Uh..........

Oh, man, I logged on with great ideas for a killer blog. With the events of the day fresh in my mind, I booted up the laptop and began logging into the correct composing pages and the screen went dim. I could still see everything, but it was darker. I hit the function key and F7 to turn up the radiance of the laptop and it worked! Myspace let me start typing and then... The whole computer shut off! The lovely doc mentioned that the battery life of this laptop was next to nothing and must always be plugged in. To find a comfortable seat on the couch, I leaned a little too far to the right and unplugged the power cord! Hence, all creative memories of the day have been rebooted. I must start from fresh.

But don't be discouraged, I am still here to entertain! Today, Nicole and I spend some time decorating the house. How many weeks have we been living here? I finally put up the pictures on the wall!! Our (few and far between) wedding pics, family pics up the stairway, and even the beautiful portraits elsewhere. I love art and family, it's great for me that they are both prime decor for the new house! I also perused the doc's photo bank on the main computer..... I am missing a lot of pics! I would like to share them with you. So, without ANY introduction or explanation, here are some random shots!!!

Guess who that is!

All this for a DOG!

Yes, my life has changed since having a dog. We get up all through the night to take her outside (and when I say we, I mean the doc!), I can't leave her at home too long by herself, we play outside a bit more, and we are rearranging our lives for her. She's worth it, by the way! But I have to say, I thought babyproofing your home was strictly confined to the human species. We now have to watch out for Tink at all times. She can go up the stairs, but she can't go down!!!! Nicole will take care of her!!!

I made the most awesome breakfast! Breakfast is by far my most favorite meal of the day, but I rarely eat it... But today, Saturday of all days, I was up and ready to have breakfast. By the doc's request, we had Swedish Pancakes. My dad's specialty! My favorite! (Next to eggs benedict, of course!) Hey, if you're coming over for longer than a day, chances are we'll dine on these!!!!!

Love ya!

The Truman Show of My Life

Being across the street from the park, we see a lot of neighborhood activity.

First a man jogged by.

Then a girl was walking her dog.

Then a chubby little boy was running with his dog.

Then a strange lady in fuschia and burgundy went by.

I'm just like my dad. My family can attest to his history of "color coordination," but when Nicole fetched a pair of socks for me last night, they were burgundy, And despite the fuschia hue that was my top, I was a bit too lazy to go upstairs and get another pair. However, fellow athletes and regular exercisers do not cast judgement on you for you outward appearance.... Unless that fellow aerobiciser happens to be me or my sister!
Lucky for me!

A new member of the family

Welcome, Tink Watertmelon Leary!

My girl

She loves puppies, daisies, crafts, writing, cleaning, exercising, pretending, watching cooking shows with me, decorating, quoting movies, making up words, and so much more! She is just like me!

This morning we decided to go for a walk the OTHER way. The other way, as in, the other direction! We always turn left on State St. We turned right! I didn't discover anything I couldn't lie without, but it was nice to head somewhere else. I tell ya, Ihave been walking a lot lately. I wish I had something to show for it!

Nicole is currently mesmerized by Rachel Ray and I'm waiting for the Schwann's guy. What a life! But in the words of Nicole, "Delish."

Life is delish.

Today, just like any other day???

Hm. I'm a little behind on the postings of our incredible little life. I know you're dying to know what's going on, so here ya go.

I love these clouds!

Yesterday we accompanied Casey and Matt to the Can-Am Festival. The Canada America Festival! 3 days of stuff. Parades, crafts, bands, singers, and food. Good stuff. Last night there was a couple of steel drum bands playing. They ranged in music with everything from country to oldies to contemporary stuff. they even displayed the evolution of the steel drums.... They first played the bottoms of steel drums cut into different lengths. Then they started pounding them in... Finally they shaped them to what they are today. Next came the bamboo band. Yeah, I didn't know there was such a thing! But they focused on rhythm and pitch. Pretty cool, but pretty simple! We wandered down the road a bit and had some delicious ice cream. The most adorable little outdoors cafe. I can't wait to come back and have lunch with friends! By the time we made it back to the gazebo, the sun was setting. It was so incredible, I can't explain it, just look at the pics!

