Membership

I have just lost my membership again. I was working my way back to my membership of the "vomit free" world. Previous to a horrible stomach flu last year I was a card holding member for 5+ years. I would rather shovel all the neighborhood driveways than throw up. Early this morning I was feeling gross, you know that tossing and turning thing. So I got up and let the dogs outside and the went back to bed to wake up to a pain in my gut. I ran to the bathroom and prayed..."please I don't want to throw up, I will do whatever not to throw up" I threw up. It was gross mostly bile so now my teeth feel like chalk and my throat is raw. Gary is the only member
of the this club now and I will have to inform him that it will be another year before I will be joining the club. I HATE VOMIT!!!!!

My other car is...

So I have been thinking a lot about the Bumper Sticker. Why do we plaster our cars with them do they have a purpose and why do we care what you would rather be doing. I don't understand it. I have one bumper sticker, NL, for Netherlands..Heritage people that is important. NOT if your other car is a golf cart. A golf cart isn't even a car. Or worst yet is the car that has them plastered all over...Things like Devil driver, STMP (I have never seen this one but it is typical that you wouldn't know what some bumper stickers even mean) DIVA, with a pink glittering ring, BRAT and then the worst some Calvin and Hobbs guy giving you the bird or peeing on a Ford. I just don't get it. I don't care if your dog is smarter that an honor student, although Wilson is.

When I was younger it was so cool to have a radio station bumper sticker or your nickname which happens to be a liquor. Does the bumper sticker bring some sort of kin-ship to driving. Like if I see a bumper sticker that says something about red heads and how superior they are, should I think cool another superior red head. Or what if I see that bumper sticker that has the peeing guy should I be like "I love peeing on things too, I shouldn't try to pass this guy" Should the kin-ship of bumper stickers allow someone to drive 20 under the speed limit or since you are the same heritage wreck your car? I think not! The only thing that I see good about this is that you can identify them..BACA guy, Peeing guy, Devil driver guy.

boycott the bumper sticker!

Side note: Ro has a cousin who has makes his own bumper stickers. They are made on the finest lined ruled paper and normally say things about battle ships with a sketch or endorsements for political candidacy. Go Doug!

To Be or Not To Be....Is that a question?

Tonight I was faced with this senerio numerous times.

• To wear my Piston jersey
• To talk to a stranger named Tina
• To be a good sport
• To NOT BEAT SOMEONE DOWN
• To not talk to much trash
• To not get on the "LOST" train

We had tickets to see the Pistons play the Jazz. These tickets were going to be great, lower bowl, playing against a local team, and most important I get to see all the Pistons in person. We took the Trax (light rail train) into downtown were the Delta Center is located. This situation is always hard for me because I like to tune into other peoples conversations. I have super sonic hearing which allows me to listen to several conversations at the same time (this is my super power) There were a lot of people going to the game tonight and of course we were targets due to the Pistons gear and because we are who we are. My brain was exploding with info, who, what, where, when, why until Tina. Tina sat next to us with her roommate, they were carrying Wal-Mart bags and looked like college students. Tina says "We're gonna sit next to you K?!!!" what are we gonna say the train was full. I knew she was going to be that PERSON who talks to strangers and tries to be your new best friend just like the ones in the check out lane and airplane. I of course am smiling, so excited to see the game, and she says "Your HAPPY!" I say yes of course I am going to see the Pistons play. She replies "I love being happy no thoughts of doubt or destruction" umm ok?

Tina: Who are you?

Me: I am Andrea

Tina: I am Tina

Me: Do you go to the U?

Tina: No LDS Business College

Tina: I love it here I'm from South Carolina

Me: Oh

Tina: I need to get a camera so I can take pictures

Me: You should've bought a disposable one at Wal-Mart

Tina: Well I really need a job first

Me: Well get a job at Wal-Mart

Tina: You could melt people with your eyes if they were lasers if your team doesn't win

Me: Well I really don't want to kill people (foreshadowing)

Tina: It could just be for a little while not permanent

So that's how it started. I wore my jersey so everyone was giving me death stares and making jeers at me about the Pistons.

We arrive at the Delta Center and in we go, our seats are A-W-E-S-O-M-E! As people are walking down to their seats they are saying booo Pistons or you are going to lose, I smile and think, you are going to get your butts kicked. We did not kick their butts and we lost by 2 points it was a great game.

