And the Truth Is........

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for.......
I'm sure you all had trouble sleeping last night due to the extreme anticipation of finding out what the results would be. I must add that this was a fun post for me to write. I got it from Pam at A&OX4. She says she's going to be doing another one soon so we'll get to do this again...YEA!!
(aren't you thrilled?).

OK, DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

ANIMAL PLANET.......#2 is the Lie. I DO NOT have a monkey in my house. However, to be honest (and you know I must be), after I wrote this and read a few comments that were left, I thought of the stuffed monkey that LEA at The Shabby Potting Shed sent me one day, so there really is a monkey in the house, just not real. I've never been a huge animal person but with 2 boys I had to have a dog and over the summer I came home after spending a week at ET's house and my 18 year old had acquired a pet scorpion while I was away...yuck.

EMERGENCY ROOM........#1 is the lie. The only truth in the grocery store story was that I do latch my purse in the seat belt as an extra precaution.

TAKE THIS JOB........#3 is the lie. However, had I applied for the SWAT team, it probably would have happened that way.
Edie-I think you're right. Alberquando filled me in that SWAT uses a different kind of
artillery. (how does he know that??)
Beverly Yoo Hoo- Yep, that was me in that barmaid outfit. I was about 17 or 18 years old.
A&OX4- I saw that episode of The 70's Show. That is the one and only thing that I have in
common with Jackie!!

And that's the way it is...... Saturday, October 10th, 2009.

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Two Truths and a Lie

Good Morning. Pam at A&OX4 (Alert & Oriented X 4) played this at her blog. Looks like fun, so here goes.

There are 3 subjects. Under each subject I will write 2 truths and 1 lie.

Can you figure out which is the lie?

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ANIMAL PLANET
1. There is a DOG in my house.
2. There is a MONKEY in my house.
3. There is a SCORPION in my house.



EMERGENCY ROOM...and other injuries

1. I was at the grocery store. I always put my purse in the front compartment. Even though I keep my hand on it, I also hook it in with the child safety belt to be extra sure no one can just grab it quickly and run. This kid, who didn't notice it was hooked in, grabbed it and ran. Of course the purse wasn't the only thing to go with him. As he dragged the cart behind him while he was running with my purse, he tripped and fell, (pulling the cart on top of himself). Guess who the EMT was that helped set his broken ankle while we waited for the rescue squad AND the police. Ha, What comes around, goes around! He cried like a baby. (My trained sympathy mode must have been on vacation that day!)

2.We went to a friends house and they have a pit bull (yuck). They keep it in a cage whenever company comes over, but they weren't expecting us so they had it loose in the house. As soon as we walked in, it lunged at Alberquando (barking and snarling) aiming right for his stomach. I was behind Alberquando, I wrapped my leg around him to protect his stomach and threw the two of us backwards (which happened to end up throwing us down 4 steps onto a concrete garage floor). The animal's teeth landed in my calf. It took 2 grown men to get it to get it to release its teeth. It took 12 stitches to get my leg to stop bleeding. Alberquando was fine.

3. I was up in a deserted barn with some friends many many many years ago, (high school). There was an old bee hive up there. It was about 5 or 6 of us. One of them started hitting a bee hive with a stick. I told him to stop. He laughed and said it was old and there were no bees. A few seconds later there were 5 or 6 stupid teenagers jumping out of the second story hayloft. All together there were 2 sprained ankles, a broken arm, and 4 bee stings. Mine was the sprained ankle. Teenagers can be so dumb!

TAKE THIS JOB AND....well, you know...

1. I used to work in a little shop called Mr Dunderbox. It was a small restaurant (deli style). They also sold sausages, cheese and wine. My job was to dress up like a bar maiden and stand out front handing out free samples of homemade Champagne Cheddar Cheese. The outfit was a red and white bar maid out fit with puffy sleeves, black criss cross strings across a pretty tight bodice and a flouncy short skirt. Add the white knee socks and black flats and well, the cheese did always sell out. haha

2. I used to be the Customer Service Mgr for a furniture chain. My office was in a very large building that was half corporate headquarters and half furniture warehouse. Once a customer got very angry with me. He had come to pick up his furniture and a piece was damaged. He started to cuss me out as I tried to reason with him. I really thought he was going to hit me. I still was trying to explain to him that I could get the replacement out the next day and we would deliver it. Finally, I lost my cool and yelled back at him that if he didn't cool down, I was going to call the police AND just give him his money back because I wasn't there to take that kind of abuse. So there I stood in all my 20 -22 years of age, hands on hips, looking like I wanted to kick his butt. he suddenly changed his entire attitude, apologized, and accepted my offer. Let me tell you, I was pretty darn impressed with myself for being so tough. Yep, I was cool. Then I turned around to go back into my office, and there, leaning against the vending machine were 4 VERY large warehouse workers. They never had to say a word. They had heard the commotion, walked out and just stood there looking at the man. THAT is why he backed down. OK, Maybe I wasn't so tough after all, but I had friends in all the right places!


3. Before I joined the fire dept, I had decided to try to join our county SWAT team. (I know, sounds weird, but if you know me, then you probably aren't surprised). I went through the physical (VERY physical) training. Filled out NUMEROUS applications. Went back for NUMEROUS interviews. It was actually more intense and more physical than the fire dept. But, you know me, I LOVED every second of it. I even loved the uniform. It was actually fun running those obstacle courses, dressed sometimes in fatigues, sometimes all in black and sometimes wearing (what felt like) all body armor. Not to mention staying in contact with my team with a walkie talkie. Oh, and of course the gun NEVER leaves your hands, (we trained with something similar to a paint ball gun). The adrenalin was more intense than anything I have ever experienced. After all, not only was it an obstacle course, but you never knew if the "dirt bag" was behind the next corner, just waiting to shoot you. (and yes, I got shot quite often). HOWEVER, I ALSO made it through, got my bad guy ands finished WITHOUT getting shot on quite a few occasions. I passed the background checks, I passed the physical tests, I passed the written tests, and believe it or not, I even passed the mental tests. EXCEPT for one small thing (well, probably not so small). I was told that although I had the passion for the job, they were concerned I actually had too much passion. It was determined that I might not have the self discipline that was necessary once a criminal (dirt bag) was apprehended. For instance, if there was a hostage situation, child abuse, spouse abuse etc situation, the captain was concerned that I would shoot (or cause bodily harm) to the perp when there was the chance to apprehend him/her without deadly force. (He was probably right).*sigh* I yam what I yam.

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OK, each of the 3 sections has 2 truths and 1 that is a lie. As I re-read it, it seems pretty simple to me....oh yeah, I was there.

I'll post my answers on Saturday.

Have a great day!

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5 Words From Krippled Warrior

5 more words given to me.
Now what will I come up with?
These weren't random chosen words.
You know I'm not a wordsmith.

Krippled Warrior sent them.
"They're plain old words! " he'll say.
But, hey, that's cool it really is.
Cause turn-abouts fair play.

