Stuff I feel Like Writing About

a mouth full of stitches and the taste of blood

2010-01-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

haven't blogged in awhile, but here goes...
i am laying around today, recovering from having my wisdom teeth removed yesterday... 2 pulled, 2 cut out.... oh the fun i had...

i had to get doped up on more medication than i have ever taken in my life... then as i was sitting in the chair i began shaking uncontrollably... they were throwing blankets on me and taking my blood pressure as my dear hubby held my legs down... i think the shaking was a combo of all the meds and nerves... my body does wacky things...

while the oral surgeon worked, he asked my husband if i had been complaining about the pain because i had put off getting it done for so long. You learn to live with the pain. He said i would feel so much better after i got it done. I am hoping.

And now here i sit with a mouth full of stitches and i can still tastc blood. it took longer to do because my mouth is so weird... but i survived. i am taking my medicine as directed and eating normally now. i took a pain pill this morning and then had pancakes'with my family. and for that i am truly blessed and thankful.

Bzzing about Aveeno....

2008-05-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

My latest bzz campaign is Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15. I can't wait to get the sample, because I love lotion and I enjoy trying all kinds. Aveeno has been around for 60 years now, and I have used it before, because it is perfect for us sensitive skined red heads. Aveeno products contain colloidal oatmeal- which protects skin and provides long lasting hydration. The SPF factor is important too because it gives much needed protection from the suns harmful rays, which everybody is worried about these days.

I always slap on sunscreen when I'm hanging out at Debbie or Sherri's pool, but I do not use it every day, like I should. I need some kind of protection, even when I am taking a walk, or even just sitting outside with my family. With the Daily Moisturizing lotion, I'll be able to moisturize and protect my skin in one easy step, instead of worrying about a layer of lotion and a layer of sunscreen. This makes it pretty convenient. Can't wait to try it out, and give out my samples!

TRYING TO GET HEALTHY!

2008-05-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

Went to see my 2nd ENT dr yesterday. He believes I have a raging case of acid reflux that is not responding fully to any of the 6 medicines I've been taking. But he wants to be sure nothing else is going on, so I have to go to the hospital at the end of June and have a scope put down my throat so he can take a look around. I have to be knocked out for it, which is something I am not looking forward to, but i suppose it beats being awake while they are doing it.

In the meantime I am still on my Ensure~Carnation Instant Breakfast~mashed potato~pudding diet. Sometimes I fear I will never eat normally again!! The thought of eating a real meal makes me extremely nervous, and makes my stomach acid kick up even more! It's a viscous cycle!

My husband's boss Shawn and his wife Belinda recommended I drink some Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. He had very bad acid reflux and it helped him. I looked it up on the Internet and saw that people believe it helps with a lot of stuff, including acne, anxiety, depression, weight loss, and acid reflux. They believe it flushes out your body as well and helps with cellulite. So I went to GNC and bought a bottle.

I put some in my hot tea now, 3 times a day. My husband is swigging it out of a cup. I certainly wouldn't recommend swigging it, but i don't mind drinking it in my tea. It gives it a little bit of a kick.

I rubbed my butt and asked my husband if it's getting smoother, but he just laughed at me. But it hasn't even been a week yet. I told Sherri it's supposed to help cellulite and now she wants to try it.

We are all trying to get healthy. My aunt, mother, and I all went to the dollar store today. My mom wanted to buy the grand kids some juice drinks, but become distressed when the kind she almost bought had high fructose corn syrup in them. We are now very much against fructose corn syrup, because it's not good for your liver and pancreas. So we had to search for some drinks that didn't have it. Finally we found some.

It's so crazy when you think about everything that goes into the products we put into our bodies!

I am thinking again about getting in Shaklee, because I know their products are natural, and toxic free, and you don't have to buy a certain amount every month.

Courtney Williams funky, unique jewelery collection

2008-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last night my sister Melissa and I went to visit long time family friends, Nancy and Courtney Williams. (Great people!) Courtney cut and colored my hair for me. That was my Mothers Day gift, getting all my hair chopped off. I was getting pretty sick and tired of it. It was getting on my nerves, so it was time for a change. My hair grows fast anyway.

While we were there, we were checking out Courtney's jewelery. She is now in the jewelery making business. The creative soul that she is, she takes forks and spoons, and with a propane blow torch, some wire, and an assortment of beads and various doo dads, she creates beautiful, unique necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and pins.

Only someone like Courtney would take an everyday fork or spoon and think it would make a great necklace, then take a torch to it!! She truly is a unique person with a wonderful creative spirit that I am truly jealous of!

I bought a necklace that had one day been a spoon. I picked it because it has a green flower on it, and what looks like little peridots on it, my birthstone. I have been looking for a funky necklace. I told her I would wear it proudly and tell everyone she made it.

Courtney's mother Nancy was helping her make some jewelery last night. My sister is pretty crafty herself! She made our mother a beautiful blanket with our kids pictures on it, and it even had their names on it. I wish I had an ounce of their creativity! It truly takes a special person to take a spoon or some fabric and whip it into something that someone will use and cherish forever.

Happy Mamas Day!!

2008-05-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

I know I used this pic before, but it bears repeating! I hope all the Mamas out there have a wonderful day! :)

Making a little money on the Internet....

2008-05-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a little experiment lately. I wanted to find out if an average Jane such as myself, someone with average (hopefully) intelligence could truly earn some money on the Internet. I have found out you really can!

So far, I've gotten a $11.20 check from CASHCRATE, for filling out surveys. I think you can earn more if you just spend more time on it.

I've made $75 writing several articles for websites, getting rid of some old clothes on eBay, and doing a little advertising on my blog.

I've actually earned $13 on HITS4PAY, reading emails, but you don't get money from them until you make $25, I believe.

And I think I've earned about $7 for reviews I've written for REVIEWSTREAM.COM, the site where everything can be reviewed and every review gets paid. You can't get your money from that until you've earned $50.

I know, it's small potatoes, but it's something. And I have proven that anybody with Internet access and free time can make a few bucks, or more, if willing.

My Support Team

2008-05-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Got to spend time with one of my best buds Sherri yesterday. We hung out and looked at Victoria's Secret catalogs and looked at swimsuits, tried to figure out how the models got those stomachs; painted our nails; entertained her 2 year old niece; and caught up on things. She is getting ready for her daughter's graduation party and prom. I remember when her daughter was about 6. I wanted to cry. Where does the time go?!

Sherri has decided she wants to start working out and try to get one of those model stomachs. Lotsa luck to ya sister! I am on my Ensure- Instant Carnation Breakfast diet and I am staying at 113 pounds, but I will never have one of those stomachs! I don't think I really want one, either. And Sherri is actually just fine the way she is, but you know how we women are. We are constantly trying to improve ourselves.

We also watched "The Bold and the Beautiful". Eric and Donna are about to tie the knot. Sherri informed me that Eric is older than Donna's father. And Eric was also married to Donna's sister Brook at one time. How twisted are soaps?! Does anybody really live like that?

Then Sherri came up to my house and hung out with my family for a few minutes. Before she left, we agreed to try to get together again next week.

Later on in the evening, Zach and I went to church with my aunt Sharon, my mom, our family friend Carol, and her grandson Tyler. God has truly blessed me with wonderful friends and family and I need to thank him everyday. I sincerely do not know where I'd be without them.

I feel very fortunate because I have been blessed with a whole team of people I can turn to. And I definitely need my team! Or I'd totally fall apart!!

A TRIBUTE TO MY FAVORITE TV MOM...

2008-05-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

My most favorite tv mom would have to be, hands down, Mama Harper. In my humble opinion, no one will ever surpass her in greatness. Still, to this day, I watch Mamas Family, along with my mom and sister, and we all just laugh and laugh.

I am almost ashamed to admit, that we can watch 1 minute of the opening scene of just about any episode and not only tell you all the highlights of that episode, but start quoting dialogue ver batim. Sad, but true.

I find myself saying, "This is the funniest episode! This is my favorite!" about every freakin' episode.

Nobody can rip into somebody so truthfully and brutally like Thelma Harper.
She made telling people off an art form.

If I had to pick out a favorite episode, I'd have to say one of my family's favorite episodes is the one where Madam Rita, the fake spirit channel er, visits, and Mama has the put the smackdown on her. Another one of my all time faves is where Mama's mama comes back for a visit. But of coarse we can't forget the classic episodes with Carol Burnett, as Mama's daughter, Eunice Higgins. That lady is a hoot too!

There is nothing funnier than Vickie Lawrence as Mama and Carol Burnett as Eunice.

My sister and I have our kids watching now, too. When I'm feeling down, nothing can make me feel better than watching my mama.

And if you don't like Mama, all I can say is, "You aint got the sense God gave a cabbage!"

Some of my favorite "MAMA-ISMS":
1)Poppa says when you're old and fat as I am, you can say anything you damn well please!!
2)You aint got the sense God gave a cabbage!
3) Iola,I consider you to be family, and I'll talk to you anyway I please!!
4)Naomi makes a slug look ambitious!
5)It has to be Iola. Who else's face would fit the crack of a door!
6)Wait till they hear her squeaky voice!! She's going to come off like Pee Wee Herman in drag!
(after Iola gives speech) I want that woman tested for steroids!
7)She called Naomi her "floosie-in-law" and "a hillbilly barbie doll"
8) I bet the neighbors are lovin' this!!!
9) Don't lay this at my doorstep!
10) I may be to blame for him being a patheitc failure, but I'll be flat damned if I'm gonna be blamed for his lack of sperm!
11) Honor thy mother and thy father, that's what the Good Book says, and that's what I did.... I honored that old prune faced harpie till she drew her last breath!
12) With you gone, those slip covers are the ugliest things in the room!
Some of the quotes may not be perfect. I tried to remember them as best I could- and there's a ton more!

WHEN DID I BECOME SUCH A GUPPY?!

2008-05-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

I had to go to the hospital and have a chest x ray and some blood taken. I haven't been sick for a while so this stuff is pretty new to me. The chest x ray was pretty quick and painless, I got right in, they x rayed me ,and got right out. My blood work, naturally, was not so quick and painless!

First off, I can't even remember ever having blood drawn from my body and put into tubes, but I was certain it wasn't going to be pleasant. Secondly, I wasn't allowed to drink anything from midnight on (I'm still not eating so that was no problem) so I wasn't feeling very good when I got up in the morning, and i had to get Zach ready for school without my usual 2 or 3 cups of morning tea, or my hot chocolate I make out of Carnation Instant Breakfast. I had a little bit of a headache and an upset stomach when my mother drove me over to the hospital.

Then when the girl informed me she was on her last day of clinicals. She stabbed me in the arm with a giant needle and suddenly she began having problems. The other nurse had to tell her, "No, you're not over far enough, no go over to the right and go deeper..." At that point I really was feeling crummy. I was looking the opposite direction, desperately trying not to get a glimpse of anything she was doing, gritting my teeth like she was stabbing me, feeling tears coming to my eyes....

wondering when on Earth I became such a sissy-la-la, Or as they would say on "The Little Mermaid"... a guppy. Why can't a I take a little bit of pain and watch a little needle and blood? People have to do this all the time. When Zach was about 4, he had to have it done, and it didn't bother him at all! I begged him not to look at what they were doing, but he watched the whole thing, and never made a peep. I was the one getting nutty.

Suddenly, I broke out into a cold sweat. Even though the ladies were standing right next to me, talking to me, they sounded like they were getting farther and farther away.... I never actually passed out, but that was probably the closest I'd ever been to passing out. She was done before I could actually pass out, thankfully.

I had to sit for a few minutes and my mom found me some orange juice, then I was alright. I went home and laid on the couch and started watching "Fraiser" when suddenly the phone rang. It was the hospital, saying they needed some more blood! Freaking vampires!!

Luckily my second trip was smoother. But now I have 2 sore arms, and I'm waiting for the results. That's always fun!

You can't go home again....

2008-04-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

It's true what they say, you can't go home again! The McDonalds gig did not work out because I got sick at work and now I have to have a bunch of tests and stuff done. But thats okay that it didn't work out because it just wasn't the same. Now I'm trying to find something else to do. I need to do something, just not sure what. I would love to find something enjoyable, that I could make a few bucks doing....

Zach's Fish

2008-04-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is Zach with his fish. He caught this fish at Tomlinson Run State Park using his spiderman fishing pole. (with a little help from Daddy, of coarse.) He's turning into quite the little fisherman!

TAKE US OUT TO THE BALL GAME....

2008-04-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Shockingly enough, my mother has agreed to go to PNC park with us when the Pirates play the Atlanta Braves in May. We were worried that she might not want to go because she hasn't been anywhere major like that since she got sick. I was afraid she'd never agree to go because of the restroom situation. But to my surprise and delight, she agreed to go, and acted excited about going. I told my sister Melissa, and she was surprised as well. And Melissa talked about going, too. So so far it would be me, my son, my Aunt Sharon, my mother, and my sister Melissa, and her son.

Oh the fun we would have! Us crazy broads at the ball park! All we need now is my cousin Nikki and my cousin Stephanie to come in, and then it would be perfect!

I wanted to see the Cubs, but everyone overruled me and we are going when the Braves play the Pirates. That's fine, I just want to go!!

I am going to have to request the day off from work, but I don't care, because it is a special occasion.

GOT IN TROUBLE TODAY at work.....

