Does That Make Me Crazy?

Our weather has been so nice over the past few days...in the 50's and sunny... causing most of our accumulated snow to melt away over the weekend. Saturday Darrin and I were outside enjoying the day when he noticed something strange next to our front porch...3 old mason jars under our tree. I guess we hadn't noticed them before because they were hidden under the snow.



Anyway, they weren't there a few weeks ago so there's only one logical explanation-our ghosts put them there. I know, you're thinking that I've officially lost my mind. Possible. But I still think we have ghosts.

A few months ago our friend Paul was over and I was taking pics of him for his Facebook page. I never even noticed the 'Orbs' until after I uploaded the pics.





I know, now you're thinking that was just a weird lens flare. But they appeared again in this group of pics taken later that same day.











Again, I know you see the rain drops and assume the circles of light were caused by fog on my lens or something. So why are they in different spots? And why do they appear AGAIN while we were checking out the little cemetery down the road????





Even our public library is supposed to be haunted! The librarian told me about 'Myrtle' the ghost a few days before I took the above pictures. She even let me take some pictures in the library, but I didn't get any Orbs that day. She told me I could come back anytime with my camera to try to get a shot of Myrtle.
Something tells me I just might have to visit the library this week......

Tunes, Tropics, And Trannies

I stole today's idea from my friend Tammy, who posted pictures from her St. Lucia wedding to help her get in a 'warm weather' state of mind. Don't get me wrong, our weather has been beautiful the past few days here....in the 50's...... but nothing can beat a trip to the Caribbean in my book. Plus I just realized it was one year ago this week that D and I were cruising on Cayamo....a 7 day music cruise that stopped in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Mexico. D even got to shake hands with Lyle Lovett. We also got to enjoy Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Shawn Mullins and many more.

Here's to a warm state of mind. Or warped. Whichever.

My reflection in Cayman.


Our bartender in Jamaica.



I had to buy it.



Um- I loved the 'Art'!!!



I loved the decor.



I loved the colors.



I love big hair.



Darrin spreading some of Grandma's ashes over Jamaica.



A storefront in Mexico.

This is Big Headed Bob and Tom Sr. (A.K.A. Pops....Tom Jr. is not pictured here because he was hiding from me.)
We met the 3 of them on the ship and still keep in touch through email.
They are going again this year, and I'm so very jealous.

The gorgeous Emmylou Harris.

Lyle & John.

Donkey wearing a hat.

D proposing to me with gum hanging out of my mouth.
Kidding, he wasn't proposing.



I loved this coconut- it even came with an alcoholic beverage in it. Perfect.



My foot with Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller.

Our shadows in Jamaica.

And of course no trip would be complete without a transvestite bartender hitting on Darrin!



HAHA. Awesome!
It was such a great trip.
And a perfect way to feel all warm and fuzzy and inside in this cold a** weather.

The Bridges Of Platte County

Normally when I tell people that Darrin is a Commercial Diver, they look extremely puzzled and ask, "where does he dive in IOWA?" Most people think we live in a field of corn or something, which I guess makes sense if you've never been here before. I then explain that he does work for the US Army Corps of Engineers along the Missouri River, bridge inspections for the state of Nebraska, casino boat inspections, power plants, dams, canals, etc.
This week I went along with D and the crew to do 6 bridge inspections in Columbus, Ne. It was very interesting! I learned a lot of new things, I even know how to spot an abutment now.

So here is my version of Underwater Bridge Inspection 101....

Did you know that these old cars are placed on the bank of the canal for erosion control?
Neither did I! I love it!



Isn't that SO COOL??!
Kind of like a canal version of The Cadillac Ranch!



Oops! Distracted by a shiny object.



Door handle fun........bear with me.



Ok, back to D and the bridge.



Close-up of his duds.



Shootin' the breeze before he gets in the water.



The dive trailer.



Securing the dive hat.



AQUAMAN is ready to roll.



Getting in.



Heading towards the piles.



The big picture. Now D will inspect the bridge underwater.

Me watching and oh so impressed with my hunky Aquaman.

Yes that is ice floating on the water. Brrrrrrr.

Another bridge good to go.

Trying to get a cute selfie of us. Nice shot of my nostrils.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Next week is a penetration dive for the City of Cedar Rapids sewer treatment plant.

Can you say raw sewage?

Ummmmmmmm yeah no, I won't be tagging along for that one.

Celebrate Random Fart

I was told to list 6 things that make me happy...

1. I'm happy that the Geek Squad salvaged most of my important files.
2. I'm happy that my credit card had room for a new laptop.
3. I'm happy for my upcoming Atlanta shoots to help pay my credit card.
4. I'm happy that Darrin's family likes crazy people.
5. I'm happy that MY family likes crazy people.
6. I'm happy that I just heard a mouse trap go "snap. crackle. pop."

I'll be REALLY happy when I'm in the mood to take fun pictures and write silly blog posts again.

But in the meantime, to amuse myself I g0 HERE and then click the "get happy" button. Try it. It's fun. And the 'random-happy-gibberish' it generates makes for some great post titles.

Kaput. Kaplooey.

Well I took my laptop to the Geek Squad today and it's officially toast. They are trying to salvage my documents, files, and pictures and I should know by tomorrow if they were successful or not.
Good thing I quit smoking so all the cash I'm not spending on smokes can go towards a replacement laptop.

Fantastic!

Murphy's Law

If nothing goes wrong for awhile I usually start to worry...but then something will go wrong and I'll feel much better. Well my laptop is broken which is very painful for me. Hopefully I will be able to get it fixed soon, but until I do I probably won't be writing much. I didn't want y'all to think I was kidnapped by the Cyclone or anything ; )
I am borrowing D's right now but it just isn't the same. Woe is me. It doesn't feel right having a post without a picture, and this is my only picture that is on D's computer-because I made it his wallpaper as a joke awhile back. I am so funny.



OMG this always cracks me up! It is horrible! I'm not sure why my mom never told me that my real dad is Don King.

Careful What You Wish For....

We all know I've been feeling a little mopey lately.......wishing for some sun and warm weather.
Well, today we had a heat wave of 47 degrees!!!
So OF COURSE we went out for a Jeep ride-why wouldn't we?
Ahhh, the sun on our face....


the wind in our hair....


not a worry in the world.............


UMMM....until we FLIPPED THE JEEP...and this was the first thing I saw...


that's right... the first thing I saw upside down...
was Darrin suspended over me by his seat belt!
I was trapped under him, but got loose and crawled out....

I know you're asking,
"Diane, WHY would you take pictures during a crisis like this?
WHAT the F@#K is wrong with you?"
Well, in my defense, I had already tried to free him and his seatbelt was stuck...
so for an instant I had a true Kodak moment and I took it!
Calm down, of course I freed my hubby.


LIFE IS GOOD ?


Now THAT'S funny!


It's official.....


You can take the REDNECK out of Georgia...
but you sho can't take the Georgia out of the redneck!

So it's kind of funny now that I look at the pics-but not really. We walked home and I cried like a baby the whole way....blame it on the Cyclone if you will....but I'm starting to think that our Loess Hills has something against us city folk....please sweet Iowa---PLEASE don't make me go back to Atlanta. I promise I will be good from now on........