Birthday Boy!

On this very day, three LOOOOONNNNG decades ago, a miraculous thing occurred. A Ralphie was born. Ralph William McCorkle, Jr. Turning 30 years young today. I just want to wish him a wonderful day and let him know how much I appreciate him putting up with all my antics! I love you, babe! Happy, happy, happy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Anniversaries Celebrated Disney Style!

Mouse-aholic

I had a great day at Disneyland yesterday with two VERY good, lifelong pals of mine! All of our husbands came along and since we all have anniversaries in August, we all got Happy Anniversary pins! It was great fun, until it came time for the fireworks. Or lack thereof. UGH! The show cancellation wouldn't have been so disappointing had we not been waiting for over 2 hours, had a FRONT row (or curb) seat, and had to listen to a unhappy child scream at the top of his lungs for the duration of the wait. Yikes. I think Matt was actually maddened. LOL This is a rare occurrence for the viewing public, as those who know him know. Ick! That was poorly worded. Oh, well! That may be the last time I go to Disneyland until after my surgery. I really wanted to have cotton candy, but it didn't sound as good as it usually does. Of course, I am really trying to lose those 10 pounds by surgery time! =D As for my illness, I am completely recovered, save a nagging cough, which I tend to have anyway! My eyes look normal and the only evidence of my having been sick is the scab from my fever blister. I'm so glad! Especially since that means I'll get to see my little Ella girl tomorrow!! We're picking her up in the afternoon and keeping her indefinitely! Yay! Little sweetie! I'll be back around later!

Happy 100th Blog to Me! =]

It took me long enough, but I've finally reached the 100 mark! Yay! I felt compelled to do something really spectacular in honor of the occasion, but I couldn't come up with one single good idea. I just cannot think of anything creative. No creative juices flowing here. The only spectacular news coming out of McCorkle-town right now is the pending arrival of another baby. Boy or girl? Nobody knows. LOL! We are excited to have a little niece/nephew to spoil!! Should be any minute now and I'll have to try to put up some pictures as I get them taken. Sorry this 100th blog is so anti-climatic and I'll try to make up for it somehow in the next week or so.

Lego Cake

I had to put up a picture of Logan at his party. Sorry I didn't get it up in time for the party blog, but I really loved his cake (it's 3 cakes in the shape of Lego's) and over course I want you all to see how big my honey has gotten!

My Big Boy

Well, I think we are about ready for Logan's big birthday bash tomorrow! We're going to a pizza place here in town and all of our nearest and dearest will be there with us. I got candy and filler prizes for the goodie bags and Ralph is going to go get Log's present tomorrow. (a new bike!) I can't believe he's going to be, *sigh*, DOUBLE DIGITS!!! Yep, he's going to be a "ten-ager", as we have been teasing him. Right now his dad and dad's friend have him believing that we weren't really going to have a birthday party at all. That is was some clever April Fool's ruse, but it's not and hopefully they haven't traumatized my baby too much! Well, that's it for the McCorkle house! That and lots of school and work going on! *yawn!* Night-night!

Zippity-Doo-Da!

So, the incredible, wonderful, awesome, fantastical people who comprised the Easter 2008 cast and crew chipped in and gave me $172 Disney dollars!!! Cool - right? I mean, WOW! I'm so excited, as I am a HUGE Disneyland fan and am looking forward to getting a new pass for the year. I think I'll go for the Premium, that way I can really go when EVER I want! My husband says that we really get duped into thinking we're saving money on passes, when we go so much, they end up with lots of our money in their pockets anyway. My answer to that is I will earn it back! I hope to work there some day, even if I just sweep up trash after careless guests, that is my DREAM job! *sigh!* LOL No, actually, my dream job would be to work on the new attractions as an Imagineer, but I've got to get this pesky schooling completed first. Speaking of which, I should be doing homework, so I bid you adieu! And farewell! For now, anyway!

Who wouldn't wanna go? (Besides Joni...) lol

Tomorrow I pay homage to the great Mouse, my Mickey. Obsessed? Maybe. And??? hehehe!!! I get a kick out of experiencing something for the 25th time with someone who hasn't been at all. This will be the case tomorrow. Oh, joy bells ringing...!!! So, I've prepared a very comfortable and hopefully cool outfit, purchased snacks so as to pinch my pennies, and mentally sketched a plan to see and do everything important. (I am a pro...) tee-hee! The only thing left to do is get a good night's rest, which is rapidly slipping through my fingers. *sigh!* I'm the most sleepless person I know. I've got to figure out how to have all the fizzy, high-caffeinated, low-sugary goodness of Diet Pepsi without these adverse side-effects! AAAAGGHHH! Alright, I better go give it my best shot, because tomorrow is going to be a looooonnnnnng day! The Magic begins @ 8 a.m. SHARP! =0)

What I've Been Up To...

