Time seems to be flying by. I think I understand now what they mean by you pick up speed when you go over the hill and start rolling down. Not that I’m over the hill yet. Or maybe I am – realizing lately that if I live to be 76 I am now……M I D D L E A G E D. Good Lord, when did that happen?

My friend Elizabeth has to be one of the most organized people I know and she is really involved with her kids. Not that every other mother I know is not involved – she has more time. She is a stay at home mommy and does cool things for and with her children. Read her blog (link to the right) and you’ll see what I mean. She is also very good at chronicling her life and that of her children. One of the coolest things she does is write them letters. Her daughter just turned 5 and she wrote her a “5th Birthday Letter”. I’m sure she’s written 1, 2, 3 and 4 also (as well as others) and has them stashed away so when Katie grows up, she’ll have this stack of letters to read from her mom. How cool would that be? Lizzie turns 10 Saturday. TEN! My babies are all growing up. So, in Elizabeth Tradition, I have decided to write Lizzie a letter. Maybe I’ll post it, I don’t know. I’ll think on that one.

Matthew has come and gone. He was here for a month and I wish I could’ve hidden him away so he would have to stay longer. I threatened to lock him in the basement until his flight left. I think he was sad to go but probably happy to get home. His mama has got to be missing him more than ever, especially since Drew is gone. Maybe next year he’ll get to spend the whole summer. I am hoping, as is Robbie.

We finally finished the bedroom. I think it turned out fabulous! I’ll post pictures when I can.

Nathan & Nicole got married on June 14th. What a great wedding! They were married at Stef and Dan’s outside. Beautiful weather for the day and everyone was able to attend. They went off to the Florida Keys for two weeks for their honeymoon. See what I mean about getting old?? My baby nephew is MARRIED!

Sabrina and I have joined Weight Watchers and Curves together. So far we are doing good. We walked in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure together too. That was a lot of fun.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Again – time is just flying by.

I feel like I always start my blogs as if I were in the middle of a conversation with someone. Maybe starting is what makes me a slacker in the updating department. Or maybe it’s the fact that every time I think about updating, I’m driving in the car. I had a job interview this morning at 7am (more on that later) and I was thinking I wish I had a laptop. That way when I’m in the middle of a massive traffic jam, I could just jot a few things down on WordPad or something. But I guess if it’s a major traffic jam I should be concentrating on not rear-ending the car in front me instead of typing on a laptop.

Also on the way to my job interview I was next to this big semi full of chickens, hundreds and hundred of chickens. I don’t think I’d ever seen a truck full of chickens before. And they were live ones – well most of them were alive. It looked like some had succumbed to the shock and trauma of being shoved 100 deep in a screened in trailer and driven down the road at 70 miles per hour. But for the most part, they were live ones. I have been trying to figure out how to top my goose story since it’s my favorite blog entry and I was trying to think of way I could link the trailer of chickens to a cool story but none came to mind. I can’t figure out how a truck full of dirty chickens is like anything else. It’s quite an interesting sight.

Anyway – about my job interview. It was with a major insurance company that I used to work for a long time ago. I am pretty psyched about it. I’m pretty much just praying for God’s will on this one. If I’m supposed to get it, then I want it bad. If I’m not supposed to get it, I still want it but understand why I won’t. I don’t want to end up completely unhappy at my job again 10 years from now and I know God knows what’s best. And to top it off, I had to get up at 4:45 AM! That wasn’t fun. But I did it. And I didn’t even hit the snooze. That’s because Robbie was still there and he always messes up my morning routine when he’s there. And I took my nose ring out for the interview and then couldn’t get it to go back in. Luckily, I finally got it after about 20 minutes of trying. Then I had to explain to the horses patoot why my nose ring was out. But don’t worry, I prayed for forgiveness after the lie.

Mom is doing well, still recuperating at home getting stronger by day. Hopefully she’ll get better soon so we can take our vacation at the lot. I promised her a week there when she gets back on her feet.

Andrew should be here soon. He graduated boot camp in April then the Marine Corps sent him back to Camp Pendleton for combat training. I just hope that doesn’t mean they are preparing him for deployment. His regular training should begin in a few weeks and he’ll be here at Ft. Leonardwood.

OK. Gotta go. Ciao for now.

So I use my blog mostly for just getting my thoughts out there for myself but also to anyone who by happenstance stumbles upon my pages. Or for my mother or my sister or my uncle. I really didn't think anyone else paid much attention. And I don't know all things blog-worthy but apparently I've been TAGGED. My friend Elizabeth recently started blogging and I think she has more posts in a month than I've put on here since 2004. Way to show me up there, E. Anyway, so before I get to the tagging, I guess I better update my stuff.

