Insomnia

Yes, I know it's 5 am. But I'm on vacation this week and there's a "Tammy" marathon on tv. This one has Debbie Reynolds as Tammy, and Leslie Nielson as the love interest. Leslie Nielson of Airplane. Leslie Nielson of Naked Gun. And the commercials are for Arkansas. It's like a train wreck. I can't look away or turn off the tv. I can't think of a better reason to stay awake til um 6 am.No seriously, I can't. Help.

Reflections

Sigh. Well the present part of the season is over. And now New Years looms large.

New Years is rarely a party time to me. It's more a time to sit back and do some serious soul searching. To think of things I'm thankful for, and take a serious look at things I need to change in my life. Yea, I know, that part sucks.

The kids got i.o.u.'s from their dad for Christmas. I was expecting it when I didn't get child support for December (or January). It's one of the reasons I was wandering thru stores for days trying to do Christmas on my budget. It's probably one of the reasons the kids didn't ask for anything.... they've been thru lean times. Many lean times. They look at life as to what they need, not what they want.

I sometimes worry we took away the ability to dream from them. See, reflection does suck. But, they're seeing their mom work two jobs, and trying to provide some perks in this life instead of just 'maintaining'. Perks like the kick ass pool of doom in the backyard. Ok, bad example maybe. lol But still, they see that if you work for it, life does have fun stuff to offer.

That is IF the pool guy didn't go out of business and comes back in a few months to finish. lol details, details.

Another good note, I didn't charge one thing for Christmas. But I think I depleted the checking account pretty darn well, if I do say so myself. But hey, no new bills coming in for January, and that kicks ass too. That and I didn't wait and depend on the ex. Sometimes he comes thru, but many times, he doesn't. He says February will be 'his month'. For his sake I hope so. But for me and the kids, I'm not counting on it. This has been a goal of mine... to not be dependent on somebody else. To provide for my kids by myself. I think I made that goal pretty darn well this year.

It's taken a lot of years to get here...I hope I stay.

There are a few more hurdles to jump and goals I have for next year. A new engine for the one car that isn't running; checking into braces for one son; repairing the trim on the back of the house; finishing the pool; getting in better shape; eliminating the rest of my debt as much as I can; and maybe even having some fun along the way would be nice too. I'm thankful to God for everything. The doors he opened and the ones he closed.

For bringing me two jobs that provide the financial opportunity to maintain our stability and to make headway. For the continued good health of my family. For his sense of humor that makes me not sweat the small stuff and see that it's all small stuff in front of me.

So as the new year approaches, instead of wanting to go to bed and pull the covers up over my head, I'll take one last contented look back at everything I've accomplished and turn to the new year with renewed purpose and strength.

Instead of the idea that I need to learn how to drink.

My Christmas Wish For You

Wishes For All.

.................................Joy
...............................Peace.
..........................Faith.Hope
........................Serenity.Love
.....................Happiness.Trust
..................Charity.Friendships
.................Laughter.Compassion
..............Wonder.Patience.Dreams
............Courage.Forgiveness.Grace.
..........Health.Security.Strength.Love

Wrapping it Up

Every son's in his room
Each wrapping their gifts,

Screaming for tape and
Pitching their fits;

Moans and groans can be heard
as they tackle their chore,

While Mom sits and snickers
behind her closed door.

C minus 1

Gone shopping.

Christmas is When?

Well, I did it.

I just spent 4 hours wandering though stores shopping for nothing. And it cost me a small fortune. I knew it would. I've been there-done that, before. And, I'll be back there tomorrow doing it again, I'm sure.

ON the bright side.......I'm on vacation finally.

Which means I can spend all day tomorrow wandering through more stores, shopping for nothing. Again.

Uh...What was the bright side?

Tag Team Shopping #2

I went Christmas shopping tonight and took Elf/Son#3 with me. The cost of bribery for shopping with me was dinner at Olive Garden. I took Son #3 because he's the easiest to buy for, and I was hoping he'd have some ideas for his brothers. I can always go out tomorrow and find a million things for him.

We managed to find a few small items for both brothers. Progress is slowly being made! YAY!

Son #3 picked out a few of his own gifts at Barnes & Nobles. I've never done that before. Never, ever, have the kids seen a gift before Christmas, much less picked out their own. This was a new twist. But hey, we were there, and it was raining, and I just didn't feel like fighting my way back there tomorrow when I still have tons of shopping left to do. I know. Bad Mommy. But still, he will have surprises under the tree... so I don't feel too bad.

At the moment, he's sitting on my bedroom floor wrapping all the presents. Even the ones we bought tonight for him.

SCORE!

Shopping Tag Team

I employed an elf to help with the shopping. Or at least I tried to.

College Son#1 is home so I sent him to the mall to shop and in return I'd take him to lunch. Kinda like a Guinea Elf. He was not successful at finding anything for his brother#2. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. oy.

Back at the office, after lunch, I resorted to Amazon.com. I really don't like shopping on line for some things. I'm never sure what I'm going to get is going to be the way I think it's going to be. But it was either that or ? for Son#2. So I paid for two day shipping on stuff I have no idea what it is going to be. If this order doesn't come in, Son#2 is going to be an unhappy camper Christmas morning. groan.

While at lunch, I asked Elf/Son#1 to give me some more ideas for his Christmas. Again, the child came up empty. Not one idea. Great.

I hate fighting crowds looking for nothing.

Nothing always costs me more than I can afford.

Shop Til You Drop

Well I did it. I took lunch today.

I started Christmas shopping.I dropped almost a full paycheck on Christmas. I have 3 teenage sons. I bought 8 gifts. 8. E .I .G .H .T. gifts.

The math isn't looking good.And I'm outta ideas.

Shopping should be easy.

Ever since my guys were little, they only get to ask for 3 major gifts at Christmas. Why you ask? Cuz there were 3 wise men that brought Jesus gifts. (When they were little, this sounded better than Mommy is broke and can't buy everything.... and stops the gluttony too, besides.)

Oh sure, they can ask for more little stuff.... but they had to stick with only asking for 3 major things.

To this day, they still make a list with only 3 major requests. Well 'cept this year. This year I got these lists:

Son #1:

1. Half Life 2 (video game)
2.
3.

Son #2:

1. D&D figurines
2.
3.

Son#3:

1. Prism markers for artists.
2.
3.

Somebody want to to tell me how I dropped almost 4 figures at lunch today for Christmas presents and only got 2 items on the lists up there?

There are 4 shopping days left.

AT this point, I'm not sure if that's good thing or a bad thing.

Monday. Can you Tell?

