Yep - it's that time of year again, and Briley's troop is busy peddling these little wonders. We have a booth sale this weekend at our local Wally World and hopefully we can move a few hundred boxes - which I have stacked in my dining room! Last year, I remember vividly saying "I'm not doing this again next year" and here I am - pushing cookies! LOL

Now seriously - who doesn't like GS Cookies? They are what's good about America. These sweet delites evoke wonderful childhood memories and help promote a worth while organization ....yadda yadda yadda - you know the spill! LOL

I remember the absolute pleasure each year when we replenished our supply of Thin Mints and Trefoils - ahhhh - could there be anything better? Well - fast forward 30 years or so - and I still love these cookies, but I just don't allow myself to indulge in their goodness - quite as much! Okay, okay - I've had a couple of thin mints and a couple of the lemon sandwiches, but my cravings are much easier to suppress these days.

The next time you see a group of these young girls selling their stock of Girl Scout Cookies, please remember how hard they each work to meet their personal sales goals and how hard it is to earn the measly little $.55 per box that they sell. It takes a heck of a lot of Dosi-Dos to earn the money to send the troop to camp!

If you don't want a box of cookies, then please just donate a dollar or two directly to the troop - the smallest amount is appreciated and used wisely!

Enjoy your cookies and tell me what your favorite Girl Scout cookie is?

Progressing along...

I was DEPOSED...

Have you ever had to give a deposition? Well I did for the first time yesterday. It was a very interesting process and very informative.

As I've mentioned before, I am being sued - for a wreck I was involved in, but didn't cause. However the crazy passenger of the vehicle that HIT ME is suing me for her damages. Let me let you in on a little secret - she's a crazy admitted METH ADDICT! She's been previously convicted of felonies and has served time in the State Prison system. The plot thickens...

She admitted on the record yesterday that she really didn't see the accident because she was digging in her purse at the time and she only knew what the 'stoned' driver of the car that hit me told her.... Okay so moving on...

Apparently she and the driver of this car had mixed drugs and alcohol on the day of the wreck and are both current USERS! Uh ... HELLO - can we say crazy ? Oh it just keeps getting better and my mouth hung open most of the day as my attorney was sharing with me the minute details. Another little interesting tid-bit - she admitted to having committed a few other criminal offenses that she has not been charged for.. ie... car theft - tax evasion - employment fraud - OH MY!!! Folks, I couldn't make this stuff up, if I tried! It's just too incredible to describe.

The plaintiff's most recent incidents include taking several trips to the area hospitals - each week - to get pain pill prescriptions that she has filled at varying pharmacies so that they can't trace her addictions. Also turns out that she's spent some time in the Mental Hospital - recently- and has a shaved head to show for it!

I promise you - I was amazed, in shock and just completely stunned that someone would openly admit to this stuff - much less under OATH?

Needless to say, my Attorney has assured me that my case is by far the most absurd case she's ever tried in the past 20 years!! I'm glad I can make history - some how?

I'll keep you posted as this case evolves! I'm so glad to know that our hard earned insurance dollars are spent on such frivolous law suits! NOT!

Another GREAT day on the Scales!

Day 11 on Nutrisystem...




All is well...and I'm still loosing!
Today I'm wearing some jeans that had been a bit snug and uncomfortable in the waist, but today they are actually quite comfy! This is GREAT!

I've also noticed that my hands are starting to look 'normal' to me... not so pudgy. Isn't is strange how we notice the little things?

Today is going to be Nutrisystem Food all Day - No cheating! (Yesterday I did have a teeny tiny handful of chips dipped in salsa...hmmm.... soooo good!)

I have an idea...

for a new invention!


Remember the 1950's and 1960's (okay, maybe I didn't live during that time, but I've seen the pictures)... and remember the church fans that use to have a little wooden handle that everyone used during Church services?

