Friday, November 26, 2010

A Special Gift

I went to the bank this morning and as we were leaving, Chloe stopped to peek in a big Dora-wrapped box.

"Ooh look Mom, can we buy these toys?" she asked as she peered into the box. I explained to her that those were toys people had dropped off for children in need.

"What's children in need?" she asked.

"Well," I started, "Some kids' parents can't afford much for Christmas. They need lots of things, like clothes and food, and they might not get any toys, so the bank is collecting toys from families who have some extra money or extra toys to give. That way the children will have some gifts on Christmas."

She was very quiet.  I drove out of the parking lot and toward the edge of town.

"Mom?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you have any extra money in your purse?" I already knew where she was going.

"I have some cash," I told her.

"Can we stop at the Dollar Store and get those children some toys? I won't get anything for me, but it makes me feel sad those kids might not have any toys," she said sincerely. I immediately agreed and told her how proud I was that she knew the true meaning of Christmas.

We went to the store, and she chose a toy for a girl and a toy for a boy. She put a lot of thought into her selections, choosing toys she would like to have for herself, but never asking if she, too, could take home a toy. She asked me to drive her back to the bank right away, and she proudly toted the toys in and dropped them in the box.

I was misty-eyed on the way home. I was so proud of her. I know she has a sensitive heart, but it means so much to me that this girl, who LOVES toys and LOVES getting things for herself, saw a need and was willing to put her own desires aside to give to someone less fortunate.

Today there are women calling each other names, butting in line, and elbowing each other out of the way. Maybe they have a thing or two to learn from a child who has learned the real meaning of Christmas.

A Black Friday Tale

Happy Black Friday! Thanksgiving is over, and if you're my Facebook friend you know I am glad. I was a little grumpy this year, because my little family was all going separate ways. In the end I got to keep my Chloshmo all weekend, and had a good meal with my mama and bubby. I met Mister Mister back here late in the afternoon, and after making the living room "tree-ready", we decided to do some late night door-busters.

I had an e-mail that said if I was among the first 30,000 people to check in to Toys R Us via Facebook starting at 9:30 (but before the doors opened at 10:00) I would receive a special reward. I had my Facebook Places ready to go and clicked in right at 9:30. I was pleasantly surprised with a 15% off coupon that is good starting Monday. That little coupon will save me more than any of their Black Friday deals :)  We had intentions of going in, but when we got in line at ten, and at ten thirty were still out by the highway (in a line that wrapped around the building and wove through the parking lot) we decided NOTHING in that store was worth the wait.

We went over to WalMart to kill time. The midnight sale had lots of things we were interested in. Much to our surprise, WalMart was very quiet, and they had ALLLLLLL their midnight items out already. We filled our carts and were done by eleven. We had to waste time until 12:01, when the deals took effect, and were SO glad we'd arrived early. Most everything we wanted was sold out before midnight, and by eleven thirty the place was buzzing with crazies!

We stood by the checkouts, securing a place at the front of the line. We waited there about thirty minutes. Just before midnight an older lady came through our line from the back side. She told the cashier she had "regular" items she'd like to purchase. She also had Black Friday items, and intended to "waste" enough time ringing up her regular stuff to make it to the special pricing. We were quite irritated that this old biddy cut the line under false pretenses, but we weren't near as irritated as the kind lady behind us :)

Aftetr the CSM told the lady she might as well wait because her items wouldn't be good until midnight (to no avail) the lady behind me approached the cutter.
"Excuse me," she said with a polite smile. "I'm not trying to be a bitch by any means, but it's going to be extremely rude if you cut in front of all these people who've been lined up here for forty-five minutes." The lady said something and pointed to her toilet paper. The patient lady got a little hot, and told her it didn't matter if she picked up one regular item, that she had Black Friday things and should have to go to the end of the line. The lady refused, and Nice Lady came back to tell everyone the story (in a rather loud voice). "Oh she's decided to be a real bitch. She thinks she can just go throw toilet paper in her cart and cut the line because it's not on sale. Guess I'll remember that little trick next year!" she exclaimed.