2008-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Got in trouble today at work - and it was only my second day- my first day on the job! I was standing at the front counter and - I TOUCHED MY HAIR! I didn't mean to gross anyone out or offend anyone and i certainly wouldn't want to cause anyone to loose their appetite. I don't event think I realised I had done it. My manager, Kris, that was training me on register, came over and said a woman going through the drive thru spotted me doing it. So Kris told me to go use some sanitizer.

I was using the sanitizer all day long!! Or washing my hands. Or putting them in soapy buckets of water. AND my hair was just watched last night, so it's squeaky clean. I had it up in a pony tail, to keep it out of my face and out of the food, and wouldn't you know, I do the worse thing possible- I touch it!

My mother asked if I ever watched Rachael Ray. "Her hair is always flipping all around, when she cooks- she don't care!"

Then she told my aunt, grandmother, and me some of her grossest stories of her waitress days. And they were pretty mild, compared to my hair touch! She told one story of how a MANAGER took a piece of lettuce and a tomato that a customer had been done with, and put it on a plate that another customer was about to get! And that was about her mildest story!

Then my uncle Denny had to rag on me all afternoon. He was working outside all day, and he asked my mom if she'd bring him out a Coke. He said he would have asked me, but I'd just touch my hair first before I gave him the Coke.

We all laughed. I love my family. They are always there for me when I need them.

I don't know if I am going to like this job or not.... the cash register whipped my butt today.... there's like a million things on it.... and people get pretty darn impatient when they are waiting on their Big Mac. I had a lot of people helping stupid me today. I get too nervous when I'm doing stuff like this. I may switch to babysitting this summer..... I could make more money (maybe) and have a little bit more freedom.... Zach would love it if I babysat someone his age. I could take them to the playground and take them for works. That sounds like more fun than serving Big MACS!! Hmm mm, decisions, decisions.....

TIME TO PLAY THE GAME- RONALD MCDONALDS GAME

2008-04-17T09:24:00.001-07:00

Went to my friendly, neighborhood McDonalds today for my interview- I start on Monday morning- I guess this means this is my last weekend of freedom!!

They supply me with a shirt and hat, but i have to buy pants- black dress pants like Dockers, and Tread safe shoes. I can't believe McDonald's serves billions of people but they can't afford to furnish their employees with pants! Looks like I have to do a little shopping over the weekend.

I just hope I work with pleasant, friendly people! I loved working at McDonald's last time, because I liked all the people there, and because they gave me a WHOLE uniform!!

Last time I worked there I worked the closing shift all the time, this time I'll be on a daylight shift.I'll see how I like functioning in the daylight. And like last time, I can ask to have certain days off, as long as I ask a week and a half in advance. That will be good for when we finally get to go to the baseball game we've been wanting to go to forever.

My aunt and I are trying to get a group together to go to PNC Park to watch the Pirates. She wants to see the Braves, I want to see the Cubs. We've been trying to do this for years. This is the year we do it! No excuses! There is nothing more fun than getting a group of crazy girls together and going to the ball park. (Unless of coarse, it's crazy girls going to a wrestling match!)
If anybody wants to join us, let me know!

One weekend of freedom- a few more days of not doing much of anything, with pretty much an open schedule- then it's back to the workforce I go. I'm kind of excited. Maybe too excited for McDonald's! In order to celebrate my new job, I'm going to go ahead and order my Cubs crocs! Woo~Hoo!

I got my blog post approved!

2008-04-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

I finally found my post URL and got approved by pay per post! Yipee! Maybe I'm not as dumb as i seem! Now if I could just get he rest of this stuff figured out....

Ronald MCDonald Called....

2008-04-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

I finally got some response to my attempt at finding a job... I have an interview at McDonald's on Thursday morning. Woo-Hoo! Yay Me! I may be finally getting back out into the work force after all!

I put my application in last week and they told me they were hiring. But I never heard anything, so I kind of gave up. Then on Sunday night, I mentioned to Sherri Markham, one of my best buds, that I put an app in and never heard anything. So Sherri told me she'd mention that to her cousin Joanne. Sure enough she did. And Joanne called me.

Sherri gets things done. That's how she's always been. I admire her greatly because she has always been a go getter, and she never takes no for answer and she never backs down from anything. And she is a hoot! I wish I could be more like her.

I am hoping I get this job, which will be part time, and the West at Home Agent thing works out. And I can do that when I'm not working at McDonald's. It would be nice to have enough money to pay off a few bills and support my habit of clothes shopping and buying for my children!

My friend Billie has a blog called "A Peaceful Serenity" that I have linked to my page. She is about to have her third child and works at home and does medical transcriptions. Sounds like a cool job,but i know I'm not smart enough to do that!! She has other work at home opportunities on her page as well, and I'm going to check them out.

RECYCLING DAY

2008-04-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today was recycling day at my son's school. I think it's great that they are teaching the kids all about saving the Earth and recycling and all that. So I sent my poor little guy on the big, bad bus with a great big KMART bag filled with plastic milk jugs and pop bottles. I think I better be getting him a reusable shopping bag for his recycle ables.

I hope I had the day right, or else I sent my child to school with a big bag of trash for nothing!!

And I felt bad, because I know riding the bus is tough enough. It's got to be really rough for a little kindergartner with a big bag of trash. He wanted to take it though. He likes to be part of things, and he is learning how important recycling is. So he got on the bus with his bag of milk jugs like a little trooper! I'm proud of him.

I actually considered taking the bag to school myself, of coarse. But I've been thrown out of that school so many times already. Because, as I've been told, " They can't have people coming in off the street, roaming around the school." Well sorry, but what am I supposed to do when I bring my child to school and he doesn't want to go in the building, or to his classroom, and he's whining and crying?

He told me he had no problem taking his milk jugs. I will have no problem sending him to school with more trash next Tuesday. I just need a reusable bag!

MAYBE I'M TOO DUMB FOR PAY PER POST....

2008-04-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

MAYBE I'm just not bright enough for Pay Per Post. I wasn't sure what i was getting into- and now I'm REALLY not sure! My first blog post got REJECTED because I didn't have the right URL. I had the URL to my whole blog, and they wanted the URL to that specific blog about pay per post. I had a hard time figuring out the URL, but i think I finally have that right. I hope so. But then I couldn't figure out how to resubmit my post! As Rebecca on Cheers once wailed, "I AM TOO STUPID TO LIVE!!!!"

and REJECTED is such an ugly word!!! It's so negative!!

I FEEL SO REJECTED!!!

let u know when i get things figured out..... if i do......

I SIGNED UP FOR PAY PER POST AND I GOT APPROVED-WOO-HOO!

2008-04-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Awhile back, I was reading some of my fellow bloggers' blogs, as I often do, and I kept reading about pay per post, where blog writers can sign up, wait to see if their blog is approved, then start accepting offers and write about them. I thought this sounded interesting, so I figured I would check it out for myself and see what it is all about.

I went ahead and signed up. I kind of forgot about it until today, when I read a review someone had written on the website. Then lo and behold, the next thing I know, I received an email saying my blog was approved. Woo-Hoo! I am HONORED!

So now here I am, doing my first offer, writing all about pay per post. I really wanted to check it out, and hopefully meet some new cool bloggers!

T

And if I can earn a little money, that would be cool too. I need to earn enough for my Pink Chicago Cubs Jersey and my pink Cubs crocs that I have been eyeing up on eBay!

payperpost

MAYBE I CAN WORK AT MCDONALDS.... OR BE A WEST AT HOME AGENT.....

2008-04-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm still pounding the pavement- a little.

I went back to McDonalds to see if i could get my old job back. (It's only been 14 years! WOW!)
Don't laugh- the year I worked at McDonalds was the happiest year of my life! I worked on the front counter on the closing shift- I waited on customers and cleaned. I liked everyone i worked with and I liked the customers. I put my application in but they haven't called. They must not want me back.

In fact, nobody has called... NOBODY WANTS ME!!

I also applied to be a West At Home Agent. I thought that sounded interesting. It's a job you can do from home, and I know it's legit, because I know somebody who did it. I've heard a lot of positive things about it, so I figured I'd go ahead and try it. I applied and took a test, now I'm waiting for them to get back to me. I hope they want me! My job search is getting depressing!

The West At Home Agents have a group on Cafemom, so I've been reading all the posts from the girls who do the job.

My goal is to find something I can enjoy, that I will not dread doing--- I have to find something eventually---RIGHT?!

BRIAN & BECKY....AND RYAN NEWMAN!

2008-04-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited and happy for my dear friend Brian because he has a girlfriend. (I wrote a blog awhile back trying to find him a date) Becky and Brian are so cute together, and they seem very happy! I think she is just what he needs! Not that our opinions matter, but we all like her very much. She has three great kids, and of coarse Brian treats them like they are his. And Becky takes care of Brian, and that's what he needs. They are like a little family already. They came over here yesterday and we had homemade pizza. The kids played and the adults hung out and talked. Sunday we are going to Brian's for a NASCAR party. (GO NEWMAN!!!)

I hope this works out. I have a feeling it will!

I ATE MASHED POTATOES! YAY!

2008-04-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

I've been taking my medicine- got 5 pills i take everyday, 4 Reglan and 1 Zegerid (my third and fourth pills for acid reflux)- that's more than I've ever taken in my life- and just when i think they are not working and i'm never going to be able to eat normally again- i ate some mashed potatoes!

I got up from a nap the the other afternoon, and my throat was feeling pretty good, so i made some mashed potatoes- the instant kind, put lots of butter on them and I just went for it- I ate them! And they went down smooth! I ate a whole bowl! I was so impressed!

The last time I ate mashed pototoes was Feb 14th - and it was sheer misery! They burned and felt like they were never going to make it down, then once they made it down, it felt like they were coming back up in my throat- it was very bizarre. I was very upset because my most favorite food (next to chocolate) turned on me like a wild dog! I was quite distressed! But I'm okay now. I think I may be ready for oatmeal now! I'm going to keep taking my meds and I go back to the ENT on the 16th.

CAFEMOM "SCHEMOM"'S KOKOON CLOTHING BUSINESS

2008-04-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

MY FRIEND, LISA, aka "schemom", on Cafemom, recently started a clothing business. She is selling Kookoon clothing. The really cool part about this is, she sells the clothes by having "trunk parties". From what I understand, it works pretty much like Avon, Mary Kay, and all those kinds of parties, women get together and have fun trying on great, stylish trendy clothing, then you can place an order through her.
The Kookon line is for moms who want to look stylish and trendy, and a little funky, without looking like they raided their teen aged daughters wardrobe!
You can go right on my page, to my shortcuts, and click on her journal post, to see the clothing line, or go to her profile and check them out.They have a great Spring line.
When you have a party, you can get discounts on the clothes, of coarse, and possibly get some for free.
The only uncool thing for me is, she is in Oklahoma, too far away to do a party for me! BUMMER!
I actually thought about being a rep for the company myself, but i couldn't handle going into strangers houses to do parties. And the closest rep to me is an hour away from me. BUt i think I will be ordering something off Lisa. Her clothes are really cool.
so if you like cool clothes, check it out!
www.kokoon.net

BZZ AGENT TERRI1974 REPORTING ON CLARITIN REDITABS...

2008-04-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Just got signed up for my second bzz campaign-the Claritin Reditabs campaign. I am so overjoyed to be part of this one, because i do suffer from seasonal allergies, i have been finding myself sniffing and sneezing and getting congested, and with all my reflux problems lately, i have been over looking my allergies.

I love Claritin D ever since 2001, and I was pregnant with my son and at the very beginning of my pregnancy, I got a NASTY sinus infection . (In fact, I didn't really have morning sickness, I was just all snotty and congested in my first trimester.) My dr perscribed Claritin D, and I fell in love with it! It cleared me right up, lasted a long time, and I had no real side effects. And most importantly, Zach came out all right.

In recent days, I have not wanted to spend the money on Claritin, so I usually find myself purchasing the store name brand allergy meds, which are fine, but don't quite last as long.

When I do get the Claritin, I get the tablets. Now I get to try the Reditabs, which melt in your mouth. I am really excited about that, since I have been swallowing so many pills lately, and still get sore throats!

Claritin Reditabs clear you up and dry you out. They are not supposed to make you drowsy, however, I have noticed, in the past when I take Claritin, I do get sleepy, but maybe that's just me.

I can't wait to get mybzz kit in the mail, with the Claritin Reditabs and the coupons.

POUNDING THE PAVEMENT....

2008-04-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Been out pounding the pavement today.... cause its seriously time for me to start looking for a job- some kind of job.... any job! My mom can help with my child so I really have no excuses. And it's been almost an entire year since I've had a real job! Yikes! Can't believe its been that long since I worked..(.outside the home)

went and put my application in several nearby places- several restaurants and stores, since thats all i'm qualified for.... thats all i can do, wait on people and serve them!!! (And I cant even do that well!!)

I'm still submitting articles and finishing up my writing class. So I am hopeful about that...

looking for a job....yay me!

MY SON SCRUBBED MY MICROWAVE- AND IT IS CLEAN!!!!!

2008-04-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

My microwave, for the first time in a long time, is CLEAN!! I am very excited about this because it was really really bad. I'm talking, embarrassingly dirty- filthy- nasty- disgusting- and repulsive!

I am ashamed to admit, I have been neglecting it for a long time. We've been using it daily, but I stopped cleaning it awhile ago. I used to clean it regularly, but then one day, I just gave up on it. I decided it wasn't worth it to keep it clean.

It is 10 years old. My mom bought it for my husband and me when we first moved in together, out in our trailer on The funny farm. We used and abused it for many long, hard years. Since I hate to cook, it got over used. It was used daily- several times a day. We've had all kinds of stuff splattered and spilled in it. We got all kinds of nasty stuff stuck to the inside of it. And like I said, I used to clean it all the time, then i just gave up on it.

I guess because because I figured it was on its last legs and we'd have to get a new one soon. So we kept on using it, with out cleaning it, and just waited for it to wear itself out.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ADMITTING THIS!! I HAVE NO SHAME!!

One day my sister's buddy was making fun of it, and said we'd be warming a cup of tea up in the microwave, and we'd have an old spaghetti strand plop down into our cup. From that day forward, I forbid anybody outside the immediate family from using it. I didn't even bother lying and saying it was broke. I just admitted that I hadn't cleaned it in forever, and it had become quite a toxic waste heap, so use it at your own risk!! (I thought about having signs put up.)

On Friday, it became quite apparent to me I wasn't going to replace it anytime soon, so I decided to go ahead and break down and clean it up a little bit. I didn't think I could it to look too good, I just thought I'd make it at least a little presentable. So I started wiping it out.

Then my son Zach, who had a day off from school, got interested in it. He decided he wanted to help mommy clean the microwave. So after I wiped it up a little, he jumped in and started cleaning it. I went over and finished the rest of the kitchen while I let him scrub his little heart out.

Then I remembered hearing about how vinegar works wonders on stuff like that. I looked it up on the internet. Then I took some vinegar and some water, heated them up in the microwave for 3 minutes, let it cool down, then me and Zach went to work on the really stubborn messes. And it worked like a dream! All the yucky nasty crap that wouldn't budge before came right off.

Me and Zach got the microwave looking quite good. Zach was impressed at how well the vinegar worked, and at the fact we could see through the door once again. I was impressed as well.

My 6 year old really earned his money that I gave him earlier in the week for the book fair.

Zach learned an important lesson about doing chores to earn money for the things he wanted; he learned about the wonders of cleaning with vinegar, and we got our microwave looking pretty darn good- almost sparkling.

MELISSA AND I HAVE GRADUATED FROM CRUMMY YARD SALES TO EBAY....

2008-04-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered the wonderful world of ebay. I know, I'm a little behind the times, as usual. I've always heard about people who were addicted to eBay... I've heard how great and wonderful it is.... how you can spend countless hours on there and find just about anything and everything in the world on eBay. But for some reason, I just really never got interested in it. I guess I just figured it was too much of a pain, and a big fat hassle.

Then my little sister Melissa started getting into it. She started bidding on, and winning, all kinds of cool stuff like Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses and purses and clothes. (Her boyfriend Mike has been into eBay for awhile, so I guess I should give Mike the credit.) Then Melissa started selling some stuff she no longer wanted.

So I had to try it, too. I put a skirt on eBay that I had bought awhile back that never fit me. It's always been way too big, and i don't know whatever poss ed me to buy something so big. And I never got around to taking it back. (For another unknown reason) So I put it on eBay, along with a few other items: some of my son's clothes that he has grown out of, a book that I have read, and a DVD that was given to us that we never watched.

I just put the stuff on to see what would happen, not really expecting much, and before I knew it, I had sold the dvd, one of Zach's jackets, and the book. That was pretty easy! Everythings pretty much self explanatory. Mike advised me to start the bidding off very low, that way you get more people looking at your items.

Mike helped me pack the stuff up and I shipped it off to its new owners. Mike was a lot of help.

Anyhoo, that all went smoothly, so I put a few more things on, and made a few more bucks. Not a lot of money, now mind you, but I am just happy for any penny I can get, and to get things out of my house! I am such a pack rat, I have way TOO much stuff laying around and cluttering up my tiny, tiny house.

This eBay thing is way better than yard sales! I cannot tell you how many times my sister and friends and I have gathered up all our crap, hauled it out to my front yard, and sat out in the sun all day, only to have to pack most of it back up and find room to store it away again!

It is so embarrassing, dragging all of your crap you were trying to unload, back into the house. During one yard sale, my sister threatened to take all of her items that did not sell and toss them out in the middle of the street, and whatever happens, happens!!

My poor sister always got stuck with the yard sale nuts- the cheap skates that wanted to buy all of her Jeff Gordon collectibles for one bargain price of $2, and the guy that bought her still -in- the- box Holiday Barbie for a buck then turned around and resold it and made a killing off of it.

YARD SALES ARE JUST WAY TOO MUCH WORK, AND NOT MUCH GOOD COMES OF THEM!!

Me and Melissa also like t0 round up our stuff we no longer want or need, and drop it off at the local Goodwill. But if we can make a few bucks off of our stuff, we might as well!

Thanks, Melissa and Mike, for introducing me to the world of eBay!

www.myinkpro.com

2008-03-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

I love messing around with my printer and printing out pictures. Which as you all know, sucks up a lot of ink. I was also taking a writing class where I had to write my assignments and then print out two copies of them to send out. And of coarse, occasionally we like to print out directions, recipes, and coloring pages for my 6 year old son, and that kind of fun stuff. We do use our fair share of ink. So I am constantly looking for good deals on printer ink.

My friend Amy contacted me recently and let me know about a website where I could find printer ink
and color cartridges.

I am definitely going to check it out, the next time I need ink, which will probably be shortly!!

stuff.....

2008-03-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

I went to the dr the other day and he put me on a new medicine for acid reflux and gave me some kind of medicine for my esophogus (which i still have to get filled.) I've lost a few pounds (about 10 to be exact) and I'm feeling yucky! I am going out with my friends tomorrow and i'm not sure what to wear. I feel like I look gross in everything, I feel scrawny- like my clothes are just hanging off me.

I can NEVER ever be happy with my weight!! Before I got sick, I felt fat, and I wanted to drop a few pounds. Now I feel like i have dropped too many and I wish I could get them back. I am never happy with myself.

Woman are always so critical about how they look, and I know that looks are not the most important thing.

My friend Michelle came in from North Carolina, with her mom and her baby. I'm so because it has been a long time since I've seen them. I always have a good time with Michelle, and her mom,and her sister. We have agood time, just hanging out and talking and laughing and catching up.

Tommorrow I am going out with Michelle and our friend, and her brother in law , Aaron. I was friends with Michelle in high school. Then after high school, when I was working in the pottery, I met Aaron and started hanging out with him. Then I introduced Michelle and Aaron. Then Michelle met Aaron's brother and married him. Aaron and Michelle know each other because of me. Michelle met her husband because of me. They better remember I am the one to thank, and they better appreciate what I've done for them.

Michelle and Aaron were both very important to me. I always valued their friendships greatly. They are both truly unique, special people that I am lucky to have known. Michelle was one of my best freinds that I could laugh about anything and everything with, and we always have a good time with, and Aaron was always my Fraiser Crane. He was always analizing me, even when I didn't him to. I'm so excited about finally getting a chance to hang out with both of them again- I can't wait-just like old times. Well not exactly like old times--- we are older, grown up, mature, married, with children....so it will be a little different.

oh, what to wear, what to wear, what to wear.....

Bzz Agent terri1974 reporting on the Glade wisp flameless candle....

2008-03-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

I officially started my first campaign as a bzz agent today. I just got my Glade wisp flameless candle and I can't stop bzzing about it! It is faboo! Love it! I opened it immediately and put it together, and it was easy for even a dum dum like myself.

I was impressed because it was a lot bigger than I thought it would be, and it comes with everything- even the oil and batteries! I played with it a few times, I turned it off and on, I watched the puffs of fragrance come out of the top, we turned the light off and watched it in the dark. I have the clean linen and french vanilla refills. It comes in a variety of scents, and I just may have to try them all! There is a little lever on it to control the amount of fragrance you want. And even when the light is off, the scent still continues. I like the fact that I can put it wherever I want and I don't have to worry about it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys candles and smelly stuff. (I've shown it to my family already, and they are all impressed, as well)

PS- I've had it on for a few minutes, on the next to lowest setting, and I can smell it all over my house. It smells great!!

so i've been kind of busy....

2008-03-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

I've actually been getting some stuff done lately and I'm quite proud of myself... I rewrote one article I had been working on and submitted it to a magazine, I've been working on two other articles.... I wrote a handful of articles for some web sites and I actually made a few bucks- that was pretty cool. It's neat making money doing something you enjoy. I never knew that was possible!

I wrote about Costa Rica. My mom asked me what I knew about Costa Rica, and I told her when I started I didn't know anything, but I have become quite knowledgeable about it....

It has a mild tropical climate, a stable democracy, no malaria, no army, and low air pollution, and lots of beautiful beaches, rain forests, and mountains. I wouldn't mind going there some day.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you aren't eating!

Every once in awhile not eating makes me kinda cranky- food is everywhere- people are everywhere talking about food, making food, eating food.... every once in awhile I want to go a little crazy and I get snappy.... and throw things at peoples heads....

but mostly I'm alright with not eating. I am okay on my Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, ice cream and pudding diet. It's not too bad. On Tuesday, I go back to the ENT and have the scope put in my throat so they can get a better picture of it. I am praying he can give me some answers because eventually, i would like to eat again. Someday.

You can call me BzzAgent terri1974...

2008-03-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

One day I stumbled across this website that looked pretty interesting...www.bzzagent.com.
"BzzAgent" is a word of mouth program where people sign up, and then are picked to be in certain campaigns in which they test certain products, "Bzzzz" about them to whoever will listen, give out samples and coupons and such, and then write a report all about their bzzzing experiences. I signed up awhile back and forgot all about it. After I signed up I filled out a bunch of surveys pertaining to my interests, and about a week or so later I got a message that I was invited to my first campaign! Yay Me!!

I signed up for the campaign and I should be receiving my Glade Wisp flameless candle in 21 days. I'm excited because I love candles and smelly stuff, and I have never tried this kind before. And anytime i can get something for free or at a great discount, and all I have to do in return is give my honest opinions, I'm all for that! BRING ON THE FREE STUFF! Cause if there is two things that I am, that is honest and cheap!!

I'm still trying to figure out this whole process, but i guess I try out the candle, give out coupons or samples, whatever they send me, get peoples reactions and opinions, then write a decent report about my experiences. I should be able to handle this. I sent my CM friend Barb an email and she signed up for Bzz Agents, as well. I'm bzzing already! We're bzzing together!

I can't wait to get my Glade Wisp Flameless Candle!!

let melissa give u ideas for decorating your nursery/toddler 's bedroom!

2008-03-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON....A RETRO, YET MODERN ALTERNATIVE TO DECORATING YOUR NEW BABY'S NURSERY OR PREPARING YOUR LITTLE ONE FOR THEIR TODDLER ROOM. SO MANY OPTIONS....YOU DECIDE. SAMPLES AND LINK COMING SOON.
Check out Melissa on my myspace link, friend #5!
COMING SOON....A RETRO, YET MODERN ALTERNATIVE TO DECORATING YOUR NEW BABY'S NURSERY OR PREPARING YOUR LITTLE ONE FOR THEIR TODDLER ROOM. SO MANY OPTIONS....YOU DECIDE. SAMPLES AND LINK COMING SOON.

YOU JUST KEEP PUTTING YOUR PICKLE ON EVERYBODY'S PLATE, COLLEGE BOY, AND LEAVE THE HARD STUFF TO ME....

2008-03-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

And I thought my life was in a downward spiral right now!!! Look at poor, hunky hot Patrick Swayze, esteemed actor and beloved icon.... 55 years old and we find out he has one of the worst forms of cancer you can have- a silent killer, pancreatic cancer! I hear it is hard to detect because by the time you start having symptoms, it is already too late.

Some people are remaining optimistic and saying he is responding positively to treatment- others say he only has mere weeks to live.....

I am so distressed and disturbed by this!!!! Nobody knows what a horrible, evil, unfair monster cancer is more than my family. My mother, my aunt, my father, my grandfather... but i digress....

Oh, the fond memories I have of Patrick Swayze.... he's one of my favorite actors. Some of my all time favorite movies are The Outsiders, Roadhouse, and especially Dirty Dancing and To wong Foo.

I remember when Dirty Dancing was all the rage.... I think I was like in 9th grade... when that movie hit the theaters, everyone went SWAYZE CRAZY!!!! All the girls in my school were immediately, instantly in love with him/ He had everything- the face, the smile, the eyes, the bod, his voice- he was just a big hot hunk!!

My cousin Stephanie, my sister Melissa, and I were Swayze Crazies as well. We watched Dirty Dancing millions of times- we quoted along with it verbatim, we bought some of the clothes and shoes inspired by the movie, we bought the soundtrack and listened to it until it fell apart- especially She's Like The Wind- Not only did he have a great body and a cute face- but what a voice!!!!!

My cousin Steph and I both had huge posters of him in our rooms. I still remember mine hanging on my closet door for a long time. MMMMMM....memories!!!!

Several years later, I worked at MCDonald's with Jeremy, who resembled Patrick. He had those eyes. All the girls said so. I used to torment him and make him quote my favorite line from "DD": "You just keep putting your pickle on everybody's plate, College Boy, and leave the hard stuff to me." He would just laugh and humor me.

And then we all had to go watch The Outsiders and Red Dawn again. I don't care who else was in The Outsiders, nobody was hotter than Patrick!!!!

