize that THEY lost. REAL friendship. </div>
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*The Cell phone saga: </div>
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We have been fighting our cell carrier to get things straight for over a month now. Their service sucks and the people are simply clueless about communication. You know the one that starts with "A". Well this month, after finally thinking we had it straight we got 2 bills totaling over $825 combined. I don't know what the heck they are thinking but I will be shopping for another carrier in the fall when my contract is up and ending a 16 year relationship. So if anyone has recommendations of a good carrier please share! </div>
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Okay that's enough of my complaints. Here is what I am loving:</div>
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*Watching my momma hen raise her babies. Nature is amazing! See the little heads poking out? There are actually 5 baby chicks but some were hiding under mama. </div>
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*Getting to spend some time in East Texas at our land. This is one of the ponds. We work our bottoms off out there but it is so rewarding. This past weekend we went out to fix the old tractor and get some much needed work in. We got to spend time with my honey's buddies and we talked about moving out there someday. Hoping someday is about 5 years from now. Side note: the dogs love it out there. They run around for hours and come home and sleep for a day. <br />
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And this is a wild rose bush I found growing which I am going to try getting a shoot off for my in town yard. Prettiest roses I have ever seen! </div>
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We also have wild berries growing and I made a pie. We keep forgetting to actually eat it but it looks pretty!<br />
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*Yu Darvish is making his first season start Saturday and my husband and I will be in the Ballpark to cheer him on. I can't wait. I love Yu and I have missed him. He had Tommy John surgery at the end of last season. Fingers crossed that he comes back healthy and strong! </div>
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*My husband: </div>
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First he works his butt off day in and day out in a physically demanding job. For those of you who have never been in a relationship with a blue collar worker, trust me, nobody works harder. Nobody deserves to be cheered more. What he does, he loves, but it takes its toll on him physically. But he doesn't stop. Because I work so late, he is doing more of the housework. He has really picked up for me and I feel so damn guilty that all I can do is try and make him feel special on the weekends when we do get time together. I married right. I can't express in words how grateful I am to have a good man to come home to, who makes me laugh and who works his tail off for his family. </div>
Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-76583590357932547702016-05-10T05:52:00.001-05:002016-05-10T06:03:29.077-05:00Motherhood and Chicken Motherhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRh5W30yd03WZXh16ZPUoSTh3khV3kFELF_NFsah6zOzYJXnVHZLVn60oxEzI-jZQ1_7OMAxLbDAHejTGib_s7N1E6dv7MCcBSVouUjV1otLzjh6dN_sk0jtTgJMoyDZ4RP5lly-wAqU/s640/blogger-image-1030309891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRh5W30yd03WZXh16ZPUoSTh3khV3kFELF_NFsah6zOzYJXnVHZLVn60oxEzI-jZQ1_7OMAxLbDAHejTGib_s7N1E6dv7MCcBSVouUjV1otLzjh6dN_sk0jtTgJMoyDZ4RP5lly-wAqU/s640/blogger-image-1030309891.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhaVN8NRyucguZdeP7awrOAyiD_v5KgJDeOyR_OwtCRifQ1ND_kzn-p-EVqrZcI3fYDnahL834luD_IdqFiaxrzhiXMPIbe2hbJC1wHBcWfEzEqFyEx8hEMTDv7WIJsQ6hitJzhhr27E/s640/blogger-image-153355035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhaVN8NRyucguZdeP7awrOAyiD_v5KgJDeOyR_OwtCRifQ1ND_kzn-p-EVqrZcI3fYDnahL834luD_IdqFiaxrzhiXMPIbe2hbJC1wHBcWfEzEqFyEx8hEMTDv7WIJsQ6hitJzhhr27E/s640/blogger-image-153355035.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHYqbZYYWkxTX__Pv8Fbn58Pq7STpP4KBJRhMYB-nJ1X3Kjy2svEziIiS26CKG8sp82nUfKVF8b4DcN25KhGGYeztsGqGQ420QSwKT6ftwVWhxSqc8T0RwArCtW3_RFaJhUEYigAcv0o/s640/blogger-image-266574379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHYqbZYYWkxTX__Pv8Fbn58Pq7STpP4KBJRhMYB-nJ1X3Kjy2svEziIiS26CKG8sp82nUfKVF8b4DcN25KhGGYeztsGqGQ420QSwKT6ftwVWhxSqc8T0RwArCtW3_RFaJhUEYigAcv0o/s640/blogger-image-266574379.jpg"></a></div>I had a very busy weekend planting new roses, butterfly bushes and aloe in my new deer planter and installing the lights I got for mothers day in my flower beds </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7THOcqAjtuM8IRcdk1q7BYp5701-23Dj5T8n7mSM8AAMYz5q_1u-JSP8FlogkSSEPoWdiy1uu-lupIR5idKjOloUvEIJPr5zNt0d1qyAEu3MtSiEDDNbr1b8lfuI8SOouWGh40RdcQw/s640/blogger-image-528533824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7THOcqAjtuM8IRcdk1q7BYp5701-23Dj5T8n7mSM8AAMYz5q_1u-JSP8FlogkSSEPoWdiy1uu-lupIR5idKjOloUvEIJPr5zNt0d1qyAEu3MtSiEDDNbr1b8lfuI8SOouWGh40RdcQw/s640/blogger-image-528533824.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plus this happened Monday! My broody hens eggs started hatching. So far the count is 4 chicks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16wur9OiV83BQM_VD4zc4DTqDv2yvzBLyyMw9n-qnRszbDoguan981XdQ0ZhpjEeq9oSe-QdsvMMKVo-BvKUxSjHOf_bCVEnzTZpdmzbh2QYobHThcur7evayOPwElwBRYuM1msW6Wr0/s640/blogger-image--1676055647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16wur9OiV83BQM_VD4zc4DTqDv2yvzBLyyMw9n-qnRszbDoguan981XdQ0ZhpjEeq9oSe-QdsvMMKVo-BvKUxSjHOf_bCVEnzTZpdmzbh2QYobHThcur7evayOPwElwBRYuM1msW6Wr0/s640/blogger-image--1676055647.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also voted for the first time this weekend, in a city election. I know I should have done this before but this year was particularly important since the incumbent mayor had died but was still on the ballot. He won anyway, which is incredibly insane. Nothing about small town politics is small. This story even made the local news in Dallas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also we found out the county might want to turn the road I live on into a 6 lane highway which would destroy my home. Needless to say there has been a lot of drama and tears from me this weekend. In order to fight this plan, the community will have to organize and fight the State of Texas. Sadly, I have found people in the surrounding communities have absolutely zero concern for the loss my little town would endure should this plan become reality. Their attitude is "you will be paid fairly for your property so shut up and take the money." That's a lot easier said than done when it is your home on the firing line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, that's about where we stand. I'm super excited about being a chicken momma or grandma. </div><br></div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-24350942993442765372016-05-06T08:59:00.000-05:002016-05-06T08:59:32.532-05:00Fear the Walking Dead Friday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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A couple things about this show, first is that I DVR it because it is on at the same time as Game of Thrones and I have more time invested in that show. Second is that I am disappointed that we are already coming up to the halfway point in the 8 show season. It's hard for me to remember the characters names because we only see them for 8 shows a year. That being said, this show deserves a try. </div>
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The show starts out in LA at the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse. The first season took some adjustment because the audience knew more than the characters. They are catching up quickly however. LA burned after a military strike in a failed attempt to contain the outbreak at the end of last season and our little group set off on a boat toward San Diego, or did they?</div>
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The show follows Madison and her boyfriend Travis and their combined kids Nick, a addict, his sister Alicia and Travis' son Chris. Along the way we picked up Daniel and his daughter Ofelia and the boat owner Victor Strand. Strand is an elusive character who is hard and worn and refuses to let anyone on his boat except the band of brothers he has chosen. Last week we leaned he is trying to return to his lover in Mexico and an apparent safe place behind walls and set far away from civilization. Somehow, I doubt the place is as he remembers but again, we know more than the little group, still. </div>
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So far the group has figured out that you have to cause a head injury to stop the walkers who they don't call walkers, by the way. Also, Nick figured out that if you cover yourself in the blood of the dead you can move freely among them. </div>
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The group is going back and forth from west coast town to west coast town on the high seas and they are experiencing a level of danger that is new and different from anything Rick and the Scooby gang experienced on the original show. </div>
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What I like about this show:</div>
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The zombies are still new and not so slow although they are a lot slower than people and it seems to me like a slow jog would still get you well away from them quickly. </div>
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The characters are experiencing things and learning and we are learning about what happened while Rick was sleeping beauty. </div>
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The characters are all adult aged. The youngest main character are Chris and Alicia and they are in high school. Where Carl aged dramatically compared to Judith who remains, much to my annoyance, still a toddler, in the 2-3 years that have passed on The Walking Dead, the age progression of these kids won't be noticed as the show progresses. </div>
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Things I still want to know or that drive me crazy:</div>
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Where is Tobias? He was my favorite character from season one and much like Morgan, he has just disappeared. He was a high school student in the school Maddie worked in and he was the only character completely aware and prepared for what was about to happen. </div>
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The characters seem completely oblivious to the danger around them. In week two they were on the beach collecting medicine and clothing from a plane crash. Instead of just taking a small bag that contained various medicine, Nick started shifting through it. Really? It was a very small carry on bag. Just grab it and go. Also, they sent a small dingy to shore with something like 4 people to collect supplies. How many supplies can you fit on a small dingy when you have it full of people? This became especially annoying when Chris spent the entire time on land in a portion of the wrecked plane killing walkers and a live man who begged him to put him out of his misery then dealing with the guilt. Deal with the guilt later, get a move on. Of course, walkers show up and they all make a mad dash for the dingy. </div>
