2012/12/30

We had a baby last night

A friend of ours asked if we would like to watch their daughter last night and of course, I jumped at the chance.  #1 because I love babies...and #2 because I haven't known them very long but really fell for this little doll the first time I met her...and #3... I'm not going to lie to you...I wanted to play with toys! -_-

So Miss Bella came to our house last night.  I think she was a little overwhelmed when she got there because not only was I excited to see her (waiting at the door when Q brought her home) but so were the dogs!  I believe they have never seen a baby before!  They sniffed her all over and wanted to lick her from head to toe but I wasn't having that! 

I got her comfy while Q brought all her toys and her bag in the house.  We walked around and talked about all the rooms and then we played for a little bit.  This was a brilliant idea!  Why didn't we invite a bunch of kids over more often??? 

Then the dogs got to be more over-bearing that I could deal with!  Ugh!!!  We took Bella out to the kitchen where she enjoyed some mandarin oranges.  Q and I talked about how having a little one sure would put some routine in your life.  I agree whole heartedly but there is no doubt in my mind, that that routine would be worth it times a million.

Bella is such a happy little girl.  She smiles at everyone.  Well everyone except Buddy.  I think Buddy's hair is so wild that she didn't know what to think.  He creeped her out for a little while but it wasn't long before he was resting his head on her little legs while she played on the floor later in the evening.

Anyway...I started on dinner while she and Q kept me company.  I fixed us some scrambled eggs and pancakes and let me tell you what...she LOVED it!  That little girl can eat!  I don't know where she puts it (well I do now!)...but she can sure put it away.  And is happy as a clam doing it!

Q and I both decided that we will be on the lookout for a used high chair and walker for her (and she has a sibling on the way) to keep at our house so when she visits, she can have what she has at home.  I was having the time of my life at this point.  Kissing on and loving this beautiful little girl!  I don't know what I would have done without Q there though.  He sure is good with kids!!

After we got done with dinner, Bella needed a bath!  She was covered in syrup and eggs!  I've never known anybody to look good in food until I see a baby covered in it!  Hey, whatever makes her happy!

Since we have such a deep tub, there was no way of me just giving her a bath.  And the kitchen sink was out of the question because we had just piled dirty dishes in there (for my down-time ya know)...SOOOOOO Miss Bella and I took a bath together. 

She had a blast.  It's funny how even babies know enough to suck the water out of a washcloth, dunk it back in the water, and suck on it again.  Too funny.  Of course, this is when we decided that baby shampoo and baby lotion would be a must-have in the house soon, as well as the high chair and walker.  Bella just splashed around and hollered at the top of her voice. 

Buddy didn't like that this "baby...or whatever she was," was in the bathtub with his momma.  At one point, he tried to jump in with us but couldn't make it up and over.  Ha!  What a sight THAT would have been!!!  Bella would laugh at Budha...that's his nickname...and he would cry because he was missing out.  Hilarious!

I had to use something to wash her with so here were my choices..... one of about ten different body washes (for adults) from Bath & Body Works...or scentless hand soap.  Either way I figured it was going to dry her out so we opted for the scentless soap.  After the bath, came the lotion...that good stuff from Avon, ya know.  She was less-than-impressed with us by this time, I could tell. 

I have to tell this because it made me laugh and laugh.  The water was almost out of the tub and Bella was just sitting there playing and watching the water go down when she tried to get up by herself and when she leaned forward, she farted.  She turned her head and looked at me as if to say "Well THAT was rude!"  And the smell!  How do little people like this have such a smell???

So by now the pajamas were on and we could retire to the livingroom and I could get the dishes done.  That worked for about a minute and a half.  Wherever I went, Bella wanted to be there too.  And she wanted me to hold her.  This isn't a new concept to me at all, after all, I have a hundred nieces and nephews, but what did throw me off was that she CONSTANTLY wanted me. 

The first time I met this little girl, she would look at Q and just smile at him.  She really like him.  And he would sit and hold her and she was content.  Until she would crawl over to me.  Then back to him.  I guess I was just caught off-guard by someone in my own home wanting something to do with me!  JUST KIDDING QUINTIN!!! 

Kinda... hehehe

So the dishes eventually got done.  Bella would stand at the door of the dishwasher and hold onto it to stabilize herself.  She wants to walk so bad so it won't be long now.  Quintin was able to help out a little bit as well, while she helped me do dishes. 

Kitchen is done.  I go in and sit on the livingroom floor and get out ALL the toys that Bella brought with her.  And believe me, she brought A LOT!!!  We played with each and every one and I read her Baby Bible to her.  She's got a great attention span for an 8 month old!

Achoo!  And immediately follow that was another, Achoo!  A stream of snot hanging out of that poor girls nose!  Of course we all know what I did.  I gagged.  Q laughed.  And he got the joy of wiping her nose.  Even if she didn't like it too much.  BUT she is probably the most tolerable baby I have ever seen when it comes to wiping their nose.  I've seen far worse that what she did!

We got up in the rocking chair and were sitting there talking when it hit me.  That smell!  Again...how DO they get that rotten stench??? I mean, their bodies are S-O L-I-T-T-L-E!!!  "It's your turn Q.  I closed the diaper after the bath."  And I left him to do his duty!  Hahaha great choice of words there.

I went to the computer desk and apparently THAT was the WRONG thing to do!!  Bella cried and cried and cried.  I thought she was mad because she had shat herself and had to be cleaned up.  Nope!  Turns out she was pissed at me for leaving her.  Even by this time we had picked up on her sad cry and her angry cry.  She gets red right between her eyebrows when she's pissed. 

But even pissed off, she's such a sweet soul.  Her eyes seem to ask me so many questions so I just fill her little ears with lots of random answers.  Oh don't worry.  It's not THOSE kinds of answers.!

So back to the chair I went with Miss Bella on my lap.  Sitting wasn't pleasing her so I stood.  And she liked that.  But I didn't want to just stand around.  I was tired and so I gave her to Q.  He had Tucker on his lap so that held her attention JUST LONG ENOUGH for me to leave the room.  And then she started crying again.

Q gets her a bottle ready and lays on the couch with her.  Next thing I know, it's silent in there.  "You aren't putting her to bed yet are you?  It's only 8:30!"  Too late.  She was asleep.  SHAT!!  He picks her up to take her upstairs and she is immediately awake.  The three of us go upstairs and put her in the pack-n-play...that her mommy said she would hate...and guess what, she did hate it!  HA! 

Q was persistent though.  He stayed upstairs with her for about 30 minutes more.  She wasn't crying but I could hear that she wasn't happy about being up there and she wasn't going to sleep anytime soon.  I told him to just bring her down and maybe we could tire her out.

More play time and then guess what.  Yep!!  More stinky time!  Oh gross!  Must we play this game a second time Miss Bella???  I swear just thinking about it makes me smell it again!  And I showered this morning and put on clean clothes so I know I didn't bring it with me!  So anyway, I got poopy pants duty that time.  That little girl sure doesn't like being laid down for anything unless she's READY to be laid down.  Wow! 

It was 10:15 and Q was trying to get her to lay on the couch again.  I knew it would be no use since she would just wake up again when we took her upstairs so me, Miss Bella, blankie, bottle & giraffe went upstairs. 