When we came back, a lady had brought bread back from her dinner and Nicole was feeding

the ducks. She had a blast! She could have stayed there for hours! I think we found a new activity.... And a new way to clean out our freezer!

And someone there had a dog. Nicole LOVED him! She needs a dog.... Only time will tell how long til that happens, wink wink, nudge nudge!

So today we finished 'planting' our sod and plugging the grass (It seriously looks like the hair loss club for grass!) and Nicole went to play with her neihgborhood friend. I told her she had just a little bit of time to play before dinner. But even a few minutes is enough to do this:

So after dinner, she had 10 minutes til bedtime. But that was enough time for bikeriding:

And racing:

Let's wait and see what she thinks up tomorrow!!!

Chef Wannabe

I love to cook! I'd love to be a chef, but I don't want the insane life. I love hostessing, preparing things for guests, and I LOVE surprises. Maybe I should start a bed and breakfast. Or start a mini cafe with a patio outside. Or join a catering business! Who knows. Maybe I will just invite more people over for dinner!

NY Ponderings

I've been looking up a lot lately. At the sky, too. There's so much LESS pollution that Weirton! I can actually see sky, the definition of clouds, and blue! Although, I did see blue sky in Weirton, and clouds, too..... But here's how they're DIFFERENT! Guess which one's which! Yes, the first sky is Weirton, looking UP at the clouds (how else would it look so blue?) and the 2nd is here in New York. I feel like I'm on the same level as the clouds! Can't describe it, but I feel like singing that song by the Carpenters, you know, "I'm on top of the world looking down on creation..." I do feel like I am on top of the world! At least almost level with the clouds!

We also went to the Zoo today, with Kasey. A girl with a beautiful heart! Anyway, the New York State Zoo... It's like quarter mile from our house! Just remember, this is the state zoo. Not the great New York City Zoo. This zoo has all of the animals indingenouse to NY. Owls, Mountain Lions, Chickens, for cryin' outloud. A Great Eagle. Nicole even posed in the eagle's nest, see? It's a reproduction for the kids! But she climbed up and actually snuggled right in! Nicole's favorite animals were the donkeys and the pony. I thought it would have been the llama! Anyway, when we were done, we walked down the hill, back home. (We've been making some GREAT mileage on foot since we got here!) Anyway, down the trails we went, wrapping around the hill, and we came to another path. It kind of made me laugh . Was there a point to this? Does that say "Who was here?" instead of "I was here."? It was a great way to spend the afternoon. Pretty relaxing, except for the uphill walk! Any visitors? We'll head to the zoo!

