http://www.timandangi.com/news/ Tim And Angi News en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.timandangi.com/news//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.timandangi.com/news/ http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=322 Plot (from IMDB)
When "The Dude" Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, two thugs urinate on his rug to coerce him into paying a debt he knows nothing about. While attempting to gain recompense for the ruined rug from his wealthy counterpart, he accepts a one-time job with high pay-off. He enlists the help of his bowling buddy, Walter, a gun-toting Jewish-convert with anger issues. Deception leads to more trouble, and it soon seems that everyone from porn empire tycoons to nihilists want something from The Dude.Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
One of the worst movies I have even seen. I rarely turn off a movie even if it gets boring. I heard a lot of good reviews on this movie but it apparently is not my style of movie.

Rating (1-5): Rating
Recommend to a friend: No]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=322 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:46:39 -0700 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=320 Plot (from IMDB)
A tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno, a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, discovers she's pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. She finds one in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents, upscale yuppies (one of whom is cool and laid back, the other meticulous and uptight), meet Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Will Juno's plan work, can she improvise, and what about Bleeker?Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
I've read a lot of reviews that say this movie displays the wrong message about teen pregnancy so I have watched it twice trying to figure out the other reviews. I just don't see this giving off the wrong message. I think the movie handles a very touchy subject in a very real way. I have never seen a movie deal with adoption in this fashion. It was outstanding! I think Juno's ultimate decision - a definite plot twister - is the perfect ending to this movie. This gives insight into the mind of a pregnant teen while she struggles to come to terms with the world around her.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes - and to any teenager, pregnant or not]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=320 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:54:25 -0700 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=318 According to the charges, Lee performed oral sex on her son and took photographs, sending them through e-mail to a friend who forwarded them to the 2-year-old boy's father. The father then called police.Opinion:
I am at a loss for words. I just hope this child is NEVER returned to his mother and that she NEVER has another child. I am happy that this was found out early enough that the child has a chance of being normal instead of living with his mother for years before anyone found out. I send my wishes to the father as he will have a lot to deal with in the coming years.

Full Article Here]]> In The News http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=318 Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:36:34 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=317 If You Give A Mouse A Cookie 2.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 3.Pajama Time 4.Where The Sidewalk Ends 5.The Giving Tree

What are you're top 5?]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=317 Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:46:19 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=315 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=315 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:46:59 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=311

]]> General http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=311 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:42:39 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=310 Plot (from IMDB)
The Kingdom of Alagaesia is ruled by the evil King Galbatorix, a former dragon rider that betrayed his mates and his people in his quest for power. When the orphan farm boy Eragon finds a blue stone sent by Princess Arya, he sooner realizes that it is a dragon egg. When the dragon Saphira is born, Eragon meets his mentor Brom, and becomes the dragon rider foreseen in an ancient prophecy that would set his people free from the tyrant Galbatorix. Eragon meets the rebels Varden and together they fight against the evil sorcerer Durza and the army of Galbatorix in a journey for freedom.Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
The plot and characters were well developed. I found myself very enthralled with the plot as it developed however, some of the twists seemed obvious before they happened. I would watch this movie again.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=310 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:50:56 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=308 Plot (from IMDB)
Lawrence Wetherhold is miserable and a misanthrope: he's a widower, a pompous professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), an indifferent father to a college student and a high-school senior, and the reluctant brother of a ne'er-do-well who's come to town. A seizure and a fall send Lawrence to the emergency room where the physician, a former student of his, ends up going on a date with him. His daughter, Vanessa, lonely and friendless, whose been bonding with his brother, tries to sabotage dad and the doctor's relationship, but Lawrence is good at that without help. Is there any way these smart people can get a life? Can happiness be pursued beneath layers of irony?Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
The acting was great but the plot was very slow to a fault. The previews showed most of the funny parts so there was little to enjoy out of the movie.

Rating (1-5): RatingRating
Recommend to a friend: No]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=308 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:42:32 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=306 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=306 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:22:41 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=304
We grabbed a bite to eat and went home to the boys. I got together their art school stuff and let them make Grandma a card for her hospital room. They had a blast doing that but then again, they always have a blast during art time. They are quite the little artists. I didn’t have time to get pics of their art work but I’ll do that when mom gets home. Devlyn, of course, is my nurse in training and said we had to get her balloons just like they got me when I was in the hospital. We left the house late but still stopped to get balloons for them to give to her. They picked out 1 Mylar ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon and 5 latex balloons. We got to the hospital around 7ish and mom was thrilled to see the boys. Devlyn talked her ear off and wanted to know what everything was and what each thing did. Of course, he is very familiar with IVs so he was telling mom all about them; from how they work to what you put in them. The nurse came in to check on mom and had a blast talking with the boys while Devlyn showed off his nurse knowledge. He learned a great deal about IVs because I came home with a pick line and had to run an IV twice daily after my surgery. Daddy taught him it all. I think setting up my IV every time took twice as long because of the explaining to Devlyn but it was worth it. He might just be in the medical field when he’s older. He sure is very in tune with people who aren’t feeling good. He kept sharing his knowledge over and over again but mom never stopped listening to him. I could tell that the visit was good for both of them. Trysten just wanted to play and watch the TV because he saw that grandma was ok and that’s all he needed to know. Devlyn must examine and check everything out to ensure grandma is safe because he wants ‘grandma go home now’ but we told him that she needs to see her doctor tomorrow and then maybe she can go home. He made sure all her lights worked, checked her nurse call button, checked to see if she had all her ‘supplies’ (chapstick), asked a few times if she got food, and kept up with the endless questions. Once he was satisfied that all was ok, he just played with his TMNT toys we brought. Mom got a dose of pain meds in her IV so we packed up and left. She was getting sleepy when we left so I know she’ll sleep well tonight.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=304 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:27:26 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=303
Well, I'll update when we know more. Keep my mom in your thoughts.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=303 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:50:01 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=301 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=301 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:02:48 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=297
After talking to both teachers, it was determined that he needs basically nothing for kindergarten. It is recommended but not required to have backpack and a folder. It would have been better if we'd known that ahead of time so we wouldn't have worried about getting school supplies. We basically got 3 of everything; one for home, one for school and one for Devlyn. Oh well, we have enough supplies to last longer than expected.]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=297 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:27:46 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=296 TMNT bigfoot (Raphael)
Transformer keychain
Hannah Montana mini notebook
Hannah Montana notebook
Hannah Montana post it notes
Hannah Montana magnetic list pad
Sonic Riders (PS2 game)
TMNT (the old cartoon) volume 1 and 2
TMNT movie 1, 2 and 3
Handheld controller game
Power Ranger action figure set
Lemonhead pencils w/ candy
2 Power Ranger Movies
Matchbox Farm Playset w/ vehicle
(Go Diego Go) Baby Jaguar and carrying case
Shopping trip with Grandma (my mom) – she kept him busy while we cleaned up and setup for his party.
Shopping trip with Grandma (Tim’s mom) and Papa – will happen in the next few days