I giggled, and took Chloe to the car so she wouldn't see the things I'd snuck into my cart. On our way out she exclaimed in her most appalled voice, "MOM! That lady just cutted in front of Bryan! Can you believe that?" The men walking into the store got a great kick out of her enthusiastic berating. "I KNOW!" I said, encouraging her. "That's not bery nice! You shouldn't cut in front of other people," she explianed.  While we waited, Bryan (what a trooper!) checked out all our items. We got some good deals, and we helped Santa out, too ;) We were on our way home by 12:10 and were snug in bed when all the real crazies went out this morning :)

NOW. Did you think we weren't doing questions JUST because it's Black Friday???  Of course we are!!!!!!!!  Here we go!

1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?
My absolute favorite thing about Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie. BUT since we're going to talk about pie on question four, and since it's not technically part of the "meal," I will tell you my next favorite thing.

Mama's noodles. Mmmmmmm she makes them from scratch, cooks them in all those yummy turkey juices, and they are to die for. I love them. Her sister's are amazing as well, and I hope one day I will be able to do the Lusby noodles justice.


2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?
A guest. I've always been a guest. This year was very low-key, just dinner with my mama and bubby. Next year Bryan and I hope to have Thanksgiving so we will all be together. We will see how it goes :)



3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?
When I was younger it was always the Macy's parade. I loved watching it. Also, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on TV and, of course, decking the halls. Thanksgiving day/weekend has always been our tree-trimming time (you know I can never pick "just one").


4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one...do you choose pumpkin or pecan?
PUMPKIN. I don't even LOOK at any other desserts at Thanksgiving. I LOVE pumpkin pie, and always have. I want it ice cold and smothered with Cool-Whip. I eat it for dessert, I eat it for breakfast, and I eat it after (and between) every meal until it's gone. I even had pumpkin pie for my January birthday one year. My mom has always made me my very own pie, and I eat every last bit of it :)


5. Are you a Black Friday Shopper?
Eh.

I participated this year because the "small" stuff was at WalMart at midnight (I knew the REAL crazy people would be there closer to 5am). I wouldn't have got up at four for any of it. I went hardcore one time, and have never had the desire to do it again. I'm too impatient and too cold-blooded to last through it. Oh and I have that whole people-claustrophobia thing. And intolerance for idiots :)

If you are, in fact one of those "idiots," play fair, have fun, and remember the reason for the season. No amount of money is worth losing your character (if you have any...he he).

Monday, November 22, 2010

Apron Strings: Dream Weaver

I had been at Applebees about a month when I had my first dream about it. I remember in the dream Jodi was yelling at me to do "freezer pull," something I'd heard them talk about, but something I had no idea about. I kept trying to tell her I didn't know how, and she kept yelling. When I worked with her next, I told her the dream.

"Ha! You had your first Applemare," she laughed. Apparently it's not uncommon. Everyone has them. But they were new to me. I hardly ever dreamt about school when I was a teacher, so dreaming about work was foreign to me. It's not anymore.

Do you ever have strange dreams where your brain smooshes everything together and it's completely illogical? I used to have those. But now my random thoughts have a gathering place: Applebees.

Usually I'm dreaming that I have several guests and don't know they are there, or I dream I can't work the computer (which, if you know about dreaming, makes sense, because you usually can't function your hands or fingers in a dream).

Last night, however, my Applebees dream came to life. Last night I had confrontation with family. I saw an old (GOOD) boss for the first time in years and talked with him in tears. I ordered a drink from one of our "friendliest" bartenders. She didn't have what I wanted, so I ordered a Coke and rum (we have Pepsi?). Oh, and when smoke set off the massive sprinkler system, my co-worker Timmy led the whole operation in a sing-along of "Umbrella." It was wild. It was the longest and most detailed dream I've had in a long time.

The WEIRDEST part, though, was that I spent the night drinking and talking with one of my managers. We sat at the bar. I told him I missed my friend, Jaime, and then POOF she appeared at the bar! He rolled his eyes and told me I shouldn't have summoned her! And, after my second "Coke and rum," I pinched his cheeks and talked to him in a baby voice saying, "I used to think you were older than me, oh yes I did, but you're just a baby aren'tcha?"

AWKWARD :)

Pretty glad I have two weeks off to get all this weirdness flushed out of my brain before I have to see these people in person again :) I'm ready to go back to the "Oh crap I can't work my fingers!" dreams.

Friday, November 19, 2010

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas on 5QF!!!!