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The latest turn of events is that the ship has been taken over by a band of, well, basically pirates. Alicia made the mistake of befriending one of the pirates on the ship radio and now we are experiencing our first bad guys of the show. So far I am not totally impressed but remember, these bad guys haven't had 2-3 years to learn how to be psycho yet. </div>
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Overall, I am hoping for a few things from this show, first that they don't follow a comic book script so closely like they do on the original show. Second, that these characters grow and develop at a natural rate, based on their experience, and finally, that Tobias shows back up soon and we don't have to wait 3-5 seasons to see what happened to him, because that kid is just awesome. </div>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-411414058077363752016-05-05T08:19:00.001-05:002016-05-05T08:41:23.021-05:00Game of Thrones episode 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Week Two of Game of Thrones Recap: Warning Spoilers and Sarcasm included.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bran seems to be mysteriously bigger this season. Weird how that happens with kids. </td></tr>
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We started with Bran who we hadn't really seen in a year. He was visiting the past. </div>
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Where he observed his father and uncle playing as kids and saw his long dead aunt. You know the one that may really be Jon Snow's mom? </div>
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Then we ended up back at the wall where the Wildlinga came to the rescue of the few remaining loyal Jon Snow Nights Watch. I am pretty sure I cheered at this point in the show. <br />
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Until everyone went to visit Jon's still dead self. Yep...still dead. They decided to burn his body so the Wildlings were going to collect fire wood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFVTmBuByN0QfRYOeywHHtxEtLTGWHPYecbEbMJRNAkGsE_tA_wfh16VtDxywmrkoMoyD5C4NgtsCDidRF9pLiq3BF59gAjEa6AMJ8k8H9S0LUa42RzTbw3ZlbV2fmXnY0hYUP60xlsg/s640/blogger-image--2037576954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFVTmBuByN0QfRYOeywHHtxEtLTGWHPYecbEbMJRNAkGsE_tA_wfh16VtDxywmrkoMoyD5C4NgtsCDidRF9pLiq3BF59gAjEa6AMJ8k8H9S0LUa42RzTbw3ZlbV2fmXnY0hYUP60xlsg/s320/blogger-image--2037576954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still dead </td></tr>
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Poor Jon. Just an aside here, there were a ton of close ups of Jon and Kit does an amazing job playing dead. I mean, you don't see him breath. Is this man alive in real life? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still dead </td></tr>
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Next we learn Cersi has been banned from attending her daughter's funeral by the king, her son. <br />
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Meanwhile Jamie, has a talk with his nephew/son, the king and tells him to visit his oh so loving mother. Poor Cersi, I mean she is an evil witch but she only has one child left and let's be honest, he is a weak little coward.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does Ramsay's story remind anyone else of Judas or just me?</td></tr>
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Ramsay gives his father a hug of congratulations on the birth of his 2nd son and promptly stabs him to death. Then feeds his newborn baby brother and step mother to the dogs. Ramsay is the most vial character ever to dominate my TV screen and all I could think when this was going on was, God I hope he dies a truly miserable death. It is fun to watch him because there is simply nothing off limits but he is so rotten to the core that you hate every breath he takes. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyuYeK8COBllmo9HK32RxOeFo0VMAVthiolbZPT4lR2waljVxjOVrwVz8z5b6xNOLHLoLk0Wi3_FFKLazXKWVSGBzE_vg-QescjnaO1UfLUdnuqYOYqTaQhC0mb-qB0HuEeGVXmmAKJ0/s640/blogger-image--1620979985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyuYeK8COBllmo9HK32RxOeFo0VMAVthiolbZPT4lR2waljVxjOVrwVz8z5b6xNOLHLoLk0Wi3_FFKLazXKWVSGBzE_vg-QescjnaO1UfLUdnuqYOYqTaQhC0mb-qB0HuEeGVXmmAKJ0/s320/blogger-image--1620979985.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still dead </td></tr>
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Meanwhile Jon is still dead and they convince Milasandra to try to bring him back through magic. This takes a pep talk because she has lost her faith in her visions. Seems to me, since she was so convinced Jon was suppose to live, she would have figured out that her visions included her bringing Jon back from the dead but nobody had any faith really, except the fans. We knew, right?<br />
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And the wolf of course who is the only one who never left Jon's side. One minute he is sleeping peacefully guarding his still dead master.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQWRvPLdN_7kCDirkWddjKwkEdLNoiKogqn6fpxdcj3den8f4eglyAb3IflNqXTyUdHqvyzoWPziDixLVS_oLD1dOoHyXuaGXnwORgLRMjK2pkXFaPVhH8azQArtxQDE-Ohgdr6eqDHc/s640/blogger-image--1571209665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQWRvPLdN_7kCDirkWddjKwkEdLNoiKogqn6fpxdcj3den8f4eglyAb3IflNqXTyUdHqvyzoWPziDixLVS_oLD1dOoHyXuaGXnwORgLRMjK2pkXFaPVhH8azQArtxQDE-Ohgdr6eqDHc/s320/blogger-image--1571209665.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But who didn't know this was about to happen?</td></tr>
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Then suddenly he is awake!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbODFisxhKFMiktj5juxQtrF7uM-FyCfN-cmtxWKN5lx5KUylY4AjGzl7-lmG5NcUILZyfb_iPXJO-H-v31PvaEZq5pYSmsnllJF7KGVg2mEo1lADq3wFFGGp_a3cbavVrSJNs7AEe8Q/s640/blogger-image-1718956572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbODFisxhKFMiktj5juxQtrF7uM-FyCfN-cmtxWKN5lx5KUylY4AjGzl7-lmG5NcUILZyfb_iPXJO-H-v31PvaEZq5pYSmsnllJF7KGVg2mEo1lADq3wFFGGp_a3cbavVrSJNs7AEe8Q/s320/blogger-image-1718956572.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dead</td></tr>
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And so is Jon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDHYSglwWixlpKgLnQBlCKOLnR-KPv2GE3aZV3Wb5fgIRiKM1o2exRBrFZ9vXdsXjJFhDh0q5QNQc2IeSRgeJ2kdT3CwABdmSi8eFNy8k69dx4deg0VyQlfche3_UWkwjxsvsvzJSxEQ/s640/blogger-image-1093286291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDHYSglwWixlpKgLnQBlCKOLnR-KPv2GE3aZV3Wb5fgIRiKM1o2exRBrFZ9vXdsXjJFhDh0q5QNQc2IeSRgeJ2kdT3CwABdmSi8eFNy8k69dx4deg0VyQlfche3_UWkwjxsvsvzJSxEQ/s320/blogger-image-1093286291.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT DEAD!</td></tr>
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And all I could think is "Hurry up Sunday night because I am ready to see what happens next!"<br />
<br />
A friend said to me "They should have tried to burn the body and it wouldn't burn." Given the rumors about Jon really being half Targaryen and half Stark that would have been awesome but maybe it would have been too much of a give away, I don't know. Still, it would have been awesome.<br />
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Mixed in with this was some of "the girl" business but honestly I am not going over it because I am sick to death of the many faces story line and I am starting to not care about what happens to "the girl". I want Arya to own being a Stark and not forget herself. The whole thing truly bores me and I sigh when it comes on. </div>
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Sorry it's short. I have been spending my free time this week fighting with my cell phone company. Always a joy. They have managed to suck all</div>
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Life out of me! </div>
Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-13907760622808983752016-05-02T08:48:00.001-05:002016-05-02T08:48:12.308-05:00Chickens 101: Mckinney Tour de Coop plus<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj9ETf_Z5CKeC9SZHIeb-kl3irEWXSjc9fVsnzyipij0cAl_U80ocUCGhnz0Hwd2KtjdstSlJmGkjk7QGhbAVvG95srM9m3dF0MuulTC-YZyFkLgb-oJqhW5jCSnZ_jxQxMPSvuCR73E/s640/blogger-image-407118010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj9ETf_Z5CKeC9SZHIeb-kl3irEWXSjc9fVsnzyipij0cAl_U80ocUCGhnz0Hwd2KtjdstSlJmGkjk7QGhbAVvG95srM9m3dF0MuulTC-YZyFkLgb-oJqhW5jCSnZ_jxQxMPSvuCR73E/s640/blogger-image-407118010.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Saturday the kid and I volunteered down at historic Mckinney Chestnut Square for the Tour de Coop event. We worked the pre-paid, volunteer and cash line selling tickets, T-shirts, and bags. I sent the kid to one of the classes they offered on chicken doctoring and my future vet came back with a list of items we need to purchase for the health of our flock. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> After our shift was over we took the tour of some of the coops. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9lDyd8PGw8RrtdE1o_Pysp-i_3AX7lUeQ6srNbGeDJuneBwpGlJCNpXIOoWkJDKB2Qpe-nvyCO7YP-g-M5FhTFmpVy1BzFPpsQh18vbOj67lyHZzlXfPL9Fojqvu4K6pF9_xtlciDTQ/s640/blogger-image--482325715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9lDyd8PGw8RrtdE1o_Pysp-i_3AX7lUeQ6srNbGeDJuneBwpGlJCNpXIOoWkJDKB2Qpe-nvyCO7YP-g-M5FhTFmpVy1BzFPpsQh18vbOj67lyHZzlXfPL9Fojqvu4K6pF9_xtlciDTQ/s640/blogger-image--482325715.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This amazing old barn is right in historic downtown Mckinney. The house is old and beautiful and the owners have redone the structure while keeping the charm of the old barn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1etooEO5sy7kr78J_wr-QrS744yO2ja5P0mXGl_PLJgW9PP1a3SLdiX2K9Z8_9MkOCnM5_nn59sfVhMZkvZA9aN8pTdsZIXcO7m3kOULqlYVLJdIc3kqnZavU3cJblk6oatK_0TXT3w/s640/blogger-image--1229302985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1etooEO5sy7kr78J_wr-QrS744yO2ja5P0mXGl_PLJgW9PP1a3SLdiX2K9Z8_9MkOCnM5_nn59sfVhMZkvZA9aN8pTdsZIXcO7m3kOULqlYVLJdIc3kqnZavU3cJblk6oatK_0TXT3w/s640/blogger-image--1229302985.jpg"></a></div>And they have several farm friends! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjSc62GktlL6Jf_1H8qmTYJSR1qz2An1VoTSrpmMbXPrUzTs2-jvbNYofapfz3Q0CFl3spffHP0Kjj4XQvpaWblyXFBVXSO8ZgUpCX4pMTHQpwu8BXg63rphhE42EuKUijmAxqkNU954/s640/blogger-image--659912485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjSc62GktlL6Jf_1H8qmTYJSR1qz2An1VoTSrpmMbXPrUzTs2-jvbNYofapfz3Q0CFl3spffHP0Kjj4XQvpaWblyXFBVXSO8ZgUpCX4pMTHQpwu8BXg63rphhE42EuKUijmAxqkNU954/s640/blogger-image--659912485.jpg"></a></div>And lots of amazing statutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJrY5LNpbMROiKbC-6cqyv43d7CpiaSlg0OMC3rFe8pLKPLDj1UxPREezaho8i_1vKs7REgyXp8QJVBT9oGue9jota8lQObvhxaHyd5eCjFFAteA5o9gK_yP850PkOT8M1IIwwocCnDM/s640/blogger-image--864896211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJrY5LNpbMROiKbC-6cqyv43d7CpiaSlg0OMC3rFe8pLKPLDj1UxPREezaho8i_1vKs7REgyXp8QJVBT9oGue9jota8lQObvhxaHyd5eCjFFAteA5o9gK_yP850PkOT8M1IIwwocCnDM/s640/blogger-image--864896211.jpg"></a></div>I loved this egg box. In fact I told my husband I want one. We don't have a place for it but it's awesome! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAGKVZTPOeJmOZf_JiFYmDALhoRyQ7DFx7W4aT3rfGWIT0rVUewx3q244zqooo7zXLloqO-weBLf-ITDaG801gkMDi5VrX3ro1KW-tbxIg9AtRm03C2vhlv57VTW49Ok2znudtRp-0Gc/s640/blogger-image-1295533397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAGKVZTPOeJmOZf_JiFYmDALhoRyQ7DFx7W4aT3rfGWIT0rVUewx3q244zqooo7zXLloqO-weBLf-ITDaG801gkMDi5VrX3ro1KW-tbxIg9AtRm03C2vhlv57VTW49Ok2znudtRp-0Gc/s640/blogger-image-1295533397.