The Space Needle

On Monday we were able to visit the Space Needle in Seattle with our friends from England. We met up with Wayne, Barbara, Chris, Peter and Stan at the Westlake Center where we had a bite of lunch. We then rode the monorail to the Seattle Center.
Having Wayne in a wheelchair has it's perks. We were able to ride up together and had a pass to get on the elevator all together and barely had to wait for it.

Wayne was unable to go out onto the observation deck but I was able to take his camera and get photos for him. Some nice lady out on the deck offered to take Rick's and my photo together. The weather was incredible!
We had a great time with friends hanging out watching the sea planes for awhile as well.

Pasco Washington

Rick and I were able to use frequent flyer miles for our trip. We were able to get a one-way flight on the way back but not on the way to Seattle. We had the opportunity of stopping for 3 hours in Pasco Washington. The airport of the Tri-Cities area. The above photo is the full airport. While hanging out there I decided to call Rissa. Marissa has been in this lovely airport before. Rissa found the airport on line and they happened to have a live webcam. I walked around the airport trying to find it but alas, I was unsuccesful.
Also, when Rick first started working at England (See How Rick and I met) he was a planner for the northwest area of the country. Pasco/Kennewick and whatever the other city is up there are a major hub for ground transportation in the northwest.
We decided to leave the secured area since we had some time on our hands. We ended up watching some Harry Potter for a while and then checked out the groovy restaurant in the airport. They had Walla Walla Onions for a limited time. We were able to partake and enjoyed some great onion rings, minus the fry sauce. (I serious do not understand how fry sauce has not become at staple in other parts of the country. Nevertheless the ranch was good.)
The last photo on our tour of the Tri-Cities airport is of me with my back against the furtherest wall in the airport taking a photo of the entire airport. There are 5, yes 5 total gates and you can see security from where I was standing. Rick said it was like going to the Salt Lake airport back in the 70's.

Clark Clan BBQ - Issaquah WA 2009

I am going to post about our trip to Seattle in several different blogs. I ended up having 470 photos on my camera and it looks like not more than a dozen are fuzzy or just accidents. I wanted to start out with our BBQ on Saturday night. This way I can post the photos of Maddy so she is happy to look at them.

Drew was in the house watching football much of the time we were on the porch talking. This was the first time Joanne, our aunt, met Drew and Rick. It was the first time Grandma Jo met Rick as well. Grandma's birthday was 2 weeks ago while she was visiting family in England so we bought her flowers for her brithday that morning at the farmer's market. (Story and more photos to follow.) We had a nice time with everyone. Even Kenzie stuck around for most of it before sneaking off to the Sounders game.
My photos look like they are going to have a funky layout which is cool with me so I am not going to try and rearrange them. For those of you that don't know... Red and yellow sweater = Laurie, my stepmom. Dude with grey hair, Jimbo, my dad. Joanne is in the blue shirt and is my dad's sister just 16 months younger than him. Guy in the black sweater, my half brother McKenzie who is 19 and last but not least, the lady in the vertically stripped shirt, my only living grandparent, Grandma Jo. (Don't forget the photo of me with my arm around my invisible friend.)





Welcome to the Clark Clan!

Survey Says....

Right now I should be packing, but this is way more fun!

Alright you! Yes, you! If you are reading this I am tagging you! Copy and paste this into your blog, erase my answers and put in yours! I can’t wait to read your answers! If you don’t have a blog, email me your answers!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My name, Michele, is my mom's middle name
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I had tears in my eyes from my headache about 45 min ago. Does that count?
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Somedays
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?Processed lunch meat is revolting
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 step sons, 22 (as of last Monday) and 20.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Heck no! I am too crazy
7. GREATEST FEAR? Losing Rick, yes I know it will happen someday but I don't want it to happen any time soon.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? NEVER!!!!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cranberry Almond Crunch
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Unless I can slide them on
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes but I still have a long ways to go.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Fendalls Lemon Gelato
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The way they talk to me ~ Especially men in the business place
15. RED OR PINK? PINK
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? My lack of self esteem
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandma - She could put my mom in her place (and since I moved all my 6000+ photos off my hard drive, I can't find one of my grandma! Check back next week and I will find it.)
18. WHAT IS THE GREATEST THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? I have to agree with Heather, my thirst for knowledge
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? No shoes, no pants
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? The toppings off a slice of pizza from pizza hut
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The cars on the distant freeway
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Pink, Pink, Pink
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Clean babies
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My hometeacher
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO TAGGED THIS TO YOU? She is awesome!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH: NASCAR, all we pretty much watch in this house is sports...LPGA, Tennis, Volleyball, Football, no basketball cause I don't like it but I think you get the picture