It was 16 degrees here this morning.There is no heat in our office. Two out of two heating units are broken. Everyone else got to go home. I had planned to start my Christmas shopping today at lunch. Taking a lunch is not looking good.

Happy Monday. Anyone have a lump of coal I can burn?

Cheers!

Tonight, my best friends had a Christmas party at their house on the lake.

bestfriend & hub. wife & hub. wife & hub. wife & hub. boy wife & boy hub. me.

9pm. food. jaggermeister. chips. boob grabbing. cigars. pool. wine. pinball. beer. dip. gay man sleeping. boats. laughing. stereo. vodka. music. snoring. brownies. shirtless wife leaning over gay mans sleeping face. kodak moment. singing. margaritas. coffee. darts. helicopterpad. outdoor fire. dancing. 33 degrees. jello shots. heated golf cart racing. screaming. 2:00am. car. go. home.

Merry Christmas.

$1 Stores Rock

Yep, I love the Dollar Store too. How can you not with 3 kids? Great for a budget.

Christmas can be expensive enough, but when you're broke, it takes on a whole new meaning. Even though I'm not as broke as I used to be in years past, the Dollar Store is still a great shopping tradition.

Here's the deal: Give each of the three sons $30. $90 dollar total investment. $90 for 90 presents. Not bad.

Each son spends $10 on brother #1.....$10 on brother #2....and $10 on Mom.

They like to be able to give Mom something, but it always felt silly and wasteful giving them money to buy something for me when I could use the $ for something like ummm.. FOOD?! ..... so giving over an extra $30 is a good solution.

They felt good that Mom had something to open on Christmas and I didn't feel like it was a waste of alot of good money on me.

The rules are simple: 1. You have to shop at a different Dollar Store than everybody else. 2. You have to WRAP everything. Everything.

So that means each son gets at least 20(!) presents to unwrap. And when you're a kid, that's just plain FUN! Woohoo.

Dollar stores rock.

Spoiled Me.

YAY! the bad people are all gone.

Yesterday, I had the breakfast set up and ready to be consumed by sleepy, grumpy people by 6:45am.

I had Starbucks French Roast Coffee, Vanilla Lattes, assorted bagels, muffins and a fruit salad set up outside the Board room. You could hear the sighs when they arrived, walked around the corner and smelled the coffee.

It suddenly made getting up at 5 am a little more palatable for them. My boss (the Chairman) was happy. And when he's happy, everybody is happy - including me.

I went out and got two of the members lunch to eat in the limo on the way back to the airport after the meeting. Took one Board Member to Office Depot for something he needed before he left. And generally ran around like a crazy woman (while looking calm and collected on the outside, of course.)

By 2:00pm I had my quiet office back.

One BOD member flew back to California.
One BOD member flew back to Boston.
One BOD member flew back to Miami.
My boss and 3 others flew back to our office in San Juan, PR.

I probably won't see my boss for another 5 weeks. As far as bosses, go. He's the best. Even when he is in town. lol. But still......YAY! The bad people are all gone! And yes, I am sooooo very spoiled!

Le contented sigh.

Pfft.

PFFT. Yawn.

OK. It's 7:00 am and I am at my desk?!

Whose bright idea was THIS?

Cofffeeeeeee

It's 5am.

And I don't do mornings.

There's a Board of Director Meeting at 7am.

And I'm the caterer.

Or maybe just the coffee chauffeur.

Coffee.

It's one of the few things that can get me up at this ungodly hour. That and keeping a paycheck coming in.

It's a good thing the meeting will be over by 11:30.

Cuz I'm gonna need a nap around noon.

Thinking.

Actually I do have a 'greatest gift' story.

It's about my parents dying and what they knowingly left me. They gave me the ability and opportunity to put a physical, stable foundation under my kids.

A home.

It took me almost 7 years to be able to qualify to buy this house. It was a struggle, needless to say. I hold some comfort that when they died they knew the kids and I would be safe and secure.

My Daddy knew that somehow I would be able to do it. It's definitely the gift I thank them and God for everyday.

I just don't know if I can write it.

YAY! Essay Time Again

OK.. Judi's Contest time is here... YAY!

But this one is tough! WE have to tell ..."The very best and most special gift" we've received.

................That'd be my kids of course. Hey, they were like wrapped and stuff for 9 months.... they could be it.

Or are we talking like gifts like Christmas present gifts. Hmmm...I don't remember any special gift.

That's not to say as a child, I didn't get nice gifts. I did. I just don't remember anything as wildly 'special.'

My older sister however, would argue strongly at me saying that. It seems one year I got an Etcha-Sketch. And she was wildly jealous for years. So much so that well into our adulthood she still mentioned that I was the one that got the much coveted Etcha-Sketch when I was like 10.

Now, you have to understand my sis. She is the same girl that got a horse,..... twice. On two different Christmases. I mean a truck pulled up, my parents called her outside, and out walks a horse. lol. But still, she remembered the year she was crushed cause I got the Etcha-Sketch.

So one Christmas not too long ago, I got her an Etcha-Sketch. We played with that thing all day. I'd forgotten how much fun they were. She was right. It is a great gift. lol.

Years later after I was married and had kids, money was always tight, so the hubs and I didn't exchange presents. It was more important to give to the kids. And alot more fun too, to watch them run in circles in excitement. Happy and stuff. Nothing beats that as a parent.I got nice stuff too, I'm sure. And the things the kids made as gifts are always special items that I cherish and save. But I can't pick one childs handmade gift over that of one of my other sons.

As a single parent, that makes us the Santa. That means I give the presents, not get them. I just can't see giving the kids money to spend on me when I could take the $ and buy them something else. It is about the giving. And I love seeing the excitement on their faces when they open that gift they thought they'd never get in a million years.

So that's my "bestest" gift, ever. The smiles, the shock, the joy I see in my kids when Mom pulls off the impossible and makes one or two dreams come true.

Well, It's either that or an Etcha-Sketch.

Nothing.

I got nothing here.

Number of Christmas presents bought - 0

Number of Christmas events to attend - 0

Number of Christmas fun stuff to report - 0

Number of interesting stories - 0

Nothing. Pfft.Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

Lock & Load

It's that time again.
This weekend will be like this weekendentry. Only the Junior Olympics is hosting it and it won't have protesters.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about and and want to... Go here first.
Oh great. I'm a rerun.

Unpacking

The mess is............

FinallyTaking shape.....................

And still lots to do to the "Village."

.......Luv my Santas...

Was It Something I Said?

Gee Look, the &*#)%! Christmas decorations are up from the basement.

Do you think it was something I said?

Be careful what you ask for, You just may get it.

