Email and the internet are fun and wonderful things. Except when they're not. Like right now. I was on the computer too long today, frittering away my time. Sometimes twittering away my time. I took a look at my yahoo inbox. Get this . . .

Time to clean up. It's 9:15 pm and I'm going to see how many I can knock outta there before heading to bed (early - I'm getting sick). I'll provide an update tomorrow.

Okay, I'm feeling better. It's beginning to look like it ought to. Although I cannot locate all the widget codes I copied and saved somewhere on my computer. Sigh.

It's always something. (Roseanne Roseannadanna for those of you old enough to remember!)

Feeling better is not very accurate - I'm actually excited! I tweaked and fiddled with a blog template (at my secret test blog facility) and made it into something I want! I'm finally free of the standard, everyone has it, blogger template!! Not without some assistance from my sweet friend, Amy of Split Decisionz. Considering that she is a blog designer for pay, I think it's pretty awesome that she so graciously shares tutorials, answers questions, and helps people me out when I'm trying to do my own thang.

Okay, now for some housekeeping.

BlogHop 08 Update - I DO have a winner for my Blog Hop 08 contest. Please don't think I forgot. I'll have the post up tomorrow and the winner notified.

I also won a goodie myself from the Blog Hop. A Starbucks gift card (sweetness!) from Char at DigiScrap Chat!

I still have some blogs to check out, even if the party is over. And I'm bringing the accordians! Polka, anyone?

Wordless Wednesday - Some weeks I post photos here. Some weeks I post at Photo Bunny, and some weeks I post both places. Fortunately, this was a week where I only put one up at my photo blog, since I had a totally wacked out blog template here tonight. It was kinda scary. I mean I'm certainly no blog designer. Heck, I don't really know much about html, css, or even csi. So I hope you all had a chance to swing by the photoblog and check out the pretty flower. Even better would be if you knew what type of flower it is. If I have no horticulturists to help me out, I guess I'll go ask my neighbor. It's her flower after all. Well, at least I assume it is - it's in her garden.

Seems to be the season for new digs. Besides mine, check Carrie's & Robert's new looks.

I was going to ramble on some more. You know the routine. I write little to nothing, post only photos, and then suddenly become extremely verbose all in one post. That's me - all or nothing. Ever swinging wildly past that elusive place of balance, as I fly to the other end of the spectrum. So this will do for now. I put the rest of my thoughts into other posts. Future posts. For those days when I have nothing to say don't get anything posted.

In the meantime, hope you like the new look and one of these days, I'll have my sidebar cleaned up and back in shape.

I was paying my phone bill via telephone today and utilizing the automated system.

The conversaion with the mechanical man voice goes something like this:

MMV: "I see you are calling from 123-4567 (not my real number). Is this correct?"

Me: "Yes."

MMV: "What can I help you with today? You can say things like, 'pay my bill' or 'add services'."

Me: "Pay my bill."

MMV: "Okay. Let me look up your account. Hmmm . . . I can't pull up your information. I will need to transfer you to a customer service representative. Please hold while I transfer you."

Whoa. Excuse me? Mechanical Man is pausing with a "Hmmm . . . " as if he's deep in thought about how to proceed?!?! Get real! All he's doing is following a series of yes/no, 1/0, or on/off options. It's nothing more than programming logic. Don't try fooling me into thinking that MM is actually thinking or pondering this matter. I am SO not buying into that. It's just too weird.

The sweet ladies over at 5 Minutes for Mom are having another really cool giveaway! This one is for the Rocketfish Wireless Multimedia Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse. Yep, it's a mouthfull, but boy howdy, would it make my life easier! My mouse is forever fighting against me as its cord gets hung up in the keyboard drawer (where it attaches to the desk), which is SO frustrating!

How great would that be? In a very techno sort of way. I'd love to win this, but if I don't, maybe you will. So go sign up. While you're there, check out some of the other great articles. These ladies have a great site.

