Brady Bunch Repeat.... I Don't Think So

Fun Ways To Make Money

2010-07-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for some time now for a way to make some extra money. And I think that I finally found what I was looking for. And I have been having fun doing it.

The first and my favorite is an Iphone app called Field Agent. Now I know some of you are groaning about the Iphone. But for those of us that do have one, it's a great way to make some extra cash. I have only been using Field Agent for about three months and have already made $115.00. Not bad considering that each job takes about five minutes. Some take less time than that.

The next money maker is another app called WeReward. It is available for several types of phones not just the Iphone. You get paid for "checking in" as they call it. Some of the jobs remind me of scavenger hunts. For example there is currently a check in where you go to a best buy and locate a product, and then you take a picture of you holding the product with a store employee and it pays $5 bucks. And you are not even required to purchase the product. There are a few downsides to this app. Like most of the jobs only pay a nickel. But that is just simple jobs like taking a picture of the front of a store. And the other downside is that it keeps crashing. It crashes so much that it is rather frustrating I must admit. But nonetheless I have made some money with it. I have only been using it for about two weeks and have made only about $5.00. But I have had fun making it.

And last but not least is one that I have been using for a few years. It's not a get rich plan but you will make easy money. It's called Inbox Dollars. You get paid for reading emails. And in addition to that are opportunities to make money through simple things like using coupons when grocery shopping, or for shopping online through their site. And these are just a few of the ways to make money. I have made about $60.00 with this site. And like I said it won't make you rich, but you can make some money.

So if your looking for some fun ways to make a few extra bucks, check out these suggestions.....you might just be surprised at how easy it is to make the extra dough.

Hometown Favorites

2010-07-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

I was searching for an interesting topic to write about this week, and I must admit that I found myself struggling. And then it hit me while I was sitting in my car waiting for my nephew to get out of school. I would write about some of my favorite things in my backyard.

I'm talking about places that are mom and pop shops. Now don't get me wrong, there are great things happening in the big franchises all across America. But I want to pay homage to some of the hardest working people, the small businessman. The men and women that go the extra mile to please their customers. A place where you know you can always get great service and it just feels like a little bit of home.

So, to start off the series is a restaurant around the corner from my home. One of those places that is set apart from the rest. A coney island named ISIS. It's located in Taylor, Michigan. And to say the least it is restaurant with great food, and very friendly employees. Quick service is another bonus when visiting this restaurant. Their drive thru window is convenient for those days when you just don't feel like getting out the car. It is definitely worth stopping in for breakfast, lunch or an early dinner.

The next time your in Metro Detroit, stop in at ISIS. Grab a quick breakfast or some I
lunch and sit back and enjoy. I am sure you will find it to be as nice as an experience as I have.

One more quick note: I tried to get a picture that was just right to go along with this post. But sadly the ones that I took did not turn out like I had thought I would. But I do promise to upload one as soon as I get it just right.

Question Of The Day

2010-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

I have a really good question to ask today. And I am hoping that some of my readers will have an answer for me. It's a simple question really, I promise.

What is it about clean laundry that makes teenagers afraid to touch it? Why is it so difficult to get them to fold it and put it away?

What Is Your Favorite TV Show?

2010-06-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

My co workers and I were having a discussion about favorite TV shows today. I immediately thought of this show called Taxi. Hands down it was my favorite show from my childhood. I remember having the biggest crush on Tony Banta, ( played by Tony Danza). And this one episode still makes me crack up today.

Here is a video clip of that episode.

What were your favorites?

Just Does Not Get Much Better

2010-06-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

The day is arriving quickly for my niece to graduate from high school. In less than one week we will watch her walk to the stage and accept her diploma. We will also watch her as she goes to her prom. And I must admit I had doubts as to whether we would see these things come to pass.

She has been living with us for three years now. And in those three years we have seen two of her sisters and her brother leave our care. Two of them went to foster care and the third decided when she turned 18 yrs old that she no longer needed us. But Miss Diamond stuck it out. I remember the first six months were the worst for her. She begged us to let her live with other family. But we were the only ones that actually said she could live with us. No one else would take them all in. We had our share of hard times. But we also had an over abundance of happy times. Days filled with laughter and joy.

Today, she gave my husband and I our tickets to the prom toast. I was thrilled that she wanted us there. I can't wait to see her in her dress and watch her drive off into the night with her friends to celebrate all of her hard work. And I know that at Graduation, I will be beaming with pride. For she is the first one in my sister in laws family to graduate. Both of her sisters dropped out of school. So she is the first and I hope that she is not the last.

So, for Miss Diamond, Your Uncle and I are proud of you. And wish you all the best that life has to offer.

Life just does not get any better.

I Feel Great

2010-05-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Man do I ever feel great today. Had a barbecue with my family after work and got some much needed quiet time. I even took on the challenge of walking home from work. I know it sounds crazy, but its not too far. Only 5.5 miles from door to door. And with such beautiful weather, how could i resist.
I could not believe that even after two years I was able to make the walk home. Felt a little pain in the bad knee, but I pushed through it and kept on moving. I know tomorrow I am going to be a little stiff despite stretching tonight. But a little discomfort is not a big deal.
Time to turn in for the night. Hope everyone has a fabulous Memorial Day weekend. Remember those that gave their lives in service to our country.

More Self Aware

2010-05-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks my husband and I have been working out with a personal trainer at our local rec center. And I must admit that in the last 5 weeks I have become more aware of my physical body. I notice the way my abdomen is flattening out and the way my clothes are starting to fit on me. And it has also opened my eyes to those around me also.

It's like someone has opened my eyes. Like turning on a light switch I see things so differently now. I look at people differently now also. And it seems that I listen more carefully to what people say also. I can't explain the change that is coming about in my life. And I certainly can not see where this is taking me yet.

While at work today, I was having a conversation with one of my fellow coworkers. We are partners in a weight loss challenge. And I wanted to see how she was doing with her workouts. This is when she informed me that she did not have time to workout anymore. I continued to talk to her to gauge what was her reason for the change. I wanted to see if I could motivate her to start again. And much to my disappointment I was unsuccessful. It's not that she doesn't have time for it, she just has lost interest in it and just does not want to do it anymore. Now naturally I became frustrated and blurted out to her, "if I have time to do it with my crazy schedule, you surely have no excuse." I did not mean it to come out in an offensive way, but it sure did. So, this is where I came to a new way of thinking. And this is what I came up with.
1. As a people we have become too accustomed to the sugar coated truth. And I intend to speak my mind more often. If it offends you, I make no apologies. If you don't like what I have to say, I suggest you suck it up and move on. I will not lie to satisfy your need for the sugar coated truth.
2. If I can do it.......So can you. I do not wish to hear about how you can't do something. I only want to hear about your successes in life. Even if you try at something and fail, it is better than choosing to whine and say you can't do something without first trying.

This way of thinking will now apply to all things in my life. I hope the journey down this new road in my life will be less bumpy than all the other roads in my life.

A New Day A New Beginning

2010-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a few months since I posted last, and so much has happened since then. But today is a new day, and I will try not to look back at all of the bad that has come in recent months.

Today I couldn't resist posting a picture that I took over the weekend of my kids. They are truly the sunshine in my cloud filled days.

Home Sick And Now The Washer Quits....What Else Is Around The Corner?

2009-12-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

O.k, so I called off of work today sick. I didn't think my coworkers would appreciate me spreading my sicko germs everywhere, so I stayed home. I am supposed to be resting right now, but I unable to sleep. So, here I sit in front of my computer writing this post. Typing away as I hack up a lung.

And if being sick wasn't bad enough.....my washer decided to stop working today. I guess it got tired of washing 6 to 7 loads a day. When it is supposed to agitate or spin to get the water out of the clothes, it just makes a horrible noise. Kind of sounds like it is going to explode at anytime. So, I guess it is time to send it to the retirement home for broken and unwanted appliances. Good bye my washer, you have served me well.

I have to admit that I had a good weekend overall. We took a leisurely drive through a park that had a holiday light display. Then we took the kids to see Santa. Finished up our shopping and spent some quality time with the kids. And with Christmas just 3 days away, I eagerly anticipate the looks on my kids faces when they open their gifts. And that my friends is all the medicine I need to fix being sick. So, hurry up and get here Christmas, I need a feel good fix and quick.

Alive And Kicking

2009-12-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

I am sure many folks probably have given up on me by now, since it has been a few months since I posted last. But let me tell you that I am still here.

Life kind of took me for a ride down the bumpiest road ever. And it has finally started to slow down. From watching my sister in law hang near death, to struggling to deal with my depression. And that is just the beginning. I am hoping that the holidays will bring some much needed relief from the craziness. But it doesn't feel like it will.

I am struggling with my feelings of losing my dad on Christmas day last year. I cry a lot, and am really depressed. I wish I could fast forward through the next few weeks so I could make the pain go away, but that is just a pipe dream.

For now I will tie a knot in the end of my rope, and hang on for dear life.

Kids Just Love School

2009-10-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how quickly the newness of school has worn off. One day the kids are jumping out of bed at the speed of light and running out the door to school. And the next they are pulling the covers over their heads and hiding instead of getting dressed.

I think it has to do with the change in the weather. On the days when the temperature has dropped significantly, they tend to hide under the covers in the morning. But on warmer days, they seemingly pop out of bed like toast from a toaster. And I have to admit that on the cold fall days I am even guilty of avoiding waking in the morning. Nothing feels as good as a warm toasty bed on a cold morning.

And to think that we are only one month into the school year. Sigh, it's gonna be a long year.

Teaching Someone To Read

2009-09-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

In my last post I mentioned that I have my 12 yr old nephew living with us. Well I have the wonderful pleasure every night of helping him with his homework. And as a result I have found out one thing......he can't read worth a darn.

So, I sit patiently, and listen while he reads aloud from his homework. And I try very hard to be patient while I correct him. But it is not easy sometimes. I want to smack him upside the head when he repeatedly rushes through sentences. Or guesses at words instead of taking the time to sound them out and get them correctly.

But a school teacher I am not. That why I am looking for a little help from my readers. I am searching for either a computer program or a website that helps build reading skills. I don't know what kind of response I will get, but any suggestions will be appreciated. Lord knows I need all the help I can get.

2009-09-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

It has been a few months since the last time I posted. It has been a crazy year and an even crazier summer. I am so happy that the school year has begun again. And that my house is once again a quiet place.

As usual my home became a refuge for other family members children for the summer. And as a result we now have my nephew living with us. He came to stay for a few weeks and has now enrolled in school here. And it is a good thing that he is here. His mother has been hospitalized for the last two months and now the family is being evicted from their home in a few days. And to make matters worse, the home that they were going to move into was burned to the ground by an arsonist. So, we found ourselves in a position of do we let him be homeless or take him. The choice was pretty obvious if you ask me.

But the summer did not start all that well. My oldest niece and her infant daughter that were living with us, moved out. On her 18th birthday she left the house and has not returned. She quit school and chose to live the party life. And by that I mean that she hangs out with her friends, smokes weed, drinks and thinks that life is grand. I hated to let the baby go, because I am so attached to her. But short of a court order I can't force her mother to let us keep her. So, as heart breaking as it was we had to let the my niece go and live her own life.

So, we are down to being a family of seven again. Which is a huge difference from being a family of ten. The house is a lot cleaner and a heck of a lot quieter. So, I guess I can be thankful for the small changes that happen. All of the kids will be in school this year, ( my daughter starts preschool next week.) And all I can say is what a beautiful thing that is. I love my life!

My How They Love Their Donuts

2009-07-06T10:17:00.001-07:00

Nine police officers in a small town in Michigan have a new claim to fame. And no it is not arresting a famous criminal or solving a crime. They now own the town donut shop.

When the owners of the Clare City Bakery were ready to throw in the towel, it was the cops to the rescue. All nine officers from the city police force chipped in and bought the business that had been in operation since 1896. And since it's Grand Opening on July 1, 2009, it is quickly becoming a hit. They have a line of merchandise with logos like "You have the right to be glazed" and "handcuffs and cream puffs". At this time the officers have no intentions on leaving their full time jobs. So, they hired a manager and some students from the local High School.

So, I bet your wondering where I am going with this story. Well, since I am on vacation this week, I plan on loading the kids into the car and taking a long drive into the countryside of Michigan. Clare is only a 3 hour drive for me. But for the donuts and merchandise I think it would be a fun trip.

So, if you ever happen to be in the Bay City area of Michigan take the short jog over to Clare and pick up some handcuffs and cream puffs. But don't forget you have the right to be glazed!!!

Visit The Cops & Doughnuts Website

How Quickly They Forget

2009-06-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Good Grief!! It is amazing how quickly my son forgot about his recent tongue injury. Today he was ready to start bouncing on the trampoline again. I reminded him about his stitches and all he could say was, "I am all better mommy. I can play on the trampoline again. I promise I won't get hurt!!!!"

Oh Lord it is gonna be a long summer!!

Accidents Happen

2009-06-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

When you are a parent the first lesson you learn is that accidents do happen. And in my house we have had an over abundance of them lately. And last weekend was no exception.

On Friday evening my 5 yr old son was playing at the neighbors house. Bouncing happily on the trampoline with not a care in the world. Then it happened......his chin made contact with his friends knee. And he split his tongue wide open. Of course it took stitches, four of them to be exact, to sew up the cut in his tongue. And then the fun really began.

For the next two days it was a non-stop battle to get him to stay hydrated. He refused to eat or drink. And after two days we had to return to the hospital. We begged and pleaded and finally were able to get him to drink. But only after threatening to give him an IV. He was not pleased with being forced to drink. But we finally won the battle.

So, it is Wednesday and he is doing so much better. Though his speech has taken a beating. He struggles to talk clearly because of the swelling. But it is great to see him bouncing all over the house with his sister. Chasing after each other without a care in the world. And the best part is watching him eat and drink. I never thought I would be so happy to see him drinking and eating.

My Children's Obsession

2009-05-16T07:13:00.001-07:00

Lately my children have developed a new obsession. They have found a bird nesting in a hanging basket off of my deck. I was going to plant some new flowers in it this spring, but it has found a new purpose now.

My children spend hours sitting in chairs around the deck talking to the bird. They pause every now and then to ask me how much longer before they can see the baby birds. Then they ask questions like where's the daddy bird. Now try and explain that to a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old. I found it simpler to just say that the daddy bird will be back when the babies come. Or I tell them that he is out looking for food. Sometimes I think it would be easier to explain nuclear physics to them.

They will understand the concept one day. But in the mean time we will sit and wait patiently for the sound of little birds chirping away.

Top Droppers Of April

2009-05-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks goes out to all of those that have dropped their Entrecard on my site in April. Here is a list of the top 10 droppers. So it's time to show some link love. Please stop by and visit these sites.

Buck Robin.com/

Credit Bum.com/

Autism Experiences

Happy Quotes

Dungeon Siege Cheats

Blogging Ideas

Vacation Oregon

Money Snip

BMWF1 Blog

More Game Cheat Links

And The Credits Go To

2009-04-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone that responded to my last post " The Question of the day". I did get some really great feedback from everyone. I am including a link to all those that posted a response to the post.

The winner was The Native American Momma She gave me suggestions like posting for odd jobs on Craigslist, she even suggested using food banks instead of buying food. While I could not do that in good conscious since so many truly need it.....I did take her suggestion and look daily for odd jobs that I can do on the weekends.

Other responses came from: Don at Beyond Left Field
Laane at Laane On The World
Jan at Better Spines
Jen From Mom of 2
Sadie at Sadie's Skinny
Wtad at My Prerogative
Jen at Redhead Ranting
Tami at Sunflower Seeds

Once again a big Thank You to everyone who responded. While I did not get my goal of $1000 dollars in a week, I did learn that no matter what happens to me in life I will survive.

The Question Of The Day And Entrecard Giveaway

2009-04-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very low today. And it has to do with my bankruptcy. And let me say that it has been a long time since I felt this bad. And I am willing to give 1,000 Entrecard credits to the reader that comes up with the best solution.

My husband and I had a meeting with our bankruptcy attorney yesterday. It seems that the attorney for the so called "Friend of the Court" wants to dismiss our case. And that my friends is really messing with my head like you would not believe. The mere thought of losing everything that I have worked for is eating me alive.

Now let me clarify something here, "Friend of the Court" is a local court that is responsible for enforcing child support obligations. And believe me when I tell you that they are not a "Friend" to anyone. I have been on both sides of the fence with this court. The receiving end and the giving end. And I used to believe that they were out for the best interest of the child. But after being on the giving end, because of my current husband, I don't believe they do. But I am not going to go into a ranting and raving session about them.

All I can say is that they don't care about your circumstances. They don't care about how much money you have to pay out in bills to keep a roof over your head, all they care about is getting the money that is owed to them. I think at one point yesterday, I was so angry I compared them to blood sucking leeches. And right now they want a minimum of $1,000 dollars in less than 7 days. Of course they had a few other demands as well, which we have no problem agreeing to. But we just can't come up with a thousand dollars in less than a week.

So, that my friends is the question of the day. And I would love to hear from my readers on this. Since I know many of you are hard core Internet money makers, I want to hear your ideas on how you would raise this kind of money in a hurry. And let me say that a loan is out of the question since we filed Bankruptcy. And none of my family members are in a position to give me this kind of money. And I don't think that selling everything we own would raise more than $50 dollars since our kids have destroyed everything.

Let me hear your ideas on making money on the Internet. And to the person that comes up with the best idea, I will give 1,000 Entrecard points to them.

And in closing today, I want to give all my readers a great big Thank You. Without you I would have given up on blogging a long time ago. You have all been so supportive, and I appreciate it.

Still Here

2009-04-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

While I have been absent for a few weeks now, I am still here. I just have been lost deep in thought. And my thoughts have taken over my brain. My mind has been more or less occupied by thoughts of my daughter. And try as I may, I can't seem to shake it.

Today is another great day in my house. We are celebrating my nieces Birthday. So Happy Birthday to the Big "D"! She turned 17 today, and what a fun day it was. We started out at 7:30 this morning going to cosmetology school. And ended our day at 10 p.m. with cake and ice cream.

So now it is almost midnight and I am already in bed. My day will once again start way too early for me. But since I am off from work I will be able to return home and sleep some more.

Here's hoping everyone has a great day.

Happy Birthday

2009-04-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Today I celebrate my oldest daughters Birthday. She came in to this world 18 yrs ago today. I truly regret leaving the hospital without her. Some would say that I left and never looked back. And to that I would say it was all a lie.

For the last 18 yrs I have led a tortured life. I spend my days looking into the faces of the young girls I meet at work. And I try very hard to remember her face from her baby pictures. And I wonder what has become of my little baby girl.

Perhaps there will come a day when I can hold my daughter in my arms again. In the meantime I will look at the faces and wonder if one of them could be my girl.

The Pain That Won't Go Away

2009-03-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have had an incredible couple of weeks. And things are about to get even more fun.

This week is the birthday of my first daughter that I gave up for adoption. She will be 18 yrs old this Thursday. And for the life of me it does not feel like that much time has passes. It seems like only yesterday I was still very pregnant with her. And who ever could have imagined the way she would make her appearance into this world. But that is another story that remains to be told. Perhaps that is a post for her Birthday.

Today is yet another of my least favorite things to do. I get to be molested by a mammogram machine. And I do mean molested. At least that is what it feels like to me. I mean lets be honest who really enjoys stripping naked for a stranger, then having your boobs placed into a medieval torture device then photographed. Not the way I want to spend an afternoon. But alas it must be done.

But for now I am lying in bed in horrible pain. I have pinched a nerve or have pulled a muscle, because my neck and lower back hurt so much, I can barely move. As long as I don't make any sudden moves, the pain is in check. It is when I try to bend down or move quickly that it feels as though my spine is being ripped from my body. And the sad thing is that I want nothing more right now to jump out of bed in the morning feeling like I could jump skyscrapers. Or even simpler just to be able to go to the gym and work out. All I can do is suck down pain killers like candy and try to stretch and pray for relief.

So, for now it is time to get some rest. Send me some good drugs please.

Tim Taylor Returns

2009-03-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

My Tim the tool man Taylor has returned. And his latest adventure has been trying to repair a toilet. And has added a newly defined layer of stress to my already frazzled nerves.

Once again one of our children flushed an item that had no business being in a toilet. It turns out that our kids think that the toilet doubles as a garbage can, and they flushed a plastic container. And wouldn't you just know it stopped up the toilet. And no amount of plunging or snaking was breaking this thing up.

So, here it is Tuesday and our toilet is still not fixed. While the plastic container is not stuck in it anymore, we have been left with a leaking water lines that sprays water everywhere, broken lever arms, and a tank that leaks when you flush the toilet. I had to beg my husband to stop trying to fix it last night. Because it seems that he was only making things worse.

He finally gave up around 2 a.m. and went to bed. I on the other hand was left to clean up the tools, and clean up the bathroom. And of course he did the smart thing, he called a friend that is a plumber this morning. So we are going to leave this job up to the pros. Now if only I could convince my husband to stop trying to repair things........maybe just maybe we wouldn't have to keep calling repairman.

I love my husband to death............but a repairman he is not.

Man Am I Sore

2009-03-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Well I finally did it......I joined a gym. We couldn't wait to get started working out. I tried to start out slow but I am soooo sore.

I have forgotten one simple thing that must be done, stretching. I mainly walked the indoor track, but took a little time to lift some weights. But had to stop abruptly when my children were finished early. So I did not get the opportunity to stretch. And I am paying for it now. I am stiff as a board!!

Now we have come up with a schedule for going to the gym. And so far it looks like on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday I will be going to the gym. I am wondering if I should take one of those days and spend it doing a yoga or pilates class. Perhaps that will help to keep limber. But one thing is for sure, I will remember to stretch from now on.

Break Time

2009-03-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today I have decided to take a break from my entrecard dropping. To all my droppers, keep on dropping your card. I will be back tomorrow night to pay you a visit.

I finally managed to get my hair color straightened out today. I had to pay a visit to a professional stylist, and we ended up stripping the color. The finished color was well worth the money and the extra time.

So, enjoy the rest of your evening and I will see you all tomorrow in blog land.

