Kool Kitty Musings

Ahhh hot water...

What a blissful invention in a power shower...

I can tell you my 40 minute shower did wonders to relieve the back issues for the duration... hehe...

I have managed to get a doc's appointment for tomorrow at 11 after relaying all my lovely symptoms of how I am falling to bits gradually... and the practice receptionist had to run it all by the duty doc who then decides whether I am worthy of an appointment or not and rang back an hour later... this was all very new to me as it wasn't that long ago that our practice changed to a no appt. system where it was call in the morning to secure a place... but anyway, I thought I cannot put up with this much longer and so will be off tomorrow a.m. hopefully on the road to recovery and a pain-free existence...

Everyone is walking about on eggshells and looking very concerned about me going to the docs with my various symptoms... they are starting to make ME feel worried! I think it's probably the fact that I only visit the doc's on my death bed as I am one of these people that has had it sooo drummed into them that a GP's time is not to be wasted and I think if I can sort it with ibuprofen or lempsip then there's no reason for me to be told oh just drink lots of fluids and take some nurofen you'll be fine! LOL

ow ow ow

So yesterday I managed to make it through Sound of Music (yeah!) merrily humming and scrapping - see evidence later... but by 4 o'clock my strange twinging shoulder blade had been surpassed by a stocking headache - even blinking hurt and let's not even go there with what happened when I moved my head a bit too fast! Aaaaaaarrrrrh! Cue dose of Tylenol Extra strength - a few hours of almost blissful relief but by the time Big Brother rolled round I was vegetating in the dark under a warm duvet with a throbbing neck and temple... so not much sleep...

And to continue having my moaning Minnie moment, today it's obviously clear that the headache and back ache are related as I've definitely pulled a muscle in my shoulder and even walking really, really hurts the head... I must look like John Wayne for all the wrong reasons taking careful steps down the road! LOL

But I am currently drugged up on Ibuprofen and intend to lie flat on the bed for a few hours before Medium - what a bummer... But blimey, I thought I was going to have a heart attack this morning or something, head was pounding so much! Skeery...

Anyhoo will shut up about all that stuff in an effort to make the trauma go away!

So what did I accomplish - well, I managed a rather nice double LO - why was it nice??? hehe Because it involved a raid on my new KI stash from Florida - didn't really go for the new new papers when we saw them as I preferred the collections I already have, and by golly there is half an artbin satchel that is JUST KI that I love! But I saw the Eye Candy kit and I just had to have it...

You can see why:

In the midst of all that I went on a little spree on ebay since I spotted Frozen Daiquiri items on sale - one was a set of all 4 main items (2nd purchase) the other was the shower gel and splash separate and a bottle of the Tropical Colada lotion to try... Think both purchases will basically cost me the same as my entire bill at Bath and Bodyworks when I bout a gazillion items! Oh well the Temptation range is limited edition and I have used a fair amount of the Frozen Daiquiri lotion so far as it's so moisturising and smells lovely through the entire day! Yum... it's not sickly sweet or stinky like other strawberry products are, it just smells fresh forever!

I did promise myself I would not turn my blog into a Big Brother commentary, so am limiting myself to 3 comments a week... I think... But my God after watching last night, that Grace gets right up my nose she is ghastly! And Imogen... I read some bits on Digital Spy from today's conversations and really she gives me the creeps... I think George left as another promotions girl came in the house - as obviously yesterday's conversation showed that he has a real dislike/phobia of them! Albeit it Nicki is shallow and really of rather questionable taste re certain things, she didn't deserve the kinda bitching session she got, especially when it was so obvious how excluded she felt. Especially from Georgie - on the run from his fame - Porgie... But well, perhaps I am soft in the head but I was mumbling rude words at Grace last night... what a witch with a capital B!

Highlight of my day: My Rhona stamps part deux arrived from Jill - alas I haven't got to a zen outer body pain-free zone yet to try them but I sure hope I am on top form by the crop on Saturday or I will just have to lie prostrate on the floor chatting! hehe

Gah this is soooo not right

Look what is about to be released???

