“Today's Weather: Cold enough for hot chocolate?”

The DiSanto's

Navigation:
Log In
Archives

Family Links:
Beth
Erin

Family Favorites:
Family Cookbook
Family Fitness Book

Family Birthdays:
January
Kelsie
February
Kay C.
Katie
March
Bob
April
Sue
Buffett
May
Sarah
Kevin
Matty
June
Beth
Kris
Erin
Kenny
Kim
July
Linda
August
Ken/Poppy
Kelly
September
Matthew
October
Sylvia/Nana
Clark
Nick
November
Darian
Mary
December
Delaney
Karen
Kameron

Scrapbook Pages:
Matthew
Delaney
Kameron
Kelsie
Erin

www.flickr.com

More of klds' photos

Friday, February 29th

An action that will make a difference for our planet!

The Whole Foods chain has decided to eliminate the use of all plastic grocery bags throughout the chain by this coming Earth Day, April 22, 2008. Whole Foods estimates that they will eliminate 100 million plastic bags from our environment by discontinuing their use from Earth Day to the end of 2008.
Plastic bags are petroleum based and they fill landfills, harm nature and litter our communities. Since it can take more than 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill, polymers of every single plastic bag ever produced still exist on our planet. As they break down, plastic bags go through photodegradation—breaking down into small toxic particles that contaminate both soil and water, and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them. It takes roughly 430,000 gallons of crude oil to produce 100 million plastic bags, and in the U.S. alone, about 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away each year (and only 0.6 % of them are recycled).

We just held a fund raiser at our school and sold canvas bags- I know own 6 (we keep 2 in each vehicle) so we do not use plastic or paper any more. Check them out at One Bag at a Time.
We can all chip in and make a difference.
klds on 02.29.08 @ 12:11 AM CST [link] [No Comments]

Enjoy life as a flow of change, chaos and beauty...

Try seeing the world as perfect the way it is. Life is not something static, but a flow of change, never staying the same, always getting messier and more chaotic, always beautiful. There is beauty in everything around us, if we look at it as perfect.
klds on 02.29.08 @ 02:36 AM CST [link] [No Comments]

Leap Year...

It was the ancient Egyptians who first figured out that the solar year and the man-made calendar year didn't always match up.
That's because it actually takes the Earth a little longer than a year to travel around the Sun — 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be exact.
Therefore, as the hours accumulated over the centuries, an extra day was occasionally added to the calendar, and over time the practice became more or less official.
It was the Romans who first designated February 29 as leap day. Later, a more precise formula (still in use today) was adopted in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar fine-tuned the calculations to include a leap day in years only divisible by four, i.e., 2008, 2012.
Another stipulation ruled that no year divisible by 100 would have a leap year, except if it was divisible by 400. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year ... but 2000 was! Go figure.

A similar modern American tradition, Sadie Hawkins Day, honors "the homeliest gal in the hills" created by Al Capp in the cartoon strip Li'l Abner. In the famous story line, Sadie and every other woman in town were allowed on that day to pursue and catch the most eligible bachelors in Dogpatch. Although the comic strip placed Sadie Hawkins Day in November, today it has become almost synonymous with February 29.

Leap Year cocktail

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serve with a twist of lemon.

LEAPLINGS
Someone born on leap day may be called a "leapling." They usually celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1 in common years.
klds on 02.29.08 @ 01:19 AM CST [link] [No Comments]

Thursday, February 28th

Let's all get along...

klds on 02.28.08 @ 01:09 AM CST [link] [No Comments]

Happy Birthday Katie...

"Happy birthday, dearest one, sweet child of my heart!
We've become one family, of which you are a part.
We are one in love and joy, in fondness and in worth,
And so as one we celebrate, this day, your day of birth!"

Let's all wish Katie a very Happy Birthday!

klds on 02.28.08 @ 12:48 AM CST [link] [5 Comments]

Wednesday, February 27th

US Airways... Second Baggage Check Policy Change

I got this in e-mail today... and all I can say is, "Are you kidding me?" I guess they need money, but you can't even take your stuff with you for free anymore. They also lowered the weight of the one bag you can have to 50 lbs. That may sound like a lot, but it's really not.