27. HAIR COLOR? Brown
28. EYE COLOR? Brown
29. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Nope, I have 20/20
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Cookie Dough
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings...I hate scary movies!
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I was watching The Holiday not too long ago. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the last movie I finished watching, last night
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? an OLD Old Navy shirt
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Yes please
37. WHO IS YOUR HERO? Cinderella

38. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO? Hang out on my computer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? None I finished my last book last night and didn't go to the library today
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? "North American Division" with the England logo from a mouse pad I designed when I worked at CR England. Rick's mouse pad is right here too, it has Kiss on it.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? US Open
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Streams
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? STONES
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Italy
45. DO YOU HAVE A WEIRD TALENT? I am not allowed to discuss it in civilized conversation
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City
47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED? Just before getting on my computer
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 8:13 pm
49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PRAYED? Last night it was my turn to pray
50. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOU WHAT WOULD IT BE? My low self esteem when it comes to my physical looks

Noon on Wednesday - Bored

I really feel like blogging right now but I don't have anything to say. I haven't done anything new or spectacular that is worth sharing. I guess maybe I feel like writing because I am bored. For the last few months Maddy has been online with me at this time chatting. I miss her! I wish she didn't have to go back to school. (She teaches 2nd grade.)
I have some of my cool photos on my work computer. I supposed I could start a photo blog. HHMMM Then I would really bore all of you.
Yes I know I have a pathetic life which some of you probably wish you could have from time to time. It is a quiet life really except for the fact that I am not a quiet person. Just ask Rick, he will let you know that I have "diarrhea of the mouth" and apparently fingers too. Having no kids and a job where I get to hang out most of the time...well it makes for it to be boring at times. I am so happy and thankful for my life just the way it is. I love knowing that tomorrow morning when we go out of town it is just the two of us and we don't have to worry about diapers or any of that. I love knowing that when I get home, if I don't feel like cooking, Rick can fend for himself. (This is pretty rare though.)
So anyway, back to the topic on hand, my boredom. I suppose I shall see what other websites I can peruse this afternoon. Maybe it is time to actually read up on some politics... Awe crap! Someone just asked me to do some actual work! SHEESH Don't they understand that I have "things" to do?!

Unspectacular Me - More like Weird Me

I think I was tagged on someone's blog...they put Michelle so I am just going to assume it was me and do it anyway. (Just in case you peoples out there don't know, my name is spelled Michele hence the one L in Shel)

1. Post these rules.
2. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
3. Tag 6 fellow bloggers

I have to be honest...as I sit here thinking of what to put, I am at a loss. I know I have many quirks and much weirdness in my life as Rick reminds me daily. I just don't know what are some good ones to share...ones that will make my readers go...OH that explains her....

1. I love children's movies. I watch Disney movies probably before any other movie out there other than my Cinderella type stories...Ever After, Ella Enchanted, Princess Diaries (which is a Disney movie too.)

2. I dream about hanging out with Jeff Gordon's wife and daughter. He usually isn't in my dreams but his wife most certainly is. We are friends and hang out.

3. I am a computer junkie. If I am not on my computer, I feel like I might be missing out on something. This is why I don't have an iphone or a blackberry. I know that it is good for me to get away from the computer sometimes.

4. Shoes - I do not like to wear shoes. As soon as I come home I take them off and I usually leave them by the door. They tend to grow and multiply there too. I just don't understand it. (This probably helps explain why I don't like winter too...cold+wet = shoes = yucky)

5. I don't like hair on my neck or my face. Yes I have waist length hair and don't plan on cutting it anytime soon nevertheless, how often have you seen it down touching my neck?!?

6. When I go to the pool, I really don't swim. I just lay out and read. Most often than not, I don't even get wet. Maybe if I did get in and did some exercise....Nah working on my tan is much more fun.