Photos: Contact us for the link.

A few updates while I am thinking of them: 1) Trysten starts kindergarten in 1 week. 2) Trysten got a free backpack with supplies from the neighborhood school 3) I won an engraved deluxe school supplies set for Devlyn 4) I am officially part of the “workforce reduction” group, ie; Laid off and 5) I am going to bed as soon as hit save. LOL]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=296 Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:54:58 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=294
I have some other things lined up and am hoping to get into a program that will pay tuition to finish my bachelor's degree. I have an appointment with this company on Monday. I have a lot to do in the next few days to finalize my lay off status and convert to self employed. I also have Devlyn's birthday coming up so gotta plan his party, too.

Well, off to my soon to be ex-employer to drop off paperwork and my badge.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=294 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 09:53:41 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=290 Plot (from IMDB)
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
Christian Bale was fantastic as usual. When I walked out of the theater, I already wanted to see the movie again. It surpassed everything I had heard about the movie. The only thing that I wasn't fond of was the dark knight's voice but that could simply be that I think Bale's voice is perfect on it's own.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=290 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:17:32 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=286 Added:
Our Blog Ticker - Main page provides a ticker with the most recent posts to our main blog
Amber Alert Ticker
Homeschool blogEliminated:
Guestbook - too much spam
Album - security risks (moved to a private Picasa account - contact for link)]]> Site Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=286 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:35:25 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=274 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=274 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:34:53 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=283 An 8-year-old boy was shot in the head and critically wounded while playing on a swing in his grandparents' backyard on the South Side on Monday.
The boy's 4-year-old brother was in the yard but was not hurt.
An 18-year-old man who lives nearby was arrested and charged in the shooting, which occurred at a home in the 800 block of East Drexel Road near South Park Avenue.

All I can say is WTF? The article says that the 18 yo who shot this child MEANT to shoot him.What motive would anyone have to shoot a child especially with a 4 year old next to him. I cannot wait to find out what the motive behind this was. My heart goes out to the family in their time of need.

This event also happened across the street from the school Trysten is set to attend in August.

Read Full Article]]> In The News http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=283 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:11:16 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=276
Anyhow, I think I'm gunna get a snack and take some meds in hopes that I can sleep. We'll see if I'm still up in a few hours. I hope not. I really need to get some sleep as I haven't gotten much since I started back to to work.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=276 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:03:23 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=273 Plot (from IMDB)
John Hancock (Will Smith) is an unhappy and reluctant superhero who is living in his own world. For some unknown reason, Hancock is depressed and has started drinking very heavily. He has saved many lives in Los Angles over the years, but in doing so, he has no regards for damaging buildings, trains, roads, cars, or anything that gets in his way to get the job done. The last time he captured several criminals, it cost the city $9 million to fix the damages. The public has had enough of Hancock, and they want him to stop or go to another city. Then one day, Hancock saves the life of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) from being run over by a train. Ray is a Public Relations executive who now can go home to his wife and child, because Hancock was there. Ray owes Hancock his life, and he makes it his mission to change his superhero's image and have the public cheering him. Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), believes Hancock can not be fixed, and she doesn't want Ray to be hurt. Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
This movie was fantastic. It's a great spin on your average super hero flick. Although from what I hear, avid super hero fans didn't like the movie. Maybe it's the anti-super hero fan in me that like the movie so much. It was wonderful to see a pissed off, drunk, uncaring super hero who just wants to be appreciated and has given up on our world actually caring about him. We love super heros when they're good but we really hate them when they're drunk! I really want to see this again and will be getting the DVD when it comes out.

Oh, and it might have helped a little that it had Will Smith in it. He sure can pick a good script and make the movie work. It was rumored that this might be his first July 4th movie to bomb since MIB II but that proved to be wrong. I can't wait to see what he has in store for his next big hit.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=273 Tue, 8 Jul 2008 10:14:04 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=270
Read full article here]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=270 Tue, 8 Jul 2008 09:40:48 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=269 Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=269 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:18:13 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=267 +. It has been hitting over 100 degrees almost everyday around here and most of the time that's before noon. I hate the heat. I know you're thinking 'Why is she complaining about the heat? She has lived in Arizona all her life." Well, it's true I've always lived in this same city but it just seems like the heat is getting out of control or I have officially become old. LOL Trysten hates the heat more than I do and opts to stay home if at all possible. Devlyn tolerates the heat because he likes to be outdoors. The dogs hate the heat and will cry at the back door if they are out for more than 2 minutes. The cats avoid any spot that gets sunlight.

Some quick updates:Trysten is almost done with his summer camp. His last day is the 10th. We are in the process of getting him an AAC device which is what his summer camp is all about. His preschool added the device to his IEP and provide him one at school. It's great that he gets to use the device at school but has made home time more frustrating. He has semi-clammed up at home and reverted to using signs instead of talking. We hope that if we can get one tailored for him that we can replace the generic one the school provided. The devices are not cheap so we are researching various options for funding the purchase.

