Current Mood : Doll Heaven ! 

Today, when Beloved Hubby took me out for breakfast, I saw a Life Flight helicopter on the hospital's landing pad. Lots of eateries near City Hospital. About two years ago, I had a perfect view of the pad from my hospital bed after surgery. Luckily, no whirly-birds landed while I was there. I would have felt terrible to be a witness of someone's life-and-death struggle, but I would have still watched. Our hospital has three red/black/white Life Flight helicopters in use, and others land there, too. I can't imagine how scary it must be for the family of the person being airlifted to a hospital. Yet I kept watching this one, wondering if it was just taking off or just landing - the blades were still spinning. And praying, in my fashion, that the patient was steadily improving, now that they've arrived.

I wanted sooo bad to go shopping today, but it's kinda not a good time. And then, there was a box on the porch ! Joanne, of  InThePink.com, sent me the prize I won last month, the lovely green silk dress from the Tarina Tarantino Barbie - along with a bunch of other dolls ! Shinobu welcomed them to Chez Insanity, and you'll see them soon. DC was very curious about the package, though.

Ironically, the main thing I liked about the Tarantino doll's clothes was the pink belt, decorated with a 70s-era Barbie illustration on the buckle. It was the one thing not included in the set. Joanne told me to let me know if anything was missing, she'd give it to me off her doll, but there's no way I can do that. She sent me a magnificent box of goodies, full of treats like the ‘My Melody' doll and sweet pins and decorations. No way am I gonna tell her about the belt.

And I love the ‘Melody' doll. Much as I don't favor the ‘Model Muse' swayback body, and I'm not much on the ‘whistling puckered' version of the classic Steffie face, I find myself very happy to have her !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 2:11 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Beginning to show signs of life...

Today I realized that I've not gone anywhere this week for one reason - Beloved Hubby's grandmother isn't doing well, and I feel bad for going to shop for even groceries without stopping to see her. Late last night, we learned his much-loved Uncle E has maybe three weeks left on this world, too. So now, I really feel guilty for going anywhere...Heck, I'm starting to feel bad for being in the mixed bag of health I'm in.

But I was going a bit stir-crazy, so I pushed m'self out the door today, with the promise that I'd visit and call on Sunday. That way, I could take Dearest Son with me. Ironically, I hit three yard sales, two thrift stores, and Dollar Tree, and spent $8.75. $1.08 of that was for me, the rest was stuff for Dearest. New toothbrushes, bubble bath, shampoo, and four still-bagged kids' meal bobbleheads and a coloring book from Star Wars / Clone Wars. I'm seriously considering a trip to TRU Saturday...and maybe Hobby Lobby, since it's on the way.

Did two PineCone surveys yesterday, and got paid today. Whoo-hoo - there's now enough money in PayPal for two months of my websites ! I love it when I support my own hobbies, even when I've been neglecting them.

It's also good, because I pretty much drained Checking to get the book and video game Dearest wanted from the first Scholastic book flyer of the '09-‘10 school year. The book is Star Wars, of course, and the Wii game is ‘I Spy', which his therapists play with him all the time. Helps his visual recognition and develops reading skills. Plus, it kinda sounded fun ! The flyer promised free books if I ordered via their website, but the school has to provide various extensions and codes. Which, of course, they didn't. So, it was the ole fashioned way, a filled out paper form with a check paper-clipped to it. Whenever Dearest is interested in a book, we get it. Ya can never go wrong encouraging a kid to read !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:17 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Busy doing not much...

Finally got off my rumpus room and got a few minor things done. After they sat around in a laundry basket for a month, the last of Dearest Son's embroidered shirts are finished - nope, haven't stitched anything new. Just covered the backs of what I did last month with the soft stitch-shield stuff. And it turned out that the rest of the basket was shirts gone missing for a few weeks. For some reason, Dearest's embroidered stuff was on top, and I never put the rest away. I'd been wondering where a couple of my guys' clothes items were !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:17 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Sitting nearly still...and I don't know why.

I still sat with Beloved this morning, until he got up and left for work, just after lunch. It meant I had to scramble to get the rent dropped off and the groceries bought. I had about ten minutes between putting the cold stuff away and Dearest Son's bus arriving, and I spent it sittin' on my big butt. Whew !