I tag:

Marianne F, Lori F, Jennie S, Maddy ~ there is only one MADDY, Carrie, Carrie Ann, Mary G (where did your blog go?), Heather Z and Darci F =)

Go forth and make me smile.

Sunday Nothingness

So now that I am not at work, my last post seems pretty dang lame. Sorry about that. I also realized that several people took my ripping on not posting blogs more often to mean them. I guess I should have said who I was talking about...Carrie it's you. (Not you Carrie Ann.) Yeah my lovely sister in law who has adorable children who I want to hear more about. I only mentioned it because we had been talking right about that time that you hadn't posted a blog since the middle of July. It really is all good though as I have been able to see your babies so much this summer and I have photos of them that I have posted.

This Thursday we are headed to Seattle. I bought tickets for the Mariners/Yankees game on Friday night. The idiot sent me the wrong tickets! I have been calling the place I bought them through several times a day every day since Tuesday when they showed up. I still don't have my replacement tickets BUT I was just online checking out the website and there are several tickets available for them to replace mine so I am not as stressed as I could be.

I will not be taking my computer with me either. That means from Thursday - Tuesday night I won't be able to post any blogs. Just giving you some fair warning. I will have all sorts of news when we get back I am sure. Between Rick meeting my grandma and my aunt Joanne for the first time to hanging out with our friends from England and going to the Space Needle.

My life is pretty boring right now. I don't really feel like doing anything so nothing has been done. =) It is nice to be able to just sit back and do nothing. I most certainly am not complaining about having a boring life.

I am going to go read or watch tv or take a nap or something.... HAPPY LABOR DAY! Oh and the photo...just something I took a few years ago from my mom's front yard when I still lived there. I just didn't want to not have a photo on my post. I like looking at photos. Maybe I will start another blog with my photo stuff. I don't really do photography though...

Five Ways to Scare a Guy Away

Apparently these didn't work cause I am married! Oh wait - Rick did all of these first! (This article sure made me giggle.

1) Those Three Little Words

While it’s clear that men like to hear that you love them, timing is everything. So while you may be excited to have finally found someone you’re compatible with, try to rein in the desire to blurt out that you’ve totally fallen for him for at least a couple of months. Say it during the first few dates, and his mind will process those three precious words into one scary one: psycho. He needs to time to process what he’s feeling about you, and you both need time for infatuation to settle into something more real.

Rick told me that he loved me first.

2) Cracking Knuckles and other Manly Moves

The days of women casting coy smiles from behind paper fans may be long gone, but a guy still appreciates a little femininity in his potential love match. So while those tricks where you crack open a beer bottle with your teeth and say the names of everyone in the room with a belch are no doubt impressive, you should think about promoting your gentler qualities in a relationship’s early stages. He’s not looking for a return to Victorian values, but he’d probably like to think he could beat you in a Jäger shoot-out or an arm-wrestling match. Even if he can’t.

Good thing Rick didn't know I snored until we were married. Thank you Maddy and Marissa for not telling him...by the way he is planning on getting both of you back one way or another.

3) Going Bridal

Okay, we know that one day you might want to get married – we’re not stupid – but there’s an order to these things, and subscribing to the bride and wedding magazines and studying your diamond cuts before you’ve even met a guy is classic carat-before-horse territory. So when he turns up at your place and sees a bookshelf full of dog-eared bridal magazines and your computer’s home page set to Enchanted Weddings, he’s likely to suddenly get very busy at work. Wanting to get married to a man you love is one thing, trying to fit a mysterious anybody into your wedding-day fantasy is another.

4) Hey Kids, Meet your New Daddy

Realistically, in our fractured world men know that the chances of meeting and falling for a single mom are significant. For many it’s an instant no-no, and if that’s your situation, best to know up front. However, for those men not put off by the first mention of Junior, they’ll still be walking into the situation one tentative step at a time, and telling him too early what a great daddy he’s going to make to your kids will make him break out in a cold sweat. So while ultimately you’re a package deal – and it’s important that he knows that – let him get to know you first.

Once you feel that your relationship has had a chance to establish itself, then gently introduce the little one(s). And remember: initially he’s not going to be as in love with them as you are, so give him a chance to establish a relationship with them too.

OK so this didn't happen because I don't have children BUT the first time I met Rick's nieces, the oldest Krissy, started calling me Aunt Shel.

