Royal Life

I've never really been fascinated with the Royal Family, but with the wedding of Prince Harry still fresh in our memory, and with an article I came across on Trend Chaser this week, I decided to write about them, particularly the Duchesses. When Kate married William and Meghan married Harry, I wonder if they had any idea how much their lives would change.  There are so many things the Royals can't do!  Take a look:

1.  Nicknames are not allowed in the Palace.
2.  They cannot profit from any work they do.  For instance, Kate's photographs are released to the public through the Palace, and she gets none of the profits she would get if she were able to sell them.

3.  The Royals are not allowed to eat mussels or oysters due to the high risk of contamination.  And when they are eating, when the Queen is finished, everyone is finished.  That'll teach them to eat fast!  There is no garlic used on dishes in the Palace because the Queen doesn't like it.

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4.  Feminists, take note!  Kate must always follow two steps behind William and Meghan behind Harry in official, public appointments.  Also, Kate and Meghan must never have their backs to the Queen.  They must curtsy to the most senior royal. Also important is that they enter a function in order of precedence which is in the order of the line to the crown.
5.  The Royal Family is not allowed to have private social media accounts.  There are official accounts, but those are run by staff.  They are also not allowed to give autographs.

6.  Couples are not supposed to display affection in public, with the exception of those wedding kisses.  They are also not allowed to cry in public.

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7.  Clothing choices are limited.  They may not wear anything flamboyant, too vibrant, or revealing.  They also do not wear black, except when in mourning.  Due to the situation when the Queen's father passed while she was travelling, they must pack clothing that is black in case there is a death while they are gone.  That way, they can be dressed appropriately when their plane lands.  Also, the Royals can only wear leather from an animal that was not sacrificed.  That makes sense!  Hats must be worn at all formal events before 6PM, and after that, tiaras or crowns.

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8.  The Royal family does not vote.  They are to remain neutral at all times.
9.  Since 2008, the Royals have not allowed themselves to play Monopoly.  The Duke of York felt it was a vicious game.

10. The entire family cannot travel on the same boat, plane, or train.  If there is an accident, it won't involve all of the heirs.
11. The female Royals visit the salon several times a week.  They are only allowed to use soft pink or nude nail polish.  They must always look photo-ready.

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12.  Since the monarch of Great Britain is the head of the Protestant Anglican Church, all royals may not belong to any other religion.  Both Kate and Meghan went through religious confirmation prior to their weddings.
13. The Royal Family spends Christmas at Sandringham Palace in Norfolk.  Gifts are exchanged at tea time on Christmas Eve.  And speaking of gifts, Royals must accept every gift they are given... from anyone.

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Random Tuesday

I'm linking up with Stacy for Random Tuesday Thoughts.

I'm bummed!  So bummed!  My Houston Rockets did not win the Western Conference Finals.  But I will still root for them next season.  In the meantime, Go Astros!

Some good news is that there are only 3 days of school left!  Well, 3 with students and one more without, and I have to move my personal belongings so that new carpet can be installed.  My room, in particular, needs new carpet.  It has flooded multiple times and never been replaced.  I'm sure they'll find a ton of mold under there!  It will be nice to have new carpet next school year.

I found this online store called Beloved that sells the most unusual swimwear.  You can purchase a one piece with a picture of Guy Fieri on it.

Or how about a pizzakini?

Maybe you'd like a Pennywise swimsuit?

These have dozens more where these came from.

And now, some funnies!

And my husband's and my anniversary was yesterday, so I'll just leave this right here:

See you next time!

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Sunday Synopsis

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sue Grafton is an author I wish I had discovered many years ago when her Alphabet series first came out. But, I found them, and better late than ever. Kinsey Millhone is a very likable protagonist. She's a loner and a minimalist and just so practical.

Her PI business has been a little slow when nutcase Beverley Danziger shows up asking for help finding her sister Elaine Boldt. The sisters have inherited some money, but Elaine is nowhere to be found, and neither is her cat. As Kinsey starts investigating, she stumbles on a much bigger crime than a missing woman. A wife is found dead in her home after a fire has been started. Who killed her? Are the two cases connected somehow?