Just as I thought I was up to date on my Rhona purchases I now see I have to get the alpha, numbers(??) and punctuation... oops

Tree is so not going to be impressed is she? She thought she'd done her Rhona stint as well, but noooooo even more to put on the wish list. I am such a clear stamp junkie at the moment, my lovely Banana Frog stamps have had lots of outings, my Rhona ones, my Technique Tuesday ones, and even my spotty Fontwerks ones... gaaaah...

Well I hear today Sound of Music is on so I am determined to get some creative stuff done as I sing out loud to "high on a hill stood a lonely goatherd"...

Sunday samplings

So finally managed to finish off a LO I started in Florida... when I say "finish off" basically I mean create! As all I managed to do at that particular crop amidst the shopping and class was to stick the big photo down over that strip of paper. So here it is so you know what I'm on about:

• AMM papers (actually just 2 papers as the ones on the 2nd sheet are off the same sheet of paper)
• Simply Fabulous MM foam stamps (thanks again stash fairy!!) stamped onto PP to spell "egg" but also little dot and diamond details on the squares, oh and then had to wait for the glossy accents to dry on the letters... took a while!
• Giant gerberas from the "Joann's ram raid"
• Hotel Chocolat ribbon from my Easter egg - mmm isn't it nice
• Heidi Swapp white rub-ons
• Fonts: Pharmacy and CK Maternal

All in all very simple LO, but took me ages to align the bloomin' squares as those with astigmatism ain't so hot at seeing a straight line! hehe

Oh and the other LO, another one for the Florida 8.5x11" album. This is a "Day 1" photo taken by Flange at a rather, erm... tense moment - thankfully Kirsty made sure all was well in the end but not before the Virgin check-in woman (who really didn't want to be there judging by her attitude!) got more than a piece of Kirsty's mind... tsssssssssss...

Kirsty probably not too happy about this being posted, but well, someone has to scrap these holiday moments:

• Christina Cole paper
• Joann's "KI ice dots"-esque accents - including a "..." speech bubble which more than likely should contain "P*** flaps!!!"
• Tin black spotty ribbon, can you believe I didn't have any in a medium size that would work. I know, and even with all that ribbon I'd bought - it's totally bizarre!
• Rhona tweety stamps - just love them especially with the soufflé pen - loads more colours to try with that one - but not sure I can manage a manly card for my bro's birthday with this stamp... hm...
• And finally, those Fontwerks spotty alpha stamps all cut out for the title... my a lot of knife action today!

So, I was all ready to get on with another LO, but think I'd best leave it for tomorrow and get back to more Florida shots.

I am so not doing a thorough stash clean up tonight, otherwise it will take me just as long to get started and cracking on a LO in the morning. Plus I hear Sound of Music is on tomorrow - ahhhh Bank Holidays!

Songs I am digging

Before I forget I must note down what I am loving as I only get to listen to these on the radio - but nevertheless loving them whenever they come on!

TITLE: Crazy
ARTIST: Gnarls Barkley
ALBUM: St. Elsewhere

TITLE: Everybody's Gone to War
ARTIST: Nerina Pallot
ALBUM: Fires

TITLE: Father and Daughter
ARTIST: Paul Simon
ALBUM: Surprise

I really need to get a broadband connection to download all the one-off tracks I really like, as I have no space to purchase CD albums any more... Although must admit once I get an album I often play it to death for a week or so, this was very true of Vanessa Mae's Choreography which I listened to at least 3 times a night initially - even put it on to fall asleep to in Florida - just cannot fall asleep to silence! And yep, been listening to it recently between outings of Chicago (complete with sing-along). Think her version is the best take on the Sabre Dance in years, just love the Ethnic beat and well the rhythm, would defy any one not to be tapping their foot to it!

