Plum Crazy Millers...where purple, passion and peace reside.

OOOOPS!

Good morning blog world. Thank you all for your birthday wishes yesterday. I shared them with the number 1 son and he was actually quite embarrassed. It was amusing ;0) He's growing up so quickly in so many different ways.


It's Friday and my head is about to burst. The whole family has a cold and it's going to rain. Oh fun. I have laundry a mile long and the grocery store is calling my name. Oh well, at least they have a Starbucks ;0) So, I'm off and running from the get-go. I have a few surprises in store for you...one I can share now. I'm officially going back to teaching next Fall. Pre-school of all things! Leave it to me to do something completely different with my life at any given moment. I have a Master's in Special Education (K-12) and Psychology. What does this have to do with teaching pre-school you ask?

Absolutely nothing ;0) It's all about my boys. I'm sending J-man #2 to the same school I will be teaching at so I can be there with him and still be home for the bus for J-man #1. Make some extra spending money while I'm at it. The painting thing, while fabulous cashola, is not feasible at this time, simply because I would still need to find daycare for my little guy. Maybe after he starts Kindergarden, which is, thankfully, still 2 years away!

So, on this fine Friday of mundane chores, I leave you with a funny. Crazy weekend ahead, so if I don't see you...Happy Weekend! Til Monday then....here's one for the ladies.


One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides
to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take
the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors and continues to read
her book.

Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and
says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?" "Reading a book," she
replies. (thinking isn't that obvious?)

"You're in a restricted fishing area", he informs her. "I'm sorry officer,
but I'm not fishing, I'm reading. "Yes, but you have all the equipment For
all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and
write you up.

"If you do that, I"ll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the
woman. "But I have not even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could
start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It is likely she can also think!

From day 1 he drove me crazy.
Emergency Cesarean is still quite hazy.
Started out with lips of blue,
What happened next, I have no clue.

"A 9 lb boy." was all I heard.
A scream, a cry and without a word,
The tears came slowly from my eyes,
As I was greeted with cooing sighs.

They slowly turned to squeals of joy.
The toddling of my baby boy.
He skipped the crawling went straight to run.
Heaven forbid he should miss the fun.

Off to school at 3 some say
"A brilliant boy was on his way."
Colors and sugar made him crazy,
But kept his mom from being lazy!

The days went on to weeks, then months,
He was 4, and full of stunts.
Turning cartwheels, riding bikes,
Asking for more of the things he likes.

With 5 came kindergarten and his first bus ride,
You should of seen us beam with pride!
He loves his teachers, friends and school.
He thinks Spiderman is the ultimate in cool.

He's happy, and loved and "on his way."
My baby boy is six today.

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen??? Congrats Steph!!!! Her new baby girl!

In light of the first part of yesterday's post and what seems to be a popular subject of late ;0)


Have a great day!

I have an explanation for last Friday! Full moon and my Aunt Flo came to visit! I get it now!!! Only she can make me lose control of my emotions that way and with a Full Moon ta boot? There's no saving me.

I am not a Drama Queen. I am not irrational, and I do have a temper, but control it for the most part. It's the Irish in me I guess ;0) But I have been diagnosed with clinical PMS. I discovered this back in college when I was playing a card game with some friends, some one teased me one too many times and I turned the table over on them, left, went to bed, got up the next morning and didn't remember any of it.

Back before kids, I was a real mess about a week before my Aunt would arrive. Problem being, I never knew when she was coming! So, here we are on my emotional roller coaster. For those, who don't really get the PMS thing because you are say, a guy. Compare it to a really bad, rainy day, after drinking all night, your majorly hungover, head is pounding, body is aching, all you want to do is crawl under a rock (or pillow) and die, it's about 7 a.m and your roommate decides to practice his drums. You'll come close.

My particular Aunt Flo would torture me to the point, I really couldn't get out of bed and no amount of tylenol would make her afflictedness go away. At the time, I was also allergic to ibuprofen and well...no magic drugs are available. So, on the pill I went. At least now, I could prepare for her arrival properly. Still incredibly abusive, but at least now I could handle it a little better.

Then I became pregnant with my first child. My dearest Auntie didn't come 'round for nearly two years!! So, after she returned I tolerated her for another year or so and kicked her butt out again! Another 20 months without her!!! Yay!

2 C-sections and 2 kids later she pops in now and again, but I'm older and wiser and can take 800 mg of ibuprofs to ease her visits. I found out a couple of years ago that I am, infact, allergic to aspirin, not ibuprofen. Nuprin, contained both ;0)

BUT...there's always a but isn't there? ...the moods have gotten progressively worse and I CANNOT always control them. Like my tears and anger on Friday. It just happened to be coupled with a very over-tired 6 year old and 2 tragic deaths and a full moon! Can you couple something with 4 events?

It's amazing how, once again though, the sun brings clarity. Aunt Flo does most of her damage before her visits now, and I'm okay with that. And now that you know way too much about me, I will share some relatively good news, or at least and explanation of the tragic events that ensued for my friend Lara on Friday.

The fire started in the kitchen. This happened because, the Mom (who was trapped in the house), got up in the middle of the night, made some tea, and took 4 Vicadin. An addiction, some new she had, but didn't really come to light until this event. The burner was never turned off, and the tea kettle burned up and started the fire. The 9 year old's room was directly across from the kitchen.

There were NO smoke dectors in the house. And this is the message David (the father and husband) wishes to send to you all.

"Check your smoke detectors every six months. If you don't have them, put them in no matter what the expense. It could be a matter of life or death. If even one family can be saved from this tragedy, than that's worth something." quoted from Lara.

The family has received help from the Red Cross and their insurance company, however, they have a long road of healing ahead. David still battles his own private demons, but is on the road to recovery. Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers where they are concerned, and please keep this story in mind and pass it on. Knowledge is power.

Have a great Tuesday!

Please take these adjectives and pictures as compliments..as that is what they are meant to be ;0) Nothing more, nothing less.

Enjoy and play along if you want! Here are the rules.

1. Choose a search engine, click on "Images"
2. Choose a blogfriend
3. Think of ONE or TWO words that you think best describes aforementioned blogfriend.
4. Do an IMAGE SEARCH on that word.
5. Pick an image~~the one that makes you say "AHA! That's IT!"

Mamacita ~ compassionate
Francini ~ wonderment and strength
Christine ~ sweet but shy
Muzik Dude ~ procrastinator
Bari ~ sunny
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In reading my last blog of the night Ficken Chingers, Angie, very kindly gave me an assignment.

Here is how it works. Copy this list. Leave in the bands you've seen perform live. Delete the ones you haven't and add new ones that you have seen until you reach 25. An asterisk means the previous person had it on their list. Two asterisks means the last two people who did this before you had that band on their list.