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight.

Happy First Birthday

2009-03-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

I just realized that today is my blogs 1st birthday. One year ago today I started my blog. And have been nothing but impressed with how well it has done.

So, I want to thank all of those readers who have helped to make it a successful year. And I hope that you will continue to help me make it a success.

Tammy

Kiss And Make Up

2009-03-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone for their input on my last post. After a very long weekend and an even longer week, we have come to an agreement to seek out counseling. I think that instead of a psychiatrist we are instead going to seek out pastoral counseling.

Like I said before, I truly believe my marriage is worth saving. And I am not ready to give up the fight yet. But I need some change in our relationship. And I really hope that we can find some middle ground, and soon.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Lord knows we need all the help we can get.

Thank You

Tammy

Is This The End??

2009-02-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

I am at a sort of crossroads in my life. After a horrible weekend spent arguing with my spouse, I find myself wanting to leave my marriage. It is a painful decision to make. But I have left in my heart already. I took off my wedding ring last night and put it away.

I have to say that I am willing to do the whole marriage counseling thing if he is. And I would stay if things were to change. But I am not willing to stay any longer unless things do change. I have always said that when I got married this time that it was to the end, but a person can only be pushed over the edge so many times, before they break. And that is where I am at.

The other reason to stay is my children. Our children have always favored dad over me. And I want my children to grow up with their two parents in the home. But also have to weigh which is more damaging, staying in a home with so much hostility, or leave and live with only one parent.

I will continue to pray for my marriage. And I hope that I will find the answer that is right for us all.

Unhappy In Life

2009-02-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

As you can tell by the title I am totally unhappy with my life right now. I have been burning the candle at both ends for far too long. And I have finally reached the end of my candle.....nothing left to burn. I am just physically and emotionally exhausted. And I feel as though I have nothing left to give.

Now the sad part is that it feels like a hopeless situation that will never end. I have no escape from the things that are burning me out. And as much as I hate to say it, my biggest drain is my family. Now don't get me wrong....I love my family to death and would do anything for them. But I need a serious time out for me. I have a strong desire in my heart to take a vacation alone. I was thinking about locking myself away in my room, but that won't work....they will still know where to find me.

Hopefully one of my readers will have a good suggestion for ways to combat mommy burnout. Cause I got it bad....and I need a cure and quick.

What Are Your Favorites?

2009-02-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

I have been reliving some of my younger days lately. I am so totally hooked on classic music from my teens. And I am grinning from ear to ear and dancing around playing air guitar.

So, I ask the question what are your absolute favorite songs from your teenage years? You know the ones that make you turn the radio up, and dance around the room so that your kids think you flipped your lid.

Here is a list of my Top 10 Favorites:

1. Pat Benetar: Treat me right

2. Eagles: Hotel California

3. Meatloaf: Paradise by the dashboard light

4. Eddie Money: Shakin'

5. Bon Jovi: Runaway

6. Michael Jackson: Off the wall

7. Bob Seger: Roll me away

8. Bob Seger: Hollywood nights

9. Jackson Browne: Running on empty

10. Survivor: Eye of the Tiger ( From The Movie "Rocky")

So, what are yours?

Where I Am At Today

2009-02-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

I am still feeling somewhat melancholy following the death of my friend. So, I turned to some of my favorite things to bring my spirits up. And I turned to one of my favorite authors, Erma Bombeck. And this particular piece was sent to me by a friend of mine some years ago. And I thought I would share it with you.

Erma Bombeck wrote this shortly after finding out she was dying from cancer.

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s.” More “I’m sorry’s.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.

Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.

We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

Farewell

2009-02-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

I lost a friend and coworker today. He passed away after a battle with Lou Gehrigs disease. The words to express my feelings seem to elude me tonight.

He was more than a friend and co-worker, he was part of my extended family. And after he retired he continued to be a part of my work family. He was one of those people that leave a lasting impression on you. And he may be gone now, but he will not be forgotten.

Rest in peace my friend.

Thanks To All My Readers

2009-02-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

Simply said a big Thank You goes out to all my readers. So many people stopped in and left Birthday wishes for me. And while the day did not exactly go as planned, it still turned out to be a nice day.

As a matter of fact the day only got more frustrating. It started out on a rough note and seemed to snowball from there. Towards the end of the day it got really fun. I found myself on my kitchen floor scrubbing spilled paint off my tile. Then my wonderful husband spilled paint on our living room rug. Luckily the kitchen floor and the rug cleaned up well. But it left me exhausted and wanting to sleep. But that was not in the cards. My husband decided to paint our bedroom that night. So I occupied myself by painting the trim in the hallway and living room. If my memory is correct it was almost 4 a.m. before I got to sleep.

But on Saturday I did get breakfast in bed. And I got to sleep in as well. While not as late as I would have liked. But anything is better than being up at 8 a.m. or earlier. But I did get many things accomplished on my last day of vacation. Some minor projects that have been nagging at me for the longest.

So here it is Tuesday and my 3rd day back at work. And it sure has been a real laugh riot. I have forgotten that on full moon days, all of the kooks come out of hiding. Now I understand what doctors, nurses, and police officers mean by the weirdos come out with full moons. I have had more than my fair share of weird people cross my path in the last 3 days. But the good news is that only 2 more days left in the week, and it will be my weekend. And another opportunity to get some work done at home.

Maybe this weekend I will finish painting the trim in my bedroom. Perhaps I will take the kids to the rec center and just relax. But whatever I do, I am gonna do it with a smile on my face. Because life is just too short to not enjoy it.

Happy Birthday

2009-02-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

That's right.....today is my Birthday. You would think that I would be happy about this. But as usual I am disappointed. I keep telling myself it is just another day. Well if it just another day.....why am I ticked off?

Well I was told last night I would getting breakfast in bed courtesy of my husband. So why did I get kicked out of bed this morning to take our son to school? And then I had to go help out my mother,( which I don't mind doing)because her car wouldn't start. So I got nominated to take my niece to school. This meant that I had to drive to the other side of town, pick them up, drive to the school some 5 miles away, then drive my mother to the service station, wait patiently while she arranged for a tow truck, then take her home. By the time I got home my youngest niece was awake, so I had to feed her breakfast. Never mind that my husband is still snoring away in bed.

So here I sit in my kitchen. I have already started cooking dinner for tonight, there are clothes in the washer and dryer, and the dishwasher is madly humming away, and my niece is happy and content with a full tummy. I suppose when the kids get home from school I might run away to the movies and catch an early show. Maybe even treat myself to dinner at Olive Garden since I have a gift card. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring. It can only get better.

Hope everyone has a truly blessed day.

I Have Been Tagged

2009-02-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

I have been Tagged by Greys and Things please check out her blog. I enjoyed reading her blog and looking at all the wonderful pictures of her dogs.

The rules are fairly simple. I link back to the person who tagged me and post these rules. Share 7 random and or weird things about me. Then I have to tag 7 people and link to their blog. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their site. So here goes!

1. I have been a loner most of my adult life. I guess I just have trust issues.

2. As I write this post I am caught up in watching my niece. And I am listening to Barry White. And singing at the top of my lungs. American Idol watch out......here comes the next winner......NOT!!!!

3. I was a tomboy growing up. And I still am to this day. I feel more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt than a dress any day.

4. I actually enjoy my job. Just wish I was paid more for doing it.

5. Even though I am about to celebrate my 41 st birthday, I still feel like I am in my 20's.

6. When I was growing up, I swore up and down that I would never work all my life in a factory like my mother. And after watching the decline in the automotive industry, I am glad I made that decision.

7. I am totally in love with my husband. And I have never felt like this before about anyone.

Now I get to have fun tagging other people. And I have chosen some great sites. Check em out if you get a chance.

1. My Sweet Haven

2. Kewl Stuff I Found

3. Sadie's Skinny

4. Not Your Everyday Super Goddess

5. At Home In The Ozarks

6. Wife OF A Warrior

7. Fenced In Family

Daydreamer On The Loose

2009-01-27T17:56:00.000-08:00

Once again I find myself daydreaming away my days. I often slip off into the abyss of my mind. And that is where I find myself now.

With my Birthday quickly approaching, and a stay at home vacation looming on the horizon, I can think of nothing I would like to do more than daydream. I find it so easy to run away in my mind to some far off destination. And the last few days I have picked a great location......Ireland.

I can picture myself standing on the shores looking out into the vast expanse of the sea. Or standing in a field gazing in awe at the beauty of a long ago forgotten castle. Or even doing the adventorous things like traveling to Ireland to kiss the Blarney stone and to have a pint of Guiness.

But it is but a daydream. And like all good daydreams, eventually they must end. And for me it is time to travel back to my reality of kids and laundry. But I think I will leave my mind in Ireland at least long enough for me to kiss the Blarney Stone.

Mystery Illness Claims More Victims!!!

2009-01-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

Well four more victims have fallen prey to the mystery virus in my house. This time it is the four youngest children in the house. The 16 yr old, the 5 yr old, the 3 yr old and the baby of the house.

In the last 24 hours I have seen a drastic improvement in my health and the decline of the others. I have been barfed on so many times my shirt looks like we have wild birds in the house. And I have had the wonderfully distinct pleasure of changing the nastiest diapers in the world. I have had to wash almost all the sheets and blankets for four beds. And the best part of my day was waking up to find that my daughter had got sick in the middle of the night, then rolled over in it. Then she came and laid down in my bed and spread it all over my bed and her father. Ewwwww how nasty!!

Let me tell you that this particular virus will not be gone quick enough. My husband was even complaining that he was feeling a little under the weather this morning. And Lord knows I hope he does not get sick. Only because he turns into a total bear when he is sick.

Well wish me luck and a speedy recovery for everyone in my house.

My Turn To Be Sick

2009-01-20T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well today appears to be my day to be sick with the mystery illness. And let me tell you that whatever it is, I wish it would just go away. This mystery illness is running rampant through my house with little to no regard for anyone that it infects.

And let me tell you in between visits to the porcelain God, I got to be waited on hand and foot by my husband and kids. At my beck and call all day long, I know they can't wait for me to be better. But for now, I will relish in while it lasts.

I hate to run.....but I am very sleepy right now. And want nothing more than to curl into a ball and hide under my blankets.

Let The Fun Begin

2009-01-17T23:56:00.000-08:00

At 214.5 pounds I am ready to embark on another weight loss journey. I joined a weight loss challenge at work today. There is some cash on the line, and I am determined to do better than last years challenge. I have 60 days from today to lose as much as possible.

Let me just say I was mortified today when I stepped on a scale and it said I weighed 214.5 pounds. The last time I weighed this much I was pregnant with my daughter. And here I thought I was doing well since my clothes were getting baggy on me. But I guess I was horribly wrong. Or the scale has something against me and was lying to make me feel fat.

So, now the fun can begin. The usual routine of avoiding foods and eating healthier. And just like last year my biggest downfall is the damn vending machine at work. It beckons to me whenever I am eating my lunch, and then laughs at me when I give in. Although I do find myself sitting on the other end of the break room with my back to the machine. That way the temptation is somehow minimized.

I am going to open up my mind as usual and ask for your help in my journey to a thinner me. So, calling all my fitness fans, give me your best weight loss tips. And I will find a way to work them into my day.

