M.I.A.....

Sorry y'all. This last weekend was a doozy.

My husband developed an abscess on an unusual part of his anatomy. Oh fine. It was on his ass. Are you happy now? Back to the story. He started running a low grade fever late Friday night. We went to the ER on Saturday afternoon. It wasn't good.

He has MRSA. They are fairly certain they got it early enough. I will spare you the details. You can thank me later. He is taking three antibiotics and percocet. We go back to the doctor tomorrow to have the packing removed. And then back again on Wednesday. After that, he should be fine. Thank God. I have never been so scared in my life. And beat. Emotional upheavals really kick my ass. I'll be back tomorrow with news of his condition.

If you believe in prayer, please say one for us now. Thank you.

I'm back...

These last few days have been okay. I have missed you all more than I can say. I have felt your kind words, and kept them close to my heart.

December 12, 2006 my grandma died unexpectedly during surgery. We are still not exactly sure what happened a year later.

I miss her every day. Not only for myself, but for the boys as well. She was crazy about Aidan and Quinn. I still pick up the phone to call her and tell her some new thing one of them has done. It is hard. But I am getting better. Having the boys takes my mind off of it. And shopping for Christmas. I know it will get easier with time.

But this first Christmas without her has been difficult for all of us.

Untitled...

Hey y'all. I am going to take a break from posting for a few days. Nothing is wrong, well nothing physical anyway. This is just a very difficult time for me and my family right now. And I am just so very sad. I will be back in a few days. Don't worry.

Tonight, I'll kick The Footlights Out Again...

Ahh, the story. About my babe-ah. The one thing I have been meaning to talk about, and just couldn't. Because it was always too painful a story to tell.

My babe-ah. Bobby. He loved LSU. Cigars. Beer. Wine. And my mama's Swedish Meatballs. He was this big,amazing man. He was my teddy bear.

He loved to tell the story of how we first met. He said I was a huge bitch, I said he was a dick. It was love at first sight. He took me under his wing. Taught me everything I know. About life. About wine. He taught me that you do what needs to be done to make your customer's happy. PERIOD. If that means going out and getting them a Dr. Pepper, then you do that. And your tip will reflect that. And that you always try to make them feel important. Like they are your only table.

And then there was the night I got my heart broke into a million frickin' pieces. He was there. He took me out and got me really shit-faced. Because that was all he knew how to do, that was the only way he knew how to help me.

And he was so much more than that. There is a picture of him that I will always regret not having. We used to do a ChildKind Dinner, at LunaSi. There was this beautiful child, being held by Bobby. And the absolute joy on both of their faces, was something I could never even hope to replicate. And that was Bobby. That was always who he was.

He was killed by a drunk-driver. It was a hit-and-run. I would like to think it was instant. That he didn't suffer. I need to know that. For my own selfish reasons.

Because he didn't deserve any less.

The Rose Bowl Awaits...

I know, I know. I should have posted this on Sunday. Or really even Saturday night.

Yes, I am very excited to be going to the Rose Bowl. It is a personal favorite of mine. I also love the parade. I get up and watch it every year. No matter what. It's tradition. This year will be more kick-ass than usual due to the world's most bitchin' band, who will be marching in the parade. I love marching bands. Yes. I am that geeky. To take it one step further, I was IN the marching band in high school. I played clarinet. I was cool.

It's funny to look back on it now. But being in the band was so much fun. Most of my adult friendships are with people from band. We were a pretty close knit group. Still are.

So laugh all you want. It won't bother me a bit. I am proud to have been a member of the Alexander High School Marching Cougars. We rawked.

Read This! First Book Review...

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

I'm sorry. I have spent two and a half weeks trying to read this book. Or at least finish the damn thing. I don't like it. I find it annoying and very strange. I am also shocked that it won a Pulitzer. And slightly confused as to where all the "comedy" is? Wha? There is actual comedy in the book? Is it at the end? 'Cause I am not getting to it anytime soon.

I am very disappointed with this book. It will be joining a very short list of books that I could not finish. Have still not finished. If you knew just how much I loved to read, you would understand why this pains me so.

1- The Secret Life of Bees- I am nowhere near finishing it.
2- She's Come Undone- Yeah.
3- Quite a Year For Plums- One of the worst books I have ever attempted to read. Ever.

Let me know what y'all thought about it.

Misty, Water-Colored Memories...

God. I don't even know where to begin. I love Christmas, and all that it entails. The promise of a new year. Fresh beginings. A time to be spent with family. So today, I would like to tell you about my Grandma Harler.

The woman was a nut. She had the most amazing gift of being able to talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere, anyplace. She made friends wherever she went. She never met a stranger. Ever. She would welcome you with open arms. I was in awe of her. My mother is like that. In so many ways.

Grandma always had projects. She helped with a senatorial campaign. She worked tirelessly in her church. They published a cookbook the year before last. She sent me a copy. Which only included one recipe from her. I still find that odd, because she was a good cook. I cherish that cookbook. She did so very many things. For so many organizations. There are too many to name. She believed in helping her fellow man.

She was very religous. But she was fair. "Judge not, lest ye be judged" was a favorite of hers. And she lived her life that way. She tried to help anyone that needed it. Be it a kind word, or a home-cooked meal. She was never preachy. She just loved God, and was never ashamed to let you know it. She wanted to share the joy that it had given her. In whatever way she could.

And she was dingy. The first example that comes to mind is Cracker Barrel. She came out to visit when I graduated from high school. My parent's took her there for lunch. She loved it. She would tell anyone who would listen about going to the Crack Box for lunch. It still makes me smile to think about that. She was forever calling things by the wrong name. It was always a running family joke. And don't even get me started about her driving skills!

And there are so many more memories I have. She came out to help my mom after my last knee surgery. Quinn was only six months old. I found a picture the other day that made me cry. In it you can see Quinn, and only her hands. I love that picture more than words can say.

She passed away almost a year ago, this month. The week before Christmas. I miss her every day. I did my Christmas cards tonight, and it was really sad. This first year has been incredibly difficult. I talked to her at least once a week. It was hard to give that up. She was my rock. I know that she is watching over me. Us. But it is still not the same. She loved her great-grandchildren, if possible, more than she loved us. I know she is proud of them. I just wish she were here to see them. She would be so excited. She loved to take their pictures to church, and display them for everyone to see. We are talking 11 by 13 pictures. Not wallets.

I guess I would like for all of you to hug your loved one's close. Be thankful for what you have. Enjoy your holiday season. And never take them for granted.

48...

I only made it to fourty-eight. Too bad, so sad. There is always next year!

All in all I really am quite proud of myself. I am loving my new button, too!

See ya on the flip side, my peeps.

Thanks For The Memories...

Wow. It is official. I posted for thirty days straight. Sometimes more than once. I am so proud of myself for sticking with it. It was hard. I won't lie to you. But I did it. My final NaBloPoMo post is going to be about how I met my husband. I figure he deserves it since I am always ragging on the poor guy. So Honey, this one's for you.

My little brother actually knew him first. They went to Bill Arp Elementary School together. Jeff went on to Fairplay and Jimmy moved to Detroit. They met up again their senior year of high school. And then didn't see each other for years.

In the mean time, I grew up. My brother and I had always been close friends and we used to hang out with this same group of friends. God, the fun we had. One of our friends worked in the kitchen of Taco Mac. His name was Eric. We used to always go up to the Mac on Friday and Saturday nights after we got off work. Jeff and I were working at Alpine together then. Anyway, we would all get together and drink and be rowdy and just have fun. It amazes me to this day how long it took for Jimmy and I to actually meet.

One night I noticed Eric seemed upset. I went up to the bar and asked him if he was okay. He wasn't. He told me his brother was in the hospital and he didn't know any more details. Everyone was pretty somber that night. We didn't see him for a few days. The next weekend he was back and let us all know that his brother was fine, and had moved in with him for a little while.

About two weeks later, after a late night, we all went back to Eric and John's apartment to hang out and play cards. I walked in the door and almost died. There was the hottest guy sitting on the couch reading Harry Potter. I was terribly nervous. I don't remember what I said to him, but I am sure it was something really dumb. He barely even said two words back. It was Jimmy, Eric's brother.

Over the next few weeks we would hang out more and more at their house. And it was always my idea. I would try desperately to get him to talk to me. One night we came back to their apartment and there was this girl there. My heart literally stopped. I was so crushed. It was his ex-girlfriend, I found out later. You would never have known it from the way she acted. She was an evil bitch, but that is a whole different post. We finally started talking, and one thing led to another. And we hooked up. I am not terribly proud of myself for that. But it is the truth. That was right around Thanksgiving of that year. We saw each other a few times and then nothing. For like a week. I was confused. I was at work one night talking to a girlfriend about where the "relationship" was going, and I didn't know if he was the one, blah,blah,blah, and one of the girls came up to me and told me there was someone here to see me.

I remember wondering who it could be. I walked down the ramp towards the host stand, and there stood Jimmy. With a dozen roses in his hands. They were a pale cream color with blush tips. My favorite roses. I don't know how he knew that because I generally don't care for roses. I am more of a daisy girl. But he did, and I still have them to this day.

He explained that he had been sick. He wasn't sure where we were going yet either, but he would like to find out. Our first date was at Sweetwater Park. We walked and talked for hours. It was the best date of my life. We both decided not to see other people. Which was fine by me. I was sick of dating by then. I was ready to be with him. And only him, for the rest of my life. I knew he was the one and had known it in my heart all along.

Six months later we were married at Sweetwater Park. Surrounded by our family and friends. It was the best day of my life. The luckiest day of my life. And a choice I have never once regretted making.

Things You Shouldn't Have To Tell Your Husband When You Have Been Married For Five Years, Or Possibly EVER...

* When taking our children out of the house, please dress them appropriately for the weather conditions. For example, if it is cold and damp, please make sure they are at the very least wearing pants of some sort. And a shirt.Mmmkay?

* When their training pants are trailing the ground, it is probably time to change them. Or better yet, why weren't YOU taking them potty? They don't train themselves.

