I finally finished it. Actually, as far as making blankets goes, I made this in record time. I only started on it Saturday, and here it is mid week and I'm done with it. I used left over and scrap yarn because I had never made a pillowgahn before, and was basically just testing the waters to see how difficult it was going to be to make it. Pretty easy in my book, but it's a bit tedious. You make 13 squares, then sew them together. The only thing I don't like about this is the fact that the 13th square is sewn wrong side out (on the right side of the afgahn) in order to fold correctly into the pillow. I think my next go round I will probably make it double sided, so that you won't really be able to tell that there is the wrong side out effect, or possibly use some solid colored fabric. Turned out pretty well considering I used left over yarn! My cheap digital camera doesn't do it justice I don't think. The solid square on the left of the afgahn is actually pink, not the whitish color as it shows in the picture.

I am thinking of making several different sizes of the pillowgahn to try and sell on Ebay, and maybe at a local flea market to make some extra cash. There is a lot of stuff I would like to do on the CRX, and I can always use the extra money! I visited a couple of websites that are selling these pillowgahns for upwards of $75!

On to the Tree situation. Actually, I probably wouldn't have ever known had I not seen a woman pull over, walk over to the tree and start picking something off of it and popping it into her mouth. She didn't (that I saw) touch the trees on my property, but on my neighbors. Although, after she left I went to investegate and noticed that the trees on my property were picked pretty well clean, although I can't say as to weather or not she picked the berries or if it was the birds. I have no idea what kind of berries these are, but when I picked what I thought was a ripe berry, and popped it in my mouth, it wasn't a pleaseant thing. I don't think I could even properly describe the taste. It's obviously something that is acquired, because I don't think I would ever attempt such foolishness again. I have been scouraging the internet this evening trying to get a clue as to what kind of berry tree this is, and
haven't come up with much of a clue. The main thing that is throwing me off is that there are two different types of leaves on this tree. At first glance I thought it was a type of Maple tree, but as I said, the appearence of the other leaves makes it hard for me to really decide what kind of tree this is. Again this photo isn't the greatest, I really need to invest in a better digital camera, but you can see the different shapes in the leaves and where the berries have been picked off.

If anyone out there has a clue as to what kind of berries these are I would greatly appreciate a clue. The funny part in all this what I was a bit irritated to see this woman with no regard to being on someone else's property eating berries off a tree she had no right too, but after tasting it, she can have them. lol.

On to something a bit personal. After I don't know how many years I have finally broken the weight of 170lbs! I suppose to most people this would be no big deal, but I topped out at more than 240lbs, and for someone who has tried for the better part of her life to get her weight under control this is a big deal! The bad part in this deal is that until recently I hadn't been trying to loose the weight, it has been just coming off for no apparent reason, witch of course has caused some alarm to my doctor and NP. I have lost a good portion of it over the last two years, and usually it's ony a few pounds a month. To me this is a good thing, but to the doctor, not so much. I have medical issues, witch I have mentioned before and therefore I have been on several different medications over the years. There is a possibility it's the medications that are causing the weight loss, but of course there is always the chance that it could be something more serious. I'm supposed to be getting a chest x-ray as well as a spinal x-ray for my back problems. (Possible fracture in the t-11, t-12 section).

I have mixed feelings obviously. I'm so happy for once in my life to finally be dropping the pounds, but at the same time I wonder if there is something more serious to it that I should be worrying about. I have been overweight pretty much my whole life, and to suddenly start loosing weight while changing none of the habits I suppose is a bit disturbing. My goal is to loose another 18 pounds witch would take me down to 140, witch is still about 25lbs over my "ideal" wieght. I have to say, I have felt great since the weight loss, have more energy (until recently) and feel a whole heck of a lot better about myself. It's so wonderful to have a neighbor stop as they are driving by and tell you you are getting too skinny! :) Now, if I could only afford to buy some new clothes so I can get rid of these baggy ones, it would be wonderful! Of course I started loosing all this weight after I gave away all my "skinny" clothes. Never fails, eh?

Looks as if Dennis is going to pound us in these parts. Local news says that the projected path still hasn't changed for landfall around Mobile/Pensacola. Not that I want this storm any closer to me than it already is, but I hate to think of this storm hitting a area that still hasn't recovered from Ivan last September. I told my mom earlier today that I thought landfall would be around Destin, and according to last update the storm is starting to move more North. Basically the storm right now is dierectly south of where I am living. Yeah, a bit scary. To say I'm not concerned would be a huge lie. Ten years ago when Opal visited our area, she was a catagory 3. Dennis is expected to be a Catagory 4 by morning and if He hits the same area as Opal boy are we in for a heck of a ride. (Destin/Walton area)

All the area hotels/motels are at or above capacity according to news reports, gas is hard to come by, generators are sold out. In Dothan they finished up the Future Masters today, I don't know how many of those out of towners headed straight out of here or are sticking around. A tennis tournament was supposed to start on Sunday, I guess that isn't going to happen. Everything is pretty much closing down for the day due to the weather.