Devlyn is gaining more and more knowledge everyday. He is so smart but holds out on showcasing his intelligence. I have been working on his counting with him but he would always miss #4 and go straight to 5 from 3. However when he didn't realize I was listening, he counted right up to 10 without the skip of a beat. Maybe it helped that he was counting food and not his fingers or objects. LOL Devlyn has been getting more video game time now that he can actually control the character with better precision. Before, he get frustrated that he couldn't move right and give the controller to someone else to play for him.

As for myself, I am going back to work tomorrow. I posted an update about my back under surgery updates if you want to read more about that. I am not sure what to expect when I go back to work. I know morale will be low due to the layoffs coming but I plan to stay upbeat about it all. I have my plan and nothing will take that away. I am excited about going back to doing what I'd rather be doing than sitting answering phones all day from people who are stressed out.

Tim is doing much better with the whole ordeal as well. He's been planning out every little detail so that I don't have to go to work somewhere else. He enjoys having the flexibility of having me at home to help out and we both agree that it'll be much easier to home school if we are both at home.

My mom is somewhat of a nervous wreck lately. She's worried about Rob, Frankie and Erica and how their whole ordeal will turn out. Once it's all over, she'll be able to breathe a little easier.

Rob has been pulling a lot of crap lately. He informed us a few weeks ago that he was planning on moving to Fredericktown, MO on 7/5 with some new flame he met. He told us a few days later that he planned to marry her. He said just yesterday that the new flame has stopped using any birth control so they can have a child together. She supposedly has two already, one whom is that same age as Frankie. Rob is still going ahead with signing his rights over so he will not be legally or financially responsible for Frankie. Like father, like son. Every time Rob does anything regarding Frankie, it take mom back to her divorce and custody cases and all the stuff our father tried pulling in court. Today was the best example of them being alike. Last night, Rob called Erica yelling that Frankie had cigarette burns on his hand and saying that Erica was abusing Frankie. Apparently, he threatened to take Frankie and that Erica would never see him again. This morning, Rob turned off his cell phone, the only means of contacting him, and gave all of us a scare. Rob had Frankie and was supposed to meet Erica to get some legal documents notarized and give Frankie back to her. Rob's phone was acting like it was either off or out of range. Erica called mom worried sick that he had actually ran with Frankie. Mom called us and we tried to get a hold of Rob. After about an hour or so of not hearing from Rob, Erica was almost to the point of reporting Frankie as kidnapped when Rob called. He told Erica that this was her lesson that he could run at any time with Frankie. The only good thing that came out of this was that the legal documents got notarized so hopefully Erica can put everything behind her soon.

Well that's about it for now. I'm gunna get some work done before I go back to work at the call center for the next month.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=267 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:15:23 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=265 'LA PORTE - Another toddler in diapers running loose has police in La Porte hard pressed to explain why so many reports have happened.

"Really, I have no idea why this stuff is going on," said La Porte Police Detective Paul Brettin.

The latest case was 8:30 p.m. Friday when a woman looked outside her residence and noticed an 18-month-old boy. The child wearing shorts over a diaper was walking out in the street in the 1400 block of Scott Street."OPINION
What has happened to some parents nowadays? As most of you know, I have been recovering from a surgery since January. During my initial recovery, I nor my family would have thought about leaving me to care for our boys alone. I hope this mother is charged for neglect as she didn't even wake up when the police officer was yelling at her. But the bigger question in my mind is the father's whereabouts. What was more important than caring for his child? Since the mother was unaware of the father's whereabouts leads me to believe he was not working or doing anything that should interfere with his ability to care for his child. He should be questioned and, if he has no legitimate reason, charged for neglect.

Read Full Story Here]]> In The News http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=265 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:32:07 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=263 "U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered seven bodies of suspected illegal immigrants in Arizona's desert from Friday through Sunday as the scorching summer heat raged on.
Nearly 60 others who were suffering from dehydration or lost were rescued.
Including Monday, temperatures in Southern Arizona have exceeded 105 degrees for nine straight days and exceeded 100 degrees for 10 consecutive days, said Bill Turnerof the National Weather Service. Saturday's high was 111 degrees and Friday's 109 degrees."OPINION
I have lived in southern AZ my entire life. Every summer our temperatures swell into the 100s. Every summer illegal immigrants attempt to cross the border and die. Why? I have never understood crossing the border in the summer. If you're going to illegally cross the border, prepare yourself for the season you choose to cross. Summer heat requires more baggage so just don't do it unless you can provide for yourself.

Here's some dos and don'ts of illegally crossing the border during 100+ degree weather.
DO
~ Bring gallons of water - this should be the bulk of your bag's weight,
~ Bring appropriate food - this should be the second bulkiest part of your bag,
~ Wear appropriate attire - this includes a hat and clothing to protect you from the sun,
~ Dress in layers - this way you control sun exposure
~ Carry identification of some sort - even if it's hand written,
~ Plan your route and stick to it, and
~ Pack everything in a bag that is comfortable for you to carry.

DON'T
~ Bring one water bottle and expect to find water in the desert,
~ Bring foods that will slow you down,
~ Travel between 11am and 4pm - it's TOO hot,
~ Cross while pregnant - it's not a smart idea, and
~ Expect my tax dollars to provide you medical care if you were ill prepared for an illegal crossing adventure.

Read Full Story Here]]> In The News http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=263 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:08:25 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=260 Plot (from IMDB)
A lonely boy discovers a mysterious egg that hatches a sea creature of Scottish legend.Sites
IMDB

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
A perfect family movie. Inspiring, adventurous, thrilling, and everything else you could want out of a movie. A twist to your common Loch Ness Monster story that will give you invaluable insight into the legend of the deep. Almost makes you want to be in the little boys shoes and go swimming with the 'monster'. Everyone in our family loved this movie. Even the boys sat through most of it which is rare these days.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=260 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:12:24 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=259 ABOUT ME
Q: How am I doing?
A: I am doing ok. My incision took an insane amount of time to heal but it is healed now. My right side is weaker than my left side due to the fluid on my spine after surgery. My physical therapist is working on an ‘at home’ exercise plan to continue strengthening my right side. I have also been given all the dos and don’ts of life after a spinal fusion and have had a handful of ouch moments when I forget a rule. The most recent ouch moment was sitting in a metal chair a week ago. I sat down and leaned back into the chair too fast and felt a ‘thud’ and then lots of pain. I won’t do that again. I choose carefully what chairs I use.