Now I have to tell you about this giraffe.  It was the coolest thing!  It's probably been around forever, but since I have no kids, how would I know???  It has this "sleep" button on it and when you turn it on and push sleep, it makes a breathing sound.  Not very loud but just loud enough. 

I laid Bella beside me in bed and turned on the giraffe.  She laid there and drank the rest of her bottle before falling asleep and all I could think was, "I can't sleep on my left side and that giraffe is going to keep me up ALL night!  How does that put anyone to sleep? It's SO loud!!!"  Oh well, I will turn around when Q comes to bed.

It's 12:27 and Bella can't find her binky so she fusses a little bit.  That's when I notice Q is in bed.  Whoa, that damned giraffe put me to sleep and now my arm is killing me!  Ha!  What a night we had.  Q was no help to me in the wee hours as he likes nothing more than his sleep.  And that's ok with me because he was such a great help last night.  I sure couldn't have done it without him. 

Thanks babe, I love you so much. 

All-in-all, our night with Miss Bella was a lot of fun.  And we are going to have more fun times with her and her mommy and daddy.  She needs to come up and spend the night and be spoiled some more though. 

I'm so glad I don't have children.  I was definitely cut out to be an aunt and that's it.  Thanks Alisha and Galen for sharing your sweet, precious daughter with us!  We really love her!
 

2012/12/28

Cousins

It would seem I am feeling chatty today and of course, nobody to chat with at the moment!

Lately, on Facebook, I have been noticing a lot of pictures of kids and their cousins.  Whether it's for Christmas or just spending time together.  It got me thinking (look out, this can be scary) about my nieces and nephews and how they all get along good and are friends.  From the time they were little to now, as adults, they all get along good.  I love that so much.  (Oh a lesson I could take from that!) 

When I was younger and we had little kids running around our house all the time, I didn't really even think about the relationships these kids had or would ever have with each other. 

This, in turn, got me to thinking about my own cousins and the relationships I did or didn't have with them.  I had cousins that I saw almost every day and I had cousins that I only saw once a year (and sometimes not that much) at family reunions.  Some lived far far away in distant lands only to be discovered in my golden years!

Some of the cousins that I saw nearly every day have turned out to be like sisters to me.  I'm not saying I don't love my cousins.  I do.  All of them.  Even the ones I don't like.  But the ones that were there to help get me through those little things that felt like huge things, well... bonds were created and those things are just different, ya know?

I have written before about how I always looked forward to my Weed family reunion because I got to see some cousins that I only got to see there.  Lots of times I catch myself thinking about playing hide-n-seek in Grandma & Grandpa Weed's huge home or playing house out in the sheds out back, all the while trying not to get stung by the many wasps and bees.  (I think I dodged a bullet there)

I also catch myself sometimes thinking how I wished we could have stayed closer through the years.  I mean, WHY was that reunion the only time I got to see those kids?  Cousins are so very important in our lives.  I wished our parents could have seen that.  But I'm not placing blame on anyone.  Times were different.  There wasn't the internet to keep us connected.  Long distance was something you paid for "per" call. 

And today, it is nothing to live in Bedford and "run" to Creston (55 miles?) to go shopping, have an outing for dinner, or even visit someone.  When I was little, we only got to see Creston (and that was big for me) when we drove through to get Kentucky Fried Chicken to take to Grandma & Grandpa's house. 

My dad used to take me school shopping out in Omaha and boy did I think that was special!!!  Big roads, big trucks, big stores.....and I thought I was a big shot, if only for a little bit.  We would stop at dad's sister's house and visit,  Maybe stay for lunch.  They didn't have kids my age there BUT they had kids that played with me.  Cousins that made sure I had a good time while I was there. 

They let me beat on the "electric piano" that I didn't know was called an organ.  They took me outside and we played with the collie dog.  Wish I could remember that dog's name.  Sure was beautiful.  My uncle was a photographer and I still have some pictures of me and that dog.  I had beautiful pants on.  Either plaid or polka dot, not sure.  Oh the days of yore!!!

I guess what I am trying to get at is...don't take your cousins for granted.  And don't let your kids take their cousins for granted.  They may turn out to be some of the best friends they will ever have.  I am going to be a little better at strengthening some bonds myself.  Try to keep your memories current and be a friend to them.  I promise you...in the end...it will really pay off!

To all my cousins out there that are reading this.....Thank you!  And I love you.  And who knows...you just might be one of my best friends in the whole world!!!

Worse than spiders?

So the other day I came home from work and let the dogs out to play for a while so that I could sneak in one of my 30 minute naps.  Well, wouldn't you know, I sat there in my chair...exhausted...and couldn't fall asleep.  So I waited for the dogs to tell me they were ready to come in and I let them back in, wondering if I would be able to stay awake until bedtime.  I knew I couldn't but didn't know how I was going to get to sleep. 

I let the dogs in.  Usually when I let them in, they run from the kitchen to the livingroom; up on the couch, down to the floor, up on Q's chair, back to the floor, and then they chase each other around and start wrestling.  That's USUALLY the case.  This particular day of course, Annie did something that was different.  She ran into the kitchen and wanted to stay in there.  The other two dogs ran to the livingroom to do their usual routine.  I told Annie to "get going" and she reluctantly went. 

At the time, I thought it was strange behavior for her but I was so tired, I didn't really care.  Back to my chair and put a blanket over me.  The two little dogs crawled up on my lap and got in position for warmth and a nap.  Annie goes to the couch and curls up into a ball.  I must have been ready for sleep then because I was JUST ABOUT READY to drift off when I feel Annie at my feet.  I look down and she is staring at me, tail wagging fast and when we made eye contact, she looked over to my left. 

I looked to my left and right beside my foot was a mouse trap with a just-dead mouse on it.  I knew it had just died because as I picked it up, I saw the last twitches of life leave him.  Annie was sure proud of herself.  As if she had killed it herself.  The mouse got taken out and thrown in the street and Annie got herself a treat for letting me know. 

So my coon hound isn't really a coon hound at all.  She's a mouser.  Oh well. I can take that.  I would rather she be a coon hound BUT I will take what I can get.  At least I know she's good for something.  I don't think she wanted the house to stink.  Makes me wonder what she would have done when we brought that rat home with us from the farm (on accident).  Yeah, there's something you'll only do once.  You learn to check each and every thing in each and every box you bring home.  Yuck!

The end of 2012 is fastly approaching.  I don't know if I'm glad to see it go or not.  I have had a lot of good things happen this year.  One being closer relationships with a few people in my life.  A lot of not so good things happened this year as well.  I lost a woman that was very near and dear to me and although I know she's in a better place, my world is very much not the same without her. 

2013 is already looking to be fantastic for me.  I have so many positive things planned, and some already in-the-works, that I almost can't wait to get started!  Look out world, here I come!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  I LOVE YOU DEARLY; EACH AND EVERY ONE!

2012/12/27

Something for you to think about as you go to sleep tonight

Lisa Holst, a columnist for PC Professional magazine in the early 1990's...found in an old text on insect folklore:  the average person swallows 8 spiders per year.  As Holst, predicted, the statement was readily accepted as fact and quickly spread around the internet.  BUT.....IS IT TRUE???  Debbie Hadley says, "you can rest easy, the chances of your swallowing a spider while you are asleep are almost none. And I only say almost none because nothing is impossible, I suppose." 

