Photoshop Failure

So, I downloaded the free 30-day trial of Photoshop. And I kind of hated it until I allowed myself to download some free actions. Dangerous, very dangerous.
I started with this photo of me and my lovely, wonderful, beautiful sister and tried to make us look even better. It's a cute picture of the two of us, taken on a weekend that we spent in the Windy City.
Allow me to rephrase. It WAS a cute picture of the two of us. I have managed to make her look cute and me look like some sort of circus freak.
I started out by using an eye brightener. All of the cool kids are doing it. Then I ran a Pioneer Woman Action called "Lovely and Ethereal." And we were lovely and ethereal.
Could I leave well-enough alone? Is the Pope Methodist? Does the Bear crap on a toilet? I had to try Pioneer Woman's "Vintage" action. While I sat here and waited for it to work its magic, I kept imagining how amazingly awesome and old-fashioned it was going to look. Like, "Frame it and hang it on the wall" awesome.
And then this showed up on my screen, and I nearly busted a gut laughing. It would seem the Vintage Action looks great on pretty, fair skin like my sister has. Not so much on my more tanned face. And boy, so those brightened eyes of mine stand out. Freaskshow!!
Oh well, at least my teeth are pretty and white!

Save the Beetles

Most people here in the Midwest despise those Green Monsters, the Japanese Beetles. They eat roses and tree leaves and everything green, flowery and beautiful.
But not my daughter. No siree.
She and her friend spent the day at the pool saving the beetles from the pool water and taking care of them.
I am sure the rest of you are thankful.

I should have trusted my nose

It's like a train wreck or a car accident, right? The carnage is devastating, but you cannot look away.
My grandmother gave me these, her precious Tupperware measuring cups (from nineteen-ought-six) almost 10 years ago. She was moving out of her home as it had gotten to be too much for her. She was nearly 90 at that point. I promptly chucked my Wal-Mart cheapies and got to baking with these lovely Harvest Gold babies.
I've been washing them in the dishwasher for years and never thought anything about it. The day before yesterday, I noticed a funky-burning-plastic smell coming from my dishwasher. Being the trusting individual that I am, I ignored it. When I unloaded the dishwasher yesterday, I found that this little guy had somehow fallen off of the top rack and ended up down near the heating element.
Mystery of the Funky-Burning-Plastic Smell Solved!
Ugh. I have some guilt because these were a hand-me-down from my Grandma. I can hear her now, tsk-tsking because I didn't take better care of them. Or maybe she's looking down on me, saying, "Shannon, they are older than you. Don't worry about it." Either way, no more dishwasher for this little guy. He can still work for me, although I don't think he'll stack as nicely as he used to!

Testing

I am getting all high tech here.  Posting from my email account.

Mostly, I just want to complain because both of my kids' games were cancelled for tonight and now the flipping sun is out.  Eight rainouts between my two kids.  My son has had more rainouts than games played.  This stinks.
 

<<<<>>>>><<<<<>>>><<<>>>>

I reject your reality and substitute my own. 

Red Boots

My husband's grandmother is an absolutely awesome lady with a style all her own. She loves sequins and costume jewelry and bright, vibrant colors. She loves ornate lampshades and antique glass and everything QVC. She recently had this fantastic idea: she wants my daughter to have some professional photos taken in some of her fancy clothes. Grandma gave us a stack of hat boxes almost 4 feet high, containing some real gems, including a hat from the 20's and a full-length sequined dress. But, by far, my favorite item that has been added to my daughter's dress-up bin has to be these red boots. Grandma used to wear these boots to her Red Hat Society meetings. Can you stand it? A 70+ year-old-woman in these red boots?
This makes me smile and gives me hope. When I am an old woman, I too will wear purple and red and frankly, whatever the hell I want. Because, really. Why shouldn't we wear what makes us feel fun and fabulous?

Blood Pressure is up

I should know better than to react to the stupid things that people say. Seriously. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.
I have a hard time tolerating people who are just plain mean. It's possible to make social commentary without being an ass about it. There's no need to be rude. Maybe I care too much about people's feelings, but that's just me.
Perhaps I am just being sensitive because this "commentary" had to do with fat people. I happen to be on the plump side. I responded to this person because I thought that he should realize how offensive his comments are. Maybe he doesn't care. Maybe I just opened myself up to ridicule. We'll see.
Ugh. Time to calm down.

What the crap is this?

It's May 7. It's Mother's Day weekend. This is the weekend that it's supposed to be safe to plant your flowers. And it's windy and cold and it sucks. Did I mention cold? And windy?
Really. I am usually not one to complain about the weather. I live in Central Illinois. I enjoy the change in the seasons. It keeps life interesting. When I am cranky about 95 degrees and 100 percent humidity, at least I know I have below zero windchills to look forward to.
My son had a baseball game tonight. The moms were wrapped up like cocoons. It feels like football weather, not baseball weather.
Mother Nature, you can take this weather and...well...I won't say. What I want to say is not fit for polite company.
Good night. I am going to go wallow for a while.