Q: How am I feeling?
A: Tired. It takes a while to get used to sleeping with a fused spine. I have had many nights where I just can’t get comfortable. It is getting better as time goes by but is still a big problem for me.

Q: Did I get taller?
A: No. I am still the same height as I was prior to surgery. LOL

ABOUT FAMILY
Q: How are the boys handling everything?
A: They are doing very well. I have to remind them about my limitations but they are getting better at remember what I can and cannot do. They are excited to have me at home with them as we’ve been doing a lot of educational activities. During my time off, we have successfully potty trained Devlyn and are almost done with Trysten. No more diapers!

Q: How is Tim (hubby) handling everything?
A: He’s adjusting to helping out more with everything I cannot do. I have taken over a lot of smaller tasks so he can do the bigger tasks.

Q: How are we doing financially with me being out of work?
A: I won’t lie, it’s been really tight but we’re managing. We eat out less, use less gas, Trysten takes the bus to and from school, and we run errands on days I have appointments.

ABOUT WORK
Q: In light of the layoffs at work, will I return to work at all?
A: Yes or I am not eligible for the severance package.

Q: Am I taking the severance package?
A: At this time, I am undecided. I am researching all my options.]]> Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=259 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:20:18 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=257 "George Carlin, the Grammy-Award winning standup comedian and actor who was hailed for his irreverent social commentary, poignant observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language, and groundbreaking routines like “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” died in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sunday, according to his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He was 71."Hubby and I were planning to see him the next time he came to town but, sadly, we will not get that opportunity now.

Read More]]> Memorials http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=257 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:52:23 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=254
Trysten ~ He's been doing well on the new herbs his doctor recommended. Medicine time is a rough time because Trysten hates one of medicines. We are hoping to switch that medicine to another flavor to make it easier to take. It says it's raspberry flavored but it doesn't taste like raspberries. And it stinks horribly. The new flavor will be tropical fruit and if that doesn't work, we might try a pill form. The combo of meds he is on are helping tremendously and he's a different child now. It is nice to not have to be on top of him constantly because he is being bad. It is so nice to be able to use more positive reinforcements than we have done before. For being so good, he got a new PS2 game; Ratchet & Clank. The game is similar to his favorite game; Jak & Daxter series. He seems to be doing well in his summer camp to learn to use the AAC device that the school provided to him.

Devlyn ~ He's having more and more accident free days and is so proud of being potty trained. During his entire trip to San Diego, he had no accidents even when he was far from a potty. During the Shamu show at Sea World, he told Grandma he had to go and she told him he had a pull up on and she'd try to get him to a potty but she'd understand if he had an accident. He held it until she got him to a potty. He was so proud of himself. Today, we took him out in a pull up and he still had no accidents. I think it's time to completely rid day time of pull ups, whether we stay in or go out. He hasn't done very well at night with potty training and I'm not sure how to 'train' for night time.Angi ~ I have another week of physical therapy at the hospital and then I will continue with a home workout plan. My next appointment with the neurosurgeon will be July 1st and a possible return to work on July 3rd. I'll work until the layoffs are completed and then I'll start hard on promoting my company.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=254 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:52:34 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=253
I hope he can overcome these obstacles and make it better for himself but he's not starting out on the right foot. He already plans to lie to them about his driver's license. In a 'big' city, that would be ignored but in a little town, he can gain some serious enemies and fast. Wait until he starts hitting on the teens there and see how that sits with the townsfolk.

Oh, and on that ticket he got for inappropriate acts in the park. The judge is offering him two weekends in jail so he can keep his job. He hasn't even told the courts that he's moving. That's gunna cause a warrant for his arrest to be issued because he won't show up to his next court date.

Oh, and on Frankie. He's giving up his rights but won't be there for the court case because he has his new life.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=253 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:40:55 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=248
Devlyn hasn't had accident since Saturday evening and has been in underwear from the moment he wakes up until he gets ready for bed. He has about a 50/50 chance at having a bedtime accident so he still wears a pull up to bed.

Dad took both of them to Taco Bell after picking them up at Grandma's last night and they both wore underwear and had no accidents in the van. They both made a beeline for the potty when they got home though.

We are so proud of their accomplishments.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=248 Thu, 29 May 2008 13:12:47 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=246 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=246 Wed, 28 May 2008 09:23:51 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=244
Then it was Devlyn's turn for an unexpected surprise. Since there is a major outbreak in our area for the measles, they gave Devlyn is booster today instead of waiting until his birthday when they normally would give it. He took the shot very well with only a minor jerk when they stabbed his leg. He was busy looking at the bandaid which had animals on it when she put the needle in so he wasn't prepared. He fell asleep on the way home but is up and running now.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=244 Tue, 27 May 2008 19:00:31 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=242 Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=242 Tue, 27 May 2008 12:03:28 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=239
I am excited about going back to work and chatting up a storm with all my co-workers but am worried about getting back into the swing of being on the phones again. I know a lot has probably changed and I'll have to learn through trial and error. Some of the guys/gals are working from home so I hope they'll be in the office the day I come back. I've talked to a lot of them through email or MySpace while I've been out so I am fairly up to date on most work stuff.

