Things that Amuse Me

The "Cure" is Sometimes worse than the Illness!

2010-07-24T18:59:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month, I got what seemed at the time to be an annoying summer cold. Well, that cold turned to Pneumonia. Well, after nothing was really working, the Doctor decided to put me on Prednisone. I told him about the cortisone shot I had gotten a few weeks earlier and he said it would not matter. So, I took the Prednisone. A few days later, my breathing was much worse and the Dr. put me on Advair. Sounds simple enough...and inhaler should help right? Well, what he didn't tell me was that Advair has an active steroid. After 3 days of taking the Advair, I started having severe chest pain, neck pain and headaches and spent 5 hours in the ER. Turns out that my body was overdosed on corticosteroid! DUH!!!

I would have been better off without the drugs that the Dr's had offered me!

Also, I am now looking for a new Dr. because I went to him with the chest pain started and he apparently thought I was having a panic attack and gave me Valium and sent me home. He didn't check anything! What a total ass!

Painful Goodbyes...

2010-05-15T21:01:00.005-04:00

Well, I honestly meant to try and post at least once a week...but a tragedy struck my family last week and it was the farthest thing from my mind.

A week ago this past Thursday, my grandfather fell and hit his head. Doesn't sound to bad, huh? Well, it was bad...the worst kind of bad. He had a cranial bleed that caused irreversible damage. He laid there for 2 days in a coma. Last Saturday, about 5:15 pm, his breathing became very irregular and I held his hand as he peacefully slipped away.

I can honestly say that it was one of the most beautiful, special moments of my life. You see, my grandfather was more than just a grandparent. He was practically my father since my dad left when I was 5. He taught me how to drive the riding mower, the tractor and how to garden. He taught me the meaning of work.

On Monday, I looked at his yard and decided that it wasn't up to "Pa's standard" and I cranked up the riding mower and took care of that problem. It was a very cathartic thing to do. Besides, I was really tired of sitting around....I needed to DO something.

The funeral service was especially beautiful. Since my grandfather was a soldier in WWII, he was given full military honors.

Now I need to explain the most amazing part of the graveside service that many of you may think is corny or silly. Just as the horn player started TAPS, the cows at the neighboring farm started bellowing. To some this may sound like a tragedy but to the granddaughter of a cattle farmer...this was where I started uncontrollably crying. It was almost like the cows even knew what was gone. It was a perfect send off for him.

I will always miss my grandfather. I will miss his "fine, thanks" response when someone asks how he is. I will miss how he waved at people as they drove by. I will miss the person that is tried and true and always the same. I will miss his smile and I will miss his graciousness.

Rest In Peace, J.E. Smith...may you always rest in the arms of God.

Cleaning

2010-05-03T10:49:00.004-04:00

To anyone that knows me well, they know that I am not that great at keeping house. It isn't that I am dirty...it is the clutter! Well, since moving last week, I am putting forth an honest effort to break some bad habits. So far, so good! And it feels great!

Also, I am really going to try to start posting at least 1 time a week. I really do miss having a place to post my thoughts. Thanks to a dear friend for reminding me! :)

My New Adventure

2009-06-08T06:49:00.002-04:00

In less than a year, two different jobs at two different locations has been eliminated because of the economy. Because of this, I decided it was time to make a change in my career. I can not continue to live with the instability that I have had since August.

So, I decided to try and fall back on the medical experience that I had before I had kids. Well, it worked and I start my new job today at a local hospital. I will be the unit clerk for the PCU at Hilton Head Hospital.

I am VERY excited and a little nervous. A lot has changed since I did this type of work 14 years ago. The biggest change is that now everything is computerized.

I will try and keep this blog posted....

It is almost here!

2009-03-23T21:45:00.000-04:00

Well, the best holiday of the year will be here in just 2 days, 2 hours and 15 minutes!

See, I LOVE my birthday!!! It isn't the getting older part...it isn't even the presents part...it is just because it is a day that is about ME!

It may be juvenile...but I refuse to look at a birthday as a bad thing like a lot of people do. A birthday is a day to reflect...a day to celebrate LIFE!

I would really rather have them than to not have them! LOL

I Love Green!

2009-03-17T08:42:00.003-04:00

I LOVE ST. PATRICK'S DAY! Most reason's have nothing to do with the holiday itself. Here are my top 4 reasons:

It means that my birthday is only 9 days away. For those that may not know me very well, I LOVE my birthday! I treat it as a day to celebrate ME!
It means that Spring is only 4 days away! Sure, Spring brings nasty pollen but it also brings the warm weather, trips to the beach, beautiful days for photography, etc.
I can wear green without worrying if it looks good on me. Green isn't my color at all...but, I do not like getting pinched! LOL
It is a day when people want to go out and have a good time. Everyone seems happier even if it is only an illusion created by green beer

Yellow Fever

2009-03-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know that I do not have yellow fever...not in the standard terms anyway. But I do have a fever caused by something nasty and yellow!

POLLEN

As Kimburkay calls it..."The Yellow Fog"

It is nasty and makes me feel nasty. It is messing up my favorite season!

I just hope that it doesn't mess up my favorite holiday in 13 days! (see how many of you figure that one out!)

Today's Saying

2009-03-12T15:13:00.001-04:00

When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice. ~William James

A Meal to Die For

2009-03-12T07:30:00.001-04:00

I think I gained 5lbs. while watching this!

Watch CBS Videos Online

NEW LOOK!

2009-03-09T16:51:00.002-04:00

Things that Amuse Me has a new look!

If anyone is interested in having a new look for their blog just let me know. For a limited time, I am doing Custom Blogger Design for FREE!

I hope you like the new look!

Sorry I have not posted

2009-03-06T15:45:00.002-05:00

Things have been very busy. I am still in school and working at my new job (started in November). When you also take into account that I am hopelessly addicted to Facebook, I hardly have time for anything.

I have started a design blog over the past few days as a part of a project for school. It is pretty good for me though since it forces me to find resources online about design and I am learning so much!

Madhatter will be happy to know that I am actually going somewhere tomorrow and will be completing the March assignment.

I will try to do better about posting...I promise. In fact, this blog needs a facelift. Maybe I should show off some of the things I have learned in school?????

I Am Inspired

2009-01-08T13:13:00.002-05:00

So, my new boss is a fantastic photographer. Well, seeing his work has inspired me. Until this past week, I have not really picked up my camera with any regularity in a very long time. He has given me some pointers regarding my camera settings and now I am feel ready to pick up my camera and find myself again.

So, on my way to work this morning, the sunrise was beautiful. I had my camera...so, I stopped at the Lemon Island boat landing. Here is the view that I get to enjoy every morning on my way to work! Enjoy!

Image Transformations

2009-01-02T13:34:00.008-05:00

So, I have been learning a bunch of tricks in Photoshop and have been having fun taking my images to a new level. I have learned some great effects. I am focusing on learnign things that used to be done in a darkroom.

Here is an original picture of my youngest...

Here is the same image with an Orton Effect done in Photoshop.

The results might be subtle but this gives it a soft glow effect. It is actually done by adding 6 layers to the image and varying the degrees of blur, sharpness and lightness. It is a pretty cool trick.

Here is the same image with a sepia tone.

I did this manually instead of using the sepia photo filter.

Pretty cool, huh?

Getting Old

2008-12-29T09:47:00.002-05:00

So, I went to visit my family this weekend. The people that I most wanted to see were my grandparents because they are in their 80's and they have both been in and out of the hospital all year long.

Well, my grandmother is giving everyone a run for their money. She doesn't want help! She insists that my grandfather will get better and will be able to get around again. (he won't) She won't let them build a ramp so he can get out of the house, she won't let them accept the FREE help from the VA, she won't let them make repairs to the bathroom to make it compliant with their needs. It is so frustrating.

I finally had it and told her exactly what was going to happen if she didn't let them make that house safe for them. I told her that changes have to be made or she is giving them no choice but to put them in a nursing home. I was harsh but not disrespectful. But everyone there doesn't want her mad at them because it would make life a living hell. But I don't live there and I don't care.

My aunt is doing the best she can do for them because on top of having ailing parents, her husband has Parkinson's Disease. To say that she has her hands full doesn't even scratch the surface.

I understand that change is hard...but sometimes you don't really have a choice.

The Coolest Gift

2008-12-26T09:35:00.004-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that Santa was good to everyone this year. I had a great day and got more than I ever asked for.

The gift that ranks up there as the coolest is the Flip Video Camcorder. It is the size of a standard point and shoot camera, take 60 minutes of video, has a built in USB and is just too fun to use!

The video editing software is built right in too! This will definitely stay in my purse all the time! I guess I need to set up that YouTube account!

But in addition to video, the software allows you to take snapshots from the videos! To me, this makes this camera the most awesome gift!

Christmas Tradition

2008-12-19T14:18:00.002-05:00

For years, Christmas Eve was always just us girls because my (now ex-) husband had to help Santa at work. ;) It was actually cool to have Christmas Eve Girls Night. So, late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve we would make a dozen or so heavy appetizers and when it was all done we would put everything on fancy Christmas dishes and set it up on the coffee table. We would watch the old Christmas Cartoons and enjoy our Christmas Eve Snack Supper.