An Evil Plan

I tried to get them to go shopping with me.
.............It didn't work.

I tried arguing them into going to the mall.
............ It didn't work.

I tried whining.
...........This so(!) used to work.

I tried ordering.
...........They stared at me.

I tried threats. "Fine! Don't go. You'll get socks for Christmas!"

"Kewl." Said one.

Fine. On to plan "B".

Yep, good ole "Plan B." As soon as I think of it.

Oh....................AND WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE BRING UP THE 47 #$%&! BOXES OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP FROM THE BASEMENT, PLEASE ?!?!?

Ho. Ho. Friggen. Ho.

Fa La La La PFFT La

"What do you want for Christmas?" Asks the Basement people Mom.

"I dunno. " Says part-time Basement person #1.

"Nothing." Says Basement person #2.

"We pretty much have it all. " Says Basement person #3.

"Huh? We do?" Says exasperated Mom of the Basement people.

Well, Let's see...... We have the cess pool of doom in the backyard. Soon to become the frozen cess skating rink of doom if it gets any colder here. That'll be fun.

We have the heater turned icemaker. Last year the heater on the main level quit. This year it's the basement. The basement people walk around in blankets. It's going to take $75 for the heater/Iceman to cometh and check it out.

We have 3 out of 4 cars working. This IS my own Christmas miracle here.

We have Food. Electricity. Health. Phone. Internet. Water. Chocolate. OMG. They're right. We do have it all.

But still... They're taking the lesson of "Want vs Need" a bit too far. I think it's time to pile into the Jeep and go sit in traffic for an hour, drive around looking for a parking space for two hours, and wander aimlessly with the other crowded masses at the Mall til they find the Christmas spirit and ohh and ahhhh over something whether they like it or not!

Yea...that'll teach em.

I'm Not Late, I'm a Year Early.

I heard this rumor that Christmas is near.

So I took down the Halloween lights.... yesterday.

No seriously, I did.

On a lighter note.....

The Christmas lights on my deck are still up from three years ago, so I'm ahead of the game.

Quit looking at me like that.

No. Seriously.

29. Plastic. Boots.

I love winter clothes. Long comfy skirts, boots, warm cozy sweaters. Cashmere....Yummie. Unfortunately the weather has to be cold to wear the stuff.

This morning when I woke up there was so much frost on the ground, it looked like snow. 29 degrees. BRRRR.I almost called in sick to work. Yes I know, I'm a winter wimp.
What do you expect? It's the south. We buy firewood from the grocery store, packaged in little plastic bags. Cold weather is not our forte.

But the thought of wearing boots appealed enough for me to drag my warm self out of my warm toasty bed and go to work.

If I lived up north, I'd die for sure. There's no amount of pretty footwear that could persuade me to dig my car out of the snow for 4 months. I just don't know how you guys do it.

PFFT. And it's only December 2. Sigh. It's gonna be a long winter.

I'm gonna need more incentive. Time to hit the mall at lunch.

Yea, that works.

A Dating Story

Since the topic of dating was brought up at Thanksgiving. I thought I'd share a dating story.

After my divorce was final, I found I was going out a lot because I was bored.

And I was too nice to say no. Ok, maybe I just wasn't good at saying no thanks, but mainly I was bored.

It only took a few times making that mistake and I've since learned how to say 'no' when I don't sense a spark. See, watch....

"Aww, that's sweet but no thank you." "No, thank you. But it was nice of you to ask." and unfortunately occasionally the, "Let's call your wife and see if she wants to go too." has had to been uttered a few times too as a 'no' response..

But before I became adept at saying 'no', I said a few 'yeses' along the way. Le Sigh... So this time when I said yes, we met for dinner. I knew immediately there was no spark. But meeting new friends can be fun too, so it's never a total loss. You hope.

We're eating dinner and talking... You know, the usual chit-chat. Things you like to do, etc.

And He liked Flea markets and Garage sales.

He liked to shop for clothes at them.

...for Womens clothes.

...For the mannequin he kept in his front living room. uh yea.

Normaaaan. Check, please!

You've Got Mail.

Turkey Is Done

Thanksgiving is now officially over which means the Christmas season can now start. YAY!Fa La La La La................................

Tradition #1... oh yea, I'm full of em. It's "The Wonderfully Wacky-Tacky Light Display Challenge."Oh yes, the white twinkling pretty displays are nice... We enjoy driving around and seeing those too... But the real fun is finding the wackiest-tackiest display around. And I mean that in a NICE way!

There are rules...Based on previous displays we've found, to win the wackiest-tackiest award, the yard must contain all of the following basic items.

1. Santa (naturally)
2. Reindeer (natch)
3. A Sleigh (where would Santa be without one?)
4. A Snowman (it's GA, so fakes ones are allowed)
5. Angels.
6. A bow. On anything except a present.
7. Presents. (Lit or unlit)
8. A Star. (I mean you gotta have a star)
9. A Manger Scene. (It is the reason for the Season you know)
10. Candy Canes. I figure they're thinking the wise men might get hungry?
11. Bells. Silver Bells.... Colored Bells.... Jingle Bells.... whatever...
12. Colored lights. (non of that politically correct all white chit. Not this time!)
13. Something has to blink.... The more blinking the better.

Then you go for extra points..

1. Any tire in the yard that is lit up. (Yep - seen em.)
2. Creative use of any junk car - Howeverif used as a sleigh, it scores the normal 1 point.
3. Fake snow. (If there is real snow on the ground we don't leave the house)
4. Pink Flamingos. (Seen as Reindeer substitutes in past years.)
5. Something has to move.
6. Music. Very rare to hear...
7. Big Plastic candles.
8. Anything new

....Welcome to Christmas in the South, ya'll.

Off Key Thoughts.

I've forgotten lots of things. Why can't I forget this:

...............When you wash your hands you are to sing "Happy Birthday," twice. This makes sure your hands are actually clean.

Welcome to my Monday... and my world of the incredibly bored and inane.

Oh and if you're tone deaf, don't sing it outloud, people will only look at you funny.

Trust me on this one.

Ugh Mondays.

Ugh.
After 4 delicious, semi lazy days off..............
I have to like... brush my hair and stuff.
UGH! Mondays!

I Said Yes To What?

If you EVER get an 'IM' or e-mail asking if you'd like to do something like this..... FOR THE LOVE OF PETE... Do NOT send them a picture where you look like a DORK. I mean WHAT is up with the hair?!?!

"Hi Susan, Just a heads-up that your photo and journal entry are live at AOL Personal Finance: FINANCE TALK. (Upper left) and in the promo on AOL Personal Finance: Main. Thanks for participating in the feature!:)"

In my defence, I can only offer that the hair looked tolerable when it was the size of a postage stamp.

