Look Who's 30!!

Happy Birthday Kelscraggly!!!

Just a few photos from Kelscraggly's pre-birthday party (pictures from Saturday - her real birthday is today!)


Kelscraggly holding her card from Lego.












Ah - my little Princess and her Prince!

GARDENER'S BEWARE!

Mr. Chep is on his 2nd business trip in 2 weeks. This week he is in rainy and cold Raleigh, NC.

He left 8:30 this morning. After I read the paper, I decided to do some yard work.

I started simple. Weed the herb garden. Went well. I edged the driveway (manually - on my hands and knees) - cake - compared to the next project I decided to tackle.

When we moved in, we put a large flower bed in the front of the house and filled it with different types of flowers. Due to its location, we had some trouble finding ones that worked in the half sun/half shade location.

My mother (Mrs. Green Thumb) suggested a low growing plant that could survive in any kind of light. In fact, she assured me - I couldn't kill it. She wasn't kidding.

This is what she gave me.















Bishop's Weed.

This plant took over my flower bed. I believe it has teeth. Since its addition to the flower bed I lost: purple coneflowers, sage, thyme, gerber daisies and 2 lavender plants.

This "cannibal" had to be removed today. I filled TWO 39 gallon trash bags with this evil perennial - that I am SURE will come back. How am I sure? I have removed it before. It comes - back. I am convinced that it will continue to come back until I locate the correct voodoo chant and pass this cursed plant onto some other inexperienced gardener.

Any takers?

Honesty - IT WORKS!

7 weeks ago my microwave died.

3 weeks ago Mr. Chep got me a new microwave. Amana Radarange with ALL the bells and whistles (on discount of course.) It's awesome. I don't even have to tell it how long to pop the popcorn - it just knows!

SO - when the old microwave died (7 weeks ago) I moved it to the doorway of our spare room and asked Mr. Chep to dispose of it.

That was 7 weeks ago. As of this morning it was still in the doorway.

Mr. Chep is leaving for a business trip tomorrow morning. He was rattling off a list of things he had to do....so I included removing the microwave from the doorway in that list. He looked at me with the look that says "You have been nagging me for weeks and I haven't done it - you know there must be a reason."

So to that look I responded, "The reason I have been nagging you, is I really don't want you to go away on your trip, forget to get dispose of the microwave, and have me be mad for the entire time you are gone because I couldn't clean the spare room."

Know what? He removed the microwave.

No argument, no grumbling.

Putting it in perspective and being honest worked!

A note from Mama Chep

WE WON!!!!!!!

My advisory class won the Spring Boxtops for Education competition!!!!!! They are thrilled!!!!! We could not have done it without all of your help....For some of these kids, it will be the only thing they win in their lives so you gave them the opportunity to be the BEST...on the top of the heap....and they are very proud....so again, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

She asks that you continue to save the boxtops as they have a fall contest as well!

Thanks again to all!

Administrative Professionals Day

Something to ponder....

***One of the Administrative Professionals jobs is to ensure that their boss(es) are reminded of reports, special projects and special days. SO - does an AP need to remind their boss of Administrative Professional's Day??!!***

In case you didn't know - I am an Administrative Assistant for the Director of Education at a small college here in Iowa.

This is my first administrative position, so last year on Administrative Professionals Day, I:

1. Didn't know about it
2. Didn't know what to expect

So when my boss forgot - I didn't know. Heck I didn't know until one of the department heads brought me some MK products (love those Satin Fingers!) Needless to say - my boss felt like a tool. He took me to lunch and apologized profusely.

No matter how many times I told him it wasn't a big deal - he never seemed to believe me.

Anyway - Wednesday was AP Day this year.

He didn't forget this year. In fact, he was the only one in the office that remembered (besides the same department head that remembered last year)

So not only did he make sure I got flowers - all the other admins did too!

My boss is a great guy - and he sure did make all of us ladies feel special!

I'm getting involved!

This is my first real volunteer activity since I have moved to Iowa - and frankly I don't think I could have picked a better organization in which to become involved.

In college I did a lot of volunteer work through Alpha Phi Omega and I really enjoyed giving back to the community. When I graduated I did some volunteering through the parks department but not much.

Hamilton College (where I work) emphasizes giving back to the community. In fact all students are required to take a Human Dynamics course which requires the class creates a project in order to give back to others. We are also allotted 4 hours a month in order to volunteer in our favorite charity. Working in this kind of environment has taught me to examine my life, and what I can do to help others.

Sadly, I didn't do much. Until this opportunity presented itself.