1. Steve Miller Band
2. Little Feat and Stevie Ray Vaughn
3. Jimmy Buffet
4. The Outfield
5. Alabama
6. Madonna
7. Aerosmith
8. Tim McGraw*
9. John Michael Montgomery*
10. Brookes and Dunn
11. Garth Brooks
12. Steely Dan
13. Sammy Hagar
14. Boston
15. KISS
16. The Hooters***
17. Melissa Etheridge
18.The Eagles
19. Kix (the hubs doing)
20 King's X
21. Pearl Jam
22. Rick Springfield
23. Huey Lewis and the News
24. Sugarhill Gang*
25. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Wow what a variety huh?

Ok, your turn!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last one. Got this from Sugarfused who in turn got it from Anything but Ordinary. Its called

Guess the Google

Have fun and a great Monday!

Poor Cara from To Whom It May Concern , I just met her yesterday and I went completely off my rocker over this. I swiped it from her site because I needed more space to rant! This case is about a 5 year old girl being handcuffed for bad behavior.

Um...excuse me? What'd she do? Stab another child? Shoot a teacher? Something so inexplicable there was no other solution? You'd think this was the case, but no. She ripped paper off the bulletin boards in the Vice Principal's office oh and slapped the teacher or whomever was trying to grab her and keep her from doing so.

I'm sorry, I watched this video SIX times!!! If this is what they are basing the "handcuffs" on, I've got news for you all, there will be some hell to pay in St. Petersburg coming up here real soon.

I taught students with emotional and learning issues. In most cases they came from dysfunctional homes, or some sort of abusive situation. Others, had specific dieseases or chemical imbalances that caused them to act the way they did, such as Turret's Syndrome, or Autism or bi-polar disorder and in some cases Attention Deficit Disorder. All of which come with their own set of rules and of course every single case needs to be treated individually. Some kids were violent, others would draw into themselves. Some kids were just maladjusted and needed stability and structure...it's amazing what a child with no rules is capable of.

I have been kicked, punched, scratched, cussed at, spit on, shoved, all in the name of teaching. And by kids 3 times this little girls age! But you know what? This is what I signed up for. I have taught self-contained classes, regular education classes and classes with gifted students. All had issues of some sort and all had kids who acted out at one time or another some worse than others. If you go into teaching these days and expect 1950's behavior...you are living in a dream world. Even the best of students have bad days and moments of disrespect, but that's why we teach. Lord knows it's not for the money!

It's certainly not the norm, nor do I deam it acceptable, but it's real and it happens and you deal with it accordingly. It's part of your job. There is no reason for handcuffs. Police, yes I think that could be warrented. In some cases, it would show that the school is serious, but handcuffs? On a 5 year old? C'mon! I could even feasibly say, understand, explain it, if it were an older boy of say 12 or 13 or older. I'm a big woman, but I've been hit square in the jaw by a 15 year old boy who saw nothing but red on the kid behind me. Completely accidental, can you imagine if it were on purpose?

Somebody's got some explaining to do. I need your all's input on this one. Am I the only one who see's the horror in what's happening here? What are we coming to? Is this a case of bad parenting? Will we ever really know? What would you do? What if it was your child? What would you have done differently.

Again, my passion is kids. I know no matter what kind of trouble they get into, they need your respect in order for you to get it in return. Even from a 5 year old. What is this teaching them?

I've mentioned before that I have very emotional tendencies right? Well I do. And the hubs is no exception to the rule. Needless to say, both of our kids have inherited this loverly trait. As you saw by yesterday's not so fun post, J-man #1 busted when he was certain I would be hit by a bus. J-man #2 will cry when I start to sing him lullaby's or if he hears a slow mournful tune especially in a Disney film.

Of late, J-man #2 will sing anything and everything from "I Don't Want to Go to the Dumb Potty" to varying renditions of "Bob the Builder" and " Bu-bu-B. Bu-bu-B-L. Bu-Bu B-L-A-S-T-E-R Blaster!" He makes up his own versions of A-B-C Song, and whatnot...and will sing them at the top of his lungs.

Today was no exception.

Coming from the living room this morning I heard this..."Oh why oh why can't I have you? Why-eye-eye can't I have you-ou-ou? OOOOOHHHHH why can't I have you?" And it went on like this for 10 or so minutes.

Then I turned around to find a whimpering bug ..."What's wrong baby?" I asked.

"Why? Mommy? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy???????" Wahhhhhh! And he bursts into tears and goes into hysterics! Very similar to his brother's antics yesterday. He didn't stop bawling for almost 20 minutes!

When he finally calmed down enough to talk to me, I asked him why he was crying.

He said his song made him sad and he just had to cry.

Out of the mouths of babes ;0)

This is not a funny one...so if you do not wish to keep reading, I won't be offended. I need this.

Let me first start by saying, while I am an emotional and passionate person, I do not fold, break down and cry, and or lose my cool in a crisis situation. I am the friend you call when you are angry, depressed, need a voice of reason, want to commit suicide, leave your husband or just plain bitch. I am the voice of logic in most situations (unless I'm PMSing, but we won't go there now) and people do not know how to handle me when I'm not these things. When I cry, scream, bitch and/or lose it. There are few that can, because I do it so rarely. That being said...

Today SUCKED to put it mildly. I managed to feel like the world's worst mother and friend all in the same day. Add a bit of selfishness and self pity on top and you have a winner!

It all started when the bus was late. (See, I could actually blame this on the bus driver and none of this would've happened). I went out into the road to look up the street and see if the bus was coming. J-man #1 was none to happy with this fact and proceeded to worry I was going to get hit by the bus. I told him that no such thing would happen and that was it...he FREAKED OUT! Ran at me crying, grabbed my hand and started to pull me back to the curb screaming "MOM! Get back on the sidewalk the bus is going to hit you!" Then he proceeded to cry uncontrollably, while we waited for the bus. Then he refused to get on the bus at all. I literally picked him up and put him in the bus and he scooted underneath my arms and got off again, re-attaching himself to me as he did so.

Now, this is not normal behavior for this child, but he is one to escalate when I try to hug him, coddle him or speak to him reasonably. It just makes him cry harder. Always has. So, I waved the bus on...heard my neighbor mumble something about "Way to go...tough love you tried.. yada...yada...yada." Meanwhile, I'm walking down the road back to my house, embarrassed and laughing, because that's my knee jerk reaction to emotional situations I can't handle without crying. I was pissed. I had to be at work at 8:30, it was now 8:15 , J-man #2 was still sound asleep in bed and I now had to drive butt-head boy to school. Shit.

I told him to wait for me in the car before I killed him, went inside, called work told them I would be late and went upstairs for the 2 year old. Grabbed said sleeping child and some clothes and put him in the car. By this time J-man #1 had calmed down a bit and we were off. I'm still steamed, but a bit calmer and manage to get and "I'm sorry I scared you." out without too much sarcasm. Then made the stupid mistake of asking him "Are you going to give me a hard time at school?" Dumb, dumb, dumb...he started all over again. I got to school to the drop off and he wouldn't get out of the car. I whipped it into a parking space and got him out to walk him to his class room Re-attachment while I was carrying his brother in his pajamas into school. Stopped at the water fountain, tried to un-button his coat to get him some water and he threw the back pack down started buttoning his coat back up and re-attached himself. By this time I felt absolutely horrible, I was ready to cry and wasn't really sure I could make it to the classroom without breaking down myself.

We did, he was literally getting louder and squeezing more tightly as we got closer to the classroom. I managed to get him in, his stuff put away and to his seat. All the while, other parents are trying to talk to him, help me, keep J-man #2 occupied while I dealt with demon child, but his teacher (substitute for 6 weeks while his "real" teacher is out with her newborn) was sitting there staring at me. I was so upset that I couldn't speak for fear of bursting into tears myself. I finally managed a "Could I get a little help here?" and she jumped up with an "oh.." and managed to get him off my leg long enough for me to grab the little guy and get out of the class room.

I made it to the hallway before I burst into tears. I was so exhausted from the past couple of days events that I just didn't have it to hold it together myself. One very kind mom said to wait and she would come tell me how he was doing in a few minutes. I knew he would be fine once I left, but would I? Another Mom stood in the hallway and talked to me while I calmed down, not knowing what really to say or do, but somehow was able to get me laughing while wiping away my tears. It amazed me how many other parents I knew AND THE PRINCIPAL that walked by and didn't say a word to me. They had no idea how to handle me crying....it was actually kind of humorous.

He was in fact fine and I managed to compose myself long enough to get to the library when I was struck by another wave...My friend Lara's brother's house burnt to the ground this morning. His wife died, along with two dogs, a lizard and a cat in the blaze. His 9 year old step son had 40% of his body burned and was medi-vaced to Children's Hospital.

What the hell? I left. I couldn't deal with someone's else's crisis right now. Sorry, no uh-uh.
Got to my car, called Lara. She seemed fine and was looking for a tank for their sole surviving pet, a 4 ft Iguana named Lulu. Wow...a little to surreal.

I drove to the gym in the rain...and pretended my day would get better.

Nope.

J-man #1 got home and off the bus as if nothing ever happened. Opened one of his fake birthday presents from yesterday's Chuck E Cheese party, a Spider-man webslinger, and took it down to Joe's house to play with it. Great. Normal afternoon, until the Hubs gets home, I'm ready to walk out the door to go paint, call the kid's mom and she says J-Man #1 hasn't been there all afternoon.

No.

He'd been gone 2 hours! Where the hell was he? He ALWAYS calls when he goes into someone's house. He ALWAYS comes to tell me if he's going to be somewhere different than what he originally told me. ALWAYS!!! Where the hell was he??!!!

Major panicking happening now, esp after the days events. I just couldn't do this anymore. I started crying, running around the neighborhood, knocking on everyone's door asking if he was there. Thank God the Hub's found him at another friends house down the road. He had gone in with 6 or more kids to play in his basement and never even thought twice about it.

I ripped him a new one and left to go cry in my car so he wouldn't see me.

This is it right? Wrong.

I got to my friend's house to paint and got a phone call from the hubs to call Lara. Her nephew didn't make it. His lungs had burned from the smoke and the heat. Again..I wasn't allowed to be upset. I needed to be strong for her. And I was...and she told me that this is why she called me, because I was one of her strenghth's and she knew I'd be there for her.

So this is why I am the world's worst mom today and the world's worst friend. Because, I got mad at my kid for something I did and he was too damn exhausted to deal with it rationally, and I was too upset and feeling sorry for myself and felt I deserved it eventhough I'm in the midst of a tragedy and all I can think about is myself, how much I just want to hug and love my kids and how I'm glad it wasn't them. That, this whole thing started because I walked into the street... and how I'm so effin' exhausted right now, I"m not even making sense anymore.

If you're still here...thank you and even though you don't know them, please keep Lara and her family in your prayers. They are going to have a lot to deal with in the next few months. Love your children with everything you can and hope you can always be strong when they need you too and realize it's okay if you can't. I'm certainly trying.

I'm going to bed now and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

I'd like to thank my dearest friend Beth for helping me realize this!

My day yesterday consisted of getting up at the crack-o-darkness...getting J-man #1 ready for school..bus...getting J-Man #2's clothes, breakfast, and my cupa and heading out the door (late as per usual) to run to the gym to work..not work out...for a friend who's baby had the flu, spent two hours there, went to Toddlin' Time (play group essentially), dealt with other people's screaming kids, left, got some lunch, Nasty Mc D's for the boy, Taco Bell for me to come home and listen to the two year old scream at how he wanted my cheese quesadilla and that his nuggets were gross (well can't really argue with him there now can I?), put screaming boy down for a nap so I could go to the bathroom only to have him get up 15 minutes later telling me he's done with his nap and try's to steal the candy out of the bags I'm stuffing for J-man #1's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese today (yeah, I'm crazy, didn't I tell you?) then repeating over and over again "Mommy, I want cake. I want to help decorate J's cake. Can I have cake? When can I have cake? Can I paint the cake? I'm going to eat cake for dinner. I love cake! Why can't I have cake? What kind of cake is it? I love chocolate cake!"

*deep breath*

to then go get J-man #1 off the bus, bring his back pack home, he's going to a friends (yay! no fighting for at least another hour) to get back inside and get everything organized and put in my car for the painting job I started last night, get dinner ready for the hubs (so that he can call me later and tell me how much the kids DON'T like what I made and where are the hot dogs? Welcome, to my world hon!) Pass the hubs in the hall and I'm off into the midst of rush hour traffic. Whew!

While I'm answering the cell phone with one hand, eating with the other and driving with my left elbow, I realize God's mistake in making mothers...we don't have enough appendages! I really think that at about month 8 of pregnancy, women should start to sprout two more arms and hands. They would reach maturity shortly after the babies birth and remain there approximately two years. As your hormone levels come back down to normal levels this third set of arms would just dry up and drop off! This, coupled maybe by another set of eyes on the back and or sides of you head would be a great asset for breaking up fights, eating your dinner and getting the kids the twenty things they always want after your butt hits the chair, feeding the wee bebe in the car in the back seat whilst driving, and many, many more!

Now that I'm done writing the world's longest run on sentence...