It was really just a time to enjoy spending time together. We did not open presents but we slowed down...stopped really and just enjoyed the time together. We cuddled on the couch and got the cookies, milk and reindeer food ready for Santa and his team.

Since my divorce, this has had to be modified a bit but I have tried to maintain some of the tradition. But what really touched me was the first Christmas after my separation. I asked them what they wanted for Christmas...the answer made me cry. (and still does if it hits at just the right time) "I want to have our snack supper on Christmas Eve"

What Goes Around?????

2008-12-18T21:52:00.001-05:00

Have you ever felt like your lifelong bad luck has rubbed off on someone? Well, I do and it really sucks.

I really can't elaborate on it....but it really sucks right now.

Update

2008-12-08T10:09:00.003-05:00

It has been so long since I updated on what is going on so here is a brief run down.

I finish my first semester at school today. It has been a fun and challenging experience but I am ready for a break. I am looking forward to my next semester although it will be very busy since I am taking 4 classes.

I found a job in my chosen field working for the local county in the IT department. I am the Webmaster Assistant and so far, I love it. I am learning alot about databases and web design. I will soon be able to take the design for my blog to a whole new level!!! I can hardly wait to show you how much I have learned and since this will probably become a practice ground for my new knowledge...you will get to witness it first hand.

So, overall, life is going great!

Funny!

2008-11-20T07:38:00.001-05:00

I think this is a hilarious spoof of the media! LOL

Pretty Packages...

2008-10-16T13:22:00.003-04:00

Ok, I have to speak about the debate last night and particularly one statement made my Obama last night.

In regards to his association with Acorn, Obama said that his only connection was with a court case that he was involved with in connection with the Justice Department. Well, that all sounds pretty...doesn't it? Well, I went looking and found that Obama was the attorney for Acorn. He wasn't on the side of the Justice Department!

Here is an excerpt froma speech that Obama gave this past February...just 8 short months ago.

When Obama met with ACORN leaders in November, he reminded them of his history with ACORN and his beginnings in Illinois as a Project Vote organizer, a nonprofit focused on voter rights and education. Senator Obama said, "I come out of a grassroots organizing background. That's what I did for three and half years before I went to law school. That's the reason I moved to Chicago was to organize. So this is something that I know personally, the work you do, the importance of it. I've been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official, when I ran Project Vote voter registration drive in Illinois, ACORN was smack dab in the middle of it, and we appreciate your work.”

taken from http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGC7zm (a website supporting Obama!)

So, which is it? Why is that Obama can do things and retract them later? Why does everything that comes out of his mouth seem to be in direct contrast to other things that he has said?

PEOPLE...WAKE UP! All things that come in pretty packages with pretty red bows do not contain great things! Sometimes those packages are made of pure deception!!!

Just because Obama is a well spoken, eloquent speaker, does not make everything that comes out of his mouth a fact!

One of Those Days

2008-10-10T19:38:00.002-04:00

I am a planner. It is a quality that I have that could be considered a strong point but also my downfall. No amount of planning will change the fact that some days just won't go right no matter what you do.

The day started off simple enough. I went to get my oil changed in preparation for the trip to visit my family. I had a lot of other things to do today as well. I still had to pack (not hard since I was only going to be gone for 2 days), clean out my car, pack some snacks and drinks for the trip, have lunch with my SO and take some tickets to a ticket vendor.

Well, about 11 am, this whole plan got derailed. The school nurse called about my youngest daughter. She had a headache and apparently it was so bad that she was crying. I talked to her and I could tell that she was not feeling good at all. So, off to the school I went.

I canceled my lunch plans.

After we got home, she went straight for the couch. Within 15 minutes, the throwing up began and that continued for about 2 hours.

I canceled my trip and all of the things on my list associated with it.

Soon after she went to sleep and I got a phone call from a friend of mine. I won't go into the gory details but I will say that the conversation ended in tears because he was just unnecessarily mean and it stunned me. You see, another weakness of mine is that when I am mad, I cry. But I was also hurt by the whole thing.

Anyway, now my daughter's headache is gone and she is feeling much better.

I am working on planning my trip again because I think we are going to leave in the morning. Still not sure what to do about my friend. See....there I go planning again.

Highly Motivated & Determined!

2008-10-08T20:30:00.005-04:00

Well, I have been horrible about posting here and thought it was time for a quick update.

Things are going great at school and I am learning a lot of cool things in Photoshop and Illustrator. I am starting another class next week. That will mean that I have to take 4 classes in the next semester. It will be insane trying to do all of that but it will mean that I graduate in May!!!!

I am so motivated right now!

You see, when I was growing up, my family told me that I was nat smart enough to go to college. I guess I heard it enough that I really believed it. Well, in the past 2 years, I have made some great friends (including the ones that read this), many of those friends helped me to see a side of myself that I didn't really know was there. I have grown more in the past 2 years than I did the other years of my life.

So, being able to walk across a stage wearing a cap and gown really means something to me. Sure, it is only a certificate...but it is something that I worked hard for. It is something that I never thought I had the ability to do.

So, my friends, I am motivated. I will not be stopped.

With that said, I am going to my family reunion this weekend. I will get to hear all about how I am wasting my time going to school and that I am not smart enough. Well, this time I get to tell them that I am just a few weeks away from being named on the honors list!!!!!

Screw them...it is time to prove to myself that they are dead wrong!

It Makes You Think

2008-09-24T04:07:00.000-04:00

I compiled these from various websites and thought I would share.

PONDER #1:

What's with the expression, "I thought to myself"? Is there another way to think other than to yourself? Can you think to someone else, or to your dog, or to a chair? Perhaps you can, which would explain why people often want to "bounce an idea off you."

People also claim to be "thinking out loud," but really they're just talking. And to listen to some folks prattling on, it's clear that just because they're talking doesn't always mean they're thinking.

PONDER #2:

Why does nodding your head up and down mean yes and shaking it back and forth mean no?

PONDER #3:

They say there's more than one way to skin a cat. Is there much demand for skinned cats? How many ways are there to skin them?

SO...for some fun...add your own!

I Had to Post This!

2008-09-23T14:47:00.001-04:00

Time is Ticking!

2008-09-23T10:36:00.003-04:00

Well, I am busier now than ever. I am doing great at school and the grades are all good. I am learning a lot of fun things and my designs skills are getting better each week. I love it!

I am also doing a lot of organizational work for my SO on top of the things that I already do for the club. I am enjoying it though and most of the time it is running errands and it gives me a reason to get out of the house. (Although, today, it means going through paperwork and doing some filing)

I just picked up my first real client and will be designing their logo and a small website. I am very excited and my mind is full of ideas that I will soon be getting into form in Photoshop and Illustrator.

It is just amazing how I am busier now than I was while I was working. The challenge is separating the work things from the fun things too. I find that I just keep on working and soon I just put in a 16 hour work day!

So, time is ticking...gotta get back to the filing!

I Am Excited!!!

2008-09-15T18:18:00.002-04:00

So, we finally have some country music coming to the club and I am excited!!!

First on the list is Lee Brice. A SC native that is quickly moving up the charts. He is so cute and has a great voice! Check him out here. He is coming on September 25 and I really hope we have a good crowd. Since we were able to keep the ticket price to only $13...we should have a good turn out. (You can buy tickets here)

I am so excited!!!!!!

What Are You Saying...Exactly?

2008-09-12T06:57:00.002-04:00

Last night I watched the forum with McCain and OBama. It was pretty ho-hum for the most part but there was one question that snapped me to attention. "How can we make going into the military more appealing to young people?"

The most common answers would be salary, benefits,etc. You know, the normal things that would make any career more appealing.

O Bama's answer was odd. He repeated the statement 4 times during his answer. "We need to broaden the demographic of the people that enter the military." His answer came with no premise on how to do that.

In my opinion, it began to sound like he wanted to either bring back the draft or make military service mandatory. OMG! The concept of requiring military service is the main premise for a socialist government.

I also noticed how good he is at drawing you in. He is a talented speaker and has a way about him that makes you want to hear what he says. It is a dangerous talent and I think we should all take heed.

PANIC!!!

2008-09-05T06:38:00.002-04:00

The actions of people around here over the past few days have provided me with some amusement. People are in a total panic...over what? A Tropical Storm that isn't even going to hit here! It isn't even a slow mover...so it will be out of here quick.

Schools are out today....some people even evacuated as early as Tuesday!

CALM DOWN PEOPLE! We have had Thunderstorms that were worse than what we are probably going to see. This is probably going to be nothing more than a Tropical Breeze!

Busier Now Than Before

2008-09-03T05:54:00.002-04:00

It seems that I am busier now than I was when I was working. Between school, my kids, the club, homework and various design projects that I am working on...I am never without something to do.

School is going good and I am really enjoying my classes. My Illustrator class is proving to be hard and I am having to really work hard to gain understanding of it. That is fine though, I love a challenge and was really in need of one anyway.

