Whine...there's no more Wine!

I happen to be sitting right in between 2 televisions.  Tara's in her bedroom and Tom's in the den.  Both must be hard of hearing because I can tell you exactly what they are watching....T is watching Nickelodeon's Timmy Turner and Tom is watching that movie about Flight 93...I'm kinda looking over my shoulder at it too as I sit here at the desk in my hall.  (My "hall" is about 8' wide)

Let me just say......I have had TOO MUCH WINE!  Last night Miss T decided to spend the night with her grandma so Tom says let's go out.  We head out to Longhorn for steaks and I start off with wine.  Ran into a friend and then it was a Tequilla shot and I'm not talking about a baby shot either.  It has been soooooooooo long since I've done Tequilla...and I now remember why.  So I kept on with my wine.  Then Tom & I went to a dueling piano bar where I kept on drinking wine.  This morning was wooooooo not too good.  The room was spinning and I said to self  "Self....you'd probably feel better if you expunged this mess from you".  I was beginning to think maybe I'd caught that Florida Funk from Lisa, but that's not the case....I'm not in FLA!  And I actually was cold.  OK, let's get this over with!  Whew!  I do feel better! NOT!  Still cold and boy do I need a shower!  A nice hot shower later and I wrap up in my heavy housecoat. 

Then I remember.....we've got that Wine Tasting event that the boss is sending us too...oh nooooooooo.  OK I'm a trooper.  I did eat something and Tom drove me into town to meet my friend.  We visited all the tents, sipping and smelling and actually learning quite a bit about certain vintages.  A couple of my favorites were there (I'm a Chardonay drinker)....and I picked out a couple new ones to try at home.  A very nice sparkling wine and a blackberry infused wine.  I had hoped there would be some food to go with this but all they offered us was a wedge of bread with some cheese to take around with us plus there were bottles of water for drinking and washing out our glass.

We were there for about 1 1/2 hours ... it was a beautiful day with no clouds and a light breeze, 70 degrees.  Tom was at the mall waiting for me so my friend dropped me off.  I grabbed a bite to eat and did a little shopping.  I picked out a nice light orange linen shirt for Tom and he found a beige/yellow palm tree shirt for himself...they were 40% off so I said get both!  He also bought a new pair of Sperry shoes and some Crew Shave Gel.  Hmp...all I got was some Clinique.  I wanted some shoes too, but didn't come across any that really appealed to me.  Picked up a pizza and brought it home.  I called Nanny to see if she wanted to come down and grab a slice.  She had been shopping with mom and Tara this afternoon and told me what a great time they had.  I've now got a shopping bug.....I so need to shop!  I wanna go to Myrtle Beach, but Tom says "we're going in 12 days" so guess I gotta wait.

My forest finally was mowed yesterday.  I knew their mower was in the shop, but I didn't expect it to take this long.  It was so nice to drive into my yard with it freshly manicured.....and I've noticed the smell of Honeysuckle too.  The honesuckle grows along the fence....that is a delicious smell.  I did find some sour grass growing last week, and if you pick it tender enough it is nice too.  I have 4 rose buds about to show off too.  The Indian Hawthorne's are in bloom.  In the field between Nanny & me there ususally is wild blackberries growing, but they won't be ready till July.  Speaking of fruit, I need to venture to the strawberry fields and make some jam or at least have shortcake with whipped cream.....yummmmm.

Well Miss T has a math quiz made up for me that I MUST have completed before tonight is over or else I'm told I will be in trouble (I'm shaking in my seat).  I'm off to quiz......wish me well!

Wine not Whine

This will be me this weekend.  Can you believe they actually have spit buckets at this event!

Well I'm off to Miss T's first counseling session.  We haven't done this with her for about 3 years and with her anxiety attacks, gotta nip it in the bud!

 

Upcoming Events & Concerns

I need to get out and do something fun for me.......like a Friday night at the movies...maybe see "RV" which starts this weekend.  Robin Williams is such a nut.  Or that new one with Harrison Ford.  I do have plans on Saturday to attend a wine tasting event complements of the Boss.  I so like a good glass of wine -- this should be exciting.  April showers are upon us today but it is supposed to clear up and be a nice weekend. 

May Flowers - my Nanny is on a spending spree for flowers.  She has always had beautiful blooms in her yard and I'm glad to see that she's back in the mood again.  After my Papa died, she didn't care much, but forced herself to keep going.  My yard is so bare....I usually put out pansies if nothing else.  It's just a lot of work and my allergies give me a fit.

Friday Tara has an appointment with a counselor regarding her panic attacks.  It is the same lady she has seen before (3 years ago) so she should be comfortable enough.  I've got to take the time to draft up what the concerns are and why/where all of this comes from.  I'm thinking it's from the end of grade testing pressure that these kids have right now....a lot is riding on this 3 day test.  It determines whether or not they move on to the next grade.  Never mind that she's had Honor Roll A's n B's all year, Nooooo...they have to pass this stinking test.  Guess she could have skipped school all year, came in and took the test and passed it.  It is so tough on the 3rd graders now.  They are actually doing things that 5th graders used to do just a few years ago....and some of these things I didn't even learn till 8th grade!!!!!!!  I'm sure 4th grade will be even more fun!  (ugh!)

So let's all refer to my Tom as "Mega Man" from now on.  I've talked to him about his performance, er lack of, and said he needed his hormones adjusted!  He agreed (knock me over!).  I stopped by GNC last night and the lady suggested the "Mega Man" package of goodies....prostate support, cardiovascular support, virility support, and vitamin supplement!  Allllllllright!  Made especially for men over 50.  Right up his alley.  Guess I'll go out and buy him a cape!  He really WAS mega man yesterday.  He cleaned out the water conditioning tank and refilled it with salt, replaced a broken spigot, replaced the filter cartridge, cleaned the shower, dried clothes, made dinner...........whew!  I'm tired just thinking of it all.

Happy Hump Day

 

I stole this guy from Missie. I would be the cleanest gal around!

Happy Hump Day out there!  The co-worker and I had lunch out with the boss and one of the site super's at Longhorn.  It was a nice, cozy lunch spent discussing our different lives with spouses and children.  But we needed something to lighten up our lunch and I don't mean lo-cal.  The subject of Thialand came up, then I remembered some words of wisdom........

Man who walk through airport door sideways going to Bangkok.

Man with hole in pants feel cocky all day.

Virginity like bubble....one prick and all gone.

BTW....Tara's math teacher said "never mind" about the edges of a pyramid!  Whew!

  

I'm Failing 3rd Grade Math

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.............

To me this is a Pyramid.............It has 8 sides.

But I am also thinking a Pyramid has 6 sides....if it is a fishing weight.

Then matters got worse when I found this one.... 

So there's been a big discussion in our house to answer one stinking little 3rd grade math question.....How many edges does a pyramid have? 

Tara said 5 and I think she just may be right.  Next time I'm in Egypt I'll ask King Tut!

 

Pictures, hopefully

Hopefully these pictures from Sunday's entry will be visible.

  Tom checking on gas.  No that's not my camper.

  Off to get gas...view out my front door.  See? No neighbors.  It's nice and quiet here.  Except for some annoying dogs across the street and to the left back off the road.  There are about 3 homes there.

  My back deck 12x24 - that field is where the goats play and where we used to grow corn, then we had cows. 

  My Nanny's house waaaaaaaay down there.  White house...see??  You can't see it????  It's only 1000 feet away.

 

WOOO HOOO CHA CHING!!!

Imagine my surprise as I look online into the joint checking account balance to find that Social Security has dumped a sizeable amount of cha-ching in!!!!!!  Can you say "Whew" ?  That will be a load off Tom's mind.

Because of Tom's history, I immediately set up 2 transfers out of this account....can't have him buying drinks for the entire area.  Yes, I'm still leary of his having access to so much money...he doesn't have a good track record. 

So yesterday I tried the photobucket thing for adding photos and I see that only 2 have shown up.  I will try to post these via AOL when I get home this evening.  Sorry for the tease!  I'll have to tweek the picture posting.

I Spoke Too Soon

I said it was a quiet Sunday.....Tom goes outside and is mumbling something about a noise...sounds like....let me get a flashlight.....

So he's gone for a while and I'm wondering whatz up.  I go out onto the back deck only to hear him fussing to himself, "...and I don't know what to do".  Last week before last we had 2 baby goats born (4-12).  There was one baby lost on our side of the farm and that is what Tom spied.  I went out to see, and told him to keep an eye on him while I put on long pants and some shoes.  This is what we found:

  It's a wonder I didn't frighten this little guy to his death in the dark and without any make up!!!!  He was so far from his mommy and she couldn't hear him cry.  I went into the field with a towel and scooped him up and told him everything was alright.  Tom called Nanny to turn on the back lights for me and I drove down to meet her with the kid.  When I got him there, all the big goats got spooked --  after all it was 9pm and they were sleeping.  I put him down and told him to find momma, but he ran back to me.  I did this again and he ran back to me, this time going through the fence.  All the time I was yelling for Peanut (the oldest goat in the bunch and the family pet) to take everybody back to the barn.  Finally got him scooped back up and Peanut got the gang led back to the barn.  They must have "talked" because they all stood out there waiting...and baby was "talking" too.  I put him down again and he stood there a minute calling to momma and finally walked over to her.  Boy was he hungry!  We saved the day.

And no....he didn't poop or pee on me!  Whew!

Quiet Sunday Evening

I must have been worn out.  I didn't get out of my bed until 12:30pm.  All that Tara drama and picking up Tom and whew!  But all is quiet here today.  Tara is in a great mood...just like her normal self.  She watched some TV, then studied her multiplication tables and finished reading her AR book.  Me?  It was a typical laundry day.

OK I am gonna test out my pictures of today.  Remember I've said that I don't have any neighbors, well, not many at all. 

This picture is my closest neighbor, my Nanny....see, she's in that white farm house waaaaaaaaay at the back of this picture through the field.

  Whadda ya mean you can't see it???   We'z in the country out here!  She's about 1000 feet away, but she knows the minute I drive in my yard.

We decided on dogs n burgers for dinner....here's Tom checking on the gas.

  No, that's not my camper.  It belongs to Cindilouwho...my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn.  So we're about out of gas and Mr Man heads out for more and to pick up the dinner items.  I wanted a salad too.

  He's off....and this is a view out my front door.  See???  I don't have front neighbors either.  Makes for nice night time, uhm, neckedness.

  This is a view from the back.....no behind neighbors.  But all of that empty space here and between me and Nanny belongs to our family.  It used to be farmed for corn, then my Papa had cows, now there are goats.  It's beautiful.    See the look on her face when I told her what stinks?

  This is the culprit that stinks.  Can you guess what it is?

 I love my grill!  It is stainless steel and heavy!  I really need to get an awning put up over this deck, and I need some gutters.  Did I ever mention that I work for a builder??? LOL.  See, no side neighbors here.

  Typical Tommy with a hole in his lip.  See the stain? Drip.

  It wouldn't be dinner if Tom didn't drip something (tea)on his shirt.  And if he's ever wearing white, we DON'T go into an Italian restaurant.

Anywho, that's about it for our Sunday.  Hope everyone has a great week!

Thanks to Chris for my tag!  I am a bottle blonde and do love shoes!

 

Friday & Saturday Saga

First let me say that I dodged a bullet on Friday.  My single friend kept calling me and asking if I would keep his little girl (same age as T) Friday night.  Well, I'm going to Raleigh to pick up Tom.....he said "she can go and keep T entertained".  HELLO!!!  I'm trying to point out to you that I have plans and duh, it's not gonna be a fun night.  He pursued.  I called Tom and told him about this and I said that "the best thing you can tell me is that you don't want to deal with 2 kids after your trip" and I explained to him how I was stressing over this.  Actually I was getting a mamouth headache.  So I called the guy back and said that Tom really didn't want to put up with 2 girls that late at night.  He said "well tell them to go to sleep".   (!!!!)  I said "yeah right" and that I didn't want to go against Tom's wishes since he'd be tired from the trip and flight...he seemed to understand this time.   WHEW!

Here's my problem.....I am the only friend he has with another child her age.  He has the kid every other weekend and he calls just to "get them together" which ususally ends up in one of them spending the night with the other.  Only thing is these girls are totally opposite of each other and that leads to a lot of turmoil and stress.  I feel sorry for the little girl (we'll call her "M").  Daddy had something he wanted to do, so he was looking for a place to dump M.  Well, he knows when it's his turn, so he should not make other plans for himself.  I understand that sometimes he has to work or there is a pre-planned event (he owns his own business and rides a Harley) and I've said he could drop her off if he needed to work some Saturday mornings.  But I'm gonna have to put my foot down on this kid.  T & M were in daycare together, then they went to the same school for Kindergarten.  Mom & Dad split up & moved into the city which separated the kids.  (YAY! I said)  There really is not a reason for these girls to see each other anymore, since they are not involved in any related activities.

Now that I've got that off my chest...........It was great to see Tom coming down that escalator at the airport.  And he was glad to be home.  His plane was 20 minutes late so Tara & I had dinner at the Crabtree Valley Mall and strolled around window shopping while we waited till 9 to head over to the airport.  All was good until we got to the parking garage....T started hearing unfamiliar noises and was in a strange place.  She began to panic.  I broke off some Xanax for her hoping this would help.  The legs were restless, her breathing was short, her heart was racing and no amount of explanations from me calmed her down.  This went on until we were finally in the truck to head back home (10:30).  It was 12:30am when we finally pulled into our driveway.

Saturday was a bit lazy up till the time to head over to the dance competitions.  It began to get dark and rain.....Tara started her panic routine again.  Scared of the storm.  I should have given her something to calm her down, but I didn't think of it.  I figured she'd get OK especially once we arrived at the auditorium.  WRONG.  She was OK while we were driving (she was watching a DVD), but once dressed and on the wings of the stage, she started with the breathing and flinging of hands.  Even said for the 2nd dance "I can't go on" and I said "Oh yes you can!"  (WILL)  You could see it in her face while she was dancing.  (Jazz got high gold and Lyrical got high gold w/5th overall in points for their category - proud mommy).

Once she was undressed, we headed out for some dinner.....she just wanted to go to sleep (sleep makes the world a better place for someone dealing with a panic attack).  We needed some dinner and awards were to start at 10pm.  So we headed to a Chili's, but the wait was a long one and she was still panic stricken.  We went to a pizza joint and she sat there with her head on my shoulder most of the whole time...refusing to eat or drink much at all.  By this time I had broken off more Xanax to get her through this.  She did not even want to go back for awards but I insisted.  Even Tom was ready to get home.  He does not understand these attacks....he thinks there is something wrong, medically, with her.  I understand them to a degree because I have them.  Guess we're going back to the shrink soon.

During the awards ceremony she wouldn't go up on the stage to be with everyone else.  But as it progressed, she turned into her usual self.  I think what happened was that she began her fears with the storm, and then it was raining at the auditorium so everything was in disarray....no time to be hanging out with friends to distract the fears.  Oh the joy of dealing with anxiety attacks in a 9 year old.  Her dance friends were genuinely concerned....at least they weren't making fun.  They really are an awesome group and the parents & teachers are very supportive and understanding.

So now it's Sunday and she seems like her old, loving, sweet, bossy self again.  Feels like a Jeckyl and Hyde syndrome....................

Friday!

Celebrating Today!!!

F – Fun is just around the corner!

R – Random acts of silliness!

I – Innocently pretending to work!

D – Don’t ask me to cook!

A – A "split" personality!

Y – You can be sure that I will leave work early!

WORK is a 4 letter word!

Firsts & Lasts

~My Firsts~

1. Who was your first kiss? Mike Jones

2. Who was your first prom date? I don’t even wanna remember

3. Who was your first roommate? Hubby #1

4. What was your first alcoholic beverage you drank? Beer then wine spritzer.

5. What was your first job? Outside of the family - JCP

6. When did you go to your first funeral? first one I remember was my GrandDaddy in 1975

7. Who was your first grade teacher?? Mrs. Peterson
8. Where did you go on your first airplane ride? Just over the waterway from the airport then turned around. Step-Dad was learning – it was a 4 seater.
9. Who was your first love? Mike Brown

10. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with or for? I never did this

11. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them? Denise. No I moved and we lost touch a couple years later

12. Who was the first person to send you flowers? My friend Jamie

13. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents house? In a mobile home w/1st hubby

14. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? Mom or husband or Cindilou
15. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were in a wedding? My friend Sonya’s wedding.

16. What's the first thing you do in the morning? Wish I was still sleeping then realize I’d better go peeeee.

Now the LASTS....

1. Last person you hugged? My kid

2. Last Car Ride Today, had to buy new pants! before work

3. Last Time You Cried: months ago
4. Last Movie You Watched? Taxi

5. Last Food You Ate? Lance Toasty

6. Last Shirt Worn? Coral...today

7. Last Phone Call? Cindilou

8. Last Text Message/ Cindilou

9. Last thing you touched? this computer

10. Last Time at The Mall? Monday

11. Last Time You Were Excited For Something: Today to be picking up Tom at the airport in Raleigh.

13. Last Person That Broke Your Heart? hubby

14. Last Time You Were Really Honestly Happy? Today – besides I ripped my pants and got a real good laugh outta it.

Hubby's calls

Poor hubby has called tonight.  He is SOoooooooooooo ready to come home.  His Dad treats him like a kid (he's 54 for crying out loud!).  Anytime Tom has wanted to go out of the house, like to his appointment at the V.A., Dad tags along.  Tom cannot even get out alone.  Dad doesn't want him using his car......OK, maybe some 10+ years ago, Tom was not so trustworthy when it came to going out and coming home at the "right" time.  He was in with the "wrong" crowd, drinking, drugging etc....and his recent DUI's have left his Dad feeling that it's never ending.  But still, he should treat him with a little more respect and just offer the keys to him to run to the store or to the appt at the V.A.  I told hubby that it did his Dad good to get out of the house esp after this surgery, he needed to be getting back to whatever normal is for a 76 yr old retired man.  But Tom takes it as a personal attack that his Dad is like this.....I believe he is even afraid to say to the man "I need to go....can I have the keys"....he probably believes Dad will come back at him with "only if you promise to go there and come RIGHT BACK".

Anyway, Tom's call tonight was particularly sad....the tone of his voice.  You could feel the disappointment in the way he spoke.  Tom wouldn't even make himself a drink while he was there.  This is due to what was said at Christmas when we were there, even though Dad apologized for the comment, the hurt was still there.  Why can't Dad see that he's hurting the children with his "Don" (Godfather) attitude?  He even went so far a couple of years ago to try it on me!  HA!  This southern belle gave that damn yankee the old what for!  Nipped that right in the bud! 

Some history.........Tom has a past problem with drugs.  He had a horrible accident while on the police force which put him in the hospital for 3 months.  Coke became a recreational thing, then a necessity.  This on top of being a heavy drinker made for a not so nice lifestyle.  He lost his wife, kids, home, etc.  Well, he moved here several years later on the urging of a friend, moved to another state, came back to NC.  Then I met him through this same friend.  He talked of wanting to "better" his life and said he was trying - especially where his kids were concerned.  That was 8 years ago.  We've had some issues with the drugs and alky, but through some tough love and ass kicking, I'm happy to say that Tom is way better than he was 8 years ago.  I actually had him arrested 2 years ago because he "fell off the wagon" and brought some of that stuff into my home.  We were going through a tough time of him hanging around the "wrong" crowd again and I'd warned him.  I let him stay in jail for 5 days.  Had to!  Had to let him cool down and come off that stuff and begin thinking for himself again, rather than to have an irate man on my hands.  That's when Dad tried his attitude with me and I let him have it.  Said he "took care of his family" and I gave him "then get yer ass to NC and do it then" and hung up and refused to talk to him any further.

So because Tom has "backslid", Dad feels like he must protect his assets.  Little does he know, this just fuels the disappointment that Tom feels.  He needs to feel loved and wanted, give some merit to his life.  All of Dad's children just "yes" him to death...tell him what he wants to hear, and just go on so he'll shut up.

At home, Tom is allowed to make mistakes.  We talk about them.  We figure out what happened - where it went wrong and why.  I get angry and frustrated but still I love him through it.  Sometimes it's tough love - I try to think about how I would feel if it were me and I was having to face my mistakes.  Yelling and fussing isn't gonna help - all the time, sometimes ya gotta yell, you just have to.  It is natural.  Most of the time, Tom's good outweigh's his bad.  I just have to keep my eyes and ears open for the signs of when he's about to stray into booze land.  I'm not his mother, nor can I babysit all the time, but I can try to defer a lot of the unnecessary deterants.

Wish me luck and lots of it!  I'll be glad to have him home Friday night!  As I said before, I don't like sleeping alone....and I miss being able to reach over and stroke the hairs on his chest before I go to sleep.

Nite all!

Survey says........ME!

The Survey

Name: Sharon
Nickname: Sissy (from my dad & papa)

Birthday: July 5
Birthplace: NC

Current Location: NC

Hair Color: Blonde by Cindy

Height: 5'6.5" and yes the .5 matters!

Right Handed or Left Handed: Right Handed

Your Heritage: Born in da USA, but of Scotch-Irish descent

The Shoes You Wore Today: shoes??? oh yeah, Keds

Your Weakness: Chocolate & bread & shoes

Your Fears: snakes and darkness
Your Perfect Pizza: thin w/real Italian Sausage, not that crumbled up crap

Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: not enough room to write

Thoughts First Waking Up: I gotta pee!

Your Best Physical Feature: eyes

Your Bedtime: between 10-12pm

Your Most Missed Memory: my Papa

Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi

MacDonalds or Burger King: Ack! neither, Wendy’s if at all.

Single or Group Dates: both

Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

Cappuccino or Coffee: coffee, black or with Irish Cream
Do you Smoke: only when drinking

Do you Swear: I swear!

Do you Sing: Yes but not well.
Do you Shower Daily: who is Daily???

Have you Been in Love: Yes

Feeling Cool!

Ahhhh Hump Day......and I only work 1/2 days on Friday's so why should I complain????  So happy hump day to J-land and I hope everyone has great plans for the weekend.  My daughter has a dance competition Saturday evening, so I'll be up to my elbows in costumes, hair and makeup, but it'll still be fun.

Hubby decided yesterday that he didn't want to stay in Florida till next Monday.  (He always said he can't stand more than 4 or 5 days with Dad)  He arrived in Tampa Monday night, and Tuesday evening he was calling me to re-route his flight home for this FRIDAY!  Poor fellow.  American Air wanted to charge some $600 to change the flight home -- HELLO!?!?!?!  (I only paid $205 for R/T ticket)  So I said, hang on, lemme see if Southwest has a flight into Raleigh Friday and lo and behold there were 2.  $129 later he's booked!  Which that's not too bad considering the tickets to begin with on AA or Delta or USAir were near $365....I just happened on a deal for the $205.  So the way I figure it, I have spent what I would have to begin with.  Geeesh, the drahhhhhhhma. 