I have skipped out on 5QF lately, so I thought I better get my butt back in gear. Oh I forgot to tell you something....IT'S FRIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Are you as excited as I am? Although, since I went to Springfield for "fun" two days this week, I kinda already let the air out of Friday. But, that's ok :)  Wednesday I met my mama at Toys R Us, and nothing gets me in the Christmas mood like a trip to Toys R Us! I have the bug, now all I need is the cash to feed my bug!  Ok, let's get this show on the road.


1. What Christmas song do you loathe?

I'm not sure I should even mention this song, because if you ask me IT'S NOT A FREAKIN' CHRISTMAS SONG! But. Since it mentions snow and Auld Lang Syne I guess radio America thinks it is. Have you heard "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg? Ughhhhh. It's so whiny. It's a depressing song, and it's not even "good" depressing (like, say, "Christmas Shoes"). People who are already depressed at Christmas don't need the help of this song, and people (like me) who are cheerful and excited don't need the downer. And what's worse, the sound is so awful and monotonous it will distract you from the lyrics. I just hate it. Plus it's excruciatingly long.

You know what other song I don't like? "Christmas is All in the Heart" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I don't even really know why. It's a pretty song, and it's ALL about the real meaning of Christmas, but it just makes me feel SO sad :( So I don't listen to it, either.  There are others that annoy me mildly, but because they're seasonal and contribute to the holiday spirit, I overlook it.


2. Do you and your significant other cuddle at night or sleep on opposite sides of the bed?
We cudddddddle. Usually we cuddle because that's just how we are- all in love and wanting to be close to each other all the time. BUT. Even when I'm not feeling cuddly and I need my space, we cuddle.

You wanna know why?

Because I sleep by the wall. Which means I scoot scoot scoot until I am having an intimate relationship with the wall, and then Mister Mister scoot scoot scoots until he is against me, leaving a good foot of bed unused. "I have to be touching you," he says in his sleepy voice, and I just can't make him move. 

Then, when I am overcome by sleep, Sleep Andrea comes to life and kicks him until he moves over. She's a heartless wench who only cares about one thing: sleep ;)


3. Have you ever had surgery?
I had a "minor" surgery after Chloe was born because of complications I had during her birth. It may have been "minor" to the doctors, but I sure as Hell would have rather been cut open and sewn back together than to endure the aftermath of that surgery. I'll leave it at that.


4. When do you typically have your holiday shopping done?
I usually start right around Thanksgiving and pretty much shop until Christmas Eve. I get most of my "big" shopping done early if I can, it just depends who is available to shop with me :) Last year I was almost totally done the first week of December, when Jamie and I shopped hardcore one weekend. This year I'm working weekends, so I may be waiting until Mom has Christmas break to do my big dog. Either way, I will undoubtedly be running to Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve for a few more stocking stuffers, or one more this or that, or just because I still have a 20.00 bill in my purse :) Shopping is half the fun of Christmas :)


5. If money were not an issue (and you HAD to pick something), what would your ultimate luxury item be?
Hmmmm. Well while it was once a mere staple of life, I no longer have a dishwasher. I miss it sooooo much. I appreciated it, I lived without one for many years, but now I want one again. So. I guess that's what I'd pick. I can't think of anything else, honestly. A big, fancy dishwasher that holds lots of dishes :)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Her Story...

A woman sits quietly in a drab office with a knot in her throat. She's worked here twenty years, and has only been called to the office a handful of times, none of which were for positive feedback. She's heard rumors, and she's had that yucky gut feeling, but she still doesn't know why she's here.

The past two years have been Hell. It all started with an upset stomach. She soon had stomach pain she couldn't bear, and when she went to the doctor he told her that her gallbladder must come out immediately. He sent her to the hospital and she prepared for the minor surgery.

Even though she's been at her full-time job for nearly twenty years, she still doesn't have paid health insurance. She doesn't even have the option to buy into the group. She has the surgery, and is bombarded with medical bills and harassment for months.

When she finds a knot in her chest, you can imagine why she hesitates to go to the doctor...

Eventually she finds help at a local health clinic. They send her for tests and find the tumor is malignant and rapidly growing. Her world crumbles. Eventually she is able to obtain state insurance due to her possible long-term disability, and she begins treatment.

Chemo is hard on her, and she stays home for a few days after every treatment, but as soon as she can, she goes back to work, wearing her wig and trying to keep her head up. She endures surgery and radiation, and is still at work every day she possibly can be. The library is a quiet environment, and she is able to be at work a lot of days she probably didn't need to be. She only leaves early for doctors appointments when she has to, and schedules her radiation after school so she won't miss work.

