It just takes a minute...

I know it's been a while since I've blogged (sorry, Elaine!!). I've just been a busy girl!! I know that I have some posting to do on both of my blogs! I just wanted to take the time to post some info for a cause near and dear to me.

Most of you know that there is a special place in my heart for those serving in our country's military. Having been the daughter of a man who served in the Navy during Vietnam, and the granddaughter of one who was a Marine in WWII, I learned at an early age to respect the gift I've been given at the cost of those who have served. I came to appreciate this much more when I traveled overseas.

I've always believed that even if you don't agree with the reasons that our troops have been deployed it is still our responsibility to support them (I mean, do you really think someone wants to be sent thousands of miles way to a giant sandbox away from their families and friends?!?) I realize these men and women, are just doing their jobs. If one doesn't agree with the allocation of troops and funding it's our responsibility to elect those who will ensure their care.

Anywho, off my soap box and on to my point. While there are many sites that offer ways to send care packages to soldiers (anysoldier.com, Soldier's Angel's, The Hugs Project, ect...) here's a even simpler (and cheaper) way to show a soldier you care. Let'sSayThanks.com donates cards to send to troops that are overseas. It's as simple as a few clicks of the mouse. Second, Walter Reed, VA accepts general cards to recovering soldiers. I know that I always have a few extra holiday cards from the boxes, and maybe you do too! Just send it off to the hospital, and send some cheer to someone. Here's the address:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

I hope that you all can find time to spread some cheer. It only takes a minute!!

(Thanks to Petra for the link and Mom for the info!)

Cool!

Yeah!! My fridge and my beer are now chilling nicely!!

With Jack's over the phone direction, I took the back panel off and found that the fan on the compressor motor was not moving. After digging around for the right tools (Finally!! I used a refrigeration ratchet!! My parents will appreciate the wonder of that one--I used to assemble them when I was a kid.) I got the fan motor off and the other Jack came by to help. We ran to the appliance repair place and one of the very nice guys there took the motor off the carriage. I had what I needed written on my hand, and all the guys in the shop made fun of me for not using paper (Hello! I did use paper--I just forgot said paper at home and had to call Jack to get the info again :D). They also cleaned and re-attached the fan and then rewired the plug. We got back (I yelled at Jack for the total cockblock) and got the motor back in.

Total cost: $51.75.

Insert "Bethie is awesome dance" here.

Ah, I think I'll drink a nice cold beer to celebrate. :)

(oh, and P.S. I also fixed the sprayer on the sink. Oh yeah!)

Hell in Heels

I’ve been working on a logo for the marathon relay team that I’m running in on October 7th. I had something else in mind when I started, but I just couldn’t find a media to make it work on the shirts. Finally, I gave up and scrapped the original concept when I found maroon long sleeve tech shirts for $6.53 each. I couldn’t pass it up!

Here’s the finished product for team “Hell in Heels”:

The top design is on the front of the shirts and the names (bottom half of the screen) are on the back. I hate to toot my own horn, but I think they look bad ass! Ladies who have to wear it…I hope you like ‘em, see you next weekend!

5.4 Horsepower

I've spent the last few days working on the house. One of the huge projects that needed to be done was staining the deck. It probably should have been done last summer, but it just didn't happen. So, with this recent bout of cool weather, I decided to tackle the project. I started on Thursday by scubbing, cleaning and preping. Then Friday, Saturday and today was spent actually staining it. It seems like there were a million ballisters (really only 150). It was taking way longer than anticipated, so I decided that before I became a danger to myself or others, that I needed a paint sprayer to help get the job done faster! The 5.4 hp paint sprayer came in handy for the areas with the lattice...and lets face it, I'm a wiz with spray paint, so the spray job looks awesome! I'm still not completely finished. I have the main parts done, but I still have to touch a few areas up, paint around the windows and doors of the hut and get all my plants a grill back on the deck. Thank God I went a bought a paint sprayer or I'd have much more than one more day of work! I think I'll take a break from it for a few days...I just can't handle anymore stain!! (Check out the half that is finished!--Lookin' sharp, if I do say so myself!)

Up in my grill!

It’s a sad day in my world…I’ve had to say goodbye to an old friend…my grill died. I’ve had it for at least eight years, and it’s been faithful through many a party and Superbowl. It was a hand-me down grill, that had quite a long life. Sure, it’s been slow the last couple of years (on life support, if you will) but it’s finally gone to that big barbeque in the sky…

A moment of silence please.

Life goes on, and I still crave grilled meat…so I headed to the ‘Po (Home Depot, for those of you non-native Bethie speakers) for a new back yard friend. So many to choose from, but I finally decided on a four-burner, silver Char-Broil with side burner.

Some assembly is required...

Ok, a LOT of assembly…

They sent this “castor wrench” which totally sucked. Thank God I have my own tools…which are much superior.

And my drill made assembly go all the quicker!

What’s this Spider Warning?!?! You know I have issues with things with more than four legs! My grill needs to be spider free!

Here she is, in all her glory!!

Thanks to Becca for my new Chicago Bears Grilling utensils…check out that flipper with the etched bear face!!

Mmmm…Burgers! (Check out those grill marks!)

They were eventually cheeseburgers, but they didn’t last long enough to photograph.

Yeah, bad ass new grill!

Let there be light!

I've been on a recent home improvement kick...thank God for a 24 hour Home Depot! Any who, after painting a tiny dreary hallway semi-gloss ultra white, I decided that I needed a new light fixture. I found this fun one at HD--set to work!

As you can see, I played with electricity--and won! Fortunately--Jack and Nick had some helpful suggestions (thank you!) which made all the difference (yeah, there's no white wire in the celing!!). I do need to get some lower wattage bulbs--50 and 100 watts are super bright!!

I'm pretty proud of my efforts...who knows what's next!