Castle of Nannbugg

January of the New Year

2012-01-05T22:38:00.003-06:00

First, I want to wish all of you a happy new year!

I hope 2012 is an awesome year for you and yours.

To start the new year off right….my sweet tiny angel, Mabry Grace is being Christened.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Mabry Grace is truly a blessing...

Congratulations sweetheart.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T03:15:00.003-06:00

We wish you all a very safe and Merry Christmas with

Peace, Love and Happiness throughout the New Year!

Much love,

Marley and me :)

Happy holidays from a very cute Elf!!!!

2011-11-25T18:25:00.004-06:00

It's only the beginning....I wish you and your loved ones a very safe and happy holiday season!
My wish comes to you by dancing to Christmas music dressed as an elf....please watch, just click on the photo.

Much love to you all,
Marley and me
xoxo

James Morrison Precious love

2011-08-31T19:47:00.001-05:00

The MOST amazing song. The ULTIMATE man that can sing about a woman like this. I cry nearly every time I listen to it.

Thank you James!

Precious Love

2011-08-11T09:56:00.001-05:00

Meet Mabry Grace!

8/2/11 11:28 am

6 lbs. 10 oz. 19 1/2 in.

Beautiful baby girl!

Is it hot there too?

2011-07-19T15:02:00.003-05:00

Just trying to get your attention! :D

It has been a while since I have had guests over here at the Castle. Here is the invitation....When: now ;)

Please sign the guest book in the foyer, then come in and make yourself at home. Tell me what has been going on with you.

Good to see you again!

~xo

Lee Ann

Marley and me

2011-05-21T23:22:00.005-05:00

Happy 2nd birthday Marley!

Awwwww.....you are such a good boy!

xoxo

Tell me what kind of pet you have and their name.

I hope all of you are doing great!

Lee Ann

Just chillin out...what are you up to?

2011-03-05T19:49:00.004-06:00

Hey!

Come on in, take your shoes off. Someone will show into the East Parlor or the Great room with the fireplace. Glad you could come visit. I will be down in a minute. Please, in the mean time, let me know what you've been up to. What new and exciting (or not so exciting) thing has happened in your life? Have you made plans to do something fun soon?

Tell me!

While you are kicked back and relaxing...if Marley starts trying to lick you in the face I must give you this warning:

Caution...My Dog Cannot Control His Licker!!!!

So... what's new with you?

xoxo

Lee Ann

Happy New Year!

2010-12-26T17:48:00.005-06:00

hello mac

i heart you so much!

Happy New Year

Everyone!

Have fun and be safe.

See you next year... ;)

xoxo

Lee Ann

Did you know...I am a little Elf ready for Christmas!

2010-11-30T20:39:00.003-06:00

Click on the photo....and do a little dance....make a little fun....get down tonight.....

I am just Elfing around...

Love you all!

Lee Ann

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-15T15:13:00.004-06:00

I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderfully special Thanksgiving!

~xo

Marley and Me :)

Shout out to your team

2010-10-11T16:40:00.005-05:00

WAR EAGLE BABY!!!!

Give a shout out to your team!

Tell me who you are rooting for.

Have a great week.

*~*xo*~*

Lee Ann

thank you

2010-09-29T22:29:00.002-05:00

Thank you for all of the happy birthday wishes!

You are all awesome.
xo

Lee

My puppy love...

2010-07-25T17:08:00.002-05:00

Marls says hello!

....I do too.

Lee Ann

The Most Beautiful June Bride Ever!

2010-07-05T11:04:00.011-05:00

Start smooching! Tips on kissing

2010-04-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

This is a repost (originally posted 11/19/07). This one is worth posting again!

Pucker up! Secrets to being a better kisser.
A new study has found that kisses communicate more than just desire.

Dr. Laura Berman shares how important the first kiss is and what it reveals about your relationship.

By Dr. Laura Berman
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 11:26 a.m. CT, Tues., Nov. 6, 2007

A recent study has found that there may be much more to kissing than meets the lips. Indeed, researchers have found that a first smooch can determine the entire future of a relationship. (As if first kisses weren’t stressful enough!)

The kissing study, which was performed by Susan M. Hughes of Albright College, found that 59 percent of males and 66 percent of females confessed they would end a relationship if the first kiss left something to be desired. Researchers believe this could be due to the exchange of hormones that occurs during kissing. During a make-out session, men and women both transmit chemical cues through their breath and saliva, which may alert their mate to their sexual psychology and reproductive status.

Of course, most of us rate a good kiss based on more simple terms, such as: “Was it sloppy? Did he have horrible breath? Did she bite my tongue by accident?” However, what we may not realize is that the hormonal cues in our saliva are actually guiding our mental thought processes. In particular, women seem most in tune to these kissing hormones — researchers found that women use kissing as a bonding mechanism and as a way to gauge the commitment in a relationship.

So how can you be sure that your kiss won’t send your date running for the hills? While you can’t actually alter the hormones in your saliva, you can be sure to avoid the most common make-out mistakes:

Caution: Slippery when wet! According to the kissing study, men prefer wetter kisses than women do. So it’s no surprise that women often complain that they feel “mauled” by sloppy dates who use too much tongue and saliva. During a first kiss, keep moisture and tongue action to a minimum — if your date has to wipe her face at the end of the kiss, something went wrong!

Give kissing the attention it deserves. The survey discovered that men spent more time focusing on a date’s face and body weight, while women were more apt to place importance on a date’s lips and teeth. Women seem to place a much higher importance on kissing than men do — so listen up, men! If you want to sweep your date off her feet, pay a little extra attention to your smooching technique. You will be sure to take her breath away!

It is all about timing. Surprisingly, the kissing study also found that more men than women believe kissing is a good way to end an argument. The lesson here? Most women aren’t ready to pucker up after a fight. Delay kissing for a more appropriate time.

While first kisses may determine the future of a relationship, it is the kisses that follow that determine the happiness of a relationship. Many couples in long-term relationships often find that kissing gets tossed by the wayside. However, a little liplock can be a surefire way to spice up your marriage and keep your relationship intimate. I advise my clients to engage in a 10-second-long kiss every day. It is bound to feel unnatural at first, but this is just a tool to get you back in the habit of kissing your partner. Before long, you will find that kissing has become a spontaneous and fun part of your relationship again.

Kissing has always been a crucial part of human bonding and foreplay. Indeed, over 90 percent of all cultures on the planet engage in the art of kissing. There are even some species of monkeys that use kissing as form of expressing love — and who hasn’t felt the wet kiss of a dog, or the rough lick of a cat’s tongue? Kissing is truly a universal art form — so get out there and pucker up!

Laura Berman, LCSW, Ph.D., is the director of the Berman Center

Sooooo.....pucker up!

Kisses to all...

Have a great weekend!

Lee Ann

Let's get ready to Rummmmba!!

2010-04-13T23:26:00.011-05:00

4/15/10 Happy birthday Scott!
xoxo

I had a great night. I had my first ever Rumba class. It was a beginner's class, but it was so much fun. Well actually I may have learned the Rumba a long time ago in a dance class at Auburn during my college days, but as I said, that was a long time ago.

The rumba is a slow, sensuous, romantic dance with much flirtation. Many of the basic figures of the dance have a "tease and run" theme in which the lady first flirts with and then rejects her partner. The sexual overtures can be very aggressive. The Rumba spotlights the lady and in particular her rhythmic body action and sexuality. The slow Latin beat, the rhythmic body and hip action, and the steamy tease and run figures result in routines that can be close to X-rated. Unlike the Cha-Cha which effects a happy, carefree, party-time-like dance expression, the rumba effects a more serious and intense expression.

Knowing the history of the Rumba and the sensuality of the dance, perfecting it is definitely our goal.

We came back from the lesson and practiced and before we knew it, we had been practicing for over an hour. If anyone has watched the Rumba, you can't help but notice what a sensual dance it is. Doesn't that by itself make people want to learn it?

