My Hand As A Blogger

CLUMSY LADYBUG...

2012-01-18T23:28:00.001-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate bugs. I mean, I REALLY hate bugs. Particularly spiders, centipedes, roaches, bees and I'm not that fond of ants either. However, there are two kinds of bugs that I not only tolerate but, I actually like them. Of course, one is a dead giveaway given the title of this entry and the other is the butterfly.
Anyway, there is a reason for this post. Due to the extremely wonky weather we have been having in my area, we have been visited by several ladybugs this winter. At least every other day, I see a new one somewhere in my house. Again, I like ladybugs so, unlike those hairy eight-legged freaky weirdos I would rather not discuss, ladybugs are welcome in my home.
So, as I showered yesterday, I spotted a ladybug on the ceiling about 2 feet from the immediate danger zone of the shower. I was worried she would come closer and have a typical clumsy ladybug moment and drop into the shower to be washed down the drain. So, I kept an eye on her. As predicted, she worked her way into the danger zone and, despite my frantic warnings of "No Ladybug! No!", she continued to wander around the danger zone above my head and, WOOPS! She got in touch with her clumsiness and fell. She stretched out her wings and fluttered her heart out to try to get somewhere safer but, she was felled by a wayward drop. Fortunately, she managed to fall upside down and stick, on her back, to the wet tile wall of the shower. I offered my finger for her to grab ahold and hitch a ride and she gladly accepted. I put her on the top of the shower door, fully knowing that that was nowhere near far enough from danger for Clumsy LB. But, what could I do? I wasn't in a great position to be extending myself beyond the confines of my shower to set her to safety so, I kept an eye out for her again and, sure enough...there she was. She walked the edge of where the tile and the wall meet and, despite my pleas of "No Ladybug! No!" she fell again. This time, she fell to my shower floor and I did the dance of keeping an eye on her while reaching up behind me to shift the shower head over as far from her direction as I could, until I could give her an assist again and offer her another ride on my finger. Again, she accepted my help. Only, this time, I made sure she would be farther away. I gave my hand a good shake and flicked her further into the bathroom.
When I got out of the shower, I couldn't find her immediately but, I saw her eventually. And, once her wings dried out, she flew up into the light. Not that light! The light fixture in our bathroom.

I haven't seen her since but, I learned that I will do all that is humanly possible to rescue the cute ladybugs of our globe. Aren't the spiders jealous? ;)

44 Homemade Christmas Cards and Coordinating Envelopes

2011-12-14T01:48:00.000-05:00

I have been an incredibly busy Card Maker. I made a total of 57 cards for Christmas this year. And, by made, I mean...I handmade each and every one of them. I only sent out 44. But, I also made 57 handmade envelopes. The one above is actually not exactly like the ones I sent out but, it is the only picture I took of them...for now. And, that is only one of the 2 styles of cards that I made. I made these for my friends and family. The other style was for my Stamp Club ladies because I taught them how to make this card for October or November's Stamp Club. So, I will try to snap a picture of one that is a better representation of this style. And, I'll snap a picture of the one I made for my Stamp Club girls and make a new post with both...eventually. I'm still not done with my Holiday Crafting. I now have 8 more gift card holders, in the shape of a Beanie that has a movable part...oh so stinking cute...that I have to make to fit gift cards in and send off to my family members as their Christmas gifts. And, I still have 2 projects to put together for January's Stamp Club. So, add all that to running my household, blah, blah, blah...I am just a smidgen busy.

Anyway, I just wanted to share what I have been up to. Do you think I could skip Birthday cards for a few months after this whirlwind of card making for the holidays? Do you think anyone would care? Hee hee!

Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza Sale

2011-11-21T14:25:00.001-05:00

Stampin' Up! is kicking off the holiday season with a sale on select items from 20% to 60% off. To take advantage of this fantabulous sale, visit my website at www.cortneyk.stampinup.net click on the "Shop Now" link below my contact information in the upper right hand corner, click on "Online Extravaganza" in the menu to the left and browse through the sale items! Happy Crafting!

Saying Goodbye To My Dear Sweet Dog

2011-10-20T20:47:00.000-04:00

This is my dear sweet gentle giant Frizbee. The cat is his tough sister Martini. This picture speaks volumes about Frizbee. He is the sweetest, most gentle being I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my home with. He is 10 years and 5 months old. And, this Saturday, October 22, 2011 my hubby and I will be saying Goodbye to him and sending him to Heaven. Over the past nearly 2 years, his health has started failing. On New Years Eve of 2009 we took him to the Vet because he had lost a lot of weight and was sick repeatedly throughout the day. We were told that his liver values were off the charts (literally...their machine couldn't register a number). They gave us medicine to help heal his liver and, while it has never been great, it did get a lot better. And, a few months ago, we started noticing blood on our carpets left behind when he would stand back up. Not terribly often so, we weren't entirely alarmed at first. About a month ago, we started noticing something was wrong with his rear end. I don't want to be vulgar so, I will do my best to explain things as well as I can without turning stomachs.

He has an aggressive form of cancer. There are 2 that his doctor suggested he might have. One is Lymphoma and, for the life of me, I can't remember the other one. She discussed options but, flat out said that, if he were her boy, she wouldn't put him through surgery. Backing up a bit, he had FHO surgery for his hip on June 1st. That was the second hip surgery he has had throughout his 10 years on this planet. His first was when he was under 1 year. His left hip went all kinds of wonky. What we were told, back then, was that he grew so big so fast that the ball of his hip bone wore the socket down flat. So, the doctor either removed the ball or filed it down. They were never clear and, we were just so happy that he was going to be ok that, we didn't ask for any more specifics. Basically, his right hip did the same thing so, he needed that one operated on this past June. The difference is that he is much older so, it has been a struggle for him to recover from that surgery. He has a really hard time walking on slick surfaces, such as our hardwood floors in our kitchen and foyer. He has a hard time getting up to a standing position anywhere in the house but, especially on the harder surfaces. And, since about a month before his surgery, he has not been upstairs in our house because he can no longer get up the steps.

Ok...so back to the present. Three weeks ago, his doctor diagnosed him with cancer. She drained the tumor and gave us meds to help try to keep the cancer under control and hopefully shrink it. We opted not to do surgery because his doctor said that it could do more harm than good.

Last Saturday, we took him to the Vet again to have the tumor drained, once again. Since then, things have gotten worse. He is constantly bleeding from the site of his tumor. He is having an even harder time getting up and moving around. And, because of the amount of blood that I am having to clean up, we have no choice but to keep him in the kitchen where it is easier for me to clean up with a mop. But, that has him depressed because he can't move around the rest of the house. I am doing everything I can to keep him comfortable and at least a little less depressed. I have basically moved myself into the kitchen with him. I do my work in the kitchen, I watch TV from the kitchen. I do everything but sleep in the kitchen. And, when I do take a moment, other than sleep, out of the kitchen, he whines and cries for me. He is breaking my heart and, my spirit has taken a huge hit over this entire situation as well.

Last night, I had the difficult conversation with my hubby about sending Frizbee to Heaven. I will miss him but, I can't bare watching him, day in and day out, like this anymore. I can't take the abuse to my heart and my spirit anymore. And, I feel like Frizbee is ready to say goodbye and go hang out with other fur babies up there.

I feel like, as much as it is going to hurt, and as many tears as I am preparing myself to shed this weekend, I will also be relieved when he is gone. I bare a heavy weight in my heart because of the pain I think he must be in. I bare the spirit breaking pain each time I mop up his blood. I bare a physical weight when I have to help lift his 100 pound body up off the floor and hold him steady while he gets his feet planted so that he can walk outside or get a drink of water. He can't take this life anymore and I don't have anymore big pieces of my heart to break.

Please say a prayer for my sweet dog, Frizbee. And please say a prayer to give me the strength to let him go.

Growing My Business

2011-10-07T17:00:00.004-04:00

This is my "Advertisement"! In an attempt to grow my Stampin' Up! business, I will be making a few of these cards to put, along with my business cards, in my local Starbucks, craft stores, hair salon, and other local businesses of my choosing. They're perfect for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday season. I have something on the inside of this card that tells people that I can help teach them how to make their own greeting cards and help them with their scrapbooking supplies. The card has my contact information so, hopefully I'll be growing my business very soon!

And, for any of you who are in need of crafting supplies for either scrapbooking or making your own beautiful greeting cards, please feel free to browse my website at www.cortneyk.stampinup.net You can purchase supplies directly from there, or use my contact information to get in touch with me directly.

Wish me luck!

Some New Templates

2011-09-30T00:10:00.002-04:00

Ok folks...Blogspot has given us bloggers some new options for templates. Right now, I like the simple, clean look of something colorful so, I'll stick with this one until I decide how much I like the new options they have somewhat overwhelmed me with.

But, should you come back one day and see my blog all kinds of wonky...have no fear! It's still me!

Until the next time, enjoy this pretty summery view!

Cancer

2011-07-13T19:39:00.002-04:00

So, today I got the news that you never want to hear. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. I don't even know what to say. I'd like to be verbose and insightful. I would love to be uplifting for her, my family and myself but, I am not feeling very uplifted right now. I don't have the words to say by which to comfort her. What do you say to someone who has just been diagnosed with one of the world's biggest killers? I've never really understood what people meant by the feeling of "numb" when it comes to getting bad news. But, I get it now. She went in somewhere close to 2 months ago to have a lump the size of a pea checked out in her left breast. My Mom told me and I stayed strong until I got off the phone, and then I cried. Partially because I was already really beaten down what with trying to be strong for my parents only about a month before that as they grieved over the loss of one of their best friends. And, on the same day that I found out about my sister, my Mom also told me that my Uncle had maybe only about a month left to live because of all the cancer in his body. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any good feelings about my Uncle, for very deeply personal reasons, but I did feel bad for my Dad who was about to lose the last of the portion of his family that he grew up with. So, once I got off the phone with my Mom, I broke down. I can be the strongest person you will ever meet when I have to be. But, what you won't see is how I build myself up for that strength and process it behind a closed door. After my sister's surgery, my Mom called to let me know that it was worse than they thought and a lot of their cautious optimism had evaporated. I was strong again, until I got off the phone.

Today is different. I haven't shed a tear. And, this is where that numb comes in. I don't know how to process this one. I don't know what to say to anyone. I don't even know how to feel about it myself. I want my sister to beat Cancer's ass, put it down on the floor, tell it to stay there and call it her Bitch. But then what? She's been told that she has to go for either semi-annual or annual Mammograms. And, since we are only 3 years apart in age...guess where yours truly will be going. My Maternal Grandmother had breast cancer but, it didn't show up until she was maybe 87 years old. And, while it was bad, it wasn't what killed her in the end. She was a breast cancer survivor. I can hope that my sister will be also. Her Cancer is in the early stages. She caught it quickly. Will I be so lucky? Will I be even luckier and just never have to deal with it myself? Right...guess who's starting to process it now? But, I still don't know where to put it all. I'm scared. I'm terrified for my sister. I'm scared for my own ta-tas. I'm worried for my Mom. I'm pissed off that this disease still exists. And, as for now...I'm done. My goose is cooked. I'm fried. I think I just want to crawl into a ball in a corner and cry it out for a little while, with the door shut and be ready for the strength that I will need to have while my family gets through this.

When Lies Prevail, Justice Fails

2011-07-05T17:46:00.003-04:00

Well, this sucks. I have been completely riveted over the Casey Anthony trial. Today, July 5, 2011 a jury of Casey's peers gave their verdict and she was found "Not Guilty" of any charges involving the death of her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony. She was found guilty of the 4 charges of providing false information to law enforcement. I can not tell you how upset I am. I never thought that I would get this interested in this case, or any other. I was never interested in the O.J. Simpson trial. I was interested in the facts of the Scott Peterson case but, did not watch the trial. But, I sort of stumbled on the Casey Anthony trial when I saw an hour long blow by blow of the case just one week before the trial started. Then, I caught the Opening Statements on HLN when the trial started in May, and I was hooked. I have paid close attention. I have learned a ton about court law and our legal system from this case. I don't pretend to have a great attention span. But, this case kept me glued to my TV and I am forever touched by Caylee's death.

So, when the verdict was read today, I literally broke down into tears. I am so distraught over the fact that Casey Anthony killed her daughter, tossed her into 2 garbage bags and a laundry bag, and tossed her into a swamp less than a quarter of a mile from her house. I am distraught that 12 people could possibly think that she wasn't just innocent of 1st degree murder or aggravated manslaughter of a child but, of all charges of the death of her daughter. Not even accidental manslaughter. Are you kidding me? What the heck trial were those 12 people watching? Because, the freaking trial that I watched was one of proof that she killed her daughter. What mother goes out to Blockbuster with her boyfriend, rents two videos, and spends the entire next day in bed with her boyfriend, with absolutely zero emotions the very night and next day that her daughter goes missing? What mother goes to bars and does hot body contests, moves in with her boyfriend the day after her daughter goes missing, and gets a tattoo that says "La Bella Vitta" meaning "The Beautiful Life" weeks after her daughter goes missing? What mother says, "all anyone wants to talk about is Caylee" in a jailhouse conversation with her family when she is frustrated because no one will give her her boyfriend's phone number as she is in jail? Really? What else is there to talk about when a 2 and a half year old toddler has been missing for 2 months? What mother enjoys herself, doing whatever she wants to do, smiling, laughing and partying for 31 days before she finally announces that her daughter has been missing? I'll tell you what mother does that: ONLY CASEY MARIE ANTHONY! Only a mother who purposely, willfully killed her daughter so that she could live "La Bella Vitta". Only a mother who could poison her daughter with chloroform and wrap 3 pieces of duct tape around her nose and mouth to make sure she never breathes another breath of air again.

I am overwhelmed with emotion about this. I am so shocked that I could crap lightening bolts. I'm devastated. I feel like the legal system that I have grown up with has failed Caylee Anthony. I literally felt sick when that verdict was read.

And, as if the wounds aren't fresh enough, it is very likely that Casey will walk out of jail a free woman on Thursday. She has served 3 years in jail on suspicion of murder and, each charge that she faces for the 4 counts of providing false information carries a year in jail which the Defense team has already said they will ask for her to serve consecutively which means only 1 year. With her 3 years served for something that a jury has now found her innocent of, and 98% of time that would be removed from sentencing for good behavior...that murderer may be set free. Free to party. Free to do hot body contests. Free to find another man who will knock her up. Free to be inconvenienced by another son or daughter. Free to...

As if all of that isn't enough, Chenney Mason did the equivalent of a "nah nah nah nah poo poo, stick your head in doo doo" over the Defense's win. Grow the F up! This is not a school yard confrontation. This isn't kickball. This is a case where a 2 and a half year old toddler was murdered by her mother. Your win means that that little girl did not get justice.

Smart Phone Acting Stupid

2011-06-14T13:26:00.003-04:00

I think I have mentioned how much I love modern technology. I really do. I love that it is pretty much impossible not to stay connected everywhere all the time.

Except when your modern technology fails you. I love my phone. I have a Droid. It is, for the most part, a fantastic piece of technology. But, that's not to say that I haven't wanted to throw it across the room against something hard and see it shatter into a zillion...or more...pieces. Today is one of those days. I noticed that I had new emails that hadn't come into my phone. I was on my laptop at the time so, I refreshed my email on my phone and still...nothing. Now, I don't tend to get a boat load of important emails so, that isn't even my biggest problem. What I might get is the occasional important phone call. Right now, due to some really horrible family health issues, I really need my phone to be working. THE PHONE...not the other extra bells and whistles that come with my phone. And, by PHONE I also mean texting. I have had times when I won't receive a text and, I have learned that there have been a few times when I haven't received a phone call as well. So, upon realizing that my email wasn't working, I tested my phone by calling it from my home phone line. The fedging thing didn't ring. I got voicemail. I should have left a message but didn't. I promptly hung up and rebooted my cell. Since rebooting, there is no indication that I received a phone call. Not even the "missed call" icon. I tested it again from my home phone and it rang. So, we are back in business...for now. But, if I received any calls while it wasn't working, I will never fedging know and that pisses me off. Same with texts. If the damn phone isn't working, I won't get any functionality out of it at all. It really pisses me off as I rely on that little piece of technology to keep me connected to people from all over the globe. If it doesn't work, what good is it really?

So...I guess I just need to let everyone know...if you call me and I don't answer, and if you leave a message and I don't return the call, I likely never got the message because my lovely piece of highly intelligent technology isn't working. Don't despair. I haven't suddenly decided that I don't care about you or don't want to hear from you. I simply don't have a phone that works 100% of the time. Perhaps not even 50% of the time. Just keep trying. I probably really want to hear from you.

What's Going On?

2011-06-14T01:50:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since the last time I posted anything so, I thought I would just sort of cram everything that has been going on, into one post to get you all up to speed. So...here goes.

Let's see, I haven't heard from my friend who is deployed in Afghanistan for quite some time now so, I am pretty much constantly worried about him. But, hopefully he is ok. Hopefully he got the letter and card I sent him. Hopefully I'll hear from him soon. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully. Ugh...I hate worrying about friends and not being able to do a darn thing about it. But, boo for me.

Next...I have another blog. This one is for my softer side. It is dedicated to my creative crafty side. I started making YouTube videos of my cards and, while I am behind on that one too, I have posted a few of those videos, along with little descriptive entries. You can find that blog here: http://iamastamper.blogspot.com/ I intend to get moving on updating that blog either tonight or tomorrow. It is actually kind of late now so, it will likely be tomorrow. And, as I mentioned my YouTube videos, I have a YouTube Channel which you can find here: http://www.youtube.com/user/JustBloggin1 I am kind of proud of my YouTube Channel. I have actually learned a ton of stuff and, while editing takes some time and the occasional boat load of patience, I love it. I love sharing my passion for crafting with others.

And...I guess the last thing I want to talk about is my obsession with the Casey Anthony Murder Trial. I am hooked on it. I have never been one to watch any court cases in the past. I like the bite sized People's Court and, the hour long true crime type shows like you would find on ID...or whatever that channel is called. But, for some reason, I started watching the Casey Anthony trial since their opening statements, and I have been glued ever since. I want her to be found guilty. And, while I didn't agree with the death penalty when I was a kid, I grew to appreciate it as I got older and, now...I believe that it couldn't happen to a nicer person. She is despicable. I have watched her pretend to cry for her daughter. I have watched her dab at tears that weren't there, wipe her nose and blow it into a tissue that never gets wet, ripped or replaced. I have seen the same tissue hold up to hours and hours of nose, eye and cheek rubbing and have only seen it somewhat crumpled or neatly folded. She's a fake. I think she fancies herself an actress but, other than her remarkable ability to spin believable stories and lies, she is a horrible actress. Hell, Lindsay Lohan could probably show her a thing or two and, for those of you who know me, you all know how very much I dislike everything about Lindsay Lohan. So...take that for what it is worth. Anyway, I want to see Casey Anthony get the death penalty and, I wish that I could have a "Casey Cam" on her when she meets El Diablo in Hell. I'd love to see if she could drum up some real tears than. Not that they would last long as they burned up in the flames of Hell. But, truly...her future position is down there right behind Osama Bin Laden waiting in line to get through the gates of Hell...or whatever the truly deserving have to do when they first arrive where they belong.

So...that's about all for tonight. :)

A New Crafting Room

2011-05-30T00:55:00.002-04:00

I am so excited! Eventually I'll edit this and add a picture or two. But, for now...I just wanted to share my excitement. I have a crafting room! Since I started making my greeting cards and gift boxes almost a year ago, I have been working in my living room. It cramped things a little and really always annoyed me that I didn't have a better space to designate as My Crafting Room. Today, after sort of an impromptu conversation with my hubby, we decided that one of our spare bedrooms would get a lot more use if I turned it into a crafting room. So...I did. I disassembled the queen sized bed and I moved this and that behind that and this. Then I started the arduous task of moving all of my crafting supplies, table and just general stuff, up the stairs and into "My Crafting Room"! It is fantastic. I do want to add to it in the future. I would like to add some shelving and some more storage but...it is, at last, my room for all things crafty! I think I will eventually replace my crafting table too. The one that I have is ok but, frankly, if I had the crafting room when I first bought it, I would have gotten something different. The one I have has wheels. I bought it because my plan was to be able to close it up and move it into a little space off of my foyer when I wasn't using it. Eventually, my supplies got so cumbersome that moving it wasn't really an option anymore so, I moved the Sofa Table from one wall in my living room, to another one and crammed my crafting table against that wall, allowing me some 4 feet (if not less) of room in my living room with which to work. I have a really pretty living room. I'm not bragging. I just like it. It is cozy and it makes me feel like home. But, when you add my crafting table, it becomes something less. Even though he never said it, I found out today, after a sigh of relief from both of us once my crap was all in my "Crafting Room", that both the hubby and I were not at all happy with my crafting stuff being in our living room. It...and this is my quote..."crapped it up", and the hubby agreed.

So...now I have a cozy place to chill and watch some TV. And I have a cozy place to craft...and make as Craftacular as I want! Yay!