* When you are bringing them in from the car, please remember to bring in their damn cups. Please. I am begging you on this one.

* When you are washing clothes, please put the powder in FIRST and let it sit there for a second BEFORE you stuff the clothes in,thankyouverymuch.

* PLEASE STOP LETTING THE BOYS EAT IN THE LIVING ROOM. YOU ARE NOT THE ONE WHO WILL BE CLEANING THE DAMN CARPET. AGAIN.

* No scary movies when the boys are awake. EVER. Even if you say " What? This is NOT scary". Yes, it is. They are two and four.

* When I finally get to watch tv, quit playing the Wacker Game whilst I am trying to watch football. Or I will kill you dead. There are three other rooms for you all to play in. A deck. And a backyard. Pick one and go there.

* Quit piling the trash on an already over-flowing garbage can. TAKE IT OUT ALREADY.

And I believe this ends our session for today! Happy Thursday, Everybody!!

Edited to add:

* Why must you park as far away as possible when there is a perfectly good spot right in front?!

100th Post!!!

Thank you. But the credit definitely goes to NaBloPoMo. Which has been a blast. I will definitely be signing up for it next year. I feel like I have learned a lot. I am still relatively new to the blogging world. There are a ton of things I still don't know how to do. I am just taking it one step at a time. I like learning new things. Who doesn't?

I am sad to see the end of Novemeber coming, and with it NaBloPoMo. If only for the typing of the name. Kidding. I really HAVE enjoyed being a part of this group of bloggers. I feel like it has made me a little more structured in my writing. I also like how I am sitting down and writing every day. Even if it is only short posts. Writing is writing. And look ma, I'm doin' it!

I have a ton of ides for posts. Bright orange sticky-notes, patiently waiting to be chosen. So here is my vow to you. I will use at least one a week. I will continue to post every day, even if it's only small stuff. I like how I feel when I do that. I also like that I have reader's. Actual READER'S! Plural, even! I have met some great new friend's and I am very grateful.

Thank You, NaBloPoMo. I look forward to being a part of you next year.

Pink Pig, Here We Come!

We have lived in Georgia for well over twenty years now. And I am ashamed to say, have never ridden "Priscilla". I have received her as a Christmas present in all her stuffed glory numerous times. Ridden her? No. That is all about to change.

My mother informed me last night that "she was taking her grandbabies to see the Pink Pig". Which means that I am driving and basically going along as back up. I asked her why we had never been to ride "Priscilla". She said it was because we were too old when we moved here. I think that's a load of bunk.

I don't think you are ever too old to ride a Pink Pig named "Priscilla". It's a Christmas tradition, and therefore exempt from age limits.

That's my story,anyway. Do y'all have any special family traditions involving the holidays?

I Heart Grapefruit Juice...

And so it begins. Day One of The Diet. My mother and I did this several years ago and lost fourty and fifty pounds,respectively. Now we are both back on it and have been joined by my husband and my diddy. It is a simple way to lose weight. And has actually worked for me when other things have failed.

I will be chronicaling my weight loss here every week. I am weighing myself tomorrow. I will be posting my weight every week. I guess Mondays are as good a day as any to do that. Maybe I will come up with some sort of title. Maybe not!

All I know is this. Since injuring my knee, my weight has been atrocious. There are so many things I can no longer do. I don't mean to sound self-pitying, because I'm not. I am lucky to be able to walk and for the most part, be pain free. But there is this fear that it will happen again. It is always in the back of my mind anytime I do anything. I don't expect that to ever fully go away. But if I am healthier and weigh less, then maybe I won't be so focused on it.

I guess we will see. Wish me luck. And has anyone seen my Pilates DVD? I can't find it anywhere.

USC-44, Arizona State-24

YEAH,BABY! Technically I should have posted this Thanksgiving night. I did not because I was waaaay too tired for all that. I was super excited. I also got to actually watch some of the game. On TELEVISION. For reals. Naturally I did not realize they were showing the game until my father called me whilst I was driving home from dinner #3.

We aren't going to mention that I may or may not have been able to watch their games the entire time, but didn't. Because that would make me a total pinhead. And we can't have that.

I am slightly bummed about Georgia beating Tech(again!). I really thought they were gonna beat 'em this year. This has been one of the craziest seasons of college football that I have ever seen. I don't think my heart can take much more. I am (im)patiently waiting for the AP Poll to come out. Word on the street is that USC may be ranked NUMBER FIVE. 5. Remember you heard it here.

Or don't, if word on the street is incorrect. And you can also blame my dad.

Anything new?

You may have noticed some pimpage taking place in my sidebar. And the possible theft of Wordnerd's Mood-O-The-Day because I love it.

Here's the thing. At some point in time I would like to go back to being a SAHM. I am trying to generate a little extra moolah any way I can. But not a dirty way. So now I have ads, or will shortly. I also have the Amazon Deal of the Day. Help a girl out, wouldja?

YUCK!

You Are Pumpkin Pie

You're the perfect combo of uniqueness and quality. You're able to relate to many types of people with many different tastes. But you're by no means generic or ordinary. In fact, you're one of the most original people around. Those who like you are looking for something (someone!) special. You tend confuse people when they first meet you. You're not as complicated as you seem. Even though you have a lot of spice and flavor to you, you're never overpowering. You are a calm and comforting force in people's lives.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

I must tell you all that I am completely horrified by this. I detest Pumpkin Pie. With the fire of a thousand suns.

Blech.

A Girl's Love Affair With Fiesta Ware...

When I was twenty-two I met a man we will call Dick. On our three month anniversary he bought me a diamond necklace. When it came time for my birthday I just knew that my gift would be rockin'. We were going out to dinner with some of our friends and I was super excited. Dick came home from work and got ready. He also gave me my present early. Four five-piece place settings of Fiesta Ware.

To say I was less than thrilled would be a very big understatement. He informed me that there was one color in particular that he "always wanted his dinner served to him on". That is EXACTLY what he said. I have never forgotten it. But his idea was to show me that throughout our married life together we could collect more and have a whole set. Aww, sounds romantic, doesn't it?

He broke up with me the night after I made my world famous Cajun Chicken Linguini and served it to him on that goddamn plate. I should have busted it over his head. After we broke up I started buying my own Fiesta Ware. And my family and friends would buy it too. And now? I have eleven place settings. PLUS, my husband is going to buy me more for Christmas. Hah.

What does Dick have? I have no idea. Nor do I care.

The reason I am writing about my beloved Fiesta Ware is because I JUST found it two days ago. It had been sitting in a box in the basement. I could not find it anywhere. When we moved, my hubby found it. When I was unpacking the last big box I discovered it on the very bottom. I was so jazzed. I immediately called my mom to tell her.Finally, my Fiesta Ware was home in my cabinets. Where it belonged.

I laugh every time I serve my husband his dinner on that plate. And so does he.

THE MADNESS! THE LINES! THE WOMEN IN FULL MAKE-UP!!

Wanna guess where I was at four am? Huh? Do ya? Anyone?

BINGO! My mama and I decided that this year we would join the millions of insane shoppers for the day after Thanksgiving sales. We felt we were finally ready. Plus, it didn't hurt that my diddy woke up early and made us some coffee. It is excellent coffee, by the way. I even got to use my new creamer( Thanks, Swistle! The peppermint mocha is DELISH!).

So all hopped up on caffeine and pure adreneline we hit the holy grail of retail lunacy. Wal-Mart. We needed a microwave, Lightning McQueen, Transformers, a mini crockpot, hand beaters, two ten packs of cars(matchbox,hot wheels,whatev), and some dvd's. Amazingly, we walked out with every single item. And all of our own teeth. It was pretty hairy. And it was only the beginning.

We headed to the mall. My mom decided her grandbabies needed a keyboard and a guitar for Christmas. All we need now is a third child and a drum set, and we would have our own rock band! It hasn't been mentioned but I am pretty sure they are coming home with me. We then moved on to Penney's. Gloves,Toe Socks, and Flannel Shirts! Oh My!
A quick trip to Macy's and we were finis with the mall. By the way? I am completely in LUST, hot, primitive,sweaty lust, with Martha Stewart's new line of goodness at Macy's. Dear God. Check it out if you haven't already.

Our day/morning/night?huh? ended at Kohl's. At that point my coffee buzz had completely worn off and I could hear my bed whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I begged my mother to hurry and be done. She was more than ready as well.

As I dropped her off and drove home I thought about all the fun we had had. We met people in line and then met them again outside Macy's. We all laughed that apparently we hadn't had enough of the craziness from Wal-Mart. It was nice. More than nice. People were happy and friendly. Chatting with each other in line. It was how I pictured shopping on such a crazy day to be.

I already can't wait for next year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

More Free Graphics at pYzam.com

I hope everyone is enjoying their Turkey Day! God knows we are. We have already been to my parent's for dinner, Jimmy is headed out to see his family with the boys in tow, and then we are off to see my friend Rhonda. Notice I am not going to the in-laws? I'm sorry, but on a day when you are supposed to give thanks I refuse to sit and eat dinner with people who don't like me. Or constantly judge me. So I am staying home. And watching some football.

Y'all enjoy your day. I plan to.

Crap...

I already mentioned the whole Monopoly thing. So here are TWO new random facts about yours truly.

1- I, or rather my parent's, received two tickets to some event that took place during the Olympics here in '96, for giving up my seat on a bus. We had just been to the Ray Charles concert at Centennial Park where I discovered a tiny bit of claustrophobia. It occured after the concert as everyone was leaving. It was rather terrifying and scared the hell out of my mother. She said she hoped to never see that look on my face again. Anyhoo. We were riding MARTA back to where we had parked the car. I am still freaking out and this woman gets on the bus. She is older than I am and so exhausted she can barely see straight. Being the good southern girl that I am , I offer my seat. She was quite shocked. Especially after learning what had happened. So she tells my parent's that she WORKS for the Olypics and offers two tickets to womens' something. For free. Because I was polite. My parent's turn them down at first. Because that was just how I was raised. But she insisted. So there is the story of how my parent's were able to attend their very first Olympic Games.