I think I'll go phone God now and market my suggestions...what do you think? ;0)

According to Momma K, yesterday was Fairy Blogmother Day. A day in which to honor those that started you in this virtual reality we like to call Blogville. Well, I'm a little slow on the uptake so, I'm posting my thank you's today!

I think I have 2 or 3 but the first and foremost person who got me started on all of this was Momma K herself.

She sent me her web address and I was hooked immediately. She guided me through the general set up and gave me some "watch out " pointers and off I went. My name, was modeled after hers, mostly because I wasn't creative enough to think of my own at the time, and I wrote about a lot of the same things...simply because she's witty and funny and my friend and I thought her stuff was cool. I wanted to find my way into this world and she was already there. I was soon wading in the shallow waters alone then dug in deep and started swimming.

My original intention was to post pictures of my work, and my family that was easily accessed by extended family members all over the country. I soon realized what a big beast Blogville really is and that posting such personal info with my kids faces and names all over it wasn't the best idea.

It then turned into a forum for my random thoughts. Things that I didn't necessarily want to discuss with people I knew, but needed to get them off my chest. Then, I realized that not everyone is nice in the Blogosphere, and I met my next Fairy Blogmother,

Shoehound~

We had a then big, now minor scuffle, I got my feelings trampled on by something she wrote actually what someone else thought I should read and she apologized for something she didn't do. She didn't need to. She could've just told me to get a life and stop reading into things that were never specifically about me. You can read about that here. She didn't though and through a series of emails we discovered that she in fact was the one with the Blog Trolls, and they were lashing out at everything she touched.

From this I learned that you are only seeing a very small portion of someone's very private, raw thoughts. Some lie, embellish, and others are completely candid. I learned to pick and choose and build relationships (strictly virtual mind you) based on what a specific person wants to tell me. You don't ask personal questions unless they invite you to, you don't assume you know this person based on what they write, unless they tell you so, and even then, it's not always the case.

Finally Michele, ever so gracious and welcoming, was happened upon by reading other people's comments "Hello, Michele sent me." Well, who the heck was Michele? Why didn't she send me? She is the epitamy of a Blogging Queen. She brings people together, spreads comment cheer, and yes she does read every one of her responses! She gives new meaning to the word gracious. Everyone should get to know her. I thank her for her introductions to most of you, who then in turn come back and boost my ego or blast it...nicely;0) I'm all for constructive criticism, after all it would be a pretty boring world if we all thought the same way now wouldn't it?

So I think that's it in Fairy Blogmother land. Of course, as time goes on, I build more and more friendships with people, my newest is Old Horse Tail Snake and The Staff Sargeant's Wife, both whom I think are completely hilarious for different reasons...you should go visit if you don't already ;0)

Have a great Hump Day!!

14 five and six year old boys running in a big field with sticks. Need I say more?

This was my Saturday...up at 7, baseball game at 9, Fun Fair at the local pre-school at 11 and Birthday Party from Hell at 2.

Actually, the party was great. The kids had a blast and the mom provided some really cool activities...minus the running with sticks and shooting each other part. They had a treasure hunt to search for Dr. Claw (inspector gadget theme), then they did a pinata, made t-shirts by coloring a picture on sand paper with crayons then ironing it onto the shirt, Inspector Gadget Bingo with prizes, then cake and presents. They ended by playing on the playground. The party wasn't the problem...it was a certain few children who needed some Nanny 911 help.

3 boys in particular. The first two were older siblings and COMPLETELY WILD!! Jumping up and running across picnic tables, knocking over small children, turning on the water and flinging mud on kids who weren't looking. And these children had parents there watching this the whole time!! I finally turned on my teacher voice and firmly and rather loudly, asked them to stop, when they ignored me, I took them both by the hand and sat them down at a nearby bench and told them they were in time out. I wanted to smack the living crap out of them, but ...well that wouldn't be appropriate now would it?

The parents were completely stunned. Neither one of them said a word to me, but I was waiting. I was ready to tell them that if they weren't able to parent their child, I would. Someone had to. Unfortunately, this seems to be becoming the norm these days. Too many parents, at least while I was teaching, expected the teachers to "handle" their kids. I remember one such father joked "Got a baseball bat?". My response was, "A ten year old with $100 tennis shoes? Take them away."

Now, I realize that many of you can do this. Work, run a household, raise children, be there for your husband, and many of you are damn good single parents and have no other choice. But you my friends, are not the norm and it's terribly unfortunate. I admire you all for what you do. Even the little bit of work I'm doing now, while envigorating, balancing it with the rest of my life is exhausting!

I speaking about the parents whose jobs are more important than their kids. They use television, computers and video games as baby sitters. They can't go to the baseball practices or soccer practices because they have to work. I'm talking about the parents who have time off from work and leave their 6 year old in daycare til 6 pm anyway. I'm talking about the parents who let their kids do whatever the hell they want to because their children might not like them if they discipline to harshly. I'm talking about the parents who feel so guilty working 60 and 70 hour work weeks that they buy their children anything they want to make up for the time they are missing with them. I'm talking about the parents who want kids, but don't want to raise them.

It angers me that their are so many of you who appreciate what a family is and work to hold it together and that there is always the yang to counter act that. I started teaching because I wanted these kids to have some structure, something constant in their lives. Someone who would listen to them, and not succumb to their every whim. I stopped for those very same reasons. I needed to be that for my own children. They do not live in a bubble, and I am certainly not the perfect parent. I have a temper, I scream, I yell, I cry and I love my children to death. They have their place in our family and they do not get everything they want. They will learn to respect adults, no matter who they are, they will learn to question authority appropriately. They will learn to be good people and get by honestly in this world. They will learn how to pretend the floor is hot lava or water and jump from couch to couch. They will learn to make forts out of cusions and blankets. They will play in the dirt and get dirty. They will learn to talk to strangers and listen to their senses about them. They will learn to talk to people they know, and listen to their gut about them. They will learn to have their own minds and appreciate the things they have and conversely what others don't. They will learn these things because this is what my family is about. This is what my family is about and if your children do not want to learn these things too, or if this is not what your family is about, then your kids do not have to play here.

I am a passionate person and there are few things that really get me going this was obviously one of them. Perhaps this is why I have spent my life with children in some way shape or form. Next Fall, I will start teaching preschool. Big jump from 7th and 8th graders, but perfect for me at this point. It's a couple of days a week, J-man #2 will be going to excellent preschool, I can still volunteer in J-man #1's classroom, be home for the bus and make some extra money. We'll worry about laundry, vacuuming and dinner later ;0)
And somehow this all started from a birthday party...

I know I can't save the world, but I will certainly die trying.

My dear friend CPM has finally posted her answers. They are a true testiment to her life and her thoughts on God, having a "melted" family and struggles therein. If there were ever any questions you had about your faith, religion, the Bible or any thing else, this is a woman who can answer those questions, though you may not always like the answers ;0)

Be not afraid...go read them here. She is a gifted, eloquent writer and I have watched her blossom into what she has become. And she loves a challenge ;0)

Last week my neighbor discovered her electric dog fence was busted. How, you ask? Well, Sir Shade-a-lot (aka Shade) decided he was going to take on the school bus. The bus took off from the stop and so did Shade. Barking like there was a friendly neighborhood postal patron nearby...chased the bus....then ran in front of the bus....I couldn't look....but I did...yeah sick...me I mean...you know that part of you that can't possibly watch a C-section, or brain surgery or an axe murderer? The part of you that wants to watch, but knows you shouldn't?

Well, guess what?

Bet you can't ;0)

The bus....stopped (sick, sick people)

AND little Miss Noel...neighboring hound from across the street come tearing out of her yard right on Shade's butt! Chased her back into her yard and the bus went on. Significance of this ?
I knew you'd ask..so I'll tell you.

Friday and again this fine, sunny and beautimous a.m. It happened again. However, and I waited until this morning to make sure, before Shade even had a twitter in her knickers to chase that bus...Noel pinned her little fuzzy butt to the ground and snarled and barked and "yelled" at her until the bus took off. Once the bus was gone, Noel stopped, turned around and went back home.

Now that's protection ;0)

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Thanks to everyone for all you wonderful compliments for both my interview questions and my murals below. I had a blast doing them both and I'm glad I could share with you!

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Okay...third round of Monty's image game...here we go!

Enjoy and play along if you want! Here are the rules.
1. Choose a search engine, click on "Images"
2. Choose a blogfriend
3. Think of ONE or TWO words that you think best describes aforementioned blogfriend.
4. Do an IMAGE SEARCH on that word.
5. Pick an image~~the one that makes you say "AHA! That's IT!"

I'm hitting everyone on my blogroll once a week , so if you haven't been chosen yet it's nothing personal! Please, also, take my adjectives as compliments, as that is what they are meant to be, nothing more, nothing less. Thanks!

Allessandra~insightful
old horsetail snake ~wiseass luv ya Hoss!
Cori ~determined
Square Slant-cultivated
michele~ welcoming

Christine at Mommy Matters has finished her tear jerking, heartfelt, synopsis of the Titanic, it's voyage and the families she took with her. She has now graciously answered my questions and has posted her interview...go have a look-see!

I love this interview things. It's challenging my brain to come up with fun and interesting questions. Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you all. Here are the series for Colleen and Crock Pot Mom. Again, first four questions are personal and the fifth a random thought. Write as much or little as you feel comfortable with, post them to your own blog, and offer to interview others if you so choose.

Colleen

1. You've had your share of difficult times. Two such events being the loss of your brothers, one right after the other. This prompted you to write what turned out to be a book called The Jim and Dan Stories . A book about them, your loss and growth afterward. How did writing this book help you move through the rough times? What are one or two things you learned about yourself after living through something most people never experience?

2. If you had the opportunity to do anything in your life over again, what would it be and why?

3. You have one hour to spend with any one of your Irish ancestors. Who would it be and what would you ask them?

4. Write a short poem about "Buttons".

5. You have a choice, $1,000,000, or a conversation with the President wherein he will do any one thing you ask him to. Which would you choose and why? If it's the 2nd option, what would you ask?


Crock Pot Mom

1. Your life is rooted in your faith in God. What are 3 things that lead you here?

2. You went from having 2 beautiful children to 5 in a matter of months. What advice do you have for those who are starting second marriages and blending families?

3. You've had a myriad of jobs over the years from SAHM to Cranio-Sacral therapist. What has been your favorite thus far? Why? Do you hope to do something else as your children get older and more self-sufficient?

4. You are asked to write a eulogy for your friend who does not believe in God. What would it say?

5. You have the opportunity to develop your own reality show. What would it be? How would you audition? What is the grand prize? (no fair saying you hate reality shows).

I'm back from Fairy Princess land, minus the fairies...they weren't such a big hit in this household, but that's okay. This project took about 1/2 the time as the Corner Store, but the space was a bit smaller and not as detailed. I think when J-man #2 is in school full time, I've got a new career! So much for all that schooling!


After...Some rather beefy "big ass" horses ...never claimed I could draw!!!

Before....Horses and Field

Other half of castle wall...

After...Neighboring Castle

Before...castle wall.

Another internet bit, but I had to share!!

This is all too true......and for you guys, now you know why it takes your
wife/girlfriend so long in the restroom!!

My mother was a fanatic about public bathrooms. When I was a little
girl, she'd take me into the stall, teach me to wad up toilet paper and
wipe the seat. Then, she'd carefully lay strips of toilet paper to cover
the seat.

Finally, she'd instruct, "Never, NEVER sit on a public toilet seat.
Then she'd demonstrate "The Stance," which consisted of balancing over the toilet in a sitting position without actually letting any of your flesh make contact with the toilet seat. By this time, I'd have wet down my leg and we'd have to go home to change my clothes.

That was a long time ago. Even now, in my more "mature years", "The Stance" is excruciatingly difficult to maintain, especially when one's bladder is full.

When you have to "go" in a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women that makes you think there's a half-price sale on Victoria's Secret underwear in there. So, you wait and smile politely at all the other ladies, who are also crossing their legs and smiling politely. You get closer and check for feet under the stall doors.

Every one is occupied. Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch.

It doesn't matter. The dispenser for the new fangled "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook if there was one - but there isn't - so you carefully but quickly hang it around your neck (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume "The
Stance."

Ahhhh, relief. More relief. But then your thighs begin to shake. You'd love to sit down but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance" as your thighs experience a quake that would register an eight on the Richter scale. To take your mind off of your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser.

In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you would have tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse.


That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It is still smaller than your thumbnail. Someone pushes open your stall door because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse
topple backward against the tank of the toilet. "Occupied!" you say loudly, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle, and sliding down, directly onto the insidious toilet seat.

You bolt up quickly, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly ashamed of you if she knew, because you're certain that her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get."

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, sending up a stream of water akin to a fountain that suddenly sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged off to China.

At hat point, you give up. You're soaked by the splashing water.

You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket, then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks. You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands on your pants and a dry paper towel and walk past a line of women, still waiting, cross-legged and, at this point, no longer able to smile
politely.

One kind soul at the very end of the line points out that you are trailing a piece of toilet paper on your shoe as long as the Mississippi River! (Where was it when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you might need
this."

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has since entered, used and exited the men's restroom and read a copy of War and Peace while waiting for you. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?" He looks flabbergasted when you say "Shut Up!"

This is dedicated to women everywhere who have ever had to deal with a public restroom (rest??? you've got to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked question about why women go to the restroom in pairs.