My Five Words From Krippled Warrior.

1. cetacean (si-TEY-shun)

2.corpulent

3. diabolical

4. eponymous (uh-PON-uh-muhs)

5. gallinaceous (gal-uh-NEY-shuns)


This summer I could not decide
Where I should spend vacation.
I read a book called Moby Dick.
And dreamed to see CETACEAN.

The whales and dolphins were so big,
No matter where I went.
They better not eat quite so much.
They'll end up CORPULENT!

I then went to the next place .
The noise could wake the nations.
No thank you, please, I like mine fried.
I left the GALLINACEOUS.

I did not like the place I chose
Was feeling oh so woeful.
This place had just as much finesse
Of someone DIABOLICAL.

I KNOW! I'll make my own resort.
What Fun! You wait and see!
So what if I've EPONYMOUS,
It's called MyADHDMe!

Lets Try Again --- 5 Words

Skipping the introductions and formalities, here I go.

1. SONG

I LOVE songs. I go through phases where I listen to different genres all the time. Music is something I am very (for the most part) open minded to. I think I leaned that trait when my oldest started playing a genre called Grind Core. After listening to that for months, you would be amazed how so many types of music sound better than they used to. Luckily, his style has changed a bit in the last 3 years. If you are brave, you can watch this clip of one of his rehearsals before a "Big Gig" at his high school. This is from about 3 years ago. He is the guitarist (and "vocals?") on the left side. He had that hair twirling down like a pro. Actually he IS very good. He writes a lot of his own stuff and the "grind Core" genre is slipping away. (crocodile tears). Oh yeah, all that long hair and face scruff is gone now too. (He looks older than 15 years old that he is in this clip.)
I'm quite sure you won't understand any of the words. And actually, that may be for the best. 15 seconds of this clip may very well be enough for you, (it may very well be too much!).

(What was the word I was supposed to be doing again?

Oh yeah...SONG.....well, that's what they called it!







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Now! Wasn't that special!!!

2. BLINK

Expound on the word Blink ( go ahead, try to tell me that 2Thinks didn't pick out these words just for me!)
OK, Blink.

Think of all the things we miss because we have to blink.
Add up the moments and you'll see. Just close one eye and think.
You'll note I said, "close just one eye". You thought I was a nut.
But how you can see anything when both your eyes are shut?

3 JOY

OK, 2 things come immediately to mind. One is a song from elementary school.

I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.
WHERE?
Down in my heart.
WHERE?
Down in my heart.
I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.
WHERE?
Down in my heart to stay!!!

And the other thing that came to mind was my darling little "Pride and Joy"!
















4. LIMIT

Perhaps a word that I need to do some more research on. You've heard "The sky's the limit!". People with ADHD seem to take that message to heart.
Limit.....Use it, Say it, Remember it!!!!!!

5. CHEESE

Oh Puleeze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thththththththth....that's all folks!!









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5 Words + Many Many More

Ok, this 5 word meme isn't going to be as easy as I expected it to. I'm thinking, "5 Words, Simple, Right?". So, there I go, jumping in with both feet once again. "Me, Me! I'll do it!" All of the sudden I have flashbacks of "Pay It Forward".

After 2 Xanax and a short nap, I was able to get THAT memory out of my head, whew!

But, because she is just so darn sweet, and has jumped into our little blogging community, and diligently blogged with the sincerity, wit and friendship that makes her officially one of the neighbors, well, OK 2Thinks. Here I go.

So I'm supposed to "expound" upon these words that 2Thinks "randomly"-ha- chose just for me, in order for you to get to know me better. I think most of you already know me pretty well. Sometimes, perhaps TOO well.

But, after expounding on these words with my hammer for a good 15 minutes, I began to realize that perhaps she had a different idea in mind.

To Expound- To explain, interpret, to make a detailed statement. OK, that isn't one of my words. I was just verifying that expound does NOT mean to beat something to smithereens with a hammer.

My Word Expoundtions --(I realize that isn't a real word, but now that I have written it, I like the sound of it....so it sticks.)

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Oh shoot. Now I've lost my list of words.

Monkeys Are Funny

I'll have it tomorrow...really...I will!

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First In...Last Out ... The Conclusion

As I am sitting here trying to get the words to come, the fire truck just rode by my house and blew the horn. Earlier today, it was the engine that did the same thing. 2 different shifts and I doubt either knew the other was doing it. So was that God's way of saying, "Don't give up. You can do it!"? No, it may have been the crews saying it, but that's just because they think if they say it enough, I'll be able to

If you want, go back and read part one of my story and this will make a bit more sense. Click Here.

I've been struggling with this decision for the past year. There is no getting around it. If I were to continue doing what I love to do, someone is going to get hurt, because of me.

In training we are taught to "Work Smart...Not Hard.". And it is true that if you work smart, the physical part is less difficult. But, realistically, it still takes its toll on your body. It used to be that when I was actually doing the work, it didn't hurt at all....only later. Then eventually, it hurt WHILE I was doing the work. And the truth is, even when it did hurt, I didn't care because I loved doing it so much. But now, well...

I just can't do it any more.

That was a humbling sentence to write.

I admit I was proud when I wore my uniform. But not proud like I was better than anyone else. Just a feeling of self confidence. Pride like a soldier might feel when he puts on his uniform.

I have Degenerative Disc Disease.
The bottom disc in my back has crumbled to a non repairable condition.
The disc over that one has begun to crumble.
The gel (*complicated medical term*) between the discs is almost completely gone in places.
I have severe fibromyalgia.
The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that I had surgery for (in both hands) has come back and is as bad, if not worse, than it was before. My hands have that "asleep" feeling after just 1-2 minutes of lifting them. I drop things.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I have migraines.
Oh and don't forget there is the ADHD (I actually think that has been an asset in some situations.).

Bottom Line:
There is never a time when something isn't hurting....a lot.

Would you really want to have to rely on me to save your life? Of course not. You know I would give it everything I've got. But unfortunately, I just don't have that much to give anymore.

I'm just not sure what happens now. I know there are lots of opportunities.
There just aren't any that give me even a spark of what being a firefighter did. (spark, ha, excuse the pun).
There is this lost feeling that I have now. Wandering aimlessly.

On the other hand, there's always laundry to be done and floors to vacuum.

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

OK, I've said all of that and gotten it out of my system. I just didn't want you all thinking I was out there at night saving lives and saving my sanity, when actually I am home doing, um, doing.... doing whatever it is I do.

SO, that is that.

This isn't a pity party. This isn't a whine-fest. This is just the way it is.

By tomorrow.....ok, I doubt by tomorrow because I won't be posting by then. But by my next post we'll be singing Cat in the Hat, discussing the joys of ADHD, rattleing on endlessly about teenagers, talking about the genius computer skills I have (not), and perhaps even write a song. Or at the very least join together for a chorus of Veggie Tales. After all I'm still wondering "Where is my hairbrush?"

