Second Wordless Wednesday

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."
~Author Unknown

This one is for the birds....

The running joke in my house the past couple of months is that the husband hears things (as opposed to seeing dead people). He asked me if I heard what sounded like birds chirping. I did not, and chalked it up to my husband loosing his mind earlier then expected (and who would blame him, right?) He said it sounded like it was coming from the vent above the microwave/stove and usually started when he turned on the fan while cooking.

While sitting in my living room this morning, I hear this big THUD above the microwave/stove. The sound of one, if not more, birds trying desperately to get out of an area they don't belong in. As if on queue, my 85 pound German Shepherd chimes in and makes his feelings of disapproval known by barking hysterically. I have birds chirping, a dog barking at a bird chirping, a bird banging itself into the walls. It had to be something out of a comedy movie.

So you might as yourself: "Who would I call to get a bird out of my walls?" No, not Ghostbusters. After Googling just that, I called a local pest place. They do not "do birds". I asked if she knew of anyone that did, she did not.

After another Google search, I found a semi-local company with raving testimonials on their website for the removal of birds in walls. I called and was able to get an apt. in the afternoon.

The "bird man" showed up,and we determined what vent the bird may possibly be flying into. He hoisted up on a ladder against the house and with a camera shoved down the vent, saw only minimal nest making material. He commented multiple times about how it's "early" in the year for birds to be nesting in vents of homes, and I was actually his first "bird" call. One thing I didn't think of to prove that a bird was indeed flying in this vent to make a home, while not paying rent, was bird droppings on the side of the house where the vent is. There was a little, which indicated that the birds hadn't been visiting long. We decided the best course of action would be to put some mesh wiring over the vent and that should be enough to keep it out (there was no evidence that a nest/eggs had been set up yet, therefore trapping potential baby birds).

Within 10 minutes of the bird man leaving, I hear pecking on the side of the house where the vent is. I sneak outside, very quietly, to try to catch said bird in action and sure enough..there was a bird trying to peck through the mesh which is now blocking its attempt at squatting in my walls.

Non-rent paying, squatting birds: 0 Owner of the Big Red House: 1

And the most awkward kiss of 2011 goes to....

From TLC's The Virgin Diaries. And you thought sex ed. in high school gave you the giggles.....

When insomnia strikes...

I have insomnia, and it's not my friend. My brain just does NOT shut down at night and I lay there thinking all sorts of things. I had tried Melatonin in the past, went away from it, and just recently I would try this "natural" remedy again. Melatonin, is also not my friend. It's not working. So the past few nights, and I lay in bed trying desperately to shut off the voice in my head, I read. I learn things at all hours of the night that would shock you. Here are a couple of tid bits from my most recent bout of this fabulous problem.

1. Alec Baldwin is back on Twitter (a side note: I don't tweet..it confuses me...but apparently his absence post "Words with Friends/Airplane" freakout) and he was missed by the Twitter community.

2.Justin Bieber got a tattoo of...wait for it...JESUS on the back of his calf. Oh Justin Bieber..why you gotta go all religious on us?

3.A guy who legally changed his name to "Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop" (no, I didn't make that up) was arrest in his home town last week. In my opinion, he's guilty of nothing but an AWESOME name. Then I pondered what you would call him.."Beezow"? "Mr. Bop-Bop?"

4. BEYONCE HAD HER BABY. I mean, really? This is EVERYWHERE on the net. Blue Ivy Carter? Ivy Blue Carter? Either way..that baby is rich, ya'll!