Well, my computer is being very bad! In fact, it went over to the principal's house today (our techie friend).

So, this will be a quick update from my Mom's house.

Tales from the Scales - I think I'm up a half pound. No worries, this is about lifelong changes, not just one week.

I just read the most recent updates at Especially Heather (see link on lower right, I'm taking the lazy way out). What a tremendous blessing to see how God's working in her life.

I'm anxious to read Sprittibee's homeschool planning post (yes, link on the lower right side again) as I want to do a better job of planning for next year. We will be doing school on a miminal basis over the summer. I'll post more on that later.

It seems like there was something else, but I've lost it. Hubby is going to bring home the laptop, so I'll have some computer/internet access still. My big bad computer is supposed to come home with a much better attitude tomorrow.

Oh, S*per Scr*bble Deluxe is loads of fun, but it takes much longer to play a game! Mom & I played last week and it felt like it took 3 hours for one game (we usually do a game in 20-40 minutes). I think it was around 1 hour and 20 minutes in reality. It's pretty wild to play for nearly an hour and still have loads of empty space on the board, plus lots of tiles in the bag. But we still had a good time.

Guess I'd better head home - the natives just called and I think things are getting out of hand. I don't really want to get home and find blood.

Well I keep saying I am back online and my reviews will be up . . . but I think I'm overly optimistic. While I have my computer back, it's definitely having issues. There are a few things I need to take care of.

I'm sure there's more, but they escape me at the moment. I would really like to have my computer working properly and a new printer/scanner/copier. That would help tremendously in accomplishing some of the other items. I'm also planning to head to the Denver Museum this week for the Benjamin Franklin exhibit.

On a happy note, hubby & I have a mini-date night with the boys going to Bible study!

A blessed Monday to everyone out there in Bloggityville!

My elbow and shoulder tend to hurt fairly often, which I know is a direct result of being on the computer a lot. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that my elbow and shoulder actually feel great since I haven't had the computer this past week. I further suppose I should take that as a sign that I need to spend just a little less time on the computer. Either that or I have to become an ambidextrous mouse user. LOL!

Of course, catching up doesn't qualify for the less mouse time category, so I'm off to work on some book reviews (painful elbow and all).

I know I said I was back online . . . and I was, sort of. Not that using hubby's laptop was a bad thing, but it's just not the same as having my computer complete with photo software, printers, etc. It was a drag having no ability to print, check one of my email accounts, and upload my photos. But at least I could keep up on most of my email, check into a couple of blogs, and not be entirely out of the loop!

The great news is that my computer is feeling much better and moving a lot quicker than it used to. The sad news is that my printer/scanner/copier is dead. Boo hoo! At least I have a second printer that I use primarily for photos (costs too much to use regularly for text), so that will hold me over until I can replace my poor old HP1210.

And no, I haven't written any reviews, even though I've finished a couple of books. I just couldn't get into the writing groove last week. It's just not the same on a substitute computer, you know (or maybe you don't - maybe you're not strange in that way like I am). Some days I didn't even turn it on (Gasp!).

Okay, I'm just rambling now. I need to go check on the laundry and get ready for church. The boys come home today after being at a junior high retreat, so I'm excited to see them and find out how it went. I've been praying that God would grow them and they would be closer to Him. We'll find out shortly.

The picture doens't have anything to do with my post. I just love the beauty of Kissing Camels and Pikes Peak and the snow and the blue sky and how amazing and creative God is. Enjoy!

My computer was in need of some tech help, so the guy came and picked it up on Saturday morning. Hubby had his laptop at home from work and said I could load the DSL if I wanted. I started to, but then I decided that maybe a day or two away from the computer would probably be good for me.

And it was.

Hubby loaded the DSL last night, so I figured I'd sit down this morning and catch up a little bit. I've gotten some reading in, which I have enjoyed. I need to get my review of Crossroads written and posted. I also plan to scrapbook some more today. And I need to go marinate some chicken for dinner.

But I'm back online. :-)