It's so the other woman can hold the door and hand you Kleenex under the
door.

Really I do! It's kind of like celebrating your birthday for the whole month. I've had two more requests for interviews... I need to go back to teaching! Colleen from Looseleaf : Notes from a Writer's Journal and Crock Pot Mom have graciously agreed to let me question them. Now all I have to do is think of some more questions!! Hopefully, by this evening y'all! I'll let you know when they are ready.

My Niece got this kitchen set for her birthday and already she's had to call a plumber!

Christine of Mommy Matters is also interested in being interviewed...so...here are her questions. Again, the first four are personal, the last random.

1. You are on the Titanic and it's sinking fast...what are you thinking?

2. You have all the money you could ever need. You've asked your husband to up and run away with you on a trip of a lifetime (pretend the kids are grown or staying with grandparents or something...work with me here..) where would you go, what would you do and why?

3. You have the opportunity to spend a week on a tour with a famous muscian/band. Who would it be and what do you think your experience would be like?

4. Your husband iwas in the Navy. Have you ever considered joining the military? If so, why or why not? Do you think women belong in the military? Do they have a place at all?

5. You have been told that you only have a few months left to live. You wish to write letters to your children and impart your most important words of wisdom upon them. What are the top 3 things you would say to each of them (if different)?

Okay...I'm a day late and a dollar short as always, but here are 5 more random bloggers from my blogroll... I will get to everyone..I promise! Please take these adjectives and pictures as compliments..as that is what they are meant to be ;0) Nothing more, nothing less.

Enjoy and play along if you want! Here are the rules.

1. Choose a search engine, click on "Images"
2. Choose a blogfriend
3. Think of ONE or TWO words that you think best describes aforementioned blogfriend.
4. Do an IMAGE SEARCH on that word.
5. Pick an image~~the one that makes you say "AHA! That's IT!"

True Jersey Girl ~hysterically blind ;0) ok bad choice, this was THE ONLY photo that came up
I'll do another one for you too...~fun
Deb/Sugarfused ~true beauty
Tammy/Average Mom ~strong and sensitive
Paul Sveda~introspective
Colleen~thoughtful and accomplished

This is what Raehan posted last week about me:

Strong and Generous

Will the following people please rise ... Cori, from "the not so long road to crazyville", Raehan from "Agog and Aghast" and Bari from "the shoehound". The following are the questions for your interview...1-4 pertain to you personally the fifth is just a random thought that passed through my head. Have FUN!!! Remember to post questions, your answers and rules to YOUR blog and pass it on!

Cori

1. You are young mom with three beautiful children. One of them has Autism. Obviously, this is a lot to deal with. What is the most important "lesson" your son has taught you?

2. You have an IQ of immeasureable proportions and you can choose anywhere you want to go work doing anything you want to do. What would you do and where would it be?

3. You seem to have an affinity for Tinkerbell. If you had some magic fairy dust and could fly anywhere real or make believe where would you go? She is also a spiteful sprite that is portrayed after the very voluptuous and sexy Marilyn Monroe. Would these characteristics describe your personality? If not, how do they differ?

4. Blister in the Sun is one of your favorite songs. It reminds you of a road trip you took when you were 18. What is the best experience or "time" if you will, that you have ever had on a road trip?

5. Music from different times in our lives mean different things; good, bad and indifferent. What song makes you cry every time you hear it and why?


Raehan

1. You are a history buff are you not? If you could slip in and out of the past...where would you go and why?

2. You have the opportunity to sneak a peek into a "famous" person's diary but you are only allowed to read one entry. Who's would it be and what would it say?

3. You have essentially married your first love. Have there been others? If not, do you ever think about "what if"? Name 3 reasons why your hubs is "the best Daddy ever".

4. You have traveled all over the world. Money is no object. Where would you build a house/live and why?

5. You are stranded on a desert island for and indefinite amount of time...what 3 things would you hope to have with you and why?



Bari

1. You're married, have a beautiful golden retriever and rewarding career what more could a girl hope for? Are you happy with your life as is? If not, what do you want to be when you grow up?

2. Blogger Trolls. You've had your share. What would be your warning to new writers against them?

3. You are a very passionate person, and from what I can tell, a phenomenal teacher. If you could have your choice, no holds barred, of what to teach a group of dysfunctional youths ( by dysfunctional I mean kids who do not have a stereotypical middle-class family life) what would be your number one choice and why?

4. You have the opportunity to spend one entire work day with a political figure. Who would you choose and what do you hope to learn from this person?

5. You are a Smashing Spring/Summer Fashion Piece. What would you be and who would wear you?

3 Peeps took the bait! Cori, Raehan, and Bari are all on my list to be interviewed! I will hopefully have some relevant questions for you here in the next day or so.

P.S. Bari, I'm blocked from your site AND email....again! LOL! Let me know what's up please!

I'm working on the Fairy Princess room so I'll be out all day tomorrow and Tues...so, instead of posting, I'll work on my questions and let you all know when they are ready. So much to do, so little time. Why is it nothing happens for weeks and then 20 things all happen at once? Please understand if I don't visit for a few. I still love you guys...I just have a life ;0) Kidding... be back soon.

I don't trust blogger so I'm posting tomorrow's entry now!

Wow! I am so feeling the love this week! Friday I was Muzikdude's Mystery Blog and my blog doesn't suck! And today I'm being interviewed by Square Slant. And last week I won Demented Michelle's April Fool's contest AND Rebecca, one of my contenders gave me her prize $$...I owe lots of people coffee now ;0) Thanks to every-lovin'-body!!!

So, here are my questions and answers. Hope you enjoy!

1. You believe in ghosts! Do you think everyone that dies comes back? If not why do some come back and others don’t? When you die – where or who would you like to “haunt?”

Yes, "I do believe in spooks...I do believe in spooks...I do-I do- I do believe in spooks!" As much as my Catholic upbringing tells me not to, I do believe in spirits, ghosts, apparitions, specters, whatever you want to call them. Seen too many and had too many weird things happen to me not to. I think those who pass on with some sort of trauma or in a violent manner, who somehow don't "know" they are dead or have something left undone in this lifetime, come back. Some come back to say goodbye, others don't know they've left and stay in one place, hence a place is "haunted".

When I die...first, I'd like to die peacefullyand having learned all my life lessons so I won't have to come back, but if for some reason that is not the case, I would love to "haunt" all the crazy psychic people who claim to see things and steal poor *souls* money, and then maybe come back to say hi to my kids once in a while ;0)


2. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother is going to pay you a visit at 5pm on Saturday. She will grant you a wish – the catch – at midnight it all goes poof! What is your wish?