That's about it for now so I'm going to do a few things around the house.]]> Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=239 Thu, 22 May 2008 16:50:04 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=237 Heather, Robert, TeJay, Wallo, Mark, Dana, all the drama crew, Sabrina, Shawna, and a lot more. I know where a few of you are (thanks to MySpace and Classmates) but some are a mystery. Well, I think I'll stop daydreaming about high school and get back to real life. I have a few things to get done before I go back to work.]]> General http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=237 Thu, 22 May 2008 16:44:20 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=236 Extended Family http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=236 Wed, 21 May 2008 15:31:36 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=235
Devlyn is almost done with his training. He pretty much is completed with the pee part and has only a few random accidents now. He is getting much better with poop but still has to be reminded daily. He's doing much better with night training now that we are better at not letting them have drinks later in the evening. He got a lot of new underwear and was so excited when I showed him. He told me he's a big boy and doesn't need baby diapers anymore. Although we still use pull ups on occasion. Devlyn is getting excited about going to San Diego with Grandma in a few weeks. Grandma bought him a new backpack to take on the plan that has wheels so he can tug it behind him while they walk through the terminal. He kept packing it full of toys so we got him some new special toys. We packed those new toys and put the backpack up in the closet so he'll forget about it. He's going to have so much fun in San Diego and I hope he gets over the missing mom and dad part fast.I have a doctor's appointment today to see about returning to work. My back appears to be healed but we have to get the 'official' word from the doctor. I'm not sure if I'll go into physical therapy or just back to work so we'll find that out today, too. If I do go back to work, we'll find out what restrictions I will have and start the process to get me back to work. If I do PT, I'll have to find a doctor and set up appointments. Either way, I'll need to call my lawyer and update my case. Once I am back to work, they can start the legal proceedings. I don't know what to expect for the legal portion and get nervous thinking about it. I'd hate to have to go to court just because it's a pain with taking time of work, getting care for the kids, sitting in a icky courtroom, and all that jazz.

Dh is doing well. He's busy with his new startup company and if all goes well, I can stay home with the kids again. I'll be a work at home mom and be working with the new start up and on my own company which I have been letting slide due to not being available to work on sites. Dh is taking me out for dinner tonight for my birthday. Not sure where I want to go but I want it to be something different than we normally do.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=235 Wed, 21 May 2008 15:30:57 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=230
I thought I'd take some time to save a few details about our families birthdays...All data was gathered from Wikipedia.Angi - May 20
Birthstone(s): emerald, agate
Day of the Week: Sunday (Ruby)
Flower: Sunflower, Lily of the Valley
Sign: Taurus

Tim - Dec 28
Birthstone(s): zircon, ruby, turquoise
Day of the Week: Sunday (Ruby)
Flower: Holly, Narcissus
Sign: Capricorn

Trysten - May 27
Birthstone(s): emerald, agate
Day of the Week: Tuesday (Garnet)
Flower: Sunflower, Lily of the Valley
Sign: Gemini

Devlyn - Aug 3
Birthstone(s): sardonyx, carnelian, peridot
Day of the Week: Tuesday (Garnet)
Flower: Lily, Gladiolus
Sign: Leo

Deb (Grandma) - Nov 3
Birthstone(s): citrine, topaz
Day of the Week: Saturday (Sapphire)
Flower: Chrysanthemum
Sign: Scorpio]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=230 Tue, 20 May 2008 11:15:54 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=228
The next (and last) thing we talked about was potty training. We have a hard time getting Trysten to poop in the potty when he is clothed (diaper, pull up or underwear). The doctor said to buy Trysten a 'special' PS2 or computer game which he only gets when he poops in the potty. We've never had a 'special' item that he ONLY gets when he poops. It's always been other forms of positive rewards, like stickers, play time, computer, game time, marbles, etc and those have failed us. I feel like having a special item won't work but am willing to try anything to get this potty training completed.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=228 Thu, 15 May 2008 18:57:18 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=227
The gifts, excluding Erica's, were given last weekend so there will be no gifts to my knowledge. I'm thrilled with my gifts, the tomato plant and lemon tree. Now, if they would only produce some fruit. LOL

That's about it for now. I am gunna work on some site ideas cause I have some free time and I love to create things.]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=227 Sun, 11 May 2008 15:27:57 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=225
He was climbing on the kitchen table to get a toy and when he attempted to get down, he slipped on a puddle (Elmo - grandma's dog - had an accident) and slammed his nose into the kitchen table. He immediately became sleepy and his nose wouldn't stop bleeding. Hubby told her to bring him to the ER to get checked out since he wouldn't stay awake and was still bleeding. Grandma dropped Devlyn with Grandma Cindy and Papa so he could go to bed at home and rushed Trysten to met up with us. I got released from ER while Trysten was waiting to get a bed in the ER. They gave me two scripts, one for ab pains and one for nausea. I went out and waited with Daddy, Trysten and Grandma in the lobby. Trysten was very active when I got out but his nose looked horrible and he kept sniffing. While waiting to go back, Grandma kept him awake by playing games with him. He sang a song counting in spanish, asked him to point out words he recognized in magazine, asked him what each word started with and then what other words started with that letter. He found the word 'the' and was all excited because it started with T and so does his name. Then he pointed out the tree and trash can in the lobby started with T also. One lady waiting asked Grandma if she made everything educational when she played and she told the lady 'Of course. He's at the age where education if fun and if we don't keep making it fun, he'll lose interest in learning.' The lady played along with Trysten and he had her laughing so much. It was amazing to see a stranger interact and semi-understand a few things he was saying. Trysten got called back talked up a storm with the nurse, who took a liking to him. She walked him around the ER to get his heart rate instead of using the machine. She showed him the paperwork she had to fill out. She encouraged him to take his temp using the mouth thermometer instead of the 'baby' one. He wanted to stay with her all night. She had him count and name numbers on the paperwork. He had a blast despite having a bloody, swollen, black and blue nose. He did very well when the doctor examined his nose. He explained exactly what happened and told the doc where it hurt most. He answered every question the doctor asked. We had to translate some of what he was saying but the nurse and doc understood a decent amount without us. I guess since the talk to people in a traumatic state, it makes it easier for them to understand hard to understand speech. The doc said it might or might not be broken but there was nothing they could do at the moment, as it did not need emergency surgery. Due to the swelling, he was unable to tell if it was broken and recommended that we follow up with a ear, nose, and throat specialist to determine if he broke it and if it would need anything done to fix it. We left the ER around 2am and Trysten had to be woke up every 4 hours all night long just to make sure he would wake up and respond. If he didn't wake up or was inconsolable, we had to take him back to the ER. However, he did very well every time we woke him up but since he was so sleepy from his ER trip, we opted to not take him on his field trip on Friday. He was a little disappointed but he understood that he was too tired to go see the dinosaurs.