While reading up on this subject on About.com...this is what I find.  "In order to swallow a spider in your sleep, a number of unlikely coincidences would all have to occur in sequence.  You'd have to be sleeping with your mouth pretty wide open.  If a spider crawled on your face and over your lips (this gives me shivers thinking about it), you'd likely feel it, so a spider would have to approach you by descending from the ceiving above you on a silk thread.  The spider would have to hit the target - your mouth - dead center to avoid tickling your lips.  And if it landed on your tongue, a highly-sensitive surface, you would feel it for sure.  So the spider would have to land at the back of your throat without touching anything on the way in.  And then you'd have to swallow.
But the real bottom line is this:  spiders aren't going to voluntarily approach the mouth of a large predator.  That's how a spider sees us, after all, as big, warm-blooded, threatening creatures that might eat them.  What motivation would a spider have for crawling into your mouth?"

It's my turn.  I DO believe that this is a myth.....deep down inside my cold soul.....somewhere.  And before I go any further, I would like Lorrie to know that I thank her.....from deep down inside my cold  soul...for bringing this damned subject up!  And those nay-sayers out there thought you were just joking!! 

The other day I was rearranging our bedroom and came across more cobwebs than I would have liked to.  Our home is a 1 1/2 story so it has slanted ceilings.....kinda.  Anyway, on one end of the room where the wall comes up to meet the slanted ceiling, is where I planned to put the head of the bed.  I immediately thought about the spiders that made those cobwebs.  And if they were making them there when our heads ARENT under it, what is stopping them from being there when we ARE there? 

Are you still following me?

In my nightstand is a rag to wipe the wall down each night before bed.  Just in case, ya know.  So..... as I laid in our bed the first night after rearranging, I thought long and hard about this spider thing.  This is how I envisioned it.

Imagine yourself one of the "Littles."  You remember that cartoon, right?  Where the Little family lives in a house and only their son knows about them and they get into all kinds of trouble?  Okay well my version is a little different.  You're a "Little" but you're not a person.  You're a spider.  All your family and friends are spiders and you only speak "Spidese."  Now...in the tiny crevices of the home you live in is where you live your life.  If you're lucky.  You have your school over there in that small crack between the wall and the floor.  Your grocery store is that tall building (counters) in what the humans call the kitchen OR if you're lucky, they have a pet and you can get into their food when it's dark. 

Now.....think about these humans you are trying to avoid.  First off, they are H-U-G-E.  They can kill you flat (no pun intended), with their toe!  And sometimes they don't even KNOW they have killed you!  Sometimes you, as a spider, can get lucky, and find a home where they pick you up and put you outside.  Well.....now that I think about that, how lucky is that, really???  They just saved your life but NOW you're outside where the temperatures could be extreme.....you have more elements to worry about now...cats, dogs, racoons, snakes, you name it!  And if that isn't bad enough.....they have just seperated you from your family and/or friends!!!  Oh shat!! 

A spiders life is not for me!

Anyway, I got away from what I was trying to get to.  I don't think these spiders will try to get in our mouths.  I believe they fear us.  Let me ask you this:

If something that looked like a cross between a dragon, a werewolf, a vampire, and a log (who knows how distorted we look to them, right) landed outside your home and just laid there...and SEEMED to be asleep.....would you go crawl around between it's talons and in that big gaping hole that looks like it could kill you?  I'm betting no.  I mean, I AM NOT DOING IT! 

So I am comforted now by the thought that we don't eat spiders in our sleep.  And it helps that I sleep with my face in the pillow, resting on my arm.  My mouth IS open though.  I'm a cronic drooler; so I think the spider would drown before it could crawl up in my mouth! 

MYTH BUSTED!  HA!

2012/12/23

My Disclaimer

Before I get started, I would like to say Merry Christmas to you and your family.  And my New Year's wish for each and every one of you is good health, happiness and unconditional love. 

HAPPY TIME IS NOW OVER. I have thought about it for several hours now and haven't quite decided which way I want to go with it.  So I will just start here and let it take me where it takes me.

If you feel that you want or need to question what I think or what I do, I would prefer that you come talk to me.  Whether it be face-to-face, phone call, text message, email, private message, whatever.  Just come to me.  If I don't want to tell you or don't want to talk about it, I will tell you.  And I won't even be mean about it.  But if you're sincere, I will usually tell you MY SIDE.  But I don't speak for anybody but me

You see, I have some "creepers."  You know the kind I'm talking about.  I have them on my Facebook page, on my Twitter page and yes, even here.  And you know as well as I do, you have those creepers too.  And I don't care really.  Hell, if I didn't want to share my feelings, I never would have started blogging now, would I? 

Here's what really bites my ass about my creepers though.  They don't want to open their own Facebook account.  They don't want to open their own Twitter account.  They wait until their kids, or their spouse, or their grandkids, or their co-workers, or whoever the hell they can get to open it up, and then they pry.  They sneak.  They stick their noses into things that they would have free access to if they would just open their own stupid account.  And then they jump.  On every letter of every word of every sentence of every post.  And they rip it up and laugh at it; because it's about something they don't like or written by someone they think is "stoopid."

In the words of one of my creepers, "I'm not opening a Facebook!  Then all those losers and people I don't give a sh^t about would want to be my friend and I would either have to hurt everyone's feelings or not have any friends."  Oh contrare my little creeper!  You can open your own account and be friends with whomever you please.  And nobody is really going to go over the edge simply because YOU wouldn't be their Facebook friend.  It's true.   You're not anymore special that those "losers" of whom you speak.

As of right now, I am putting you creepers on notice.  I WILL post whatever I want on MY Facebook, on MY Twitter, whenever I want.  I don't post bad things about any person and if I do feel the need to pick someone out, I do NOT use anyone's names.  IF I use someone's name, I do NOT say awful things about them.  I say what I have seen and known to be true. And no matter how you read it, it isn't always "said" in the manner that you "took" it.  B-I-G mistake there.

When I have a question about someone or something they have done, I ask them.  Face-to-face, by phone call, through text message, or by writing an email or private message to them.  Most of you reading this will know this to be true.  If you feel that I have talked about about you or have picked you out for my simple pleasure, feel free to give me a call.  I can't lie about something I have said about someone or about something I did, right?  I think all of us here know I am a little blunt-and-to-the-point.

If you don't like that, don't be my friend.  Don't be on my Facebook.  Don't follow me on Twitter.  Don't read my blogs.  And don't look me in the eye, smile and say "hi."  If there's something I can't stand, it's fake people. 

I would further like to say that I have made A LOT of mistakes in my life.  I feel like the Queen of them sometimes.  But you tell me one person out there that hasn't.  I feel like I shouldn't always have to be the "better" person.  And by not being the better person, that doesn't make me the bad one either. 

There are two sides to EVERY story.  At least two.  If you want to know what I did, why I did it, how I did it, who did it with me.....ASK ME.  And don't go speaking for me either.  I don't care if you're married to me or have been related to me since the day I was born. 

