Ok, Ok...

As if I actually need to list out the 7 random/quirky things about myself, here's what i've come up with. Oh, yeah, and i'm not tagging anyone else because there is no one else. However, if you faithful readers want to post a comment with your 7 quirky things...feel free. No pressure.

1. I don’t like it when my sheets or pillowcase are hot when I get into bed. They must be cold and not have any residual warmth from people/animals. In the same category, my pillow is sacred. It never touches the ground, is covered when I leave so it can’t be used as a bed for the kitties.

2. I can count the number of things that I’ve lost in the last 10 years. Two! My Oakley watch that I’m sure was on the bathroom counter and a cat pushed it off into the trash and without noticing, I threw it out. Then there is the digital camera I lost after my Shiner Bike Ride in 2006. I drove back to Shiner to try to find it along the road when I had to stop to get something from the trunk. I was convinced it would be there. I found the spot, but not the camera. It still bothers me greatly that they’re gone. I have had the same wallet since high school, quite possibly sooner. My driver’s license has never had to be replaced and all new cell phones are upgrades, not replacements.

3. I obsess about things that I’d like to be able to do until I can do it well. Currently, it’s the Ripstick. If you don’t know what a Ripstick is, Google it. It’s comparable to skateboarding. Which I can’t do at all, but the desire isn’t there, so I don’t care so much. But this Ripstick thing is driving me nuts! Ok, I obsess about EVERYTHING...

4. I only drink Iced Tea & Water 90% of the time. I love Pepsi (sorry KC) and Dr. Pepper more than life itself, but as a test for myself In January of 2007 I wanted to see how long I could go without drinking it. It’s almost been two years. Now, I am unable to drink anything else. I will feel like I’ve failed…

5. I typically carry my camera around with me at all times so I don’t ever miss an opportunity to get a picture of something great.

6. It’s taken me since I was tagged weeks ago to actually put a label to my random/quirky things. They’re just there!

7. I brush my teeth in the shower. They feel cleaner.

And PS - I don't like mayo. Only in Tuna Salad will I eat mayo.

Been Awhile

I've slacked on this whole blog thing recently. School, work, work, school. Oh, and some softball in between. I've been working on this website: www.francarlisle.com. It's almost finished! YAY!

Back in September I headed down to the Austin City Limits Music Festival. I wasn't planning on going, but as it turned out, I went for a day. I missed my sister. It's just not the same...

I was able to see Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on Sat. night of ACL with the Carrs. That was fun. I had to ask Jeff who Robert Plant was. Shhhh, don't tell anyone. I knew he was important, just didn't know he was Led Zeppelin important.




I've been messing around with Photoshop too. Distorting pictures and colors of photos that i've taken. I know I am a little late jumping on this train, but never had the desire to teach myself until now.

Here's one from the kite festival.


and T's Luna.

There's more. I know. I'm tired.

Trip to Cali for Cousins Wedding

In the beginning of September the Frazees from all over the US met in Long Beach for the first grandchild's wedding! It was the first time that all of the grandchildren on the Frazee side of the family had been together in one place at one time. There are only 7 of us, but it obviously is difficult when two are from GA (TX), two are from MN and 3 are in CA.

I took tons more pictures, but with my dad's camera and I have yet to get that link to that album (HINT, HINT).

I had a great time. We drove around Long Beach and by my old house, school, jobs dad had, beaches mom took us to and old landmarks that I remember on my way home from Grandma & Grandpa's house. The Goodyear Blimp was still flying around and the Bug Squasher was still watching that mouse with the mallet behind his back. It used to be huge, but it was much smaller when we saw it this go round.



I had a fantastic time with my family and an even better time hanging out with my cousins and sister all together.

I can't wait until we all get together again.

From Trip to Cali

And more pictures from Dad's camera.

Roach Evicted!

So I was driving back to the office the other day. Minding my own business wondering if the traps I had set had taken that ugly roach to wherever roaches go when they are poisoned. Then, out of the corner of my eye, something was moving along the door, where the window meets the passenger door. I calmly freaked out as I was between two cars on a road, driving...slowly, but driving still. I searched the recently cleaned out car for something I could swipe at the dirty, unnecessary to the planet, roach. Nothing. I had nothing. I had a few bank statements that would do nothing but make him mad and quite possibly fly at my head causing me to swerve, slam on my brakes or cause some horrific accident. Finally I found a badge from a show that we had done for work. It was the thick plastic kind, so I was in luck. I had rolled the window down thinking the wind would just calmly sweep it out. No such luck. Plan B started. I waited until I knew I had a shot at it. I checked my rear view mirror, checked the car in front of me, counted to 3 and in my cat-like movements shoved the roach out the window. I have never been so happy! It was a proud moment. I think it is probably safe to take the traps out of the car. They're ruining that new car smell.

Eww

I have a tree roach living inside my sweet car. It hangs out on the dashboard and when I get into the car, it scurries under the panel. I'm grossed out beyond all gross things. I can't stand those huge, gross, tree roaches.

::shudder::

Esther

There is a woman next door to the flip house. Her name is Esther. I don't know how old she is, but I would guess around 70 or so. I think she's from Africa. She hasn't seen her family that lives there in six years. She walks over, barefoot, everyday. I wasn't there for the first month or so of the project, but ever since i've been over there she comments about how hard we're working and asks why we are working so hard. She is incredibly religious and says that "God will bring the people" to buy the house. That always makes me giggle a little. It's not her belief that makes me laugh, but I always see this little comic God as a realtor. And that makes me laugh...

The last couple of times that I have been at the house she brings me food. Chicken, some potatoes, and veggies. She used to bring it to us while we were all working. She'd bring four little bowls full of homemade food. Now, i'm bringing it home. Some of it is fantastic and some of it is a little suspicious looking. She told me yesterday that if any of us ever want her to cook us something that we just have to bring her the food and she will cook it. She said that she has time and it is a part of her life that she enjoys taking care of us.

Today she came inside the house while I was painting the closet doors in one of the bedrooms and she told me that she cooks for us because she loves us and she doesn't know what she's going to do when we leave the house. She takes care of an older woman. "The old lady" as she refers to her. Apparently the "old lady" doesn't eat with Esther and that is why she has leftovers. It's very hard to understand her accent, but that is what I gathered. Esther is always smiling. She is always in the yard piling up leaves, taking out the trash, cleaning up around the house. I think a little part of all of us will miss Esther when the house sells.

Finished Product

So here is the deck in almost finished mode. Just some stain will complete this project and i'm fairly certain I will NOT be the one staining this thing. I have painted and re-painted. I have used a nail gun (scary) for the first time and learned a crazy amount of information about building decks. I also learned that fire ants like to make their home in sod. As we hand carried the new sod to the side of the house on Saturday I was bitten only twice, but they still itch and are red and welty. If that's even a word. I'm hoping to get some before and after pics of the entire house from Jeff. That way I can even see the progress. Everything is on the back of the house. The right part of the house was also added. All of the grass is sod that we put down in 100 degree heat. No one in Texas was putting in sod at that time. We had not had any rain and so we all took shifts watering the yard. Turning the sprinkler on and off and making sure we didn't get caught watering on our non-watering day.