Playing A Quick Hand Of Cards...

Hi everyone. As promised, here are a few photos of my recent card creations.



A classmate of Erin's, Brenna, recently turned 5 and had a party. Here's the card we made for her. Erin helped. :) I loved these bright, rose-colored stick-on letters, and I'll definitely buy them again. I think they're really designed for scrapbooks, but who cares? If they look good on cards and work well and are pretty, why the heck not? The inside of the card just says "Happy Birthday" (I can't remember which Stampin' Up stamp set I used), and the cardstocks (all from SU) I used were Rose Red, Certainly Celery, and Bliss Blue. The hearts were cut from my Sizzix machine (I really, really love that thing!) When SU discontinued Mint Melody and replaced it with Certainly Celery, I was NOT pleased. I loved that cardstock. I am pleasantly surprised, though, and how much I love Certainly Celery. Alllllmost as much as Mint Melody. For your Mintlipgloss to say this is a huge travesty, yes, I know. I digress, however. Back to the cards...



And here are the two cards I briefly mentioned last night. As you know, a large group of us here in my neighborhood (and some former neighbors who have since moved) all do "swaps" on occasion. Most of the time, we just make plain cards that can be used for a variety of occasions. This time, I did birthday cards (a handful of us did). The catch? At least half of the cards had to be masculine-friendly and for male recipients. You'd be amazed at how hard it is to do "guy cards." Anyway, I made 18 each of these two cards. The masculine card was made with the following SU products: cardstock (Bliss Blue, Night Of Navy, and Sahara Sand) and ink (Night Of Navy) and stamp set ("It's A Party"), Stampin' Dimensionals, and The Tearing Edge. The hat was cut from my amazing Sizzix machine, and the brads are from, I believe, Making Memories. I was really not one for brads, but lemme tellya, I likey. I likey a lot. They are easy to use and really make a statement. The feminine card was also made using SU and non-SU products. The "non" first! The pink flower brads were from Making Memories, and the cream cardstock and the curvy scissors weren't SU products. Everything else was. Cardstock? Pretty In Pink and Mint Melody (now retired) and Almost Amethyst. Ink? Eggplant Envy (also retired). Stamp set? "Groovy" (also retired). The inside stamp says "Hippie Birthday." The square punches are also from SU.

Off to watch "Big Love" and get everything ready for tomorrow. Is it really the end of the weekend? Please say it ain't so, Joe! Bunko's tomorrow night, so I am not sure if I'll pop by and post. I'll try! Have a great start to the new week, folks!

United 93

On a stunningly gorgeous autumn day nearly five years ago, four commercial airliners were hijacked and used as weapons of mass destruction successfully intent upon killing as many innocent American lives as possible.

Seven days later, my daughter was prematurely born.

Almost five years later, one film brings it all back. I saw "United 93" tonight.

Not a day has gone by since September 11, 2001 that I haven't thought about that terrible day. I remember exactly where I was sitting and what I was doing when I learned of both Trade Center attacks. I remember walking alongside Loyce and Larry, trying to find a way to waddle my frightened, pregnant body all the way out to the west parking lot of our building as armed guards and police swarmed our site. I remember thinking it completely odd that the local radio station in my car as I drove home played music and carried on about its business as if absolutely nothing were happening. Because my husband is a senior engineer for a major telephone company, he was unable to leave his office that day. And so I spent the day at home, frozen to my television and crying and frightened and ashamed of the world in which I would soon be delivering my innocent baby. In the years that have passed since that terrible day, not one 24-hour period has elapsed without my thoughts returning to that tragic time. It's been one of the moments in my life that I'd consider to be "defining," and I knew when I'd first learned about this movie that I'd have to go see it. I encourage you to do so as well. We can't ever forget those amazing people and what they sacrificed. They were fearless. Strong. Unafraid. Brave. If only they'd had more time...perhaps if they'd started their attack sooner, they could have recovered the aircraft and returned it to safety by landing at an airport close by. I don't know. I do know that they make me proud to be an American. How proud those families must be. Deservedly. Please go see this film. Please.

