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!