2013/03/26

Surprise

On Sunday,I had to work, and when I was on my way home, I called Q to see if he needed me to pick anything up on my way home.  He didn't and let me know that he was "working on a surprise for me."  Hit the pause button here. 

Immediately my mind thought of several different things.  All of which consisted of me cleaning up after him.  Taking a chance, I asked him, "Is this a surprise I'm really going to love or is this a surprise that is going to require work on my part?"  He hesitates.  Hit the pause button again because when HE hesitates, it can't be good in my eyes.

"I really think you're going to be very happy about it."  Another code for, "Just come home and get to work."  I continue the 5 mile drive and start biting my fingernails.  I don't know why, I just did.  I don't know why, after 4 years, I even bother getting upset about anything or worry, because he's going to do what he thinks is best.  And it's just as well; it's his home.

So I get home and he's standing there, in the diningroom, with a big smile on his face.  I am pretty sure he was expecting me to notice something different.....but I didn't.  So I walk past him and go right upstairs since that is the current project; the master bathroom/bedroom.  I see there is sheetrock on the ceiling at this point.  Just a couple of walls to go.  Looking very nice.  I still don't see what this big surprise is all about.

I guess the big surprise was that he carried up about 23 sheets of rock (hence the name sheetrock, huh), leaving only 8 in our dining room.  Now this WAS a surprise because #1: that stuff is heavy and #2: our stairway turns and it's a real booger moving large things up and down the stairs. 

So in return, I moved 5 sheets of rock from the dining room to the laundry room.  No stairs but this weakling got 'er done!  Heavy may not be the correct word for that stuff.  Unbelievable is more like it.  He was pretty amazed that I took it upon myself...and wouldn't let him help me move it...and got it all moved.  The 3 remaining sheets still have to go upstairs but heck, he's got until Sunday morning to get them out of my way.  And I'm not telling him but even if they don't get moved before Easter dinner, we will still be okay.

Now...don't think I wasn't right about MY PART of that surprise because I was right on!  I got the honor or cleaning the dining room floor, the living room floor and the kitchen floor.  Somehow Q doesn't SEE the actual messes he makes and it drives me completely insane.

After getting the floors cleaned up, I decided it was time to do my "not-my-pinterest-project."  This is something that I suspect came from that website BUT it was not me who picked it out.  It was my girl Beth from work.  She thought it would be a great side project for me.  See, she only allows me certain projects because I get so "into" them.  She says she's afraid I will have too many irons in the fire but I know she feels sorry for my husband because, finish or no, he will have to be the one to hear about it.  She may be right, I don't know.  -_-

So anyway, I started in on that.  Here's a picture of the dresser...given to me by my good friend Stacy, who also donated a deep freeze to the cause of "The Gift"...

 
 
And that's all the pictures of that, you get for now.  I have gotten pretty far on it.  Just takes some time is all.  And I don't know why this picture loaded sideways but it did.  That's one reason I'm not posting anymore.  You just can't trust anyone's computers these days, to do the right thing!!
 
Quintin was so intrigued with MY project that he literally stopped his to watch me...and let me use his new impact drill...and then I let him paint one side of it.  Wasn't that nice of me?  I didn't want the poor guy feeling left out on a project that only takes a little bit of time.  -_-
 
So, got my mess cleaned up for the night.  Just wish I could get my husband to clean up after himself.  *sigh*  On Monday, he went to work at noon and I got off work at 4pm.  When I got home, I walked past the stairway to go into the kitchen and out of the corner of my eye I saw a huge chunk of wall missing...well not missing...because it was all piled on top of my stairway.  I just said out loud, for nobody in particular, "I did not just see that."  And then I stayed in the kitchen the rest of the night until Q got home to clean it up!
 
Got the livingroom floor done.  Maybe I will try to post those pictures.  I will start out with a picture of what our naughty little doggies did when we left them home and bored for a whole day...it shows the original carpet.  Then I will move on to the destruction of my dining/bath room and then to the construction part.  *sigh*
 


In the first diningroom photo, I thought I would add the photo that shows where Annie...or maybe it was Buddy...decided to vomit.  I think it was their last claim to the piece of junk.  It's out of there, that's the important thing.  Now if only the dogs would stop eating sheetrock and crap like that!
 