Have spent much of today updating my virtual library, all the important books are on there now, just need to visit Fantastic Fiction next to check out what my fave authors are up to. For example a new trilogy is coming out from the ever-wonderful Nora Roberts - more in the vein of the Key and Three Sisters Island trilogies (YEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!! - but Nooooooo I cannot start it until all 3 are out as I cannot do suspense!!!!) and Hester Browne has the sequel to the Little Lady Agency coming out in July... plus new releases are on the horizon for the Shopaholic series in 2007 so I shall definitely be checking those out. Also LibraryThing is so ace, am getting lots of recs from other users who share the same books - like I have 79 books in common with one particular user, so I can look at her shelf for recs as we obviously have v. similar tastes... Did I mention I am loving this LibraryThing... but I really must go and start a layout or something as planned this a.m. hehe

Oooh new list obsession

Following the link from a post in the UKS book club forum look where I ended up: Library Thing where you can basically use the libraries of the world plus of course amazon to create your own virtual library for books you've read, want, and still need to read. It's great. You get 200 listings before you need to either pay $10 for an annual sub or $25 for a lifetime sub.

Anyhoo - I managed to import my bookcrossing available list and am now transferring the contents of my anally retentive Excel file to my new virtual library... only up to D so far in titles... but well, plenty more to go! But look, isn't it super cool? My own library!!!

Anyway, I'd best finish off Goodnight Nobody as I planned to do 3 hours ago - cool read and would recommend it! Have some lovely LOL moments that you can just picture...

Another one bites the dust

Goodness me, is anyone actually going to be left in the BigB house by the end of this week??

Now pongy Dawn has been shown the door for trying to cheat the rules and getting a message in from the outside... ooooo-ooo...

So between Bonnie - sorry Bonna - and Glynn I'm not sure who to vote out... don't usually vote until a few weeks into it unless I strongly feel the need to do so! hehe Er... so can't remember the last time that happened!

Well that's it!

Looks like I am well and truly in Big B land now. Have managed to watch a whole instalment ce soir which officially means it will be a regular occurrence...

So Shabaz has departed... goodness... on his broomstick it seemed!

Oh the drama! Entertaining at times because his presence really stirred things up, but no way could I be in the same space as him for any period of time, I like my quiet calm environment too much - plus I just don't do confrontation! LOL As Jean knows... hehe

But I will miss the fact he doesn't have a big exit and Davina interview...

Oh and I should post a disclaimer - This is a Shades Only Zone - it's summer here on the old blog, despite what lies beyond the window! Shake another cocktail and put another shrimp on the barbie!

*snort*

Whilst still waiting for Medium to come on and in an effort not to fall asleep I decided to check out the search engine referrals that have brought people to my blog - yes very sad I know... but often enlightening!

So amidst the usual searches for rob n bob slabs, crate paper and the bodyform ad music (still??? people are still searching for this???) I see one of the referrals has been a Google search for "Kitty care spondon"... Oh my, that really made my night, I am still chortling as I had been browsing Janie's Florida pics earlier and how apt was this! hehe

Oh and I must remember to update the wishlist now that the rest of the Rhona stamps are soon to be on their way over...

Rain, rain, go away....

What is with this freakazoid weather... I know as a nation we are used to rain, but please it is nearly June and it has hardly stopped raining for the past 2 weeks!!! And the south is supposed to be wallowing in drought... It's probably not the right type of rain tho is it... Typically.

I just wonder if all this rain now means that the rest of the summer will be a scorcher (you know 2 extremes and all that) or whether it will just get worse as last August was frightful....

Anyway, in order to avert any weather-related blues I have decided that the blog is now a sunshine zone - yep, KI Summer Collection IV to be exact has provided the feelings and colours of a fruity summer... if only blogs came with smelly-vision as I am sensing pineapple, mango, strawberry, lime.... essentially the inside of bath and body works sob sob...

I cannot believe there is an entire range of Frozen Daiquiri stuff still out there for me to try, plus I would love to try the tropical colada range as well... Why they had to close the UK stores I have no idea... but please bring them back as Bath and Body Works lotions and creams are the only ones that actually keep working for more than a few hours... My first tube of Bath and Body Works cream was a lovely fresh herbs one I was given for my 18th birthday and I have been looking for more ever since - so yep, thank heavens I spent that $99 in Florida on toiletries!! hehe

Think it's white tea and ginger tonight!

Oops...