SQUEAL!

This is Better than Howie Long...Umm.ok it's a tie.

SQUEAL!!!

I won a painting! I won a painting! .....
SQUEAL!

(Doing the happy feet dance....)

Go check it out! Judith's Journal.....

Oh and Congrats to belfastcowboy75.

But Squeal! I got one of her paintings too!

Thank YOU!!!!!

Polite Dinner Table Talk.

Thanksgiving.... well alrighty then.

Betty Crocker showed up, took over my body and the cooking went fast and smoothly. I love it when that happens.

The kids were due at their Aunts house (Dad's family) around 2:30pm and while they were gone, I finished up odds and ends and set the table. I love my china. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. lol. It was my Grandmothers. It's the pattern with olde English Castles on it. So that, along with my parents silver and linens, the traditional table was set.

The guys were only gone about 3 hours. They said they didn't want me to be alone, which was sweet. I think they had just had enough of the family and were full and tired and wanted to come home and veg out. They came home happy so I knew nothing bad had happened. If it had, they would have told me right away.

I'm lucky we all have a good relationship. But sometimes, the things they tell me (even if they know they're going to get seriously grounded) make me cover my ears and mutter NANANANANANANA so I can't hear.

I had told them not to worry if they weren't hungry. I remember how it was having to eat two Thanksgiving dinners. But I asked them to just sit at the table while I had my Thanksgiving dinner if they weren't hungry and just talk.

That was where I went wrong.

Food ready, we all sit down. They're telling me about their Grandmother, their Dad, their nephew, their half sister, their cousins, all the good food, etc. And then they ask...

"So Mom, why don't you date."

The room is quiet. 3 pairs of eyes on me. Oh geeez.

How do I say I don't know any 6' 4" tall, delicious men?

Why did I make them actually sit down at the table and talk?

Sooo....I told them that on ocassion I do... which I have, kinda (they've only met one friend since the divorce)..... but that I hadn't met a man who was important enough to meet them
.
They all said they wanted to know when I was 'going out.' But not any* coughcough* details. HUH?! Like I'm would to impart details?!! I don't think so!

I'm thinking they overheard a conversation maybe about me not dating.. or were asked directly. Their Dad is involved with a woman and has been for a few years. Which is a very GOOD thing. I think the family expected I divorced for another man...and now that it's been a few years and the kids have never met or talked about any man associated with me, the family's confused. lol.

Son #2 said he would be protective, but fair towards any guy. Son #1 said it would be weird but "Mom you do need to get out." And Son #3 echoed and said He'd be protective too, but that I really should date."

I said great (eyeroll), if you know any 6' 4" men, bring them home.

They then said it would be kinda weird if he spent the night.....

(hands over my ears).....NANANANANANANANANANA

Lights. Tires. Flamingos

Thanksgiving is now officially over which means the Christmas season can now start. YAY!Fa La La La La................................

Tradition #1... oh yea, I'm full of em. It's "The Wonderfully Wacky-Tacky Light Display Challenge."Oh yes, the white twinkling pretty displays are nice... We enjoy driving around and seeing those too... But the real fun is finding the wackiest-tackiest display around. And I mean that in a NICE way!

There are rules...Based on previous displays we've found, to win the wackiest-tackiest award, the yard must contain all of the following basic items.
1. Santa (naturally)
2. Reindeer (natch)
3. A Sleigh (where would Santa be without one?)
4. A Snowman (it's GA, so fakes ones are allowed)
5. Angels.
6. A bow. On anything except a present.
7. Presents. (Lit or unlit)
8. A Star. (I mean you gotta have a star)
9. A Manger Scene. (It is the reason for the Season you know)
10. Candy Canes. I figure they're thinking the wise men might get hungry?
11. Bells. Silver Bells.... Colored Bells.... Jingle Bells.... whatever...
12. Colored lights. (non of that politically correct all white chit. Not this time!)
13. Something has to blink.... The more blinking the better.

Then you go for extra points..
1. Any tire in the yard that is lit up. (Yep - seen em.)
2. Creative use of any junk car - Howeverif used as a sleigh, it scores the normal 1 point.
3. Fake snow. (If there is real snow on the ground we don't leave the house)
4. Pink Flamingos. (Seen as Reindeer substitutes in past years.)
5. Something has to move.
6. Music. Very rare to hear...
7. Big Plastic candles.
8. Anything new ....

Welcome to Christmas in the South, ya'll.

My Thanksgiving Blessing

Twas Thanksgiving day and all through the house,

The food was cooking, no fires to douse.

The aromas of the banquet soon filled the air,

The ghosts of Thanksgivings past were all gathered there.

No fighting, no pouting, no tension, no tears,

only the happy memories past, echo in my ears.

To my parents, I love you and miss you. Please bless us this day

To my children, my life; May you find your way

To my family and friends I wish you Hope, Joy, Love, Peace

I ask these blessings from the Father as we gather to feast.

Tradition!

I'm supposed to be cooking.

I am soooo not in the mood.

I have lots of traditions I've carried over from my childhood into my children's lives. One tradition is to not mention Christmas until after Thanksgiving dinner.

But I will do most anything to avoid cooking.

So I tried to break tradition this year by suggesting to the kids that since they are going to be eating at their Dad's family get together, that maybe I wouldn't cook a turkey, with all the trimmings.

They suggested they might disown me.

Channelling Betty Crocker

"Ohmmmmm
ChannellingBettyCrockercomeinplease....
Ohmmmmm..."

.........."You're waiting a while to start this."

"OhmmmmBettyareyouthere?Ohmm........"

.........."Just throw it in the oven. It'll be fine."

"OHHmmBettyfillemwiththecookingspiritsplease"

........."Cornbread Dressing? You're kidding right?"

" OMMMBettyTminusoneworkyourmagic..."

........"It's just you for Thanksgiving, why are you going all out? The kids will be full from their dad's."

" OHMMBettywhat'sthedealyou'renothelping..."

..........."Did you get some Scotch."

" OHHM?!!..Mothergettheheckouttamyhead!........"

I channeled the wrong Betty.

Don't you hate it when that happens.

Fact or Fiction

It's not an urban ledgend.............


College kids really DO come home with their laundry. ( Son#1 pictured)

A typical Weekend

My weekend..."Ma'am are there any weapons in the car?"

"Yes." lol.... Well, they asked.

Son #3 had a shooting competition at Ft. Benning this weekend. We go there once a month. Every time we arrive at the Guard Gate, a guardieguy asks us that question. And it makes me smile to answer "yes." I mean it's just soooo weird. Ya know? And then we get that look. And sometimes they bring the dogs to search around the Jeep and sometimes they don't. It just depends on the current mood on base.

Yesterday's and today's mood was kinda tense. Not only was it the weekend for the "Gary Anderson" (a youth air rifle and small bore competition) but it was the weekend for protesters en-masse to protest against the College of the Americas. oy.

We arrived Saturday morning around 8:30am (a 2 1/2 trip from home). We took our usual route only to find the gate blockaded and tons of police, and people in black shirts with stop sign logos printed on them, everywhere. We had to go enter the base thru the main gate. So we turned around and headed there.Now they have a new "visitors building' you have to stop at to get a pass.

It's a good thing I keep registration and insurance in the car. Rather, its a good thing I FOUND it in the car.... So they passed us through after a few brief questions and issued us a pass. We got back in theJeep and proceeded to the gate. "Yes, we have weapons. No we're not here to protest" .... and after looking at us critically, the guardieguy decided we weren't subversive and let us in. Our Coach's van got the dog treatment..lol

This event was a two day event for us, normally they are just one day. So this meant staying at a hotel.

A hotel full of protesters. 5 adults, 4 kids, 6 guns and 100 protesters.

Ummm. Do we bring the guns in from the car at night? thru the lobby? In plain site? We did. Those guns are too expensive to leave in a car. We got stares, but we always do when carrying around gun cases. No biggie. Things were quiet. The evening passes with no problem.The next morning Coach #2 comes banging on my door yelling it's late, it's 7:30am. We overslept. It was actually 5:41am. Her sons set the clock wrong. She brought back coffee in apology. lol

Son#3 goes down early to meet everyone in the lobby for breakfast. I shower and take my time. Making sure we've gotten everything out of the room, I arrive down about an hour later. While standing at the front desk waiting to check out, I see Son#3 at a table with a group of protesters. He was making his way to our group and gets stopped. And boy did that "mom/lioness" thing hit. You know, where you are instantly alert and ready to pounce and annihilate whatever it is threatening your child.... I stood there looking and watching him closely to see if he was being made to feel uncomfortable. He looked fine. He was smiling, and talking. I relaxed as he made his way to our group.

I finished at the front desk and joined our group.

I have to say that the protesters were really nice. We talked to the table next to us. They did not give him any trouble about the shooting event or his military goals, in fact they made it veryclear they supported the military. They just didn't support the College of the Americas on base. I was proud of my son and how he stopped to talk, ask and answer questions from the people at the hotel.

What could have been an uncomfortable situation, he handled with maturity and ease. Sometimes that child just amazes me.They invited us to the protest, lol. But not even the tease of Nuns, Jesuit Priests, Susan Sarandon or Martin Sheen could entice us. I was going to go by and take pictures, but decided to avoid the mess....sorry. I didn't want to get stopped by the police with a rifle in the car in the midst of a protest. Even if it would have made this story far more entertaining. lol.

I just heard on the news there were over 10,000 protesters. I'm glad we didn't try to get near it now.

10 Things I've Never Done.

..............Eaten Eggplant.






............Colored my hair.





...........Had a professional Manicure





............Jumped out of a plane




............Gone Deep Sea Fishing





...........Watched a whole basketball game.




..........Bought a brand new car.

...........Owned a Zebra.

...........Spit in public.

..........Seen the movie "Titanic."

Ponderings

Art. Doodles. Damn Paint Program

I've got a secret. I'm a painterwannabe.

"Oh really Sie?" you say... "We could have NEVER figured that out from the Paint Shop doodles you've been subjecting us to lately." Sigh. I know. I'm sorry. But it's all Judith's fault.

I saw her journal with all her paintings and it just made me want to find my own paints the kids had hidden. The problem is, I'm at work. Now, I can get away with a lot things at work, but setting up an easel and paints here isn't one of them. So I started playing with the paint program on the computer. Le sigh.

If you enjoy real art, go to Judith's Journal (if you aren't familiar with it already). And while you're there, stay to read her difficult journey. It will inspire you, both the art and her story. And I promise this 'paint phase' won't last long...

Maybe just another year or two.

Just an Odd Thought

I'm driving to work this morning....(nothing new there.)

I am behind a pick up truck......(so far, normal. They're everywhere.)

Two guys are in the truck....(Again, normal.)

They're wearing caps....(ditto normal)......................

There's a gun rack.....(It's GA, of courses there is)......................

There's a gun in the rack. ??!! Can you do this? Why did it strike me as just so odd?

Uh Oh... Again.

Uh oh. Again.



Paint program.


A really big problem.

Insomnia.

Can't sleep and bored.

I colored.


This could be a problem.

Tea Pot Collections. Dust Run Amok.

I'm a collector. Some people might call it a collection of stuff. or dust. I seem to collect a lot of that too. I've collected alot of things over the years. I was going to take pictures of my shoes, but those aren't a collection, they're more like a passion and that's a different thing all together.


Now, I collect teapots. I have no idea why. I don't even drink tea. I received my first teapot at a Christmas Party. (The troublemaker that started it all is on the top row, last one on the right). It was at one of those gift swap parties, where you open a gift, then you can steal somebody elses gift if you like it better. I stole the teapot.

Twice.


After that adorable teapots seemed to catch my eye and beforeI knew it, there were over 25 teapots dotting the landscape in my house.

I've always find it odd when I talked to people and find out they don't collect anything.

I mean, isn't there something that makes you go "oh, how cute" at least 25 times... or is it just me?

My Heartsong Essay

JudithHeartsongs is having a contest. The prize is Art. Her Original art. I love art. I want it. lol. We have to share a Thanksgiving memory or story and here's mine.This is my Thanksgiving story.

Although I was there, I don't specifically remember it. But I heard this story every year, for literally my whole life. Each and every year at the Thanksgiving dinner table, I was reminded of the disaster. The arguing and laughter. The nerve of her! The mayhem that ensued that day.

Yes, this was the year Thanksgiving was ruined for everyone, especially my Mom. And she never forgot it. The story in itself became a tradition for my family to tell each year. Until that day, my mother was the most stubborn person in the family. Everybody agreed. And as I've mentioned before, she was an awful cook. Terrible, awful. But being twice as stubborn as she was at being a bad cook, she was intently determined to be THE one to cook Thanksgiving Dinner that year. We were Yankees, and Yankees had Thanksgiving Dinner. Not Thanksgiving Lunch. Not Thanksgiving Supper. Thanksgiving Dinner, 8pm. There was no arguing about the time, no matter how hungry anyone became.

