M got his 1st Bike!

I'm uploaded the video to youtube. I'm attempting to embed it here.


If that doesn't work, the url is http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=59E32B160029EC87

Bow Spoiler Pic

Bow Spoiler Pic
Originally uploaded by Chatty-Cat

Here's a spoiler pic for my sister. I made a whole boatload of bows for my 2 nieces. One is my sister's daughter, C, and one is N's brother's daughter, S. Some of these are for C and some are for S, and there's a whole bunch more that aren't pictured.

My sister was always the one, who would find our hidden Christmas presents, stealthily unwrap them, and then try to rewrap them so Mom wouldn't know. I thought she might like a hint of what her daughter is going to be receiving.

Ring Update!!

Spoke with the insurance folks a few days ago. Apparently, they've managed to find something similar to my stone at DeBeers. So, currently a 1.59 carat, D color, oval diamond is on its way to USAA for inspection. At which point, it will be sent to me for 10 days to approve or reject. If I don't like it, I send it back, and they try to find me another one. My stone was a 1.50 carat, E color, oval diamond. The clarity is the same on the 2 stones. Hopefully, it will be cut well, and we can begin to move on. The wrap was not covered by the insurance. It turns out that we only had fire/theft/vandalism coverage on it; not randomn freak accidents by the mother-in-law. We'll probably try to have those stones set into earrings. I've always wanted diamond studs!

It's Chanukkah Time Again!

2007 Dec Chanukah and Other 015
Originally uploaded by Chatty-Cat

Here's M with N lighting the Chanukkah lights. It's probably the first Chanukkah that M will remember. He really seems to be getting interested in the story and the rituals of it. He's even trying to say the Hebrew prayers with us.

Funny thing he said yesterday: I gave him a Reese's Chocolate/Peanut Butter Candy. It was like a Reese's Cup, but shaped like a bell for the Christmas holiday. He asked me what it was, and I told him it was a piece of chocolate with peanut butter inside. His reply "Is there jelly in there too?" LOL

Sesame Street Personality Quiz

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Apparently, that's me! My sis is an Elmo. We're both super cool!

Before and After Pics, as Promised

Before:


and After:





Fun, huh?

A Thanksgiving to Remember!

Have you ever thrown 13K down the drain? I don't mean spent it on frivolous stuff. I mean did you actually feed it to your garbage disposal?

Well, my mother-in-law has. She threw my diamond engagement and wedding rings down the disposal yesterday, with the disposal turned on. Yes, you read that right.

I took them off to clean them. They were sitting in a cup of bright blue, see through WINDEX!!!! Apparently, that looked like a dirty cup to dear MIL. In her zeal to clean up after the turkey day dinner, down the rings and windex went into the disposal and the cup into the dishwasher.

The wedding band is salvageable. It can't be worn, but we can take out the diamonds and have them reset. The 1.5 solitaire was sheared into at least two pieces though. We only found the top half.

So, the next time (and probably every time for the rest of my life) anyone ever uses the phrase "money down the drain" I'll probaly think of the time that $13000 went down the drain on Thanksgiving.

Once we get back home, I'll update with before and after pics.