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also want one of these giant Roos for our backyard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxti9gKgkLEQ0w80zU_G6QvvLlO_QaeSjOcEPMW7W5yNpEvehG1DSRRNDMqR5C5oe6taVGobLt0kSMi6SKtsAE5UfUPSgB-EjUmtiuLG5Ll58lg2CmhUgH3r9L-u1b6rhB7Ns805xO5g/s640/blogger-image--1330726883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxti9gKgkLEQ0w80zU_G6QvvLlO_QaeSjOcEPMW7W5yNpEvehG1DSRRNDMqR5C5oe6taVGobLt0kSMi6SKtsAE5UfUPSgB-EjUmtiuLG5Ll58lg2CmhUgH3r9L-u1b6rhB7Ns805xO5g/s640/blogger-image--1330726883.jpg"></a></div>I loved how they used this one on top of an old tree stump. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRgbJPLzd4rmHXHPFFu5dqyTlwVG5M85AQJfLejgCCzKl74shdXQ8FjltzLRJkXykzINpMH6kxoUUCRTbpqYdZbC0Du0OFDRQTDaQ6UJ8kEWSvidbOR7hzBMMhU1aG0WeZZ5TYt6sq70/s640/blogger-image-1388974945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRgbJPLzd4rmHXHPFFu5dqyTlwVG5M85AQJfLejgCCzKl74shdXQ8FjltzLRJkXykzINpMH6kxoUUCRTbpqYdZbC0Du0OFDRQTDaQ6UJ8kEWSvidbOR7hzBMMhU1aG0WeZZ5TYt6sq70/s640/blogger-image-1388974945.jpg"></a></div>They even had a live band. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcrvsFYee4kuJOvP_AHl2l3KV6Yza5CXCYs4vJ18MahqiY05rlDIJnSibGy6zaaoNHsE7orSNI8n6mdiiBtX9RJkipHtFzcNVhRjXFP8sr1EiSvGygMRegoJZ1A87EYl96V2G7XHEEK0/s640/blogger-image--1975437367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcrvsFYee4kuJOvP_AHl2l3KV6Yza5CXCYs4vJ18MahqiY05rlDIJnSibGy6zaaoNHsE7orSNI8n6mdiiBtX9RJkipHtFzcNVhRjXFP8sr1EiSvGygMRegoJZ1A87EYl96V2G7XHEEK0/s640/blogger-image--1975437367.jpg"></a></div>The next stop was a cute little backyard coop with lots of pretty egg layers! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m176_qQ-oCILdkcbMjeW9UzgxARrAlWpa_cC-YHuv7AFtfVDJaOfphileL3TIyBQR45sM-kftr1TEAa8GC93lTq1DcVjpb9fWJg67wbpOdqrAwqHngi0P0X9LLs3r23OHcJpehL5yo4/s640/blogger-image--1494864785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m176_qQ-oCILdkcbMjeW9UzgxARrAlWpa_cC-YHuv7AFtfVDJaOfphileL3TIyBQR45sM-kftr1TEAa8GC93lTq1DcVjpb9fWJg67wbpOdqrAwqHngi0P0X9LLs3r23OHcJpehL5yo4/s640/blogger-image--1494864785.jpg"></a></div>I love how the coop looks like a gazebo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRhDOJNuOY4Hg4q4LK5Nw4L8eEnPc6uJOBxDMvP25xtlkfInM2z0pNMc06NbOWbVdrsOS5Qg21LhRQUnjGbee7CRWm9MaHCA5O-Jb_JX1NEiHGLwa8W7ljWpQcFfd2uWsNVSXy8nM-mk/s640/blogger-image--138278912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRhDOJNuOY4Hg4q4LK5Nw4L8eEnPc6uJOBxDMvP25xtlkfInM2z0pNMc06NbOWbVdrsOS5Qg21LhRQUnjGbee7CRWm9MaHCA5O-Jb_JX1NEiHGLwa8W7ljWpQcFfd2uWsNVSXy8nM-mk/s640/blogger-image--138278912.jpg"></a></div>We had a chicken that looked just like this hen but we lost her about 6 weeks ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiRrbqzVMnzru_SdQ4xycaXxvkM-nLD4b9Bi-SiZdTTgXbCzoMDdke-CK5v29Fe1wLvTq9LZLQRG3ClgaKA1FvPL0V7QAfIyIaTXk4Xna0qzNF204Rn6p7STAZT07gKaxywSGR5u2YgY/s640/blogger-image-374350473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiRrbqzVMnzru_SdQ4xycaXxvkM-nLD4b9Bi-SiZdTTgXbCzoMDdke-CK5v29Fe1wLvTq9LZLQRG3ClgaKA1FvPL0V7QAfIyIaTXk4Xna0qzNF204Rn6p7STAZT07gKaxywSGR5u2YgY/s640/blogger-image-374350473.jpg"></a></div>Her hens lay beautiful eggs and this made me want a Maran and Olive Egger to complete our own color extravaganza! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixABRvGvt-ZwizSRYePC7EDmkkNgkCiZt0C7cTjg2EqgIhLj5XWYGsKiqUG6KBUCuIvXBxjshwyZ5C4lQM4qNXX5AG1DRcC1TZjP3a4xV7XHhHWhl7ANbR1ta70W12BIPhb_5AkEta2r8/s640/blogger-image--400557811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixABRvGvt-ZwizSRYePC7EDmkkNgkCiZt0C7cTjg2EqgIhLj5XWYGsKiqUG6KBUCuIvXBxjshwyZ5C4lQM4qNXX5AG1DRcC1TZjP3a4xV7XHhHWhl7ANbR1ta70W12BIPhb_5AkEta2r8/s640/blogger-image--400557811.jpg"></a></div>Our final trip was my friend Susan's adorable coop with her spoiled hens. This is a huge coop and she has 3 ladies currently and is raising a few more babies to complete here flock. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkAcxHbff62emT66DBXPn8Yojy786N4V6ZmiLnJjqXWCNHYtjRlREuVavPkmcABm25JkaQ8BE6qdFoaL-stFczvqjllB2KzfhTBSzTjrstPNcyiivhxtlAT9DaM7_j0hNypSFgFBZOOU/s640/blogger-image-1329421588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkAcxHbff62emT66DBXPn8Yojy786N4V6ZmiLnJjqXWCNHYtjRlREuVavPkmcABm25JkaQ8BE6qdFoaL-stFczvqjllB2KzfhTBSzTjrstPNcyiivhxtlAT9DaM7_j0hNypSFgFBZOOU/s640/blogger-image-1329421588.jpg"></a></div>She has Engliah Orpington hens which are huge birds and just beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDbbLvdAfDQLe7-hyC4FUsYm5dVAeNB5PoWaTAojxhhtdheR9qoNJOy3vrpgUeLfpsrFNnjXT2OQLlfW2AJjpTRry5fSg7wLI6KpHcwpKQUMhPqL-qJRzDnWF6DVmmMy8Kp-dhEXoLDo/s640/blogger-image-2025171940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDbbLvdAfDQLe7-hyC4FUsYm5dVAeNB5PoWaTAojxhhtdheR9qoNJOy3vrpgUeLfpsrFNnjXT2OQLlfW2AJjpTRry5fSg7wLI6KpHcwpKQUMhPqL-qJRzDnWF6DVmmMy8Kp-dhEXoLDo/s640/blogger-image-2025171940.jpg"></a></div>After we finished the tour I came home and spent some QT with my flock. Sadly, we lost a duck Saturday night to my dog. She got too "friendly" and then not friendly with the bird. I was and am devastated. We are going to be rethinking our approach on this. After 6 months of her ignoring the birds this setback was heartbreaking. Still I have had the dog for over 6 years and she is a good dog. She just can't seem to overcome her instinct to hunt. I can't have her killing my flock so it may be time to limit her to zero unsupervised access and static coller 100% of the time and build a dog run. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mv0iPG-Z91RVNytuhYGfIWa48Jqq7w7eL2Mir4QY8XpuMPau5KlRA5lzTkjWulPenTUHrTvA2VBLa-p_1lYJ9I3iX9J0cLDFIEIU4oYAo7czI__N6YKvvrHOqA22GSL55HfCWIg9X8A/s640/blogger-image--912147626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mv0iPG-Z91RVNytuhYGfIWa48Jqq7w7eL2Mir4QY8XpuMPau5KlRA5lzTkjWulPenTUHrTvA2VBLa-p_1lYJ9I3iX9J0cLDFIEIU4oYAo7czI__N6YKvvrHOqA22GSL55HfCWIg9X8A/s640/blogger-image--912147626.jpg"></a></div>Inspired by all the amazing coops I started repainting our own coop to look like a barn theme. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV20yflPbtn2YJN-5TriAe9BGlJwlh-2gqoeUZbLiJR6w9mUkMyky26xJzhsQpZdDo-4GFyWKLaKs6bSFC-FcAa6rHPiES9y648SD1wbA8ioNrkfG2sVpUzOxCiGVZunF1Z6Xn7LD7Q4/s640/blogger-image--1248854688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV20yflPbtn2YJN-5TriAe9BGlJwlh-2gqoeUZbLiJR6w9mUkMyky26xJzhsQpZdDo-4GFyWKLaKs6bSFC-FcAa6rHPiES9y648SD1wbA8ioNrkfG2sVpUzOxCiGVZunF1Z6Xn7LD7Q4/s640/blogger-image--1248854688.jpg"></a></div>The duck coop is the small one in the right corner. I did some research on plants that I can add to the coop area that not only add beauty but function and I have a game plan now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPXkRMFeuglhCK2Nfy7ueWHPBI30_liBAtqGZpcksFvwXx_AaWvWzBmOBeFzi7TpwmUPAao-86P6-_5gEU_TQAmWWxyDE93uXp5n7UxJ3VNHM6DFNtmXCuNu0wByxWnGtr2EYKNRZDYE/s640/blogger-image-2137543887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPXkRMFeuglhCK2Nfy7ueWHPBI30_liBAtqGZpcksFvwXx_AaWvWzBmOBeFzi7TpwmUPAao-86P6-_5gEU_TQAmWWxyDE93uXp5n7UxJ3VNHM6DFNtmXCuNu0wByxWnGtr2EYKNRZDYE/s640/blogger-image-2137543887.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We will be adding butterfly bushes and climbing roses to the coop to break the sight lines of any overhead or on the ground predators and to give the flock extra shade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmD2R4-WXIA3K3tjNKGQ-Fo12ey6C7eMiFc4ylWqqrtx3ikTkXhcTeLwVd5jgPWgXHaGzHNZuUdM8qraWeVQx2EKXBXbltBgy3MiUefJPsUaBOlDhJb_EemDgk1HOlFQ210XsYepfgVA/s640/blogger-image-75896414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmD2R4-WXIA3K3tjNKGQ-Fo12ey6C7eMiFc4ylWqqrtx3ikTkXhcTeLwVd5jgPWgXHaGzHNZuUdM8qraWeVQx2EKXBXbltBgy3MiUefJPsUaBOlDhJb_EemDgk1HOlFQ210XsYepfgVA/s640/blogger-image-75896414.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also plan on adding in some additional sand as time and money permit to profit even more dusting areas for the flock. They currently use our old tree stump that they have managed to hollow out and our fire pit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Something strange happened Sunday. We had chickens laying eggs all day. I heard and saw them laying but when o went to collect the eggs that night there was no eggs to be found. I am thinking we were hit by a brazen thief because not only were we in and out of the backyard all day but 3 of the dogs were too. (Killer was in quarantine and only allowed out when supervised). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-74417650635684775552016-04-30T21:10:00.001-05:002016-04-30T21:10:47.443-05:00Z is for<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAMgc7EaHLFL8LvHGlt_-GDoPr99XFqOddW2qgq2ied9Sxne2AIGtJzDIZWZeEhYjIFBzYRq1sb0lBmYe0NoaEhhIm2WBDT87n4fFESzDD_aqsMjjrchDNisFx4KjMir-asemSzqs-nQ/s640/blogger-image--1196460715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAMgc7EaHLFL8LvHGlt_-GDoPr99XFqOddW2qgq2ied9Sxne2AIGtJzDIZWZeEhYjIFBzYRq1sb0lBmYe0NoaEhhIm2WBDT87n4fFESzDD_aqsMjjrchDNisFx4KjMir-asemSzqs-nQ/s640/blogger-image--1196460715.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am late posting this blog. It's been a long day some good and some very bad. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This one is short. Z is for zombies. That's what I feel like right now after this last month. It has been a crazy month. I left a job of 14 years and started a new one where I am working 4 times as hard and longer hours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Z is for zombie. I can't get enough sleep to feel like one of the living and my weekends are filled with doing all the things I don't get done because I am gone now from 7am to 7pm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Z is for zombie. That's me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy May people. This challenge has been fun and challenging. It's header than you thing finding time to write and read blogs. I have enjoyed all the blogs I have visited so much! Thanks to the A to Z challenge for making me think! </div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-68703344850017253962016-04-29T08:36:00.000-05:002016-04-29T08:36:30.862-05:00Yogurt Shop Murders<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2011-12-16/scene-of-the-crime/">Courtesy Austin Chronicle </a> Sarah Harbison 15, Amy Ayers 13, Eliza Thomas 17, and Jennifer Harbison 17 </td></tr>
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December 9, 1991 Austin, Tx: </div>
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Shortly before midnight on December 9th an Austin police officer responded to a fire call at the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt Shop. When the fire was extinguished the bodies of four teenage girls were found bound by their own cloths and shot through the head and at least 2 of the girls were raped. Three of the bodies were piled one on top of the other and the fourth victim, Amy was found a short distance away. There are a ton of rumors surrounding this case, which I won't go into. </div>
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Over the years there have been multiple arrests and a few convictions but all have been overturned for lack of evidence. There have been multiple confessions but none have been legitimate. </div>
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This is a case that continues to haunt Austin, the capital of Texas and a college town. Years have passed but nobody alive during that time has forgotten. The girls were last confirmed alive around 10 that night when the yogurt shop was closing. </div>