Being a relative, by blood or not, does not give you parenting permissions for me.  It does not give you controlling access over my life.  You go live your life the way you want and I will live mine the way I want.  If you don't like the way I live mine, turn around and don't look at me.  But don't you dare ASSUME you know what I did, why I did it and who I did it with.  Ten bucks says you don't know me half as much as you think you do.

Anything that I have done in 2012 that was so "bad," to anybody has long been planned out.  It was told to my closest friend and confidant four years ago.  ALL OF IT.  She took it to her grave.  She didn't want to be involved and she didn't want to see any of it happen.  And so she didn't.  The timing wasn't quite where I thought it was supposed to be but right or wrong, I made some choices that changed my WHOLE world and I will live with them. 

When it all comes down to it, there is nobody that is going to look out for me except me. 
Not my parents.  Not my siblings.  Not my nieces.  Not my nephews.  Not my friends.  Not my aunts.  Not my uncles.  That's just how life is.  And that's how it is for you too.  Whether you want to admit it or not.

So I will close with this.  Merry Christmas my creepers.  I hope someday you realize how pathetic you are.  That you are so starved for attention, you have to get it through the grapevine; and then wonder WHY people talk???  And as a bonus.....be careful what you wish for.  You just might get it.

PS-To my sister Kathy (OMG I used a name!!!), I would like to say thank you for always being supportive of me.  I hope you feel the same way.  Thank you for asking me "why" even when you think you know why.  It's you and me kid, against the world.  This is gonna be fun!!!  I love you!

2012/12/17

Slow down time

I was going over my blog list and this is blog #118 in 10 months.  That's 11.8 blogs per month.  Not bad.  I wish I had done better.  It hasn't been a year yet so I won't get too down on myself.  Yet.

The cookies are all made.  Platters have all been wrapped.  Deliveries have all been done.  And now I will give you my "low down" on it.

Through this project:
I have met new people.
I have learned about new charities.
I have relived a lot of memories of my past.
I have got to travel.
I have made people smile.
I have walked away from dozens of places with my own huge smile.
I feel good about myself and my project.

There wasn't any "favorite" person that I saw because I saw so many of them.  I missed a few of them as well.  That's the down-side to delivering on a whim.  It's also an upside so they don't know for sure where the goodies came from.  *sigh* So this project...this gift...this ultimate fun that I have had the joy of doing, has it's advantages and disadvantages. 

I wished there was a way to be more anonymous about it but when the leader of the project blabs it around the world (such as this), it's hard to keep it contained.  That's okay too I guess.

If you are reading this and you received a goodie platter, I want you to know that this was not just from me.  It may have been my idea, but it definitely wasn't just from me.  I had people that donated money, platters, ingredients from sugar to plastic wrap to chocolate chips, tags and their time & delivery services.  There were many involved.  And it was FANTASTIC!  It was a very exciting project. 

And yes.  We will do it all again next Christmas.  I ask that you keep your ears and eyes open this year and help us really reach out to those in our communities.  There is always someone that needs a smile on their face.  There is always someone out there that needs to know there are people that care.  Even if we don't know them.

As soon as Christmas is over, me and my group will get started looking for anything and everything we can use for next year's goodie trays.  We are always looking for volunteers so if you want to help, let me know.  I have a couple of people that have already donated money.  I have a couple of people that want to make cookies and/or fudge to donate for the platters.  And remember, if you want to donate something like that (cookies or candy/fudge), you don't have to make an enormous amount of anything.  We will use what we have and make it work. 

And here's the kicker.  I want next year's to be bigger.  Do you think we could go for 200 platters?  Do you think that's too much to ask for?  I will not be using the same list that I used this year.  It has been thrown out.  We will start at zero and work our way up.  I don't want to be the only one (hint hint) putting names in, either. 

If you feel that you and your family are blessed and have had a good year...well, I would bet anything that there is somebody right in your neighborhood that is struggling with something.  We all have our days; our moments.  Let's not forget what WE go through so as to remember what THEY might be going through. 

I am going to be stocking up on flour early this year and am already in search of 2 more freezers.  If you know of anyone that is getting rid of one or would sell it cheap, let me know.  This is the best way to keep my bulk items safe. 

I told my husband that I would be storing 8 bulk bags of flour, 1 case of chocolate chips, 1 case of orange slice candy, 1/2 case of macadamia nuts, 1/2 case of white chocolate chips, 2 cases of brown sugar, 2 cases of pretzels, 1 case of almond bark, 1 case of raisins, a dozen containers of oatmeal, baking soda in bulk, a few baking powders, 1 case of powdered sugar and God knows what else!  If you would like to donate ingredients, let me know.  It is greatly appreciated.  That's just a short list.  I can't think about it right now.

So I got off topic here.  Again.  *sigh*

Now it is "slow down" time.  I hope so anyway.  This will give me time to get caught up on my blogs and maybe even some reading.  I am hoping anyway.  My kindle is feeling neglected.  I have several books just waiting to be read on it! 

I don't know if I will get another blog out before Christmas or not so if I do, lucky lucky you!  And if I don't, Merry Christmas to you and to your whole family.  May the blessings of the Holy Spirit rain down on you.  God Bless!

Is this a cruel world...or isn't it?

I know I'm not the only one in this world that shakes their head and wonders just exactly what the hell was going on in Newtown, CT last Friday.  I can't make sense of it.  I can't wrap my head around it.  How does someone justify something so sick, so..........cruel. 

Cruel seems to be the only fitting word I can come up with.  Why anyone would want to hurt children, I can't fathom.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  It makes me glad I'm not a parent and it makes me wish I didn't have children to think and worry about. 

I have a nephew that has never been a fan of scary movies.  I have ALWAYS thought that was too bad.  I have learned a lot from scary movies.  You never go upstairs if someone if chasing you.  If someone is trying to run you down in their vehicle and you are on foot, don't run down the middle of the lane.  And the ONLY TIME you should ever make eye contact with your killer...is right before you pull that trigger. 

I will always be armed now.  It's obvious and sad that we have to live our lives with weapons attached to us.  How else are we supposed to protect our children?  Protect our elderly?  Although, I have to add that I saw a YouTube video where an older gent pulled out a gun and started shooting the two guys that were robbing the place.  Well done, sir.

I think a lot now about how the schools are implementing "stranger danger" and just basic "safety" in their classes now.  The fact that this is a necessity, again, makes me sick.  I have family members that are teachers and I pray that in the face of danger, they are quick to think and quick on their feet.  I don't know if there could be a 100% way to be 100% safe, but if there is, let's do what we need to do to get them there. 

We need to think of the best ways possible to keep our teachers and our children safe.  Metal detectors in all schools?  What is your opinion on that?  Costly yes, but can we really put a price on our future generations and our teachers that teach them?  Hire guards to stand at every entrance every day of school?  Maybe that's not such a bad idea.  It would be creating stable jobs all in the name of safety.  What is your idea?  What would you like to see implemented in your (child's, grandchild's, niece's & nephew's, sibling's, neighbor's) school? 

When this happened last Friday in Newtown, CT., Facebook became alive with shock, anger, sadness, and even remorse... for the teachers, principal, students, families as well as the shooter and his family.  And we should have sympathy for that shooter to some degree.  Whether he was sick in his head or just plain angry, imagine whatever it was that drove him to that level.  He wasn't thinking clearly.  I think we all can agree on that one.  How could someone clearly think he was doing the right thing? 

