Stop the presses! Val wears make-up

What you are about to see and read is totally true.  But first, I wanted to share some more of Missouri's beauty with you (see, the title is the teaser to get you to stop and read--I am learning a lot from watching tv all day, every day  (I wish)

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As we would say in Andersonville, Missouri doesn't have what we would call the "destination travel spot" skills.  Meaning, this isn't Alaska.  People aren't spending their whole lives saving for a cruise to Missouri, something Mr. Fun and I have heard living in the "States" (that is for you TA).  If they are saving for a cruise to Missouri, they are bound to be disappointed for obvious reasons.

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This red Japanese maple is in the back yard. 

It was soooooo red that it almost

hurt your eyes to look at it.

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I put myself in time out on a walk last week

at the local lake.  I needed some alone time. 

I took the camera because nothing will beat off

an assailant when a woman is alone in the woods

like a 2.5 inch camera and a stuffed camera

bag.  Duh, Val.  My dad would say

that is the naive piece in me coming out.

Ok, on to the make up. 

The church Halloween party was this week

and Andersonville ran the puck shoot.

Some years I dress up.  Some I don't.

This year I was feeing Chinese, but I

could not find my chinese jammies ANYWHERE

(this is the sad part of the story).

Did I loan them to you?

Well, it just so happens I have an entire

East Indian outfit laying around the house

so I figured , why not?

The problem of course being that if you

really know me, you will know that I do not

own lipstick, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and my

mascara was no good.

So, brace yourselves....it is true. 

I went to the store and bought some makeup.

It was hard.

I didn't know what it was called....the stuff

to make my eyes look like I am from Bollywood.

Good thing for Google.

Not only did I learn from Google what make up it

was and what it was called, but I learned how to apply it.

Go Val.  :)

It was weird.  Several people said I looked

beautiful.  Strange.  Unexpected.

The most unexpected part is that I cannot

tell you how many people asked me if my marriage

dot was "real".  It is.  I got it from my Indian

friend this summer in England.  I stuck it to

my bathroom mirror when I got home this summer

because it was shiny and reminded me of Europe.

Who has all this strange sort of stuff laying around?

I guess this would qualify as "good weird".  :)

By the way, this is my Val version of the "Bollywood" look.  :)

Bob the Builder Award: Beyonce and her Hamburger Helper

I never remember having Hamburger Helper until I was in my 20's.

I had only heard of it as a consolation prize given at the end

of a game show to the losers....

like "Rice A Roni" the San (Center of the Universe) Fransisco treat.

I have made up for lost time. There is no doubt that the kiddies think

the Cheesy Macaroni HHelper is a staple in the diet of mankind.

I think they miss it when they don't get it on holidays. :)

All kidding aside, Hamburger Helper is doing a food drive

of sorts right this very minute. Your simple opportunity to help out

could be sitting in your cupboard

next to the refried beens and raspberry muffin dry mix.

Beyonce and I (who knew that we have something in common?)

are asking you a favor. If you have some HH in your kitchen,

check out the front of the box to see if it part of the food drive.

You will see a big black label with text. Read about it on the back.

If you have said box, then cut it open

(after you cut out the $.10 school label to donate

to some school somewhere)

and see the code. Carry the box to your computer,

type in showyourhelpinghand.com and enter the code.

It is that easy. You will have just donated a meal

to the local food bank.

Like that? :)

Next time you buy some Helper, pick the boxes with the

program on the front.

Don't delay. The program ends December 31st.

Swine Flu update: I am loving it!

It isn't often (if ever) that I have been in isolation for health problems and NOT been the one who needed to be isolated.  This is fantastic!  Minus the vomiting, the fevers, the missed school, blah blah blah....

But you cannot wrap your mind around HOW much I have gotten done in the last couple days!  Clean house, basement, food storage, christmas cards done (all one zillion of them), rotary done, leadership app done, 7th grade math catch up, christmas gifts organized, blah blah blah....:)  I love this vacation at home. 

No one wants to come visit when you have swine flu. No one really calls when you have swine flu because you might send your bad germs through the telephone waves.  It is O-K.  We have had chili and rolls.  Sugar cookies.  Movies.  It is one big PARRRR-ty in Andersonville.  Jammies everyday.  Mr. Fun is even home, basking in the swine flu fun--the downside being he might have it now. Oh well, take the good with the bad. 

The Girl has photo skills and she just showed these to me.  I just finished my Bob the Builder blog for you, but these were funner.  Who needs to donate food to the local food bank anyway?  JUST KIDDING.  That will be in a day or two.  You want to see these. 

See how fun Swine Flu can be! 

And a second one falls

The Boy, highest risk category of Swine Flu, now has it.  Could you mutter a little prayer for him so that his doesn't get out of hand. 

Another Staley First

Staley is the new high school that the Girl goes to.  It is quite a facility.  Award winning.  Full of achievers.  Great faculty.  It actually is nicknamed "The Land of Milk and Honey."  It is in its second year.
They love their "firsts" there.  First pep ralley.  First homecoming.  First senior class.  First, first, first.
To add medical insult to injury here in Andersonville, the Girl is now the first confirmed case of H1N1--you know....swine flu.