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Oddly, I got off work that night late and passed that shop on my way home. I spent days afterward trying to remember if I saw anything as I passed the parking lot, to no avail. I was a 21 year old college student at the time and will forever be haunted by this case and how close it was to my apartment. The shop was just 5 minutes from where I lived. </div>
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There were patrons in the store who described 2 men who sat at a table and were apparently the last ones in the shop before the shop closed. Those men have never been identified. Were they the murders? What do you think? </div>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-46483475880299794992016-04-28T06:52:00.001-05:002016-04-28T06:52:39.447-05:00XXX<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfyEAd07mpdrrF4wiwpFbcKiiE4cicPcZxy2D0ai2FNYi6kkFWcUyr2xM4v8Z4Rtg-Wo4VmwZ74ZxwZKeLvSrINB3kcxJGqM0XaKfbi7CP9pcQzy0F9gyAOnhGK79MnGNFNJRSk1EAJw/s640/blogger-image-1056491879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfyEAd07mpdrrF4wiwpFbcKiiE4cicPcZxy2D0ai2FNYi6kkFWcUyr2xM4v8Z4Rtg-Wo4VmwZ74ZxwZKeLvSrINB3kcxJGqM0XaKfbi7CP9pcQzy0F9gyAOnhGK79MnGNFNJRSk1EAJw/s640/blogger-image-1056491879.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I swear to you I had the hardest time even starting this blog. I have no extraordinary x word. In fact I am extremely blank when it comes to x words. I tried extra hard trying to think of exactly any exciting word that fit the bill and nothing. Except x-factor, x-files x-rays, xylophone and xylitol but seriously how am I suppose to write a blog about xylophones? Exactly! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, X you expect me to ignore you, you unusual and extremely, extra special, extraordinary little letter you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-2099653528520446262016-04-27T08:50:00.001-05:002016-04-27T09:03:04.038-05:00Work: How to survive an Auto Claim<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRBggQKslIUBsprFREwm25AfIaYGXmd5FPVjP1Ssp3goDSvAm76OVbs5sCIiBqljdRu_IMKXIfte0MavtiUH2OJUXlOiPI5nSIJBDp0zr7wSvHmw5QKcn_21PlEh11_9iBilmLYQhDFo/s640/blogger-image-2101031066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRBggQKslIUBsprFREwm25AfIaYGXmd5FPVjP1Ssp3goDSvAm76OVbs5sCIiBqljdRu_IMKXIfte0MavtiUH2OJUXlOiPI5nSIJBDp0zr7wSvHmw5QKcn_21PlEh11_9iBilmLYQhDFo/s640/blogger-image-2101031066.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Work: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have worked in auto insurance my entire adult life. I spent almost 10 years working for the big lizard company first in underwriting then claims. I moved to a smaller company where I worked for 14 years first as an adjuster then as a manager in claims. Recently, through no fault of the employees that company went bankrupt and I moved to my third company. This time I choose to work for a start up company where I am currently working in claims with the knowledge that I will be promoted to management when the position opens. I work from about 7:45am to somewhere after 6pm Monday-Friday and often my lunch is spent at my desk doing the things I can't get done during normal business hours. I tell you this so you understand your claims people work. We work a lot. We work hard. The work is mentally exhausting. I have delt with angry people and I have seen claims that made me cry. Usually the fatalities. When I get home every night my husband asks "How was your day?" With a tone of worry. I'm tough and usually I can handle it but by Friday, I am spent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So when you have an auto accident there are a few things you need to understand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Major police departments probably do not come out for non-injury accidents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-You need to make sure you are safe. So move your cars off to the side as quickly as possible. I have seen fatalities occur because people were standing in the road. Nobody wants that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Remain calm. Nobody likes accidents but they ARE accidents. If they were not they would be called intentional. Don't yell and scream. Nobody was trying to kill you. It's an accident. Shit happens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Take pictures of your car, the other car, the insurance card, and the drivers license of the people involved. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Just because someone has an insurance card doesn't mean they paid the premium. Most cards are sent out for 6 months but most policies are paid on installment plans. If the payments were not paid the policy was cancelled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-In almost every state the insurance adjuster has to be licensed to handle claims. This means we take classes and a test. We also take continuing education courses. Ethics is one of the required courses. We are required by law to properly investigate and pay claims when liability exists. We are not trying to "get out of paying claims". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-We have to talk to our insured and the driver. If they do not cooperate there is a possibility we can not complete the investigation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-The adjuster isn't a mind reader or a psychic. We don't know when someone is going to call back and we don't know why someone let a person drive the car they were not suppose to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Almost every state has what is known as excluded driver amendments. This means if that excluded person is driving, the policy does not cover them. Again, the adjuster does not know why they were excluded and has no idea why they were driving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-The fastest way to get your car repaired is usually to go through your own carrier under your collision coverage and pay your deductible. Let your carrier's subro department handle getting back your deductible and the money they paid. If you are not at fault, it should not effect your policy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-I have been doing this a long time so telling me you are going to get an attorney doesn't scare me. I am not offering your attorney any more money and I am not able to find coverage for an attorney when coverage does not exist. My response is always going to be "If that is what you feel you need to do, then have them send me a letter of representation." Sometimes you need an attorney and I have recommended to friends that very route in bad accidents. Fender benders are not bad accidents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Be realistic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You car can probably be repaired and the important thing is that nobody was hurt. Is it an inconvenience, heck yes! It sucks. However calling your adjuster every day or several times a day to find out when someone is coming out to see your car is just taking time away from the other people who had claims before you who's damages can actually be paid. Plus, if we knew, we would have told you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Things take time and by time I mean realistically an investigation takes anywhere from 10-30 days. At 30 days if we still haven't been able to reach everyone we may have to deny the claim. See why I said you may want to file through your collision coverage? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-I am not avoiding you, I am on the phone. If you get my voicemail it is because I am talking with someone else. Calling 6 times isn't going to change that. I will call you back as soon as I am available. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finally, it is personal for you not me, so don't make it personal for me. When you start attacking me personally, calling me names, you are not making the situation any better. I am going to remain an adult but I am also not going to be abused for the sake of your anger so don't be surprised if I calmly say that I am disconnecting the call and asking you to call back when you have calmed down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before you have an accident do these things for me please:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Get an app for your phone that says you are driving and will text back when you aren't. More accidents now happen because of texting than anything else combined. It can wait. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Always assume the guy behind and beside you is an idiot. I drive a big orange Ram and yet some ding batt almost sideswiped me this morning because he didn't see me in the lane right next to him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-If you missed your exit go to the next one don't change over 3 lanes to make it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-If you are in a left or right turn only lane and don't want to be, turn and go around. It is safer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-You are the only one who knows you are making a U Turn so make sure you can do it safely from the inside lane not the outside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Semi's make wide turns. Expect it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Slow the frick down. You will get there in one piece if you go 5 miles slower! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Assume the motorcycle rider is an idiot because so many are. </div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-9747834186709945412016-04-25T08:03:00.001-05:002016-04-26T08:38:13.967-05:00Verde chicken enchilada casserole<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Verde (green) Chicken Enchiladas are my favorite. They are creamy and cheesy. I don't make them as often as I would like because the kiddo prefers the beef enchiladas. </div>
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I used a lot of creamy salsa verde enchilada sauce in this recipe mixed with chicken broth and corn starch to thicken. At the end I mix in about a cup of sour cream. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chop a couple green onions to add to the mix</td></tr>
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Brown the chicken. I made a big batch but you could make half with about 3 chicken breasts. I used 5 large breasts. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown 5-6 chicken breasts </td></tr>
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Tip: mix your corn stretch in a bowl with a little water to get out clumps before adding to sauces. </div>
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Cook the green sauce and chicken broth on med-low heat to reduce and thicken it with the corn startch mixture. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">broth and verde sauce </td></tr>
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Before adding to your casserole add a cup of sour cream. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">add a cup of sour cream at the end </td></tr>
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And some fresh chopped cilantro or parsley. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and some chopped parley or cilantro</td></tr>
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Once you have cooked your chicken thoroughly, you add 2 containers jalepeño cream cheese. Again, half this recipe using smaller containers and 3 breasts. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mix the cream cheese in with the chicken and onions </td></tr>