5. After all of this mind numbing information, I resorted to the current book I'm reading, "Summer at Tiffany".

I'm not a Mac, I'm a PC

Mac vs. PC....I've been "trained" on PC's, and have played around with some Mac's but have never been too impressed. I never really got the Iphone craze because I've never had one. I've played around with a couple, but I never really saw the difference between them and my fabulous HTC android phone. My phone has the apps. on it I want, it texts and dials phone numbers just fine. Then came...SIRI. When I first saw an ad for Siri before Christmas, I looked at the huband and said "I WANT THAT!!" The Iphone 4GS craze then started. My current cell phone company has finally jumped on board and started offering Iphones. It seemed the writing was on the wall. But I resisted. Yes, the ad with Santa using Siri as his "personal planner" was adorable and I would stop dead in my tracks when it came on, but I didn't want to go through the whole mess of calling my cell phone company, upgrading the phone, agreeing to contracts, etc. Then came...the Ipad2. I've longed for one for a while, not sure how much I may use/benefit from it, but not really expecting to make the jump. Then my husband jumped for the both of us. I have to say, I love it, and as of now I use it a ton. The battery life is awesome, the screen is so clear and fast, and the app store brings me much enjoyment. I read books on it (thank you Kindle app), of course Facebook, and it's so light and easy to travel with. And, it's pretty. While I don't think I would give up my pink Dell laptop for a Mac Airbook, I'm still eying that Iphone...but for now, we are a 1 device (out of many thanks to my husband working in the field) Mac household. For now....

Oh how you were missed, Casey Anthony...

I was, for lack of a better word, obsessed with this trial. My mother in law was visiting from Montana when this first went down in 2008 and as she was watching it unfold on CNN, I became hooked. So when the "trial of the century" came due this year, I was ready. It drug on, days where I didn't worry about watching because I didn't care about the science of bugs that may or may not describe death drug on. Then of course, the infamous "Not Guilty" verdict. Of OJ proportions. I was at the eye Dr. trying on new glasses (my getting older eyes) and my mom texted me. I was so ready to be home and watching the SECOND that verdict was read. People were outraged, death threats ensued. It was mayhem. Then she disappeared. Just like that. Recently, a video has been uncovered of her, and she's as bat shit crazy as she's always been. Talking about how she doesn't like to be on camera, but will continue to do video diaries (bi-polar much?), her glasses are too big for her face, and she's obviously wearing a wig. There are also reports she has a boyfriend, a cell phone (gasp!!), and a job? What I want to know is, how does it feel to be the most hated girl in America Miss Anthony? Now back to our regular scheduled programming.

Resolutions....or lack there of

Yes, I know they're all over the web right now. People making promises to themselves as to how they'll "better" themselves this year. What they can do "differently", or "better". *DISCLAIMER* I do not like, nor participate in, such New Years Resolutions. My feeling is you can make resolutions at any point in the year. Going to loose all that weight magically starting Jan. 1st? Really? I don't think I'm aware of one person I know who is able to keep a resolution they make for a full 12 months. I have things I want to do, but WILL do, instead of "resolve" to do. Some I may get to, some I may not. But these ideas were in this small brain of mine plenty before Dick Clark (bless his heart) counted down the last 17 seconds of 2011, all be it 1 second behind thanks to his previous stroke. For your visual entertainment:

1. As stated earlier, participate in Blog365. My sister in law laid down the challenge, I accepted..so here we are

2. Travel. While there are places on the "long term" bucket list that will remain, a couple of places I'd REALLY like to aim for this year. They include: the Oregon Coast (as is tradition with me and the husband on our anniversary come July), Montana? (the in laws live there), maybe Victoria, BC? Note to self: must now have passport.

3. Keep those close, closer. (aka: try to be a more improved friend) Make time, go out of my way, etc.

4. Put more money away. People always want to do this, and I'm pretty good at it for the most part...but I could def. do better (and this would help with number 2)

5. Take more time to enjoy the "little" things. Also, something I think people/me should be doing all of the time. While pregnant with Amelia, I HATED hearing "it goes by so fast". Sadly, it's true. I need to be a more patient parent, and laugh a little more about being dead smack in the middle of the "trying 4's"

So there you have it. I hope to be able to post, at some point throughout the year, about checking any/all of these off. It would make me feel like I'm doing something with myself, other then just "being".

"With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson