Reflections

Nostalgic

2011-09-11T00:25:00.001-04:00

This Used To Be My Playground ~Madonna

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream)
Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say)

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

[Short and movie versions only:]

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me

New Items Posted on Etsy

2011-09-06T12:36:00.002-04:00

I am making the move from Artfire to Etsy. It is time consuming to say the least! I still have 22 items to move, and then maybe I can make some new things! Alas, I have more ideas than time. Here are a few examples of items recently moved:

My Jewelry

2011-08-19T09:05:00.001-04:00

Beautiful necklace and earrings listed here. Chinese coins and Carnelian chip beads. Go check it out. ;)

Carnelian: Stabilizing stone with high energy. Stimulates creativity. Excellent for restoring vitality. Protects the dead on the journey to the afterlife. Protects against envy, rage, and resentment. Calms anger and replaces with love.

Look What I Did!

2011-08-17T20:15:00.003-04:00

My sister found a shark's tooth at the beach this summer. She asked me to make it into a necklace for her husband's birthday. I wirewrapped the tooth and made a natural colored hemp necklace with twist knots. Bead closure. They both loved it! My first custom job. ;)

Taking orders now!

2011-08-15T20:09:00.001-04:00

I can take orders for crafts here on blogger any time. All I need is a valid email address linked to Paypal account. The necklace below I am particularly proud of. It is 18" long with a toggle clasp. Made of tiger eye bead chips with a wire wrapped moonstone pendant. I may make one for me! It's $25, check out my Etsy page (link on sidebar) for more items!

Moving to Etsy

2011-08-02T16:39:00.001-04:00

I am unhappy with Artfire. I know some who do well there, but I decided to work with Etsy now. There is a cute little widget on the sidebar.

Go buy something cute! ;)

Christmas in July Sale!

2011-07-15T21:34:00.003-04:00

This weekend only! Christmas in July! Everything in the studio is 10% off! Including five Christmas wreaths!

Check it out now!

I am also adding new items this weekend. Also on sale!

Gold and black glass bead earrings $15.

Gold and black glass bead ring. Size 7. $12

Orange hemp macrame bracelet/anklet with white wood beads, knot and loop closure. Measures 7 1/2 " long. $8

Natural colored hemp with colored wood beads, 26" long. Bead and loop closure. $15

Rings, Earrings, and Hemp!

2011-07-12T22:59:00.004-04:00

More new stuff on my Artfire studio! There is a link on the sidebar. I also have a few new items to be added soon. So check back regularly!

Sale!

2011-07-02T00:06:00.003-04:00

I'm having a sale on my Artfire studio (see sidebar for link, I'm lazy tonight). Everything is 10% off! This weekend only! Including new items just added!

Unsure...

2011-06-27T23:07:00.002-04:00

I am not sure how to promote my online jewelry sales more. I do have some flyers I can put up around town, and when I get back to work at the school in the fall I can leave cards and flyers in the workroom maybe. It's just a little frustrating that I have stuff that hasn't sold even though it's been up for months.

I need to make more stuff. A lot more. If I had more volume of things, the likliness of something being purchased would rise. Also, I'm hoping by next spring to have enough, and to have sold enough online to go to the craft fair at the Dogwood Arts Festival. It just seems so far away, and I have gifts to make, and a Christmas Stocking for Brianna... I really need to get busy!

Hemp jewelry

2011-06-21T19:28:00.005-04:00

My Shop

Beautiful new bracelet with two flower charms $9.

Ring with wooden bead! $4

Keychain $6.

All these years

2011-06-17T23:28:00.003-04:00

All these years and still I retrurn to the same place, the same friend I always counted on. When I'm down I think of you, when I'm lonely, again you. Sometimes I wish I'd never met you and other times I don't know what I would have done without you. Here but not here. Mine but never mine. A dream of what might have been, and nothing more...

One weekend only!

2011-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Visit KatEyes's Studio

Receive free shipping on
All Items

Use Coupon Code:

FREESHIP

during checkout.

Homemade Dog Treats

Stuck

2011-06-16T18:11:00.002-04:00

I feel a little stuck right now. I have started with the craft selling to earn extra money. It is hard starting. Everything is only online right now, and it's just not selling. I went pro last month because the first month is free, but if I don't start selling items, I'll have to drop back to basic. I have made some business cards and flyers so maybe that will get the ball rolling. I would like to go to flea markets or something like that, but I'm not sure how to start that. I actually have a few other things I could sell, things I bought to start my online business that didn't start. :/

I've tried the ebay thing, it doesn't work for me. It's very frustrating when you are doing the exact same thing as others, but for some reason it isn't working.

Ok, I've cleared the air a bit. Maybe that will help.

I think...

2011-06-08T20:54:00.000-04:00

I would be inspired to make more jewelry, if more of it would sell.

Jewelry for Sale

2011-06-06T16:51:00.006-04:00

I have just uploaded some new things to my Artfire. There is a link to my page on the sidebar. Two necklaces of completely different character! One has glass beads on silver plated wire hand linked together to make a delicate chain in which a fairy pendant dangles from.

The other is hand knotted hemp, with sparkly green and pink beads woven into it. This one is shorter, a choker. It has a large silver colored peace sign charm in the center with two small wooden beads on either side of it. Hippie Princess. ;)

Fiction Friday ~ Guest Post

2011-05-27T00:12:00.001-04:00

This is a poem from a poetry project for school. I have reproduced it as is, font and all, with her permission.

Art
By: Tristin Hunter

Everyone’s definition of art is different,
But every single one is brilliant.

Someone’s definition may be cheerful,
While another’s may be full of dismal.

No one knows the true meaning,
But we can keep searching as long as we’re breathing.

Though we already have it in our lives,
Floating around like a tree’s leaves.

The definition of art is in itself,
And in every place it does excel.

Fiction Friday ~ Guest Post

2011-05-20T00:12:00.002-04:00

This is a poem from a poetry project for school. I have reproduced it as is, font and all, with her permission.

Mother
By: Tristin Hunter

The old house quietly creaks,
And the cats are ever so meek.
I step onto the old wooden boards,
And I hear the piano strike a single chord.
The melody grows stronger,
As the beautiful notes grow longer.
They become faster and faster,
And then I see the piano’s master.
She is sitting in front of the white and black,
Using the musical talent she does not lack.
I sit listening in a velvet chair,
In a room I once called the “lair”.
As she plays, I’m reminded of my childhood here,
Living so close to the pier.
And when the music finally stops,
Up onto my feet, I hop.
To greet the woman I love ever so dearly,
The one I come to see more than just yearly.
The woman who raised me through good and bad,
The woman who comforted me when I was ever so sad.
The woman who taught me all I know,
Even about the rain and snow.
This woman can never be replaced by any other,
My dear mother.

I've gone Pro on Artfire

2011-05-14T09:22:00.000-04:00

And to celebrate, I have a coupon on my Artfire site.

Visit KatEyes's Studio

SAVE $ 5.00 On Order Total (orders above $30.00)

Use Coupon Code:

FIVEOFF

during checkout.

Earth Friendly Gifts

Fiction Friday ~ Guest Post

2011-05-13T00:12:00.002-04:00

This is a poem from a poetry project for school. I have reproduced it as is, font and all, with her permission.

A Fey's Catch
by Tristin Hunter

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly one.
A deadly one, indeed.

They hunted her,
So fast, they were merely a blur.
They bound her tight,
Before first light.

They left that creature,
With the girl’s features.
Her parents’ thinking nothing unusual,
The child gaining their approval.

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly one.
A deadly one, indeed.

The fey took her to their home,
Where she was left to forever roam.
She lived and grew there,
In the cold Winter Court air.

She never thought to escape,
Always drinking their wine and eating fox grapes.
She never learned of the world outside of that place,
So she was never prone to venture out of her space.

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly one.
A deadly one indeed.

One day a half-breed came by,
Who was ever so sly.
She told stories of the human world,
And memories in the girl’s mind began to unfurl.

She knew what was real now,
Even if she didn’t know how.
She had to get away,
Away from these evil fey.

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly one.
A deadly one indeed.

So she ran and ran,
With only one plan:
Get away from these things,
These nasty creatures with wings.

The Unseelie queen was very unhappy,
She ordered the fey to bring her back and make it snappy.
They never caught her though,
Because she had reached her world, where the iron grows.

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly catch.
A deadly catch indeed.

She found her mother,
She found her father.
She expelled the creature that had been taking her place,
The one with unusual grace.

It wouldn’t give without a fight,
And it lunged at her ready for a bite.
But with all the girl’s time using that creature’s space,
And she had learned their pace.

A Fey’s catch
Is a deadly catch.
A deadly catch indeed.

She dodged and fought,
And in the end, got the victory she sought.
Her parents’ welcomed her back,
And trust in who she was, they did not lack.

From then on out,
She lived without doubt.
That this was where she was meant to be,
And she lived a life filled with glee.

A Resurrection

2011-05-09T09:09:00.003-04:00

Coming soon...

To this very blog...

A resurrection...

Or return if you like...

A remembrance of this particular blog's glory days...

Regular scheduled programming of a sort...

In short...

Fiction Fridays are coming back!

The first few will be guest posts by my brilliant, yet scatterbrained daughter. She wrote some poetry for a school project that just blew me away. And some of this stuff she just whipped up at the last minute! Ah to be young and full of potential...

So check back Fridays, I'm going to set it to post the next couple today so I don't forget. :)

Delete Button

2011-05-04T20:54:00.004-04:00

I typed out a long post, but then I realized it was an incoherent rant over how awful my kids have been lately so I deleted it. They have been awful lately, but not the whole time. And I really don't know what to do about it, but just typing it out seemed to help, so I'm good now.