Now, it looks like with will have to worry about Tropical Storm Hanna by the end of the week. I did my shopping yesterday because Wednesday's are busy with school and Comedy Night at the club. I knew that by Thursday, things (and people) would be getting crazy. So, we are ready in that respect. I will spend Thursday at home securing the outdoor furniture if necessary. So, for now, I am keeping up with what is going on with the storm. It is no time to slack though since there are 2 storm right behind this one!

Huh?

2008-08-27T09:34:00.004-04:00

So, last night was the big open house at my oldest daughter's school. All went well and she has some really good teachers. But I do have one question...How do you have a class called Keyboarding when you don't have any keyboards and there are no plans to get any?

Yes, you read that correctly. She is in Keyboarding...which I thought was great because typing is no longer something that the "girls do". With computers, it is very important to know how to type. But this teacher started the "class" by saying that this is keyboarding class but we do not have keyboards. Therefore I am teaching business.

There is nothing wrong with teaching business. Why not just call it a Business Class? What happens if they get keyboards next year and they are not allowed to take the class because they have already had it?

It is just an example of how stupid our school board is. Why even offer a keyboarding class if they know that keyboards are not available?

Caution Needed!

2008-08-25T06:06:00.007-04:00

American history is full of people that are eloquent dreamers. These men had real dreams...dreams of a country that would bring freedom to it's citizens. These people helped to build a great country.

Today, a lot of attention is going to Barack Obama and the Democratic Convention that starts this evening. I notice during this coverage that everyone seems to be gushing over Barack. I will admit that he is a good speaker...that his speeches appear to unite...and that he seems to have motivated his constituents. His "Yes, We Can" speeches, on the surface, layout a speech of what would seem to be a modern day dreamer.

CAUTION IS NEEDED when taking things at face value. I do not think that Barack is what he seems. I was listening to the amazing speech of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. yesterday on PBS and I noticed something interesting. Every speech that Barack gives have the same tone, tempo and resonance that Dr. King's speech had. Barack's "Yes, We Can" mantra has easily replaced, "I Have A Dream".

Please remember that some of the most remembered people in history were motivators as well. These people were able to convince others that their views were correct and get them to take actions to make the "dreams" come true. Among these people are such figures as Hitler, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein...just to name a few! This should show that motivating, eloquent words do not mean that what they speak of is really what is best. Take Heed when someone offers only words and no substance.

My word of caution comes with a request that you dig deeper than the coverage on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. Look deeper than the surface of the motivating speeches. Please realize that an eloquent speaker can easily manipulate the listener.

Reflection

2008-08-22T06:34:00.004-04:00

It has been a week since my life took such a drastic change. I can't help but look back and try to learn some lessons from it all.

Lesson 1: Don't take words at face value no matter how badly you want to believe what you are being told. People have their own agendas and will always put those ahead of anything that is important to you.

Lesson 2: A risk taken with great thought and consideration can be worth it.
I am not a risk taker and even though the decision was a tough one, it is already paying off.

Lesson 3: It is ok to accept help when you are trying to meet your goals. It is not a sign of weakness.

Lesson 4: All things happen for a reason. It is kind of funny how I didn't realize how unhappy I was at my job until I wasn't there anymore. Getting laid off may end up being one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

There is no turning back now...I am on a good track in my life. I am very proud of how I handled this huge transition in my life and think that life will only get better from here.

It all Happened So Fast

2008-08-21T07:44:00.003-04:00

So, yesterday, I went to the college to finalize my class registration. I happened to finish just in time to actually take my first class! So, I started school yesterday.

I have a few observations about my class.

We had to do that stupid thing of going around the room and telling your name, why you took this class and what your major is. You should know that I am the oldest one in the class and all of the other students just graduated high school. So, every single student in the class (except me), answered it the exact same way. "I thought this class would be cool". NO JOKE! But what really got me was that none of them had majors that had anything to do with Photoshop!

I kind of laughed inside because I know that they thought this was going to be an easy class! HA! This class is going to be hard...with 7 assignments due every week! This ought to be interesting!

I start my Illustrator class on Monday and will be going to school on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

A DREAM COME TRUE!

Daring to Dream!

2008-08-20T06:58:00.005-04:00

I have been really consumed with getting my life together over the past few days. I have gotten a lot done and I can start to settle into what is my new life. It is amazing how life can throw you a curve ball and your life instantly changes. It is scary and exciting at the same time. I have now reached the excited part of the whole thing.

I will be starting school Monday!!! I have to say that I have not let any grass grow under my feet since I accepted the lay off. I was given the choice last Friday...told them my decision on Monday...Signed up for my unemployment and for school on Tuesday!

That may not seem like an amazing thing to most of you but it is for me. You see, I have honestly never taken a real risk in my life. Let me explain why.

Where I grew up, taking a risk is only something that you do by planting 1 week earlier than the almanac tells you to...it is not something that you do in life. Your life is laid out by the status quo...you do not dare to dream. That is where I was totally different...I did try to dream. As a child, I wanted to be a news anchor, lawyer, teacher, artist, weather woman, etc. I dreamed....but each time I told anyone of my dreams they would just say that there was no way that I could get that. Over time, my dreams and my ability to dream went away.

Over the years, and after 2 marriages where I was held down and really taught that I wasn't worth much...it has taken some real time to get back to the point where I could dream.

So, here I am...36 years old, and I just now figuring out what my dreams are and I actually feel confident enough to go for them.

A Good Day

2008-08-19T18:37:00.004-04:00

To say that today was a productive is a total understatement. I was busy from about 7:50 this morning until...well, I still really have not finished.

I started off this morning dreading my first trip to the unemployment office. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It took about an 1 1/2 hours though. I am really glad that is done. After that, I had some errands to run for my SO. So, I took the trip from Ridgeland to Hilton Head. Then I enjoyed lunch with my SO...which was a wonderful treat.

After that, I headed to the Technical College and registered for school. I also took my placement tests and picked my classes. I have a few things that I have to get worked out tomorrow such as getting the basic computer class waived because I definately do not need a basic computer class. I still have to work out how to pay for it...but as my SO says, "it is just money". LOL He just has this way about him...he just doesn't worry about such things. I am going to have to learn how he does that!

So, today was a success!

Land of the Unknown

2008-08-18T11:20:00.003-04:00

Well, I have entered the land of the unknown. I am unemployed and have a lot of i's to dot and t's to cross over the next few days.

This is all a risk...and anyone that knows me well, knows that I am not a risk taker. I am a planner. I think out and try to plan for every scenario and every possibility. I am scared but excited at the same time.

I really want to turn this into something that will take my life in a positive direction. I want to go to school and get the training in the computer programs that I need to get a more advanced graphic design job. I only need about 4 classes to make that happen. Suddenly, that seems like a small obstacle and a very realistic goal.

I do have a few very important things that I have to work out. The very first one is getting health insurance for my kids since that is court ordered. I have looked up some policies and have found one that I feel that I can afford. So, that one will be taken care of on Friday. I know that I can't afford COBRA...and what I have found is surprisingly affordable.

So, today, I am going to get some stuff done around the house. I am going to get the laundry caught up and work on getting a filing system set up for my SO.

Things Are Never What They Seem

2008-08-16T01:31:00.006-04:00

So, last week, my boss told me that my job was safe...this was an unsolicited comment. In light of the recent layoffs, this made me feel much better. Well, today, I found out that couldn't have been further from the truth.

My position was eliminated and even though I was offered another position, it is for much less money and less hours. That job is also a position that does not utilize my talents and passions at all. It is a dead end job with no promise that I would get this job back if the market improved.

So, I will take that position so I can actually survive while I look for other work. I am beefing up my resume and getting it ready to send out all over the place.

I am angry because I was lied to for no reason except that it made her feel better to say it. I am disappointed because I was promoted to this position only a month ago and was really enjoying the fact that I was finally doing what I really wanted to do.

So, if anyone knows of anything out there that would be better than a horrible receptionist job, please email me and let me know.

Damn I am Getting Old!

2008-08-15T09:14:00.004-04:00

My oldest daughter starts middle school on Monday. She is jumping around excited and I just sit there dumbfounded asking where the time all went.

I remember when she was born. She was born 10 weeks early and at her lowest weight she was 2lbs. 8oz. and she burned more calories trying to drink from the bottle than she took in. She was on a feeding tube for 3 weeks. She would stop breathing and was sent home with a heart and apnea monitor. She wore baby doll clothes home from the hospital 4 weeks later.

At 18 months, she finally walked. She was always a very easy going baby and slept through the night from the very beginning.

There we so many hurdles that she had to face in her little life including 3 serious eye surgeries and the risk of learning disabilities. Now I see what she is becoming and I am very proud of her.

She is a beautiful, young person who is caring, loving and very artistic. She has goals and dreams of going to SCAD and working in the fashion industry.

So, I have to sit back and watch my little girl take that step to middle school. This is a great triumph for her and a happy and sad moment for me. Each achievement takes her further away from being that little girl and closer to being a grown woman.

Sorry for the gushy post today...

New Habits

2008-08-14T10:30:00.004-04:00

Here is my daily update on my campaign to stop smoking.