Some how I have managed to purchase another 2 sets of Rhona stamps and have 1 on hold! How did that happen???

And here was me going to be good tonight and scrap another Florida LO... alas no... I think I am heading for the hay soon.

Started Goodnight Nobody this morning and it's shaping up very nicely - some LOL moments already amidst the great characterisations and dialogue... oh and a murder...

Right off for a coating of Bath and Bodyworks Frozen Daiquiri body cream  - OMG is that stuff good.... mmmm.... 

Sunday offerings

Managed a little scrapping today of a couple of Florida pics... I am not sure whether I will be lynched for sharing these or not, but here goes...

At our first crop in The Scrapbook Boutique, Julie nipped out her lunch and started to peel it... A "giant banana" from Walmart... well it was very hard to peel, and I ended up helping out, then got offered a piece, thinking int he back of my mind - isn't that a plantain??? - well yes it was a plantain and it tasted like... er... it tasted less than wonderful in its raw state - and in the background we seem to also have Kirsty pointing out this fact! Gee thanks!

So yep, Julie and plantains - never the two shall mix judging by that expressions, unless there's a frying pan involved I expect!

Am still waiting for my little banana charm token to dry after applying a sizable amount of glossy accents, alas it's not any quicker than diamond glaze at this moment... but look, I finally used some of my lurvely Crate Paper as it was the only stuff in my stash worthy of a banana yellow LO! hehe... oh and added another of those lush basic grey rub-ons - will deffo need to get more of this particular set as it's almost all gone! :oO

Next up, we have Chris E counting her moula - no doubt to determine whether another flower and ribbon trip to Joann's was a possibility... priorities! hehe

Made use (i.e. couldn't wait to use!!!) the little 8x8 Mambi kit we picked up at Joann's - lovely papers (really just the right size for these patterns) plus matching epoxy embellishments... oh and I added some nice matching ribbon and a Technique Tuesday stamp to the mix. :oD

So thousands more photos to scrap, 2 albums on the go and it's nice to have a choice of both sizes.... Watch this space - she says!

Oh and I started off the day with a free commission for ma as she needs a baby girl card for her friend, so used my Target paper purchase (grey and pink yummo 80s-ness!) and had to redo the foam on my Studio dies as they were making a godawful cracking noise on the sidekick cutting plates... thankfully lots of foam still hanging around, plus I didn't de-foam all of my other dies like QK suggested when Ginger came out and they now suggest NOT to do that. So I only did it to a few dies back then, but all of Studio is defoamed because the blooming foam it came with didn't fit right...

Right off to choose a book for tomorrow!

Creativity - is this a sign??

Well yesterday I had a bumper arrival of items in the post... My lovely 2nd hand sidekick - a dream for all my QK dies as they were just NOT cutting properly on my QK handtool half the time, a biiiiiig box from Paperarts with my cardstock order (lots of black and white restocked) plus the adapter for the sidekick (yes huuuge order for that £1 adapter!) and a bag of flowers, which included a note from Chris in with the order telling me I didn't need any more flowers surely... hehe... well... they were nice!

And - The first photobox delivery of photos from Florida!!!

And today, my lovely Rhona and Fontwerks stamps arrived from Jill...

But first I needed to finish off a layout I started back in Florida at the crop in The Scrapbook Boutique.

Urban Couture - just love the papers, but some of them are too nice to hide with photos iykwim... Like this one, I love the Imperial Fabergé style crest with the bird and I just didn't want to loose it under a photo and journaling, so cut around the bird and used the matching read plain background paper from the line under it so that it looks seamless, yet the flap can be lifted up so there is nothing stuck to the photo. The reverse of the photo with the details of the photographer are under the flap and journaling is to be added at some point!

Anyway, pic of my great-great paternal grandmother taken in Sternberg while it was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire... not 100% sure what it's name is now as it will have changed after 2 wars.

Added some BG rub-ons - lovely - and that luscious Hobo Chic MM ruffled brown ribbon to cover the crease of the flap (little overzealous my trimmer was when scoring the paper - in that it ripped it!).