Something is bothering my seven year old. Maybe she's suffering deep buried separation issues. Or maybe she just hasn't had enough sleep. Seriously, I'm that unsure of what the problem is. LoL. I've been raising my voice too much with them again. I hate when I do that, and I work on it. But at some point in the madness I lose it. I'm human. Sue me. I am like so many others. A victim of our childhood. Don't get me wrong I'm not using it as an excuse, just an explanation.

I didn't have a horrible childhood, and my mother did fairly well. I just really did not get a clear idea of what proper child rearing is. I was with my mom until I was 13 and she was probably over-indulgent. Tired single moms let more go because they aren't there often. Then as a teen with my dad and step ~~bitch~~ mom, I was punished for every little thing and not allowed to do much when I wasn't. I pretty much missed the fun part of high school. Opposite extremes, and no idea what the middle ground should be.

But I do my best, I read "the experts". I ask other moms, etc. And most of the time I do well. But there's always those days when I feel like I have turned into Joy on My Name is Earl. (If you have not seen that show, go for it. Hilariously trashy funny. And I can imitate Joy's accent pretty well!) But in real life it's not funny, it's tacky. And I really don't like it.

*sigh*

So I keep working on it, and maybe my kids will be better than me at it, and theirs better than them. And so on, and so forth. Nobody is perfect, right? I do what I tell my kids to do. I try my best.

But I don't feel 39!

2011-05-03T14:22:00.006-04:00

Today is my birthday. I am 39. It just doesn't seem possible! I don't feel that old.

My mom took us out to dinner for my birthday Sunday night. This is a new tradition we started with Tristin's birthday last September. Since it's too damn expensive to eat out anymore, we only go on birthdays.

I picked Applebees and had one of their 550 calorie meals. It was really good. Just smaller portions.

I had the bottom one, sirloin with garlic herb shrimp.

Tristin and I split one of their molten lava fudge cakes with ice cream. It was delish! Brianna had a chocolate sundae.

Tristin's friend sent three cupcakes home with her this weekend. So they fixed one up for me last night:

Yummy!

Burlesque

2011-04-25T16:22:00.009-04:00

I absolutely love this movie, if you haven't seen it yet you should. There are scantily clad men and women, awesome music, and even a decent little plot. And Cher!

The amazing vocals of Christina Aguilera

And Jack. (Cam Gigandet) ;)

Hello World

2011-04-24T22:57:00.002-04:00

I went ahead and hid a bunch of personal pictures so I can make this blog public again. I will only put up new pictures of the kids on facebook, because I have that on private. I used to just put up whatever, but it bothers me now.

Well...

2011-04-24T20:51:00.002-04:00

Obviously this getting back to blogging isn't as easy as I expected. For one, I don't get on the desktop a lot. Maybe a few times a week and usually with a task in mind. Also, I've been submerged in a good set of books. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and the other two that go along with it. A lot of the writing is very hard to get into, technical descriptions of journalism and financial stuff. But if you push through that part the story is really worth.

Plus I'm not really sure what to write about. I used this blog in the past as a way to work through things. I'm just as bad with my personal journals, when things are going well I don't write much.

I'll figure it all out. :)

Return of the Blog Girl

2011-04-11T11:14:00.002-04:00

I have returned. But I don't want this to be public right now. I've become picky about who I want to see stuff. Especially if I post pictures of my kids. My early posts may be brief but I am dedicated to getting back to this.

Yours truly,

Kat

Still Around

2010-12-22T22:16:00.002-05:00

I have been so busy I haven't blogged! I wouldn't know where to start... Yeah I do. I got an iPhone for Christmas!

Blog Link

2010-06-11T22:34:00.002-04:00

Brianna made it on the Shana Logic blog as a happy shopper! :)

I luvs her online store. All three of us have things from there. Those black rose cameo earrings I have are from her shop. :)

Eye Candy ~ Demi's Boys

2010-05-31T21:25:00.014-04:00

The boy toy Ashton

And Demi herself...

Fiction Friday

2010-05-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Sounds

Crickets chirp
The air conditioner hums
Boards creak as the upstairs neighbor walks across a room
A car passes quietly
Another car starts and sits a few minutes before pulling out
The air conditioner stops
Crickets still chirp
A car alarm in the distance goes off then is silenced
The upstairs neighbor walks back across the room
A dog barks briefly
A car thumps by with a loud stereo
A neighbors air conditioning unit starts
And the crickets still chirp

Work in Progress

2010-05-11T22:17:00.003-04:00

This necklace is almost making itself! I started with a pack of random pink glass beads, tigers eye chips, and round tigers eye. I am putting just two or three beads per head pin, and putting the head pins together. It is probably the most daring jewelry I've done so far.

I have researched glass pendents. You know, the clear glass that you attach some sort of paper to and seal it? The scrabble tile pendants are popular now too, but I don't think I'll make those. I've also bought a couple of pendant bezels to make my own charms in. It doesn't look hard to do, just detail oriented. It looks fun! If not, I only have to make about twenty to use up the supplies I've ordered. LoL

Don't Forget Mother's Day!

2010-05-03T14:14:00.001-04:00

Handmade jewelry for mom!

Newness!

2010-04-28T21:42:00.002-04:00

I've added a widget with my Twitter account on the sidebar. There's also an Artfire widget over there. :)

I am also looking for a new background graphic. I like this one, but it's just time for a change. :)

My New Hobby

2010-04-27T21:44:00.002-04:00

Jazzy Jar

2010-04-23T21:53:00.003-04:00

Brianna's school is having a May Fest soon, and asked everyone to make Jazzy Jars to sell for PTSA funding. A Jazzy Jar is filled with candy, toys, pretty much anything smallish.

We filled ours with a pencil sharpener, pencil top erasers, and glittery pencil grips (they slide on and make it softer on the hand to hold).

Creativeness!

2010-04-09T21:26:00.004-04:00

I have been crafty lately! For one, I am painting a white book case for Tristin, because white is so not her. I will post pictures of it laterish.

And last night I had a brainstorm! Cellphone charms! Of course they can be used for many different things. But they are so cute!

My Current Theme Song

2010-02-12T20:12:00.002-05:00

I've always liked this song, but never really paid a lot of attention to the lyrics. Until tonight. They so fit my life right now. And the video is just awesomely weird. Lyrics below the video. ;)

Fighter lyrics

After all you put me through
You'd think I'd despise you
But in the end I wanna thank you
'Cause you made that much stronger

Well I thought I knew you
Thinking that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust called your bluff
Time is up, 'cause I've had enough

You were there by my side
Always down for the ride
But your joy ride just came down in flames
'Cause your greed sold me out in shame, mmm hmm

After all of the stealing and cheating
You probably think that
I hold resentment for you
But uh uh, oh no, you're wrong

'Cause if it wasn't for all
That you tried to do
I wouldn't know just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you

'Cause it
Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

Never saw it coming
All of your backstabbing
Just so, you could cash in on a good thing
Before I'd realized your game

I heard you're going 'round
Playin' the victim now
But don't even begin feelin' I'm the one to blame
'Cause you dug your own grave

After all of the fights and the lies
Guess you're wanting to hurt me
But that won't work anymore
No more, uh uh, it's over

'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture
I wouldn't know how to be this way now
And never back down
So I wanna say thank you

'Cause it
Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

How could this man I thought I know
Turn out to be unjust so cruel?
Could only see the good in you
Pretended not to see the truth

You tried to hide your lies
Disguise yourself through
Living in denial
But in the end you'll see
You won't stop me

I am a fighter
(I'm a fighter)
I ain't gonna stop
(I ain't gonna stop)
There is no turning back
I've had enough

Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

Thought I would forget
But I, I remember
Yes I remember
I'll remember

Thought I would forget
But I remember
Yes I remember
I'll remember

Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter.

Eye Candy ~ To Cheer Me Up

2010-02-08T17:09:00.003-05:00

Vin Diesel in Riddick

Chris Pine, the new Captain Kirk

For those of you that like girls, the beautiful Angelina Jolie. This shot is from Wanted, kickass movie. ;)

Fiction Friday

2010-02-05T18:25:00.003-05:00

She sits in bed holding yet another drink. Three weeks ago one was enough to put her to sleep, now it takes two. When will she be normal again? When will the bad dreams end?

Hours of lying awake. Horrible images going through her mind. It's not real. It didn't happen! Right?

But she doesn't know. She started drinking to stop the nightmares. But before the nightmares were the blackouts. Evenings she didn't remember, hours erased from her memories.

Then the dreams began. Full of blood and screaming. The sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh.

She's afraid to watch the news now. After the first reports of the murders from across town. Men mutilated in their beds. A week ago the news said the murders stopped. One a night for two weeks then nothing. The police think the killer moved on.

So she sits in bed holding yet another drink.

And the monster sleeps...

Moving on...

2010-01-04T22:02:00.002-05:00

School is back in! The holidays are over. Dance classes begin again next week. Life is returning to normal. T is going back to dance this year, I couldn't be more excited. Except that it is twice a week and I am going to have to rearrange my workouts and we are going to be so busy! But that's ok. I'm glad she's interested in things again. I thought she would want to take piano, she kept jumping back and forth between things and finally settled on the one thing I was sure she wouldn't want to do! LoL. She will also start getting more exercise. Our middle schools down here only have P.E. for six weeks during the entire year. That on top of us living in an apartment and it currently being winter, she doesn't get nearly as much moving around as she should. This will balance things out. She can even practice stretches and exercises at home on the days she doesn't have dance. We are also due to find an orthodontist. That will have to wait until next month. I have to pay off Christmas first. ;)

Little B is still in dance, and during T's classes I plan to spend time focusing on her. She gets left out so much. Which is twice as frustrating when T claims that it's all about B. We spend way more time doing stuff for T and focusing on T. She just doesn't see it.