Just think how much fun we will have practicing!

The next dance we want to learn will be the Waltz.

Does anyone have any good tips about the Rumba or the Waltz?

**Thank you baby for the "quick quick slow" and all the fun that went with it. I can't wait to practice with you again.

Keep on dancing!

~xo

Lee Ann

Spring is in the air...

2010-03-18T21:42:00.009-05:00

Hey Everyone!

I know it has been a while since I have posted. I almost forgot how to do it! :(

I have missed all of you and wanted to say hello.

Last year was a tough year, one of my toughest. I am not going to drag it all back up, but I just knew that 2010 would be "my year", keeping the faith and staying positive.

So far, so good. No...so far, so GREAT!!

I just want everyone to feel the way I am. *~xo~*

I feel the sun shining on my face again.

In fact, my friends have been telling me that they can actually see the happiness in me... my face, my actions, etc.

Anyway...HAPPY SPRING TO ALL OF YOU!!

Everyone, stop by and tell me ONE thing that is making you happy right now.

Lee Ann

Meet Marley

2010-01-22T23:34:00.023-06:00

This is Marley!

(Also known as Marleyboo, Boo and MarleyBob :)

In the first two pictures he is with one of his sisters, Miley. Half of the litter was blonde like Marley and the other half of the litter was black like Miley.

He is a Brittador (or Labany). He is an F1 hybrid dog, half Labrador Retriever and half Brittany Spaniel.

He was born May 21, 2009, so he is now 8 months old.

He weighs approximately 60 lbs. I believe he still has a little growing to do.

He has the long ears and white freckled snout like his Brittany mother.

He has blonde short hair, is lean and extremely strong thanks to his Labrador father.

Both breeds in his lineage are bird hunters and are both extremely active breeds.

He is the sweetest puppy and my very best little buddy.

He has already become very protective of me.

He feels so grown up when he gives his best and deepest barks when someone knocks on the door. He will alert me by running back and forth to the door barking. I always give him a good petting and tell him he is such a good boy. All along he is wagging his tail boasting of his good job.

I think the biggest threat from Marley is that it would be a good idea to wear a raincoat when visiting....he will lick you to death!

So, now you have met Marley.

Please stop in and say hello to my sweet puppy.

Lee Ann

OH ELF ME!!

2009-11-22T15:48:00.013-06:00

Elf Lee Ann singing...
!
V

I feel like getting in the Christmas spirit!
I hope you enjoy my elfing dancing!
(Click on the photo of the dance you want to see)
Have fun....
Early Christmas love,
Lee Ann

In memory of Darbi

2009-10-12T16:38:00.006-05:00

My sweet little Darbi passed away Saturday, October 10, 2009.

I miss her so much; she was truly a sweet dear little friend.

She was quiet, gentle and kind.

She had the most beautiful crystal blue eyes.

She loved bundling up in a blanket to stay warm.

She did not talk (meow) much, but she purred very loud.

Her purr was the most comforting thing.

She had the softest fur, like a bunny rabbit and such beautiful coloring.

She was 12 years and 7 months old.

My heart aches.

I miss you and love you so much "Princess Darbi Sugarface", rest in peace.

Some highlights of my summer

2009-09-12T10:36:00.023-05:00

I have been thinking of all of you, I hope you are having a great summer!

Did you meet Marley? That cute puppy above is Marley. He is half Lab and half Brittany Spaniel and so adorable. He is into everything and keeps me busy, but is so much fun.

Darbi (my sweet girl cat) is not too pleased about the new addition to our family.

Let me know what you have been up to or just say hello.

Lee Ann

Beautiful Music and Art!

2009-05-30T10:57:00.006-05:00

Last night I went to Art on the Rocks. It is a fun night filled with social and cultural activities at the Birmingham Museum of Art. There was a band, food and plenty to drink, not to mention the beautiful artwork going back centuries (which was amazing). It started at 5:00pm and ran until 10:00pm. I got there around 7:30 and the crowd was pouring in. The band was set up outside and it was the perfect warm and breezy evening. It wasn't long before the crowd was dancing along with the music with barely any elbow room. It was a great time.

There are 4 Art on the Rocks events each year. I think I am going to make plans to go to the next one in June. The band sounds like it will be excellent.

I hope all of you have the most wonderful weekend!

~xo

Lee Ann

Darbi girl's Debut

2009-04-18T13:53:00.016-05:00

I didn't want tax day to be the most recent thing I have posted in case I don't get back here for awhile.
You all know about my sweet Cody. I thought I would share some pictures of my sweet Darbi. Darbi has always been a little shy. She just turned 12. Cody was the alpha cat and always demanded the attention. Darbi has always been sweet but not as outgoing as Cody. Now, Darbi is starting to show her true personality. She gets all the attention and is loving it. I know she misses Cody, as I do, but we are getting to know each other really good now. She has the most beautiful coloring and crystal blue eyes. She is a little love bug.
These pictures were taken on the day it snowed. We hardly EVER get snow here in Birmingham, Alabama!! It was beautiful.
Here are a few shots from March 1, 2009.

(You can click on the pictures to enlarge.)

The snow is beautiful, but I love Spring!
Have a great day!
~xo
Lee Ann

It's here...

2009-04-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

April 15th!

Spring is in the air...

...oh and it's tax day... remember?

Good luck to those that have waited until the last day.

Just don't get all crazy rushing it, be safe!

On a slightly different note...

Here are a few of the Alabama Tea Party Posters.

Are there any other tea party goers out there?

Happy Tax Day!

~xo

Lee Ann

ps ~ Happy Birthday Scott!

2009-04-12T14:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter everyone!

Love,

Lee Ann

In memory of Cody

2009-02-03T22:17:00.004-06:00

My dear sweet Cody also known as Codybear.
He was the sweetest cat and best little friend ever.
He got sick suddenly a week before Thanksgiving.
I found out he had lung cancer.
He went to sleep January 18.
He was with me almost 13 years. I miss him very much.

I thought I would say hello to all of you and pay a small tribute to my little friend.

He would actually come to me when I called him.
He followed me everywhere.
He either had to be sitting where he could touch me or look at me.
He would cry when I would take a shower...
and
...he was always there for me when I cried.
He demanded my attention when I would talk on the phone or type at the computer.
He always sat and watched (looking a bit jealous) when I loved on my other cat Darbi.
He was excellent at giving kitty kisses and receiving tender hugs.
He genuinely loved me unconditionally.
What an amazing little fellow.

I miss you and love you Cody.

I will be coming back to the Castle after a little time.

Please sign in and say hello....

~xo

Lee Ann

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T07:04:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

Have fun, be safe.

~xo

Lee Ann

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to all of you.

I hope you and your loved ones

have a safe and happy holiday!

Love,

Lee Ann

Have a warm and cozy Christmas

2008-12-23T05:54:00.001-06:00

I hope you all have a purrrr-fect Christmas!

~xo

Lee Ann

Christmas!

2008-12-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

Click on picture

Jingle bells...

Jingle all the way...

Merry...

2008-12-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

Click on picture

Santa baby...

Come on down my chimney tonight...

very...

2008-12-16T00:00:00.002-06:00

Click on the picture

Country road...

take me home...

to the place...

I belong...

Have a...

2008-12-15T00:00:00.003-06:00

Click on the picture

Do a little dance...

Make a little "fun"

Get down tonight...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T22:10:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your holiday be filled with love and laughter.

I miss you all.

Love,

Lee Ann

IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!!

2008-10-03T20:42:00.004-05:00

This video is not as long as the last one I posted.

You may have already seen this as a commercial on tv.

If you have not registered to vote, please do so!

AND

MAKE SURE TO VOTE!!

~xo

Lee Ann

The Philosophy of Liberty

2008-09-25T22:53:00.000-05:00

Come in...