Kinda cool,eh?!

2- I cannot make grilled cheese. What? I can make fancy French sauces with the best of them. Grilled cheese? Not so much.

And now you know.

Meme, How I love ya, how I love ya...

That's right! It's Meme Time. This comes from Burgh Baby's Mom. I'm sorry I can't provide the frickin' link, but all my stuff is possibly disabled. I dunno.

Anyhoo, the meme is 7 random things about me. Are you ready?

1- I curse like a sailor. I know. I generally do not do it in front of the children. Or while at work. But I have the worst potty mouth.

2- If I play Monopoly I have to be the Dog. Or I won't play. Same goes with Trivial Pursuit. If I can't be pink I'm not playing.

3- I read thrashy romance novels. What? Like I'm the only one.

4- I know the layout of every department store in every mall I have EVER been in. Them's mad skillz right there!

5- I used to be a bartender and I made up the world's greatest shot. It's called Pull Your Panties Up. It is fruity and very yummy. It will also kick your ass if you aren't careful.

6- I can't type.

7- I love to sing karaoke with my girlfriends. I'm not bad. I won't win any competitions, but I don't suck and that is enough for me.

Don't you all feel like you know me better now?!

I tag whoever hasn't done this meme. Leave a comment in the comments.

ONLY 34!!

I only have thirty-four posts for the month of November. I thought for sure I had way more. I need to get on the ol' stick. I was hoping for seventy-five.

Looks like I will be lucky to make it to fifty!

Letter to myself.

I've been thinking about myself of ten years ago quite a lot lately. I forget who started the similar meme, I think it was Zoot, which was actually a letter to yourself in seventh grade. For some reason I did not participate. Shocking,isn't it?! Instead I have decided to write a letter to myself of ten years ago. Oh the trouble I could have saved her!


Dear Self of Ten Years Ago,

First and foremost, DO NOT let J.C. cut your hair. You will regret it for the rest of your life. And moving on. Girl, stop thinking you are fat. I promise you you are NOT! You look better than you ever have before. Also, please enjoy all those nights out dancing with your girlfriends, because there will come a time when you can't dance anymore. And you will miss that almost as much as your hair.

As for boyfriends? I would tell you to avoid C.B. and G.D.- but I seriously doubt you would listen to me. The first one will break your heart. And the second? Let's just say he is unavailable. But you will be together for a long time.

Work is going to be a little crazy. You will get fired for the first(and only!) time in your life. And for the dumbest reason imaginable. You will find a better job and be much happier. Although still a little bitter! You will waste too much time in bars drinking with your friends, but you are young. You will realize that it's not so much fun soon enough. Keep in better touch with B.M. You will know the reason why years later. And get a copy of that picture of him holding that baby at our ChildKind dinner. You will wish you had it for the rest of your life.

You will have a good life. A life filled with all your dreams come true. Just enjoy the here and now. Quit worrying so much about what other people think of you. Be happy. Cherish your time spent with your family. Laugh every day. And be thankful for all you have.

Love,
The Me of Now

It is way too early in the morning for this...

Again with The Wiggles. My youngest son asked me to "put on Wiggles,Mama". Why couldn't he just ask for Barney and be done with it? Is he trying to kill me?

And I'm not sure if it is the early hour or possible sleep deprivation the likes of which usually only follow the birth of a small child, but I am thinking that Anthony is looking hot. I am fairly certain there is something wrong with me for actually saying that. You would know there was if you had ever seen that horrible dance they do.

First Rooney, and now Anthony. What is the world coming to?

Get OUT!

I am busy blingo-ing my name to see what pops up. What? Like you've never done it. And I come across the most BIZARRE link ever.


The John Denver Fan Club-Rocky Mountain High. I can't make this stuff up.JOHN FREAKIN' DENVER? Who in the hell listens to John Denver? I am still laughing myself silly. I can't wait to call my father.


As you were.

So...

I added some new links to my blogroll. And I took one down. The rest I have to go find and add.

The one I took down I have been rather unhappy with lately. I won't mention who, but this persons posts have been largely bitching about money/lack thereof. Which I have no problem with. But not when you have put your child in private daycare, or bought all new furniture, or you eat out constantly. So I am taking a break from that particular blog for awhile. I wish that person the best of luck.

That was generic enough that no one should be able to figure out who I am refering to,right?

Relax...

I have changed the template on my blog. If you don't see your name in my People I love... don't be alarmed. Those were the links I could remember off the top of my head. I will be adding everyone else shortly.

Right now I need to go see a woman about a crock pot!! SQUEEEEEEE! My mama bought me a crock pot!

Sadly, I am really excited about that. I may need to get out more...

Where was I?

I just received an e-mail from a good friend of mine. Who also happens to be my brother's ex. He has always been upset that we were still such good friends. And I could never figure out why it bothered him so much.

Until today. Today, I am ashamed to call him brother. I am ashamed of my own small part in hurting someone who never deserved to be treated like that.But most of all I am ashamed for not realizing what was going on right in front of me all those years. How could I not have seen the signs? I was a victim too.

My brother in a temper fueled by alcohol is not pretty. Even sober he can be an ass. He has always had this need to control everything, and everyone around him. I honestly don't know where this comes from. We had the same childhood. The same parents. He was given everything he ever wanted. Even if it meant having to work extra shifts. How could he have turned out to be such a selfish,cruel bastard?Sure, he was spoiled. But then so was I. I guess I just really need to understand what has driven him to be so hurtful.

I also need to decide what to do about the boys. My brother and I no longer live in the same state. He is coming home for Christmas and is looking forward to seeing the boys. Which I find interesting, since he hasn't seen Quinn since he was a baby. Quinn turned two in September. I don't ever want them to be in any position to be hurt by him. Or disappointed like I have been so many times before.

He says he has changed. I want to believe that is true. But I have traveled down that road before. I won't do it again.

When does a sweater become a size 7 shoe?

When you are crazy-busy at work, that's when!

I work in a children's resale store. I absolutely love it. I am one of the buyer's and the afternoon supervisor. I also get a rockin' discount. Which I have taken MAD advantage of! Can you blame me? We get really good clothes in every day. I have outfitted both boys (summer and now winter!) for around $100 each season. Seriously. We are talking Ralph Lauren, TCP, Gymboree, The Gap and Old Navy. For ridiculous prices.

And now back to my point! Saturdays are generally INSANE. My boss bought us a third computer to "buy" with. Which helped out a lot. Except it wasn't READY to actually buy for some reason or another. I am knee deep in buying when one of the girls comes up to me and shows me a gaping hole in a sweater I had bought. We damage the ticket and donate the sweater. As she hands me the ticket she is laughing. The ticket was for a size seven shoe... don't ask me how I did it. I still don't know. My boss thought it was the funniest thing ever. He made me tell his wife. She laughed so hard she had to go pee!

I'm guessing I won't hear the end of that for quite awhile. It's okay. Nothing tops the "Have a great idea" debacle of 2001. But that's a whole 'nother story!

Man, I Wish I Was Beautiful...

For almost all of my life, I was told I was "fat". I was a "heavy girl". I would have to be careful of my weight. My mother started harping on me at an early age that weight=beauty. I don't honestly do not feel she realized she had done so. Because she was overweight as a child. And had already known the price.

Fast forward several years. I do not ever remember my own mother telling me I was beautiful. Ever. My teenage years where I needed to know about make-up and girly things, she didn't know that. She never had that life. She was always second fiddle to her sister. My Aunt Joni. Who was the most fun person ever.

And the reason my parent's met. And the person I most resemble. We have the same color eyes. She introduced my parent's. She was actually my Dad's blind date. And she told my Mom that "she would be stupid to let a guy like that go." So my Mom asked him out for coffee. He accepted. And that was that. They married and began their life together. And then...

She was killed in a motorcycle accident after I was born.

It is difficult to live with that, but made even more so when you resemble her.

I am not her. I am me. I remember her, barely.

I am Jenny. Just Jenny. I am your daughter and your friend. I am just me.

Will that ever be enough? Can that ever be enough?

Tired doesn't even begin to cover it...

The Aidan had his surgery today. He came through it with flying colors. It was VERY minor. I will explain it all later. I promise.

But right now? Mama needs a NAP!

Meme Alert!

I got this from Zoot! And you know how much I love meme's!Basically you have to list one relevant fact or tidbit for each letter of your first or middle name. Then you are supposed to tag as many people as there are letters in your name. Yeah, good luck with that! I don't think I HAVE that many people who read my blog! Instead I say do it if you wanna!

J- Just Jenny! I prefer to be called Jenny or Jen. Never Jennifer. It makes me think I am in trouble!

E- Exhausted. Getting up at six am to drive your husband to work really sucks.

N- Nerdy. Well, hello! I am doing a meme!

N- Nutty- I believe it gives me character!

I- Imagination. I have always had a rather vivid one. It is something I encourage in my children.

F- Friendly. 'Cause I am.

E- Eager. For the potty training to be OVER WITH ALREADY.

R- Relieved. It is almost the weekend. Ah, sleeping in...

The "Right of Way"...

Am I one of the only people left on the PLANET who actually knows that when you come to a four way stop and there are more than one of you- the person on YOUR RIGHT GOES FIRST?

NO. I am not joking.

This irritates the ever-loving-hell out of me.

Me. WHO ACTUALLY HAD TO PASS A DRIVER'S TEST TO GET HER LICENSE BACK. It is a looong story involving knee surgery and therapy and blah,blah,frickity,blah.

I will tell you that my score was AWESOME!

Except for a little somethin'-somethin'. That I will only refer to as me losing my mind. Fine. It involves the stupid Bon Jovi album.

That is all.

S.O.S.

The really unfortunate thing about driving my husband to work every morning is that I am being forced to watch The Wiggles upon our return. Every. Morning. Up until then they had never even seen that show. Yet another reason to want to pound on my husband... As if being forced to wake up at six am wasn't already reason enough.