"I wanna be a cowboy bay-bee"...sorry...that's just what popped into my head. No seriously, I would want to be a singer/performer and perform a live show in front of a Aerosmith type audience. There is nothing better than a true rock'n'roll concert with beautiful talented people on stage. I LOVE to sing! Can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I love to do it anyway. We dance around our house and sing at the top of our lungs, out of tune, wrong lyrics, laughing and dancing our butts off. Complete and utter fun!! And, since nobody can create World Peace in 7 hours...I want to be a Rock Star!

3. You have two wonderful boys! I know you love them. Were you secretly hoping for a girl when you got pregnant the second time? Do you plan on having other children or is two enough? Did your husband treat you differently during the first pregnancy as compared to the second?

Hey, do you know me in my non-virtual life? Yes, I was secretly hoping for a girl. As a matter of fact, I was certain J-man #2 was a girl... until I saw the third leg. Surprise! Not a girl. That's okay... God gave me boys for a reason. Girls at this stage of the game are bossy, sassy, and whiney! The whining sends my patience in to the ground in approximately 2.2 seconds on a good day. Besides, aside from the all the incredibly adoreable clothing for girls, they just get harder to deal with as they get older! Then you have to worry about the whole dating thing...boys etc. etc. This is certainly not to say I don't love them little girly girls..I am one! But, I think I was meant to raise boys, and I'm having a great time doing it!

We are done with the pregnancy thing. I'm 37 and my body didn't like being pregnant the first two times (though mentally, I loved it!). I could barely walk by my 5th month with my second. My hips gave out. So, we're done. We got a girl dog instead! The boys are getting old enough now that we can do stuff without having to carry all the baby paraphanalia and they understand things better too.

My husband didn't treat me differently during the second preganancy, although, he was a different person. He lost his father at a young age and so during the first pregnacy he was having some father issues of his own. For the second, I could say he was much more understanding and comfortable with the whole thing, which I guess in turn, made it easier on me.

My first baby baby gift was a pair of diamond earrings....my second baby baby gift was a digital camera ;0)

4. You are forced to get a tattoo (or another tattoo if you already have one) what would it be or say and where would you put it?

No forcing here!! I've always wanted one and just haven't gotten around to it..someday. I would put it on the outside of my ankle, probably just above the bone and it would be a peace sign drawn with really simple flowers and leaves about the size of a quarter. That's it.

5. They say marriage is hard work. Do you find it to be so – if you do what is the hardest part?

No, not at all. Definitely challenging at times, but I love my husband, I love being married, I love my kids, it's all I've ever wanted. I often wish for just enough. Just enough money to get by, just enough food to feed my family, and maybe more than enough time to spend with my kids and hubby. It's always worked out. Communication is our biggest strength and spending quality time together seems to be our weakness, but we're working on that ;0)

Wow!! That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be :0) Thanks SS!!!

Now, if you would like to be interviewed, just let me know! Leave me a comment saying “interview me.”I will respond by asking you five questions here. They will be different questions than the ones above. You will then update YOUR blog with the answers to the questions.Then you can include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. Finally, repeat what I've just done! Simple yes?

Good, off you go then! Have a great day!

This is what I plan to do for the summer...NOT!

Yikes!

Okay, so how many of you secretly thought this was cool?

Thanks Mrs. Mogul for reminding me I actually have something cool to write about. (I was reminded of this experience when I read about her guardian angels)

I believe in the Netherworld. Another life. A parallel universe. Whatever you choose to call it. I believe in ghosts.

Not so long ago the hubby and I went off to the Mid West to celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss. He wanted Vegas, I wanted AZ. We both wanted somewhere we'd never been before. So there it was; Vegas for a week and Sedona for another. 10 days sans children and by the end of the first week we were sans cashola ta boot! The Blue Man group is definitely a must see!

So, after the Hoover Dam, Sedona and energy vortexes here we come! What a beautimous place, Sedona, but that's another story. We did lots of touristic type stuff, pink jeep tours, minimal hikes on Bell Rock and Mama Kachina, and shopping at Talaquepaque. Then we headed south towards Phoenix and went to visit the Aunt who just happens to live 1/2 hour from Tombstone. We'd already driven 4 hours what's another 1/2 hour?

And here's where our story begins...

We got into Tombstone at approx. 3:30 p.m. Apparently the ghosties roll up their sidewalks at 6 o'clock sharp so we were told to hit the most haunted spot in town first...The Birdcage Theater In an article in 1882, The New York Times called this "the wildest, wickedest nightspot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast". It was the site of 16 bloody gunfights and 140 bullet holes riddle the walls and ceiling. Okay...we were up for anything at this point. So we raced into town and managed to find the theater at the end of main drag. When we first went in, all we could see was the original bar from 1882 and the 6 foot painting of Fatima with 6 or 7 bullet holes in it.

Now, just in case you aren't familiar with the legend. The Birdcage was home to the longest poker game in history and the infamous drunken gunfight between Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

After hanging around a while we realized that for a mere 6 beans, we could tour the rest of the Birdcage AND the basement. COOL!! Of course they made sure we knew that it was haunted and we should expect anything because this day was a highly active one for ghost activity. Whatever. I wasn't going to get my hopes up...plus the whole idea made me a tad bit nervous.

So, on we went. Taking photos of everything. Reading the walls, looking at all the original furniture, the original faded carpets and drapes and unique furniture are complimented by the different articles of a bygone brothel and the poker table as it was left over 100 years ago. They even have one of the Black Mariah's which was the original hearse to carry every member (dead member that is) but six of Tombstone to Boothill cememtary. It was laden with 24 carat gold and silver. Only three were made at the time due to the expense.

After reading up on the Black Mariah and coming the rest of the way down the steps...I spied this poem on the wall. As I was reading it I felt the hair on the back of my neck raise up...like someone was pulling it. I whipped around to yell at my husband for scaring the bejeezus out of me when I realized....no one was there. I didn't freak. I just attributed it to a hair getting caught on my sweater.

I continued to read the poem and my camera decided to go all wonky. It's a digitial and has all kinds of gizmos and gadgets on it...well...every light, bell and whistle came on and it stuck itself open. I couldn't do a damn thing...so I took the batteries out, put them back in and tried to turn my camera back on.

Batteries were dead. Man...I started to turn to look for the gift shop and ....yank!!!!

SOMEONE PULLED MY HAIR AGAIN HARD this time and for sure I thought it was my hubster. I whipped around and guess what folks? NO ONE WAS THERE!!!

This time I hussled my tightly clenched toucas into the gift shop for mo' batress.....the cashier lady laughed as I scurried into the shop. She knew exactly what had happened before I even opened my mouth. Pointed and said...