Roadhouse is great, too, with some classic lines like, "You will be nice, until it's time to NOT be nice."

And "To Wong Foo, thanks for everything, Julie Newmar".... what can I say? Patrick Swayze in a dress and make up... Vida Bohem, of the Manhatten Bohems..... what is freakin' funnier than that?!!!!!!!! "As far as I'm concerned, You are the only true Catwoman....."

And I cried over "Ghost" with everybody else....

And he just seems like such a decent guy.... he's been married to his wife for 30 some years- how rare is that in Hollywood!!!

Patrick Swayze has a lot of great stuff... fabulous performances, great lines.... and if anyone can beat cancer and overcome this and get better..... It's him. So I'm sending all my prayers and positive thoughts out to Patrick Swayze. Love ya, Patrick!!!!!

Which reminds me, I'm gonna hafta go have a Swayze marathon and watch them all together.... more Swayze than u can shake a stick at.... who wants to join me????

Life truly is the DOWNWARD SPIRAL....

2008-03-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

Shirley was right.... You can never get ahead in this world.... you think something good is happening,...you think things are getting better..... you think you are getting ahead, then something knocks you back down....life truly is the downward spiral....

Shirley was a woman my mother and I cleaned offices with for a time. Shirley was a tad pessimistic. For her granddaughters wedding, she gave her some money and told to put it toward her divorce. Whenever something crummy happens, my mom and I laugh and say Shirley was right...

All things happen for a reason. I wonder.

War, poverty, homelessness, hunger, abuse, neglect, unhappiness, sickness, unpaid bills, lying,death...

Life truly is the downward spiral.... I must go sit in a dark room and listen to Nine Inch Nails for awhile....

maybe I'm just cranky and pessimistic from not eating......

looking into essential oils and natural cures....

2008-03-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

I went to the doctor yesterday. Still not quite sure what my problem is, but he's not so sure it is acid reflux. Put me on another medicine for acid reflux, just in case. I have to go to the hospital and have the test done where you drink barium and they watch your esophagus while you swallow.

I still feel like I have stuff in my throat. It's quite unpleasant and it's driving me crazy!! I am still on a liquid diet, consisting of Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, tomato and broccoli soup, ice cream, and pudding.

Sometimes I think I am losing my mind and its all in my head. I would not be surprised to find that out! I have a tendency to suppress my emotions. I figured if I wrote more, I would deal with stuff, and feel better, but I don't think its working. I'm not dealing with stuff i need to deal with.

My husband's friends gave him a few things for me to try. They use essential oils. She gave me some kind of Cinnamon spray to spray in my mouth, and peppermint oil to put on my tongue and my throat, along with some reading material, and something to drink called Ning Xia Red, which is infused with nutrients. So I am drinking, and reading, and spraying, and putting drops on my tongue, because I am up for anything! I have been miserable for about 3 months now, and I've seen three doctors, taken boatloads of antibiotics, sinus meds, and stuff for acid reflux, and so far nothing is helping me.

I'm not used to being sick for this long. I get colds, and sinus infections, and migraines, that come and go. I am not whining and feeling sorry for myself, because I know there are plenty of people who are worse off than me.

I think I need to get more detox pads, because I think they were helping me!

Christmas

2008-02-29T16:01:00.000-08:00

My mom, with her electric corn cob (a present from my uncle), my Aunt Sharon, and my grandmother (aka "Mean Jean")

My mother would punch me int he neck for having pics like this for eveyone to see, but then, she won't find out, now will she?!

MJ's BMs

2008-02-29T15:29:00.000-08:00

Warning! Gross topic up ahead! Read at your own risk!!!

My mother and my aunt who are both truly wonderful, special people-people who have strongly influenced me and taught me a lot about life and having faith in God, are living with cancer. They are both recovering from surgeries to have carcinoid tumors removed (my mother had hers in May, my aunt just had hers 2 weeks ago) And on top of that, they, along with my uncle, are taking care of their mother, my soon to be 81 year old grandmother I affectionately call "Mean Jean".

" Mean Jean" has had many health issues of her own over the years: she has high blood pressure, she suffered a stroke in 2001 that left her blind in one eye and paralyzed on one side, and she has had several cancer scares of her own. Mean Jean smokes like a chimney and drinks coffee all the live long day, and apparently is going to outlive our entire family!!

My uncle had to leave town for several days for a family emergency, so my mom moved in with my aunt and Mean Jean, so they could all be together, helping each other out. They had to call in a visiting nurse, because being sick themselves, they needed help with Mean Jean. And she is a handful!

The first thing Mean Jean cried to the nurse about was her constipation. This was no surprise to us because this is what we have to hear about 24/7. She is always worried about her bowel movements. She is more concerned about them above all else, even though they appear to be quite normal. If we ask her if she wants to eat, she'll tell us no, because she hasn't had a bm yet. Then she'll point to her stomach, and tell us she's not hungry because her breakfast is still in there. When the nurse came out to talk to my mom and aunt about her constipation and give them literature on it, they had to assure the nurse that they clean out her potty chair all day,and she does NOT have constipation. My mother than proceeded to describe the bms for the nurse. She had a puzzled look for a minute.

"Welcome to our world!" I laughed.

She informed us that older people do seem to get fixated on their bowels, for some reason.
No Kidding!

My aunt read the literature. "You do not have to worry about constipation unless you are going to the bathroom only 3 times a week or less."

"That's NOT her!" they agreed.

I told them to go read that to her, but they told me that would not help.

She would agree with it, then 5 minutes later, she'd cry about being backed up.

After the nurse left, Mean Jean wanted to know why she was there. "To help take care of you, to check on your arm, and to keep track of your bowel movements," my aunt told her.

As my aunt says all the time, Nobody has more fun than us! Except for maybe visiting nurses!

OUR KITTIES

2008-02-26T20:03:00.001-08:00

HERE FISHY,FISHY, FISHY!
COME TO CARLITO!!

BOOMHAUR

Just blogging for the sake of blogging....

2008-02-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

We have a two hr delay already.... yay! I get to sleep in! We are getting some snow right now as I write. We took Zach to get his hair cut and pick up a few groceries and the roads were starting to get slick.

I'm having some butterscotch pudding. I still can't swallow very well. I'm glad I have a drs appointment on Friday. My diet has consisted of drinking Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, lots of hot tea and hot chocolate, juice, and some soups (mainly tomato that i hate-BLECH!) and broccoli( that I love), pudding and ice cream. My 14 month old nephew Evan and my 80 year old grandmother Mean Jean have a better diet. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but sometimes my lack of real food makes me a little cranky! Sometimes mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and oatmeal are a little hard to get down.

I am relieved because I finally finished my article that I had to rewrite today. I need to get it printed out and sent off to my instructor. It was about my mom being sick, s0 it was very hard to write. I had put off writing it for a long time. But now I'm finally done with it. I think. I will print it out, then read it and decide if I need to rewrite it yet again. It's very important I get this one right.

Well I am off to try to get Zach into the shower.

On the 5th night of detoxing........

2008-02-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my 5th night going to bed with the detox pads on my feet. I am now out of pads. Every night I have put the white pads on my freshly scrubbed feet, and every morning, when I get up and tear the pads off they are nasty and gunked up and almost Black! When they are clean, they have a faint, spicy smell... like something you would marinate your meat in. And when I rip them off, and they are all gunked up, the smell is even stronger---not a bad smell, just weird!!

I am still batteling this acid reflux thing and I am still not eating very well, so I can't say if I am feeling better yet or not. Plus, it's only been 5 nights. But something is definately going on with these pads!! So I am going to order some new ones and try this for a whole month and then see how I feel.

WHEN THEY FIGHT

2008-02-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

MY 6 year old son, Zach, brought a book home from school the other day. When we sat down that night to read it, I read the first 2 pages without really thinking about what I was reading. Then it began sinking in...

The book was called "WHEN THEY FIGHT" by Kathryn White. It was all about a little badger and how he felt when his Mommy and Daddy badger fought. The book described the little badger as being "lost in a storm", and "cold and shivering and lonely". The illustrations were quite dramatic as well. The Mommy and Daddy looked mean and nasty and viscous! And the little badger was so small and scared. I began SOBBING HYSTERICALLY halfway thru the book... to the point where I could hardly finish it.

My husband and I try not to fight in front of the kids. And we, in all honesty, are not really fighters- when we are annoyed at one another, we mostly throw smart or sarcastic comments at one another. But of coarse there are many times when things get said in front of the kids that shouldn't be, especially in the heat in the heat of the moment.

Then I thought about how one day Zach walked into a heated exchange between me and my husband's nutty father. It got quite ugly, and although I wasn't swearing, I was talking LOUDLY and following him out into the yard daring him to hit me. (It was not my finest moment as a responsible mother!) My son walked into the kitchen, starring in horror, not quite sure what was going on, and my husband went to comfort him.

Now that wasn't entirely my fault. Normally I am calm, good natured, easy to get along with and not combative. My husbands family are nutty, and they have always been the sore spot in our basically decent, peaceful marriage. His family are button pushers, they only care about them selves, like to stir up trouble and like to do whatever they please and try to run right over top of us. Occasionally I have to stand up to them and put the smackdown on them, to stand up for my family, and let them know we are not putting up with their crap!

All I could think about was how Zach must have felt like that little badger, alone in a storm, when Mommy and Pap Pap were shouting at each other, and daddy was trying to keep mommy from following Pap Pap into the yard, daring him to hit her! (It was a total Jerry Springer redneck breakdown!!!)

In the end of the book, the badgers parents are friends again and the little badger feels happy and loved again! So it has a happy ending, thankfully!! But I Highly recommend "When They Fight". It is powerful and moving and will make you think. (And if you are like me it will make u cry hysterically!!!!) It so well written with beautiful illustrations. I get teared up thinking about it!!!!

THE DETOXING SISTAS!

2008-02-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

Terri (TerrenceJ) and Neavoda (Gruffmeister)
Feburary 19, 2008
5 days into our detoxing experiment....
Do we look healthy?!
(My sister Melissa did our hair color! Love it!!)

DETOXING THRU THE FEET... IN PICS!

2008-02-18T20:29:00.000-08:00

Neavoda's feet! She wants to be a foot model!

WHO WANTS TO SEE MY DETOX PAD?

2008-02-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

irst off, I should mention I have been fighting a nonexistent sinus infection for the last three months. I have taken 3 antibiotics, tons of sinus meds, only to go to the ENT and have him tell me he didn't believe it wasn't sinus drainage that was causing me to have severe sore throats and making me feel like i had crap in my throat all the time. He said he would check my sinuses to be sure, but he thought my problem was acid reflux. Sure enough, my sinus xrays came out free and clear!! I was stunned. I don't have heartburn, I don't have a list of foods I can't eat--- I have always ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Now, all of a sudden I can't hardly eat anything. My dr put me on prevacid, and now I'm one of those people who can't eat before I take my pill! I feel a little bit better, after I take my prevacid my throat does clear up, but i still have to be careful about what I eat because I have done some damage to my esophagus apparently, that my prevacid is clearing up. So I'll be a monkey's uncle!! All this time I thought I had sinus drainage in my throat, and here it was stomach acid, coming up out of my stomach, wreking havoc on my throat!

So I've been quite miserable with this acid reflux thing going on, I haven't been eating too much, so I'm feeling drained and tired, and I've had several nasty migraines this month. I have been taking my elderberry syrup, and now I figure is the perfect time to start detoxing through my feet. I'm not sure if it's going to help, but it can't make feel any worse!

So Friday afternoon my detox pads arrived inthe mail, and my friend Neavoda arrived on Friday evening, which was perfect timing, since we wanted to detox together! Friday night was our first night to try out the pads. Friday before we went to bed we sat on the floor and applied the patches to the center of our feet and covered them with white sticky bandages. My cats who are naturally curious, immediately came to investigate. They began sniffing around them, so we had to sniff as well. Neavoda said they smelled like something you would marinate meat in. I agreed. After we put the pads on, we put our socks on and went to bed.

The next morning I got up and I began ripping the pads off, expecting them to be the same color they were when I put them on, thinking nothing had happened. To my surprise (and disgust!) They were covered with nasty gunk- almost completely black! Neavoda's were too. I put my gunky pads in a plastic bag and carried them around all day, showing everyone what came out of my body. My husband yelled at me to get them out of his face while he was eating. My mom, sister, and brother in law were all disgusted and impressed at the same time.

Saturday night was the same thing. Sunday night we skipped, because I had a headache, and didn't feel like getting up to put them on. But we are doing it again tonight.

I don't know if they are helping me (its too soon to tell) but what i do know is we took white pads and put them on freshly scrubbed feet- only to rip them off the next morning and have them nasty and gunked up. Something is definitely going on there!

oh the fun i'm having....

2008-02-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

Oh the fun I am having today!

My child ALMOST missed the bus today... he's such a nut! And I mean that in the nicest, most positive way possible! It's okay that he's a nut, he gets it honestly, from both sides of the family!!