During the fourth quarter the people behind us become extremely annoying. Talking about Yoga, sweating too much, singing the wrong words to the songs playing, remember super sonic hearing. I really am annoyed. Things did not escalate to wanting to beat someone's ass until they started throwing popcorn at us. Ro does the over the shoulder glare and C'mon guys and then everything changes. No longer am I focused on the game now I am thinking about climbing over the seat and punching someone in the face. Then I think, I could get a ticket for that, I wonder how much the ticket is, they said NBA rules are no violence. I feel my skin turning to fire and the anger is right there ready to come out preferably in "hubcap" form (shout out to Marci). I do nothing except listen to them scream and whistle in my ears louder and louder and then the Pistons lose. WHY!!! All I wanted to do is turn around and shove a WIN in their popcorn faces. No instead as we are walking out Ro does something to their coats, which we swore we would not tell anyone. I can tell you this it did give me some satisfaction to know that she did that.

On the ride home we get in the oldest Trax train ever known to man. It is weird has a weird buzzing, lights flickering and a handicapped man. The speaker is loud I mean LOUD and crackly like the warning buzzer in the hatch on LOST. I turn to Ro and say this is like the LOST train. There are all kinds of people and what if this man in his Jazzy Scooter starts to walk again. My brain is on overload clearly I am not thinking straight except we sat for what seemed like 20 minutes at one light and then some people couldn't get off at their stop... Very LOST-ish.

Overall it was a GREAT night, what would life be without Tina's, Popcorn Punks, and the Pistons.

Trick or...how long do I have to do this????

As a child I never said the following statement "Trick or Treat" My parents didn't believe that we should "celebrate" Halloween since it was the devils holiday. I understand it now but at the time it was devastating. Picture this.

Poor pudgy Bear at school and all the kids are talking/yelling about who they are going to be for Halloween. Who's house they would visit, what parent was going and how much FUN they were going to have. Poor Bear. I remember that we had a bowl of shelled unsalted peanuts just in case someone came over for treats. Most of the time we would turn off all the lights and hang out in the basement so we wouldn't have to torture ourselves by looking out the window at all the fun. I would however spend several halloweens standing on a chair looking out my window and watching my friends and other kids roaming the streets going door to door gathering up chocolate goodness.

So as an adult I have always looked forward to giving out candy and seeing the kids so excited to see what candy and how much I give them. It is exciting for about 15 min and then I get sick of it. I sit there thinking "maybe I could just leave the bowl out there" but then I think "what about that greedy 35 year old who should be handing candy out himself takes the whole bucket then where would the kids be?" NO CANDY from the crazy ladies? EGG THE HOUSE! This actually happened to my family once so I am petrified of it (plus it takes the paint off your house).

Tonight I hung in there for 1 1/2 hours. I also made sure that I commented to the adults who are TO OLD to be trick or treating by saying "what's your costume... A Parent?" and then shoot them the dirt eye. None of these said adults had kids near or with them. You don't see me out their in my unicorn outfit trying to trick or treat for the 1st time.

So long Halloween...hello turkey, something we were allowed to participate in.

Lack of Blogging

Many people are complaining about me NEVER posting anything new. Well here is the problem

1. Our computer is about to melt down. If I download one more picture I think it will melt like the wicked witch of the west.

That really explains it. I have nothing more to say really without pictures I have NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING if I don't have yooooouuuuuuu ( Whitney Houston in the "Bodyguard")

Please hold your britches and wait.

Bear will be back.

(the truth is 1 person asked me about posting, thanks corna for caring)

A boy and his Mama

Here is Baby Abe sleeping on his Mama. He is soooo very cute and I can't believe how much I love him. 

Black oil or Rusty Bear???

This post is not for all readers. This post is and could be very disgusting to you. Please do not view the photos or continue to read on if you don't like rusty water or contaminated people with the black oil from the X-Files.

This all started when Mariah went to the Canepari Health Care Clinic and did the "Living-Water Energy Cleanse". Due to the lack of kidneys that she has and other medical problems she went there to have a Cleanse and such. So she told me about it an I had to go.

