Monday, June 30, 2008
Briley has an announcement!!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
I'm at the edge of my sanity...
Back to reality - muggy Texas summer heat -- sticky asphalt streets -- and the happening gas station on the corner!! Woo Hoo... NOT!!!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Let me introduce you to my new friend
He lives under our sidewalk. Apparently he's not afraid of a little badgering from kids and some friendly cats that just want to play. Mr. Toad makes his appearance every evening while we are watering our yard, and jumps around us - as if to say he wants to play. For a toad frog, he's not as skittish as I would have expected? But then again, I have absolutely no experience with toad frogs. Maybe they are very friendly creatures? Maybe he's just wants a friend or two?
I tried to get him to move a little to get a few different shots of him, but this time he was content to just sit there and look around. However, the minute I took my camera back in the house, he proceeded to jump around. Figures!
Let me share with you a picture of my front door - with mud on the top... ugh...Now, I am asking all of my readers to impart their wisdom on me regarding getting rid of pesky barn swallows ~which, by the way are a protected species? - I have no idea why? They multiply on my porch like crazy! Anyway, these nasty little bird have done this ..... to my front door.... see, there's even one there in the picture - they won't go away!!!!
These birds use mud to build their nests, and in their attempt to build they have dobbed mud over my front door! You can't get rid of these birds! It doesn't matter what I've used to clean this mud off with, or what I've sprayed around my porch -they always come back and rebuild their nests. This have been going on for the past 5 years during the spring and summer months. The mess they leave on the concrete below their nests is a disgusting pile of mud, bird poop, cracked egg shells and feathers! YUCKKY!!! It doesn't just wash off with a water hose either - I have to use industrial strenght concrete cleaner and a hoe to scrape this mess off. HELP!!!! Has anyone ever fought these nasty birds and won?
Although the lighting isn't all that great in this picture, you can see the mud spots from the street! No one on my street seems to be fighting them as aggressively as I am, and to top it all off, we have two cats that live outside and occassionally catch a bird! You would think these pesky birds would learn their lesson and move on?
Here's a better shot of the front of our house as we attempt to water our yard in hopes of one day having real grass and not just nice green weeds. Hey! It could happen!
Oh by the way, I'm thinking of painting my front door a barn red or brick red to match the bricks and give it a little pop - what do you recommend?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Horoscopes???
Or worse.... whose in my head? LOL
Today's Virgo Horoscope: Jun 24, 2008
You are feeling very introverted today, dear Virgo, as you seek answers to some existential questions. Indeed, you are asking yourself whether your life is turning out the way you had in mind. Are your friends the way you would like them to be? Or are you always disappointed? All positive change starts with questions such as these. Give yourself lots of space for creative contemplation.
So? Do you ever read your horoscope?
UGH ~ I NEED A COKE FROM SONIC WITH CRUNCHY ICE!! I'm not giving in - it's been 4 days without any coke/caffeine. Yes, my head is throbbing and may explode at any minute, but eventually I'm going to feel better. Right? Hello? Anyone out there??????
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thou Shalt Not Covet.....
** Now back to reality*** The garden sprinkler is calling my name. Maybe I can splash around in that when I get off of work today. Oh yes, you know you are coveting my garden sprinkler... :)
Summer Reads
What are you favorite summer reads?
Monday Blahs
I'm a little more OFF of my mental game though today than usual because I'm OFF of caffeine! Well for two days, anyway? LOL I have recently realized that I have low blood sugar and have been cursed with the daily shakes, fatigue, trembles, sweats, migraines, muscle aches, carb cravings and so on that go along with Hypoglycemia. So in an effort to control these issues and just improve my overall feeling of yuck, I spent the majority of the weekend reading about hypoglycemia. I was surprised to learn that it is the mirror image of diabetes and basically a diabetic diet is recommended for low blood sugar, as well.