On Tuesday, April 15th, my mom fell and broke her leg in 3 places. We thought she was going to get to go home within a day or two, but that was before we realized the extent of the problem. After a 2 hours surgery, the doctor came out to talk to us. He had put in 6 pins/screws and a plate on one side and 2 pins/screws one the other. She also completely dislocated the foot so the tendons were pretty well torn up. She was in the hospital until that Friday, April 18th where she was moved to an Extended Care Facility with extensive rehab and therapy. She finally got to come home yesterday but not without some pretty big restrictions and alterations to her home life. A lift was put in off the back deck since she has a split foyer home, she has a bedside commode, a hospital bed and a walker in the living room along with a wheelchair. She won't be able to put any weight on her foot for another five weeks while the bones grow around the pins and plate. On top of this, we found out she is osteoporitic so she has to be even more careful. She just got done with Radiation therapy for her breast cancer and know this. Sheesh. [REMOVED]

And through this whole ordeal I think I've grown so very much closer to my sister Sabrina. Bebe - this is for you. In the last two weeks I've learned alot about you and feel we are closer now than we ever have been. Your compassion and your generousity to those around you is amazing - although I knew that part already. Your self-sacrificing for your family is something I try to mimic but I fear fall way short. And you were right when you said we never fought growing up. Have we ever at all? I love our competitive banter - to others I think it appears we are arguing or getting "catty" but we truly aren't. I think that's just another way we say we love each other. You see things in people and in the world that I don't always see and I think because of your giving nature, people open up to you and feel they can befriend you and have a completely unconditional friendship - and they are right. But you are also able to say what needs to be said when it needs to be said and I admire you for that. You know (and I quote, again) - "It is NOT our fault that she is mad at you!" That was a great day for me because I realized then that she is still there. You know, that little girl inside wondering if I'll ever make it to never-never land that still wants so very much to be like her big sister. ILYVM.

So now - I've been tagged. I have no idea what that means but here's what I'm supposed to do (and yes, I copied and pasted this right from your blog Elizabeth)

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up. (That means when I finish this post, I'm supposed to let Eliabeth know by making a comment on her blog, so she knows to come read mine.)

First - her link is on the left column.
Second - I think I already did the rules above???
Third - Six Random Things About Me. Mine aren't going to be quite as long and desciptive as my friend's Elizabeth are but hey, I'm trying to maintain a good work ethic here, too.
1. I would love to travel to Rome, Italy. I watched that movie, Under The Tuscan Sun once with Diane Lane - had to buy it and watched it alot since then. I think if it were just me, no kids or anything, I would so buy a villa!
2. I worked at Papa Johns once for four hours. That's how long I lasted. I made it through Kentucky Fried Chicken for four days. My current job of almost 10 years is the one I wish would be put out of it's misery but not before I find a newer better version!
3. I have many friends but few I trust implicitly. I think I probably have three people that know almost everyting about me - Robbie, Chris and Bebe.
4. My pet peeves are: slow drivers in the fast lane, women who put on their make-up in the car in the rearview mirror (or the guys who shave with their electric shavers), people who act like they know something when they really don't, bullies, cheats, liars and thieves.
5. I don't do malls. I HATE shopping. Well, maybe I like it when I get to hang out with Bebe but other than that, NOT.
6. There is no kind of music I dislike. Although I tease my husband and pretend his showtunes gag me, I secretly like them. And if you tell him that, I'll beat you up.

And now, I'm supposed to tag someone with a blog but I don't know anyone outside of my Aunts whom I know will not be compliant, and Elizabeth, who tagged me. How about I list the people I wish had a blog that I could tag?!
1. Bebe - yep, you all knew that one was coming.
2. Mom
3. Uncle Walter

So there ya go, a long overdue blog. I wish I had something as compelling as the goose story. I'll try better next time. Pray for my mom.

So my sister and I have been communicating on Yahoo Instant Messenger when time allows during the day. Or when the Man isn’t lurking around somewhere. But they have what they call Audibles where you can go through lists of funny things, hello’s, bye’s, insults, etc. where you can click on the funny and if the sound is up, it’ll say stupid things on the other persons computer. For example, I had my back to my computer and all the sudden it said “Hey, you got some brown on your nose.” Or something to that effect. I laughed so hard I cried. And my boss has this “Sixth Sense” or something of the sort where if you get a personal phone call or if you are doing anything remotely personal at your desk, he suddenly appears. Even if it’s a 30 second call, he somehow knows. So of course, I’ve had to cut way back on my Messenger/Audible usage. But one stuck out and has now been branded as my motto.




I mean, really. Can I? I don’t think this is what I had in mind when I used to say “When I grow up, I wanna…..”

Boredom at work – uncommon, but not completely unheard of at my desk. Every once in a blue moon I get to have one of those days where it seems like the phone is not ringing, I’m at a stopping point with renewals and cannot do anything more with them until I receive the paperwork from the carriers and I’ve pretty much followed up on everything I could possible follow up on – basically, I don’t have much to do. Rarely does this occur but today is one of those days. I know it appears to make the day go slower but it’s nice to sit back and take a breath. And I dare not tell my boss that I have nothing to do lest he give me stacks and stacks of otherwise known as busywork jobs so as to keep me busy. I work my tail off here and it doesn’t bother me (much) to just relax. Not that I’m painting my nails or playing Blackjack online, because I’m not. I’m finding stupid things to do so I don’t fear my work ethic is slipping, but I’m not slammed, phone-ringing, piles of crap all over busy.