The pictures still aren't loading but it doesn't matter.  For 3 days, I couldn't have told you which was was up anyway.  The mess nearly drove me to insanity.  I was thankful to go to work just to get away from it.    And now...the wonderful bathroom:
 



And if that wasn't enough, it went on into my kitchen.  One thing about having all my plants in the bathtub is that it made watering them a breeze!
 
At this point in time, I was pretty sure the floor was going to take months.  I was wrong.  Three days from start to finish.  It could have taken a day I suppose but what was the hurry, right?  It's not like we couldn't get to the fridge or any emergency like that!!!
 
And I will close with pictures of my new living room floor.  I love it.  (I have, at this point, tried to add caption to the pictures three times, thus losing the pictures all together)  I will close with pictures and leave it at that.  Have a great night!





 



And this is how it turned out.  Except when you walk into my livingroom...it isn't sideways.  I guess you have to see it to believe it.  And now...our current project is finishing up the master bedroom/bathroom before (shortly) going to tear off our laundry room and my life becomes the most chaotic it has ever been.

2013/03/20

Death and Taxes

Recently I lost my Uncle Dale.  He was 92 years old and one of the kindest men I have ever met in my life.  Right up to his last breaths, he was nothing but soft, gentle and kind.  I can't even do that for half a day.  *sigh*  Uncle Dale is my dad's brother. 

For as far back as I can remember, Uncle Dale has always had a special kind of love for his nieces and nephews.  Always a big hug and a kiss to go with it.  A smile that shone right through you and kept you warm.  I am sincerely going to miss this man. 

His death, of course, brought up a lot of memories of losing my parents...and then that went right to Ashley memories...and then my grandparents...and then Kathryn...and it continued on forever.  Well...it continued on for days.  Mourning my Uncle Dale has made me miss those around me that I have felt so much love for, that it came right back around to me.  It made me think about my death, my funeral, and thoughts of what my life has left on this earth.

One day recently, I was driving to Creston and as I crossed the intersection in Greenfield to go south, out of town.  As I start to pick up speed, I hear something on top of my car go "clunk!"  I look into my rear view mirror just in time to see something slide down my back window and catch between the glass and the trunk lid.  I pull into the True Value parking lot and go check it out.  It was my phone.  Seriously.  I put my cell phone on top of the car with my water glass and forgot to pick the phone up.  Wow.  Okay so I was a little distracted. 

Back in the car and continue toward Creston.  I get south of Orient and about half a mile ahead of me, a car just runs a stop sign, coming off the gravel to get on the highway.  It made me wonder, if I hadn't had to stop for my phone, would that car have T-boned me?  Would I have died?  Of course I then start trying to calculate distance and speed in my head and it went poorly so I went with my old standby answer: "if it was my time to die, I would have."

It's no secret I lie in my bed at night sometimes wondering how I would react if someone burst through the door and tried to kill us.  I actually envision that stuff happening in my head.  I don't know if I'm wishing stupid things on myself or if I'm just trying to be prepared for the worst.  Either way, I either get killed or I kill.  That's how it always ends.

I have ridden on many airplanes plotting how and where my body would or would not be found.  Active imagination?  Overactive?  Bored?  Probably just watch too many movies.  But one thing is the same after each of these "death thoughts," as I call them.  The funeral.

At my mom's funeral, we blew bubbles because she loved the Tiny Bubbles song.  At Uncle Dale's funeral, we sang Anchor's Away because he was a Navy man and loved serving his country.  Now, this next part is also not a secret.  I love baking.  How am I going to incorporate my love for baking, into my funeral plans?  Well it took me a little bit but I have figured it out!

Do you want to know how?  Because I really have found a way.  Too bad.  You are going to have to wait until I die because I don't want anyone else stealing my idea.  HA!

I have changed my choice of clothing several times.  From jeans & a t-shirt, to a dress, to a swimsuit, to sweats.  For obvious reasons too.  Comfort issues, class issues, childhood issues, and then back to comfort.  Again, you will have to wait until my death to see what I have chosen to let you send me off in.  And don't worry...I will try to keep the circus activity at a minimum. 

WARNING:  IF YOU SHOW UP AT MY FUNERAL WITH A CLOWN AND/OR A MIDGET, I WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU UNTIL YOU HAVE WENT SO INSANE, YOU DON'T KNOW UP FROM DOWN.  THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU.

And now, possibly the hardest part to put into words.  What I will have wanted to have left behind; my contribution to this cold, cruel world.  What do you want people to think about when they talk of your death...of your life? 