Ready, Set...Take Off!

2011-05-17T18:15:00.003-04:00

I am so excited! About 2 weeks ago, the woman who got me interested in being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and making my own greeting cards and gift boxes, emailed me to ask me if I wanted to take over her clientele. She has a full time job and is a very busy woman because she lives a very social life. She hosts and demonstrates for a Stamp Club once a month and she asked me if I wanted to take it over. She is exhausted and has been thinking about retiring her Stampin' Up! business. I am thrilled! I have had a few of my friends buy Stampin' Up! products from me. I also taught one woman and her daughter how to make a card a few months ago. I've also had a few orders from people of cards and crafts that I make. But, it has been a bit slow. So, taking over for my friend is just what I needed! My friend asked me to demonstrate for her last Stamp Club in about 3 weeks. I already have one project I will be doing and am going to be meeting with her to hammer out the details on a second one. The card above is the one I will be demonstrating at Stamp Club using Stampin' Up! products. I designed it myself. There are similarities to another Demonstrator's card but, there are enough of my own ideas to call it at least half my own.

Then today, I got another email from another friend asking me to do a demonstration for her, her daughter and 3 of her daughter's friends for her daughter's birthday. She's the same woman I mentioned above. I taught her how to make a card which she now makes several of to send to her Father-in-law to give as Thank You cards. It was so fun when she and I worked together on that project a few months ago. I find that I kind of like to teach people. Not that I would ever want to be a teacher. But, I do like to help people. And, with something I am so passionate about, I really do love it! I can't wait!

So...that is what I've got going on right now! Wish me luck!

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song [Official Video]

2011-05-16T15:21:00.001-04:00

It's been a little while...or a long one...since I posted anything fun so...without further ado, here is something so fun that I have watched it 3 times in the past hour or so! Seriously...this is my new favorite music video of all time! I love Bruno Mars! Love his music, his sort of outside of the box style and...because I happen to think that a good sense of humor is an outrageously sexy trait...I love his sexy!

Enjoy! I know I did, have and will!

If You Get Away With It...

2011-05-16T12:42:00.002-04:00

I don't know why the show Sister Wives bothers me so much. Well, I guess I do. But, the thing is, I do pride myself on being pretty open-minded. But, there are just some things that are so rooted in my knowledge of right from wrong and, I think that plural marriage is morally wrong...and illegal. So, when I watch that show and I see Kody Brown boo hooing and trying to garner sympathy from his viewers because he might go to jail for breaking the law, and his family might be separated, I can't feel sorry for him. Where does it stop? If you get away with breaking the law, shouldn't other people get away with it too? If someone kills someone else, they broke the law so, shouldn't they get away with it if you can get away with breaking marital laws? I know that is a pretty extreme comparison but, it is how I see it. So, let's go a little less extreme. Kody breaks marital laws, gets caught and gets away with it. I break into someone's house and get caught having broken the law of Breaking and Entering. It is just as much of a law as the one against plural marriage. But, if Kody can get away with breaking that law, why can't I get away with having broken into someone's house? We have laws for a reason. They protect the innocent. They maintain balance in society. By breaking the law of singular marriage, Kody has caused pain to his children...a.k.a. "The innocent". They are hurting and struggling with the fact that their father might go to jail and that they may be separated from the kids that they have grown up with as siblings. It's simple...don't break the law to satisfy your junk, have some 18 or whatever kids, brag about it on TV and just assume that you can get away with shitting all over the laws that are the foundation of this country, and you won't go to jail. And for God's sake...don't cry about the results of the bad, law breaking choices that you have made and look for me to feel sorry for you.

Yes...I know this is judgmental as Heck but, I obey the simple laws of this country so, I feel justified in passing judgment on this particular case.

Kody, either love the ONE you are with or dump them and start over.

Choking on Hypocrisy

2011-05-02T15:44:00.003-04:00

Ugh! Have you ever had a day where you are proud of something but others keep ruining it by their hypocrisy? So...I thought I was done with this subject, at least on here. But, I have so much to get off my chest. Again, I want to reiterate that I am so very truly deeply proud of the military. Fantastic, outstanding job on taking down Osama Bin Laden. There is no way for me to show my gratitude to its fullest extent other than to say 2 simple words...THANK YOU!

But, again I think that our President deserves some credit. However, instead of swallowing pride, Republicans are practically screaming at his supporters to give credit only to the military. I have repeatedly heard that Obama had nothing to do with it simply because he didn't shoot the gun that took Osama out. So...let's go with that train of thought since you seem to want to argue. If that is the way you feel than the military shouldn't get the credit for it, one man and one man only on this entire planet should get that credit because one man gave the kill shot. So, let's step away from that argument because, I don't believe that. I believe that it was a collective effort by our government and the entire military organization. So, let's go down another path of argument since, it doesn't end as far as the Republicans go. In one breath they say that Obama doesn't deserve ANY credit. In the next breath they say, "Thank you, former President Bush, for staying the course, getting this started, and following through with the promise to bring Osama down". So...am I to understand that you can't give any credit to our current President because all of the credit belongs to the military...however, Bush deserves some credit because he started the war? What the fuck? Here's another nugget I have heard for the past 3 years, since the day Obama took office..."get our troops back home". Obama has taken the blame for us being at war. Obama has taken the blame for everything that Bush started. Obama has been give shit for not getting our troops home yet. Fine. I want them home as bad as anyone else. But, really? Fucking really people? It was ok that they were at war when Bush was in office but, as soon as he was out, it wasn't ok anymore? So let's dissect this...they are still there for so many reasons. One reason was as part of an effort, because it is what Obama was trying to have happen, to take down Osama. So, if he had pulled our troops out, they wouldn't have been there to take down Osama. Let's go deeper. Now it is good that the troops were there BUT they weren't there because of Obama. They were there because of Bush. FUCK YOU ALL! What more does our CURRENT President have to do to make you happy? Let me tell you something, Bush started the war. He broke the economy. He jacked shit all up in all kinds of ways. He isn't in office anymore. He doesn't have any control over our military anymore. He doesn't get a say in a damn fucking thing as far as our government goes ANY FUCKING MORE! Obama did this. I will give credit where credit is due. Bush put things in motion. But, Obama OBAMA finished it! He gave the command to our military to take Osama Bin Laden out. That phone call...that correspondence...that command did not come from the lips of former President Bush. If you want to give credit to Bush, that is your right, but you really should give some damn respect to EVERYONE that was involved over the past 10 years in the efforts to bring down that mass murderer. Get over yourselves. It shouldn't matter that you wish that there was a Republican President in the Oval Office right now. All that matters is that our current President was instrumental in taking down Osama Bin Laden as he is the current Commander In Chief over our military. Stop hating. Open your hearts. Realize that what you are saying, how you are acting, is making you look ignorant and frankly, a lot less grateful than you are trying to come off.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND, OVER THE PAST NEARLY 10 YEARS, AND EVEN AS LONG AS 20 YEARS, IN RELIEVING THE WORLD OF THE DANGER IMPOSED BY OSAMA BIN LADEN. And, I do mean EVERYONE...regardless of what side of the political fence they sit on.

Osama Bin Gotten

2011-05-02T12:05:00.002-04:00

The first thing I want to say is THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! To our military for taking care of business and putting an end to the most horrible person to ever walk this Earth. As the men from one of my favorite shows "The Buried Life" said on their Facebook page last night "Osama Bin Gotten". To the men and women of our military, do your thang! You deserve a Klondike Bar, a drink, or even just a nice long nap. What I really want for you is to be able to come back to your own country but, there is still much work for you to do wherever you all are so, for now, I wish for you whatever comforts you want and can get wherever you are.

That being said, I want to also credit the man in charge of our military for his role in this American victory. Thank you to President Obama! I know that the fact that I think he deserves some credit is not popular with those on the other side of the political fence but, if they could set aside their hatred for him, which is based only on the fact that his political affiliation starts with a D rather than and R, they could probably see that he deserves a modicum of credit. No, he didn't pull the trigger and fire the bullet but, he gave the command. It was under his leadership that our military took care of that business. Believe me when I say that I am not only crediting our President. It was our military who sacrificed so much. It was their expertise, training and dedication that got the job done. But, President Obama had a hand in it as well. His dedication and expertise was necessary to help get it done as well.

So, all I ask...all I want...is for everyone involved in this victory for America, to get their due credit. Stop hating for no reason. Open your minds and your hearts. I can guarantee that if Bin Laden had been taken out under a Republican President's leadership, the Republicans would have been happy to give him or her some credit along with the troops.
And, I would have been happy to give a Republican President a pat on the back for a job well done. I could do that because I know that it takes a cohesive unit in any business to get a job done and to do it well. Guidance, many fields of expertise, hard work and dedication may start with one person but behind one person is the same kind of guidance, expertise, hard work and dedication of everyone around them that lends its supportive hand to ensure that the job is completed. I literally don't know a single business in the world that is made up of only one person. So, failures and achievements are shared by everyone in a business.

Ok...to avoid any other rambling, I'll simply say this...Thank you to our military, and our President for doing what was necessary to keep us safe and to end Osama Bin Laden. You are loved. You are brilliant. You are strong and courageous. You fill me with pride. God Bless you and congratulations on a job more than well done!

Note: I made a wordart file on my Mac to use as a picture for this post but, I haven't been able to attach it, no matter how hard I try for the past hour or so. So, just know that it was awesome and I would love to share it with you but, I can't...at least for now.

Crafting For 3 Days

2011-04-10T20:52:00.002-04:00

This took me 3 days to complete but, it was so well worth the time. While I don't know what I want to do with this just yet, I can use it to hold some of my handmade cards for future use. Or, I can put some photos in it and use it as a photo album. I could also use it as a recipe book if I wanted to but, I don't really think that I would want this near food where it could get messy. I will likely use it to store cards that I make until I send them out and then I'll just keep refilling it after each card I send out. I might make a different themed card for each tab. So, one tab will be for Birthday cards. One will be for Sympathy cards. Another for Thinking of You cards. Another for Get Well Soon cards. Maybe one pocket can be for stamps and labels. Seems I might have just worked out how I am going to use it! Thanks for letting me brainstorm.

Anyway, I found the video on how to make this on Youtube. One of my favorite fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators made one very similar to it. Here is the link to her video: http://www.youtube.com/user/dawn5377#p/u/0/xafbBQ3kdh4 I hope that works. I've had issues figuring out how to post links in the past but, fingers crossed that I got it right. If not, go to YouTube and type Dawn5377 into the YouTube search engine near the top of the screen and it will take you to her YouTube channel. She is really talented and I often look to her for inspiration.

I used several similar elements but, I also incorporated a lot of my own. Most of the items I used in mine are from Stampin' Up! Every stamp and ink pad I used was from Stampin' Up! But, I used a few punches, some paper, a few stickers, some beads and one other effect from my local craft stores.

I had a blast with this project and I think that I would like to make more in the future to give away. I actually think that they would be great to make as a way to package a pack of greeting cards for friends and family when they ask me to make cards for them to give to others.

It is intricate. There are a lot of details. But, for as intricate and detailed as it is, it is also really easy to make. I think what took me so much time to make it was that I was trying to decide what elements I wanted to incorporate. It took me some time to figure out how I wanted to decorate it. What stamp sets, embellishments, colors, stickers, paper and punches I wanted to use, took time to choose. It is all a part of the process. I often wonder if it would help me save some time if I worked out a little blueprint of my projects before I actually dive into making them. But, then again...that could take just as much time so, perhaps I will just continue to fly by the seat of my pants.

Anyway...I hope you all enjoy this. It is one of my favorite creations so far. I am super proud of it and don't mind bragging! I MADE THIS! :)

Thank You!

2011-04-10T14:24:00.002-04:00

I believe in making amends and giving thanks when it is due. So, I am sorry for being so vulgar and vicious in my previous post about my government. And, thank you for making things right, working things out and doing what was necessary to ensure pay for our military! I knew my faith in my government and my president wouldn't be failed. But, I had steam to let off and so I did. While I won't apologize for the fact that I let off that steam, as I feel it is my right, I will apologize for the words I chose to use in blowing off that steam. It was vulgar, immature and disgusting but, I let my temper get the better of me and for that, I am truly sorry. From the bottom of my heart, the tip of my longest toe and the top of my head, thank you so much for making sure that my friend gets the paycheck he deserves and he can take care of himself and his family this month. And thank you to my president, for showing me that I can count on you when the chips are down. Thank you for not failing me. I helped put you where you are today. It is nice to know that my trust is valued and warranted.

Shit! Why?

2011-04-09T00:45:00.002-04:00

I love my country and I love my President. I voted for him and was so joyful when he was elected. But shit! I have friends in the military and now they aren't going to be paid? Fuck! I want to continue to support my President. I genuinely think that he has made some improvements. The job market has improved bit by bit. The economy has gotten better. I have said before that he had a huge mess to clean up so, it is ridiculous for the naysayers to continue to expect him to have been the immediate solution and it really pisses me off when some insist on blaming him for it when he didn't start that fire and he is basically a dang one man fire department.

But this son-of-a-bitching shitty crap about the military not being paid because the government has to shut down because they mismanaged the budget? What the fuck people? How about you don't pay yourselves? Or...if you can't pay someone, then you bring them the fuck home from their deployments. I am not going to be another sheep following the herd about the 3 wars we are in now...or is it 4? Who can count anymore. Again, I say, he didn't start 2 or 3 of those fires but he is now in charge of putting them out so, try attacking him on the inability to end it and not rewriting our country's history and blaming him for starting the wars that dude man jackass started before him.

I AM FUCKING PISSED OFF right now. I just want things to be right. I know that life isn't fair but, people can make things acceptable and not paying people who have set aside their own comforts, time with their families, holidays, and sometimes their lives entirely to protect our freedoms is the worst slap anyone could ever give anyone else. Fucking cut your mismanaging paychecks. Sit in your comfy office, work your asses off, make things right and don't get paid for it for one month but pay our men and women who would lay down their lives to protect your stupid fucking irresponsible asses.

Again, I love my country and I really want to support my government. But they are breaking my heart for my friends in the military, and of course for those I don't know. And, with any broken heart comes anger. Raging, irrational, vulgar, cursing, spitting, fighting mad angry venom.

Please...PLEASE...make this right. Do the right damn thing and take a cut to your wallet, not to the wallet of those who serve us our freedom in our warm beds at night while they sleep behind a rock in the cold desert.

Please stop breaking my heart and my spirit. Please don't hurt my friend. Please give him his well-deserved paycheck so that he can take care of his family and himself.

PLEASE!!!!

Screw Yesterday!

2011-04-08T13:28:00.002-04:00

Yesterday sucked. My mom called me crying because her best friend's boyfriend died of a heart attack on the treadmill. He was 66 and in good shape and he just died. My mom and dad were really close to him as well. They were all about as thick as thieves so it was a day full of tears for both of them. They are older than both the man who had the heart attack and his girlfriend so, it was hard for them as it forced them both to look at their own mortality.

It is hard for me to handle my mom crying. There is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing my mom cry on the other end of the phone and being completely helpless as to how to cheer her up and comfort her. I've never been good at comforting others. As compassionate as I am, I never have the words to express my sincerest sympathies, nor do I have the words to help them feel better. I don't really think that there are words anyone could say to make a person feel better when they experience loss. I've experienced my fair share. When I was about 18, one of my friends died in a car accident. I was inconsolable. Just a little over 6 months ago, a friend of mine from college passed away suddenly. I don't know how he died and have not felt comfortable asking his widow, also a friend of mine from college, and there wasn't anything specific in the paper or online about how or why he died. So, of course there is speculation which only makes me feel worse about his death. I've lost all of my grandparents. And, like most people, I've lost pets. I know in light of human loss, some might think that something silly for me to mention but, I feel as strong of a bond to my pets as I do to any human, and sometimes and even stronger bond to my pets than some humans. So, for me it is as natural to count pets among my losses as it is to count relatives and friends. And, along with my parents' loss of their friend, one of my friends had to put her cat to sleep yesterday as well.

It wasn't just my mom and dad that felt the loss of their friend. My brother had grown close to him as well. They all hung out together at the marina where the couple and my parents all dock their boats and, that included my brother and his 3 year old daughter. So, while my parents were forced to face their own mortality, my brother was faced with something much more innocent and almost on the opposite side of the spectrum. He must now figure out how to explain death to his 3 year old as she often asked him when they could go play in their pool and hang out on their boat.

To put it as bluntly as I can...death sucks. Especially when it is senseless. How does a man who takes great care of himself just pass away while literally taking good care of himself? How does a guy who was maybe a year or so younger than me die? How does a teenager who has never even left the state in which he was born and hasn't even gotten to attend his prom, graduation or put his first step into college die driving from point A to point B? I'm pissed. I'm sad. And I want to understand the impossible to understand. But, for now, I guess I'll just have to settle for getting it off my shoulders.

A New Feature...

2011-03-15T00:09:00.000-04:00

In case you didn't notice, I added a new feature to my blog...right up there. As a way to incorporate one of my favorite things in life, Facebook and Twitter, I added my version of a Status Update titled "On my mind now...". So, now you can all get a feel for my mood every day...aren't you lucky? ;)

For those of you who are my friends on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you know that one day I may be having sort of a Bi-Polar Status Update kind of day. What I mean by that is, I may post a few different updates throughout the day because, apparently, I have a lot going on in my little noggin. Then, I may go a few days without changing it at all. Anyway, it may change a few times a day, or it may only change a few times a week. I guess you'll all just have to come back and see.

So, I hope you enjoy getting a better feel for who I am on a day to day basis!

I Am Disgusted...

2011-03-14T23:48:00.003-04:00

Ok...this pains me to mention because I pride myself on my ability to remain open-minded. I really try to look past what is on the surface and find the shine in everyone and everything below. But, I can not accept or tolerate Polygamy. I watched the first season of the show "Sister Wives" on TLC and am watching the new season now, and I constantly find myself shaking my head in disapproval. I know that I am being judgmental about something that I don't really understand and can't relate to so, I should probably just shut up and view it for the pure purposes of education. But, I feel that I have every right to voice my opinion about this topic. If the Brown family feels comfortable with putting their lives out on TV for public ridicule or acceptance, than I feel that I am entitled to express my view as I see it.

For anyone unfamiliar with this show, it is about a family of Polygamists. One man legally married one woman and then had ceremonies to marry 3 more women. They have many children whom he has fathered with 3 of the 4 women as he only just married the 4th last season and, while they are corrupt in what they see marriage to be...and yes...I do believe their idea of marriage is corrupt...they do hold old traditions as important, such as no premarital sex. Anyway, the show follows them in their day to day lives. And, it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

The worst of it all comes right in the beginning montage. The husband, Cody, says "Love should be multiplied, not divided". That statement is wrong in two ways that I can think of. One is the fact that he believes that because it serves his purposes. Of course he thinks love should be multiplied...because he's letting his freak flag fly with 4 different women. He is multiplying the crap out of his sexual urges. The second reason it is wrong is because, whether he gets it or not, love is being "divided". The women are dividing his love up amongst themselves. They aren't dividing themselves amongst one another or even other men. They are giving themselves to him entirely while he is spreading himself around like horse shit...errr, I mean...fertilizer. And so, that begs the question I had last season that Cody answered in one episode. One of the wives asked him how he would feel if she were giving her attention to another man. He told her, in total honesty, that he wouldn't like it. Well then...I guess that says it all. He wants his cake and to eat it too and that makes me sick.

I have so many more thoughts about this show and their lifestyle but, this is all I care to say about it...at least for now.

Testing...Testing

2011-02-06T16:04:00.001-05:00

This is a test. I found a Blog App on my phone the other day and I am curious to see how well this works...of at all. It would be kind of cool to be able to blog on the fly. Especially if I have and idea while I am far away from my laptop. So...here goes!

This has been a test of the blogcast system.

Mystery Unsolved

2011-01-31T12:56:00.003-05:00

I know this is random but, it has me flummoxed so, I am going to mention it. My hubby and I went out to lunch yesterday. We were gone for maybe a bit over an hour. When we got back home, we walked in to see one of our oven mitts on the kitchen floor, in front of the sink. When I picked it up, it was more than damp but less than soaked. I felt the throw rug it was on and that was dry as a bone. There wasn't any water in the kitchen sink, and no water, or anything spilled, anywhere else. There wasn't any odor on the oven mitt. We don't even really know how it got on the floor. It hangs on the knob of one of my cupboards. One of my cats could have pulled it off of the knob but, it is on there pretty secure. But, let's say that one of them did pull it off, I don't know why they ever would have as they never have in the past. And, even if they did...which I really believe they did, it still doesn't explain why it was wet. Needless to say, given that I use it to move hot food about, it was tossed because, I don't know what was on it and, even if I washed it, I would always worry about what was on it and if any of that was still on it.

So, the mystery still stands. Scooby-Doo, where are you?

Feeling A Little Good

2011-01-24T01:10:00.004-05:00

I just realized tonight that I have 3 paid projects in the works. I make greeting cards, gift boxes and other fabulous crafts and, I have 3 projects in the works as of today. I am thrilled. I have struggled for a long time to find my niche in life. I love a lot of things in life. I love fashion. I have been told I have great decorative sense. I like photography. And, obviously, I like to write. But, I have really had a hard time figuring out where my lot in life is. And, I still may not have found it but, at least for right now, I feel a sense of purpose and, it is with something that I have fun doing and that gives me a great sense of pride.

The first project is for Birth Announcements for a friend. I still need to finalize some things with her but, it seems to be a forgone conclusion that I will be making her Birth Announcements once her baby boy is born.

The next two projects are for one friend. She wants me to host a crafting party for some of her daughter's friends. I'll teach them how to make a little purse box that I made recently. She came over today so that I could teach her how to make a duplicate of another person's handmade card. We had a blast and her card came out so beautiful! She brought her daughter and I helped her make some invitations for a Valentine's Day card making party she will be throwing in a few weeks. And, while they were here, I showed them a few other things that I have made and that is when she asked me to host and demonstrate at a party for her daughter's friends. And, she also asked me to make one of my Cupcake Gift Card holders for one of her daughter's friends for her birthday. I am so thrilled! I may actually be on the brink of my own business here. I also have some ideas about local businesses that may help me sell my crafts.

Admittedly, the very thought of my own business scares the daylights out of me. But, it also thrills me. I don't have a mind for business so, I don't know how far this will go. But, I do feel pretty great about my clout as a crafter today!

Please and Thank You

2011-01-21T13:35:00.002-05:00

I hate how people talk to each other these days. I grew up on Please and Thank you, would you mind, could you please... But, these days people tell other people what they "need to" do. It bugs the snot out of me. I have been guilty of it in the past. Everyone is subject to pick up bad habits from other people if they are exposed to it for too long. So, I make a conscious effort to ask rather than tell people what to do. If I would like a favor from someone I ask them if they will do me a favor. "Can you please pick up some onions for dinner tomorrow" rather than, "You need to pick up some onions for dinner tomorrow". No one wants to be told what to do unless they are getting paid to do it. Furthermore, not even your boss should tell you what "you need to" do. I was taught that you catch more bees with honey. When I am told what I "need to" do, I feel resentful while doing whatever favor I am doing. If I am asked politely, I happily perform the task and feel truly appreciated for having been helpful because I was properly asked.

Since when did "you need to" become the standard for asking for help? You know who says "you need to"? Someone who is robbing you at gunpoint. You know who asks you to "please get me a soda?" People who love you, respect you, and truly appreciate the time you took to help them out.

Say please and thank you and you will have more favors done for you in response.

Weird Instincts

2011-01-08T14:22:00.002-05:00

Call me crazy...that's OK! I am fine with that. But, I have a crazy sense of instinct. I always get a little tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach when something good or bad is about to happen. I don't always follow the path my instincts are screaming at me. And, I often find myself figuratively kicking myself in my own butt afterward.

One such instance where my instincts were screaming at me was back in 1992 when a guy I was interested in was killed in a car accident. I was working at McDonald's. It was how we met because he was working at the DIY (a Do It Yourself home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes) across the parking lot from me. He would come in for his lunch break and, no matter how crowded my line was, he would jump into the end of my line and wait for me to help him. I was seeing someone else when we first met one another but, that relationship was at the end of its rope. In fact, it took me a while before I realized that the guy liked me. Either he wasn't very obvious or I was kind of oblivious. I ended things with my then boyfriend and one of my co-workers came clean with how the guy felt about me. Of course I always noticed him a little. He was sweet and adorable and he always made me laugh when he would come in. We exchanged phone numbers and were really only starting to get to know one another. We never went out and he was gearing up to ask me to his school's formal dance. He was a senior in high school and I was a freshmen in college.

So, I was working when I could have sworn that he came in the door. I felt it. I can't really explain it other than to say that my entire body tingled a little and, I remember looking toward the door expecting him to come walking toward my line. But, he wasn't there. While I don't remember the time of day this happened now, I did notice the time back then because it would have been getting close to his lunch break. So, I still sort of waited throughout the rest of the day, hoping to see him. But, he never showed. It was towards the end of my shift and I was working in the drive-thru when a couple of our mutual friends came to my window. They asked me if I had heard about what happened to him. They told me that he was in an accident and, they weren't sure how he was. They only knew that he was in an accident. So, a few minutes later, I got off my shift and headed home. I went to the phone and dialed his number. His Dad answered and when I asked for him, his Dad asked me who was calling. After I told him who I was, he apologized to me and told me that he was no longer with us. I broke down. My family did all they could to comfort me. And, when his obituary and the story of his accident made it into the paper, I saw the time the accident had happened and it was the same time that I had the tingly feeling throughout my body and had expected him to walk through the door.

To this day, I don't know if it was his spirit touching me and saying good-bye or if it was just my own connection to him that gave me that feeling. All I know is that I definitely felt something and, that was not the first, nor the last time, that my "Spidey Senses" have given me a little kick when I should know something. And, my "Spidey Sense" is never wrong. There are times when I know exactly what I am tingling about. Other times, it is just a tingle for an event to be seen. A lot of times, it is for something good that is going to happen. Sometimes it will be attached to a person that I think about and then I hear from them either that day or a few days later. I frequently have it happen for something that I am about to do wrong. I've felt it days, or even minutes before I get busted for speeding down the highway. I've felt it when a family member gets injured. I've even felt it when my hubby is mad at me for some reason yet to be discovered.

So, call it "Women's Intuition". Call me a psychic. Call me crazy. I only know that I often know things that I have yet to figure out I know. And my instincts never fail me. I just need to stop failing them.

Update: From Zero To 3

2011-01-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

I just found out that my friend, who was injured in Afghanistan, was actually hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). He and his men were hit and, I still don't know all of the specifics but, he fractured a bone in his spine but, he will heal and be fine. I have a hard time calling him lucky. Yes, he got out of the situation with his life and, he gets to come home to the states and retire from the military. But, how close was he to being one of the unlucky? I think that I don't even want to know because I swear that I can feel my heart break a little if I dare to think about it too hard. Maybe it is selfish to try to just remove myself from too much thought about it. But, I can actually feel my heart skip a beat, which I can only equate to it breaking, when I let my mind comprehend the very danger of it. And, I still know two other men in Afghanistan whose lives I worry about.

I heard from one of them the other day. He's doing well...as well as he can given where in this world he is right now. And, I was so thrilled to hear from him. It meant so much to me because I've been so worried about him. I only hope that I conveyed how thrilled I was to hear from him and that he knows how much it meant to me. And, I hope to continue to hear from him on a fairly regular basis because, worried doesn't even begin to describe it.

So, I just wanted to reach out and remind everyone to keep those in service in your thoughts. Whether you know someone who is deployed in a danger zone or not, they could still use all the positivity you can send their way.

Modern Technology Can Be Hurtful

2011-01-03T11:56:00.002-05:00

I have said that I am a huge fan of modern technology. I love the way that it makes our lives easier. From less painful mammography machines, to ways that make an eye exam less impactful on the rest of your day. One of my favorite rewards of modern technology is the ability to stay in touch with everyone. I've blogged about it before. But, with the ability to stay in touch with people comes the ability to rid yourself of those whom you have decided you don't want to be in touch with anymore as well. Modern Technology has also given us the DELETE button. It is great for getting rid of mistakes you make when typing something. But, it has also been incorporated into the world of social networking sites and it is really hurtful. I have been deleted a few times. Most recently, by a family member who completely misunderstood one of my status updates in Facebook. I saw a t-shirt on a teenager that cracked me up. The t-shirt read, "I am a Waffle House Kid". For those who aren't familiar, Waffle House is a 24 hour restaurant franchise most often found in the Southern states of the U.S. The food is greasy and completely unhealthy. And, because the restaurant is open 24 hours a day, it is often frequented by people who are just leaving the bar in the middle of the night after having had a lot of adult beverages. People often go there to get to know the man or woman they just met on the dance floor. It is often the stop they make before or after hooking up with their new companion. And, when you see someone leaving Waffle House in the early morning hours, they are probably wearing what they wore the night before to the bar. For that reason it is also referred to as "The Walk of Shame". So, upon seeing the t-shirt, I laughed myself to tears and promptly went home and posted the following status update on my Facebook profile: "saw a hilarious t-shirt on a teenager today. "I'm a Waffle House Kid". LMFAO! He might as well have had a t-shirt that said "I'm a Walk of Shame Kid". LOL!" My friends got a kick out of it and we all joked around in the resulting thread. That was until my niece-in-law took offense to it and told me I was being judgmental and that she was disappointed in me. I repeatedly told her that I was just joking about the shirt. I told her that I didn't have anything against the kid in the shirt. It wasn't about him. I saw the humor in the shirt and that was what my status was about. But, she refused to see that I was only clowning around about the t-shirt and insisted on believing that I was judging the kid in the shirt. I, in fact, said absolutely nothing about the kid in the shirt. Upon being pushed to say something about him, I told her what I really thought about the teenager. My impression of him was that he was a cutie. He seemed clean cut and well taken care of. He seemed happy and kind of like "every kid U.S.A." But, I truly gave no more thought about him. My laughter was about his t-shirt. So, after a few more pissed off comments from her and more apologetic comments from me trying desperately to smooth things over with her, she deleted me. That hurt. If I had done something deserving of being deleted, it still would have hurt but, I could and would have done my best to be understanding. Being deleted sucks! I have only ever deleted a few teenagers (perfect strangers) from my Myspace page because I would just prefer not to temp problems in the future with parents wondering why a 37 year old woman would be friends with their teenage son or daughter on Myspace. I am forever mindful of what I do and say online because I really don't want to get myself into trouble. But, you never know when someone will take something the wrong way and when trouble will thrust itself upon you.

So, modern technology is like a double edged sword. So fantastic in the way that it makes our lives easier. So potentially hurtful by re purposing the careless act of the "delete" button into a way to makes us something similar to a typo in someone else's life. And, that is how it has always made me feel. I am nothing more than a typo.

More Than Just For Cleaning Dirt

2010-12-29T01:36:00.002-05:00

I love the Swiffer line of products. They make my life easier. I use the little 360 Dusters, the Wet Jet and the Sweeper Vac. They all cut down on the time it takes me to clean my house. They make it smell fantastic while I am cleaning. And now, my Sweeper Vac saves me the trouble of getting too close for comfort to any of the dinosaur sized spiders that make their way into my house late summer and throughout the fall. I am an arachnophobe. I hate those hairy freaks. Who needs that many dang legs? And, why do they think they should live in my house? Because I have such a fear of them, if I have to take care of one that gets into my house because no one else is around to handle it for me, I usually panic and miss hitting it with a shoe or stepping on it. I don't know how it works. I just know that my panic gives me horrendous aim. It can take multiple attempts before I succeed at my little mini-murder. And, as a result, the freaky little too-many legged hairy offender gets warning that I am after him and, about 7 out of 10 times, it gets away and I spend the next several hours freaking out until it emerges again and I get another chance to scare it away, and make a fool out of myself.

But, a few months ago I had a "Light bulb Moment" while standing frozen in place, in my kitchen, as one of those hairy little intruders stared me down. My Swiffer Sweeper Vac would suck that jerk up and keep him in its container until it starved to death. I know...that is severely inhumane and I should be ashamed of myself. But, guess what...it is my house, it is my paralyzing fear, and I will deal with it how I want to. If I am going to be punished in the future for torturing one of His creatures, I will stand in judgment and fess up and hopefully I will be forgiven. But, until that day...let this be a warning to those freaky, hairy, eight legged abominations. You are not welcome in my abode and I will rid you of my home the best way I know how.

Swiffer Sweeper Vac is like my own little Roach Hotel for spiders...Spiders go in but they don't come out!

Millionaire MissMatchmaker

2010-12-28T22:09:00.002-05:00

Forgive me if I have posted about this before and, if I weren't so darn lazy, maybe I would comb through all of my old posts to see if I have or not. But, if I have...too bad. It's my blog and I'll repeat myself if I want to. So, :P

Anyway...I have a newly renewed old-fashioned disgust for Patti Stanger of The Millionaire Matchmaker. She is every kind of wrong in my book. She obviously thinks she is stunning and someone with whom other women should model themselves after as she constantly councils the women that she interviews for her millionaires, to straighten their curly hair and color their red hair any shade but red. And, it isn't just the women whose red hair she has such an aversion to. In this evening's episode, she asked a man if he would color his red hair another color and when he refused, she dismissed him. I have seen her call another woman ugly, to her face. The woman she called ugly was infinitely more stunning, gorgeous and beautiful than Patti. Maybe I am biased. I don't see an inch of beauty in Patti. She obviously had her lips blown up and they look awful. If I had to pay her a compliment, it would be that her hair shines like silk. But, it is a horrible style. Her voice is grating. I won't resort to being further insulting to her but, she really aught to take a look in the mirror before she calls the kind of woman who would make Angelina Jolie jealous, ugly.

And, she toots her horn as having "an extremely high success rate" in her matchmaking business. Yet, in probably 99% of the episodes, she has failed miserably at making a match. So, I would like to see where she is pulling her success rate from. Furthermore, she is 49 years old and, recently split from her fiancee. Of course, she blames him, after being together for 6 years, because he didn't want kids. I don't see her as being the nurturing type so, I fear for any children she might have. Anyway, my point is, if she still hasn't made a match for herself, one year from the big 50, how exactly does anyone have faith that she can find their match for them?

I really have a hard time digesting most of what she says. Now and then, she will give good wardrobe advice to some of the women who walk into the interview wearing tops that look like they belong on a girl 3 times younger and 6 times smaller than them. On occasions she will dole out good wardrobe advice to men who look like they came in from climbing a mountain. No one wants to date a shlub and, I agree that too much skin gives the wrong impression of a woman...and I am not a prude. I just think a little bit of cleavage goes a long way.

But, as for her advice that everyone needs to flat iron the crap out of their hair and that red isn't as beautiful as blond, brown or black...I call B.S. What is beautiful to one person is ugly to another, so...who is she to think she has the final say on beauty?

From Zero to 3

2010-12-24T00:11:00.003-05:00

Up until this year, I haven't known anyone who was deployed to Afghanistan. And, now I know 3 men. One of them is a High School friend, I worked a summer job with one of them many years ago, and the last one is an acquaintance through a family member. My friend from High School was recently injured so, he is actually on his way back here to the states. And, he is able to retire now so, he will not be going back. Even though he suffered an injury, I'm thrilled for him and his family! But, since he was injured, it seems to have made it even more real for me, that I still know 2 other men in Afghanistan. I don't hear from the guy I worked with back in the day and I worry for him all the time. I don't really know if he is ok. I don't know how things are for him in Afghanistan and I just keep him, and his safety, on my mind and hope that he is doing well. The friend of my family member was deployed in June so, he is halfway through with his deployment. One of his friends posts a lot of pictures of him and his unit on Facebook and always tags him in them. Seeing those pictures is surreal for me. There is a lot of sitting around behind big rocks while holding huge big boy guns, smoking cigarettes and probably just chatting away their hours. To be honest, the first set of pictures he and his friend posted back in June, brought me to tears. Even though they were all posing and goofing off, I couldn't help but be taken by the sheer danger of it. There is never a time, when they are outside of their rooms, that they aren't holding their guns. Someone is always looking out in the background so that, even when they are trying to pass the time and feel a little normal by goofing off a little, someone is always looking out for their well-being. It is poetically disturbing. So, I worry for the 2 men that I know in Afghanistan. I hope for the quick recovery of my friend who is on his way back to the states. I wish I could keep in constant contact with my ex-coworker, or at least hear from him once in a very short while, so that I can know that he is safe. And, I keep an eye on the pictures of my family member's friend on Facebook, and his few Status Updates, and that helps me to know that he is doing ok. But, for now, I wish them all a safe deployment to Afghanistan, and a safe and healthy return to the states.

What Do You Think...Please Leave a Comment!

2010-12-19T02:58:00.004-05:00

As you can see, I've changed my template and, I am trying to decide if it makes my posts a bit hard to read. I do feel that the color of the text makes a difference. Red text, like in "Some Stuff" is hard to read so, if I keep this template, I'll probably refrain from using red text. Anyway, please let me know what you think. If you have any suggestions, I'll be very happy to give it a shot and see how it works out in a future post. Thank you, in advance, for any suggestions or comments!

I Want To Scream It...Stop Rewriting History...

2010-12-17T11:48:00.003-05:00

I dislike politics. Worse yet, I dislike talking politics...especially with people who are on the opposite side of the fence because, while I can hold a rational and calm conversation, a screaming match will ensue and I will inevitably back down because I refuse to be screamed at in an effort to change my mind when all I want is to have an adult disagreement. I am not wrong and neither are you where opinion is concerned.

That being said, I really dislike it when people try to rewrite history. So, here is my soap box. I was at my nail salon a week ago and President Obama was on their TV. One of the salon employees changed the channel and my manicurist told me that it was because they have literally had complaints from other salon patrons when Obama has been on the TV before. So, in an effort to make everyone "comfortable", as soon as they notice Obama on their TV, they change the channel. Seriously? I find that childish. I feel that, if you don't want to see something, simply don't look at it. If you don't want to hear something, simply don't listen to it.

I have listened to people lambaste President Obama for the economy. This is what I mean by rewriting history. Let's get this straight right now. I really want to scream this point but, I hold back because I will not play the middle woman between crazy and crazier. The economy was broken for 8 years before President Obama ever got into the Oval Office. President Bush had 8 years to break America's economy. How does one forget that? How is it possible that people think that the economy only broke starting 2 years ago? Furthermore, how do people think that President Obama can just snap his fingers and fix, in 2 years, what Bush spent 8 years breaking? President Obama is highly intelligent but, he isn't a magician. It is going to take time to repair 8 years of damage. I will never understand how something can be broken but acceptable until another person is in charge of it simply because the person who broke it was of political agreement and the new person in charge of it is in political disagreement. In other words, you lost your job when President Bush was in office and that was ok but, now since President Obama is in office and you are having a hard time finding a job, it is his fault. Right...that makes sense.

As I chatted with my manicurist, her original thought was that it was President Obama's fault. Then all I had to do was calmly remind her that things were broken while President Bush was in office, before President Obama took over. All I had to do was have her think back to nearly 3 years ago and it was amazing the change in tone that she had.

Open your eyes! Take a trip back down memory lane to when you started to struggle financially. I bet you will see it started before 2008. So, how about we try to hold all parties accountable to your struggles, as far as the government is concerned, and stop blaming the new guy just because he is a Democrat and you are a Republican. There is no such thing as rewriting history because it is literally impossible. You can not, no matter how bad you want to, go back in time and change what has already happened. Good luck trying. You'll just come across as an idiot to people who have a strong grasp on the reality of history.

To Shred, Or Not To Shred...

2010-12-14T16:16:00.002-05:00

...that is the question.

I am almost and OCD shredder. I shred anything and everything with my name and address on it. If it isn't staying in my house, it goes through my shredder. And, what got me thinking about that topic was when I shredded the envelopes from last years Christmas cards sent to me from friends and family (I save them so I can use them as a reference for the following year, should I forget anyone on my card list). So, not only did I protect my identity, but I protected my friends' and family's' identities by shredding their addresses as well. Now, the question is...are my friends and family as courteous of my identity? Or, do they simply throw the envelopes with my address on it away? Perhaps I am a bit over-protective. It's not like someone stealing the envelope from the garbage would have my SSN or even my birthday. But, if they have my name and address, it is my opinion that they have enough information about me to make my life Heck. So, in an effort to protect myself, I don't take any chances and into the shredder that info goes.

What do you think? Am I too protective? Do you shred everything with your name and address? Or, do you do what I worry that others do and just toss the envelope with your info, and mine, right there in the garbage for anyone with bad intentions to steal?

Socially Networked

2010-12-14T00:19:00.003-05:00

I truly am Socially Networked. I don't know how I ever survived without social networks like Facebook and Myspace. Nor do I know how I will survive if they ever cease to exist. I am also on Twitter but, I haven't entirely figured that one out yet. I feel like there is a key component I am missing to it. I will post an update now and then but, I guess I really just need to sit down and navigate around it more than I have.

Anyway, I became Socially Networked in June of 2008 when I used Myspace to find a friend with whom I'd lost touch with 11 years earlier. I have been hooked on the social networking sites since then. And, since then, I have reconnected with some of my besties from high school, a few of my college friends, ex-coworkers, family I don't get to see very often, family friends from my younger years and, I've even made a few new acquaintances.

I know very few people whom disagree with the social network sites. And to them I say, you don't know what you are missing. I understand that some people think these sites are dangerous. And, they can be. There are some sick people in the world. Couple that with hackers and it can be a dangerous world. But, if you are careful and mindful of what you are doing, you won't have anything to worry about.

I do wonder if the teens and 20-somethings that are Socially Networked, can truly appreciate what they have at their fingertips and, have had for a major portion of their lives. If you've never lost touch with people who played a big part of your lives in your formative years, can you really appreciate a site like Facebook and all the reminiscent reconnection it has to offer those of us who went more than a decade before getting back in touch with people we swore never to lose touch with in the first place?

So, I am endlessly grateful to my social networking sites of choice. I'm grateful that I have been reconnected with people whom I have truly missed and thought about a lot throughout the years. That being said, I miss those whom I still can't keep in touch with on a regular basis.

What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

2010-11-30T12:00:00.002-05:00

That is the question that the guys of The Buried Life on MTV asks every week. The Buried Life is about 4 guys who were sick of just going about their daily grind aimlessly so they decided to get together with a list of things they want to do before they die. This week was their season finale and it was fantastic! What they try to do is cross off one list item each episode. And, for every item they cross off of their list, they help someone else cross something off of their own list. Whether they succeed or not, each episode brings me to tears. They are fearless and kind hearted. They're hilarious and generous.

So, at the end of each episode, they ask "What do you want to do before you die?" And, at the end of each episode, I ponder that question for a few minutes before giving up as I usually can't think of anything. Until last night when I decided to blog about it. Once I really took more time to think that question through, my mental list came out pretty huge. So, here are the items I can remember.

Before I die, I would like to see everyone I love and care about happy. I want my brother to stop struggling financially. I want to see him with a good job, with his bills paid, his home out of foreclosure, and money in his pocket. I would love to see him stop smoking. I want to see him secure with a good woman in his life for him and his daughter.

I want to see my sister's business more successful than it is now. I want to see her happy and secure with no more financial struggles.

I want to see my Mom happy and healthy which means that, if it has to be with my Father, I'd like to see him in recovery from his alcoholism.

I want to make all my husband's dreams come true.

I want to find my own success...whatever that may be.

I want to keep in better touch with those whom I rarely hear from.

I want to visit all the lands that my ancestors came from.

I want to finally maintain a permanent exercise routine.

I want to right any wrongs I've done.

I want to patent something.

I want to help just one person by telling the story of my heart condition.

I want to save a life.

I want to make one person smile every day.

I want to have more courage.

I would like to skydive but fear it will literally cause me to have a heart attack.

I want to rescue animals.

I want to be on TV.

I want to have something published somewhere. I want to be brave enough to write the story that is in my head and, even if it isn't a bestseller, finally get it out of my head and between book covers.

I want to put my creativity to a more professional use.

I know there must be so many more things that I want to do before I die but, I am at a standstill as far as ideas right now. Whether I end up fulfilling any of these items or not, only the future will tell. But, it felt a little inspirational committing it to "paper" so to speak.

So, in the great words of Ben, Jonnie, Duncan and Dave of The Buried Life...what do you want to do before you die?

Some Stuff...

2010-11-28T17:04:00.002-05:00

I have a few things on my mind. So, I guess I'm just going to use this post to get it off my mind.

First and foremost is my gratitude to members of the military. I don't really have the words to show my appreciation. I can only say that I think of all of you as the most selfless people anywhere. You sacrifice everything to protect our freedom and try to help make the world a better, more peaceful place. While we civilians tend to do everything we can to show you our appreciation, I know that the Government could show you their appreciation in bigger, better ways. I think that they could spare no expense to get you to where you are going. You should be paid insane amounts of money for what you do and the great personal risks you put yourselves in. Perhaps this is all just the imaginings of a spoiled, pampered civilian. I just feel like those who serve should be treated like royalty given all that they are willing to sacrifice so that we may say what we want, think what we think, and live how we live.

Anything else that is on my mind seems air headed and bitter in comparison to what I just got done talking about so, I think I'll just save the rest for later.

Gotta Love Modern Technology

2010-11-15T13:34:00.002-05:00

Today was far better than I thought it would be...because of modern technology. I was all prepared to be down for the count for most of the day because I had an eye doctor's appointment and I was anticipating the requisite dilation of my pupils. I have green eyes which means that my eyes are more sensitive to the dilation drops. Some doctors know that it takes less drops to dilate light eyes but, I don't think my doctor knows that and, I like him so, I won't tell him how to do his job. So, I just usually put up with it and spend the majority of my day after dilation hiding from light behind closed eyelids. But, not today! Today I got to use some modern technology. It is Retinal Photography. They take a picture of your eye and it shows them everything they need to know about your eye health. Now, if I had any problems that he would like to take a closer look at, he would have had to dilate my eyes. And, he will likely dilate them next year but, because my eyes are healthy and he didn't see anything alarming, I left his office, for the first time, without squinting in total discomfort! Yay! And, I have stuff to do today. I have a Birthday card and one Thank You card, as-well-as some Christmas cards that I want to make today. I was able to run to the store after my appointment so, I got that errand done. And, I'll be able to make dinner tonight with no discomfort. Gotta love modern technology! Now...if only Dentistry would catch up and make fillings and root canals, as-well-as those gagging x-rays, painless.

Some New Feelings, and Some Old Feelings...

2010-10-06T00:28:00.003-04:00

I have talked about this show before in a past post. I still love the show Teen Mom on MTV. But, I have some new opinions on it now. I despise Amber. She is horrible and, I truly think she needs anger management classes...or something. She is horrific to Gary...her ex-boyfriend and the father of their daughter Leah. And, I feel like it is only a matter of time before she is abusive to Leah. She is also a little lazy with her parenting skills. I don't have kids but, I have watched her armchair parent Leah. She will scream at Leah from across the room, either while in bed or on the couch, and keep screaming until she relents that Leah isn't going to listen to her. Then she gets up and corrects the issue. I understand that we never see the entire picture because editing can only show us so much but, if there wasn't that much of that behavior to chose from than editing wouldn't show that much so, I can't really tolerate that as an excuse. On one episode, Gary had just walked through the door and Amber was lounging in bed...which seems to be her favorite place to parent from...and she seemingly immediately started yelling at Gary. Asking him why Leah was crying and when he was going to put her to bed.

Then, there were the times when she would get physical with Gary, and even going as far as to punch him on camera, in the face which resulted in him slamming the other side of his face into a wall. Gary always walks off and avoids the confrontations as much as possible. The poor man can't do anything right. I realize he isn't perfect but, when you can't catch a break, sometimes another person's expectations are just too hard to ever live up to. He bought her flowers in tonight's episode. It was a peace offering. A way to make amends and apologize for all the wrongs that she has perceived him as doing to her. While he was at the flower shop, Amber called him and started yelling at him...as usual. He was beaten down after making such a sweet gesture and broke down in his car. It broke my heart to watch him and, I can only hope that it broke her heart when she watched the episode. She received the flowers the next day and, after such a sweet note and a beautiful bouquet, her comment was that she was glad he didn't try to ask her back in the note. Wow! I was floored. But, I guess I should have seen that coming. She can't see past the nose on her face. Her daughter has her father. There are a lot of teen moms, and many older mothers, that can't say the same thing. Gary has tried to make it work with Amber. He tries to be a good father to Leah. My wish is that, should they ever go into a custody battle, that he gets full, or at least majority custody of Leah.

So, now that I wrote a novel about Amber and Gary, on to my favorite couple...Tyler and Catelynn. Oh how I love these two. They made the tough decision to give their daughter up for open adoption in which they have limited contact with Carly throughout the year. At the beginning of this season it looked like Tyler and Catelynn might break up because of a past transgression that Catelynn had with an old fling. It wasn't a very recent event but, she wasn't truthful with Tyler about it back then and it broke his heart. Eventually they worked it out but, they also had a stressful time when Tyler's grief over giving up their daughter finally hit him and he didn't know how to deal with it. Catelynn had gone to a retreat last year, with other young mothers whom had given up their children for adoption so, she had found an outlet in which to deal with her grief but, Tyler hadn't found anything like that and had pushed it down until it boiled over. He pushed Catelynn away for a little while and, again...it seemed like they were coming to an end. Fortunately, they seem to have worked it all out and are stronger than ever. Catelynn has her mother to deal with on a fairly constant basis. I really want to throttle the woman myself. She's so horrible to Catelynn. She wasn't supportive of their decision to adopt Carly out. And, she has been nothing but vocal about it ever since. She takes every opportunity to bite Catelynn's head off. But, I remain steadfastly impressed by Catelynn's maturity. She far out classes her mother as far as maturity goes and I can't help but feel proud of her for the way that she deals with her mother. I have seen so many teenagers be insolent and even downright disrespectful to their parents but, I never see Catelynn do anything but try to show her mother the respect an adult deserves from a teenager. She is constantly trying to make amends with her mother and to talk things out in a mature and rational manner. And, she always goes above and beyond to make her mother happy. What I would like to see is her mother takes steps towards respecting Catelynn and perhaps apologizing to her for being unfairly hard on her. She's a good kid and a good daughter under some of the worst circumstances.

As for Tyler, his father and Catelynn's mother are married. But, his father is in jail which is an entirely other story. But, Tyler seems to have taken to heart what he has learned from his father and he really has tried to be a great guy to Catelynn. His father is both loved and a little hard to love by both Catelynn and Tyler. These kids have had some of the worst role models and are trying to come out of it better people and, in my opinion, I really think they are succeeding. There are bumps in the road for both of them, both past and present. But, I still hold onto the hope that they will see it through and grow to be that old happy couple that shares their stories with their grandchildren one day.

And now, Farrah and her daughter Sophia...we have gotten to know a little bit of the background story of Sophia's daddy this season. He died in a car accident, I believe before Sophia was ever born. And, if I remember correctly, he and Farrah had an issue in the first season and she cut ties with him. But, she really loved him and she has been struggling with her emotions over losing him and raising their daughter alone.

Farrah's mother...whew! To be fair, Farrah can be difficult herself. Both of them need a serious attitude adjustment. Her mother tries to be sickeningly sweet to Sophia while pushing Farrah's buttons. But, there are times when she isn't even trying to push Farrah's buttons and Farrah will just continue to be a snarly, spoiled brat. I supposed some of that is to be expected. These are teenagers after all. I remember what I was like as a teenager and, I remember the inclination to put such an attitude out there.

So, I have seen that natural mother in Farrah come out this season. She struggled a little in the first season but, she seems to have settled into the role this season and, I'm kind of proud of her. I still think she has a ton of growing up to do but, she has come a long way.

Last but not least, Maci and her son Bentley. She and Bentley's dad, Ryan, are still working on their co-parenting roles but, they broke up and haven't really looked back. Ryan has been seeing a new girl and, up until tonight, Maci had a boyfriend whom she moved an hour away to be closer to. But, because they had only been together for a short period of time, it wasn't long before they realized their mistake and they ended their relationship in tonight's episode.

Ryan wasn't really a father to Bentley until after he and Maci split. I guess it is true that you never know what you had until you've lost it because now he is fighting to stay a part of Bentley's life. They worked out a shared custody between the two of them but, in the previews for next week's season finale, it seems that there may be issues with it on Ryan's part.

Maci is a good mom. She has devoted her entire heart to Bentley. I am sad for her that her new relationship didn't work out but, it was a little to be expected when they moved too fast and it became overwhelming to him.

I still don't like Ryan. It is nice to see that he has stepped up to the plate but, he also seems to constantly want to be a thorn in Maci's side. However, they need to work it out in the way that is best for Bentley and refrain from holding grudges with one another.

So, those are my somewhat new, and mostly old, opinions on this season of Teen Mom.

The Antithesis of The Song

2010-09-23T16:34:00.002-04:00

Maroon 5 is one of my favorite bands and my hubby surprised me with tickets to their concert a month ago. It was fantastic! Even the opening acts were worth seeing. The first opening act was V.V. Brown and, I am vaguely familiar with her and was happy with her performance. The next opening act was Kris Allen. I love his music so I was happy when I heard he was opening for Maroon 5! He did a spectacular job. Then, the main event! Maroon 5 took the stage and had me up on my feet the majority of the time. The hubby was a good sport...Maroon 5 is a "chic band" according to him but, he decided to treat me to the concert and put on a brave face. There were 2 girls next to me that were lit like a Christmas tree and were cracking me up.

Then there were two obnoxious girls behind the hubby who bumped me a few times with their purses and kept knocking the hubby in the head when he sat down. But, you expect some bumping and knocking into one another in such close conditions so, we didn't really mind at all...until they picked a fight with the guy and his lady directly behind me. Ugh! They chose to have a loud, obnoxious, vulgar argument through most of the song "She Will Be Loved". Really? Adam Levine is belting out, with all his heart, that love song and these idiots behind us are having a war of vulgar words. On a side note, there are only 2 words, the C word and the P word, that will really offend me and, they used both of them. While I was trying to ignore them and enjoy the heck out of Adam Levine's fabulous voice, those assholes were harshing my love buzz. From what I gathered, they were arguing about seating. I heard the guy say, "We've been here the whole time". The hubby said it seemed that they might also have been arguing about the girls hitting them with their purses. It got to a point where each of the four of us, the hubby, the 2 girls next to me and myself, were thisclose to getting security to take care of them. Actually, the hubby was thisclose to telling them to STFU. Fortunately, they stopped and we were all able to enjoy the rest of "She Will Be Loved". But, seriously? How do people get so torked up and angry at a Maroon 5 concert? Don't you just know that when you are going to a concert, you aren't going to have a honking huge amount of room with which to move around? Don't you expect to be knocking and bumping into your friendly neighborly concert goers? The 2 girls next to me were friendly and we had a little bit of a camaraderie between us because...now here's a thought...we were there for the same reason. We had something in common. We could have been completely different people in every other aspect of our lives but, we were there to enjoy the same thing which made us instant friendlies.

Some people just can't behave themselves in public. The two girls behind us seemed pretty full of themselves. At one point, one of them shouted out, above the loud music being sung, "That's right. She knows all the lyrics." Well...bravo! Good for you chicky poo! You know what I know? I don't care! You know what else I know? I know how to behave myself in public!

So, the next time you are at a concert, just remember that everyone there is there for exactly the same thing as you are. Everyone there has at least one thing in common with you. Share a smile instead of vulgar words. Sing and sway along and enjoy your common interest together!

Unnecessary

2010-09-15T13:47:00.002-04:00

I really don't like fear mongering as a means to sell unnecessary crap. For example, the Lysol Healthy Touch No Touch Hand Soap System. It is being marketed as a way to protect people from transferring pre-existing germs that are on your common household soap dispenser when one touches it to dispense soap into one's hands as they get ready to wash them. It senses motion so you don't have to touch the soap dispenser. Ok...great! A new way to keep us from getting other people's germs on our hands. But, correct me if I am wrong here. How many times do you retouch the soap dispenser pump in your house immediately after you wash your hands with the soap you just dispensed into your hands from said soap dispenser? And, say you did get some germs on your hands from the soap dispenser, ummmm...maybe I am a little bit stupid here and I don't understand the concept of the purpose of washing your hands and the way that soap and water works when put together but, aren't you then immediately washing said newly acquired germs from the soap pump off of your hands as you wash them right then and there? Yeah...I'm pretty sure I am just an idiot. Right? I mean, the people at Lysol are probably right in thinking that people tend to touch the soap pump, transfer germs onto their hands, wash their hands and either the new germs they just got off that soap pump are resistant to that fresh wash of their hands, or people just then retouch the soap pump and walk around with filth on their hands until the next time they wash them. I've got to be wrong. I'm not a scientist. Not a doctor. So, of course I am wrong and, immediately after I wash the germs from my hands that I have collected both from the dirty soap pump and whatever my hands may get into in between washes has magically not been washed off and is remaining on my hands only to be added to the next time I touch my filthy soap pump. Gosh...I'm disgusting.

Why is This Appropriate?

2010-09-10T12:24:00.002-04:00

Why is it socially acceptable to suggest that a woman is pregnant just because she isn't feeling well one day? I don't get this. I have never, and would never, imply that maybe a woman is pregnant just because she is nauseous or not feeling well. Stop that! Guess what...there are other things in the world that make a woman sick. Need examples to inform your single-minded self? Ok...I'll be happy to enlighten you. On any given day, a woman might eat something that doesn't agree with her. Perhaps she ate something bad that had some bacteria in it. Perhaps her intestinal fortitude is a little off and whatever she ate triggered a bad reaction. And, while we don't talk about it in public too much because it is a little bit of a taboo topic, perhaps it is the time of the month. And, that doesn't necessarily mean her time of the month. It could me she is ovulating. It could mean her period has just ended. Regardless, that cycle is very hard on our bodies and we have good days where we can eat anything and feel fine. And we have bad days where there is just nothing in this world but the passage of time that will make it all better. Need another example of what might cause a woman to feel nauseous, headachey, fatigued or just overall icky? Ok...how about the flu? The common cold? Not enough sleep the night before? Or...a hangover? Whatever the reason may be, it is never EVER appropriate to be so presumptuous as to suggest to a woman that she could be pregnant. You don't know what her situation is. And, while this is not the case for me, perhaps you should consider what wound you may be opening up. What do I mean? There are women in the world who can't get pregnant...no matter how badly they want to be. So, you may just suggest that to the wrong woman one day and, while she will probably be too classy to call you out and make you feel bad for having made her feel bad, she will be hurting and you have probably just ruined her entire day. So shut up with that crap! Women should know better than to suggest that as it has probably been suggested to them a number of times since puberty. But, even women can be inconsiderate and inappropriate on this subject. I think it has something to do with wanting so badly for you to be pregnant. Whatever the reason...it is still wrong and you shouldn't do it...EVER! And men...we can't suggest things like that to you when you aren't feeling well. So, how about we just get inappropriate and ask you about your sex life? Are you tired today because you spent all night trying to get your boner up but are currently experiencing some impotence? And, before you wonder why I would drag your sex life into this, consider what you are doing when you suggest a woman is pregnant just because she isn't feeling well. You are basically making assumptions about her sex life. So, why shouldn't I make assumptions about your sex life?

Ok...so I know this was totally off the wall and out of the blue. But, it has been something on my mind and, while I can't say it in public I do feel like people should get this little education in sensitivity. Just think before you ask a question like that. Most of us know not to just assume that a woman is pregnant because she is carrying some weight in her stomach as people have been mortified when they ask "when are you due?" and get the response, "I'm not pregnant." So, if you are careful not to offend someone by implying she is pregnant when she may just be overweight, why is it ok to suggest that someone who may have just had too much to drink the night before, be pregnant? It's not! What is inside our bellies is no one's business until we want people to know. Nausea no more equals pregnant for a woman than it does for a man. Just suggest an antacid, give get well wishes and keep your thoughts to yourself.

Creativity is Good For My Soul

2010-09-09T00:09:00.003-04:00

I think I finally found something that is truly good for my soul. I have always been a creative and crafty girl. I drew a lot when I was younger, I made jewelry out of beads and string, I did needle point work and pretty much loved all things crafty. A month ago today, a close friend had a crafting party at her house where she taught me, and 5 other girls how to make 2 cards and a "pillow box"...a small box in the shape of a pillow in which you can put candy or something small to give to someone else as a gift. I had so much fun. It brought me back in touch with my crafty side. I have been hooked ever since! I've made multiple cards and gift boxes and, when I am done with each project, I have such a sense of pride and accomplishment. Since I have been unemployed, I have been pretty miserable as far as my confidence and self-worth is concerned. Those two things took a serious blow and my ego has been very low. But, with each card or gift box that I create with my own two hands, my self-confidence builds. One of my neighbors has told me that she will pay me for my work. I even impressed my hubby the other day, which is no small feat.

So, I have included some of my creations for you all to see. If you have something to say about them, feel free. And, be honest. If you think they suck, tell me. I can take it. I probably won't agree but, I can take it! ;)

P.S.
Yes...each one of those cake slices is a separate box. You would use it for a Birthday Party or Bridal Shower and you could fill each Box Slice with candy or party favors and give them to your guests. It took a while to make but, for my first time having made that cake, I am pretty proud of it!

Business Barracuda

2010-04-19T01:44:00.002-04:00

I am not the biggest Feminist in the history of the world but, as a lady, I stand up and applaud any woman who has made a success out of herself and her product, whatever that product may be. And, if you show me 5 successful business women, the one I will scream and cheer the loudest for will be the one who has made herself a successful business woman without being a Business Barracuda. Never heard that term before? You shouldn't have. I just made it up. I think it applies to the bitch I used to work for. Yea...I know. When a woman is successful in business she is considered a bitch. Believe me...I hate calling her anything derogatory. Like I said, I applaud the successful business women of this world because, like it or not, it is a man's world. But, I think that you can be a successful business woman without resorting to being a bitch. Unfortunately, the woman I used to work for never got that memo.

So, here is my story. I went from an easy, barely did much of anything kind of job run by two men, that I worked for for over 6 years, to a job run by a Chinese woman whose only real constant employees were her 22 year old son and her husband. I was a Temp and I worked my ass off for 5 months at that job trying to make permanent. And I really mean that. I learned so much and busted my ass every single work day at that job. My manager loved me. Granted, she and I had our moments but, she always told me what a "good worker" and a "hard worker" I was. She gave me way more than my fair share of stuff to do and taught me tons of stuff. And I loved it. I loved having more work than I could handle because it meant that I worked hard for my paycheck and I left that office every day with a sense of accomplishment. As I mentioned, the job that I had before the last one was very easy. I was the Administrative Assistant and it wasn't a very busy office. I answered the phones which, on some days, may not ring more than once an hour and sometimes, less than that. My two bosses weren't there that much, maybe an hour or two each day. Most days, and most of the day, I was the only person there. If the bosses needed me to do anything, they would call me and let me know what they needed. I would write up a quote based on the information they gave me. I did some data entry. I put together sample packs. I mailed and FedExed some stuff out now and then but, it really was the kind of job where you spend the majority of your time surfing the web, reading a book and occasionally, falling asleep when you were sick or getting sick. Don't get me wrong, I liked it enough to stay for 6 years until new management brought their Administrative Assistant and didn't have a place for me anymore. So, I moved on to a Temp job. I loved the ladies I worked with. I got along well with them all. But, there begins part of the reason that the Business Barracuda let me go. She didn't really want her employees to talk to one another. Not while we were working and not even after work. She had been known to let people go because she found out that they had exchanged phone numbers and had spent time hanging out together. And, I'm not talking about male/female relationships. I'm talking about friendships. She didn't want her employees to develop friendships. But, I'm sorry...that is impossible. When you work for 8 hours a day with people, you develop friendships with your co-workers. It is as natural as leaves on trees. It's a little thing called Human Nature. We are born to seek companionship. Not just physical companionship born out of emotional love for someone of the opposite, and sometimes same, gender. Companionship born out of the need to forge friendships with other people in the world. But, she couldn't tolerate it. So, we all tried to be friendly without pissing Business Barracuda off. A lot of good that did us.

I was a model employee. I was late only once and it was for a doctor's appointment which I told Business Barracuda about 2 weeks in advance. I never left early. I never took more than my 30 minutes for lunch break. Which, by the way, is illegal in the state of Georgia. Our employment law dictates that for every 8 hours of work an employee does, they get one half an hour lunch and two 15 minute breaks. Business Barracuda only allowed us one half an hour lunch. And, if you think that there was a way you could get around it, think again. She had cameras all over the office so, she knew where everyone was at all times. She knew when you came in in the morning, took your lunch break (there was a camera in the break room also), went to the bathroom (none in there but a few cameras in the hall) and left for the day. And, while no one ever found one, we were all fairly certain she had each office wired for sound because she had said specific things to a few other people referencing conversations we had had, that she could never have heard unless the rooms were wired for sound.

You might be on her good side for a few days. You would know that by the way she would acknowledge you. Either by a smile, a nod or she might actually joke around with you. But, in a blink of an eye you would be on her bad side. You would have absolutely no idea what you did to be on her bad side. Your work would be perfect. You would be obeying every single rule but, she would be as cold as ice to you. She wouldn't acknowledge you as you passed her in the hall. Either not by returning your smile, hello or nod. She may not even look at you if you two had lunch at the same time in the break room. If she did say something to you it might be snide and snarky. And, while she may approve of you for a few days, she would disapprove of you for no less than 2 weeks. She once despised me for an entire month. I really couldn't tell you what I did wrong.

Your physical appearance was under constant scrutiny. From your head to your toes and everything in between. I was told what it looked like when Business Barracuda approved of how you looked. She would either give you the elevator eyes followed by a smile and a nod or she would come into your office space, again with the elevator eyes and give you an actual thumbs up. I have been told by many people that I have great style. I won't deny that. I won't even try to be modest about it. I do have style. I like fashion and I would always bring my A game but, I never got Business Barracuda's approval. Of course, there is one thing I can improve on. I don't pay much attention to my feet. I don't mean as far as footwear. I am a shoe girl. What girl isn't? We can't help ourselves. Shoes rock our worlds. And, I am no exception to that rule. What I mean is my nails. I don't entirely love a pedicure. I did finally find a place that I could tolerate a pedicure from but, I have extremely ticklish feet. Not just the bottoms of my feet but the tops too. So, pedicures are like torture for me. And, having my toe nails painted seems like a waste of time and money. They are only going to chip within an hour of getting them done, I always end up getting some kind of nasty infection in my toe nails when I do have them painted so, why bother? But, in Business Barracuda's mind, you might as well be walking around with shit smeared all over your feet if you don't get regular pedicures. Not that she ever expressed that opinion in words. It was only written all over her face. So, I am the scum of the Earth.

So now the part where I tell you how ruthless Business Barracuda is. My nieces and nephew came for a visit. I had asked for the time off about a month before they came. They were coming on a Wednesday. I asked if I could work a half a day for the Wednesday so that I wouldn't miss most of their first day here. She was cool with me taking the time off. That Monday she told me to just take the entire Wednesday off. I could have used the money but, I was happy that I would be able to go with the hubby to pick the kids up. That Monday night she had my Temp agency call me and ask me to take all of my personal stuff home with me Tuesday after work. My radio, any pictures, whatever I had in my drawers. I had a sinking feeling as I asked my agency if I was losing my job. They said no. They told me that she said she just didn't want to be responsible for anything going missing or being broken while I was gone. I didn't believe her because I have a strong instinct and I am rarely wrong but, I was cautiously optimistic. So, I started my vacation after work Tuesday night. Had a wonderful day with the kids and my hubby Wednesday. Thursday we went tubing on the local river and I had a message on my cell phone from my temp agency to call them back, when we got back to the car. So, I took a deep breath knowing what I was about to hear and I made that call. Yup...I was through. But, not just me...2 other girls. Business Barracuda got rid of me and 2 other girls in the same week. She even asked my manager what she thought about getting rid of me and my manager told her she didn't want to lose me because I had done so much for the company. I had learned so much and I was an asset. My last day, I busted my butt there. I got everything done that needed to be done. I didn't leave anything for anyone to have to pick up my slack. Every pile was gone. All the filing was done. Every quote I was given was done to perfection. My desk was pristine. That bitch...I mean, Business Barracuda, canned me anyway. Since then, she has struggled to find a replacement and that was nearly a year ago. My manager quit and, while there were 11 total people in that office when she let me and my other 2 co-workers go, she has been struggling to keep any more than 4 employees, not including her hubby and her son.

So, that is a Business Barracuda. She is exactly the reason that people don't think that woman can run a company without being a bitch. It makes me sad to call her a bitch and a Business Barracuda. I would love to cheer loudly for her as a woman. But, sadly she feeds the stereotype.

Beer Goggles?

2010-04-19T00:19:00.003-04:00

Nicole Forrester VS
Stacy Ferguson
Michelle "Bombshell" McGee VS
Sandra Bullock

Attention Jesse James and Josh Duhamel: What the fuck is wrong with you two? You infuriate me. I am not an expert at beautiful women but, come on. Anyone with vision can see how very beautiful Sandra Bullock and Stacy Ferguson are. So, what prompted you to cheat on your beautiful wives with the likes of Nicole Forrester and Michelle McGee? Was it Beer Goggles? Because that is the only way I can imagine that you could blank out on the beautiful faces of the women you idiots fall asleep next to each night and do some stupid scumbag crap with the likes of those two lesser attractive women. For a straight chic, I think I have pretty good taste in women and, neither Nicole Forrester, nor Michelle "Bombshell" McGee are a blip on my radar. Ok...I'll give Michelle props for her body but, of what I have seen of Sandra Bullock's body, she's pretty sexy. And Josh...you had to be smashed to think that Nicole was even remotely attractive. She isn't the ugliest woman on God's green Earth but, when compared to Fergie...for real?

So, how does that saying go? For every beautiful woman, there is some man that is sick of her shit. Well, how about this? For every man that is sick of a beautiful woman's shit, that beautiful woman is sick of his slimeball, cheating ass.

Not All That It Is Cracked Up To Be

2010-04-13T17:00:00.002-04:00

I lost my job in June 2009 and that came off the heals of having lost a job that I had been with for 6+ years. I won't get into the story of my last 2 jobs and how or why I lost them here. I have another issue to discuss, bitch about and inform you all on right now. And, that subject is the myth that I am lucky that I don't have to work. Don't get me wrong...I am lucky to be in a position where my husband has the kind of career that can afford us the luxury of being a single income household and to be doing well. I am not trying to come across as spoiled or unappreciative. I really do appreciate my luck. But, staying home really isn't all that it is cracked up to be. My husband doesn't want me to work. At least, not right now. And, most everyone will tell me that I am lucky that I don't have to work. Of course, they tell me that because they have to get up early in the morning and do the daily routine of getting ready for work, going to a job they probably don't entirely love, working with some people they may hate, and coming home only to have to repeat that maybe 16 or so hours later. I get that. I've done the daily job grind. Now this is what people don't get about my "job". Yes, I am home every day. No, I don't have a set time I have to get up or a set time I have to be somewhere. But, I do set a time that I want to be up by because I feel like a loser if I don't get out of bed by then. And, I do have things that I do every day. Lonely, boring, same old same old, repetitive stuff. I get up, eat some breakfast, brush my teeth, get dressed, do my hair and makeup, get some coffee, goof off online for a bit, make the bed, clean the litter boxes, do the dishes, straighten up whatever needs to be straightened up around the house, goof off online some more, eat lunch alone, feed the dog, gather and take the trash out on trash day, run any errands the husband asked me to run for the day, make dinner, eat it alone, clean up after dinner while leaving the rest to sit and get cool until the husband gets home, clean up the rest of dinner, watch a little bit of TV with my husband, goof off online some more, shower and get ready for bed. Then, I do it all over again the next day. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I clean the house for an hour or an hour and a half a day. And on Fridays I vacuum and mop the house which can take me about 2 hours. This is my life. I don't do much else. And, I know that some people will still say that they would switch places with me but, believe me...after you have spent several months alone doing the same shit each day, you won't want to do it anymore.

For most people , work is just a paycheck. That is the way they think of it. But, take away the social interaction that people get with their co-workers and the interruptions that they get throughout the day with new tasks or just the few different things that they are given to do and then, yes...work can be just a paycheck. Work, to me, is a place you go to feel accomplished each day. A place you get to see other faces. Talk to other people. It is just me, my 3 cats and my dog here every single day. Now and then I get a lunch date with my husband or one of my friends but, it isn't like a job where you get to be away from your house every day and talk to your co-workers.

When was the last time you woke up excited about cleaning your house, your litter boxes, doing the dishes and making the bed? People think that I am on a permanent vacation. They are jealous of me. But, think for a second about how excited about cleaning your house you get when you have to do it and maybe you will think twice about being jealous of me.

Again, I am grateful for all that I have and for the ability to live the life I live but, this isn't a vacation. A vacation is fun. You go places. Do things. See people. Relax. What I do is lonely. It is repetitive. It is boring and I hate it. I love the sense of accomplishment a job gives me. When I walked out of the office each day, when I was employed, I felt good about myself. I worked hard and I did a fantastic job. Sure, my bosses were pains in the butt and some of the people I worked with sucked so bad both at their job and as a human, that I wanted to remove parts of my own body just so I could beat them with whatever I tore off. But, it wasn't lonely. Every day was interesting in one way or another. I had things to talk about. I had people to talk about those things with. Now I talk about the spider I saw in my sink. What my cats or my dog did the other day. A TV show I watched.

Work people. And don't take it for granted. Boredom and loneliness sucks. A lack of accomplishment wears on your ego. It is embarrassing to say "nothing" when someone you just met asks you what you do. I hate this. And, for the record, I want to kick you in the head when you tell me how lucky I am that I don't work and that I don't have to work. I would rather be working.

Guilty By Association

2010-04-05T14:02:00.002-04:00

It has been awhile since I have harped on this person but, I have a new hatred for her. Who? Britney Spears. Yea, I know. What has she done to you lately? Well, she clouded my judgment which seems impossible but, she really did. Actually, I guess she really only clouded it a little. And, here is how. I chose to dislike Kevin Federline because of the bad press that she brought upon him. That being said, I did find myself often thinking that he was the better parent of the two nitwits. But, I still wasn't giving him full credit.

I am not saying he is a saint. He did cheat on his ex with Britney, while his ex was pregnant with their child. That will never be something he can take back and make right.

Why have I suddenly had a change of heart, or a bettering of a not entirely poor opinion of him? As I have said before, I have a bit of a weakness for reality TV and one of my on-again, off-again guilty pleasure shows is Celebrity Fit Club. I have not seen every season. At least, I don't think I have. But, I did catch this most recent season and Kevin Federline was one of the 8 celebrities in this season. He really is a good guy...cheating past not to be ignored but, bygones is the word of the day here. He owns his past mistakes. He is a hard worker. He's humble. And, the reason that people never got to see or hear his side of anything is because he is silent. If anyone would have given him a chance to come out of Britney's shadow, they might have seen the well intentioned person that he really is. If his agents would have given him the opportunity to say his mia culpas, all of the U.S. may have refrained from such names as "Federleazy". We would still have felt for Shar Jackson, his ex and the mother of some of his kids, but, they probably wouldn't have seen him as such a disgusting waste of a pound of flesh.

So, while it will likely not mean a darn thing to him, I do have new found respect for Kevin Federline and I fully believe that Britney Spears is the reason behind his bad reputation. He is not the bad boy that she and the media made him out to be.

Oh...and I wouldn't be doing my non-job if I didn't express my opinion on Britney's comeback, which I know I am a couple months late on talking about. I think it is crap. I don't believe that her crazy girl, slutty girl, trash bag past is behind her. I think that, as long as she stays under her father's conservatorship, she will appear normal and even healthy but, she isn't fooling me. She has shown a couple of times that when her father loosens the reigns just a little bit, she starts to slip. Questionable behavior starts to happen and her inner nut job whore starts to rear its ugly head. This is, of course, only my opinion. And, I hope for her sake, that I am proven wrong. I just see a very tragic Anna Nicole Smith type of a future for her. I truly will be happy to express my own mia culpa if I am proven wrong someday.

I Saw The Signs...

2010-04-04T16:14:00.002-04:00

Is reality TV making us all experts at failed love? I must admit that, I have a small addiction to reality TV. I don't always watch them all and, there are some that I won't watch, some that I will watch religiously and, some that I only tune into if it happens to be on when I am channel surfing and can't find anything better. One such show is Little People, Big World. It is about a husband and wife who are "Little People" more commonly known as, but not entirely politically correct, dwarfs or midgets. I have tuned in now and then, throughout the years that they have been on the air and, over the course of the last season, they were showing some problems in their marriage. She had a speaking engagement and had told him about it. He insists she didn't tell him about it and made a plan for the family to go to the British Virgin Islands. In another episode, it was Mother's Day and their twins' 19th birthday and he planned to take a trip, by himself, to Maui, Hawaii. Who does that? It hurt her feelings but she said that she wasn't going to grovel and try to talk him into staying and celebrating Mother's Day and the twins' birthdays with her and their kids. He expressed a minor bit of regret for having planned his trip at that time but said that, and yes, he actually said this shit, sometimes it is a better gift to get out of her way and leave her alone to celebrate Mother's Day. He said, "Sometimes it's a vacation when I leave people alone. It's like, hey Amy, you know what your present is for Mother's Day this year, I'm gonna leave you completely alone." Way to justify leaving your wife on Mother's Day you jerk.

So, I see this marriage crumbling. I rarely watched John and Kate Plus Eight but, it seems the deterioration of their marriage may have been evident to their viewers before it actually ended. I can't help but feel like a little bit of an expert these day, while watching these shows.

And now for the next question...is reality television a curse on a marriage? I have seen the previews for the newest season's premiere episode and it appears that they are trying to take another family vacation and he is screwing it up for everyone. And, I have seen the previews for Tori and Dean's reality show about their relationship...it has a new name and I am too lazy right now to interrupt my own writing to see what name it is going by now...and it looks as though their relationship is a little bit rocky in the new season as well. Granted, he cheated on his ex-wife with her so, while I always hoped the best for Tori, I can't say that I would be shocked to open up People magazine and see that they had split up. And no, to my knowledge, they have not split up. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

So, the moral of the story is, don't make your relationship public on TV. While your marriage without TV may have issues and may not always be perfect, and it may fail anyway...if you want a fighting chance, don't put it on the airwaves.

It Was Time...

2010-03-27T00:02:00.002-04:00

UPDATE:

All apologies for how late this update is but, better late than never.
I went to my new OBGYN and, of course, she asked me, suggested that I, recommended that I, told me, ordered me to get a Mammogram. Actually, more specifically, a Baseline Mammogram so that, in another 3 years when I am 40 and need to start getting Mammograms on a yearly basis, they will have a Mammogram to compare my 40 year old ta-tas to. Yippy freaking skippy!

So, I went home and, against my nature, I did not procrastinate. I nearly immediately called the number that my doctor provided, to schedule my appointment for my first Mammogram. I knew that if I didn't do it immediately, I would procrastinate until she had to yell at me to do it a year from now when I go back to see her for my annual checkup.

I begrudgingly went. All along hating Mother Nature, God or just my Dad's sperm and my Mom's egg for daring to have the gall to make me a girl which gave me boobies. I walked into the office where they do such a heinous, undesirable, cruel and inhumane thing to man's favorite toy. What? Duh...breasts! What did you think I meant? The remote? Who would Mammogram a remote? And just how would that be inhumane? Come on...get with the program here.

Anyway, the woman whose job it was to check me in, was really nice. She tried to calm my nerves by telling me that it wasn't the most painful thing. She said it was painful but not that bad. And, she asked me what my pain tolerance was. When I told her that I have 2 tattoos she said that I would have no problem with a Mammogram. Of course, she didn't have any tattoos so, basically she wouldn't really know just how painful a tattoo was in comparison to having the ever loving shit squeezed out of your tits. But, I digress. She told me I would be fine and sent me to sit in the waiting room.

My Radiologist (I think that is her title) came and got me and she really couldn't have been more sweet. She was really nice, calming and kind...for a woman whose job it is to manhandle another woman's boobies. Seriously. She moves them around. Picks them up. Plops them down...for those women who have big enough boobs to plop down. Shifts them left. Nudges them right. Tugs them forward. And then smooshes them between two cold, unforgiving square something or others. One is glass and I can't remember what the other was. Metal I think. And yes...it hurt. Like a Mother Fucker. But, not as bad as I thought it was going to. Not even bad enough to have me dreading my next visit in 3 years. Don't get me wrong...I would have loved to be able to remove my tits and throw them at someone if it meant the 5 seconds of pain I did experience would stop. But, that being said, it honestly wasn't that bad. If I had a choice between getting my ta-tas fondled and then smashed every 6 months or go to the dentist, believe it or not, I would chose to have my ta-tas smashed every six months. I never thought I would say it but, I hate the dentist more than having my boobs barbarically mistreated between 2 cold hard surfaces.

Oh...and to answer the question about bigger versus smaller? Smaller hurts worse. If Righty could have screamed, she would have while Lefty might have just muttered a quiet "Ouch". So, for all of you big breasted women who say it hurts worse the bigger your ladies are...SHUT THE FUCK UP! I know from experience. I have both to draw from. It may hurt you but, I promise you that it hurts me worse and it hurts my right lady worse than my left one. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Is It Time or Not Just Yet?

2010-03-04T23:14:00.002-05:00

I'm hoping for "Not just yet." What am I talking about? The dreaded Mammogram. I am 37 years old now and tomorrow I am going to see my OBGYN for a checkup. I have heard conflicting stories on when women should start having Mammograms. Most say 40 but, some say 35. I am trying out a new doctor tomorrow so, I don't know which side of that 5 year difference she falls on. And, since I haven't been to see one in 2 or 3 years, I am worried she may decide to punish me for not keeping up with the health of my ta-tas and my na na na na and send me cringing towards the Mammogram. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I have never heard one good thing about a Mammogram. Of course, it depends on who you talk to. Ladies with small ladies say that the smaller your ladies are, the worse it is. Then, ladies with bigger ladies say the bigger your ladies are the worse it is. My question is: HOW THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW? If you have big girls, you probably have always had big girls, at least, while you have been of the age to get Mammograms. And, say you got them enhanced, you probably still never had to have a Mammogram when they were small and, I have to imagine that you can't get a mammogram with implants because...well, forgive my stupidity but, wouldn't that pop them?
And, to the ladies with small ta-tas, how do you know if it hurts less with bigger ta-tas? If you have never had them, who are you to say how bad or how good, how painful or how less painful another person's experience is. So, shut up. I think it hurts for everyone. How could it not? You are taking your boobies and unnaturally smooshing and flattening them to the thickness of a pancake between 2 cold, metal, unforgiving, cruel plates while someone snaps a picture of your poor abused girls. What could possibly be fun or gentle about that. And, don't get me wrong. Like I said, I have never had one but, logically, I know what is involved. It is not that big of a stretch of an imagination to figure that there is a really awful, tear jerking, mind numbing, wanting to throw something at someone, amount of pain.
So, here is my next question: we can put a man on the moon and make a small portable device that, at its biggest is no bigger than the average hand, that can fit tens of thousands of songs on it. So, why the fuck can't we figure out how to take a high resolution picture of our tits without turning them into pancakes and putting every woman into tears? Just saying.