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I added onion flakes to the chicken. If my husband wasn't so weird about onions being cooked I would have added fresh because our garden is overflowing with them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-5 cups of your favorite cheese</td></tr>
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For this recipe I mixed sharp cheddar, mozzarella , and pepper jack cheese.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">layer your ingredients </td></tr>
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Time to assemble. Spray your pan first, lightly coat with sauce, tortillas, more sauce, chicken, cheese, a little bit of fresh onions and then start the process over with more tortillas. I did 2 thick layers and covered the last with the remaining sauce, cheese, onions and a small can of black olives. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost done! </td></tr>
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Bake at 350 until your cheese turns golden and good. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">let stand for about 5 minutes to serve </td></tr>
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And enjoy! These are so good. I was surprised that my husband actually prefers these to beef. He and the kid are not huge fans of creamy for example, they don't like Alfredo sauce. I mean how weird is that? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM!</td></tr>
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I topped these with nothing or guacamole, even a little Siracha sauce. </div>
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This is a recipe I just made by trial and error after a coworker brought similar enchiladas to work. Mine are better but his were good. :) </div>
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What you need: </div>
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Chicken:</div>
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6 chicken breasts cubed. (You can cook them and pull them if you prefer) </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">2 containers jalapeño cream cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Fresh or flakes onions to taste. About 1 onion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Sauce: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">1 large can of green enchilada sauce </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">1 tbs corn starch mixed with equal water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">1 cup sour cream </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Assembling you will need:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">About 24 corn tortillas </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">4 cups of cheese. I used a combo of sharp cheddar, mozerella, and pepper jack. </span></div>
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-34979792163695715322016-04-25T05:27:00.001-05:002016-04-25T05:27:22.030-05:00U is for Understanding<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78SRtjhwSN-IEU7bv4I-Bgh7aWlKF8aRpfJxsdHceJ6A4lVjh1uAPZeW7bm_LncJyAieva1MUsIKRiOhR6zzGVbt3PVFHReEvpxgMK9CQZGMW92QAanejEo6dnSD3Akat4qlUmsHVK-8/s640/blogger-image-1573432959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78SRtjhwSN-IEU7bv4I-Bgh7aWlKF8aRpfJxsdHceJ6A4lVjh1uAPZeW7bm_LncJyAieva1MUsIKRiOhR6zzGVbt3PVFHReEvpxgMK9CQZGMW92QAanejEo6dnSD3Akat4qlUmsHVK-8/s640/blogger-image-1573432959.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Understanding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One definition of understanding is sympathy to other people's problems. There are a lot of problems people have which I understand, have empathy for, but which I don't agree with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To understand a person's problems that stem from their choices does not mean I have to agree with the choices that put them there in the first place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For example, I understand that someone with an addiction needs their fix. I feel absolutely terrible for the suffering they go through because of their addiction and yet, I don't agree with their choices that put them in this situation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are many social problems that we face as a society which I understand and yet I don't agree with the choices of the individual which drove them to need my understanding. They don't owe me an explanation and they don't deserve to be treated unfairly but at the same time, they also don't deserve to be given special privelages and their rights should not come above mine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We spend too much time sometimes understanding and too little time addressing the actual problems. So yes, we need understanding. We also need solutions that don't effect everyone else. </div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-1780466882857547152016-04-21T23:30:00.000-05:002016-04-21T23:30:16.024-05:00S is for Sadie Speaks <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hola, I am Sadie or Sadie Sue but sometimes my momma calls me Chicken Killer. Momma is weird like that. Just because I may or may not have eaten a<strike> couple</strike> okay, three chickens before momma told me that was not allowed. How was I suppose to know? They were tasty. Now whenever momma lets me out she says "No Chickens Sadie!" Look momma, I got it. I can't eat the chickens, you just keep feeding me those eggs and I will keep away from those silly birds. <br />
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This week we have daddy's other dogs staying with us. Clover is above and Maggie is below. Momma says they are my sisters too but I don't know about all that. Clover thinks she is boss and let's be honest, there can only be one boss dog and that is me. I don't even care what Ries tried to tell you, she is not boss. I like Maggie. She is kinda old but she likes to play. Ries and Clover just want to...okay let's be honest, those tubby twosomes like to eat, a lot! <br />
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Maggie May that's what momma calls her</div>
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I like to play a lot. I chase birds around and guard, guard, guard the yard. I work hard and when I sleep, I sleep hard. Sometimes I fall asleep on the sofa and usually my daddy comes and covers me up. He never covers Ries up. I like to burrow. Momma says it is my dachshund half. I am a wire haired dachshund and I am good at it. Momma says that I am the best of terriers and dachshunds put together. I am a hunter! <br />
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Sometimes we go out to our land in a magic place called "East Texas". There are so many good smells out there. Something called pigs and deer. We don't have those running around in town. Also, something called coy yote ees. Momma doesn't like them because they may eat me. Bahaha! Right. Then there are these other smells. Something that lives underground and digs holes. This is my kind of animal to chase, of course. I was born to go into a hole. That's what I do, burrow. <br />
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Anyway, one time I was out in "East Texas" and I found a smell I had to track. I tracked it all over the woods for hours and hours and hours. About four hours I guess. Momma was so mad at me. I tore my ear on some pointing vine things and momma got all cut up chasing me. I don't know why momma chased me. I was coming back, when I was done. She kept telling me she was leaving "East Texas" and going home and she was going to leave me there. Haha! As if. Eventually I felt so sorry for momma running around after me that I just came to her. Human people are not at all agile and fast like dog people. <br />
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Momma says I am a good girl most of the time. Of course, I am. I sometimes have something called seeiizzzurres though and they hurt. Momma and the vet don't know why I have these but it always scares Momma. I just kind of drool a lot and then I rest. After about half an hour, I am good as new running around playing. Daddy hates when I have them too. He has only seen 2 and he just kind of holds me and tells me it is going to be ok. Then he runs to get momma. Don't tell daddy but I think momma is the stronger of the human people. Not physically but what human people call emotionsally. <br />
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Okay so anyway, momma says it is time to finish my blog and I keep tells her that I have important things to say, not like Ries who probably just wrote about food. Oh and I am a better human people dog, by the way, everyone loves me most. All momma and daddy's friends tries to steal me but I know where my bread is buttered and momma feeds me cheese and eggs when I stop eating my food. I do it on purposes so that she gives me cheese and eggs. Shh, don't tells momma. <br />
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Okay, so votes for Sadie Sue for best dog. Tell momma you like me mosts. <br />
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Momma Note: this is not a contest, no matter what Sadie thinks. Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-24904661054893116492016-04-20T23:30:00.000-05:002016-04-20T23:30:24.238-05:00R: Ries takes over <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi! I am Ries and today is my day to take over mommy's blog. She never let me do this before. She let my sister Sadie write a blog once but she kept putting me off. So I looked at her like, 'Really? I am so much cuter and sweet than Sadie, come ON!' Finally, today is my day! <br />
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Ries is short for Riesling which was the only German word my mommy knew. She isn't a wino, it just sounds like it. Anyway, I am what is known as a long haired Dachshund meaning I am whiny and anxious and I like food. Okay, I don't know if that is what it means but I am those things. In fact, don't tell my sister Sadie this, but she is my dog. Mommy got her for me because I was sad when Mommy had to leave for work everyday and I ate Mommy's electric blanket and back massager in my boredom, waiting for her to return. Sadie is my dog, I own her, she just doesn't know it. <br />
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I love to travel. Actually, I really just love my mommy. I am sort of a one person dog and she is my person. I <strike>put up with, abide, </strike>love my daddy and my human sister too but mommy is my human. So when she thought she was going to go out of town without me, I quickly hid in her suitcase. She never noticed. <br />
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Actually, I follow my mommy around like a little shadow. When she cooks, I strategically place myself right under her feet at the stove because she might drop something! She was frying chicken one day and, well let's just say mommy is a messy cook. Truly, she was wheels off with that chicken and there was flour flying everywhere. By the time the chicken was done and I emerged from under her feet, the woman had covered me in white powder. I looked like George Washington's wig! <br />