My mother’s last radiation treatment was yesterday – YA HOO. I want to get her a pink T-Shirt with “SURVIVOR” written as large as possible all over it. My momma – what a woman!!

What else has been going on. Let’s see - Basement flooded, washing machine went kaput so we bought a new one, I had pleurisy, Baseball home opener is Monday, we’re redoing the bedroom still, got my nose pierced, got a new puppy, I didn’t win Powerball, Rob had a flat tire Tuesday on the way home from work and mom and dad picked him up to take him to Dobbs and helped out with the tire and made me cry, Drew graduates in a week from bootcamp, Sam is almost taller than me, Lizzie is growing her hair back out, I hate my job, I’m still hoping to move to Wentzville someday, Carrie had her baby and is back from maternity leave Tuesday, Carrie and I went to dinner Tuesday and had a royal blast! I can’t wait for the new House episodes to start back up, we’re planning to go to Palm Island this summer, I’m madly in love with my husband, I’m very proud of my kids, I’m reading a great book, got stuck in traffic yesterday for and hour and a half after a fatal accident (but I do thank God that I wasn’t involved), Robbie finished his classes for the semester, someone stole a bagel from me at work, I’m ready for spring, I’m glad it’s almost Friday, I’m looking forward to going to Mom and Dad’s on Saturday, I have a mountain of laundry to do again, I’m beginning to really like one of our cats (do NOT tell anyone!), someone called me very smart today and I think that’s about it. That’s what’s been happening lately in short little snippets.

I am feeling a bit of righteous indignation today and I’m trying hard to make it go away. Problem is, I think it is somewhat warranted. And this bit of righteous indignation is not just because of one thing – but several in general so when I think about them as a whole, I think the “bit” goes to more like “considerable”.

Ever watch the movie “9 to 5”? Remember that part where Mr. Hart (the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot) takes MAJOR credit for something Violet did? Well, lets just say – I’m feeling like Violet this week. I love it when Doralee says she’s going to change him from a rooster to a hen with one shot.

AND – Sam’s last birthday he saved his money from his grandma and from us; hunted, studied, shopped around and basically found the best bicycle for him and bought it with his very own money. He was so excited about it. He cleaned it with a diaper even. For the most part, he kept it parked in the basement since we seem to have bike thieves living amongst us. He forgot a few times, but mostly it was kept downstairs, tightly locked and safe. Last week we had the main drain back up into the basement. I know, fun fun! We took almost everything out, bleached the floors, put new carpet in Sam’s room, new Linoleum in the laundry room and had everything taken apart and in mass disarray for a while. Yesterday, he called me at work and wanted to know what we had done with his bike. Making a long story short, it was stolen out from under our porch. I’m trying to remember “in my anger, do not sin” but that is a hard instruction to preserve. Especially since my anger is so immense at the moment.

On a lighter note - Robbie, Sam and Lizzie all tried out for parts in the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which is being put on by a church in Wentzville and they all made it! Robbie is Ruben, Joseph’s oldest brother and Sam and Lizzie are in the children’s choir. When Lizzie tried out she got up on stage, said “This is just like American Idol” and then in her best Simon Cowell, British accent (which was quite good actually) stated “Just don’t tell me I’m pitchy, ok?” Sam did very well also, but he’s not as gregarious as his sister. Robbie got up and sang two songs and it amazes me still how well he can sing. I forget that sometimes because I don’t get to hear him very often.

Well, I’ve updated. I know it’s been awhile and I apologize. Could be worse – could’ve been a year.

Warning in advance – this blog may come off as an infomercial or an advertisement to go buy a certain product. It’s not meant to be that way – just a touting of the miracle I’ve found in FISH OIL.

I have pretty severe eczema, especially on my hands. I have been to three doctors, two dermatologists, taken all their prescriptions (which some are rumored to deteriorate the liver), done the blood tests, used all the creams, lotions, etc. etc. etc. One set of oral meds caused my cholesterol to elevate over 100 points in less than 30 days. The last round of medications had some pretty nasty kidney side effects so I decided not to take those. Some of the lotions worked for a while then I guess I developed an immunity to the topic stuff because after about a week to two weeks, they all became ineffective and I’d be back at square one.

About 3 months ago my boss decided I was to be his experimental subject and bought me a bottle of Omega-3 Fish Oil to take. Yea, right. I’ve tried it all and I had decided I would just live with it. I figured what the heck though – I’d try anything so I started taking them twice a day. Well – they cleared up. It took a few weeks but I started noticing improvements little by little until here I am, 3 months later and my hands look brand new. Well almost – you can’t have that much skin trauma without some permanent damage. Anyway, the Omega-3 Fish Oils have been a Godsend, miracle cure, natural therapy, whatever you want to call it – it has worked. And I’m very thankful. I can shake someone’s hand now without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. I can use my hands again. I can even do dishes again (but don’t tell Robbie)! Here are the before and after pictures. Amazing isn’t it? You can click on the pictures to make them larger.

