Memorial Day = Watermelon Seed Spitting Contests

Not to down play the importance of Memorial Day, because we honor those who have fought for our freedom and died. I realized the importance; I was in marching band, we went to the cemetery every year and played the Star Spangled Banner and listened as someone played taps. I do honor those who have fought bravely for my freedom.

It is this freedom that lets us have cookouts and watermelon seed spitting contests.

Tricia brought a 20 lb. watermelon, fully seeded, to our cookout yesterday. She was kind enough to cut it up for me while I was busy doing other prep work. It was a huge watermelon. Very juicy too.

In the contest, participants stood behind the sidewalk square, on the furthest side of the driveway (in this picture). So that looks to be about six squares (I just verified by looking out my window) away. And so the competition began. Tricia, Sami, Jeff, Colleen, Deanne, Diane, Mike and myself were the competitors. We were pretty excited when the furthest spit was four squares away. Then Diane took her turn (she holds the record for cherry seed spitting) and sure enough her watermelon seed shot off to five squares away. An entire square further then anyone else's! Her technique was different, so I decided I would give it one more go with her technique, spitting with extra emphasis on noise on the exit. Sure enough, my seed went one square further!

Here is the winning seed. I am now the Watermelon Seed Spitting Memorial Day Uebbing Cookout winner!

God Bless the U.S.A.

Now I have to get back to work!

Our "Announcement"

Yes, we have a new arrival. She was delivered Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 11:43pm. Jerry, brought her to us all the way from Las Vegas, Nevada. Bill was pretty nervous, he spent the day pacing around the house. We had received a phone call on Monday that she was on her way, but we didn't know when to expect her.

She's not new, but is already 28 years old. She's been in the family since 1990. She was there with us on our wedding day, and will be taking a trip to Detroit for a Dream Cruise later this summer. We would like you to join us in welcoming Snow White, aka Winky (because only one headlight comes up at a time). Reserve your rides now!

Beauty

Yes, I took this picture. I discovered the black & white, and sepia tone settings on our camera. I actually took this on the 13th. It was our last tulip. Pure white. And beautiful. It lasted longer then any tulip I have ever watched bloom. It is right by our front door, and is protected from the sun by the shade of the house, and the bushes that surround it. Amazing.

Then I took this picture.

Our lilac bush is between our house and our neighbor's. Our side bloomed, hers did not. Did you know, lilacs bloom on old wood. If you want lots of blooms, trim them now and then don't touch them again. Next spring, you will be rewarded with lots of flowers. Deb had just trimmed her side. Of course, it needed it! It is a little out of control!

I wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend! We'll be cleaning, watching the Monaco Grand Prix (Formula 1), and having a cookout!

Here's my excuse

Oh gosh. Lots going on still. I was so sad last week. If you don't understand, let me explain it like this, imagine your best friend suddenly having to move. You get one weeks notice. Then they're gone and you never hear from them again. That is what happened with Gilmore Girls.

I too, had a difficult time coming out of the funk. But a little H.P. always helps. And I was actually a little under the weather.

I know I'm not keeping up very well, but every time I go to post, I want to add a picture. Well, then I need to be on the other computer. That means that I'm not working. So I wait, and then time goes by and I realize, oops. I never posted anything. Today, is just a written post. No pictures. I tried attaching the Unleashed video, so you could see and hear me. But I can't do it. I'm wondering if I can post one of the David Crowder Band videos I took Friday night. The concert was awesome! What a great band. And, yes. They broke out in a hoe-down. I loved it!

So until I get my lazy (sore-from-gardening-all-day-Saturday) butt into the other room, there won't be any pictures. But you never know when I'll get them on! So don't forget to check back!

:D

Good Bye...

Good bye to the girls who have helped me more then anyone would ever know. It's strange that something that is fictional and only part of your life once a week can make such a difference. I learned how to joke and be quicker with my wit, from watching the Girls. I can not describe the silliness that has ensued from the seven seasons of this show. While the last season was not what I had hoped for, I have the dvd's in which I can go back and watch them through season six, changing the outcome in my head, and ignoring the fact that Amy Sherman Palladino left the best thing she had going because of differences. That is Hollywood. When the going gets tough, leave. Try something new. Because as the rest of us have seen, that ALWAYS works out.