So here's my idea - I want to market a 'fan' that says on one side, " GET OFF OF THE PHONE AND DRIVE, " and on the other side it would say "STOP TEXTING AND DRIVE".

Now you tell me - don't you think these would sell? I mean you could just keep it under your car seat and when you pass a rude driver that is obviously engrossed in their phone conversation and putting your life and others around you in jeopardy - you can just flash your little fan.

I think it's a great idea!

A Typical Day in the Life of BAILEY!

Life is really extra tough when you are a hormonal and moody 13 yr old... if you don't believe me - just ask Bailey!

Let me give you a brief snapshot of our morning -

As usual Bailey doesn't wake up on time (after I've been in and out of her room for about 20 mins hollering at her to get up), so she's about 15 minutes behind in her routine for the day... then Bailey suddenly realizes that she forgot to put her clothes in the dryer last night and her uniform and athletic clothes are wet - UGH - now here's my disclaimer - I bet I reminded her no less that 10 times last night to put her clothes in the dryer, but did she? NOPE! So... this begins the frantic rush and the clothes go into the dryer.

Next we have the startling realization that she was supposed to have been at school early (6:30 a.m.) for Track practice - ooops - not happening now. Oh well, I guess she'll be running laps next class time as discipline... LOL

Moving on... Now it is 7:30 a.m. and Bailey hasn't had breakfast yet and can't find her shoes... (another typical occurrence) but she is at least dressed in her athletic clothes, since that is her first class of the day. Remember those wet uniform clothes - well they've been shoved into her tote bag and I'm sure they are still damp - but here again - Oh Well? Not my problem.

We are frantically rushing out of the door and loading into the car when Bailey realizes she needs to use the bathroom? What? Don't you do that when you get up? (INSERT EYE ROLLING MOMENT)...

It's 7:40 a.m. and Briley and I are in the car waiting and I'm honking the horn at Bailey! Finally she comes out of the house with her shoes and socks in hand, or so she thought. Only to find out AFTER I've already driven away from the house and turned onto the main highway that she must have dropped her socks somewhere along the way. (insert little temper tantrum in the car - LOL) Now let's not forget that she's got a whopping big toe with a whopping ingrown toenail...because she won't take care of her toenails and she cuts them off too short! I've tried to show her at least a hundred times how to prevent this pain and agony, but we all know she's not going to listen. So among the wails of no socks, we have the pain of the toenail!

Finally we decide that she can suffer one day with no socks and she's opening the can of Slim Fast that I brought to the car for her, and wouldn't you know it? She pops the top and all over her and the seat of the car is chocolate Slim Fast! I promise you at this point I was hysterical! There's not enough Xanax in the world to calm me down - and the scream fest begins. LOL You would be surprised at how ugly the drives to school can get after Bailey has pulled one her many stunts like this - and all in just a quick 4 miles to school.

It all seems funny in retrospect, but I guarantee you this is a normal everyday snap shop of Bailey's world. There should be a comic strip about her daily mishaps.

Day 8 - Nutrisystem

Oh yea... I'm still movitated!
Now, I think I'll go off and eat my bowl of fresh fruit and the yummy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal that I have waiting for me.

Wooo Hooo....

Isn't it funny how just a little change in our usual schedule or routine can really take it's toll on a person... well atleast it does on ME?

Last night our family celebrated Brit's birthday with a dinner out in 'town'... a 30 minute drive from our house. We invited my mother, Al's parents, a cousin, a friend, and our family of 5. It was great to have us all together and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Just to eat a dinner out on a weeknight really took up about 5 hours of our evening? Crazy isn't it?

As a general rule, I am at home and 'in' for the night with the girls by 8pm or so. That equates to the fact that usually by 8:00 showers/baths have been taken; kitchen is cleaned up; laundry is processing; homework is finished or almost; and we are generally winding down for the night. Briley and I will read for 30 minutes or so and we might even color a page or two, but by 9:30p.m. our day is wrapped up and we are ready for bed and all of the preparations for the next day are made.

