Loni's Life

Big Kitty!   This is one of the MGM Grand's Lions  in their multi-million dollar state of the art habitat. I enjoyed watching the kitties.. and I was not the only 5-year old in the place going "Kitty" in gleeful, happy kid-tones.  These kitties were playing with a huge plastic spool thing about as enthusiastically as Mocha plays with her Mousey. 

Here's a picture of me in our wonderfully shady but occasionally sunny spot on Saturday ;  that's BFF behind me reading some type of vacation smut novel. 

On Sunday morning before we were originally due to leave Vegas, there was a knock at the door at some hour prior to our wake-up call.. and I don't even remember what I muttered to BFF.. something about did you order room service.. or what's up with that.. neither of us got out of bed.. and whoever had knocked had apparently gone away....  When we were ready to leave the room to go get breakfast and catch the shuttle to the airport we were greeted by this plant sitting in the hallway right outside our door.. we looked around like we were on Candid Camera or something and then we politely left said plant at the next door (minus the knocking) and went on about our day. 

Ok, after the 6-hour storm related delay in Dallas, we arrived in Las Vegas fairly late into the evening.. and so we were not necessarily paying attention when the desk clerk gal said something about the mini-bar and charging and whatever.... anyhow, turns out the minibar thing at The Mirage is fancy schmanzy and will automatically charge you for items when removed.... oops...  So as per normal when at a hotel, I checked out the mini-bar and one item caught my eye out of curiosity just 'cause, well I have seen a few mini-bars and usually it's the assortment of overpriced beverages and snacks.. but when you are hungry or thirsty, you don't really care... but in this case, it was an "intimacy kit"  Which contains (according to the packaging)..  Product Description  Kit  Includes: 1 - The Sensual O Vibrating Rings; 1 - Personal Lube Packets; 1 - Warming Lube Packets; 1 - Lubricated Condoms; 1 - Sensual Wipes; 2 - Mints.  (You can almost order them from one of my fave...

This posted started on 6/17  and went to draftland .. and I'm just now getting back to it...  so it's long and no pictures here... but will upload some shortly.  Thu- After the 12-hour travel day due to bad weather in Dallas, we got in to Vegas and checked into The Mirage . We had an incident with the automatic-charging mini-bar thing with some interesting and expensive items, but got that resolved. We grabbed dinner at the restaurant near the guest elevators. We each had the 3-course special. I had the Loaded Fries; Spaghetti with marinara sauce and garlic bread; and chocolate sundae for dessert. BFF had the fried cheese sticks with marina sauce; the turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce; and the bread pudding with caramel sauce. Then off to bed. Fri - BFF was up sometime before 6:30 AM and was peeking out the windows which the bright sunlight of early Vegas morning woke me up. We dilly-dallied around between the buffet breakfast, the lure of some slot mac...

We've had Mocha for just a little over a year now.. and I just love the little gal... but then I am a total sucker for kitty cats... always have been, always will be.   We went for her annual check up on my birthday and all of her lab work came back clean and I only need to schedule a dental cleaning for her.    She is such a Mommy's Girl, much to DH's dismay.   

Went to a Shoebox Swap tonight and had a blast.   Met several gals that have read my emails or checked out my blog on occasion or even some where we exchange communications in cyberland regularly, but had never met.    I got 3 of my "non-card" VC Rocks swaps shipped off today and only have a few more left which will ship by Wednesday... boy the week is flying fast.   Come on Thursday since I don't have to work on Friday (Yippee!!!!! ) 

I've been busy lately stamping, stamping, stamping... and little time for blogging, blog surfing, knitting, etc. Today, I participated in a Cards for Heroes event in Forney . For some reason my eyes read Forney , but my mind interpreted Wylie or Sachse .. ha.. nope.. a bit further of a drive then I would care to do.. and nearly overwhelmed by the obvious smoking that occurs in the VFW Hall and the heat of the room.. but I still managed to crank out 100 cards for the drive where they were hoping to achieve a total of 1000. There were several scrappers and rubber stampers present and a good time was had by all, in spite of the heat. I've also been working on VC Rocks (Virtual Convention Rocks Yahoo Group) swaps.. if I'm not the swappiest , I'm darn near close I think... and then tomorrow night I have a Shoebox Swap hosted by my 2 nd upline . It should be fun.