B's birthday is tomorrow. She is opening a few gifts then and the rest at her party next week. It is her first big party with a bunch of kids. We've invited about 10 including cousins, I'm hoping at least 6 or 7 show. It's hard to get people to come to parties right after the holidays, which is why I bumped it more than a week after her actual birthday.

Am I Living in a Sitcom?

2009-12-29T19:39:00.001-05:00

The other week I got so mad over something I could not speak words. I was just "fuck the fucking fuckity fucker fucks fuck fucking fuckity fuck."

Seriously. I could not remember any words other than various forms of the word "fuck".

My life is just one redundant moment after another. Irony around every turn. A movie quote for every character. I am completely clueless about the next scene. And I really feel like the whole world knows whats going on and is wondering why I can't figure it out. Nothing really fits either. A character this week, may be completely different next week. And everyone is scratching their head going, "Wait a minute, in last week's episode that person was nice, why is he/she such an asshat/bitch this week?" "When did that person stop talking to everyone?" "How come we are seeing this character that disappeared a season and a half ago?"

And I could go on and on and on. But I won't because I'm pretty sure that little habit of mine pisses people off. :/

I have brought this little subject up with my daughter once, and a few days later something weird happened and she said "No wonder you think you are living in a sitcom!" Perhaps if I just keep laughing at myself the whole thing won't seem so ridiculous.

Busy

2009-12-14T18:08:00.000-05:00

I am a very bad blogger lately. It's pretty bad when you are so busy, you are trying to schedule time to CLEAN THE TOILETS. Seriously, I'm that busy!

Wow

2009-12-05T18:35:00.003-05:00

It's been a month since I posted here. And I can't bring myself to care. My moods are flip flopping terribly the last couple of weeks. The holidays have been hard for a few years now, but this year seems harder...

Don't feel like finishing.

Cuteness!

2009-11-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

I found the cutest site EVER! It's called Zoo Borns and I found this picture there. (I hope they don't mind I borrowed it, since I did put a linky poo to it and all.)

The one where Nathan Fillion is awesome!

2009-10-26T23:30:00.000-04:00

Race for the Cure

2009-10-25T09:29:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday was the 5K I signed up for. The top woman was 28 years old, chip time 20:34. In my age group I was 135 of 194 women. My chip time 35:45, gun time 36:03. Considering I am less than three years from the next age group I think that's pretty good. We must also consider that a year ago I would have dropped dead halfway through. ;)

Impatience

2009-10-20T18:13:00.001-04:00

I am trying very hard with my patience lately. I have a ton of Christmas crafts on sale on my Etsy and Artfire accounts. (See sidebar, refresh for more artfire choices.) I only put them up over the last couple of weeks, and it is only October, but I want something to sell! My luck, it will all sell at the same time. LoL I'm hoping things start going soon though, I wanted to use the money for Christmas, or at least little B's birthday (weeks after Christmas). I was using this to distract me from other things I can't do anything about only now this is frustrating me too. hehe. Ok, on to finding other things to frustrate me in order to forget about the things already frustrating me...

Christmas is closer than you think!

2009-10-11T21:07:00.000-04:00

Holiday wreaths, unique gifts, and holiday ornaments coming soon!!!

KatEyes

Unique Gifts

2009-09-19T19:51:00.001-04:00

KatEyes

Unique Gifts

Ch ch ch changes

2009-09-18T18:28:00.000-04:00

I was thinking about changes today. And how things seem to be always in motion. Just four years ago I had not even met some of the people that are most important to me right now. I was a suburbanite SUV driving housewife.

I can't even say that with a straight face. That's how weird it seems! But it wasn't me. It was never me. I never fit into the mold people kept trying to cram me into. And now I have people I am close to who don't try to change me or fit me into a certain way. Even though they may be completely different than me. Opposites attract and all that.

And I am unashamedly me. I dress how I want, I act how I want, I do what I want. I am very comfortable with my life right now. It isn't all smiles and sunshine, but it's good.

And yet, things keep changing. Where will we all be another four years from now? I don't know. But I know what key players in my life I plan to keep around. Great friends and important people who I can't imagine not speaking to regularly. I will go to great lengths to keep these few people around. (Physically and virtually, I have a few bloggy friends I would track down should they disappear on me.) I am pretty sure they feel the same way.

I wanted to have some more fiction up soon, but the writing hits me sporadically lately. I'll post when it hits again.

The Queen's Meme #9

2009-09-08T18:48:00.001-04:00

Who
is easy to love? ~ my girls
do you just wanna smack? ~ Asshats. All of 'em.
do you trust? ~ Only my closest friends, of which there are very few.
do you talk to when you're alone? ~ myself as usual.

What....

dangerous things do you do while driving? ~ Look at the clock. Seriously, I almost wrecked glancing at the clock once. No problem on the phone, changing cds, dealing with kids, eating, drinking, texting. I go to check the time which is right on the dash, and boom some dumbass stops suddenly in front of me.
are you allergic to? ~ The very air we breathe.
is Satan's last name? ~ Smith
is the last thing that moved you? ~ Breakfast at Tiffany's. I watched it four times this weekend.
is the freakiest thing in your house? ~ Tristin. Seriously. So freaky she would be amused by this answer.

When.....

is it time to turn over a new leaf? ~ When the old one falls apart.
will you be all that you can be? ~ I am always all I can be for the moment. Can't be too much at once.
is enough enough? ~ almost all the time
do you go to the dark side? ~ Who do you think made the damn cookies?

Where....

are your pants? ~ on me. Well, one pair, the others are in the drawer, and closet, and laundry room.
is your last will and testament? ~ Yeah, I need one of those.
is your junk food stash? ~ I don't do that.
is Carmen Sandiego? ~ Not on the dark side. Look somewhere else.

Why.....

was the Lone Ranger alone? ~ He wasn't, Tonto was always with him.
was The Scarlet Letter scarlet? ~ Because the author was an unimaginative bore. Seriously, I hate that book.
are musicians sexy and plumbers not? ~ Xmichra had the best answer for this, I just can't think of anything good!
are there no seat belts on school buses? ~ This has confounded me for years. And they get the worst damn drivers too!

Would you....

swim the English Channel for a doughnut and coffee? If not that, what? ~ No, I'm not much of a swimmer.
forgive someone who deliberately hurt you? ~ Nope.
rather believe a lie if it hurt you less than the truth? ~ No, I want the truth whether I can handle it or not.
you still be alive if you were sucked out of an airplane window? Would you just float around in space for while? ~ I would freak out completely.

The Queen's Meme #8

2009-09-01T19:52:00.007-04:00

Warning: Hide the children!There are love shenanigans in the dungeon.

Welcome to The Queen's Meme #8.
Step out of the box. Be creative. Have fun!
And please, stay out of the dungeon.

I've tried to avoid this subject. It is the fickle fodder of many a meme these days. Romance, s*x, relationships and breakups are really nobody's business. Wouldn't you say? Or perhaps it's the questions that are too personal and a bit juvenile at times. Middle school smooching is not exactly the end all and be all of civilization. (Is it? I don't know. I seem to have forgotten.) To tell you the truth, I'm getting just a little sick of all the love shenanigans going on in the dungeon down below. I can hear you. You are all just a wee bit too happy if you ask me. If I didn't know better I'd swear you want to stay!
But seriously, we could all use a little ~~lot of~~ romance in our lives. I promise not to ask questions that would make your mother blush. I suggest you tell her not to read your blog tomorrow.

Bloggingham Love Shack (aka The Romance Meme)

1. What is the craziest thing you've ever done in the name of love?
~Moved out of town away from friends and family. Unfortunately it turned out badly.

2. How much mystery should there be in a relationship? Is it a good thing or not? ~Enough. Who wants to know everything about anyone? I believe in openness with one's partner, but only to a certain degree.

3. Is there someone in the blogosphere you'd like to get to know more intimately? Have you been too shy to ask? Let me help you. Write a 3 sentence anonymous blove letter to them in this meme.
Leave a link if you dare. (I promise not to tell!)
~Nope

4. Describe a "perfect evening" with the one you love.
~That question is a little presumptuous, but assuming I had someone to have a perfect evening with, I would start with my kids being somewhere else for the night. Dinner out, a movie, or a show! I've never been to a show. Then home for staying up late and sleeping late the next morning. ;)

5. If you are in a relationship, describe the one thing that makes it work well for you. If you are not in a relationship, do you want to be? If so, what type of romance are you looking for? What would it look like in your life?
~I would very much like to be in a nice comfortable-know-where-I-stand relationship.

6. If you had to choose between having good s*x (I told you not to let your mother read this) OR intelligent conversation on a regular basis, which would you choose and why?
~I very much like both and I am very certain I *can* get both. But if I had to chose I suppose sex because I get conversation online.

and finally.....a purely selfish question:

7. I've got the Bloggingham Blues. What type of man is right for Queen Mimi Pencil Skirt? Do any of you see love in her foreseeable future? What do you suggest I do to spice up my love life? What am I doing wrong????!
~I'm afraid I am new to the kingdom and not sure how to answer this. But don't give up hope! :)

Save the ta-tas!

2009-08-29T13:03:00.001-04:00

I have signed up for a 5K run in October. If you would like to donate in my name you can do so here. Most of the money stays locally in Knoxville, TN but 25% goes to breast cancer research in general.

I am running a timed race, and this will be the first of many. I'm nervous, excited, and scared to death. What if I'm the last one in like when I was a kid? There are going to be a ton of non-timed people walking and such so I guess I won't be last. But I have crazy flashbacks from gym class as a kid. Me, athletic? Who knew.

I still have breathing issues when running. I was told at an expo that I may have exercise induced asthma. I would need an inhaler ONLY before running or doing some other aerobic type thing. I go for an appointment to be tested next Tuesday morning. So we will see. I think I would be relived to find out I do. It would be much worse if I simply cannot run a mile without walking part of the time.