Today, US Airways announced a change to our baggage policy. Beginning May 5, 2008, we’ll charge $25 for a second checked bag. The new fee applies to travel on or after May 5 for tickets purchased on or after February 26, 2008.

We’re making these changes to offset record fuel prices and rising airline related expenses. We simply must make changes to the way we do business to provide all of you with the high level of service that you’ve come to expect from US Airways. Also, we’re doing all we can to keep fares low. With this policy change, we’re able to give you the choice to avoid the fee and pack fewer items. With fewer bags to process, we save both money and fuel and can pass that savings on to you.

Dividend Miles Preferred members are exempt from the fee, and we’re also waiving the fee for:

- Confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers
- Passengers with Star Alliance Silver or Gold status
- Active military personnel in uniform and with ID
- Unaccompanied minors
- Passengers checking personal assistive devices
Erin on 02.27.08 @ 11:53 AM CST [link] [2 Comments]

Tuesday, February 26th

Game on Monday

l_84b2d47656f7764e4033f5a1ca5fb400 (53k image)
Well i had my first game for school soccer on monday. my team tied 1-1 and i scored the goal. and im not going to lie it was a very NICE goal. i nutmegged the girl going one v one then i hit a laser in the corner it was very spiffy. but anyhow the season is going good i already got beat up my ankle is very grossly black and blue but its cool. thanks for all your support.
kristen on 02.26.08 @ 04:12 PM CST [link] [5 Comments]

Monday, February 25th

Change...

Behavioral change experts generally agree on several tips for habit-changers from 18 to 88:
* Figure out why you want to change. An internal motivation is preferable to an external one (my doctor told me to lose weight). But to start with, even cosmetic goals will do.
* Use your life experience to your advantage. Catalog the attempts you’ve made at change and why they’ve failed. Then apply what you’ve learned. Don’t plan to work out at six each morning if you haven’t risen before eight for the last five decades.
* Substitute a new behavior for the old one. Exercise is a great replacement for smoking or eating. And even a less-than-virtuous substitute is better than a plainly bad habit.
* Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If the prospect of trying to lose 20 pounds paralyzes you, start small. Walking for 20 minutes a day and consuming just 100 fewer calories daily—that’s one tablespoon of mayonnaise—adds up to a 20-pound weight loss over the course of a year for an average-size person, according to Baylor’s John Foreyt.
* Get support. Having friends and family on board is critical for most successful behavior change. Let those close to you know what you’re planning to do and how it might affect your behavior. Conversely, stay away from people (including spouses!) who have an interest in undermining your efforts.
* Anticipate obstacles. Develop a plan for what you’re going to do when the bread basket arrives at the restaurant table. Take a walk, order a veggie plate, or ask the waiter to take it away once others have been served.
* Don’t quit trying. Most people don’t succeed in changing on their first try, says Wilkins of Cedars-Sinai. “You never want to give up because you don’t know if it’s the third time, the fourth time, or the fifth time where you will succeed.”
klds on 02.25.08 @ 11:55 PM CST [link] [2 Comments]

Sunday, February 24th

Slow down today...

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it."

klds on 02.24.08 @ 12:21 AM CST [link] [1 Comment]

Saturday, February 23rd

You are a marvel...

"Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?
You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children."

klds on 02.23.08 @ 12:54 AM CST [link] [3 Comments]

We can pray for spring...

"Spring is not the best of seasons. Cold and flu are two good reasons;
wind and rain and other sorrow, warm today and cold tomorrow."