Since we were out celebrating last night, we didn't get home until 9:30 p.m. and that just really threw off our routine. Because we had to leave the house in a rush at 6:0o to meet everyone at the restaurant, we weren't able to complete our usual evening chores - i.e. homework, washing of school uniforms and etc.

Anyway, once we got home last night it was mad dash to get it all done and in a timely manner. As it turned out, Briley, Bailey and I didn't make it to bed until 10:30 and I still had to 'stay awake' long enough to make sure the athletic clothes made it to the dryer... UGH... that's the hardest part!! LOL So finally at 11:30 I could turn the lights out and call it a day - but now this morning I feel like I've got a hangover... ya' know? I'm exhausted! I'm worn out!

Why does a tiny little change in my routine have this effect on me? It's crazy, really it is! I guess I'm an old woman and I'm set in my ways.LOL

**OH and for the record, all I had last night was a side salad and bowl of soup - at RED LOBSTER! Is there no justice in this world? I sat and watched everyone devour crab legs dripping in butter. Oh well, I did enjoy a small...very tiny.... garlic/cheese roll... lets just say I savoured it for quite a while - trying to ease the pain! LOL

So today I'm pooped and really need a nap, and it isn't even 10 am yet.... oh this is going to be a long day.

Woo Hoo..... 4 pounds!

Yep - I've lost 4 pounds after 5 days of Nutrisystem and drinking a bazillion gallons of water! :)

If I keep getting positive results then I know I will stay motivated, its the days that I don't loose anything that get me down.

I'm Free At Last - Thank God Almighty - I'm Free At Last!!!

Well maybe not quite 'FREE', but I do feel like some of my burdens have been lifted. Ya' wanna know why? Well............... Brittany - the Queen Diva - has turned 18!! Yes, yes, that's right - I let her live to see her 18th Birthday. I don't know who is more excited by this fact?

In all honesty, I can still remember the day she was born, as if it was yesterday! I still remember the many nights I spent rocking and holding my baby as she was suffering with fever and ear infections, the tears I shed on her first day of school and the smile in her eyes when each of her sisters were born! I know my baby girl is in that evil teenager - somewhere - I just know it! :)

Now... if God will just grant me the strength I need to get Bailey to 18 - this one is going to be tough! LOL

Day 4 - Nutrisystem

Okay - so I'm down a couple of pounds - Wooo Hooo.... Now I'm motivated!
Don't spoil my fun - I realize its just water weight from the gallons of water that I've been drinking - but hey - I'm grabbing on to whatever little thing it takes to keep me motivated!

Oddly enough I had a guy at my work ask me if I was loosing weight? He said he could see it in my face? I 'almost' hugged him - note **ALMOST**... but not quite! LOL

I have a little secret....

Or maybe not?

Okay - I'm back on Nutrisystem and I've got 60 pounds set to loose as my goal. Just to catch you up to date - three years ago I did Nutrisystem and lost 40 pounds in only 4 months. It was so easy, the weight really did just fall right off and I had motivation from I don't know where - but it just worked?

Now back to present day, I realize that if I can get 40lbs off, I will look and feel better about myself, but according to the medical charts, I'm considered obese and I need to loose 60lbs! YIKES - talk about depressing! I know I'm a big girl, but they don't have to put it in such ugly words?

So here I am, Day 3 of Nutrisystem and I'm okay with it. I've been drinking my water and eating healthy - well besides that little piece of garlic toast I had last night - I really have been doing well.

My motivation is simple - VANITY! There I said it! I hate being FAT! I hate looking like this, and I hate that no matter what I wear, I still don't like the way I look! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a bra in my size - uh - yea- it ain't easy! I have to visit the big-girl stores and then hope and pray to find something that fits or is at the very least - comfortable -!