Tom's Dad is doing OK....major surgery on a 76 yr old man has slowed him down a bit, but all in all he's doing good.  He has the home health people showing up a couple times a week still.  I'm sure he's ready to get back on the golf course.

Well I'm off to a Shrimp-a-roo at a local bank.  My Mom is a shareholder and asked if I'd like to go again this year.  It's nice to be able to hob nob with the rich and infamous.  Plus I know many of these people anyway. 

Have a great night all!

Lack of Justice

Okay now I’m totally aggravated. We’ve recently had a stripper claim to be raped by athletes at Duke University. Finally the authorities have 2 in custody and are looking for a third. The bail was set at $400,000. Locally we have the story of a 13 year old girl having been raped by a family friend on "3 separate occasions". The bail set for these guys is at $10,000 and they have bonded out of jail.

http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=4779935

What is the problem here?? On one hand, we have a "stripper", one who uses her body to make money. (Perhaps this is an unfair comment.) On the other, an innocent 13 year old little girl, a student. Notwithstanding the kidnapping charges, come on…..$400,000 vs. $10,000 for a loss of innocence and a repeated crime???? Where is the justice here? Just because the accused athletes were possibly "stars" in their own field? Is a child’s innocence not worth more than $10,000?? and especially on a repeated offense? Something is definitely wrong with this picture.

Whew!

Grrrrr.....I am so aggravated with my home computer.  However, I shall not complain too much because it does allow me access to the www and my friends.  Thank GOD I have a good friend who is an electronics gu-ru.  She lets me yell and scream when I get stuck and she takes me by the "hand" and leads me through.  Like tonight...I've had trouble in AOL since Friday, dunno why....I restored, it worked fine.  The weekend came and went and AOL was good.  Tonight as I'm finally working through my emails and alerts it has a cyber-fart.  I could not reply to any J-landers and I could not update my own.  Grrrrrr.  Time to get a new system and give this one over to Miss T.

Any way I'm here now.  I must say that I am saddened to learn of our loss of Pam.  She was incredible...who would have thought.  But what a way to go out at the Easter season, Jesus' resurection and Pam's reception...the angels are rejoicing.

Hadon....my my my....I'll just bet you partied it up my dear.  Happy Birthday 2U.

Everybody's Easter looked and sounded absolutely delightful.  Did we all over do it?? Yes....lots of good food and company.  Can we say Alka Seltzer?

Shelly and Martha are going to "surprise" my hubby in Fla this week...I've told him if 2 crazy ladies accost him on the street, just take it like a man!! and say Thank You! LOL.  Seriously, Tom has arrived safe and hungry in Tampa and, after a couple of stops, is safe in Bayonet Point with the recuperating Dad and lil brother.  His Dad had a rough day on Sunday, very sore and still bloated from the surgery.  I'm sure he tried to do things he shouldn't have and just over worked his traumatized body.  I know they are glad to have him there to help out, but I'll miss him so!  I don't like to sleep alone.  About Thursday I'll be going nuts...but hopefully Friday I'll have my "girls night out" and Miss Tara has a dance competition Saturday afternoon which should last till about 11pm when the awards are over.  Maybe we'll stay for them.  The competition is only about 45 minutes from home this time (yay!) so it shouldn't be too bad. 

My step-brother was very generous with his time here.  Arriving on Friday at 5pm, he had dinner with us and toured the beach.  Saturday he and his dad spent the day running errands and working at the farm.  Sunday of course was family day with church, dinner, then he hid some eggs for Tara and made a fuss over the new little nephew.  Later he went for his first golf outing .  Today they went to Myrtle Beach...he'd never been, then visited his sick uncle.  He will head back to LA tomorrow morning.  He says "company is like fish....after three days they start to stink".  He has a small part on "Passions" for next week and some other "irons in the fire".  Too bad I don't watch that one.  Funny how he fits right in with us....he wasn't raised with us and has only been in our lives for about 10 years now.  He waited till he was 18 to "meet" his Dad and thank Dad for allowing him to grow up in a normal lifestyle, not butting in like other ex-dads etc.  My step-Dad always paid his child support, didn't grumble about it, and sent extra on birthday's and Christmas just because, and stayed out of the kids life in order to "not complicate" things.  And because of this the kid was totally understanding and grateful.  He really has a mature attitude about it all...I mean he could have come out with the "why me's" and anger, but he sees the real big picture.

Well, tomorrow is gonna be different for me.   I've got to get up at the crack of dawn to get sleepy head up and ready to shove into the school system.  I've been lucky lately and Tom's been letting me sleep late, but not this week.  Good thing she's buying lunch this week...one thing off the list.  So, I'm off to sleepy land....I hope.  I hope I sleep good.   Nite nite all!

Sharing Easter

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Sunday as much as we did ours.  Tara got us up to show off her bunny loot.  Then we decorated the Lamb cake...I had to make the Egg cake cause the lamb messed up and did not want to stand.  Tara helped with the decorations.  Then it was hurry up and rush to get ready for church.  We went to my Mom's church...it was a nice service with communion served as the preacher read from Matthew the details leading up to the crucifixion and ressurection. 

We hurried home to get our goodies out of the oven, changed clothes and headed over to Mom's.  It was a beautiful 85 degree day and we all enjoyed dinner and the fellowship.  I even got Miss T to pose by Grammy's azaleas and the other pic is of my nephew "hunting" eggs...see how well they were hidden right in the middle of the floor.   After dinner, my step-brother went out to play golf with the other (2) brothers.  Tom & I spent some time down at the dock just enjoying the breeze and watching the various boats go by.  Good news here - Tom though he had lost his small fishing pole some 3 years ago, but he found it down at mom's dock!  Imagine his surprise.   The batteries in my digital died so there were just a few shots I could upload.  Others I took with my 35mm...I love my 35!

Once we made it back home, Tom began his duty of packing.  So tomorrow he is off to Tampa for a week....I'll be a batchelorette for a while, wonder what kind of trouble I can get into???  Already made plans to go out with a girlfriend on Friday. 

Wow...it is almost 1am....and tomorrow is gonna be a long day.  Goodnight to all!

Hoppy Easter Eve & Good News

Hi J-land friends.  Thank you for all your kind words and well wishes for the little girl.  My co-worker and I have talked to the parents and they are going forth with everything they should be doing; rape counseling center, courts, attorneys, doctors.  Hopefully everything will turn out for the best.  The pervs will get their day in court and hopefully find new lives in a not so cozy prison.

When I got home from work Friday, I checked the mailbox as usual.  Inside was a thicker than usual letter from the Department of Social Security.  I didn't open it.  I waited till Tom was done with his shower and dressed to go out.  Told him to sit down and I slid the envelope to him, upside down, on the table.  When he turned it over and seen the "from" he glanced at me with a look of "what now?" and opened it like a trooper.   We've been fighting this since July of 2004 and each envelope has always been "sorry" and we have an attorney involved and we've recently written the Congress man to tell him to HELP!  Well....the letter said.........

are you ready for this?????

the letter said "we totally approve your disability and it is retroactive from July 2, 2004"   WOOOO HOOOO!  You talk about a happy camper (doing the happy dance).  Tom has not wiped that grin off his face yet.  This is such a load off of his mind.  He has hurt so bad for so long, he really needed someone to validify his pain.  This is the Ace!  The letter said all should be settled within 60 days.  Yippeee!