I keep hoping to find some time for my Lab, but I'm still sitting here...

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Current Mood: Happy (Mealed)

Poor DC-kitty. It was cool enough last night to turn off the AC and go with open windows - and about 4am, there arose such a stink ! I think it woke me up. I muttered ‘skunk' and Beloved Hubby, probably also awakened by the fresh stench, agreed. Whew !

DC likes to come in once Dearest Son has departed for school. He gets more attention that way, even if it delays his breakfast a bit. Today was no exception, but -whew ! Evidently the stink was DC's encounter with that same skunk. Poor kitty. We cleaned him up as best he'd let us, but the scent remained, if blunted somewhat.

We had to go pick up Friend again - one of the last times, since he's only got to insure and plate his new-to-him car, and for that he needs another paycheck. Still, hurray ! So we piled in the car and went for dinner on the way. I scored the Felicity paper doll set this time. Colonial America, neat. I think I'll have to yard-sale the Molly set I want.

Aand...that was about it for the News of the Day. I've really gotta get off my butt, it's not like TV's keeping it there, I don't even turn it on some days. But I'm still quite lethargic for some reason.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:16 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Slightly whiny

Turned out I had time to finish the latest Mt. Clean Laundry Sunday evening - Beloved Hubby came home with Friend in tow, and they spent the rest of the early evening on Craigslist looking at cars for Friend. About 8pm, they departed to look at a car in a town an hour away - each way - so he was gone ‘til nearly midnight. (sigh) So much for family time. But Friend has a car now, and next week, he'll be driving himself to and from work from now on. Only reason that doesn't start tomorrow is that he can afford insurance or tags, but not both right now. So we still have to give him a couple of lifts, but I will be sooo glad when it's over.

Of course, since he spent so much time looking at used cars, now Beloved's thinking of getting another ‘real deal'. Um, we already have a DOA truck of our own in the backyard, another DOA truck that belongs to DFIL keeping it company, and my window and windshield wipers still don't work. You could say I'm being less than encouraging about this latest car-hunt.

Since he was so tired, Beloved stayed home today, and watched TV. For some reason, when he does that, I feel compelled to sit with him, so I don't do anything. Yet I know he won't miss me desperately if I'm in another room, either doing dishes or sewing. But no matter how boring a three-hour marathon of Top Gear can get for me, I still sit there. I gotta knock that off !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:16 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Beyond lazy and nearly without a pulse...

Sunday. Laundry day. Well, let's face it, I only work when Beloved Hubby does, so laundry day could be any day ! But today it was, so I did four loads - two waiting for later in the week - and got it all sorted. Only have Beloved Hubby's hill and Dearest Son's mountain to put away. I'm taking a break before I tackle Beloved's, and all else fails, Dearest's can wait ‘til he leaves for school. Since I have it sorted enough to find something for him to wear tomorrow, there's no rush. But I really wanna get Beloved's done. Oh, and I have a basketload of socks to pair up. That normally becomes the afternoon bus vigil job. Makes the wait seem less long.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:16 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Happily busy

The few yard sales I found yesterday weren't worth getting out of the car for, so I was sort of in a ‘stay at home and veg' mode. It's yer classic "po' folk weekend", wherein we basically sat around and watched TV and ate stuff found in the freezer. Weekend before rent is usually like this. I slept a straight-eight last night, and awoke ready to go. Maybe I'm simply not getting enough sleep, or like Michelle theorized, the change of seasons busts our collective butts.

We were watching an especially boring movie (that Beloved was enjoying) when I remembered that, when I initially found the Liv Dolls ‘My Room' playset, I was frustrated that I couldn't see the whole thing, or even how it worked. The images on the packaging only showed what I could already see ! And it was too new to have much of an online or fan presence. So I decided to add a new page to the site, detailing everything about the playset, to help any other curious doll fans decide if the $20. purchase was worth it or not to them.

I viewed this as the perfect opportunity to use the camera tripod Beloved gave me months ago, but as it turned out, the flash bounce with it was just too great. I took much better photos when I held the camera and moved me around. Oh, well. At least I was able to find it !