Last night while working at the club, I had a really tough craving...probably the worst one I have had since I decided to quit. I got a glass of wine and tried to relax through it. It worked...I made it through without giving in.

At work, I hit each craving by eating grapes. And while at home, I seem to have taken cleaning as my way to fight the cravings. (My SO loves this!!!)

I am working through it and I am very proud of myself.

Drippy Day & Smoking Update

2008-08-13T08:26:00.008-04:00

It is going to rain all day. For some reason, I don't mind at all...it is kind of nice. It would be even better if I could have stayed in bed a little longer and even better still if it was Saturday and going to work wasn't something that I had to do.

Anyway, I am sitting at my desk...looking out the window...rain...nice rain!!!! Wonderful!

******************************************************

I am still doing good with the whole not smoking thing. I have found something that helps me with the cravings while I am at work...GRAPES! They are not going to make me fat...so they are a perfect choice for something to easy eat when a craving strikes. I have also noticed that the bad taste is out of my mouth. I have noticed that my food has more flavor. These are all great motivators to keep it up.

Smoking Update!

2008-08-12T13:27:00.000-04:00

Well, I found a cigarette yesterday in my car. I took one puff...it was nasty and put it out. That is the only time I have been really weak. I don't think I am doing too bad.

I stopped and got some grapes to keep at my desk today. That seems to have helped alot. Everytime I think about having a cigarette...I eat a couple of grapes. Not too bad...and tasty too.

Actually, I am very proud of myself.

UGH!

2008-08-11T08:23:00.005-04:00

So, this weekend was filled with getting the house ready to sell. I cleaned the carpet in the living room and hallway, deep cleaned the master bathroom, dining room and kitchen. My SO pressure washed the house! We were so tired that we just crashed into bed Saturday night and I think that we were instantly asleep! We continued working yesterday with someone coming over to trim the shrubbery and put down pinestraw. My muscles hurt. Not just one muscle...ALL OF THEM!

*******************************************************************

To top it off...I have not had a cigarette since Saturday afternoon!!!! I have to quit...otherwise I will be wasting my time and money trying to keep from loosing my teeth. I might as well just pull them out and get dentures now because that is what my fate with be anyway. It hasn't been so bad...yet. All the cleaning kept me so busy that I did pretty well. Today may be another story.

It is Time to Choose!

2008-08-08T07:50:00.006-04:00

Every year for the past 10 years, I have chosen someone to make a quilt for as a gift for Christmas. I usually choose that person in the month of August. Since I started it, my family has made a really big deal over figuring out who would be the recipient. The problem is that now everyone in my immediate family has a quilt. So, this year, I will start picking from other people that I know. The only requirement to be on my list is that I have to think that you would really be appreciative of such a gift.

I have written down a list of names of people that I think might meet that requirement. Now I have to figure out the best way to actually choose the person. Do I put the name in alphabetical order and start from there? Do I just draw a name out of a hat? Do I just pick one at random? This is the part that I can't seem to figure out.

You may wonder why I put so much effort in determining who I would give a quilt too. Well, as simple as this may sound, my Great-Grandmother taught me how to quilt. Although I cheat now (in her eyes) and do my quilting on my sewing machine, I feel like giving a quilt as a gift is passing on a small part of her. In this simple way, my Great Grandmother is still here in those gifts.

In my eyes, these are pure gifts of the heart. I take great care in choosing the person that will recieve it. I make sure that the colors in the quilt reflect this person's personality and tastes. I work for months to make the quilt as I cut out and sew together each piece of the fabric puzzle. I take precious time quilting each stitch. I wrap it in a wonderful box with expensive paper and an elaborate bow. Honestly, this is the gift that I enjoy giving the most.

I will figure out who gets this gift from my heart by the end of the weekend. I will purchase the fabric and start the process next week.

P.S. It doesn't do any good to tell me how much you want one or how appreciative you will be. The people that bug me get moved further down on the list!!!! (just ask my sister!)

This Just Doesn't Make Sense!

2008-08-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

So, on the way back from Jekyll Island on Saturday, I noticed something VERY strange about the gas prices. Gas was $3.39 a gallon for regular unleaded at the Jekyll Island exit off of I-95!!! As I drove North on I-95, I noticed that the prices went from that $3.39 to $3.69...that is until I got to Savannah and it was $3.89. One mile back, I could buy gas for almost $0.40 cents cheaper!

What happened in that mile? Why the huge difference? In my mind, if the gas companies are setting the prices and the gas stations have no control, there should not be such a dramatic change.

During this whole price hike situation, I have heard the plight of the gas station owners and I am starting to wonder.

I would love to start a conversation about this....so chime in.

My Weekend was a SPLASH!

2008-08-04T08:25:00.006-04:00

So, Saturday morning, my girls and I headed out to Jekyll Island for some water park fun at Summer Waves. I had actually managed to keep our destination a secret and threatened that if they guessed it that I would change it. So, we get in the car, I type in Summer Waves into the GPS and that is when they found out. I should have thought about what the decibel level in my car might be so I would have been prepared!!!

We left the house at 8:30 and stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and then headed South. We arrived at the park around 10:15 and promptly headed for the big slides since the lines were very short. We managed to go down the slides a lot before the lines picked up. I was very glad that we arrived right after the park opened. Around 12:30, we had lunch at Larry's Giant Subs and decided to let our food settle with a few trips around the Lazy River. (This is my favorite)

After a few turns in the Lazy River, the girls wanted to try out the Wave Pool. This is fun but very crowded and exhausting! But it is great to be able to enjoy the waves without the issues of the actual ocean such as jellyfish, disgusting water, rip currents, etc. After this, my oldest wanted to go down some slides that my youngest daughter had no interest in. So, I decided to trust her and see how it goes. So, she was off the the black water slide and I went with my youngest to a slide that is fun but much more tame. I had given my oldest instructions to go down the slide 3 times and to meet me at the entrance to the Lazy River. I was very pleased that she arrived where I told her just as I had requested. So, we went off for a few more trips down the river.

By this point it was 5 pm and we were all tired. I treated them with some Dippin' Dots and we headed home.

It was a great day.

I know I had said that I didn't want to spend alot of money in my post on Friday. (thanks for pointing that out WC) But I had not really done anything fun with the girls all summer and I wanted to treat them with a "mini-vacation". All in all, it wasn't that expensive when you consider that we had a great time. It was $58 for the 3 of us to get in, $17 for lunch, $7 for Dippin' Dots and $43 for gas. Not horribly bad for what we did and much cheaper and more fun than just going to the Mall!!!! (I have a pre-teen the mall costs WAY too much!!!!!)

Decisions to Make!

2008-08-01T10:14:00.006-04:00

Well, It is Friday again and I have been trying to think of something to do with my kids this weekend. There just are not that many choices that really appeals to me.

-I could take them to the beach but that is just a lot of work.

-We could go to Savannah and walk on River Street but it is way too hot and they will just want to spend money.

-I had thought of a day trip somewhere but again that is just more money and then it is not that easy to figure out where to go.

Then the more practical side of me steps in and thinks of all of the things that I NEED to do at home. But I would not win any awards from my kids for taking my weekend with them to do chores.

Truth is, we have not really done anything fun together this summer and I feel a bit guilty about that.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a fun day trip that will not cost a ton of money?

UPDATE:
***I have decided to take them to Summer Waves Water Park at Jeykll Island, GA. Admission for the 3 of us will only be around $55 and it will be a lot of fun. Sort of a mini vacation! I will post a report of the trip on Monday!***

Sparkling Smile!

2008-07-31T10:01:00.003-04:00

Guess where I spent my morning? Yeap...I am sitting here right now doing my best impersonation of Bill Cosby in the dentist chair. My nose feels like it disappeared and my lip feels like it is 1000 time bigger than usual.

I had a tooth repaired and actually got some bad news. I have short roots and I could loose my teeth at a very early age. It is a problem that is mostly genetic that has been compounded by the fact that I have not taken care of them as I should have.

So, in an effort to avoid loosing my teeth, I will be spending alot of $$$$ to try and avoid it. I have never been a vain person and spending money on my looks is something that I would normally ever consider but this is different than going out and getting boobs or a nose job. This is my teeth!

So, I guess I better get used to the numb feeling because I may be feeling it alot.

Blinding Lights

2008-07-30T11:56:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was having a productive day and had just sat down for lunch when it suddenly hit me. My computer screen became a wavy flash of lights and the room was filled with brilliant lights that grew in intensity. I knew it was going to be a bad one.

I have a rare form of migraine called hemiplegic migraines. I rarely have pain with my migraines...and I would take the pain anyday over what I go through.

The flashing lights are the beginning and that is followed by complete loss of vision in my right eye. Then the right side of my face droops and goes numb. My tongue and throat are numb and this numbness travels down my right side. I loose the use of my right arm and hand.

Once this starts to subside, I am exhausted and my words are slurred for a while.

It is scary because this type of migraine makes me more subseptable to having a stroke. And who would know because I already look like I have had one?

The only thing I can do is to rest and sleep it off. Yesterday, I sat at work and waited for my vision to get good enough to drive and I went home and slept for hours.