Friday, Trysten did very well. He won't let anyone touch his nose but I made him lay down long enough to clean up the dried blood with a baby wipe. I figured the baby wipe would be softer and easier on his nose. Once I got it cleaned up, it looked a little better. He was his normal active self just with a swollen black and blue nose. He kept his ER band on his wrist all day. I was still having abdominal pains but they were tolerable with the meds. I was supposed to take every 4-6 hours but I only took 1 in the morning and 1 before bed. I only took 1 of the anti-nausea one when my tummy starting getting that icky feeling. The boys both went to Grandma's house in the afternoon like normal and I got some more sleep. I even kept a little food down. I'm on a bland diet so I got some plain french fries (no salt) in the afternoon and a bagel in the evening. Trysten and Devlyn had a minor argument when leaving Grandma's house Friday night. Devlyn now says he's not Trysten's friend anymore because Trysten wanted to stay the night at Grandma's with Frankie.

Today, I am feeling much better and the pains are very minor. My sinus' are clearing up, too. On top of all the pain I was having, I also had a horrible sinus cold. I went through two whole boxes of tissue in three days and had to open up my third box this morning. Devlyn's been my shadow all day today. He hasn't left the room even though Daddy said he'd put on Noggin in the living room so he could play and watch preschool. Devlyn said 'No. Mommy need me. She sick.' He did leave me for a few moments while he helped Daddy with the lemon tree and tomato plant. They water them every day and they are doing well so far. We did have a minor incident with the tomato plant. We went to bed one night (Tues, I think) and when we woke up, the planter had been tipped over and something had tried to dig up the tomato plant. Hubby replanted it and tied the planter down so whatever little creature got to it couldn't tip it over again. I haven't called to check on Trysten but I'm sure he's doing fine since it was ok yesterday. I've been sleeping a lot to get better and I think it's working. Well that's it for the updates so I am going to find something to eat. Still on a bland diet so it'll be a boring meal but at least I can start eating normal tonight if i can keep this meal down. I think I might get some fries, chips or toast. Whatever is out there, will be fine.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=225 Sat, 10 May 2008 18:18:01 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=221
Devlyn's blood was coming primarily from his tooth (the same one Frankie tried to knock out at Xmas) and Devlyn keeps touching it and asking me if he's going to lose it. He cries when he asks if he's gunna lose it like his world fall apart if he lost a tooth. I gave him some motrin and now he seems a lot better. He's awaiting his brownies. Before the whole incident, the boys and I made brownies and they were in the oven when the incident occurred.

Trysten lost 4 marbles (the most ever taken for one incident so far) and got a spanking and timeout. He also was told no brownie if he even makes one bad move before they are done.

Well, I am off to get the brownies out so they can cool before bedtime. We might sneak a taste before we go to bed. They're really for tomorrow after lunch but I thought I'd give them a lot of time to cool since the kids hate waiting and want to burn their tongues to eat them.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=221 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:37:48 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=217
Well that's about it on both of them. I wish them the best in life.]]> Extended Family http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=217 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:44:30 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=214 After the rides the boys wanted a treat so, we stopped and got Devlyn a scoop of ice cream and got Trysten a banana shake. Of course, they shared with each other because they wanted what each other had. We then walked around looking at everything. The boys said they were hungry so we got them pizza on a stick. Devlyn ate about 1/4 to half of his and Trysten ate his entire pizza. We sat near the bears while the boys snacked. We then hit the petty zoo and the boys fed all the animals. After feeding the animals, we washed our hands and headed to the halls to see some of the exhibits. We went by the elephants and the boys wanted to ride. Grandma, Trysten and Devlyn took a ride on the elephant. I wish I could have done some of the rides with them but everything said 'no back injury' and 'no recent surgeries' so I was out of luck. After that we headed to the hall that had the motorcycle exhibit and the boys each got a pencil and t-shirt that said "Look out for motorcycles." We were gunna head out but Trysten spotted the jumping castle so we went over to see how much it cost. The lady said it was free and so was the play area they had setup around the jumping castle. So, they were up and in the castle faster than their shoes could come off their feet. They had so much fun. Then they got the surprise of the night, a surprise to all of us. Dani appeared out of no where and gave us hugs. Apparently, she was working at the fair after school and on weekends. I'll post an update on her shortly. The boys were so excited to see her that they came out of the jumping castle and they gave her big hugs. She showed them how to rope cattle (they had a hay bull and horse) and cactus. Then they jumped some more in the castle and Dani got in with them. They were the only kids for a while so she was horsing around with them like she used to do when she came over to Grandma's house. Dani got some ice cream from the shop next door and shared with the boys. Then we told them it was getting late and we needed to head home but they wanted to stay with Dani. We eventually got them out but they wanted another snack so we stopped at the ice cream place and got two scoops of ice cream in bowls and lemonade.

We headed out to the parking lot and got them and their stuff loaded into Mom's car. They had ice cream and lemonade in hand but both feel asleep before we got onto the freeway so I ate Devlyn's ice cream and saved Trysten's for Daddy. Trysten stayed asleep but got up at 6am this morning. Devlyn woke up shortly after getting home and went to bed at his normal time.