For my non-stamping blog readers... the crown in the side bar means that I have joined the Late Night Stampers' Royal Blog Tour , as one of the tour stops, running July 26, 27 and 28.   What is a Blog Tour?... well, it's basically like the Cards For Heroes Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop where I also participated as a blog hop stop (#124 at of over 130).  It's fun for me as a stamper and helped me to find my stamping mojo as it had gotten lost while my knitting mojo was going full force.   Now, I've found a way to do both :)  There will be four Tours of 20 talented stampers on each tour, so for my stamping and scrapping buddies it is a 3-day fest of oohs and aahs over lots of paper crafting.    I will be featuring projects using a new Level 3 hostess set, The More the Merrier .   If you choose to tour, and I encourage my stamping and non-stamping friends to do so, you will meet another talented "Loni" on the tour.. and no, it's not me using a different s...

Forney VFW Post 9180 presents *Letters Home* a Cards for Heroes free cropping event.  WANTED: All Scrapbookers, stampers, crafters, veterans, and friends.  Sunday, June 28th 1 to 5pm Forney VFW 9180 at 13300 FM 1641, Forney Please RSVP to Diane at deebrush at sbcglobal.net 

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-friend.html I'm fun, loyal, honest, and trustworthy. Have a variety of interests from cycling to knitting, rubber stamping to reading. Am also interested in what my dearest friends do and enjoy.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-father.html Hmm... lots of extras in the "mother" role department, but none that I can think of other than my dear Dad in the father department.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-work.html The hardest work I've ever done is helping my DH lay tile at my MIL's rented house in the freezing cold of january... yeah try dealing with cranky husband cutting tiles with the wet tile cutter thingie in lower-than-freezing temperatures. Never, ever, ever again... ever.

Just been so busy lately working on swap cards for Virtual Convention Rocks (VC Rocks) group that is only open during the summertime leading up to Stampin' Up!'s annual convention for demonstrators.    I got the last of my 19 card swaps done and shipped off this morning and have 6 non-card ones left to finish.   I only go swap crazy at this time of the year.. which would be the same as if I was going to convention.  I've got half of the Las Vegas story on my drafted posts and need to finish it.  Had a great time at Mamma C's tonight, her pool is perfectly lovely and it was a perfect evening with 2 of my favorite peoples. 

Mocha hanging out on the stairs

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-mail.html too easy... would want it to be a real , valid check with 'illions' in it.. that would be the best ever.

I love my BFF ... everyone that knows us, knows that I love my BFF ... but there are just some times when she is ever-the-Vogue fashion model type and wanting to be CUTE rather than practical.    Our departure day from our home airport was one of those times... she was ever-so-cute in her blue/white striped shorts and shirt and her Dr. Scholl's sandals in white.    As we are departing my house, we take note of the weather and we pretty much are guessing that we are going to have some weather delays leaving Dallas due to the incoming rain..but we are leaving for the airport with plenty of time to spare so that should not be too big of an issue.  BFF has already stopped on her way to pick me up to pick up bagels from Panera's Bakery (yum!), the car is fueled up, and she has her umbrella, plus we've both packed fairly light.. with one final check at my house, in case anything was missing, and off we go.  On the way to the airport, it starts raining... as we get closer to th...

Got a bonus 2 days and 1 night in Las Vegas c/o Southwest Airlines. Had a grand early birthday trip with one of my most favorite people in the world. Will post more about our trip and upload pictures later this week.

We claimed our territory shortly after the gate too the pool opened at 8am. Now watching folks circle like sharks looking for open deck chairs. Is prime real estate right now. M and I found a great spot that affords me shade and will give her a bit of sun. LONI Http://austin09.livestrong.org/loniholt

Sitting poolside at Mirage LONI Http://austin09.livestrong.org/loniholt

Mirage, Las Vegas shall be my home-away-from-home for the next few days.   My BFF is treating me to a girls-only road-trip to celebrate my upcoming birthday.   We were supposed to go to Puerto Vallarta , but due to travel restrictions at the office including a 4-day mandatory unpaid quarantine period upon our return (since rescinded), we opted to swap our travel plans.   It should be fun.   We're planning to park our happy butts in the pool area by day and play some casino games along the way (and we have Mamma C's lucky quilted money pouches).. it should be a wonderful birthday treat and time with my BFF /"twin" is always good ~ even when we have the occasional sisterly snipe-fest. 