Personally, I don't buy the "insanity" plea.  Even when I should.  I have a hard time understanding it maybe.  I don't believe this guy did this because he was "not right in the head."  That is one excuse that has been used once too many times.  This guy...this man...thought this out.  He clearly made horrible choices long before he ever left his home that day. 

I believe this guy was angry.  Anger does some pretty stupid things, I will grant you that.  But never...and I mean NEVER...is it an excuse to hurt ANYBODY physically.  ESPECIALLY A CHILD.  Millions of people saw, heard and read what went on that day.  And it made us ANGRY. But we didn't go out and kill anybody because of it. 

The "bad guy" had already off-ed himself but I am willing to bet there would have been a LONG line of people that would have wanted to put a bullet in him.  Or make him suffer a long, agonizing death.  Or at least that is what we like to think we would do.  When it comes down to it, the majority of us probably wouldn't be able to do that.  But I could be wrong about that.  

I guess the point I am trying to make is that we...the general population...get angry.  But we don't go out and kill everyone that makes us angry.  We manage it.  Some better than others.  Clearly this guy couldn't do that.  I don't believe this is the first time he has just "went off the hook" about something.  

If you have, or someone you love, has issues with anger, get them help.  And do it now.  Because if we don't get a handle on our emotions, this is going to keep getting closer and closer to home.  Eventually it's going to be right in our back yards.  And don't think that because you live in a "safe" place, that it can't happen.  I always used to think car wrecks happened to someone else; until I lost one niece and then almost lost another 6 years later.

I can't tell you WHAT to do and I can't tell you HOW to do it but I can tell you this.  The longer we wait to take control of our emotions and our decisions, the worse this world is going to get.

On a positive note, there is something I'd like to point out about this awful tragedy.  More people are praying for people they don't know.  More people are caring for people they don't know.  More people are standing up, day to day, in protest of terrible things that have happened to people they don't know.  Maybe that's what we are supposed to take from this big mess.  Maybe this is what is going to bring us closer together as a nation.  As a whole.  Maybe it's time we let God back in our schools. 

Before I close this out, I want to urge you to get out there and learn how to protect yourself and those you love.  Do whatever it takes to saves lives, rather than take lives.  Hold your kids close when you hug them.  Tell them in no uncertain terms that you love them.  You don't have to be sappy or crappy about it.  Don't be afraid to kiss your kids.  Even if it embarrasses them.  At least they will know and feel your love.  If you don't have kids, love those around you. 

And I will close with this:  Please tell the teachers that you know, THANK YOU.  They spend the majority of their time with our children; our future.  If you're a teacher and you are reading this.....I want you to know that I appreciate you.  For every single thing you do, to protect and teach our children.   

2012/12/13

A fun day in the life

The following is my days account for 12-12-12:

Exciting day in store.  Going to Omaha to see my nephew, Jake, whom I haven't seen in several years, his bride, Renee, of 5(+) years, and their A-DOR-A-BLE little guy H.  It's a wonder I have slept AT ALL in the past week.  AND...to sweeten the deal... Jake's mom Laurie.  I love spending time with her.  She's a "former sister-in-law" that I won't ever let go of.  She will always be family to me. 

So, I wake up and get ready to go and realize that I have plenty of time before we leave.  It's like 6:15am and I'm supposed to meet Kathy and Sam at 8:00.  Yeah, I was a little excited.  I cleaned my kitchen.  That is something I haven't been able to do for a long time.  At least not to my liking because I had platters, plastic wrap, chocolate chips, sugar, flour, orange slice candy, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla..........oh I think you get the drift!!!.....EVERYWHERE!!! Those are no more.  I can rest my head a little over that now.

I did 2 loads of laundry.  Washed, dried, folded, put away.  I played with the dogs.  Gave them their usual treats after making them do ridiculous tricks for them (who do you think actually does the housework...not me surely).

I was sitting at my desk, organizing and getting all excited about our trip when I hear a loud BANG!  Buddy looked at me and I looked at Buddy.  I stand up and announce....."I'm getting the gun" loudly enough for anybody that could hear ME in a normal tone of voice, should they be creeping around in MY house.  I get the gun...I load it...and I start sneaking around my house.  

Here is what I have found to hinder my sneakiness.  My dog follows me to every room in the house and then JUST as I am ready to jump around the corner, pointing my gun (just like they do in the movies ya know), the dog runs INTO the room with his tail wagging.  Way to announce my arrival Buddy.  Nobody in the kitchen.  Nobody in the laundry room.  Nothing has fallen on the floor.  Upstairs we go.

Nobody in the future master bedroom.  Nobody in the wreck-room that is my future potty domain.  On to the current bedroom.  Nobody.  There's only 1 room left and it's my closet.  Nobody.  What the heck???  I KNOW it came from inside the house.  I decide that I can't worry about this now.  I must get to Omaha.  The burglar...or whatever it was...would just have to wait until Q gets home or until I get home.  Otherwise, the dog it will deal with.

To the gas station for coffee and fuel.  On to the corner to pick up the girls.  And now...away we go!!!  Cookie drop along the way and as we are out in the middle of nowhere, I get the worse stomach cramps you could imagine.  I thought I was going to have to stop the car, get out, and do some sit ups in the middle of the road.  Turns out, I had gas.  HA!  Aren't you glad you read these blogs of mine??? 

We get to Omaha and go to the Farmers (Old) Market.  We joke around about not forgetting to put money in the meters because the last time we were there, we DID put money in the meters and we didn't have to.  We weren't making that mistake THIS time by golly!!  I park right in front of the candy shop and run to the door.  This is one of my favorite places to be in Omaha!  I almost pushed myself right through the glass insert because it was locked.  It didn't open until 11.  It was only 10.  Crap.  The store next door is Tannenbaums and it's amazing.  The said in the window said they didn't open until 11 but the other sign above the door said "Come in, we're open." 

There's a dilemma.  Do we try the door or not???  I tried it and the door magically opened.  It was magnificent.  As it always is.  My mom always wanted a room in her house be Christmas all year long.  She would have loved this store!  I found the things I needed...with no help from Kathy or Sam.  It's hard enough to buy something for someone whom you don't have a clue what their likes or dislikes are without having 2 people follow you saying, "What about this? Would he like this? What does he like?"  It was fun but Sam and I both about peed our pants from laughing.  Literally.  And we had to seperate ourselves.

When we get done with that store, we still have about 30 minutes to wait.  We decided to walk up to the end of the block to use the bathroom at Scooters coffeehouse.  Ended up it was 2 blocks away and away we went.  We relieved ourselves and sat down to a drink and/or snack.  We are all relaxed with our stuff piled up on the floor, the table, the chairs...and I am gazing outside at the stores.  I see a guy pull up in his truck.  He gets out and starts feeding his meter with quarters.  "OMG we didn't put money in the meter!!!"  I've never seen three women react so quickly as we did.  In 2 seconds flat, we had our stuff in the trash, bags and purses on our arms and out the door we flew! 