I was in charge of taking photos so I the pictures are a not up to Dad quality. I will be sending out a link to the photos and a couple videos I took as well once I get them all sorted and uploaded.]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=214 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:13:48 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=211 Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=211 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:31:39 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=208 Extended Family http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=208 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:26:08 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=196 Plot (from IMDB)
"21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.Sites
http://imdb.com/title/tt0478087/

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
Kevin Spacey gave a great performance in this movie. It was very engaging and thrilling watching these college kids make loads of money and keeping one step ahead of the "eyes in the sky". Fantastic movie which I will be getting on DVD when it comes out (or shortly thereafter LOL)

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=196 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:19 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=198 Father Info
John Joseph Boutwell currently residing in Allentown, PA with a wife and daughter (the only one he appears to support)

My half sister is between 16 and 20 in my best guesstimate. Her name is Samantha Boutwell. I think her mom passed away a few years ago in a possible drug related incident. I think she now lives with her maternal grandmother or possibly out on her own. I talked to her over the phone when she lived in Tucson, AZ when she was around 8-10 years old. I believe she was born in Texas, possibly the Corpus Christi area. Her mother's name escapes me at the moment. I've contacted 2 possible matches on MySpace so crossing fingers on that.

I have been told that I have other half siblings but I have no information on them at all. I believe one (a boy) was born years before I was born when my father was 17-20 but I'm not sure how accurate that is. When I was a tween, my father told me he's aware of 2-3 other sisters but he's not sure they are his children. I don't know how many siblings I might have out there but I'd like to hear from any of them out there.]]> Extended Family http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=198 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:27:18 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=195 Plot (from IMDB)
While Ben is presenting new information about John Wilkes Booth and the 18 pages missing from Booth's diary, one man stands up and presents a missing page of John Wilkes Booth's diary. Thomas Gates, Ben's great-grandfather, is mentioned in the page. It shows that Ben's great-grandfather could have been involved with Abraham Lincoln's murder. When doing more research, the conspiracy takes Ben, Abigail, and Riley to Buckingham Palace (which they break into). It takes them to a book in the White House (which they break into also) and they even steal a page from the book. But in order to see more from the book, their choice is either get elected president or kidnap the President of the United States. Which do they choose? It's obvious. The conspiracy then crosses to Mount Rushmore and they even mention the JFK conspiracy. Can Ben clear his family's name? Or will his family be linked to the murder of Abraham Lincoln?Sites
http://imdb.com/title/tt0465234/

Opinion - Everything below this is completely my opinion
Normally sequels are not as good as the original but this one was far from that way. The second one had a few moments of lag but the majority of the movie was high paced fun race across the world on a treasure hunt. They used real locations and real conspiracies to draw you into the movie which were fantastically played out to of course search for a treasure as important as the first find all while trying to clear the family name from being tied to the Lincoln assassination.

Rating (1-5): RatingRatingRatingRating
Recommend to a friend: Yes]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=195 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:32:22 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=193 http://www.stjude.org/trike

Some of you might also be able to help Trysten raise even more just by contacting your company's HR department and ask if they offer a matching program. If they do, they will provide a form which you will turn in with your donation. You can read more about matching gifts at http://www.matchinggifts.com/stjude

If you would like to help, please make check payments payable to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and mail it to our home address, if you have it, or contact us to receive a PO Box mailing address. If you would like to pay in cash, please contact us to arrange a time to drop cash off. We will combine your cash with our donation in one check. If you have a credit, debit, paypal or other method you'd prefer to use, please contact us and we will arrange for other methods, if available. All payments must be turned into his school within 10 days.

And remember, all donations are tax deductible! Click more to see breakdowns.Trysten completed 14 laps so any per lap donations need to be multiplied by 14.

No donations recorded at this time.]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=193 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:25:15 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=191 Earning Marbles
Potty, pee : 1 marble
Potty, poop : 2 marbles
Behaving during school time : up to 4 marbles
Helping Daddy scoop doggie poop : 5 marbles ( Can you tell Daddy hate scooping poop? LOL)
Cleaning up their area after a meal : 1 marble if they put in sink, 2 marbles if they discard food in trash and put dishes in sink
Taking their 'good' medicine : 1 marble
Taking their 'bad' medicine : 1 marble
Brushing their teeth (includes mouthwash) : 1 marble
Going to bed without incident : 1 marble
Staying in their bed all night : 1 marble
Getting up and trying to potty first thing when they wake up : 1 marble whether they go or not


Spending (or Losing) Marbles
TV : 1 marble per 30 min (rounded to closest 30 min interval) - ONLY applies to non-educational shows/movies
Lego : 1 marble per 10 min not including cleanup time
PS2 : 1 marble per 15 min of game time - ONLY applies to non-educational games
Computer : 1 marble per 15 min of game time- ONLY applies to non-educational games
Sweets : 1 marble per 'group' - group can be handful, bag, but determined by Mom or Dad NOT them.
Drinks : 1 marble per drinks that are not healthy - they can have all the water (plain or flavored) and milk (plain or flavored) they want
Potty, pee : 1 marble - Exempt if an accident
Potty, poop : 2 marbles - Exempt if an accident
Misbehaving : Up to 8 marbles depending on the incident and conditions - Second and third offenses are double/tripled of original number so they typically lose 1 or 2 marbles per incident, which doubled would be 2 or 4, tripled would be 4 or 8. We have yet to have an 8 loss, yet.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=191 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:29:26 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=189 here.

They get one marble everytime they pee in the potty and two when they poop in the potty. They also lose one or two if they have not true accidents, i.e. playing and just forgetting to go. If they start in the underwear and finish in the potty, we consider that an accident and they still earn their marble(s). They get so excited to get their marbles and love using them for lego and TV time.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=189 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:04:27 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=187
She knows we will be there to do whatever we need to do to help her through her recovery. Her surgery will be common surgery so unless something complicates the surgery/recovery she will be fine. The boys don't understand but will once it gets closer. They will love to help Grandma get better since they help so much with me, I know they'll do well with her.

Well that's about it and the boys are asleep so I am off to bed.]]> Family Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=187 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 02:19:40 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=185
Next step will take the two in the morning and make it one in the morn and one in the afternoon but only if needed. After that, it'll be one in morn, one in afternoon (if needed) and one before bed. I wanna be totally off the meds by the time I go back to work or at least using as little as possible. I hated living on Vicodin just to make it through the day at work.