We need a break in the germs and the cold weather... hopefully tomorrow we can get some errands done.
Nana- their is a new CD (Celine Dion) and pictures coming your way.
Kay- Delaney 5 and a new check is headed your way.
Today I got my court work done, all the SSWAM treasurer stuff done, balanced my check book, made two doctors appointments and a mediation appointment,tried to get my investments switched (old place not letting go of MY money), caught up my UMKC paperwork and straightened the house. Saturday we have MANY places to go, post office, bank, going for a refund on the Ipod I got Linda (they cut the price $30.00), need some fish oil and new vitamins, and just want to get out of the house. The good part of snow days- you get to catch up with sleep and your own stuff. I'm still ready for nice weather- can't wait till March and the beach!
klds on 02.23.08 @ 12:42 AM CST [link] [4 Comments]

Friday, February 22nd

JoAnn's House...

Welcome to Linda's sisters house. You walk in and off to the right is the kitchen. It's pretty small but convenient. The closet you see all the way down is the laundry closet. Turn right at the end of the way and you go into the garage or there are steps to go downstairs. If you continue through the kitchen it will turn into the kitchen table area. This is very open and there is a door that leads out to a covered deck. This goes completely around to the sit corner which has a china-hutch across from it. From this view you can look directly into the living room. There is going to be an armorer across on the big wall but it comes March 4th. You can't tell from that view but there are two chairs in the living room. We purchased picture 1 and picture 2 to hang on the hallway wall. Thinking about putting them on the fireplace instead. When you go down the hallway there is a bedroom off to the left which she has a bed in and small table in. Off to the side is a dresser and mirror. Straight to the end of the hall is another bedroom that she has a couch that pulls out to a bed and computer hutch. Next to this bedroom is a small main bathroom for guest to use. On the right side end of hall is the master bedroom which has a dresser, TV stand that has a fireplace in it and glider. Their is a walk in closet next to the dresser and a master bathroom with a separate shower and jacuzzi tub.
As you can see, there is a lot of decorating that needs to be done. We are going to hang the mirror and pictures this weekend and JoAnn is putting stuff in the china hutch. Almost everything you see here is new including all the bed clothes, towels, rugs, furniture and accessories. So Kim Farley- we look forward to any suggestions and ideas so we can finish this house.
klds on 02.22.08 @ 09:59 PM CST [link]

Thursday, February 21st

What's up...

* Kansas City is getting more snow Thursday and Friday
* Nana & Poppy will be home Thursday
* Mattie made JV's
* Kam's team won their tournament
* Katie is in Florida
* For the third time in the past year, the moon will become completely immersed in Earth's shadow on Wednesday night, resulting in a total lunar eclipse
* Giant chunks of man made space junk — like the dead satellite that the U.S. government shoot down — regularly fall to Earth. Yet no one has ever been reported hurt by them.The reason space junk doesn't regularly hit people is simple: About 70 percent of the Earth is water.But Bush just spent 10 million to shoot this one down- good financial management!
* Share your news...
Edited: No school today (Thursday)- we really will not have a summer at this rate!
Edited: No school today (Friday)- I got a lot done at home!
klds on 02.21.08 @ 12:27 AM CST [link]

The 7 Best Weight Loss Tips...from Kris

I get an email article every week on diabetes - this is one of the best weight loss tips article I have read. Its pretty common sense but if you are honest with yourself you will probably notice that you don't do some of things well - I had to adopt ALL of these strategies but when you do it becomes part of your life not a chore.
Anyway wanted to share...click link.
klds on 02.21.08 @ 12:10 AM CST [more..]

Wednesday, February 20th

Appreciate what you have...

The text that originated this movie was published on May 29, 1990 with the title “State of the Village Report”, and it was written by Donella Meadows, who passed away in February 2000. Nowadays Sustainability Institute, through Donella’s Foundation, carries on her ideas and projects. The Miniature Earth project was first published in 2001, since then more than 2 million people have seen this website.
klds on 02.20.08 @ 11:55 PM CST [link]

Tuesday, February 19th

JV PLAYA!!

Well today we found out what team we are on and i made JV... im really excited becuase i no i will get a lot of playing time and our team is going to be beast. <33 but our coach said if he sees potential in the jv he can move them up to varsity but im content with where i am. wish me luck our first game is on monday vs north meck.
kristen on 02.19.08 @ 06:00 PM CST [link]

Conversation with Kelsie and Sue...