First up on my list of what not to eat was COKE! UGH... my addiction!!!! I CRAVE it, I WANT it, IT makes me feel good! Okay - huge red flag waving here - as one of the books I read said the coke craving is a huge indication of low blood sugar. My body is craving the sugar and the caffeine, both of which are HORRIBLE for me. Like I didn't already know that? I just didn't want to see it in print! LOL
I suppose I could rush out to the Dr and get all sorts of blood work done to better determine my case, but really - I'm just not into Dr's. (LOL) Go figure? I have decided to just work it out for myself... much like my 88 yr old grandmother that is healthier than most. She just works through her ailments with vitamins and nutrition - so I'm going to give it a try!
I have very little will power and this is going to be a HUGE challenge for me to take better control of my dietary habits. I fully realize that I'm going to have to take control of my cravings and weaknesses, because it just has to be done! I've felt like warmed over crap for way too long... the fatigue is just about to eat me alive and the shakes and trembles have got to stop! So... here I am... trying to follow a conscientious effort to eat better and control my sugar intake. I realize this change in my diet has to be gradual and I'm not going to move mountains in one or two days, but for me it's more about the emotional and mental makeover. Not to mention that this overwhelming weight gain has got to end - that alone is depressing! Wish me luck!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Welcome to the Working World
My point to all of this is that she is one tired out little girl! LOL She is working 8-5, Monday through Friday for the remainder of the summer. This first week has kicked her booty - she's been at home in the evening, glad to eat whatever I put in front of her, and in bed at a reasonable hour! LOL My twisted sense of motherly humor is loving this!
I really hope that she hears much of the same 'reality' ideas and issues from the other - older - ladies that she is working with. Up until now, she thinks I'm out of touch with reality and I am an idiot! So be it... I have a job and I can afford to live on my own... can she? UH NOPE! LOL
Luckily the company she works for is a customer of her dad's, so we can keep tabs on how she's doing and they seem to just love her to pieces....I hope this lasts! (Insert rolling eyes)
In my own youthful existence, I learned very quickly that my parents might have had a clue after all... now I was most definitely NEVER going to let them know that they were right or even anything close to that, but I did begin to hear their words of wisdom repeated in my head, after a few years of trial and error for myself! Ahhh to be young, dumb, and stupid!!! Ahhh.... what will it take for this younger generation to realize that they have so many opportunities and that there aren't a lot of 'do-overs' ?
There are so many things I would do-over if I could go back 20 years, but then again maybe I wouldn't? Ya' know? I learned so many valuable lessons by falling on my face and cleaning up my own messes. Oh heck, I'm still cleaning up my messes...ie... their names are Brit, Bailey, and Briley! LOL The precious 'messes' that they are. Seriously, I wish I had listened to my parents just a tad more and I wish that I had waiting a few year to 'grow up'. It scares me how quickly my own children are growing up and there are still so many things I need to teach them or want to share with them. Quick! Help me stop this ride... I need to get off and slow things down just a bit.... ugh.... I think I'm feeling sick? LOL (insert sarcasm! please!)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Don't Move Briley
Notice these turtles, they are huge - I've never seen turtles this large, so close and personal! LOL
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Z&OO Railroad (Catchy huh?)
Here are a few pics of Briley before we rode the train....
Back to our regularly scheduled program...
Friday, June 13, 2008
TGIF
The girls have planned a fishing/jet ski-ing trip with their dad, hopefully everyone will get along for that amount of time... lol....
**NOW on another note..... This is MY Blog and I can say whatever I want... so here's what I'm going to say to a particular person that bugs the HELL out of me from a particular christain ladies messsage board. YOU BUG ME>>>>>> You're not a very nice christian lady and you think you're holier than most... well let me just tell your happy horse riding butt... YOU'RE OBNOXIOUS! I'm so glad you have found a following of ladies that are too naive to realize that you think you're the first and foremost authority on all of their life's problems. Quit trying to moderate everyone's life! I hope you know who you are, because I'm sure most that read my blog know exactly who I'm speaking of!
And yes, I can use childish and immature antics to get my message to you... because it's MY BLOG and just simply don't like you!!!! I don't have to be nice if I don't want to!!**
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Mt. Laundry
This is actually only for four of us, Brit does her own laundry separately... which is great! Her stack alone is quite intimidating! LOL
Share pictures of your Mt. Laundry!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I need to REVAMP my style of mothering....