Zach decided, as I hear the bus pulling up in front of our home(which is quite convienent!), that he absolutely HAD to have the 3 buttons on his shirt buttoned.... I hurriedly buttoned them, threw his coat on him, then turned around to grab his backback. He HAD to have his coat buttoned up all the way too, and he had to have help with that. So, through gritted teeth I am trying to explain to him that we don't have time to fool with this, and this is why I like for him to be ready a little earlier, and to make sure you have all your buttons buttoned before the bus starts pulling up. Not too sure if he caught on to that. So I 'm grabbing his backpack and I'm heading for the door. He then starts panicking because he can't find his Rey Mysterio ball cap.... He has thousands of hats and today he has to have the Rey Mysterio hat- because hey, it's a Rey kinda day. I knew that was the one he wanted so I had laid it on the rocking chair earlier, so it would be easy to find , but as the last few elementery students are boarding the bus, he is looking around, distraught because he cannot see his hat. I grab it, toss it on his head sideways, and once again try to rush out the door with his backback. He's trailing along behind me, trying to adjust his hat, as I'm trying to run through the snow to make it to the corner. The bus driver sees us and waves at us and I wave back, so thankful that he was still there and he saw us. The whole time, I am yelling, "Hurry Zach! Hurry! Hurry!" and then as he crosses the street, I start yelling, "Its ok, Zach, the driver sees you! Don't run! You'll trip and fall!" No wonder my child is nutty! I told you he gets it honest!

So I get my son safely on the bus, I watch him take a seat and press his little face against hte window and wave to me. I hav eto see this everyday. I wave back. I have to know he is safely on the bus or i cannot rest. Then I turn around and see Mean Jean, my 80 year old grandmother, is seated in her chair by the window waving to me. I wave back. Mean Jean lives with my aunt and uncle, who live next door to us. My aunt is having surgery today, and my mom and my uncle are with her, so today is my day to hang out with Mean Jean. Yay! More fun!

Mean Jean is quite a trip! She's 80 years old, smokes like a chimney, worries all day about nothing but her gigs, her coffee, and her bms. (Yes, I mean bowel movements) And she can be quite cranky. So I go into the house and ask her if shes ready for her coffee which is adumb question, so I go to fill up her cup. I give her the coffee, and she's quite happy about that. But then immediately she starts worrying about her supply of cigarettes. I look around her room and reassure her she has 31/2 packs. "And if you smoke all those, there is more in the kitchen." So for the minute shes happy. Then I notice her pot is full. I'm sure you know hwat kind of a pot I am speaking of. I empty it and clean it out. My only comfoting thought about that is at least I dont have to hear about her worrying about not having a bm yet! (Unless she forgets!) THen I get her cereal for her and offer to turn on the tv. When I ask her what channel, she tells me 36, "it's all commericials, but every once in awhile they put on Law and Order. " Ok, whatever. She has to watch 36 all day so she can catch Law and Order. She can't follow it anymore, but she still has to watch it. She always had a thing for Lenny.

Right now she is taking a nap. Its about time for her to have lunch. She will probably tell me she she's not hungry, but if I make it, she will eat it. She's just funny that way.

I wanna go green- but how?

2008-02-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

I want to get myself and my family healthier so I have been looking into detoxing, and natural and homeopathic remedies- now my next project is going green with our cleaning products. I would love to rid my home ( an our bodies!) of the harsh chemicals that are harming us and our environment.

As I was scrubbing my bathroom floor and my toilet today, I kept wondering why on Earth we do not actually believe our homes are clean until we have sucked in so much toxic fumes that we have made ourselves dizzy and feel as if we are about to keel over! I guess the stronger our cleaner is, the more our eyes and nose and lungs burn, the dizzier we become; that is more germs and bacteria we feel as if we are killing!

I have been looking into several companies that make organic, environmentally friendly products, and offer work at home opportunities. I have been studying up on Melaleuca, Miessence, and Shaklee. It gets pretty confusing, but from what I've read, they all have similar Earth friendly products, but they run their companies differently.

With Melaleuca, you do marketing for their wellness company, and they expect you to buy so much of their products every month. Hmmmm. I don't think I want to be told that I have to buy stuff every single month.

With Shaklee, you have 3 options for starting out with the company: gold ambassador for $299, distributor for $39.95, and member which is 19.95. I like having options!

I'm still looking into Miessence. But they are all fine companies that have products that many people love and rave about and swear by and can't live without!

Another option would be making all my own cleaning products, and shampoos and such. I have heard that people actually do that. I'm not sure if I want to go there or not, but that is interesting. Many people use common, house hold items like peroxide, baking soda, and vinegar to clean with.

I guess I will have to study up some more and figure out what I want to do to go green!

Our Friend The Elderberry

2008-02-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

Before I started drinking elderberry syrup 3 days ago, I knew squat about the elderberry. I assumed it was a berry and I knew I loved the scent of my elderberry candle in the Fiesta mug, that I had purchased at the Homer Laughlin China Co Outlet. And I knew I was very sad because my candle was gone, and I would like to find another one. But I was clueless about the elderberry.

When my mother read in AARP magazine that the elderberry can be used to help treat cold, flu, and sinus symptoms, I was quite suprised. And me being tired of my sinus distress, and tired of my many OTC medicines I was using, decided I had nothing to lose, and i decided to try the syrup myself. I've been taking 4 tablespoons every day since Saturday. It's a little bitter, but otherwise, not that bad. I can definately handle taking it.

My mother has fond memories of the elderberry bush that grew near her childhood home. She told us she appreciated the elderberry for it's "smeariness". My mother and her friend used to enjoy smashing them in another girl's face. My mother was no viscous thug, now mind you, the girl who got the elderberries squashed in her face deserved it. She was a mouthy little chic!

Now here I am, many years later, the same berries my mom smashed in that girls face, now I'm drinking the syrup to try to get some relief from my sinus ailments!

We drove by the lot where her house used to be, to see if we could catch a glimpse of the elderberry bush- we wanted to see if anything was left of it. Being the dead of winter, all we saw was some scraggly, dead branches. "That could have been it," my mother said, "We'll have to come back this summer and see if it blooms." We stared at the sorry looking branches for a moment before driving off.

Today, I received a message from Amy, from www.elderberries.com, commending me for ditching my otc meds and embracing the elderberries for its natural medicinal purposes. I checked out her website,a nd as you can imagine, it has everything elderberry! Everything from elderberry recipies, to folklore, to health news- and everything in between! If you are interested in the elderberry, check out this site. It's quite informative.

It's time for another tablespoon of elderberry syrup. Anyone want to join me?

MY TRIP TO NILA JO'S NATURAL NUTRITON

2008-02-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

So I'm still feeling pretty crappy- I've been feeling crappy on and off since December. My throat has been all yucky and i am tired and have no energy and I have no appetite. Well, I get energy in small spurts. I have been living on yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, pudding and ice cream. I have lost a few more pounds then I wanted to, and am back down to my high school weight, when I used to get tormented and called "stickwoman". Just when I start feeling better, and I think I am finally all cleared up... BAM! It comes back and smacks me upside the head.

I have went to the dr and I have been on three different antibiotics. One antibiotic did nothing, one made me sicker, and the third, I'm still not sure about. I have been taking Claratin D, Tylenol Sinus and Congestion, Benadryl, and Nasonex. They give me a little bit of relief- but not for long. And I HATE taking something all the time.

My mother was reading an article about natural remedies, and she told me elderberry syrup is good for colds, flu, and sinusitis. So we decided to make a trip to a local shop, Nila Jo's Natural Nutrition shop. Nila Jo had something for just about every sickness, illness, condition and ailment you can imagine. Stuff for your eyes, stuff for your nose, stuff for your female parts; stuff for cleansing and detoxing; and all kinds of vitamins and stuff for weight loss; and stuff for your skin and lips. I was amazed at her wide selection of items. I could easily go crazy in that store. I am new to the whole natural/homeopathic thing, but I LOVE trying out new products.

I picked up a bottle of Elderberry syrup and some homeopathic drops for my throat, and I picked up some stuff to put in my husbands bath for soaking tired, achy muscles. When I took it home to him, in true man fashion, he whined that he does not take baths, so I told him I would keep that for myself.

I took a teaspoon of Elderberry syrup and it was pretty good. It was just a little sour, but I definitely could tolerate it. I am supposed to take one teaspoon 4 hours a day. It says to give children 1 teaspoon 2 times a day, but my son is not too cooperative. He's not as open minded as I am.

A little later, when my throat began to act up, I put a few drops of the throat drops under my tongue. I was a little afraid to take all 15 drops, so I just took 2 drops of it, and it wasn't so bad either. I am getting ready to take some more now.

I went ahead and ordered some detox pads for my feet. I found 20 of them for $17 on eBay. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on them and have a large stock pile of pads just in case I try them and I am not too thrilled with them.

When my friend Neavoda comes to spend a weekend with me, we are going to detox ourselves. I told her to tell her hubby she can not return home until she is properly detoxed! And I think we are going to take a trip to Nila Jo's. That may become my new hang out. It's a cool place. This natural/homeopathic stuff is pretty cool. And I am hoping that I start feeling better soon, and maybe have some energy. That's not asking too much, is it?!
I'll keep u posted on my findings!!!

Sore throat& Detoxing through my feet

2008-01-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

I finally saw the Dr today because of my sore throats. She was pretty sure my sore throats were because of swollen lymph nodes and a sinus infection that has not gone away, which is what I figured. I have been eating nothing but soups, mashed potatoes, pudding, ice cream with butterscotch topping, and oatmeal. I went to Applebees yesterday and ate nothing but a small cup of chicken noodle soup. (It was AWESOME soup!!) I have lost 8 pds since the beginning of December. I guess I shouldn't complain because this is actually the healthiest I've eaten-in my life!! I am not snacking on junk food 24/7 like I normally do. I haven't been able to chow pizza and burgers uncontrollably, like I used to. But the Dr gave me Nasonex and another antibiotic. I think the antibiotic gave me an upset stomach. I hope they kick in. I'm tired of eating bean soup when everybody else is scarfing down pizza.

My sister was reading about these kinoki pads that you wear on your feet, and they suck all the toxins and yucky crap out of your body. They are supposed to make you feel better and give you more energy. I looked them up and I see there are pads made by different companies, but I am assuming they all do about the same thing. Apparently, Avon makes there version of these pads as well. My friend Debbie sells Avon, so I must remember to ask her about them. My sister says you wear them over night and when you get up they are black, from all the gunk that's pulled out of you. I know I have a lot of gunk in my system because I have the worst diet imaginable. And because I have been feeling so tired and crappy as of late. I asked her how do we know they aren't pulling out good stuff, or things that we need. We're not sure yet. We are still doing more research. My friend Sherri told me she heard you can get the same effect from soaking in a bath tub of Epsom salts. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

I got my latest article back from my instructor and I have to get busy and rewrite it and make it shorter.

So I've got a lot to do.... get this sinus infection cleared up once and for all, write my article, be a "momager" and take care of my family, and all while detoxing through my feet.

The men are hanging out eating the dinner I fixed, having a few brews, and yaking about work. It's hard to concentrate when they are in my space. I definately need my own office.

A sore throat, ice cream, and a mother's love

2008-01-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

Zach, my 6 year old son, and I are both feeling kinda crappy. Zach is snotty and congested and coughing. Maybe he could have went to school today, but i kept him home. I hate for him to miss school, but I also hate it when people send their child to school and they are sick and sneezing and coughing all over my child, and he gets sick, and brings it home to me. Also, I know I don't feel like doing much of anything when I am snotty, congested, and coughing. Or, when I feel like I do now.

My sinuses were draining and I have a sore throat and it will go away for awhile and come back. Sometimes I can hardly swallow. I diagnosed myself last week with a sinus infection, since I am prone to getting those. I called my dr and they called me in antibiotic. I got the generic form of the Z pac, and I took it for a week, like I was supposed to. My sore throat went away for a little while, but now it's back, off and on.

I've been taking sinus pills, drinking gallons of hot tea, drinking chicken noodle soup broth, eating pudding, and mashed potatoes. It'll go away for awhile, then come back. At times, I have felt like I swallowed a fuzzy sweater. Or I feel as if I have been vacuuming with my mouth, and I swallowed a bunch of dust bunnies. I have started taking Benadryl, and that seems to be the only thing that dries me all up, but it also knocks me out.

I'm afraid if it keeps up, I'll have to call the dr and either get a stronger antibiotic or make an appointment, so someone can actually look at my throat. I dread doing that.

My mom brought me some cookies and cream ice cream. I told her I was going to numb the pain away for awhile. I called her and asked her and within minutes she was at my door with the ice cream in hand. That's how I know my mom loves me.

My dear friend that I respect highly and love, recently said she wonders if her child knows how much she loves her. Even though I knew I can not reassure her, I tried to. Even though I am not a good source for advice, because frequently, I do not know what I am talking about, I tried to tell her that everything she did was for her daughter, and her daughter knew that.

Actions speak louder than words. Lets face it, I can SAY whatever I want to say. I can say I'm the Queen of England. But I don't have anything to back that up, so it doesn't mean anything. Anybody can say anything.

We as mothers are constantly doing for our children. We are constantly thinking of them and putting their needs above our own. Sometimes it's little things, like bringing them ice cream when they are whining endlessly about a sore throat. Sometimes it's something bigger, like giving them money when they are in a tight spot, and then never throwing it up in their face and reminding them about what you did for them. Sometimes it's always being there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on, or you need someone to vent to, or when you need a babysitter, because you have to get out and do something. Sometimes it's worrying and making sure they have everything they need.

No matter how much you disagree, or fight with your child; no matter how many sarcastic comments you hurl at one another; that will never take away from the things you do to show your child love.