[REMOVED]

I am still going strong on my lack of snooze button use. Well, sortof. Robbie has been home this week so it's always weird getting up and getting ready for work with him there. He actually had the audacity to ask me Tuesday if I realized my alarm had gone off. HELLO? Um, yes, but I'm stretching it. I think I'll be back to my old-new self Monday when he's already been gone for an hour by the time it goes off.

My twelve-year-old son and my nine-year-old daughter were approached two days in a row while walking home from school by punks trying to sell drugs. My Sammy, being the ever-astute young man, hightailed his self to the police station – which happened to be right there! He had the details on the people in the car, the type and color of car, but no license plate numbers because the car did not have any. I don't think many people, let alone twelve year olds would've thought to get all that. I was reassured by an officer yesterday that these jackasses were caught due to Sam’s diligence and they were proud of the good deed he had done. How proud was I?! What kind of IDIOT approaches two children, especially in front of the police station? And again, what is wrong with the people in this country??

I DID IT! I believe I have broken my snooze button dependency. Since it’s come to light, I have been consciously trying to hit snooze once and get up before it goes off again and so far I’m on a streak with 7 straight mornings. Well, Saturday and Sunday don’t count because I don’t use the alarm on those days but I was up on both days before 8. I know - it’s incredible isn’t it? I feel rejuvenated.

We had Trivia night last Friday at our church. We came in second to last. What if Sabrina is right? I know I’m somewhat intelligent – well I thought I was until Friday night - but what if I’m really not? What if I’m subconsciously faking it? Can you fake smart? I didn’t feel too smart. The pace was fast and there were things they asked that after I heard the answer I was just “DUH!” but mostly, I felt inadequate and terribly obtuse. Here’s what I’d like - one of those “Brain Games” that is supposed to keep your mind sharp. What’s that herb you can take to keep you on your mental A Game? I need that too. My nickname at work is FG – supposedly for “Freakin’ Genius” but I really think now it might be for “Freakin’ Goofball”. OR WAIT – OMG! What if it really means “FOREST GUMP”?? That just popped in my head and is quite scary. His IQ was like 72 or something. But he was happy and he knew what love is. Maybe that’s all that counts. Plus he was rich, what with Bubba Gump Shrimp and all.

Christmas is almost here and I am pretty excited about it finally. This is the first one I’ve actually gotten in the Christmas spirit beforehand in a while. I usually get all stoked up and it’s already Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day and that’s it. But this year I’ve been trying to focus on the reason for the season instead of the commercialization that our society has turned it into.

Matt is coming out on December 24th but Drew cannot make it this year. He goes to boot camp on January 7th and he’s currently working three jobs that won’t let him have time off to come. Which is ok, we’ll just miss him. He did ask his Sergeant if he can spend his 10 days after boot camp here and they said it was cool. So at least we’ll get to see him then.

I saw my geese again the other day, but this time they were on the ground aka the gaggle. And they were everywhere. It was snowing and there they were in a field. Weird to feel a bond with a bunch of geese.

I was driving to work this morning and saw the biggest skein of geese I’ve ever seen, probably 250 geese in all. Here’s your Ornithology lesson for the day: The male goose is called a "gander" and the female is the "goose"; young birds before fledging are known as "goslings". A group of geese on the ground is called a “gaggle”; when flying in formation, it is called a “wedge” or “skein”. I’ve often heard about geese and their curious characteristics. They mate for life. Wikipedia says occasionally (very rarely) they will “divorce” and find another mate, but mostly they are loyal to one companion. When I lived in Mississippi I cleaned for the sweetest old couple. I remember one day the little old man came to me, very excited, and wanted to show me “the neatest thing”. We went down to the lake behind his house, and there was a Gander and a Goose, with about 50 goslings. He told me about them mating for life and that some of the goslings in this group had been orphaned so these two took the orphans in as their own. He loved watching those geese and every week I would hear a new tale of what they had done until the goslings had grown up. Also, they fly in a V on purpose. Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes. First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. This way, they can fly for a long time before they have to stop for rest. The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason. I started thinking about my family and how we are like those geese. When faced with major upheavals (I would think migrating twice a year would be an upheaval in goose life), we get in our V, one of us takes the front and we take turns being lead bird. This way, we boost each other and keep each other going. And although our V may be stretched out far, we always keep track of everyone in our group. I think better to take care of each other. And I love how our family is so accepting of others. Whatever their faith, belief, philosophy, background, physical appearance or personality, we welcome them into our gaggle with open arms. How crazy is it that a wedge of Canadian Geese made me cry on the way to work?

We’ve officially established that the use of a snooze button is completely psychosomatic and that using a snooze button can be suggestive. In other words, after reading my blog about my 9 minutes of bliss, my sister apparently now uses her snooze button. Hopefully she gets as much delight in her extra 9 minute intervals as I do.