Teen Mom

2010-01-06T00:57:00.003-05:00

It seems somehow wrong to say but, I love this show. It airs on MTV on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT and, it blows me away every time I watch it. It chronicles the lives of 4 young mothers. Their journeys started last year on the show 16 and Pregnant.

The four girls are Maci, Farrah, Catelynn and Amber.

Of the four of these girls, 3 of them are still in a relationship with the father of their babies. Farrah is the only "single" mother. Maci and Ryan are in a constant battle in their relationship. He doesn't give her the kind of support she needs and she has already broken up with him, only to get back together with him. He promises to change but, it seems like that change is always fleeting at best.

Amber and Gary are always in a relationship struggle too. She is trying to get her GED and his selfishness keeps getting in the way. She too broke up with him and moved out of his apartment. She stayed in a hotel for a week which seemed to have slapped Gary with the harsh reality of losing both her and his daughter. He generously gave up his apartment to Amber and their baby and, in an effort to give Amber some space while providing her with a place to live, he moved back in with his mother for the time being. He seems willing to make the necessary changes for the benefit of his child. We'll see.

Farrah is a train wreck. She lives with her mother and, I think, stepfather. She is determined not to let motherhood interrupt her life as a "normal teenager". So, she is always on the search for a guy and goes out to have fun. I don't know how often she goes out but, each episode has her going out here and there so, it can't be too seldom. Her mother is a bit overbearing but, I can see where she is coming from. She just wants Farrah to stop being so selfish and finally realize that she is a mother and, now isn't the time to be acting like a "normal teenager" while expecting her mother to raise her baby.

This brings me to Catelynn and Tyler. I love these two kids. They continuously amaze me. They chose to give their daughter, Carly, up for adoption. They found a couple who was willing to do an open adoption. Of course, their are limitations. They keep in touch with the adoptive parents and are allowed to visit with Carly maybe a few times a year. They correspond through emails and get photos of her. They miss her terribly but, they know they made the right decision. They are the only couple out of all of these kids who really seem like they will last. Tyler has got to be one of the best guys out there. He is incredibly supportive and, of all of these kids, I think they would have been the best parents. That being said, I commend them for their decision to have their daughter adopted. I can't say enough good about these two kids. They handled everything responsibly. The genuine love between them in the face of such a hard decision and the following impact of having made the decision to give their daughter up is palpable. I can't help but root for them both. I want their relationship to work and for them to grow through their teens, young adulthood, adulthood, and elder years as a couple. I hope that they last and someday are able to have children together.

So, again...I love this show. I feel for all of them and their struggles. Catelynn and Tyler give me hope for our youth when I see how selfless they have proven to be and how strong their bond is. I hope the best for Farrah and I really hope to see her grasp the concept of her role as a young mother in this world. I hope to see Gary and Ryan become the fathers that they should be. And, I hope that Amber and Maci get the support they need and deserve from Gary and Ryan. I hope that Gary can keep up the effort that he showed Amber in this week's episode and I would love to see the therapy session that Ryan and Maci attended be as beneficial as it seemed to be at the end of the most recent episode.

I have high hopes for all of the teens.

It's That Time of The Year Again...

2009-11-27T01:35:00.002-05:00

Yup! It's fall and Thanksgiving has officially come and gone. What does that usually mean for me? A lot of things. Most years we have family come here from out of town and this year was no different. My Mother and Father--in-Law and my Sister--in-Law and her boyfriend came for a visit this year. I did my usual turkey with all the delicious sides. I might do a blog entry dedicated to my turkey recipe later but, for now, this entry is about something totally different.

I always get stressed out this time of year because I have a lot of work ahead of me. Which, for me, usually means that I will get sick in one way or another. I tend to get Bronchitis, a sinus infection and some kind of viral thing. I managed to make it through Thanksgiving healthy last year but, ended up getting sick for Christmas, if memory serves. But, over the past nearly 3 years, I have been taking probiotics and immune builders. They really have saved me. Instead of being sick for up to 5 months (from October to March or later) I was only sick for less than 2 weeks last year. A first, for me, since I could remember. I even managed to avoid catching the swine flu from my hubby and his 2 friends when they all had it at the same time. But, that was about 3 or so weeks ago. We threw a party a couple weeks ago and there was another party in the cold night air, in my cul'd'sac in front of my house the week before that. So, I have been a busy girl this season and let myself get run down. I caught a nasty cold 2 days before Thanksgiving. I was really sick the day before when I had to spend the day making my baked goods. My Apple Pie and my Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Pie, while delicious, took much longer to make because I had a runny nose all day and was feeling sluggish and just not at all well. So, I really expected to be feeling like a cross hair in a dog's butt today (Thanksgiving) and was not looking forward to my day of meal preparation. But, in addition to my probiotics and immune builders, I started using a Neti Pot. For those of you who don't know what that it, it is a small, blue tea pot shaped plastic thing. You put a package of their saline solution in the pot and fill it to the line with luke warm water and you put it in one nostril, tip your head and pour the solution into that nostril. The solution flows through that nostril and out through your other one by way of your nasal passage. It cleans out and dries out your nasal passage which either helps keep you healthy or makes you healthy sooner. I used it 3 or 4 times throughout the day Thanksgiving Eve and, like magic, I was so much better Thanksgiving day (today). I couldn't believe how much better I already was. Granted, by the end of the night, I was feeling a little worse for the wear but, I tend to feel worse at night when I am sick, than any part of the day. So, I used my Neti Pot 2 more times today and, right now, I am feeling pretty good again. I am looking forward to seeing how I feel tomorrow! After almost 37 years of my life, I think I finally have the key to either preventing illness, or kicking it quicker once I do get sick.

Now, as for any discomfort while using the Neti Pot...there really isn't any. I can't describe it. You really have to try it yourself. It takes some getting used to but, if I can handle it, anyone can. There isn't any pain. Just, fresh air when you are done. The relief is amazing. I will say that you won't feel that much relief if you are using it the first day you are all stuffed up or drippy nosed from a bad cold but, the next day...AMAZING! I woke up this morning fully expecting to start hacking a lung with a severe cough and either all stuffed up or for my nose to be draining like a sieve... as it normally would be but, nothing. A few minor coughs here and there and a need to blow my nose a few times throughout the day but, in light of how horrible I normally feel the 3rd day of a bad cold, I kind of felt like a new person. Even in comparison to the day before.

So, I highly recommend people spend the $14 or more to get the Neti Pot. It saved my Thanksgiving and, who knows how many sick days it has already saved me.

All hail the Neti Pot!

Awww....

2009-09-16T15:20:00.001-04:00

New Brows!!!

2009-09-06T13:41:00.004-04:00

Drum roll please! Behold...my new brows! This is not the best picture of me but, it will do! The point is my eye brows! Finally! I can get up and get out of the house without having to draw my eye brows on. I still feel a need to put on some eyeliner, foundation and blush but, I would feel fairly more confident leaving the house without any makeup on now. And, starting in March, I will finally be able to go swimming without worrying that I will have a bald forehead. The reason I have to wait till March is to give my brows the proper 6 month healing time. And, the chlorine and chemicals in pool water can damage my brows before that time so, I will wait. But, rest assured...when those 6 months have finally passed, I will take full advantage of it!

Affinity Stoneworks

2009-09-05T13:59:00.005-04:00

The first and second pictures are of the finished product. The third picture is a close-up shot of back splashes and granite. The forth picture is a great shot of my island. We love the beautiful knot center left of the island. The fifth picture is the kitchen before with the white laminate and no back splashes.

Note: Sorry that these pictures are not in order from before to after. I set them up that way but, that isn't the way the ended up.

And now...our story!
Wow! I have a new kitchen. After 8 years of living here and roughly 5 years, give or take, of trying to figure out what we wanted to do, the hubby and I finally got new granite counter tops and back splashes in our kitchen. We had white laminate and painted walls before. This is our first house so, we didn't really know how much the extras really enhance things until we saw it in other people's homes.

So, since practically the beginning, we talked about having new counter tops and back splashes done. We started thinking seriously about it 5 years, give or take, ago. But, we were stymied by what exactly we wanted. It was between Corian, Granite and Silestone. I spent lots of time reading up on all 3 materials but, if there are 10 good things about each, there are equally as many bad things about each. So, then we narrowed it down to Granite or Silestone. Again...the good and the bad were equal. In the end, Granite won out because I don't like the speckled patterns in Silestone. They can not duplicate the beautiful linear patterns of the Granite in Silestone. So, after a very long time of searches, culminating in frustration which always resulted in the project falling by the waist side, we finally got our acts together and made our granite decision.

It all started around a month ago when the hubby said that this is the year we do the kitchen. The biggest reason is because I am between jobs right now and have ample time to stay home for people to come and do work. So, I set out to figure out which we wanted. Granite versus Silestone. Once I made my decision, I set out to find the pattern. I looked online and found something I thought that I would like and got pricing from a popular home repair company. We were about to pull the trigger and have them come and do the job when the hubby suggested I go to Affinity Stoneworks to look at some of their granite to make sure that there wasn't another granite pattern that I liked better. I didn't see anything I fell in love with at Affinity so they sent me to their warehouse, G&L Marble. I walked through and they pointed out what they thought was comparable to the pattern I found online. It was completely different than what I thought it was. I wanted something rich chocolate brown and it was actually very pink or mauve. I was disheartened and annoyed and left not having found what I wanted. I was about to wash my hands of this project yet again, out of shear frustration. I told the hubby I wanted to be free of talking about and thinking about the project for 24 hours so I could start with a rested and cooler head. Then I asked him to come with me to the warehouse because I did see some slabs that I kind of liked but really wanted his opinion. We went on a Saturday and we finally fell head over heels for a slab. The name was Dunes and it is this perfect mixture of brown, charcoal, copper and tan and has these beautiful and unique charcoal knots throughout the slabs. We had them hold the slabs, which had previously been held by someone else. We also got an idea of what we wanted for our back splashes which was 6" x 6" tiles called Espresso and 2" x 2" inserts called Tantrum Earth. We then had them come out and tear up our white laminate and do the measurements and templates for the granite. I went and helped them place the templates on the granite where I wanted them so they could cut them the next day. The only drama was that we had to live without our kitchen for a week before they could come out and do the install. Of course, that included the sink because we picked out a new granite composite sink and new bronze faucet. That was hard to get used to because we didn't have counters or plumbing in our kitchen for a week. Really an inconvenience but well worth it.

They came and installed the counters and sink but, we still couldn't use the sink until the next day as the glue had to set. Then, the next day, they did the install of the back splash. Whew...that was a long day. They arrived around 9:15or 9:30 AM and weren't done until about 5 or 5:15 PM. We also had the same guys who did our back splashes come back the next day and do recessed lighting for us. Our original lighting was one hideous florescent light above our Island, one recessed light above our sink and one hanging light over our kitchen table. We had 8 can lights installed which really brightens the kitchen and they are so much more modern than the awful florescent light the contractor installed when they built my house 8 years ago. The last thing we need done is to repaint my ceiling. My kitchen is a celadon green and the ceiling is a lighter shade of that green. So light, in fact, that most people think that it is white until we point it out...or you see the difference from the white rectangle left behind from the florescent light.

So, if you live in Georgia and are considering getting granite and back splashes installed in your kitchen or bathroom, go with Affinity Stoneworks http://www.affinitystoneworks.com/ They are brilliant. They are so knowledgeable. Anything I had questions about were answered on the spot. They are all very friendly and really seem to love what they do. And, if their friendly professionalism isn't enough to snag you, their reasonable prices should. We got estimates from 2 other vendors, both chains and commonly known home repair companies, and Affinity's prices were about 70% less for everything: laminate removal and haul away, granite, install, sink and disposal removal and install, back splash material and install and lighting. The estimate we got from the one big chain store was just for the removal of our laminate counters and the granite and install. We can imagine that if we had also gotten an estimate for the back splash, the entire job might have been twice as much or pretty close.

3rd Time is the Charm? Fingers Crossed.

2009-09-05T13:31:00.002-04:00

I just got my eyebrows done for the third time. I have read that it can take 3 times for some people before they get the results that they want so, I am not disheartened. In fact, the 2nd time really did take pretty well but, as I said in the previous post, half of my brows were darker than the other half. So, I went in to get my nails done this past Thursday and I had intended to make my appointment for my 3rd attempt and I was going to have her set it up for next Thursday since that would be 4 weeks since my 2nd but, she said I didn't have to wait for 4 weeks. I asked if she could do them then and she said that would be fine.

So, the experience with the 3rd attempt was not the greatest. First of all, it was more painful when she broke my skin. Then, when she got done, I noticed that my left brow was thicker in the inner corner than the right one but, I let it slide. I got home and really gave it a more thorough look and felt really uncomfortable with how uneven they both looked so, I went back to have her thicken up the inner corner of my right brow. She seemed agitated with me and I felt bad about bugging her but, this is my face and these are my brows and, I did this whole thing so that I could feel more confident with my appearance and with my brows. To ignore it and hope that it wouldn't be too noticeable would only have taken a step back and would probably have been a constant point of discomfort for me so, I can't feel to bad if I annoyed her. It is her job to do it right. Of course, that being said, I still feel bad about having annoyed her because I am not the type of person who can just let that stuff roll off my back. I hate to be a pain. All I can hope for is that she was just having a tough day, or a tough time and I was just one more thing that went somewhat wrong and maybe she has since gotten over it.

So, her suggestion this time was to use the Neosporin for only 2 days and then switch to Vaseline. She said that part of my problem is that I have oily skin and the oilier your skin is, the harder it is to get the ink to take. So, basically, if I had done this in the winter when my skin is dry, I would probably have had success sooner. Oh well! I'll survive. Another thing I think that might have caused an issue was that, when I would sleep, the Neosporin would rub off on my pillow or the bed sheet and my brows would end up dry before morning. In order to help my skin absorb the ink, I needed to keep them somewhat saturated with moisture and the Neorsporin needed to stay on. Since they would dry up probably pretty early into the night, they would then start to flake and not enough color would soak in. So, in an effort to remedy that situation, I decided to restrict my movement at night by sleeping on the couch the last two nights and my brows maintained the moisture longer which means that they didn't flake off today (3 days later) like they normally would have. I have a feeling that more color will stay this time around.

In addition to the pain this last time, they bled and oozed quite a bit. I know...gross. Sorry. But, I want people to know my experience so that they know what to expect if they ever want to have this done.

Overall, I may not have had a lot of good to say about this 3 attempt but, I am confident that this will be the last one and that I will finally have the brows I should have been born with.

Hopefully the next time I make a post about this subject, it will be with a picture of the final product and will be a glowing review of the experience! Till then, fingers crossed and wish me luck!

Eyebrows...

2009-08-20T14:24:00.002-04:00

It has officially been one week since I got my eyebrows touched up and, I am feeling much better about them this time around. I still need to go back again for another touch-up and I am really hoping that it will be the last time. That being said, they are much better now. The color held and they are darker now. But, I need to have her touch up the inner half of both brows. The outer half of both of them are is great. But, from about the middle of my brows to the inner corners are lighter than the outer half. If my right one looked like my left one, I might not even bother to have them touched up again because that one is more noticeably not quite right. There is a spot on the inner corner that is darker and held well. From there till about the middle of my brow it is quite a bit lighter. Then from the middle of my brow to the outer corner, it is darker and looks great. I don't know how she'll go about evening everything out so that it is all one shade all the way through each brow but, I am hopeful that the 3rd time will be the charm. For now, I just use a really little bit of my brow powder to even things out. It takes probably less than 30 seconds to do my brows in the morning now. That is a far cry from the 3 to 5 minutes it used to take to draw them in and then soften them up with brow powder. Getting closer!

Brows Part II

2009-08-14T14:07:00.002-04:00

I had my brow touch-up done yesterday and am pleased thus far but, am cautiously optimistic given how much they lightened up last time and how somewhat disappointed I ended up being. She did them in a darker color this time around and she was positive that they wouldn't lighten up as much as they did the last time. I probably should have taken pictures of how much they lightened up last time to post here so that you could all see that I wasn't exaggerating in the slightest but, I was disheartened by it so, I didn't feel like it. Anyway, I am hopeful that it takes this time and I finally have the brows I should have always had. I will post pictures of them when they have healed and lightened up. Till then, wish me luck!

Brow Update...

2009-08-12T23:14:00.002-04:00

This is to update you all on my brows. A few days after my tattooing, the brows flaked and lightened up a lot. I have had to use makeup to darken them to a shade I feel comfortable with and will be going in tomorrow to get a touch up. That was to be expected as they do tend to lighten up after the first time. I just wasn't aware of how much they would lighten up. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed at first but, because the outer corner of my left eyebrow is still fairly dark, I am encouraged by that and have faith that they will turn out exactly how I want them. I just really hope it will happen this time so I don't have to wait another month to go back and get them touched up again.

My understanding is that, at some point, your brows become saturated with only as much color as it can take and, no matter how much more color you keep tattooing on at that one appointment, it just won't take any more.

So, we'll see. Wish me luck. I really would love to be able to set aside my eyebrow powder and brush all together.

Eyebrows...

2009-07-16T14:42:00.004-04:00

For practically as long as I can remember I have had to draw my eyebrows in because I have a genetic disease that causes me to continuously lose the hair on my eyebrows. The older I get, the less hair I have on my brows. I get that disease from my Mom's side of the family. It wasn't so horrible when I was a teenager because I still had a respectable amount of brow. I still needed to draw them in a bit but, not as much as the past decade...give or take some time. My natural hair color is really light blond so, what little hair I had left was nearly invisible. In order to go out of the house, I would have to draw my brows on or wear a baseball hat to mask the lack of brows. I couldn't go swimming and dunk my head under the water because my brow would disappear leaving my forehead embarrassingly naked. I know that vanity is an unattractive quality but, as much as I would love to be a bigger person and just suck it up and be fabulously browless in public...I just couldn't.

So, several years ago, the trend of Permanent Makeup got under way. I had seen pictures of women, and some men, who had their brows "tattooed" on with Permanent Makeup but, they didn't really look that great to me and I worried that, if I tried to have it done, maybe I wouldn't like it and would regret it later or, what if something went wrong and the person who did it made a mess of things leaving me with a really horrible permanent look of surprise or something worse? I also wondered about aging. What if my brow followed my wrinkles when I got older? And, what if people could tell I had them tattooed? I struggled with the decision, kept it in my mind and pondered it over and over again for many years.

Then I had a visit with my nieces and nephew a couple weeks ago. We went swimming in the pool in my subdivision and the kids had a blast with my hubby. They played in the water as I waded in the water. They made little innocent comments about me not dunking my head in the water and I was too ashamed to explain to them how embarrassing it would be for me to lose my eyebrows and let my unbeautifully bald forehead stand out. They got closer to my hubby which, I love because I love to see them adore him like they do but, it tore my heart out to see it put a distance between me and the three of them. A couple days later we went tubing in the Chattahoochee River but, before we went, the youngest (8) told me that she wanted to tube with my hubby because he would get all the way in the water with her. Ouch! I know she didn't mean to hurt my feelings but, it did sting like no one's business.

When I was a kid, I was a water fanatic. I am by nature as I am a Pisces. It has hurt so bad for me to be missing out on the fun of what used to give me so much joy. I grew up summers on a boat and would swim every day as a kid. Now, I get in only as far as my chin before my vanity takes over.

This got me thinking even harder about Permanent Makeup for my brows. I went to my nail salon a week ago with it on my mind. They are a day spa that does the Permanent Makeup and ironically...or coincidentally, they had recently just decoratively painted some of their other services on their walls throughout the salon. They do Microdermabrasion and other services. And, as soon as I walked in, right there in colorful and eye-catching lettering is "Permanent Makeup". As I chatted with my nail guy, I asked him if anyone that worked for him had had the Permanent Makeup done and he said yes. He didn't elaborate and as I was still feeling a bit scared about it, I didn't push. Then I heard the conversation between one of the other nail techs and a client about the nail tech having had her eyebrows done. No way! What weird universe is this that, as I walk into the salon with this thought weighing heavily on my mind, they have recently painted that service on their walls and now Lena is talking about having had it done and loving it? Really either massively ironic or a crazy coincidence. Perhaps Kismet? Anyway, I got her attention and asked if I could see the work and she obliged. They looked great. Really natural and, she, unlike me, doesn't have a single hair on her brow but, you wouldn't know it to look at her.

Since the start of the Permanent Makeup trends, they have perfected the "Feathering" technique where they make it look like hairs on your brow.

