this is serious business

All week I have been in charge of preschool play-dough at VBS.







This boy (kid in the middle) is on a mission to make the longest play-dough snake. I think this one looks more like a small intestine.

why I haven't blogged in a while

I guess I just don't feel like it.

Random Eavesdroppings, TEEN EDITION

"
We shot water balloons off our dock at boats and then the police came.

YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE FRUIT. WHY WOULD YOU GET ME A DRINK WITH FRUIT? YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE!

I'm not doing basketball, are you crazy? Basketball is the worst sport in the world.

Shuh-up!

We left Morgan in the tree, and it was like really dark out.

Did you shave today? So did I. Venus.

We lost Grandpa at Disney World. It ruined the whole day.
"

Tom & Skippy

There's this cat that lives at the farm/park where I like to take Skippy for a walk. This has to be the friendliest cat I've ever met. His name is Tom, and he doesn't run away from anybody, not even my dog. If I was to let Skippy off his leash, he'd be jumping all over this cat. But Tom trusts me to hang onto the leash, and he lets Skippy get close and even smell him.

some photos and doodles

Today we went to an outdoor art festival. There was some really good stuff there, and then there's always this sort of weird stuff.

Actually, sometimes the people are even more interesting to look at.

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Even though this is not a great photo, I thought it was a pretty good one because it's hard to get George to smile naturally for pictures.

We were at the Outback last night. I don't usually eat read meat, but last night I did, and it was very tasty.

I sketched this guy. They have pretty sturdy chairs there at the Outback.

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One morning last week this frog was sitting on our porch railing. I'm not sure how he hopped up so high. Maybe a snake was after him.

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A sheep drinking coffee, of course.

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I had a little time at the mall.

doodle of the day

random eavesdroppings

"
Insulting them really doesn't help.

I'm 40 years old and I bought my first new coat.

He's psycho, or I'm psycho.

I get these little itchy bumps.

I was shaving my arms, and then I was like "Why am I shaving my arms? This is gross!"

People from western Pennsylvania put french fries and melted cheese on a bed of lettuce and call that a salad.

I sent her a nice little message. I said, "WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?!"

"

back by popular demand

Today I got my car washed and waxed at Delta Sonic. I was able to get gas for the low low discount price of $3.98 a gallon. I sketched these two ladies in the waiting area.

people

I decided I need to spend more time sketching people. I don't do it much. I think a great place to sketch people would be at the Starbucks in Target. The people in Target are becoming more and more like the people in Walmart. It would be fun to sit there in Starbucks and draw the people who are standing in line at Target. I know just the place.

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Some people really seem to believe that everyone else appreciates the smell of their stinky perfume. They cake it on before leaving their house and then spread their fumes throughout the atmosphere. There should be some kind of a public service announcement against this.

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Today I had my first frappuccino of the season.

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It's taken me a while to get things back in order since I got back from Japan. I think I'm finally back to normal now. Whatever you want to call "normal."

I've been fighting a persistent battle against the indian meal moth, which entered our house through a bag of birdseed.

I've been helping George out while he's been dealing with persistent headaches. Thankfully, they greatly subsided over this weekend. He had a spinal tap recently to have his fluid tested. His fluid is fine.

I've also been ripping weeds out of our landscaping. I realized after we bought this house that all the pretty landscaping in our front yard doesn't take care of itself. I had a major spasm in my back last week after all that raking and hoeing.

I spent a bunch of time putting videos of my trip to Japan on DVDs. I learned how to use iMovie and iDVD.

And last week I made this page of affiliate ads for my website. I am so psyched that I finished this. It was a daunting task that was hanging over my head for so long, but another friendly shopkeeper had a template that I used for the page. If any of you want to make some $$$ by linking to me, you can by becoming a Cafepress affiliate.

Hopefully I'll be blogging more.

Japan Sketches and Doodles

Some sketches and doodles from my two weeks in Japan.

I'm back in the USA.

Not too much has changed around here.

You learn something new every day.

These directions are even available in braille.

WHY?

For the past two weeks I have been spending a lot of time with a four-year-old who asks me "WHY?" about everything. Well, I have more than a few WHY questions of my own since I've been in Japan.

Why does Kaori's dad cover everything in this house with a doily?





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WHY would I want to wear special shoes while using the toilet?



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Why would anyone go out in public dressed like this?



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What's with the toe socks?



Tomorrow I am spending the day in Tokyo. I will probably have a lot more strange fashion pics after that trip.

foods

A couple more days, and I am on my way back to the U.S.A.

Here are some foods I have encountered on my journey.

A pastry with cantaloupe cream filling.

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Lavender flavor ice cream.

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Fried Octopus Balls.

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My lunch has eyes. Lots of little eyes.

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Green eggs & ham anyone? There are actually chickens here that lay eggs with green shells.

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The hotel called this the "American-style meal." One of the goodies on a stick there is an octopus leg.

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This is more what I'd call an "American Style" meal... HAMBURGER sushi!

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For over ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS you can buy this melon in a wooden box and give it to someone as a gift.

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I got a free sample of Coffee Jelly. I thought it was just a weird translation of "frappuccino," but no, this is a Starbucks made-for-Japan-only specialty. It's a frappuccino with brown jelly floating around inside. There is a reason it has not been exported our way... as an American taste-tester, I can say it was yucky.

Japan has it all.

PINK dandelions.



There are ACTUAL cartoon cars here.




Need help with exfoliation? These little fishies will be happy to nibble all the dead skin right off your feet.



Don't want anyone to hear you using the toilet? Press the music button and flushy sounds will drown out any unwanted noise.
(Notice the volume can be adjusted).



cute cakes.



cute drinks.



cute directions.



A cute FRYING PAN.



I think we should "the friend it" and exist for a long time.