Hi guys. Sorry that it's been so long since my last post. Curt's grandmother took ill and had exploratory surgery (she pulled through - more on that in a moment) and work has been insanely busy (more to come on that, too). Earlier today, my sorority's alumnae chapter ended the year with a wonderful salad luncheon and charity auction, and I inducted next year's President and Executive Board. I am sad to pass this baton on, but I am proud of the time I spent as President of the chapter and I am so grateful for the support and love these women showed to me. We had another card exchange in our neighborhood, and again, I waited until the final hour to get them done (will post photos soon). What else....still no closer to finding out about the job I interviewed for last month. I'm still DVR'ing "All My Children" (Michael E. Knight's recent scenes have been FANTASTIC), and I'm still crazy in love with my Taylor Hicks and I need to find the time to crochet (and blog!) more often and I'm sad that more of you aren't leaving me comments here and on my MySpace page (although I will admit some responsibility here...perhaps you'd leave me comments if I'd actually POST here!) That's about all. Status quo - busy and happy and well.

Please keep Curt's grandmother in your prayers. It's a long story, but there were some concerns that perhaps gangrene had set in to one or two of her toes. After exploratory surgery Friday, we're thrilled to learn that she may only have to lose one toe (and not her whole foot)...or she may not need surgery at all. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, friends.

We had visitors this week from our Indianapolis office. Four of the HR folks who will be assuming our little DEU once we are BRAC'd out came and spent the week with us to learn what we do and how we do it. They were VERY nice people, and I really enjoyed getting to know them and helping them to learn about our operations. It makes us all feel so much better knowing that we're passing off our work to people who want to do it well...who care. As I understand it, our office will be officially realigned to Indianapolis come this July, and we'll remain assigned to it, but duty-stationed here in Kansas City. In my heart of hearts, I hope to be out of here and settled in to my new job before then. I am ready to make my move and get camp set up where I will be post-BRAC. I just want to leave of my own will and not via a separation SF-50 and "lights out."

OK, I am off to snuggle up to my family unit (or "unit family," as Erin likes to call it). Have a great rest-of-the-weekend, guys.

Absolutely Blown Away

Oh my goodness. "Idol" was fantastic tonight. Absolutely fantastic. I am just blown away at how talented some of these people are, and I am so envious of their courage and drive. I wish I had the stamina and the sense of self and the confidence to stand up in front of the country and give this very intimate part of themselves to all of us. God bless each and every one of them and their families. Just wow.

OK, here's my recap of tonight's "Great American Songbook:"

Chris: Absolutely beautiful. I had no idea how (if?) he'd be able to pull off "What A Wonderful World," but he sang it with such poise and beauty. He was just brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. He's Curt's choice to win, and if I weren't so head-over-heels-in-love with my Taylor, he'd be my pick as well. Oh wow. He took my breath away.

Paris: Our beautiful little Paris. The tiny girl with the great big voice. She is just amazing, and she didn't disappoint tonight. Well within her element and completely and totally at ease. She was just wonderful.

Taylor: My Taylor. My magnificent gray-haired crooner and the Soul Patrolman of my heart. His performance was pure magic. Just magic. Every note was perfect, and he entertained us (in his purely Taylor way) completely and totally. "You Send Me" would not have been my choice for him, but boy was it ever a good selection. I agree with what Paula said about "doing Sam Cooke proud," and I too am proud and thrilled to be one of many in the Soul Patrol.

Elliott: Talk about a perfect song choice. Elliott is so full of life and has an amazing, amazing set of pipes. For Simon to say that his performance lacked "personality" was wrong, wrong, and wrong. Elliott did a wonderful job, and I love him more every week.