I will update everyone next week. :)

Fiction Friday

2009-08-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

I Am Me

I am a writer.
Although I do not
get paid for it
And I have never written a book.

I am a runner.
But not very
talented at it.
No races will ever be won by me.

I am a mother.
Even when they
drive me nuts
And I do not know what I am doing.

I am a lover.
Touching softly
feeling deeply.
Learning when to hold on and when to let go.

I am alone.
At home or work,
in the car or in a crowd.
Even though loneliness terrifies me.

I am all these things
And more and none.
Unable to chose only one path.
Unwilling to let go of the many pieces of me.

Busy

2009-08-24T20:42:00.002-04:00

Friday night I steam cleaned the carpet in the living room, playroom, and entry of the apartment. It was gross! After only two years? And we take our shoes off at the entrance usually. Surely it wasn't all from the dog, I'm afraid the carpet wasn't so clean when we moved in. Yuck. I might go back over the living room one more time before returning the cleaner to work. I still need to do Tristin's room before we get her new bed, since it used to be storage. And I should do at least the front part of my room and the hall. The cats have a new extra huge ass cat litter box with lid, and the baby gates are GONE. Those were to keep the dog from eating the poop. Yuck.

Saturday I ran around with the girls doing fun stuff and getting paid back with bad attitudes and the persistant idea that I can do nothing right. I gladly dropped them off at my friend Stephanie's around four. ;) Saturday night I saw Inglorious Basterds. I didn't pick the movie, but was pretty much won over after the words "Brad Pitt". I'm a sucker for a Brad Pitt movie. If he isn't showing off his chest or dimples, he will at least be proving he's more than just a pretty face with fantabulous acting. And yes, I'm serious. :P

He played a character from Maynardville, TN. I gotta say he played crazy hillbilly dead on. Seriously. Even had a little "injun" in him. It was pretty hilarious. The movie was a Quentin Taratino movie, and considering what a crazy bastard he is, it was pretty gross at parts. But I liked it. It was morbidly delightful. After Stephen King, Mr. Tarintino might be my favorite crazy ass creative type. Gee, I hope I spelled his name right. Someone correct me if I didn't.

Sunday I slept late. Very late, almost noon. The movie didn't let out until after one and it was well after three before I went to sleep. It was great, I don't get to stay out late and sleep late very often. :)

The rest of the day was getting groceries and more cleaning. I am bound and determined to downsize and get rid of anything we don't use. It just takes so much time to sort and figure out what to get rid of! Then there's the putting up of the stuff that remains. By the time we are settled, we may decide to move again. LoL.

No Surprises Here.

2009-08-23T20:26:00.001-04:00

Found at Xmichra's.

You Are Fantasy / Sci Fi

You have an amazing imagination, and in your mind, all things are possible.

You are open minded, and you find the future exciting. You crave novelty and progress.

Compared to most people, you are quirky and even a bit eccentric. You have some wacky ideas.

And while you may be a bit off the wall, there's no denying how insightful and creative you are.

What Kind of Book Are You?

2009-08-19T20:18:00.000-04:00

Xmichra Tagged me! The rules were simple enough, erase her answers and fill in my own. Here is goes!

1. Who is the hottest Movie Star?
Hugh Jackman. He not only looks good, he also sings! Awesomely. And has that dreamy accent...

2. Apart from your house and car, what is the most expensive item you have ever bought?
Well I was a housewife for 9 years. Technically I didn't buy anything then. And I've been broke since! hmmm... I would have to say the vacuum cleaner. Seriously. I spent more on it than I have ever on one. Maybe it will last more than two years like the others. LoL.

3. What is you most treasured memory?
I actually have several. All of the girls when they were newborns. :) Can't pick between them.

4. What was the best gift you ever received as a child?
malibu barbie. She had a red bathing suit and a brush. That's it. No wait, maybe western barbie. Her outfit had fringes. And I had her horse too!

5. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
~~Not shooting my ex right before Brianna was born and using hormones as a defense.~~

I mean, uhhh, not handling my separation a little better, yeah that's it. ;)

6. 4 words to describe yourself?
smart, crazy, cute, underestimated

7. What was your highlight or low light of 2008?
highlight ~ Tristin coming home in December. :)
Lowlight ~ Early 2008 when Tristin and Amy both moved away within a couple months of each other. :(

8. Favorite Film?
Just one?!?!? I can't do it! I can't pick just one!

9. Tell me one thing I don’t know about you.
This is always hard. I'm such a blabbermouth everyone knows everything that isn't too TMI and some that is. LoL. Okay, here's something I probably haven't blogged. When the shuttle blew up, '85 or '86 I think, I was in the eighth grade at school, and it took me a while to understand what happened because I had a stomache ache from eating too much junk food at my aunt's house the night before.

10. If you were a comic book/strip or cartoon character, who would you be?
Cartoon character? I have no idea. And technically I don't read comics. Although I have read a few, I just never did enough to really know what is going on. Of course they are always changing things around and stuff anyway.

But I suppose I would have to go with Catwoman. I know, you are all shocked. LoL. But seriously, she's not an awesome heroine, but she's not really all that bad either. She's just a little bad. Like me. ;)

The three bloggers I am tagging with this Meme are:

Karma, Toby, Mr. G

Queen's Meme #6

2009-08-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

#6 The Bachelor’s Dating Meme

In honor of my 500th "Bachelor of The Day" to post this week on my site called Dating Profile Of The Day we bring you The Dating Meme. For three years I've been rummaging through online dating profiles to find the zaniest and most ridiculous profile headlines out there. They write 'em. I spoof 'em. Do you know that some folks are grammatically insane?? And some are just insane.

Ergo, today's meme was born.

Are you up for the challenge? Take a look at these seven dating profile headlines from real dating sites. Imagine you are trying to find a date and these gems have just landed in your inbox. How would you respond to them? Write a comeback response to each one. Be sarcastic, be funny, be brave! Spelling errors not my own. Names and locations have been changed to protect the terminally single. If you need inspiration, go HERE for hundreds of funny examples.

1. Birdbrain looking for a mate

Try Sesame Street.

2. Where Are All The Bad Girls?

Plotting world domination by enslaving all the idiots on dating sites who think they are actually getting a date with a chick who looks like a model!

3. A Good Woman Is Hard To Fine

Only because good women don't get caught doing something worth a fine.

4. Does God Know You've Escaped From Heaven?

Sure don't, you wanna be the one to let him know first hand? Come on over.

5. I Put the Fun in DysFUNctional

I put the Hell in Hell no.

6. Does this profile make me look fat?

No fatter than you appear in person I'm sure.

7. I'm a no nonsince person with little tolorrance for stupitity

Stupitity is as stupitity does.

Push

2009-08-16T15:59:00.000-04:00

I saw the movie Push Wednesday night. I loved it! But it was very weird. My kind of weird. Little Dakota Fanning is in it. Her character is brave, bold, crazy, and still a little girl. She reminded me of my oldest daughter. It also has Chris Evans in it, but I was disappointed he didn't show his chest more. Really, the boy has to learn to use his assets better.

So, no more explaining I want it to be a surprise. I am confident most of you would enjoy it. Remember that I described it as "my kind of weird."

Laters

Fiction Friday

2009-08-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

All the old stories are false. Fantasy, legend twisted from real incidents. Not all Werepeople are good. We are no different than humans. Good and evil run rampant in both races. And there are others. Other races and breeds that walk among humans. The humans never know.

But this is no way to tell my story. Let me start at the beginning. Let me tell you about my death...

I'm Special Damn It (and not in the short bus way)

2009-07-23T17:47:00.000-04:00

Xmichra gave me an award!!!

1. “The Honest Scrap” award is not one to hold all to your self but it must be shared!
2. First, the recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves in their blog that no one else knows.
3. Second, the recipient has to pass along this prestigious award to 10 more bloggers.
4. Third, those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given with this award.
5. Those 10 bloggers that receive this award should link back to the blog that awarded them “The Honest Scrap’ award.

I am going to add that I think this award goes to people I find honest and funny. And to people who I find will tell you the truth about themselves, which is rare.

First off, after four years of blogging, there ain't a whole lot you guys don't know. Except maybe that I like to exaggerate with bad grammer on occasion. No wait, you probably knew that.

Also, since the stalker (note I don't even capitalize his nickname) may return at any moment, I won't be putting anything too personal here. But this sort of thing shouldn't be put on a private blog. So here it goes, ten things you hopefully don't already know that I don't mind *anyone* knowing.

1. I once had a three legged cat named Tina. Occasionally I referred to her affectionately as "Tripod". She didn't mind.

2. My mom wanted to name me Elizabeth, but my dad wouldn't let her.

3. As a kid, I wanted to name my future daughter Rebekah. My stepmom named my sister that when I was 16, even though she didn't know I liked it. I was pissed. She didn't know that either. Then she proceeded to call my sister by her middle name. :/

4. My first kiss with tongue was absolutely gross. This worried me because I thought I didn't like kissing. Luckily I found out later that the first guy was just really bad at it. LoL.

5. I now love kissing. ;) (with a good kisser)

6. I have learned that either I am attracted to someone from the first time I meet them, or I'm not. I don't change my mind over time.

7. Brianna was a planned pregnancy, Tristin was not. However, I wanted a baby before Tristin came along, I just thought I had another year to prepare before trying to get pregnant.

8. I have never met anyone who wasn't surprised to find out how old I am. I'm not saying this in a conceeded way, it was actually annoying when I was 20 and people thought I was 16 or 17. Older ladies always said I would appreciate it when I was older. And I do. ;)

9. The douche who sent mixed signals over a year ago (anyone remember him?) started working at my gym last week. At first I was surprised. Then a little annoyed. (It's MY gym, how dare he show up.) But now it's just damn funny. LoL.