Two hours later, I had the photos done and the text written, and it's published it to the web. Wanna see ?  https://dorriebelle.tripod.com/id47.html  Since Lucretia was handy, I used her for scale, but she really looks good in the photos. I'm thinking of doing another photo essay of the Target ‘Then and Now' Barbie. It's so rare for me to buy new stuff, I like to get the most out of it, with web site expose pages ! Plus, the TaN Barbie looks fantastic with her earrings removed - the included walkman/mp3 player fits right in to the ear holes and looks just perfectly natural ! And doesn't slip or slide off like the ‘headband' earphone sets.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:15 PM CDT

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Current Mood : content

Spent on small toys : $2.08

Today didn't start well. Dearest Son was a bit reluctant to get dressed today, but he was OK with wearing the last of the ‘car' shirts. At least, that's what I thought, until I saw Beloved Hubby redressing him in the shirt he wore to bed last night. I admit it, I felt rejected, and said that, if he didn't want to wear what he asked me to make, I wouldn't make anything else for him. And he'd done another end-run around me, which is also problematic.

About this time, Beloved noted that the nightshirt was stained - he'd been wearing it all week - so he ended up back in what I made him, but it still bothered me. Beloved and I talked for a bit, and I felt better, but I still wanted out of the house for a while. Since there weren't any interesting yard sales (never are, just after the free weekend), I decided to hit GoodWill and go from there. Two sales had already cancelled. Darn it.

It's typical that, when I go out to look for ‘me' stuff on purpose, I always find ‘Dearest' stuff. Today, it was a pair of jeans, a pair of khakis, and a pair of sweatpants, for $6. I also noted that the first big ‘wave' of Disney Princess paraphernalia is starting to hit the thrifts here. I must've found about 30 themed little-girl shirts, dresses, and backpacks today. Was sorely tempted by the Snow White costume, but it would've required extensive alterations to fit the My Size girls. I really need to make them new Halloween costumes, I haven't sewn any in years.

From there, I decided to go ahead with my special lunch. While it was being made, I hit the thrift next door. Picked out four of their 50c grab bags - for a cake decoration Barbie miniature, a Han Solo ‘Galactic Heroes' miniature, a kids' meal Star Wars bobblehead for Dearest, and a cute Kelly in an adorable sundress, and matching shoes. Also a fold-away pouch that now holds the digital remote. All the rest's going back to the thrift. And the DecoPak Barbie is today's image. Since I now have three, it's a collection, so they're going on the kitchen windowsill. That way, I'll have pretty stuff to see when I'm doing the dreaded dishes !

Posted by dorriebelle at 3:22 PM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 3 May 2011 1:15 PM CDT

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Current Mood : slightly miffed

Major thunderstorm last night - we lost power about four times between last night and this morning. So, when the bus was about 20 minutes late this morning, we went inside, so I could check for any delays. Of course, that's when the bus showed up - we made it, but really had to run for it.

So I figured I'd best double check, see if that doll sale I wanted to go to was still on. When I tried to find it, using the street address and the city, it wouldn't come up. Did with the street address... so I reread the ad. Doesn't mention the actual city or town, just the street name. Cross-referenced a business mentioned in it - and it's about 40 miles from here. Well, shoot. Same exact street address is here, too. Oh, well. At least I wouldn't have to get out in the rain so early today. No way was I driving in rush hour traffic through Capital City to get there.

So I did some housework and frittered around. Beloved Hubby was home early, so I ended up taking a bit of a nap - the thunder kept waking me up last night, so I didn't sleep well. Tomorrow, I'm gonna hit a couple yard sales that I know are local, and maybe the GoodWill, since I haven't been there in months. And I'm still hoping for a special lunch in the bargain ! 

Oh, and the near-endless blizzard of papers from Dearest School has begun. It's ironic to me that most companies I deal with bug me endlessly to ‘go paperless !' with my bills, but I end up with over a ream of event flyers alone, in every color imaginable, every school year. I can't use scrap paper fast enough to keep up !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 13 September 2009 12:59 PM CDT

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