With her hands on her hips...she walks into the room and asks her mother..."You gonna be on her all day?"
We had been on the phone for a while, long enough to know she had "nailish" on her fingers and toes and a belt around her that made her "sassy"! She saw the movie "Spiderwick" which had bad things in it and then asked her mom to tell me about it! Too fun!
klds on 02.19.08 @ 12:41 AM CST [link]

Life...

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.
The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."

And a smile is a great way to deal with it!
klds on 02.19.08 @ 12:27 AM CST [link]

Monday, February 18th

President's Day...

"Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation;
for it is better to be alone than in bad company."

* George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
* Washington's father died when George was 11 years old. He had very little formal schooling, but taught himself to be an expert woodsman, surveyor, and mapmaker.
* Washington grew to be over 6 feet tall -- this was very rare in Colonial times.
* Washington married Martha Custis in 1759; she was a rich widow who had two children, Martha "Patsy" and John "Jacky." George and Martha did not have children together.
* Their home in Virginia was called Mt. Vernon.
* Washington was unanimously elected President of the United States of America by electors in early 1789 and again in 1792. Both votes were unanimous. John Adams was his vice-president.
* Washington refused a third Presidential term, saying in his farewell speech that a longer rule would give one man too much power.
* Washington wore false teeth made from hippopotamus ivory.
* Washington died on December 14, 1799, at his home, Mt. Vernon, located in Fairfax County, Virginia. After his death, the nation's capital was moved from Philadelphia to a location on the border of Virginia and Maryland near Washington's home, and was named Washington, District of Columbia in his honor.
klds on 02.18.08 @ 04:37 PM CST [link]

Sunday, February 17th

Another busy week...

* Kameron is playing in a tournament all weekend
* The Carroll's are in North Carolina where Delaney is adopting two new sisters
* Sarah is making us all proud! (see post below) Not a little but a lot PROUD!
* La is feeling better- amazing what drugs can do (antibiotics), Linda has something now
* You should hear Kelsie cheer on a team- she knows the lingo- 20 minutes she rallied her team (a game she was playing)- Nana informed me she has heard her daddy a lot lately as they go to many games.
* Nana & Poppy are getting new carpet at the condo- going to visit Kevin Michael while it is put in
* Going to snow AGAIN in Kansas City (4+ inches, is the snow blower are blessing or a curse? Maybe we brought the snow because the God's wanted us to get our money's worth!)
* Kelsie has stopped biting her nails- it was more important to be able to put on finger nail polish- she looks marvelous!
* Beth is getting ready to move...again...keep it up and you will beat my record!
* What's up with you?
klds on 02.17.08 @ 12:40 AM CST [link]

Saturday, February 16th

WOW...

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish
something stand in the way of your doing it.
The time will pass anyway;
we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."

I need to say it again...WOW!
Sarah went to Keuka to find out what kind of scholarship she had won...drum roll please....
Full tuition scholarship this is SUCH an accomplishment and a deserving reward for a school career filled with hard work and dedication. Sarah we could not be happier for you and know the best is yet to come!

Here she is receiving the announcement.
klds on 02.16.08 @ 09:54 AM CST [link]

Daily Meditation...

"My life is a quest for simplicity. Not austerity, not an ascetic minimalism, for I love comfort and life and color. What I seek is to remove from my life those things which are only illusions playing at being necessities, the things for which I have paid more in time and work and worry than they are truly worth. I want to hone the things in my life as an artist hones a statue, removing the excess and the dross until the inner creation is revealed - no more, no less."

A brief daily meditation, even for just 15 minutes, is your chance to turn off the rest of the world and listen to yourself. Our fast-paced modern lifestyle delivers a steady barrage of information, obligation and responsibility. Meditation clears the mind and relaxes the body.