Oh yeah.....

Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot most times, which produced impressive callouses on his feet. He ate very little, making him rather frail. With his odd diet, he also suffered from bad breath.

Do you know What this Made Him?

A Super Calloused Fragile Mystic Hexed by Halitosis!.....indobedibly

And with that my good friends, I bid you good night. (this may be posting at 6:30 AM but as I am finishing it now and it is a bit past 2:00AM. I need to get to bed!
Good Night!

MyADHDMe (Former Firefighter) :(

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First In.....Last Out

First In....Last Out. That is one of the Fire Depts Mottos. (What's a motto? Nothing. What's a motto whichu?).

Opps, this is a serious post.

First In....Last Out. That is one of the Fire Dept's Mottos.

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, I HAD to do something. I had often considered becoming a firefighter, but honestly didn't think I would be able to do it. Then, after that horrible day, I made up my mind that I COULD, and with close to no hesitation, I did it. It changed my life.

I cannot think of any thing in my entire life that has brought me more joy than being a firefighter. Yes, God, children, family... but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the fact that there isn't a single thing, a "Me" thing, that I would rather be doing. Now that's lucky. It isn't often that we can selfishly do something for ourselves that does so much for so many.

I didn't become a firefighter until I was 39 years old. That is considered a bit late in life to start, but I made up my mind, went through vigorous physical training, never ending (and yes, sometimes boring) classes on how sprinkler systems work, building construction, and friction loss (that is how much water (gallons per minute) is lost due to length of hose, terrain layout, and appliances that are connected to the hose).....a very LONG class.

For 9 months, in addition to working my regular crew, I went to classes and trained 2 nights (5 hrs each) a week and every other Saturday for 8-10 hours. Sometimes it was over 100 degrees and we would be wearing 50 lbs of gear while running an obstacle course. Sometimes it was so cold that I couldn't feel my soaking wet hands while flowing water. There were written tests, homework, tests on speed, tests on endurance, endless hours of pulling out thousands of feet of hose, loading it all back in the engine, just to turn around and pull it out again....and again .... and again.

As I have said before, our Fire Academy is run in a military sort of way. You stand at attention, you march, you address officers, and never question an officer or an order. If you mess up, YOU don't just do push ups. Your ENTIRE CREW does push-ups. You don't mess up often.

We learned about hazardous materials, what the codes mean on all those bins that the trucks are carrying around and we even had to be decontaminated a few times---NOT FUN BEING COLD, WET, SPRAYED DOWN MORE WITH A HOSE, AND STRIPPED COMPLETELY DOWN TO NOTHING WHILE THEY ARE SPRAYING YOU!!! (ok, for class, we were allowed to wear our bathing suit and shorts under all our gear....it helped everyone keep their minds on what we were supposed to be learning).

A lot of people don't realize it, but when the water is flowing out of the hose, it is almost impossible for 1 person to hold on to it. And if you drop it....well ....you DON'T drop it. The nozzle could easily get jerked around and someone could be badly injured or even killed.

We learned to cut cars open to get victims out and how to put out car fires, sometimes crawling partially into the burning vehicle to get the job done.

There were also hours spent dragging that hose through abandoned buildings and special buildings made for such things (usually 3-4 stories high). You go in and have to find the "victim" (a 150 lb dummy) , get "him" out, put out the fires, keep continual contact with your partners and team.....oh and you can't stand up. You're crawling. It's pitch dark, smoke filled, and fire around most corners. (quite warm in there too). During training, there are instructors in there too. Sometimes they will hold back one of your partners while your doing your job. You BETTER realize you have lost your partner.

I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF IT. (ok, the water sprinkler class had me nodding off a few times)

Before I graduated from the classes, I had to wear a blue helmet (I'm wearing it in the picture for my blog). The blue helmet let other firefighters and officers know that I was a Probie. That meant when I was working my crew shifts, all I was allowed to do was what they call "grunt work". Lifting, salvage, overhaul, and lots and lots of hose rolling.

FINALLY, I graduated and received my YELLOW HELMET!!
I had made it and am a Virginia Certified Firefighter.

Oh, I almost forgot, I also was taking classes for EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).

(not to mention trying to run a house and raise 2 young boys)

I ended up getting the following certifications..

Fireground Operations
Virginia Firefighter 1
Virginia Firefighter 2
MAYDAY, Firefighter Down
EVOC - Emergency Vehicle Operation Class 3 (that means I can drive a fire engine)
Hazardous Materials Operations
4 FEMA Certifications
Basic Pump Operations
Mass Casualty Incident Management Module 1
Mass Casualty Incident Management Module 2
HIPAA
Emergency Medical Technician

I cannot even begin to explain the love I have for this mission in my life.

So now what?

To be continued.....

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It's All about Me ..... Again ..... Part 2

This is the conclusion to my It's All About Me.....Again Post.
If you're interested, you can go back and read Part 1 if you missed it.
It's Riveting!

28. Favorite Food? Anything that my grandmother used to make.

29. Scary Movies or Happy Endings? there are 2 kinds of movies I like and they are extreme opposites of each other. I like movies like Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers etc, and I like sappy musicals like The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof. (P.S. You can only call them sappy if you really like them). Used to LOVE Gone with the Wind but I OD'ed on it.

30. Last movie you watched? I watched Rocky Balboa on tv the other night. Never was a huge Rocky fan. I liked the first 2 alright. However, CK and I were just talking about it that day so I figured it was meant to be. It wasn't bad but it kind of reminded me of the last Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Ford was just too old to be putting himself in situations like that. I will say that I would never have thought someone Sylvester Stallones age could have pumped himself up to look like he did. He easily put the majority of any 20-30 year old man to shame. I'm surprised he didn't have a heart attack with all the working out he had to have done.

opps....got off track a bit there. Monkey's Are Funny.

31. What color shirt are you wearing? I own about 25 blue firefighter t-shirts. So can you guess?

32. Summer or Winter? We all went through this with the January or July thing. Summer of course! Winter is too cold. Everyone agreed except His Princess. Where she lives (where the kangaroos jump out in front of the cars), July is COLD!

33. Hugs or Kisses? No offense......don't touch me. (sorry...I have issues.....LOTS and LOTS of issues!)

34. Favorite Dessert? My grandmother's Blackberry roll with cream. The only thing I have ever had that is close to it is the one CK makes with my grandmother's recipe. Of course getting recipes from ones grandmother can be difficult. Exactly how much is a pinch, a dash, just a bit, or "til you feel like it is enough"?

35. What book are you reading right now? I'm not reading any book right now. Obviously I am typing right now.

36. What is on your mouse pad? The Virginia Capital Building. (A family member works there).

37. What did you watch on tv last night? I only watch NCIS, Law and Order Criminal Intent and Special Victims, House and CSI. I'm sure I was watching a re-run of one of those.

38. Favorite Sound? Oh Come ON! I don't know. I guess the sound of silence.

39. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Yes...among many others.