Around the 'K' house, it was 8pm for dinner, end of discussion. But it was also a feast. A feast worth waiting for, every year. Golden roasted turkey stuffed with sausage dressing, sweet corn with melted butter, acorn squash sprinkled with cinnamon, mashed potatoes in dark rich mushroom gravy, fresh biscuits, and more. Ahh the smells. They filled up the little house with their unique aromas.


Every year, and for many years, the food never everever varied; the menu was a delicious tradition in itself. But well, sometimes traditions need to be broken...right? right? OK, maybe shaken up a bit then.
So there she was, a nice little fifties kinda Mom, busy in her cozy little kitchen, cooking, as Moms usually do on that day. In fact she had been up most of the night before cooking. She needed to be. She needed the extra time to fix whatever she ruined. Lol. Even she knew her cooking was not gourmet, but she was determined to cook, and most times the meals came out ok.

So this year, well, it was HER house they were gathered at and there was no way she was going to let her mother-in-law (gasp) cook in her kitchen. Oh, that and Mom was also very pregnant. Which might explain the insanity in our family ... hers and mine. And might have added tot he impaired judgment oh her part.

Sooo, on that particular Thanksgiving Day ...............

3 PM rolls around and she won't let my Grandmother into the kitchen nor will she come out for any length of time ....

4 PM rolls around and she won't let my Dad or my Grandmother into the kitchen .....

5 PM rolls around and she won't let my Dad or my Grandmother or anyone else into the kitchen and STILL won’t come out of the kitchen for any length of time. They're wanting to help, someone explains. Pfft. "No, they're not, they're wanting to nibble on food!" she huffs. So she brings out some hoer's de oeuvres... the fifties were so classy, non?.... and she disappears quickly back into the kitchen. Little did they know..

6PM rolls around and she started to set the table and when asked, she finally allowed my Grandmother help her do that. .........And that's when it happens. As she is walking back into the kitchen a contraction hits. Then another. Worst yet, my Grandmother sees it happen. And all hell breaks loose. Panic. What do they do? Then another contraction hits and “that’s it,” my father declares. And screeeech two days worth of cooking gets stopped cold. I mean turn off the stove, grab the kids, grab the pregnant woman, forget turkey!, find coats, get shoes, and hit the snowy road, cold. My mother is soon to become the second most stubborn woman in the family. And she is NOT a happy housewife. She is in labor and doesn't want to go to the hospital. Her reasoning is that she has spent two days cooking.

"TWO DAYS!" she yells as they are hustling her into a coat. "And it's THANKSGIVING," she screams to deaf ears, "for C&^%#! sake. And I will NOT miss %&*!*^! Thanksgiving dinner." Mom had a mouth of a sailor on her, she did. And I don't mean my dad’s, who was in the Navy, either. She pouted, she whined, she cussed. She tried to bargain with them to wait until after dinner. There was only an hour or so left to go til they could eat and she could make it, she cried. I mean not even for LABOR was that woman going to change the dinner time. Geesh! lol

They took her to the hospital anyway. It was the fifties! You didn't wait! I mean who waits?! She does. Seems she had gone into labor, ohhh about 8 hours earlier and she tried to make it 'stop or go away' so she could have her Thanksgiving dinner.

OMG! I repeat....Can you say STUBBORN?!! sigh. So she ended up missing dinner all together and a few days too, and everybody else ended up eating Thanksgiving dinner from the automat (think vending machines). They had no leftovers either, which just added insult to injury.Years later when she was telling the story and she came to that part of her wanting to stop the labor, I jumped in and said, "Yea, like THAT was gonna happen, Mom." And she shot back, "Well, why you just had to be born that day, I'll never know. You are just SO stubborn. I don't know WHERE you get it from."

It was such a ridiculously funny thing to say, and we all just cracked up. But the crown had been officially passed even though I had apparently earned it all those years before. LOL. "Gee, ummm, I dunno where I get it from either, Mom. Maybe cuz I'm a redhead and your daughter and now the #1 most stubborn woman in my family (evil grin). "

Hey, I come by it honestly. And I still wear that stubborn crown proudly, too.My Dad, liked to tell her, "It's because she smelled your cooking Bess, and she wanted to come out and get some." My father loved my mom enough to compliment her cooking, not to mention eat it for 50 years. Now that's love, folks. Real love.

But Hmmm...Maybe that's why I hate to cook on any day but Thanksgiving? Cuz it sometimes falls on my birthday and I just have to be wreaking havoc in the kitchen, like I did all those years ago.

College Can Be A dangerous Thing.

I was talking to Son#1 this morning. He's the one at college. His (and his twin brother's) birthday was Friday. They turned 19.

I was calling him again to say happy birthday and tell him that I sent a card and stuff and well.... I called just cuz I'm a Mom and that's what we do when important days are spent apart. Anyway....

Here's the convo after the birthday chat part ......

ME: Ouch, my head is sore.
SON#1: Why? Did you hit it?
Me: No. Not that I remember.
SON#1: Maybe you hit it and that's why you don't remember.
Me: Son....that's highly unlikely.
SON#1: Well maybe you should see a doctor.
Me: For WHAT?! There's a lump on the side of my head. It's
sore.
SON#1: What kind of lump?
Me: A sore one. What do you mean what kind of lump.
How do I know?
SON#1: Maybe it's a brain tumor.

Have I mentioned this kid is majoring pre-med?

FYI.... I figured out what it is and it's NOT a brain tumor. It's curler head. A completely different kind of aflliction. I rolled my hair last night, sleeping on the curlers.

Brain tumor......that kid cracks me up. And yes, we're working on his bedside manner..

Thanksgiving Ambrosia and Ghosts

Only 9 more days until I miraculously learn how to cook. Non-cooking. It’s an art I’ve strived to perfect my whole life. And I’ve pulled it off so far. Except for two days out of the year; Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I learned the art of non-cooking from my Mother. She cooked, but she was a bad cook. I mean really bad. Awful. Chicken was tossed into a pan, doused with garlic salt and baked. Then served. uck. I mean really, UCK. To go with the chicken, frozen peas were dumped in a pot of boiling water and served. Shudder. To this day, I still won’t eat peas. I even avoid having to boil water.

Normally I wander around the grocery store in a zombie haze. I don’t understand how the ingredients in the store can be transformed into gourmet meals. I know somehow that hunk of packagedmeat in the butcher section is supposed to come out as some kind of tasty pot roast or something, but exactly how it morphs into that is beyond me. I hear the word par-boil and my eyes start to glaze over.

But twice a year the spirit of Betty Crocker miraculously inhabits my body. Somehow cornbread dressing is made from scratch. Sweet potato soufflé, sweet ambrosia, deviled eggs, a golden turkey, and more. It all makes sense. Words like dice, sauté, and simmer become part of my vocabulary. AND, when it’s all said and done, it’s edible.