5) My Ex was a Psycho/My Ex was the Greatest

We get it – you have an ex-boyfriend. Hey, maybe you’ve got five. Or 10 or 20. We know, but there are telltale signs when this could be a problem for us. First is when you go all glassy-eyed at the mention of his name – worse if the subject came up after we noticed it tattooed on your wrist. He may have been a master surgeon with rock-solid abs and a second home in Hawaii, but we’d rather not know too much about it if it’s all the same with you, as we know we’ll never compare.

Similarly, we understand that he may have tormented you emotionally/slept with your sister/kidnapped your dog, but that just makes us wonder one thing: why’d you go out with him so long? It doesn’t speak highly of your selection process, and ergo why you’ve chosen us. We’ve all got a past – let’s just keep it there.

Would you like me to tell you about Rick's ex-wife, the psycho? Actually she really is.

A to ZZZZZZ Survey

The A to Z Survey
1. A is for age: Mine is 32, my computer is 3
2. B is for beer of choice: The kind that doesn't get bought
3. C is for career right now: I like doing surveys and blogging while at work.
4. is for your dog's name? Maddy...their first names are Tomba and Piccyboo. Just ask Little Jimmy
5. E is for essential item you use everyday: Toilet paper
6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Avonlea...oh you mean not on dvd - Saved by the Bell ... oh not not in reruns - Monk is pretty dang good but I love CSI
7. G is for favorite game: Harry Potter Scene It
8. H is for Home town: The city of Salt
9. I is for instruments you play: My butt hahaha the Piano too
10. J is for favorite juice: Minute Maid Orange Juice with NO pulp
11. K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: I can't tell you that or I would have to kick your butt
12. L is for last place you ate: I am eating an Oreo shake right now from JCW's
13. M is for marriage: Yeah makes life pretty easy being married to Ricky Sticky Flypaper
14. N is for your full name: Michele Anastasia Nell
15. O is for overnight hospital stays: NONE
16. P is for people you were with today: Work dudes but they are down the hall and around the corner so most of the time I don't even have to see them.
17. Q is for quote: Resistance is futile
18. R is for Biggest Regret: Gaining back 40 pounds!
19. S is for status: Ready to go home! It is 4:00 on Friday before a 3 day weekend. Come on people...no more workski!
20. T is for time you woke up today: 5:15 am but then I went back to sleep and actually got out of bed at 7:30
21. U is for underwear you have on now: Uh...none?
22. V is for vegetable you love: Onions! Yes I love onions. They make everything taste better
23. W is for worst habit: Eating
24. X is for x-rays you've had: Teeth, foot, ankle, I think that is it
25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: Oreo Shake
26. Z is for the zodiac sign: Aries...my ram can kick your fish's butt Maddy

Road to Avonlea

My all time favorite TV show is Road to Avonlea I used to watch it on the Disney channel everyday. I didn't start watching it until I was probably 16 or 17 but I just loved it. A few years ago some episodes came out on dvd. I don't remember if I bought it for myself or one of my sisters bought it for me...it probably was Maddy. Anyway, I have watched it over and over and over! Many times more than I have watched Anne of Green Gables.
I learned about 3 years ago I could buy a full season for $100. There was no way I was paying that much. About 3 months ago I found it at Costco for $60 a series. I still was a good girl and did not buy it. I really try to not come home from Costco with all sorts of things, like clothes and the cool stuff that they have there.
For some reason this week I decided to see what was to be found on Ebay. There are several seasons on there for $35! I found season five for $11. I decided to bid on it. I don't think I have ever actually bid on something. Usually I do the buy it now and call it good. Well tonight I won my bid on ebay. (I think I won some Dresden on there about 4 years ago.) And it was for less than $20. I am SOOOOO excited to have another season to watch. I do plan to accumulate all of the seasons, 7 in all but it is going to have to be all sneaky sneaky like. Rick doesn't watch these with me so he doesn't endorse my purchases of them on a regular basis. Maybe I can get another season or two for Christmas....

New Avatar

Jennie~ Thanks for the cute idea for th avatar on your blog. I had so much fun making "me". I recommended it to everyone. Just click on mine and it will take you to the site.
It was like playing Barbie with myself. =)
Maddy pointed out that my hair is longer...well it is hard to find waist length hair!