I want people to remember such things about me that makes them smile.  Not necessarily smile because they like what I did but smile, all the same.  I want people to remember that first and foremost, God was the number one love in my life.  After that... my love of baking; my love for my husband (the last one, the last one); my love for my pets; my love for the children in my life;  my love for my family (whether they agree or not); my love for anyone I have ever called my friend; my love of reading; my love of popcorn and milk. 

I have a plan, that I am going to set into motion.  So that you...yes you...never forgot how I did things; why I did them; and how it was to affect the world. 

Before closing, I must add that there's one thing about death that I can't wait to experience.  Okay well there's more than one thing.  I can't wait to see if I can "feel" entering Heaven; I can't wait to see my long-awaited family, friends and family pets in Heaven; but the one thing, in comparison to my life here on earth, that I can't wait to experience after death is no Government.  Nobody to tell us who we can or can't love.  Because God wants us to love everybody.  And we will.  There will be no rules; no boundaries; no taxes. 

Ahhh yes.....death sure has a nice ring to it. (It's called a halo)

Thanks for reading -_-





2013/03/07

Give me a break...please

Here it is.....11:31pm and I am wide awake.  Wanna know why?  Because I was peacefully sleeping and someone decided to send me a text at 10:24.  Now, normally I am just going to sleep at this hour...or even later...but tonight, I was so happy because it was a "9:00" night.  As in, that's when I went to bed.  Yep, 9:00pm.  Serves me right though.  Why would I use my cell phone as an alarm clock?  I mean...WHO. DOES. THAT???  

As of tomorrow, my phone volume will be completely turned down at 8:00pm.  I will have the regular ole alarm clock back by my bed.  If there's an emergency, call Quintin's phone.  If it can wait...let it.  Seriously. 

This is the second time in about as many weeks that someone has text me at night...during sleeping hours.  One morning I had a text at 6:15am saying "SMILE."  My alarm was to go off at 6:30am.  I was not pleased.  

It's as simple as etiquette, isn't it?  If it's not important and you don't know if that person would be awake, wait until daylight.  Unless you know for a fact that person works night shifts.  Then, be my guest.  The next time I get put on a graveyard shift, I am going to text all those rude people that text me.  And it's going to be something stupid and rude.

On another note, I am down 20+ lbs. now.  I'm pretty happy with myself.  My current "fave" pair of jeans can only be worn with a belt.  Sad face.  Most people would say happy face because that means they need a smaller pair of jeans.  And while that is fine and good, I have been searching for the same jeans and can't find them.  The brand I can find.  The sizes I need, I can find.  BUT the "same" jeans that I have found up to this point, have more "rubs" in them...or holes.  Mine have 2 small rubs.  I'm good with that.  I don't need a rub that is 8 inches long.  Nor could I wear those to work.  

I will keep looking though.  Before long, I will have to replace the jeans that I just bought for smaller.  This time I'm going back to my old stand-bye though.  Their jeans are the best.  My 90 day challenge ends on April 2nd and I am getting a little nervous about it.  Don't know why though.  Just putting pressure on myself because that's the easiest way for me to accomplish things.  I work well under pressure.

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish.  I think I have mentioned this before.  One of them was to lose 35 lbs.  I was allowing myself 365 days to meet that goal.  After the first 30 days, I was down 15 lbs. and was ecstatic about it.  My reasoning is if I can lose 15 in 30, I can lose 35 in 90.  Doesn't it sound right???  Well, it didn't work out exactly how I had anticipated because I didn't even think about the "muscle weighs more" factor.  I had 2 weeks in January where I plateaued and that made me mad.  I thought it was waaaaaaay early for a plateau but so be it.  

For the month of February, I had a total loss of 7 and a gain of 2.  SHAT!!!  Now I have 4 more weigh-ins before my 90 day challenge is up.     I am doing the 3-day diet right now and it seems to be working well.  I'm not hungry between meals and am really looking forward to Friday morning when I can weigh and see how it went.  Planning on doing it again next week as well.  

When I got woke up by the text tonight, I knew after about 10 minutes, I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon and I had to give myself a lecture before getting out of bed and coming downstairs.  "There will be no snacking Shellie.  You can go downstairs and play on the computer, clean the floors, play with the dogs, whatever...BUT. YOU. WILL. NOT. EAT. ANYTHING.  Should you feel the need to eat, drink a glass of water.  And repeat."  I pinkie swore with myself and here I am.  Not a bit hungry.  I'm loving this.