Is it me? I mean, I just honestly do NOT understand the fascination with that show. It's annoying. As hell. And do you really want your children to watch a program with four grown men being all perky and silly that early in the morning? Why don't you just force them to watch Richard Simmons and be done with it. And the singing, dear god make it stop. Whilst you are at it, someone please explain that dinosaur. The dino has got to go.

Wasn't there a fifth Wiggle? Maybe that's why he left. Maybe he said " It's the Dinosaur or me". And they chose the dino. Ever think of that?

Now see how crazy this gettin' up early crap has made me? I have made up this wacky Conspiracy Theory and mentioned Richard Simmons all in the same morning. I need to go back to bed.

Or possibly start in on the fudge.

I Got Nothin'...

My husband informs me last night that I needed to get my "blogging" out of the way today before the kids went to bed because he has to use the computer.

Mmkay. No pressure for a topic. Nah, no pressure at all.

Ass.

It's okay. In retaliation I did NOT do the dishes. That'll show him. Tell me I need to be done before he gets home. Obviously he has never tried to write anything while the beasts were up. It is damn near impossible. Plus, I have the added insult of having been woken up AT SIX AM to drive him to work. Because it looks like our second car has given up the old ghost. That's like a little piece of heaven right there. It means I have to do that FIVE DAYS A WEEK. FIVE. AT SIX AM.

Is it obvious to anyone else what side of the bed I got out of today?!

What a Maroon...

So, my post from earlier? The one with the mention of peanut butter and something else I could not remember?

Cat litter.

Wanna know when I remembered that little pearl? After I emptied out the cat box.

Frick.

I mean really, what were the odds? Especially since one of my things To-Do was to empty the damn cat litter.

Frick.

I will be drowning my sorrows in a pan of freshly made fudge in about an hour. I am trying a new recipe. I will let you know how it turns out.

My To-Do List for Today...

Here goes!

*lock door after husband leaves for work-don't ask.

*make breakfast for the boys.

*refill sippy cups seven million times.

*change pull-ups and attempt morning potty.

*work on ornaments with impatient children.

*remind self not to yell at children when they "accidentally" draw on table. Again.

*make lunch.

*call to reschedule their doctor's appointments. We will discuss that later!

*hang rest of pictures.

*do dishes from breakfast and lunch.

*figure out what to have for dinner.

*put clothes in the dryer.

*take nap.

*get all three of us showered and dressed to head over to Grammy's house.

*go by Michael's for more paint.

*go to grocery store for peanut butter and something else I can no longer remember.

*unpack a MINIMUM of four more boxes.

*change the cat litter.

*clean bathrooms and vaccum.

*work on Thanksgiving menu.

*schedule boys holiday pictures.

And I think that's about it. Because after dinner it is Daddy Time. Usually I omit nap and instead go to work for six hours. Then I pick them up and come home. Where I promptly give them to their Daddy.

See a pattern here?!

USC-24, California-17

Can I get a WOOT!WOOT!

I don't really need it, but I'd like one!

Sorry, y'all. I forgot to post this last night. I only got to see high lights, natch. But word on the street is that it was raining buckets. Buckets.

Damn. I love watching football when there is some sort of weather related issues.

Oh well. Maybe next time.

GO TROJANS!

Edited to add: We are ranked #11 in both the AP AND BCS. YEAH,BABY! I'm thinking we still have a shot for a bowl game of some sort. Right?

Lazy Whore...

You know it's bad when you are spending more time on the computer than on unpacking your house. To be fair, I have already unpacked all the boys things.Their room was the first thing I set up. Yes, they are sharing a room. They seem to like it. Who I am to mess with happy bebe's?

Our bedroom is looking pretty good. The spare bedroom is even okay. The living room looks rather swell, in my opinion. Even the kitchen isn't half bad.

But the dining room? Is a whole 'nother story. I have unpacked boxes like a Mo-Fo. My hands are permanently dried out from all the constant contact with cardboard. It is just plain awful. Just tell me to get off my ass already and finish unpacking- RIGHT NOW! I MEAN IT!

I need some sort of motivation. Help a girl out.

Whine and Roses...

I do not have any idea what is going on with the boys today. But dear god, I am beyond ready for it to be over. I haven't seen this level of pissiness since the Great Teething Incident of '06.

Send help.

And wine. Lot's of wine.

Quickly.

Knock Knock Joke #2...

Aidan: Knock Knock...

Me:Who's there?

Aidan: Quinny the Stinky...

Followed by hysterical laughter. From both of them.

Cut me some slack- they are only two and four! It is really hard not to laugh though. Especially when they get to belly laughing. As far as I am concerned there is no better sound than the sound of your child's laughter. Who among us can resist children giggling? Not me, mah friend. Not me.

And both of mine think that they are hilarious. So I hear it a lot. I don't think I ever really knew just how much fun children would be.

I am a lucky girl. And I know it.

The First Evah Read This! Book Club update...

We are all bad. Some of us have not purchased the book yet. What? I already admitted to that. Some of us are only on the first chapter. Which is fine. Because she is still doing way better than me!

So, I am proposing a new date to have finished the book by. Also, it is obviously not too late to join our little club. We are reading "A Confederacy Of Dunces". So feel free to jump on in.

That having been said, the new date is November 30,2007. Just so we are clear. Now if you all will excuse me I need to get crackalackin and go buy me a book.

Gone the way of the Dodo...

Apparently mah oldest child has decided to stop calling me "Mama". He is now calling me "Mom". Wha? How did that come about? I don't wanna be "Mom". That's what you say when you are a teenager rolling your eyes at something your Mom said. I'm nowhere near ready for that yet! He is not even four! I mean really.

I remember the day we brought him home from the hospital like it was yesterday. I was scared to death. Putting him in his carseat for the first time was a nightmare. It must have taken me ten minutes! Those first few days were a little overwhelming, to say the least.

One of the girls I work with is a new Mom. She is nervous as all get out. Her bebe is beautiful. She asks me questions and I tell her what I did, or what I would do. I don't remember being that nervous, but surely I was! She is a good Mama. Her son is a happy baby.

I like to think that I am a good Mama, too. Both of mah sons are happy and well loved. I love them more than mah own life. Which is as it should be.

But I still don't want to be Mom.

Yes, I actually suck...

Dude, I am the worst person ever.

I still have not bought the book for my bookclub.

I have CRAZY things going on.

I pinky-swear promise to buy it this weekend.

It will only take me a day, at the most, to read it.

I am totally buying it this weekend.

Please don't hate me!

Drumroll please...

I did NOT make it on the jury.

I would be lying if I didn't tell all of you how relieved I am. Or disappointed. I can't help it. It is a very interesting case. And now you can all hear the juicy details. So here goes!

It is a capital murder case. The D.A. is going for the death penalty. That would have been something that would have probably haunted me until the day I died. Even if it turns out he deserved it. Knowing someone committed a heinous crime and sentencing him to death for it are two totally different entities. If the crime(s) warranted death, yes I could have chosen the death penalty. Would I have liked it? No. Not at all.

It happened in the spring of 2004. In my county. He allegedly shot two people. A man first and then hid his body in some kudzu. He then robbed a woman and shot her and hid her body as well. The man that he shot was a crony of our sheriff. And they used to hang out in this local dive bar. Across the street from the steakhouse I used to work at a long time ago. He was also dating a stripper from the Cheetah. Who is African American. I personally don't care if he was having an inter-racial relationship, but some of the people on the jury did. Seriously. It was an actual question we were asked. I also believe there were some sort of drugs involved. We were asked about meth. We were told there would be crime scene photos, and that they were quite graphic. All in all, quite a doozy for my first attempt at jury duty.

So yes, I am relieved to have been dismissed from jury duty. I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and your thoughts of me and my family during this stressful time.

It helped me make it through this process. I am more grateful than you could ever know.

Nervous Knots...

I am nervous as all get out.

I didn't sleep at all last night.

I am more than ready to find out if I in fact made it on the jury.

Bah.

I'm off to drop the boys at their Grammy and Grampy's house.

See you in a while.

Jury Duty...

I had this other post all worked out in mah head. And I can think of nothing but jury duty. I report in the morning. I believe this means I will finally know one way or the other if I made it on the jury.

I am not afraid to say I'm skeert. 'Cause I am. Big time.

I have had too much time to think about what it will mean to actually be on this jury. The time spent away from mah children and mah husband. In less you count the nights after surgeries one,two and three, I have never been away from mah children for any length of time. I know that sounds a little nutty, but it is true. I don't enjoy being without them. I never sleep very well when they are not right down the hall from me. How will I ever survive three weeks, or more without them?

People keep telling me to "lie" or "make up crazy answers". And I am sorry, but I can't do that. It isn't right. And it isn't fair. If you are going to do that then you have no business being on a jury. Ever.

In mah humble opinion, that is why our legal system works. For the most part. It is vital that people be honest and as forthright as possible to insure that justice will be served.

I have also thought long and hard about the desisions I will be forced to make concerning the particular case I may be hearing. I believe myself to fair and just. It is just so overwhelming to realize the power I will hold over this person's future. I know it is out of mah hands now. I answered all of their questions as honestly as I possibly could. If that gets me on the jury, then so be it. I will do mah very best to remain impartial and true to myself.

I also know that there is no sense in getting worked up over something that might not even happen. I guess I am trying to prepare myself either way.

Wish me luck.

It's a sickness...

I must be the most super-competitive person on the planet. It's bad. I HAVE to win.

I have to be the Dog in Monopoly. Or I won't play. I have to be Pink during Trivial Pursuit. Or I won't play. I could go on, but I don't want y'all to think I am really freaky.

Quirks? Or just annoying as all hell?

You decide.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Oh, and one more thing. I would rather be right, than be President. Seriously.

It's a sickness, I'm tellin ya.

Why I Love Mr. Clean...

Two words...

Magic Erasers.

I swear they must be a gift from God. Seriously.

We just moved in to our new house last week. Already one of the boys(my money is on Quinn!) has found a crayon and "colored" one of our walls. Our WHITE walls. With a red crayon. A RED CRAYON.