At the end of the first block, what do my wandering eyes see?  A police car.  Back in a spot.  I told the girls "let's try not to have one of those Parking Wars moments, ok?"  The whole time I'm thinking, "I will knock a bitch out if they take my car."  The closer we get to the candy store, I don't see my car.  Seriously???  And there, I finally catch a glimpse of it.  I almost ran and kissed it but I refrained.  You're welcome.

1 quarter bought us 20 minutes and it was only 10:49.  It would be close but I could do this.  Finally 11:00 on the nose, they open the door.  We rush in and buy this candy that I have to have because I PROMISED someone I wouldn't leave town without it.  Then I had to spend $20 for someone with no knowlege of what the "receiving party" liked or didn't like.  I had to add stuff on a couple of times but I got it.  A police man walks in and my eyes got wide.  Thank God we reached this store before he did!  UGH!!!  I just said in my normal tone of voice, "I put money in my meter."

He bought candy and Kathy schmoozed him a little bit and then he left.  As I am finishing up my purchases, Kathy sticks her head in the door and says (very loudly I might add), "You only have 1 minute left!!!!"  I RUN for the door.  And the meter expires!  I jump in, start the car and have it in reverse before the girls can get their second legs in!  PHEW!!!  Next time, someone else is driving!!

We wind our way through the city and find a Target because we are NOT showing up to meet our baby nephew/great nephew without A PRESENT!!!  Purchases paid for and on to Season's Chinese Buffet.  Where.....this is no lie.....no exaggeration.....Kathy and Sam witnessed someone's underwear laying on the floor.....in front of the buffet.  And to top it off, a lady came over, picked them up, put them IN HER POCKET and went to her table and ate lunch. 

I don't know WHY she had underwear running loose amongst her person.  She was clearly NOT wearing a skirt or dress.  And I don't know WHY she would just put them in her pocket.  I promise you, if I ever have to carry underwear in my pocket...for ANY reason...and they fall out...they are staying there.  I am not even laying claim to them.  No thank you, no how. 

After Sam decides she isn't going to puke her 3 bites of food up (because her pregant stomach doesn't like anything these days), we move stuff and start wrapping the items we purchased for baby H.  How funny do you think we looked pulling scissors, tape and wrapping paper out of our purses?  Guess what.  Not enough paper.  Now we have to go to Walmart because it's on our way.  I'm exhausted already.

To Walmart we go.  We buy paper (and of course a couple of other things) and head to the car.  On top of the truck is where we started wrapping.  And then the wind got involved.   So here I am with my Target purchase, wrapping it in the Walmart parking lot.  I am wearing pink camo pants and a black wind breaker.  The poster child for "The People of Walmart."

We finally get to Laurie's house....wait, did I say house?  I meant mansion.  It looked just exactly like a house when we pulled up.  But then.....I can't even explain it.  It was like something you would only see in a Harry Potter movie.  The house never ended.  Room after room after room after floor after room after floor.  And it was ALL magnificence.  Is that a word?  Magnificense?  Well it is now if it wasn't before.  Laurie, I know you're reading this and I know you're laughing.  But it's true.  Your house is amazing and I'm pretty sure that basement room is in another zip code.

We had sooooo much fun visiting and meeting and playing with and just listening; to every thing they said and everything they did.  I wish I could have made the time stand still.  Sadly enough, I could not.  It was so nice to see Jake again.  He has really grown up to be a wonderful man, husband and daddy.  Not that there was ever any doubts.  Sure wish they lived closer.

And then it was time to leave.  So we head out to deliver these cookies.  Just so happened that the next delivery place was less than 5 minutes from Laurie's.  We were going to sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" to this gal.  She used to live in Bedford and worked for my dad at the Sheriff's Office.  Nobody home.  I think Kathy and Sam were really happy about that because they didn't want to sing any more than I did!  HA!

Dinner at Applebees.  Where the water tasted like crap and people don't have to take care of their kids.  Sam announced that after seeing Harrison and how beautiful and great he is, she wants a boy.  Good luck with that. 

Delivered the last platter of "Omaha cookies" to my friend Annie.  I hadn't seen her in years!!  She looked as great as she always has.  Still looks 12 of course, damn her.  Her and I have a lot in common when it comes to our families so I will be keeping in close contact with her.  Sometimes we need people from the outside of the circle to walk in and just be there.  I hope she knows that no matter what she's going through, I'm right here.  -_-

We made it home safe and sound.  Sam asked me why there was so much traffic on highway 92 last night.  I told her it was because she's pregnant.  Since that's the reason for everything.  She told us that she doesn't feel special because so many women are pregnant right now.  Good luck finding a time when you're the only one preggos lady!  HAHAHAHAHAHA

Got home just in time to start some more laundry.  Quintin doesn't understand WHY we have so much laundry.  I told him that ONE of us (and it doesn't seem to be him) likes to wear CLEAN clothes.  Ugh!  Off to bed I go! 

And how was YOUR 12-12-12?????

P.S. I did leave A LOT out of this.  Like when I screamed at that little old lady for driving

S

L

O

W

Or when I wanted to drag race down the strip (Omaha strip!) and got stopped by a red stop light.

Be very glad I left some stuff out.  Even YOU would think twice about knowing me!

2012/12/09

My letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

First off, I would like to ask that, if the Mayans are right, and we don't make it to Christmas this year, that you could come get me on the 20th and take me back to the North Pole, to live with you.

I promise to bake and clean and will even learn to like those midgets...I mean elves!

As I am suspecting though, those Mayans are probably wrong again so.....make sure to give them an extra special gift this Christmas.  I'm sure it's hard work making a turd of our of yourself.  And this isn't the first time they have pulled this trick on us!

I would appreciate it if you could bring my husband a new drill.  With a couple of rechargable batteries to go with it.

He would also like a new toilet.  And the plumbing to go with it.  While we're at it, he would like some plywood, sheetrock, hard wood floor laminate, and maybe a few nails or screws to play with while using his other toys.

My dogs...Annie, Tucker and Buddy also have Christmas wishes.  You see, they have been really good about me having three Christmas trees.  They don't play with any of them OR the ornaments!  Today I put presents under one of them and they didn't bother those either!!!

ANYWAY...they would like new carpet in the livingroom and on the stairway.  They say they hate the laminate in the diningroom but are willing to compromise.  They just want the chance to play on new carpet and Buddy is tired of slipping down the steps!

So that, Santa, is my Christmas list.  Don't worry about getting ME anything.  I just want to see the joy on my family's faces when they get what they want!

Thank you in advance and I love you!

Shellie

2012/12/07

The best of both worlds

So since I keep forgetting to post the blog that I wrote before the last blog...*breathe*...I will just tell you what it said.  Or at least what I can remember.  Good luck to all of us.

My dog has been having some odd behaviors lately.  Behaviors that he has never had before.  The other night, he went over to the dog kennel that is in the back of our livingroom for the winter (so the outside dogs can come in and be warm at night) and stood in front of it and looked directly above it and started whining.  When we didn't respond to him, he started blatantly crying.  And the crying got louder. 

I assumed he wanted IN the kennel for some reason.  You know how dogs like to smell each others things.  So I opened the kennel and sat back down.  He didn't move.  He stood glued to his spot in front of the door and...still looking directly above it...cried.  I had my back to him so anytime I would turn around and look at him, he would turn his head and look at me as if to say, "Well aren't you going to fix this???"  I can only report that I didn't see anything to fix.