10. I'm a cuddler with the right person. :) (You may know that, but I felt like saying it anyway!)

Ok, now for the giving of the award to others. I don't really keep up with many blogs anymore, and some people have dropped off blogging.

Karma
Mr. G
Toby

A late meme

2009-07-22T20:17:00.001-04:00

The Queen's meme #2, found here.

Mission Impossible

1. You are a guest on the space shuttle. You just arrived on the moon and realize you forgot something back home that you can't live without. What is it and how do you convince them to go back and fetch it?
~I pout. My pout is very irresistible. As for what I left? hmmm... Oh! My camera. I forget that all the time now.

2. Pretend you are a teacher in a rough public school for one day. You have been assigned to teach Manners 101. You have the "challenging bad butt kids" class (remember this is a pretend school and anyway I can't say ass on my blog 'cause it's so unQueenly and I might get fined or something).
They are jumping up and down, cursing, and throwing things at you.
What is the first thing you would write on the board?
~You know, I'm not really good with kids. I do ok with my own. But a bunch of bad kids who don't want to learn? How about this: "Shut up and learn, or go home and stop wasting my time."
I would so get fired if I were a teacher.

3. Someone in your family or a friend has started a blog. They think it is anonymous but you have figured it out. They are saying derogatory things about you. Do you tell them or do you read it for awhile?
How would you handle it?
~Stalk them. We all know I've been stalked enough by others to know how! LoL

4. If you had one dollar left in your pocket, what would you spend it on?
~A diet dr. pepper.

5. President Obama and the First Lady are coming over for dinner. What do you serve?
~Domino's pizza. I hate to cook.

6 You walk in on your lover. They are trying on your clothes. What do you do?
~laugh.

7. Every astronaut must have shots! You only get one and you can't enjoy any of the attributes of the other choices. You choose either: (1) The fountain of eternal youth and sexual vigor but only for 10 years (2) perfect health for a lifetime (3) eternal mind-numbing nirvana and peace of mind (4) unlimited hedonism for one year with no negative consequences.
~I choose number 2. Good health is the only thing on there I have. Therefore it would be the only thing I would miss if I didn't have it.

The Queen's Meme and My Quest for Minions

2009-07-14T18:26:00.000-04:00

Meme found here, and she found it here.

The Blog Outside The Box Meme
This meme is all about using your imagination. Free your inner blogginess. Step outside the proverbial blox (that's blog + box for all you non-blog speakers). Answer these ridiculous situational questions and post them on your own blog. Here's the situation for today. We won't tell a soul. And remember:
Don't end up in the dungeon.

1. You are in court. You are in deep doo-doo. What did you do? ('Cause if you want, I might could talk to the judge and get your sentence reduced to Bloggingham dungeon time.)
~ I was walking along being very careful and trip(over a thick piece of air no doubt) and knocked over a statue. Which then knocked over another. And another, and another. oh you get the idea!

2. Your blog just became a best-selling book . What is the title of your book ?
~ Reflections of a Crazy Bitch.

3. It is midnight. The phone rings. It is Michael Jackson calling from the Great Beyond.
What would you like to ask him?
~ You wanna be starting something?

4. You are having your future told. The fortune teller looks in the crystal ball, screams and leaves the room in fright. What did they see?
~ What I do when I finally get organized enough to have minions to do my bidding! muwahahahahhaha!

5. You're blogging along minding your own blusiness (that's blog + oh...you know) when Google unexpectedly puts an Objectionable Content Warning on your blog. Your own mother is afraid to enter! What, pray tell, did you do to warrant it? How did this happen? Do you think you deserve it? Just how objectionable are you? Do tell.
~ No doubt my potty mouth. I mean seriously, I can make fleets of sailors blush when I'm in a mood.

6. You suddenly become God Of The Universe. What would your first Commandment be?
~ Minions! I demand to have minions to do my bidding!!!

7. And finally, what secret would you like to tell the Queen?
Not to worry. What happens in Bloggingham, stays in Bloggingham.
~ Most of my minions would probably just be doing my housework. LoL.

Blame the heat

2009-06-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

I've been so bad! Last Wednesday when I worked out it was the first time in a week and nearly killed me. So I was going to be better and go a lot this week. Two days later, on Friday I went to yoga class...

...and haven't been back since. hehe. So much for being good. My trainer had to cancel last night be cause of a stomach bug. I will go to yoga tomorrow night though. I probably will miss the Sunday class though at 2 pm. There's just so much to do on the weekends. And it's so hot I don't feel like doing a whole lot. But at least I'm not just sitting on my ass. Not a lot anyway. LoL

I will do better! If I blog it, I will do it. Right? Eh, we'll see.

Seriously

2009-06-23T20:07:00.001-04:00

I was thinking today, wouldn't it be cool if I had minions to do my bidding? That would be awesome.

Space: The Final Frontier

2009-06-17T17:30:00.001-04:00

I finally saw Star Trek last weekend. First I have to say, I am totally not a Trekkie. I remember seeing the original in reruns AFTER seeing Star Wars. Of course that made it seem kind of silly, but I remember some of the characters. The characters are what stuck with me. I have not even seen all of the Star Trek movies with the original cast. I was a bit of a New Generation junkie though.

The new movie was most excellent! The new people playing old characters were awesome! The actors should get awards for capturing the original character and portraying them very convincingly. Of course Kirk was the least recognizable, but come on, Shatner is too classic to copy too well. ;) I was most worried about new Spock. See, I always loved old Spock. I can even do the vulcan salute without using my other hand to position my fingers. New Spock? I luvs him too. :)

So without giving away the movie, I had many wonderful geeky-I-know-what-that-refers-to-moments. But even someone who has no idea what Star Trek is would enjoy this. It is just a great Sci-Fi action packed movie. And it has a half naked green chick. Come on, who doesn't think a half naked green chick is interesting?

Live long and prosper.

Spectacular, Spectacular

2009-06-03T21:10:00.002-04:00

I am at this very moment watching Transporter 3. Jason Statham kicks ass most awesomely. But some parts are a little slow, hence the blog post. I may repeat some things from the other blog.

I have my first kid-free night coming up, June 13th. I'm ecstatic! Hold on...ass kicking in progress...

Ok, ass kicking over for a bit. At first look, Jason Statham isn't much to look at. But kicking ass with no shirt on? Damn.

Ok, back to the blog post. It's so hard to think of what to say here now! Jesus Christ! He's driving the car on the two left wheels...

Ah, life is so distracting right now. But focus! Ok, cool things lately:

I noticed last week that when I wear a skirt, my thighs no longer rub together. This is a most excellent thing. Also, I took the girls to the pool Sunday, and I wasn't self-concious at all. I'm not where I'd like to be yet, especially my tummy. But I have two kids, one almost as big as me. I'm looking pretty good. In a two piece!!! Of course I wore a two piece when I was only okay...but now I feel good in it! My tummy will take a while to get where it should be. A lot of it is simply damage from having two kids. But I've made so much progress already I don't mind waiting for more. :)

Best line from the movie so far: "Nope, I am not the gay."

And then he proved he was not the gay. ;)

Okay, enough rambling for now. I shall try my bestest to post more frequently now. Even though I am limited on what I can say. So check both blogs every so often. :)

Fiction Friday

2009-05-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

A Prelude

Death is cold. It holds onto you in it's icy grip. It refuses to let go. But there is something stronger. Something only living within a few select souls. It stays hidden beneath the surface and may never show it's face. Until the soul meets an untimely and violent death. Then the beast awakens. And defends itself against death.

Movies and stuff

2009-05-28T19:17:00.002-04:00

I finally saw the newest Underworld movie. It had gotten some bad reviews, but I freaking loved it! I was into the characters and it all fit into the other two movies well enough. Sequels generally contradict a tad bit occasionally. I thought it was really good. I would recommend all three Underworld movies to anyone who loves vampire and werewolf movies. They are most excellent. Even if the vampires don't sparkle. ;)

Four years

2009-05-26T21:46:00.002-04:00

I totally missed my blogiversary! It was last month sometime. I have been blogging for four years. I've changed a lot and made more than one friend for life through blogging.

I love this place. It's mine. And I share it with you. :)

Found at Xmichra's

2009-05-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

Your rainbow is strongly shaded violet.

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Too much in my head

2009-05-22T20:08:00.003-04:00

I can't get it all organized and out!

Tonight in yoga I learned I am close to doing a headstand. I did the halfway kind with my feet still on the floor, and my teacher said my alignment from head to hip is perfect! I just need to get the balance to put my legs up. I was so tickled! I really like this teacher too, we have several that take turns. I told her I would practice at home alone. Lol.

Let's see, what else. Two birthday parties tomorrow. One of my bestest friend's little boy first at 11. Then a girl from Brianna's dance class at 1. Both at parks. But it will be fun.

And I found out distressing news tonight! T can't do a cartwheel! I'm so shamed. How has she not learned in school? That's where I learned. I shall teach her. Cuz yeah, I can still do one. I could do one before I started working out, I should be able to do it neater now.

I think that's all for now. It isn't much, and I may post in the other place laterish. I really have to clean my apartment tonight. I won't have time tomorrow during the day and it must be clean before tomorrow night. And since my vacuum cleaner is broken it will take forever to get the carpet vacuumed using just the attachments to it and the dustbuster. LOL. But as long as I get most of the fur up, I'm good. :)

If I've missed sending anyone an invite to my other blog, just email. I don't think I have everyone there yet. And I don't invite strangers, so don't bother asking if we aren't already friends.

Busy weekends

2009-05-17T11:10:00.005-04:00

Life is all wet right now. Literally. We are having a lot of rain lately. That's a good thing, as things have been too dry in years past. But it makes it hard to do things on the weekends. This weekend we have an inside thing though. Today is Brianna's end of semester Ballet party. They had the tea party in December and today we are having Pizza, Pirates, and Pointe. I can't remember the name of the ballet she is showing today, not sure what I did with the paper she gave out. But anywho, it shall be fun. They are bringing pizza in from Tomato Head downtown. Apparently the owner's daughter takes dance there.

Also have tons of cleaning to do. I am still clearing out stuff that needs to go to storage. I have a trunkful to drop off today. It looks like I've just moved! A box of stuff too small for Brianna, a box of winter clothes, my comforer wrapped up to be stored for summer. (I use a quilt in summer, too hot for a comforter.) More boxes that need to be sorted and put away/given away/stored away. lol. Apparently the year Tristin was gone I just stuffed things into the storage room and ignored it. Hard to catch up with a year's worth of junk. She has most of a room now, and it should be empty by the end of next weekend. We are waiting for her dad to send money for the bed. He refused to send enough, said she didn't need bunk beds. So I said once he pays me what he owes for that loan, I could pay the rest. That should be coming within a couple of weeks. He has some settlement for a wreck coming, blah, blah, blah. I'm not holding my breath, but he seems sincere about it coming this summer.

Ok, off to get ready for the party. Laters. :)

Unintelligible ramblings

2009-05-06T20:22:00.002-04:00

I realized to day that I have been avoiding something. I've pushed it aside and just flat don't think about it. It shouldn't bother me, but it does, so I don't think about it. I'm going to stick with that plan, it's working so far.

I've started wearing perfume more often. I have about four bottles I was never wearing, so now I spritz a bit on occasionally. I don't know if perfume can actually go bad or lose scent (Mich?). But it seems silly to have it and never wear it. I never wondered about what was in the perfume until recently. I looked up what I'm wearing today:

Very Sexy For Her Perfume by Victoria Secret for women. Launched by the design house of Victoria's Secret, Very Sexy For Her fragrance is vibrant and sensuous. It's the ultimate fragrance for the woman who loves everything about being a woman. This feminine scent possesses a blend of pimento, clementine, cactus flower, camellia, hydrangea, mimosa, white amber, musk, vanilla, and blackberries.

I looked up my favorite too:

RALPH LAUREN created SAFARI perfume in 1990. It is the result of the following top fragrance notes: orange, black currant and jasmine. The middle notes are: orris, rose and genet and the base of the fragrance is: sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver. SAFARI perfume is recommended for casual use.

Now, I don't know how accurate those are. I just googled and found them. Sounds good to me though. :) Mimosa! I luvs mimosas. The tree, not the drink. Never had the drink actually. I should try it. Being Southern and all. Doesn't seem right that I haven't. Damn, now I'm going to have to go google the drink.

More ramblings laterish. I also have pictures I need to post. Brianna's first bike and all. Coming soonish!

Found at Xmichra's

2009-05-05T18:24:00.001-04:00

1. Avoid ~ stress and conflict. It triggers down episodes. Unfortunately, it's hard to avoid. :/

2. Castle ~ Awesome new show with Nathan Fillion.

3. Episode ~ Stress causes one of these. lol.

4. Limited ~ points of view annoy me.

5. Nail polish ~ I has many.

6. Dip ~ mmmm.....salsa, french onion. More things I am avoiding.

7. Share ~ I don't like to.

8. Damage ~ is not always noticeable.

9. Improper ~ behavior is sometimes fun.

10. Handle ~ I can handle my life, barely.

(Belated) Fiction Friday

2009-05-02T10:49:00.003-04:00

I've had an idea for this story for a few weeks now. Late last night my brain suddenly became inspired and purged it out. It is very rough, but I liked it so I'm posting as is. I may edit it and re-post at a later time.

The Fan

He stepped inside the bar leaving the rain behind. He shook his arms to rid the black leather jacket of water then ran a hand through his hair. The rain had made him late, he didn't want to miss her. Walking through the inner doors he heard before he saw her. She sang the blues. Her voice like velvet, dark and sultry. Moving through the smokey bar he found a seat in the back. He wanted to observe her without being noticed. She wore a long midnight blue dress. It was fitted and clingy all the way down, with a slit up to the middle of her shapely thigh. As she turned it sparkled subtly in the gray room. It was backless and his gaze slid down to that perfect place at the small of her back. She turned again and his gaze shifted up to her full lips. He couldn't see her smokey blue eyes from here, but knew very well the depths of them. Her dark hair was pulled up with a few carefully placed tendrils framing her face.

It was over all too soon. Six songs a night, three times a week. He headed backstage with the single red rose as usual. He would leave it outside her door again. Maybe one day he would have the courage to give it to her face to face.

Maybe one day.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2009-04-26T22:32:00.007-04:00

On a more pleasant note, Brianna has her first bike! We bought it yesterday at Wal-Mart. She learned braking (the pedal in reverse kind, not the handle bar kind) in the time it took to go from the toy dept to the garden center. (Yes I let her ride it through the store.) Both girls also needed new helmets and we had to get a tire pump for Tristin's bike. Today we went to the park and rode a little more than half a mile. Well, they rode, I walked/ran depending on how fast Brianna went. She doesn't get too fast yet, still getting used to it. Plus she doesn't always watch where she's going! She almost ran off the pavement while checking out the scenery. But she's doing awesome on it! It's blue, and we bought a little basket for the front of it. I took pictures, and video, hopefully I'll get them posted sometime this week.

Fiction Friday!

2009-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Contradictions

Dressed in jeans and sneakers
or heels and pearls.

Cheerful and happy with
shadows dwelling beneath the surface.

Strong and tough exterior.
Tender, easily hurt inside.

Balanced precariously between
sanity and instability.

Lonely yet rejoicing in solitude!

Simple yet complicated.
Intelligent but naive.
Awkward then confident.

This is who she is.

Out of character

2009-04-13T19:31:00.002-04:00

Ok, I took a new class at the gym. Zumba! I told you about it. It was AWESOME!!! Yes, with all caps and three exclamation points. I am on such a high when I opened the patio door for fresh air I whooped out loud. Very loudly outloud. That is totally out of character for me.

Loved it! Now to get the gym to schedule more evening classes. I shall annoy the piss out of them till they do. In person, through my trainer, by email!

I like whooping outloud loudly. :)

Out of the rut

2009-04-13T12:55:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I'm feeling better and have started by rearranging the living room/playroom so that it is one big family room. I love it, don't know why I didn't think of it before. So I have all this focus and these plans for the whole apartment! Now if I can find the time to implement the plans... lol

Life is challenging to say the least. My ex caused more trouble this week. Over money as usual. After two months of waiting for money he owes me, now it will be longer. I got pissed and called his mom, so some is coming. I'm just so tired of him causing me late fees then saying it's not his fault. He does not grasp that all of the girls medical/dental insurance comes out of my check, plus I have to pay all of Brianna's childcare which is a lot. He has to reimburse me for his part, that's part of child support. So I can't pay some other bills until his check comes.

How hard is that to understand? He keeps saying my rent isn't his problem and my bills aren't his problem. Well yeah, they are a little. A certain percentage of my bills are paid by child support plus the hundreds of dollars out of it that reimburses me. How can he be so smart and so dumb at the same time? The man is an instructor at the Naval EOD school that all branches of the American military uses!

But I'm putting that aside. Just wanted to share the idiodicy of it so you can see how I end up so freaking stressed. It's just frustrating. But for now I'm good. Tonight I'm taking a brand new class at the gym. It's called Zumba. I'm too lazy to link, if you are curious you can Google it. I hope they make it a weekly class. Preferably during a time I can actually attend. lol.

Yesterday Brianna and I went to a park that was new to us. It also has a nice walking/running/biking trail. We walked/jogged at least half a mile ( wasn't paying attention to the markers) from one play area to another and back again. She gets a new bike at the end of this month (not from daddy, from mommy after daddy REIMBURSES her, yes the five year old is learning that word already). I shall post pictures of yesterday when I get them on the computer.

The next couple of Saturdays will be full of festivals! The Dogwood Arts Festival is downtown this weekend with arts/crafts booths. And next weekend is an Italian Festival! Never been, but it sounded interesting. I'm trying to get us out on Saturdays. Just going to work/school and home all the time sucks. lol.

Until later...

Out of Focus

2009-04-06T11:30:00.004-04:00

I have been unable to focus on things lately. I'm a little stressed over finances thanks to the King of Asshats, AKA: my Ex. Late is late and is just as bad as not paying, just fyi. But that should be settled soon, hopefully. Perhaps if I annoy him enough he won't get behind again, yes?

In happy news, I received three beautiful necklaces from the talented Xmichra. Go see her stuff, it is all beautiful. I've been meaning to add a link to that and other pages on the sidebar, but haven't. I'm good at making lists, but need to work on implementing them. :) I hopefully will have pictures soon to post of my new jewelry. This from the woman who finally put pictures from Sept and Oct 2004 in a photo album this last weekend...

I have to get organized. I am not as balanced as I apparently appear from the outside. My house is a cluteristic disaster! (Yes, it's a word, or at least it is now. :P) I was still sorting and getting rid of stuff when Tristin moved in. Now we have that extra clutter. Most of storage stuff has been moved, but a lot needs to be sorted before it's moved. And then the kids are both outgrowing toys and clothes and seasonal stuff needs to be put away. Argh!

You see? I need focus. So I shall make a new list and break it down to very small tasks. I get more accomplished if it seems I've done a lot. So the more I can mark off a list, the better I get at it. So tonight, number one on the list is: Find Focus. I can do anything I put my mind to, and my apartment will be neat!