2008-09-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hey to all of you!
I miss you, please come in and have a seat.

Take your shoes off, get comfortable and make yourselves at home in the library, billiards room, theatre...

There are some sweets in the Grand Breakfast Room.

Stay as long as you like.

Before you leave, please sign the guest book in the foyer, tell me one BIG thing you are looking forward to this fall.

One big thing I am looking forward to is being able to have fires in the fireplace due to the cooler weather!

Glad you stopped by, have a great weekend.

~xo

Lee Ann

Such a great time...

2008-09-04T18:42:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone!

I just got back from the Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis. It was fun and exciting. There were so many great speakers and performers.

Aimee Allen performed, she was awesome. Check out the song she ended her performance with.

Sara Evans was the final performer. She came on stage after Ron Paul. The entire event was awesome.

Hello

2008-08-28T18:01:00.013-05:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you guys know that I appreciate all of you stopping by.

I do check in here at the castle, so I hope to see you around here.

Please drop in and say hello. You are always welcome.

I will be back soon, I promise. I am just taking a vacation for a bit.

Have a great weekend!

Love you all,

Lee Ann

2008-07-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Lee Ann

The grass is always greener...

2008-05-28T17:08:00.003-05:00

This is an almost hidden path just around the corner of my "castle".

I was very intrigued every day when I passed it.

Finally one day, I stopped to see what is hidden

beyond the entrance of this path.

It is interesting because the path leads to an almost manicured looking area that seems perfect for a picnic.

The path and the grassy area always appear to be mowed.

It sits in the middle of the thick woods.

It is very cool and shady, even in the midst of summer.

My curious nature has been satisfied.

I thought I would share it with you.

p.s. I know I have not been a good blogger friend lately. I have not forgotten about any of you. I appreciate your visits and I promise to get back over to your place soon. I think I am ready for a little break, but I "will be back" as Arnold says.

Feel free to leave any comments or questions while I am vacationing.

See you all shortly.

Love you all,

Lee Ann

2008-05-27T16:35:00.003-05:00

Happy birthday Howard!

Hope it is a great one.

ily

xoxo

Lee Ann

Have a great week everyone!

2008-05-23T06:47:00.002-05:00

Have a safe and happy

Memorial Day Weekend!

~xo

Lee Ann

Friday Fun Night

2008-05-17T08:58:00.006-05:00

Howard and I have been working out pretty hard lately.
I go to the gym and work out on the treadmill in the wee hours of the morning.
Howard has a really nice mountain bike. He has been riding the trails at Oak Mountain (state park) on Saturdays and Sundays, and now has added one weekday afternoon.

We eat fairly sensible during the week, but we have gotten on a pizza "kick" for Friday nights. Not just any pizza...one of the best pizzas!
Friday night is our fun night.
We pick up a pizza from Tortugas, bring it home and watch a movie while we eat it. (Last night's movie was The Guardian).

Back to the pizza... it is Deep Chicago Stuffed Pie. We get the pepperoni.
Man oh man, it is good.

Here is what the mouth watering pizza looks like ~

Now tell me...doesn't that look delicious? Well, I can assure you that it is even better than it looks. We can only eat half , so we save the other half for lunch the next day.

So, that is our BIG cheat!

Is there any particular food that you are "on a kick" with lately?

Do you have a ritual "fun" night?

Have a great weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Caption that...at least one!

2008-05-13T17:11:00.013-05:00

Have you ever woken up in a strange place and not remembered how you got there???

Just not fair, I exercise everyday...

Don't hate me for not exercising, I have a fast metabolism...

Do you like this hat...
or this one...?

Shhh...Don't tell them I am hiding here...
or
here...

I am having a bad day...

I'll get the mail today...

AHHHHHHHHHHH... I hate rush hour!

I see you, yes YOU, so make sure to say hi!

Have a great week!
~xo
Lee Ann

This makes me smile...

2008-05-06T05:24:00.003-05:00

Is there any one thing that raises your spirits?

As of lately, there is one commercial, that no matter how down I am feeling, it makes me literally laugh out loud.

Tell me if you agree... watch it below!

Especially the son's face when the dad sings the part "....night and day". Honestly I think I could watch it over and over.

Well, now that you have watched it, I won't spoil it for you when saying the dad is played by Meat Loaf. He was a 1970`s singer.
I hope this gives you a good boost for the day!
~xo

Lee Ann

Father of mind-altering LSD dies at 102

2008-05-03T10:44:00.006-05:00

From MSNBC.COM
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann discovered iconic drug in 1938.

NEW YORK - Albert Hofmann, the father of the mind-altering drug LSD whose medical discovery grew into a notorious "problem child," died Tuesday. He was 102.

Hofmann's hallucinogen inspired — and arguably corrupted — millions in the 1960's hippy generation. For decades after LSD was banned in the late 1960s, Hofmann defended his invention.
"I produced the substance as a medicine ... It's not my fault if people abused it," he once said.
The Swiss chemist discovered lysergic acid diethylamide-25 in 1938 while studying the medicinal uses of a fungus found on wheat and other grains at the Sandoz pharmaceuticals firm in Basel.
He became the first human guinea pig of the drug when a tiny amount of the substance seeped on to his finger during a repeat of the laboratory experiment on April 16, 1943.
"I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness," he subsequently wrote in a memo to company bosses.
"Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror," he said, describing his bicycle ride home. "I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast."
Three days later, Hofmann experimented with a larger dose. The result was a horror trip.
"The substance which I wanted to experiment with took over me. I was filled with an overwhelming fear that I would go crazy. I was transported to a different world, a different time," Hofmann wrote.
Hofmann and his scientific colleagues hoped that LSD would make an important contribution to psychiatric research.
The U.S. government banned LSD in 1966 and other countries followed suit.

Everyone lives their own life. Each person has a different path filled with different experiences. He must have lived an extraordinarily strange life.
...And wow! 102 years old!
Rest in Peace...

Have an amazing weekend!
~xo
Lee Ann

Logos Gone Bad

2008-04-30T05:50:00.000-05:00

Hopefully good for a laugh today!
Have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

The music in me

2008-04-23T17:20:00.004-05:00

Studies have shown that music can make it easier to learn.
Just think of one of the first songs you learn as a child... The Alphabet Song.

It also can mark a place in time.
There is no way for us to experience the future and know what it will be like for us; we can only recall an experience from the past and remember what it was like.
Music is one of those things that can trigger a memory and take us back to that moment in time.
Whether it be a first kiss, a special dance, your best friend's first boyfriend, a campfire, a football game, etc., music can take you back to that moment.

As I was working out this morning, I was listening to Bruce Springsteen on my Ipod and it made me recall being at his concert years ago. I could actually visualize being there and watching him sing the song I was listening to.

Just as when I hear "Little Pink Houses" by John Cougar Mellencamp, I think of the time I was driving on A1A in Palm Beach (as it was playing on the car stereo).

Music, the great escape!

What song takes you back to a special moment in time, and what was that special moment?

Have a great week!
~xo
Lee Ann

Earth Day

2008-04-22T07:29:00.003-05:00

From time to time, Google will change their look.
They take the theme of the day, season or holiday.
Today is Earth Day and they have gone green!
I love this one.

Have a wonderful Earth Day!
~xo
Lee Ann

MENSA LIST

2008-04-16T22:04:00.002-05:00

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are this year's winners. Read them carefully.
Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered to form a real word.

Some are terrifically innovative:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

4. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

5. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

6. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

7. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

8. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

10. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's, like, a serious bummer.

11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

12. Glibido: All talk and no action.

13. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

14. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

And the #1 pick:

17. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

It's a good idea to obey all the rules when you're young just so you'll have the strength to break them when you're old.

Tell me some of the words that this list missed. Give me the term and the definition!!
I am always looking for new words...

Have a "spectacerful" ~ Spectacular and wonderful week/weekend.
~xo
Lee Ann

Little creatures of the night...and early morning...