Mr. Clean, I love you so. If I were not already married, and you weren't a commercial character, I am sure we could of had a beautiful relationship. A very loving, possibly dirty, relationship.

USC-24, Oregon St-3

Yeah, baby! Naturally I could not watch the game because they generally don't televise the team that is ranked 19th! I don't care. I love 'em anyway.

GO TROJANS!

And PS- Mah boyfriend- John David Booty is BACK! HAH!

@#$%^&&*(^ MySpace

I am more than a little annoyed with MySpace right now. I can't get my layout to look right and it is really frustrating the ever-livin' crap out of me.

I am giving mah BFF my codes and letting her run rampant.

Cause that's how I roll.

And I am a big dork.

Jury Duty Update...

Sorry, I forgot to mention this.

So, they are only on panel #11. Out of 15.

Anyone else think my Thanksgiving ought to be interesting?

Captain Craptastic Strikes Again...

We recently found out that my husband's grandparents were no longer going to be able to loan us the money they had said they would.

One guess as to why.

Yep, because of my darling M.I.L. Great, isn't it?

We are so totally screwed.

I am beyond upset. We needed that money. I don't know what we are going to do now. I am trying really hard to be positive. But it is soooo hard.

I honestly do not understand what happened. I only know that I did absolutely nothing to deserve the way she has been teating me lately. Or the manner in which she spoke to me last weekend.

I want to cry. Or at the very least sit in a big fat bubblebath with the world's largest glass of wine and never come out.

The holiday's ought to be a hoot this year. Which also really sucks because they will be the first without my grandma.

Good times.

The M.I.L. Diaries...

When my husband and I first began our married life together, his family was not a part of our life. My husband had had a falling out with them years prior to our ever even meeting. They missed our wedding. And even the birth of our first child. I all but begged him to contact them and at least let them know about the baby. He finally agreed and called his mom at work. She was beside herself. She had read about the wedding, but had no idea about the baby. She asked if she could come over after work. I'm amazed she didn't leave work and come right then!

I was so excited. I was going to have a mother-in-law. I had asked him to ask her if I could call her "Mom". She was so excited she started to cry. I was also terribly nervous. What if she didn't like me? What then?

She came over and was just so wonderful, I could hardly believe it. She oohed and awed over her first grandson. She took about eleventy-jillion pictures. No lie. It was perfect. We made plans to meet the great-grandparents and his younger brother the next weekend. That went great too! Everything was perfect. I loved his grandparents. His grandma especially. I lost my grandma last year. Having her in my life has really been a blessing. The last four years have truly been special. My friends were so jealous that I had this fabulous M.I.L. And then something happened to change all that.

She became nuttier than a fruitcake. Seriously. We moved last weekend. Keep in mind that she has become bitchier and bitchier for about the last six months or so. Last weekend took the fucking-proverbial-cake. All weekend I kept hearing little snide comments . I let them go. I walked away. I even turned the other cheek. Until Sunday. I had finally had enough. She had my husband so upset that we got into the world's stupidest argument over NOTHING. I finally told him just how I felt. He apologized and told me I was right and that he should have known that all along. She was snooping through our mail, under the guise of "helping" us to pack. I was LIVID. I won't mention all the comments she made to my husband. Or most of what she said to me the next day. I will tell you that I have never been talked to like that in my entire life. Or screamed at, I should say. I have never been made to feel more like a worthless mother in my whole life as a mama. And I said the one thing I made myself promise NOT to say in retaliation. I feel bad. It was a really ugly thing to say. In my defense, I just could NOT take it anymore. And I'm sorry, it takes a lot to really make me angry. But when you make me that angry? I will instinctively say the one thing guaranteed to hurt you the most. And I did.

Now we are no longer speaking to each other. Which is fine by me. I don't need any fake people in my life. I told my husband that she is welcome to see her grandsons whenever she wants. But I will be damned if I am taking them to see her. As far as I am concerned she can kiss my sorry-mama-ass.

Or not. I no longer care what she thinks.

How I woke up this morning.

Aidan: Knock, Knock.

Me: Wha? Oh, Who's there?

Aidan: Aidan The Worker.

Seriously. Apparently, this has now become the world's funniest knock-knock joke. His little brother thinks it is hysterical.

Toddlers...who knew?

NaBloPoMo... I'm baaaaack!

HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY!

After many grueling days of no internets, I am finally online once again.

And boy do I have some stories for you!

Seriously. Like a lot. I will begin my first one tomorrow.

I have BLOGS to read and comments to make.

I just wanted to get my first post in before midnight.

HAPPY NABLOPOMO, EVERYBODY!

I'm pretty sure Hell has frozen over...

My brother sent me a message today.

The one I haven't spoken to in almost a year.

He basically said he had to take some time off, to get his act together. He is dating a new girl. And he was hearing things from our friends about me. Wha?

First, I don't have the time, nor the inclination to go out to bars and party. I am a grown-up. I have two small children. The last time I went anywhere was two months ago? three months ago? I honestly don't remember. So for any of his friends to say shit about me really pisses me off. Because these same people? Who I have run into around town? Are busy talking smack about him. Good friends, wouldn't you say?

He was always rather easily led by his group of friends. Me? Not so much. I could give a flying fig what people think of me. Either you like me, or you don't. I am not going to waste my time worrying either way. But that's me. It still irks me that that could be part of the reason he wasn't speaking to me. I am going to try and let it go. But it is going to be hard. He has done this before. And then something set him off and I wouldn't hear from him for x amount of time.

He says he has changed. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

NaBloPoMo, NaBloPoMo...

If I haven't mentioned it before, I am VERY excited to take part-a small part!- in this year's event.

I have a ton of material just waiting to be used. I feel I should offer some sort of warning. Like a rating, perhaps? It won't be pretty. It won't always be something you want to hear. Or maybe even read. It WILL be real. And things that are actually going on in my life. Or have gone on in my life in the last few years.

Again- WARNING! DANGER! DANGER!

It won't all be bad. I do have some funny things to talk about. Or, at least funny to me. I just want you to come away with a better view of who I am. The person I used to be.

And the person I am now.

Then you can feel free to be all "Judgy-Wudgy Was a Bear"...

Or not.

Coolio...

I joined NaBloPoMo several weeks ago and have been kind of slacking in updating, or putting up mah widget.

But no longer! It stops today! HAH!

Too far?

I thought the concept was interesting. I have read several bloggers who have participated in years past and decided to join this year. Because I am all crazy-wild like that. So we'll see how it goes. I think I have been pretty good about posting every day. For the most part. I am sure I can come up with plenty of things to post about. I have tons of stuff already. I just am usually too lazy to dig them out.

Now it looks like I will have the opportunity to finally do so.

Wish me luck!


And as a side note- I am feeling much better. The germy beasts, er, the boys were feeling fine TWO DAYS AGO! TWO. DAYS. Whilst I suffered. Ingrates.

USC-38, Notre Dame-0

You know I haven't felt well if I forgot to put this up! I was beyond excited. I despise Notre Dame with the fire of a thousand hells. With Michigan following a close second.

I didn't get to see the game- stupid work. I did check it out online though!

Bright side of possible jury duty? I can watch college football ALL DAY ON SATURDAYS. How excellent would that be? Please don't think I am making light of jury duty or being sequestered. I'm not.

But I gotta find something to look forward to if I am going to be away from the boys for three weeks. And apparently that is it!

So...

Sorry I haven't posted recently. My children have decided to wage germological warfare on their poor mama. I feel like death.

Right about now I would welcome it with open arms. Seriously. It is that bad. I won't bore you with gross details.

Just send Nyquil. And maybe some comfy pants.

Blast from the past...

I am sitting at home, minding my own beeswax, when all of this sudden my cell phone rings. Lo, and behold, it is my friend S.

He is in town and wants to hang out. I tell him that I can't, because Jimmy isn't home and I have the kids.

So, we start chatting about every day life and he asks the fucking million-dollar question. Hey, how's your brother? I have to tell him the whole crappy story. Plus, as a bonus? I get to tell him that my grandma died last year, right before Christmas. Having spent time with her, he was upset. So as you can guess it went downhill from there.

Again, I have NO idea why my bubba is no longer speaking to me. To us. I just wish he would tell his friends what the fook is going on. The holiday season is coming up. I have MORE than enough on my plate right now, without having to worry about what is going on with him.

Is that too much to ask?

I'm sorry, so sorry...

The reason for my lack of postings is so pitiful. I almost can't even tell you.

I was supposed to particpate in an event this weekend. I was soooo excited. I bought a new outfit.

And?

It was Wednesday night. I cried. You don't understand. I was going to meet Zoot. And her fellow bloggers. It was a big, huge deal. I was nervous and all sorts of excited. I realize that I am fairly new to the blogging world, but Zoot has always made me feel welcome. More than welcome.

I feel like I have let her down. I am pretty sure that NO amount of doughnuts can make up for that.

Even if they were hand-delivered.

Fresh.

Gulp....

I think I made it on the jury.

I am scared shitless.

I have to call every day after six to find out when I report next.

Did I mention the scared part?

'Cause I am.

It is serious and so not what I thought it would be about.

I just hope I have the strength and the courage to do what is asked of me. I believe I do. I answered the questions honestly. And that is so much harder than you would ever even think it would be.

And way more sweaty. I have never applied that much deodorant in my life. Is that considered TMI? If so, you may want to stop reading my blog now.

Because I generally talk about things that you may not want to hear, or even agree with me about.

I'm just sayin'...

Randomosity...

I need to be quick because jury duty waits for no man, er, woman! Here goes!

- Today is my first full day of jury duty. I found out yesterday that we will be sequestered if we make it on the jury. Say wha?!

- I did not sleep for beans because Nub and Dub chose this particular morning to wake up at 4 AM. In the morning. 4. AM.

- I am picking up my copy of A Confederacy Of Dunces today. Or rather my mama is. Our first book for our new bookclub. SQUEEE! It is not too late to join. We are giving a timeline of two to four weeks to finish. Join us.

- I am hoping to take a disco nap on my lunch break. But, I am a little worried about snoring/drooling...so I probably won't. Good times!