If you know me you know that I can become obsessive with things like this. There was a period of time that I was trying to get everyone I knew to try the Ear Candles. I love it, even though he wax is gross I enjoy the medical aspects of the process. I also have in the past become obsessed with the Biore' pore cleaning strips. I would keep the strip for several days to examine all the black heads and dirty pores. I know you are thinking GROSS! BEAR IS SO GROSS! I am not people I just am weird.

This stems back to the days of boredom in Moline, there wasn't much to do except kick a cow pie or milk a goat, but we had a microscope and I use to examine everything under it. I would pull out a strand of my hair and examine the root or I would see if I had any dry skin and examine that under the microscope.

So this leads to the main event. Today I went to Canepari Health Care Clinic and had the foot treatment done. I will try to explain this to the best of my ability. First you go into this room with a chair, comfortable might I add, and place you feet in a tub. Not a giant tub or even a pet'cure tub just a plastic tub with this ball in it. Once your feet are in the guy turns this little machine on which is attached to the ball. It has all these blinking lights and numbers, really it was a timer, but it did have blinking lights. The ball does nothing it looks like stuff is coming out of the ball but it is the magnetic power coming from the ball that is making all the stuff come out of the ball but it really is coming out of your feet. I know BLOW your mind.

I sat for 30 min with my feet in the tub watching as the water gets tan, light brown, brown, dark brown, and then what I call bubbling black oil brown. I asked what it was and they told me since I was a smoker a lot of it may be tar and also they told me it was cleaning out my system. They said they were happier that it was in the tub and not in me anymore I was mortified how could I be so RUSTY? Towards the end of the treatment, the water was bubbling and the bubbles were like all oily and I am sure toxic.

These are the pictures of what is looked like. If you don't want to look please stop reading now.

So totally gross huh!!!!???? According to the brochure the detoxification happens after the therapy. I am just picturing Krychech, bad guy on X-Files, throwing up all sorts of black oil....I don't want to be infected....

Scully?????? Mulder????? Anyone????

Its a World of Montage

Here is a montage dedicated to my Family. Enjoy.


"http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=12dae08592185be97d4bd5"

He finally is HERE!!!

Abraham Henry Jager born 9/11/2006 at 8:05pm EST






























Jenn and Abe












Aaron and Abe















Abe in my heart.

For the People

Ok everyone is making lists, checking them twice we are all trying to find out who is naughty and nice. Cute little ditty, but I have fallen in the whole of Lists and I can't get OUT. Here are as many things that I can think of.

1. Neither of my parents have red hair.
2. I loved my blue snowsuit.
3. In 1st grade I cracked my head open the Dr. Didn't use stitches he just used my hair as stitches.
4. I had mono the 2nd week of High School and my arch nemesis (who later would be my best friend) prayed that I would die.
5. I learned to drive when I was 13.
6. I once roasted a marshmallow to the size of a baseball.
7. I use to wash my bike twice a month to, evidently to keep the blue flowered banana seat sparkling.
8. I had a set of Wonder Woman underoos.
9. To curl my hair my mom would use rags or toilet paper.
10. My favorite thing about college was the cafeteria.
11. Growing up we never had soda.
12. We did have the Moline Meat Locker, which is were they also sold single scoop ice cream...Yummy!
13. Door Dairy Ranch Rules.
14. My mom told me about "Periods" in a blue berry patch. No were to RUN!!!
15. My mom also tortured me with the "Sex" talk everything I would fake sick. That only happened once.
16. I worked for 3 summers for my Grandpa Ellert, picking up trash at the ball diamonds being our house. He paid me 40.00 a month.
17. I did hold the Jager ping pong championship for a winter.
18. I saw my Grandma spit her dentures into the sink and it really freaked me out.
19. As a punishment, from my SMART parents, I work at Sandy Creek Nursing home for 3 years. That is were I first met Tina and it was the best job I have ever had.
20. I once caught a 16 pound bass with my little kid fishing pole and a State Farm Lure.
21. Our cat Skunker was named cotton candy but Aaron and Adam were not having it. They really wanted goiter or bersasack.
22. My favorite ice cream is Mint Chocolate Chip ( no sharp metal shards)
23. I have 23, in original clothes/accessories, Barbie Dolls.
24. All the cars I have ever owned are silver.
25. I have to wear a bite splint to stop me from grinding my teeth.
26. Every sat morning I think about the Fleetwood Diner.
27. I have a butterfly tattoo, same as my best friend.
28. I never call people, only my mom. Sorry.