And now that I am a mother, I am learning just how much you can care for your child, and how much you can love them and worry about them, and how you want them to have everything they need. And I am learning about how much you hurt when they hurt.

me & Batista

2008-01-20T18:33:00.001-08:00

What kind of a person is Batista?(my views on celebs)

2008-01-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

I've had a strange crush on Batista, the wrestler, for several years now. I can't help it.... I just think he is hot hot hot! I have t shirts, and posters, and a hat, and an action figure.... I started making my dining room into a Batista Shrine....( I know that I am an adult, and this is sad, but I have admitted before I am a sad freak!)

Anyhoo... I drug my friend Tonya to the Mellon Arena in May to see him wrestle the Undertaker in a cage. We sat in awe all night, staring at his butt. She's not a wrestling fan, but she was quite impressed. I yelled for him so loud , that even though we were in the nosebleed seats, he probably heard me. I know everyone around me thought I was insane, but I did not care.

I emailed a man who calls himself Professor Wrestling, to defend Batista's honor when he called him boring, and I am constantly getting grief from my family and friends who do not understand my animal attraction. (Especially my mom & sister)

I have not been fortunate enough to actually meet him, nor do I know anyone lucky enough to have that honor bestowed upon them. So all I know about him is what I read. I've read that he can be a nice guy, or he can be not such a nice guy, to put it mildly. I've read on various websites, that many fans have complained that he can be down right unpleasant at personal appearances and signings. I even read about a little boy, in England, I believe, that he made cry. I've heard that many times he doesn't talk, he won't let you take his picture, he will not pose, he won't take his sunglasses off, and he is just downright unfriendly.

His website and the ones devoted to him are going to paint a different story of him, of coarse. They always say how friendly and nice to the fans he is, and how much he appreciates their support.

I was just wondering what the true story is.

There is no excuse for any celeb to be rude or unfriendly during a personal appearance. The fans are pretty much paying their salary. Without the fans they would be nothing and they would not have their big houses, fancy cars, and they would not be able to live the lavish lifestyles they are accustomed to.

I know that celebrities lead crazy lives, they have hectic schedules, and they are constantly in the spot light, surrounded by adoring, sometimes over zealous fans, and we as normal civilians have no idea what that is like. I know they have personal problems, just like everyone else, on top of the crazy lifestyles they live. But I don't care what's going on in their life.... if they are feuding with the ex wife or ex husband, having trouble with their kids, fighting with the current love interest; I don't care if they partied too hard the night before, or they have been out on a bender, when it comes to their appearances and meeting their fans, they need to slap on a smile, try to appear friendly and appreciative, or just stay home!

I am not sure what is up with Batista, but I would like to meet him myself and decide what the truth is. Is he a nice guy or not? Is he misunderstood? Is there more than one side to him? Maybe there are two sides to him: Batista the Animal, and Batista the man.

Anybody out there has met him, I'd love to hear your story!

MY CATS

2008-01-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

CARLITO

BOOMHAUR

KEEPING WARM ON A COLD DAY

2008-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

I checked the weather on my yahoo and it says it's 7 degrees. Whatever my hubby was listening to says 9. Whatever, it's freakin cold!! I am so glad I don't have to go out anywhere and I thank God we have a roof over our heads and a furnace that is functioning properly.

I told the cats they need to be thankful too, because Carlito and Boomhaur were both strays, running wild in the streets before we took them in and gave them a warm home. They would be cat-sickles on days like this. I think they appreciate what we've done, because every once in awhile they lay down with us and purr contentedly. Other times, they just hide in their favorite spots around the house. Cats are so funny....one minute they are your very best friend in the whole world, and act like they can't live without you; the very next minute they don't even know who you are.

I actually baked some cookies that turned out decent last night. I enjoy baking more than cooking. I burned one batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, of coarse. But another batch turned out perfect, if I do say so myself. And the chocolate chocolate chip cookies that I thought I ruined, actually turned out great. My baking can hit or miss. My son is becoming quite picky, and he prefers Oreos to anything homemade, but if he doesn't have a choice, he will eat my homemade cookies and enjoy them. We have plenty of cookies to snack on all day.

Zach is playing the play station. In a bit I'll make him get off there and we will go over some of the words he's learning to read.

My hubby is restless and bored. He is pacing around the house like a caged panther. I ask him why he can't just relax, since he only gets 1 day off a week from work. But he can't. He always has to be doing something.

I called to see what my mom and sister are doing. They are hiding out in the house, trying to stay warm as well. My mother says she can't stand the cold weather anymore, and the winter seems to last so long. I told her I like the cold, as long as I don't have to be out in it. And I am happy to live in an area where we have a change in seasons. She says that's because I'm not old and sick, like she is. I feel sad that she is sick but I am thankful she is still with us. I talk to her for awhile longer, then tell her I will see them when it warms up.

I talk to some of my friends are on the computer. I talked to Tonya for awhile. She can always make me laugh.

Not much to do on days like this. But I do thank God for today. And I thank him for my warm house, warm, homemade cookies, and my friends and family, who keep me warm.

A FEW PICS...

2008-01-17T23:20:00.000-08:00

TAMMY,BRITTANY,ME, SHERRI, & MELISSA
my crew! july 2004

MY MOM VICKI& MY AUNT SHARON

SISTER MELISSA,ME, COUSINS STEPHANIE & NIKKI

summer of 2000

3 YEARS I'D LIKE TO REVISIT

2008-01-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about going back in time? I'm sure we all have at one time or another. Who wouldn't want to go back in time and relive (or experience first hand ) some major historical event....

Who wouldn't want to go back in time and hear JFK or Martin Luther King, Jr speak; or maybe go back in time and have a conversation with Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, or John Lennon; watch Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron or some of the other greats play ball; go back even further and watch George Washington become the very first president or witness Abraham Lincoln sign the Emancipation Proclamation and free the slaves;

I personally would like to experience Beatlemania at its height of popularity or go to Woodstock...

But more than any of that, as awesome as that would be, what I would want to do most, if I could go back into time, would be go back to the year 1985----

When I lived with my family in a cozy little house on Jefferson Street. I lived with my mother, my step father, my stepbrother,Mike, who was 12; my half sister , Melissa,who was 5; and I would have been 11 at the time. And of coarse we had our mutt, Mr. T. We were a happy family.... we were all together and healthy. Me and Melissa and Mike shared a room, and even though we hated it at the time and got on each others nerves, and fought like cats and dogs, that was one of the greatest times ever.

I was in the 6th grade, and my school was a hop skip and jump away. I was still a good student and I enjoyed school. I especially enjoyed English and my writing assignments. I was kind of shy and quiet and had a few close friends who I enjoyed talking to on the phone.

My grandparents were happy and healthy and they lived a few blocks away and we used to see them all the time. My Aunt Sharon and Uncle Denny and cousins Nikki and Stephanie lived over the hill from us, and we used to hang out all the time with them. I spent many nights in their huge house by the pond. We'd all go to church together.

If I could, after I spend a day with my family 1n 1985, I'd like to go to 1991. When I lived with my family in the house my mom is still in, up the road from Jefferson Street. My step dad was still there. Mike was still there. He was a senior and I was a jr in high school. We still had Mr. T and we got Alex the sheepdog. And I spent a lot of carefree days hanging out with my best friend Neavoda, who lived over the hill from me, and Michelle, who lived down the street. We would hang out, goof off, laugh, cry, carry on, prank people, scream, sing, wander aimlessly around the neighborhood... all without a care in the world.

It's so funny how at the time, you wish time would speed up.... you were always in a hurry to do something.... you couldn't wait for the weekend, then the summer, then you wanted to be done with school.... then one day all you want is to go back and relive one day- one more time- and take it slowly and enjoy every minute of it. I wish the adult me could go back and tell the kid me to stop being so stupid! Enjoy this while it lasts! Stop complaining about going to school , and fighting with your brother and sister and smarting off to your mom and dad....

cause all too soon it's gone.....

Then after I visit 1991, I'd like to stop in and visit 1996. That was just before my parents split up and my brother was out on his own by this point. My sister was 16 and I was 22. I was hanging out with my friends Tammy and Sherri and Missy , and they were "all grown up" with husbands and kids. They were teaching me all about real life, and I was enjoying their lessons, because I still wasn't living real life yet! They all taught me a lot. And I was hanging out with my friend Aaron. We were out running around and going to the mall, and going to see movies, and going out to eat... and we didn't have a care in the world... and we were laughing all the time and tormenting each other....and it was so much fun....

but now everything is so different....

My parents have split up; although me and Melissa are closer than ever, I never talk to Mike; Nikki and Stephanie have moved away and we never see them; my grandfather passed away and is in heaven now; my grandmother is not doing so well and she is not the same person she was; my mom and my aunt are both very sick; and I don't get to see my friends like I used to....

and now I'm a grown up with my own family and lots of responsibilities and worries and bills and everything else that comes with being an adult.

And no matter how much we want to, we can never go back...

I'M KINDA LOOKIN FOR A JOB....WELL, SORTA....

2008-01-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Before I begin, I would just like to say thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my goofy little blog! I have gotten more views and more comments than I expected.... I truly appreciate every body's messages and advice! I can't get enough advice!! I need all I can get!!

Anyhoo.... That being said....

I am kind of looking for a job...I've been unemployed for quite some time now. (Unless you count being a sahm, which truly is the hardest job of them all!) The last time I worked outside the home was last May. I said I wanted to take the summer off, and now here we are, well into the winter... and I'm still not working. I am kind of looking. I get online and look in the classifieds of our local paper and see if I can find anything that sounds interesting. So far, I have not. Okay, so maybe I am not looking so hard.

I like being at home with my child. I like being a homeroom mom. I like being here in case he gets sick at school and needs me to pick him up. I need to be here to get him ready for school, and to get him off the bus. And I need to be here at night to help him with his homework. And my mother is sick now, so I like being nearby in case she needs me. Not that she ever needs me. (Every once in awhile I run to the store, or I go and pay her water bill, but that's about it) Still, I like being here just in case.

And in all honesty, I don't feel like putting up with the crazy crap I have in the past... I don't feel like dealing with stuff....

My first real job was McDonald's and I absolutely LOVED it! I'm not joking. That was the happiest year and 1 month of my life!!! I was 19 and I worked the closing shift, on the front counter and occasionally in the drive thru. I always worked closing, so after I was done, I had to clean, but I did not mind. I loved the people I worked with, and it was almost like a party when I went to work.

Of coarse you can't stay at McDonalds forever. Although I would have liked too. But I had to move on. I was still living with my parents, and I was making my car payment on my '90 Tracker, but my parents were paying my car insurance and they were tired of it. So they got me a job in a pottery. At the pottery I was making good money ( and I was young and single and blowing it on crazy stuff!) and I had health insurance. I worked there for 7 years and it was pretty rough, but I met some of my closest friends there (See my blog about the big mouthed broads) and we had a lot of crazy adventures in the pottery.

After I had my son, I tried to go back to work, but it was too hard. I used to go to work and cry because I couldn't stand leaving him. I didn't want anybody else raising him. So I quit my good job in the pottery and took about a year off. I do not regret quitting my job! Money has been tight, and I had to let my nice brand new Prizm get repoed, but being with Zach was well worth it.

After a year off, I tried several part time jobs. I worked at Kmart, stocking shelves at night. That was great! I used to get locked in the store overnight, just me and a non English speaking janitor, and I had to stock shelves all by my lonesome! I had to work from 10 at night till 6 am, then go home and take care of a 1 year old. That didn't last long! But I do have some great memories of working with my baby sister Melissa one Christmas, and of working with Tina, a crazy lady I met there who I got to work with on Saturdays. Tina was a hoot, and we had a blast when we got to work together one day a week. (We never got much work done, but we did a lot of laughing and carrying on!) And I will never forget kariokeeing to the Mamas and the Papas California Dreaming, with Shane O'Mac and Tina., on a machine they had out on display.

I had a brief stint as a cashier at WalMart- and that totally stank! They put me on a broken register, and made me work while I had a cold and I was sneezing all over peoples groceries, and I was being verbally berated by impatient customers.... I just was not at a place in my life where I felt like handling that stress, so I bailed after about 2 weeks.

The last job I had was probably the craziest one of all. I cleaned offices for this lady who was a friend of my moms (and it turned out she wasn't much of a friend) Anyway, this lady we worked for had some crazy ideas how she wanted things done.

Now, I am all for respect your boss because they are the boss and you have to do things how they want and you are just a little peon so you don't have any say, but this lady was way too much...

We never had proper cleaning supplies, first of all. When I first started working there, we had all kinds of stuff, but she stopped ordering cleaning supplies because she believed everything "yellowed" the sinks and toilets and stuff. We got to where we basically had to use powdered Comet on everything, and we had nothing to clean floors with. She wanted us to scrub nasty toilets that many people used with our hands and she wanted us to get on our hands and knees and scrub nasty bathroom floors , because apparently, she also had issues with scrub brushes and mops. When she was hovering over me, I'd smile and pretend to do what she wanted, then as soon as she'd go away I'd get up and do it the normal way. I stuck with that job for several years, to help my mother out, but when my mother got sick and had to quit, I ended up bailing. I flipped out on my boss one night because she had the nerve to tell me that we wouldn't be able to find another job as good as that one (because she paid $7/hr) and I told her I would rather work at McDonalds for minimum wage. Shortly after that, I missed some work because my mom was in the hospital, and she got real nasty with me so I ended up walking out that night.
I threw some papers down on the floor and she called security on me. So after all that time of putting up with her and that job, it ended really ugly. But I don't care. She had 17 girls do that job over several years, and all of them bailed on her without giving her any kind of notice. And out of the 17, I'm the only one that had security called on them.So I didn't feel so bad about losing that job.