This quick-moving mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat - at least until the time that Kinsey figures out the solution. You will also have quite a few laughs along the way. This is a "good read!"

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It's Thursday Already!

Link up and play along with Thursday Thirteen!

I am so tired of being sick, and it's only been three days.

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1. Itchy eyes.
2. Fluid in my ears
3. Tinnitus
4. Sore throat
5. Cough
6. Chest pain
7. Can't sleep
8. Blowing my nose every few minutes
9.  Nose is getting raw
10. People asking if I'm okay
11. People telling me I look terrible
12. No energy
13. Scratchy voice




Sorry this was not a very exciting Thursday 13.  But I will leave this for you to cheer you:

Totally Random

Link up with Stacy for some random Tuesday thoughts.

It is with a heavy heart that I express my deepest sympathy to the Santa Fe, Texas community after the most recent high school shooting.  This has hit close to home, both literally and figuratively, as Santa Fe is just 20 miles south of my home.  I did not know anyone personally affected by the tragedy, but friends and co-workers at my school cannot say the same.  An art teacher from a nearby district created this artwork to express her grief.  It will be used in fundraising efforts for Santa Fe ISD.  These are the two mascots:  The artist's, a gator (Dickinson) and an Indian (Santa Fe).  On each limb are initials of those who lost their lives.

Copyright Laura Masters Doherty

John Barnes, the first officer on the scene is still in critical condition.  There is a GoFundMe account set up for him and his family.  I don't know for a fact that it is legitimate, but I sure hope so.  You never can tell these days.  Here is a list gathered by a local TV station of ways to help the victims of this shooting.

I can only focus on sadness for a short time before I go crazy, so I am going to be really random and move on to other topics.  Please don't see it as rude or unkind.  First, this is what my throat feels like right now.

Clip Art Panda

I am going to try to go to the doctor tomorrow.  It's probably a run-of-the-mill viral infection, but better safe than sorry.  Eight days of school to go, and I get sick!  Murphy's Law!

I have to share this with you!  Have you ever heard of the Baby Mop?  First of all, can you imagine putting this on your baby?  Second, why didn't I think of this?

And what about this?  Half of the upper half of a man, minus the head.  It's called the Boyfriend Pillow.  It even comes with different colored shirts.  Isn't this creepy?

And check this out.  This is actual video footage of me reacting to a lizard!  Hahaha!



I hope you all have a good week.

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Sunday Synopsis

The 17th Suspect by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the story line and writing of this, the 17th book in the Women's Murder Club series. Usually, by the time an author gets to number 7, 8, 12 in a series, the writing becomes predictable and dull. In fact, the 16th wasn't that impressive, but I love James Patterson and the characters of this series, and I have to say this book was better than I expected.

There are two major plotlines in this novel as well as a few subplots. Sergeant Lindsey Boxer of SFPD, gets involved in a series of shootings of homeless people. She crosses some jurisdiction boundaries, encounters personal conflicts, and contends with health issues as she tries to solve the mysterious murders.

Assistant DA Yuki Castellano takes on a court battle unlike any other she has dealt with thus far: a woman accused of raping a man. Is it a battle worth fighting for, or is there something her client is hiding?

Cindy and Claire take a backseat to Lindsey and Yuki in this installment, but they are there to support their friends as they take on cases that have become personal to them. Credit goes to Maxine Paetro, who co-authors with Patterson, for staying true to the characters and keeping the reader guessing. This was a very fun read!

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It's Random Tuesday

Time to link up with Stacy for Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Happy Mother's Day (somewhat late) to all the moms out there!  I hope your day was special.  I had a great weekend.  We spent time at my sister's on Saturday, then on Sunday, I spent time with my twins, then my daughter took me shopping.  Now that she is working, she can do that.  Role reversal!
Here is a picture of my mom, sister, and me.

Seems we can't all look at the same camera at the same time!  And here is a picture of my twins with me.

Not a great one, but a picture of us nonetheless.  GREAT Mother's Day!  I hope yours was, too.