Why am I telling you this? To let you know that everyone has their "thing" that they deal with...this is mine. I am learning to cope with this and they are getting further apart than they were last summer.

You are Stupid...

2008-07-29T08:12:00.003-04:00

The vast majority of the town that I live in falls under this category. They are indeed stupid...not just dumb or even uneducated...just stupid.

What is the difference? Well, dumb or uneducated people do not have a choice in most cases. Circumstances may have a lot to do with a person being this way.

Stupid people make the choice to be ignorant of facts to serve their selfish existence.

My definition of what makes a person stupid is that they make no move to learn the facts but instead they follow the views that are most popular at the moment. Once the popularity shifts, so does this person's opinions and beliefs. Their ideas are not based on any fact and typically they only work to feed a negative firestorm.

Wicked Food

2008-07-28T08:14:00.007-04:00

So, Friday night my SO and I went out for a nice dinner. Sounds simple enough, I know but we rarely have the time to do things like that. I actually didn't know that we were doing it until we pulled up to the restaurant...so it was a nice surprise.

I had the crab cakes, scalloped potatoes and green beans. It was really good UNTIL about an hour later when the indigestion hit. Honestly, after that, I didn't feel good the rest of the weekend. It was all topped off on Saturday evening when the real sickness and toilet worshipping began. Sunday was spent between the couch and the bed.

I do not have time to be sick. We have WAY too much to do to get ready for the big move. Packing has not even begun!!! Saturday we did manage to get the garage cleaned and rid of the junk and I did manage to go through most of the kitchen cabinets and get rid of the junk...but there is still so much to do.

Just Crazy!

2008-07-25T10:03:00.008-04:00

So, last night, I worked the door for a concert at Stages. It was an all ages show...BIG MISTAKE! But that is how the performer does all of his shows. So, we put bracelets on the 21 and over crowd and marked the hands of the ones that are too young to drink.

The concept seems simple enough but WTF??? The young ones would either wash off the permanent ink or have their friends buy them alcohol. Several (number too high to say) were asked to leave for drinking.

I stood at the door and would not let anyone in if they did not have either a bracelet or mark. If they didn't have either, they had to pay to get back in. OMG! I felt like I was a part of a three ring circus! Managing this alone took 4 people!!!

I actually enjoy working the door though. I get to be tough (and yes, I know how to do that) and enforce the rules.

I am just glad that we do not do many of these all ages shows!

New Look!

2008-07-23T08:44:00.003-04:00

This is the new look for my blog. I am actually very happy with it although there have been problems with how it looks on some monitors. (Please let me know if you see a problem)

One of the reasons that I am so excited about it is because this is my first template! That is right...I am learning coding and I hard coded this template! And I am proud of myself and I don't think it is too bad for my first one.

So, let me know what you think...how I can improve it or if there are any problems.

My Secret!

2008-07-22T08:24:00.007-04:00

I am a weather geek...but not just any form of weather excites me. I have this morbid fascination with Tropical Systems. When the tropics heat up, I get this excitement that is just sick!

It is not that I want a direct hit to obliterate a town. It it the excitement of watching it grow and build and get closer. I can't explain it.

I have gone through about 15 hurricanes of varying strengths and they honestly scare me. But the events leading up to it...gets me real excited! All of the preparation, tracking the storm, waiting for the next update and watching the updates on TWC...

Maybe it is because it is a break from the normal routine...not sure. But it is Hurricane season and it is starting to heat up!!!

Weekend in Review

2008-07-21T08:58:00.005-04:00

I had my girls this weekend and we went to see Beauty and The Beast at the local youth theater. I enjoyed the show but enjoyed watching them just as much. This was their first live show and they both just loved it.

We went out to eat before hand and then went to the show.

It was a great "girls night out"!

Dream Analysis...Please?

2008-07-16T08:17:00.013-04:00

So, last night I actually went to sleep with no problem at all but I had a nightmare all night long. You know, one of those dreams that feels so real that when you wake up you are shaking.

I would wake up, go back to sleep and it would start from where it left off.

You are all probably going to think I am crazy but here goes...

I fought vampires all night...a whole room of them. One of them actually bit my neck. I was in a dark place and there were very dim lights surrounding the walls. It looked a little like a cave as the walls were rough and slightly damp because they would glisten in the dim lights. The leader wasn't dressed in a way that you would think was typical of a vampire because he wore white. He had dark hair and very pasty white powdery skin. There were other girls there that were chained to the walls that were very near me and they looked dead to me as they did not move. I fought them as best I could but the leader was much too strong. He managed to pin me to the floor and took a bite of my neck.

At this point, I apparently yelled outloud because my SO grabbed me and I woke up. The dream would just started over. The other times that I woke up, the dream just kept going. I am physically sore and exhausted this morning.

So, what do you think that this dream could possible mean?

I am NOT the Energizer Bunny!

2008-07-15T08:19:00.006-04:00

My life is just crazy busy right now. Between my new duties at work, marketing for the club and my kids; there doesn't seem to be anytime to just relax any more. In many ways that is really good but my history says that after prolonged period of going non-stop...it is not good at all.

I am starting to feel everything taking its toll on my emotionally. I am not sleeping well and getting to sleep is becoming a huge challenge. Today, I feel like I could just cry and really just wanted to pull the covers over my head and hide from the world.

Sunday, I stayed on the couch until I had to go to work at the club. I felt guilty about doing that but I knew that was what I needed to do. Why did I feel guilty? Maybe because my SO is like the energizer bunny and just keeps going and going. So, if I stop, I just up feeling inadequate and lazy. (this is not something he is making me feel...this is ALL something that I am putting on myself)

With my history, though, I know when I have pushed it too far. The first sign is that I can't sleep. Then I can't focus and then I get depressed. When this happens, I have to be very careful and take the time to really take care of myself.

So, it is time to admit and accept that I am NOT the Energizer Bunny!

Something for Nothing????

2008-07-14T08:40:00.003-04:00

So, last night I worked the door at the club. It was there that I witnessed something shameful about people... They all want something for nothing! Now this is hardly an unexpected revelation but you hardly expect to have that notion slap you in the face 100 times in 1 night.

Imagine going to the movie theater and asking to be allowed in for free. Imagine going out to eat and asking that you not be required to pay your bill. What do you think would happen? Do you think that it would work? Of course not!!!

So, why is it that people go to a club with a great entertainer with a $10 ticket and begg or complain at the door about having to pay? We have to pay that performer, the sound engineer and for security...why do you think that you are so important that you should not have to pay? The excuses are endless... "I know_____, the bartender"....duh??? He is a bartender... a lot of people know him! and yes, one time I even got, "I am great friends with _____...he owns the place" (backstory...this person sold it over 8 months ago! yes, indeed you are great friends!)

We actually do give away tickets to some of our shows. We have a set amount that are comp long before the show. What really pisses me off is when a person has 2 of these tickets and they bring 4 people and expect those 2 tickets to work for 4 people. What kind of math is that?

What is really funny is watching guys that are out trying to impress a girl. They come up to the door and try to smooth talk their way out of paying. WTF? Do they really think they are impressing her? YES!!!! The girl just stands there and rolls her eyes because the only thing that he just showed her is that 1) she is not worth $10 to him and 2) he is cheap.

I really want to believe that it is the economy but I doubt it. People have a sense of entitlement that they "deserve" to be given things and it is sad.

My point is...if you can't afford to go out....STAY HOME!

The Week is Almost Over!!!

2008-07-11T08:28:00.002-04:00

Despite the craziness of my week, I am finally allowing myself to enjoy the great thing that happened to me this week. I got the job that I really wanted. Now the job that I do is something that I have a great passion for. And now that I am almost finished getting organized, I can dig in and enjoy it.

I apologize for whining all week about my job. This change has been very stressful and this blog is my release. The company structure is still changing but I think that the parts that directly impact me are over....I hope.

I am eager for the weekend and I plan on relaxing.

Slow, Deep Breaths!

2008-07-10T16:34:00.002-04:00

To say that the week has been difficult is putting it very mildly. The changes are work are still happening at a couple of our other offices and I am trying to get more organized so I can do my new duties along with all of the ones that I already had.

I feel like I am starting to make progress though. Today has been much better! My days are very busy and the time seems to fly by.

Who Told You That Life Is Fair?

2008-07-08T08:20:00.001-04:00

So, 2 things happened yesterday...one good and one not good.

My friend was laid off...not good and I feel horrible. I was given the Marketing Coordinator position...very good and a goal of mine. It is hard to feel really happy about this accomplishment because of what happened to make that position a possibility.

I am trying really hard to enjoy the accomplishment because I have worked hard for it. The way that it happened is not my fault and I had nothing to do with it at all.

So, today will be a tough day as everyone finds out that she is gone. I have to go through all of her files and get organized. So, I am off to my busy day.

Just Another Monday...

2008-07-07T09:46:00.003-04:00

I hate Monday's...I know that isn't really a profound statement but I am really hating it today. See, there is something going on at work that I am not even supposed to know about. Truth is that I wasn't really told exactly what it is but that IT is happening today and it will directly impact my job. Nice, huh?