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-relative.html Haha... easy one.. my "twin" sister... of course, she's married though and has a doogle; so it would have to be a package deal.

Crazy day at work since our department is moving to a new set of cubes for the next 6 months before our new permanent homes on the 1st floor are ready.    Between that and dealing with updating various documents... one of which remains in flux as the managers are still debating what's in and what's out for the release and my documentation for the requirements has to match the project plan... aargh... The other being a statement of work that has been in work for what seems like forever... after 4 reschedules of a review meeting.. and they've had like a solid month to review this document, they were still providing input and updates as late as 5pm yesterday (double aargh).   Then to top off the day, I walked out into a storm (literally)... I didn't know we were under a tornado warning; thought we were just under a t-storm alert... but by the time I made it to my card, I heard sirens wailing to the south.. so I booked it home just in time to here sirens going off at home t...

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-graduation.html Hmm... only one piece of advice.. well, 2 parts then.. 1) pay off your student loans; 2) stay out of other debt.

We are hosting an unexpected furry houseguest tonight in the form of one Sammy Sosa doogle... BFF has been worried about Mocha & Sammy meeting... and Mocha basically took one look at Sammy and made a beeline for the top of the stairs wanting nothing whatsoever to do with him.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-trust.html Totally trust my BFF... if it's said between us "in confidence" it totally stays that way.

FFI #127 1. I wish my BFF was back home. 2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been a Subway Sandwich, bag of baked chips, and a diet coke. 3. Zip it Sammy, love you; but this is not your house; bark! bark! bark! 4. A nice long walk on a Poipu Beach would be grand . 5. Picnic frenzy 2009 is over, that sure is some good news. 6. When all is said and done, some people attending the picnic will find something about which to whine or complain . 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep , tomorrow my plans include Great American Scrapbooking Convention and the picnic and Sunday, I want to stamp some swaps for VC Rocks .

I was cleaning out a file cabinet and ran across this picture of fur-babies now gone.  This was in their much younger days when Tracer was a solid 10-pound kitty and not the barely 6-pounds she was at almost age 21 when she crossed The Rainbow Bridge.    This is one of my faves because Cassie was totally Tracer's doggie.   You would think they had grown up together, but Tracer was mine and Cassie was DH's before we met.   Actually, Cassie was one of a grand menagerie of doogles; but is the one that ended up moving in with the pair of us as DH's other mutt dog, Norman was too big for the apartment.  I don't think I have any pics of Norman because he always barked and growled at me; but Cassie was a dear sweet pup and you would think that she had been with me forever and not DH since she always followed me from room to room rather than him. Tracer and Cassie would snuggle up and sleep together.. of course Tracer would always have to give the dog a big ol' bath too.....

Oh thank Heaven that Picnic Frenzy 2009 is almost over. The RSVP process isn't too bad; even the normal ticket delivery isn't too bad. But this year, we were oh-so-brilliant (NOT) to add Sport Quart bottles and wristbands for free-refills all day. 800 tickets, wristbands, and bottles (some assembly required-- as they came as cup, lid, straw, hook... we didn't assemble, just gave the pieces to the employees-- after all, they are adults, they can figure it out.. or just give the pieces to the kids, they will figure it out).... almost done, almost done... it's hilarious because yesterday I just started answering the phone as Company Name - Picnic Central - How may I help you? For the most part, the employees have been pretty good about the late distribution (tickets were ready on Tuesday; but shipping snafus and whatnot, we didn't get the cups until yesterday morning and the wristbands until late in the morning). They do get rather antsy about it though and I'm jus...

