Scrapbook

I am starting to feel the desire to scrapbook again.

Grandpa Cook

This is a picture of my grandpa Cook when he was younger. He is 88 this year. He had a heart transplant several years ago, he enjoys telling people his heart "has a life-time guarantee."

Grandpa likes to brag about his family progeny. For example at my sister Kim’s wedding breakfast people got up to talk about the couple and congratulate them. He got up and told everyone that he had to brag about his family saying how he has 7 children, 45 grandkids (43 living), and 43 great grandkids, never once congratulating the happy couple.

To keep in touch we play chess online. It is few and far between when I win. He makes me earn my wins which I am thankful for because it makes me a better player. He is a wonderful man, and I am grateful for his example to me.

Allergies

I took the girls in for Allergy tests, not my idea; they wanted to know what they were allergic to.

Alexa is allergic to:
    • Birds
    • Dairy (not soy)
    • Dogs (not horses)
    • Dust
    • Eggs (whites as well as yokes)
    • Nuts (very allergic)
    • Vegetable Oil (not tested, difficulty breathing)
    • Wheat

They gave her a prescription for 2 EpiPens, 1 for home and 1 for school. She is to take some over the counter allergy pills and have an inhaler on hand.

Alexa knew how hard it was for me to see her tested the first time so she put on a brave face and bore through the pricks on the back. The second time I think she psyched herself out, kept telling me she was nervous, but she pulled through and made it easier on me by squeezing my hand and not crying.

Kellie is allergic to:
    • Cats
    • Mold
    • Sagebrush
    • Plus she has asthma

She has a combo inhaler to help her wheezing and to clear out her lungs; she also has to keep an inhaler on her at all times. She will stay on her allergy pills. She is to stay away from moldy leaves, compost heaps, and stale water. We have to keep the windows closed, especially in the fall because of the sagebrush.

Kellie laughed while they were doing the test but then started to cry; I told her she couldn't do that, she is the one that wanted to find out what her allergies were (her crying made me feel like a horrible mother). I held her hand and probably squeezed tighter than she did. She said it was worse than what Alexa said she was going to go through.

Austin is allergic to:
    • Bee stings

The boy gets stung more often than anyone I know. The sting site swells up and is sore for days, he takes Benadryl and I make him take Sting Ease on his campouts. The stings don't interfere with his breathing . . . yet, but the doctor wants to test him and get him an EpiPen to have on hand.

Amelia Earhart

Alexa did an excellent job on her biography book report even though she didn't finish the book.

Science Fair

Kellie worked with her friend Sophie. They figured out which environment helped sugar crystals grow the best. It was the control bottle that worked the best.Kellie had to present their project by herself because Sophie had a meeting. She was nervous but did an excellent job.

Austin worked on which bag kept produce fresher longer. He found out it was the Ziploc sandwich bags that were the best.He got an A, but only after re-showing the teacher his Science Journal, a girl had been flirting with Austin and stole the journal at the time of judging.

Twilight Movie Review

I have finally seen Twilight—It wasn't worth the wait.

The movie followed the book pretty well. However, it was so choppy it wasn’t enjoyable to watch. Edward, who is supposed to be smooth and polished, was stilted and not believable as a vampire. Bella was o.k. but there were times when she was just as stilted as Edward, she should be clumsy, not stilted.

A few of the supporting actors did a great job. Carlisle was excellent as was Jessica. I thought Rosalie was very good for what she had to work with because the writing for the screenplay didn’t let her do much. The vampires James, Victoria, and Laurent, were very well played and just enough on screen to help the movie.

A few more complaints: 1. Bella’s mom wasn’t flighty enough, 2. Alice should have played a bigger friend part, plus she wasn’t as light on her feet as the book indicates, 3. Jasper didn’t put anyone at ease, he was hard to watch. I think he should play a Frankenstein-ish character, and finally 4. They didn’t bring the “cute” things in from the book. I mean, it was cute when all three boys asked Bella to the dance; there were so many dead-air times when they could have added that. Edward knowing Bella’s name without her correcting it was cute in the book but they didn't make it clear in the movie, and again the scene was stilted and had dead-air when they could’ve made it part of the courtship.

Overall the movie was . . . o.k., I would rather read the book and play my own movie in my head.

Brava Miss California

I applaud Carrie Prejean for her honest answer. She didn't dance around the question, she answered it—how rare and refreshing! If her answer cost her the crown, oh well, she has a much bigger prize: Integrity.

You'll note I never said I agree or disagree with Miss Prejean; my hat is off to her for being forthright.

I'm disappointed in Mr. Hilton's video blog following the pageant, he did not need to attack her personally for her beliefs, nor did he have to use such a derogatory term. If Mr. Hilton thinks there is only one acceptable answer, why ask the question? He asked what she thought and that's what he got. She didn't regurgitate a trite answer, she boldly spoke up for what she believes. As for Mr. Hilton's claim that she was booed, watching the video I can't hear it, maybe it's there, but all I can make out is people cheering.


Carrie Prejean seems to be a class act.