Sometimes it is nice to have a little warning when shit is going to hit the fan...but not this time...not with the condition of the market and not with the recent events that included cutting hours.

So, It is going to be a GREAT day! (sarcasm noted)

Happy July 4th!

2008-07-04T09:33:00.001-04:00

Well, it is July 4th and I am actually working. Why? Can you say, DOUBLE OVERTIME??? I am sitting here answering the phones and taking care of any walk ins that come...which there have been none and probably won't be!!! Easy Money!

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Shame On Me

2008-07-03T09:56:00.002-04:00

I have been slack at posting the past few days. Not going in until 10 am is taking some getting used to. It works pretty well since I am working the door at the club and not getting home until early morning. Atleast I am not dead on my feet tired all day.

I really don't have anything to really talk about though. Life is pretty boring right now. I so want to go away for a weekend and get away from it all. I guess I just need to figure out how to spice things up a bit.

Oh well, that is a thought for another day.

Plain and Simple

2008-06-30T08:06:00.002-04:00

This is the week that my new hours start so I do not have to be there until 10. That sounds like a really good thing except it is a cut in hours. While I appreciate the fact that they are trying to keep from having to let people go...a 8 hour cut hurts pretty bad too.

It is simple really, the market is just bad.

They are hoping that the market improves through the summer and by September things will be better. This goes against what is being said about the real estate market. I have a feeling that it will not be better and they will be forced to make some drastic cuts.

I am a Contract Coordinator. I just closed my last contract. So it is an uncomfortable feeling to be a Contract Coordinator and have NO Contracts. I do not feel that my job is secure at all.

So, I am making up money by working the door at the club a few nights a week. I am hoping to put away some money just in case the worst happens.

I can't lie...I am really worried. I have no one to take up my slack...if I can't pay my bills, there is no one there to pay them. It is scary...plain and simple.

The Sky is Falling (and other thoughts)

2008-06-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, just as I was leaving work, the sky looked so bad. The closer I got home, the worse it looked. I took this picture on my way home (yes, I was driving!)...it looked a little scary. Of course, not a single drop of rain fell until I was almost home! I am just glad that the storm wasn't as bad as it looked like it might be.

On another note, my kids come back from their summer trip to my mother's house. This is always an adventure because they have spent weeks there and it takes about 2 weeks to get them to behave! They start summer camp on Monday and I really hope that they have a good time.

I have also found a tutor for my youngest daughter. This is something that I am very excited about. Since her dad and I decided to keep her in the 3rd grade, I wanted to give her some extra help. I just don't think that repeating the stuff is the sole answer and that unless something different is done, she will always struggle. I want her to have a good school year since she has struggled every year including kindergarten. I honestly think that having some one on one time to work on the things that she stuggles with may be really good for her. Her dad doesn't agree with me but I do not care. I will take her to the tutor on the evenings that I have her. What is he going to do...take me to court because I got her a tutor? LOL

Thanks for putting up with my disjointed rambling today! Have a good weekend!

"Where Would I Rather Be?" Wednesday

2008-06-25T08:30:00.007-04:00

It is hump day again and I am ready for my imaginary vacation day. This time I am off for some fun and relaxation. I will start my day by relaxing poolside and will take my relaxation a step further with a nice long trip to the spa.

CRUISE

Juse the thought of this gets me excited!

I am so ready for a major trip like this! Sun, Pools, Spas, Shows, lots of fruity drinks.....the options are endless!

WEBSITE UPDATE: The website for the club is fully operational again. I will not bore you with the details of what I had to go through to get it fixed...but it took me a really LONG time.

The Ultimate Frustration!

2008-06-24T08:20:00.000-04:00

OK...yesterday I posted the link to the club website. Yesterday at some point, there was a database problem and I have to start over! UGH!!!!! Fortunately I was able to save the code for the actual design but I have to reinstall the modules and components!

So, I am going to sneak that work in at my job today. This website needs to be live!

A Moment of Obsenity and other things

2008-06-23T08:19:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning to the news that George Carlin died. So, in true George Carlin fashion, I think that we need to have a moment of obsenity out of respect for him. *#?*#$@

The weekend was a good one. I seemed to get a lot of things done. I cleaned the house, went grocery shopping and I finally finished the website for the club. Go ahead, check it out.... www.stageshhi.com Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions, I am open to them.

As I Ponder....

2008-06-19T08:37:00.002-04:00

My mind has been so preoccupied since last Friday. Out of all of the thinking I have been doing, one question seems to be coming to the surface.

DOES "NEVER" REALLY MEAN "NEVER"?

The majority of the time a person says that they will NEVER do something...more often than not they end up doing it. But is there ever a time with NEVER really means NEVER? Is it possible to close yourself off to the possibilities so much that you really mean it?

Is it really fair to close your heart and mind off to that degree? I don't understand why a person would really want to limit their options in life.

Sorry for the rambling...I just have a lot on my mind to sort out and decisions to make.

"Where Would I Rather Be?" Wednesday

2008-06-18T08:10:00.003-04:00

My dream travels this week takes me to the hustle and bustle of the big city. I have always wanted to go here. Since I have never been to a big city, there is just something mystical about it to me. With so much to do, I think this might be a long trip!

NEW YORK CITY, NY

If I went to New York one of the first things I would do is get a hot dog from a street vendor! LOL Then I would make my way down Broadway and catch a play. I couldn't possibly miss Times Square and the original Macy's. Of course, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty would be on the list as well.

Out of My Mind!

2008-06-17T08:24:00.003-04:00

I honestly have no clue what to write about this morning. There are things going on...Tiger Woods edge of your seat win at the Open, gas prices that continue to climb, the bad real estate market that hits me in the face every day, etc... But nothing seems to be grabbing my attention enough to really get excited about it.

I think I have just one simple problem....I AM BORED!

I am craving some fun. I want to do something out of the ordinary. To go somewhere...do something...almost anything would do.

My life consists of only about 5 things and those tasks are as methodical as the ticking of a clock.

Ok...maybe it is more than being bored...I am in a rut and need something to snap me out of it.

So, I have to come up with something cheap to do that is out of the ordinary.....hum??????????

The Wonderful World of Naps!

2008-06-16T08:53:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I did something that I never get to do...I TOOK A REALLY LONG NAP! It was glorious...one of those deep sleeps that make you feel so refreshed!

The only thing that bugged me was that I had predicted that Dale Jr. would win the race yesterday...He did and I missed it! LOL

The weekend was a good one...nice and relaxing. Now I head back to the grindstone and get back to work. I am thinking of taking a vacation and just spending it at home. I need a good vacation!

Show Me The Money!

2008-06-12T08:20:00.001-04:00

I have always loved music. As a teenager the big thing was to make mixed tapes of all of your favorite artists. I just had one problem...money. I would help my grandmother with chores to earn just enough money to buy the required blank tapes and then the hard part would begin. I would sit in front of the old Zenith cabinet TV and watch Solid Gold or any music show I could find, use a mic and my tape recorder and make my tapes. I would also spend hours listening to various radio stations to record my favorites.

There were a couple of artists that were of enough importance to have their very own homemade tape. One of those happened to be Eddie Money. In the day of 1 hit wonders, Eddie Money was a multi platinum artist and that made him special! I had a poster on my wall, I knew every song and I dreamed of meeting him!

So, today is a HUGE day! Eddie Money is coming to the club!!!!!!!! I am so excited that I do not know how I will focus on work knowing that he is only a few miles away. I am going to the club right after work. As always, I designed the poster for the concert and I have printed one for the required autograph. I will be meeting him before the show and I will also be the concert photographer that will give me unlimited access!

So, Show Me The Money!!!!!!!!

"Where Would I Rather Be" Wednesday

2008-06-11T08:39:00.004-04:00

This week finds me longing for lands far away. You see, I was born in this far away land but left before I had any memories of the place. It is on the list of my "trips I must take before I die".

Aschaffenburg, Germany

JUST SOUTHEAST OF FRANKFURT, THIS TOWN HAS OLD WORLD CHARM AND LITTLE SHOPS AND CAFE'S! I BET YOU CAN EVEN GET A GREAT GERMAN BEER TOO!

I've Got Gas!

2008-06-10T08:05:00.002-04:00

So, you know how your stomach feels when it is filling up with air and the pain that follows as it is carried up to the middle of your chest? Well, that is how I feel everytime I have to make the decision that I absolutely must pull into a gas station to fill up my car.

Gas this morning is at an alarming $3.97 or more! I was fortunate to find two stations on the Hwy 17 side of I95 that had it for $3.89. One was out of gas and the other wasn't. So, I pulled in and put in just enough to get me to pay day.

This makes me feel like my grandfather talking about "back in the day" prices because I remember gas at $0.89 a gallon. I am not that old people!!!!

Everyone should know by now that we will NEVER have normal gas prices again. They have fixed it in our head that $2.50 a gallon is cheap. So, how far will they try to adjust this in our minds. Will they go for $5 so that we think that $4.00 is cheap?

The gas companies are single handedly ruining our economy. They are making $300 billion dollar a year in record profits. Do they really expect us to believe that they are not making that off of our backs? If they do, they are idiots.