- Having too many choices of what television shows to watch is getting more than a little distracting.

- Moving while your hubby is working out of town sucks. Did I not mention that in addition to jury duty I will also be moving this week? 'Cause that's how I roll.

USC- 20, Arizona-10...

It was one helluva a day in the world of college football!

My beloved Trojans won. Naturally, I could not watch the actual game being that I live on the EAST coast. S'okay. They still won!!!

On a sad note, LSU lost in triple overtime... who am I kidding? I'm not sad! And, Oregon BEAT #2 California. Oh happy day.

The only thing that would REALLY make it the official BEST DAY EVER? If Georgia lost. I don't know the outcome of that game because I have been too busy reading blogs!

A girl can hope!

Meme Alert!!

Okay, here is the meme.

BOLD those you've read.
ITALICIZE those you haven't finished.
ASTERIK those you've read more than once.
UNDERLINE those you want to read.

And as a side note. Where in the hell is To Kill A Mockingbird?

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel
Crime and Punishment- BOLD
Catch-22
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Wuthering Heights-*
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi: A Novel-UNDERLINE
The Name of the Rose
Don Quixote-BOLD
Moby Dick-BOLD
Ulysses-BOLD
Madame Bovary-BOLD
The Odyssey-BOLD
Pride and Prejudice-*
Jane Eyre-**
A Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies
War and Peace
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveller’s Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Atlas Shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Memoirs of a Geisha-*
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West-UNDERLINE
The Canterbury Tales-BOLD
The Historian
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Love in the Time of Cholera
Brave New World
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s Pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein-BOLD
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula-BOLD
A Clockwork Orange
Anansi Boys
The Once and Future King-**
The Grapes of Wrath-**
The Poisonwood Bible
1984-*
Angels & Demons-*
The Inferno
The Satanic Verses
Sense and Sensibility-*
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
To the Lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles-*
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s Travels
Les Misérables
The Corrections
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Dune
The Prince
The Sound and the Fury
Angela’s Ashes
The God of Small Things
A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A Confederacy of Dunces-UNDERLINE
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Dubliners
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Beloved
Slaughterhouse-Five
The Scarlet Letter-*
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The Mists of Avalon-*
Oryx and Crake
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye-*
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The Aeneid
Watership Down-*
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit-BOLD
In Cold Blood*
White Teeth
Treasure Island-*
David Copperfield-BOLD
The Three Musketeers

Sorry, y'all. I can't use any of my functions. So I just used caps instead.

The two most dreaded words in the english language...

Jury Duty.

Yep, I am quite possibly going to be on a jury. I am on panel numero three-o. I find out tonight if I have to go back in.

I am actually quite fascinated by the whole process.

That is all I can say.

One more day up in the canyon..

Will it ever get past the fucking point where it doesn't hurt quite so goddamned much?

Where I don't hear a certain song and want to cry? Where I don't miss my bubba like crazy?

When does the letting go begin?

And how do I sign up?

Save the Boobies!

Attention!

Please go here! Save the Boobies!"http://the hotfessional.blogspot.com"

Thanks, y'all!


I have NO idea why my link won't work. Just be tough and type in the link! Please?

Stanford 24, USC 23

NOT. ONE. WORD.

I mean it. I am not a happy camper.

Plus, mah internets were down for THREE WHOLE DAYS.

It was awful. Just awful, I tell you.

De-lurking Day is here!!

Time to get off yer duff! Comment! Steal mah button! Look alive!

Seriously, just click on mah button to steal it!

Send help...

You know you have spent too much time amongst small children when you start thinking that Rooney from The Doodlebops is looking kinda hot.

Sadly, I am serious.

Think I need a little adult conversation?!

My friends...

I have been unbelievably blessed in the friends department. For most of my life. My first friend would have been my aunt Julie. My dad's sister. I had the world's hugest crush on this boy. Peter. Ah, Peter. My uncle thought it would be funny to do the whole Peter-peter-pumpkin-eater thing. And I was crushed. Crushed. My aunt rescued me. I have never forgotten that.

Fast forward several years...

My definition of "friends" has drastically changed.

My best friends are a group of women I have known since high school. With the exception of two of them. And one of them? Even longer than that!

They have seen me through every high and low. With never so much as an "I told you so". Believe me, there were PLENTY of opportunities!

These women, whether they realize it or not, have shaped the woman I have become. I have learned tolerance, patience, and love. I would never have been the woman I am now without them.

So. I would like to give a "shout out" to them now. These warriors of truth, these givers of unconditional love, my friends...

Tess- my oldest friend. I love you. You have been spectacular, over the years.Always.

Lana- where do I begin? We have been through so much, together, and seperately. I love you.

Rhonda- my friend. The person who knew me when I was not always at my best, but still loved me anyway. Whose children still refer to me as "Aunt Jenny". Which has always been the coolest thing ever. I have always considered that an honor. I love you.

Dubby- where do I begin? You were there for almost the birth of my second child! Had I known that could have been the catalyst, I WOULD HAVE MADE YOU LEAVE MUCH SOONER!!
Kidding, sort of. When you could have judged me, you didn't. And for that? I love you.

These women, these restless souls, these givers of life, have humbled me. Have made me want to be a better person.And in having done so, have made me the friend I am now.

If only for having known them.

Please help!

SQUEEEEE!

My e-vite came today. My e-vite came today!Super Suppers here I come! Well, in October anyway!

SQUEEEEEEE!

Since I am so cool, I already RSVP'd. Like right after I finished reading my e-mail.

Seriously.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

Now I just need to figure out what to wear...or go shopping. Yeah. Shopping it is!!

SQUEEEEEEE!

Time to come clean...

I have been avoiding this post for some time now. I couldn't figure out how to say these simple words... We lost our house.

The foreclosure was final September 4th. We tried everything we could think of to save it, but nothing worked. We didn't have enough equity to interest any investors and the mortage company's idea of "help" was to reduce our payment by about forty dollars. And there was still a possibility we would have to pay them an additional three thousand dollars in November. So we let it go. My husband's credit is ruined. We are still struggling financially. And yet, somehow? I know that we will figure out a way to survive. I am determined to survive. I will not let this break me.

It sounds so easy to say. It's not. Sometimes I find myself repeating it over and over to myself. Like some ridiculous mantra. And as much as I would like to have a complete nervous breakdown, including curling up on the floor, naked, sucking my thumb, I can't. Because The Aidan and Quinn need me. I have to keep it together. I also have to finish packing and find a house for us to rent. And if you think it was hard to write that first sentence you would be wrong. Nothing was more difficult than having to tell a real estate agent that she would find a foreclosure on your credit. And to have her look at you with a mixture of pity and something else I can't even begin to name. Saying those words out loud to a complete stranger was so mortifying. I have never felt more like a failure in my life.

I realize we are one family among so very, very many. And that is sad. I also realize that we are very,very lucky. My husband and I are both healthy and able to work. I do surveys online, sell Southern Living at Home, and am hoping to get a job as a Cater-Waiter-Bartender for the holidays.I also work at a children's resale store. We have two cars, one of which is paid for. We do not have credit card debt. We have always paid cash. We are not destitute by any means.We just hit a rough patch last fall when my husband lost his job. We never recovered. I am not doing this for sympathy or any reason, except for wanting to be truthful about my life.

We are almost caught up on our bills. Except for the medical bills. Which of course occured in the fall of last year and Mother's Day. But other than that? We are okay. And I feel much better for having written about this. We have two houses we are trying to choose between. Both are in our price range and about a bajillion times better than where we live now. In the hell-hole,er house, we used to own.

I believe everything happens for a reason. I'm just not sure what this one is yet.

The thrill of victory...and the agony of defeat...

I am a very happy girl after this weekend. Except for two things. One of which pissed me off so badly I am considering sending a nasty letter to ABC/ESPN. Betches...

Sorry, back to the topic at hand. My beloved Trojans kicked some Washington butt on Saturday. I was delirious with joy. UNTIL...one of the aforementioned stations TOOK THE GAME OFF THE AIR IN THE THIRD QUARTER SO WE COULD WATCH FRICKIN IOWA AND WISCONSIN. IOWA AND WISCONSIN. CORN vs CHEESE. Apparently I am still a tiny bit upset. I just do not fathom why THE NUMBER 1 RANKED TEAM IN THE COUNTRY would have their game interrupted by THE NUMBER 9 RANKED TEAMS STUPID ASS GAME. Had that been any other team I promise you that would not have happened. Which also pisses me off. The fact that we don't get taken seriously. Because we are in the Pac-10. Um, correct me if I am wrong- BUT AREN'T WE CONSISTENTLY WINNING GAMES/CHAMPIONSHIPS?

Then you can all bite me.


The agony of defeat would be the loss my Falcons suffered at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. It was an ugly match. DeAngelo Hall did not have a good day. There were more personal fouls in this game than I can ever remember seeing. And the Cowboys spanked the Bears. And pretty much made them their betch. It was sad.

The Braves won.

My boyfriend did not. But there is still Talladega and Atlanta. Two tracks that he has a pretty good history with. I'm not worried. Besides, there is always next year!!

And that wraps it up. We are experiencing massive Baby Drama at the moment.

The Princess of Quite a Lot

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JUST JENNY!!- THE MUSICAL...

My best friend wrote a blog on her myspace about how music and songs have affected her life. I know- MySpace. I have recently joined at the urging of one of my best friends from high school. Look Ma, I am cool! All jokes aside, I have actually met up with some friends that I haven't spoken to in years. So laugh all you want. I do not care.

Back to the topic at hand. I grew up in a fairly musical family. I don't ever remember a time where there wasn't music of some sort. My father used to sing in a bluegrass band. Every Tuesday night. If we were lucky we would get to go and hear him sing. I will never forget hearing their friends, Clyde & Mary, sing "Turn the Radio On". With Clyde playing the mandolin. She had the voice of an angel. I often wondered whatever happened to them. They were fairly old when I knew them as a little girl. I do know I always think of them every time someone tells me to "turn the radio on".