Wish me luck and pray for me to have strength against that damn evil vending machine.

My New Favorite Tv Show

2009-01-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

I now have a new favorite tv show called Homeland Security. It just started last week and I am already addicted. I find it fascinating and amusing at the same time. The sheer stupidity of some of the people is just mind boggling. And I also want to stand up and cheer when they catch that one person in a crowd that is smuggling drugs or contraband into our country.

Check it out if you get the chance. It is worthwhile viewing.

Once Again He SavesThe Day

2009-01-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

Once again my cousin has saved the day. He not only is my cousin but he is my IT person. If I need it fixed I know I can count on him to help me out.

Well this year has not been a great year. Our laptop crashed earlier this year and it took us forever to save the money to purchase a new hard drive. Well we finally saved enough money to get the computer up and running. And he had it fixed in record time. I was so excited I almost wet myself. Because it means that I will no longer have to wait in line for a turn at the computer.

So, I drove down to where he works yesterday to pick it up. And like a kid with a new toy, I couldn't wait to get it connected to our network so I could surf the net. But as usual luck did not go my way. I did not have the password to connect it to the network and when I did get it, the computer quit working. That's right it quit working after putting in a new hard drive. I was both confused and angry all at the same time.

And it didn't take long for me to figure out what happened....Windows quit working. All I got was a message saying "unmountable boot volume." And no matter what I did it would not work. I got so frustrated I almost took a baseball bat to the darned thing. But common sense took over and I let it live through the night until I could talk to my cousin.

Of course it was not exactly an easy fix to the problem. He talked me through a few simple tasks at first. And when that did not work, he had to take out the big guns. Bless his heart he had to talk me through how to format the hard drive again. All I can say is Thank God it worked, because my next step was to kill it using a baseball bat.

Now I asked my cousin for a picture of him to add to my blog so I could do a proper posting to thank him. And being the great man he is h obliged me. He took this picture shortly after we fixed the laptop this morning and uploaded it to his computer. And this is what I got.

Click Here to See My Cousin Michael

Upset To The Core

2009-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Today was definately not a good day in my life. I have been sort of melancholy all day long today. And I think it all started last night with the conversation about my adopted daughters.

It has been a tiring day though. It got off to a bad start with a phone call from the school nurse at the high school. It seems that my oldest niece had a ear infection that she felt needed urgent attention. So, I had to call off of work so I could her to the hospital. And while I was driving her there her sister called and said she wanted to go home because she had a tummy ache. But I got lucky because I managed to talk her into staying at school. Then my freshly repaired laptop quit working. And all through the day I was somewhat depressed and all I wanted to do was hide. Which is what I am doing now.

That's right, I am hiding. In my own way I am virtually nonexistant tonight. I sit here in the living room of my house, with my mp3 playing my favorite music as loud as it will go, and I am tuned out. Not to worry the kids are in bed and my husband is chilling in front of the tv. And I am feeing really out of it, like I don't belong here. All I can think of is my girls, and where they are now. And how much I would love to wrap my arms around them, and talk to them.

Maybe one day it will come true, and I will get to meet my beautiful girls. In the meantime I guess I will just have to wait patiently and hold onto my dreams.

A Sensitive Subject For Me

2009-01-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

This evening I was having a discussion with my husband. We were talking about mistakes we had made in our younger years. And the subject came up of some daughters that I had given up for adoption.

I have never forgotten about my girls. One was born in 1991 and the other was born in 1994. I was in a really bad situation and was not able to keep my girls, so I gave them up for adoption. And all these years I often think of what has become of them. Well the question came up tonight of if I would like to meet them. I did not hesitate on this question for the answer is yes. I would love to meet them. But, I do not know if they would like to meet me. And I certainly would not know how to even begin to search for them.

But the subject will soon come to a head in a few months. That is when the oldest girl turns 18 yrs old. And that is the legal age when you can begin to search for them, and they can also search for you. And like I said, I would not even know how to start the search. And if I did find them I wouldn't know what to say. Or how to explain why I did what I did.

It would be nice to hear from other people who have been in my shoes. Either as an adopted child or as a parent that has given up a child for adoption. And to get comments from them about how the situation panned out for them. Please offer up your comments if you have them.

I need to close out this post for now, for I feel myself starting to tear up. I feel the need to go dig out the old pictures of my girls and travel back to another time in my life.....and just get lost in my memories of them.

What Will Break Next

2009-01-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

This has been another fun week in my house. The house is falling apart and I am going with it, and it's only Tuesday.

In the last two days, I have had an entire kitchen cabinet start to fall off of the wall and my vacuum died today. The cabinet has started to seperate from the wall, and is dangerously close to falling off and hurting someone. And then today my son showed me that my vacuum is now broken. And of course my response was to hang my head and shake it in a form of disbelief. And I think I muttered the words " what next. What the heck is gonna go wrong next?"

So, I am of the mindset now, that it might just be a good idea for me to disappear. Find a deserted island that noone has ever heard of before, and stay there until my children grow up and move out. YA Right.....wishful thinking on my part. All I can say again is "Calgon Take Me Away" !!!!

Thanks To My Husband

2009-01-04T22:44:00.001-08:00

Thanks to my husband for my newest addiction......fresh juice. That's right he bought me a juicer for Christmas and now I am hooked. Everyday as soon as I wake up and when I get home from work, it's the first thing I do, make fresh juice.

I have tried so many combinations my taste buds are watering thinking about it. My favorite so far has been a combination of orange, strawberry, blueberry, kiwi, and pear or apple. I even have to admit that I loved carrot juice mixed with apple juice. It tastes so sweet. And I have been doing some research for other tasty combinations. I think tomorrow night I will try some vegetable mixes.

And as always if any readers have some tasty suggestions please leave a comment. And I will give them a taste.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

2009-01-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

I am trying something new today.....so bear with me I hope it comes out right. I am going to acknowledge my top 10 droppers from Entrecard. I also would like to acknowledge those who have allowed me to post my card on their sites.

Thanks to everyone for all your support.

Top Entrecard Droppers For December

Scandinavian ways Winesworld - 31

Better Spines - 30

Lola's Diner - 29

The Way I see It - 28

C'est La Vie - 26

Fwaggle.org - 26

Simply Abundant Living - 25

Nuclear Winter - 24

1 Blog and 2 Sides - 24

Not Just A Mom Site - 24

A Woman On A Mission

2009-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

I keep hearing the music from those action adventure movies in my head. And it makes me feel like i'm chasing after bad guys. I am on a mission.....just not to catch bad guys. I am making a goal for 2009 to monetize my blog and do my best to make it successful. I want to make as much money as possible using my blog.

I have already started taking a few of the necessary steps. I signed up for pay per post last night. And I am looking into more options as we speak. Now grant it that pay per post was not exactly the way I wanted my blog to go in.....but it seems like a good way to make some extra money. So, you have to gice it your all, go for all the gusto, reach for the top and all the other fun phrases.

And as always, I am willing to take all the advice from my readers. If anyone has a suggestion on how to get more from my blog......please feel free to leave that suggestion. I read all my comments, but I do need to work on acknowledging them when they are left.

I am off to go catch the proverbial bad guy......money! Wish me luck, i'm gonna need it.

Planning A Romantic Getaway

2009-01-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are in the process of planning a getaway for the two of us. It has been almost two years since we took the last real vacation alone. And we are long past due for some time alone. We were trying to brain storm ideas of really cheap vacations we could take. We do know that we want to go somewhere warm. A chance to get away from all the cold weather. But we can't seem to decide where we want to go.

We have come up with a few ideas though. And believe it or not for a minute we were leaning towards a weekend trip to New York. But then we decided we wanted to go somewhere warm. Some of the places we have come up with are Miami, Jacksonville,or Ft. Lauderdale. I must admit I am stuck because I used to live in Jacksonville and wouldn't mind returning for a visit. But I have never been to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and would love to visit those places. But when I was looking at pricing for hotels and airfare I was shocked at how expensive the trip would be.

So, This is what I am gonna do. I am gonna take suggestions on places to visit from my readers. Just keep in mind that this is a short trip for us and we only have like 4 weeks before we want to leave. Or if you live in any of those cities and know how to make the trip affordable.....give me your suggestion.

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Time To Say Hello To A New Year

2008-12-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

It is once again time to say hello to a new year. And good-bye to a year filled with many ups and downs. I must admit that I will be thrilled to see a new year come in. And I can not deny, that this year has been filled with an over abundance of tears and laughter.

Many families have their own traditions on how they welcome in the new year. Some attend lavish dinner parties with champagne toasts at midnight. And some go to clubs and dance til they drop. And others spend the evening at home with their loved ones. Well in my house we have our own tradition, my husband fires up the grill and we have B-BQ. And in Michigan it can be quite cold this time of year. And as usual I gave my husband my favorite speech. The " Knock yourself out, I will be in the house waiting on the food" speech. As of right now, the temperature outside is only 17 degrees. But the wind chill index says it feels like 9 degrees. Can you say BRRRRR boys and girls? Better him than me.

I hope that the new year brings more laughter and cheer than sorrow to each and every one of my readers.

Happy New Year to one and all

More Than I can Handle

2008-12-28T22:04:00.000-08:00

This week has been more than I can deal with. It seems like everyday in the last week something has gone wrong. And today was the last straw.

Let's see, last friday I lost my car keys in the snow at work. Saturday had 2 new keys made, paid the locksmith and then found my old keys. On Wednesday, a malfunction in the electrical system caused the power in my garage to stop working. Thursday we got stuck in a snow bank covered in ice and my father passed away. Friday had to put two new tires on our truck due to tread loss. And the creme de la creme, today I lost my cell phone in a Walmart store and my dryer decided it was tired of drying a ton of laundry each and every day and quit.

So now tomorrow I have to try and get a new phone and a new dryer. And we have an electrician coming to our house to fix our electrical system in our garage. And best of all I have to babysit my nieces while their apartment is being painted. And that I got nominated because my mothers house has no heat due to a power outage.

I am pleading with someone, anyone to put me out of my misery. Send me on a vacation or just hijack me and take me somewhere else. Perhaps I could be kidnapped by aliens before tomorrow. Wouldn't that be heavenly. Or I could repeat the phrase " Calgon Take Me Away" until I disappear or my children vanish......which ever comes first.

And She Sleeps Finally

2008-12-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

It seemed like it took forever for me to fall asleep last night. I went to be around 9 p.m. and didn't fall asleep until well after 3 a.m. My eyes were feeling like they were on fire and my body was exhausted. But I still was not able to fall asleep.

No peace in my mind or in my heart was preventing me from sleeping. I can't help but wonder if he passed knowing I loved him. Or if he harbored the same resentment and anger towards me. But I will never know now for he will take that to the grave with him.

Thank you for all those who have sent up their prayers and condolences to my family and I. I truly appreciate them all.

Too Tired To Cry Anymore

2008-12-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

Well the arrangements have been made for my father. My stepmom decided to have him cremated and not to have a memorial service. I was devastated because I wanted a chance to say good bye.

