Fun weekend for everyone!
                                                Well it's the weekend we've all been waiting for!  Yes Mark and mom are going on their romantic getaway and Katey will be staying a few days with me along with Joy and possibly Hailee.  For a couple weeks I heard talk of them of possibly canceling their trip because of how much they wanted to get done around the house but Joy and Katey wouldn't let them have it.  Mom even suggested we all go to Katey's for the weekend and leave the house to them and Onyx but no one was for that.  To tell you the truth I wouldn't have minded doing that so long as the fun weekend wasn't canceled LOL.
                                                   For the record mom and Mark will be going to Mountaineer to do some gambling and a couple other activities.  I was a little surprised when I received that news.  Mom doesn't care for gambling all that much but she does likes to help.  For the record I have gone there a couple times and did a few of the slot machines.  The last time I was pretty lucky when I went on the WHEEL OF FORTUNE slot machine.  
                                     I won like $300.  Pretty amazing huh LOL, that was like a year ago.  Well anyway mom said if it's nice they might go golfing.  So hopefully they'll have a good time just the two of them.  Mark said it will be nice to be nice to sleep soundly without someone jumping on them in the morning and yes he means Onyx.  Sometimes he will jump on their bed in the middle of the night and there was one time when mom told him it was time for bed and pushed him off the bed.  
                                  I have to say that is pretty amazing, he's a pretty big boy LOL.  You go girl.  Well anyway when they're away we'll also be enjoying ourselves.  When we Katey and I started planning this coming weekend she seemed to have it all in her mind.
                  Friday: movie 
                  Saturday: A little birthday party for Hailee since her birthday falls on April 1st  and no boys allowed at this party. 
                 Sunday: We were undecided because we didn't know what time Mom and Mark are expected home but maybe just a dinner or something, but who knows anything could change.  Like today Joy is coming over with Boggart and Bella to play and bringing lunch, so who knows we might not be going to a movie we might be just hanging around and socializing and just eating a nice dinner at the house.  But I will try and tell you what we are planing so stay tuned.    

                           A little spritz of glittery body spray
                                         Wow certain parts of my body are glittery tonight!  As you can tell from the title I had tried applying a new fragrance when I got out of the shower this evening.  Before I get dressed I usually apply body lotion or perfume.  LOL you guys proably already know the fragrances that I use the most.  Clinique Happy Heart and Esta Lauter Beautiful but there are others that I use also that come from bath and body works.  They are usually stocking stuffers that were put in my stocking for Christmas and sure enough that was what I decided to spritz on tonight.
                                        When I looked inside the bottle it did look a little shimmery and glittery but when I spritzed a little on my arm and rubbed it in I didn't expect my arm to get so glittery. The same with my chest and the bottom of my legs.  For the record the scent was forest citrus so I probably smell pretty good too LOL.  But anyway who is watching America's Next Top Model this season?  I know Katey was but I don't think she's watching it this season anymore which I don't blame her.  
                                      This season SUCKS!  Oops I can't believe I said that LOL but it is true.  Mom and I still watch it but we only watch it to make fun of the American and UK girls.  Well I better go it's about ready to start.          

                                          Receiving a special email
                                         A few days ago as I was going through my email contact list trying to clear out the contacts that I no longer stay with I came across my elementary school tutor, Mrs. Clark's email address.  It had been awhile since I had dropped her an email and I went ahead and starting composing a message.  In that message I explained all that was happening and what I was planning to do as far as the epilepsy awareness event and I also told of how things were going and then I also gave her the address to my blog and then I basically asked how things were going on her end.  For the record she did respond to my email.  
                                     She just like everyone else is just thrilled with the idea of the epilepsy awareness event and she's excited about the fact that I am writing a novel.  She said that she checked out the blog and she loves the background.  She says it's very Heather like.  I had to laugh at that comment.  LOL I remember when I she first introduced herself during first grade.  I was so short with this little hair cut.  We still joke around about it to this day.  
                                I also remember a couple things we would do before and after we got done with our work session.  One thing would be the music.  She couldn't begin her tutoring without turning on her classical music first.  I used to tease her and say.
                     "You and your music."  She would just laugh.  After we were done with our session she had a basket of marbles beside an empty jar.  Before we would leave we would put a marble in the jar and once the jar got filled we would have a celebration.  All the kids that she tutored from the same grade along with her partner's group would gather for a special activity such as making homemade donuts.  
                     I always looked forward to the summer whenever we would exchange letters back and forth in the mail.  Eventually those letters became emails.  Now of course I don't see her as a tutor but as a good friend who I respect.  Well anyway she said her family is doing well and that her youngest grand daughter Ellie is thriving and already starting to walk.  For the record Ellie just turned one and was born pre mature.  
                   I was so thrilled to hear that.  It looks like nothing is going to stop her and she's going to thrive. For the record we are interested in planning a get together but we are not sure when yet.  So I will keep you posted.                                             

                                Achieving the obstacles
                                       Well it's Monday and you you guys are probably wondering if achieved any of my obstacles.  Let me say that I have accomplished both of them somewhat.  I haven't gotten over my writer's block yet but I had received a comment from Jess saying that she would be more then happy to help create ideas for my novel.  For the record she is interested in starting a story of her own and needs my help and wants my help creating ideas.  She was working on a story in middle school that was similar to Harry Potter but on her comment she wants to break away from fantasy and try a new approach.
                             So she asked if I would be open to getting together with her and working on our stories.  She is on her spring break so I might ask if she's open to coming over one day when she's not busy.  Okay to the next obstacle which was my bedroom.  I am happy to say that I have accomplished that.  I worked on a little bit each day.  
                                LOL I kept on taking breaks and reading my book.  But anyway yesterday the clothes were off the floor, and I vacuumed, and wind dexed, and all there was left to do was dust off my TV and BLU ray player which I did this morning. LOL it was weird when I woke up and had seen that the floor was already was vacuumed and the clothes were already picked up off the floor.  So like I said my room is finally clean so I guess I'd achieved that obstacle and now I can celebrate!
                                                                                              