Quintin's chair sits at an angle so he was able to sit and keep his head turned just enough that he could watch Buddy out of the corner of his eye.  He reports that Buddy is looking at something above the kennel.  Weird. 

I got up and moved the kennel.   I don't know why for sure.  I guess I thought maybe he was hearing something...like a mouse...and I could "jar it loose" from wherever it was.  Well, nothing moved and he never wavered on where he looked.  I told Quintin that our ghost must be screwing with him which is weird to me because, like I said before, it had never happened before. 

We let the outside dogs in to play for a little while.  That seemed to make him forget whatever it was he was so interested in.  But those dogs got tired, took a little nap and then wanted to go back outside (it was really nice that night).  So back they go.  Buddy went out for a little while and then he came back in. 

Back to the kennel he went.  And just sat there.  Crying.  And looking at us as if we should be doing something about whatever it was that was making him cry!!!  *breathe*  Finally we just ignored it.  And before long...Buddy came and sat on his hind legs right in front of me.  He looked across the room, in the direction of the Christmas tree (that had been there for a few days at this point) and started growling. 

It just keeps getting weirder and weirder.  The tree has never once bothered him, let alone done anything to be growled at.  It was almost as if he was protecting me from something though.  He wouldn't leave his spot in front of me and he would watch something...in the direction of the tree...and growl.  Finally I had enough.  I walked over to the tree and back.  His tail wagged and we went to bed. 

Grrrr

Before I close on this subject, I want to add what that little shat did to me last night/this morning.  I was exhausted by last night and at 8:15pm, I said I was going to bed.  I woke up a little after 10:00pm and Quintin was not in bed with me.  I guess it felt like it was the middle of the night to me and it wasn't, obviously.  I grabbed my phone because I felt like...at the time...that was way more than I could handle.  I was extremely worn out (I think still asleep is a better way to say it) and I called Quintin.  Who was downstairs.  In the livingroom.  Watching tv.  Still. 

HIM: Hello?
ME:  Are you asleep?(Good one Shellie)
HIM: Nope.  Watching tv.
ME:  Well I just had a dream that you were naked in the bathroom with my sister.
HIM: Oh.  That's not good.  Maybe I should come to bed.

I hung up and fell right back to sleep.  I don't even know if I laid the phone back on the nightstand.  I don't remember him and Buddy coming to bed.  I just remember waking up later and there they were.  To the potty I go.  Then I remember that silly phone call I made and that stupid dream I had.  HA!  I giggled all the way back upstairs.  And then couldn't get back to sleep.  Dammit.

Before I go any further, I WANT TO WARN YOU.  IT MAY GET WORSE.  I don't know how much into detail I can go without making myself sick here.  I'll do my best -_-

At some point...after listening to my MP3 player, I drift off to sleep.  The dog wakes me up every once in a while as he is moving around trying to get comfortable.  At 3am, he wakes me up as he is gagging right beside my head.  All I can think is, "He is going to puke on me."  I jump up out of bed and turn on my cell phone light to see and nope, he didn't do it.  I go back to the bathroom because my stomach is killing me and as I'm sitting there...minding my own business...doing my own thing...not hurting a soul...here comes Buddy...and vomits. Right. In. Front. Of. Me. 

Mucus.  I know it's not his fault.  It's because of his collapsed trachea that this happens.  There's nothing we can do about it.  Then it happens.  He starts licking it back up!  OH MY GAWD!!!  I start gagging.  I know that I better find something or he will be licking mine up as well.  And the thought of that starts bringing anything I have left in my stomach...UP.  I grab the trash bag out of the trash can and set it beside me...as I'm telling Buddy to NOT lick up his vomit...and I lose it.  Thank God I got the trash can in front of me in time. 

At this point, my whole body is shaking...I am freezing to death... and I realize that my husband is sleeping soundly upstairs.  UNFAIR.  I called him.  Hahaha yes I did!! 

HIM: Hello?
ME:  Can you come downstairs please.  I am sick.
HIM: Really?
ME:  Yes

Did he think I just made that up to see if he would do it???  I KNOW that I can't clean up snot or vomit.  And I also know that he can.  Here he comes...and cleans up the dogs mess.  And goes right back to bed.  Thank you dear.  This is why I love you.  Don't worry, I cleaned my own mess up.  MY vomit isn't gross like everyone else's. So I can clean my own up!  HA!

So there.  A partial "left out" blog and a partial "new" blog.  The best of both worlds.  Aren't you glad you live in your house and not mine??? 

Before I close, I want to add a big CONGRATULATIONS to my good friend Kay.  She is a new great grandma to a beautiful little baby boy named Henry.  God Bless you all <3

2012/12/04

This wasn't my next blog

Well, here I am and as the title reads.....this wasn't my next blog.  At least it wasn't SUPPOSED to be my next blog.  But I guess it is.  *sigh*

I seem to be having a bit of difficulty at home with my computer slash internet.  The internet tells me I am connected.....but the computer tells me that the DNA Lookup failed.  What the hell does THAT mean?

I will tell you what that means.  It means that my internet is connected but the gods of higher intelligence are scared of me and don't want me to get out there and spread my Christmas joy.  Those b-tards!

And speaking of Christmas joy...I would like to know if anybody goes out and "Carol's" anymore.  (I don't know if that's the proper spelling.  Don't shoot me if it's wrong.)  Everyday I am watching these Christmas movies on Lifetime and Hallmark and on most of them there is AT LEAST one group that goes out in the snow, dressed to the nine's in warm Christmas attire, and sings Christmas Carols to people. 

I want to be in the movies.  The Christmas movies.  I want to be in the Caroler group.  I want to belt out Silver Bells, Santa Claus is coming to town, Jingle Bells, Grandma got run over by a reindeer........okay that might be a little much but you get my drift.  Does anybody DO that anymore?  Do they go out and sing their hearts out?  I haven't done that since I was a young girl.  And that was with our church group.

I'm not in a church group anymore though.  And I'm not going to be joining one any time soon.  This isn't my town.  This isn't my church.  And this isn't my group.  I'm not trying to be mean.  It's just the truth. 

I wish a bunch of us could get together and make a list of 10...20...50...hell, let's do a hundred...homes slash people to go sing to.  Wouldn't that be fun?  I'm not doing it alone though.  There will be none of that!

I think it needs to snow first though.  What fun is singing in the brown grass???  I can't think of one fun thing about it.  Come on snow, get here already!!!  As I sit here typing this, on television they are gathered around a piano and singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing!"  I don't know if they got the snow in their set or not but it IS New York, so they probably do!  Yep, they do.  And the horse drawn carriage sitting outside the big, fancy hotel. 

Next year things need to be different.  I need to get busy!!!

I absolutely love Christmas!!  The End

2012/11/25

The last memorable Thanksgiving this year

Today we had our last Thanksgiving for the year.  It's always nice when it's over but I have to tell you.....if there are even words.....what today meant to me. 

We went to Quintin's cousin's home where Grandma and all of the cousins and spouses and kids got together for the noon meal.  The cousins have all been so accepting of me into their family and it's been a long time since Quintin has really been a part of it.  I will give that credit to his stupid dead mother. 

