Why?

Life just isn't fair and we all know that.

So many things happen that make us ask "Why?"

Most of the time there is no answer.

We just have to accept things the way they happen and move on.

A good friend of mine lost her husband to a heart attack last Friday.

So shocking and so unexpected. He was only 46.

I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason but trying to figure out this reason is beyond anyone's ability.

Life (and death) is such a mysterious thing and I guess we will have to just continue to wonder about them both.

I am very sad for my friend. We have known each other all of our lives. I hope and pray that she finds comfort in her time of sorrow and strength to carry on for her little girl.

I wonder if Half-Pint had 'issues'

My daughter and I have been watching "Little House on the Prairie" Love the show and I can remember watching it faithfully when I was a little girl.

My youngest daughter was watching with me the other night and I pointed out to her how well mannered Laura was. She agreed and then told me that she would love to be sweet like her, but she has 'anger issues'.

Obviously too much TV viewing for my young 'un!

It's Always Something

*Yawn* OH, excuse me! I am trying to keep my eyes open long enough to type here~

On Friday I had my surgery.......fun times! Not really, but it's over and I am glad. Everything went well and well, it's over. End of story!

My Dad is doing just fine. Still in some minor pain, but it is not stopping him from talking, that is for sure. I think it's the meds, but don't tell him I said that!

Today I should be back at work, but for some reason I am not. Oh yeah, it's because my youngest offspring claims to be sick. However, because of some experience that I have in motherhood, I beg to differ. Yesterday it was the stomach issues and the head aching and add some whining and well, I was ready to drop into a heap of exhaustion! This morning, it was the stomach (still) and how much it is aching, yet going outside and eating everything in sight is at the top of her agenda. Off to the doctor here shortly... I can't take much more.

I need a nap, badly.......Calgon, take me away!

The one in which I do not make 42 excuses as to why I have not blogged lately.

My dad had his surgery last week. What a day! Stress, tears, worry and that was only the beginning.

He has what is called Spinal Stenosis. The surgery was supposed to eliminate future pain, but as for now that is all my poor daddy is feeling. I ache for this poor man, who in all of his 65 years prior, never had surgery once.

Now he lies in intense pain and can only moan and cry out like he is being tortured. My heart breaks for him. I hope this next week or so flies by so that he can find any form of relief that he may have coming his way.

This Friday I will be having surgery. Nothing major. I had my mammogram and there is an ugly little devil in there that does not belong. It is benign, the surgeon says he is 99.9% sure of that! Any normal patient, he would tell to leave it alone and not to worry about it.

However, I am not a normal patient. I have a family history of breast cancer, so out it comes! Just so I can breathe easy and have one less thing in my life in which to stress over.

Six years ago I had this same procedure done. I guess that is why I am scared because I remember the pain. I am tough though, I can take it. I think!

Awareness

My mom had breast cancer.

She was diagnosed at the age of 45.

After 15 years of battling for life, she lost the war.

Watching your loved one suffer makes you think long and hard.

It is agonizing and leaves you feeling helpless.

Do yourself and your family a huge favor.

Have a mammogram done.

Tell your sister, your aunt, your mother, your wife and every woman you love to do the same.

Men are not immune to this horrible disease either.

Get yourself checked.

I am.

Concert News!

I have tickets to see this man in December:

What, you say? Don't know who he or his band is? Well then, let me help you out:

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Phones, Backaches, and Vampires

SO many things have been happening, but I guess my lack of blog posts is obviously what has not been going on.

I got a new cell phone!

I love it...I would love to have an iPhone or maybe a Blackberry, but economically this was the right choice for me. It even holds music!

Sunday evening, I pulled a muscle in my lower back. Good times, I tell you. I was hurting so much I took a sick day on Monday to rest. Besides the fact that I feel like an 80 year old woman, I am starting to get back to my old self.

Next month my dad has to have surgery. After weeks of being in pain, he went to the doctor and was told that he has a spinal cord injury. How he got that, is beyond us! Needless to say, the surgery will be major and the recovery (he was told) will include some very intense pain. I guess I shouldn't complain about my back aches!

