jennranwez's Xanga

This blog has moved with me

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:31:44 GMT

Hi all,

I'm no longer posting at xanga. Instead, feel free to drop by the new homestead: http://n8njenn.wordpress.com/

Ciao!

Road trip!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:17:00 GMT

Go west, life is peaceful there
Go west, in the open air
Go west, where the skies are blue
Go west, this is what we'll do . . .

(Go West) Sun in wintertime
(Go West) We will do just fine
(Go West) Where the skies are blue
(Go West, this is what we're gonna do)

There where the air is free
We'll be what we want to be
Now if we make a stand
We'll find our promised land

(I know that) There are many ways
(To live there) In the sun or shade
(Together) We will find a place
(To settle) Where there's so much space

(Without rush) And the pace back east
(The hustling) Rustling just to feed
(I know I'm) Ready to leave too
(So that's what) We are gonna do

Go WEST!

-- Village People (and Pet Shop Boys :) )

The fireman and I have hit the road, and so far, it's been smooth sailing. One of the most clever things I've discovered is that Cracker Barrel lets you rent audio books for $3.95 each, and return them to *any* Cracker Barrel in the US!

The fireman and I have rented 2 for our long haul through Missouri and Kansas tomorrow. Something needs to help keep us awake through all those corn & wheat fields.

New blog: Cells behaving badly

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:43:38 GMT

The Hamel family perspective never ceases to amaze me. I've married into a family that is so genuine and takes even the most unexpected & tough blows in stride and humor.

The latest of these examples is Mike Hamel's blog: "Cells behaving badly." A journal that chronicles his experience with lymphoma. Check it out at http://mikehamel.wordpress.com/ .

(Insert shameless plug. . . )

While you're there, you can also check out the very cool book series he has written: Matterhorn the Brave (www.matterhornthebrave.com). A great young-adult series (that some normal adults have enjoyed quite a bit as well :) ) about time-traveling kids who go on mysterious adventures.

So crazy, it actually worked!

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:56:23 GMT

Did you know that you can unclog a toilet with dish soap? I didn't believe it until I saw it this morning. The Fireman and I are crashing at the Fine Inn for a few days, and Betty swore by this trick her mom used.

After I spent nearly 10 minutes plunging, to no avail, she took some dish soap, squirted it down the toilet, waited a few minutes, and . . voila! The toilet flushed.

I had to google it this morning to see how this works. . .and I still can't *quite* figure out why it works, but I did see these posts:
http://www.ehow.com/tips_383.html
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf322674.tip.html

I'm sure there are more out there, but had to share this fascinating tip.

Extra hands needed

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:22:56 GMT

Hi all!

Does anyone have wiggle room in their schedule on Friday? The Fireman and I could use a few extra hands to load the moving truck. It shouldn't take more than a 1-2 hours *tops*, and we'll happily provide lunch, drinks, snacks. . .whatever will keep you happy and energized. :) haha

Thanks!

Stephen Colbert singin' in Korean

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:55:50 GMT

I know, it's been a while since my last update. Life's been crazy & fun, and there's plenty to write about, but the longer I wait to blog, the more important and monumental I think the post should be.

This isn't that post.

I am actually at home putting CDs into sleeves so I can donate the jewel cases & avoid putting them in a land fill. While doing so, I was watching the Colbert Report & saw this clip. I laughed so hard! I figured, if I couldn't write something blog-worthy, I may as well link to something that is.

Matterhorn gets press!

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:41:51 GMT

Check out this article in the Colorado Springs Gazette; it's an article about my father-in-law's book series "Matterhorn the Brave" (matterhornthebrave.com)

I know I've plugged the books before, but I'll do it again; they're great fun books for 8-12 year olds (and their parents, or aunts, or uncles, or cousins, or siblings ).

And, BTW, since I married into the family just in time, I get a character in books 7 and 8 (coming this summer).

Shout-out to JetBlue!

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:58:28 GMT

For anyone who has changed their last name, you know what an absolute pain in the butt it is. After waiting for hours at the Social Security office, then the DMV, and changing your name with your bank, most other accounts are--albeit time-consuming--fairly easy to change:

You just call.

Except when it comes to airlines.

To change your name with most frequent traveler plans, you have to send a copy of your marriage certificate, driver's license, and write a letter stating what happened and what your new name is. This can take sometimes 2 months to take effect! (Perish the thought of actually having to fly during this last-name limbo-land.)

But today, as I was booking flights to Orlando for a conference, I found dirt-cheap flights on Jet Blue, then realized. . . oh no! I hadn't changed my last name yet!

So I called them, expecting the usual routine of "send us this, fax us that, blood type, first born, yadda yadda. . " Instead, they just transferred me to a specialist and she changed my name. . over the phone!

I'm so happy!!! I could then continue booking my tickets online with my new last name and not risk losing points. Thank you, Jet Blue!!

I voted

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:40:55 GMT

I went to vote this morning, and--just like two years ago--I got choked up. It's such a privilege to vote!

Anyway, while I was standing in line, I heard someone call out "A through K!"

I asked a lady in line what the person yelled, and she said "Last names A through K can follow her."

"Oh, okay," I said while re-settling back in line. Then it dawned on me. Oh, wait! I'm an "A through K!"

Still getting used to the new name, I guess.

Incoming!
This weekend my sister, niece, and mom are coming into town! Yipee!!! They will be here Friday night, then we're going to head up to Jersey to visit family and have "Hunkerfest,"-- the weekend when the women in the family gather to enjoy eachother's company.

Some years we scrap book; 2 years ago, we quilted my niece a baby blanket. This year, we're going to go through old family pictures that are currently in storage so we can distribute or save as needed. I can't imagine how much history is going to be in those boxes. They will have come out of my grandma's house, which she has lived in for nearly 60 years!

We'll even have 4 generations of women together, which will be such a treat.

Family, Photos, memories, stories, and of course. . .really good food. Can't wait!

Thumbs-up!

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:18:55 GMT

The Fireman went to the hand surgeon today, and he got the OK to return to work! He's now a full-fledge firefighter again! Woo hoo!!

He still has another 3-6 months of PT to get the full motion back, but for now-- at least there's no more "light duty." Now he can go back to the grueling, self-sacrificing work of watching tv, reading his books, going to the gym, and cooking dinner.