Summer Cold Hell

2008-06-09T08:14:00.000-04:00

ok...I wish someone would just come over and cut my head off. It feels as though it weighs 500 lbs. I have a summer cold and I am miserable. I would have stayed home but someone is on vacation and I am her back up. That leaves me to rough through it and try to stay awake all day.

I hate that I don't have something more interesting to write but my pounding head has my undivided attention!

Really Bad Mood

2008-06-05T13:19:00.002-04:00

I have not posted today because honestly, I am pissed off! I needed to try and calm down and get my thoughts together.

So, I was out yesterday so I could attend my daughters 5th grade moving up ceremony...there was a meeting at work. I came in this morning and I was stunned to find out about the topic of this meeting.

Seems that my employer is taking away our 10 minute morning and afternoon break because the state doesn't require them to give it. Ok...fine...but then they took it further. If you exit the doors during the work day (except during that amazing 30 min. lunch break), you have to deduct that time from your pay!!! WTF???? That includes running out to the car really quick, just stepping out to get a breath of fresh air, etc.

This place has never been a "job" for me...I enjoyed the environment and my work. Now that the 2 office managers have decided to have a power trip...it is just a job.

Big day!

2008-06-04T07:40:00.002-04:00

Well, my oldest daughter has her moving up ceremony and will be moving to middle school. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that she was just a 2.8 lb preemie that would just barely fit in 1 hand!

So, I am off to be the proud mom and I get to feel a little older too!

Blonde Moment

2008-06-03T11:47:00.001-04:00

I am having a blonde day. I locked my keys in my car...with my purse...with my phone and with my smokes!!!!!!!

The Discovery of Me!

2008-06-02T08:34:00.006-04:00

Over the past few years, I have changed a lot. Every now and then something small happens that really shows me how far I have come.

First, let me take you back to what I used to be. I was always an outgoing person but I had no confidence in myself at all. I had no sense of what clothes looked good on me...I did nothing to take care of myself. Honestly, I had stopped being the typical girl along time ago.

In my journey to better myself, I had some help from my dearest of friends. He has a great sense of style and knows how to be drop dead honest with me without crushing me completely. He was and is my my shopping buddy. For along time, I would NEVER go shopping without him. He taught me what looks good on me, he had to practically force me to start getting my nails done (lol). As a result, I started treating myself better. My confidence skyrocketed. The image I had of myself changed dramatically. When I walk in a room, I don't hold my head down anymore.

In the past few weeks, several things have happened that just made me realize how far I have come and how much I have grown as a person.

Just over a week ago, I went shopping with my sister. I was picking out clothes and she just kept commenting on how dressy the clothes were. I just looked at her like she was nuts. They were Capri pants and blouses...dressy? Then it hit me. My definition of casual has completely changed. Before, casual meant jeans and a t-shirt. Now my casual is nothing like that. I only own 2 pair of jeans and t-shirts are only worn around the house or if I go to a race! As we were shopping, I noticed I was doing something that I had never done before...I was looking for shoes and purses to go with my outfits!!!! WTF???? I am finally a girl! LOL So, that day ended with 4 outfits that were perfect, 2 purses and 3 pair of shoes.

Then, this weekend, I went shopping again. (no, I am not a shopaholic...I just lost weight and desperately need clothes). I got the best outfit. But this time, I also decided to treat myself a little and had my nails done and got a pedicure.

This is more than a shopping trip rundown. This is a symbol of how far I have come. In the past couple of years, I have grown into a vibrant, confident woman. I have just started doing things for myself that I should have been doing for a very long time.

Many of you may think this is all a bit silly. But I think it is a sign that I have finally discovered ME!

Oh Well...

2008-05-30T12:30:00.005-04:00

The day has been crazy and I have not had time to pull up the weird news for the week.

I had to go to the Dr. with my oldest daughter for her foot. She has splintered the 5th metatarsal in her left foot. She has to be in a walking shoe until July 1...fortunately, she will be able to take it off to go swimming. At least her summer is not totally ruined.

I am so glad that it is Friday. The only fun thing that I have planned this weekend in getting caught up on the pile of laundry. Sounds fun, huh?

I don't think I am going to go to the club tonight...I am just in the mood to sit back and do nothing. It has been an emotionally exhausting week and I am still tired from my trip last weekend. Having some chill out time sounds so good!

Nasty Book

2008-05-29T09:05:00.002-04:00

So, Scott McClellan has written a book about the "horrible things that happened in the White House" while he was there. This is a bunch of hogwash in my opinion. This is a man that was FIRED!!!! That fact alone is enough to discount this entire book. If he was so upset why didn't he say something when he was there. From my understanding most of what he has included were things that he didn't even have access to. Meetings that he was not a part of were even included in the book.

I think I will sit down and write a book about my former boss that fired me. Wonder how much I could make.

This is all about $$$$$$$ and nothing more.

Pondering

2008-05-28T08:37:00.005-04:00

Do you remember when you were a kid? When things were as simple as picking out the right thing to wear for the day? When most every choice that you had really wasn't a choice at all?

My oldest daughter reminds me of those days. She can't wait to be a grown up. I tell her that it doesn't get any better. Parents telling you what to do just gets replaced by a boss telling you what to do. Parents telling you what you can spend money on just gets replaced by bill collectors and the IRS. She just looks at me like I am crazy.

So, what is my point? I have some really big choices to make in my life right now. What do I really want for my life? Will making changes really "change" anything? What are my choices and which one is the best one?

It all just makes me long for those simple times when someone could just tell me what to do.

All I do know is that I have really steered far away from the things that I know are right. Somewhere along the way I decided that a little happiness was enough and that the things that I really want for my life do not matter enough to fight for.

It all just makes me want to pull my hair out!

"Where Would I Rather Be?" Wednesday

2008-05-28T08:28:00.002-04:00

Ok...I am too tired to go anywhere but here. Not very exciting but it is where I would really like to be!

BED!

Weekend Madness

2008-05-27T08:35:00.003-04:00

Ok, so why is it that a 3 day weekend only makes me tired? I needed to come back to work to get some rest!

I left work on Friday and drove 5 hours to visit my mother. I had a good visit but it was filled with Grandma's comments and a forced visit to church to give my sufficient dose of guilt about "living in sin", not going to church, etc. The highlight of the trip was shopping at Hanes Mall and finally buying some much needed clothes.

Monday, the girls and I headed home and then went to a cookout. The evening ended when my oldest daughter decided to jump off of a trailer and proceeded to twist her ankle and we headed to the ER. Fortunately, it only took an hour but we left with a broken bone, a soft cast and crutches! She is devastated that her summer is starting this way.

Here is where the fun begins. Her father...the a**hole...tore into me about being a horrible mother and threatened to call his attorney. OMG! She was being a kid...having fun and an accident happened. I went home fuming!

I think I would rather skip the 3 day weekends!

Freaky Friday News

2008-05-23T07:50:00.002-04:00

It is time for the weird news for the week....

There was enough local news to be considered weird for this week! No joke these happened right here!

1) "Catch that Goat" Award: This one is a local story about a goat that jumped off of a bridge and got caught in the mud. The story of how the goat was rescued is kind of funny! Just how big is the goat population on Hilton Head anyway?

2) "O Give Me a Home" Award: Another local story! Not sure what is going on here but we had a herd of buffalo on the loose in town! There is a video with this story!!! OMG!

The BIG oops!

2008-05-22T08:33:00.002-04:00

Last night was the finale to American Idol. Admittedly, I didn't watch this season because frankly I don't have the time to sit and watch TV very often. But I do tend to watch the last shows of popular programs.

So, last night I was set to watch and what do I hear? STATIC Through the entire show there was nothing but STATIC. You could watch but not hear. I was angry and can only imagine the anger of the folks that watched the entire season.

Then after the show was over, the 10 pm news came on with an apology for the technical problems. OMG! They must have gotten some nasty calls for that to have been the top story. I don't think that the apology was enough though!

This is not the first time that this station has dropped the ball. They did it for the Daytona 500 also....now that REALLY PISSED ME OFF! Everyone that knows me...knows better than to mess with my ability to watch the race.

So, channel 10...get your act together!

Where Would You Rather Be? Wednesday

2008-05-21T08:14:00.002-04:00

This week's travel wish takes me somewhere a little unexpected. I wanted to go on my daydream trip to somewhere different where I can get some great pictures.

SEDONA, ARIZONA

I actually have a friend that lives in Sedona and he says that you have never seen a real sunset until you see it through the Red Rocks. With hiking, jeep tours, horseback riding and tons of other stuff...this would sure keep me busy!

Go Back Home

2008-05-20T08:24:00.004-04:00

The saddest story has hit this area really hard this week. A 17 year old, who wasn't drinking, was hit by a drunk driver while on his way home from the prom. The boy is in a coma and from all of the reports, it doesn't look good.

The drunk driver was an illegal alien who had no drivers license, no insurance and who was only 20 years old! He left the scene of the accident and investigators found him using a witness account and evidence left at the scene. This sorry excuse for a man is now claiming that they have the wrong person because he had 2 ID's in his car! WTF???