40. What is the farthest you have been away from home? In real life or in my head? I don't think the latter can be measured in miles.

41. Do you have Special Talents? Yep!

42. Where were you born? In a galaxy far far away........but my birth cert says VA.

*whew* We're done with that! Now you know more about me than I do.

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It's All About Me .... Again

A while ago. Edie @ Rich Gifts, posted this post from an email she received. Many of her answers were really funny. You should go check it out by clicking HERE. Anyway, I decided to give it a go.

1. Were you named after anyone? Yes, my great, great grandmother. But even more importantly, my grandfather named his boat after me!

2. When was the lst time you cried? That is completely confidential.

3. Do you like your handwriting? yes, when someone else writes it for me.

4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Turkey (the real kind that you use after Thanksgiving).

5. Do you have kids? I think so.

6. If you were another person, would you want to be friends with you? I'm not sure. I think I would give myself a headache.

7. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Only when it is very inappropriate.

8. Do you still have your tonsils? Don't you wish you knew!

9. Would you bungee jump? Been there. Done that. Loved it. Would do it again in a second!

10. What is your favorite cereal? (Do you really care?) Probably Lucky Charms. I like to keep it healthy.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Okay, I'm going to cheat here and use Edie's answer. I loved it. Only when they have shoelaces.

12. Do you think you are strong? I used to be...until I hurt my back.

13. What is your favorite ice cream? Butter Brickle, and it is VERY hard to find.

14. What is the first thing you notice about people? I'm not sure. I think whether or not they are talking TO me or DOWN AT me.

15. Red or Pink? Red...and anything besides pink.

16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? That as I get older, I cannot do the things I used to be able to do.

17. Who do you miss the most? My grandmother.

18. What color shoes are you wearing? Yellow Hi-top Chuck Taylors.

19. What was the last thing you ate? A cracker (boy, that was exciting!)

20.What are you listening to right now? Just the clicking of the computer keys.

21. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? If I was a crayon, I doubt I would care.

22. Favorite smells? OK, this will sound stupid but I love the smell that my gear has after I've been in a house fire.

23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Chatty Kelly.

24. Favorite sports to watch? On tv-none, Live-well, if it is a close or exciting game, then any. Guess what, I'm not a big sports enthusiast.

25. Hair Color- Revlon Light Ash Brown #50. Oh before that? Brown.

26. Eye color? It depends what I'm doing. I've been told that they are green at certain times. Otherwise they are brown.

27. Contacts- In my cell phone-Yes. In my eyes- No.

..............................

This is longer than I realized. I'll finish it later.

Chow! (mein)

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There's Always Room For Jello.....Part 1

Why is it that no matter how full you are, that there's always room for Jello?








That is the question that people have pondered for generations. I decided to go on a quest to find the answer. I decided to walk from one end of the the nation to the other. What I found was that all across the nation, it's the Pepsi generation. I, personally, am a diet coke fan.

I stopped and asked an owl but all he kept saying was that it takes 3 bites to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop.







Not only was that NOT the quest I was on, but also, it isn't true. Even as he was saying it I knew he was in trouble because it's not nice to fool Mother Nature. I knew she was around somewhere because like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. She appeared out of nowhere and loudly demanded, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!". I'm sure he was a nice owl but nothing comes between me and my Calvins....so I got out of there as quickly as possible.

As I continued on I came to a cute little house. Inside was a mom and her 2 children. She was cooking dinner and it smelled delicious. "Where's the Beef?", I asked. She informed me that she had planned on making 2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, but then she changed her mind and made Rice-A-Roni, The San Francisco treat. I asked her what I could do to help. She said "Shake and Bake......and I helped!". It was so good that even her son liked it. Hey Mikey, He likes it! Unfortunately, afterwards I didn't feel very well. Luckily, Plop Plop Fizz Fizz, Oh what a relief it is. Surprisingly, even then....there was still room for Jello.

When it was time to go, I asked Calgon to take me away. The lady gave me a Coke and a smile and I was on my way again.

As I walked I stepped on something sticky. I was stuck on Band-Aid, cause Band-Aid's stuck on me. I felt rather silly but sometimes you feel like a nut.....sometimes you don't. As I was hopping up and down on one foot, trying to get the Band-Aid off, (which, by the way, should have been so easy that even a cave man could have done it), anyway, I accidentally bumped into a rabbit who was enjoying some peanut butter. It was Jif, to be specific. Choosy mothers choose Jif. The candy bar I was eating fell into his jar. "You got chocolate in my peanut butter!" he exclaimed. That, of course, was ridiculous. Anyone could tell that he had gotten peanut butter on my chocolate. "Silly Rabbit", I said. "Trix are for kids". But we tasted it and both of us exclaimed....."T-H-E-Y're GGGGGrrrrrrrrEAT!"









Then we danced in a ring around the collar because 4 out of 5 dentists recommend Crest. Alas, it was time to go. So I did.

I came across 2 men that were arguing. One was yelling, "It's my money! And I want it NOW!" There was no way I was going to get involved with this. So I kept going and going and going and going....








I know that the answer to my question is out there somewhere. I will find out. My quest will not be in vain. I will find out why there is always room for jello. But not today. But I'm done for today. I'm tired and You Deserve A Break Today....










(to be continued at another date...at another time...I'm not sure when.....but definitely to be continued....one day....probably soon.....but not tomorrow....and probably not before my next post....but it's coming...of that I am sure!)

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The Lie - Conclusion

Getting right back where I was.

No one was hurt. It wasn't a "bad" lie.
I thought that was the end of it.
If that HAD been the end of it, I would probably be lying to you right now.
That was definitely NOT the end of it.

You see, Chatty Kelly, being the person that she is, was worried about me. When she later called my house to check on me and didn't get an answer (I don't remember but I was probably home and just didn't answer the phone), well, she called my dentist to make sure I was ok. She wasn't checking-up on me to see if I was telling the truth. She was genuinely concerned. The dentist told her there must be a mistake because I had been in earlier that week but not that day, (this must have been before HIPPA laws).

So she called me again. I don't know if I answered that time but eventually I did. If I remember correctly, she didn't say anything like "How was the dentist?" or anything like that to trick me into lying further. She just said something like, "You lied to me." BUSTED!! Yeah, I was busted. It's a good thing it wasn't a "bad" lie. Oh well. I guess I said something like, "Opps, sorry. I just didn't feel up to Bible study so I just told you that. Sorry". I then probably went on and said something like, "So what's new?". Again, it wasn't a "bad" lie. I was busted. it was over....right?

SILENCE

"Are you there?"

"You lied to me?"

"Yeah, sorry."

SILENCE

"Kelly? What's wrong?"

"You lied to me?"

"YES. I'm SORRY"

Why was she making such a big deal? IT WAS JUST A SMALL LIE! Then she was CRYING!! Can you believe it??? I couldn't!! This was getting ridiculous! She was blowing this WAY out of proportion! She was taking this personally....as if I had betrayed her trust! (hhmmmm....trust....lying.....)