So, I think I will go see what's happening on Facebook and then watch some tv.  I have to work at 8am.  I wonder how that will end up.  I hope I'm not too tired.  Hopefully someone either on Facebook or TV, will bore me so much I will just drop and snooze.  

Until next time!  I bid you adieu.  

2013/03/05

Just what I thought would happen

Did you know that if you buy a 4 ft. wide shower, the doors don't generally come with them???  Well, if you DID know that.....you should have warned ME!!!  I was having the time of my life, looking at all the showers and when we found one we both agreed on, I asked what the doors looked like and the guy says to me, "Well you will have to pick one and order it." 

I wanted to slap him.

After that, I decided who needs a 4 ft. wide shower anyway???  What's wrong with a nice plain, regular, rectangular-shaped, shower with a shower curtain?  I mean really, what's wrong with it??  All I need room for is to wash my hair and my body and occasionally to shave my legs.  It doesn't take 4 foot of space to do this.  Am I missing something??

Quintin on the other hand, SWEARS we need a 4 ft. shower because that's what he wants.  I told him if it was that big of deal, he could go right downstairs and use the 4 ft. shower (with a seat in it, I might add) in that bathroom.  I mean, his clothes are going to stay downstairs anyway so what's the difference?  He doesn't seem to agree with me.

I wanted to slap him.

By the third store of the night last night, I was done with Quintin.  I was done looking at showers.  I was done writing down comparison prices for every 2x4...2x6...2x10...precut stud...and anything else...that we will ever need.  I ate my buffalo burger for dinner and then some passerby stuck a fork in me because they too, were sure I was done! 

I wanted to slap them.

We had dinner at Fuddruckers in Des Moines.  I love this place and I guess Quintin had never been there before.  He has decided it's his new favorite place to eat.  Weird.  So while we were dining in the corner, the manager takes one of the female employees to the side...which happened to be directly across from us...and talked to her.  Unfortunately, we couldn't hear what was being said.  So, when he's done talking to her, she pleads her case to him.  The body language was all there so it was very entertaining.  The manager walks away and heads for another female employee across the way. 

As he is talking to girl #2, girl #1 tries to make it look like she's busy but at the same time, watching every move the manager and girl #2 make.  Her eyes were shifty and nosey, all at the same time.  When the manager and girl #2 are finished, girl #1 walks into this other part of the restaurant that is seperated by glass partitions.  Girl #2 is hot on her heels.  I told Q we should have sat in there so we could listen...but we didn't.  Girl #1 goes to this table that is already cleaned up and just stands there as girl #2 enters the room.  #1 will not make eye contact with #2.  Hmmmm #1 must be either lying or ashamed.  Just my guess. 

Finally #2 speaks to #1 and a conversation ensues.  It took about 5 minutes or so...I don't know how long, I was eating a buffalo at the time...and then the two girls parted ways and both of them had this sour kind of look on her face. 

I wanted to slap them.

So anyway, here are the results on what we looked at yesterday, as we didn't purchase one thing yet.  (We still have two stores to go to for comparison shopping) 

The livingroom is going to have hardwood laminate (and we both agreed on the color & texture) and we even picked out an area rug (my gosh are those expensive)!

The laundryroom and master bathroom are going to have one of those "floating floors."  In other words, linoleum.  We both even agreed on the style/design. 

The shower head and faucet handles we agreed on immediately.  Basically the biggest shower head available that has an arm so it sprays down on us from the top, not the side.  And the handles will match my sink handles. 

The shower is a whole different story.  We still aren't in agreement.  I can not justify spending the money that Quintin wants to spend, on something used to wash our bodies.  I have tried to explain to him that #1: we already have a big shower, go use it; and #2: I work hard for my money, so I want to have some say in this decision.  Of course, I'm not going to get it.  We didn't come home with a shower...an agreement on a shower...matter of fact, we weren't speaking to each other when we left the city. 

Did I call that or what?

I just want to slap him sometimes.

2013/03/04

Just a heads up

Just a heads up.  We are going to be doing more construction on our house.  No, the master bathroom isn't done.  Why no, the master bedroom & closet aren't done yet either.  The current closet, you ask?  Well no....what makes you think we would have THAT done??? 