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C.O.D.E. West, but glad to be home!

Well, the very long weekend which began, for me, on Thursday is now officially ended. It is 12:06 AM on Monday morning and I am staying up till 1 to do my hour of prayer for Hope Center's 24 hour prayer chain. Meanwhile, I partake of less spiritual pastimes such as web surfing and blogging! ;0) I did have a wonderful weekend with a couple of really great ladies! Babs, Bek, and myself made the trek to the metropolis of Hanford, CA to expand our drama expertise. LOL Actually, it was a very informative and wonderfully creative time with fellow "drama-teers" (yes, I just made that up!) doing improv and the like. I got some really helpful information and my friends and I just had a good time in general. Now I am back home in my very quiet, peaceful house and it is good. I missed my hubby and Log, so I think I will go give them extra love just because. Thanks for reading and have a good morning! :D

Weekend in a Paragraph

I had company this weekend in the form of three very good friends - Tenille, Bonnie, and Tracey. Frivolity ensued upon their arrival and sheer giddy laughter could be heard most any moment echoing throughout the plantation! LOLOL We took over Disneyland on Friday and rode every good ride, save the new Finding Nemo attraction, which we were disinclined to wait in the horrendous queue for. Saturday was rather relaxing, with the exception of Tenille zipping off early to get back to work, and we had a late breakfast and even later dinner. I had two, count them, 1-2! parties to attend on Saturday night, so I left my company home for one and took them with for the other. One of the parties was my cousin, DeAnna's graduation party at my Aunt's house in Beaumont. All of the sisters were there and some cousins I see only on very rare occasions. Family can be comforting and stressful all at once. I found mine to be extreme in both areas on Saturday and that's all I have to say about that. I'd put up some pix of my adventures, but my husband has "bullied" me into making a post "pronto!" so I haven't had time to load said pix. I'll post them later! Check back soon! Hopefully I'm not boring everyone else as badly as I have my love of my life. :D I'm outtie....!!!!

I DID!

Today was a very exciting day for me and my new business venture! I coordinated my first official wedding as a Kiss of Bliss sole propietor! I'm stoked! The wedding went very well, and I do believe the family and happy couple were please with my work. I didn't do it on my own, though; I had help! My good friend, Rose, helped me as the "on-site reception coordinator", which was a LOT of work! Just ask her! LOL Anyway, it was a wonderful wedding and I was proud to be a part of it. I handed out lots of business cards, so hopefully I'll get some good "word of mouth"!

As for Ralphie-poo, my wonderful, loving, and long-suffering husband, he's doing lots better!!! I am so glad! I was getting so stressed, I popped out a huge blister on my lip! It looks totally disgusting and it was very embarrassing to try to be a serious business woman with a "growth" on my lip! I got through it, but less about me and more about my honey. He's getting around like a pretty normal person now, even driving our car, which is a six-speed. Tomorrow will be our first Sunday morning in a while and we are anticipating a great service! We were having serious withdrawals from Sunday church and it'll be great to be back in God's house. I've got some CLEANING to do! ;0)

bbs!

Living and Loving It!!

So, WOW! Lots has gone on since I've been on here last. Sorry for my seeming lack of dedication to this blog! Let's start with Log's dentist visit last Tuesday. You have never seen a kid so happy to go to the dentist! I am not kidding! He had a great time and the dentist and assistants got a kick out of him and his sheer joy of dentistry! He's got a little cavity, so we'll see how much he loves it after it's fixed. Wednesday was Chick-Fil-A day. Boy, what I won't do for a little free food! LOL I got to the new CFA @ around 1:30 on Wednesday to wait in line for a year of free chicken! I had to spend the night, but I got my chicken! I didn't sleep. It was nutty. It got really fun after dark when we started getting a steady stream of visitors. Ralph and Log came after dark and stayed and Logan rode his scooter almost all night!!! That kid is tireless. Anyway, I got my free chicken and it was so worth it! Friday I left for Ladies' Retreat in Carlsbad with my friend, Barb. We had a great time there, except it was too cold to swim in the ocean, which I love to do. Also, the dead, half-decomposed seal on the beach was a major turn-off. Anyway, it was such a fun, fun time! My husband drove all the way down there to bring me flowers and a card full of money! How sweet is that?!? OMW He is sooooooo wonderful to me. I love him. Sis. Hernandez was so inspirational and anointed in her speaking. It was life-changing material. We got home Sunday, then Monday Ralphie took me and Log to Disneyland! (That's what I asked for my gift for Mother's Day...) As you can tell by reading here and checking out my nifty little slide show, I have been somewhat preoccupied...LIVING. Living life to the fullest. "...It's not the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years...."