Done. If you want to know anything else just ask me.....I will be expecting phone calls....anyone....?

Kona BABY

This is a montage for our Kona trip we took this past winter. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=1210f40e5950e9e16a5790

Grandpa

Today, as I was mowing the lawn, I started thinking about my Grandpa Meengs. It was close to a year ago that he left us to be with his family in heaven. The day that my parents called me I was mowing the lawn also and I started thinking of some of these memories:

My grandpa was santa at Rogers Department store. I remember going to see him there and thinking how special we were because it was "our" grandpa who all these kids were excited/scared to see.

How at the dinner table he would always talk with his mouth full and after he was done eating he always would be playing with some leftover food in his mouth. The reason I know this is because he was always talking and you could catch a glimpse of it. At the time it was gross and I of course was embarrassed but now I laugh about it.

When staying at the cottage he would gather everyone to the pontoon boat and we would ride around the lake. All the while he was informing us of every detail that had changed since the last trip around the lake. He also would let us hang onto the front edge while he was driving forward, this was so awesome, looking back I now know why my mom would get so upset with that (we were only 8 feet away from the motor and if we let go...)

Then the stories, the stories of bomb shelters, Amway, State Farm, Umping, tiger muskies, pig heads, and Wal Marks.

When I was home visiting right before he left, I went with my parents to see him at the home. I am not scared or nervous in nursing homes but I was nervous to see my Grandpa. My mom said "Andrea, you have to realize that it isn't the Grandpa you remember." When we were there we carried on small talk with ourselves and Grandpa and just as we were ready to leave my Dad sang a hymn I can't remember what it was but I think "His eye is on the Sparrow" I will always remember that, know that my grandpa was looking to Heaven and waiting.

This is not something sad to me, I know that he is with the Lord and he is telling stories, umping, and probably talking with his mouth full.

We Survived the great BURN

This spring and summer was one of experimental gardening. Since I decided to take the advise of a complete stranger and burn all of my plants with boiling water, accidentally turn off the sprinklers for 7 days during the June heat and keep plants in the garage for weeks before I plant them I would say the some things can/did survive. These are pictures that I took, most of my Dahlia's some from Utah and some from the Grand Rapids Dahlia Association. It is such a JOY to walk in the yard, have the two dogs following and looking at the growth that pulled through some tough times. I am reminded that I really have no control over what happens and that with and without my help these flowers are some of the most gorgeous every grown. I love my garden and can't wait for another year to see where it takes us.

Oh Krutsepot

So last Friday I got in a car accident on my way to get the new puppy Buster. I was on my way back from the bank when a JERK, who happened to be Dutch, flips a "U" turn right in front of me. His car was hardly damaged since it was a brick wall know as a Chevy Tahoe and my poor little car was WRECKED! I was so upset and disturbed by the amount of time it took for the police to respond and the willingness of "VanderWeeken" to chat everyone up at the crash site. I heard him state that he was Dutch and I thought to myself "How could this idiot be Dutch?" How could he be a descendant of the MOST thrifty, kindhearted, safe driven, wooden shoe wearing people??? Is it possible that I found the only Dutch idiot in the state of UTAH?

So the cops arrive and the process begins we exchange information and while the Dutchman is clearly having problems remembering his address, dob, and insurance carrier he decides to chat the officer up about his heritage. This pleasant exchange carries on for 5 min while I am impatiently waiting to give the officer my information I am thinking "Please don't ask me about my heritage!" As the officer is verifying our information I am left to stand awkwardly with this man who was again a complete idiot. The officer finally gives us our information to proceed with the claims of the vehicles and he then says.."Wow 2 Dutchman" VanderWeeken looks and me and says "Hechkeven?" translation: you speak Dutch and I reply in the only Dutch that comes to my mind "Ohhh Krutsepot" translation: old grey mare.
This was the only good thing that came of this accident, remembering my Grandpa Meengs bellowing that through the cottage to wake us up in the morning.

