A day in the life.....

I don't have a heart...

2012-02-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

Pissed off about the free cell phones that welfare recipients can get. Okay, Safelink is supposed to be for emergency purposes. That's fine, but why do they come with 250 minutes? You can make 911 calls for free - why do they need 250 minutes? I think of a cell phone is a luxury item, not a necessity. If you want a cell phone - GET A JOB and BUY ONE!

I Am a Bad Parent

2012-02-09T16:25:00.001-08:00

I have always said there is no such thing as ADD or ADHD, but it is a product of bad parenting. Well, guess what. Our 9 year old son is going to be tested for ADD, and we may get a positive result. This test can be done in the Doctor's office, which is good, because any further testing at an outside facility has a 12 month waiting list!

What to do? We DO NOT want him to take a prescription med that will take away his spirit. He is a fun, happy child and we don't want him to have a dull personality.

Researching alternative treatments, and one says that sometimes Fish Oil supplements can benefit. Good, because I began giving him the new One A Day Gummie vitamins with Fish Oil.

Wish us luck, and I will update on our progress.

How people process grief

2010-11-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Having a tough time right now. We are watching a TV show about "Hospice". On Dec 3 it will be 6 months since my husband's Mom passed away. Hospice was there at the end. Her birthday is on the 23rd, and Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday. I have been so concerned about my husband's reaction to the weeks events, hoping that I will be able to ease his pain, and HE chooses to watch this show. I am going to have to leave the room. I am too emotional.

Pearl Harbor and 9/11

2010-08-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

Watching Pearl Harbor (the movie). I haven't watched it since shortly after 9/11. I remember crying uncontrollably the first time I watched it because I kept thinking that the way the PH people felt, must have been something like 9/11 with the caos that followed. God Bless the USA.

New Show Rookie Blue is Really Good!

2010-07-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

I love this show! I seems like the casting director made a real effort to cast young actors that look like successful actors. We have a young Michael J Fox (Epstein), Tom Cruise (Diaz), Tea Leoni (Peck), Anthony Sabato Jr.(Swarez). I can't really make an actor connection with Andy McNally or Tracy Nash. Who do you think they resemble?

A most embarrassing moment

2010-06-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

In '95, I was living in a condo and my husband (then boyfriend) had a nice little house in the country. I had the day off and thought I would go over to his house to do some sunbathing. He let me have a key and I got everything I needed and set out a spot right outside the kitchen door.

It was kind of hot, so I started to go back in to get something to drink. Then I realized that the door locked behind me, and the key was inside! I knew his parents had a spare key so I decided to go get it from them. I had on my two piece bathing suit and a towel. Walked next door, only to realize that that they were not home.

I walked back to the house and tried all the doors and windows. No luck.

Plan B. I did not have my cell phone with me. I needed a phone to call Dan at work to see if he could come home at lunch and let me in. I started to walk to the next neighbor's house to see if they were home. As I started to step out onto the road, I see a "chain gang" walking down the road. They were spread out completely across the road, about 8 wide, orange jumpsuits, guards with guns. Great. Here I am in a bikini and a towel and I have jailbirds walking in my direction. I quickly ran back into the yard and tried to hide in the bushes until the road trash pick up crew, passed.

Finally, once they were out of sight, I made it to the neighbor's house and was able to call for help!

Bedtime! And tomorrow is Christmas!

2009-12-09T08:42:00.001-08:00

I was talking to some Mom's online about how excited the kids are about Christmas. It is so hard to get them to go to bed on time. I don't have a problem getting mine to go to bed, but instead - getting them to sleep past 6 am Christmas morning! The rest of the year, though, we do have a routine that seems to work.

1) Set a bedtime and keep it. 8:30 means 8:30 - not 9pm or 9:15.
2) Drink of water and small, light healthy snack no later than 1 hour minutes before bedtime.
3) Bathtime needs to be 45 min to an hour before bedtime.
4) Brush teeth 15 minutes before bedtime.
5) Stories and tuck in up until bedtime.

Routine is the key.

We have set bedtimes on school nights, but tend to be more lenient on weekends. On Christmas Eve, we have a 11 pm deadline. (because Santa won't stop until you are asleep) Maybe if the bedtime is later they will sleep in? Don't count on it!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Paying it forward

2009-12-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

This year our family has decided to give presents to another family instead of each other! There is a retired gentleman in the town I work who now has the task of raising his granddaughters. His wife has passed away and he is on his own. Certainly not a task he was expecting to do in this stage of his life. His daughter just dropped them off one day. They are 8 and 3 years old. He applied for food assistance from Social Services, and they gave him $100 a month. We are looking forward to seeing the little girls faces, and to help out this struggling Grandfather.

It is nice to help others. Businesses should do more of it during the holidays. Like, Robeez who will donate a pair of soft sole shoes to K.I.D.S. with every soft sole purchased through December 23rd and link to: http://www.robeez.com/EN-US/seasonofgiving.htm

Back to School!!

2009-08-28T05:15:00.000-07:00

My older son tweeted the other day that he was "Not going back to school for the first time in 19 years". My youngest son is starting 2nd grade on Monday and it is his 5th year of school. Both boys began preschool at 3 years old. I wonder if all kids do this now? I did not have any type of pre-school but my first day of school was 1st grade!

My favorite first day of school tradition with my youngest is to take his picture in the same spot every year to see how much he has grown from year to year. In Family Fun Magazine they suggest taking one on the last day of school as well, to see how they have changed in that time.

We are excited about this year, not supposed to be a lot of homework, but mostly reading! His teacher is also a friend of ours. We hope that this year won't strain that relationship!!

Because of the age difference between my two boys, I am trying to take advantage of this time with my "last" child. I am so fortunate to have these two boys and want no more regrets.

Excitement in the Air

2009-08-23T06:17:00.001-07:00

As much as I love summer - when the earth starts showing signs of autumn, I get excited! Is it because I love to watch Dallas beat the Redskins or see Virginia Tech win another ACC Championship? Is it the vibrant colors of the leaves in the Appalachian Mountains? Maybe it is because of the approaching Holidays?? Fall to me is new beginnings as much as New Year's Day. Oh, and my birthday is coming, too! We leave on Sept 11 to go to Alaska for our one big trip of the year! Can you feel the excitement???

Say it isn't so!!!

2009-04-04T04:49:00.000-07:00

for about 34 years, I have watched The Guiding Light. In the early 80's, I went to a promotional event at Virginia Tech to "meet" Reva Shayne, Kyle Sampson and Fletcher Reed. I still have the pictures. REVA is my favorite character. This week I heard that in September the show is ending. I know we can't save it now. I wonder how the storylines will end? Will Reva and Jeffrey stay together or will something happen to Jeffrey so that Reva ends up with Josh? Will Reva even SURVIVE her cancer battle? What about Phillip and Beth? Will it be happily ever after?

Some of the characters could move to Genoa City. I use to watch Young & the Restless. I remember when David Hasselhoff was Snapper! I even remember when a guy named Bill Espy was Snapper. Maybe I can start watching that show again.

Maybe instead of being on TV, they could just move to webisodes? Would that be cheaper?

Sorry. I am grieving and rambling.

It Only Took Me 20 Years

2008-12-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Found out that my ex-husband is leaving his 3rd wife for someone else. I mentioned in a previous post that he left me when I was 2 months pregnant. Well, he left me for someone who had a child that was about 1 year older. Now, he has two other kids. I would guess that they are 15 and 13. He has left his current wife for " and old woman with her teenage daughter" as she was described to me. What is his problem?
It only took 21 years, but finally I know, IT WASN'T ME!

Why do I vote Republican?

2008-11-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, my Mom worked in a sewing factory, and my Dad worked construction. Our first home was an apartment above a Mom and Pop style convenience store. Then we lived in a two bedroom house, that they rented for $75 a month. My Mom would make oatmeal and biscuits every morning for breakfast. Her and Dad would get up and eat first, and then leave my brother and I us some oatmeal and a biscuit. I remember how cold the kitchen was and after we ate, Mom would bring us our clothes and we would huddle around the front of the stove to dress. (She would open the oven door that would still have some heat inside from baking the biscuits) I can remember sitting in front of that oven and putting my feet on the door to warm my toes. Then they bought our first house. The land was $300 and the house was an $11,000 Jim Walter home. Finally my brother and I had our own rooms. Why do I tell you this, because I have been trying to figure out all day today why I vote Republican. We are always told by the Democrats that Republicans are only for the rich. I am NOT a rich person! I do not come from a rich family! To me, the Democratic party is for people who do not think they need to work for what they have. They are there to make people dependent upon others and for those who feel they are "entitled" to what is theirs.

I moved away from home 4 months shy of my 20th birthday. After a heartbreak, I wanted to get out on my own and not depend on anyone. I wanted to take care of myself. I had a job as a bill collector, and remember how so many of the people I called to collect from, seemed to get into trouble because of medical bills. I especially remember the single moms I had to call and how expensive it was for them to have a baby. I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart, and then, after 4 years of marriage, he decided to leave me for someone at work. By the way, he left when I was 2 months pregnant with my first son. Nice guy, huh? The only thing I could think of was how I was afraid that I would end up being a welfare Mom. For one year, I worked 3 jobs. I had a full-time job and two part-time jobs. (His child-support was a little less than reliable.) At NO TIME did I think that I should give up working and sign up for welfare. Thank goodness my Mom helped me by babysitting. (NOT for free, mind you, I paid her)

So, what bugs me is this whole "Spread the Wealth" thing that Obama talked about while campaigning and how so many think that is a good idea. I read somewhere that 70% of the total taxes paid are paid by the top 2% of earners, and that 45% of the US pays ZERO dollars in taxes. If 45% of people pay ZERO dollars in taxes, then I guess that means that they have no earnings. They are on WELFARE. My Dad is on welfare. He pays no taxes. He is in a nursing home and is paralyzed on one side, from a stroke. He worked for about 50 years before having a stroke, which left him paralyzed. I think welfare is good for someone like him. He spent his entire retirement funds and also sold every asset he owned and gave the $$ to the nursing home (less about $53oo for a pre-paid funeral). I don't fault him for having to rely on the government now. He has paid his dues. WHAT I HATE is when I see a mother who has been on welfare and then she has a couple to five kids who ALSO end up on welfare, not because they can't work, but because they WON'T work.

There is a girl in a nearby town. She is under 30. Has four kids from 4 different men. She does not work, and sends letters weekly to different men, all who are in prison. She collects SSI (welfare). I want to know why she doesn't work? I think in a situation like that, a person should have to work to earn their food stamps. She walks the roads from her apartment to the dollar store, couldn't she pick up trash along the way or sit somewhere and answer a phone for a government office or something? Why is it okay for her to have a cell phone and to get her nails done professionally? Why can't there be some type of accountability for how the GOVERNMENT's MONEY that she receives is being spent?

Now, Obama has plans to raise taxes so that he can help more people get "something for nothing". I do not think that welfare should be a permanent solution. It should have an end or a timetable. Work sort of like unemployment, where you have to go look for a job to get the check.

I work 40 hours a week. About 25% of my salary goes to taxes. With what is left, I help pay for health insurance, and contribute to my retirement fund. I get to bring home about 40% of my total earnings. This is what I use to pay for groceries, gas, etc. I take care of necessities FIRST. I know how much it costs to have my nails and hair done. Guess what? If I need food my my family....I DON"T have those things done!

I think the best tax plan I have heard of is the "Fair Tax" or the "Flat Tax". I think how it works is, there are no other taxes. No food, car, gasoline tax, but everyone pays the same. If you earn $2M, you pay say 5%. if you earn $45K, you pay 5%. No other taxes. I wonder if you qualify for a check from the government if they would deduct 5% from it? Not sure, but it sure sounds more fair. You know what? If the Democratic party decided to get behind the Fair Tax, (which would be great since they have control of the Senate too) I might just switch parties. I just hope that in 4 years I can say that the world is a better place, then I can say "you told me so". I hope.

Okay, I have vented. Thanks.

Virginia Tech Tragedy

2008-07-26T02:10:00.000-07:00

You know, I am getting sick and tired of all the finger pointing and blame that people are putting on Virginia Tech. The only person that is to blame here is that SICKO CHO! This could have happened any where! And WHEREVER it happened, there would have been deaths that COULD NOT have been prevented. It is sooooo easy to say "you could have" or "you should have". It was a HORRIBLE tragedy and we must get past it. Sure, LEARN from what happened. Maybe the lessons learned will keep the number of 32 from being 64 people murdered somewhere else some day. I was proud of how the community came together and how the local police worked with the Tech Police. Remember the 32 and let's get on with our lives and quit the blame and lawsuits. NO amount of money will correct what has already happened. PLANT A TREE, I did.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty

2008-05-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

I was looking in the mirror a little while ago and Daniel was watching me.
I said outloud, "I'm not pretty anymore."
He said, "Your hair is pretty, but not your face."
Me: Do you think if I put on make-up I would be pretty?
He: Yes
So, I put on some eyeliner and mascara. "Do I look pretty now?"
"No, you need some red stuff on your cheeks and some lipstick."
I did as he suggested. "Now am I pretty?"
"Yes."
Who needs a make-up artist?

A funny thin happened on the way to Nashville

2008-05-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

On April 26th I participated in the Country Music Half Marathon. On the way down, we stopped in Crossville? Tennessee. Somewhere between home and Crossville, I realized I had not packed any underwear other than my sports bra. No prob, every town has a Wal-mart. Well, we stopped in Crossville, late, and had not found a Wal-mart. I got up the next morning and showered, only to remember once again that I had no clean underwear. So, I had a brilliant idea....I'll wash my underwear in the sink and then dry it on the air-condition/heating unit. When I laid the wet underwear on the air vent, it just blew them off. Then I remembered reading somewhere that you could dry clothes in a microwave. WE HAD A MICROWAVE IN THE ROOM! Dried the underwear in the microwave much to the dismay of my husband and to the delight of my 5 year old son. I won't tell you which hotel or which room....someone might want to pop some popcorn in that microwave some day.

April 16 - One year later

2008-04-12T06:06:00.001-07:00

Only 4 more days until the anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting and I have already started to feel the pain. I wasn't there, but my son was. He was safe, thank goodness. I just remember how it felt when we were hungry for information about what was going on, and how desperate I wanted to hear from him to know he was okay. Maybe it was because I knew he had a class in that building on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I couldn't help but think, what if? You know?

I had to drive through campus last night, and I just sobbed. The spring game is April 19, so I hope that brings spirits back up. I have not been back to the memorial since the dedication ceremony. I may go there this week.

If you see a Hokie in the next several days, ask them if they need a hug. I know I could use one.

Take some responsibility for yourself

2008-03-26T03:35:00.000-07:00

John McCain has the quote of the day in the NY Times today. "It is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.". I AGREE! When I first pre-quailified for my first mortgage, the lender told me I could shop for a home that was about $115,000. I purchased a condo for $44900. I an an ARM and the payment fluxed from $300-$600. If I had purchased that big ass house instead, I would have bankrupted! I think people need to take responsibility for their finances. I knew I could not afford that big house and the payment that went with it. Thought the lender was crazy!

Silliest segue on the news

2008-03-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Just heard this on the local news:
Newsgirl: Today is the first full day after the time change and there is a lot more daylight out there. "Weatherman", just how much more light do we have?"

Weatherman: About 1 hour, "Newsgirl".

Ya think???