Happy, Happy, Happy

I'm in a good mood. Actually, I'm in a happy, good, wonderfully harmonious mood. Yes, I am. Why? You ask... Do I have to have a particular reason? It's a good life living for the Lord. There. Does that suffice? Last night, our evangelist Bro. Marks preached on happiness and its essentiality to revival and even salvation. It was very enlightening. It was easy for me to get with the preaching, being the happy-go-lucky to a fault person that I am. :0) (no laughing, babe!!) So many of us Pentecostals walk around looking either very self-righteous or like we have the flu! It's nuts! I don't get it! How is someone gonna want what we have when we are rude, haughty, or depressed???? I come from a "culture" where people who are different are mocked and looked down upon. I'm sick of it. That nut with a crazy haircut needs Jesus too, however he'll never listen to anything we have to say because of the looks of condemnation he receives from "our type". So if you're ever with me and notice that I don't laugh with you at "salvation-less" people, now you know why. I do my best to bite my tongue in the moment, but no longer. Jesus died for all of us, no matter how different-looking or whatever we are. So, how are we going to reach our world? With a stiff upper lip? Or a smile? Good preaching, Bro. Marks! LOL I'll just pick up where you left off... LOLOL :D

Let the Winning Begin...

Tonight was the official start of the "Pit" season. :D For those of you who may not know, "Pit" is a fast paced "commodity" trading game. It is one of my favorite games, right up there with "Mexican Train", but I am much better at Pit. I hereby invite all of my friends and family to challenge me at this game... (I will probably start a wicked losing streak as a result of my haughtiness...) LOLOL Anyway, we had company and kabobs and games. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day. Winning always puts me in a good mood! I win! :D

Yesssssssssssss......

Well, it's that time of the week again. Yes, you guessed it. It's time for DISNEYLAND!!!!!! *ugh!* I just really enjoy a good visit to the Magic Kingdom. Tomorrow's visit I will be accompanied by my Momma, which will be loads of fun! Just like old times! VERY old times!! LOLOL We'll probably end up running into some people from my church, as they have also chosen tomorrow as the day to get their weekly fixes. I hope to find a couple more hidden Mickey's and eat a gigantic corn dog. (Don't tell! shhh!!) ;0) Just so you know, if you count yourself a friend, you should always call me when you are going to Disneyland so I can go too! LOL JK!! Anyway, I'm almost always up for Disneyland, so if you were so inclined, you could call. I won't be around tomorrow for a post, but I'll try to get on Saturday and put up some pix of our "happiest place" visit. em-eye-see-kay-ee-why-em-oh-you-ess-eeeeeeeeee....... :D

I'm Baaaack...

Well, I'm back. I guess. It has been a real struggle for me to take this back up again, due to falling poll numbers... ;0) It is a lot of work and being the narcissistic person I apparently am, I do want people to actually read what I have to say. Obviously, not a lot of people care what I have to say, so it became a burden. I am ready to tackle the endeavor, once again, wholeheartedly and unabashedly!! So... Since it's been a while since I wrote, I thought I'd include some tidbits about what has been going on lately.

1. Easter was awesome. It was really great. Twelve souls were filled with the Holy Ghost and many lives were touched! Thank you, Jesus!

2. We moved twice in one week. I know it sounds crazy, but we did! We had to get out of our apartment by a certain date, but the house wasn't ready, so we moved into a storage. Actually, we moved all of our STUFF into storage, and we took up house with Ralphie's Grams. Then the house became available, so we turned right around and moved into the house. All in the week and a half leading up to Easter!!!! Nutty! Right? (I love my house, though!)

3. I have been to Disneyland a few times since I've been on here. Splash Mountain is still closed, which is getting on my "nervous" already!!! Open that ride so I can SPLASH!!!! Yippeeee!

4. We are still in revival with the Marks, who are really swell people. They have a new baby, which I want to hold all of the time, but I'm too embarrassed to ask!! LOL (I did get quite a fix the other day, though...)