Now the laundry room.....it has been under construction since December 26, 2010?  Or is it 2009?  Heck, I can't remember what year we moved in here unless I look at my mortgage coupons.  It doesn't matter though.

The good news is, that we will be starting construction on the laundry room as soon as we can get posts in the ground.  That's right.  We are expanding.  Not a whole lot...but enough.  Isn't this going to be fun?  Just as soon as I get clothes out of the washer & dryer, I will have to stick them back in the washer/dryer because my laundry room will be a massacre.  Q says different but he hasn't been right about any timelines or mess so far; what makes him or I think this time will be any different???  *sigh*

We're supposed to go and pick out a new shower tonight.  This ought to be a treat.  For both of us.  We will either come home with a shower and I will be pissed off, OR we will come home with a shower and he will be "resigned" to it, OR we won't bring a shower home tonight.  Anyone want to place any bets?

He wants a one piece shower.  I do not.  Here's why.
His reason:  They don't leak around the bottom.  Ever.
My reason:  I don't want to have to cut half of my stairway out to get it upstairs because we have a "turned" stairway and no windows big enough to get a 1 piece through.

Funny how his reason was so much shorter than mine but mine is so much more economical.  Ha, yeah funny.

I also need your help with something.  Truly need everyone's opinions on this.  We are replacing the livingroom carpet.  With what, we don't know yet.  He says we should put carpet down.  I say hard wood laminate.
His reason:  Carpet keeps the floor warmer in the winter. He likes to point out that I like to lay on the floor. 
My reason:  Carpet is easier to stain, I don't care how you treat it.  I live with a slob.  Hard wood is so much easier to keep clean and with pets, that's a huge plus.  We can get pet friendly laminate.  And I can lay on a hardwood floor easy.  The firmer it is, the better my back feels. 

Okay so I had a couple of reasons.  I think my reasons are the right reasons.  What do you think?  And don't be sticking up for my husband either!!!  JUST KIDDING!!!  If you think he's right, say it.  It'll make him feel good (for a change).  Although I don't want him getting used to that.

And if we decide to get carpet...because I may have to give in on that for the 2 piece shower...what kind of carpet and what color???  My livingroom is painted hunter green with hunting/fishing theme all through it.  If I am to get carpet, it will have to be flexible enough to work with the hunter green...the woodwork...and be neutral enough to work with a color should be ever paint the livingroom again.  Wow.

I think my husband will not be satisfied until our house is completely torn apart and I am in a looney bin.  It's close, I kid you not.

And the last thing I would like your opinion on is this:
Soon, I will be getting some new furniture.  Do you suggest cloth or leather?  Remember we do have pets, but come spring (when I will likely get this furniture), they will be outside ALL the time.  And I can't wait. 

Can't wait to hear what you all have to say!!!!!  Hurry, I need all the ideas and tips I can get.

2013/03/03

Princess Amelia...looking back

Princess Amelia here.  Long time, no see!  I bet you thought you had heard the last of me, huh? 

This morning, I was listening to a song that Kenny Chesney sings.  I don't have a clue what the name of it is, and to be honest, don't rightly care.  All I can tell you about this song is that he talks about going down the road and tells himself to turn around before he can't see the city lights of his hometown anymore. 

That got me to thinking about my hometown; and all that I love about it.  And all that I don't love about it.  You see, I just received the news a couple of days ago that the dungeon part of our castle has been shut down.  The walls are coming apart and there is mold throughout.  And now visions of my childhood home.....the place where I felt the safest in the world.....are of crumbling walls and falling tears.  I don't know that there's any way around it. 

Ahhh melencholy..........

For those of you wondering, the building is still operational.  At this point.  But just the "home" part of it.  My sister works in that building and has been sick a lot.  I think we know why now.  I joke that maybe she should wear a mask to work but in the back of my head, I am quite serious.  Although, who knows how long that mold has been in there.  Just get my family and my friends out of there and in a safe working place.

On my drive to work today, I got to thinking about some of the times we had in that house.  I don't know exactly which stories I have told and which I haven't so if I repeat something from another blog.....well, it's because I love that memory.