A KING mint for thought : Just remember were you came from!

BUSTED

Here is our new dog Buster, Busta, Busty, Flip Mode, and Baby. He is a mini just like Wolt and is a rare all white 6 week old pup. He is very very small. In the above picture he is next to Pickles little toes and in the below picture he is next to a pot on the patio. I know he is going to be a welcome addition to our family.

yard pictures

This is the flower bed that we made with my mom and dad and this is what it looks like now.
This is a bed I made.
This is the ice plant in the bird bath.

Marci's Girls

I have know Marci for 13 years and I can't belive her girls are getting sooooo old.

Faith (top) just graduated from Cuttlerville Christian School Kindergarden and now will be on her way to the first grade. I remember when Marci came to visit in Utah and at that time she had no idea that she was pregnant and what a suprise when she called to let us know. Faith looks so much like Darrel.

Taylor was just a little baby (18months) and now I can see what a little girl she is. The last time I was home the girls came over to my folks house and we played and played. Everytime the girls see my folks they always want them to play the piano and sing. Taylor looks so much like Marci.

A dog and his kitty

As you may well know we own a dog named Wilson aka Wolt, Wil, Baby Wolt, Not making it Wolt, No job holding Wolt and he is GREAT. This was part of our photo shoot tonite to pass time while Ro is in Tampa. I tried everything to get him to look at me but nothing worked not even Kitty. Wilson has had Kitty since he was 5 weeks old. This stuffed animal was given to me by my friend Marci when my cat Skunker died. Kitty is/was an exact replica of Skunker and I loved him and so did Wilson. Through the 5 years of his life Kitty has gone under the knife, hand stitching and sewing machine, to save him. Though Kitty has lost all of his stuffing, beanie beads, and half of his body Wolt still loves this toy over all things. I love it when we say "Where is Kitty?" Wolt runs to find both pieces of him.

Happy Days at the Cottage

I remember those days that had 24 hours of fun. My grandparents own a cottage on Campau Lake in Michigan. As children it seemed like the whole summer was spent there swiming, fishing, using the paddle boat. I am so glad the there is still a cottage I wish that is was right down the street from me. Here are some pic's that my Dad sent to me (it worked Dad) Thank you!!

Real money for poo money?

So there we are watching SYTYCD (so you think you can dance) and during commercial break Ro says the weirdest thing happened to her today. She was at work, outside with other co workers and some stranger walks up. Des says "Do you know who that is?" as ro turned around there is a man standing over her shoulder holding a bag and he says "Does anyone want to trade real money for poo money?" WHAT!!!! He thens tells and elaborate story of his dog, poo, and shreded money pile. So would you like to trade poo for money???? I THINK NOT!!!!

Kona

It has been 6 months since Kona. It feels like a break-up! You know when you break up you think about it constantly and yet you try to forget it, since it feels it will never be the same again. This was our first time to Kona and what a trip. I have pictures at my desk at work and I go to those places everyday. Little things will remind me of things we saw, did, smelled, ate everything reminds me of it. My dream would be to go there once a month for 3 weeks and then one week of reality. We are so lucky to have been able to spend time there together.

Hafve Anofther...

Here is Adam, my oldest brother and his beer. When Aaron sent this to me I thought what the hell happened to Adam's teeth? As I looked a the picture I see that it is a classic Adam pose. I know he would be making some weird noise and shortly after this photo probably saying something totally embarrassing. Now I know how I ended up the way I am.
Love you Adam and thanks Aaron for the pics!

Why Ben

Ben Wallace how could you!!!!! It makes me sick that I have spent all these emotions on cheering him on and HE LEAVES!!! Especially when the Pistons team should pay their fans to cheer them on! Also what am i going to do with my jersey that i have with his number, his name? This could be one of the worst sports tradegies that I have ever witnessed. What' next Shaq aka Big giant planet head is traded to the Pistons!

What's In a Name!

My brother Aaron and sister-in-law Jenn are having a baby boy. Now they have kept us all in suspense as to the name. This has kept me up at night, trying to figure out the name. Will it be modern? Will it be biblical? Will he be named after his aunt? Who knows but here are some of the names I think that they will pick!