Flooding, tornadoes, high winds. Argh. Say a prayer for those of us about to deal with the effects of this storm! I'm guessing we will loose power by mid afternoon sunday, and who knows when it will come back on, so I'll be back on when things are semi normal around here.

Peace!

Argh. Yes, we have ourselves an impressive hurricane headed our way. Hurricane Dennis is projected to hit somewhere between Louisianna and Appalachacola, Florida. Um, yeah. Catagory 4 right now. uh oh. Hopefully it will slow down once it gets in the gulf. Opal was a Catagory 3 and it was bad, but not so bad that you had to panic too much...catagory 4 is a entirely different story.

I live approximately 90 min from Panama City, Florida. Needless to say if this hurricane hits anywhere between Mobile and Panama City, we are going to see either minor effects, or major. Opal hit around San Destin, FL and the eye of the storm went over Enterprise, AL witch is about 20 min from where I live...we had some pretty nasty weather here. Trees/powerlines down, no power for almost a week, no water for the same. We had phone service...like it did us much good.

Maybe it will get out into the gulf and just die......

Here is a blog of a local weather meterologist, Ashley Brand for more information on the Hurricane.

I don’t understand why there is so much hate. I don’t understand why there are some who hate so much that they are willing to sacrifice there own lives in order to hurt people that they really don’t know or understand.

I disagree with a lot of issues, that doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and bomb a building, bus, or subway in order to get my point across. I disagree with the way a lot of people choose to live there lives, but I won’t hurt another soul putting my own at stake.

I have to wonder if these terrorists really think the damage they are doing is really going to produce the results they are looking for. If you don’t like the way the world does things, than go someplace in the desert, or wherever the hell you want and start your own utopia, leave everyone else alone who doesn’t agree with the way you think or live.

I’m an American, and proud to be. I have never been to London, but my heart aches for every soul that was lost today, my heart goes out to those families who were affected. I’m angry and saddened. I just want all this hatred and evil to stop, but I know it won’t. It’s not over.

I will keep praying for this world that is destined to destroy itself. I will continue to love my neighbors, even those who wish me harm. I will keep living even though there are those out there who may want to do me harm.

Here is a message to you ignorant, non feeling, sorry piece of crap terrorists:

You can bomb our buildings, planes, and subways. You can try and take away our freedoms, and try to hurt our families and friends. You can try until the end of time to achieve your goals, but YOU WILL NOT SUCSEED. WE WILL SURVIVE, NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE WE ARE STRONGER THAN YOU ARE!!!!! We will not allow you to fill our hearts with fear, and we will not stop hunting you down until every last one of you is gone.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never. Never. Never." --Winston Churchill

As with everything there are always two sides to the story. As I have mentioned before, I live/work near the home of Army Aviation. I deal with soldiers and soldier families on a daily basis and have done so for all of the last six years. Over the years I have seen a lot of soldiers come and go, and most of them return at some point, witch is rather odd in a way. It doesn’t happen very often in the military lifestyle. Anyhow, every soldier I have spoken to that has already done a tour in Iraq WANT to go back. At first I found this rather odd. Why on earth would anyone want to put their lives in danger like that?

The answer was stated on GMA this morning. Every soldier I have spoken to has said the same thing. It’s not about going over there and putting their lives in danger; it’s about going over there and making a DIFFERENCE.

To quote one soldier, “It’s kind of scary, but at the same time, very rewarding.”

We hear everyday about the soldiers who were killed but we very rarely hear about all the good work the soldiers are doing. We don’t hear about the soldier who received a care package with a teddy bear in it, who in turn gives that teddy bear to a child who has never had one. We don’t hear about the soldiers who have helped build a school for children who have never gone to school, or building houses for people who are homeless. We don’t hear about the Medic’s who have saved the lives of countless Iraqi’s. We don’t hear about all the GOOD things that are going on in Iraq or how our American soldiers are trying to make a difference and change the perception of how Iraqi’s look at the world, and at life.

My heart goes out to every family out there who is dealing with a family member being in Iraq (or anywhere else for that matter), especially the kids who are missing their mommies or daddies. My heart cries for every soldier that is lost. I hope that today all will say a prayer for every soldier who is out there in this big world of ours defending what they believe in, and honor their decision for doing so.

Happy Birthday America, and God Bless us all.