After enduring all this, she doesn't know if she can handle one more upset.

"We're sorry, Terry, but we are eliminating your position. We do need an aide in the elementary special needs class, though, so you will be re-assigned there."

Her mind reels. She's been there longer than any para-professional in the whole district. She'd rather do anything else. Her nerves are frazzled and she is an introverted person anyway. Surely they can give her a better choice of position. She wonders if this is punishment for missing so much work.

"Can't I be a para in the high school at least? It's the only place I've worked since I came here," she pleads.

"You're lucky to have a job at all," he replies coldly. "We have a stack of applications a mile-high. If you don't like it, you can move on," he adds. Tears fill her eyes. She loves her job. She's loved it since she was moved to the library years ago.

"Why can't Mrs. X go there, and I take her spot? I've been here TWENTY years," she offers. He looks at her with a sneer.

"We are not going to take someone else out of their position just so you can have a job you prefer," he says hatefully.

"You wouldn't make a high school teacher move to the elementary," she argues, knowing she just doesn't have it in her to work with elementary kids.

"Take it or leave it," he says.

Defeated, she accepts the news. She shows up for her new job with a cheerful smile, determined to make the best of it. To her dismay, it seems her "reputation" preceeds her. They tell her they know she doesn't want to be there, and that she needs to change her attitude for the sake of the children.

She is put in a room with a certified teacher and two other aides. The teacher gives the aides their lessons, opens up the day, then the aides are left to deal with and teach the unruly children all day. While the teacher goes about her "paperwork," the woman is slapped, pinched, kicked, and hit. She is called a bitch. She is spit on. Still unable to use many of her arm and chest muscles from her surgery, she fights daily to help wrangle the children, spending the day in physical and emotional agony.

At the end of the day she goes home, tired from head to toe and feeling horrible. She misses her library, her books, her older kids. She misses the quiet. Of all the things she's been through in the past two years, this is the icing on her cake. Or her mud-pie. But because she is so close to her retirement, and because it's too late to start-over anywhere else, she endures. She fights yet another battle when what she really needs is a leave of absence from all the turmoil she's endured.

This is the story of my mom and the crappy ass school she works for =/ It breaks my heart. She can retire in two years, but two years is an eternity when you are physically and emotionally abused every day. Of course we must be fair and PC and not punish the children. Afterall, they can't "help" the way they are. And people wonder why I'm not busting the doors to get back in a classroom.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

In Her Opinion...

I did this once when Chloe was two, and while her answers were great, she didn't "get" a lot of the questions. So we did this again today and I just had to share it. I typed these word-for-word, and tried my best to spell like she talks.

1. What is something mom always says to you? 
Clean up your room, but I don't do it. And, NO, ya say that a lot.



2. What makes mom happy?
Flowers



3. What makes mom sad?

When she’s hurt.


4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Doing funny things like saying “Hey I wanna change my job to an architect!” (I never said that?)



5. What was your mom like as a child?
Just like me.




6. How old is your mom?
Twenty nine. No. You’re a hundred.


7. How tall is your mom?
(She’s measuring me) This long! Twenty miles.




8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Have me! (isn’t that your favorite thing, mom?)



9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Go fast on the four wheeler with Bryan at night.



10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Cookin’


11. What is your mom really good at?
Cooking and coloring



12. What is your mom not very good at?
Hanging the clothes up



13. What does your mom do for her job?
Bring people their food.



14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Potatoes! (She knows me too well)


15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Buying me stuff wif her own money




16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Ruby (probably because Ruby is bossy just like I am ;)



17. What do you and your mom do together?
We do everything together!




18. How are you and your mom the same?
We have the same hair.




19. How are you and your mom different?
We’re just not the same. We’re new-yeek (unique)




20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Cuz I’m cute, I’m smart, and I’m good at everything (holy ego!)




21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Home, cause there’s not so many people there.




:)

And finally, I give thanks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nov. 9 - I'm thankful for Tuesday night TV. Glee. Raising Hope. And....16 and Pregnant. I need not say more.