So yes, Rhona stamps arriving gave me a little boost with this LO. One from Florida, but I thought I'd best scrap it first as I ordered it in 12x8 and I didn't want it to get scratched and crumpled before I finally got round to doing something with it. Isn't it a gorgeous shot, taken by Chris E. and shared with us on Photobox... Just love it... So we have Rhona paper from her original releases, Rhona stamp embossed in the bottom-right corner, and the title and "A.A. Milne" are over-stamped with the botanical stamps in pink dye ink and versamark... Ended up after 5 attempts and lots of ruined paper/cardstock going with my original idea of rub-ons for the quote... alas, I had just the perfect font to cut, but the robo didn't like it so small...

So yes, I promise some people shots will be scrapped next... although I still have that unfinished LO of my Easter egg to complete... another Florida project... oops...

However the Eurovision kinda held things up tonight, as we were suckered into the whole hilarity of the event... as usual... but the best was the provision of subtitles on BBCi so we could attempt to sing along in everything from Norwegian to Turkish! Never a dull moment, or a sane one...

And the only Greek we could shout was Christos Anesti! It's all we know from watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding over and over... hehe... Not really right for this time of year, a month or so late... but there you have it.

Just call me flash Harry!

Blimey, I only set out with the intention of purchasing an adapter for a sidekick so that I can use my QK dies in something other than my woe-begone handtool...

The converter was just £1 from Paper Arts...

Bargain! While there however, I took the opportunity to do a little cardstock restock - especially KI and places we love to hate (long swatch related repetitive strain injury-related story there!) black and white plus my choice favourites of KI cardstock colours... yum... oh and a Prima organza grab bag lept into my trolley... WHY???? Didn't I purchase enough in Florida, never mind the flowers from Joann's/Michaels....eeeeeeeeeeeek

And that wasn't the end of it...

No I reminded myself that I needed some page protected for that lovely AC D ring 8.5 x 11 album I still need to cover with my ultra hip fabric... so I went in search and thought, eeeek, I have no decent album to do my 12x12 Florida LOs in... well... add an album to the mix and yep, I still need to update MS Money from since before my holiday! I think that'll be a weekend project some how :oS

Still need to play with sunshine - ah the weekend.

Have listened to my Phantom and Chicago CDs ce soir - so am preparing to wreck those songs as I sing a long and trash my paper collection!

My word!

I've just spent the last 4 hours on photobox going through the albums we have shared so far from our Florida jaunt... OMG some of the photos taken are hilarious and I cannot wait to scrap them. Have soooo many ideas running around in my head plus captions, it's unreal...

And I haven't even uploaded the remaining 50 or so photos of mine to share yet - not that they are that interesting, no it seems Flaaaaaaaaaange has taken the vast majority of hilarious shots! Phew.... But Kirsty is seriously going to think me even more single white female as there are some stonking shots of her including the spondon one, the bride-to-be complete with her Jolees and mag, and the one where I think it was just aaaaaaaaaaaall too much...

So yes, perhaps the threat of scrapping those will spur her on to uploading her photos to photobox and sharing that album... not that she's been an idle girl of late... hehe

I am very interested to see how a large number of Janie's shots came out and Barbara's - especially the er night shots of Cocoa Beach... hehe, read "high-speed finger clicking whilst negotiating speed bumps in the dark"... do not expect discernible photos, but rather a post-modernist take on neon as from what I recall that's what they looked like!

And I want to do my Boston Lobster page at some point too Janie and Barbara!!! Hint, hint!!!

Well I promised myself an early night tonight, after the whole falling asleep for the last 7 minutes of Medium grrrr... and the only thing I planned to watch tonight is possibly The Apprentice on Discovery H&L - already seen this week's Desperate Housewives so should really go and slouch on the bed with my book. Ahhhhhhhhh...

Maybe not then...

I think I am just destined not to get the Rob N Bob slab... Last night out of interest I went snooping on ebay and found the full slab on-sale from a reputable seller for $18.49 (around £9.36) and they had UK shipping.

So I sent off my query regarding shipping hoping it'd be affordable...