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Of course I have my sister Sadie who I mostly put up with but who I love to play with. Actually, I don't play with anyone but Sadie. Mostly, I like to eat, a lot. Last Sunday morning I disappeared under the deck. Mommy and Daddy have these creatures in the backyard they call chickens but I guess you don't eat these. At least I am assuming that is what they are talking about because every time Mommy lets me out she says "No chickens" although I am pretty sure she is talking to Sadie when she says it because I couldn't care less about the chickens. Anyway, Sunday morning I was under the deck and Mommy called me to eat. Normally, I come right away but I was way busy this morning because I had found a prize under the deck. I proudly came running up to mommy and daddy and dropped my prize. It rolled right to mommy's feet and she laughed and said "She found an egg!" It all worked out well though because mommy fed me breakfast after that and I was happy. <br />
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I can be bribed with treats at any time so if you have any sitting around, send them to me, Ries. Also, I give good kisses but my favorite thing is nibbling on noses. I think it is because I have a nice nose so I extra appreciate them. Oh and one other thing, I love college football. I will watch it with my mommy and she, well, she is a little crazy. She loves the Fighting Irish and the Texas Longhorns but I am a bigger Longhorn fan. I look really good in burnt orange. <br />
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Anyway, I am happy to meet y'all!<br />
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<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-10762338506099230442016-04-20T08:27:00.001-05:002016-04-22T22:06:38.386-05:00Texas: How to be a "Real Texan"I wasn't born in Texas but I have lived here most of my life so for those of you planning a visit or move this post is for you: How to be a Real Texan. <div><br></div><div>We love God and Jesus. A LOT! </div><div><br></div><div>We don't talk funny, you do:</div><div>Y'all is a word. So is All Y'all so don't get them confused. Things are over yonder and we don't drive people places we carry them. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We also love guns but we don't all carry them. We probably all own them though so don't even think about trying to take them from us. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdnJdJvwv4fRe-Re2UdSAb5P7wnXY20A_Q7h3g3RZ9qcBUi7_Usb6-8cWYkCXOmYM_QlRXz4BNcHzf4rzK9DFwwc20P-TWT6PgOF6Ko5CwQhipQkBj7Xpv-y5p4FUGsU-VTNNtTKbDT0/s640/blogger-image--1593371140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdnJdJvwv4fRe-Re2UdSAb5P7wnXY20A_Q7h3g3RZ9qcBUi7_Usb6-8cWYkCXOmYM_QlRXz4BNcHzf4rzK9DFwwc20P-TWT6PgOF6Ko5CwQhipQkBj7Xpv-y5p4FUGsU-VTNNtTKbDT0/s640/blogger-image--1593371140.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Beef is king and that is what we mean by BBQ. Pork is okay but don't call it BBQ. Also, we put rub on our BBQ. Sauce comes after along with pickle and onion slices and white bread. That's how you eat BBQ. </div><div><br></div><div>Tex-Mex isn't Mexican food but we love it. The best places to eat are probably the holes in the wall unless you make it to Joe T Garcias in Ft. Worth. </div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of Ft. Worth they are not Dallas. Ft Worth is where the west begins. They wear more boots and hats and you are much more likely to see the belt buckles there than Dallas. Whatever you do, don't tell people from Ft Worth that Dallas is better. They will fight you. </div><div><br></div><div>We probably all have been to a rodeo and it wasn't our first. </div><div><br></div><div>We water our houses in Texas. Not just our lawns our foundation. It's pretty much mandatory in the summer because the soil is clay and if you don't you end up with fondation problems. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSnHjeTO1hnyhB36rL9PjhDeuGcLqDDyPJWjL20BO__pqt0Gm0x0MS_OUxvO0kwP1cZS_uYGqYz4M4xnmP6yMBo8vDmEbkODX-vDSuvRAazm_nB0oLW3gLjop0jiDE7-d3o_PR_wEzeE/s640/blogger-image-581820730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSnHjeTO1hnyhB36rL9PjhDeuGcLqDDyPJWjL20BO__pqt0Gm0x0MS_OUxvO0kwP1cZS_uYGqYz4M4xnmP6yMBo8vDmEbkODX-vDSuvRAazm_nB0oLW3gLjop0jiDE7-d3o_PR_wEzeE/s640/blogger-image-581820730.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We love our sports teams but hate yours. The Cowboys are king in Texas but trust me when I say, you can't be a Texans fan too. Also, you can't be a Mavs fan and a Spurs fan. Nobody is a Rangers fan but likes the Astros. When it comes to college football everyone hates the Longhorns but as a Longhorn I can tell you we only hate the Aggies and Sooners. It is just how it is. Don't argue with it and don't expect me to ever cheer for the Aggies even if they are playing Alabama. For the record the best teams are the Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers, Stars, and Longhorns. Don't fight me on this. </div><div><br></div><div>Anything white is snow, even ice. We don't get a lot of snow and while I know the difference, people here don't. Even the news channels confuse ice with snow. It's white, it's snow. </div><div><br></div><div>Dr Pepper is king and that's what we drink in Texas unless there is good sweet tea around. </div><div><br></div><div>Beer and margaritas are not all created equal and we take both very seriously. The best Rita's are why you go to certain places. </div><div><br></div><div>Chips and Salsa should be served at every eating establishment for free, always. </div><div><br></div><div>We don't all have oil wells, but most us do have at least one pair of cowboy boots. I have 4. Some of us wear them with shorts. Yes it looks stupid but we do it anyway. As for cowboy hats, they are worn, mostly at country concerts but they are worn. </div><div><br></div><div>Yellow lights mean speed up because the light is about to turn red. If you stop, you may get rear ended. </div><div><br></div><div>The left lane is the fast lane. Don't get in it and drive slow or you may get rear ended. </div><div><br></div><div>If you don't love Whataburger you are clearly not a real Texan and don't even try to say In N Out is better, just go back to California. </div><div><br></div><div>We call everything Coke but we mean Dr Pepper. If you order a Coke don't be surprised if someone asks you "What kind". </div><div><br></div><div>There is only one brand of ice cream and that is Blue Bell. We will eat it, hoard it, and follow the trucks as they deliver it and no we don't care if it carries some microbes that can kill us. It's Blue Bell and everyone has to die sometime. </div><div><br></div><div>We love our trucks and we drive them everywhere. Mine is orange but most are white or black. </div><div><br></div><div>Hunting is a sport and while you don't have to hunt to live here you must respect the hunting ways and the gun. By the way, don't try to take the guns. </div><div><br></div><div>If you go to the lakes without a fishing pole there is something wrong with you. Jet skis are for city people. We catch dinner here. </div><div><br></div><div>Camo isn't a fashion statement it is a life style. Everything comes in camo including hats for our favorite sports teams. </div><div><br></div><div>Houston isn't close to Dallas and nothing is close to El Paso except Mexico. Each city has it's own vibe and we all think ours is better, but Dallas is better. </div><div><br></div><div>If you are in Austin you must go to Threadgills and Chuy's. They are just better in Austin. Also, Austin is weird and they are proud of it. "Keep Austin Weird" isn't just a saying it's a way of life. </div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of Austin, they like to run and ride bikes down there. They also love music. You are much more likely to run into a hippie there than anywhere in 1969. Some of those folks are even vegetarians and they are proud of it. </div><div><br></div><div>San Antonio isn't like other Texas towns. It's a culture all of it's own. Know that and you will be fine. </div><div><br></div><div>Also, never forget the Alamo. People died there so Texans could be free. This is a special place so treat it that way. </div><div><br></div><div>Blue Bonnets: you look at them, you take photos of them, you take photos in your wedding dress along I35 in Dallas with them but you do not pick them. </div><div><br></div><div>The State Fair of Texas is about tradition, spiritual awakening and a lot of fried food. Every year school children get a day off known as "Fair Day" and they get free tickets to the fair where they meet up with Big Tex and partake of a multitude of fried items from Twinkies and Snickers to lobster. Their parents meanwhile are probably enjoying bacon margaritas and yes, I have had one and it wasn't as odd as it sounds. </div><div><br></div><div>If you speak English and Spanish you are way better off in Texas than people who only speak one. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally, remember we were once our own country and if we don't like it anymore we will be one again. </div><div><br></div><div>Seriously, Texas is a wonderful state and property is still fairly reasonable. Although the California transplants are doing their best to screw that up. You can experience everything from mountains and deserts to the ocean and forests. The weather is mostly hot, damn hot, and hotter than hell between June and the end of October but you get used to it. You probably never will meet an unfriendly Texan, if you smile back and appreciate their opinions, they will put up with you even if you don't appreciate the fine culinary experience of Whataburger. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-80011381978809092012016-04-19T23:30:00.000-05:002016-04-19T23:30:06.563-05:00Q is for Quack <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Q is for Quack!</div>
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About a month ago, a little less, we brought home 3 baby ducks. 2 girls and a boy. </div>
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They were adorable and little and soft and they pretty much did nothing but play in their water and eat and poop. Babies. <br />
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Then they started growing and we had to quickly build them a home. This was about a week ago. <br />
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They liked their new home and settled right in, having space to shake their tail feathers. <br />
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Having raises several batches of baby chicks, I can say without a doubt, ducks are way messier. <br />
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We literally clean their house out at least once a day and give them water anywhere from 2-3 times a day because they like to play and make a wet mess. <br />
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I woke them up this raining day to get pictures and video just for y'all. <br />
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They are about halfway feathered meaning they can go outside very soon. We have to carry this house out to the yard but first I have to paint it. I am going with barn red and white because if it ever stops raining, I am going to repaint our chicken coop and our little barn outside and I want it all to be matchy-matchy. <br />
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So my little quackers don't really quack yet. They kind of squeak. They do shake their tail feathers which I think, if you make it all the way through one of the last two videos you will see. They eat chicken food but you can't give them the medicated stuff. Luckily we don't have baby chicks so none of ours have anything to get into. The medicated can kill ducks. We plan on introducing them to the chickens slowly. Leaving the ducks in their home for a day or two before letting them out. Letting the chickens, especially the roosters, get use to the ducks. They will be fine, I am sure. The roosters never cared if the neighbor's ducks waddled around or not. <br />