Lonnie with a bottle of bleach and his trusty tennis racquet, in the late hours of the night, running from room-to-room, while mom and us kids are perched outside each window, screaming directions at him and telling him exactly where the bat went!  Of course we thought it was funny.  Poor Lonnie was trapped in there with a BAT!!  I think he had just as much fun as we did though.  Sometimes I think dad wished he had been home when the bats came out so he could chase them down too.  But they rarely came out when dad was home.  I think those bats were a little smarter than we knew. ;-)

I remember one Christmas Eve...I was probably three years old.  I had peed the bed and didn't want to tell anyone.  So I just got out of bed and woke everyone up and ran downstairs to open presents.  I had gotten this awesome little kitchen set.  Of course back then, they weren't the nice plastic ones but for (probably) 1972, they were the neatest metal furniture I had ever seen.  And they were ALL mine!!!  A stove, that had a real door that opened to store my pots and pans in.  A sink that didn't actually hold water (but hey, I practiced washing dishes for a long time).  A refrigerator that opened up to store my food in.  I was in heaven.  I didn't even care about opening any other presents at the time because I just wanted to play with THESE.  I wish I had an online copy of the picture of me playing with this.  Sitting on my knees on the floor.....playing kitchen.....in my nightgown.....that had a big wet spot stuck to my butt!!!

Three nephews and two nieces were born while we lived in the castle. 

Jeremy...who I thought would NEVER go away (because he was there everyday while his mom & dad worked and went to school) and then when he did, I wanted to move in with them! 

Josh...who we also saw everyday.  I always tried loving on him and he would never have it.  To this day, I couldn't get a real hug out of Josh if I paid him.  Well.....maybe if I paid him!

Then came Jacob.  The kid with the biggest smile; the kindest eyes.  And I was always so amazed how someone so cute could look so much like his dad!  Of course, when you're little, you don't think of your brothers and sisters as "cute" or "handsome" or "beautiful."  You think of them as "yuck, that's my brother/sister."  For more reasons that I want to get into in this blog...and because it's not my story to tell...Jake was at our house most of his first few years as well. 

It was like something exploded and gave me little brothers.  No, I did NOT like that.  Thanks for asking.  But I did love those little boys.  There was and still is, a real fondness in my heart for them.  They were all a year apart in age and they played together all the time.  I always just assumed they would be the best of friends for the rest of their lives.  They all still love each other and that's what matters in the end.  Things just change, life happens and we do what we have to do.  I love looking at the pictures of those three together though, to see their likenesses to each other; to their parents...but also to see their differences. The things that make them stand out on their own. 

Now...two little girls came the following two years and I was EC-STA-TIC!!!  Finally someone to put little pink dresses on, do their hair, and play dolls with.  Yes, I was 13-14 years old by the time I got those girls but I was going to do all the things, with them, that I loved doing when I was little!  I was mentally prepared to be a good friend/aunt to my little girls!! 

Lindsay didn't seem to like me at first.  But then she didn't seem to like anyone.  She cried a lot and I just adored from afar...unless forced to help...because I didn't want to make her cry anymore than she already did.  Come to find out, she was sick.  And I don't remember what the exact problem was, but she had to have surgery and I thought that was the scariest thing in the world.  Babies weren't supposed to be sick like that!  She couldn't keep her food down, and she threw up a lot.  Maybe that's the real reason I adored from afar.  I didn't want to get puked on.  All I know is, I couldn't wait for her to get better so we could get on to the dolls!

Ashley was born and she was the picture of pink.  I don't know that there was ever a day that she didn't have something pink on.  While Lindsay was out giving the boys a run for their money on their hot wheels or climbing trees, Ashley was the one playing Barbies (and she had a million of them) and dolls and always trying a new hairdo.  Those girls...they grew up to be the best friends.  They told each other everything.  They did everything together.  They truly had an amazing relationship. 

Yes...growing up in the castle is the best thing about my life, by far.  It always seemed so huge when I was little and we would stuff as many people in it as possible, it seemed.  I loved it when we would have family dinners and would all gather around the big dining room table.  All of us cousins would play out in the courtyard; or in the dungeon if it wasn't being used!

Don't know if I have mentioned this but I learned to rollerskate in that jail.  Trying to get away from the scary men in the inner-dungeon.  I'm sure they hated me in there skating, as much as I hated them in my playground.  Sometimes we would even get up on top of the inner dungeon and pound on the roof.  Just to make them mad.  Ahhhh the good ole days.

As I come to a close today, I am saddened about the future of my castle; of my childhood home.  I know that I will always have my memories and that's ok.  I just can't imagine not being able to see it or visit it someday.  *sigh*

*Playing cars with Kenny, in the dirt, under the big tree next to the house -_-
     He always promised me that he would play dolls with me after, but he never did.