My husband came up with a brilliant idea. He suggested that I call the funeral home and request to see his remains. The funeral director said she would have to get permission from his wife. She asked me to call her back in 5 minutes while she called his wife and asked. When I called back she said that the family agreed to let me view his remains, but I had to be at the funeral home before 5 p.m. and it was already after 3 o'clock. So out the door I went with my husband and my oldest son in tow.

My youngest sister met me at the funeral home. When we went inside, the director gave us a brief speech about what to expect. And she told us that he did die last night somewhere between 10 and 10:30 p.m. I braced myself as we walked up the stairs to the viewing room. As I walked in I looked at his face, and he looked so peaceful. I must admit I was a little taken aback to see him lying in a cardboard box. But the director explained to us that this is the way they transport people to the crematorium. I instinctively reached out and touched his hair and stroked it like a parent does to their child. A undeniable feeling of peace swept over me as I touched his cold face. I did not want to take my hand away. I wanted to stay with him and not leave. I stood by his side and cried a river of tears as I held my hand on his cheek. And before I left, I bent down and kissed his forehead and whispered to him " Rest in peace Daddy". And somehow I feel better knowing that I had a chance to say Good Bye. And that I know that I will see him again one day in the presence of my Lord.

Rest In Peace Daddy

Saying Good Bye To My Father

2008-12-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas day was a wonderful day in my house. The kids had a ball playing with all their toys. My nieces got what they wanted from Santa. And I was tickled pink that my husband got me all the things I asked for.

Then this morning my mother called me. She called to tell me my father passed away last night. And all the feelings I have been stuffing inside for the last 8 yrs, flooded to the top. And I cried like I haven't in years.

You see I have been harboring lots of anger for my father. When I was 8 yrs old my parents divorced. And at 11 yrs my mother remarried. And this is when my father decided to walk out of our lives. I did not see or hear from my father for the next five years. During the years he was out of my life I endured being molested by my step father. He took a new wife and family also. Then when I was 19 yrs old I fell in love with his oldest son by his new wife, and we married. And for about 6 yrs I had the opportunity to be apart of my fathers life again. And he got to know my son. But I never spoke up about the pain I went through during his absence. I continued to hide it. Eventually, I divorced my first husband and moved on with my life. And for awhile I avoided my father and his new family because of the connection to my ex husband. But I did go back. And I would visit from time to time. Until one day when we had a falling out about my ex-husband. I felt as though he was choosing them over his flesh and blood. And I left and never went back. He continued to have a relationship with my sister and her children through all these years. But I was never included in his life.

So, I am sitting here confused as all hell today. Because I don't understand why my heart is in such pain. And why the tears are flowing like a river. But I am sure the days that follow will be painful. For I will have to face issues, people and emotions, that I have denied for far too long.

So, for now I will say a prayer for his wife and the members of her family. And I will dry my tears, for my life will go on. There are tasks to be done today. And even though I wish I could crawl into a hole somewhere and hide from the things ahead. For today my life must go on.

I Have A Great Boss

2008-12-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

I have a great boss. A real ham so to speak. Like today for example, we were doing volunteer work at a local soup kitchen. There was about 15 of my coworkers and our top three bosses. And our head boss showed up looking like he was very much in the holiday spirit. So I couldn't resist catching a few pictures of him with my cell phone. And believe me when I say that after today my attitude towards the holidays has started to take a turn for the better. I am finally starting to get happy about Christmas. I even started to try and fix my tree up so that it actually looks like a x-mas tree.

Only one more day left to finish off my shopping and start wrapping everything up. It is crunch time for Santa is hiding behind every corner in my house. So, if I don't get to post again in the next few days.......I hope that everyone has an incredibly enjoyable Christmas. And I hope that the joy of the Season touches everyone in the best possible way.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Unbelievable

2008-12-20T06:43:00.000-08:00

I have had an incredibly bad week. I lost the only set of keys to our car yesterday. And we only have one key to our car. And the bad part is that we don't know where we could have lost them. My husband and I both worked yesterday and we believe that we lost the keys on the parking lot shuttle. But of course everyone and everywhere we looked no one had any keys.

So today we have to have a locksmith come to us to make a new key. The process takes about 45 minutes and only about $185 dollars. We tried numerous different companies but no one was available to do the job. And then I called the airport police, and they suggested a company. And wouldn't you know I hit the jackpot. Not only were they available, but they came to the house to pick us up. And as I am writing this my husband is at the parking lot with the locksmith getting a new key made.

So, a big Thank You is in order for our men in blue at the airport, they always come through when you need them. And also to the locksmith goes my kudos, Thanks for coming to rescue me when noone else would. And to my husband, THANKS for not killing me.

Beyond Embarrassed

2008-12-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

I have been in denial way too long. I am no longer in control of my body. And I have embarrassed myself for the last time.

I suffer from a problem that is not that uncommon for women. I have a bladder control problem. And that in itself is not something to be alarmed about. But what has been happening to me lately is. I am no longer able to stop myself from peeing. And it has gone beyond the issue of just releasing when you sneeze or cough. I now am able to pee uncontrollably while standing still. And it is happening more and more. Like a helpless child in toilet training, I feel as though I need to be wearing diapers.

And the worst part is that two years ago I visited a urologist for testing. And indeed I was told that I had a condition common in women called prolapse. It is when weak muscles allow the bladder to fall out of place. And mine is bad. So bad that I am in need of surgery. And when the doctor told me that I got scared and walked out and never went back. But I can no longer deny my need for the surgery. I have been told that it is a relatively simple procedure. And the recovery time is short as well.

So you might be saying what is the problem just get it done. But my stupid fears are holding me back from living a normal life. But I have to face my fears and return to the doctor. Because I am afraid now that I might just slip up and pee like a toddler all over the floor. And I would have to just die from the embarrassement. So I have to ask myself which will it be.......diapers or surgery? Hmmmmm that's a tough one but I will have the surgery. Because I just can't stand the thought of trying to squeeze my big old butt in Huggies again.

Too Tired To Enjoy The Holiday

2008-12-17T22:53:00.000-08:00

Lately, between work and my home life I have been so tired. So tired in fact that the holiday just seems to have lost all meaning in my life. It doesn't seem to hold the same magic that it had when I was younger. It seems as though with every passing year the feelings get stronger. And I am wondering if I am the only one that feels this way?

Perhaps my vacation from work next week will help. But I don't think it will. I am in a deep funk and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. And as much as I hate to admit it, I will be thrilled when the holidays are over with.

My Son Has A Girlfriend

2008-12-16T17:58:00.000-08:00

My son finally has a girlfriend. But it's my 5 yr old son. He came home from school yesterday and informed us that he now has a girlfriend. My husband was a little shocked at this statement and a little worried too. But, myself, I found it to be cute.

I had to remind my husband to let things be for now. After all it is just another stage of growing up. That first so called puppy love. But you do have to be careful to listen to the things that they say. And to remind them that they are only five. Like my son said he would have to marry this girl because she is his girlfriend. And that is when mom simply said " Don't be in a hurry son, enjoy being young". And he simply responded by saying "O.K." And off to bed he went.

Oh, how quickly our children grow up. I have to remind myself to enjoy every minute of their youth, for they don't stay young forever. So for tonight I think I will just step back and watch my babies be babies. And enjoy the precious joys of their youth.

Getting Caught

2008-12-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

Well last night did not exactly go the way I planned it to. I was following my usual routine and was grocery shopping with my oldest son and my niece. As usual my son and niece went their seperate ways when we entered the store. They were browsing around while I picked up the weeks food. Nothing out of the ordinary until we went to leave the store. Nothing unusual that is until store security stopped my niece for shoplifting.

The weather was rather inclement so after paying for my merchandise I went to get the truck while my son paid for his stuff. My niece was also making a purchase of some toys for her daughter. As I was loading my groceries into the car I noticed my niece standing in the doorway talking to two men. I stood and watched for a minute and then I entered the store and asked the one man what was going on. I stated that I was her guardian and I wanted to know what was going on. The man informed me that he would speak to me in a moment. I watched the look on her face as the man asked her where the merchandise she took was. You could tell by the look on her face that she was reaching desperately for answers. But she was adament that she had done nothing wrong. I listened carefully as the man explained to me what they had observed. I then asked my niece to remove her coat. And as I reached my hand into the coat pocket I pulled out the merchandise that she had not paid for. I was hoping that it would not be true, that she hadn't taken anything. But my hopes were dashed when I removed the stolen goods. Imagine my dismay when I was asked to accompany her with the security to the loss prevention office. It was explained to her that the only reason the police were not being called was because I was with her.

We were told that her information was entered into their computers, so if she ever tried to do this stupid stunt again, they would notify the police instead of letting her go. And they also told us that we would be getting a bill from the stores lawyer for about $200.00 dollars. That's right 200 dollars. All because she wanted to be stupid. I was at a loss for words. The drive home was a long one. Let's just say I had more than a few choice words for her. And she sat in the back seat as quiet as ever. Not a word did she speak.

But the best was waiting at home for her.....her uncle. My husband was so outraged he unleashed his anger in the form of a verbal lashing. What do you say to a child that is on the verge of adulthood, and yet acts like a 12yr old? After about an hour or so, when the steam stopped coming out our ears, my husband and I talked about what had happened. Still at a loss for words, I started to giggle. My husband asked why I was laughing, and all I could come up with a memory of my mother-in-law. She passed on a few years ago, and I told my husband that I could picture her up in heaven laughing her butt off at us. And I just said " Thanks for the joke Mom!!"

And as we finished off the day lying in bed, about to drift off to sleep, I laughed again and simply said " Thanks again for the joke Mom"! To which my husband just laughed and kissed me and went to sleep.

Paying It Back

2008-12-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

We have had a fun couple of months. Off and on we would have problems with our car not starting. And it always seemed to happen at the worst times. Like when your at the grocery store and you come out and load all the groceries into the car only to find out that it won't start. So you have to go to a stranger and ask for help starting your car. Occassionally you would get a person that would say NO. But mainly people always say yes they will help.

Well this morning as I was running my morning errands, I stopped in a gas station to pick up something to drink. As I pulled into the parking area I noticed two men trying to start their truck. I naturally didn't think much of it as someone was already helping them. So into the store I went to get a hot tea to warm my cold bones. As I was standing in line to pay for my drink a man approached me and asked me if I drove the excursion in the parking lot. I said yes that it belonged to me and he asked me for a jump. Without blinking an eye I said Yes I would help them. After all the times that people have given me a jump it was the least I could do. When I pulled my truck around I couldn't help but notice that the cables they were using were not gonna work. But we hooked them up anyways just to give it a try. Naturally they did not work even after a good five minutes of trying. So, I suggested to my son that we try the cables that I carry in our truck. And wouldn't you know that literally a minute after hooking up my cables his truck started right up. The man said "Thank you", closed his hood and drove away.

So, today was my chance to repay some of the kindness that strangers have shown me. And I must admit that it feels good to do something nice for someone else. And in the tough times that we are living in, everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. And we should all be reaching out in some way to help each other out.