Ring around the Moon

2007-12-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

We got home late last night and there was a ring around the moon. My husband said for me to count the stars inside the ring and according to an old wives tale, that would be how many days before it snowed. I did not see ANY stars. This morning when we woke up, there was about 1 inch of snow on the ground!!! OMG. I did not think about there being snow over night, but I guess since there were NO stars inside...
The weather man did not even forecast it!

Why you should wash your hands frequently...

2007-12-19T03:24:00.000-08:00

I work in a small post office. A lady came in yesterday and they first words out of her mouth were, "I just threw up in the bank parking lot!" I of course told her I hoped she was okay, and she explained that she drank some dark cola and that always makes her throw up. (so if you know this....then why.... anyway...) Then as we completed the transaction she handed me a couple of letters to mail and they were spotted with "cola colored" spots. Ok. gross.

Penn State Student should be punished

2007-12-09T09:02:00.001-08:00

As for the two Penn State students that dressed up like a Virginia Tech Shooting Victims, I only hope that their actions follow them into life after college. Their names should be widely circulated and when they graduate and go for an interview, I hope they are interviewed by a HOKIE! I could not believe what one of the students said in a news interview. He said that there was such a big deal made about 32 people being killed and that there were 26,000 students left at Tech. I guess Penn State would not miss him if he met a horrific death. NOT that I wish that upon him. What a jerk.

Wildfire in California and a Timeout?

2007-11-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

I read in the paper that the recent wildfirs in California was caused by a child who is younger than 13 who was playing with matches. I told my 5 year old about it and how he had burned down 21 houses and how dangerous it is to play with matches. He said, "Boy he is going to be in time-out FOREVER!"

The Honeymoon's Over

2007-09-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

I guess it had to happen sooner or later. After 15 years together. I think it is a sign that the honeymoon is over when you say to your spouse, "Honey, would you please drop my specimen off at the lab?"

Why Earthworms love God

2007-08-12T08:42:00.001-07:00

Daniel: Some people love God a little bit, but earthworms love God a whole bunch.
Mommy: Why is that?
Daniel: Because earthworms have 5 hearts, not just one like us human beams.

Danielisms

2007-08-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Cow Garage = Barn
Sitter = Passenger in a Car
Plug out = Unplug

The 4 "F"'s

2007-07-31T03:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my surgery. One article I read said the the typical characteristics of a person who would need their gall bladder taken out are the 4 f's. Female, Fair, Forty and FAT. Gee, thanks. I feel like Garfield. "I'm not overweight, I am undertall."

Conversation with my 5 year old

2007-07-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Mom: I should go get the video camera and tape you eating spaghetti, because you are so cute
Daniel: AND funny
Mom: Yes, Cute and funny.
Daniel: Well, you know what they say.
Mom: No, what do they say.
pause
Daniel: They say some watches have an alarm on it.

2006-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

No, I'm just fat.

2006-09-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

For the second time in two weeks, someone has asked me if I am pregnant. I'll be 44 in a couple weeks. NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT. Maybe I should be flattered that they think I am young enough to have another baby. Yeah, that's it.

Getting older sucks

2006-09-05T03:28:00.000-07:00

Steve Irwin died. How wrong is that. He and I are the same age. True, he did not "just" die, it was a stingray, and the likelihood of me being killed by a stingray is slim...but that's not the point. What is the point? Getting older sucks, becuase when people die, there is a better chance that you have heard of them, because you have been around so long. Ya know? And it makes you wonder, if Steve Irwin can be killed doing something he loves, what is the chance that the next time I am eating cheescake, I am struck down by bad cream cheese?

I think I just realized that I sound like Britney talking to a video camera held by K-Fed.

Toilet Seat

2006-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Today I learned how to replace a toilet seat. I could not remove the old seat. It had been on for about 30 years, and I tried a phillips head screwdriver. Did you know that there was a bolt/nut underneath that you needed to loosen? I had used WD40 to loosen the rusted screw. That just wasn't enough. 43 years old. Who knew?