Springtime in East Tennessee

2009-03-28T20:46:00.005-04:00

Xmichra posted some pictures of how much snow they still have, so I decided to post pictures of my flowers.

These planters "guard" the entry way onto my porch from our sliding door and the stairs to other patios.

And we go around for the tour of the porch...

Tulips, marigolds, and daisies! Oh my!

(And my lil gnome.)

The sage and Italian oregano is returning just fine, but no sign of new growth from the rosemary.

The purple stuff smells AWESOME!

Spring feet!
(Brianna's)

Brianna found these broken off at the garden center and gave them to me. :)

From a scavenger hunt the girls played.

Bad Dreams

2009-03-20T17:11:00.000-04:00

I had a horrible dream last night, or really early this morning. And I can recall it rather vividly even though I've tried to forget. It isn't all clear, but at some point I am part of this group. A small group at first, then a bunch more people are added. We are going to rob something maybe? And it's weird that there are so many of us. It makes me remember another dream I had months ago, but only vaguely. Like this is the same group of people as in the old dream.

So at some point we are out behind the large building we have been in. There is a plane laying in the field at the edge of the woods. One little blonde girl is there, and me and two others are going to take her to safety and look for more survivors. But then I turn to the left and there is a little dog house with several puppies inside. They are dead, sliced in half. It was so vividly horrible! At that point the others know who did it and are afraid the person is still around and start running, I follow barely keeping up.

The dream kind of moved on after that, and I remember bits. But that part was the freaky-stick-in-my-head part. And I'm in such a horrible mood because of it!

And...

2009-03-15T23:01:00.002-04:00

I finally finally finished a blanket for Brianna. I bought the material before she was born! lol. It is not quilted, I used yarn at intervals to hold the layers together. It's a tad thicker than a quilt. I did hand stitch the sides, I hate sewing machines.

While Resting...

2009-03-14T11:20:00.005-04:00

I have finished a couple of craft projects. The first one was to put a lining in some curtains I had made a while back. They are hanging in Brianna's room.

The second was to decorate a shirt for Brianna. I am rather pleased at the result.

Now I'm going to post a picture of the awesome breakfast I made us this morning. Scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast, and fruit. Tristin and I had the berries, but Brianna opted for the last apple instead. I did put a bit of splenda/sugar mix (it's a bit cheaper than straight splenda, but still a lot better than plain sugar) on Tristin's berries and just on my blackberries. I like my strawberries plain.

Roller Coaster Day

2009-03-13T17:52:00.002-04:00

Wednesday was very much a roller coaster of events. It started on the down end when I tried to put a skirt on that I hadn't worn in a while. Nearly two years ago I wore it all the time. I couldn't even begin to zip it...

...so I put on some slacks. I needed to dress nicer than usual to go to a seminar at the Marriott downtown. This was definitely an up. Something different to do, I always learn something new when I go, and it included a free continental breakfast...

...but they didn't have very much fruit. Some honeydew and cantaloupe slices. Very few strawberries and blueberries added for garnishment. I like cantaloupe, but wanted more berries. They had way more fruit last year. And a bigger room, more tables, etc. Damn economy. So another down...

...then I saw that they had Chamomile tea! Revolution Golden Chamomile Herbal Tea. Very awesome. I had two cups. :) I stayed fairly up for the rest of the day at work. I was pretty busy since the first half of the day was at the seminar. Then home and on to the gym. I love the gym. I love workouts with my trainer. But then...

...my ankle gave out during an exercise. I landed on my left foot then BAM, my ass hit the floor. It hurt terribly for about thirty seconds...

...then it was fine, just a little tender so we finished my workout. The rest was focused on upper body anyway. It was a really good work out and I felt good...

...until later that night when I could barely walk on my left foot. :( I iced and elevated it and it felt a little better the next morning. Today it's just a little sore and I'm sticking with rest until Sunday.

I do not like roller coaster days. I prefer smooth sailing. But things work out for a reason. Apparently I needed a couple of days rest and my body decided to tell me the hard way. :/

Things

2009-03-08T11:14:00.002-04:00

At night, when I'm going to sleep I think of a million things to blog about. In the car too, anywhere actually until I sit down with the computer. Then I'm blank. The words just fizzle away. I think I need to go back to keeping a spiral notebook handy to write in. Then I can just transfer it later.

I do want to say this: I'm shrinking. Not in height, but everywhere else. They tell women that once you have children, or get over thirty, or both that you will naturally become larger in a few places. Breast, hips, tummy, thighs. It's natural and you should just accept it and move on. I call bullshit. I'm shrinking folks! My bras are too big! My legs are thinner! My stomach is slowly shrinking as well! I'm toning in places I didn't even realize had extra padding! It was sort of a slow overall gain. I love the gym, and I love the changes. I'm sure my diet changes are part of it too. It's been three weeks since I gave up sodas. I let myself have a can of coke about a week ago as a treat. But that's it. One in three weeks. This from the girl that would have a couple a DAY not so long ago.

Well, that's all I have for today. Except this, and I must warn you that most will not know what it means. Maybe none of you will. Some of you will guess, and may or may not be right. I won't go into explanations. It is just something I realized and wanted to "say" outloud even if nobody gets it.

I've outgrown you.

Well I was gonna...

2009-03-05T21:19:00.002-05:00

...post something tonight, but my laptop was having technical difficulties. Now that I've wasted fifteen minutes fighting with it, I really don't have time to post. Maybe tomorrow...

Damn Carbs

2009-02-12T17:56:00.000-05:00

So I've been reading a little more and I knew the carbs were going to have to be cut down, but I was clueless as to what all they are in! Even my yogurt has too many! I googled the lite version of it though, and it was ok. I also think I'm going to have to cut out sodas completely. I've cut back enormously the last half year or so. But maybe none. Or maybe just very limited, like a weekly treat or something. This is hard!

I'm just going to wing it for now, and in three months when I get re-tested I'll see if more changes need to be made or what.

And my life flashed before my eyes...

2009-02-11T20:51:00.004-05:00

...or at least all the cheeseburgers I've eaten did. That's what happened this morning when I found out that my cholesterol is moderately high. And my uhhh...triglycerides are even higher! And I didn't even know what that was!

Let me start at the beginning. Last week I took my skinny eleven year old for her shots and checkup. They found her cholesterol is moderately high. Not worrisome, but changes needed to be made. Skip fried stuff at least most the time, and go from 2% to 1% milk. Also increased physical activity, but we were already working on that since she's moved back in. That was the doctor's recommendation. But as skinny, and fairly active as she is, I wondered if it was the hereditary kind so I had mine checked. Apparently it is.

So now I'm supposed to watch cholesterol, trans fat, and sugar. Or something like that. I seriously considered vegetarianism for a bout five minutes. But then decided it would probably be a good idea to do vegetarian meals maybe half the week. Can't hurt! I ordered a magazine subscription to read up on it. If I'm going to do it, I'd better do it right.

I did decide almost immediately that red meat is out. Period. And I don't think my levels are really high enough to have to do that, but that's what I felt I needed to do. I go on feelings a lot, and this is where I'm going. I am also adding fish to our diet more regular. Salmon and tuna were recommended for their high levels of omega 3, I think I got that worded right. There's so much I have to read up on!

I'm supposed to get mine checked again in three or four months. So, with the diet changes added to joining the gym a couple weeks ago, I will see what progress is made. If more changes need to be made then I will. I also asked if I should be tested for long term effects, but the nurse said they checked my liver...something...levels and all seems to be well there.

So I reinvent myself a little once again. Not completely, just a little morphing. But all is good. :)

The One Where I Ramble a Lot

2009-02-04T21:29:00.004-05:00

One of my all-time favorite movies is Pride and Prejudice. I get so caught up in Elizabeth trying to decipher the personality of Mr. Darcy. It is also full of interesting dialog. I have to confess that I have never read the book. I've tried twice so far, I just can't get through the first couple of chapters.

Another one of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail. Which is interesting because one of the lead characters, Kathleen, talks about the book Pride and Prejudice more than once. The last few times I've watched it I also noticed parallels between the lead characters of both movies. I found that interesting.

Last Friday night I started a Beginning Yoga class. I loved it! I plan to go back each Friday. That gives me three days a week at the gym. Twice with a trainer, and once in yoga. Once I'm more used to it and not so sore between sessions, I will try to pop in for just a quick cardio one or two other days a week. Those just depend on the week. If I'm active away from the gym I won't. If I binge on cake I will. You get the idea. ;)

I took the girls out for Chinese last week. We had a good time, being inappropriately cheerful because the place wasn't crowded. Fortune cookie time was interesting. Tristin's said something about someone watching her from afar. She was tickled at first until I pointed out that it could be a warning for her to stop doing things she shouldn't. Brianna's said "Your lost possession will be found within the month." As it turns out she has a particular toy we can't find. I hope it turns up.

Then I started to read mine. Now we had been giggling over a cute guy not long before this, so I started off with "That hot guy is in love with you." Tristin cracks up, which was my intention. Then I actually read what mine says "Others appreciate your good sense of humor today." Well that was right on the money, wasn't it?

Found at Xmichra's

2009-01-30T12:21:00.003-05:00

I am a
Daisy

What Flower
Are You?

"You are just a sweet person. When a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, you are happy to offer yours with a box of tissues as well. Once in awhile, you wish you could be a little more dramatic but then sensibility sets back in and you know that you are perfect the way you are."

The One Where I Ramble a Little

2009-01-28T21:00:00.005-05:00

Tonight I had my second training session. I am so sore! My abs hurt for two days after my first session. Tonight it's my thighs that are hurting. But I love my trainer! He's so comfortable to be with, and very patient. I don't dread going to the gym. I was nervous the first time, and a tad nervous this time, but more excited than nervous. And I saw the little hottie that first signed me up. That boy could have sold me the Brooklyn Bridge. ;) He did impress me by recognizing me and asking how I liked it. Most salesmen, which he basically is, completely forget you as soon as you have finished the sale.