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As for the ducks, we have Rouen's which look a lot like, almost exactly like, Mallards when they grow up. Like all birds, the male of the species are much more flamboyant and attractive. This is mostly because they are meaner by nature and therefore, they protect the females. This is why I wanted roosters. <br />
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We will get some eggs out of this eventually. I have never had duck eggs so I have no clue what to expect. They are suppose to be amazing, so I hear.<br />
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So, have you ever raised ducks? Do you have any words of wisdom for me?<br />
<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-85490826250877759392016-04-18T23:30:00.000-05:002016-04-18T23:30:22.500-05:00P: What is a Parent or How to be a better Parent?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I talk about parenting, let me just get this off my chest. While being a parent today is tough, the thing that makes it hard is that being a kid today is so impossible. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been a kid before the internet. I didn't grow up with cell phones, laptops, and tablets. We had a set of encyclopedias in our house, purchased by my school teacher parents in 1970, the year I was born. If I needed to do research on something, I had to go to the library and look it up in books which were paper objects not something I read on a reader. (Not that I don't love my kindle now, mind you.) <br />
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Okay, so parenting. Aside from the challenges faced because the kids are so linked into social media and so removed from actual social interaction, there are many ways to parent and many things that create road blocks to successful parenting.<br />
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For example, I am not a parent to some people. I am more like a care taker. I don't qualify as a parent because I didn't give birth or adopt my step-daughter, I simply married her father. I have actually been told this by other parents. The school doesn't really acknowledge me although chances are if there is an after school function for parents, I have been there for the last nearly 3 years like clockwork and I am usually the one to take her to her meetings. This use to bother me. The lack of respect for step-parents from other parents and the school district. Then I realized, it isn't my problem it is theirs. Truthfully, the teachers aren't the problem with schools it's the idiotic rules. As for the other parents, the real parent specifically who discounted me is the worst example to her teenage daughter that exists so do I care what she thinks, not a bit. <br />
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So what is a parent? <br />
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A parent is someone who makes sure the kid has basic necessities; cloths, food, and shelter. <br />
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A parent is someone who ensures homework is being done.<br />
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A parent is someone who listens to their child's problems.<br />
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A parent is someone who makes sure the cloths the kid wears are clean and appropriate. <br />
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A parent is someone who makes sure the food they eat is healthy most of the time.<br />
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A parent is someone who knows what types of social media their kids are on and monitors it.<br />
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A parent is someone who takes responsibility for their child's mistakes and doesn't blame the school.<br />
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A parent is someone who knows where their kid is and what they are doing. <br />
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A parent is someone who makes decisions for their kids that are in their best interests.<br />
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A parent is someone who puts their child's needs in front of their own a lot of the time.<br />
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A parent is someone who sets an example for their children. <br />
This means they wear appropriate cloths, their skirts are not too small and their breasts don't hang out. Save that for your date night when the kids are not around. They also respect and uphold the law. You don't steal, cheat, or lie because your kids will know the truth and unless you want them to grow up to be criminals like yourself, you do the right thing. <br />
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A parent sets good moral examples. Don't bring members of the opposite sex around your kids until and unless the relationship is serious and for heaven's sake, unless you want to raise a teenage trollop, don't parade a bunch of sexual partners around your kids. I don't care if you call them Uncle or Aunt whatever, they are not a part of your kids life until they need to be. <br />
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A parent should be the one person the child can count on above all others. This means being available for your kid. <br />
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A parent is an adult. <br />
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So let me tell you a little bit about my step-daughter and my relationship. She likes to talk to me because I don't parent her, she says. I listen. To this I explained that believe it or not, my listening to her is parenting her. I learned from the best on being a parent, my mother. I may not have gotten to this kid at birth but I got there as soon as I could and I take care of her like she were my own. So I listen. I try not to judge, realizing she is at that awkward stage where she is finding herself. I give gentle suggestions or sometimes not so gentle suggestions, and I let her know when I am disappointed in her choices. How? I tell her. I have told her at least one time this school year that I was disappointed in her choices and apparently it hit home. I probably get mad way less than her dad and about the same as her mom but I do it in a way that is different from each of them so to her, I don't parent her. Don't get me wrong, we have had some blow up arguments. I had to set ground rules, something she wasn't use to and I am still working on her mouth. When you have a girl raised by a bunch of men at hunting camp, you have a girl with a potty mouth. <br />
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But, the truth is, inside, I think she knows I do parent her. I take her shopping for cloths. Am I a push over? Not entirely. I let her have just so much and sometimes I make her put things back. I watched her spend 20 minutes walking around in socks and Jennifer Lopez high heels before I told her there was no way she, a tall girl in the first place and a not even 13 year old in the second, needs 6 inch heels. I reminded her that I owe it to her parents to do what is best and there was no way she was going to get her dad on board with those hooker heels much less her mom. She huffed and puffed and put the shoes back. <br />
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I also, at least until the last couple of weeks, made dinner for her every night. My new job has made this incredibly difficult because instead of getting home at 5 to cook, I know get home at 7, if I am lucky. We are learning to use the crockpot more so I stick something on in the morning and hope it is edible by the time she gets home to eat. <br />
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I also, at least until I started working stupid hours, was the one who took her to get her bunnies tattooed and ran her all over North Texas doing 'stuff'. Stuff includes the ever important friend shopping trips because they needed a 'girls night out'. This sounded so adult until they begged me to go get ice cream. Still kids. <br />
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I don't know what a perfect parent is. I am not anywhere near close to being perfect. I do my best and love her the way I can, which may not be parent enough to some people but it is what I have to offer and she and I are good with it, even if she does feel the need to remind me on occasion that I am not her parent, and I feel the need to correct her and explain that I AM her parent. <br />
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Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-92212146193131222062016-04-17T23:30:00.000-05:002016-04-17T23:30:08.348-05:00O: Oh the Places You'll Go <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is one of those amazing children's books that I think speaks as much to adults as kids. Let's be honest, Dr. Seuss was awesome but as a kid, I read Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat. I don't even remember reading this book until I was in my 20's when a guy I knew, an attorney, sent me a copy of the book. His reasoning? I needed to read this amazing book that would change my life. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package to find a copy of Dr. Seuss. </div>
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So I read and I cried. At the time, I was kind of sad and going through something. To be honest, I don't even know what. It was during a period when my bulimia was out of control and I was very wrapped up in how I looked at all times so when I got to the part about playing lonely games you can't win because you play against you....I cried. </div>
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You see, when you are involved in an illness like bulimia, the entire thing is not only lonely but it is truly a game you are playing against yourself. The mental anguish of not being enough...smart, pretty, thin, it becomes overwhelming. I wasn't battling anything but my own self and that part of the book, actually the entire book, was so true about life that I was amazed there was a Dr. Seuss book that hits being an adult right on the head of the nail. </div>
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So I buy this book for kids now. I give it often for birthdays, first, fifth, thirteenth. It doesn't matter what birthday because every kid can understand and should read this book over and over, especially in the times when they feel just overwhelmed with their trials. </div>
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Just like I can't remember what was so overwhelming in the midst of my illness today, whatever the kids are dealing with will go away. How else can you move mountains unless you unstick yourself and get on your way? </div>
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<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-52888786113545340092016-04-16T09:01:00.000-05:002016-04-16T09:01:04.294-05:00N: NASCAR or How to survive a NASCAR race for newbies <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not really the Highway to Hell</td></tr>