Kellie: It wouldn't be "Idol" without a train wreck performance, and tonight's trophy-for-terrible goes to Miss Pickler. She is my choice to leave us tomorrow night.

Ace: YOWZA. The boy cleans up nicely. And he is SMOKING HOT. SMOKING. DAMN, to be single and ten years younger.......OK, where was I? Ace seems like a genuinely sweet soul, and I think that he can really sing, but he's not been one of the stronger performers this time around. And his focus on the falsetto is NOT the "good thing" that Randy and Paula seem to think it is. That said, I think he did better tonight than he's done in a long, long time. The middle of the song was his strongest point. The start and end were shaky, and what the hell was up with that VERY FLAT falsetto? Zoikes. All in all, probably his best performance in the competition. And God DAMN, the boy is HAWT.

Katharine: Beautiful, beautiful voice, but she was flat and pitchy throughout (yet again). I wish she'd done something a bit more flirty or sexy. She did a good job and it was a good way to end the night.

My vote to leave us this week? Kellie. Who will join her in the bottom three? Probably Ace and either (unfortunately, and it kills me to say this) Elliott or Paris. (I'd rather Katharine be in the bottom three, but something tells me that she won't be.)

"Toniiiight's The Niiiiight..."

(Get the Rod Stewart reference?) :)

Hi. My name is Jennifer and I'm an American Idol addict.

("Hiiiiiii Jennn-iff-fur.")

I can't help it. It's addictive, and I'm finding myself looking forward to Tuesday nights every week. Here's a cute graphic I found online, and I think I'll post it every Tuesday in support of my wonderful Taylor:



Soul Patrol!

The Great American Songbook, Part Une

OK, I've been wondering all day today what next week will bring on "American Idol." The songs Rod Stewart covered on his four "Great American Songbook" albums are some of the most time-honored and beautiful songs. And it's hard when you go back through and listen to them to try to find the one or two which would be best for the contestants. For some of them (like Elliott and Paris and Katharine), the choices are abundant. They fit well within this genre of music. And then I look at Chris and Kellie and can't even come close to finding one or two of these songs that they could bring a splash of color and originality to. I've got a handful of potentials here, and it'll be neat to see how many of these (IF any of these, rather) are performed next week. OK, here we go...

For my amazing Taylor, I see him seeing something fun and up-tempo. If we could make it romantic or sexy in any way, even better. "Makin' Whoopee" was my original choice for him, but I think he'd do "What A Wonderful World" beautifully. "My One And Only Love" might also be a good fit for him.

Katharine, I imagine, had a ball picking her song for this performance. There are so many that her beautiful voice could bring a sparkle to. If Taylor doesn't do "Makin' Whoopee," I think Katharine should. And she should flirt it up a bit...wink and shimmy a bit and really enjoy the romance of the song. Or maybe she could do "A Kiss To Build A Dream On."

I wasn't familiar with "Blue Skies," but the SECOND that I heard it, I thought of Paris. It's SO her, and I can so easily see her really having a good time with it.

My choice for Elliott? "You Send Me."

And for Chris? This was a hard one, and I'm not entirely sure of my selection here. How about "The Nearness Of You"?

I can SO see Ace doing "Crazy, She Calls Me."

And Kellie? "Taking A Chance On Love."

That's it for my predictions. I'll be interesting to see what happens next Tuesday night!

Thank you SO MUCH for the comments, everyone! Please keep them coming! It's nice to know that (a) caramel macchiatos and (b) hating Bucky Covington are traits I share with my friends in Cyberspace. :)

Have a great night, everyone!

The Buck Stops Here

Thank GOD. Bye bye Bucky.

(Now, I will admit that I feel a little bad here. I mean, the guy seems like a real pumpkin. But he truly doesn't have the talent or the vocal strength or presence that the others do.)

Breaking McPhee-ver?