2008-04-14T05:51:00.001-05:00

Look what I saw the other morning on my way home from the gym.

This little fella was sitting in the middle of the road.

Fortunately it was very early in the morning so there was not a lot of traffic.

I did not want to scare the little thing, so I backed up and shone my headlights on him until he finally trotted off to the grass on the side of the road.

Can you see "Rocky"?

It was the cutest little thing. It sat there just looking up at me with those big eyes. He let me take several pictures, but it was so dark, they did not turn out too good. Plus it was taken with my phone camera.

Have a good day!
~xo

Lee Ann

Not Paper Dolls!

2008-04-11T05:43:00.002-05:00

Entries for an art contest at the Hirshorn Modern Art Gallery in DC

The rule was that the artist could use only one sheet of paper.

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Extraordinary!

Have an awesome weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Alternatives to the Housing Market!

2008-04-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

Pretty creative, wouldn't you say?

Have a great day!
~xo
Lee Ann

Olympic Torch Turmoil

2008-04-08T05:39:00.004-05:00

A Pro-Tibet demonstrator waves a Tibetan flag on the route of the Olympic torch parad shortly after its start near the Eiffel Tower, seen in background, in Paris on Monday, April 7.

Rescuers, in red, reach activists from French media watchdog Reporters Without Borders on the Eiffel Tower after the activists unfurled a black flag with the five Olympic rings depicted as handcuffs on Monday, April 7.

Police security run around the bus where the torch was placed after setting off from the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Monday. Protests over China's crackdown on Tibet forced organizers to put the Olympic torch on a bus to protect it from demonstrators.

Pro-Tibet protesters clashed with police and tried to put out the Beijing Olympics flame as the torch was being taken around London on Sunday, April 6. Police jumped on demonstrators who tried to disrupt the relay.

Turkish actress Ozge Namal runs with the Olympic torch, flanked by police officers and Chinese security members, as they past the Ottoman era New Mosque at the mouth of Golden Horn during the Olympic torch relay in Istanbul on Thursday, April 3.

All of this saddens me.

You all have probably heard me say this before, but if only …

...everyone would live by the Golden Rule.

Have a great week!

~xo

Lee Ann

Down to the Nitty Gritty!

2008-04-05T11:13:00.020-05:00

Enjoy!

Click on the image to enlarge!

These are beautiful and amazing!
Hope you have a beautiful and amazing weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Public Display of French Kissing!

2008-03-31T16:46:00.003-05:00

It doesn’t get more public than Union Square!

Olivier-Joseph Van Temsche and Rasmus Michau staged their "Kiss-in" at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2008 in Union Square.

Strangers gathered together and kissed the people to the left of them and to the right of them.

Temsche and Rasmus are Frenchmen, so you know the kind of kissing there was.

Leave it to the French to use the Guinness Book of World Records as an excuse.

Sponsored by Van Temsche and Michau's Paris-based Institut Bonheur (Institute of Happiness), the "artistic performance" will then travel around the world in hopes of setting a Guinness World Record by creating the longest and most populated French kissing chain the world has ever seen.

I never got the memo! :(

Kisses to all, have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

Texting and Walking: Dangerous Mix

2008-03-28T05:30:00.003-05:00

I found this article very interesting.

Friday, Mar. 21, 2008 By HILARY HYLTON

Pedestrians walk past padded lamp posts in Brick Lane in London. The padded lamp posts have been introduced to combat the 6.5 million street injuries that occur from walking and texting each year.

You might call it an avocational hazard.

A recent ITN News video in the UK shows that some London pedestrians have become so preoccupied with emailing and text messaging on their BlackBerrys and cell phones, that they can't make it down a city block without crashing into lampposts or trash bins.

One of the most hazardous streets for "walking while texting," according to the Monty Python–esque video clip, is East London's busy Brick Lane, lined with trendy boutiques and curry shops, where people have been filmed walking head down, ricocheting off various stationary sidewalk objects.

The solution?

Wrap Brick Lane's lampposts with fluffy, white rugby goalpost cushions.

Keep your head up....
Have a great weekend!
~xo Lee Ann

I had one of those black clouds over me...

2008-03-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

...last week.

My apartment manager sent me a reminder note that my renewal lease comes up in June.
Of course they are going to increase the rent.
I sent them a nice letter stating how much I enjoyed the community and would really like to stay but I was disappointed to see the rent will be going up, when in fact the value of my apartment is decreasing. In the short of it, I explained that in the 3 years that I have lived there several things needed to be maintained or replaced.
Several good things came from this.
I got new floors in my foyer, kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.
They fixed a few other things and shampooed my carpet.
Prior to the shampooing, I moved the furniture in order for the carpet cleaners to have easy access with the maximum amount of space to clean. They only clean what they have access to, they do not move any furniture.
When I got home from work on the day they cleaned the carpet, I found a big mess.
They had knocked over my rocking chair, side table with lamp and a large plant.
WHAT A MESS!

The lamp was broken and the plant and planter were broken.
I took pictures and called the office.
I cleaned it up (which took two hours). I was really upset and to top it off, it was the first day I had been back to work after being sick the week before.
The manager was gone for the day, but would call me back the next day.
The next day, the manager contacted the carpet cleaning vendor.
He was very embarrassed and could not believe it had happened.
Then said, it must have happened after we left because we would have never left it that way. (I find it completely amazing that my rocking chair turned itself over and partially jumped on top of the ottoman).
He said he would pay for the damages.

Once I got home from work that day, I picked up my mail as usual. I got a reminder notice to pay a citation!
WHAT!!!!?
I could not think of when I got a ticket. So after calling the municipal office, I found out it was a parking ticket, I was baffled.
I looked at the issue date of the ticket and realized....my car was in the shop during that time.
I had been "rear-ended" the week before Christmas and I had taken my car into the shop at 8am on the morning the citation was issued.
The citation was given at 3:06pm just a few blocks from the body shop!
The manager was out for several days due to a family death. Once he returned, he gave authorization to have a check issued to pay for the ticket.
They could not figure out how or why my car was a few blocks away getting a parking ticket.
I am glad they paid it, that was the right thing to do.

Then, on Saturday, I had gone to the store for a few items.
On my way home, just as I pulled onto the turn lane of the busy highway, I noticed a deer sitting on the grass right at the curb of the road.
I thought, awww look at that deer, then I noticed it was breathing hard and as she turned her face toward me, I saw she was bleeding from the nose and mouth.
She had been hit by a car.
I got so upset and started crying. I called Howard and asked if he could come help it. I cried the whole way home.
Once I got home, he was on the phone with the Game Warden. He told Howard that anyone that could help was out at a funeral. After talking to Howard for several minutes, he asked if Howard would shoot it to put it out of it's misery.
Howard took off to keep the doe from suffering any longer. He called me once he got there and told me the deer had already died and was lying in the grass.
I will never forget the look of that deer sitting there.

I was so glad when that week was over...it was a rough one.

Now I have to look at the positive....new floors, clean carpet, new lampshades (2 so they match), new planter, signed lease with a rebate (so now I will end up paying only $20 more for the entire renewed lease) and the citation was paid.

The sun is shining now and it will be a beautiful week. Hope you have a great one!
~xo
Lee Ann

Happy Spring!

2008-03-20T17:08:00.012-05:00

Happy Easter!

~xo

Lee Ann

A unique dining experience!

2008-03-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

Click on the photos to enlarge

This definitely gives the term "dining out" a new meaning!

I wonder how they are seated! There is no aisle behind the chairs. They must get seated before it is lifted into the air.

Would you try it?

Have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

Animator vs Animation

2008-03-17T05:37:00.002-05:00

Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviant ART

Happy Monday!
~xo

Lee Ann

Confused?

2008-03-14T05:23:00.001-05:00

1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

6. Why does "slow down" and " slow up" mean the same thing?

7. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

8. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

9. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

10. Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting?

11. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?

12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

13. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

22. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?

23. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

24. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

25. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

26. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

27. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

28. Why do they call them "Apartments?" Shouldn't they be "Togethers?"

29. As cats seem to enjoy licking their butts, why don't they just make Butt flavored cat food?

Have a great weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Ahhhhh....the Golden Years!

2008-03-11T17:44:00.009-05:00

Looks like they are having fun!

I think that scooter racing looks fun...and apparently gramps in the wheelchair still has "game"! :)

Hope you have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

Lions and Tigers and.....Ligers.... oh my!

2008-03-07T05:43:00.002-06:00

On a typical day he will devour 200 lbs. of meat, usually beef or chicken, and is capable of eating 100 lbs. at a single setting. At just three years old, Hercules already weighs half a ton.

His father is a lion and his mother is a tiger.

He is the unintentional result of two enormous big cats living close together at the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, in Miami, Florida, and already dwarfs both his parents."Ligers are not something we planned on having," said institute owner Dr. Bhagavan Antle. "We have lions and tigers living together in large enclosures and at first we had no idea how well one of the lion boys was getting along with a tiger girl, then lo and behold we had a liger." These two cats don't normally have the opportunity to breed in the wild, as most lions live in Africa and most tigers in Asia.

50 mph runner...Not only that, but he likes to swim, a feat unheard of among water-fearing lions. In the wild it is virtually impossible for lions and tigers to mate. Not only are they enemies but likely to kill one another. But incredible though he is, Hercules is not unique. Ligers have been bred in captivity, deliberately and accidentally, since shortly before World War II.

Today there are believed to be a handful of ligers around the world and a similar number of tigons, the product of a tiger father and lion mother. Tigons are smaller than ligers and take on more physical characteristics of the tiger.

Look at the size of the head on this animal.

Check out the fangs!

That is one big beautiful animal.

Have a great weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann (whose father is Lee and mother is Ann ~ well at least their middle names) :)

Patriots in the making...

2008-03-05T16:14:00.016-06:00

Since we (US) have never had a woman president, here are some ideas...
Do you recognize any of the faces?

Some of them look pretty good as women!

Have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

2008-02-29T06:19:00.003-06:00

This is a voluntary tag that I got from Jlee

Here are the rules:

"You are about to send a virtual Message In a Bottle across the Blog Ocean.

Leave a message in the sand or on the bottle.

Write anything you wish.

Be a pirate or a poet.

Serious or silly.

Anonymous or not.

What message would you like to send out to the universe?"

Here is my message...

1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle

2. Right click and Save the graphic below

3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture

4. Post the meme and these rules on your blog

5. Return your "Message In a Bottle" to ~ mimiwrites2005 at yahoo.com

6. Tag a minimum of five people - or your entire blogroll - to do the same.

Notify them of the tag.

Please feel free to tag yourself then let me know!

Have a wonderful weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Strange but real happenings!

2008-02-25T06:13:00.003-06:00

I saw this on msnbc.com...

Those with a condition called floppy eyelid syndrome have lids that lack a normal amount of elastin, making the thin skin super stretchy.

Seriously, I knew a boy in elementary school that used to do this and it would send all the girls running and screaming!

Karason's skin turned permanently and decidedly blue about a decade ago after he tried treating a skin condition on his face with a silver preparation. He's also been drinking colloidal silver, which is liquid in a silver suspension, for about 14 years, he says. Over time, it's collected in his skin and turned him blueberry.

Have a great week!
~xo

Lee Ann

My new car

2008-02-21T05:45:00.004-06:00

(of my dreams...)

... a Mercedes Maybach.

Notice the 'recliner' rear seats, and the 'electrostatic' sunroof.

The sunroof turns from opaque to crystal clear depending on the passengers preference.

Click photos to enlarge!

For those of you that don't have this car, just be happy with what you have!

...it could always be worse!

Have a great day!
~xo

Lee Ann

Some things that make you go... "Huh"?

2008-02-17T12:02:00.005-06:00

Brokeback Mountain is a movie that won many awards.
Ever since that movie, there are certain phrases that will never be the same!

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Have a great week!
~xo
Lee Ann

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine kisses to all of you.

Lee Ann

Sex...always a good universal topic!

2008-02-08T07:07:00.001-06:00

Two people sharing intimate time, caring, loving and trusting

....nothing is more beautiful.

~Lee Ann

What is your philosophy?

Have an amazing weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

A quick blast from the past!

2008-01-28T21:07:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had someone tailgate you before?
It is so annoying.
Not to mention it is dangerous.
I know that when someone does that, it usually means they are in a hurry and want you to speed up.
Guess what? It doesn't make me speed up. In fact, it irritates me so much, that I do completely the opposite.
There is one particular incident that stands out for me.

One night, I was on my way home, driving the speed limit, just minding my own business. All of the sudden a guy comes up behind me and starts riding my bumper. He was obviously very impatient and started honking. Well, that really didn't sit well with me, so I gradually slowed down, way down. I never stomped the brakes (something I know people do) and I tried to remain calm. We came upon an intersection in which we both made a right turn onto a 4 lane road. I immediately got back up to the speed limit as he went to the left lane in order to pass me.

What he didn't know was that my boyfriend was ahead of me and had slowed down when he had not seen me for a while.

He saw what was happening through his rearview mirror.
Just as the guy was coming up along side of me, Howard moved to the left lane, which blocked the guy from passing me.
At that point Howard and I both slowed down and drove together, which kept him in a blocked position.

I don't think the guy liked that very much, as he threw his arms up and honked at Howard. We were approaching the intersection to turn. Howard slowly moved over behind me as we began to make a right turn, and the guy made it to the intersection only to be stopped by a red light. As we made our turn, he sat at the red light, gesturing, yelling and honking.

The timing of everything was impeccable, and of course he had no clue that we even knew each other.

You know what "they" say about patience!

Howard and I still laugh and say every so often...."wonder if he is still mad".

Slow down and be safe!

I posted this on July 12, 2005

~xo

Lee Ann

Just a side note: At no time during the drive home did we ever drive in a manner that would be harmful to anyone.

....so you must grow with the change...

2008-01-27T21:22:00.000-06:00

All love shifts and changes. I don't know if you can be wholeheartedly in love all the time. ~Julie Andrews

Have a great week everyone!

Lee Ann

Debate

2008-01-24T21:11:00.000-06:00

Interesting!

Did you watch?

It was just like the rest....The Moderator ("media" ) determines who will come out looking like a winner.

It would be nice to see all of the candidates speak with equal time!

Don't forget to vote in the Primary!

If you are undecided, please just Google

Ron Paul.

Have a great weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

A rare occasion!

2008-01-19T10:04:00.000-06:00

This is a rare occasion in our southern city of Birmingham... snow! With normal temperatures running between 35 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, it hardly ever snows. It just started snowing, so I will keep you updated. I am sure we will not get any accumulation. It is just so pretty to watch. My cats are amused as well.

A little boy was going around getting snow off of all the cars. He built a giant snowball!

It is sticking a little bit in the woods!

Look at the nice little snowy blanket on the roof....it is a black roof!

I hope all of you are staying warm!

~xo

Lee Ann

What's in a picture?

2008-01-13T19:33:00.000-06:00

Product placement (or in this case picture placement) :[

Hey!

I haven't forgotten about you, I have just been busy.

I will be coming by to see you soon.

Have a great week!

Hugs to all!
Lee Ann

Do you have any new words?

2008-01-10T16:31:00.000-06:00

NEW WORDS FOR 2008 :

(I am pretty sure I have heard of some of these words before!)

Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace (and elsewhere)!!!