My thoughts on this, though, are that I am such a creature of habit that I have a perverse obstinate disposition to go to great lengths to make sure my 9-Minute Intervals do not change. And this is worrying me. For instance, my dog has decided when the alarm goes off the first time that he really REALLY needs to go outside RIGHT THEN. And I hate to be woken up – or actually get out of bed - before my 4th 9-Minute sequence has run its course. So I stumble to take him out, but then of course I have to feed him and he eats outside so hopefully I have clothes on that won’t scare the neighbors and then of course, the cats hear the scrape of a food bowl and they decide their bowl isn’t full enough so I have to fill up their bowls too. And yes, I have tried to ignore them since their bowl does have food in it usually at all times and stumble back to bed but they will ceaselessly meow outside my bedroom door since I made an appearance and they feel slighted if I don’t feed them too. THEN I have to go to the bathroom because if I don’t, I can’t go back to sleep because I have to go to the bathroom. By that time, I should stay up because HELLO, I’m wide awake. But I don’t. I go back to bed and then strike up a bargain to sleep an extra 5 ½ minutes since I’ve already taken the dog out, fed him, fed the cats and went to the bathroom. SEE? It’s a vicious vicious cycle and I’m powerless to change it.

THEN I remember that ‘sloth’ is one of the seven deadly sins. NICE. Google sloth. See what you come up with. I was actually reassured by wikipedia in that “The meaning of sloth as a vice closely follows the meaning of the Greek word "akedia": "absence of caring". A student who neglects his studies to pursue another interest, such as martial arts or filming, does not necessarily commit the sin of sloth. Perhaps he should restructure his priorities, but the student does not necessarily display a spiritual decay, a lack of interest in anything, and thus is not slothful. A student who took no interest in anything requiring great effort, but preferred to indulge in idle entertainment, might well be slothful.”

So can I assume that an insurance agent who hates to get up in the morning because she’s not a morning person is not necessarily committing the sin of sloth but one who didn’t get up at all since it requires great effort but preferred to sleep all day in idle slumber might well be slothful? It’s not that I have an absence of caring about getting up. I just don’t like to.

I’ve run out of steam. I was going strong there for awhile, blogging almost regularly and then, I felt the old familiar procrastination issue setting in. So as not to let a year go by again without blogging, I am updating without much information just to be updating. Just to give you all something glorious to read. Well, maybe not glorious but at least it’s something. And maybe not much information, just not much I wish to share.

Our family is going thought a trying time and out of respect for my mom, I’ll only say she was diagnosed with breast cancer and leave it at that. She is very private and doesn’t want her issues aired on the World Wide Web for anybody and everybody to read. If it were only family and close friends that were to frequent the pages, then I think she would be more apt to post her health issues on a website. As it stands, anybody, anywhere, anytime can scroll through various blogs and just read whats going on. It is not private. Which, granted, the normal general public scrolling through a blog would have no idea who she was but you just never know. There may be some buttcrack showing, combover inbred from Toad Suck, Arkansas saying “Paint me pink, Frances, Margaret has breast cancer!” And to some, that wouldn’t be a problem because they really don’t care if someone they don’t know can read about them but to mom, it’s private. And she wants to keep it that way. She’s more than happy to let the family and close friends know what’s going on.

SO. It’s almost Thanksgiving again. Where does time go? Why can’t it slow down? Why did it pick up speed after about 30? I swear just yesterday I was 25. And I know tomorrow I’ll probably be 40 and then by the next day I’ll be 50. What’s with that? I think it’s because I wish my life away 5 weekdays at a time. I start Monday – “can’t wait til Friday” and it goes from there. All my wishing has made it go so much faster that suddenly I’m almost 37 and have no clue how I got here.

For anyone that reads this that is a praying person – I’m asking for prayers for my mom especially but also for my dad. Pray for Gods healing hands to guide, comfort and cure.

She is my friend. She is my confidant.
She is my fan. She is my aficionada.
She is my rock. She is my calm in this storm.
She is my security. She is my tether
She is my childhood. She is my teenage years. She is my adulthood.
She is the wind in my sails. She is the wind beneath my wings.
She is my reason. She is my motivation.
She is every memory. She is every story.
She is every “remember when”. She is every “I can’t wait”.
She is everything I was. She is everything I am. She is everything I want to be.
She is my mother.