"Kelly don't cry. it wasn't a big deal." I really really REALLY thought she was over-reacting.

"Then she had the audacity to say, "I knew you lied alot of the time but I never thought you would lie to me." I was SHOCKED that she would think I lied all the time. A LIAR is someone who says bad things that aren't true or someone that tries to hurt someone. I was quite sure I wasn't a liar! (she's was crying pretty hard by now). And to be honest (which I have to do now), I really didn't see what the big deal was. After all, I HAD said I was sorry. Well, she pulled it together and we said good-bye and that was it.

She was so upset that she called ET and told her what had happened. And do you know what ET had the nerve to say?!? "Of course she lied. I thought you knew. She lies to everyone". HOW DARE THEY!!

Well, either that day or the next we had a serious talk. She told me that even though she knew I often lied, it never ever occurred to her that I would lie to her. hhmmmm....Could I have been wrong all this time? I said, "You will believe me in the future won't you?". Oh No...more tears. She said she didn't know.

WAIT A MINUTE! I didn't like that. I wanted her to trust me. All of the sudden I realized that I NEEDED her to trust me. I PROMISED I wouldn't lie again and pleaded with her to believe me. She said she would try.

For about a year or so, every time I would tell her something, I would be like...."You DO believe me don't you?" I think she probably did most of the time but there was doubt for a long time.

That experience changed a HUGE part of my life. I couldn't stand the thought of her or ET not trusting me. I had thought I was SUCH a nice person...and I guess I was....except for that lying thing)! (a nice liar, hhmmm). So I made a vow to Kelly and to myself that I would never lie to her again. And you know what? I'm quite positive that I haven't since that day. At first it was harder than I expected. I would catch myself fabricating a story on more than one occassion but I always caught myself in time to stop it before it came out of my mouth.

I'm still late sometimes...ok a lot of the time.
I still sometimes don't want to do something.
I still get migraines and have to back out of things sometimes.

But I Tell the truth.

I am almost 100% sure she believes everything I say now. AND, I think she is almost 100% sure that she CAN believe me without worrying whether what I'm saying is true or not.. but it took a while. Oh, and I still have a guilt complex and feel like people think I'm lying when I'm not.......but she does have that germ phobia....and insanity DOES run in the family..... (but, sshhhh, don't tell anyone).

All in all. I think we'll be ok.
And now I can truly say....That is That!

The Lie

It was just a small lie!
It's ridiculous to make such a big deal about it.
What's the big deal?
Why are you crying????

OK, I'll back up. I grew up with lies. We were taught to lie at an early age. The biggest one was "Mom is on a vacation or out of town helping a family member". Translation, "Mom in in the psychiatric ward of the local mental hospital.....again". That was probably about once a year. Of course everyone knew..so why did we have to lie? We went to a very small Lutheran school and the church that was affiliated with it. The people that went there had known us since we were born and many knew our parents when they were young. They knew. Still....Don't tell anyone....sshhhhh.

I wish I could remember all the lies we were told or instructed to tell (or do I?). Maybe not. Actually I have close no no recollection of any of my youth or teenage years. That's probably a good thing. But lying was definitely a way of life.

Anyway, I could lie. MAN, could I lie. I was probably one of the best liars you would ever know. There wasn't anything wrong with it.....right? They weren't malicious lies. They never hurt anyone...right? Usually they were just lies of convenience. Something like, "Gee, I wish I could keep our lunch date but I need to go and do s0-and-so". or "Sorry I'm late but (insert lie) happened" or "I would LOVE to do (insert anything) but I can't because (insert lie)."

Lying isn't a big deal...right? When my youngest sister, ET got married, she lived in Florida. It was a small wedding. Just her, her husband and a few friends. Not even any family. I saw the pictures a friend of hers took. She looked beautiful. They got married at a friends house. My mom called our local church, in Virginia, and wanted to put it in the church bulletin. I don't remember exactly how it was worded but it said something like, "Mr and Mrs (blah blah blah), (etc etc etc )...at a beautiful moonlight wedding on the beach". ON THE BEACH???? MOONLIGHT???? Er, mom? Why does it say that? Her response, "Oh don't you think that sounds better?". Oh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . okay? Lies.

ANYWAY. I really really never felt bad about lying. After all, what was the big deal?

About, hhmm, I'm not sure but I'll guess it was 7 or 8 years ago, Chatty Kelly and I were in a Bible Study class together. One morning I just didn't feel like going so I called her and told her that I had to go to the dentist. I had had a lot of work done by the dentist earlier in the week. So it wouldn't sound odd that I had to go back. That way I could stay home and I wouldn't feel bad about not going. (funny thing is, I was worried about feeling bad or embarrassed in front of Kelly, when we all know who I SHOULD have been thinking about (I mean it WAS Bible study).....and of course HE knew the truth).

SO, I called her, told her I had to go back to the dentist, and as they say...That was That.
No one was hurt.
No one was disappointed.
No one was let down.
I didn't feel bad about not going.
And I really didn't feel bad about lying. After all, it was just a small lie. There's nothing wrong with a small lie....is there?

(the conclusion to this will be posted tomorrow)

Part 2 of Edie's Random Question. TAG!

My last post was part 1 of Edie's Random Question. This is part 2.
That was a pretty redundant thing to say. If my last post was Part 1 then it would make no sense for this one to be part 3 or 4 or anything other than 2.

TAG.

15 Things I'm Not Afraid To Admit.

There are very few things I am afraid to admit. The problem isn't the admitting, it's the "open mouth insert foot" syndrome that I get as soon as I hit the Publish Post button. On some days I'll tell you anything you want to know and many things you probably don't...but then I may end up hiding in the closet for a week afterwards. SO, I'm going to list 15 things I'm not afraid to admit AND that I won't regret admitting later...hopefully.

As I sit here thinking of what to write, I realize this isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I could easily write 15 things, such as 1. I get out of bed every morning. 2. I brush my teeth. 3. I get dressed. etc etc etc. But I'm trying to think of 15 things that won't put you to sleep.

By the way. There was another neat game of TAG at Alert and Oriented X 4's post the other day. I'm going to do that one on one of my next posts and by then you will know absolutely tons of things about me....which I'm just sure thrills you to pieces. That one has questions for each answer so it's a little easier but I said I was going to do this one, so here I go. I'm not doing a Mr Linky but I would sure like to see how some of you answer some of these questions. Hopefully, you will write a post about them.

Well, this post is long enough so thanks again for reading and have a great day...oh...opps...I guess I won't get off that easily.

15 Things I'm Not Afraid To Admit:

1. Between the ages of about 17 through 25 I thought I was Scarlett O'Hara. I probably watched Gone with the Wind 50 times during those years...no lie. I can recite almost the whole movie as it plays...which can be very annoying to anyone else watching it. Also, if I can recite a 4 hour movie, why can't I remember to unload the dishwasher?