1. BLAMESTORMING:
Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

2.SEAGULL MANAGER:
A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

3.ASSMOSIS:
The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard

4.SALMON DAY:
The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

5. CUBE FARM :
An office filled with cubicles.

6.PRAIRIE DOGGING :
When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

7. MOUSE POTATO :
The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

8.SITCOMs:
Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.

9.STRESS PUPPY:
A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

10.SWIPEOUT:
An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

11.XEROX SUBSIDY:
Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

12.IRRITAINMENT:
Entertainment and media spectacles that are Annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.

13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE:
The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

14. ADMINISPHERE :
The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

15. 404:
Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message '404 Not Found,' meaning that the requested site could not be located.

16. GENERICA :
Features o f the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.

17.OHNOSECOND:
That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake. (Like after hitting send on an email by mistake).

18.WOOFS:
Well-Off Older Folks.

19. CROP DUSTING:
Surreptitiously passing gas while passing through a Cube Farm.

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T00:00:00.000-06:00

Click on the photo!!

Happy New Year!

Have fun and be safe.

~xo

Lee Ann

Apple of excellence

2007-12-28T14:12:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been to an Apple store? What other store would you expect to be using advanced technology?
I was in the store the other day. There were a lot of customers in there, but they also had a lot of employees there to help. As I walked in there were two Apple employees that greeted me.
"oh, that is nice"
Then before I even got half way through the store, a guy asked me if I needed help. I told him what I was looking for and he walked with me to my destination. He then helped in getting the item and described it to me.
"oh, this is excellent customer service"
Then I told him I would be purchasing the item.

He then asked "how will you be paying for that?"
I told him I would pay with my debit card.

He said, "ok, I can help you with that right here."
Then he pulled out a portable card reader.
I said, "now that is pretty cool!"

He said, "yeah, I am a walking cash register" (except he could only process credit/debit card transactions).
He placed a sticker on my item (it read "Lucky You" with an apple design on it).

Then he asked if I wanted my receipt now or if I wanted it emailed to me.
I said, "I would like to have it now if that is ok."
He said. "sure that is no problem."
Then I asked, "do you have a printer on you too?"
He laughed and said that would probably come not too long from now.

He reached under one of the tables and pulled my receipt from a printer.
He thanked me and I left.

It was the most efficient and friendly experiences I have had.
I could not believe that I was in and out in under 10 minutes. The place was packed!

Cool, huh?

Have a great day!
~xo
Lee Ann

Funny moments for Doctors

2007-12-27T06:02:00.000-06:00

1. A man comes into the ER and yells, "My wife's going to have her baby in the cab!" I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs -and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald

2. At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall. "Big breaths," I instructed. "Yes, they used to be," replied the patient.
Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes

3. One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a "massive internal fart."
Submitted by! Dr. Susan Steinberg

4. During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. "Which one? " I asked. "The patch. The nurse told me to put on a new one every six ours and now I'm running out of places to put It!" I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair

5. While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, "How long have you been bedridden?" After a look of complete confusion She answered..."Why, not for about twenty years - when my husband was alive."
Submitted by Dr. Steven Swanson

6. I was caring for a woman and asked, "So how's your breakfast this morning?" "It's very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste," the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled "KY Jelly."
Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf

7. A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room, when a young woman with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, entered. It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green, and above it there was a tattoo that read, "Keep off the grass." Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient's dressing, which said, "Sorry, had to mow the lawn."
Submitted by RN no name

8. As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB, I was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams To cover my embarrassment I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly. The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing and further embarrassing me. I looked up from my work and sheepishly said, "I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?"
She replied, "No doctor, but the song you were whistling was, 'I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener'!".
Dr. wouldn't submit his name

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T00:00:00.000-06:00

I hope all of you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas!

Have fun and be safe during this holiday season!

I wish you a joyous holiday!

~Love you all

Have a very very merry Christmas!

2007-12-20T05:38:00.000-06:00

I am going to rest for a couple of days and get myself well.

I will check in a little closer to Christmas.

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season.

Click on the photo, I will bring you some Elfin cheer!

(It takes a minute to load, but I think you will enjoy it.)

You will notice that my hair looks short.

I promise it is still long, the download did not allow for more than 12 inches of my hair.

Look below! I want to make you four times merrier!

If you want four times the Elfin cheer.....just click the photo of the four little wee elves above and watch!

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Love you all,

Lee Ann

It has been a long week!

2007-12-18T17:05:00.000-06:00

Well, I have almost finished my Christmas shopping!
It has been a long week for me.
Last week, I had a sore throat.

Saturday, after shopping all afternoon, I was in an accident on my way home.
Fortunately, no one was injured. Unfortunately, my car was.
It is not too bad considering I was hit from behind by a Jeep Cherokee. The jeep is much bigger than my car. His front bumper was just enough higher than my back bumper that it cracked the center top portion of my bumper (where his front plate went through). We were both sitting at a red light. When the turn lane arrow changed to green, he hit the gas (even though we were in the lane to go straight with a red light). We both got out of our cars and he immediately said "Oh I am so sorry, are you ok?" I said, "yes, are you?" We are both fine.
I got the estimate today... $1200. That does not include the amount for a rental car for 3 days. At least no one was hurt.

Sunday night, my sore throat turned into bronchitis.
I missed work yesterday and went to the doctor.
Hopefully the medicine will kick in soon.
I think it was about 3 years ago, I had pneumonia on Christmas.
I am glad it is not that bad.

So, I think I will sit down and relax by the fire tonight.
I thought I would build one for all of you.
Hope you enjoy!

Click on the picture to enlarge.

It makes for a nice wallpaper! :)

Have a good night!
~xo

Lee Ann

Eating out....

2007-12-17T05:56:00.000-06:00

Here is something to think about when dining out during this holiday season.Here is a report card on many popular restaurants.

Click on the images below to enlarge!

Eat well and be merry!
~xo

Lee Ann

Advice for a hangover....could be helpful for the holidays!

2007-12-14T05:27:00.000-06:00

HEALTH

About Last Night
What really happens to your body when you drink too much--and why most hangover remedies won't work.

Holiday Binging: The distilled-spirits industry makes about 25 percent of its profits between Thanksgiving and New Year's
By Joan Raymond Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 12, 2007 Updated: 6:38 p.m. ET Dec 12, 2007

David Vanderveen figures he should know better. But during a family party last Christmas, Vanderveen, 38, a normally temperate kind of guy, downed several glasses of champagne and Scotch before slurping some Boerenjongens, a Dutch concoction made from whisky and raisins. He spent the next morning on his couch, nursing a heaving stomach, headache and other assorted ills. "I felt like a monkey died in my mouth," says Vanderveen, cofounder of XS Energy Drinks, based in Laguna, Calif. "It wasn't pretty."
Vanderveen isn't alone in his holiday booze binging. The free flowing hooch at the endless round of parties during the month of December can turn a sipper into a chugger. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the $58 billion distilled-spirits industry makes about 25 percent of its profits between Thanksgiving and New Year's. And though there are enough problems with lack of judgment the night of, the saga often continues the morning after with that smorgasbord of pain called the hangover. In medical terms, this full-body assault is called veisalgia.

While hangovers have plagued revelers since early hominids kicked back with some date-palm wine, science still doesn't have a good understanding of how your I-love-everybody yuletide cheer turns into such a biological bah-humbug. There are few studies that examine the hangover and the best way to cure it. But what science theorizes about the hangover may be enough to make any reveler skip the holiday binge.

The misery begins when blood alcohol levels start to fall. Some experts to believe the hangover is a "kind of mini withdrawal," says Robert Swift, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and director of research at the Providence Veterans Adminstration Medical Center. Because alcohol is a sedative, your body reacts by releasing various neurochemicals to stimulate the brain. These chemicals cause a rapid pulse, nausea, tremors and light and sound sensitivity--the same symptoms that alcoholics experience when they stop drinking. The worst of the symptoms occur when blood alcohol levels reach zero, also known as "the morning after."
How fast it takes you get to that zero level depends on your liver, which processes nearly all the alcohol you imbibe. And it can metabolize only small amounts of liquor each hour, explains liver specialist Dr. William Carey, professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. But "every person is going to metabolize alcohol differently," Carey says, with genetics and gender playing a role. On average, the liver metabolizes about one ounce of pure alcohol per hour. That's about 12 ounces of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine or one and a half ounces of liquor.