It is no secret I am addicted to primetime. I have found a new show that's really awesome. Lie to Me, Wednesday nights at nine on Fox. It has Tim Roth in it (Incredible Hulk, Reservoir Dogs). He is delightfully anti-social. Sort of reminds me of Dr. House, only a little nicer. :)

The show brings science into seeing if someone is lying. If they had that class in college, I would have taken it and sat on the front row! I abhor liars. I don't understand lying and deception. Which unfortunately makes it easier for people to deceive me.

This show is awesome, check it out.

For Me

2009-01-24T20:49:00.003-05:00

For the last eleven years I have been a mother. I very rarely do things for myself, and never do any really big things for me. Well, this week I have. And at the New Moon. (A few days early, but it needed to be on the weekend.)

So what is this big thing I've done for myself? I joined a gym. And signed up for multiple sessions with a trainer. My first session with a trainer is tomorrow. That was the expensive part, the trainer. I went to the gym with the intent to join. I have to do something, not just to look better but to feel better. Considering I know nothing about the machines or working out, I needed the trainer. So it's a treat for me. To make up for it I'll just tighten my budget more than I planned. That's no big deal, we are still doing better than we are used to doing. It's been a rough year, but we've made it and are doing better.

I'm not one of those women that spend a lot of money having their hair done or their nails done. I don't even get my eyebrows waxed anymore, I just pluck 'em myself the old fashion way. So a little extra money towards making myself fit and healthy is perfectly okay. I'm really excited about this. I have needed a change for a while, but just couldn't do anything about it. No time, no money. But now I've done it and I'm not going to waste a bit of it. :)

And we're back...

2009-01-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

The cold is almost gone. My symptoms never really became unbearable, but I have been exhausted for over a week. Being sick is a real energy drain. This weekend I have two weekends worth of cleaning to do to catch up from laying around all weekend last week. And next weekend is when I'm getting a storage unit and emptying out my third bedroom for my oldest. Busy busy busy.

Found at Xmichra's

2009-01-03T21:55:00.000-05:00

A
- Available: for the right person, otherwise, I'm too busy.
- Age: 36
- Annoyance: Constant coughing! My 11 yr old won't use cough drops!
- Animal: Cat

B
- Beer: very rarely
- Birthday: May 3
- Best Friend(s): I have a few
- Best feeling in the world: when you know the kids are contently sleeping and its very quiet, and you feel all your muscles relax and drift slowly to happy unconciousness...
- Blind or Deaf: how about neither? I'm damn near half deaf already and it sucks.
- Best weather: fall or spring
- Been in Love: briefly a couple of times
- Been on stage?: play in the fifth grade. various childhood concerts before that.
- Believe in Magic: of course

C
- Candy: usually not much, but occasionally crave chocolate
- Color: purple, red, black
- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate all the way. - ditto
- Chinese/Mexican: I like both, depends on my mood.
- Cake or pie: cake
- Continent to visit: Europe
- Cheese: mozerella, parmesian, feta

D
- Day or Night: night, but I think I'm becoming a day person.
- Dancing in the rain: good idea, I should try that sometime.
- Eyes: blue
- Ever failed a class?: one in college. I took it over and got a B.

F
- First thoughts waking up: need to pee...
- Food: chicken ceasar salad,(I love this too Xmichra!), greek salad with feta cheese, no olives, olive garden pasta fajoli soup with salad and breadsticks, Salsaritas nachos and soft tacos. mmmmm...

G
- Greatest Fear: being left alone
- Goals: online thing, mini cooper, perhaps a house someday. And lots of focusing on my girls while patiently working towards fulfilling those goals. :)
- Get along with your parents?: sure
- Good luck charm: being right and fair. Karma and all that.

H
- Hair Color: light brown with a lil gray starting to show here and there.
- Height: 5'2
- Happy: yep
- Holiday: Christmas or Halloween
- How do you want to die: when I'm 102, or older I'll just go to sleep and not wake up. :)

I
- Ice Cream: : chocolate chip, or french vanilla with hot fudge on it.
- Instrument: want to play piano, but I don't do the whole read music translate notes to keys and stay on time. One sememster of it in college, and the teacher made it boring. Banjo might be fun to learn.

J
- Jewelry: dont wear much mostly. I have some I like to wear regularly, need to get back to doing that.
- Job: is good.
- Kids: I have two. That`s enough! (ditto)
- Kickboxing/Karate: I would like to learn enough to kick someone's ass if they messed with me.

L
- Love: Is a battlefield... lol.
- Laughed so hard you cried: I have before.

M
- Milk flavor: white or chocolate
- Movies: action, superhero, comedy, some chick flicks
- Motion sickness?: If I ride in the back of a car I usually get it.
- McD’s or BK: kind of sick of both

N
- Number: 3

O
- One wish: For me and my girls to live long, happy, and healthy. I want to see them grow up and make the right choices.

P
- Perfect Pizza: green peppers and mushrooms. Extra sauce please.
- Pepsi/Coke: pepsi, but occasionally coke.

Q
- Quail: wasn't he the vp or something a while back?

R
- Reason to cry: I'm watching Sleepless in Seattle, I'll prob tear up before its over. Damn you Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
- Reality T.V.: I have recently become addicted to Wife Swap and Super Nanny. The latter makes me feel much better about my children. The former makes me damn glad I'm single!
- Roll your tongue in a circle: yep. ;)
- Ring size: Which finger? I think my ring finger is a 4 or 4 and a half. First finger a 5 or 5 and a half.

S
- Song: Check my playlist on myspace. lol.
- Shoe size: 6 1/2 or 7
- Salad Dressing: greek or ceasar or italian
- Sushi: nope
- Slept outside: why? I'm not homeless.
- Smoked? In the past, and occasionally if I'm drinking and someone around lets me have one.
- Skinny dipped?: no
- Sing well?: well enough
- In the shower?: Not at the moment... lol.
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries! mmmm...
- Sunrise/Sunset: Sunset.

T
- Tattoos?: Yes, two and considering a third.
- Time for bed: 10 or 11 usually.
- Thunderstorms: as long as the winds are calm, sure. **I agree again with Xmichra.

U
- Unpredictable: sometimes

V
- Vacation spot(s): That would be nice. lol.
W
- Weakness: lounging around instead of doing something constructive.
- Who makes you laugh the most: Brianna
- Worst feeling: wanting to protect your children, but not being sure if you can.
- Wanted to be a model: umm...I'm 5'2", with no hips. Even as a teen I knew better than to want that.
- Worst Weather?: tornados scare the hell out of me. We don't get many here, but if it gets really windy, I get nervous.

X
- X-Rays: had a few or more
- Ex's: have a few or more. lol.

Y
-Year it is now: 2009
-Yellow: Can be ok for certain things, but isn't one of my top fav colors.
Z
- Zoo animal: lions and tigers and bears! oh my!

Last person who:
1. Slept in a bed beside you? Mr. Whiskers
2. You went to the mall with? by myself
3. You went to dinner with? haven't had dinner with anyone but the kids in quite some time.
4. You talked to on the phone? my mom
5. Made you laugh? Brianna
6. Hugged you? Brianna
7. Said they loved you? Brianna
8. Held your hand? Brianna...notice a theme here?
9. You spoke with? Both girls telling them to shush and sleep.
10. You cried over? hmmm...prob the girls. worried about something to do with them or something.

Things I Learned in 2008

2009-01-01T20:03:00.003-05:00

When I bother to, I cook rather well.
I like living alone. (As in no other adults, kids don't count on that.)
I should trust my FIRST instincts. They are usually right. I screw up when I doubt myself.
Patience.
Being patient sucks.
I do not like fat guys.
I do not need a man. But sometimes I want one.
Sometimes a guy who seems deceptive is actually just really dumb.
I do not like dumb guys.

There are probably more things, but this is all I thought of tonight. If I think of a few more I might put up a part 2 or something.

A Whole New World

2008-12-30T21:28:00.004-05:00

It all started with cutting back on expenses. My hours were shortened to four days a week for a few months, over the summer. I struggled month to month, finally in September I went back to five days a week. Things were smoother, but catching up takes time. I had to prioritize. Cable went to the bottom of the list. It didn't help that I absolutely HATE our cable company. I like Direct TV, had it for 7 years, but it's inconvenient in an apartment.

Anyway, I started noticing a disturbing pattern. We were just watching the same shows, the same reruns, over and over. The new shows I watch were all on network channels anyway. Finally, I made the decision to cancel cable. And I did. We have those old rabbit ears anteneas on both TVs (living room and my room). I need to get the converter boxes soon. My mom hasn't had cable for years, and already has a converter box. The channels come in almost cable clear.

I ordered AT&T DSL for my internet service since that was part of cable. I am still saving between $50 and $70 a month after the cost of DSL. And we didn't even have any movie channels! Once we are on our feet, which will be very soon, I plan to use the money we save from cable on DVDs, movies as well as a few favorite kid shows for Brianna to watch. That's the one drawback, there aren't many kid shows on network TV. Before we very rarely bought DVDs. I also want to join something like Netflix. We used to have a Blockbuster membership, but it just became to0 expensive for the monthly thing, and I never remember to turn them in on time just renting them the normal way.

As a bonus, I've noticed the kids don't instantly ask for the TV to come on when we are home. And I don't turn it on right away either. We go hours with no TV going, and we listen to music more. And I'm not sure about the girls, but I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything at all. I am glad I finally canceled it. :)

I really don't like video games...

2008-12-29T12:39:00.001-05:00

...but I gave my oldest a Brain Age game for her Nintendo DS, and this thing is neat! I want a DS!!!