*Raking the leaves and jumping in them -_-
     Being the baby of the family, I played a lot more than I raked!

*Counting 16 steps EVERYTIME I went to bed -_-
     And I still count everytime I go there and have to use the upstairs bathroom.

*The first time we ever got a color tv... a microwave... a vcr -_-
     I was pretty sure we were rich...each time.

*Sledding down the hill behind the house & into the street -_-
     We would aim for those iron bars on the east side of our block (where they used to tie        horses up back in the day) to see if we could slide under and into the street

*Being surrounded by the horses and "cowboys" on Good Friday -_-
     I have always been afraid of horses and never a fan of cowboys BUT I loved getting to ride on the horses with the reserves.  Kenny Black ALWAYS took me on his horse.

*The green shag carpet -_-
     It finally got thrown out and replaced with brown shag!

*Old, used, hand-me-down couch we used to have -_-
     It was the UGLIEST green thing (or was it brown.....) I had ever seen but it was comfortable!

*The Frosty Trete just a short block away -_-
     Got my butt spanked more than once for leaving the yard (with my good friend Stacey) and getting ice cream.

*Having a home-away-from-home at the courthouse -_-
     Merlin Rucker, janitor, bought me a bottle of pop (back when the bottles were glass & 16 oz) everyday (and here I tell people I didn't get pop!) and Carol Noer would put tape across my bangs and trimmed them for me in the Auditor's Office.

So many more memories and I'm sure, as time passes and we learn the fate of the building, there will be more to write about.  Thanks for stopping in today.  <3

2013/03/02

Looking back

Today I was looking back at some of my first blogs.  They sure make me smile.  Man, I was passionate in the beginning.  What happened to that?  Am I still passionate and don't realize it?  Did I love my passion?  I guess what it boils down to is, "Am I still as big a b**** as I used to be or am I not?"

Joseph Kony.  Remember that name?  That's the man in Uganda that supposedly kidnapped over 300,000 kids and turned them into either sex slaves or soldiers in his child army. 

I remember that there was supposed to be something like a "Light up the Night" at some point close to when this guy made the national news.  Everybody in the United States was going to go out in the middle of the night and hang signs so that people would be aware of what was going on.  In Uganda. 

I don't know about you but if I want to know about Uganda, I have CNN, FOX news, MSNBC, Yahoo, NBC, CBS, ABC, and good ole Uncle Google, as Mick would say.  Not to mention there are many more news outlets easily at my fingertips. 

I remember Facebook being flooded with "I am going to attend this and I am going to make a difference.  I am going to light up the night."  Or whatever their catch-phrase was at the time.  I don't remember for sure.  I will continue to use this one though. 

I will say that in that short span of 3 days of hearing nothing BUT Joseph Kony, Joseph Kony, Joseph Kony...I never heard another word about him.  Isn't that something???  The people of the United States of America were going to "Light up the Night" for awareness of what was going on in Uganda.  We must have fallen asleep. 

Sorry Uganda.  We are not Motel 6 and we did not leave the light on for you.

Another story that makes me laugh is the one about Sandra Fluke.  She was the up-and-coming law student that needed thousands of dollars a year....something like $30,000.....for free health care and free birth control. 

I was going to send her a box of Trojan's and completely forgot about it.  Who knows.  I may still do it.  I wonder if she's still at the good ole Georgetown University Law Center after making such a jackass out of herself.  If they had any brains in their heads, they would have booted her.  But then again, look at their basketball team!!!  Hahaha JUST KIDDING!! 

I have nothing against their basketball team.

I remember commenting on someone's article.  I offered my thread and needle and wouldn't even charge anyone for the service of sewing her C-U-Next-Tuesday all the way shut.  Wouldn't nothing be getting in (or out) of there anymore and she wouldn't have to worry about it again. 

The things I am willing to do for my country. 

I can't wait to get off work and get a work out or two in!  I have something to lose this week.  I told my support group that I would, not only lose the 1.6 lbs I gained the previous week, but would also lose 2 lbs on top of it AND if I didn't, I would post an embarrassing picture of myself!  Nothing like putting yourself under pressure!  And it sucks not weighing myself all the time.  I know that's not the thing to do either.  I am busting my ass people!  Just wait.  I have 5 weeks to love 18 lbs and I am determined I am going to do it. 

Have a great day!!!!