New Bra

Yes you read my headline correctly, New Bra! Last night I went shopping and bought a new bra. The first new one in probably a year or more and not only that, my first bra from Victoria's Secret in probably 3 or more years if not 5 or more. Many years ago VS is all that I wore but I got to a point where I decided that I needed bras that fit and stayed on my shoulders. I had a $100 gift card from my wedding shower, 2 years ago this month, that still had the full $100 on it. I decided that we were going to brave the mall and VS for me to get a new bra. The bottom hook on my old bra was totally bent and so it didn't even work anymore. I would say it was time for a new one.
Rick was so nice and went with me. He was so very patient. I know that he really doesn't like going shopping with me. Especially for swimsuits and bras. (The first time we went shopping together was for a swimsuit. It is a miracle we are still together. I can't believe he put up with me and my trying on of EVERY, yes EVERY suit in the store.)
I was able to find one and I am wearing it today. I think most of you out there who wear bras agree with me that finding one isn't always the most pleasant thing in the world to do. If you have to have wires, as I do, yet have a torso the size of a small child's, ie no torso, you can understand that often the wires will poke you in the armpits. That is just the worst feeling in the world. Then there are the ones that slide off the shoulders because I am built like a hanger...tiny shoulders and slope downward. Yes buying a bra is a horrible thing to do.
But then there are times that I find a bra that fits. It is so wonderful. I love putting on a bra that fits and holds me up. I feel so much more feminine and skinny too! There is something about not having my boobs dropping to my stomach. I feel so great today. Now don't get me wrong, I am not about to go out and go running. None of that foolishness but it feels good to put on some regular clothes and know that my chest isn't just sagging there.

I realize that this is probably too much information for some of you. If you made it to this disclaimer, well you are a champ and are true friend of mine!

More Happiness

Ok I just thought of a few more things I had to add to my what makes me happy.

New friends who are really old friends. I have new friends who I knew in high school who probably were my friends back then but I was too retarded to really know it. Thank you facebook for being there and putting us back in touch with each other. You know who you are and I think you for being my friends. Heaven knows, any friends I can get that aren't related to me I will take them. Which leads me to....
My nieces and great nieces and great nephews...Heck all of my Nell family. You all make me so happy. My nieces are the greatest in the world. I so love having nieces who are the same age as me. It is just like having more sisters. You guys, every single one of you rock!!!
And last but not least... I love comments on my blog. It makes me SOOOOOOOOOOO happy to see that I have comments. I just get all giddy inside every time I see that someone took the time to read AND comment on my blog. Thank you for taking the time to let me know that you care...which leads me to...come on guys! Write more comments. I know that more than just Maddy and Darci read my blogs!

Another Fun Tag Game

Not only did my friend tag me once, but twice in one day! I can't believe someone wants to know that much about me, especially about High School! Here goes:


1. Did you date anyone from your high school? Nope

2. What kind of car did you drive? Whatever I could get my hands on. I didn't have my own car

3. Were you a party animal? I went to quite a few parties but I was always the designated driver. I was a good girl in high school.

4. Were you considered a flirt? I know that I tried to get guys to go out with me but it didn't really work.

5. Were you in band, orchestra or choir? Nope - I thought the geeks were in those.

6. Were you a nerd? In reality yes. I really tried to be part of the popular group and so I think I shunned those who I had classes with. Skipping a grade and still taking several AP classes along with having enough credits that I only had to go to school half day my senior year...yeah I was a nerd

7. Were you on any varsity teams? Nope - too chicken to try out for anything except for cheerleading and I stunk at gymnastics seeing as I never learned any.

8. Did you ever get suspended or expelled? LOL no but that would have been cool to have had enough guts to do something that could have resulted in suspension or being expelled. (I can't spell expultion)

9. Can you still sing the fight song? Watermelon, watermelon, Skyline In reality, I think I might even remember some of the cheerleading moves. Yes I know the fight song.

10. Who were your favorite teachers? Mrs. Jacobs - she was especially nice to me once I wasn't in her class but she was even nice when I had her. Madam Morck - Man I could do not wrong. It was awesome! Plus I learned a lot too.

