tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69027820611191449182023-11-15T23:19:53.485-08:00HaPpY & dYsFuNcTiOnAl@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-59687011973829119432012-05-02T12:33:00.001-07:002012-05-02T12:33:48.154-07:00family - extended but not extended enoughMy grandma, my favorite grandma is old and getting older by the minute. The kind of old that isn't good or healthy. She lives hours away and its very difficult to go see her because her home is closely adjoined to the home(s) of extended family members. Family members who mean well (i'm sure, bless their little hearts). However they are busily posting personal information on facebook about grandma, so busy posting and talking about grandma that I'm not sure how they have any time to actually care for grandma. Grandma is very prideful - it runs in her family. You can't eat with her if you aren't wearing a dress shirt that buttons and has a button down collar, no hats at the table if you are male, children need to be properly trained in manners, use proper grammar when speaking to adults, she is a lady and grandpa was always a gentleman. Grandpa's sole mission in life was to care for grandma. She never drove a car, she had a drivers license, she didn't like to drive so grandpa always drove her every where. She is a horrible cook so Grandpa told everyone he loved to eat out and had gourmet taste in canned soup and sandwiches. He was a gentleman and treated Grandma like a queen. <br />
<br />
It is breaking my heart the disrespect my family is showing my Grandma - the queen of my life. When I have made a teeny tiny reference, I was informed very loudly, very plainly - You are NOT here. I received the message. They are supposed to be putting Grandma in a home sometime soon and I hope they choose a good one, and choose it quickly. Grandma has enough money to go into a very nice home and receive the best of care. They have been paying themselves to "care" for her for years. She hasn't been receiving much care, because she hasn't required much care. However she needs care now and I want her to receive it. Care with dignity and respect. I'm glad Grandpa isn't here to see what is happening to his Queen, the love of his life. Grandma isn't really here to understand either, however I'm sure she understands enough and it's breaking my heart. <br />
<br />
I have to go home in a few weeks. I have mixed emotions. I want to spend the time with my Grandma and will not be allowed to. I will have some time with her but not the time I want or need to spend with her. My time has already been scheduled by the precious dears. I will have to fight for every minute - I want to wait until she is in a home and I can see her more at peace however I'm afraid to wait too long. <br />
<br />
Please remember if you are responsible for aging loved ones - it isn't about you. It is about them, be respectful and care for them - the golden rule always applies. Karma is going to be a bitch when my family gets older....@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-30439516897509392932012-04-23T12:28:00.001-07:002012-04-23T12:28:42.624-07:00things that may or may not have contributed to my divorce...you decide....<br />
1. my obnoxious family. While most families are nominally/marginally dysfunctionally, my family is nothing of the kind. It is an injustice to try to describe my loving sweet family as Dysfunctional. my dad thinks he runs the family and is very loud and outspoken about being the God given head of the household, while my mother makes sure he makes every single decision. Yes, he does, based solely on the information my mother feeds him so the only logical decision is the decision my mother wants him to make :) So really dad is the head and my mother is the neck. I have the brother a once again former youth pastor (indiscretions, indiscretions, they catch up to you sooner or later). Oh why bother going on... we are a messed up bunch yet somehow they all think they are better than the rest of the planet. The other day one of the divine lot took it upon themselves to share with the rest of us (in confidence of course) that one of their children had messed up and was suffering the consequences. One of my children mentioned that they were aware that something had happened, oh lord you would have thought someone had mentioned a murder or something. I was contacted and told that they had only mentioned the unnamed failure of the unnamed child in the strictest of confidence so that those of us with less perfect children would realize their children weren't always perfect. So, maybe MY family played a role in my divorce.<br />
<br />
2. His controlling family. His mother decided when she met me (I was 12) that he was going to marry me. Then we met again when I was 20 and she controlled pretty much everything. Where we went, what we ate, where we lived, what my children wore, the rules in my house, bedtime, food, colors on the wall, furniture, vacations, jobs, childcare, you name it, My opinion didn't matter. It was her way or no way... Maybe his controlling family played a role in my divorce. <br />
<br />
3. My dogs. I love dogs, i think they are members of the family. I take them to the vet and name them and love them. He thinks dogs are a dime a dozen and should literally be shot if they are sick. Maybe my expensive dogs played a role in my divorce. <br />
<br />
4. Our children. We had children too many too fast and some of them aren't healthy. This added a lot of stress on an already strained marriage. We shouldn't have ever had kids. Just the facts of life. Our DNA shouldn't have ever been combined, ask all 7 of the genetics counselors we have had the pleasure of meeting with for hours on end. Maybe that played a minor role...<br />
<br />
5. Bipolar Disorder. He has Adult onset Bipolar disorder and doesn't take any meds. Enough said. <br />
<br />
6. I was tired. Enough said. <br />
<br />
7. Maybe we just shouldn't have gotten married. @sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-27667687539998449432012-01-27T08:04:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:04:10.706-08:00I haven't blogged much lately not that I blog FOR anyone. I write for myself, this is supposed to be my outlet. However there are things in my life I don't want out there for the entire world to see. Some things I need to think about and decide how much I want available for the world to see. <br />
We are a very happy family. I have this teenager son, he's as rebellious as they come. He doesn't show it in normal ways, he isn't a normal kid. He's been through so much in his short life so why would I expect his rebellion to show up in normal ways? Me, being the awesome incredible mom that I am. I've been worried sick, thinking my kid is lonely and no one will be his friend and somehow I'm not describing this very well. He goes to a boarding school because it's the best thing for him. He's blind and our local school district was just giving him A's and not making him do the work. He needed a school that would at the very least make him try to earn his grades, so he attends the closest school for the blind and visually impaired. Anyway, now that I have rambled for way to long. Recently I went to the school for a day to watch him compete in a regional 10 state wrestling tournament. My kid, often described by those who love him (seriously) as being insolent, sullen, personality of soggy bread, a sloth, lazy. Yes, that kid stepped up to the plate, listened to Coach and took 2nd place in his weight division!!! Shocked every single one of us. Absolutely amazing. Every minute leading up to the match he was sullen, insolent, didn't want to talk to anyone. Isolated himself, head in his hands. I sat in the stands worrying. Thinking I needed to bring him home but wondering how it would be any better at home surrounded by sighted kids who would make fun of him. Kids that are driving and dating, playing football, sports that aren't geared for him to compete when at his school he is dating when he wants to, has friends, he is on the track, wrestling, the rowing teams, a representative of the FBLA team and more. All of a sudden it hit me. The isolation, the sulleness, the blah... that's his acting out. His rebellion. His sisters is the bright clothes, the short shorts, the screamo music, etc. He has chosen country music (OMG I hate it) boring ASS clothes, stupid hiking boots (just like his dad) and to lose his personality.... this is his rebellion. I'm not fighting him over it anymore. Every teenager goes through this and they either come out of it or they don't but parents fighting them over it is not a deciding factor. So this week, I checked in with his teachers and his dorm parents just like I always do. I didn't like what I heard anymore than I ever do. However, when I called him, I asked him about the 2 weeks worth of English homework he owed his teacher, he got defensive. I told him to stop, told him he wasn't in trouble, I just knew he has a full weekend this weekend with a tournament and homecoming so I wanted to know if he had a plan to get it done. He said not "competition worthy essays but yes I will turn in something" I told him it didn't need to be competition worthy, just "not get yelled at by the teacher and complete". He agreed to do that. I thanked him for having a plan and we got off the phone. <br />
<br />
I felt better that we had at least discussed it, hopefully he felt better that he didn't get in trouble. <br />
<br />
This mothering stuff is tough!@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-46800726968837094952011-12-28T09:42:00.000-08:002011-12-28T09:42:26.003-08:00so glad to be workingIt's the time between the holidays, when no one wants to be at work. Anyway, it's been an exciting time here at the office this week. People are inordinately busy for this time of year. Very busy <u>scheduling</u> doctors appointments, <u>filing</u> fingernails, <u>making travel arangements</u> for vacations, <u>holding meetings</u> to discuss where they are going for lunch, performing <u>customer service</u> by bringing babies with them to work because they somehow missed the fact that the daycare is closed until after the new year, <u>updating and downloading apps and software</u> for their Christmas presents such as ipads, <u>updating</u> their resumes, sharing holiday drama stories, checking lottery tickets, and yes, maybe in between all these very important things a little work might be getting done. @sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-32109435670939977422011-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:002011-12-21T12:55:26.348-08:00living in the southI followed a group of beautiful middle aged women into the grocery store last night, one of them was loudly lamenting "It was horrible, I didn't even get to see John Cena or anyone. I missed the entire thing. I cried and cried". I went home and googled John Cena, it took me a while to figure out how to spell his name - you know you live in the south when a grown woman, with makeup on, dressed up, looking good is all upset because she missed out on seeing a WWF or WWE or whatever it is wrestler. <br />
<br />
Went to the doctor today. Parked my car in the parking garage as I exited my vehicle I realized there were not one, not two, not three but four pairs of shoes hanging off the power line right outside the parking garage where I parked. <br />
<br />
As I drove back to my office, I passed several groups of homeless people. I noticed one man wearing an expensive Sean John jacket as he pushed his grocery cart of goods down the street. Another woman in her Skittles jacket pushing her cart and a group of men walking around in their very expensive tennis shoes, jackets and hats waiting outside the mission for the next mealtime to arrive. <br />
<br />
Awww.... life in the south<br />@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-85478142647141223422011-12-19T09:10:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:10:37.452-08:00and then the house burns down2011 was determined to go out with a bang. I didn't know how determined she was. It's been a rough year for just about everyone I know. We've done ok if you don't count our finances. We've been healthy pretty much and I'm so grateful for that but my bank acount? well that sucks. 2011 was the year of completely unpaid child support, completely unreimbursed medical bills, totaled car, plumbing problem after plumbing problem and broken furnaces etc. I thought we were done with money problems pretty much until last night when I found out my house burned down. It burned to the ground. I apparently bought a live tree, I've never had a live tree before (never mind that I was raised with only live tree's) and I didn't know I needed to water the tree and it got too dry and caught fire and burned my house to the ground and I lost everything. E V E R Y T H I N G! E V E R Y T H I N G Y'all - Just want to make sure you understand because I was more than a little confused as I was sitting in my kitched when the news reached my ears. <br />
Some insane apparently well meaning soul decided my children and I deserved an awesome Christmas this year. Thankfully the insane well meaning soul came by to let me know how awesome our Christmas was going to be, - cause when they told me they had "fudged the details a little bit" and told the store owners and managers that my house burned down and I had lost everything. I flipped out! Are you kidding me? <br />
<br />
We didn't lose anything! we went through a bad divorce, we lost things. We didn't lose everything. We have each other. This person apparently lost their marbles. Thankfully, they mentioned the names of the places they had notified of my tragedy so I called the stores this morning and let them know my home had NOT burned down and I had NOT lost everything. <br />
<br />
Can you imagine my confusion if Channel 3 had shown up on the doorstep of my non burned home? <br />
<br />
can you say FRAUD? <br />
<br />
I know they meant well, but I can see this leading to the loss of my job and my children. <br />
<br />
Thanks but no thanks. <br />
<br />
Please let 2012 be better.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-40336601385775629642011-12-16T11:19:00.000-08:002011-12-16T11:19:00.550-08:00I'm awesome....Yesterday I did it... I finished my annual review AND I gave it to my boss. Shouldn't be a big deal, but it is. It's only 117 days late. I always complete my self reviews early and they are always the same. They ask the same questions every year. <br />
1. Describe the specific examples blah blah blah<br />
2. Describe anything you would like to improve,blah blah <br />
3. What do you think are the strengths blah blah?<br />
4. What gives you the most satisfaction blah blah blah ?<br />
5. Describe how well you achieved the performance goals blah blah bleh blah<br />
<br />
I answer them the same way every year. Not this year. I've set goals for myself this year in my personal life and those goals are rolling into my professional life. I don't draw lines in the sand anymore and people don't push me around anymore. It works pretty well when I draw a line in the concrete so I drew some concrete lines in my annual review. I listed all the work I do, the work my boss has no idea I actually do. Work that other people are supposed to be doing. Work they claim, work other people put their name on. <br />
I listed my accomplishments and when we meet next week I am telling him that HR recommends a re-evaluation of my position because my role has changed so much over the past 9 years and thinks I need a new job description be written. I hope he will listen. Drawing lines in concrete and speaking up for myself professionally is new for me. I don't want this to backfire <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW-9Tv7dHOuOjfHBxnKMKk71yj8Xrcli67xIGlzNnUzI87iu2reSxNCwoCd6nX9otD82JOUngnEEyPg6e1kskW3RdbS_CwvTCV6WS_AXkUhXjMBXMFHKOakzNXB1Geyy8rkRtHkITXuI/s1600/crossed+fingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW-9Tv7dHOuOjfHBxnKMKk71yj8Xrcli67xIGlzNnUzI87iu2reSxNCwoCd6nX9otD82JOUngnEEyPg6e1kskW3RdbS_CwvTCV6WS_AXkUhXjMBXMFHKOakzNXB1Geyy8rkRtHkITXuI/s1600/crossed+fingers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype></span></div>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-78057213827660337552011-12-15T08:39:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:39:32.567-08:00i know you couldn't wait<div style="text-align: center;">
Important Memorandum</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know you couldn't wait for an update on my so very important interoffice memorandum about the carpet cleaning yesterday. So I decided to move all the crap off my floor so they could shampoo the four square inches of carpet that are visible to the outside world when they decide to visit my shoebox of an office. I picked up boxes, rearranged furniture and moved recycle bins and trash cans - yes, I really did do all that flippin work. My carpet it turns out was filthy! Gross and disgusting. I was so ready to see the new and improved carpet this morning. I arrived bright and early eager to see the new office.... what did I see? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ummm.... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yeah....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
well... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
new...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
improved...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm0xJ8PX_Y0RJY_ytnXTELknT2O0q4dA45-fI8fU4R7b3YS09IS23Cx3fN90_G0Ne2V1vA0abDwFC_m0OFyFZY6g_mWksL97WeUcHLdfA69dt_Uckc4jltpJvE16ne34E-mwr3KVLqOw/s1600/carpet1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm0xJ8PX_Y0RJY_ytnXTELknT2O0q4dA45-fI8fU4R7b3YS09IS23Cx3fN90_G0Ne2V1vA0abDwFC_m0OFyFZY6g_mWksL97WeUcHLdfA69dt_Uckc4jltpJvE16ne34E-mwr3KVLqOw/s320/carpet1.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Paper clips, </div>
<div align="center">
Glitter, </div>
<div align="center">
crap, </div>
<div align="center">
dust bunnies, </div>
<div align="center">
dead bugs, </div>
<div align="center">
EVERYTHING, </div>
<div align="center">
all over my four square inches of carpet</div>
<div align="center">
They didn't touch my office</div>
<div align="center">
they didn't touch the conference room</div>
<div align="center">
they didn't touch the offices of sick woman</div>
<div align="center">
or several other people either</div>
<div align="center">
I don't know what we did wrong</div>
<div align="center">
we moved our stuff</div>
<div align="center">
left our signs on the door just like we were instruced</div>
<div align="center">
we did everything every one else did</div>
<div align="center">
our signs were removed just like everyone elses were</div>
<div align="center">
yet our carpets look like crap</div>
<div align="center">
and weren't shampooed</div>
<div align="center">
or vacuumed</div>
<div align="center">
or cleaned</div>
<div align="center">
they don't smell nice</div>
<div align="center">
I feel slighted</div>
<div align="center">
unloved</div>
<div align="center">
and picked on</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
On a brighter note... we put Candy Canes on the tree last night so you will get pictures of that tomorrow</div>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-7320726806193508232011-12-15T07:59:00.000-08:002011-12-15T07:59:21.714-08:00Lord, she's ill<div style="text-align: center;">
around the corner, about one, two, three, make that four offices down from me there's a woman who is hacking, choking, gaggingly ill (gaggingly is so a word). Lord, she's ill. She shouldn't be at work. Maybe she feels ok but she doesn't sound ok. She starts coughing and it turns into choking then hacking, then gagging and then you want to run in there and give her the heimlich manuever. Two days We've all been listening to her. She's that sick. She needs to go home. Good thing I have these: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeYQfyNV07jytgNPoKKcf6hvsF5i1sdQPap1TIalMX1O_4z9d5gCVHM8aigk2i7P8Oo9R0Jzyof45-mnl5-XplULfySirQqSWO3kUo_LHwsF5hLXPWCnWPQvds7qzGV6Bq5R1lnfKKGQ/s1600/antibacterial+gel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeYQfyNV07jytgNPoKKcf6hvsF5i1sdQPap1TIalMX1O_4z9d5gCVHM8aigk2i7P8Oo9R0Jzyof45-mnl5-XplULfySirQqSWO3kUo_LHwsF5hLXPWCnWPQvds7qzGV6Bq5R1lnfKKGQ/s200/antibacterial+gel.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3EUpnk666hlWSGzhpnoSsdKVjC_dCuZp3cmYzyxYVlaTa2y14vhVhOV7WXuUWOQp7J_mX-We-xATcEqm3-TH4aPuTW-hUYO9QEjAC5vFQsTfeH7RXa7BSY2LWseioQXmsOU6pOQ7n8A/s1600/th_tieonmask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3EUpnk666hlWSGzhpnoSsdKVjC_dCuZp3cmYzyxYVlaTa2y14vhVhOV7WXuUWOQp7J_mX-We-xATcEqm3-TH4aPuTW-hUYO9QEjAC5vFQsTfeH7RXa7BSY2LWseioQXmsOU6pOQ7n8A/s1600/th_tieonmask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If this woman gets me sick I'm gonna sneeze and cough those germs right back on her, or or something! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-71876398163448923932011-12-14T12:26:00.000-08:002011-12-14T12:26:33.284-08:00Interoffice MemoI had one of those Interoffice Memorandum's taped to my office door when I came in this morning. More accurately, I walked through a hallway widely decorated with interoffice memorandums (it looked like it snowed). Must be something important I thought but since I hadn't had a cup of coffee yet, I couldn't quite comprehend what all the red and black print on the page was trying to tell me. I opened my office door, grabbed my coffee mug and started my day. A few minutes and a shot of caffeine later I looked at the oh so important memo<br />
<br />
TO: Occupant of Room # ______<br />
FROM: Environmental Services Department<br />
<strong><u>SUBJECT: FLOOR REFINISHING</u></strong> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">or carpet cleaning schedule </span><br />
We are in the process of blah blah blah to the floor this room has been scheduled to have the <strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">floor refinished</span></u></strong> blah blah blah blah. we will give you 1 - 4 days notice. This room has been scheduled DAY: <span style="color: red;"><strong><u>TODAY</u></strong></span> between 5:00pm and 1:30am <span style="color: red;"><u><strong>remove everything off the floor</strong></u></span><span style="color: black;"> blah blah blah blah </span><br />
<br />
<br />
I glance down at the carpet on my office floor, the precious few inches of carpet that are showing between the filing cabinets and my desk and the boxes of crap I am required to maintain in my office. Glad they put that <span style="font-size: xx-small;">or carpet cleaning</span> on the memo in such large bold print or I might have missed it. What am I to do with all this crap? How am I supposed to get everything off the floor? Is it really worth it to have them shampoo the 4 square inches of visible carpet? I don't want my carpet to look worse than everyone else's carpet in the department, but will they even notice? it's such a small amount of carpet and people ever only comment on how I live in a closet all day... oh crap, it's a lot of work to get the stupid carpet cleaned.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-1375265292144940482011-12-13T08:55:00.000-08:002011-12-13T08:55:50.928-08:00life has been blissfully busy. Yeah Right...it has right? and full of wonderfully christmassy holiday type things, right? NO lawyers, NO drama, NO hateful accusations etc... so we won't talk about all that. Instead we will focus on things like all the Christmassy things in my office and a few from home... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoOb1VNFYRQSf2uNHNFDv0I3nPawetFzUzqraPiIIxi2fTfpYOpOT2g4UMph1u9tQMkANHe6RdXWRImpeaIrh91rhm1YqgL-n7RCJrongO_SCg4BAgBZhdiaVjEsVIrQXnDfy96KWqjc/s1600/candy+canes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoOb1VNFYRQSf2uNHNFDv0I3nPawetFzUzqraPiIIxi2fTfpYOpOT2g4UMph1u9tQMkANHe6RdXWRImpeaIrh91rhm1YqgL-n7RCJrongO_SCg4BAgBZhdiaVjEsVIrQXnDfy96KWqjc/s320/candy+canes.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a picture of Candy canes in a mess of a candy dish on my desk, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">note to self, put some candy canes on the tree at home! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvfAu3irFJ97aYhv90yOsHyoZUlB9Wp9uVxAJDXV5HuFZlv4UlbN0EhRGtUYGjakS2WSNlT7BRLv0Aicvm-zPBzLIWqJC0tW32EgPR7eJtmT2TzpXsmGkes_cIANg8P8b6lLJwcoUvP4/s1600/dueling+poinsettias.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvfAu3irFJ97aYhv90yOsHyoZUlB9Wp9uVxAJDXV5HuFZlv4UlbN0EhRGtUYGjakS2WSNlT7BRLv0Aicvm-zPBzLIWqJC0tW32EgPR7eJtmT2TzpXsmGkes_cIANg8P8b6lLJwcoUvP4/s320/dueling+poinsettias.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I have two poinsettia's on my desk at work. Each one a gift from a man. Two different men, who have not spoken to me in months. Last monday one of them (nickname is Issues) walked in and set the plant on my desk and muttered Happy Holidays to you and walked out. Not another word. (rumor has it, he has recently gotten married, guess he isn't allowed to speak to single women anymore). Then on Thursday in walks second guy (Seven Sins) and sets the plant on my desk with a "Why do you already have a poinsettia on your desk? Who gave it to you? Why did someone give you a poinsettia? I wanted to give you a plant? AND I WANTED MINE TO BE THE BEST ONE!" I thanked him for the plant and picked up the phone to make a quiet call to someone...security maybe? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnzXZ2o2cDrtkgwRuWP3ntP16-MCTVMuwA1Y5s7iFvcGGb8Flb87FArvZOl7doO3JxfY8PXwAyQSRVN9wdVPozsbmpRNhy88bv8ockRYGZZtMBb1g8qWzbiARDXYhyxYLzchTWkKvg44/s1600/captain+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnzXZ2o2cDrtkgwRuWP3ntP16-MCTVMuwA1Y5s7iFvcGGb8Flb87FArvZOl7doO3JxfY8PXwAyQSRVN9wdVPozsbmpRNhy88bv8ockRYGZZtMBb1g8qWzbiARDXYhyxYLzchTWkKvg44/s320/captain+tree.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Captain's new favorite place in the house. - Doesn't he look deceptively innocent? </div>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-68930886805297691412011-12-08T11:28:00.000-08:002011-12-08T11:28:29.560-08:00All over the place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/khCokQt--l4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">My little miss is all over this video. Lil man who is one month to 5, tries to rap this out - too funny. </div><br />
This guy at work needs some anger management classes, he went off on a delivery guy today. His manager came to me and asked me to enroll him in a "customer service" class tomorrow. No such luck. No instructer led customer service classes are on the horizon. We only offer Web based classes for Customer Service. Really? People who need people skills are expected to gain those skills by clicking their way through a web based class and taking a test that you can print screen all the answers? I don't have much hope for the angry employee showing much improvement. <br />
<br />
I'm watching what I eat. I'm always watching what I eat. It's a never ending battle with me. If for one minute I wink some fattening food will slip in and stick to my hips and Ass PERMANENTLY and I will never ever get it off so I have to be consistent and persistent and mean and not allow anything to cross my lips except alcohol and coffee. This week I messed up. I forgot to eat, again. Yesterday I went home from work because I was sick and freezing and I couldn't warm up. The kids came home from school and My little miss came in my room Mom, i didn't see you eat last night, or this morning, so when was the last time you ate? oops... it had been a while. Maybe I wasn't sick. Maybe I should let a few calories cross these lips every now and then. I ate lunch today - yeah me!@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-22170433360990257632011-12-06T10:48:00.000-08:002011-12-06T18:12:59.314-08:00rambling thoughtsI read today that She who shall remain nameless (the woman with 8 kids to many kids and no husband and whose name begins with a K) just ran a marathon in Las Vegas. They called her a "beauty"...really? hmm... I wonder who was watching her kids while she trained and while she ran the marathon out of state, away from those kids. It wasn't their dead beat dad, it sure wasn't their dead beat mom either. I'm not a hater of She who shall remain nameless however I'm not in love with her either. I think she could do a better job parenting those kids. She wanted them, she gave birth to them and she should focus on them instead of seemingly focusing entirely on herself. I only have four children, I don't have time to run a marathon. I wish I had the time to train and run a marathon. It's a matter of priorities, that's what some would say. My priorities are something along the lines of: work so we can pay the bills, feed the kiddo's, keep them happy, sleep a little, homework, etc... <br />
<br />
I'm rambling today, it's ok... I've done it before, I'm used to it. It's freezing freaking cold outside. I'm whiny when it's cold. It's wet outside. I'm whiny when it's wet. It's windy outside, I like wind. BUT when it's cold and wet and windy - then I'm BITCHY!!! So run run like the wind Bullseye cuz I'm not pleasant to to be around. <br />
<br />
Christmas is around the corner - have you noticed? our neighbors have their yard decorations out. tomorrow if I can get a picture of it, I will show you their soggy deflated yard decorations... it's sad <br />
<br />
Christmas band concerts last night... oh lord spare us...is all I have to say. Ok, you know that's not ALL I have to say. First year band, if they hit the right note and you can actually tell what song they are playing - you are shocked! I have a kid in first year band. He runs up to me after the concert <em>mom on the third song, second stanza, I messed up! I was a little flat</em>. <em>really?</em> I say <em>probably no one noticed</em>. How would you hear one solitary wrong note in a cacophany they called a Christmas Band concert? Yes, these are the days of pleasant holiday things... mmhmmm...@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-79545838570241950002011-12-05T13:45:00.000-08:002011-12-05T13:45:41.669-08:00Good deeds...Real: <br />
Worked a marathon - have you ever mixed powerade in 50 gallon trashcans? looks like witches brew minus the eye of newt <br />
Secretly bought groceries for a friend - not much but every little thing counts<br />
Mailed secret notes of encouragement to several people having a bad week<br />
Worked a couple of other charity events<br />
<br />
If life was the way I want it, these are the good deeds I would have done this week - Imaginary Good Deeds:<br />
Standing in line at Target - I thought about how much fun it would be to tell the cashier I was paying for the purchases of everyone standing in line (you know, if I had won the lottery or something).<br />
Running a marathon - mmhmm like that will EVER happen, more likely to win the lottery<br />
Bought groceries for several families I know who are struggling (but it wouldn't be just once, nope I would love to buy them groceries and sneak it on their porch every friday for like a year). That would be super fun! And - I would put a gift certificate in the bag so the mom could get her hair cut and colored or whatever she wanted so she would feel special. <br />
Those police officers who put their lives on the line for us every day? Their families would receive gift certificates for photo shoots with my favorite photographer, and zoo memberships. Something to give them memories together.<br />
The Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital who have sacrificed everything to save my child's life? I would donate millions - the Dysfunctional foundation would officially save lives and I would be so happy!<br />
<br />
I know a lot of people if they won the lottery would buy a boat, a house, a new car etc... I dream about different things. How that money would change the world. I'm sure I won't ever find out what that amount of money will do and that's ok because I know what I can do with the amount of money I have. With this amount of money I can help those around me, with what I have been given I can change lives and for this I am grateful. With the small amount of talent I have been given I will use it to help others.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-18657741028884756552011-12-01T07:40:00.000-08:002011-12-01T07:40:13.971-08:00anybody have a four year old? Raise your handAnybody have a four year old that keeps you rolling on the floor laughing? Raise your hand<br />
Tuesday night, little man was in the bathtub. He has a routine when bathing. It goes something like this: "MOM I'm Ready to GET OUT! NOW!" I walk in with a towel. "Mom, Not that towel. I need a Blue towel". I get the blue towel off the shelf. "No mom, not the light blue towel, the bright blue towel." Picture mom confused. I reach for a different blue towel "Mom, the B R I G H T blue towel" he says the word "bright" slowly as if it helps me understand him better. I reach for the blue towel on the left and he says sounding frustrated "never mind, just use the orange one". As I grab the orange towel little man says "i'm not ready just yet, there's still water in here cause I didn't pull the plug yet. Haha". I knew this was coming. He does it everytime. It's our routine. So I place the towel on the vanity and go back to whatever I was doing. Tuesday night was no different so when he yelled the second time, sis went in and grabbed the orange beach towel to get him out of the tub. Sis was standing there waiting on the last of the water to drain (lil man waits for the very last drop to exit the bathtub) I hear him as he looks down at his naked self and he says "oh I soooo did not want to see that naked body right now". Sis and I burst into laughter! Little man was offended and demanded to know if we liked looking at our selves naked. We told him not so much but we aren't 4 year old boys. He said "well there are days you like your body and days you just don't".<br />
<br />
Not a mommy blog but the kids are going to creep in here every now and then. Sorry y'all@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-57003456661515122962011-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:002011-11-30T13:28:15.018-08:00Road Trip continuedand then the best part of the trip happened. I arrived at destination numero uno and my bestie said "we need to get some wine". She talked about delicious peach wine and her dad's incredible grilling skills. Hmmm thought I, I wonder if her dad's skills compete with my modest grilling skills? (quietly y'all, I thought this quietly to myself. she had no knowledge my pride and arrogance about my grilling skills was sneaking in) then she said turn left, no right, no left and then we were there or should I say <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>HERE </em><br />
(prepare yourself for a shameless plug because I almost died when I walked into this adorable winery). <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht88fRp4K00Pa7F-mGNuCII5VsoDo0An9eYgxjT9MuOekQO5k0_auzWFqclq1tK3JUCm-Zy1Iz4Xgqj6le4qukWYj93SLrQ-SRBBWaoE7502Bczyi7P0_szEh_oG26umMT_7C3yxMhsns/s1600/Red+White+and+Rusty177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht88fRp4K00Pa7F-mGNuCII5VsoDo0An9eYgxjT9MuOekQO5k0_auzWFqclq1tK3JUCm-Zy1Iz4Xgqj6le4qukWYj93SLrQ-SRBBWaoE7502Bczyi7P0_szEh_oG26umMT_7C3yxMhsns/s320/Red+White+and+Rusty177.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">obviously, it's ok looking. looks can be deceitful I was unprepared for the level of cuteness inside. I needed a bigger wallet and a bigger wine cabinet etc... </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZal3JchEs9n3Ypb77E-1cBmQrOCsbvA7bQCXeCwfsrc7rdbxw49ctzWMLenUROoNqNrC-0Yd5alKS5hnaPujQRWhO5cXLy6v4GZxekZc98x7qXjEiWEg0PIQX0dK91MeOk_u225NvFcY/s1600/RN++037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZal3JchEs9n3Ypb77E-1cBmQrOCsbvA7bQCXeCwfsrc7rdbxw49ctzWMLenUROoNqNrC-0Yd5alKS5hnaPujQRWhO5cXLy6v4GZxekZc98x7qXjEiWEg0PIQX0dK91MeOk_u225NvFcY/s320/RN++037.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dying yet? </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wmd2TMFsXx_AIwYrIQz3hzIvGv-Qq2TyVaY80R6X0spP8J6-QgpOxw_0AI9KB3s8yGBzkwTEFC7LliHDAzO0gcfKHd4PN9VClgxxxY37W-0zsTPdXPIQUvv5t855uDZ6oR4Gvl7GxYU/s1600/RN++042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wmd2TMFsXx_AIwYrIQz3hzIvGv-Qq2TyVaY80R6X0spP8J6-QgpOxw_0AI9KB3s8yGBzkwTEFC7LliHDAzO0gcfKHd4PN9VClgxxxY37W-0zsTPdXPIQUvv5t855uDZ6oR4Gvl7GxYU/s320/RN++042.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, the stiletto heel is a RUSTY NAIL (since the name of the winery is the Rusty nail). </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizrXBKMD1tZJ_jYylSbtJOgUOTuoYK5cW7J4kaT_TKrt6WC3vvorxcx_GyJo57Ypg5u65Bxts15374dQ5pMNEZcW1N5ioTd8ZYqT1SDVYdzj7IJtoHYmP15-eETYYXdZHaXUUOw4x5VA/s1600/RN++046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizrXBKMD1tZJ_jYylSbtJOgUOTuoYK5cW7J4kaT_TKrt6WC3vvorxcx_GyJo57Ypg5u65Bxts15374dQ5pMNEZcW1N5ioTd8ZYqT1SDVYdzj7IJtoHYmP15-eETYYXdZHaXUUOw4x5VA/s320/RN++046.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wear my heels 6 days a week, totally need stiletto's on my kitchen counters</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT_jwbgGkS0gExgpMvncbP8UX36GwOmvP0XxQiSX0NPy555NkJZ5zaUOzbUbdn_gsT0cbnyzCKqthQGX9sEQs43SXN8763Hfqdyf-tYzPAtxzDvnelUC9m-wOvlmXfyII2-988QCF524/s1600/RN++048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT_jwbgGkS0gExgpMvncbP8UX36GwOmvP0XxQiSX0NPy555NkJZ5zaUOzbUbdn_gsT0cbnyzCKqthQGX9sEQs43SXN8763Hfqdyf-tYzPAtxzDvnelUC9m-wOvlmXfyII2-988QCF524/s320/RN++048.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but my heart was broken, they were out of the wine holding shoes so my wallet was saved and no wine holding shoes were purchased. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwigrZDEuS6mKjwRxEwoZamdvnC3TeXHxLakbJybm2lGianqMqfDiTA6hup_0ESC5rkJHJYS_lM1cx4ryH4MKNF5S7Rdg4-Z-b_XYyjfqr9iXY8HPHZ0w87vXVK_GpwJAQ2SAvJF8LRQ/s1600/Sneak+Peek+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwigrZDEuS6mKjwRxEwoZamdvnC3TeXHxLakbJybm2lGianqMqfDiTA6hup_0ESC5rkJHJYS_lM1cx4ryH4MKNF5S7Rdg4-Z-b_XYyjfqr9iXY8HPHZ0w87vXVK_GpwJAQ2SAvJF8LRQ/s320/Sneak+Peek+048.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute to the inth degree</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOymIYCRlOfQAtcD0Zv2ueSxgaFPqb41ps5-G3m-FQhO_J_CxWt_Xzefd4bHQcuFNBsZFufRKSKzqp4UG73_tkppT2NrBsrpAgE0AE5k6zGi7uKYYckhcd3LzsAp15ePSYtcu9XWcvpHU/s1600/Red+White+and+Rusty173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOymIYCRlOfQAtcD0Zv2ueSxgaFPqb41ps5-G3m-FQhO_J_CxWt_Xzefd4bHQcuFNBsZFufRKSKzqp4UG73_tkppT2NrBsrpAgE0AE5k6zGi7uKYYckhcd3LzsAp15ePSYtcu9XWcvpHU/s320/Red+White+and+Rusty173.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6NdMuImnivcVusPhNOoEvKCkjBo6glC6ctCiDg-dJRh4l4zAllLLXm9UamdtUbnhCChyphenhyphen_SsqZ2WPluVFT0Rl7HawTnbG7L-Env-HioXJhteuQsgTj6R7NqQuCYOid20_vN2qlDNd68s/s1600/Red+White+and+Rusty065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6NdMuImnivcVusPhNOoEvKCkjBo6glC6ctCiDg-dJRh4l4zAllLLXm9UamdtUbnhCChyphenhyphen_SsqZ2WPluVFT0Rl7HawTnbG7L-Env-HioXJhteuQsgTj6R7NqQuCYOid20_vN2qlDNd68s/s320/Red+White+and+Rusty065.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tasted multiple wines, they were all good</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUH23xSYet16PwyWIbVH2oUqRfmVlEpAFiNJotM6Ed8ipUfIpSQEZA_SzAfh6A9DB4Y_4OtS2RKJffaXO6JGsmBmgp54dxvcMUIPWoFUhM9Lb_EO6PDZR7Hc-ywnA5tu76d-VR7h5uBw/s1600/Red+White+and+Rusty196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUH23xSYet16PwyWIbVH2oUqRfmVlEpAFiNJotM6Ed8ipUfIpSQEZA_SzAfh6A9DB4Y_4OtS2RKJffaXO6JGsmBmgp54dxvcMUIPWoFUhM9Lb_EO6PDZR7Hc-ywnA5tu76d-VR7h5uBw/s320/Red+White+and+Rusty196.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>the winners (not pictured here) <br />
Peep Toe Chardonnay (Peach)<br />
Gold Digger French Chardonnay<br />
Buster Brown Cabernet (Blackberry) - - WINNER!!! <br />
Bottle of each went home with me - so very good</div>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-42127357250426375942011-11-30T13:01:00.000-08:002011-11-30T13:02:33.216-08:00RoAd TrIpI went on a road trip, all by myself and it was fun. I stopped and pulled to the side of the road and took pictures like a crazy woman driver. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh4TYzLw7bGOdgvi-xp8wSDKnPQrSBFyEBvV-TOjbGKaiJt-SDtHVN6_FMmO7_dtmXfK7GbN-YlNWVHFkjPFfkcNGnhOPvqkfAklSgUA4hWpcgg6MS6rDcZgOd-BnyKU39ncBwSGnCT0/s1600/road+trip+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh4TYzLw7bGOdgvi-xp8wSDKnPQrSBFyEBvV-TOjbGKaiJt-SDtHVN6_FMmO7_dtmXfK7GbN-YlNWVHFkjPFfkcNGnhOPvqkfAklSgUA4hWpcgg6MS6rDcZgOd-BnyKU39ncBwSGnCT0/s200/road+trip+1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, I pulled over, stood up through the sunroof and snapped a picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3yMIzmmDX_IzE-ZVDReaanWSTtz2ERGMyK8iI-MqMjV6dciV_YY7_Ci1u3k1eOxy4bqF6ERGb6ngknKIy0A5DXkor0UYdcxoGQBcxRvV94Rx5OlUMHrwYwlf-H_za6kyKU3J7hJ2v9c/s1600/road+trip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3yMIzmmDX_IzE-ZVDReaanWSTtz2ERGMyK8iI-MqMjV6dciV_YY7_Ci1u3k1eOxy4bqF6ERGb6ngknKIy0A5DXkor0UYdcxoGQBcxRvV94Rx5OlUMHrwYwlf-H_za6kyKU3J7hJ2v9c/s1600/road+trip+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a picture or two, with people driving past and staring at the crazy woman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_-GOLsH1EaWWbRUa0SbJNfG2PmiErZCXtocen8fJzb3C86gbXZ5tRHPJK-gch4hTzA4wNyxmb4JApqztXVpfzjETadoGet38JX4y2OIlMEPLuAWcjaO66GeEnghs2u5yX2R1tajp1QE/s1600/road+trip+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_-GOLsH1EaWWbRUa0SbJNfG2PmiErZCXtocen8fJzb3C86gbXZ5tRHPJK-gch4hTzA4wNyxmb4JApqztXVpfzjETadoGet38JX4y2OIlMEPLuAWcjaO66GeEnghs2u5yX2R1tajp1QE/s1600/road+trip+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and I didn't care </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KP-aOh0ernYA9qarM_M7HPjLz5iHLESfEUQnULJGVpFdrCpug6bswOuyNBuYcjYyLx82Yx0EKe3BM2K0hiTrMnFUpkB8Dj86jwfuJQG-lVinWoDp6Lzp2ny7FZF3tZvmnmDHXdWP7HY/s1600/road+trip+stream.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KP-aOh0ernYA9qarM_M7HPjLz5iHLESfEUQnULJGVpFdrCpug6bswOuyNBuYcjYyLx82Yx0EKe3BM2K0hiTrMnFUpkB8Dj86jwfuJQG-lVinWoDp6Lzp2ny7FZF3tZvmnmDHXdWP7HY/s200/road+trip+stream.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this peaceful. I wanted to have a cup of coffee and sit by this stream but it was cold and I hate cold! </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg776S7I02mNy4pVIMHIYs6qeDCb8I0lFY2qqH3VMCRi9qAVJ1tbLBPjzQGpoxvF4oTY8HXCCOPJWKjk_P9ijiZCfJhyF7JB5v527E9mNKNjTn2oXNnyqfJ1ZV6wctGLpOo218fd82qx9o/s1600/saw+dust+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg776S7I02mNy4pVIMHIYs6qeDCb8I0lFY2qqH3VMCRi9qAVJ1tbLBPjzQGpoxvF4oTY8HXCCOPJWKjk_P9ijiZCfJhyF7JB5v527E9mNKNjTn2oXNnyqfJ1ZV6wctGLpOo218fd82qx9o/s1600/saw+dust+town.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I drove through a logging town - see those massive piles of SAW DUST? the entire town (all three houses) smelled like saw dust. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAyYqeyHRir4uoKltc1HYY6js3nnEzt9HVZNxKLoySkwsSobM992He6eGTYWUJuuwXLdr_hwHQ059l8Sdcpr-hLS8845k2R8ZiJAJG_AsDbEvdZAG_eDPVfokuHm4s0FKyEqYQKLyr-o/s1600/sneaker+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAyYqeyHRir4uoKltc1HYY6js3nnEzt9HVZNxKLoySkwsSobM992He6eGTYWUJuuwXLdr_hwHQ059l8Sdcpr-hLS8845k2R8ZiJAJG_AsDbEvdZAG_eDPVfokuHm4s0FKyEqYQKLyr-o/s1600/sneaker+tree.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">those smallish white things hanging on this tree? Those are tennis shoes - it's a SNEAKER Tree! People drive past and toss their old shoes on this tree. So cool, I had to have picture. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qw-KlGpuBhQOMqLBQghNPY4uOnlm8R8aJdgVvmYh_92PgkoxYlR6VLbOlBlanOYEzrmidCSl6NdIiZrlEO408gHeteL3bkfNE-T6WBK8vw3PyNT1-3UnZpIXo0yBsDTnZ35uwR_HYm4/s1600/5+point+buck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qw-KlGpuBhQOMqLBQghNPY4uOnlm8R8aJdgVvmYh_92PgkoxYlR6VLbOlBlanOYEzrmidCSl6NdIiZrlEO408gHeteL3bkfNE-T6WBK8vw3PyNT1-3UnZpIXo0yBsDTnZ35uwR_HYm4/s1600/5+point+buck.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why did the 5 point buck cross the road? to stare and to pee. That's what he did, he crossed the road, stared at me forever (long enough for a few pictures) took a leak and ran off. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-1507112663293440312011-11-30T12:21:00.000-08:002011-11-30T12:21:43.363-08:00Christmas and good deeds, what are you doing?i have a lot of kids and not a lot of money. This leads to a lot of stress when Christmas comes around. I am used to spoiling my kids rotten and buy buy buying things for my children. The last few years for one reason or another the buy buy buying came to a screeching halt and I needed to find other ways to provide my children with wonderful Christmas memories. <br />
I know Christmas is when we are supposed to "remember the reason for the season" however my kids have had that drummed into their ears until they don't really care to ever hear it again so I don't want to get all preachy with them. <br />
This year I want them to be content and to give to others. Give gifts, give actions and give of their hearts however I am not making them participate in the good deeds and gift giving. I am doing my own thing, they are aware of it and if they choose to participate I will be happy. This year I will set the example and maybe next year they will choose to join in. @sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-56929986684610481192011-11-30T11:13:00.000-08:002011-11-30T11:13:43.866-08:00a serious postLast night I spent the majority of the evening with a friend, a friend with a broken heart that will never ever be mended. Yesterday she returned home from work to find her one and only son had decided to take his life. Suicide is a decision that cannot be taken back, you cannot change your mind and it changes the lives of so many people. Suicide is not the answer. <br />
Her son had problems he had struggled with for many many years, however he had not used all his life lines. There were still avenues of help and hope available to him. For some reason, he decided he had enough and that he didn't want to try any more. <br />