Around here, we see this kind of a story play out over and over. I have nothing against people that move here and become citizens...they are searching for the same things that my ancestors were searching for. I do have a huge issue with people that have no respect for our laws and who are only here to turn USA into Mexico. I don't want to learn to speak your language...I am in America and our language is ENGLISH...you need to learn my language!

If you don't want to be a real American....just go home!

EDITED: 05/21/2008 This young man passed away. My heartfelt prayers go out to his family.

Small Town Horrors

2008-05-19T09:55:00.003-04:00

I grew up in a small town and I live in a small town now. After the past week, I have to say that I would love to live in a big city where I could melt into the obscurity of the masses. It is tiring watching someone live under a microscope and having his every move scrutinized.

Right now, I hate living in a town that only a couple of weeks ago I was proud of. I hate most of the people in the town and I hate the actions taken by some.

I am jumbled up...I am angry and I really don't know what to say.

Freaky News Friday

2008-05-16T08:12:00.000-04:00

It is time to review the world's weird news stories of the week.

1) THE NAUGHTY SEAL AWARD: A seal was caught on tape trying to have sex with a penguin. Actually, from the description it sounds like this seal was trying to rape this poor defenseless creature and we should contact the ACLU!!!!

2) THE DROP THAT CANDY AWARD: An Iowa man was arrested for assaulting an officer when he threw M & M's as the officer. Apparently an piece of the candy hit the officer on the shoulder and he will never be the same again.

3) THE GO AS SLOW AS YOU CAN AWARD: An Illinois man has doubled his gas milage by "hypermiling". Try that on hwy 278!!!!

4) THE BUT DAD I NEEDED ONE AWARD: A Texas teen is in a bit of hot water after he stole his father's credit card. Did he go and buy the hottest game for his Wii? NO...He bought 2 Hookers! Just what every teenager needs!

5) THE DUMB ASS PARENT AWARD: A family in a rush to get to the airport gate "forgot" their 23 month old!!! The thing that gets me is that they didn't even realize it until they were contacted during a layover!!!

Where Would You Rather Be? Wednesday

2008-05-14T09:01:00.005-04:00

Well, after a disappointing loss yesterday...I decided that this week I would rather be at the happiest place on Earth. Since SO said numerous times that if he lost he would go to Disney World...this is in honor of him and the 16 years of devoted public service!

WALT DISNEY WORLD
Known as the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World is the ultimate vacation destination. With 4 parks, water parks, shopping, night clubs and more there is a never ending amount of things to do. Throw in a cute mouse and his pals, and you can't help but smile!

Small Town Politics

2008-05-13T16:00:00.001-04:00

Well, today is election day. I have been trying to come up with something to say about it but my mind is exhausted.

My SO will probably not win. He has been mayor for 16 years and everyone that has supported him through the years have bought into the lies and innuendo that has been spread. SO has devoted his life to this town...has found a way to give the citizens everything that they ask for. He has kept 100% of every promise that he has made. His payment? To get stabbed in the back by all of the people that he has fought so hard for.

In true Forest Gump fashion....That's all I got to say about that.

UPDATE 4 PM: There have actually been people that have been asked to leave for campaigning at the polls...in the actual room where the voters are voting. One was from the neighboring town and I am not really sure what it mattered to her anyway.

Life is like a Box of Chocolates

2008-05-12T13:13:00.002-04:00

Last night I watched one of the best movies of all times...Forest Gump. I love that movie! There are so many quotable things in that movie. It is so much fun to sit and watch a movie that is just wholesome. I never noticed that this movie was based on a book...I think I might try to find a copy and give it a read.

Other than that, the morning was full of DMV madness so I am frustrated.

The election is tomorrow and given the tone of the voters at Friday night's Candidate Forum...things do not look too good.

Weird News Friday

2008-05-09T08:20:00.005-04:00

Well, it time to take a look at the week's weirdest news stories...

1) THE ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID? AWARD: A Utah Police Chief shot himself during an instruction class. apparently he was training how to disassemble a Glock 40 and the gun discharged. Guess he missed his class about making sure that the weapon wasn't loaded!

2) THE IF YOUR FRIENDS TOLD YOU TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE WOULD YOU DO IT? AWARD: A California man was given a dare by his friends to punch a camel at Six Flags...and he did it? The camel was in a restricted area of the park. These just don't sound like friends to me...he was later arrested.

3) THE WHO WANTS TO BE A BILLIONAIRE AWARD: A Texas man was arrested for forging a 360 Billion Dollar check. The man told the tellers that his girlfirend's mother was helping him start a record business. They didn't buy that and called police and he was arrested. Police also found marijuana and a hand gun in his pockets.

4)THE WHY YOU SHOULDN'T SMOKE POT AWARD: Two Texas teens admitted that they dug up a grave so they could use the skull as a bong to smoke pot. Police were questioning htem about an ATM card theft when one of the told police of the grave robbery. They have not found the skull but they did find a disturbed grave in which the skull was missing.

5) THE TASTES LIKE CHICKEN AWARD: Sacramento police arrested a man when they found 300 dead cats in his freezer. They also say that the man had 30 living cats in the home. This is just SICK!!!

That is the weird news for the week....HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

I have to tell you...

2008-05-08T08:14:00.003-04:00

I have tried to keep this blog separate from the things that go on at the club. But that club has become such a major part of my life that it is hard not to include it. So, forgive me!

Last night was the first night of the summer long series from The Comedy Zone. Every Wednesday night we will feature the best in national touring comedians. The 2 act shows start at 7:30 & 10 and the tickets are only $10.

I had never been to a comedy club and I have to say that nothing is better than laughter to make you feel good.

Get out of your mind, images of seedy, open mic night style comedy clubs. These acts were top professionals and were hilarious. Shawn Jones was the headliner and he has been on too many TV shows to list here...I honestly did not stop laughing through his entire show. He played with the audience that he had so both shows were different!

So, that is my plug for Stages! If anyone should want some more information please email me!

"Where Would You Rather Be" Wednesday

2008-05-07T08:10:00.002-04:00

I had a hard time choosing the location for my destination point this week. I hit the tropics last week and I just knwo that there are other places to escape that doesn't involve getting sand in all of you crevices....

It had to be something Exciting...Fun and a bit out of the ordinary for me....

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

How can you go wrong with great live shows, casinos and that "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas Attitude"?

So, today I am going to pretend I am a highroller.

My Head is Spinning!!! & Pity Party!

2008-05-06T10:54:00.004-04:00

I have had the craziest morning...it all started with a meeting at my daughter's school. Don't you hate it when these "special meetings" turn into venting sessions for the teacher! I know that my daughter is a hand ful...I know that she has serious problems...BUT we have these meetings and I am not sure why. There never seems to really be a point where the venting stops and finding solutions begin. I feel like they have given up on her. Anyway, she is not moving ahead next year...which is sad but it is the best thing for her.

I walked away from this meeting feeling like the worst mother in the world. I walked out of there feeling like I have ruined her life with my decisions. I am so much happier...but is she paying the price?

I really can't say anything more........

Sunburn and the Campaign Trail

2008-05-05T08:22:00.002-04:00

So, I spent my Saturday on the campaign trail. I handed out flyers at the intersection in town. It is very interesting how people react to this method. Some would open their windows and others were just rude! It was a successful day and I have the sunburn to prove it. I just thank God that the election isn't in July!!!

This election seems to have taken a direction that really disappointments me on so many personal levels. There are people in the town that are voting racially and are not really looking at where such a vote would take the town. This is a town that was looked down upon since its inception. In the past year or so it has gained respect because of the way the officials were making the developers pay for growth instead of the taxpayers. There are so many rumors about what is going on and no one seems to care enough about what really matters. A RACIAL VOTE IS A VOTE AGAINST YOUR TOWN!

Election day is May 13 and it will be very interesting to see how it pans out. There is a lot of work to do so I guess my sunburn will be staying.

Freaky Friday!

2008-05-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

My Friday Posts will now include a list of what I think are the freakiest news stories of the week!

1) DON'T TAKE OUR NAME AWARD: "Islanders File Suit Over Term 'Lesbian'" Three islanders of Lesbos, Greece have filed this suit because they are also called Lesbians. The suit asks that the Gay community be barred from using the term. I can't say that I blame them but I am not sure how effective it would be.

2) THE GET IT UP AWARD: A Chilean Town is giving Vigagra to Seniors...FREE! Lo Prado Mayor Gonzalo Navarrete said he launched the program because "an active sexuality improves the overall quality of life." Well, DUH?????

3) DON'T DISPLAY MALE ORGANS AWARD: Florida apparently has nothing better to do than to ban fake testicles on vehicles? Is this really such a widespread problem? Drivers would be fined $60. It just seems like there are other problems to deal with down there!

4) DID YOU FALL OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK YESTERDAY AWARD: A Michigan Professor made a HUGE mistake that cost him his son. He didn't know that Mike's Rock Hard Lemonade had alcohol in it and bought one for his 7-year old son at a ballgame. DUH???

So, this is the weird news of the week!

Have a great weekend!