It was an absolutely beautiful day with weather hitting near 90.  The trees and bushes are glorious and showing off for a great Easter weekend.  Tomorrow is to be just as nice.  I had some errands to run in town this morning so we picked Tara up from her sleepover with Cassie and headed out.  I picked up some mineral treatment packets for my hair and 2 casual shirts.  Tom & Tara had been dumped out at Target so by the time I got to them they had found all they needed....Tara picked out a Barbie Vet Dog and Mr T found some cases for her gameboy games.  Wow....a light load for them.

Guess the shopping trip of today was light compared to Friday night.  My step-Dad's son got in about 5pm from LA and we all met at an Italian restaurant.  Tom & I were there first so we ordered appy's of Toasted Ravioli and Calamari which were served just shortly after the rest of the family showed up.  We had good food and good conversation then it was off our separate ways.   I noticed that the mommy'mobile headed towards Wrightsville Beach and Tom & I ended up in Walmart.  We picked up 3 pair of shorts for Tara and another bathing suit, shampoo & conditioner for me, and Mr Bunny picked up the Bratz Genie movie for Tara.  I did buy a bamboo plant for my Nanny and I finally bought a new coffee maker, since Tom broke mine about a month ago....been getting coffee at the gas station!  At Boater's World I splurged for me some new Sperry Get Wet sandles...they are so comfortable...better than my Rainbow's.  I also found a Little Pirate one piece outfit for Chase and on the back it said "poop deck"...it's too cute.

Tara was with a friend overnight Friday (and with Tom's good news)  I'm thinking "hmmmmm  a nice night ALONE with my hubby".  Well it was ALONE.....after promises of a good time, I'll give you 3 guesses who was first asleep.  Oh well.....same old story diff day!

My Nanny came up and had dinner with us tonight...I roasted potatoes with garlic and lemon pepper and we grilled steaks.  After she left I began baking.  I have the stand up lamb pan and attempted to make him....well, he fell.  I don't understand why.  But all I have is HALF a lamb, so I got out my egg shaped pan and put in another cake.  It's still baking.  Tomorrow we'll have dinner at Mom's.  Tom has prepared baked ziti; I'll make a brocolli casserole and take the cakes.  Mom is cooking mashed potatoes, beans and a ham.  All in all there will be 11 at the table at 1pm.  Tom says we'll go to the Baptist church this time....that will be good for Mom & Nanny to have us there as well as Adam.  Plus it is near our homes and we won't be wasting time and gas running into town to his big fancy Cat-lick church.

Well, it is getting late and the bunny is due here any time now.  You know what they say.....if you're not asleep, they won't stop.  Boy he and Santa really have a good racket going here to get you to bed on time!  So if I want any good chocolate, I'd better get my butt under some covers.

Good night all and have a wonderful Easter!

 

Lil Girl Update

The little girl's dad was just in...he is remarkably calm, but he's had 10 days to come down from this.  He'd like for "Bubba" to get a hold of these guys....we told him that "he would when they got to jail".  And we so hope this happens to them.  I know God will deal with these people eventually, but the little girl has been scared from the beginning of this and as humans we want the pedofile to suffer just as much and more.  (You know how...the dull knife, inch by inch while dangling from a tree.)  Sad enough that their wedding pictures have this man in them, dancing and other poses.  Now their wedding photos have also been ruined because of this.  The news media has been called so these guys pictures will be plastered throughout our viewing area so that everyone will know.....trouble is, if they show the neighborhood or tell to many facts, someone will recognize the victim and she doesn't need this.  It will be bad enough living with this and having to relive it through statements and utlimately testimony at the trial.  Parents worst nightmare....someone you thought you were good friends with and could trust.  Makes me stop and take a hard look at the friends and acquaintences around us.  And now every Easter season will probably trigger a sad memory.

Thursday's Mess & Black Friday Findings

as promised

Thursday’s Mess….Oh we just heard some terrible news in our office.  Our brick mason’s 13 year old daughter was raped.  I cannot imagine the pain and anger these people are dealing with.  All I know is that it makes me ill to think of these things happening.  Thank GOD that the parents know about this and that this little girl doesn’t have to deal with this as some big secret.  As hard as it is to imagine, I hope it was not a family member…..is that a proper request???  I mean, to think of it being a member of your own family is bad enough, but if it were a stranger or someone who you would never be able to catch up with…..there is no easy answer here.  And with Hadon’s new book entries I so just want to run home and hug my little girl so hard.  She is so sweet an innocent and I’d like to keep her that way!  Dear Jesus….all I can pray for is the blood of Jesus to surround her and keep her safe.

Friday’s Update.  YES the guys that did this to this little girl were arrested.  The sad thing is that the man is a friend and co-worker and it was him & his brother who attacked the girl.  The mother was best friends with the wife and in the friends wedding and even hosted a baby shower for them.  Her daughter had been babysitting for the couple.  At 2am the mother woke up and felt the need to check in and called the girl.  She said everything was fine.  At 3am she was raped by both men …only one waswearing protection.

 

And if that weren’t enough, the boss’s 17 yr old daughter has missed some 8 days of school in a row, which he is surprised to find out since he’s been dropping her off at school every morning.  So he decides to stake out the scene with one of our supervisors (thinking he’d have to confront a boy)…..who do you think shows up to pick up the girl not minutes after?  Not what you’re thinking…………….the grandmother!!!!  HELLO!?!?!?!  Seems the girl told grandma that there were “tests” and she didn’t need to be there.  And grandma didn’t bother to check on this with the Dad?

 

On the notes of abuse and children, I remember having an Uncle (not blood related) who we all thought of as a dirty old man.  I don’t know what is was about him exactly, but the old “come sit on my lap” thing made us all uncomfortable.  I don’t recall that he ever got “out of line” it just was weird.  Now he may have just been a loving man for all I know, but my girl cousin also mentioned the same discomfort.  My Nanny was surprised to learn we felt that way about him.  We were always in the presence of other people, so things were obvious to the eye, we just gave him the customary “hug and kiss” and got back to what we were doing as quickly as possible.

 

Well….I guess that’s my “black” Good Friday stories.  I hope everyone has a good Easter Weekend! 

The Bell

with me....and I want to share it with you

 Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.  This alone is amazing.

If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

 

Thursday's A Mess

 

 

Today was full of surprises...I'll elaborate on that more tomorrow.  Last night was also full of surprises and one my hubby is patting himself on the back about.  He must be preparing for his 7 day trip to Florida without me!  That's all I'm saying! 

My Tara had a panic attack today at the end of her dance class.  I hate it for her.  She had suddenly got pains in her abdomen and of course it scared her.  I don't know if was from eating before dance, then stretching and dancing so much or if it was gas....now I say GAS because on the way home she began letting out some noise.  Once home she continued and now seems happier than ever.  She just finished reading me the Night Before Christmas story.....just before Easter????  Well, I guess that fits.  I mean it was Christmas first.

I am prone to panic attacks and I'll just assume she gets it honestly.  I am able to handle hers better than my own LOL.  I get her to be still and breathe deeply and slowly and she'll say silly things and so will I....this usually gets her mind off her problem and lets her relax some.  She goes to sleep with her radio playing....I remember those days myself.  Shoot, I still do this if I'm away from home, say in a hotel and especially if there is outside noise that I want to drown out.  You can probably find me next week doing this too since Tom will be away.  Kind of my way of shutting off my wandering mind.

I was able to talk my Mom into considering to have Easter dinner at her house on Sunday.  My step-Dad's son is coming in from California tomorrow night.  He's been on Broadway, All My Children, several community theatre plays and musicals, and recently made his TV debut on Showtime in "Sleeper Cell".  We never had much to do with him as his mother moved to Calif when he was just a baby and my step-Dad decided that it would be better to NOT complicate the kids life by interfering.  So lil step-bro was quite understanding and gracious for that and has enjoyed getting to know us.  When he turned 18 he contacted us by letter, and later came to NC to meet n greet.  He was here last July just before my nephew was born, so he'll get to meet lil Chase this weekend.  Should be a fun weekend!