The new TV season has begun! I watched Eastwick last night, and loved it, of course. Vampire Diaries is a must see...me and my girls are in love with yet more vampires. And then of course there is Grey's Anatomy premiering tonight. Needless to say, I will be glued to the television for several hours.

So what are you watching?

How 'Bout That??

I am excited, how 'bout you?

I Got The Blahs

As I lay in bed last night, trying to fall asleep, my mind was in a swirl of thoughts. As it often is.

In fact, most of my thoughts were about my next blog post. I had many things that I wanted to say. Things that were in my head and all jumbled up in my brain.

Today, most of those feelings and words are lost as I sit here to write this post, so I will just wing it for now.

Life has been one big whirlwind of busy-ness lately. It seems that most days I can not keep up. I know most moms, especially working moms, can relate. Work all day, come home to a messy house, hungry kids, piles of laundry and an empty fridge. Enough to make any sane woman want to pull her hair out.

We survive day by day here in this household. Each chore is done in pretty much a routine, but everything else is just put on a low prirority list. Most things are pushed aside until I feel like dealing with it.

I never was a slacker. I always had my bills paid in advance, emails answered at soon as I got them, and my house was clean (for the most part)

Now, I really do not feel like doing much. Not even blogging. Or reading blogs. Or doing much at all. I just want to come home from work, bathe, and relax.

I need a vacation.

A New Angel To Watch Over Me

Many people come into and out of our lives from our childhood well on into adulthood. Some we rarely miss or even remember. There are usually a few who do not even matter.

I can say that there is one person who came into my life exactly a year ago that will live in my heart and my memory forever.

When I applied for the job that I now have, Phyllis was the one who called to set up my interview. The day that I met her, we clicked. She interviewed me and it was as though she were trying to sell the job to me, rather than try and have me sell myself to her and this position.

She always said that I was just like them and that is why they wanted me there.

Within a very short time, I bonded and grew to love my 3 co-workers. Phyllis was our 'leader' and the other two girls in our office, Susan and Denise, quickly became like my family. I was the 4th musketeer of the group. The one they had finally found that fit in with them and completed them as whole.

This past summer you may remember that I took a trip to Florida with a co-worker and her family and mine. That co-worker was Phyllis. We had an awesome time, and we enjoyed attending conferences daily.

This past Saturday, Phyllis passed away suddenly and without any warning. An autopsy revealed that she had lung cancer that had spread into her liver. Nobody can comprehend how someone who was so alive and happy and healthy could be gone so quickly. Someone who never even knew that she was dying.

Left behind to grieve for this 43 year old woman, are her husband, her 17 year old son and 5 year old twin daughters. Not to mention, everyone in this small community that we live in who had ever met her and just could not help but love her.

They say that everything happens for a reason. I know that I will never understand, and neither will anyone else, what the reason for Phyllis' passing was, but I do know one thing. She came in to my life for a purpose. She made a difference, she brightened my day and she always, always, always made me smile and laugh.

We will miss you forever, my friend!

Computer Troubles

So a couple of days ago, I was sitting at my computer and this big message pops up. Something about backing up my files or I would lose them blah, blah, blah.

I dig out some DVD's and start a-downloadin'. My gut feeling told me that once it was 'done', that my baby was history.

It took F.O.R.E.V.E.R to back it all up. When it was done, it told me to turn it off and replace the hard disk! GASP!!! What?

To make a long story short, I took her to a local computer repair shop. I really did not want to have to buy a new one, but if it was necessary, then so be it.

Good news. The guy just called. $90 to replace the hard drive, they will GIVE me a FREE new anti-virus, because my other one is crap! However, the best part is, all of my photos and music will not be lost!

Thank you computer gods!

Amen!

Slim Fast...or Slow?

I started a diet today. How unexciting, I know.

It always seems like someone is dieting and I always looked upon those persons with pity. I have been very fortunate in my life to be blessed with a tall stature and somewhat thin frame. Yay me, right?

Well, now I have a muffin top and it is not of the blueberry variety. It is on my middle section and it has got to go. Immediately.

Short of starving myself, which to me would work best, but I like to eat, I have decided to do something that would still allow some sort of nourishment into my bod.

Food of the fattening type is all around me. I live in a part of the world that is famous for it's fried foods, gravies and excess calories. The temptation to 'cheat' is all around me.

I will be strong. I will do this, I know I can. I am on a Slim Fast plan and I hope it works just as the name says.....Fast!

Anyway today is my first day, and it seems to have curbed my hunger. So far. By this evening, I may be gnawing on a whole side of beef!

What diets, if any, have worked for you?

Miss Smarty Pants

The other day I was doing my usual motherly duty of telling my daughter about how important it is to grasp her school work from the beginning. In years past, she has had some struggles, so I am trying to get her off to a great start.

My youngest offspring chimes in with this: School is like a movie, if you don't pay attention in the beginning, you won't know what's going on!

She has a point. And I would like to believe she gets her smarts from me!

Random Thought Tuesday

Hosted by the UnMom!

Well, it's Tuesday. One week since my daughter started 'official' Jr. High. She loves it (Thank God!) and her bus fiasco only lasted that one day. The bus is okay now, and she made a friend, who she now sits with. My 'baby' starts school tomorrow. Finally! She is off to 4th grade. Wow, the time just seems to be getting by me somehow. My photo blog has been in a huge slump. I really make myself mad when I starts something and get all gung ho about it, then that darn procrastination sets in. However, I have had some strong urges lately to get out my camera and take some more photos, and edit some of the hundreds that still sit around in my photo folders somewhere. I hate being a procrastinator. My house shows it, my pantry and refrigerator shelves are bare and I just don't feel like it!For more random thoughts, go visit Keely!

Too Pooped to Pop!

Having some of this:
And a few of these:



And not getting in until 2:30am, makes for a very tired and grumpy me.

Bus Woes

My darling daughter survived her first day at the new school. Her word to describe it was "Awesome!" I was so relieved.

So today, she was to ride the bus for the first time. I say 'first time' but she has ridden a bus before. For years, in fact. I took her to school every day and picked her up in the after school daycare, but they did ride a bus to and from church and on various field trips in her old school.

With the start of a new school and everything I was afraid of overwhelming her. Let's face it, my child is very sensitive and upsets easily. We had the bus number down pat and everything, and so I thought, all of the details put in place. Well, much to her chagrin, when she went to get on 'her' bus after school today, it was already 'loaded'. She asked the teacher on duty of they would come back for her later. Umm, not a chance, get on it or get left.

The kids were wild. They crowded the aisles. They got in her way and the bus driver told her to push them out of the way so she could get by. Not my child. She is too friendly and did not want to upset anyone, so she barely managed to squeeze her way off. I get a phone call when she makes it home....hysterical crying. I was crushed. I think she will be alright now that she knows what to expect.

I remember when I rode the bus as a very young child. One day a different bus had broken down, so our bus had to pick up it's load. When it came time for my stop, there were so many kids crowded in, my driver did not know I was there and I couldn't make it to the front of the bus to get off in time. Needless to say, I was mortified and had to ride the complete route with him until the end, when he came to bring me home. I remember passing my mom on the next street over as he was coming back to deliver me, she was hunting me down!

All I remember from that point on was crawling in my parents' bed and bawling for hours.

Next time Chelsea has a hard day, I think I will tell her to just lay down in my bed and cry it out. I know she will feel better after that, because I sure did.

Always Be My Baby

When I said I wanted to have a baby, that is exactly what I signed up for. A baby. Not a pre-teen. One who is growing up faster than my nerves can handle.

At the age of 4, I sent Chelsea off to Pre-K. We registered her at a small private school that had after school daycare. So convenient. So nice.

Her first day, she walked into that classroom, said "Bye mom!" and never looked back. I cried all the way to work!

That was 8 years ago! She is 12 now. Tomorrow she starts her first day of 7th grade. Public school. New school. BIG school. New faces. Different teachers. Did I mention BIG school?

She is excited. I am a nervous wreck!

Oh and not only that, but she will be riding the bus home every day and letting herself in to an empty house. Can we say WORRY?

I want my baby back!

Sweet Cherry Sours

I have been eating some of these:


They are gooo-oood! The next best thing in the way of candy....after chocolate, of course.

What is your favorite candy?

J Mac!

I took the girls to see one of their favorite singers this weekend. Jesse McCartney...no relation to Paul, so don't ask! He is such a cutie, and he puts on a really great show. This was the last stop for this tour and he really went all out.

I know you are probably asking...."So what does he sing?" So, of course, I will leave you with this:

Assignment: Decisions, Decisions

As just about everyone in the whole world knows by now, every week MamaKat hands out assignments for us. She gives us a list of really cool topics that we can choose from to write a blog post on. Heaven knows that I need all the help that I can get at times, so I am always eagerly awaiting her suggestions.

This week I chose:

What decision are you having a hard time making?

Are you kidding me? I can not make a decision to save my life! Well, I can actually, but seriously, the turmoil that goes around and around in my brain just to make a simple decision is, at times, just ridiculous.

For example: Blogging......... Sometimes my topics just fall in my lap. Other times I have a hard time deciding what to say and how to say it, but when it comes down to it, I sometimes wonder:

Should I blog about the not so exciting (to me anyway) season finale of The Bachelorette and how I think that Kyptyn should come and be my lawn boy so I can sit outside and watch him mow my lawn shirtless while I sip iced tea?

Maybe I could blog about the new reality show that I discovered last week, called "Dating in the Dark" where couples meet up for dates in pitch black rooms, touch and feel and even kiss on each other and then finally catch a glimpse of one another after all this. THEN these same couples decide whether or not they want to continue a relationship with their partner and how if I tried that, I would probably be paired up with someone who looked like this:

No such luck! He is the host of the show and just about the only good looking guy that has graced us with his presence as of yet.

I guess I have just discovered that when all else fails, I can always blog about gorgeous men!

Join MamaKat for more fun!

Priorities

Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet? I can tell you, I have not and I do not even want to think about it.

I have more important things to worry about. Like shopping for school uniforms, shoes and supplies. Oh the joy! School starts here in just a few short weeks.

Shopping for school is not on my highest of priorities either. I would rather be on Facebook. In Yoville!

Something Borrowed

I am reading a book! Despite my current Facebook addiction, and watching my Netflix, and working full time, I have promised myself that I would set aside at least a half hour, maybe more, every day, to read.

Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes, but sometimes life gets in the way and it just does not happen. I made a promise to myself to not let that be the case any longer.

This book is great and one of my favorite 'kind' to read. Easy to get into, cool characters, and best of all, fun! If you have not read this one yet, I highly recommend it.

I am looking forward to getting and reading the next one...."Something Blue"

Emily Giffin is a fantastic writer from what I have read so far. Check her out!

And That's The Way It Is

After all of the crap I dealt with......broken washing machine, ridiculous repairman and loads of laundry, I bought a brand new one! My brother in law (who I am indebted to forever, God bless his soul) came over and looked at the old one and determined that it had something to do with the motor. New motor + the labor they would have charged = just about the same for a brand new machine. Screw Sears, I went somewhere else and ended my troubles. For now!

Walter Cronkite died. I remember him fondly from my childhood years. He had a distinct voice, it was soothing and it brought back memories, hearing some of his old stuff from way back when. Stuff that reminds me of my mom. Those sort of memories are special to me.

Speaking of my mom (and my brother in law), I came across a song that brings back some very cool memories of her. Yesterday on Facebook, my brother in law mentioned a song on a post of my sister's and I had to go searching for it. And I found it! I laughed until I wanted to cry, hearing this after so many years and I remember my mom listening to this when I was very young. Here it is. And don't act like you don't know it or remember it. Unless you are under the age of 30.







My brother in law....he is a nut, but I thank him for this special childhood memory. Don't laugh!

No Surprise

I downloaded the new CD from Daughtry last week and I love it! Another example of an American Idol contestant who does not win and makes it bigger than anyone else from that season.