11. Where did you sit for lunch? My sophomore year, with some friends in the lunch room. My jr year...by my locker alone...my senior year...I went home before lunch.

12. What was your school's full name? Skyline High School.

13. What was your mascot? Skyline Eagles.

14. If you could go back and do it again, would you? NO!!!! and just in case that wasn't clear, NO!

15. What do you remember most about graduation? Oh my where to begin, I had a horrible time finding a dress. My boobs were already too big to fit anything that was stylish and I felt like a dork. As for the ceremony...not that much. That night I went on a blindish date. I think I had met the guy but don't really remember. It sucked. I know we went and talked to Glen and Melissa who were on a date but that was about it. The guy lived in PC and I had to take him home and ditch him. It sucked!

16. Where did you go on Senior Skip Day? Well if we had one, it was during the senior assembly and I went to Hobbit land with Glen and I think Eric

17. Were you in any clubs? French, DECA

18. Have you gained weight since then? Oh yeah!

19. Who was your prom date? I went to Jr Prom my Sophomore year with Rob Keddington who was a Sr. I was stood up for Jr Prom both my JR and Sr years. I wasn't ever asked to Sr Prom.

20. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Nope, nor do I really plan to go to our 20 in 5 more years.

Who do I tag? Jennie, Maddy, Rachael

What Makes You Happy?

A friend of mine thought highly enough of me to want to know what makes me happy. She started this tag and I am continuing it. She had some wonderful things which make her happy too. Mine are in no particular order. Just as I think of them.

If you get tagged, you have to list 10 things that make you happy. What are the things that tickle your fancy, make you smile or still give you that butterfly sensation. What things do you seek out and truly enjoy. The only rule is that you can't say your kids or your spouse...it's too easy.

1. Sun - The heat of 90+ degree weather when I am able to sit outside next to a swimming pool. I love the sun and the warmth it brings to me. I love to sit out on my deck and take a nap in the afternoon and feel the warm air as a blanket around my body. In the winter, I love to sit on a couch and feel the warm rays hitting my body.

2. Vacations - I love going on vacation. I like to go to new places, I like to go to old places. I like to see new things for me. I love to see family. I LOVE to be in a hotel that is clean, knowing I don't have to make my bed and I will have fresh towels every morning if I want them. Vacations just make me so happy, at least when there aren't a ton of people traveling with me.

3. My Sisters - I couldn't put Rick down but I sure as heck can put down my sisters! They are so funny! They make me laugh all the time. I love how creative they are and always depend upon them to give me ideas being as I am the left brained one of the group. I love to see them come online so we can chat and they can tell me about their funny lives.

4. Genealogy/Family Ancestry stuff - I haven't been doing this for very long but I find so much joy in it. I love that I have found my place in compiling information as so much has already been done. I get such joy out of putting photos and stories to names then organizing it so I can share it with others in a way other than the boring old spreadsheets.

5. Computers/Interwebs - I would die without my computer and the interwebs! It keeps me in touch with my family and it has made it so I have relationships with friends I never would have had. I love reading blogs and blogging. I love chatting. I love being able to research most anything my heart desires...well if I remember it by the time I get to the computer.

6. Electronic Scrapbooking Michele Style - I am not a professional photographer by any means but I love to take the photos I and other have taken and put them into videos and slideshows for people to watch. I spend hours makeing my "movies". I have always enjoyed watching slides and looking through photo albums but I absolutely adore being able to put together something on a dvd that we can watch on tv with music. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I am done and want every one to watch. I often find myself just sitting back, watching my movie thinking, WOW I did that!

7. Flowers - Darci mentioned flowers and I have to agree. They can lighten up a room. The smell just brings happiness to my heart. I too buy them periodically just to brighten up a room. I look forward to the time when I have my own yard and can create a flower garden where I can have my own cut flowers all summer long.

8. Reading - I love to read, when it is a good book. I read whenever I am not on the computer.

9. I can't mention the next thing that came to mind...just know...I have a #9. Maddy, I will tell you. hehehe and no it isn't sex!

10. New clothes! I love new clothes that fit well. I don't buy clothes like I used to. Maybe it is the 30 pounds I have gained. Maybe it is being married. Nevertheless, I still love new clothes!

I now tag: Carrie, Maddy, Rachael and anyone else who wants to share their happiness with us.