State testing is half over for my grade level.  Did you know that high-stakes tests such as the STAAR (given in Texas) cost upward of 93 million dollars a year?  Did you also know that schools have seen a decrease rather than an increase in actual achievement?  It also doesn't improve teacher performance.  Why the big push, then, for standardized tests?  My personal opinion is that the company who creates the tests is making a ton of money.  I'll get off my soapbox now!

What was your favorite book as a child?  I loved Dr. Seuss!  Go, Dog, Go, Are You My Mother, and of course, Green Eggs and Ham were some of my favorites. How about you?  Here's a crazy guy (via Flicker) reading Dr. Seuss to his dogs!

image credit & more info.

How fun is that?

That's all for this week!  I'm exhausted (from state testing, in case I forgot to mention it).

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  Take 50% OFF Lip Kits. Code LIP50. Limited Time Only!

Sunday Synopsis

Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brodie is a good dog, and we know that all dogs go to Heaven, but Heaven is going to have to wait for Brodie. He just can't cross over to Forever. He still has a job to do, and he's the only dog who can do it. Brodie returns to Earth as a spirit determined to find his boy and save him from the monster. His new friend Tuck returns to Earth with him. These two spirit dogs have a lot to learn. Some of their education comes from Patsy, a sour kitty-cat spirit who may or may not be a true friend. They also encounter the hellhounds. Will Brodie complete his journey in time to save his boy, and will he be able to return to Heaven? Find out by reading Good Dog.

This young adult novel was slow to start. It did pick up, though, and it wasn't as predictable as one might think it would be. There are some surprises. Brodie and Tuck will learn some valuable life lessons along the way.

I do have to mention something that bothered me as I was reading. On every other page, sometimes every page, the author phrases his comments as questions. For example, on page 88, the author says, "Because that cat's words? They shook him up something awful." He could have easily said, "That cat's words shook him up something awful." On page 114, it says, "Because Brodie? That dog loved." Why didn't he just say, "That dog Brodie loved"? I think it would not have bothered me if he had used this technique sparingly, but he used it quite frequently, and the further I read, the more it was used.

This was a quick and easy read, and I think it would be a fun read for someone who enjoys dog stories.

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Thirteen Wishes

Click to play along or visit Thursday Thirteen!

 Today I'm feeling random, so I'm going to finish this statement....

 I WISH... 

 1. that my dad was still alive.

My dad with his grandkids

 2. that I had a wildly popular blog.
 3. I could retire.
 4. we could have spring-time weather during summer. 
5. there was another hour in the day that I could use to get things done.
 6. I could function better on the six hours of sleep I usually get on weekdays.

 7. I was skinny.
 8. I had more time to read.
 9. I knew how to play the piano.
 10. there was a cure for cancer and other debilitating diseases.
 11. I had more time to scrapbook and craft.

 12. that every weekend was a 3-day weekend.
 13. that the Rockets would win the NBA Championship this year!

Have a great weekend!

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Wow! Busy! And Random!

I'm linking up with Stacy for RTT!

Yesterday I started my day off with an 8 AM meeting, taught all day, then drove to see my mom and daughter at the church where I grew up.  Their women's meetings are every first Monday, and this month they had a dinner in (early) celebration of Mother's Day.  While it was fun, it was a loooong day.  I got home at 9 PM and still had chores and school work to do.

Friday evening I went to see our middle school theater present The Little Mermaid, Jr.  They were so good.  I am always amazed at the talent of our young actors/actresses, and they can even sing and dance well, too.  Very pleasant evening.

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Saturday, I went to lunch and a movie with a friend who I haven't spent a whole lot of time lately.  We went to see Blockers.  It was actually funnier than I thought it would be.  Mindless fun.

And... drumroll please... We have 17 school days (and one teacher day) until summer.  I may have to teach for one week this summer, but otherwise, I'll be FREE!  I love what I do, but the older I get, the more they require, and the busier I am.  I just think of all the scrapbook pages I could get done if work didn't get in the way.  And slideshows made.  And books read.  And closets organized.  And so on!

Imagine this headline:

NHL Player Brad Marchand Stops Licking Opponents, On League's Orders

Can you imagine having to be told to stop licking other players?  Crazy!  You can read the whole story here.

And now, some fluff!

Don't forget to treat Mom this coming Sunday!

Have a good week!

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