Nov. 10 - I'm thankful for my mama. She's a really good mama, and an even better Nana. She's always there if I need her, and even though we see things differently sometimes, I love her and appreciate her for all she does. She's the best.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

NaNoWriMo

Welllll it's National Novel Writing Month. Did ya know that? I started doing this last year and ended up quitting when I got deathly ill the week before Thanksgiving. I wasn't feeling well enough to even get off the couch for a good two weeks, and that ended that.

This year I thought I wouldn't participate, after my quitting, but the pressure really helps me write more. I'm the WORST about writing 500 words and then poring over it for days, rearranging, re-writing, editing, etc.

So I decided I'd participate at home and not log my progress with the others. I had a little chunk of something I started and figured I could add 50,000 words to it (that's the goal of NaNoWriMo, to write 50,000 words in 30 days) and have it at least close to done.

Today I decided to make my commitment a little more public and log my progress. You can check out my little author page here.  I will update the synopsis as I get more written, and my goal is to change the excerpt weekly if you're interested in what I'm working on. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Table Tale and Other Things...

I have a few things to update, and Apron Strings to write, so I'm going to squish it all together here :)

First of all, my Thirty Days of Thanks.

November 6th - Do you drive a car (or have you seen one) that has radio controls on the steering wheel? I realize that cars have come a long way since 2008, and there are even cooler features, but I am thankful for the little radio buttons on my steering wheel. A self-proclaimed "flicker," I am constantly looking for something different to listen to. Without taking my hand from the wheel I can change songs on my CD, scan stations, and adjust volume. When my passenger changes my radio, I can flick it back without ever even moving my thumb :)

November 7th - Ohhhh Ben (Franklin, that is). I'm so thankful that this very man (the same one I will curse in April) allowed me to sleep another hour this morning. I like the earlier daylight (I actually wake up earlier now), and while I don't dig the 5:30 darkness, I LOVE setting the clocks back and look forward to it every year.

November 8th - I'm thankful for my washer and dryer. Even though it's not the biggest, or the fastest, it saves me from toting the MONSTROUS pile of laundry down to the crick and scrubbing my clothes out by hand. As I stare at the ridiculous Vesuvius we call a laundry basket, and it's spewed clothes in a lava lake around it, I must be thankful for my washer and dryer. It's the only thing that keeps me from going completely insane looking at it :)


Now, for update number two. Remember how I have a problem? Well I have been working on that. I haven't done anything drastic or crazy, but I admitted my problem and am trying. The first step of my journey was phasing out the grilled cheese. I started this on October 13th by replacing my daily Doritos with a small salad. By the end of that week, I'd cut to half a sandwich and a slightly larger salad, and by October 16th I had switched solely to salad. I have now been grilled-cheese free for 24 days (counting today). I had a minor slip-up one late Friday night and had a sandwich then, but I hadn't had dinner so I didn't count it.  From what I can best calculate, with my real butter and all, each sandwich was about 264 calories, and 12 grams of fat, and that's without Doritos. I haven't seen a huge weight loss, though after day 10 I was down two pounds (I steer clear of my Wii Fit when I'm eating well, because if he tells me I gained, I go on a bread binge ;) So even if I'm not losing weight (yet), I am cutting some calories and fat, and I'm getting a good hearty veggie serving that I was missing before. Yay me.

Finally, Apron Strings :)

I don't have a "generalized" topic today, so I thought I'd entertain you with the tale of one of my tables. This isn't an outrageous table, and one day I will do a "Fly on the Wall" post with some of my favorite quotes, but for today, here is a table tale fresh in my memory.

It was a busy Sunday morning when my 5th table was seated.  It was an older man and woman, and there were four menus. I always like it when a couple of people are waiting on a couple more. I can greet them and know I have some extra time since their party hasn't arrived. I greeted the guests and asked what they'd like to drink.

"Two waters with lemon," the old lady barked. Did you know we are "judged" by how many waters we serve? It prints out on our "stats," so to speak, so waters annoy us a little. Just saying.  Anyway, then the gentleman chimed in.

"Actually, uh, one water with lemon, one without."  Being the "ass" I am, I assumed he was correcting the lady, and I wrote down W and W/L.  I took some food to another table, and took an order from another, then grabbed the two waters.  When I arrived at the table, another guest had arrived.  I placed the drinks, then asked that guest what she'd like.

"Water," was her reply. ".....with lemon." So I scurried away and brought back her drink. By that time the fourth guest had arrived. Apparently the husband of the barker. I set the water in front of guest number three.