Anyway, I will have a big box of tissue beside me tonight as I watch the end of one of my all time favorite TV series come to an end. And I will be with my other Gilmore Girl fans in spirit, because this was too unexpected to plan a trip to NJ to watch it as it should have been. But there will be immediate phone calls after the last credit rolls.

Good luck, Lauren Graham & Alexis Bledel! I will miss Lorelai and Rory.

Weekend with the family

Here is Skylar, who will be eight on Friday, with her new doll. Nicki is an American Girl doll from Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Bill and Auntie Em.

Here are the parents, on Mother's Day! Congrats to Dad on winning the Primary! Good luck in November!

Disciple Dinner

Look at this beautiful group of people! Let's see if I can name everyone (l-r): Jeff, Me, Tony (back row), Rachael, Tricia, Ed (back row), Heather, Sami. Shoot, Jessica wasn't there yet. Here's a picture with Jessica!

Jessica is on the left, then Sami, and Tricia is on the right. Maybe we'd had too much sugar. Or we're all just kids at heart!

Cherry & Wine Capitol of Michigan

This is from our hotel, looking out into the bay, Mission Point Peninsula is the land mass to the right.

Here I am, standing on the 45th Parallel! Our wonderful bus driver took this picture. He was the only male, and he was driving a bus full of women on a wine tour. We made four winery stops, and this stop at Mission Point Lighthouse.

Flack

I was receiving some flack as to the lack of posts. Sheesh! A girl is busy, okay? Give me a break. But you're right, I need to update it. :D

Okay, where to start? My last post was April 26th. Our friends Greg, Dave and Heather came to visit us that weekend. Heather and I went to Meijer Gardens, I have more pictures to post. We played "Catch Phrase" which was a blast.

The next week was busy, busy busy. I had my Bible study Wednesday night, a Blue party Thursday night (more about that in a minute) and left for Traverse City on Friday.

The Blue party was really a jewelery party disguised as a house warming party. But it was fun either way you looked at it! Sami and Heather were the stars of the night, giggling and causing lots of problems. I had to kick them out at nine o'clock. They were out of control. Maybe it was because I served Aquatini's in sugar-rimmed glasses. Everyone enjoyed the drinks (yes, umbrellas were included. I admit, I did not have one, and I was very happy that there wasn't any left!) The party was a big hit, and the consultant didn't leave until 11pm. I was up until midnight cleaning up.

Friday morning, I left with Melissa from Quota, and we met up with others to head toward Traverse City. We stopped in Cadillac for lunch at Hermann's. I highly recommend stopping there. It was yummy! We made it to T.C. an hour before the bus left for the wine tour. There were ten of us from our club, and nine of us went on the wine tour (the other one played golf). Needless to say, we had a good time. Right away at the first winery I got carded. Sweet! We went to a total of four wineries. We also stopped at Mission Point Lighthouse, where I snapped a few pictures. I have one of me standing next to the 45 parallel. Halfway between the north pole and the equator! The bus driver took that one (poor guy, he was driving a bus of 28 women around to wineries. He was awesome!) The rest of that weekend was fun, and full of Quota business. I won't bore you with details. I met a new friend, Miss Kay. She lives half the year here in Michigan, and spends the other half down in Alabama. We enjoyed talking about southern hospitality.

Sunday, when I got home, I turned around and went to Jr. High youth group. We baked cookies and took them over to the Fire station. Of course as we walked in, they got a call so they had to leave. They invited us back to give us a tour. Seeing as how there were only four of us (two leaders, two kids -the rest were at a musical practice) we decided we'll go back when we have more kids!

Tuesday, Shannon e-mailed me and informed me that Gilmore Girls is ending! Yuck. That on top of Harry Potter ending, on top of my Disciple class ending... what am I going to do??? I'm a little sad.

So that's what's been happening. This weekend we're going to Indiana for a wedding, and to celebrate (are you ready?) Mother's Day, Dad's 60th birthday, and Skylar's 8th birthday. Whew! I'll try to post pictures either before I leave, or when we get back!