Meditation does not require incense, mandalas, mantras or the perfect lotus position. It only requires you to be comfortable, quiet and to try to clear your mind. A few tips:

• Consistency. Try to meditate every day, even if only for a few minutes. The benefits are cumulative.
• Location. Choose a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. Turn off the phone. If possible, meditate in the same spot every day.
• Breathe. Focus on your breathing to help clear your mind and relax your body.
• Try not to think. Listen to your heart, feel the energy in your body, let an empty breeze flow through your mind. Above all, try not to organize your day or problem solve.
• Lower your expectations. The benefits of meditation are substantial, but subtle. Don't look for results - they'll find you.
• Make it last. As you leave your meditation space, try to extend the relaxed, focused feeling into your day. Every few hours, if you think of it, take a slow deep breath and envision your meditation space. Meditation can help you feel more relaxed and focused throughout the day.
klds on 02.16.08 @ 12:47 AM CST [link]

Tweaking Your Food to Get More Energy...

Food is fuel. If you don’t fill your body with the right fuel, or don’t refuel regularly, it won’t take long before you hit empty. Here are a few dietary tweaks I use to ensure my energy levels stay high throughout the day:click link.

klds on 02.16.08 @ 12:23 AM CST [more..]

Friday, February 15th

Alot happens in five years...

“I am mentally preparing myself for the five-year-old mind.
I want to come down to their physical limitations
and up to their sense of wonder and awe.”

I have been working on a project, I am not sure how it will play out but it's fun to watch the changes.
Here are the close up views of each year:
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
klds on 02.15.08 @ 12:12 AM CST [link]

Thursday, February 14th

Beth is moving to NH!

My new company is called Nomad Communications/Nomad Press and is located in VT on the border of NH. I will most likely look for a place to live in NH, since there is no state or sales tax there. I met with them when I took my snowboarding vacation up there. I didn’t really expect a job this soon, but they had an opening, so I’m taking it! I’ve been keeping my eye on the job market up there and there isn’t a lot of designer jobs. Much less in an advertising/marketing agency, which is where I wanted to get back to in my career. I miss the challenges and variety that come with it. So, I move at the end of this month. I’m going to put my stuff into storage and temporarily stay with this guy and his girlfriend. They live like 45 min from my work, but it’ll just be until I can find my own place to live (housing market isn’t what it is in DC). It’ll be good to have someone to talk to and they said they’ll introduce me to their friends! Yeah Friends! Now I’ll be able to snowboard, camp, hike and play hockey! I’m very excited!
beth on 02.14.08 @ 04:03 PM CST [link]

In case you didn't know...

"Some days up ahead
will come down empty
and some years fuller
than the ones
we've known before.

Today has been
the best day yet.
I thought
you ought to know that,
and I thought it time
that I said thank you
for whatever might have
passed between us
that in your mind
you might have felt
escaped my attention.

It didn't
and it doesn't
and it won't.

Thank you
for the everydays
that you make
into holidays."

klds on 02.14.08 @ 12:20 AM CST [link]

Happy Valentines Day...

"A kiss is something you cannot give without taking and cannot take without giving."

To see A St. Valentine's Story...click link.
klds on 02.14.08 @ 12:14 AM CST [more..]

Wednesday, February 13th

Beware...

Nana saw a story on the Today show and asked me to relay the information to the family...

We’re used to doing personal email at work. As the Internet evolved, our personal Internet habits evolved with it. However, “The Workplace: Your company monitors your personal e-mail” by Matt Villano at the International Herald Tribune should give you enough reasons to start changing your email habit in the workplace. Here are six key points to think about as you reconsider how you email:

1. A new policy to monitor all outgoing e-mail, including personal correspondence at work: Should you be concerned? “Don’t panic, but definitely watch your back…messages about anything other than work might attract unwanted attention…Nothing you’re doing on e-mail is worth jeopardizing your career.”
2. Employers have the right to monitor email: “The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other U.S. regulations require publicly traded companies to archive all e-mail messages. Employers in the private sector also have complete authority to scrutinize every word, provided that they have established a policy and put it into writing.”
3. Monitoring of e- mail is common: Some monitor every message while others monitor attachments. Why monitor? “Some companies say they do it to control the information that employees send through the corporate network, make sure employees stay on task, or as a measure of network security, or to see how employees are communicating with customers.”
4. To what degree is personal e-mail acceptable at work: “Personal e-mail messages are like personal phone calls — even the most stringent companies may allow them in moderation…If you have to wonder whether you’re writing too many personal e- mails on company time, you probably are.”
5. Yes, you can be fired for personal emailing: “In the United States and many other countries, yes. Because companies in most U.S. states offer employment at will, they can terminate employees at any time, and may do so if they decide that an employee has misused corporate e-mail.”
6. Protecting your personal correspondence: You can use email systems like Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo all operate through a standard Web browser; however, “some companies monitor all outgoing Internet traffic for personal use, meaning that they can read messages from these sites as easily as they can read regular e-mail.”
klds on 02.13.08 @ 04:55 PM CST [link]

In the spirit of updates, this is what I do...

I thought I would take a moment just to show everyone what it is that I do (a picture always helps). See that tv... that's what we do. We install those into locations like the one pictured and I create the ad content that runs on them. The one showing was so effective that the guy had to hire more people to work for his auto repair shop because he couldn't keep up with the new customers. Now that's pretty cool! You obviously cannot tell from the photo, but it is animated and the little lifeline blips across the ad. The text changes to revel more info about the company. It's actually one of my better ads. The ads change every 15-30 seconds and loop for about 6 minutes worth of content. Working in advertising is a dream come true! Thought it would be fun to share.

Oh, and we have a big meeting next week with the Motor Speedway (that's Nascar, for all the non-fans like myself). I will shout from the rooftops if we get it! Stay tuned...
Erin on 02.13.08 @ 09:31 AM CST [link]

I don't care what it is...

I still feel like crap and I just want to feel better- I wash my hands, I clean my tables and door knobs at school and still....watch out people, it hunts you down and before you know it, BAM, you are down in bed hacking up your lungs.
Edited: I have bronchitis and have started on azithromycin.
klds on 02.13.08 @ 08:18 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, February 12th

Happy Birthday Abe...

"A house divided against itself cannot stand... This government cannot endure, permanently half-slave and half-free... I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall but I do expect it will cease to be divided. "

Of all the presidents in the history of the United State, Abraham Lincoln is probably the one that Americans remember the best and with deepest affection. His childhood in the frontier of Indiana set the course for his character and motivation later in life. He brought a new honesty and integrity to the White House. He would always be remembered as "honest Abe." Most of all, he is associated with the final abolition of slavery. Lincoln became a virtual symbol of the American dream whereby an ordinary person from humble beginnings could reach the pinnacle of society as president of the country.
klds on 02.12.08 @ 01:23 AM CST [link]

We're going to drive there...

Well I have been looking for tickets to Myrtle Beach- last time they cost me $250 range, today the cheapest is $433.00 to $1113.00 depending on airline and times- I refuse to pay this so we decide to drive. Also, once we get there we have to rent a vehicle so the trip was getting pretty expensive- this way- we give up some time but save some money. We will leave right after Linda gets off work and arrive around 6-7 on Saturday (can't get into the room until 4 so what the heck). Myrtle Beach- here we come!
Edited: We go March 15- March 21, 2008. We are also checking into Sky Bus (thanks Kris) as an option, you have to schedule each leg of the journey and they are limited but we could do it for $562.00 which is less then I could do for one on the major airlines.
klds on 02.12.08 @ 01:08 AM CST [link]

Fitness Truths To Get You In Great Shape....

“Nothing’s better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you,
and your friends beside you.”

What follows are some of the more important truths I’ve learned, in the trenches, that I’d like to share with you. Take from them what you will — everyone will find different things that work for them, but I think just about all of them are important to share. Click link.
Edited: They are coming home toward the end of next week- they are flexible, probably toward the end of the week unless they want their own grass!
klds on 02.12.08 @ 12:57 AM CST [more..]

Monday, February 11th

What's up...