2. In elementary school and high school I was invisible and VERY QUIET (go figure). Some time around age 20, I came out of my shell and haven't stopped talking since.

3. I have very few close friends. I like almost everybody and have many acquaintances and I think most people seem to like me. I can't think of any enemies but I usually don't get close enough to many people to call them a true friend.

4. I have a guilt complex, so if you are going to ask me if I did something, PLEASE be pretty sure I did it, because if you ask, I automatically assume you think I did whatever it was and feel guilty about it even though I may have no idea what you are talking about. I would probably fail any polygraph test if I had to take one.

5. I truly truly hate having my picture taken. I am not photogenic...unlike Chatty Kelly who shines whenever there is a camera within 100 feet. I do like the picture I use for my blog but that is one of the few ones I like.

6. This is probably obvious, but, nothing in my entire life (except for my children) has given me more joy, satisfaction and just plain bliss than being a fire fighter. It has helped me just as much, if not more, than it has helped others.

7. I can drive a fire engine. I have only driven for training purposes and have no desire to drive one for actual calls. The driver is responsible for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. Also, the driver doesn't get to go inside the fire. He/She works the water supply. BUT, it is the coolest thing to be driving that huge engine down the road. Also, I must admit that I get a huge kick out of pulling up beside teenage girls (whether I'm driving or not) because they look up and get ready to flirt with the "cool fireman" and the look on their faces when they see me is priceless.

8. I took piano lessons for about 8-10 years but only have about 3 songs that I play well enough to preform for anyone. I have later come to realize that practicing between the weekly lessons may have possibly been a good idea. Too bad I didn't think so at the time. I also played percussion in the band in elementary school..snare drum, base drum (not at the same time) cymbals, maracas, claves, etc.

9. Although I don't hate my mother (I used to, but was able to get past that), anyway, although I don't hate her, there isn't anyone that I can think of that I dislike more or that is as cruel and spiteful as she is.

10. I adored my grandparents (dad's parents). I spent tons of time with them when I was growing up and they were a huge part of the only stability I knew. The little bit that I do know regarding cooking and/or general home maintenance, I learned from them. I have a huge amount of regret that I didn't spend more time with them as I grew older before they died. I was married, had 2 kids and was "too busy". What a shame.

11. At almost every job I've ever had, approx 95%-98% of the employees were men. I like working with men. You know where you stand. I've never met a man that will smile to your face and then talk bad about you when you turn your back. I have, however, known quite a few women that will.

(whew, this is long and I hope you aren't falling asleep reading it)

12. Although school was very difficult, I think having ADHD has been a positive part of my personality. It has helped me see the humor in things that I think many people overlook. Unfortunately, sometimes I see the humor in things that SHOULD be overlooked. Also, having ADHD lets you notice so many things. I think I see things in a different perspective than many people. If only I could remember the thing I was talking about before. It's not that I have a short attention span it's just that.....

13. If you are having a crisis I am usually the first one to drop everything and do what I can to help. As I have mentioned before, that is the one time that I CAN focus. Unfortunately, when it comes to my own problems.....I tend to ignore them and pretend they don't exist.

14.I struggle helping my 7th grader with his homework. As for my 12th grader, the only help I can give him, is to say, "Do you homework".

15. I am too easy on my kids. My husband is generally not a nice person. Therefore, I overcompensate. I know I shouldn't and I do think I've gotten better but I'm still too easy on them.

16. There is a stubborn streak in me that makes me want to push the rules, (i.e. this is #16)

There you go. Definitely not the most exciting post in the world. But it's honest.....and that it's self is a step in the right direction.......Monkey's Are Funny?

Random Question From Edie @ Rich Gifts. Wanna Play Tag?

This week's Random Question from Edie at Rich Gifts is "Wanna Play Tag?"
OK, I'm game.

There are 2 questions.

The first is name 6 things I've learned this year. Not necessarily new things, but rather lessons that God has brought and is still bringing into sharper focus.
OK, Here goes....

1. I've learned that sometimes when people say "How are You?", that there are actually some people that REALLY want to know how you are.

2. Because of my first answer, I've learned to actually trust people a little bit. And sometimes tell them how I really am doing.

3. I learned to listen.....or rather Shut-Up and Listen...I should say "I'm LearnING". Still could use some work on it but sometimes those thoughts start bubbleing up and the words start flowing out of my mouth and before I know it I am off on a rampage talking about this and that....although more often it is that I am talking about while the other people are still talking about this. THEREFORE that can be very confusing because everyone else is on this subject....

4. I learned some of your best friends can be people you never met......however, this is for blogging purposes only and if you are single and at a chat room or something like match.com please don't follow my advise because those people may be "bbaaaddddddd" (that was my impression of Sheri Lewis doing Lamb Chop). Some of those people may be very nice...just proceed with caution....I'm pretty sure most of my readers aren't chat room people but you never know and it is better to be safe than sorry. (writer does not accept responsibility for any actions taken regarding the statement saying that some of your best friends can be people you never met.)

5. On November 4th I was reminded of a Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want". BUT, after MAJOR disappointment and feeling the world was doomed, I read some of your blogs and remembered that God is in control and he will protect us. WHICH reminded me most importantly that I need to pray much more often than I do.

6. Speaking of praying, I learned from Chatty Kelly that if you tell someone you are going to pray for them, then you darn well better do it, because it is a sin not to..if you said you were going to. WHICH, completely changed they way I feel when someone says they will pray for me (that trust issue again) AND, because my train of thought is...well..you know...whirling dervish...I learned that if I tell someone I am going to pray for them then I need to stop right there, that moment and do it!

That was part one of Edie's Random Question. I'm going to save part two for my next post.

On that note I am going to pray for all of you...just a thank you prayer...because I feel blessed to have gotten to know you. (but first I'm going to hit the save button").

T, C, & C ...oh my....CONCLUSION

Welcome Back.

Note: Make sure you didn't miss part 4. It was posted this morning.

Our first 24 hours recap has almost come to the end. What else could possibly have happened in such a short time span?

As I sit here typing, I can understand how the writers and producers of the TV show Happy Days felt. I have "Jumped the Shark". But, I have signed a contract for 5 episodes of "T,C, & C....oh my....... " , so here I go.

We arrived, had unpacking issues, alcohol has been hidden, had toilet plunger near emergencies, made it through the mole emergency and have gone bowling. I fixed dinner.....slaved away for hours over Hot Pockets and Rammen noodles. By the time I cleaned up the kitchen (ok, I straightened it but will clean it tomorrow....really I will.) I was exhausted. I climbed the stairs to the bedroom and lay down in the bed.....reminding the kids to turn off the lights when they went to bed....if they went to bed.

Next morning when I wake up, every light in the house is still on,. The tv is on and there is a teenager sprawled out asleep on the sofa, one asleep in another bedroom and a 12 year old curled up next to me.