Hi everyone. Just passing by real quick-like before "Idol." Not much new news to share with you. I bought a gorgeous, feminine, flowing spring skirt, only to (a) get it out of the store with the security ink tag on it and (b) return it to the store to get the tag off and then (c) rip it wide open at the seam the very next day when I wore it FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. Yep - that's typical Jen for you. Thanks to the ingenius soul who invented safety pins, the Kansas City area proper was protected from seeing my lower half. Heh. (Yes, the visual...it's horrifying, I know.) What else? No new news on the job for which I interviewed two weeks ago. I'm dying to try the new Orchid Sake candles from Colonial Candle. I signed up for the next go-'round of the Secret Pals. We're havng Easter dinner at our house this weekend, and Curt's family's all a'comin. Oh, and I've developed quite the addiction to HBO's new series "Big Love." Not much else to share with you.

OK - here's my "Idol" recap. I never thought the day would come when I'd actually say this, but Bucky wasn't the worst performer on the show. That unsavory honor goes to Katharine. She's got a beautiful, beautiful voice (and she's one of Curt's two favorites to win), but her performance was, and this is putting it nicely, a train wreck. She was all over the place. Flat, sharp, off key...you name it. It was horrible. She did the right thing in choosing something more ballad-esque in nature, but good grief. What a mess that was. Bucky's performance wasn't much better, but he was on-pitch more than Katharine was and he looked more comfortable and confident than she did. Ace is so gorgeous and adorable, but yuck. Bad, bad performance. It had a few strong points, but not many. Kellie's performance wasn't much better. Chris WAY oversang his song, but he is so fantastic and so powerful and I am sure his place remains cemented in this competition, at least for now. Elliott was fantastic, and I am coming to like him more and more every week. He's got an amazing voice, and it makes my heart smile whenever the cameras pan out to his frail, beautiful mother (check out how proud she is of him...and rightfully so). Taylor was, oh wow, just my amazing Taylor. I am SO SO glad that he chose "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." In typical Taylor style, he danced and had fun and made everyone happy and truly entertained. Good vocal, too. Not his best, but close thereto. But the best performance of the night goes to the amazing Paris. Wow, wow, and triple-mega wow. For someone with such a strong soul and gospel background, to take a song like that and perform it as brilliantly as she did was just amazing. I hear her sing, and I am just amazed that someone so young has the strength and full sound that she does. Just wow. Love her. Loved her from the start. She and Taylor remain my top favorites, with Elliott and Chris as my third and fourth, respectively. Taylor and Elliott are my mom's favorites, and Chris and Katharine are Curt's. Who'll be in tonight's bottom three? Bucky, Ace, and Katharine? Who'll leave? Ace, although it really should be Katharine.

(And by the way, I really wish one of the contestants had performed "One Year Of Love." That's one of my all-time favorite Queen songs. However, I couldn't tell you which one of the eight would have done it the best. Maybe Bucky? No, Katharine. It would be nice to see a strong female version of that song. Oh well. And now I've got that song stuck in my mind. "....one sen-ti-men-tal moment in your arrrrrms...")

Something's happening to me that those of you who know me (or who have read my blog as of late) will think is kinda funny. Guess who's s-l-o-w-l-y developing a Starbucks addiction? Yes, me, the girl who swore off expensive coffees and swore that her $1.50 drive-thru restaurant Coke would beat a frothy cuppa Seattle's best on any day is now actually stopping BY Seattle's favorite coffee shop almost every day on the drive home. The people in my life are astonished. Now, all of this said, let me be clear. I don't have a lot of coffee in my drink of choice (Caramel Macchiato...fat-free milk with whipped cream, please.) I only get a QUARTER OF A SHOT of espresso. (Christ, how do people drink espresso straight? GOD that stuff is strong.) I just like a little kick of coffee to accompany the sweet taste of the caramel. Yum. Dammit Curtis. This is all your fault! :) (Curtis thinks this is all quite amusing.)