I hope everyone has a grand weekend and a Happy Easter if that's your thing!  We'll be enjoying the eggs and food right along with ya!

Humpity Day & Misc Thoughts

Happy hump day and thank GOD this weekend is s'pozed to be a beautiful one with temperatures in the low 80's.  Hope the eggs don't spoil before we can find them on Sunday.  Speaking of Easter, I was thinking about having the family over for dinner, but then I said "nahhhhhhhhhhhhh".  I think I'll call my Mom and tell her that I'm inviting everyone to HER house for dinner Sunday.  LOL  That way maybe we'll have a little egg hunt with my Tara and my lil nephew....he's only 9 months but it would be a hoot to get pictures of him and his first Easter.  Who knows...maybe if the weather is REALLY nice, we'll take a boat ride.  Now there's one to think about....we'll have the Easter Egg Hunt over on one of the islands!  Cool!!!! 

I'm pretty sure I've got everything ready for Mr Bunny.  There is a new Bratz movie out on DVD yesterday that I may get.  Although I just bought her the "Narnia" gameboy game and Season 3 of Full House.  She loves those shows and they're pretty good for her to watch, ya know the family values and all.

My hubby is being awful sweet today....I've been telling him how he needs to "show" some love not just say it.  I mean, anyone can say the words.  We just get caught up in a rut of the way things are done...kid goes to school, comes home, homework, I'm working, then home, eat, ready for bed, TV to wind down and Zzzzzzzz.  BORING.  Tom surprised me on Sunday with flowers - that's a first.  And tonight he's been especially attentive.......hmmmmmmmmmm. What the hell am I still doing on this computer????????  I'm gonna go check things out!  (Wish me luck!)

Nite to all........

Nickle n Dimes and Report Card

You know the feeling of being "weighed" down?  I dump out my pocket book and count out the change that I have accumulated.  $1 in pennies; $3.60 dimes; $2 nickels and $10.25 in quarters.  And there is more in the car, but that's for the drive thru when you need it.  Reminded me of when I was a little girl, my Papa would tell me that I could have the money if I'd count it out and roll it up. Woooo hooo!  So if I could just discipline myself to put this money aside, at the end of a year I could have enough for A TANK OF GAS!!!!

Gas is going, going, gone crazy --- up 5 cents in one afternoon here.  It's at $2.67 for the lowest in the area.  So where's the hurricane?????  I mean, the Easter bunny "hops" so it's not like we're having to fund his route.  Most are going to go to church anyway, so it's not like a major "get in the car and go" festival.  When is someone gonna file a complaint in the Federal system to halt the price gouging???  Hell, I'll sign the petition.  It's gonna get so that I can't afford to go to work!  I can hear that call now..."Hello boss?  It's me, um, I'm not coming in today cause the bank won't loan me anymore gas money."  "Hello boss?  I've got a disease called fundzalow."

And what did I do last night but get in my gas guzzler 02 4door GMC truck and tour my town.  (You know the sound that the straw makes when you're sucking the bottom of a glass??)  Yep....we toured some area's which I had not been to in so long.  My mom said the other day she was taking the kids to the park and I said "what park?".  Oh my.  Boy have things really been built up.  See?  All I do in my town is come home and sleep.  Most of my time is spent at work or the dance studio.  I rarely drive north of my home and when I do it is for a specific reason...like to go to Mom's. 

The Report Card is in!!  Everything is normal - A's & one B.  BUT, get this, she gets an "N" in music!  What???  So Tom says WTH? and drives back to the school to find out why....seems miss priss has not taken any tests in music this 9 weeks.  HUH?  How do you do this??  How does a 9 year old decide that she's not gonna take tests in music?  Guess I'll have to wait till I get home and talk to Tara (do thewords summer school scare them anymore?) and send a note to the music teacher.  I know it's only music, but if she does this now, who knows what she'll try to get away with in other classes.  Tom had taken Tara over to her Grandma's to help out with her little cousin (9 months old) but he quickly went to retrieve her, cause to him going to Grandma's was more of a treat than necessity.  She still has to pass her 7, 8 & 9 multiplication tables this week then 10, 11 & 12 next.

Why was 5 afraid of 6?  Cause 7  8  9 !!  LOL  I love that one!

Wish me luck!

 

Prayer & 15 Things To Consider

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it's ME.

1. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
2. Dear God, I have a problem, it's me.
3. Growing old is inevitable ... growing UP is optional.
4. There is no key to happiness, the door is always open.
5. Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted.
6. Do the math ... count your blessings.
7. Faith is the ability to not panic.
8. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
9. If you ! worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
10. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home everyday.
11. Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
12. The most important things in your house are the people.
13. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still.
God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

Happy Days!

First let me say a big HAPPY 5-0 BIRTHDAY on Monday to Pam over at Just One Girl's Head Noise.  What a brave and beautiful lady she is. 

Now that my weekend is winding down, I'm trying to do the same.  We had a full couple of days.  When I got home from work on Friday everyone wanted Pizza of course.  But one of our favorite joints had been sold (didn't know that till we got there) so we went off to the ritzy titzy pizza joint.  I call it that because it has a bar and a lounge with tv's and couches, and candles on the table and serves doctors and lawyers and business men and us!  It's quite the upscale pizza experience....not the usual red n white plastic table cloth kinda place.  Hey, large 1 top pizza = $18  that's about $5 more than the locals, but worth it for a great pizza.  (I hate Domino's!! and the locals are so greasy.)  Plus this place has the best Alfredo sauce...yummmmmmmm...very creamy!! and I mean real CREAM!  Then it was off to the world of WalMart to pick up some knock around shorts for Miss Tara for the summer, and home early.  We had to get an early start on Saturday.

The parade line up on Saturday was scheduled for 7am!  Now that meant me getting up at 5:30am (ugh).  Tara was excited to be going even if it was still dark outside.  I had a slice of cold pizza for breakfast...she and her dad wanted doughnuts, so we stopped at Dunkin Donuts.  She's not impressed with DD...we're the Krispy Kreme kind, being Suthern and all.  Well, we headed off for downtown.  When we got there, the "guards" didn't want to let us down to the line up area.   My DH says "I'm  handicap and we've got to get the little one dropped off".  The first guy says basically "so what"....but I was determined to get as close to the area as possible.  So "guard" #2 was more sympathetic to the whole handicap/little girl scene and told me OK, but once I'd drop them off, I had to turn around and come out to park somewhere else.  Whew!  That's all I really wanted.  Except that by now, the roads were being blocked off and I ended up parking some 8 blocks away!!  Geeesh whatta long walk.  At least it was warm .... 65 degrees and sunny so far, butwindy!   I mean we're right on the river so I anticipated it being windy.

That long walk reminded me that my inside was still healing...it kinda gave me the "I'm still here" story by the time I reached the line up area.  So I asked the dance boss lady "can I ride instead of walk beside the float?" and she said yes.  Little did I know I was going to end up working the sound system for our float's 2 dances.  That worked out pretty good!  Some of the girls told Tara "you're Mom is nutz"....ya know, they're right!  And of course they kept asking "what time is it?" and "when will we start?".  The parade usually begins at 9am and we were entry 89...we had 3 floats...actually we were on the long beds of 18 wheelers, still there were 3 of us.  The first one was our cloggers.....ours was 2nd with 2 hip hop numbers...and the 3rd was the little guys doing a cute jazzy "car wash" number.  The Azalea Festival Parade was under way! 