Well, the boys are almost asleep so I'd better get off here and get my own butt to bed since I am getting tired. The new way they are packing my wound makes me so sleeping but I don't know why. Maybe its the added stress on the open wound that makes me hurt a little more which makes me wanna sleep off the pain instead of taking medicine for it. My solution for not feeling good is always lots of liquids and much more sleep. I hate medicine though as most of you already know. I'd rather sleep off the illness than take meds.]]> Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=185 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 02:02:11 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=180
Tim got a call later that evening saying that they have another idea/option and for me to call in the morning (today) to find out more about the other option or medication. I am on hold with them now while they review my chart. They have a new method to try and it will be a daily dressing change at home and 1-2 times a week to see them for evaluations and dressing changes. I hope the change isn't to the way the nurse packed it on Sunday. I was in pain driving home and for quite some time once I got home. But, if it works faster I am willing to deal with the pain. It'll just suck. I don't know why but my legs were very sore and swollen after I left and my stomach was all inside out, too. I am scheduled for Tues and Fri and 6pm. Guess I'll find out tomorrow how rough this is gunna be. I just want the wound to heal so if I have to be in pain for a few weeks to make it heal, I'll deal with it.]]> Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=180 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:16:00 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=182 ~ Watch almost anything with little to no fee
~ Has loads of kid worthy programing that our kids miss due to their unusual schedule
~ Has Noggin (It's like preschool on TV!) that I can use for homeschooling
~ Has TMNT (cartoons and movie) for Trysten
~ Has Sonic X which the boys always miss because it comes on before they awake
~ Has categories for easy selection
~ Has A-Z listing
~ Has search feature

Cons:
~ Tends to load slow during busy time of day (like around dinner time) - increase server speed during this time would help
~ When the show you select ends, you are put back to the top menu - would be nice to be put back where you selected the show or have an option to go back to selection area or top menu since there is a pop up which says you're show is over hit ok to be returned to menu.
~ Search feature is rough to use and slow at searching - need to implement better faster search terms
~ All programs have an end time - would be nice to have an option to save to the DVR
~ No favorites - would be nice to select certain shows/channels as your favorites so you wouldn't have to search so much to find the same thing all the time

So, overall I think the concept is great but needs a little work on the back end so it's more consumer friendly and a whole lot faster. I'm not sure how many beta testers they selected but if we are bogging it down, wait til they let everyone one it at once. Sounds like a system crash to me. Tim is sending in our opinions so hopefully when the rest of AZ is given access, some of the problems we've seen are solved.

Tim has used it to watch some movies. The boys have used it to watch their shows. I have been playing with the menu and options. Oh, another thing I forgot is that it is blocked just like any other program for TV ratings. We have ours set at PG13 so if anything is over PG13, we have to put in a code to watch it. You can adjust that setting or turn it off if you don't need it.]]> Reviews http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=182 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:56:01 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=176
We are taking up some doggie treats for Wags and roses for Dorothy. The boys will be up so close that they'll be able to give these treats easily this time. My mom picked up the doggie bones this morning at the dollar store.

We skipped my appointment to put on my vac system since I watched the video and decided there was no way I was taking that to Phx. I rescheduled it for tomorrow (Sunday) so I'll update on that once it happens.We left around 11am and headed up to Phx. We stopped at Walmart and bought the roses for the boys to give to Dorothy. We grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to the concert arena. We arrived fairly early (3pm) and the doors didn't open for an hour. Thankfully, the jobing.com arena is next to a outdoor mall so we took the boys over to that for a while. They watched the water display and Devlyn went potty. They both made wishes in the water fountain. About this time the doors to start lining up opened and we headed to the arena. Since we were second in line for our door, we headed right to the concessions. The boys each got a shirt and a Captain hat. Grandma had gotten them a Captain sword when she took Frankie and they brought those with us. We stopped at a food place and got drinks for everyone. Then it was down to the bottom of the arena.

We were center stage 15 rows back and the boys were so thrilled. They each got a special gift from The Wiggles (all front row seats got them) which was a book and stickers. They played with the stickers until the show started. Devlyn kept yelling at the stage to hurry and start. It was cute. Trysten danced and sang all the songs. Tim took lots of pics of the stage and the boys. Devlyn got really upset during the show for two reasons, a) his favorite Wiggle (Murray) did not collect roses and he normally does that job and b) he had an accident during the show but he was in a pullup so no major disaster. Dev was upset for quite some time and it wasn't until Captain Feathersword did his funny duck dance/song that he cheered up.

The show was very different from the other shows we've seen. It was in a large basketball size arena that was cut in half for the show. This made the sound quality not as good as the Dodge Theater it's been held in prior years. It seemed like more older songs were sung and less new songs but after thinking about it, it wasn't really true. The newer songs were nursery rhymes so they were shorter than the older songs. One family walked out of the arena during the Captain's duck song/dance. Before they sang the song, Anthony and Captain did a slapstick rountine where Anthony would do something and Captain would copy him. Anthony sang 'quack quack quack' and Captain sang ' cock a doodle do' to the dance steps. The family removed their child because it was 'sexual' but I'm not sure what they were seeing. I guess the falling down and casting out a fishing rod and pulling yourself up was 'sexual' because that's when they made the comment and left. I guess if you really put your mind into the gutter (and I mean really into the gutter), you could make it sexual but it's not meant to be since it's just like kids play fishing while sitting on their knees. The family never came back so it was their loss in seeing the rest of the show they paid good money for since they were in row 8 or so.

On the way home, we stopped at Famous Dave's and had an ok meal. It was closing time so service was slow and some of the food was almost day old quality. We headed home and the boys had some quality lego time. Yep, they've been playing with the tiny legos but only when they have been good and earned marbles. I'll explain more about the marble thing later.


Well that's about all for now. I am working at getting two hyper boys to bed and I am about due for my last dose of meds before I go to bed, too. I will post a link to photos once I upload them.]]> Events http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=176 Sat, 5 Apr 2008 23:45:00 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=179 Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=179 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:30:00 -0600 http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=169
Well, I am off to see the doc. Will update if anything changes.]]> Surgery Updates http://www.timandangi.com/news/index.php?itemid=169 Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:42:23 -0600