My mission for today: Do something nice for someone else. Even the simplest things sometimes mean alot. So help an elderly person load their groceries into the car, or hold open a door for someone, or donate food to a food bank or shelter. IT doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do something

Meeting Celebrities At Work

2008-12-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

From time to time I do get to meet a celebrity or two at work. This week I happened to have the pleasure of meeting Lakisha Jones from American Idol. She was a contestant on the 6th season. And since she is from my home state of Michigan I was always voting for her on the show. But sadly she did not win. But, like so many others, she did find a certain amount of fame.

She was so nice and kind. It turns out that she had been in town to sing the National Anthem at the Lions game. Well when I told her I was a fan of hers she gave me a copy of her new single "So Glad I'm Me". I finally got to listen to it tonight, and I am happy to say it was very good.

So, for all the Lakisha fans out there.....check out her myspace page at:

http://www.myspace.com/lakishajones

While your there give a listen to her song. And to lakisha...Thanks for the CD it was great.

Happy Birthday To Big Daddy

2008-12-06T22:56:00.000-08:00

Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle. ~Bob Hope

That's right today is my husbands' Birthday. He is another year older and none the wiser as the saying goes.

I know you have to work today, but, I truly hope that you get the best of everything today. And that the year that follows will be filled with nothing but joy and happiness.

With much love your wife and kids.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

First let me say that I hope everyone had a truly enjoyable day. And that you had a chance to come together today with friends and family alike. And that your table was overflowing with food and the love and joy of the day was abundant.

And let me say a big THANK YOU to those that gave up their holiday to work. Whether it was for a retail store or a critical job in your community or serving your country in a far off land, I truly hope that you found some joy in the day. My hat goes off to all those, like myself, that sacrifice their day with their loved ones to perform their jobs. I can understand and appreciate the sacrifices that you make to keep this country running.

And for our service men and women that are serving in a far off land, I pray that today you are safe, and that you will be home with your families soon. Thank you for all the sacrifices that you endure daily so that you can protect my freedoms.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !!!!!

The Best Mental Vacation Yet

2008-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Today is yet another opportunity for me to run away in my mind. And this is the best one yet for me. I am drifting far off into my fantasies. In my fondest childhood fantasies, I am a princess living in a beautiful castle. I wear the most spectacular gowns and have long flowing hair. I wear only the finest of gems and jewelry. And the most handsome men in the land pursue me for marriage.

Wow, what a fantasy land that is. I will still run away in my mind today. As I remember the splendid beauty of the castles of France. I still can vividly see the castles that I toured. The images are burned into my mind. And these are the types of images that I want to stay. As I lazily sauntered through the rooms, it almost felt like I was at home. It felt as if I belonged here. I remember visiting a church in Bescanson, France, and if I close my eyes if feels as if I am still there. It was Easter time. and the church was filled with the most fragrant flowers. And as I stood before the alter, all I saw was gold. It seemed as if the entire church was made from gold. I had never seen so much beauty in my life.

So, forgive me today if I seem lost in never, never land. And if it seems as though I never want to return to my life here in Michigan. But just for today I want to remember the fondest of my childhood memories. So, for today I am a princess living in a castle, waiting for her handsome prince to take her away to a land far away.

Home Sick

2008-11-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

Today I am home sick from work. I have been struggling for a few weeks now. It started out innocently enough. Just burning eyes and nose, sneezing and a nose that had a river running out of it. Now, I am hacking up the icky stuff. The kind of stuff that makes mom's say EWWWW. And it feels like it will never end.

So, hopefully today, after dropping my husband and son off at work, I might be able to get some much needed sleep. And since the kids have 1/2 days at school today, and I don't have to take the younger kids to the sitters. I might be able to finally get more than just a few hours of sleep. And that right now is what I need so badly......sleep. And sleep is the great healer. It allows your body to renew itself. You wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. But, when you don't get enough sleep, you suffer and your body begins to suffer. That is why doctors always tell you to get plenty of sleep when you are sick. Because that is when your body is able to repair itself.

For all the moms who are feeling just plain icky today, take the day off for your health. Stay in bed, put your favorite movie in the DVD player, and just rest. You need your rest now more than ever. Lets not forget that cold and flu season is upon us, and soon enough we will be wiping runny noses, and soothing our sick husbands and children. So, I am declaring that today is take care of MOM day.

Tough Love

2008-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

I know I am going to take a lot of criticism for this post because of the nature of it. But I have never shied away from being honest about the happenings in my life, and I am not about to start now.

Last week was another difficult week in my life. We had to make the very hard decision to place my 15 yr old nephew in foster care. It was becoming more and more obvious that he no longer wanted to reside with us. His refusal to abide by our rules, threatening behavior towards our younger children in the house, using kitchen knives to destroy property in our house all were warning signs. The most troublesome was the threatening statements made to the youngest members of my household. Now call me crazy, but my number one priority is to protect my young children that can't protect themselves.

So, when his mother petitioned the court for termination of our guardianship, we welcomed it with open arms. We were more than willing to hand him over to his mother. But, unfortunately things did not go as planned. The weekend before the hearing, his mother was arrested for DUI. And when the time came for the hearing, she was still in jail. So, at the court when asked by the judge where the petitioner was, we told the truth. Then we stated that we were still wishing to terminate our guardianship. Then the judge asked for a reason why we wanted to end the guardianship, we told him the truth. And he was somewhat understanding. He then asked my nephew if he wanted to end the guardianship his reply was "Yes". The judge then made the ruling that he was to be turned over to the foster care system. And so it was done. The same day as the hearing, he left our care.

The next day when his mother was released from jail. She called my husband and asked about how the hearing went. When he told her, she was upset. She was under the impression that he would ask for another date for the hearing. I guess she was thinking that she would still be awarded custody of her son. But, she forgot that the two children that were living with her, were now in foster care also. And that she is facing child abandonment charges on top of the DUI.

And I have to mention the incredible peace and quiet that has taken over my house. Gone are the bickering, yelling, screaming and threats of violence. And it has been replaced by the laughter of the children. And we were able to turn the extra space into a play area for our kids. The house still feels cramped, but, now it has a feel like a home. The house is not as messy and requires less cleaning. And that I must admit is nice.

Now the question is, where do we go from here. Well the answer is simple....life will still continue to be hectic. For life with 6 kids is just as crazy as having 7 kids. There are still school functions, and doctor appointments, and reminders that the rules have to be followed. Some things never change.

Do we miss our nephew.....the answer is yes. I can only hope that where ever he is at....that he is finding some joy in his life. And perhaps working to make his life a better one.

Packed House Again

2008-11-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

For the first time in months, my house is overflowing with kids. I kinda don't mind this in the warmer months of the year. But, this time it is cold and rainy outside. And we all know what that means.....stuck in the house. The kids will not be going outside to play. Oh what a joy it is. There is nothing like having 8 kids stuck in a house. I can once again picture kids swinging from ceiling fans and in one word, basically destroying my house.

I reminded my husband last night after he returned home with all the kids, about how indifferent I was about having all the kids in my house. He was of course confused at first. But, then I reminded him of my obligation to work today. To which he replied " You mean I am here all by myself with all these kids? " To which I said " Yup, it's finally payback time for you. Payback for all the times you brought the kids home and dumped them on me. So enjoy the day with your nieces and nephews. "

I only hope that my house is as nice and neat when I return home tonight, as it is now. We have put a lot of hours in lately to really cleaning house. And while it is not perfect.... It still looks a heck of a lot better than it did. But, one thing is for sure, I am not cleaning any messes up tonight. That job will belong to the man who brought the kids into our home, my beloved husband.

Fall In Michigan

2008-11-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

The sky is alive with colors again. I love the way the it looks like the sky has been touched by the hand of God. As if he dipped a brush in paint and just wiped it over the trees. And this year fall has seemed to last much longer than usual. Not that I am complaining. I mean I love the sound of the leaves crunching under my feet when I walk. And the vibrant colors that dot the landscape. But, alas, fall will be gone all too soon, only to be replaced with colder temperatures and snow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the snow, I just can't stand the cold weather. So, the warmer than usual weather that we have been enjoying has been so welcome. I just wish it could stay like this all year long.

Past Due For A Mental Vacation

2008-11-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

I am seriously past due for a mental vacation. This time I think I am gonna head off to Amsterdam. I hear that it is a spectacular city. One filled with endless adventures. I truly can't wait to be intoxicated by the sweet smell of the tulips.

So join with me in creating a quiet environment. Turn off the tv, pour a cup of coffee, and sit the heck down somewhere. This is a time out for you. Close your eyes and drift off to beautiful Amsterdam.

A Beautiful Day

2008-10-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

You could not have asked for a better day today. The weather was absolutely fabulous. It hit almost 68 degrees today. Perfect weather for trick or treating with the kids. No coats required. And here in Michigan that is a rare thing.Usually we have to purchase costumes big enough to put heavy coats under. Normally we have snow flying and frigid temperatures. But that just goes to show you how unpredictable the weather can be. I will take this weather any day over snow and freezing rain.

Tomorrow is the day we change our clocks back an hour, and that means that it gets dark very early. And it takes me forever to adjust. I start getting very sleepy at 4 or 5 p.m. And find myself dragging for the rest of the day. And that is rough when you work until 9 or 10 p.m. Spring will not get here quick enough this winter. I so love the warmer months.

Well I guess in the mean time, I will have lots of time to work on my site. Perhaps even have enough time to do a complete make over.

Halloween Pics

2008-10-31T21:34:00.001-07:00

Too Cool

2008-10-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

While out trick or treating with my kids tonight, I took the greatest photo. It almost looks like it's floating.

A Date For Mom And Dad

2008-10-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight my husband and I took the opportunity to take some time out for ourselves. It was date night for us. A rare thing for us lately. It seems as if we are always working our rear ends off day in and day out. And never are able to find the time for each other. Those precious moments when we can sneak away from the kids for a few hours. And spend some much needed quiet time. Of course the kids don't understand how important it is for us to have that time alone. They responded that all we have to do is to go into the bedroom, and lock the door. But little do they know that it doesn't work that way. Staying home never works out the way you plan. There is always something that needs to be done. And your personal time always gets put on the back burner.

I can't wait until the next time that we have a date night. Maybe I can convince my husband to get a hotel room for one night. Maybe we could even go dancing. Or just find a place to be an adult and just hang out. But until then, I must find other opportunities to just steal some quiet time for my husband and I.

The Field Trip

2008-10-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a fun day for me. I went with my son's kindergarten class to an apple orchard for the day. It was a day filled with picking apples, hay rides, haunted houses, petting zoos, and putt-putt golf. And of course the usual things like apple cider and powdered donuts. Though it was incredibly windy and chilly day, we had a great time. Can't wait to go again next year.

Before And After The Haircut !!

2008-10-20T18:53:00.001-07:00

Bad Haircuts, Birthday Parties And Wardrobe Malfunctions

2008-10-13T17:28:00.001-07:00

The last week has been so much fun. We seemed to go from one extreme to another. It is amazing how life can be so frustrating, and yet so enjoyable all at the same time. But the fun really started on Thursday night.