Got the reply today and it's $39 to ship!! Gaaaah... so what a bummer eh?

Anyhoo... I will just have to content myself with my existing and hardly touched Rob N Bob papers, but the stack has some lovely low-detail designs in it fab for backgrounds... :o(

Mind you I shouldn't complain too much what with recent spree and the purchase of some Rhona stamps and the Fontwerks dotty alphabet... Need to tick them off my list...

Just the rest of the yummy Rhona stamps to order when they come back into stock and all will be well!

Watched the Martha Stewart Apprentice last night - oh it is very odd, her buhbye line is "xyz, I'll say goodbye..." rather than "xyz, you're fired!!!!".

Finished off the last in the current series of the Undead books - "Undead and Unappreciated" - they are pretty funny and light-hearted so will definitely check out the other 2 due in June and August.

Current read "The Reluctant Landlady".

Banana moments

Well despite all my best intentions today I only managed a couple of LOs for my Banana Frog DT duties... I think I am having a total creative crisis at the moment... I have just forgotten how to scrap - totally tragic LOL Especially when you consider how much new stash I have purchased... Anyhoo, here are today's offerings.

The first using Polar Bear Press papers + stickers and a BF stamp - I love the dotty circle stamp.

Then followed a double LO, so far removed from my original idea it's unreal. But here it is anyway using my fave dotty stamp, plus the small flower stamp and the patterned paper from Scrappingham Palace. Added the vines from my Cactus Pink stamps as I wasn't up to free-hand doodling. Oh and the return of the versamark pen!

 

And on that note, I'd best go send some e-mails and sort out a paypal payment before bed!

Tara chucks!

Oooh, ooooh, ooooh!!!

Just seen an ad for the new series of the US Apprentice - the one with Martha Stewart instead of Donaldo and the Hair.... I know it's been panned as not as good as the Trump one, but it's on weeknights on Discovery Home and Leisure at 10 p.m.

See....

I wonder if she is in it from the beginning as I'm not sure when this started following her curfew etc. Anyway, looks like the series is already underway on Discovery H&L...

At the end of the last UK episode on Wednesday they announced The US Apprentice would be starting on the Beeb - but I'm sure they mentioned Donald Trump... oh well it's something to fill the ever increasing void as loads of my shows are coming to/have come to an end. :o(

Ugh...

Those attempting to recreate the Florida holiday tipple of choice, beware!!

After a lovely lunch with Claire and Jean (where the company was lovely, the food less so - and let's not mention the service!) I toddled off to the nearest supermarket in search of a huuuuuuge bottle of Cherry Coke.

Alas, no Cherry Coke, but the nearest thing was the "New Edition" of Diet Coke, namely Diet Coke with Cherry... "Hm," I thought, "this cannot be THAT far removed from Cherry Coke surely???"

Well alas, it is nearer the Diet Coke with Black Cherry and Vanilla I sampled on Krispy Kreme night. Totally NOT the same as Cherry Coke and actually not that cherry like or Black cherry just no, plain NO... it's not bringing back warm fuzzy feelings associated with the Florida tipple of choice... hm...

So I must now go in search of proper 100% genuine Cherry Coke, also must buy a bottle of honey and mustard salad dressing.... and the Olive Garden cheese grater, I need that cheese grater....

Can you tell I am missing my holiday, it's cold and wet here, I am sat in a jumper and having to wear socks... booohooooo... and now I must get back to my cleaning before I can play.

Because Jo asked so nicely...

Here is a little photo montage I cooked up ce soir - excuse flash on shiny surfaces....

Oh yes, and best viewed laaaaaaaaarge. I forgot to photograph my new Cathy Z book as well as my crafters companion tote with 5 boxes mostly Lasting Impressions matt brads, AC brads and other er items...

Will that do ya Jo?? I need to go put it all away now!

Post holiday wishlist

What did I manage to tick off??

Well you'd be surprised, as there's still quite a lot to go!

Rhona Farrer clear stamps - everything but words - where oh where were these being hidden??? So to recap I am after Botanicals, Nature, swirls lots 'o' swirls... Flourishes, yep need those and flowers (not necessarily needing those, but want!!)