The kitchen, although it wasn't spotlessly clean when I went to bed, had been straighted the night before. Well, it now looked like a military group had posted command there and had to leave in the middle to go fight a war. It looks like the entire weeks worth of food has been eaten. Hhhmmm, how odd, the cans of veggies are still here.

Did they not know that the white rectangular object next to the refrigerator is called a trash can? Did they not know that Pizza Roles, Toquitoes and Hot Pockets are very hard to scrape off the plates if they aren't rinsed afterwards? Don't they even know that if you don't feel like putting dished in the dishwasher, that you can at least put them in the sink? Do they know that it isn't necessary to open every snack on the first day? Do I need to explain-again-the meaning and use of a "chip-clip"? Also, I KNOW I started out with a case of soft drinks AND a gallon pitcher of Tea, a gallon of milk and a pitcher of kool-aid and at least 12 water bottles. It doesn't bother me so much at the incredible decrease in available beverages but I am a bit annoyed at the number of half full drinks that are sitting around. There will be a discussion about that today when they wake up-----whenever that will be. On a brighter side, the hidden alcohol is all still intact......minus 2 glasses of wine....but that was for me.

Ok, even though this is about the next day, it is still in the first 24 hour period....although I must confess that by the end of this story we will have passed the 24 hour time frame. Just think of it as a Bonus Extra like they have on DVD's.

Everyone is awake, there have been discussions of picking up after yourself and not wasting and also the threat of "do you want to eat nothing but canned veggies the last 4 days we are here?"

The big boys want to go to the mall. Alberquando wants to stay here and play on the computer. Due to the car "mishaps" that recently took place, I need to chauffeur them. No problem. Alberquando and I drive them to the mall, listening to loud awful "grind core" music, laughing and talking. We drop them off and go home without incident.

When it's time to go back and pick them up I have no idea how I got there in the first place. (duh). I call JM and feeling rather foolish, ask him for directions to get back to the mall. (he drove last year). 2 turns. That's all. Turn left at the CVS and turn right on a street I'll just call Elm street. No problem. We drive and drive and drive. FINALLY, I see CVS but I have a yucky feeling that I've gone way too far. I turn left and end up at a dead end. I call JM. After much discussion, we realize that the CVS he was talking about had changed into a Walgreens since the last time we were here. So Alberquando and I back track. We drive and we drive and we drive....(kind of reminds me of "they rocked back and forth and back and forth"....ooopps, sorry, I said I wasn't going to talk about that anymore). We get to Walgreens and make the appropriate turn.

Then we drive looking for Elm street. We drive and we drive and we drive (ha). WHERE IS ELM STREET?!! I KNOW I didn't pass it. I KNOW that Elm Street is the correct name because it is one of the few things I did notice when I dropped them off earlier. I call JM again......(you're right "On Purpose", he is definitely being primed for major counseling). He can't figure out what I did wrong. So I back track AGAIN! Finally I turn down "Green Street" on a whim. 2 blocks later in the distance I see the mall!! I look at the street sign and of course now it says Elm Street. Only in my world does the street name change right in the middle from one name to another, (yes, I know this happens in other worlds also but this is my story so I can say that if I want to).

I am not normally normal. Opps, what I meant to say is I am not normally ditzy, dizzy, or airheaded but I felt completely foolish as I finally drove up and picked them up. (I'm just glad it wasn't late or that the mall had closed). That 20-25 minute round trip ended up taking about an hour and a half. I am exhausted....where did I hide that alcohol?

Well, my story is reaching the end. My 24 hour recap is almost over as is our week here. Soon it will be time to pack up and head across the country to make that 45 minute drive home.

Ladies and Gentlemen......Fonzie has jumped the shark!

T, C, & C ...oh my....PART 4 (4 of 5)

You all must be going crazy trying to figure out what we decided to do!

( if you aren't up to date by now then I'm sorry but it isn't fair for the rest of the class to wait. Therefore you'll need to catch up on your own time.)

OH ALL RIGHT!! We'll wait just a few minutes for you to read the last 3 posts so you can catch up with the story. This is a huge inconvenience for all of the consistent readers. Please try to be more considerate next time.

OK, We were looking for something to do that we all would enjoy. That's when we decided to rent a rocket and take a trip to the moon. KIDDING!! Just making sure you were paying attention.

We are in an average sized town...trying to watch our pennies....no beach or local themeparks. Just a typical neighborhood. Sooooooo.....We Went Bowling!

CRASH!! That was the sounds of disappointment heard throughout the blogging world.

Tip to all new bloggers......never build up something that isn't spectacular. I've been sitting here FOREVER trying to make "we went bowling" live up to everyone's expectations.

It was fun though. I haven't bowled in many years. Did you know that you use muscles when you bowl that seldom get used? Did you know that unused muscles don't like to be rudely put to work after they have been asleep for a long time? Did I mention how stiff I am today?

Well, we've almost come to the end of a recap of our first 24 hours here. What else could I possibly say to finish this off? What could we possibly do in a 24 hour span that could top or even equal what has happened so far?

"What?" You ask.

Tune in next time!
Same Bat Blog!
Same Bat Story......................

T, C, & C ...oh my....PART 3

Ah, so it seems I have some people's attention now.


So here we are, a recap of the first 24 hours at ET's house. We are somewhere around hour 3 or 4 at this point. For those of you who haven't read the last two posts, you need to go and read them to catch up. We'll all sit here and wait while you do so, but this is the last time....after that it will be you're own responsibility. tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock...ok, all caught up? Good then we can continue.

We all hear the high pitched screaming sound and I must admit it was making me a bit nervous.

CAUTION: To the faint hearted....Do Not Read The Next Paragraph.

We followed the noise and there, in a mousetrap, was a MOLE. Of course it was not dead...but poor thing...it was wounded quite terribly. You would think that a firefighter, who has seen people in worse condition than this mole, would have no problems but I almost freaked! This mole had to be put out of his misery and it had to happen fast! I called JM to come and get it, take it as far away from the house as possible, lay it on the ground, and then I told him to get a very large brick or cinderblock...quickly! I told him what to do....and the screaming stopped (may the mole rest in peace). While I was telling him what to do, I couldn't help think of all those stories of how serial killers start out by killing small animals. Well, I knew he wasn't doing this for fun but I had to say a sentence I never imagined hearing myself say, especially to one of my children....."Kill it, BUT DON"T ENJOY IT!" He looked at me like I was crazy. he's probably right.....now where did I hide that bottle of wine? Oh, and a note on that to ET...this wasn't to make you embarrassed...Most people end up having a mouse in the house at one time or another...it's just a fact of life....a mole is in the mouse family...sort of...right?

OK, we got through that.

The boys ask me to play hide and seek...not the 12 year old.....the 17 year olds!
For some reason that has become like a tradition when we stay here.
I'm not up to it now, but promise I will later.