It’s MORE than edible… it’s actually delicious.

I know it is, cause my KIDS say so and believe me, if it sucked, they’d be the first to run screaming from the table.

They’ve done it before.

Birthday Dreams

Soon I will be having a non-birthday. You know one of those birthdays that you don't count. The ones that keep you at 38. ok fine. 39. oh hush, so I've had a few non-birthdays already.

Sooo, I was thinking.....since I'm NOT having a birthday, I can ask for anything I want. This year I want this.

Howie Long

Hey, gimme a break. A girl's gotta have a dream. And that one is MINE.

Bad Books Could Make Great Coasters

I found an interesting site tonight while browsing.

If enjoy reading and don't mind parting with the books that you've read, take a look at this site.

Book Crossing.

It's the practice of registering a book with a label, then leaving the book in a public place for someone else to find and read. You can track the book (if the person who finds it follows the instructions from the label you stick on the book.)

Now I know what to do with "He's just Not That Into You".

And here I was going to use it as bed side coaster, pfft.

I'm Just Not That Into You

I finally gave into a weakness of mine. Books. More specifically reading books. I went to Barnes and Noble. $38.00 and a few hours later, I returned home, put on a pot of coffee and curled up. The deliciousness of this is tied with ...nothing.

The first book I started was:

"He's Just Not That Into You." This book is written by two people that were associated with "Sex and the City." You'd think it would be a good read, funny, entertaining, especially after all the hype. Wrong.

Maybe it's cause I'm not dating anyone but I found it boring and stupid after about 10 minutes. Once you start reading this you really have to wonder what the hell are some women thinking?

Some it IS funny though.. such as this excerpt: "100% of guys polled said they have never accidentally slept with anyone. (But many of them wanted to know how this accident could occur, and how they can get involved in such an accident.)"

The excuse "But honey, it was an accident," was apparently being offered by one man when he got caught cheating. I mean seriously... what woman buys 'an accident' as an excuse for screwing around anyway?!

They had other "He's just not that into you" points such as:"Men are NEVER too busy to get what they want."

But then, that one is pretty much common sense. No?

I put the book down when I reached the Chapter: "He's just not into you if he's disappeared on You."

Really? Ya think?! Well duh.

Sorry Greg and Liz, I didn't finish your book.... I guess I'm just not that into you.

Lust

Manolo says:

"the Yves, he knows the shoes. Look at the beautiful super fantastic detail on this pump!"

Sie says: YUMMIE!

Decorating.. Or aka I live in a Dream World

I've got a million things I want to do... but don't know where to start.

I painted the foyer, as you can see... but I haven't finish it. Around the top of the room there is a taupe 'band' edged in gold. In that band is supposed to be a poem that was on a Sampler my Grandmother made 80 years ago.

It reads:
Come in the Evening; or
Come in the Morning;
Come when Expected; or
Come without Warning.

One day, with the help of a friend, we are going to paint that poem, using Calligraphy around the border of the room.... One day....(I've said that for 7 years!)

Maybe I'll finally finish all these projects! Or at least one?

Alone. Not Naked. Cell Phones.

This weekend I was a fish without a bicycle. Well maybe more like a cat without a hairball.... no, maybe a pool without water. Yea, that works better.

This weekend, I was a mom without kids. That's right, no kids. I had the house to myself. I know, friggin amazing isn't it. For years and years and then more years as a mom, there is no real alone time. You have to hide in bathrooms for a moments peace (if you're lucky). Weekends just mean the kids will be home for 2 days, all day. And summers are nothing but months that you don't have a good reason to enforce a 9:00pm bedtime. [11:00pm when they get to be teens.]

And then suddenly one day it happens. They find a life outside of the home. And they go explore it. And the house is quiet. And empty.

There are a lot of things you can do when this happens.....

You can clean house without it becoming instantly messy again. But I'm not a clean freak so I skipped this one. You can run thru through the house naked if you want.... But then at this age, naked isn't all it's cut out to be.

Or, you can call them on their cell phones and say "I love you baby." and hear "I love you too mom." Yea, I did this... but I only did it ONCE.

I promise.

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. Tonight, at Son #3's school they will perform the "Change of Command" for MCjrROTC. (Marine Corp jr.)

It's really great to see high school kids taking part in something that's 'bigger than them'. Veterans will be there to enjoy some well deserve praise, and the cadets will hand over command of platoons (or is it squads?) to the new leaders.

This is my son's second year in ROTC and he will be moving up to Platoon Commander tonight. He's very proud, and so is his Mom.
The rifle team will perform their exhibition routine of twirling rifles tonight. Yes my son twirls. He also has an earring.. but that's a different story and he takes it out when around the Major. lol But I still call him a twirler...even if it is with a rifle.

The team is also performing at an elementary school today. He left this morning in his dress blues and I couldn't help but think of the look on the younger kids faces when they see the Rifle team all dressed up, marching and twirling rifles. A nice way to make note of Veterans Day, don't you think?

And tonight, at the Change of Command ceremony, as a platoon/squad something-or-other leader, he gets a sword.

Lord don't let him cut an ear off please....

Brokers. Lawn Chairs. Giggling

Go figure. I mean I'm sure stranger things have happened I suppose, but not many. Back when I was Notoriously Bad, I chose the wrong thing at the wrong time. Well since the pool isn't finished, not buying the patio set seems to have been a good idea afterall. Especially since it's WINTER now and the pool still isn't done, so the nice patio set would be out in the cold, useless for the next couple of months, and what fun is that?

So about that airline stock.. It went down after I bought it. Way down, down, down, down.. Now this was my first foray into Wall Street. And I lucked into the introduction at that. So I wasn't expecting much, really.
I happened to mention to a broker that worked next door, that I was shopping for patio furniture and I found a beautiful set on sale. But even on sale it was expensive. He said why spend money on that when you could buy stock.

I laughed. Me own stock. I lose at Monopoly. I'm hell on wheels at Scrabble (or Pogo games), but stock? I always thought that was for people that had $money$. I'm a single mom, with cars that keep breaking down, a house that got hit hard by three Tropical storms - in Atlanta(!) no less, along with three sons, one in college.

I didn't think I was a likely candidate for somebody to be pitching stock to. But then he said the magic word... an airline I knew. It was less than $5.00 a share. It just tickled me I could own stock and in a company I actually 'knew.' So I put the patio equipment out of my mind and bought some shares.

......And giggled. I giggled when it dropped. I giggled when it went up. I just plain giggled.