I went home pondering it further. I spoke to my hubby about it and he asked how much it would cost. I hadn't asked that yet so, I called a couple of days later and found out it was a reasonable $220. I waited another few days before I told my hubby how much and told him that, at first, I wanted to wait until I got a new job before I went and had it done but, the more I thought about it, I thought maybe it would be a better time to do it while I am unemployed so that I can heal without it being an issue at work and in public. I know that there will be some scabbing, what I don't know is how bad and noticeable it might get. So, the hubby encouraged me to go for it. I made my appointment this Monday and went and had it done today!

They look great. They are dark right now but will lighten up and, they already look wonderful!

I had her do it a shade between my natural color and the color I am right now so that I can still go back to blond without looking like a freak.

So, here is how it goes. I drew them in this AM how I like them. She numbed me up with some topical Anesthetic and then she cleaned my brow up and drew it in a bit to get the right shape. We went back to the room where she does the procedure and she "Broke the skin" which was just the most minor little bit of prickly. Basically, if you rubbed sandpaper on your skin, that is sort of what it might feel like. She numbed me a little bit more with the topical and went to work. Breaking the skin hurt more than the actual tattooing. The tattooing itself sort of felt like a feather. It was a little bit more intense on the outer edges of the eyebrow as that part is closer to the bone but, it didn't hurt. I know that you would think that it would but, seriously...I have had 2 body tattoos so, I know pain and this wasn't painful at all.

The procedure...for lack of a better term...took only about a half an hour. I waited longer for the topical to kick in and for her to get the equipment ready, and for her to finish up with the client before me, than the time it took to actually do my brows.

She had me sit up to look at them and they were just slightly off. My left one was shorter than the right one so I laid back down and she extended the left one in towards my nose a little and a smidge on the outside and now, they are perfect. And, she was a perfectionist! I knew nearly right away that I had picked the right girl for the job. She was a perfectionist with drawing them in and then was a total perfectionist when she was tattooing them.

So, after this book...allow me to unveil my new brows. Sorry that I can't get a closer shot but, they came out blurry when I tried.

For anyone out there that is pondering having their brows done with Permanent Makeup...go for it. Just find a place with a good reputation. They will likely have a photo album of their work so you can browse through it.

I look forward to being able to get out of bed and head out without being so embarrassed by my browless face. Even though it will be another 6 months before I can dunk my head under water in the pool because the chlorine can lighten my brows, I look forward to the day that I can do that too! I also look forward to being able to rub or scratch my eyebrows without rubbing, scratching or smudging them and walking around looking like a mess all day. How great is this? Words cannot do it justice!

Update On SkinID...

2009-01-24T15:42:00.007-05:00

Day 24, Sunday February 8, 2009:
Sorry it has been a while since the last time I checked in. I have had some changes in my life that have had me sort of flummoxed and off my game. I can't promise I'm back to keep this up until my 1 month SkinID anniversary but, I'll do my best.

So, it's still great. I have my first pimple right now that actually made it past the gates and has erupted but, I am ok with that. In 24 days, I have only had one pimple make it to the point of a problem? That is magnificent. The dry and flakiness is getting better and better and less and less. My skin looks smoother, healthier, it glows more and everything is improving on a day to day basis. I love my SkinID.

Until the next time...

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Day 12, Tuesday January 27, 2009:
Not bad today. And, for a day when I used the 32, color me a little impressed. Things seem to be settling down. Don't get me wrong, I still have some flaky patches but, not as bad anymore and my makeup continues to go on and stay on better and better. No more acne. No more blackheads. Just overall better skin and getting better.

As usual, see you tomorrow!

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Day 11, Monday January 26, 2009:
Since I didn't use the 32 last night, my skin was much more moisturized today. My makeup didn't crumb and cake anywhere. So, I do notice a favorable difference between days when I use the 32 and days when I don't. That being said, I notice a difference almost on a daily basis anyway, and usually in some favorable way or another.
Anyway, things continue to look better and the two strange breakouts that started Sunday are already starting to heal.

See you tomorrow!

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Day 10, Sunday January 25, 2009:
Today is ok. Not great, not horrible. Towards the end of the day yesterday, my makeup was a little crumby on my nose and chin so, I wasn't thrilled with that. Today I have something sort of red and inflamed on my right cheek and I am not sure if it is a pimple or an angry mole. I'll wait it through for a few days and see what comes of it. Maybe nothing. The rest of my face isn't too bad today. I didn't put any makeup on. Thought I'd let my face and pores breath again today. There isn't too much flakiness today. And it feels good...for the most part. My nose is going through another cycle of flakiness and peeling which I anticipate will happen for the next 2 or so more weeks. And, since our weather is really crazy right now, going from freezing temperatures to warm weather, I can't blame my skin for being a little cranky. I already have sensitive skin as it is. The crazy weather never helps it.

See you tomorrow!

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I am starting a new post for this topic as the other one is getting a bit too long and is now encompassing nearly my entire 1st page of my blog.

Day 9, Saturday January 24, 2009:
Great today! I skipped the 32 again last night which means a little less flakiness both last night and this morning. There was still enough that I needed to use my brow brush to get most of it off before applying my makeup and there is still a little bit of flakiness leftover but, I think that unless you are pretty close to my face, you can't see it. And my makeup went on really well today. My coverage is better. And, my skin continues to get less and less blotchy and red after each day. Still no new pimples. This is the longest I have gone without at least one new and one old pimple. Usually, I might have between one and 3 pimples in various stages of coming or going. No sooner would one be nearly healed and another one or two would be emerging. Needless to say...but I'll say it anyway...I am thrilled with my SkinID results. Minus the flakiness, I couldn't really ask for much more. I do have a few fine lines that I would like to see disappear but, I can tolerate them and, who knows...maybe once my skin is more moisturized again, maybe those will be a little less noticeable too.

See you all tomorrow!

Water Conservation At Its Best...Or Most Adorable!!!

2009-01-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

With temperatures below freezing in my area, we have been letting our faucets drip to prevent our pipes from freezing. That always bugs me a little, especially since we live in a state with a severe drought. But, no worries...It is Marti to the rescue! My precious, fuzzy little resident water conservationist!

Update on SkinID...

2009-01-22T18:05:00.001-05:00

Day 8, Thursday January 23, 2009:
Better still today. I tend towards red blotchiness and, that redness is getting less and less and better and better with each passing day. It's not perfect and, I don't expect perfection but, it is better.
I still have flakiness which is still worse at night right after the regimen than it is in the morning but, it seems to be getting a little bit better. And, I used the 32 again last night so, tonight I won't be using it in an effort to make sure that my skin continues to get used to the Benzoyl Peroxide and the Salicylic Acid.
There is no new acne and all of the old breakouts are totally healed. I'm just waiting for the scarring to fade more and more every day, as it has been. And, my skin is softer and smoother...even with the flakiness. It doesn't feel as dry as it did at first, right after using the regimen. So, I am definitely seeing improvements all across the board and I look forward to seeing what has improved each morning!
Check back tomorrow!

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Day 7, Thursday January 22, 2009:
I called an expert at SkinID yesterday, as I said that I might, and he suggested that I only use my 32 (my Anti-Acne blend) every other day for a little while. He said that I will experience dryness and flakiness for the first 2 to 4 weeks as my skin gets used to the Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid that is in my regimen. And, to explain a little about what I use, I have 3 steps to my regimen. One is the 14 which is my personal number based on my evaluation for my specific skin problems and needs. That first step is the cream cleanser which I use to wash my face. It features exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids and it helps to reduce the redness.
My second step is the 32 which is the Anti-Acne Treatment and it has Benzoyl Peroxide which kills bacteria, takes care of any breakouts and prevents any future acne.
And my third step is the 72 which is Hydrator. It is a water based gel hydrator that helps to keep the skin moisturized without clogging my pores and it helps to treat acne before it emerges.
In my kit, they also gave me a spot treatment which I used every night until last night on my chin and on the one new pimple that was trying to emerge for a few days and, it worked wonders. I can't recall the name of that spot treatment right now but, I will try to remember to let you know what it is next time I have it in my hands.

So, today I feel better than I did yesterday. I still had flakiness and dryness last night and this morning but it was somewhat less and, my skin looks a little more moisturized today. So, I will only use the 32 every other day for a while and let my skin get used to the Benzoyl Peroxide and the Salicylic Acid. Otherwise, my acne on my chin is completely healed with very faint scars left and I am hoping those will fade over time but, they are tolerable so, either way...I am just happy that I don't have any current pimples.

Check back tomorrow!

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Day 6, Wednesday January 21, 2009:
Last night was a little disheartening for me. My skin was really dry and flaky and it was a bit disturbing. And, as far as today goes, my skin is still pretty dry and a little flaky but, not as bad as last night. All this being said, I am still pretty happy with my results for a couple of reasons. First of all, even though I live in the South, our winter has been pretty bad this year. Below freezing temperatures, even into the low to mid-teens, means the heater is working overtime, drying out my skin from head to toe. And, I always suffer from winter skin (dry, dry, flaky, flaky). So, I am not surprised that I am suffering some extra dry, flakiness with my SkinID regimen. Before I even started using Proactiv my face was a little flaky in some areas. Not as bad as it has been with Proactiv and SkinID but still flaky and dry.

Another reason I am still pretty happy with my day 6 results is because my acne is still better today and no new breakouts. I am still battling the one pimple between my nose and cheek but, it is almost healed and, by now it would have been a nasty little mess if I wasn't using SkinID so, I will not be complaining.

I might either call or email one of SkinID's experts to see if they have something that I can use to help moisturize my skin a bit more. Or, they may have a suggestion as to how I can help combat the flakiness and the dryness. Until then, I can deal with it and I look forward to my face continuing to get better and better.

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Day 5, Tuesday January 20, 2009:
Wow! Color me even more impressed today than I was yesterday by my SkinID results! The dryness and flakiness is almost gone and is completely gone in some of the other areas like the spot between my brows and my chin. And I am still only in a small battle with one pimple between my nose and cheek. The acne on my chin is healed and the little bit of scarring continues to get lighter and lighter and I think soon, it will be completely gone! I can't wait! My makeup goes on easier, smoother and covers better. I am thisclose to actually being a little proud of my skin now. I can't believe how much I look forward to washing my face at night and getting up in the morning to see how much better my skin is. I am thoroughly looking forward to tomorrow's results!

Till tomorrow!

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In an effort to help all of you follow along, I will write my SkinID progress on the top of this post so you don't have to scroll down. At least until I find a better way to do it.

Day 4, Monday January 19, 2009:
Still pretty great. I have one newly emerging pimple growing on the left side of my nose where my nose and cheek meet. I haven't really been treating that area too much as my chin tends to be my worst area. But, I have no worries that my SkinID regimen will be helpful.
Otherwise, things continue to get better and better and I continue to be more and more pleased. Even the dryness and flakiness is somewhat less today than it was yesterday. And the acne on my chin is even more healed today than yesterday. My nose looks better too. I didn't put any makeup on today simply because I am being a little laid back (or lazy) today.
So, I continue to feel good about what SkinID is doing for my skin and I can't wait to see how I feel about my face tomorrow!

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I have decided to keep sort of a running day to day record of my SkinID regimen and how things are going for me. At least, I am going to try to. I may miss a day or more here and there. But, I am so pleased today that I wanted to share it with you and I thought that something like a diary might work. So, without further ado, I give you today's results.

Sunday January, 18, 2009:
First of all, I only do the regimen once a day. They recommend you use it twice a day but, I have never done that and with stuff that tends to dry your skin out, I am not about to start now. So, I use it at night when I get ready for bed. I still have some resulting dryness and flaking but, as my face also tends to be a bit red, it is actually not as red as it normally is. My skin also feels a little tight and somewhat uncomfortable after I wash it and use the other 2 products. But, by the time I wake up in the morning, most of the flakiness is gone as it might brush off as I sleep and, my skin isn't even a little uncomfortable anymore. And, I was able to either rub the leftover flakiness off of the few areas, or brush it off with my eyebrow brush. The three areas that are flakiest for me right now are to the right of my nose, all over my nose and on each side of my brows. But, compared to how bad it was when I was using the Proactiv, it is probably 80% better, or more. It really is less red and, some of the areas that were really flaky before, aren't flaky at all anymore. Also, my makeup goes on better and stays on better. It also looks better. And, the coup de gras...my acne. It is much better. Even the two new ones that broke out a day ago. They are nearly healed. The little bit of scarring that I had is lightening up and getting better. I also have a trouble spot between my nose and upper lip and that is entirely healed. And the pores on my nose are getting smaller and smaller by the day with no more blackheads. Once the flaking heals on my nose, I can't imagine how thrilled I will be.

So, to say the least, I feel really confident and happy with my day 3 results of my SkinID regimen. I only hope that things keep improving and that I continue to be able to give such glowing reviews.

Check back tomorrow for my day 4 results!

Don't "Represent" Me With Your Opposing Opinion...

2009-01-22T13:20:00.002-05:00

I am annoyed...to say the least. A major car company wants to put a dealership down the road from my subdivision. My hubby and I own 2 cars from this company so, we are thrilled that they will be much closer to us now so we don't have to go so far when we have to go get maintenance. But, my subdivision is bitching up a storm about it. The dealership will be down the street from a school and they are concerned for reasons, such as...many cars with gas in the parking lot, a loud PA system, other potential hazardous materials, car deliveries coming in during the times that school is starting and being let out, and traffic. Whatever! First of all, traffic? Really? What dealership ever has an abundance of traffic more than the usual mini shopping center or office park which are the other 2 possibilities for that location? Gas in the cars? Seriously? Ummmm...correct me if I'm wrong but, there is a parking lot outside of the school where faculty parks their cars. Those cars have gas in them too. I don't get their point there. As far as the PA system, other hazardous materials and car deliveries...the dealership has already addressed that issue and says that none of that will be a problem. And, I am sorry to say this but, it is up to the responsibility of the school to make sure that the kids, during regular school hours, are where they are supposed to be instead of out putting their hands in hazardous materials, which the dealership says they won't have on-sight.

So, here is where my big issue is. There is a meeting set to discuss this issue and my subdivision HOA Board says that they will be at that meeting to "represent" my neighborhood's opposition to the new dealership. WTF? When did you come to my door, put something on my door or in my mailbox, or call my house to ask me for my opinion on the dealership? I own one of the nearly 550 homes in this subdivision and I am pretty positive that if you took the time to poll all of the residents, not everyone would agree with you. Not everyone would have an issue with the dealership. There are plenty of cars in the subdivision that were manufactured by that company that would benefit from having the dealership and their repair and maintenance center much closer to them than the one we have to go to now for service. What right do you have to speak for me? Guess what...YOU DON'T! I don't oppose the dealership and I don't appreciate you assuming that I do oppose it just because some of you are in a snit about it.

Do me a favor...DON'T DO ME ANY FAVORS BY REPRESENTING ME. I might represent myself.

Why? I Was So Thilled...Till Now...Adding to the Beyotchiness :(

2009-01-21T15:54:00.002-05:00

My opinion hasn't changed yet. What little I have seen of Natalia Livingston's new character, Rebecca Shaw, is that I dislike her as much as I disliked her character, Emily Quartermaine. She had a brief scene in today's episode of GH and, instead of annoying me with her panting like she did when she played Emily...or as I used to call her character, Phlegmily...I know, ain't I a Bitch...she annoyed me with her gum chewing. First of all, chew your gum with your damn mouth shut and, if you have to chew it with your mouth open like you are a cow chewing cud, simply because you think that "Bad Girls" chew their gum with their mouths open, do try to do it without snapping and crackling it. That is ANNOYING! And, I say that she seems to be chewing her gum with her mouth open because she thinks that is how a "Bad Girl" chews her gum, because, from the short scene I saw her in today, it seems that her new character, Rebecca Shaw, is a "Bad Girl". Woop-ti-doooo!

So, to recap, I can't stand Natalia Livingston and am borderline furious at TPTB (The Powers That Be) behind the scenes of GH. And, that is naming them kindly. I prefer to call them TFUIC (The F&#k Ups In Charge) because...well, given how much they have been ticking off their fans over the past many, MANY years, that really is a very appropriate title.

Ok...Thank you for listening. I felt an urgent need to get that off my chest!

Am I too opinionated? Oh well...they're my eyes and it is my TV and...well, I don't really have a great way to finish this sentence other than...if you don't like my opinion, please don't go away mad. Read another, more preferable post! Hehehehe!

A New Meaning For The Term "Spooning"...

2009-01-21T13:36:00.004-05:00

There is no end to the nauseating sweetness that these two display all too often.

Why? I Was So Thrilled...Till Now...

2009-01-20T12:23:00.002-05:00

I can't stand this actress. Her name is Natalia Livingston and she played Emily on General Hospital before they killed her off of the show a little over a year ago. Then, she spent another 6 months, give or take some, playing her guy's hallucination. When she finally left, I was so thrilled. The girl is really annoying to watch. She can move 3 inches in the room and start panting. Perhaps she has Asthma. I don't know. But, she really needs to stop panting before, during and after every line.

Anyway, you may be asking...what has you so irritated Justbloggin? Let me tell you! She is back. She isn't back as Emily because that character is as dead as a doornail. I don't know, just yet, what her new character name is. I, frankly, don't care. I seriously can't stand this actress and am thisclose to calling my nearly lifelong relationship with GH off. Basically, the only thing that has kept me watching of late, is the character of Damien Spinelli played by Bradford Anderson. He is a breath of fresh air on the show. He is funny, quirky, charming, sweet and unlike any other character they have, or have had on the show. Granted, there are a few other characters that I enjoy watching on the show but, very few. If they were to get rid of Spinelli, I would stop watching the show. Especially now that Natalia Livingston is back on it.

I am thoroughly irritated that she is back. And, I would imagine that I am not the only one as I know a lot of fans of the show disliked her as much as I did. Way to say FU to the people who help keep your show on the air! Way to let us know that you don't give a damn what we think and what we do and do not want to see. I sure hope the ratings don't take a dive now that you have slapped a rather large amount of us. Good luck with your decision. Spinelli keeps me watching. I hope there is at least one other person on the show that keeps all of the rest of the Natalia Livingston non-fans like me, watching.

Loving It...

2009-01-20T12:05:00.002-05:00

Showtime has another new original that I am already completely smitten with. The show is United States of Tara and it airs on Sundays (check your local listings).

In case you are unfamiliar with this show, Tara has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) which means she has multiple personalities. In the first episode, we met T and Buck. T is a trashy, flirty, trampy teenager who Tara's daughter, son and hubby love. She is fun to be around and their favorite of all Tara's alters. Buck is a lewd, crass war vet who the family tries to treat with kid gloves as he can be a bit of a firecracker and has a hair trigger temper.

The family embraces Tara's alters and her disease as they would rather deal with Tara and her alters than Tara on the meds that controls her disease.

This show is engaging, tragic, novel and hilarious and I loved every second of the first episode.

Hesitant But Optimistic...

2009-01-17T18:08:00.003-05:00

I just sent my Proactiv kit back today for my refund and am 2 days into my regimen with SkinIDNeutragena. Thus far, I like it. My skin is still flaky but, I can see the direction it is headed and a light at the end of the tunnel where my skin will look much healthier. SkinID really does give you a more comprehensive evaluation of your skin type. They ask many questions and give you more options to explain your specific problems, down to where your problem areas on your face are. I feel like they do ask enough questions of you to truly get at the heart of your issues. They even break down each type of acne and you can chose from a picture and written description, which types of acne you have. I think that as specific as they allow you to get, allows them to customize your necessary regimen. Just saying you have combination skin doesn't do it. Just saying you have acne doesn't cover it all. I really am a little more optimistic about SkinID, after only 2 days of use, than I was with Proactiv after 3 days of use. It even seems that the dryness and flaking is less than it was with the Proactiv. And the pores on my nose are so much smaller with far less blackheads. Even the acne breakout that I had 2 days ago on my chin is almost cleared up.

So, I do hesitate to give such an optimistic review this early into my regimen and use of SkinID. But, we'll just have to see if it continues to get better or if it is just the calm before the storm that seems to always happen when I first start using a new face product.

I am encouraged by the fact that they say that I should see clearer skin pretty early and even faster than Proactiv.

Wish me luck. I could use a confidence boost and having better skin would go a long way.

I am sure I'll be back with either an enthusiastic thumbs up, or a frustrated thumbs down in a week or so. Until then and for now...I'm giving a sideways thumb that is angled slightly more upward!

I'll Take "Things You'll Never See In My Home" For $1,000 Alex...

2009-01-16T17:26:00.001-05:00

This is disturbing and adorable, all at the same time.

Rat + Cat

Some Product Reviews...

2009-01-14T15:37:00.002-05:00

I am a product junkie...a little bit anyway. If I see a commercial or an infomercial for something that looks like it might make little parts of my life easier and run a little bit smoother, I might be inclined to purchase it and give it a shot. Not always. I am not a nut about it. I can, and have, ignored those infomercials that can sometimes be very hard to resist. But, on occasions, I find myself unable to ignore them. Since the new year, I have tried three products which I want to discuss with you now.