5. Logan has started a new curriculum, so we're kind of behind schedule now. He had to start from the beginning of 4th grade, so we'll be working feverishly for the next 16 months to get him back on the right track!

6. My husband gave my "baby bear" to my grandparents! *sob!* I cried and cried. He's better off, though, because he was christening the house in a way we found off-putting. hehehe... (My poor baby boy...)

Wow! I guess that sums things up nicely as far as what I have been doing (or NOT doing) for the last month and a half!! I really have been busy!!!!!!!! LOL I will be back very soon for more "splendiferous pontifications"!! (Don't hold your breath, though!) But DO check back more regularly, now - ya hear??

Disneyland! YAY!!!!!!

I had an absolutely "fantabulous" time at Disneyland today with two of my very best and oldest friends. Logan went with us as well and rode all the rides like a pro except for the Tower of Terror. He didn't quite like that one and I will try to post the pic that was taken between stomach-churning drops. It is priceless. I think we got on every ride that we wanted to and four of the rides we rode twice. It was a great day to be at Disneyland! Also, since this is the second time in about a month that I have been, I talked Ralph into buying the "bottom-of-the-barrel" annual pass. It's only available to SoCal residents, and it's really a good deal, so I am now the proud owner of an annual pass!!!! Yay for me! (BTW - if you ever can't get me, it may be because I am riding Indiana Jones or something else equally exciting!) ;) We got a good seat for the fireworks and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the show. It was particularly spectacular, I thought, which reminds me... Fireworks make me cry. I am not for sure why, although I have a theory which I am not inclined to share at this juncture. Without fail, tonight's show was no exception. As the grand finale neared and the symphonic orchestrations rose to a great crescendo, I teared up and felt a lump in my throat the size of Texas. (I don't know why Texas, so don't ask!) I LOVE fireworks, which is one of the reasons why the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. Now that reminds me, I made a couple of unusual purchases (FOR ME) today. First, I purchased a pack of antenna Mickeys that are made up of all the major holidays. How cool is that??? Then, I also had a profile of Logan done. It turned out very nice, but that's a given - right? (He's just a gorgeous kid...) Anyway, those are things I wouldn't have normally picked out, but it just struck me the right way today.

I guess that's enough raving about Disneyland. Next week I plan to take Logan again so he can try to be a part of the Jedi Training Academy show they put on 10 times a day and I wanna see Fantasmic! I will get lots of use out of this pass and make it worth our while!! :D

EM-EYE-SEE-KAY-EE-WHY EM-OH-YOU-ESS-EE......

Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that Bonnie found one of the hidden Mickeys on Pirates of the Caribbean!! Yay for her! (I am TOTALLY into that kind of stuff...)

Yay! I say...

I can't WAIT till tomorrow! Actually, I kind of can, because I'm not really ready, but I'm STILL excited!!!! We are going to have a blast.

Anyway, more on today - the drama budget was approved, which is great. We have added a couple of departments and I thought we would go way over budget, so I am happy about that. I am very much looking forward to the drama and anticipating great things.

I went shopping, thinking I had lost a few pounds and could reward myself, but that was not to be. First of all, I think I must have gained everything back in one fell swoop, because everything I tried on looked horrific! The things that looked nice were out of my price range, so I had quite the dilemma on my hands. I did find one little thing that I think I am going to go ahead and purchase in the morning, but that's it! I have yet to go to Victoria Gardens, so maybe I'll find something there, if I have time to shop while we're out there. So, I guess it's "moldy oldies" for me this conference...

Hope everyone had a great day!! **smiles!!**

Stupendous Player

You may or may not know that I have a small competitive streak. I like to play games, but mostly I like to WIN. It's very hard for me to just enjoy a game because I get very emotionally involved. In retrospect, I feel very bad for my quizzers when I used to coach BQ, because I know "everyone's a winner" in BQ, but there are still only 3 trophies! ;)

Soooo, I was at a party last night where the game "Catchphrase" was being played. I decided to join in the "fun", which was what it probably was until I started playing. My friend, Cindy, who just happens to be a teacher and one of the smartest people I know, just HAD to be on my team. There were a lot of us playing, so I thought I would conspire with her to make sure she and I were on the same team. Well, of course, the end result was two consecutive wins, which led the other players demanding the teams be changed up. I then informed them at that point that it didn't matter WHICH team I was on, I would still win. When the teams were selected, I started to get a little nervous at my big, big mouth. I don't know why, because we did STILL win!!!! (Yay!)

Yep, I have MAD gaming skills! :D