Many people in my life have been touched by cancer. My grandmother has lost nearly all her siblings to the disease and now my father has been fighting his own battle with skin cancer. This, along with the never ending fear that I too will someday face skin cancer, has prompted me to become involved in this worthy cause.

Hamilton College sponsors a team in the Relay for Life and I have volunteered to walk in the 12 hour event (hence the trips to the gym!) I have also been involved in the entertainment committee working to get volunteers to come to spend some time at the event.

As a participant I am working to raise my share of the team cost.

$100.

10 friends - to give $10.

If you would like to help me raise my $100 please click here.

If you would rather not help me - at least help the Cancer Society in your hometown. It's a wonderful organization that has contributed to almost every major discovery in cancer research.

You never know - the life you save, might be your own.

And so it begins....

It was sunny and 65 today.

The boat called - it wanted to see the water. We obliged.


We didn't catch anything - except a little wind burn!

We'll try again tomorrow.

$10K for WHAT?

OK - I am not political person. So maybe that's why I don't understand.

A certain famous Texas politician was in Iowa today to support a local congressman.

If you wanted to have lunch, hear the rancher speak and support the candidate you forked over $250. If you wanted to have your picture taken with Jr. it would cost you $10K!

I don't know about you, but I can think of so many other ways to spend $10,000.

The Truth About Chepner's Disappearance

OK. I haven't been completely honest about where I have been.

Yes. I was in and out of the doctor.

Yes - our school had graduation (2 weeks ago) - which always keeps me busy.

Yes - we start a new term on Monday - which keeps me busier than graduation.

BUT - I must admit. I have a new obsession. Writermom has her Flickr - I have - the gym.

I must admit the blog lags will only get worse as fishing season arrives.

Please know that I am not ignoring you - in this case I am trying to put my health first (doctor strongly suggested) and I am taking it very seriously.

So anyway - that's where I am - trying to win the second round of the Biggest Loser contest at work.

Just wait - I'll probably end up pregnant and lose!

Nocturnal emotions....

When I was 10 years old I woke up in the middle of the night staring at a shadow of my Miniature Schanuzer and I was scared out of my wits because in the dream I just woke from my dog was 8 feet tall.

I had a similar feeling this morning, only I wasn't scared - I was PISSED.

I woke up thinking that I had been fired from the musical in which I was the star. Now mind you I have NEVER starred in a musical (unless you count the part I played in Writermom's music video in college set to the tune of Prince's - Let's Go Crazy) nor do I even work at a school that has a drama department. How I came to star in a musical where the Campus President was director I will never know. I do know that I haven't had that feeling when I woke up in years.

It's a good thing I don't sleep on the job!

Welcome Indiana to DST!

Yes. It's 11:14pm in Iowa.

I am suffering from Daylight Saving Time lag. Slept late. Not good.

So Hoosiers - how are you coping with your FIRST change in time?

I find it amusing that the Hoosier state decided to stay on Eastern time, when the 2 areas in the state that were already practicing DST were on Central.

OH yeah - and the White Sox are on their 3rdh hour of the weather delay. Mr. Chep is still up waiting to watch the end.

Proving Chepner's existence

According to the US Postal Service THIS is a suspicious letter.

This letter was from Writermom and inside were boxtops.

Now I don't have a PO box assigned to Chepner, nor do I have proof of "Chepner's" existence.

Two days ago I went to pick up my mail at the PO box and I had received a notice of mail being delivered to "Chepner's Boxtop Challenge" and for MY PROTECTION I had to come in to the post office, bring proof of identity (2 ID's) in order to receive my mail.

My question is this. How on earth do you prove the existence of a fictional person?

I went to the post office and explained to the nice man behind the counter what my intentions were - and he was more than willing to help.

WHEW!

For a minute I was afraid they were going to hunt down Writermom and arrest her for sending cereal box tops!

Guess Dental Dad should leave addressing the envelopes to WM!

Just kidding!

Sorry

Mama Chep Hates to Lose

In case you don't already know:

Mama Chep hates to lose.

Would you like an example?

Over Thanksgiving there was a contest for the homeroom to make as many words as you could out of "Happy Thanksgiving".

Most people had 150, 200, 300 words. How many did mom come up with? Over 1,000 words.
How did she do it? Well - she Asked Jeeves!

Anyway - there is another contest that runs through the month of April at school. She is collecting boxtops from cereal boxes to raise money for their low-income school.

This is a win-win situation.

The winning class wins: They get a healthy breakfast - paid for by the school

The school wins: They get 10 cents for every boxtop turned in.