That was in May, and now here I am, kind of looking for a job...not real sure what I want to do... I'm not qualified for much....but I need something till I can get some kind of a writing job....hmmm...

WHATEVER

2008-01-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't written in awhile, so I feel like I must write. I am trying to keep writing. So I am just going to write about WHATEVER!

First off, I want to mention my buddy Brian is still looking. Or should I say we are still looking for somebody appropriate for him. We've had a few comments, but the people that are responding are not appropriate. I just wish I knew more single ladies. I told him to stop looking in the bars. You can find too many lunatics. Not that all women hanging out in bars are lunatics. But when you are looking in a bar, it's kind of a crap shoot. It can go either way.

I had my time hanging out in bars, and I must say, while it was fun at the time, it grew old quick! I did my shots of tequila, drank screwdrivers and cosmos, and danced. Now I'm happy to put that in the past!

Hmmmm. Onto the weather. My friend Neavoda ,who I am chatting with on the computer has suggested I mention the weather. It's very cold here right now. We've had a little bit of snow here and there, but basically a dusting. I would love to have a good snow storm. I hate driving in snow and ice, but as long as I don't have to go anywhere, I am fine. I love when my son has snow days. I feel like I am a kid again, and I have the day off. I even enjoy 2 hour delays, because me and Zach get to sleep in. I love spending the day in my pjs, sipping hot chocolate or hot tea, watching the snow pile up. I don't like to spend too much time outside, but I do like to take pictures of Zach playing in the snow. I like to have a few good snow storms, then I want it to disapear and I want it to warm up and stay warm. I don't like the cold for too long. But Spring will be here sooner than we think. At least I hope so!!

I found out the other day that Glenn Quinn was dead. This was very shocking and disturbing to me. I had no idea that Mark Healy, Becky Conner's hubby on Roseanne, was dead. I googled him the other day, and found out he died of a heroin OD in 2002, at the age of 32. He was flat broke when he died; he lost his house and got bought out of his night club, and he died on his buddy's couch. When I catch reruns of Roseanne, I often wonder whatever happened to him, and now I know. And I can't help but think of how sad that is. How many stars can't handle celebrity and fame and money. How tragic that such a young guy would loose his life in such a horrible way. But look how many do it. R.I.P. Glen Quinn.

Well, that's all for now! Later! If anybody wants to meet Brian, let me know!! I gotta go get my child ready for bed!

I HATE THE NEW TV SHOWS!

2008-01-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

I was just visiting one of my favorite sites, CafeMom (All moms should check it out- I highly recommend it- but warning: It is addictive) and I saw this post from a young lady who was displeased with the writer's strike going on in Hollywood, because she misses all of her tv shows. I do not really know what is going on with the strike, but I do feel bad anytime people are out of jobs and families are being affected.

But I just had to put my 2 cents in and honestly say I do not care about the writers strike because it does not affect me, because I do not particularly enjoy any of the newer shows that are on t.v. I know my opinions are going to be highly unpopular, but I feel I must step forward and speak my mind!

I do not want to run these shows down, because I know they have legions and legions of hardcore fans, but I do NOT get the whole Desperate Housewives craze, the whole Greys Anatomy thing, or the whole Lost frenzy; I do not enjoy "The Office" or "My name is Earl"..... I cannot think of any recent shows that I really do honestly like....I don't even like "American Idol" , "Survivor" or really any of the reality shows..... The only one I like is "The Apprentice" and that's because of whose on it now.( Gene Simmons, Trace Adkins, and that one Baldwin)

And yes, I have tried to get into them... I've watched at least one episode of each of the shows I have mentioned. I couldn't do it.... I could not get interested in any of them! I end up turning them off and going to my old trusty favorites"Mamas Family" and "Alice", and the Nick at Nite line up of "George Lopez", "Home Improvement," and "The Fresh Prince". And I like to watch "Cheers", "Wings", "Sanford and Son", "The Jeffersons" and" Good Times" on TV Land. During the day I like to catch "The Nanny", "The Golden Girls" and "Frasier".

I used to love ER, and I had to watch that one, but I missed a few of the recent episodes and now I can't get back into it. Its probably just getting too old. And I still like the Law& Orders, of coarse.

(And I have to watch wrestling all the time, which of coarse is not affected by the strike.)

But basically, when it comes to comparing the new shows with the older ones, the older shows are classics and will never die!! I would rather watch them then any of the newer shows any day! I sit and watch all the old shows over and over again and laugh and laugh, and never tire of them.

But then, what do I know? I'm a sad freak!

BRIAN NEEDS A DATE!

2008-01-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ladies.... I am looking for someone to go out with my friend Brian. Brian has been a friend of my family's for many years. He is such a nice guy and he is kind of down in the dumps right now- and we can not stand to see him like that!! He needs a fun loving, sweet girl who will treat him right. I am just looking for someone who will go out with him, what happens after that is up to you all.

I was thinking about what my next blog was going to be about, and I have been thinking about Brian lately, so I thought, why not. He hasn't been in a relationship for quite some time. I'm afraid he is not meeting the right type of girl!

Hmmm, what can I tell you about him? He is 36 years old. He is tall, has dark hair that he keeps shaved off, he enjoys nascar(Dale Jr fan) and football (he is a Steeler fan) He has no kids of his own, but he is great with children. He likes to hang out with his friends and mess around on the computer. And he does work. He has a full time job. That's always a plus.

So if you are interested, or know somebody who might be, send me a message, then me and my staff will put you through an interviewing process, decide if you are good enough for him or the right type for him, then we'll hook you up.

PLEASE ONLY ADULT, SINGLE LADIES APPLY! Don't want no drama or possible illegal activity! And to be fair, after we put you through an interview, I will give you Brian's references. You can talk to the members of my staff who know Brian very well and have known him for awhile, before you talk to him.

I WOULD LOVE TO FIND BRIAN A DATE FOR VALENTINES DAY!!! THAT IS MY GOAL!!!

so please, if you think you are good enough, send me a message!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

CONFESSIONS OF A WRESTLING ADDICT

2008-01-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

This is a tad embarrassing to admit, but I am addicted to pro wrestling. I have been for quite some time. I think it all started for me when I was 10, and I fell in love with Hulk Hogan. That's really embarrassing to admit, but they say confession is good for the soul!! When I was 10, I had to watch Hulk every chance I got, and I had a t shirt and action figures, and even The Wrestling Album. To this day, I am not too sure what it was about him, but I thought he all that!

I even toyed with the idea of becoming a pro wrestler. I wanted to be like Wendi Richter. She was just cool. She was tough, beautiful, and she was even in a Cyndi Lauper video.

Over the years, my love for the Hulkster faded, but my love and fascination for the sport never did. There were periods of my life when I got away from watching it, but I always ended up going back to it. It has some kind of a sick pull!

I HAVE to watch Raw on Monday night, Smackdown on Friday night, and I try to catch TNA on Thursday or Saturday nights. I make a point of being home when wrestling is on, and I get all bent out of shape if I miss it. Then of coarse, I have to check things out on the websites.

I am not alone in this. My sister, Melissa, our cousin, Stephanie, and my friend Melissa all enjoy wrestling as well. We have all been to live events. We have rented pay per views. We all have our favorites. Stephanie likes Jeff Hardy, and DX and others; My friend Melissa has had a sick infatuation with the Undertaker, before he even was the Undertaker; I have turned my dining room into a Batista shrine, and Jeff Hardy and The Rock are the only two men in this universe me and my sister have ever both liked. (And now she has a thing for Chris Jericho) The men in our lives enjoy wrestling as well, but we probably like it more.

My cousin and I have both emailed a man who calls himself Professor Wrestling. (That's really embarrassing to admit) I had to tell him he was wrong when he called Batista boring, and she had to rip him apart when he didn't give Jeff Hardy his proper respect. And not only did we email Professor Wrestling, but we both got responses. (Alright, maybe we are sad!!)

I have passed my love of wrestling on to my 6 year old son. Sometimes I worry that he is too young to watch it, and he may try to put the 619 or a ddt on somebody, but I am constantly stressing to him that that would be inappropriate. Zach received a lot of WWE stuff from Santa Claus and family members for Christmas this year, including a ring, some action figures, and a Rey Mysterio outfit. For now his interest in wrestling is harmless. (I'll keep my eye on that, though)

We were all highly sickened and saddened by the Benoit tragedy, but we have kept watching and cheering and getting some sick enjoyment out of professional wrestling.

And to this day, I still occassionally think about how great it would be to put the smackdown on somebody in the middle of the ring. What a rush!

A SHOUT OUT TO THE BIG MOUTH BROADS!!!

2008-01-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

A SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY CLOSEST FRIENDS-THE BIG MOUTHED BROADS WHO ALWAYS STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES Current mood: crazy Category: Friends

I wanted to take this time to give a shout out to all my peeps- all my girls- all my best friends- the broads with the biggest mouths!! I have learned so much from all of you and I truly appreciate and value your friendships and everything you all have taught me!

When I was in school, I was so quiet and afraid of just about everybody. I always let people push me around and tell me what to do and make fun of me. I never stood up to anybody about anything. I just let people walk all over me, and I was happy to do it! I kept to myself mostly.

Then, in 1995, I started working at the pottery. I met the loudest, mouthiest , tell you like it is, broads I'd ever known there! Missy, Sherri, Tammy, and Tammy - they were constantly telling people off ! Not in a bad, mean way, of coarse. But they were always standing up for themselves. They never took anybody's crap. If they didn't like the way they were being treated, or the way somebody talked to them, or if they didn't like what was going on, they spoke up. They never seemed to care what other people thought.

For the 7 years I worked at the pottery, and they were constantly telling me their tales of getting into it with ex friends, co workers, bosses, boyfriends, ex boyfriends, husbands, ex husbands, bill collectors, people at school,----- whoever crossed them.... and oh the fun we had- those were some of the best times in my life- and I always admired them for that. And I wished I could be more like them. They always let people know how they felt.

And then when I started cleaning the offices at the pottery (there might be some kind of a connection about the pottery) I met up with Debbie and Tonya- and they were the same way. If they didn't like the way someone treated them- they confronted them. They taught me you don't have to be a mean evil bitch to stand up for yourself! If Tonya needed her check early, or needed to leave early, she told our boss, whether she liked it or not. And if Debbie found out someone was compaining about our work, she went straight to the source and asked them about it. Oh the fun I had there, too! They are too much!

And of coarse I lived with the smallest one with the biggest mouth for along time- my sister Melissa. She never lets anybody push her around, and always speaks her mind. My cousin Stephanie never takes anyone's crap. Probably because our mothers always taught us not to take anybody's crap. They always told us not to let people walk all over us.

It took me awhile to learn that lesson, but I am happy to report that I think their influences have been rubbing off on me. I think I am getting louder, as I get older. And I have been ripping into people, when I need to. I have been especially vocal when ignorant, insane, inbred, worthless, physcho hillbilly rednecks put my children in danger! I'm not afraid to put the smackdown on people. I feel so much better now that I let things out! I just wish I could have done this when I was in school- if I would have stuck up for myself more in school, I may have liked it better! I wish I would have told more people to get bent. Of coarse when we are being loud and mouthy, we try to inject humor in it when we can. We are only mean when we absolutely have to be! I wanted to thank all the big mouthed broads out there who have taught me so much- standing up for yourself is about the most important thing you can do for yourself. Thank you all! You don't know how much you mean to me! Love you all! I don't know what I'd do without you guys!!