The short time that I have known this group of people has been amazing.  It almost feels like (to me) Quintin has brothers and sisters.  And Grandma and Grandpa...rather than being their Grandparents...are like the parents. 

The love between them all is amazing too.  They all have their stories.  Their skeletons, so to speak.  Who doesn't?  Through all the bad "shat" that they have all had to endure...they are so loving; so giving; so generous; so beautiful; inside and out.  When I'm with them, I feel the urge to call my family and have them come meet them because they are really just that awesome.  But then again...maybe I just want to keep them my little secret.  -_-  This is MY family...stay away! 

Anyway, we all brought kick-ass food.  There was turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, calico beans, homemade rolls, corn & macaroni (I'm sure I've forgotten something).  And desserts.  Yes...we can't forget the desserts.  Grandma supplied the homemade cinnamon rolls (that I didn't get ANY of!) and I supplied cookies, pineapple cake & strawberries (because I don't know what to call it), banana delight and a homemade squash pie.  Yummo!

For the first time in my pea-pickin life, I tried green bean casserole.  You know the one.  With the French's Onion Rings on top.  I think I could have just ate the onion rings and been in love but then there's that whole green bean thing.  If they could just make it without that green bean taste, it would be perfect.  Yeah...it was pretty good.  I prefer it without the green beans though.  Sorry Lisa.  It has nothing to do with you.  Your casserole was great.  It's the beans I had a problem with!

The sweet potatoes were really good.  And there wasn't enough.  I couldn't have eaten any more than I did anyway.  I felt like a stuffed turkey myself after just a plate.  Note to Angie...make a double batch next year please!  -_-  Sweet potatoes are something that my family would never eat now.  My parents liked them but my brothers and sisters have no use for them.  I took them one year to Thanksgiving.  I used a recipe from my Diabetic Cookbook but nobody would eat them except for me and Quintin.  Fine by me.  You people don't know what you're missing.  Sweet potatoes CAN be kick ass!

And before I forget!!!  Just want to mention that Lisa is expecting; and no this isn't her first rodeo.  She's been in a couple...at least!  HA!  She is 8 weeks pregnant and holy guacamole is she showing BIG time.  Yes...I pun intended.  I'm pretty sure she's having twins.  She can thank me later.  And her sister.  And her sisters-in-law.  And her grandma.  She can name them teeter and totter.  Whaddya think? 

Let's give her some good name suggestions people.  Flood my boxes with names.  Give me what you got.  We'll have these twins...or triplets...named before she can say teeter totter!! 
-_-  Love you Lisa!!

We had kids running all over the place.  Beautiful, gorgeous kids.  All so well-behaved.  Even when they're tired and cranky.  It's pretty amazing really.  These girls are great mothers to their children.  I'm lucky to know them.  Watching them do what they do though, makes me glad I'm just an aunt and not a momma.  Duct tape.  Mommy staple for Shellie.   Bad Shellie.  Uterus-less here.  And happy as hell about it.  HA!

So I will end this by saying that I totally love this family that I have recently been introduced to.  I can't imagine my life now, without them, and hope that I never have to.  Big love being sent your way kids!  -_-

2012/11/24

Hey pissy pants

Here I am.  I didn't disappear.  Thanks to my great friend Kay for kicking my ass to get back here. 

I feel like there just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done that I need to.  I have a couple of different cookies to make and 60 fun sized loaves of bread and then "my gift" is complete and ready to deliver. 

Everytime I think about it, I get all excited.  Like a child on Christmas morning.  I giggle sometimes and other times, I just smile sheepishly.  Yeah...I need to get out more.  I know.

For the past week, I have been struggling with the crud...or whatever it is...that my husband so graciously shared with me.  Funny how I never even felt bad until I made him sleep on the couch so I wouldn't catch it.  I followed him around with Lysol and never hugged or kissed him.  Damn him.  Why did he feel the need to share???

Next time, I'm just going to spend a week with someone else and leave him to rot.  Hahaha too late for that.  He's already rotten.  I think that's one of the things I love about him most. 

Anyway, on the days I feel bad, I don't dare bake.  For two reasons.  First reason is because I don't want to spread this crap to anyone else.  Second reason is because stuff usually doesn't turn out like I want it to.  Wonder why that is.  I'm still making it with the same love as before.

Good thing I started this project in September.  I did an inventory the other night and the cookie count alone is just under 2000.  Like I said earlier...I'm not even done with them yet!  That doesn't include the bars, the cupcakes or the fun sized loaves of bread and rolls.  *sigh*

And when I started this project, I forgot one teeny tiny details.  Thanksgiving.  Not just the one at my house.  But the one with Quintin's families.  And the need to stop and cook and bake for those.  SHAT!!!  But I did fine.  I think I work better under pressure anyway. 

It's funny how I feel so much better when I'm doing for someone else but if I need to do something for me, I'm too sick and could probably possibly die if I attempted such thing.  Such as laundry; or dishes; or showering.  I pulled a 4 day stink...errrr stint...of no showering or washing my hair.  That was a disgusting little idea that I had. 

We won't be doing that anytime soon.  Or ever.

My sister Kathy, her kids Jackie and Zach and my niece Sam and her boyfriend Shaun came for dinner on Thanksgiving night.  We had SO MUCH FUN.  After we ate, we played "Battle of the Sexes."  That was a riot.  Kathy and I laughed so hard at the fact that the boys couldn't name all 6 Brady children, I thought one of us would surely pass out.  It was close.  Their answer was, "Marcia, Greg, Judy.....Alice?"  Oh shat that was funny!

We all pretty much sucked at it but when I pulled out the game "What the F*ck," us girls decided the boys could be the winner and we would change games.  You wanna talk about HI-LAR-I-OUS!  At one point, Shaun had to read a question to Sam and he couldn't read it because he was laughing so hard.  Now that made it worth the night right there. 

But here's the topper.  I will never ever ever forget this as long as I live.  I couldn't even tell you what the question was or who was being asked BUT we got to laughing and all of a sudden Sam says,  "You have to quit laughing.  I just tinkled." 

More laughter.  Harder and louder.  "Can you guys go in the other room?  I can't get up or I will pee my pants."  As if we could laugh harder.  But we did.  And she pissed her pants.   All over my dining room floor. 

How confused do you think my dog was?????  I could just hear him thinking, "They make ME pee on a pee-pad in the house and SHE gets to do in at the table???"  OMG that poor girl. 

In her defense, she hasn't had a good bladder since her accident.  I think someone's beer bottle went into her bladder while the truck was rolling across the highway, and put a hole in it.  She always pisses herself when she's with me though. 

Aunt Shellie to the rescue.  I just happened to have a pair of old jeans from my skinny days that I have never had the heart to get rid of.  I gave them to her and they fit.  I think she was freaked out because fatty gave her pants that fit her.  They were size 14.  I'm a realist.  I wasn't ever getting my ass back into those pants!!  She liked them so I told her to keep them and love them. 

And she will.  I think I will get her some clothes to keep in my car and at my house for such occasions.  Oh boy....she's gonna need two diaper bags!!!!

Hope your Thanksgiving was absolutely memorable and you got to spend time with someone you love.  Until next time.....keep on keeping on!  -_-