Anderson
Andrew
Buddy (the paper boy)
Bartholomew
Curt
Carlson
Daniel
Darell
Edward
Ethan
Frederick
Flower (opps think that's a girl name)
George (he was very curious)
Gleason
Henry (I think this is the one)
Hank
Ivan
Ivra
Josiah
Joshua
Ken
Kip (PLEASE NO)
Larwerence
Lupe ( I need help with the groceries-arrested development)
Marcus
Mcoy
Nathan
Noah
Oliver
Peter
Paul
Mary(opps got caught up)
Quincy
Richard (YEAAHHH)
Raymond
Spencer
Thomas
Timothy (I think I am naming the Spamans :) )
Ugene
Victor
Vance
Walter
William
Xander
Yo (can't think of one)
Zander

Now all these names came off the top of my head as I have thought of them over the past months. I know that their boys name is listed here! If not as soon as the baby is born the name is going on this list for the record! I love that son of a preacher man!

Hulking IT

So the other night we went to go help some friends put together a Gazebo,. As per usual I feel I have to be in charge barking orders left and right thinking "logically" through the easiest way to put it together. So I think why not build it upside down, this will be great cuz all we'll have to do is flip it up and WE are in business. With my supper hulk bossiness I have everyone take a side as we are ready to put it upright..."One, Two, Three!" at that moment the polls, that are one toothpick thick, starts to bend, of course I bark out "put it down" what now? We start taking the whole thing apart that we had just spent the last 17million hours putting together. At a closer look the toothpick poll is broken right at the joint and I am thinking "anyone have a blow torch handy, maybe we could sodder it?" Why would this work and how scary that I would try to do that. I do not want to be the one who thought sodder could hold together something that is house-like, can you imagine...Having great night, food, drinks, music, and BONK the whole thing hits someone on the head...Flash back to bear soddering the pieces.

It did end up being ok since we just went and bought a table and chairs set. Who needs the gazebo? Not me. If anyone happens to sit on the chairs we put together and they fall and bonk their head it is not my responsibility!

"You were flying today buddy, a little to close to the sun"

How long has it been since you've flown a kite? This was one of the gifts that my parents brought to us. I am not sure if they knew that we would end up in the middle of nowhere flying a kite...I guess so. Nemo was flying high that day and now is grounded in our garage. I have a feeling that the neighborhood kids will "accidentally" find it ask me if they can have it.
Or maybe I could tie the kite to Wilson and he could fly it, can you imagine, "WILSON the amazing dog, he can find his "kitty", eat worms, bark at the hose, go on hunger strike due to new food, and fly a kite! (see tiny picture top left corner)

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1Corinthians 13:13

This was the first family photo taken since, I can't remember. Aaron sent me an email and said this was his wallpaper so what a better place to have the family on my blog.

Love you all and miss you so much!

Obsessed

Ever since my parents came out to Utah I have been at hyper mode with planting, some may say obsessed even. Since I work at Wal-Mart I have to shop the barging everyday. Today I didn't do my usual walk around the store on my lunch hour, so in an unfortunate event my 2 clay pots broke tonight. Well I have to get new ones can't let some flowers have their roots exposed and vulnerable to the evil snails that live in the lawn so off to Wal-Mart I go. I walk into the garden center and immediately look at the .25 cent items where I found a Gerber daisy and some other annual that is purple. I will now spend the rest of the summer nursing back to life the 20+ plants I have bought under these same circumstances. I tour our yard everyday, talking to the plants, dead-heading (taking all old flowers off), watering, fertilizing, and cursing any insect or SNAIL that ruins my plants.

Is their a planters anonymous? Am I alone?

stop to smell the flowers

Give your old bear a kiss

Mr. Pickle says "My aunt bear is CRAZY, I think I love her!"

Let's Jump!

Conner and Pickle discussing the proper use of the jumperoo! Aunt Corna has to put her 2 cents in too.

NINJA TURTLE

No specific reason for this picture just is one of my favorites from Kona HI. We took a trip there this past winter and I go to this place in my mind everyday. Paradise!

Here is my dad pondering his thirst...."What I need is a drink! I need some type of beverage...Maybe a barq's!
Aaaaahhhhh that's it!"

This is what Ro and I looked like after the snowball fight. Silver lake is known to cause the use of hideous glasses.