FREAKY, NUTTY WEBSITE

2008-01-05T22:43:00.000-08:00

Awhile back my friend Neavoda introduced me to this website. Before I tell you about
the website, let me tell you a little about my friend. She is as normal and straight laced as they come.
She is a devoted mother and wife, and a devout Christian--- she goes to church on a regular basis. She
doesn't use the word "heck" because she views it as a swear word.
We frequently im and email one another, as we live 5 hours apart. So one day when
I checked my email, and I received an invitation from her to join this one particular website, I was
not the least bit suspicious of it. It was one of those social websites where you put your profile
on there, and you can put pictures on it, and add friends to it, or invite others to join, and you can chat
and send messages and comments to others on the website.
I looked at Neavoda's website, and I looked at her friends on the site... nothing out of the
ordinary--- they were just like me--- had families and friends, told a little bit about their interests
and such; I found nothing alarming or disturbing. So I went ahead and put my profile on there and I
uploaded one picture of me and my son. At first I didn't have too much info on there; I told my state I
lived in, I was a 32 year old female; and I didn't have much else on there. I guess I was just hoping
to meet some interesting people, similar to myself.
I sent out a few invitations to my friends, and a couple joined also. I added them to
my friends list, and went on with my life. I forgot all about the site, until one day, it popped into my
head, for some unknown reason. I decided to check it out, and see if there was anything interesting on
it, and sure enough, when I got on there, I discovered I had several messages. It's always exciting to
receive new messages. "Who could it be? What do they want?" I asked as I clicked on the "new
messages". One message was from someone concerning a free tee shirt give away. I was uninterested,
so I deleted that one. The next message kind of took me by surprise. It was from a young man in
England who liked my profile and wanted to get to know me better. I was a little caught off guard
because I didn't have anything on my page that suggested I was looking for a man, but I just kind
of smiled and thought, "how nice that he contacted me." I'm not the kind of girl looking to hook up
with strangers on the Internet, so I just deleted it.
Sometime after that, I was instant messaging my friend Tonya. She told me she had signed up
on the website, just to check it out. No sooner had she finished putting her profile on there, when she
started getting all kinds of crazy messages. She said they were coming in faster than she could read
them.
I checked my messages right then, and I had a few more men who liked my profile,
thought I was cute, and wanted to get to know me better."This is too funny!" I told Tonya.
"I can see why you're getting so much attention, but I don't understand why all this guys are trying to
get a hold of me! I'm not the type who gets that kind of attention!!"
Tonya, who is a pretty blonde with a nice body, is the kind that gets that kind of
attention. I know, because I've partied at the bar with her. So I asked her which picture she put
up of herself. She told me she put the one where she was sitting at her desk, sticking her
tongue out at the camera. Tonya was overwhelmed by the freaky men who were trying to
contact her. "WOW!!! I got one from some guy who has a web cam and wants to have some fun!!"
She deleted her profile after that. "When they asked me for a reason, I wrote that they had too many
freaks on their site!!"
Part of me wanted to delete my profile, as well. But I just couldn't--- not yet.
I had no desire to contact anybody, but it was kind of fun getting all these messages---
tons of them--- from all over the world!!
My messages were coming in pretty fast, as well. I was getting 10 or more
a day. I'd read a message or two, go to another site, then go back to that one and have more
messages waiting for me. Or, I'd read the messages I had, and by the time I was done
reading the last one, I'd have new ones waiting for me.
By the end of the week, I had pages and pages of messages from men- from New York,
New Mexico, Ohio, Indiana, and Minnesota; and from as far as Nigeria, Australia,
Senegal, Ghana, Italy, and Turkey; sending me messages. I even had men in Iran and
Liberia. They were all telling me how much they liked my profile, they told me I was
cute, some even used the word pretty, which stunned me. I didn't even think I put
a flattering picture on my profile. I don't take good pictures!
I went back and put a little bit more information on my profile. Just stuff about
my favorite music and movies and things, and for good measure I added a little bit about
my crush on a professional wrestler-- I thought that would scare off some of the nutty men.
But it did not. I still got all kinds of messages, men giving me their cell phone numbers,
wanting to exchange email addresses, and wanting to chat.
And of coarse, some of the messages were really messed up. I got one from
England wanting help getting into the states. He wanted me to send him money.
(Yeah, right! I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, mister!) I got one message asking if I
was naughty. I wanted to tell him sometimes, on occasion, and to another man
who asked me if I liked to be naked, I wanted to tell him I like to take my baths and
showers that way, usually, but I felt it best not to encourage the freaks.
And of coarse, as the messages were pouring in, I was checking the profile
of the sender. Some of the profiles had comments from women who were warning
other women about the man, identifying them to everyone as a "scammer."
I didn't care who was a scammer and who wasn't; I was just getting a kick out of looking
at all the men. In some sick way, it was kind of flattering and gave my self esteem
a boost. "Well, they all can't be scammers and nuts, some of them have to really think
I'm attractive!!" I reasoned.
One day I invited my sister and our friend Mike down to my house and I made them look at
the messages. My sister Melissa read about 5 of them, then put her head down on the desk. "I can't
read anymore! Don't make me read any more!" She laughed.
"I want to know what you have on your page." Mike said.
"Nothing!! Really, nothing!! I don't even have a good picture on there!" I went to
my page. My page with the pink background popped up, and he told me he figured out
my first problem. He told me the first thing I should do is change my name on the website.
He may have been right about that. My name may have been attracting some of the attention.
I did have one guy that definitely took my nickname "Animallover" the wrong way. I meant it
as a tribute to my favorite wrestler that I am crushing on, but he took it to mean something entirely
different. WOW!
I can't help but wonder why these men are trying to contact me. What is it about
me that makes them message me? And I am also wondering, how many are scammers or liars
who are preying on innocent women, trying to get something more than friendship. How many are
really involved with someone else, and are trying to get a little on the side? How many are nice, decent
men, looking for friendship? And what kind of person would respond to some stranger with no photo
and no info about himself, who messaged her and asked if she was naughty? And if you really are
on the Internet, looking to meet people, how do you tell whose who?
I really am going to take my profile off the website. But I did have fun with it
for awhile.

ANOTHER FREAKIN MIGRAINE!!!

2008-01-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

I am a migraine suffer. I get these nasty, nasty headaches every once in awhile- I have for years. These are not regular headaches, they are monster killer headaches!! It's always the same kind of deal- I wake up in the morning and i can feel a headache coming on, so I try to hurry and take whatever kind of headache relief I have handy- I think I have tried a million kinds- and I find that the generic dollar store headache relief works as well as anything else I've tried. Now sometimes, the pills kick right in, and the head ache goes away. But then there are the other times, when the pills do not work, I get sick to my stomach, and then I lay in bed all day as my headache gets worse, and its pounding and throbbing unmercifully, and I can only can only get out of bed for frequent trips to the bathroom t0 throw up. This lasts all day and all night, as well. Well, the pain continues into the night, and the throwing up usually stops after several hours. I absolutely can NOT function when I have these headaches!!
Of coarse I've seen several doctors because of these headaches. I've had my head put through that tunnel, and I have even ran to the ER almost in tears, so that they could give me a shot in the butt to stop the pain. I actually had one stupid ER doc get kind of smart with me, and tell me that next time, I needed to try Tylenol or some pain reliever, or something before I come into the Er.... Well GOLLY GEE! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?! These shots in the butt are so enjoyable!
I've been given several possible reasons for migraines.... Mostly I just get told they are sinus headaches. I've also been told they could be linked to my time of month, because right around your time of month, your hormones get all whacked out.
I've had a chiropractor tell me it could be because of poor spinal alignment. That was a little scary. He was a big bear of a man, and I weigh about 125 pds, and he put me in some kind of a wrestling hold similar to the master lock, and he jerked me this way, then jerked me back that way---- I feared for my life! I thought he was going to snap me in half! He wanted me to come back once a week, and honestly I would have, I would have endured all that to end my migraines, but I lost my medical insurance and I just couldn't afford to keep going back.
I was also told that if your eyes are bad, you get headaches. And I do have very bad eyes and I have a tendency to wear the same glasses forever. But in October, I went to the eye dr, who told me my headaches sound like sinus headaches. I went ahead and got new glasses, which I wear all the time, and here I am 4 months later, and I have yet another headache. So I guess I can rule the eye thing out!
I tend to lean toward the sinus thing myself. I have been plagued with sinus troubles my whole life, pretty much. I have a tendency to get head colds, and I get all snotty, and i get all stuffed up, and I can feel my sinuses draining a lot and I either end up blowing my nose endlessly, or it all drains into my throat and then just lays in there, giving me nasty sore throats and making it nearly impossible to swallow. (It's been doing that since the beginning of December.)
Anyhoo, many a time I have gone to the dr and been diagnosed with a sinus infection and been put on Clari ton and given an antibiotic. The last time I went to the dr, which was this last summer, to complain about my headaches, she diagnosed me with yet another sinus infection, put me on an antibiotic, and then wanted me to keep a diary about my headaches. She wanted me to come back in 2 weeks, but i did not, I wanted to wait until I got my new glasses and see if that helped before I went back. Now today's migraine was the first one since I got my new glasses. I am going to keep track of them and if I get any more, I will go back to her.
But anyway, migraines totally suck.... I remember one Christmas morning when I could barely stand to watch the kids open their gifts, I ended up having to run upstairs to my bed. But, then on the other hand, they have gotten me out of some stuff. Stuff I probably shouldn't name here. Like Jury duty. I can tell you, because that is not a lie, I was having migraines frequently when I was called for jury duty, and I had a drs appointment scheduled, so they excused me.
I am going to start keeping track of my headaches, and I will make another Dr. appointment, when I have the money to go. Until then, I will read up on them on Webmd or whatever. And I will just have to live with them!

Here's Something Fun....(if u like Music)

2008-01-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

Here's something that is fun, for all you music lovers out there! I got this from a myspace bulletin, and I just had to share it. I suggest everyone try this- you can use your cd player, ipod, mp3 player.... I just used one of my playlists on my Windows Media Player---this really can be funny if you're like me and like all types of music- shuffle your songs, and then answer each question with the song title that comes up...

How am I feeling today? Tempted- Squeeze (tempted by what, I'm not too sure....)

Where will I get married? Its been awhile- Staind (it has been awhile since I got married)

What is my best friend's theme song? Headstrong-Trapt (I have several best friends, and i would definately say they are all headstrong!!)

What was highschool like? I got a girl -Tripping Daisy (I had friends that were girls)

What is the best thing about me? Behind blue eyes- Limp Bizkit (I'm blind w/o my glasses, but I guess they could be my best feature, they are blue)

How is today going to be? BLVD of Broken Dreams- Greenday (Oh Yeah! My life is a BLV of Broken Dreams!!)

What is in store for this weekend? I walk alone- Saliva (that's too funny...alone, that's me!)

What song describes my parents? Hot for Teacher- Van Halen (My stepdad liked this song and he did a little dance to that one part.... can't say that my mom liked this song, though.... don't think either one liked their teacher...)

How is my life going? Where the down boys go-Warrant (Where do the down boys go? OH OH OH OH OH OH.....)

What song will they play at my funeral?Fancy- Reba McIntyre (Hmmm.... a song about a poor little girl whose mama turns her out to be a prostitute.... the part about I may be plain white trash, but Fancy is my name! fits me...)

How does the world see me? Straight on- Heart (Not so sure about this one....I try to be straight on...)

What do my friends really think of me? To Be with you- Mr Big (Hmmmm... does that mean my friends really want to be with me?)

Do people secretly like me? Don't Speak- No Doubt (I believe they don't want me to speak!)

How can I make myself happy? My time is Now- John Cena ( My time makes me happy, and so does John Cena!)

What should I do with my life? The Crossroads- Bone Thugs N Harmony (okay, this one kind of creeped me out.... but what agreat song/video!)

Will I be happy? You Spin me right around- Dead Alive (I'm happy when I spin around...)

What is some good advice? Cherry Pie- Warrant (desserts always make for good advice!)

What do I think my current theme song is? Hurt-Johnny Cash (Good theme for me, especially this last summer...)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is? Holiday- Greenday (not so sure about this one...)

What type of men do you like? Unskinny Bop- Poison (I do like me some fat men!)

Will you get married? Motown Philly- Boyz to Men (I did get married, but not in Motown or Philly...)

What should I do with my love life? Harper Valley PTA -Jeanie C. Riley (Am I like the mother that tells the HArper Valley PTA off? No, but at least they didn't say this is what I should do with my life!!)

Where will you live? The Unforgiven- Metallica (Where are the unforgiven? will i live with the unforgiven?)

What will your dying words be? Cumbersome- 7 Mary 3 (maybe.... the bitter taste is CUMBERSOME!!)

WHAT SONG WILL BE THE SUBJECT WHEN YOU REPOST :Creep-Radiohead (I'm a creep! I'm a weirdo.... I don't belong here.....)

Ha! What a hoot! I might go ahead and do that with another playlist. It's kinda eerie how some were kind of accurate!! I dare you to try it, and don't cheat with the songs!!! Of coarse, I didn't have my real theme song on that playlist, or I'm sure that would have came up.... Weird Al's "White & Nerdy"!

My Goal for 2008: Becoming a REAL Writer

2008-01-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hello! My name is Terri and I am a 33 year old wife, a sahm, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a friend- and a writer in training. I feel like I have been writing my whole life- but only now am I beginning to take it seriously. My goal for 2008 is to write more often, and to get published. (I am starting out small) When I was in school (many years ago) I loved writing stories and poems. But now I am mostly writing about my own life experiences and the such.

I have taken several steps to becoming a writer.

I am taking a class through the mail (does that sound nutty?) called "Breaking into Print" and it basically teaches you all about writing magazine articles. I am almost finished with it. When I first started out, I was doing pretty good, I was dedicated to it, but here lately I have been getting kind of sloppy. (Shame on me) But I am trying to get back on track with it. I am hoping that by the time I am finished, I will at least have one article published. I just sent two articles off to my instructor, for her to critique and show me where I went wrong. I wrote one article about recovering from post holiday depression, and the other all about dealing with my mother's cancer. I wrote those because that is what's on my mind right now. That's basically what I do, write about whatever happens to be on my mind. I constantly have stuff going on in my head. I find the hardest part for me is sitting down and getting started; once I a start writing, I just go until I'm done.

As well as finishing up my course, I also joined several writing groups on CafeMom. I figured this is a great way to learn new things, and to keep in contact with others like me who love to write and want to be published. I am fascinated by other peoples stories. You can learn a lot from other people. Even from people you feel are "plain" or "average" or "boring"....people such as myself. Everybody has a story.

My third step was to create this blog. I figured if i had a blog, I could write whenever I want about whatever I want. And even if not one single soul reads my words, at least I am writing and expressing myself and venting and creating and feeling productive and enjoying myself. I am practicing my craft, keeping the creative juices flowing, and coming up with ideas.

I love to write and I would love to be able to make a living doing something that I love and enjoy, but for now I just want to get published. I guess I need to see if I really can be a writer or if I should just give up on my dream. Hmmm.... then what would I do?