Which leads to another theory that puts the blame for the hangover on pure physiology. Alcohol is first broken down in the liver into a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is then further broken down into a harmless substance called acetate. At high doses, acetaldehyde causes nausea, vomiting, sweating and other symptoms akin to the hangover. Although there is no acetaldehyde in your system when you have a zero blood-alcohol level, some of the after-effects of the toxin may persist the morning after.

Congeners, by-products of the distillation and fermentation process, may also play a role in making holiday partiers miserable. Darker-colored liquors such as brandies, bourbon and red wine contain more congeners than lighter colored alcoholic beverages like gin or vodka. The big-bad of the various congeners is methanol, which is broken down by the body into formaldehyde. In the vernacular, formaldehyde is embalming fluid. When living people have this in their circulation, the clinical term for how they feel is "rotten," Swift says.

Since alcohol is a diuretic, you'll wake up dehydrated. That dehydration explains some of the symptoms such as headaches and a dry mouth. Alcohol also plays havoc with the body's biorhythms, disturbing sleep patterns, despite it being a sedative. That lack of sleep contributes to the overall misery.

Oddly, "some people can get a hangover from one or two drinks," Swift says. "And it's usually the moderate or light social drinker who suffers the most." At particular risk, though, are women. Researchers at the University of Missouri, Columbia, found that women experience worse hangovers than men, despite the amount of alcohol consumed.Though a drink-a-thon may make you feel merry, at least for a while, there are other health issues to think about. Binging, defined as four drinks per session for women and five for men, is a "serious public-health problem," according to Dr. Robert D. Brewer, alcohol team leader for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Not only will your body most likely pay the price with a mother of a hangover, binging sets you up for a host of problems: car accidents, domestic and gun violence and sexual assault. There are also potential health issues that can be precipitated by a binge--acute pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas, or even "holiday heart syndrome," an irregular heart rhythm found in heart-healthy folks who have overindulged. "There's nothing funny, nothing good, about binging," Brewer says.

Binging isn't relegated to the problem drinker. Rather, studies at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that binges are reported more often in moderate imbibers. And it's not the sole province of college kids either. According to the CDC, more than half of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks, and 70 percent of binge drinking episodes involve adults over age 25.

The safest bet is of course to follow the rules. Current recommendations call for one drink a day for women and two a day for men. But if you can't resist the extra glass, there are ways to make your morning a little bit merrier. First, if you are drinking, don't drive--of course. A glass of water between drinks will both slow down your alcohol consumption and help with dehydration. Eat before drinking, and while you're at the party, keep grazing to slow alcohol absorption, suggests alcohol metabolism expert James Schaefer, a research professor at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. Also avoid mixing drinks.

Don't waste your money on the many so-called hangover prevention remedies available in drugstores or online. Most don't have much, if any, science behind them. One study conducted by Tulane University researchers and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine did find that prickly pear extract prevented nausea and dry mouth and boosted appetite but didn't do much for other hangover symptoms.

So what can you do to help the morning after? Since alcohol messed up your sleep cycle, rest. To help your head, try aspirin or ibuprofen. Coffee can ease the pain, but it's also a mild diuretic. So drink plenty of water and juice. Exercise seems to help. Kim Donaldson, whose occasional downfall is holiday champagne, swears by walking or any type of light workout. "You may want to die at first, but you will feel better," says Donaldson, cofounder of Bottlenotes Inc., an online wine store.

And eat—even if you can barely stomach the thought. Brian Levy, a Dallas advertising executive, uses grease to help soothe symptoms during his sporadic forays into holiday overindulgence. But most experts say go bland with crackers, bread (burnt toast may help), bananas and other easy-to-digest foods. And perhaps most important: don't fall for that myth about the-hair-of-the-dog-that-bit-you and have more alcohol. That trick may make you feel better in the short term, but it could lead you on a "very dangerous path" to alcohol dependence, Schaefer says. His advice: "Drink smart or don't drink. That way you'll be able to enjoy the holidays." Even the next day.

Have a safe holiday everyone!
Have a great weekend!
~xo
Lee Ann

What color are you?

2007-12-12T06:32:00.000-06:00

I am feeling much better, thanks for the well wishes!

I worked out this morning, even cranked it up a notch. Now I am off to work.

I was feeling a little red in the throat, but now normal....see my color!

You Are a Purple Crayon

Your world is colored in dreamy, divine, and classy colors.
You hold yourself to a sky high standard, and you are always graceful.
People envy, idolize, and copy you without realizing it. You are an icon for those who know you.
And while it is hard to be a perfectionist, rest assured it's paying off!

Your color wheel opposite is yellow. While yellow people may be wise, they lack the manners and class needed to impress you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Hope you have a great day!
~xo

Lee Ann

Not feeling well...

2007-12-10T17:37:00.000-06:00

I stayed home sick with a sore throat today.
I am resting. (I hope I don't snore, if you think you hear that, it is just a tickle in my sore throat!!!) ;)
Please feel free to come inside and read (there is plenty of reading material over there to your right in the great room) or relax in the great room in front of fireplace and watch the big screen television.
Take your shoes off and get comfy!
Please be sure to sign the guest book in the grand foyer.
Have a pleasant day,
Lee Ann

What Christmas tree are you?

2007-12-10T05:26:00.000-06:00

I am a White Christmas Tree

You like to fill your holidays with beautiful designs and classy decorations.
When it comes to Christmas, you always expect (and provide) the best.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

Have a wonderful week!
~xo

Lee Ann

a little fun...

2007-12-06T05:54:00.000-06:00

Have a great weekend!

Hugz

From time to time people stumble across my blog when searching for something other than Castle of Nannbugg.
The other day, I noticed some of the searches that found me:

**indian university girls sex photo
**celery numb lips
**things they dont put on hallmark cards
**picture of little boy with pads all over him
**odd inventions
**how to say i love you i really do in italian
**rasta man having sex with white women
**shaun cassidy shoe size
**if i knew it would be the last time reba mcentire
**warning to others purpose in life
**don't take life too seriously bumper sticer