It started out innocently enough. I got up as usual, dressed the kids, fed them breakfast, showered, and out the door I went to work. It was my Friday, and as usual it is a busy day at the airport. The day seemed to pass by effortlessly. And before I knew it, it was time to go home. And that my friends was the start of my fun. When I got in the car to go home, my husband informed me that our five yr. old son cut his sisters' hair. And of course, I thought no big deal. Little did I know how bad it was until I got home. He had cut all of her hair on one side of her head. And not just a small amount of hair. We're talking her hair was boy short. But yet, he left the one side untouched. It looked like a bad remake of the movie Edward Scissorhands. I was mortified and speechless. I had no other choice but to finish the job. I almost cried when I had to take scissors in hand and finish her haircut. When I asked my son why he cut her hair, his reply was " We were just playing hair shop!!" What's a mom to do.....but laugh!

Then on Saturday we had a birthday party to attend at a popular pizza restaurant. When we showed up the guest of honor hadn't even showed up yet. So, there we were in a place with a million screaming kids, and I had a headache. Just the thing you want when you have a head that feels like it is about to explode. We were patiently waiting for the birthday boy to show up, so I found a table in a semi-quiet part of the restaurant. I was desperately trying to relax while my husband and oldest child played with the kids. Then it happened, I experienced a most embarrassing moment. I broke my bra. The little piece of fabric that holds it all together in the front, broke. So, now I am trying to keep from exposing myself to a million strangers, while politely excusing myself. I asked a few of my husbands cousins if they had a safety pin. But, of course the answer was NO! What's a girl to do? I had to leave and go to the corner drugstore in search of safety pins. Thankfully I had a jacket in the car. Before I put on my coat I whipped off the defective bra and threw it on the seat. While I was searching in vain in the store, it came to me that the longer it took to find the safety pins, the longer I could have peace and quiet. I then took my sweet old time to return.

I did discover when I returned to the pizza place, that there is just no right time or place to do a repair on your bra. Let alone put it back on in a crowded parking lot in broad daylight. But, I resorted to an old trick of mine and managed to get it back on without exposing myself to the world. I was tricked into believing that I had fixed my wardrobe malfunction. Until the safety pin popped. I guess I bought ones that were too small, when I really needed the industrial strength ones. So, I spent the rest of my evening at the party running like a mad woman to the bathroom to fix myself.

The party dragged out for way too long. And when we were finally able to leave, we got suckered into driving children home. I was so relieved to leave that I agreed to take them home just so we could go home. I did have a good weekend, a busy one, but good. I can only say that this weekend I am glad to not have any plans for anything but relaxing.

Update On My Injury

2008-10-09T17:56:00.001-07:00

Well today was my last appointment with the doctor for my injury that I got at work.
The doctor was surprised at my response when he asked me how I was doing. I replied to his question with one word "FABULOUS". He was puzzled to say none the least. For a person in my state of health I should not be great.

I told him of the changes I have made recently. No coffee, pop, dairy, and limited amounts of junk food. I also told him that I have been taking Glucosamine. And he was surprised when I said I had really been almost 100% pain free for almost 3 weeks now. No pain medication at all. Now, he did agree that the changes will be for the best.

I know I have not mentioned it, but when they did my testing to diagnose why I was still in pain. They discovered that I have severe arthritis in my shoulder and basically no cartilage left. The news was grim for me. The doctor told me that I was looking at a complete shoulder replacement. I was so devastated I cried for days. I asked myself how is this possible. I have had no real symptoms at all. And now I am being told I need a new shoulder. Well I was not willing to accept this without a fight.

So, I started reading up on natural healing and alternative medicine. I know that it is not the cure all for everything, but it wouldn't hurt to try. And I read the book 7 steps to overcoming arthritis by: Gary Null. And in the book he talks a lot about different pain medications and their effect on the body. And the effects of diet on the condition of the body. This is where I found out about the inflammation that occurs from consuming certain foods and beverages. And that certain over the counter medications that we take everyday for pain, actually do more harm than good. And that the one pain medication that I take all the time actually breaks down cartilage. So call me crazy, but I would rather be healthy than sick. And when push came to shove, I made the decision to be healthy.

And much to my dismay my orthopedic doctor actually was encouraging of my decisions as well as being surprised. But my family physician stayed true to her traditional medicine. She was somewhat negative in telling me that there are no medical studies that show the benefits of diet and other things on arthritis. And I am of the mindset right now that of course she is gonna say that. For if every one of her patients turned to alternative medicine to stay healthy the natural way, she would lose money. Will I stop seeing my doctor.....no. But, I will strongly consider the other options available to me from now on.

For now, I am incredibly happy with being pain free. And I know that my life will not be the same from now on. I have a different outlook on life. And I plan on trying my hardest to become a healthier individual.

It Takes Courage

2008-10-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

I have had a few responses to my post about going cold turkey. One person asked me to post about how I have lost the inches and pounds. Really there is no secret to it. Like I said before, I gave up on eating garbage. And as a result of this action, I am reaping the rewards. And the reward is that my clothes fit better, and I feel so much better physically.

Another person wrote in and said that she did not have the courage to go cold turkey. And all I can say is that it takes courage to make the change. If you don't man up and say enough is enough, and take that first step, then you will never know what it feels like to be successful. I had to make a difficult decision. I could choose to continue poisoning my body with garbage, and sit back and watch my body steadily deteriorate. Or I could take a chance that what I had been reading was right. That if I made the changes quickly and didn't look back, that I would begin to feel so much better. And for me personally, I made the right decision. But, this decision is not for everyone. You have to find the thing that works for you. And once you make that change, don't ever look back. For that is where we begin to fall back into the old habits that got us here in the first place.

Forgot To Mention

2008-10-03T07:43:00.001-07:00

In my post last night about going cold turkey, I forgot to mention one huge thing. Don't go cold turkey from coffee and pop unless you are prepared for some heavy withdrawals. I got horrible headaches for 3 days. And that is only because the toxic effects caffeine has on your brain are fading. But, it is a manageable thing. I still have a glass or two of tea everyday. Now I know some people don't like the taste of tea. This is an easy fix. Try adding some lemon or honey to it.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is a lifestyle change, and not a DIET!! This is key folks, because as we all know diets don't work long term. Lifestyle changes do work though.

Cold Turkey Part 2

2008-10-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely amazed at what has happened to me in the last week. As you probably remember, I went cold turkey from junk foods. I gave up coffee, pop, sugar, and almost all dairy products. I FEEL GREAT!!!! I am shocked at the changes in my figure also. Last week, I could barely button my work pants. Today I not only can button them, but I have about an inch or so extra. And at first I couldn't get my hands into my pockets, now I look like a kid wearing moms pants. They are so baggy, I no longer have a figure. And to think it has only been 8 days since I went cold turkey.

Now, I have to admit that I have cheated. I have my weaknesses. And right now my biggest weakness is chocolate. I have savored a couple of the so called fun size bars. And when I say savored, I mean just that. You pop it into your mouth and just let it melt. My favorites have to be Hershey chocolate bars with almonds.

And for anyone that is in doubt about the changes that occur when you go cold turkey. You don't have to take my word for it, try it for yourself. I sure you will be amazed also.

Nightmares And Dreams

2008-09-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what has been going through my subconcious mind lately. But, I have had some of the most bizarre dreams ever. I am not normally the kind of person that acts out on their dreams. That is until last night.

For the life of me I don't know why I was dreaming I was being attacked. I could feel the attacker put his hand or his arm across my face. And in a moment of fear I reacted and bit my attacker. Then I heard his voice say " You bit me!" And then repeated the phrase " You bit me! Why did you bite me?" I fled the area and once again I felt safe.

Now normally I would be puzzled at the meaning of these types of dreams. But I got the answer this morning when I woke up. My husband was quite upset with me. And I asked him why he was upset, thinking maybe I had forgot to do something. Then he said to me " You bit me last night!" I was shocked that he said that. That is most definately a first for me. Never,that I can recall have I actually carried out an action from a dream. And all I could say was I was sorry. But then I said I was having a nightmare.

In some twisted way I am able to find some humor in it. However, I am pretty certain that my husband did not find it funny at all. Hopefully tonight I will get a very restful nights sleep.

Fun With The Hubby

2008-09-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist snapping this picture of my husband with the triplets. He was grinning from ear to ear. Every man's dream I guess.

Going Cold Turkey

2008-09-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

I recently gave up some of my true loves in life. Good-bye to my friends coffee, pop, sugar, and junk food. I hate to see you go but I am determined to win the war on the scale.

I also am determined to delay the deterioration of my joints any more. It seems that after years of abuse and neglect, my joints have finally become so diseased that I am facing joint replacement. I am currently pain free, and have every intention of staying that way as long as possible.

I have also done some reading on the connection between diet and disease. And it seems that in many cases like mine, certain foods and medications cause major deterioration of the joint. I have found out that coffee, pop and dairy products all cause inflammation in the joint. The more inflammation the more the joint breaks down. So, as you can see, all the things I have given up can only be for the good.

So far, I am on day number 6 of no coffee, pop, sugar, and minimal dairy products. And my 4th day without pain medication. So far, so good. I haven't had any pain in the joints. Just the nagging spasms in my neck and upper shoulder. And I have to admit that I never dreamed I could live any amount of time without my coffee.

Wish me luck, for it is still early and my days are still as long as ever. And my cravings are almost impossible to shake. And for anyone interested in reading it for yourself, the author is named Gary Null.

Something New

2008-09-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy lately, that I completely forgot that I was tagged. Now, I am so new to this I am not quite sure what that means. All I know is to follow the instructions. So, here goes, I hope I get it right.

I have been tagged by my wonderful friend ... Tracy Cavelli. So I am supposed to post 8 random facts about me and then choose 8 people to get tagged!

First, the rules:1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Eight Facts About Me:

1) I am a picky eater.

2) With my last pregnancy, I spent the first 5 hours of my labor at work. All because I was too stubborn to go home.

3) My favorite colors are pink and blue.

4) I have battled with horrible depression most of my adult life.

5) I have been a nail biter all my life. Including my toe nails when I was a child.

6) I love to travel. And my favorite trip had to be when I went on a cruise with my husband.

7) I think nothing of hopping on my bike at 10 p.m. and riding like a mad woman to burn off negative energy.

8) My favorite music artist is Kem Kemistry.

Hope you enjoy my little quirks. Here is a list of the 8 people I am gonna tag:

The Dirty Shirt

Green Stew

My Junk Drawer

The way I see It

MommieDaze

Maria's Space

Musings from a Michigan Mom

Mom With Brownies

Welcome To My Nightmare

2008-09-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is what I find every night when I get home from work. Is there never an end????

Click Here To View My Nightmare

Anyone Hungry???

2008-09-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

While I was cleaning out my refrigerator tonight, I found the most appetizing item. It is a pot of spaghetti I made on Monday night. I stayed true to my usual routine, and I opened the lid to inspect the contents. And this is what I found....

Click here to see the picture

Not A Good Cook ? Well Thanks For Not Telling Me Sooner!!

2008-09-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been feeling really horrible. And I am not sure if it is the medication I am on, or the fact that I have been really sleep deprived this week. Or a combination of both. But I do know that I have been snapping at everyone. Especially today.