Erin said something absolutely hilarious and I just HAVE to share it with you. We are very open with Erin about a lot of things, and so it's absolutely nothing for her to be in the room with me when I am getting dressed. I was getting ready for work and she and I were talking, and I said something to the effect of, "OK, now Mommy needs to put her bra on so she can finish getting dressed." Her VERBATIM response? "Yeah, Mom...because no one wants to see those." I damned near died laughing. So did Curtis. And so have our parents and my colleagues. I mean, I know I don't look like CINDY CRAWFORD or anything, but gee whiz! Out of the mouths of babes...

Off to watch the show. Later!

Update On The Status Quo

Bonjour. It's me. More than a day late and definitely a few dollars short. It's been a while, yes, I know.

It's been pretty much normal here Chez Mintlipgloss. Not much new to share. Erin's got a touch of the yucky flu/cold bug, so I stayed home with her today. Curtis and I celebrated five years of marriage (!!!) on Friday. Work's going well (I am the DEU CERTIFICATE QUEEN!) and we're excited about having the family unit over for Easter dinner this upcoming weekend (how is it possible that it's EASTER already?!)

Do you know who Joshua Kadison is? He's fabulous, and I sent him an EMAIL to tell him so and he sent one back. "Painted Desert Serenade" is one of my all-time favorite albums, and it was a huge thrill to get an EMAIL from him. Looks like he's touring in Germany this year, to include a stop in Kaiserslautern, which is a German city with a U.S. Army presence. We were stationed there in the mid-70s when Daddy was Active Duty and I was a wee one. I wish I'd had the chance to experience Germany with an adult appreciation and understanding. It's an amazing place.

On the topic of music, I've discovered someone new and I really want to tell the world about him. His name is Amos Lee and he's great. Check out his website and his MySpace site to learn more about him.

MySpace is just amazing. In the last seven days, I've reconnected with two dear friends from high school. Sean and I were in "The Lunch Bunch" during our senior year, and I am sorry that I didn't really get to know him until then. What a great guy. And a fantastic actor. David was also in the plays with us and we always had a great time. It's been fun catching up with David, and I am really looking forward to talking with Sean more. It's funny how far we've come in the 16 (!!!) years since we've graduated from high school. Still the same people, only smarter and stronger. It's really great to be back in touch with these guys again.

OH! And Shelby, my wonderful new friend who was my fantastic Secret Pal, also is on MySpace too! So cool!

OK, I am off to check on my little sweetie, who, at last check, was conked out and sleeping. :)

"Idol" Astonishment

How is it that someone with absolutely no talent can continually receive votes to remain in a singing competition? I am sure that Bucky Covington is a nice guy. Positive of it. Hell, his lovely wife is a nurse. I'm sure they are wonderful, fantastic people. But please, please, please America. Wake up. The guy CAN'T SING. How is it that he continues to remain on this show week in and week out? And Mandisa. Beautiful, beautiful Mandisa. Her being voted off last night, especially in light of the fact that people with significantly less talent still remain on this show (*ahem* Bucky, Ace, Kellie) just boggles the mind (and breaks the heart).

Not much new in my world, folks. All's well. Work's busy and I am making a contribution, so that's good. We celebrated Curt's brother's birthday (#31) over the weekend and our fifth wedding anniversary is tomorrow. Wow. Five years (well, seven years all total, but still). Maggy got her chompers on Erin's glasses (AGAIN!!!!!!!!!), and so we're off to LensCrackers after work to get new ones. Yep, pretty normal, status quo stuff at the Minty Mansion this week. Hope you're all doing well! One more day and then it's the weekend! Yay!

The Cat's Out Of The Bag!

I just wanted to say an EXTRA HUGE THANK YOU to the wonderful Shelby, who was my wonderful Secret Pal. She spoiled me rotten and always sent me the sweetest EMAIL and E-cards. She's fantastic, and whoever gets her as an SP next time is vedddddy lucky. Thanks, Shelby. You're the greatest! :)