I did not change any of the words or how they were spelled....just copied it.
It is interesting to look at the above and realize there is at least a little content from these searches that are contained in my blog!
~~~~Shaun Cassidy's shoe size!?
I know for a fact that in the 2 and a half years the Castle has been here, that I have never written anything about Shaun Cassidy's shoe size... and who and why would anyone want to know that????
I find it humorous and entertaining.
Tell me a search that found you.

Have a good day!
~xo
Lee Ann

38 Questions:

2007-12-03T06:21:00.000-06:00

I found this at Hypersonic's place.

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
Left shoulder, rotator cuff surgery.

2. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
Well, there are many things, but one is that I would like to be at my goal of my fitness program.
(I know, it takes time and diligence)

3. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
9:56 am

4. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
doll

5. THE BEST TV SHOW EVER CREATED:
I don't know if I would say its the best tv show ever created, but my favorite show at this time is Grey's Anatomy.

6. THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO?
Howard

7. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Yes

9. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
None, I had 2 pulled and 2 cut out (when I was 18)

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
Ladies' perfume ~ Estee Lauder - White Linen
Men's cologne ~ Claiborne - Mambo

11. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Tall dark and handsome ~ Brunette hair with brown eyes

12. WOULD YOU RATHER BE SMART OR FUNNY?
Both, together is the perfect balance.

13. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Coffee! The only time I have had an energy drink was a Jägerbomb (nasty)

14. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Thick juicy filet Mignon with Marsala mushroom sauce, side of asparagus and a big slice of cheesecake with sour cream topping.

15. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
Howard (I am guessing, because I don't normally make people mad. And honestly, I don't ever intentionally try to make him mad....sorry baby)

16. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
No, but I know sign language (if you do it very slow)
I can count to 10 in Spanish. "I love you" in french. A few numbers in Vietnamese (one of my favorite nail polishes was number 14).

17. DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?
Most definitely!

18. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Yes, my heart leads my mind most of the time.

19. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Directly. If that doesn't work, get on the Internet and tell them... Howard, you mean the world to me.

20. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
People that are ignorant or those that treat others with disrespect.

21. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE U.S.?
Yes, I have been to Mexico. (Only because I went to a small city right across the border of Texas). I would love to travel to Italy, Scotland, England, Australia, Africa, Brazil....

22. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Tender kisses on my neck and... well lets just say tender kisses! ;)

23. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I don't think I could do it....I am terrified of going "under the knife".

24. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?
It is something different and it gave me something to post.

25. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
Yes.

26. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My face.

27. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Hope that pot becomes legal! haha...j/k

28. WHERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes,
Lee ~ my dad's middle name
Ann ~ my mom's middle name
Patricia ~ my mom's first name.

29. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Last night

30. ANY BAD HABITS?
Naaa, not me! haha
No, seriously, I am sure there are some.

31. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes, I am very loyal.

32. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE FAMOUS?
From the past....Texas Jack was my cousin (4th I think).

33. DO LOOKS MATTER?
I would be lying if I said no, but if you don't have a good soul, if you are not a nice person, it doesn't matter how beautiful you are. If you have inner beauty, that is the beauty that shines the most.

34. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
Cry

35. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
I used to, but not as quickly now.

36. FAVORITE THOUGHT PROVOKING SONG:
Jethro Tull ~ Aqualung

37. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Saturday

38. FAVORITE EXPRESSION?
That's amazing!

Have an amazing week!
~xo
Lee Ann

TGIF

2007-11-30T18:38:00.000-06:00

Have a great weekend!
~xo

Lee Ann

Name this city...

2007-11-28T17:41:00.000-06:00

**Edit** The answer is Denver!

You all guessed right.

Cool picture, eh?

Click on the image to enlarge.

Ok, what is your guess?

I will give two hints.

1. This is a city in the US.

2. This picture is of "that" city in 1898.

Happy hump day!

~xo

Lee Ann

Okay...

2007-11-25T19:11:00.000-06:00

...what now? ________.....

****(fill in the blank)****

The Iron Bowl

2007-11-24T11:27:00.000-06:00

Yes, today is the day that an unbelievable amount of people in the state of Alabama have been waiting for all year....The Auburn /Alabama game ~ The Iron Bowl.

This is apparently the biggest most important day of the year!!!

It doesn't matter which team has had more wins or losses during the year, the winner could be either team.

I grew up an Alabama fan...went to numerous games, had all the "Alabama paraphernalia", even went to two maybe three Sugar Bowls in New Orleans. My brother, one year ahead of me in school, went to the University of Alabama.

I went to Auburn University. My senior year in high school, I spent the weekend visiting my friend, toured the campus, and made the decision to go to Auburn..."War Eagle!"

Two years later, I persuaded my younger sister to attend Auburn University.

So, we had a split family.

I was now a die hard Auburn fan...well, I did go to school there!

Years later, I lived in South Florida. No one cared about college football there. (Well it was not the same kind of huge fan base as in Alabama).

The Miami Dolphins (pro ball) was what it was all about.

Then several years later, I moved back to Birmingham.

The job I took was filled with Alabama fans.

The President of my company had played football for Alabama.

That is when it happened....

That is when I completely lost interest for the game. My co-workers showed me a side of Alabama fans that was not good. The Alabama fans were cut-throat!

These were my friends/co-workers. This made me realize it was not fun anymore. These people were over the top! It became apparent they took the game so seriously that they made it miserable for anyone else whether Alabama won or lost!

So, to this day....I don't care who wins or loses. It is just not fun anymore.

WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!

;)

Hope your team wins if they have a game today!

~xo

Lee Ann

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T05:28:00.000-06:00

Just a few things I am thankful for...
Howard, my family, my friends, my pets, my health, my job, and so much more.
As "Hotboy" and Rob would say, what a fortunate creature I am!
Tell me something you are thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love to all,

Lee Ann

Five Items in my....

2007-11-13T06:59:00.000-06:00

FIVE ITEMS

Five Items in my Fridge (nearly bare):
1. Drinks ~ Skim milk, apple juice, Propel water (Black Cherry), Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Pepsi, pint of Tequila (unopened for over 2 years now)
2. egg (one)
3. 2% american cheese
4. fresh broccoli
5. grilled chicken

Five Items in my Closet (jampacked):
1. clothes
2. shoes
3. purses
4. back scratcher (Awww, this is wonderful)
5. jewelry box

Five Items in my Car:
1. Umbrella
2. sunglasses
3. gum
4. St. Christopher (not the real saint, just a clipcharm on the visor)
5. mints

Five Items in my Purse (it is a very small purse with not much more than 5 items):
1. Wallet
2. checkbook
3. cell phone
4. lipstick
5. Ipod

Five Items in my Nightstand
1. A few books (including All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)
2. Body lotion (you know, for dry hands)
3. Vaseline (you know, for dry lips)
4. Box of con......(I know what you are thinking....NO!)...a box of concert and theatre tickets of every show I have been to! =)
5. Okay, okay....a box of condoms (but I don't use them, I swear!!)

What five items do you have in your five things?
Have a great day!
~xo
Lee Ann

The boys backs

2007-11-07T20:17:00.000-06:00

Most of you already know that when I work out at the gym, I prefer to do it in the Cardio Cinema room (theatre) the lights are dim and there is something to watch on a big screen.

I got a wonderful Ipod for my birthday and now I don't know how I ever worked out without it (thank you Howard).
Now, that I have my Ipod, I still like to workout in the theatre. They usually have a good movie showing, but not this morning. I did not recognize any of the actors and it seemed strange. The majority of the actors were young (high school age). They apparently were bad kids doing something illegal. So I lost interest in the movie and focused completely on the music playing in my ears.

The theatre room was not too crowded, 1 other girl and 4 guys.
I was on the back row of treadmills, the girl was next to me. Three of the guys were directly in front of me and the 4th guy on the other side of me. The girl left a few minutes after I started working out. Unlike me, none of the guys were out of shape in the least little bit.

All of the sudden John Cougar Mellencamp was singing Authority Song to me. As I was looking in front of me, I noticed the guy in the middle was running to the exact beat of the song...the whole song. The guy to his right was doing a fast walk and the guy to his left was jogging and were not on beat.
...Well!
I wasn't interested in the movie so....
...and they were in front of me, so it was hard to miss...
haha

The next song that came bursting through my earphones...Sexyback!
Then...Walk Away.

I told you guys before that I want to sing out when I am listening to the Ipod, but I restrain myself.
I did look down to check my heart rate. When I looked up, I guess I was singing (not outloud, but just to myself) and the guy on the left was getting off the treadmill and we looked at each other....I was busted! Thankfully I was aware that I was not singing out loud. How embarrassing would that have been!
Oh well, it was a great workout.

It was also the first morning to walk outside soaked from the sweat (oh wait, am I supposed to say glisten) to a temperature under 30*F.....brrrrrr!
Actually this first glimpse of cold weather is nice, can't wait to sit all cozy with Howard in front of the fireplace with a nice glass of wine!
Have a great weekend everyone!
~xo
Lee Ann

Metal and Wood

2007-11-06T06:05:00.000-06:00

I received this in an email....thanks Amera ;)

All of the portraits are made with either nails or toothpicks!

This is amazing!!!!

I hope you all have an amazing day.

~xo

Lee Ann