You can listen to their first single here

YouTube disabled embedding. So click and enjoy!

As I Yank My Hair From It's Roots!

Dear Sears!

Have you ever heard of the phrase "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"? Well let me explain that to you in this letter.

Last Thursday (July 9th) I had a repair service call scheduled for someone to come out and look at my washing machine. The washer was still working but occasionally would not complete the spin cycle, leaving my clothes in a huge soggy lump in the bottom. After having enough of that torture, I called and had someone to come out and look at it. I chose Sears over a local repair man because I believed that someone from a major retail company would have very experienced persons working for them.

So the clown you decided to hire, showed up at my home and made a guess as to what the problem could be. Not ever getting a straight answer, he wore on my nerves as he tried to be a comedian. That was my first problem with him. So Comedy Central reject repairman proceeds to inform me that the capacitor for the motor of my washer was going bad. Good enough, give me the bill, I pay you and I go back to work. Clownboy tells me that he will be back next week to change the part. At this point, my washer was still working. After he left, it did not! My luck!

So now I have one week to live with no washer. Fine, I will go to my Dad's and wash as I need to. Pain in the butt, but I do what I have to do.

Finally next Thursday (today) arrives and I await the call for dumb ass repair man to let me know what time he will arrive. He can not give me a roundabout time, just between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Wonderful!

At ten minutes until 5pm, I call the 1-800 number back and some foreign woman sitting in Zimbabwe informs me that I am scheduled for next Thursday July 23rd! One more week without a washing machine!!!!!! I hung up on her!

So my Sweetie, trying to come to my rescue, changes the part which arrived 2 days ago. It seemed easy enough, and if we can get it working I can call the stand-up-comedian-wannabe and tell him to bite me. Well, lo and behold, the part is changed and it still does not freaking work! So that leads me to believe that the part that your idiotic repairman ordered for me was not the bad part.

Now I sit and wait, but for what? Is he going to come back and look at it, scratch his head and order something else and have me wait 2 more weeks? Is this trial and error? Do you hire your repairmen at the local comedy club after they get boo-ed and hissed off the stage? Frankly, he was not funny, but let me tell you , he thought he was!

In closing, I would like to tell you Sears, if you send that idiot back to my home and he can not repair my washing machine, you will be hearing from me again and it will not be pretty. Oh and by the way, you are not getting one more red cent from me for nothing!

A very disgruntled and not amused ex customer!

Buried in Dirty Clothes

See this?

Yeah, mine would be dead!

Maybe we should not call it dead, it is fixable.

Supposedly!

Couple months ago, it started acting up.

Not spinning right.

Called Sears for them to come out and check it for me.

They came, they finished it off, now I wait.

Wait for the part to arrive.

One week without a washing machine.

It sucks.

The Hangover

My guy and I went to see this movie over the weekend. If you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend it!

Soooo funny! But then I really have it bad for this guy now:

Hello, Gorgeous!

Bradley Cooper. Look at those eyes!

Through the whole movie, I kept telling Sweetie..."I know that guy from some other movie, what did he play in?" Finally I realized. He played the cheating husband in "He's Just Not That Into You" (Among others!). That would probably be why I did not like him in that particular movie.

But I am over it. And so into those piercing blue eyes!

I Survived!

Ok, so if you read my previous post then you must be sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, refreshing google every couple of minutes just to see if I have a post up about it. No? Oh well then. Here's what happened....

I was at my desk, thankfully on the phone, when she/he/it came up to the window. We have one of those glass windows with the hole to speak through, with a little slot for us to slip money, receipts, paperwork, etc. through. So while I am finishing up the phone conversation, she/he/it is just standing there waiting, and I know he saw me. And recognized me. Uggh!

So I reluctantly go up to the window and ask if I could help. We made eye contact {gulp!} and she/he/it showed no signs of knowing me whatsoever. I told him that he would have to wait out in the hallway for the City Attorney to speak to him and so he said thanks and left. Whew! I was so relieved.