Art Warehouse clear scroll stamps

Art Warehouse clear ornament stamps

Prima flower variety box: yet to decide on colour! Essentially crossing that off as I feel 3 bottles of prima and god knows how many flowers from Michaels should be enough...

Tinbox Creations: Impact alpha rubber stamps Got some similar ones from Technique Tuesday - and they are clear and a bit smaller

Fontworks: clear spotty alpha stamp set Finally purchased on my return - I think it's a rather biiiig alpha tho... and why don't fontwerks have all these new sets on their site yet??

KI Memories: selected papers from pink/black/posh lines Wasn't that overcome to purchase so bought some rub-ons and epoxy stickers instead

DCWV scallop cards: black, light blue, pink as much as I can find! OMG does anyone actually stock these??? We could only find cardstacks not card packs.

AC Jack alpha rub-ons - black + white Got them all, and in Brown, plus l/c Lulu in white... ooops

Heidi Swap plastic letters

Heidi Swap mini coaster letters

A few choice pieces of paper... mmmm.....

One for Kew

As I was watching QI t'other night I about spit my gulp of water out.

The question was "What is the collective name for a group of baboons?"

Well this was hilarious.

Yep, one of the Watson Words of Choice... Flaaaaaaaange has become recognised as an official name for a a group of baboons. And do you know what? It didn't originate in primate science speak, no, it's actually come from a "not the 9 o'clock news" sketch - you know with Gerald the gorilla... where one of the lines was something about a flange of baboons - and some baboon experts picked this up and instead of using the proper term "congress" - also very apt! - flange has been used in such publications as "Sex and Friendship In Baboons" by Barbara B Smuts - I think that says it all eh??

According to the amazon.com review:

"In this marvelous book Smuts draws from years of painstaking field research in which she followed around a flange of chacma baboons in the Mateti Game Park in Zimbabwe."

And here endeth tonight's primate terminology lesson... I am not yet sure whether gusset gummed flap turns up in the book - any takers to read it?

Nope?

Didn't think so.

A little tidy up

Sorry Jo, battery is still charging... no stash photos ce soir... I am not doing this on purpose I promise!!!

But I have taken the liberty of having a little tidy up of the blog. Books up to date and other lists. And uploaded all the stuff I have managed to do for my Banana Frog design team duties so far! Put the whip away Bev... ;oD

Also I think I will be looking for some D ring page protectors for my new 8.5 x 11 AC album which still needs covering.... hm, best determine the correct adhesive to use for that as well.... aaaahhh so many things I didn't buy that I should have.

And NOW, guess what... a post on 2Peas saying that Rob n Bob slabs are all over the place in Florida, apparently every Michaels the posters have been in in the last week or so has had them!!! What??? Where were they all stashing them while we prowled the aisles eh??? Where??? Did we look dangerous with our shopping carts piled high with ribbon and fake flowers.... oh grrrr... Well I suppose I really should use my own rob n bob papers before investing in a third of a stack... :o(

Anyhoo I am going and buying a flipping huge bottle of Cherry coke tomorrow night. I do not care that we agreed we were only going to drink it on holiday - what happens in Florida, stays in Florida... I don't think so. I am in total withdrawal! I cannot do this cold turkey malarkey... and well I would have loved another bottle of black cherry and vanilla coke that I tried but please... I must have Cherry coke, if I can't have Sweet Tomatoes strawberry lemonade then it must be the Cherry coke!!!!

:gasp:

Disaster!!!

It has all gone pear-shaped with this evening's entertainment - the boro lost 4 nil in the final for the European cup (brother currently devastated and having a very emotional breakdown - mumbling strange things and generally looking rather pale - do not mention to him that it's only a game and that this is the furthest they have ever got.... he has bought his favourite parmo as small compensation and is trying to scoff it - poor love.... lol)

In Badger Watch - alas the Badger didn't make it and I think it had a lot to do with the last bit of trying to sell herself and I thought Michelle's was very weak, the same old same old, but Ruth's was a but OTT and too full on... oh well, it's not like she'll be short of job offers that's for sure!