What can we do now? For Fun? Something fun...exciting..different.....family oriented.....wholesome...challenging......Something that all of us will enjoy.....something memory making......what can we do?

I KNOW!!!!!

To be continued...............

TVs, Computers, and Cells...oh my ...PART 2

I see that 3 faithful readers have commented. The rest of you will need to read the previous post before you read this one for it to make sense. Well, to make as much sense as I normally do anyway.

Where were we.....

Oh yeah, I was on the phone with Chatty Kelly while house sitting for my other sister ET. (for those of you who are too lazy to go back and read the previous post, I am writing a recap of the first 24 hours spent housesitting and/or on our mini vacation.)---really, it would be much easier if you just go back one post and read that before you read this one. Go ahead......I'll wait here for you.....dum dum di dum dum dum (that is me humming while I'm waiting for you to catch up and read the last post.) All done? ok.....

I'm on the phone with Chatty Kelly and I hear....
"Mom, do you know where they keep the toilet plunger?"
I hang up with Kelly and warily walk down the stairs.
"False alarm mom, the second flush did the job."

We take a few moments to talk about the importance of sometimes needing to flush in the middle of your business. (Sorry about being kind of gross. But, those of you with kids have probably been there, done that.)

OK, I call ET's husband and leave a message on his cell so we can figure out how to watch tv and get on the computer. Alberquando has most of it figured out....he's my 12 year old computer prodigy. But we still have questions.

He calls---computers and tv all working fine now----after he walks us through it. (us, meaning Alberquando).

At this point we have been here all of about 2 hours.

"Mom, I'm bored."
I say go for a walk.

While they are out walking I scavenge throughout the house and hide any open bottles of alcohol that I may find....no, I'm not ready for a drinking binge.....yet. But, there are 2 17 year old boys here all week and even though I like to think that my angel and his friend would NEVER EVER indulge.....I need to be realistic. Why leave temptation right there in the open....just calling their names....plus, maybe I'll need a drink before the week (day) is over. Oh, and don't think ET has hundreds of liquor and beer bottles all over the place. Just a few. What I don't hide, I count.

They are back from their walk. Big boys are watching tv and Alberquando is on computer. I'm STILL unpacking. Alberquando calls me to come downstairs. He hears something. I hear it too. There is this very high pitching screaming sound! It wasn't a human sound but it wasn't an electronic sound either. It also wasn't the tv or the computer. It sounded like something that was alive!!

To be continued.................

Tvs, Computers, and Cells....oh my

Heidi Heidi Heidi Ho
( heidi heidi heidi ho)

Heidi Heidi Heidi Hey
( heidi heidi heidi hey)

Ok that's out of my system.

We (Alberquando, JM, JM's friend HJ, and I) are spending the week house/dog sitting for my sister, ET. It is only about 45 minutes away from our house but it is still like a mini vacation.

We arrived Saturday afternoon and will stay until this coming Saturday.

Here is a recap of the first 24 hrs we were here. (as you are reading this, remember that ET will be reading this too. wonder if she'll ever ask us if we want to house sit again?)

First of all, of course I overpacked. But you just never know when you might need......

We arrived at destination. I tell the boys to unpack the car while I take the cooler in and put things in refridge. I check on their progress. They each had brought in their own bag (only) and even those hadn't made it upstairs. They were sacked out on the sofa like they had been working for hours.

Finally car is unpacked. I'm trying to put things in order.

"Mom, call ET. I can't get the tv to work."
"Mom, call ET, I can't get the computer to work"
"Mom, where's......."
"Mom, I'm STARVING"
etc etc etc

ET's husband is a computer genius. TV's and computers here are so high-tech that there are always multiple "How do we..." phone calls to him whenever we stay here.

Can't remember his cell number.
It should be in my cell.
Oops, my cell died, got a new one, haven't programmed people's numbers in it yet.
Look around can't find number.
Call my house to get cell number from He's Not AHDH He.
No answer.
Call Chatty Kelly.
Get cell number from her.
Get sidetracked talking to her.
30 minutes later still talking to Chatty Kelly on phone when I hear "Mom, Do you know where they keep the toilet plunger?"

To Be Continued..............

I am a Chauffeur, Again

You know, as a parent we get used to being a chauffeur. (now why do you automatically assume that I used my dictionary to spell chauffeur? I mean geez, I JUST started this post and already you think I can't spell? I guess you think I wrote 10 versions of the word trying to get it right. ....ok, you're right. You'd be amazed how many ways a person could try to spell chauffeur and STILL not get it right!) Say the word...Show-fer. Now obviously that's not correct but whoever decided to choose chauffeur as the spelling was just plain cruel (and yes, Sue J, I 'm sure there is a logical reason). The way it is spelled looks like you would pronounce it Chaw-fee-your.

Losing Focus....Monkey's are funny.

You know, as a parent we get used to being a chauffeur. It comes with the territory. Then, when your child reaches that magical age and gets their driver's permit, all of the sudden there is a huge decrease of time you spend in the car. As I have said, it is scary watching them drive away but over time, without even realizing it, you begin to enjoy it. It's also convenient if you need milk or something while you're in the middle of fixing dinner and they can run out and get it for you. If they want to go to a friends house or have a friend over....sure....no problem, off they go. Also you notice that your gas tank isn't running on empty so often.

THEN EVERYTHING CHANGES. I believe I called them the driving "mishaps". Such as my posts STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR and STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR...AGAIN.

(There it was, my perfect chance to try to make it so you could easily link from this post to the one I'm referring to. Chatty Kelly came over, she showed me how to do it, we practiced, I took notes, I FOUND my notes.....IT'S NOT WORKING!!! I can't figure it out. Well, you all just read those other posts anyway.....and Chatty Kelly "I guess I broke my fishing pole....you need to teach me how to fish AGAIN!"---please)

monkey's are funny, monkey's are funny

Well, I got spoiled. I am a chauffeur again. I especially loved this one, "Mom, can you pick me up from Travis's house?" ("Sure" I say and drive to Travis's). "Hi mom, can you take me home, take me to work and then take HJ to his house?" (HJ, by the way, is climbing in the car as he is speaking). AND THEN THE KICKER "oh, and mom, after I get off of work (10:00PM & I have to pick him up) since you'll be out anyway, can we go back to HJ's house and pick him up so he can spend the night at our house?" "And oh yeah, I love you mom." (lucky save on his part).

I compromised. HJ came with us, we took JM to work at 4:00. HJ went to the grocery store and post office with me (he was probably miserable...hee hee), then HJ came home with us (Alberquando and I) and spent the evening at our house. I told him to make himself at home (he's here pretty often anyway). He could watch tv, get on the computer, play video games, play the guitar or hang out it JM's room. He was fine. He relaxed. But he was SO glad when it was time for JM to be home.

One of the definitions of the word "Chauffeur" is "A person employed to drive a car or limousine that transports PAYING passengers". It's time to get tough.

"Who going to pay for the gas?"