~Catrina King
November 5, 2007

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a bargainer but only a bargainer with self. Well, maybe I do make a bribe, ahem - I mean deal, with my kids every now and again about the things they need to do or the things that I don’t want them to do but mainly, a bargainer with self. I bargain with myself in the morning about getting up – refer to the 9-Minute Sequences below. That’s just one example. I make lots of small bargains with myself throughout the day. If I’ll just get this group insurance information in the system and all done and off my desk, I can take a little moment and throw my nerf basketball at the net hanging in my office. (Blows off steam and improves hand-eye coordination all at once – but don’t do it too much, makes lots of noise and the boss will give you the big hairy eyeball)

And I’ve now made a new bargain but on a bigger scale. For every 25 pounds I lose, I’m going to get a new tattoo. SO, if I lose 75 pounds, I’ll have three new tattoos. Not big ones so that I look like a Harley Babe, but little ones. And ones that mean something to me. First will be the little footprint with the initials JAS beside it on the top of my foot. Second is the Ithcus I’ve designed. Inside the Ithcus is the name Christ but if you look at it backwards, it says Risen. Kind of hard to imagine but trust me, it’s cool. It also has the scripture Gal 6:17 beside it. And last, I want a tribal band around my arm. That’s going to be the last of the three. I’d like one on my hip too so – wait, I hear another bargain in the process. If I go 100 down, I can get one last ink on my hip. Sweet. And I'm going to set time bargains on these. This tattoo bargain has been in the works for some time but I need to get a time on it so I just don't slide on into 40 with the same bargain rolling around in my head.

Robbie & I are going this weekend to a marriage retreat thing at the Frontenac Hilton. Aunt Steffie is watching Sam and Lizzie and Robbie and I get a weekend for just us. Thats important to a relationship. Especially when you get married and have instant family. We never really have an alone time. Maybe after 10pm when the house is settled down, the children are snug in their beds and the dog is at the foot of the bed gnawing on a rawhide but within minutes we’re both snoring so I don’t think that counts. Or this one time, it was quiet during the day in our house for about 10 minutes while the kids were playing down at their friends house! And it’s ok, we’re cool with the chaos of our lives but every once in a while, it’s good to step back, regroup, remember why I love him so much and actually tell him and then we can get back to mayhem and disorder. I’m excited about our weekend away.

And now – I’m going to take a poll. Please tell your friends about my poll because I think I have only three readers left. Feel free to comment with your answer to my poll, or your friends answers to my poll. I’ll tally any answers I get and let you know the outcome. Here’s the background to the reason for my poll and the poll itself.

I am a HUGE Three Stooges Fan. I love the Stooges. I can sit and watch the Stooges all day long if someone would let me. I used to only be a Larry Moe & Curly fan and really didn’t care for the others that were brought in after Curly left. Well, really, Curly replaced Shemp when Shemp got out of the original act but when they went on television Curly was part of the original three. Shemp stepped in when Curly had a stroke in 1949. See? I know a lot about the Stooges. Did you know that Curly, whose real name is Jerome Lester Horwitz, was originally known as Babe? That’s my nickname too!! I don’t know how many people besides a select few know of my Stooges dependence. I can’t help it, I just love them. And from what I understand, to be female and love the Stooges as much as I do is apparently not normal. Not saying that much of what I like or do is normal, but it’s the Stooges! C’Mon, who cannot help but love them? So here’s my poll.

If you are female, then
a. Do you like the Stooges?
b. Do you have other female friends or family that enjoy them as well?

If you are male, then
a. Do you like the Stooges?
b. Do you know of any female friends or family that enjoy them as well?

Simple. I just want to know. I’m weird, I always knew that but I’m also curious. So vote early and vote often. :) That’s what I’ll be saying next November.

Reading the blog from September 27, 2006 was somewhat eye opening. Eye opening in that I read of the same restlessness that I’m still feeling a year later and to know NOTHING has changed. Well, obviously some things have, but in the overall grand scheme of the “I’ve been feeling the need for change lately” scenario – nothing has changed. I embraced the changes with my job – studied the new deductibles and learned the new plans and I came through rather well. But the dreariness is still there. I think before I called it complacency thinking that meant – basically BLAH - but when you shift+F7 complacency, there’s a list of words that DO NOT describe how I feel about my job. Example – I do not have contentment. In fact, I need one of those thesaurus things that give you the antonym for that one. Discontent? Dissatisfaction? A lot of ‘disses’ there. I even said I just knew I couldn’t keep going like I was and stay sane. So either I’m crazy or I was wrong. I don’t think I’m crazy. Well not any crazier than I was before. So to sum it all up and give a moral to the story – I’ve learned I really can keep on going a very long time after I thought I couldn’t.

So. Going back through my blog I realized – IT’S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR. Time flies when you’re on the downside of “over thirty”. It really does. I’m not kidding. And my last blog actually said I may try to blog once a week. HA. I see how well that worked. And to try and convey what has happened in the last year would ultimately be mind-numbing. A lot happened, I lived through it and I’m just a year older. But it’s funny, when I read back through and realize I’m still struggling with the same CRAP I was a year ago or longer, its quite dismal. I think it’s time to get new things to struggle with and quit worrying about the same ol’ stuff. For instance, I’d like to worry about where to spend all the money I won in the Powerball. Or which color Mercedes I want. Or what type of marble to put on the floor of my mansion. Those are acceptable struggles. I’m on it….I’ll let you know how that works out.

I do have MySpace and I get on there quite a bit. I actually blogged once in there. Maybe it was twice. I’ll have to look. I should actually copy and paste so it looks like this blog is really long. If you have MySpace and if you still read this, let me know and we can be friends on MySpace. I’m currently collecting them. Friends that is. I am finding they are a rare commodity. Well, true ones anyway.