There was always something on the radio. Or 8-track. Shut it. My mama liked Merle, The Oak Ridge Boys and just about everything in between. I think I knew all the words to the "Y'all Comeback Saloon" before I knew my own name. And it goes without saying that I knew all the words to just about any Merle Haggard song. My daddy was a little more broadminded in his musical scope. We grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Creedence Clearwater, Bob Seeger, The Sons of the Pioneers, and Brook Benton, to name a few.

The eclectic musical educatiion I was exposed to served me well. I love almost every type of music. With a special fondness for Merle and Creedence. As a matter of fact, the song I danced to with my father at my wedding was "The Farmer's Daughter". By Merle Haggard. It was a surprise for my diddy. It shook him so much he could barely dance with me. The songs of Merle Haggard have played a huge part of our lives. My parent's song is " That's the Way Love Goes". One of the best moments of my life, by far, was getting to actually watch them dance to this song. At a concert I bought them tickets for.

It just seems like for every milestone I have faced, there has been some sort of song to mark it. So I give you my list. And probably the short version.

Because, Jesus. We don't have all damn day!

Salty Dog- Ricky Scaggs
Caroline- Merle Haggard
The Long Black Veil- Lefty Frizzell
Delia- Johnny Cash
At the Hop- Danny and the Juniors
King of the Road- Roger Miller
Blue Moon of Kentucky- Bill Monroe
Missing You- John Waite
Pretty much the entire Tapestry album- thanks, mama!
Joe Cocker.
Bob Seeger- who can choose!
Journey- see above.

And now? My adult stuff.

A Long December- Counting Crowes. Last December was the worst month of my life.
3 am- Our Lady Peace- Not thinking my diddy would make it, and wondering what the hell my bubba would do if that happened.

Drops of Jupiter- Train. The best years of my life. Pre-bebe, of course!
Redemption Song- Bob Marley. Rest in peace, my babe-a. I miss you.
Could You Be Loved- Bob Marley. Seeing my husband dancing around the room, softly singing this song to his newborn son at two in the morning. WHILE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SLEEPING!!

The list could go on and on and on. You get the idea. I think we have instilled our love of music in our children. For that I am grateful.

I just want it to be all that it has been for me over the years. The thing that no matter what, I could turn it on and lose myself. I could forget, if just for a moment, all of my troubles and cares.

Who doesn't need that?

I can't believe I forgot about this!

So my boyfriend announced his new number yesterday.

88.

Which I more or less expected.

What I did NOT expect? That Bud would drop him like it's hot. Wha? Instead, they chose Kasey Kahne as their new boy. BAH.

We have The National Guard and Mountaind Dew Amped.

Woopty-freakin-do...

I am happy about the number though. I hope he will be happier. And maybe have what it takes -support-wise- to win a championship next year.

Go Dale Jr.!!!!!

Going out...

Tonight, for the first time in not-so-recent memory I am going out with my best friend. Well one of 'em anyway. We are going to see Blue October(her fave band-EVAH!) at the Masquerade.

God. The Masquerade. What a rush of memories. Most of them good. They involve countless hours dancing to fetish music and drinking Nuclear Ice Tea's. Don't ask!It was an interesting time in my life to say the least. One that I do not regret.

But I am feeling so weird about going back to a place that the me of now no longer belongs in. And to be truthful? I have no desire to. That's not who I am anymore.

The me of now is simply going to see a band with her friend.

Rock On!

That Swistle!

You know I am lacking in the post ideas when I have to use one that is this lame!

No offense to Swistle. Who is most certainly NOT lame. And seems like a super-cool chic.

On to my story. A few weeks ago I was reading her blog and stumbled across this YUMMY sounding brownie recipe. Which called for Andes Mints. I got quite a hankerin' for said brownies and rushed right out to buy the ingredients. Then I got lazy and forgot all about them.

Until tonight. When I found the bag of mints in my cupboard. And now I can't stop eating them. Seriously. I have eaten three quarters of the bag. I am slightly sick.

So that's mah story.

Told you it was lame...

DING DONG THE BITCH IS GONE!!

I am sure many of you know about my love of crappy t.v. Or maybe not. I put it in my 100 things post. Crap, I don't think I've done that yet. Note to self.

Anyhoo, on tonight's episode of Rock of Love Bret FINALLY came to his senses and got rid of Lacey. SQEEEE! She had to be the most evil/bat-shit-crazy person I have seen in quite a while. We are talking like NEW YORK crazy. Yeah, scary stuff.

I know it is a cheesy show. I don't care. I made the mistake of watching it one time. And was totally hooked. Sad, I know.

I am hoping he picks Jes. I love her hair. Plus she seems so rocker chic. I guess we will have to wait and see....

Let's all of our cakes be friends...

I read about this in Amalah's other blog, Mom's Daily Dose over at clubmom. I think it is an awesome way to promote awareness of the environment. I will absolutely be participating. I am not sure of my topic, but I have some time.

Sign up! Hurry!

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I swear I don't know where he gets this...

So, whilst (hee,hee!) I was out slaving away at work the boys were at my parents house. They help watch them when Jimmy and I can't. Or when they feel the need to steal 'em every once in a while. But, I digress.

Anyhoo, they are playing and havin' a grand old time when one of the toys stops working. Immediately, The Aidan notices it must be in need of a new battery. He proceeds to inform my dad that the battery needs to be replaced. My dad sends him off to the junk drawer where they keep batteries, and well, junk. Hence the name! Aidan comes back out after a minute and tells my dad there aren't any in there. Dad tells him it should be in there. Off Aidan goes back into the kitchen to check again. Comes back out and still no battery. My father says to Aidan that he doesn't know what to tell him. So Aidan tells my father- It must a grown legs and walked out of here. And then repeats himself two more times. So they go back and forth about how the battery has grown legs and walked off. Aidan'll say- well, it musta just walked off. And then my dad will say- yeah, that must be what happened. This happens for like, five minutes.

When my mother told me that I almost died. Cause I know EXACTLY where he has heard that particular phrase before.

And it aint from me!

Captain Craptastic strikes again...

Sorry y'all, but this is gonna be a short one.

I didn't get any sleep last night because someone tried to break in to my house. Fortunately, I was still awake. I called 911 and they sent a deputy out. He didn't find anything, but promised to drive around for awhile. He was very calming.

Did I mention my husband is out of town?!

I have never been so scared in my entire life. I will explain it all in the am.
Right now I need to go to bed.

Badly.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful bebe...

Today you turned two. You are such a big boy. You make me laugh with your silliness. I could not be more proud that you are my son. Having you was the best thing I have ever done.

You had a Backyardigans party. Grammy made your cake. Grammy, Grampy, Grandma Garmon, Aunt Lana, Uncle Fritz, Jerrod and William came to your party. You were SO excited! You kept running up to me and your daddy and saying "PARTY!". It was so cute! You enjoyed yourself today.

You are a crafty little sucker, though! Sometimes I swear I can almost see what you are thinking! You wake up with a big smile on your face every morning. EVERY. MORNING. You love to snuggle and give kisses very generously. You have the best giggle in the whole world. Hearing it never fails to make me smile. You think your big brother is "it". You play well with each other. For the most part. You are learning "my turn" and "I do" and about a billion other things. We won't mention your temper...

I just can't believe you are already two years old. I think to myself that that cannot be true, because I swear I just brought you home from the hospital yesterday. It really does feel that way. I guess what they say about time flying is true. I just wish that you were still a baby. But not really. Because I love watching you grow up.

Just don't do it quite so fast!

I'm bringing wordy back.

I believe the word "whilst" is a very undervalued word. I am making it my new mission in life to bring it back to all its former wordy glory.

Because I am cool like that.And I feel very British saying it. I have no idea why.

As you were.

Nada...

We are still waiting to find out about the house.

It sucks.

I haven't even started the post about our old house. I just don't think I am ready to talk about it yet. I know it will all resolve itself in the end. It is just hard.

On a happier note, I have found The Aidan's Halloween costume. SQUEEE! He saw it today whilst we were shopping. He will be a Mummy Skeleton this year.Don't ask how it came to be called that. I'm not even sure I remember the whole story...or maybe I blocked it out. Anyhoo. He is sooo jazzed! Quinn? I don't have the foggiest idea. I am kinda leaning towards Buzz Lightyear. He loves Buzz. More than anything. Although Woody is running a very close second. Followed hot on the heels by Daisy Duck. Weird kid.

And his second birthday theme is the Backyardigans. He will be having a Pablo cake. Courtesy of his grammy. Who has some mad skillz in the baking department. I will absolutely take lots of pictures.

I will also be pulling my panties up and writing about my woes. Because it probabbly would make me feel better.

Almost too much to hope for...

We may have found a new house. I am afraid to talk about it too much for fear of jinxing it. We will know on Tuesday.

Keep your fingers crossed.

And maybe a toe, or two.

Round here...

Most of the time I hardly ever think about my brother. We have had a falling out. Over what I have no idea. It no longer even matters. I have made numerous attempts to make amends, and nothing. The end.

Today? That is a different story. For the first time in a long time I thought about him without being angry. I was shopping with the boys and we were looking at toys. Quinn's birthday is next weekend. Aidan's is two weeks after Christmas! I found some really awesome toys that I cannot wait to buy for them. I kept picturing their faces when they opened their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. I could just see the joy and excitement. I could hear their laughter. And it made me want to tell my bubba. And that made me so very sad. I miss him. The boys are getting to that age where they are just really aware. Not just of holidays,birthdays,etc. But of everything.

I just wish I could make him want to see that. He would be blown away by Aidan. His love of tools and books and that damn aquarium. He barely knows Quinn at all. How much he loves baseball and Buzz Lightyear. It sucks. For me, but most of all for them. I don't know what to do. There really isn't anything I can do. Except cry.

Because I really do miss him. And I wish he would miss me too.

Just AIDAN!

Me: Buddy, we really need to work on going potty.
Aidan: Mama. I will go potty tomorrow after I waked up from my nap if it is the last thing I eber,eber do.