Barker immediately barked, "We need one more of those. There are FOUR of us." I then realize that she had ordered two waters with lemon, and Gentleman wasn't correcting her. He was ordering IN ADDITION to her. As I processed that in my brain she said, "I TOLD you two waters with lemon." Cringing on the inside, I similed and returned the fourth water. They were looking at the menus, so I didn't bother them (SIDE NOTE: if you're ready, close your menu. I can usually tell when you're ready, but if you're reading the description of Fiesta Lime Chicken while you wait for me to come over, I might think you're still deciding and give you extra time).

Did I mention I had four other tables? Each of which had 4-7 guests? So in addition to these four grouches, I had 21 other people to please.

I finally made my way back to the grouch table. "Have you decided what you'd like to order?" I asked politely.

"Do you do senior discounts?" Barker barked.
"Yes, we do." I replied.
"Ten percent, right?" Barker.
"Yes." I answered.
"Ok, well we're ALL seniors so we all GET it," she demanded.
"Alright," I replied cheerfully (well, fake cheerful) "what can I get for you?"

Let's not make this any longer than we have to. They ordered their food. Half salads and burgers and such. One lady wanted the Oriental without (86 we say) rice noodles. I ordered it that way, I did. The new cook overlooked it, and while it only took a minute (LITERALLY) to fix, the lady said, not-so-quietly as I walked away, "She's not very good at this." Oooooh you got me lady. That hurt right to the core ;)

Barker demanded more dressing, they wanted water refills, and they wanted me once to stop and listen to their request for more water when I was passing by with three plates of hot food.

Evan discounted the ticket for me, and I split the check, as I was asked barked at to do.  I always drop the check, then come back in a few minutes so you have time to find your card, count your money, or whatever you need to do. I had no more than walked through the kitchen to get drinks for another table when Gentleman was standing in the aisle.

"I can take care of that for you, Sir, I'll be right there," I explained as I balanced two full drinks in one hand, one in the other.

"I want to pay for all of it," he said.

"Ok," I said as I walked away. I came right back and took his card. He had both detailed checks in his hand, added them in his head, then I returned the credit slips. He signed my copy, and I left him with the detailed check (which also showed the exact discount).

I was so glad for them to be done and gone I didn't even care if they stiffed me. I was expecting it. I went back to the kitchen and loaded up with hot plates for another table when Jessi came back.

"Hey, Andrea? There's a guy out here looking for you," she said. I thought maybe Bryan had come to eat. I wondered who had stopped to speak to me. As I emerged from the kitchen, Gentleman was approaching me. GREAT.

"Did you give us the senior discount?" he asked, hatefully.
"I sure did," I replied, not-so-cheerfully.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes. It was on your checks..." I told him.

He walked back to the table and announced to Barker that I did, in fact, give them the discount. I don't think she believed him.

Note for the day: Be nice to your server unless she is a bitch first.  Oh, and don't turn grouchy when you get old.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Computer Geek in a Cabin

Happy Friday! Wowsa, I'm up and blogging early this morning, huh? Usually I'm just a rollin' outta bed by now :) I guess the excitement of Friday my aching back has got the best of me. It's back to a "regular" Friday, as I have a full weekend of work this week. My wallet is excited, my feet are dreading it. Me, I'm content. Now, let's get this show on the road and answer some questions!  Oh also don't forget to read "Letter to Me" and maybe write one to yourself :)


1. If you could have any talent and turn it into an occupation, what would it be?
I would love to be able to sing, but I don't really have the personality of an entertainer. I'd be all dark and quiet like my love, Jamey Johnson (minus the drug and alcohol and hooker problems!) and probably never be super popular. So, my second choice is (yawn) computer geek. I know, how boring. I just wish I was super computer smart. People could bring their computers to my house, I could work on them on my own time (in my sweats) and steal their passwords and identities make giooood money doing it. (I was just teasin' about that. Don't get your panties in a bundle. Just being ornery. This early morning gig is new to me)



2. Would you rather have a house at the beach or a cabin in the woods?
Ooooooooh can I have BOTH? I can't choose. I want a summer beach house where I can tan and listen to the ocean lap the sand.  I could build castles and collect shells. HEY! Maybe I could learn to make those little shell boxes and sell them to tourists. Yes, what a great idea.