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-illness.html Easy one: Chicken pox, age 6. Got quarantined at my maternal grandmother's and she put vaseline on the spots; I remember my Mom being mad about it. I also remember not wanting to be there. Probably because I was a sick and cranky child ~ or maybe because this was after the incident where my grandmother had promised a special overnight and then she cancelled... but then the next weekend, I learned she had my other girl cousins over instead. Even at 6, I had one of those "I'll show you how valuable Elle Woods can be" big fooey to you moments. My Dad says after that incident, I didn't want anything to do with my maternal grandmother.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-writing-prompt-lottery.html Guess I would like to win enough to be 100% debt free and enough to cover our household/necessary expenses plus all of the fun expenses for the rest of my days. Plus, I'd like to win enough to take care of those nearest and dearest to me and family too. If I didn't have to 'work' for a living, I think my life would change in that DH and I could travel more and I'd opt to do some more volunteer work or maybe build a craft cottage/retreat/bed and breakfast place for knitters, scrapbookers, rubber stampers, etc.

Mocha is such a Mommy's Girl... she is stretched out next to me.. yes, I could not imagine dorm life would have been good for me as I really do need a cat in the house for my mental well-being. I've had at least 1 cat in my life at any give time since Age 3.

Not the best picture I know; but the best I could get with my cell phone. I was sooooooooo cold in the prison dorm room.. and really contemplated how I could steal BFF's blanket from her whilst she was sleeping.. except for she was sleeping on top of it (during naptime after lunch), and I couldn't get it without waking her... she would have given it to me, I know.. especially since Sparkie was still sending up heat waves... but I thought that would be rude to wake her up... so I put on an extra shirt, added my beach towel to my sheet to cover up with, and socks make good impromptu mittens, and wrapped my baby blanket around my head and shoulders. I probably looked like some homeless waif, but at least I had warmed up a bit. We shifted furniture around such that we could share her large blanket for the overnight.. and though I was warm, it wasn't a totally restful night as you can tell from my previous post .

Ok , now on Day 1 of Tour de Cure, we had planned to ride 50; got thru the first 21 ok ; were going to SAG ahead to the last stop before the finish line and ride the last 10 in for a total of 31.  Unfortunately, our teen navigator, missed the exit for that one and we ended up at the finish line.   By the time we got thru riding over the finish line and then locating luggage and such.. with a few sisterly snippety fits thrown in.. not big ones, just a we're both a bit hot, tired, and/or cranky and ready for some rest and air conditioning... we get checked into the room with our bikes.  I volunteer to go back out and get our luggage which convert into backpacks... and upon my first exit from the room to get luggage, I recall that I need the pass cardkey to get back into the building; so I go back in the room and give BFF the doorkey that we had left in the door and get the building pass cardkey to back in the building and happily set off to the elevator back to the 1st floor....

Here's some pictures of the prison-like Dorm Room.   I have often wondered if I missed out on much by rooming at home the first couple of years of college; then moving out on my own;  soon to live with my the boyfriend to fiance to dear husband...  After this weekend, I am thinking I did not miss out on much... especially since today on the car ride home BFF said there are no "pet-friendly" dorm rooms.. that pets are off limits except for maybe a goldfish or something.    I was like, but I have to have a CAT for my mental well-being.   So my mind re-winds to Age 17 and I still had a young Tracer with me then.. and I just don't see that I could have done 4-years of no cat except for summers at home.    The mattresses squeaked all night and felt like you were going to fall through  the bed frame ... i mean, I know I'm a heavy gal... but come on, for this ugly institutional furniture that is supposed to last 400 years or whatever, it should at least be quiet and fe...

A couple of pictures of me in my Team Red Rider jersey. 

Lessons learned... Take off front wheel of bike and be able re-assemble bike properly Fix my speed/distance sensor for by cycling computer Dorm life sucks Peanut butter and honey is not for all, but if you ask nicely they will make you plain peanut butter sandwich Rethink the logistics.. Perhaps base in Austin or San Marcos instead of San Antonio Pack toilet paper because dorm rooms suck and have nothing unless you bring it yourself... the packing list only specified sheets, blankets, pillow cases, and normal hygiene items i.e. shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap.. but nothing about toilet paper.   It was nice that the dorm central had a roll to give us otherwise we were going to have to go on a toilet paper hunt of the community/public bathrooms to locate some... even if it had meant Men's rooms!  We are pampered princesses used to having at least basic cable and soft comfy beds with adjustable room temperature...oh yeah, did I mention dorm life sucks. Mina is getting better at...

I was finally able to snap a couple of shots of Mocha with her little ears folded down flat when she is in attack mode from the top of the stairs.