"Batteries are on the top rack behind you...don't bother putting them in though, they'll be dead again within' a few minutes. They are playing with you now. *snicker*"

It was soooo cool! I was actually not afraid, more excited and a little freaked out. Mostly because all the stories I had heard previously were about "friendly ghosts" and "pranksters". I've had other weird experiences here at my own house that I will share another time that really scared me.

So...needless to say, I won't be going to go see the new Amityville Horror flick anytime soon. I have had enough realtime hauntings to last me a life time!!!

Care to share any scaries with me?

Okay...in honor of American Idol and my wacky husband who loves to show me all the crazy things people do...watch the following videos. Hope you have a happy beautimous Wednesday!!!

Watch this then this.


By the by, my favs for the top 5 are Bo, Carrie, Constantine, Vonzelle, and Anwar ;0)

I won! I won! I won! Thanks to Michelle at Demented Delusions for hosting the loverly April Fool's Day contesto!

I never win anything! You all voted my April Fool's Joke the funniest ;0) Thank You! I have received, graciously, a $10 gift certificate for Starbucks coffee. So those of you whom I promised to share with, if you're ever in the Northern VA area, let me know. I owe you a cup o' Joe!

I met Willard Scott this weekend!!! In the Sheetz gas station of all places. He is NBC Today show's weather man and the very 1st Ronald McDonald. I knew his voice before I saw him. Introduced myself and asked what he was doing out it this neck of the woods. Apparently he was "born and raised in these here woods". Nice ta meet 'cha Willard!
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Okay.. thanks to aka_monty for this game. I think I'm going to follow her lead and play this once a week as to not leave anyone out... ;0) Point and shoot...here's the first 5.

1. Choose a search engine, click on "Images"
2. Choose a blogfriend
3. Think of ONE or TWO words that you think best describes aforementioned blogfriend.
4. Do an IMAGE SEARCH on that word.
5. Pick an image~~the one that makes you say "AHA! That's IT!"

aka_monty~hysterical
Momma K~ composed
Mrs.Mogul~ thoughtful
honestyrain~sarcastic
Raehan~simple beauty
Okay, this is not as easy as it looks!!! ____________________________________________________________________


Sometimes I would really like to bury my kids in the back yard!


____________________________________________________________________


I went to a baby shower this weekend for my friend Sarah. Sarah was 10 when I met her. I was 18 ( I think). She would come into the gym where I worked periodically with her mom. School was getting ready to let out and she needed someone to hang out with. She was too old for Daycare and too young to stay home alone. That's how we met.

Her mom would drop her off at the gym with me in the mornings and I would walk her home and stay with her in the afternoons until her parents got home. She lived with her mom and stepdad at the time, and had a rather tumultuous relationship with her biological father. We spent the entire summer together, making friendshipt bracelets, watching movies, and having some serious heart-to-hearts. We would get in my car with a pizza between us and she would tell me where to go. We were always trying to "get lost". She eventually figured out it was really fair because I basically knew where we were going. A few times we went in directions unknown, but always managed to make it back home.

After that summer was over, I realized I had made a new friend. We spent the following years writing back and forth. I would come home from college and visit with her and her family. I went to her 16th birthday party, then her highschool graduation party. Took her out to dinner for her college graduation and eventually ended up at her wedding. We have seen each other 'round and about through the years, and although we don't always speak anymore, she knows I still think of her often.

She is now almost 29 years old and about 2 weeks away from having her first child! Saturday was her baby shower and a very emotional day for me. I stayed up too late the night before making her gift, got up many times during the night for various reasons and spent 5 hours with her Saturday afternoon with her relatives gushing over how long it's been, what an influence I had on her and her life decisions and how much she looked up to me. I had no idea! I just felt like a proud parent and as it turned out, I was really a dear friend as well! I can't wait to see the baby and couldn't help but let my emotions flood over me!

I felt old, proud, embarrassed, worthy, not worthy, humble, accomplished, and completely loved. I couldn't believe the mixture! Nor, how someone who I simply hold dear to my heart for my own reasons, feels such admiration for me.

As it turns out, the baby is big and breech. She has been on bed rest for the past month and the Doctors want her to hold on at least two more weeks. Contractions have started and don't seem to be wanting to stop. So, please, for the next few weeks, hold Sarah in your prayers for a safe and happy birth of her little baby girly girl!

Hang on Princess it's almost time to come home!
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Last but not least. If you haven't already, please read my April Fools Post below and if you feel so inclined, head to Demented Delusions and vote for me! I can win big prizes!!! Of course, to be fair, read the other two posts as well and vote for the best April Fool's joke....Mine ;)

Bribery is not out of the question...;)

Voting closes today at 5 p.m. EST. Thanks!

Ray was a great practical joker. I had just started to date the man who is now my hubby and during lunch a singing telegram arrived with an extra special gift attached. An amethyst ring with a note asking me to marry him! I was a bit confused seeing as how my then boyfriend was nowhere in sight AND his name was spelled wrong on the note. Well, needless to say, Ray couldn't help but bust out into rolling fits of laughter and tease me incessantly for weeks on how he finally "got me".

Get me my a$$...nobody gets me and gets away with it ;~)

Months went by and my opportunity finally presented itself. Ray, had just bought himself a spankin' new car! He was the typical guy, staring at it all the time, talking about the wheels, and shining it up on his lunch break.

So, about a week after his new baby sat in the parking lot directly in front of our window staring at us...I borrowed the keys ;0)

Phone call, Ray.

Hello?

Hello is this Mr. Ray?

Yes.

This is Officer Gordon from the Fairfax Cty Police Dept. Do you own a 1994, Saturn, license plate blah, blah, blah?

Yes.

Are you aware that it's missing?

What the...??? Hold on a minute. *Runs out to the parking lot

HOLY SH#$&T! MY CAR'S BEEN STOLEN!!!

HELLO!!!

Yes sir. We've just apprehended two teenage girls in your vehicle and we are going to have to take them in and impound your car. Would you like to press charges?

What? Impound my car? Why...I'm right up the street I can come...

Yes sir I'm afraid you're going to have to come pick it up at the impound lot.

Meanwhile, I'm in the other room trying hard as hell NOT to pee my pants.

Yes, I want to press charges..but wait how old are they? Why....

Voice of my hubby....Because Ray, PAYBACKS ARE HELL!!!!

BWWWAHAHAHHAHAAAA! I just fell out on the floor right then and there and he knew I had finally got him back. My hubby was, of course, in on the whole thing and had a friend of his was the one pretending to be the police officer. I had just moved his car out to the front parking lot of the school, but for all intents and purposes he thought it was gone.

And that, was my best April Fool's joke ever! Now it's your turn!

Oh, and if you liked this story...please go over to Demented Delusions and vote for me so I can win a BIG prize!! Pleeeeze! I'll share ;0)