So what do you get out of this? Well.....you get the good feeling of helping a school in need.

Over 50% of the school's population qualify for free lunches and 17% are on the reduced lunch program.

So what can you do to help?
SAVE THOSE BOXTOPS!

You say you don't use prepared foods?
Well lucky for you - they come on things like kleenex, paper towels, baggies - just visit their site http://boxtops4education.com/downloads/global/products.pdf for a list of all the participating products!

What do you do when you have a few?
Send them to:

Chepner's Boxtop Challenge
PO Box 9792
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Remember - it doesn't take a lot - to make a HUGE difference!

Please mail by: 4/24/06
But if you can't get them in the mail - that's OK - they never expire I will continue to collect as long as she teaches!

Once, twice - Three times....

Had some blood work done today.

I am starting to lose hope in the medical field after the last few weeks.

I had to fast for 12+ hours. So when I show up this morning at 9:10 I am hungry and ready to be done.

Have I mentioned I am not fond of needles?

Well anyway - she pokes me once...not too bad. Blood starts to run. Then STOPS. GRRR....she wiggles the needle...taps the vial and determines it's a bad tube. Puts on a new tube.

Blood starts to run again. Then stops AGAIN! Now I am irritated. So she taps the bottle. She wiggles the needle. What next? Try the other arm? OH NO - she JAMS the needle up my arm. I wince in pain. Have I mentioned I don't like needles?

So by this time (hungry, thirsty and violated with a needle) I am starting to get a wee bit - faint. So she tells me she isn't comfortable continuing.

SCREW THAT. You are getting what you came for lady. Do what you have to do. Get that damn blood. I am NOT doing this again next week.

So she moves me to a room with a bed.

Pokes me again - and the blood starts to run. THEN STOPS AGAIN.

By this time I have had about all I can take. Get it over with. Get what you can.

So she wiggles the needle - pokes me again (I think) and gets enough.

It's been a long day.

Urgh.

Where or where has Chepner gone????

In and out of the doctor....much fun.

I have come to realize that some doctors have the bedside manner of a bull in a china shop. (That's a Mama Chep phrase!)

Why - I ask does a PhD in medicine allow you to approach everything with absolutely no feeling? I have spent the last few weeks trying to overcome the visits to the doctor and find a way to digest the information with a positive spin. Needless to say - it's taking time.

I am sorry that I have been neglecting all of you.

I appreciate all of your kind words and your concerns. I just haven't had the mindset to put anything "on screen" if you will.

This has been a very long and hard road - and it could take awhile for me to get "back in the groove" but I will - I promise.

In the meantime - thanks for checking in on me - I'll be back with more soon.

OH and in the meantime - be sure to save your Boxtops!

When you have some to send please send them to:

Chepner's Boxtop Challenge
PO Box 9792
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Olympic Clowns?

As I sit and watch the final ceremonies for the Winter 2006 Olympics I find myself a little "creeped out.

Don't get me wrong - the Games final ceremony was fun, beautiful and full of the spirit of the Olympics.

But I have to ask? Why all the clowns?

A Birthday Wish

Today one of my best friends turns 32!

Happy Birthday WriterMom!

Since we couldn't be with you on your special day I thought I would share some of my favorite photos of our times together.

What a beautiful bride!
Beer? Not us!
The only person who has gotten me this close to horse since I was 8.
Damn I miss the Lion. Don't you?
Girls night out!

I miss and love you!

Chep

How do you irritate the dog?

Go on vacation. Leave her at her friend's house.

Don't get me wrong - the dog LOVES to go to Uncle E's. I mention his name and she perks right up. Uncle E has 10 dogs (currently has 18 at the house because of the 8 Aussie Puppies.) He allows my dog to sleep on the bed with him and one of his favorite Yorkies.

She came home last night. Tired. And pissed - at me of course. I took her to Uncle E's so of course I am to blame.

Tonight she is loving on me as I watch the Olympics (yeah that's what has been distracting me) so I apologize....I'll be back soon. Promise.

Well who knew I should write??

I stole this from Writer Mom....

You scored as Journalism. You are an aspiring journalist, and you should major in journalism! Like me, you are passionate about writing and expressing yourself, and you want the world to understand your beliefs through writing. Journalism 92% Mathematics 75% Sociology 67% Theater 67% Psychology 67% Philosophy 58% Anthropology 58% Linguistics 58% Engineering 50% English 50% Biology 50% Art 42% Dance 33% Chemistry 17% What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3) created with QuizFarm.com