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Last Saturday was the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. We headed out on a somewhat rainy day to get some racing in. This is only my second race but I learned quickly how to survive NASCAR after last year. Here are my 8 Rules of Survival at the races:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we going to the race or hunting? </td></tr>
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<b>Rules:</b></div>
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1. NASCAR is very Camo-Friendly. My Junior hat is actually camo as you can see. My friend 'Cornbeard" (obviously not her given name, it's a long story, funny, but long) said she had never seen so much camo in her life. I told her she needs to go to Bass Pro and then come hunting with the boys.You don't have to have camo but expect to see a lot of it. </div>
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2. If you get offended easily, NASCAR isn't the place for you. There are all ages, races, and genders who enjoy the race but the parking lot is usually full of one kind of fan. The drunk kind. Simply put, anyone can and probably will say or do something offensive or disgusting at some point. It isn't a big deal unless you make it one. </div>
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Rule 2 1/2: I am not giving this it's own rule but check the venue before you go. Texas Motor Speedway lets you bring in a small cooler which means we brought our own drinks. Do you know how much beer and soda is at the race? It saves a ton of money when you can bring your own! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the rain stop and the party start!</td></tr>
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3. There is another do or die rule. If you are going to use the port-a-potty, bring toilet paper and paper towels with you when you go. Seriously, see the 2nd rule, drunk people miss and the potties are disgusting. I have been to many port-a-potties on Opening Day and these are worse, if that is possible. I mean, you don't touch nothing! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The race started 2 hours late due to wet track </td></tr>
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4. You can't root for all the drivers. Seriously, some of them are just jerks. Pick a driver or at least a team. We were all Jeff Gordon fans but he retired so Hubs stuck with the 24 car and he is pulling for Chase Elliot. I stuck with Hendrick's Racing but moved on to Dale Junior (because he drives the 88 car and I graduated HS that year) although I also like Jimmy Johnson and will root for any Hendrick's driver if they are winning. (Have you noticed I understand team concept well? HMMM). The kid in her 'women rule' mindset is a Danica Patrick fan. Pick a driver just don't pick the Busch brothers. They are just jerks. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, he almost smiled! </td></tr>
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5. Prepare to eat like crap that day. The food is fried. It is NASCAR, what are you expecting? We had hot dogs, corny dogs, nachos with some mystery beef on them. The kid had fried cheese and chicken on a stick, hubs also had fries and chicken fingers. They sold out of Funnel Cake which probably ended up being a blessing! I can't believe we ate all that, even if we were out there until 1am. </div>
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6. Plan on spending several hours, at least two, in the court outside the race. You get tons of free stuff. We got several packets of sunflower seeds that I am going to plant and give to my chickens as a tasty treat later in the year, Texas shaped pasta, a bunch of fig bars (yuck but the kid loves them) a free sample of snuff (okay that wasn't me!), coffee cups and Louisiana info to take a vaca, and a bunch of posters for the kid from NASA. It was like free shopping. They had more stuff but I don't need Cigarillos and I never cook rice so I decided to pass. I am sure we passed on other stuff too. There is a ton and my husband was all like "Move it along lady. Keep walking! This isn't the mall." Yes, it is! Only this sh*t is free! (I may have a problem but free!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I take my Rangers wherever I go! </td></tr>
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7. Come early but expect to stay late. We got there at noon for a 6pm race and we ended up missing all the Duck Dynasty cast this year. I was sad because I wanted to see Phil and Miss Kay. We met the rest of the group last year. It didn't work out but don't worry, I plan on a trip to West Monroe one of these days. Keep in mind there is usually a smaller race the day before and the track has a camp ground so people head out early in the week and spend the week camping out the motor speedway. For reals. If it rains they are going to try and get that race in so expect delays. It takes a while to dry the track. Our race was delayed 2 hours for big trucks pulling hair dryers to get that puppy race ready. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite car from the race the night before! #33 Texas Rangers! </td></tr>
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8.. Plan to spend about $75 on headsets. </div>
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Yes, it is highway robbery that you have to rent those suckers and they are so darned expensive but it is totally worth it. The cars are really loud and they go really, really fast. Besides, if you rent them you can hear your favorite drivers talking to their crew chiefs. If you can't shell out that on the race then bring some form of ear plugs or at least a good headset that covers your ears. My video doesn't do it justice but imagine the sound below only magnified about 100 times. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy446cT_bIEX3meJOj8D3I7zo-NzxhqlI5MGIxKxTx4b3wODdqKSZzpuZPK0xFejL-XB3kAIGC0b7G6rq9vJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292916982804116417.post-9172750619699959112016-04-15T07:11:00.001-05:002016-04-15T07:11:50.025-05:00Missing: Susan Smalley and Stacie Madison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a h="ID=images,5198.1" href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=susan+smalley+and+stacey+madison&view=detailv2&&id=7AC0109140E31AFBB13C89B0A57C97618FEB5330&selectedIndex=10&ccid=1pJf3UNz&simid=608018704072901360&thid=OIP.Md6925fdd43733104bd76e374119e927co1" id="detail" style="height: 142px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 97px;"><img height="200" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.Md6925fdd43733104bd76e374119e927co1&w=97&h=150&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0" style="cursor: move;" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacie Madison</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a h="ID=images,5258.1" href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=susan+smalley+and+stacey+madison&view=detailv2&&id=7AC0109140E31AFBB13CBF0F1319FD1D2B6628C9&selectedIndex=20&ccid=AfHAtiFy&simid=608055464698974053&thid=OIP.M01f1c0b62172284c22facaaa5aefd05bo0" id="detail" style="height: 160px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 117px;"><img height="200" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.M01f1c0b62172284c22facaaa5aefd05bo0&w=117&h=160&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Smalley </td></tr>
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March 20, 1988 Carrollton, Tx:<br />
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It was a normal day. Carrollton was a lot smaller back then than it is today but not as small as it once was, of course. The Newman Smith High School class of 1988 were preparing to graduate and go their own way. I was one of them. The place and time were much more simple, much more innocent than today. <br />
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Times were different. We didn't have smart phones and most of us didn't use computers. People were still learning DOS in high school. We weren't instantly connected to anyone. We called our friends on the phone in the house if we just had to tell them something because there was no texting. Most of us were really lucky by that time and had an extension in our rooms but there was one line, call waiting and three way calling. That's how we rolled. <br />
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On the night of March 20, two of my classmates were spending the night together. Susan was 18 and Stacie was 17 at the time. Susan and I were in several classes through out high school and while we were not friends, we were friendly. She was, as I remember, a nice and smart girl. I don't remember having classes with Stacie but she was a fixture around school. They were both pleasant and cheerful girls, full of hope for the future and college plans as we all were. <br />
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Sometime around midnight that Saturday night Susan and Stacie left Susan's home and were spotted trying to purchase beer at a 7-11. They were turned down due to age. The next sighting was a local Steak and Ale where Susan worked. They were there only a few minutes and then they left, seeming to just disappear. <br />
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Stacie's 1967 mustang painted green and gold, our high school colors, was found the next day parked in a lot along Forest Lane in Dallas. For those not familiar with Forest Lane in the 1980's it was the spot we went and cruised. Teens from all over would drive up and down Forest lane all night. They would park and hang out. It sounds silly now but it is what we did. <br />
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There is an unconfirmed sighting of Susan and Stacie at a drag race near the spot they parked. Stacie's car was locked when it was located the next day and her portable stereo was in the back. <br />
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Their disappearance was documented in a book which is currently being updated. It details much more about the history of the case and who they suspect may be involved. I reviewed the book <a href="http://www.simplymethewayiseeit.net/2015/02/this-night-wounds-time-story-of-susan.html">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7322086-this-night-wounds-time" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This Night Wounds Time: The Mysterious Disappearances of Stacie Madison and Susan Smalley" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353884216l/7322086.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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The class of 1988 was rocked by the girls disappearance. Senior night took place a few weeks later and the only moment I truly remember was when everyone stopped to honor Susan and Stacie and they played a song while showing their pictures. I don't recall what song for sure, something that brought tears like <u>Wind Beneath My Wings</u> or <u>Somewhere Over the Rainbow</u>. <br />
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2 months later I went off to the University of Texas for summer school classes and came back for Graduation. It was a bright, sunny, beautiful, happy day but somewhere in the back of our minds we remembered the two that were missing from our group. We never have forgotten them. <br />
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This case is still open with the Carrollton. Texas Police Department and anyone with knowledge of the events should contact them. <br />
<br />Laura @Simply Me, The way I see ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105223498695168145noreply@blogger.com0