* Vermont is cool...so cool Beth is moving there for a new job
* La has the flu, down in bed- I hurt all over!
* Kenny's team is doing great...lots of wins
* Mom and dad take daily walks on the beach- don't think they miss 7 degree temperatures or white out conditions
* xerox Corp. has a new group of super spokesmen — strongman InRedible, French flyer IncrediBleu, superspeedster InYellowible, and tuxedoed team leader Mr. Black. The cartoon superheroes are the centerpiece of “Incredible Inc. Adventures,” an online viral marketing effort by the Rochester area’s fourth-largest employer to push its solid inks used in a variety of office printers.
* What's up with you?
klds on 02.11.08 @ 03:47 PM CST [link]

Sunday, February 10th

Happy Birthday Kay C....

Trip Around the Sun

Here I’m singin’ happy birthday
Better think about the wish I make
This year gone by ain’t been a piece of cake
Everyday’s a revolution
Pull it together and it comes undone
Just one more candle and a trip around the sun

I’m just hangin’ on while this old world keeps spinning
And it’s good to know it’s out of my control
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all this livin’
Is that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go
No you never see it comin’
Always wind up wonderin’ where it went
Only time will tell if it was time well spent
It’s another revelation
Celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun

Yes I’ll make a resolution
That I’ll never make another one
Just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun
Just enjoy this ride."

Let's all wish Kay a very Happy Birthday!
klds on 02.10.08 @ 12:00 AM CST [link]

Friday, February 8th

A Most Beautiful Rainbow...

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that
wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You
will have your heart broken probably more than once and
it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so
remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight
with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things
an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too
many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never
been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be
afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

Kelly sent this to me and I loved the photo and the message was pretty neat too so I thought I would share with everyone. Thanks Kelly, it made my day!
klds on 02.08.08 @ 12:00 AM CST [link]

Thursday, February 7th

This is my kingdom...

Kay told Delaney she needed to start sleeping in her own bed because it was too crowded- she looked at her mother and told her..."this side is daddy's, this side is yours and with hands wide open motioning the whole middle...and this is my kingdom!" There you have.
klds on 02.07.08 @ 12:18 AM CST [link]

It matters to all of us to find a cure for AIDS...

Blacks are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. While making up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for more than 49 percent of AIDS cases. AIDS is now the leading cause of death for Black women ages 25 to 34, and the second leading cause of death for Black men ages 35 to 44.
klds on 02.07.08 @ 12:09 AM CST [link]

Wednesday, February 6th

Ash Wednesday...

The mark of the cross made in ashes across the forehead is a visible sign of repentance and a reminder of mortality. Lent marks the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate their holiest observance, the resurrection of Christ. Traditionally, the Lenten season includes fasting, praying, charity and other methods to get closer to God.
klds on 02.06.08 @ 11:04 PM CST [link]

Another storm...

I am home again- snow day- this means I will be going to school into July at this rate. We had a major storm pass through- only dumped 4-6 inches but with the blowing, roads were a mess this morning.
As you can see by the picture and how much driveway we have, it WAS a very good year to get a snowblower.
klds on 02.06.08 @ 11:22 AM CST [link]

Make sure your voice is heard...VOTE!

It is tremendously exciting to see so many people voting rather than staying home; being a part of the process. Regardless of who you are supporting it is so cool to see so many people engaged rather than apathetic.

I thought it was neat how they turned a speech into a song...just sharing, not making a political statement (yet).

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --
Yes. We. Can
klds on 02.06.08 @ 12:58 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, February 5th

Super Bowl Commercials

A big part of the Super Bowl has always been the commercials, and of course being in advertising I cannot help but take notice. I thought they were great this year and just wanted to know what people's favorites were and what you thought. You can see them HERE. Here are a few that I liked:

Diet Pepsi – What is Love: One of my favs. Made you want to bop your head.
Audi – Godfather: Cute play on a movie and did you see that car!
Tide – Stain: Love that talking stain. I couldn’t stop laughing. One of my favs for the night.
Gatorade – Derek Jeter: This makes my list purely on YUMMY factor! Couldn't care less what it was selling. Love him!
CareerBuilder – Heart: So true and the concept was great!
NFL.com - SuperAd (Chester Pitts and the Oboe): Another one of the best ads! Top Quality!
Planters – Unibrow: Too funny! I love when she dabs the peanut near her breasts.
Life Water - Thriller: Gotta love Thriller and those dancing lizards were great!
Coca-Cola – Carville/Frist: Another one of the best ads, I thought.
Toyota – Big Wheels: Purely nostalic. Made me want to jump on one.
Amp – Jump Start: My favorite ad of the whole night! LOVED IT!
Erin on 02.05.08 @ 09:26 AM CST [link]

Remember Great Grandma Heald...

She was an interesting character...every year she would knit us hats, slippers and things and wrap them in very shiny paper. We all loved them (even if they were lopsided). Well, it seems we may get a reminder of those days. Erin has taken to knitting slippers...

I think I speak for everyone-we want a pair!
klds on 02.05.08 @ 12:57 AM CST [link]

Take time to laugh...

Delaney is learning word families, recently the "ag". They learned lag, bag and words with three letters and went on to Shaggy and Delaney's favorite...Agrabah.
What or where is this you might ask (I did) well... Hop the carpet and fly to a whole new world, a magical place of mystery and enchantment where the carpets fly, the genies live in lamps, and where love conquers all....Welcome to Agrabah! Oh what a mind!
klds on 02.05.08 @ 12:34 AM CST [link]

Hot Chocolate...

A group of graduates, well-established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some exquisite — telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said, “Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing one another's cups.

“Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate — your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have neither defines nor changes the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
And enjoy your hot chocolate...
klds on 02.05.08 @ 12:30 AM CST [link]

Monday, February 4th

Changes...

AT&T stopped believing after 129 years and announced plans to exit the shrinking pay phone business by the end of 2008. Ma Bell’s ties to the pay phone stretch back to the very beginning with the first pay phone in 1878.
klds on 02.04.08 @ 12:30 AM CST [link]

Slow down...

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”

klds on 02.04.08 @ 12:08 AM CST [link]

Sunday, February 3rd

They did it...

In one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, New York shattered New England’s unbeaten season 17-14.

It's a great day to be a Giants fan!

klds on 02.03.08 @ 10:46 PM CST [link]

Try it...

XgKk0gEJx4rro5o930sn7Pof_400 (20k image)

klds on 02.03.08 @ 12:56 AM CST [link]

Saturday, February 2nd

Our new pup Moses!

Everyone, this is Moses. He is our new CCI dog. He's a great puppy and so well behaved. We just love him.

I know you are thinking, another dog?? Well, we had Zalman first. We had to let him go, but he's currently doing VERY well at advanced training. We anticipate him to be placed with a family in May. We miss him very much, but it's a good feeling knowing you helped out a person who needs it. Most people that need dogs are on a 3 year waiting list! Then we had Patch (I posted a while back). My roommate got involved in a school project and acutally let someone else take over raising Patch. It was too much for her to raise a puppy at the time. Then, we had Chaplin for a little while. He was another family's dog that they were raising, but they were having a little difficultly training him (busy family, other dogs). So my roommate, Bethany, put him through Bethany Boot camp and he's doing really well now. Now we start from the beginning with Moses! He's a cute pup and so calm and well behaved for a 75% lab/25% retreiver mix.
beth on 02.02.08 @ 08:22 AM CST [link]

Groundhog's Day...

February 2 brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year—and the only one led by a rodent. Legend has it that on this morning, if a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is on the way.
Why the Groundhog?
Since a groundhog hibernates for the winter, its coming out of the ground is a natural sign of spring. In Europe centuries ago, people watched for other hibernating animals, including badgers, bears, and hedgehogs, as signs of winter's end.
And a superstition it is. But there's a grain of truth: the winter days when you can see your shadow clearly are often especially cold, because there are no clouds overhead to insulate the earth.
Why now?
Early February is midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Edit: "As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!"
klds on 02.02.08 @ 12:46 AM CST [link]

February 2008
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29