I laughed when it dropped to half the price I paid for it and 'my broker' called to check on me. Me having a broker made it just fun in itself. He advised me to sell, I still laughed as I told him no. I figured if I had bought the patio set I'd be out the money anyway, so I was prepared to lose my investment. I had always heard, 'don't invest more than you're willing to lose'... and I hadn't. And I decided to use what I knew about the company and stay in the game.

I giggled more when it rose back up past my 'buy price' and my broker (that still makes me laugh) called me to say I was right.
Now, I don't have enough stock to make me RICH by any means! But it's an investment (I hope). It's also given me more incentive and I'm looking forward to paying even more of my debts and buying even more stock. Yes, maybe even some stock that's stable... Hey! It could happen.
My broker even has a term he uses when he comes by... He says "I have some solid investments when you're ready and yes a few 'giggle' stock ideas for you too." Me, with a broker, owning stock.... go figure! It may never happen again, though I'd like to think it will.

So, I might still be notoriously bad (the pool remember? and it IS airline stock afterall) but at least I'll remember my first entry into Wall Street fondly, and besides, I've got a few old lawn chairs that will do just fine for a while.

Say It Isn't Sew

For 8 years I worked in the decorating field. 'I' was a custom workroom. I made custom drapes, pillows, table skirts, ottomans, etc. and really enjoyed designing and being creative. I worked for decorators and individual customers. After it became a 24/7 job for 8 years I became burnt-out and went back to the corporate world for a lot of reasons.....

.....A divorce, a 401K and regular income being just a few of those reasons.

But now, after 4 years of not even sewing on a button, it's about time to drag out the Singer and do some work on the house I love. This is going to be a lengthy project, so I am going to start a 'decorating' site, on a different blog. Hopefully starting this site will give me the incentive to get busy.

So now I will have two sites to try and keep up with. We'll see how that goes..lol.

Oh, And, since I was in the decorating field for 8 years, these drapes and stuff better kick ass.... ya know?!

It's Official. It's Monday

Dear, gentle readers.....

If you've been following along then you know what today is. It's Monday, and we know what that means. One of the 4 cars is going to give me a headache. Which I suppose is only appropriate because it was cars that this Blog, but still. Gimme a break. And not the car kinda brake either, thanks.

So. It's Officially Monday and Car #3 is Officially dead. Dead as in needs a new motor dead. There will be no funeral because I'm a girl and I don't know where dead cars go.

Personally, I think it was very rude of Car #3 to kick the gasket. I just got finished paying for life support on it's friggen ungrateful chassy. How very rude, don't you think? Yes, this gets a five star PFFT!

A second opinion has been summoned, however. We will see if the prognosis remains the same.

Now, if Son #3 has his way, his Wonderful mom will buy the little Mazda RX7 that is sitting in my driveway. His girlfriend is selling the Mazda because her wonderful parents just bought her a brand new Audi. So that means we can buy the Mazda, Mom!

Uh huh, like that's gonna happen. The last thing I need to worry about is a 17 year old boy driving a sports car.

.................Dream on son.

You'd be driving the SUV Jeep. I'd be driving the sports car..

TV. Drinking. Dating

Ya know.. I started this "J" with the thought of talking about life and dating after 40. OK, damnit, a few years after 40....are ya happy now?!

Sooooo anyway, I'm watching "The Bachelor," and wondering WHY women would go on tv and make fools of themselves for some guy. I mean, I've made a fool of myself infront of a guy before plenty of times, but NOT on national TV. One case in point ..... .....

I went on a date to a winery, wine tasting. I don't drink. I hadn't had alcohol in, ohhhh about 20 years. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. So WTF was I doing going wine testing at a winery? on an empty stomach. Don't ask me. But I did. and yes, I got Tipsy. Very Tipsy.

When I realized I was getting light headed, I excused myself to go to the ladies room. It was in a separate building. Down a quaint little flagstone walk. I was in heels. Tipsy.... Are ya with me here? That's when the giggling started..... and it wouldn't stop. I am NOT the giggly type of girl. Normally I smirk. I laugh outrageously. I might even chuckle or guffaw. But apparently wine makes me giggle, at first. And I think funny things. Well, in my mind they're funny.

We ended up in the gazebo, with me sitting down on the gazebo floor laughing so hard, I couldn't speak. Literally. Every time I tried to say something I just laughed. Hysterically. Tears streaming down my face laughing. Tipsy. It wasn't a pretty sight. I finally gained control of myself, but only after I ingested enough cracker bread to feed a small 3rd world country.

That cracker bread is some weird stuff. I think they make it and sell it in bulk. He took the rest of it home and I bet he still has enough cracker bread for 100 more picnics. That wheel of cracker bread reminded me of a satellite dish... which at the time, didn't help me control the hysterics. Since then, I avoid wine and cracker bread...... and gazebos.

Anyway.....That can't compare to going on tv and competing for a guy. Tonight is the episode they have "individual overnight" dates. The women each get to choose if they share a night in a suite with him. Next day he then goes through that skin crawling, corny, horrific embarrassment of a 'rose ceremony' and tells some chicks bye.

Suddenly getting Tipsy in a gazebo falls short on the embarrassment scale.

On next weeks show they take the guy home to meet their parents. I'll pass..... Unless maybe I come home with wine and cracker bread. That's the only way I could take their humiliation.

TV - sometimes it's just not meant for sober people.

Pin me

The game is called Pin Me. Think of it kinda like the game of 'Risk'. Taking over the world kinda thing. All you have to do is click on the link below and put a pin in the map. I'm bored. I like the map. It amuses me.

Come on, you know you want to. Just do it. Stick a pin in me, and help my dream of world domination come true.

A Big PFFT!

Christmas commercials?!!! Will somebody tell me WTF happened to Thanksgiving? Pleaseandthankyou.

Voting Day

I voted.

It was surprisingly quick and easy. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

I drove by my precinct on the way to work and didn't see any lines outside the door and there were plenty of empty parking spaces. So I took advantage of it.

I walked into the cafeteria where the voting was being held. There were 9 people sitting at three tables, ready and waiting to help. I also noticed that there were about 30 voting machines and 1/3 of them were available.

The lack of a crowd was surprising and disquieting. I asked one of the poll workers if it had been like this all morning. (It was 9:30). She said they had been very busy when they opened, but they had moved everyone through very quickly.
That made me feel better. I don't like apathy. Hate something. Love something. Take a stand for something. Just don't be apathetic and lazy.

It took me all of 5 minutes to vote. Five short minutes to add one single voice. Mine. And it felt good. Best five minutes, I'll spend all week. I'd have spent hours if that's what it took.