This person looks exactly like she did in high school. Except now she/he has a goatee, wears a baseball cap and has tons of hair on his arms. I have never actually known someone who has had a sex change. To be honest, I really do not have a problem with that, to each his own. I just know I would not want to be a man. I am just way too girly for that!

Another thing is, I was not a close friend to this person in school. We did have classes together, we rode the same bus and we had a couple of mutual acquaintances. She did sign my year book. Wanna know what she wrote? To a sweet girl, I hope we stay friends for a long time. Love ya dearly but not queerly.

Um, yeah! Whatever!

I am linking up with MamaKat this week....go visit her and join in the fun!

She-He-It

First of all, I would just like to say that I am not prejudiced. I am very open minded and do not have a problem with people in their beliefs/religion/political views, etc. I have my own and I pretty much keep them to myself.

However, I went to school with a girl who is now not a 'girl'/woman today. She has become a HE. And I will have to face her/him/it today!

That reason being, 'they' got a ticket in this city I work for, and since I handle all of those citations here at city court and because 'they' choose to dispute it, I will have to deal with 'them' today! Like in a short while from now!

Now I said I have no problems with people who choose to live their lives however they see fit for them. And I don't. The problem I have is....is this person going to call themselves out to me? I've talked to them on the phone (twice!) and I recognize the voice (although it's a bit different now) but will they talk to me as if they know me, or totally ignore any form of recognition of me?

I wish I could hide! I'll let you know what happens!

Rain, Memorials, and Vampires

We are finally getting some rain, after weeks and weeks of drought. Only bad thing about that is, when it starts, it does not know when to stop.

Today is Michael Jackson's memorial. I wish I could be home to watch it, but I am doing my duty and I'm blogging from work. Shhhh!

My followers have grown to 85. Wow! My goal is 100, so if you are lurking, click my follow button...just do it! If you are new here, go ahead...what the heck?

I've been doing something that I said I would not do. But don't we all do that eventually in our lives? Facebook has sucked me in. I have a farm on Farmville, FarmTown and a garden in Fairyland. I even sucked my sweetie into the madness along with some other friends on Facebook. It's fun, you should try it if you have not already. You know you want to.

True Blood (ya know, that show on HBO that everyone is watching or talking about?) has sucked me in. Pun intended... {evil grin} I finished the first season last night courtesy of Netflix. I really like it, but just so you know....none, and I mean NONE of those so-called Louisiana people have the right accent. That was pretty much the only qualm I had with the show....how they choose to portray us. We are not walking around chasing vampires around here, either. Or drinking vampire blood to get drunk. Just give me some grape or strawberry Smirnoff and I am good to go.

For more random-ness, visit the Unmom!

David and Demi

The concert on Wednesday night was fantastic! The girls had a blast, but before I get to all of the details, let me start by saying we almost didn't do this concert.

When it was first announced I had decided that we would not be going because it was just too much money and we usually only attend concerts of artists that we really really love. Although they like both Demi and David, I just could not justify it.

Last week I got an email from the venue saying that tickets were now going for $12.99 a piece!! I was sold because months ago I had priced some tickets for just David Archuletta and they were almost $100 each, so this was a very good deal. When I pulled up seats to see where we'd be, they were not half bad, so again, what a deal!

Another thing I'd like to add, is what happened to the day when concert tees were $20??!! I got the girls each a shirt. Chelsea wanted David and Alyssa wanted Demi.....$65.00! Wow! Thankfully I still had some cash left over from vacation.

The show started out with an all girl band called KSM....they played some old cover tunes and were really cute, but by that point we were pumped up for some David!

For his entrance, he came out and was standing behind a huge curtain, so all you could see was his silhouette and everyone went crazy. Well, all the screaming hormonal teenage girls. I had to refrain from any comments or acts of fandom in front of my easily embarrassed pre-teen children. Hmmppph!

So here are a few shots I got of the show. I used the big screens that they had set up to get most of my pictures because it was easier to focus on.

Demi was a cute little act to watch too. They only qualm I had with her is she seemed to forget the words and once had to start a song over because she had messed up. Overall she was entertaining and the girls were really thrilled even more so with her.

I tried to upload the video I took, but blogger had issues with it....