100 Things

100 things about me.
1. I am a child of God.
2. A wife.
3. A mother.
4. A sister.
5. A friend.
6. I am a survivor. A survivor of a TBI, school, Grainger's basketball, and the beginning of my cooking career. Some combinations can be lethal!
7. I am sincerely dyslexic. I spend more time decidiing which WAY to write something rather than which language to write it in, how to spell it, or whether or not it is the appropriate word to use, which are all common obstacles for me!
8. I LOVE to paint, draw, design, create, etc…..
9. But I am afraid to start. Afraid I will mess it up! I have TONS of ideass and nothing to show for it.
10. My hands touch my knees when I let them rest at my side!
11. My name is Tiffany Nicole and when I was 5, I received a Cabbage Patch doll for my birthday named Tiffany Nikki. In college I joked that I was named after a cabbage patch doll!
12. I LOVE fresh produce, like oranges, pineapples, mangoes, and on and on…
13. But I am afraid to get the juice all over me!!!
14. I think sour cream goes on anything.
15. I use fat free sour cream so I CAN put it on everything!
16. I eat salsa out of the jar.
17. When I go shopping at the mall, I don't pick out the fashions that catch my eye, I head straight to the clearance rack to see what COOL stuff I can get for the CHEAPEST price! It's like a contest!
18. And I really do have a competitive spirit……
19. And I'm stubborn.
20. I can't hold a serious conversation without THINKING of something funny!
21. I think I'm the only one who gets my sense of humor sometimes!
22. I have over 100 nicknames. Most of them are a tangent off of an earlier nickname. They all basically stem from each other.
23. I am directionally challenged. In accordance with the 2D maps that we refer to in order to find our way around town, North would be UP. South would be DOWN. I operate on a 'right,' 'left,' and 'straight' basis.
24. I cannot imagine having to live with stick straight hair. I love my curls and hate them. I might be better off with no hair.
25. I've actually almost had that 'do before!
26. I love rainy days! But not like I used to…. It used to mean laying extra hours in bed and reading a delicious book with a gentle pitter patter or torrential downpour.
27. But now I delight in splashing in puddles with Nicole or cuddling on the couch and watching movies or or or…
28. I am SO excited about a real New York winter!
29. I love snow!
30. I'm afraid I will also get REALLY tired of it REALLY fast. I could be in for a LONG winter!!!
31. I can't multitask and eat at the same time. Otherwise, I have no idea what I am eating or how much!
32. However, I can do like 8 things at once!
33. I change my purse more often than I change my underwear……..
34. AND I CHANGE THAT EVERY DAY!!!
35. I LOVE coffee ice cream, coffee flavored goodies, the smell of coffee, etc.
36. But I won't go near the REAL stuff!
37. I love gas-station cappuccino
38. And won't go near the real stuff!
39. I use a different brand of deoderent every day.
40. At the end of the day, my sense of accomplishment is whether or not my family liked the meal and if they are full…..
41. I love food…
42. …But I'm losing weight.
43. I don't understand that!
44. I love exercise, too!
45. I get it now!
46. I am a morning person at heart.
47. But I am being reformed by Dave-the-night-owl.
48. I LOVE avocados, but the more I eat them, the more I get a tingling sensation in my mouth. I am developing a biological resistance……
49. I am sad!
50. Every breeze that crosses my shoulders makes me smile!
51. I would rather smile and laugh than anything else in this world.
52. I HATE country music.
53. But I love to sing.
54. That includes ANY song I know!
55. Any life experience is a story!
56. I love to tell stories.
57. Not lies.
58. Any life experience or story of mine either has a punchline or a reference to a punchline.
59. God has used His sense of humor in my life, too.
60. I seem to be the example of many things.
61. When I close my eyes, I play mental Sudoku.
62. Or mental Tetris.
63. I can't sit still, I need to move my legs in some way!
64. I secretly want to be the anonymous person that shares a Random Act of Kindness at Taco Bell or Wendy's, but I never have the $ when I remember!!!
65. I could eat Taco Bell every day.
66. But I am a copykat cook, so I make my own Taco Bell at home!
67. I want you to come over and have some yummy food!
68. I want to run every day.
69. But sometimes I'm lazy.
70. I am so happy that Nicole is so cuddly
71. She is just like me!
72. But I am allergic to cats.
73. And Nicole desperately wants one!
74. I want a puppy!
75. I am so excited that Dave is getting a miniature schnauzer puppy for Nicole's birthday….. (Don't tell her!)
76. I feel like I am getting the surprise!
77. I love surprises!
78. I really want to name the puppy... But it will be for Nicole, she gets to pick…
79. I promise I won't be bitter, I will just suggest more nicknames!
80. I miss old-school nintendo!
81. But I am thankful for the evolution of electronics!
82. I am so proud of Dave!
83. But I get jealous of others' accomplishments.
84. I wish I could accomplish SOMEthing…
85. I want to have someone over for dinner every night.
86. Maybe I will change my life-long goal to hosting a Bed and Breakfast.
87. I love to watch movies.
88. I know you already knew that.
89. I have three blogs.
90. I try to share my soul, but not too much!
91. I cry way too much.
92. I just told you a secret.
93. I miss Rich Mullins' music.
94. I don't think I could be content in ONE job forever.
95. Or one home.
96. But I get to go to Heaven and that will be the ultimate. I know I will be satisfied!
97. I'm afraid to run out of gas.
98. So I fill up about every other day!
99. I seriously want to go to Spain with my sinister!
100. But I think I want to go to Italy more.

Mom, this one's for you!

I love Nicole's hair. It passes her bum now! It's brown with blonde highlights and it has TONS of long curls at the end and around her face! But I've never been really great at DOING her hair. There's so much of it, it usually gets done the same way every day! But I did it a little different this morning! Mom, you would be proud of the variety! A Russian braid..... When did I learn to do this???