Please if you ever think you are at the end of your rope, if you think you can't do this anymore or feel like you can't go on. Please remember someone wants to listen, someone wants to help you and we are here. <u><span style="color: #0e1cb3;">ContactWeCare.org</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #00802a;"><a href="http://www.teencentral.net/">http://www.teencentral.net/</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #00802a;"><a href="http://www.itgetsbetter.org/">http://www.itgetsbetter.org/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #00802a;"><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 450px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="211"><a class="style67" href="http://hopeline.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: large;">1-800-SUICIDE</span></strong></a></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="24"> </td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="215"><a class="style67" href="http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: large;">1-800-273-TALK</span></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" class="style64">1-800-784-2433</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="24"> </td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" class="style64" height="16">1-800-273-8255 </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
1-800-suicide<br />
1-800-273-talk<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 450px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="211"><a class="style67" href="http://hopeline.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: large;">1-800-SUICIDE</span></strong></a></td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="24"> </td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="215"><a class="style67" href="http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: large;">1-800-273-TALK</span></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" class="style64">1-800-784-2433</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" height="16" width="24"> </td><td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" class="style64" height="16">1-800-273-8255 </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">1-800-799-4TTY (4889)</span></a><br />
<span class="style58"><span style="color: #6666ff;">Deaf Hotline</span></span></span>@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-36241514338470225112011-11-29T08:42:00.000-08:002011-11-29T12:30:07.273-08:00We left town...That was a good plan or so we thought. The dogs and cat stayed home. I had someone house sit and thought the boys and the plants would be ok. I left food and water and a human with them, what could go wrong? Turns out I was thinking with my lower left brain cuz it all went wrong! The evidence was obvious. We didn't need CSI New York to help us discover the crime, nope. There were waaaayyyy to many dog treats left, someone who shall remain nameless did not give them their treats like a good dog watcher/house sitter would have. Dogs who are being cared for do not get out of their rooms and "eat" house hold plants and leave trails of potting soil through the hallways. Cats who are let out do not use the litter box nor do they leave cat hair all over the beds.<br />
<br />
Have you ever been owned by a boxer? They talk. my boys talk and talk. Not this time, we came home and have been receiving the silent treatment. The boys are 6 years old and they have never been silent. 24 hours now we have been being ignored and treated like the wicked witch of the west. Dear lord, those boys are mad at me. They are speaking to and sleeping with Bubba (apparently they realize he is innocent and cannot be held responsible for decisions his mother makes about his life).<br />
<br />
So the house sitter will not receive the esteemed and coveted duty again. The poor pets have been apologized to over and over again and the house has been cleaned and will be cleaned again. It's a mess. The fur... it's everywhere. House sitters don't clean house. Well, this one doesn't anyway. So there's a teeny tiny bit of dog hair in clumps, well one might call it colonies of dog hair in various locations throughout the house. I've swept, the kids have swept and we will be sweeping and vacuuming for eons. I love my Dyson vacuum that is incredibly awesome with pet hair cause it does the job it's supposed to do. I just wish it could suck that hair off the dogs before it hits the floor, or my pants. <br />
<br />
However, we had a great Thanksgiving. All the usual food, family, friends and fun. VERY glad to be home@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-40200215554674462412011-11-29T08:33:00.000-08:002011-11-29T08:33:51.286-08:00i should writeI should write a post every now and then. If I write then people might read, if people read then I might write more often. That would be a good thing. Writing is good for me.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-39828311037831843442011-10-20T09:20:00.000-07:002011-10-20T09:23:36.095-07:00being singleSingle isn't something I'm used to. When I was a teenager I wasn't ever single. I went from one boyfriend to the next, there seemed to be guys waiting to be my friend. My home life wasn't exactly typical, I wasn't allowed to "date" so we were "friends". Anyway, a lot of time has past since I was a hot single young thing, now I find myself single minus the hot and young. <br />
Dating when you have sole custody of your four lovely children isn't always easy - oh who am I kidding?? It isn't easy at all. Times, they have changed! <br />
<br />
Young, hot and single "Friend" criteria:<br />
Hot? - yes<br />
Money? - yes<br />
Fun? - yes<br />
Single? - yes<br />
parents like him? - NO<br />
Then it was a go <br />
<br />
Single, old and mommy "friend" criteria:<br />
Employed? - yes<br />
Single? - yes<br />
"cute/hot"? - <br />
pass a good background check? - <br />
someone I would allow in my kids life? - <br />
relatively healthy? - <br />
what would my family think? - <br />
<br />
<br />
it's a lot more complicated now. Not only do I need to find him interesting etc... but I look at him trying to see if he is someone my kids will accept, what will they think? <br />
Three of my kids are pretty open minded about this process. One is not.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902782061119144918.post-74712431716702031812011-10-20T09:08:00.000-07:002011-10-20T09:08:02.143-07:00we are happy. we are dysfunctionalanother blog, that's just what this world needs I know. This isn't about the world, it's cathartic and fun so I'm back to writing and hope someone enjoys it sooner or later.@sjoyr04http://www.blogger.com/profile/17606142138225785031noreply@blogger.com0