Tom met us after the parade down in the Cotton Exchange near the dance platform.  We grabbed some street food (sausage n peppers and pizza) and strolled down through the vendors.  I noticed that I was now closer to where I had parked (still 5 blocks away) so I decided to go on to get Tara's costumes and move the truck closer to the stage while they walked back to the performance area.  It's a good thing I moved closer, because the weather changed quickly just before we were scheduled to dance on stage, and they cancelled the rest of the afternoon events.  We had to hurry to our vehicles or chance being soaked by the impending rain and/or hail.  Just as well for me because I was wearing out by now and it was only 3pm!!!  And do you think I remembered to take my camera?????????NOOOO!  So I don't have any pictures to show for my effort.  (Bad Mommy) Just a couple of minutes on the video camera of Tara horsing around near the stage.  AND...the picture of our float/truck showed up in the paper on Sunday but I didn't make it....just 2 people to the right and there I'd be, but NOoooo, Mr Photographer, they didn't chose my picture!  So much for my fame and fortune.

To top off my Saturday, Tara wants to have Cassie come over for the night........are you kidding???  OK, but I had to lay down some rules because I was butt tired!  Tom & I ordered chinese and Tara had left over pizza.  Cassie made herself a salami sandwich.   

Tom's Dad was scheduled to come home on Saturday, so he gave a call to the house and there he was.  Up and around doing great.  He's got the home health care people coming in and out this week, doing check ups and taking blood.   He was so glad to be home and eating "real" food.  I know whatcha mean there pops....I had my fill of it this January when I had my hysterectomy. 

We were in bed by 9:30pm and the girls were still going strong.  I was so tired that I used my cell phone to call the house phone and tell the girls to calm down and get quiet!  (Lazy)  Of course they were up at 7:30 Sunday morning but luckily they didn't bother us.  I dragged myself outta bed about 9:30 and cooked bacon and eggs w/cheese for the girls.  Once this was all cleaned up and outta the way, Tom took off for the grocery store for dinner fixins and my Sunday paper.  He never forgets my paper.  This time he surprised me with a bouquet of cut flowers....he never does that!!  How sweet!!  We spent the afternoon on the deck in the warmth of this beautiful Spring day.  It was cooler today than Saturday, but not as windy by the afternoon.  It was so nice that the girls decided to put on bikini's and "get a tan" on the deck.  They were so cute, so grown up looking laying there on their towels, sunglasses on, CD boombox playing, and reading their books.  My how they are growing up so fast.  I did snap a couple of pictures of them with my 35 since my digital is at work.  Cassie didn't want her pic made (she's a bit chubby) but eventually gave in.

My Nanny came by today and we talked about old times and people we've run into lately.  She was saying that her newest "great grandbaby" (my lil nephew) just doesn't like her.  We tell her that he just has to get to know her better first.

The "yard boys" had been here on Saturday.  It is so nice to come home and the lawn is cut.  I used to do it and loved it, but my allergies give me such a fit and I didn't have the time anymore, plus my NYcity born hubby didn't know how or want to.  Besides, I'd been mowing grass since I was about 9 years old....it was time I retired.

Speaking of retiring.....I am worn out so I'll be saying "nite, nite, don't let the bed bugs bite".  Hope everyone has a great week coming up!

 

Home early but NOT! & Duct Tape

For once I go home an hour early on Wednesday to attend a school function with the kid only she has her days mixed up...it was s'pozed to be Tuesday - yesterday.  OK, so we all head back home and I actually cook dinner for a change - fried pork chops - they were delicious, even the hubby raved.  As soon as I am finished with my meal, my Nanny pops up at my back door with "ya wanna go with me to Lowe's?"  Of course I say NO, but we all end up heading out to the store. 

At least I was able to accomplish one thing for my self...I needed a flange for a 3/4" pipe to be able to sit this on the floor.  It is a clothes hanger for dance traveling.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to "hang" several dance outfits near your designated station and not have them end up in the floor or wadded up in the dance bag?  Plus this weekend we'll be out in the open area full of wind from the river...need to be able to keep up with the outfits.  It was 8:45 when we got home....and still had miles to go to be ready for bed.

And Tom bought a new toilet seat....now here's a cute story.  One morning this past weekend I heard him complaining while he's in the throne room....seems he cracked his seat (yes HIS seat - I use a diff bathroom) and then later split it all the way.  So he's complaining now that he's gonna get pinched (poor baby).  Well, he's the plumber, so I figure he'll handle this.  Later I walk through the bathroom into my closet and notice that he has repaired the toilet seat.........with duct tape!  Such a good invention this duct tape...it's everywhere! and can remedy most anything.

Up in the country one day I actually laid eyes on a truck with the bed full of moving boxes etc and these were held securely in place with......duct tape.  Yep...all the way from one side of the truck body to the other just like a rope.  Musta been someone really into Nascar --- using the 200 mph tape that way!  I'm also told that duct tape will remove warts.  Yep, just cover the wart w/duct tape and replace every 2 days for a week.  Something in the glue.....imagine what it is doing to the paint on that truck!  Wonder if it will work the same way if we wrapped our homes with it during a hurricane???????? Hmmmmmmm.

Upcoming and Unfinished Business

I am reflecting on all that still needs to be done and my list of things forthcoming.

I did make a dent in some house chores this weekend, but it was so darn pretty outside that I found myself desiring the deck.  I fought the notion and went about my business.  There is still a lot to be done.  I must organize the extra extra bedroom which has become a free for all room.  (This is why I could only find one bowling shoe)  If only I had a little more energy......this hysterectomy recovery reminds me that I cannot always move the way I want to or need to.  I.E.  I cannot do the "Twist", not that I want to, it's just that a lot of things in life we don't realize we do until that jolt of pain strikes, like simply using one hand on the wheel to turn the car around a corner.  April 17 is the 3 month anniversary of surgery...I'm told it takes a good 6 months so I guess I should be glad that I am half way there.  Still......

Purchased one of those sewing boards this weekend thinking that I could just plop it down on the floor and lay out my stuff.  Sure, that works...only my body said WTH???  Sitting and stretching and reaching.....grrrr.....that's when I felt the pangs of pain of what seemed to be the still healing parts of my insides.  You know the ones where they cut and stitched to something else....pulling like taffy only without the pleasure.  I managed to get the dress cut out and even cut out 2 pocketbooks - one for Tara and one for her friend.  I may have enough fabric to make a skirt for the friend, that way her purse will match too.  I always try to buy extra fabric cause ya never know what else you'll want to use it for.

One of last year's dress creations was getting a bit short (my kid is a bean pole) so Tara asked me to get some kind of lace or eyelet for the bottom.  I picked up a cute little 2" cotton eyelet and pinned it on and added some to the top just to dress it up.  Yes, I said "pinned it on" and not "sewed"...haven't got to that part yet.........sigh.  I figure now that I've got all the patterns cut, I'll get it all done at one time (yeah right!).  Since Miss T is such a bean pole, I only have to lengthen some of the patterns I already have (yay!) but I've noticed that I will need to move into the 10-12-14 patterns for Winter or next year's creations.  I get excited when I see the many different crafty ways out there and wish I could just spend my time creating things...maybe to sell or just give away for birthday or Christmas.  Ahhhh, but the pay sucks!

That is why I must get a handle on my disorganization!

Which this is a hard task when there are so many other distractions.  You know the one - Mon-Fri JOB.   I travel some 15 miles one way to work which means a good hour round trip spent in travel each day.  Then 2 nights of dance (back into town, but luckily Tom brings her), and then this weekend is the Festival and we have to be downtown (back to town) by 7am on Saturday to be ready for the Dance Float in the parade and then she dances at 3-4:30.....whew!  It's an all day hurry up and wait.  Sunday is Palm Sunday - we'll probably go to church (back to town) and then the next weekend is Easter with Tom leaving for FL on that Monday!