The funny part? His voice is getting higher and screechier by the word. He ended up sounding like Jack from "Will & Grace". It was hysterical!

Sorry, that's all I gots for today. I am tired.

Here's a clue for ya!

Is it my imagination, or is Blue's Clues the lamest, possibly gay-est children's show evah? My children have taken to watching Nick Jr. in the morning now. You know, Dora, Diego, The Backyardigans... Personally, I also find Dora to be a bit annoying, but it beats watching frickin' Barney all to hell and back.Steve is just so condescending. It literally makes me want to stab myself in the eyeballs. With whatever I have handy. Repeatedly.

So here is my question. What happened to fun, but still educational t.v. shows like we used to watch when we were children? I am afraid to date myself, but I will use my favorite- Captain Kangaroo. I loved that show! I remember watching it constantly.

Hey, now that I think about it, my dad may have made some reference to it being a dumb show when I was bitching about having to watch Caillou. Grumbled something about it being "payback".

Hmmm. I'll get back to you.

Can I get an amen?

I cannot stand watching celebrities/athletes/public figures, getting into trouble and then- BAM! Heavenly father, please forgive me, I HAVE FOUND JESUS.

Um, okay. I don't really think you are supposed to use religion like a get-out-of-jail-free card. It just really burns my ass. Just say you're sorry, take your punishment and get on with your life. Please. I don't need to hear about how wonderful your life has become since you accepted Jesus into it. Really? It wasn't wonderful when you were making a gabillion dollars? It wasn't wonderful when you were at the Oscar's in a Galliano dress? It wasn't wonderful when you got to go to the Superbowl, and stand on the sidelines?

Because all that stuff sounds pretty damn good to me. But, maybe that's just me. Or? Maybe it is because I already know the presence of God in my life.

Out of the mouths of babe's...

What better place to document the strange, and often really funny, things my children have said.

Aidan: Daddy! You sneaked on me. How did you sneak on me?

Quinn: DARF BADER! Repeatedly, and in a very growly tone. For those of you NOT in the know- Darth Vader. What? He is not even two yet!

Daddy to Quinn: Do you love Daddy?
Quinn: NO! BUBBA!
Daddy: Do you love Mama?
Quinn: NO! BUBBA!
Nothing like a good kick in the ego from a little maniac.

Aidan: Mama? When the water comes up to my nose it makes me speak spanish.
Wha?

Aidan: I am NOT going to have a lot of fun at the zoo, I am only going to have a LITTLE bit of fun...
Don't worry, he had more than enough fun!

Aidan: An octopus is a cephalopod.
He is right!

And, my new favorite.

Aidan to my mom: Look,look Grammy! There is the Big Grouper and the Little Grouper! In the sky! Look!
Translation- Big Dipper and Little Dipper!

You're Not the Boss of Me Now...

Yeah, I am late as hell. But, you better believe I am jumping on the bandwagon.

One of my favorite blogger's had some unfavorable comments on her last post. She was very calm and unflappable. I would not have been nearly as gracious.

I find it incredibly rude when, women, feel the need to give me advice. I don't mind it, when I ASK for it. But, it pisses me off to hear it when I don't.

Why would you EVER feel the need to offer me MEDICAL ADVICE, IF YOU WERE NOT MY OWN OB/GYN? You are most certainly not the boss of my pants.

I love to share the stories of my children's birth. I WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO TELL ANOTHER WOMAN HOW SHE SHOULD GIVE BIRTH. That is a very personal choice. For whatever reason.

Why must it be one way or the other? Why are we always looking for ways to judge? Aren't we ALL Mother's?

So there.

I STILL love me some football...

In spite of everything that is going on here, I still love football. I am deeply saddened by ALL of Michael Vick's accusations. And, sickened. I don't understand any of it. I find it unbelievably repugnant.

I realize that his football career is over. That sucks. He could have been such an amazing QB. We were SO excited when we signed him. And then? He failed to deliver. Year after year. We fired what could possibly be, in my girly opinion, one of the greatest head coaches our organization has ever had. In that same year, we also let go our ONLY chance for a decent quarterback. He is livin' it up over at the Texan's organization. Who can blame him?

This season will be hard, of that there is no doubt.

Let us hope that we can move past any negativity, and just play some ball.

I, for one, am MORE than ready!

Randomosity...

First of all, as soon as I can figure out how to upload/download this on to my computer, I will. Because it is sooo much funnier in person. And definitely cuter!

Rememeber that show called "Evening Shade"? We used to watch it religiously. They had some funny bit about the names southerner's give to people. You know, like Digger. My two personal favorites were Nub and Dub. But you have to say it a certain way. Real slow and pronounced. My father loves to say it. Seriously. He says it and then laughs. Every. Time.

When I became pregnant with Aidan my father was beside himself when he found out it was a boy. Care to take a guess what his nickname was? Yup, my beautiful baby boy, a.k.a. Nub. Freaks. Fast forward to a little over a year later. Pregnant again, it is another boy. Father ecstatic because now he finally has his Dub. My family has always been a little off center...

Now Aidan and Quinn are three and a half and almost two, they've been hearing about Nub and Dub for quite awhile. Last night we are in the living room watching the baseball game, trying to catch a glimpse of my parents. All of this sudden I hear someone saying "Nub and Dub" over and over again. I look over and it is MY SON. Aidan is walking around, muttering it to himself. Then Quinn starts in. Only he says "Nu and Du". I almost wet my pants laughing. I immediately called my mom's cell phone so she could hear him. While they were at the game. Then, I called their house so I could leave it on their answering machine. My father is deaf as a post and there was no way he would have been able to hear it over the phone. He is going to get it on video. You have to see it.I am half tempted to get in the car and drive to Michael's to buy t-shirts and iron on letters and whip 'em up a couple of Nub and Dub shirts. My father would DIE.

The end of an era...

I doubt any of y'all know this, but I am a NASCAR fan. You probably won't care that much either! Tough. It's my blog.

Dale Jr. is my pretend boyfriend.

I am super pissed that DEI(his bitch step-monster) will not let him take the number 8 with him when he goes to Hendricks Motor Sports next season. It was his grandpa's number. He chose it specifically for that reason. I think it is petty and spiteful. I wish a pox upon her fat, greedy, spiteful head. And I hope he wins the championship. So there.

Couldn't reach an agreement, my ass.

Not really my babies anymore...

I originally came up here to check my e-mail and ended up getting a little side-tracked by my favorite blogs. Ooops.

I left the boys watching Caillou, eating peanut butter and banana sandwhiches. They love Caillou. The sandwhiches? They jury seems to still be out on that one!

I took them to get a haircut yesterday. We go to a family owned barber shop here in town. They give awesome little boy haircuts. Plus, the boys have been going there since they turned a year old(Aidan a little sooner, because of all the hair!!). They look like little boys. It about broke my heart. Quinn's face has lost almost all of his baby-ness. He is starting to talk more and more. He even puts short sentences together. I love so much that they are growing up so big and strong. But? I feel like it is happening too fast for me. I want to tell them to slow down, that they will be grown ups soon enough. I guess I just want them to enjoy their childhood. It seems to me that so many children don't get to do that anymore. I just find that incredibly sad.

And now that I have been all the-glass-is-half-empty, I must get the maniacs,er boys, ready for going to their Grammy's house. Mama has to go to work.

PLEASE POST MY DAMN POST,ALREADY!

My husband is leaving for three weeks. We have spent the last two days preparing the boys for the fact that he is actually leaving. BTW? It sucks ass. They don't know what that means. I do. It means that in about to or three days time I am going to have to explain that their Daddy is working out of town. And they can't see him. Or play their "wacker game", of which I am woefully ignorant. You know, being a girl, and all!

Please insert your violins...

I don't even know why I am bitching about this.


Except, we are in the middle of moving. We are trying to sell our house.

And it is all going to fall on me.

And just dammit all to hell.

How in the fuck am I gonna pull this off? No, really how?

Suggestions, ladies? Now would be the time!

I have to pack(in my spare time?HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!), AND FIND A HOUSE(HAHAHAHAHAH!),AND work?

Did I mention that next week(hubby=still out of TOWN!!), my boss' are going on their vacation?HAHAHAHAHAH?

Still fine, just a little fuh-reaked out.


Sense the hysteria?

Any ass-vice would be awesome.

Seriously.

Hotter than the hammered down hinges of hell...

This is going to be brief. It is nasty hot here. We set a record yesterday for our low...it was 82. Yep, you read that right. 82. For the low. It is just horrible. I can't take the boys outside, as you can imagine they are going a little stir-crazy!

Plus? Because of the heat, and going in and out of it to the nice,cool indoors, I seem to be getting sick. Bah. I am praying the boys do not get sick too. I am working all week and I just don't think I could handle it without having some sort of complete mental breakdown! Do not even get me started on next week. My boss and his family are going on vacation. Which means I have to be at work A LOT. I am tired just thinking about it! It will be nice for my paycheck though!

My first comment!!!!

Thanks to Swistle for my very first comment here! I was super excited when I opened my e-mail and saw a comment waiting to be moderated! It is always nice to know someone is reading your thoughts.

Cool.

Everyone is pregnant, but me...

I am so jealous. To be truthful, I should point out that I am not preggers because of a little thing I like to call the- second- best- thing -to -ever- happen- to- me... MIRENA. We have been very fortunate in our ability to get pregnant. A little too fortunate. I had to have something that was going to keep me from being the equivalent of barefoot and pregnant. The pill did not work for me. At all. So, Mirena it was. I cannot begin to tell y'all how much I love it. Seriously. Best birth control evah.

All of that having been said, I am dying to get pregnant. I loved being pregnant. It was easy and so much fun. Even when it was towards the end and really was not fun. But now is really not a good time for us. We are selling our house and moving to an apartment. I am more than ready to leave this hell-hole of a house.

It is still hard. Three of the girls I work with are pregnant. Jealous.

I know that I am okay every day when my husband doesn't tell me I am pregnant, and it's a boy, right after he wakes up. That's how it happened the first two times! fuh-reak!

I guess I am just going to have to wait a little while longer...