One of them is 30 years old and has always been intriguing to me. It is Proactiv Acne Treatment. I don't have the worst acne ever but, my chin is a bit of a battle ground for me. The problem is that I have very sensitive skin. It tends to dry and flake and be blotchy and red. And, it is the worst of combination skin. It is oily and dry, and sometimes, it is both in the same spot. I know. How is that even possible? If my skin could talk you could ask it but, since it can't, all I can say is that it is what it is and there is nothing that I have ever found that has been successful at treating it without causing me pain, discomfort and embarrassment. But, for more than a decade, I have considered giving Proactiv a shot. Well, I broke down and did just that. Thus far, I am not entirely thrilled with the outcome. My skin is redder, flakier and more irritated than it usually is. As far as the acne on my chin, I can't tell if it is helping that problem any just yet. I seem to be getting a new zit every day but, almost as soon as it is starting, it seems to be going so, maybe it is helping. But, what good is that if the rest of my skin looks and feels like heck? About the only part of my face with any bit of good results is my nose and even that isn't great. It just seems like I have smaller pores and less blackheads on my nose now but, it is redder than usual and a bit flaky at the tip of it. So, I will continue to use it for a little bit longer but, if I had to guess, I would say that I will be returning it soon enough and getting my nearly $50 back.

That being said, it doesn't mean it won't work for others. It just means that I have really overly sensitive skin and Proactiv is proving not to be as effective and right for me as it is for the plethora of celebrities and average Janes that have used it over the years.

Product #2 was the Smooth Away Hair Removal. They are these fine grain pads that you stick to a pink rubber tool and you are supposed to be able to quickly and painlessly rub and buff your hair away by rubbing in a circle wherever you want to remove hair. It is supposed to remove the hair and exfoliate in the process. And, it is supposed to do it pretty quickly. In the time that it took me to remove the hair from a 2 inch diameter section of my leg, I could have shaved all of the hair off both of my legs, bikini area and under arms and, probably gone on to shaving someone else's body parts too. Not to mention...but I will, when I used Smooth Away on my bikini area...OUCH! I ended up with red, inflamed skin and something worse than razor bumps. I returned it promptly and got my money back. I don't know if there is a specific hair type or color that it is more effective on. Perhaps the more course your hair is, or the darker your hair is, the better results you will have. And, maybe it will work wonders for others. It just wasn't right for me. The only real good thing about it was that, while it is marketed on TV in infomercials, you can buy it at Walgreens and, you can get it cheaper there too so you won't waste money on shipping should you have to return it.

Finally, product #3 was a winner. I hate to clean. Anything I can use to make cleaning easier and quicker is a blessing to me. And, if I can make it easier, quicker and less expensive, even better. So, I bought the Shark Steam Mop. And, again, I didn't have to order it online or over the phone because they also sell them at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I love it. Granted, I can't use it on my hardwoods because it is really a beast to push on them for some reason, I love it for my tile in my bathrooms and laundry room. All it takes is tap water and it comes with 2 washable pads. It has done wonders for the Hellacious floor in my laundry room. We keep the dog bowl and the kitty litter box in there so there is quite a bit of dirty traffic in there and that floor has always been a pain for me to keep clean. Now, every time I walk past it I have to stare at it and smile with pride that I finally have a clean floor that seems to stay clean longer. The only thing I am not crazy about with the Shark Steam Mop is that I have to plug it in which means working around a cord. But, I can tolerate it if it saves some money on cleaning fluids. For my hardwoods I use the Swiffer Wet Jet. I love that thing too but, with 3 less rooms in the house to use it on, that means the cleaning liquid and the pads that are necessary for the Swiffer Wet Jet will last 3 times longer costing me 3 times less money.

So, there you have it. My 3 big product tests of 2009. At least for now. Who knows what I might see later down the line and what may become my favorite product ever...or least favorite!

I hope you got some useful information here. Just make sure to take my opinions for what they are worth...just my opinions.

Let Me Count The Ways...

2009-01-14T00:32:00.002-05:00

Oh Wentworth Miller how will I miss you on Prison Break? Let me count the ways.

1. I'll miss your beautiful face on my TV every Monday night.
2. I'll miss daydreaming about your beautiful face on my TV every Sunday.
3. I'll miss wiping up my own drool for an hour every Monday night as I watch you on my TV.
4. I'll miss wishing Monday night would hurry up and get here so I can get lost in your hotness on my TV.
5. I'll miss wishing I could be Sarah just once, every Monday night.
6. I'll miss wishing I could be any one of your fellow cast members so I could bask in the hotness that is you.
7. I'll miss wishing I could be any member of the crew and/or staff that works behind your scenes....oops...I mean behind the scenes of Prison Break.
8. I'll miss wishing I could be your jeans, your shirt, your socks...pretty much anything that gets to be so up close and personal to you. And yea...that includes your boxers.
9. I'll miss wishing I could be 9:00 PM on Monday just so you could fit in my slot.
10. Most of all, I'll just miss you.

I look forward to seeing the last episodes of Prison Break but, I parish the thought of not seeing you on my TV anymore. Please come back soon, to something else. Anything else!

Making Fun of Apple...

2009-01-09T15:43:00.002-05:00

Ok, almost anyone who knows me fairly well knows that I am now a huge fan of Apple. I have a MacBook that I got about a year ago. It is my first Apple computer and I absolutely love it to pieces. It is easy to use. It took a little bit of time to figure out a few of the key differences between it and a PC but, all in all, I am a quick study and picked up on it with ease. And, getting your new Apple computer is a breeze compared to a PC. Basically, you plug the power cord in, turn it on, set it up to your network and go. I don't know if that is technically how it all panned out but, I can say that, if memory serves, my hubby had my Apple up and ready to use in about 5 minutes or less. It even finds your printer on your network on its own.

That being said, I have to laugh at the following video. So, enjoy it! It cracked me up and I am a Mac Head.

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

All The Pretty Lights...

2008-12-23T20:44:00.003-05:00

My hubby took these with his camera and they turned out better than the ones I took and posted previously. They still aren't perfect but, you get the idea. They are of my big, beautiful Christmas tree and my beautiful outdoor lights!

Frizbee Is A Loud Dreamer...

2008-12-12T13:12:00.002-05:00

This is Frizbee. He's a loud sleeper. Really loud. This isn't even as loud as he can get and, this is still pretty loud. He snores. He barks. He twitches. He provides entertainment almost every night simply by sleeping. Enjoy and maybe someday I will get his whole act on camera to share with all of you!

2008-12-04T12:44:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the abundance of pictures but, I couldn't pick which ones or one represented the magnificence of my tree. This thing is a beast. I love it! It was the first tree that caught my eye on the lot. The hubby and I wandered around for maybe 5 minutes to make sure that we didn't find a better tree and we didn't. This was the one. When I grabbed the tree guy to help us get it wrapped up and put on the car, he had some funny things to say about this tree. His first comment was "That's a huge tree." Then he said, "That's a chubby." I believe he even called it a fatty but, I can't recall.

These pictures don't really do it justice. But it is big and beautiful and it has made my entire house smell so pretty.

Thanksgiving Pies

2008-11-29T16:25:00.003-05:00

These are my homemade Apple and Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl pies that I made for Thanksgiving. I am so pleased with how they both came out that I had to share it with all of you. I don't like to brag too much but, while I cook well, I am not the best baker ever. I basically only have a few things that I bake well and these are 2 of them. And, they were as yummy as they were beautiful to look at. In fact, my 9 year old nephew was surprised that I made them because he said that he only sees pies that look like that in "factories". I think he meant bakeries. Either way, it was a heck of a compliment from a 9 year old boy!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

2008-11-20T11:27:00.003-05:00

Just thinking about it makes me...ummmm...nevermind!
It isn't often that the boys of Supernatural have love scenes because the lady fans get all jealous and infuriated with the ladies that share love scenes with the boys. But, Eric Kripke threw Sam (Jared Padalecki) a bone and gave him one Hell of a steamy love scene in last week's episode "I know what you did last summer". Ruby (Genevieve Cortese) and Sam gave into their most primal urges and good Lord was it HOT! Seriously...I watch a lot of TV and have seen lots of movies and I would have to say that that scene was the hottest love scene that I have ever seen! Props to Jared Padalecki because he looks like he would be really fun to be Ruby with! Props to Genevieve Cortese because...damn girl...you must have needed a shower after that scene with Jared. I would have! In fact, I'm not so sure that I don't need a shower now after going back through that scene in my memory! Now I am regretting having deleted that episode from my Tivo.

Alien Cat

2008-11-17T13:08:00.005-05:00

The hubby shot this photo of our resident Alien Cat, Martini. The room was dark and hubby just used the camera flash to light up the room and, WOW, what an effect! Creepy!

Needed My Camera...

2008-11-17T03:18:00.003-05:00

I would swear that I stepped into the USA Channel during my trip to the mall today. The network's tag line is "Characters welcome" and my local mall was definitely living by that one.

From the tragically trendy young couple with a 4 or 5 year old daughter and another on the way. The problem with them was that Daddy needed to learn how to fit jeans for his case of Noassatall. (For those of you who don't get it...No Ass At All). To Steven Cojocaru's lookalike working at a Religious Decor kiosk. Then, the coup de grace was the girl who didn't look any older than 15 who came into the mall in a tank top, short booty shorts, "Boots With The Fur" and a sparkly, bright and shiny, beautiful, wedding-ring-looking gigantic Platinum set diamond ring on her betrothal finger. Her outfit alone was something to behold. But, the fact that it was only 46 degrees outside made it even more difficult not to give her the raised eyebrow to express, without words, "What were you thinking when you left the house like that?" And, given how young she looked, what were her parents thinking when they let her leave the house looking like she was working a street corner? Without a jacket...
There were women with too much makeup and one who nearly let her ladies (yes...her boobies) out to play. Or, perhaps they were trying to make a break for it. Either way...those girls were doing more greeting at her makeup counter than she actually was.

Today was very busy at the mall. Oddly busy for the fact that is was Sunday and, we still have just under 2 weeks before "Black Friday". Anyway, due to the fact that it was so busy, it gave me so much to look at. So many questionable wardrobe decisions.

I wish that I had brought my camera.

And, for the record, I am all for personal expression. I believe that you should wear what makes you feel comfortable. That being said, be prepared for people to laugh at you, raise eyebrows at you, and form opinions about you based on your choice of personal outward expression through the colors, fabrics and lack there of, that you choose to don your body with.

David Caruso...I'm Done With You!

2008-11-11T11:08:00.000-05:00

Update:
I love the interest and enthusiasm that this post has brought! I love the passion that a few of my readers have shown me. Thank you so much for your comments!

I do want to apologize for having misspelled David Caruso's character's name, Horatio Caine. I knew better than to post without making sure I had his name spelled correctly. Forgive my laziness. I try to maintain some professionalism in my entries but, sometimes I slack off and, I did that here. Thank you to "Anonymous" for pointing out my faux pas.

And, last but not least, my hubby sent this link to me...I thought those of you who commented on this post would get a kick out of it too! Enjoy and, again...Thank you so much for your comments! Here is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27426369/

For as long as the CSI's have been on, I have been a loyal fan and viewer. Well, with perhaps one exception. I have always hated David Caruso as Horatio Kane on CSI: Miami. I just can't stand that guy. I really only watched that show because of each storyline. But, as time has gone by, I have grown to despise David Caruso more and more with each passing episode. For one thing, I hate the way he says the name of whichever character he is in a scene with, no less than 3 times per scene. And, the longer the scene, the more times he says the name. Two weeks ago, he said one characters name 3 times in one sentence. ONE SENTENCE! Then, there is the way he shifts back and forth never facing the person he is talking to, head-on. The on and off and on and off thing he does with his sunglasses. Enough! So, the straw that broke this camel's back this week was when he greeted a woman (suspect) with his back turned toward her. He literally stood there and greeted her with his back turned. What the Fedge? Who does that? What, are you too good to have her look upon your face when you greet her? For the past year or more, I have turned the thought of breaking up with CSI: Miami, around in my head. I consider it. I give in and keep watching it. I consider it again. I give in and keep watching it again. But, not this time! Not this week! Not anymore. When you are so distracted by the horrific acting and your own hatred towards one actor or character, how are you enjoying the show anymore? I'm not. Not only that, but I fell asleep under halfway through this week's episode and just deleted it from my DVR without going back to catch the last more than a half hour. I simply don't care to put up with David Caruso's crappy acting anymore. He has ruined a wonderful show for me. Good job dude! And, yes...I was really ticked off when it turned out that he wasn't killed in last season's finale cliffhanger but, I wasn't fooled into believing he really was dead. What bugs me so much is that William Peterson is leaving CSI (the original) and I will miss him dearly. Meanwhile, we can't get rid of David Caruso from CSI: Miami. What gives?

Party In A Box...

2008-11-07T14:36:00.002-05:00

cat n box

You can buy toys that sometimes cost more than they are worth. Or, you can just leave a box sitting around on the floor and there will be hours more entertainment. I don't know what it is about boxes but, I have seen my cats do something similar to this in empty cases of beer, shoe boxes and delivery boxes. Even a pizza box is interesting to a cat.

Had Me Saying Holy S&*$!!!

2008-11-06T12:41:00.002-05:00

I love this show and it is this stuff that keeps me hooked. On the live Halloween episode of Ghost Hunters, Grant Wilson was walking around in the tunnels of Fort Delaware, AKA Pea Patch Island. Suddenly, he was pulled back by the collar of his jacket. You see him react to it by nearly falling backwards but, you also see the collar of his jacket move as if grabbed. It is some freaky stuff! Some of the coolest evidence I have seen on this show.

History and A New Beginning!

2008-11-04T23:05:00.009-05:00

This is a snap shot, from my TV, of the moment Wolf Blitzer gave us California's numbers basically proclaiming Barack Obama our new President!

From Me To All of You!!!

2008-11-04T17:08:00.001-05:00

Clickity Click...Click Everything...

2008-11-03T20:44:00.005-05:00

Click anywhere the curser gives you the opportunity to...including the light switch on the left hand side of the room. That's my favorite one!

Sorry! As I said before. I like to stay out of the political stuff but, this was too funny for me not to share with all of you!

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Vote!

2008-11-03T18:41:00.001-05:00

The Trees, The Trees, The Beautiful Pink and Yellow Trees!

2008-11-03T17:10:00.003-05:00

These trees are in my neighborhood. They are so beautiful. I am not a fan of Fall or Winter. I don't like being cold but, the beauty of these trees makes it a little more tolerable. Enjoy! I'll try to take more, and better, pictures of these trees sometime soon before the leaves drop.

Tru Blood Meets Twilight

2008-11-03T15:54:00.003-05:00

I have seen minor similarities in the HBO original series Tru Blood and the Stephenie Meyer saga Twilight. Really minor similarities. But, last night's episode "Plaisir D'Amour", gave us one of the biggest similarities. From the start, Sookie Stackhouse has been caught in the middle of tug-o-war between the Vampire Bill Compton and the neighborhood bar owner Sam Merlotte.

In Twilight, Bella is caught between a tug-o-war between Edward and Jacob.

Well, last night's episode of Tru Blood pretty much cinched up a big similarity. Sam Merlotte is special in much the same way Jacob in Twilight is special. Sam isn't just a man who owns a popular bar in Louisiana. He isn't just a man at all. Jacob isn't just a teenage boy at all either. Jacob is a werewolf. Sam is the friendly neighborhood stray dog. I love it! I love that we get to see the tug and pull between Vampire and Dog for their lady love like we read the push and pull between Jacob and Edward in Twilight.

Basically, Tru Blood is a dirtier, scarier, more violent, sexier version of a very dirty, scary, violent and sexy Twilight. Tru Blood is written for adults while Twilight is written more for the teen crowd. But both of them have me spellbound! Even all these months since the final book in the Twilight series, I am still as spellbound by Stephenie Meyer's saga as the day I first cracked open that series.

AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

2008-11-03T01:41:00.000-05:00

more animals

2008-10-31T01:42:00.001-04:00

Myspace layouts

Marti and Frizbee Have An Unnatural Love...

2008-10-30T20:49:00.004-04:00

This is my first YouTube video. This is the first time I have been able to catch this behavior on camera. I'll try to catch more of it in the future but, for now, enjoy!

Wassup?

2008-10-27T20:20:00.002-04:00

I usually try to stay as clear of any political crap as I can because people don't play nice when it comes to politics and, I don't like to play with those who can't play nice. But, I liked this video. These are the "Wassup" guys 8 years later and, they happen to be pimping my candidate of choice so, here ya go! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! And if you don't, I am sorry but, I am as entitled to my opinion and to my vote as you are! God Bless America!

Has The Holy Spirit Entered These Cats or What?

2008-10-27T01:26:00.003-04:00

Cat Antics and More Cat Antics...

2008-10-24T10:15:00.000-04:00

Comment on this video! More videos at myYearbook

Hmmm...where have I seen this behavior before? Could it be from my 3 silly cats? Perhaps!

He's Carrying The Entire Show...

2008-10-22T16:31:00.000-04:00

His name is Bradford Anderson and he plays Spinelli on General Hospital. I remember watching GH with my Mom when I was younger and seeing it now and then growing up when I would have a day off from school or a sick day. Then, I watched it every other day in my dorm room in college on my soap day...we traded off every other day since my room mate and I each watched different soaps. Anyway, for what seems like longer than not, GH has become the Sonny Corinthos mob story and I have wavered between fast forwarding through most scenes to letting it play but barely paying attention to it. But there is one saving grace on this show. Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) is one of the only reasons that I still watch this show. Him and the fact that I feel like I have invested an hour a day of most of my life, 5 days a week, to watching it and to give it up feels like I would be walking out of a long term relationship without at least putting up a good fight to save it.

Bradford Anderson brings a lot of light, humor, and a breath of fresh air to an otherwise long since stale show. I all but ignore the entire show these days. I do other things while I am watching it. Sometimes I am cooking. Sometimes I am blogging. Sometimes I am even talking to my hubby. I even tinker on my computer. But, no matter what I am doing, whenever Spinelli has a scene, I will drop everything and pay attention. He's quirky and adorable and he carries every single character he is on the screen with. I can even tolerate Sonny Corinthos when Spinelli has a scene with him. As a matter of fact, I used to pretty much despise Jason Morgan as much as I despised Sonny Corinthos. That was until Spinelli came on the scene and now, I actually like Jason Morgan again.

There is really only one other character that I like on this entire show. I like Claudia Zaccarra as played by Sarah Brown. And, in the few scenes that she and Spinelli have had together, I was overjoyed. Frankly, I think they are the only 2 people in the entire cast that are keeping me interested. I do have other characters that I don't mind watching but, if they were to go bye-bye leaving only Spinelli and Claudia...General Hospital would finally be giving me a show worth watching.

So, here's the question...is one person capable of carrying an entire show? I guess so as one person is the only person who is keeping this girl from breaking up with a show I have watched nearly my entire life.

My Own Personal Heck...

2008-10-22T07:13:00.000-04:00

I was watching "Samantha Who" the other night and Samantha provided me with visual imagery that gave me chills. She was set to go to Africa in an effort to better herself by giving to others but, she was stopped cold by the size of the needles needed for her shots and, she found out about the wildlife in Africa. In relating her reasons for deciding not to go to Africa, she started talking about the Scorpions. And, as if Scorpions aren't a little scary enough, she described them as "spiders with knives". Right...because I needed that imagery. I needed to picture the one thing that scares me most with sharp blades. Ahhhhhh! I hate spiders!

'I've Been Re-Hymentated'

2008-10-20T10:19:00.000-04:00

Ok...not me! LOL! Dean on Supernatural has been re-hymenated. At least, he thinks so. Allow me to explain. In last week's episode of Supernatural titled "Monster Movie" he came to the conclusion that, after he was raised from Hell he was basically reborn. He doesn't have any of his old scars, aches or pains so, he figured that he is probably a virgin again. "My virginity is in tact. I've been rehymenated." I know! He cracks me up too! But, not to be out-shined...Sam retorts with, "Please. Dean maybe Angels can pull you out of Hell. But no one can do that." LOL!

And, as usual, the one-liners just kept on coming.

I'm going to back track a little bit here. "Monster Movie" was done in black and white. But modern black and white where everything has more detail without actually having any color. I wasn't sure what I would think about it. I was skeptical at first thinking that Kripke took things a little too far but, it didn't take long for me to get into it and to stop being distracted by the black and white and start enjoying the pure entertainment value of it. As usual, Kripke and crew did us right.

So, back to another favorite one-liner from this episode. Dean was being held captive by Dracula who was obsessed with old movies. So, of course Dracula dressed Dean up as Hansell from Hansell and Gretal. Sam finds Dean just in the nick of time, frees him, gives Dean "Elevator Eyes"...you know, up and down. And says, "Hey there Hansell." Ok..I don't do it justice. So, watch it and see for yourself!

I love this show! Everything and everyone is always so on cue! And, even the quirkier, potential Jump-the-Shark things seem to work somehow! That is true talent!

V Formation...

2008-10-16T16:20:00.000-04:00

I just want to adopt them both.