Whew.................(was there any Sharon time in there????) 

I think I need to start out each day with the GO and ACCOMPLISH attitude  sisk boom bah!  instead of trying to catch 30 more minutes of Zzz's.  Maybe I'll try that...........next week!

A New Version of the Good ol Days

Are You Lonesome Tonight (Senior Citizen Version)

Good Ol Days

I "borrowed" this from Barb over at Confessions of an Angel Waitress

Where I Come From…….

Where I come from the times were special and the neighbors were more like family members than acquaintances. I spent my days casually playing under bushes. We pretended they were forts. Other times I could be found up in a tree, just climbing or hanging around…literally.

Once Spring arrived we would enjoy "sour grass" (I still do to this day!) and while chomping on this we’d lay back in the grass and watch the clouds float by. They always made us feel like we were moving too. We made pea-shooters out of cane poles and I had a swing tied way up in a tree branch. Crickets would sing us to sleep at night through opened, screened windows.

Saturday’s in the Summer were spent at the beach. Sunday’s it was always off to church and then home to Nanny’s cooking. It was a nice, lazy day, which usually brought over some extra family members. They would eat and "set a spell" on the porch in a rocking chair or in folding lounge chairs out in the yard. Kids would be running around while the adults sat around drinking tea and eating cake or pie or both. A special surprise would sometimes show up and we’d get a visit from a favorite aunt or uncle from afar.

I was the first baby born on our street in a very long time. I was anxiously awaited for and when I arrived in July I was told it was as if it were Christmas in our neighborhood. Almost every neighbor attended the same church we did, except for one family. Nevertheless, we all got along great and kept our eyes out for each other. Our doors and windows were never locked. I roamed freely in the woods and up and down the street. Never a fear of abduction or getting lost and we could always hear when someone yelled out our name to "come home".

Where I come from, we had respect for each other…..lived by the Golden Rule. I have been sent out to "get a switch" when I’d done something wrong. Got spanked in school and once again when we got home for getting in trouble at school. Feared and revered our elders.Cracker Jack’s had real prizes.

In our neck of the woods, mud pies were made by the side of the road in a puddle. Tadpoles were caught in the ditch and kept in a mason jar….till they died usually. We chased fireflies and kept them in a mason jar too. (Mason jars were very versatile but we were not allowed to drink from them….they were for "puttin up" string beans.) We drank ice cold soda from a glass bottle and there was a bottle opener permanently nailed to the window sill.

Those were the good ol days.

Grown Ups!

25 ways to know you have grown up

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up." 8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
10. You're the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door won't turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You take naps.
17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset,
rather than settle, your stomach.

19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and
pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good sh!t."
21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. "I just can't drink the way I used to" replaces "I'm never going to
drink that much again."
23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
25. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate
them instead of asking "Oh shit what the hell happened?"
Bonus:
26. You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that
doesn't apply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old ass.

27. What really hurts is when you have been grown up for so long that
you realize much of this list actually applies to your grown up children.

We Sprung!

I love Daylight savings time!!!!  I love the fact that it will not be dark as I drive home and that I will have time at home that is not dark as well.  Now I can "see" my yard....I can sit on my back deck and feel the warmth of the sun.  We will be able to "see" what is cooking on the grill.  Won't be long until the Azalea's are in full bloom and the mosquito's are out looking for lunch!  Ugh, that has got to be one useless bug!  What was God thinking????  I'm putting that one on my list of questions to ask the Big Guy.

I also like clocks.  Doesn't matter that I have one in my living room already and two in the kitchen and one sitting in the floor looking for a wall (it used to be in the living room over my piano), not to count the various bedrooms etc .... I'd have a bunch of them.  Until days like today when they all have to be changed.  Guess it is all one big game to me...making sure they are all on the same minute.  It will take me about 1 week to get my body used to this change, but overall I LOVE IT!

Saturday I had a question that I'm not so sure has an answer.  I spent about 1-2 hours ironing while washing/drying.  Why is it that I have all this laundry and never anything to wear?  I am so disgusted with my wardrobe....no, I'm more disgusted with my weight is more like it.  (The only other time I weighed this much was the day Tara was born!)  But, too, I spent time Friday in the mall looking at tops and I could not find what I wanted.  So disappointing.  I have a lot of casual clothes, but I wanted to spice up some things with some really cool tops.  Oh well, eventually something will come up.  Better yet, something should go down!  like my weight!   Grrrrrrr....  I know, I know, get rid of the chocolate and Sundrop (soda), lay off the breads and pastas.   I need a trip to Florida to Bealls to shop.  I can usually find things there...although I wasn't too successful this past Christmas when I was there......(sigh)...

Tara was invited to see "Ice Age 2" today with her friend Cassie which gave Tom and I time alone to hit Walmart for some Easter basket shopping.  This will probably be the last year for all the "fairy tale" stuff.  She already knows the toothfairy is, well, ME.  I have all ideas that the Easter bunny will be the next one to get the axe....I don't even wanna think about Santa (although I probably will keep that one going just because of the element of surprise).  In the beginning I toyed with the idea of not starting these traditions, but I thought "why not?" especially when all the friends would be experiencing the joys of being surprised by a mysterious happening.  It is nice to have something to believe in that is fun and somehow "magical".  Besides, kids that don't "believe" can be so mean to kids that do.   Ahhhh, she is growing up so fast.

We've all "sprung" forward and Spring Break has officially ended.  The weather is great here now.....75 today....80 tomorrow.  It probably will not get much lower than a 65 in the day from here on out.  It's those 98's that bother me.  75-80 I can learn to love!  I am glad that this will be a nice week weather-wise to go back to school with.  The kids will be so excited to have sunny warm days. 

Tom's Dad has just been moved from ICU to a private room tonight which is GREAT news.  I am so relieved that they were able to repair his abdominal aneursym.  Tom was able to say "Hi" to him earlier and he said he sounded like someone who's just had surgery should...groggy and weak.  He's a tough old bird, he'll be just fine.  They had told him he'd probably be in the hospital 2 weeks which would put him getting out on the 12th --- just in time for Easter.   Danny, Tom's brother, lives at home with Dad so he'll be there anyway to help out and I"m sure they'll send in home health care.  (Danny has lupus and is a 2x kidney transplant recipient)  The youngest daughter will be there for the Easter weekend, then Tom will fly to Tampa on Monday the 17th to stay a week and help out.  How will I survive a week without him (hehehehehe) ??  No, really....HOW?   He gets up and gets Tara up and out the door for school (drives her there and picks her up), helps with her homework and packs her lunches plus he gets her to dance classes on Tues & Thurs.  Yikes.....I've been so spoiled lately being allowed to sleep late....OH NO!!!!!  The pressure!  Time to re-group.

 

 

2 Days Behind

Friday 5'rs 2 days late

LET'S PLAY!!!

 

1. How do you like your pizza and who do you think has the best pizza?

mmm I like Italian Sausage and Pepperoni....we have 2 locals "LaPiazza" and "Brooklyn Pizza"...they make the best.

2. How many journals do you have online and are any of them private?

I have one called Coastal Comfort for all to see!

3.  Do you believe in heaven and if so what do you think it will be like?

Yes I do believe in Heaven "for the Bible tells me so" .... it is a very real & wonderful place.  Ahhh the streets of gold and the beauty of everything pure.  Imagine being able to finally meet that famous person you've always read about or being reunited with loved ones - awesome!

4.  Tell us about one of your bad habits.

You been peeking?????  I am so disorganized it ain't funny, yet I can tell you where everything is....now where's that enter button.......?

5.  Everyone likes a good deal.  What was the last good deal you got?  You know...like buy one get one free kind of thing.

I love buy one get one free....especially on shoes.  That's when I get weak and stock up on shoes.