But then when fall comes, I want out of there! I want cool weather, crisp leaves, and a shady little cabin back in the woods. I could watch leaves fall, squirrells scurry, and deer frolic happily through my back yard (until BAM! Bryan would shoot them and they'd no longer frolic...). I could have a toasty fire in the fireplace and wait for winter, when I could watch the snow fall and make hot cocoa and chop my own Christmas tree! Yep. I need both.

If you held a gun to my head and MADE me choose, I'd pick the cabin. Bryan would be happier there, and I couldn't go without my fall and my snow. I'd just have to visit the beach I guess.



3. Is there any meaning or reasoning for the names you chose for your child/children?
I always always always wanted my first born daughter to have the middle name Mae. My grandma Willa (whose actual given name was Willie) died when I was three years old, and I absolutely adored her. I wanted to carry on her name somehow, and since Willa isn't the coolest name around, I stole her middle name and bestowed it upon my unborn child years before she was even a possibility.  Chloe is just a name I chose because I liked it. I originally wanted to name her Michaela, but I had a girl in school named Kayla who wasn't exactly my "favorite" person in the world (she called me a bitch!). Soooo I thought that was too close for comfort, and 3 M names were too many for one little girl. So I went with Chloe, a name I've liked since Chloe came to Days of Our Lives as a teenager :)


4. What is your guilty pleasure? (I know we've done this one before, but I'm guessing people's "guilty pleasures" change frequently. At least, mine do!)
WHICH ONE????

Ok. I made mention of it before, but I will go all out here and tell you. I. Love. Teen Mom. I do. I have seen every episode, and I look forward to Tuesday nights at 9 when it's on (it's over right now). It's SO bad that even Chloe is aware. When we were in the checkout line at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago, she went to the next aisle to look at the crap they lure kids with novelties, and came back toting US Weekly. She handed it to me and said, "Look, Mom, the girl from your show is on this magazine."  It was Amber from Teen Mom. I furrowed my brow as if I didn't know what she was talking about, then hunched over the magazine, reading the article while Mister Mister put the groceries on the belt :)


5. Do you live in a house that is deep cleaned or straightened?
Ummmm. Is cluttered and occasionally clean an option?  :)

I try to keep the house straightened. I constantly remind Mister Mister that we DO have a laundry basket AND a closet. He's lived here much longer than I have, but I guess he was never introduced to those features!  Chloe's room is a lost cause. I just shut the door. I do my best to keep up with the rest of it, deep cleaning one room at a time (by "at a time" I mean every month or so). If you ever come visit, come on a Friday night. I get everything done on Friday to prepare for being at work all weekend. It's usually pretty clean and homey then.

Speaking of which, I need to get busy. I have an extra hour this morning, and I am going to USE it to get my stuff done early. I've got going out to do tonight!  Happy Friday!!!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Letter to Me

Just as I posted my ho-hum Thanksgiving blog, I saw a post on my dashboard and just HAD to do this! I'm not on Twitter, so I wasn't aware that today is "Tweet Your Sixteen Year-Old Self" day. A blog I subscribe to decided to turn her tweets into a blog, and invited others to link, so I am going to go with it!

 
Wouldn't you LOVE to be able to talk to your "old" self? Or wouldn't you have loved to hear from your, er, older self when you were sixteen? I've always liked the Brad Paisley song, "Letter to Me" for that reason. Of course, then the "thinky" part of my brain goes all Back to the Future and thinks changing anything would alter the future and end up making everything you said invalid. Yeah. Welcome to my brain. And people wonder why I am anxious and worrysome?  :)

 
Anyway. If I could relay some messages to my sixteen year-old self, it would be this:

 
  • None of the boys you're fond of are worth your time or tears. They all turn out to be ordinary shmucks who wouldn't have made you happy anyway. Everyone looks good at sixteen. You'll laugh one day when you see them and remember that you were crazy about them. You are a deep person, and you need someone who will embrace and understand that.

  • Don't be in such a hurry to grow up. You'll be better off if you marry happily at 35 than to settle at 22. You'll be a better mom at 30 than 25. You'll be a better person if you figure out who you are and what you want before you settle down (you think you know now, but you don't).

  • You don't really want five kids. They hurt. They make you fat. They are expensive. And one will be the best thing to ever happen to you anyway.

  • Nothing that happens in high school will matter in ten years. Make some good memories, learn from your mistakes, and move forward, not hanging on too tightly to anything from these years.