Last night I was having a discussion with my husband and son. It was supposed to be about the unfair division of duties in this house. As always it is me doing most of the work, while my husband and son sit back and chill. But the conversation quickly became an attack on me. I was not too happy when my husband blurted out that he really does not like my cooking. And then he informed me that I force the members of our house to eat what I want to eat. And my oldest child agreed with him. Now mind you, when I go grocery shopping, nobody gives me any input. They stand by silently when I am making my selections. So, without input I was under the impression that everything was acceptable. Well, apparently not. The sad thing is that I had to pry this information out of my husband. He was afraid he would hurt my feelings. Now, I am walking around with a chip on my shoulder. And Yes, I am hurt. Hurt because I have been trying to do the right thing. Try to find different ways to cook foods. And healthier ways also. I don't think he knows how difficult it is to be creative with the same foods day in day out. Or how hard it is to find foods that don't break our pocketbook.

So, I made the decision to allow my husband to cook every night of the week. Now mind you, I generally don't eat the foods that my husband cooks. He is a meat lover. His idea of a lasagna is to cook 5 pounds of meat mix it with ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, a bunch of seasonings, and some different kinds of sauces. And then he smothers it all in cheddar cheese and bakes it until it is so hard you can't even bite into it. And it looks even worse than it tastes. It resembles something that comes out of a babies diaper. The kids won't even touch it. I have tried to get him to use different recipes in the past, but he won't hear of it. Recipes are not for him. And he would never dream of using one.

I guess in the coming weeks I will have to cook only for myself. Since I won't be eating the things that my husband cooks. And this is going to cause even more hostility in my house. Since he will literally try to force me to eat his foods. Wish me luck. Maybe by allowing him to do all the cooking I will finally be able to get my message acrossed. That he is not the greatest cook and that marriage is supposed to be about compromise.

Wish me luck

100 Posts Already

2008-09-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

It just dawned on my tonight that my post from 9/11 was my 100th posting. WOW!!! 100 already. It doesn't seem like it has been that many. I guess when you are doing something that you enjoy doing the time just flies by. And I so enjoy keeping up my blog. It has become a passion for me. I feel ill when I can't post or keep up with my site. You can call it a labor of love I guess.

It is now going on the 2nd full week of school. We have settled into a routine and things are cruising along smoothly. I am so happy that this year is going smoothly. Last year this time we had already had a child get suspended for inappriorate behavior. And I am sorry to say that it was my niece that no longer lives with us. But, that is all behind us now. I am truly hoping that things will continue to go as smoothly as they are now.

Now I just have to worry about my youngest son. His asthma is acting us again. It has been more than a year since the last time he had an attack. I have been driving my niece "Miss TT" crazy calling every couple of hours to check on him. The one time I called she informed me that my husband had just called also. It seems that our hearts and minds are always worried about the same things.

I hope everyone has a pleasant week. Keep on smiling.

A Day Of Remembrance

2008-09-11T06:41:00.001-07:00

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for th e first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me.. this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

When It Rains.......It Pours

2008-09-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

This once again has been an interesting week in my house. We sprang a leak in our hallway bathroom. It looks like we are gonna have to replace the vanity, the wall, the floor, and some carpeting in the hallway and an adjoining bedroom.

We of course tried to trouble shoot the problem, but we couldn't find the source of the leak. So we called our home warranty company. In the meantime we had to pack the area with towels and make sure we shut the water off before retiring at night. This stopped the flow of water into our bathroom. But naturally the leak resumed as soon as you turned on the water again for showering, brushing teeth, washing laundry or dishes and so forth. I had to call off of work today to wait for the plumber to come. He was only here 15 minutes and told me he couldn't fix it. It is not a plumbing issue at all. It is an a/c issue. We sprang a leak in a pipe or something leading into the cooling controls in the furnace. We still are not sure where exactly the leak is at. But, it does seem to be coming from the rear of the unit. Which of course is the other side of the wall from the bathroom. So that explains the river running through our bathroom.

So now I have to take off of work again tomorrow to wait for an a/c repairman. How fun!!! Another day spent at home waiting with the kids. Only to have the kids drive the repairman crazy with questions when they do arrive. And then I also piss the boss man off because I am not able to get to work. Oh well, that's the way the ball bounces. Gotta take it as it comes.

It can only get better from here. I keep wondering what the next thing is that is gonna break down. With any luck I will hit the lottery and be able to hire a handyman to have on call 24/7. Wouldn't that be nice? I think I would rather have a cabana boy to serve me drinks by the pool.

Insanity Update

2008-09-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, we made it through yet another summer in my house. The kids are back in school and really showing interest in doing different activities this year. My youngest son is thrilled to death about going to kindergarten. And I am thrilled to finally have my garage door at least hanging right. And once again there is peace and quiet in my home at night. I hope the insanity is coming to an end for awhile. I know it will never completely go away, but at least it is a break from the norm.

I can't tell you how happy I am that my nieces and nephew are showing interest in participating in school activities this year. They are already talking about homecoming and how much they want to go to the dance. I remember last year they were so depressed about not attending their old school, we couldn't get them to do anything. No dances, no football or basketball games, nothing. So this year I get the feeling that they feel like they belong here now.

Then there is my son and kindergarten. The first few days were rough. Mainly because of having to readjust to waking up earlier. Normally my husband and I allow the children to sleep in during school breaks. And this in turn allows us some more time to sleep in also. Now, we just have to wake up an hour or so earlier. And we have worked out a plan so that we don't burn ourselves out. Since there are three adults in the house, we agreed to take turns getting my son to school. That means that only one to two days out of the week does anyone person have to wake up early. It's a foolproof plan. And we agreed that the person that gets up early the next morning, gets to go to sleep a little earlier at night. Of course that means that the remaining two have the responsibility of doing the late shift of house cleaning, laundry, cooking and other prep work for the next day.

But, of course it is still early in the year. And I know things always have a way of going wrong. Let's just hope that they continue to go well, and that everyone has a great year in school.

What The Heck!!!

2008-08-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when your husband tries to repair a garage door that is off the track. For all the wives of "Tim the tool man Taylor's" I understand what you go through. Not too worry though, the damage wasn't too bad. It is only gonna cost $350. dollars to repair the damage. Gotta love it.

Can anyone say OUCH !!!!

Happy Anniversary

2008-08-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my husband. For the last two years we have been on a rollercoaster ride. And as I look back I realize, that I could not have survived if it had not been for you. You have been my husband, my friend, my lover, my psychiatrist when I was crazy, my shoulder to cry on, and the greatest source of comfort in troubled times.

The years have not all been bad. We have shared in some good times also. The days when there is nothing but laughter in our lives. And the joys of watching our children grow. Life has been good to us we must admit. For we are so fortunate to have each other. And in the end of our lives together, when the time comes for us to leave this earth, I will be a better person for having had you in my life.

Thank You Sweetheart for everything you are and everything you do. I Love You !!!

Exhausted

2008-08-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today was an exhausting day. We said our final good byes to our dear friend Herman. I cried so much today I got a massive headache. Then I started throwing up. I couldn't keep anything down, not even water. When I finally got home I went straight to bed and slept for like 3 hours. And that is so not like me. I never go to sleep in the middle of the day.

And then we had to field questions from our 5yr old and our 3yr old about death all day. That is always so hard to explain. They just don't have the concept down yet. I try to simplify it by saying that they went to be in heaven with the angels. Or that the angels needed another friend to play with. Or that Jesus was needing another friend to come visit. And then the hardest question of them all, "when will I see Herman again." That of course came from our 5 yr old. Boy, how to answer that one. All I could say was that you will see him again one day.

I do know that things will get better. And the empty space in our lives will eventually be filled with other things. But for now we struggle to adjust to the emptiness left in his absence.

It's Another Mental Vacation Kind Of Day

2008-08-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

All this week I have talked about my favorite cities where I have lived. At the top of my list is beautiful Charleston, S.C. I fell in love with the city the first time I walked the battery. I used to go downtown in the evening and walk the historic streets amongst the houses. All you have to do is look around and you get a real sense for the history. I was amazed the last time I was there at home much had changed, and yet so much had not. I think today I will look into the cost of airfare to my favorite city. And just maybe plan a mini vacation to one of my favorite cities.

Rest In Peace Herman

2008-08-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Herman passed on to a better life last night. He will be truly missed here by his loved ones. In passing he leaves behind his wife, brothers, sisters, his children, and countless numbers of friends.

He has left an indelible mark on our lives. A true leader he was. He was not just a friend. He was also a mentor, a Godfather to our son, and a guiding hand when needed. Always full of wisdom and knowledge, he always had the solution to whatever was troubling you. I don't think I can ever remember seeing him when he was not smiling. And he possessed a laugh that was absolutely infectious.

In his memory, I hope that we can all life our daily lives to the fullest. Never forgetting that tomorrow may not come. Tell the ones you love how much they mean to you Today.

Rest In Peace Herman....We Love You.

I Want To Kill The Child

2008-08-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Heaven help me, give me the strength not to kill my nephew. My youngest nephew that is visiting with me.

He has been getting on my nerves since day one. He is only 10 yrs old. He back talks me, disrespects me, disobeys me, and then tonight he balled up his fists and threatened to hit me. I spoke to his mother tonight and told her that he is not allowed in my home anymore unless she stays with him. And he only behaved this way because he knows my husband is away. But even though he is not at home I have kept in touch with him. He is aware of some of the issues, though I have not told him yet that he threatened to hit me.

When it happened I was so close to stuffing my fist down his throat. But, thank God I walked away before I did. I don't believe in hitting children. But, I will not stand by and allow a child to hit on me and do nothing either. I know I would have done serious damage to him if I hadn't walked away. His mother is coming to get him in a few days, but that is not soon enough. I guess I will have to bite my tongue and pray a lot over the next few days.

Lord Give Me The Strength To Not Kill The Child.

My Weekly Mental Vacation

2008-08-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

I think I will runaway to Paris today. What the heck, if my husband can take a break with his friends, than I surely can take a mental vacation. So Paris is my destination today. So much can be said about Paris. A beautiful city filled with history. I visited the city about 21 yrs ago, and I remember it like yesterday. I still remember standing in front of Notre Dame cathedral and looking up in awe. The magnitude of the artists handicraft was unimaginable. It is a safe bet that if I was ever given the chance to go again, I would go in a heartbeat.

Take a break from the madness in your lives today ladies. Find an activity that you want to do, and enjoy it to the fullest.

He Gets A Break....Now When Do I Get Mine

2008-08-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

My husband is going away with some friends this weekend. Kind of a camping trip. He is happy to be going. And I am happy he is going. It seems like lately he has been getting on my last nerve. I love my husband so much. But some days he just gets under my skin. But, I suppose that happens to all married couples at one time or other.

The worst part of him going away is, I AM STUCK WITH THE KIDS!!! Not that I expected anything different. My world does revolve around the kids after all. And I do suppose that I am like every other woman in the world, I feel unappreciated. It's like my needs come last. The pecking order seems to go like this: My husband, my oldest son, my nieces, my nephew, my other two kids,and bringing up the rear is MOM. Now don't get me wrong, I support my husbands need to get away from the job and kids. He is a hard working man and a loving dad. But, in my dream world, He kisses me and gives me a plane ticket and a ticket for a cruise, and sends me on my merry way. And allows me to enjoy some peace and quiet also. But then the fantasy ends and I am sitting in my living room with screaming kids all around as I say " Calgon Take Me Away!!"