Anyway, while all this drama unfolded I actually set about the task of making a card using recent purchases. Some paper from Target and a K&Co. rub-on - but fiddly and they don't go on too easily onto textured cardstock - gaaaaaah... but I think the end effect is rather nice... :oD

Hopefully more to come this weekend as I must get on and do some stuff for the very patient Bev at Banana Frog - yes I have let my design team duties slip while I have been sunning myself and essentially emptying Michaels and Joanne's of their ribbons and flowers.... eeek. But I have some stuff to be getting on with and will have to create an album on my blog of DT stuff as well.

Oh sugar, must charge the camera battery in order to take some stash photos...

Unpacking time!!!

Yep, returned earlier this evening from the most fabaroony holiday EVER with the most mental, hilarious and downright embarrassing ladies EVER!!

I so miss the mayhem already, and although it was only a week (boy it felt like a lot longer at times!) I cannot wait for a reunion! I wonder if any place is brave enough to have us.... ooer....

Anyway, as I am lazy and only running on 6 hours of sleep in the last however many days... I shall post a brief synopsis of highlights I noted down whilst trying to keep my eyes open waiting for my flight at Gatwick! My god I hate to think what the bloke next to me was thinking as I was alternately cackling and snoring... LMAO

So here we have it:

1. A potential felony being perpetrated in the dead of night involving a suitcase, portaloo and only a deer as a witness....
   Oh and there were all 11 of us in the getaway vehicle at the time, and finger prints were taken at the airport... but we have an alibi... sort of...
2. Near hyperventilation from laughing so hard in The Shark Pit in Cocoa Beach - this with the lung capacity of a midget hamster.... "Bully's special prize!!!"
3. Boston Lobster delivery vehicle - giving it that in the overtaking lane!!! (photos to follow courtesy of OHP paparazzi supermo - Barbara)
4. Sweet tomatoes whippy-noo-noo + mac cheese!!!! Niiiiiiiiiiice.
5. The Tampa sucky-noo-noo (photos to follow!!)
6. Club Tropicana cocktails by the pool (ok Baileys and ice... ) brought to us kindly by the OHP cocktail waitress... who later wet her pants along with FLaaaaaaaaaaaaange!
7. Pool inflatables - Krusty Watson has a real knack for heading beach balls without seeing them coming!
8. U-ies on the I4 - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkk complete with sound effects.
9. Fresh pineapple and Berry salad for breakfast EVERY DAY!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmm Well except for the French toast extravaganza in Celebration village with maple butter and brown sugar.... slurp....
10. Bath and Bodyworks mother's day promotion - was there anything left in that store after we left???
11. Wheelie-noo-noo chairs in the Olive Garden - mmmm Taste of Italy for 9!
12. "The Silver Fox" - aka million Dollar man - however you must confer with Barbara and Kirsty on this one as for all we know he was a figment of their rather overactive imaginations.
13. "Welcome to Spondon" - the new advertising campaign is launched with a new face!
14. Cherry coke - the holiday drink of choice - best splurted through nose during hyperventilation session...
15. Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaange!
    
    Oh and there was a modest amount of stash shopping that involved a lot of deflowering and unspooling in the small wee hours! Ooer....

Alas not an entire wishlist ticked off - however made up for this through copious other purchases including the sunshine gift set... did we really need another font for the QK er.... the QK flower dies and matching rub-ons, loads of embellishments from Joann's, Michaels entire ribbon and flower section, oops, 2 new suitcases following the destruction of my original suitcase on the way out. Lots of stamp sets from Technique Tuesday - not the newest as they were not around yet - Rhonna and fontwerks still to be bought so must make an order somewhere to see if there are any about - oh CathyZ book - read a bit whilst trying to stay awake at Gatwick, what else... oh tons of 99cent glitter glue and 3d accents... Target fabaroony paper packs. K+Co. tin and accents... lovely... the entire line of BG rub-ons almost... oh and Bath and Body Works explosive fragrances for the bod! hehe

More to follow but to be quiet honest I am knackered!