Here is blog 1 from MySpace:

The 9-minute sequences...
Current mood: relaxed
I am not a morning person. And honestly, that doesn't even begin to describe it. It's not like I need my morning coffee to wake up, I don't drink coffee – except for the occasional Venti Cappuccino with a sweet n low. I don't do mornings, never have and apparently never will. I will sleep until the absolute last possible minute I can without being late and then bargain with myself to sneak some extra minutes. Example – "You know self, if you don't blow dry your hair today and just throw it in a clip, you can sleep an extra 4.7 minutes."

On the other hand, my husband is very much a morning person. I told him the first time I figured out he was so smiley in the morning that we were going to have a problem because "If you're like that in the morning, I am like this." And it's not pretty. Stumbling through the house, hair on end, eyes at half-mast and not a decipherable actual word emitting from me. More like a grunt or two. It is funny though that he can set his alarm and then just turn it off the first time it beeps and get up. And be happy about it! (That's the part that slays me) And his clock is set for the right time.

And then we pan to the other side of the bed…

And that, friends, is a completely different story. My clock is set 23 minutes fast. And the alarm is set for 36 minutes earlier than I have to get up, of course not counting the 2.3 minutes I save if I don't shampoo twice. My alarm goes off and I usually lurch about 6 feet off the bed because it scares the crap out of me and as I'm landing from my voyage through the air, I'm desperately fumbling on the nightstand to find THE SNOOZE BUTTON. I love the snooze button – it is the greatest invention in the world next to a Chevrolet ZZ4 350 ci 4 brl carb 355 hp engine and a 4 speed transmission with a Hurst shifter. The snooze allows me to steal extra sleep in 9-minute intervals. Of course, every 9 minutes I go through my ascension into the atmosphere again but for those 9 wonderful, magnificent minutes, it's worth it.

I'm sure those of you reading this that are akin to my husband are declaring that I just need to set my clock for the correct time, set my alarm for when I need to get up and have that last 36 minutes of slumber completely uninterrupted. I've tried that. It does not work. If I turn it off the first time it goes off, I WILL oversleep and I WILL be late for work. I have tried over and over and over again to change my waking routine but alas, it was not meant to change. This is just how I am.

As for how Mister Morning Guy and I have worked out our differences, he has to get up 2 hours before my first levitation and therefore is not privy to my comical morning episodes. On the rare occasion that he is there to witness it, he simply guffaws lovingly in his good-natured manner and takes his sickeningly happy, awake self to read in peace in the living room.

Here is Blog 2 from MySpace:

I had to write this one down...
Current mood: thoughtful
Susan B. Anthony once said that sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit, and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these. This morning on my way to work, right at the pond just up this hill from my house, a group of ducks were walking right up the middle of the street. A big burly guy in a dump truck was slowly following along behind at a ducks pace with his hazards flashing, smiling like I've not seen anyone smile in a long time (except on TV, of course). Cars piling up behind him, those angry drivers with somehwere important to be and him not caring. I had to write down my unannounced stray dog moment, just in case life - as usual - gets a little too hectic and I forget to put my hazards on and laugh at the ducks.


So now it looks like I’ve just written a whole bunch. Does anybody even read this anymore? I doubt it. Let me know.

I’ll try to do better. Don’t hate me if I don’t. Just check back periodically to see if I’m still kickin.

I don’t update very often. I rarely have time but maybe, just maybe, I will make a habit to try at least once a week. And I think if you add up this one, it’s been twice already. Holy old mother of milk cow, hold your socks on again. I don’t think I’ve ever updated twice in one week.

We had our TeamKid classes last night. We always have so much fun. The kids really enjoy it but I think I enjoy it more than they do. How crazy is that.

Halloween was fun. Lizzie went as a “gothic princess” and Sam was the scary dude from Scary movie. We went all over Troy, into a big subdivision and of course, had to go to Aunt Steffie’s house. They love Aunt Stef and Uncle Dan. This is the first year since we’ve lived in Troy that we haven’t gone trick or treating with them. But it was ok because we dragged Robbie along and made him drive. He doesn’t mind a bit. What a great guy. The city of Troy always has a few “drive thru” places on Halloween set up by the Kiwanis and the Ladies Auxiliary Club. All the stores on Main Street had their decorations out – some were even open late and handing out candy.

Baseball season is over. I heard on the radio that some people actually need psychotherapy after the adrenaline rush is over. I love my baseball and all, but I’m patient enough to know it starts again in the spring. I don’t think I need therapy to get through the winter months. But then again, I’m a huge fan, not a fanatic.

Anybody else watch House on TV? I LOVE that guy! I never (literally) watched TV before Robbie moved in. Maybe, on occasion, I would watch a movie, but that was about it. Since he’s moved in I am now addicted to House and ER. He’s even bought me the first 4 seasons of ER on DVD. Now I’m going to need House although I’ve watched it from the beginning. The TV directs my Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank God for the DVR. With that, I can watch them in my spare time - like at 2am when I’m supposed to be catching up on the sleep I never get.