Not to mention that I have absolutely no energy and my back constantly hurts! In all honesty, I weigh more now than I did when I was pregnant with Briley - and I had been on bed rest with two broken feet - uh yes - can you say 'Beached Whale'? LOL

Onward and Upward (so to speak)... today I enjoyed a breakfast of NS cereal which is quite tasty and a mixture of fresh fruit. I also remembered to have my Lowfat yogurt for a snack this morning and now I'm going to prepare my yummy lunch, which consists of a bowl of NS black bean tortilla soup and a side salad with diet dressing from McDonald's. Hey - it works for me!

Oh and I'm a little behind on my water consumption today, so I need to up that between now and this afternoon. It seems like I loose my momentum in the evening and the hours of 4-7 are my weakest times...I need to really work on focusing on something other than food, but how? That's when I'm cooking dinner for my family and I'm stuck in the kitchen cleaning up the mess... and 'sampling' a bit or two as I go... UGH!!

I'm in another one of my 'funks'.... :) Remember this quilt top from many months ago? Well... it's been officially classified as an UFO... Unfinished Object ... I really should drag it back out, BUT???

I really want to sew, I mean I really... really... really.... want to sew! I have an idea for a new quilt swimming around in my head, but I just can't seem to find the energy to make myself sit down and work on it. The reason for this is that I don't want to make a mess that I have to clean up. Does that make any sense?

I'm just soooooo sick of doing laundry, cleaning house, cooking, and constantly fighting the clutter, that I KNOW when I start on another sewing project the daily clutter and mess will overpower me and then on top of all of the usual backpack junk that gets dropped on my kitchen counters and table, I'll have my sewing machine set up and the materials for my quilt piled on the dining table.. and on and on and on... UGH... Oh.... just the thought of the clutter makes me cringe!

Either I need to just let go of the need for a clean home for a while or the need to create! Ya' know? With the hope of Spring just around the corner - both the NEED to create and NEED to clean are dueling within me.

I need some inspiration - to do something! Or else I'll just lie on my bed and watch lifetime movies from now until doomsday - and who gives a hoot about a clean house or a new quilt! LOL

Let me first say, that I don't really participate in this whoo haaa of Valentine's Day; I'm forced by society to buy cheap paper cards for my children to hand out to their classmates! Forced, I tell ya'!

Well this year it is worse - I have been suckered into helping out with Briley's class party. All because I felt guilty for not making it to her Christmas Party! See this guilt stuff really does have a domino effect....

Anyway, this afternoon I have taken a half-day off using my vacation time and I will be rushing home to make several plates of sandwhiches to take to the class party. If all goes well, the sandwhiches will be in the shape of hearts, but I'm not making any promises. For some reason, my attempts at being crafty and creative don't always work out for the best?

Now as far as my personal plans for Valentine's day... well.. uh.... NADDA! BIG NOTHING! I know for a fact that Al and I will not be going out to eat on Saturday! That is absolutely the worst time to try to get a table ANYWHERE! I just don't enjoy standing in line and waiting an hour or more for a table? Ya' know?

I'm sure Al will get each of the girls a sweet card and some sort of box of chocolate that only ONE of the girls will eat. LOL Brit and Briley don't like chocolate and neither will eat candy, so basically Bailey makes a haul on leftover chocolates! :) I try to tell him this EACH AND EVERY YEAR, but he still comes home with those nasty heart shaped boxes of candy that have the worst gooey centers! GAG! (hmmm??? I wonder where Brit and Briley get their hatred of candy from? )

Oh well - I hope each of you have a wonderful day spent with whomever and however you choose! Give a hug or Get a hug - it's all good!

I know...I'm just not a good blogger!

I can't think of anything interesting to write about and I seriously doubt anyone wants to hear about the congestion and stomach bug that has been plaguing our house....so I will just leave you with a hearty hello and hopefully I will have a burst of creative energy to help me along this week.

It's not looking good though- the laundry is piling up FAST and the dishes are beating me to the sink - UGH - Make it stop - I want off of this ride!