  • Sometimes your mom has a point, and even though she'd deny it, she speaks from experience.

  • You are not fat. In ten years you will say you'd do anything to have this body back. Enjoy it. Love it. Flaunt it.

  • Try not to be a people-pleaser. If you learn now not to say what people want to hear, and do what people want you to do, it will save you a LOT of heartache, and it will save you some rebellion when you're oh, say, 27. Just saying.

  • Don't worry about keeping everyone's phone number and current mailing address in that little book. They'll invent this thing called Facebook and you will be able to look them up by name :)

  • Stop trying to fit in and be friends with people who don't accept you. Nourish the friendships with those who accept you the way you are, because those are the ones that matter most.

  • Don't join in when the other Girl Scouts prank Jodi. She will be your boss and very good friend one day ;)

  • Stay true to yourself. Don't put up with anyone who treats you like crap, even if it's family.

  • Finally, you're pretty even though you don't think so. You're strong even if you don't think so, and you will learn to be independent. I'm proud of who you are.

 
What would you tell your sixteen year-old self?

Chunks of Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving approaching I decided I'm going to try (really hard) to be thankful every day this month. It's not a new concept. Bloggers and social networkers do it every year. I have never really participated, not because I'm not thankful, but because I'm not all that regular in my blogging. BUT. Rather than committing to blog daily, I just figure I will squish them all together in chunks every time I think of it :) So, here are five days worth of thanksgivings.

Nov. 1 - I'm thankful for fall. I know, it's broad, but I love this time of year so much, and November 1st finally FELT like fall. I love the cool breeze, the smell and feel of my hoodies, the crisp leaves, and all the delicious seasonal food. I. Love. Fall.

Nov. 2 - I'm thankful for my right to vote. Even when things don't go exactly as I think they should, I have the right to voice my opinion and make that opinion count. In a world where people die for that right, I feel pretty grateful for what we have.

Nov. 3 - I'm thankful to have a male in my life who is everything I've ever needed in a mate. He is strong, he works hard, he's loving, he's protective, and he's patient. He is attentive, and he treats us girls in a way we deserve. He is what I want Chloe to look for in a mate one day, and he is what I always hoped I could have in a partner. Now when I watch romantic comedies like Sweet Home Alabama, I don't think "I wish a boy would hold me that way," I think, "I'm so lucky to have that." :)

Nov. 4 - I'm thankful for one of my very best friends, Jamie. We've been friends since I was a freshman in high school. We've been through thick and thin, up and down, good and bad, and we still love each other. I've never had a friend who was so supportive and loving, and I don't know what I'd do without her!

And, since tomorrow is Five Question Friday, I will go ahead and be thankful ahead of time. I'm thankful for FRIDAYS! They are and always have been my favorite day. I especially love fall Fridays. :)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Sweet Mother of Abraham Lincoln! The Prospector! He'll Wanna Meet'cha!

Well, I didn't work this weekend, and I had a ridiculous number of apple-mares, so I'm not feeling Apron Strings this week. I was feeling under the weather Saturday, but I was told Weaubleau was trick-or-treating on Saturday night, not Sunday, so we did the whole Halloween hoopla on Saturday. I picked Chloe up at my mom's house that afternoon and she got dressed as Jessie from Toy Story. My phone Internet is tooooo slow to upload right now, but I have pictures on Facebook.

Chloe picked out the character months ago, and as soon as she saw the costume in Wal-Mart, she just had to have it. I wanted to make the costume (a cowgirl isn't that hard), because I hated the foam-esque Wally World hat (even in the picture it looks better than in real-life). It didn't look right, and I wanted to get a flat, felt hat like Jessie's. I looked some, never found one, and gave in to Chloe's incessant begging for the Wal-Mart duds. 

She got her hair cut, and I knew no one would know she was Jessie anyway, without the hair.  So, I found a little spark of creativity and made her Jessie's signature red yarn hair in a long braid. When we were out, we saw other Jessies, and I was asked many times, "Where'd you find one with the hair?" I proudly admitted that I created it myself, and saw the moms faces say, "Why didn't I think of that?" I was proud. We had hat problems (it wouldn't stay on), but other than that, she was a successful Jessie, and we got all the trick-or-treating out of the way a day early. Yodelayheeeeehooooooo!