I finally went to the doctor for this cold I have had for the last 4½ weeks. Of course, my doctor explained it’s not a cold. A cold doesn’t last 4½ weeks. This is an infection, for which I need antibiotics. Respiratory infection, sinus infection and ear infections. Fun Fun Fun – I ‘m one big infected hair-ball coughing snot bag. Gross. I think my doctor just kind of mentally pats me on the head and tells me to steer clear of WebMD.com. Of course, I have this habit of self-diagnosing. I went in there about a year ago thinking I had lockjaw because I’d been floating and swimming in a river where cows had frequented. He kindly explained I didn’t have lockjaw otherwise I wouldn’t be talking by then. I don’t remember what I had now. All I know is that it wasn’t lockjaw.

OK so, we’ve established I don’t update very often, but I’m also bad about e-mailing back. I will, I promise. Most of the time I check at work and then don’t have time to get back to anyone for fear of “getting busted”. I’m not allowed to do anything personal at work. SO, I will check my e-mail because I can minimize that pretty quick, but actually replying takes some crafty slyness. Bear with me though…

So gotta run. More later. And try not to be too disappointed if it’s longer than a week until my next update. I’m trying, really I am.

So, there I was going about my daily routine when I noticed the hit counter on my blog was through the roof. My first reaction was that someone noticed the incredibly witty way in which I write and will contact me soon to become a featured columnist in his or her syndicated national newspaper. But it was not to be. The Auntie’s have posted a link to me on their popular family gazette. So now I may have more than 2 hits a month! How exciting. Guess I’ll have to update more often. Ha.



We had Dad’s 79th birthday party at the Valley (lot) Saturday. The Valley also had a haunted hayride for the kids and a spooky house and gave out candy and all kinds of stuff. What a great time! Chris and Rick came up with William and camped for the weekend, too. Of course, we told Dad this was just practice for next year’s big 80! We’ll do one in March for mom’s birthday, too. Then we’ll have their 50th anniversary. We’re just a party family. Actually, just any excuse to hang out with my family for me. Stef and Dan celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. And yep, it was an occasion to get together!

The cabin in the woods has four walls now. We’re building a barn style roof that will be the sleeping loft. Brett and Sam put the little tent in the unfinished cabin and slept in it. I think Brett loves it down there with us. He asked Robbie on the way home Sunday if we were absolutely sure we weren’t going again this weekend. I promised him anytime he wants to go and his mom says ok, he can go, even if we just go for the day.

Sam fell off his bike and we thought he broke his arm but turns out it was a growth plate injury. Which they cast anyway so he wore a cast for 3 weeks from his shoulder to his knuckles. Just call him Grace.

We had Parent Teacher conferences last week. They are both doing wonderful in school except for the fact that both of them seem to talk too much. Gee, I wonder where they got that. I remember my first grade teacher telling my mother that it’s not that I talk too much; it’s that I had a lot to say. We’re born yackers. That’s Lizzie’s word. She says she can’t help it if she’s a yacker. I think her Auntie Bebe called her that once and it stuck.

Robbie and I are having lots of fun with our Team Kid thing at church. I’m really enjoying being around all the kids.

Well, that’s it for now. I figured if I was going to have a massive stream of traffic, I better at least update and give the latest. More later…

I’ve been feeling the need for change lately. Big change. To what, I’m not exactly sure. I just know I feel ... restless. That’s about the only way I can explain it. And I’ve felt that way for quite some time. My personal life is good - husband and the kids. I need to clean the basement and water my plants more often, but other than that I’m doing well and I’m content. My job still sucks though. Even though I get paid very well, I’m still so very unhappy there. I’ve been dreaming of getting a Class A CDL and becoming a dump truck driver. Or I could go up the street and become a bartender. That would be great fun. An assembly line worker. Opening a grocery store in Lyon, Missouri (there really is one for sale!) Anything, really. My insurance world is changing and I really don’t feel like embracing that change. I’m ready to turn in my briefcase for a backpack. Not necessarily a return to campus, but a proverbial backpack. Like changing in the Manolo Blahniks for Nike Shocks. The pantyhose for funny looking ankle socks. The skirt for a well worn pair of Levi’s. Is this a phase I’m going through? What if I trade the suit jacket for an AC/DC T-shirt and find I’m completely unhappy in a year? Or worse, what if I totally ruin everything I’ve worked so hard for financially? Or what if I’m too old? All I know is I want a change and I don’t mean insurance plan change because one insurance company is buying another and they’re redoing all of the benefits. We’re supposed to be learning and studying all these new plans and I can’t seem to make myself do it. I just don’t care. I’ve come to this complacency stage and it’s so unlike me in my job. What do I do? I’m not sure, I just know I can’t keep going like I am and stay sane. There’s only so much of insurance deductibles and coinsurance one can stand.