                               Taking on obstacles 
                                       Well this is the weekend I will be taking on some obstacles that I have been putting off.  Well actually one of them I have been working on somewhat during the evenings but I want to work harder on during the day and that is making some final decisions on my novel.  It seems like I can't remember anything that I had typed ever since my lousy laptop got that virus.  I have been trying to start over in creating this novel I might ask Jess for help since she used to write herself.  Well anyway another obstacle I will be taking on is my room.
                                      I have to admit I can let my room get a little messy but the beauty about having a small room is it is quick to straiten up but today I am going to do everything such as vacuum, dust, you name it.  I noticed that it had to get done a week ago  when I took a good look at the room but the nice temperatures prevented me from doing it but I just have to get it done so it will probably be the first thing I do.  Just in case you are wondering if we ended up going to Eddy's fish restaurant last night for dinner we did and sure enough I had finally ate a meal that I was satisfied with.  When mom had met us there she had brought Katey and sure enough we had a good time.
                                    She hadn't planned on it but we persuaded her to ride home with us and stay the night.  For the record she keeps clothes in the spare bed room since she is a frequent guest.  After we had came home Mark was craving popcorn so mom made some homemade and we ate that while we watched  the TV show What would you do.  Well anyway I better get going.  
                                                                                                            Lots of Love,
                                                                                                                Heather         

                                 Preparing a dish 
                                  Well you guessed it, I was part of the cooking crew yesterday at preparing dinner.  A few weeks ago Mark had brought home this tasty broccoli salad that we all enjoy from fishers to have as a side dish along with our sausage and brats.  Sure  is tasty but Mark said that it is very expensive.  A pound of the salad cost about $6 and he picked up 2 pounds and sure enough that was about 12 dollars.  For that reason and just to try something new I decided to look on the internet for similar broccoli salad recipes and sure enough I had found one.
                             Mom was for it and she said on her next day off I could go ahead and make it and sure enough I did.  We ended up having that along with pork loin, cream of Parmesan rice.  Sure enough it was pretty darn good.  I've got to admit I wasn't thrilled with the broccoli salad at first but everyone else LOVED it especially Mark.  Mom even told me that the more it sits the better it tastes and sure enough when I tasted the salad again this morning in the fridge I found that it DID taste better and I now love it and I would make it again.
                        Mark asked about the price and when mom looked at the receipt she said it was cheeper to make our own.  Mom says we might be bringing this salad to our  family gatherings so I think we will be having that again.  It is sure a pretty salad LOL.  Here's the recipe. 
                                             1 head broccoli
                                              6 to 8 slices of bacon cooked 
                                              1/2 cup red onion 
                                             8 ounces sharp cheddar cut into small chucks
                                             1/2 cup raisins or craisions (optional)  I personally prefer craisions but you don't need to put any of them in.
                                      1/2 cup half slices cherry tomato 
     For the dressing: 1 cup mayo
                                 1/4 cup sugar 
                                  2 tablespoon vinegar
Trim off leaves from the broccoli stem and remove the tough stalk at the end and wash head.    Add crumpled bacon, onion, cheese, and all the other ingredients in a bowel and enjoy.  It is better the next day but it is still delicious the day you make it.  Sprinkle some salt and fresh black pepper before you mix it all up.  
        If you guys do try this recipe let me know how it turns out and comment.  
                        Well I better go.  
                                                                                               Till next Time,
                                                                                                       Heather     
                                                
                                                     

                               Record breaking temps/thoughts on wrtting
                                        Well it's spring, but you wouldn't have guessed it by these record breaking temps we have been receiving it feels like it should be summer.  I heard that the temps should be in the high 40's mid 50's this time of year in Cleveland / Akron Ohio but that's not the case.  For the last couple of days I tried to get my walk in the morning before the heat comes.  Luckily we will have a few days of relief coming up.

                                      For the record I have really enjoyed these nice sunny days.  They have been really nice for walks and just sitting out and enjoying the evening.  Mom brought the seat cushions up from the basement and on St patrick's day evening Hailee, mom, Mark, and I sat out and chat on the patio.  I even took my binder that has all my notes that has to do with my novel outside and did some writing outside.  I thought the change in atmosphere might help me get started.    

                                 For some reason I will start writing a page and than I will re read and I will just despise how I had written it so far or I should feel that I should have done better.  Like I said in another post I have always had a love for writing.  In fact I used to write short stories when I was younger but after I was done I would crumple them up and throw them away, my dream in 5th grade was to be an author and it continued till 9th grade.  I have to say though in 9th grade everything changed because I felt like I was feeling stressed out during English during writing because of the Ohio Graduation Test that would take place our sophomore year and that we had to write a certain style so it made robbed me for my love for writing which was a shame because I remember one of my teachers reading one of my stories and she told me that I would make a great author which made my heart smile.  But there seemed people that I will not even mention that just thought the interest of writing was weird.

                            I asked mom that question I would say a month a go and she laughed and she said writing a book is not weird, it is a gift."  You have always wanted to be author at such a young age.  Becca even suggests submitting my novel to be published.  I laughed and said

                 "One thing at a time girl I am not even close to being finished with this novel, this is going to be much longer than my 28 page short story."  I told you guys that the novel would be written in first person point of view  but I am changing it to 3rd person limited.   I just think it's a bit easier.  Well I better sign off for now.

                                                                   Lots Of Love,

                                                                            Heather