This is an entirely new territory for me and an entirely new level of faith in my daughter. This is a new adventure in my life as a mother. Up until now, I've been the nurturer, the primary care giver, basically THE MOMMY.... well now? Hmmm??? Now, I need to let go. Turn loose. Let her grow up and I just really don't know how to do that without coming across like a nag? Ya' know? I guess I have made so many mistakes in my own life I desperately want to spare her the pain that I've been through. I can see so much more clearly now than I did at 18 and I can still remember how stupid I was at 18. Quite honestly, I don't think I was as stupid about reality as my daughter is... I am a total realist and I always have been.
As the mother, I still NEED to know what time she is going to be home because my body just will not let me go to sleep until I hear her safe and sound inside my walls. I still NEED to know that she is eating healthy meals and if she doesn't feel good, I NEED to figure out why and what to do to help her. I'm driving myself crazy, looking for a 'happy medium' that she and I can both live with?
This is really a personal challenge for me. I need to be needed, and I am the kind of mother shows my love through my actions. The little things are where my attention is placed... such as.... I make sure that their sheets/towels are washed using yummy smelling fabric softener; I try to make sure that I cook everyone's favorite dish or dessert at least once a week; I always try to fold or hang their clothes up in my 'special mom' way, but my offerings are being met with resistance. It is as if I've lost my position, so to speak? I really hope I'm not just rambling on here?
I really need to know how to let go and let GOD handle this? I already have a pretty healthy prayer relationship with God because I just can't sleep well these days and I spend many hours each night in deep conversation with him. I just don't have an easy feeling about this growing up and letting go stuff. Words of wisdom are more than welcome here!
Do you clean when mad?
My de-cluttering spree has taken me to a place I rarely go - the cabinets in my bathroom. Why oh why do I need four different kinds of hair gel? I don't even use this stuff? I probably bought it years ago when I had some horrible haircut that I was trying to work through the 'grow-out' phase! Ya' know? LOL Obviously that gel has been under the counter long enough for me to forget this traumatic haircut? Duh??? It's time to be tossed out...... I also found mounds of dirty ribbons and broken/stretched out pony tail holders that have obviously been freed from the bottom of Bailey's back pack or gym bag! Just gross!!! Then there were the 400 tubes of lipstick that I obviously didn't like enough to use more than once or twice, along with every shade of foundation I might have considered using over the past 7 years - ick! I also stumbled across some tinkerbell type of lotion and perfume that Briley had received as a Christmas gift - YEARS ago... uh... definitely trash. The rest of what I found is just too embarrasing to tell you about. :)
The feeling after I tossed the trash bag was just an overwhelming sense of accomplishment - crazy you say? Yes, I agree! I have an un-natural reaction to anger and therefore I clean! Next up on my list is the linen closet...but I really need to be MAD before I tackle that job. I'm sure I won't have to wait long - those other four people I let live in my house will surely do something stupid before the day is over! lol (Well, I really don't consider Briley part of the rest of THEM... she's still my most favorite 7 yr old in the whole wide world and does what I ask of her - LOL )
Do you clean when mad? When do you do your best cleaning?
Monday, June 9, 2008
So Appropriate....
I am going through closets, cabinets, and dresser drawers... Oh MY !!! Where did all of this crap come from? The constant clutter and piling high of junk is driving me crazy.....I am challenging myself each night this week to take about 30 mins with a trash bag and just tackle it. I doubt if I am going to receive much help or encouragment from my little blessings, but I've been warning them for weeks and time is up!!! Whatever is left out is going to find a new home in the trash.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Karaoke ~ I don't recommend it!!!
Last night after the girls' softball games (yes, Bailey played and pitched with her cast wrapped in foam and an ace bandage - and me without my camera! UGH) we were hot, tired, and HUNGRY - so we decided to hit our favorite little burger joint. When we got there it was already so late(9:30~) that I just assumed we could get in and get out with little effort and then be on our way home to showers and bed. WRONG! The parking lot was packed, the inside was standing room only and the noise was enough to deafen anyone. Little did we know that Tuesday nights are KARAOKE nights! UGH!!!! {NOTE TO SELF - NO BURGER JOINT ON TUESDAY}
I'm not a big fan of NOISE or STUPIDITY and most definitely not at 10pm at night! {It's no secret, I don't get out much.]I was NOT in the mood, if ya' know what I mean? OH Well? We proceeded to order and commandeered a table for our gang and the stupid drunk people that thought they could sing continued to pour over the loud speakers - oh my - these folks need to keep it in the shower! I was in hopes that the American Idol wannabe's would eventually give it up, but NO ~ the singing just continued. It was HORRIBLE!!! This was my first experience with LIVE Karaoke performed by ADULTS! Oh MY!!! NEVER AGAIN!!! The flats and sharps were deadly!
On a lighter note (literally), Bailey and her team-mates decided to give it try at the microphones. They chose a song from Grease, "We go together". (Again, I didn't have my camera! I'll never leave home without it again!) As the momma, I must say they really were cute singing in front of everyone in their softball uniforms and sweaty faces! :) And for the most part they were within the pitch range - give or take a few scary moments! I have much more patience for the kids that want to perform than the adults.
After we inhaled our food, Briley politely asked me if she and I could go ahead and leave and head home - it was 10:30 - I was more than ready! We got the heck of Dodge and left the others there - Karaoke Night is NO place for me, drunk or sober. LOL
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Third day of summer break... and ALREADY....
This is going to be the battle cry for the next 13 weeks! LOL
I got up this morning and quickly realized that since I don't have to fight my savages to get out of bed and eat breakfast, I might actually be able to sleep a few minutes more - woo hoo.... (note to self - reset alarm clock) however, I was already up and so what do I do? I go into the kitchen and make a bunch of noise to wake the savages, while I prepare THEIR blueberry muffins for breakfast! BAWAHHHAAA..... (insert evil mother laugh). So they were up and smelling the aroma of muffins and begin to complain about 'nothing to do today'. UGH.... they have so much more STUFF to entertain them than I did. Heck, they have each other - I had noone, me, alone, talk about bored! By the end of each summer, I absolutely knew all of Bob Barker's (The Price is Right) age spots and could predict the price of a bottle of lysol better than any grocery manager! My day was planned around the reruns of I LOVE LUCY, DICK VAN DYKE, and GOMER PYLE.... what can I say? It was the 80's... we had cable and life was good in small-town America! LOL
I guess the joke was on me...I woke them and I had to listen to them complain at 7:00 am and now they have called me at work, no less than THREE times since I've been here for 1 hour! ugh... Have I already mentioned this is going to be a long summer? LOL
Tonight Briley's softball team has a double header - maybe they will be warmed up enough by the second game to actually win? It could happen, stranger things have happened? I wonder what phase the moon is in?
Monday, June 2, 2008
As promised... pictures
Of my new car!!! Woo Hoo..... It's a 100* in Texas and I've got a/c..... This was not at all the vehicle that I had in mind when we headed to the car lot, but after hours of test driving all shapes and sizes, I finally decided on this one. I must say... I LOVE IT! It is a new Chrysler Pacifa with all the bells and whistles I could ever need, much less figure out how to use? It even has heated seats! (I guess I can use that feature the one month out of the year that we have cold temps!) The most suprising feature is how big and roomy it is! The cargo area is HUGE and the feet and leg room for passengers is really bigger than expected. It really is a comfortable ride for my long legged spawn! LOL
And yes, just incase anyone cares... I'm still married! We didn't have quite the 'falling out' I was expecting, but it was touch and go at times on the car lot. It got a bit more scary when we went to the financing office, but I came out of that battle the winner.... while hubby paced outside the office! LOL All I can say is that it's a good thing we only buy cars every 4 years or so, because our marriage wouldn't survive this type of torture on a more frequent basis! It's torture to car shop with HIM and I'm sure he feels the same way about me, but I really don't care. Momma's got a new car and Momma's happy!