Nonsensical Ravings by Jodi

Confessions of a Night Owl

2012-01-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

I haven't written a good kid related blog post since Confessions of a Meat Hoarder, so here goes. My precious child, has not missed a day of school since 3rd maybe even 2nd grade. He's never sick, and if he is it's usually the sniffles, and can still go to school. He's had perfect attendance for many years now.

Today I wasn't scheduled to work until 1pm. So I could sleep in. Which I intended to do so. Until I recieved a frantic phone call from one of Perry's teachers. Perry had fallen out of his chair and layed on the floor and would not get up. Sounds super scary. I attempted not to panic, I said is he ok? She wasn't sure as it wasn't in her class it was his other teachers class, she was going to head to the nurses office and see if he was ok. She was going to call me back. It was 7:30 am, not my favorite hour of the day. So I got up, still not panicing, although slightly concerned. Went into Perry's room to investigate, found his ipod and his iphone under his pillow. These are the items that are suppose to be given up each night when he goes to bed. I did not follow through the night before (parenting 101-fail) so therefor, no policing happened and I'm certain his illness is called SLEEP DEPRIVATION. Wasn't certain of the diagnosis, until I went to the school and picked him up. The school nurse called and said he was definately out of it. So I went and got him, was greeted by his super concerned teacher. Perry is well loved and his behavior is very predictable. He is funny, very polite and well mannered and never gets in trouble. So for him to just fall out of his chair and not respond was a bit concerning. My diagnosis was spot on, the boy was exhausted, because he had not slept. He came home and slept for 3 more hours. His lack of sleep had truly made him sick. He got up to the ultimate punishment, you could tell he was very tired, so he was forced to shop with me, with no ipod or phone, and guess what they are on lock down for an undetermined amount of time.

This is his phone and his ipod both in there lockdown prison, AKA my dresser drawer. Someone will be going to bed super early tonight. I think I'll let the public decide. How long should I leave these precious items in their prison? Keep in mind he does not need his phone to communicate, we still have the house phone and he is not social so he is never without one of us. He did however attempt to plead his case to get his phone back. He said I sure hope I'm not lost somewhere without my phone. I asked, where will you be lost? He said the forest.......Ha Ha...cuz we here in the suburbs are surrounded by "the forest" that he is forever getting lost in.

Perry being an only child he gets away with more than the average child, because I have nothing to compare it to, it's learn as you go parenting. Funny todays Fairfield Middle School announcements email included an attachment warning about the risks of insufficient sleep. I'm pretty sure they sent that right after I left the building.

IKEA Life Improvement Project

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

In the summer of 2006, I was part of the United Way campaign with my place of employment, which was Ohio National at the time. As part of the campaign we got to visit some of the facilities United Way supported. One of those places we got to visit was The Stepping Stone Center. I remembered the name Stepping Stone Center from when I had worked at Kings Island and I was in charge of their picnic when they came to Kings Island. And I thought the name of the place was cool, but had no idea what they were about. So with Ohio National we got to tour the facility and meet some of the people who got to take part in some of their programs.

Fast forward to 2010. I was approached by my boss at the time Shane at IKEA, that they were doing a contest for a nonprofit organization to win $10,000 dollars for their organization to use however they would need. This is called The Life Improvement Project Why me? I thought. The organization had to fit the IKEA values of helping kids, and could not be offiliated with a religious establishment. This was a challenge for me as I am so involved with Boy Scouts (a scout is reverent) and my church, I had no idea of one that was not religious based. It's who I am......Then I remembered......The Stepping Stone Center! And so the investigation began. They met and far exceeded the criteria for this project. And so began the building of the presentation. This was no easy task. I recruited some work peeps to help, we arranged a tour of the facility, and then we had to write up a proposal using 500 words, and how we would spend the money. Touring and hearing about all the work they do was the best part. Meeting some of the kids and adults they help to learn basic life skills was humbling and rewarding. As a parent of a child with special needs, I can appreciate the work that they do for kids with Autism, and behavioral problems. I am fortunate to be in a school district that has programs to help kids with special needs and learning difficulties, and that Perry has learned to cope with his limitations that he's able to stay in a regular school. Many kids don't have that priviledge. Stepping Stone Center had programs who help kids who are unable to learn in a regular school enviroment. They have teachers who are able to work with kids one on one to help them learn in a way that is most comfortable for them. This is huge for kids with severe autism. And what happens to these kids when they become adults? It's hard for them to get a job, or learn normal everyday life skills. Stepping Stone Center is equipt to help with these concepts.

Heres a Group shot of us and some fo the Adults

Here is the Desk area in one of the program areas that could use some organization

Heres a Student in the school age building writting his name on the project board.

Last year we made it to the final round but did not win in the voting round, where only 5 projects were rewarded the $10,000 dollar grant. This year we submitted our project again, and this year each of the 36 stores in the US get $10,000 for a project that wins at their store. My friends and I have been feverishly begging for votes. In creative ways......it's been 2 weeks, and I am just now posting to my blog. Tomorrow is the last day of voting.

Please help us win this year!

Text to: 62345

Message: Life97

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T01:19:00.001-05:00

What a truly blessed Christmas we had. This was the first year that Perry looked so grown up. I'm thankful he still got toys. It will probably be our last year of toys for the most part. I am happy to report no Legos in my home this christmas!! Only a Lego sorter. Maybe theres a end to Legos in my home?

1. All big boxes contain Clothes...ha ha!, 2. Perfect sign, 3. Marshmellow, 4. Lego HP 5-7, 5. P's excited about presents, 6. Perry got his first phone

My baby boy looks so grown up with his fancy iphone. So far he's been quite responsible. He's only had it for less than 24 hours, and when he's left the house he's been with us, sooooo, so far so good. I've recieved numerous "wwwwaaaaazup" text messages, and he's let me know verbally each time he's sent me a text immediately. "mom I sent you a text, did you get it yet, now send one to me." Oh what fun we will have.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

1. Ornaments, 2. Abby and I, 3. Cookies at the Mugrages, 4. Niedermans Farm, 5. Opening Presents, 6. Making Breakfast, 7. Love, 8. Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, 9. Monster Cookies, 10. Candlelight Service, 11. Muffins, 12. Paul Youngs Nativity Scene

If you click on each tradition it will give you a more in depth description of each tradition. I find that as I get older how important traditions are to me. I enjoy sharing them with the people I love. Love to everyone, and I am looking forward to exciting things in the new year!

Diagnoses

2011-11-21T00:23:00.000-05:00

So on thursday, October 20th, I was diagnosed with Type 2, Diabetes. What's that mean? No more coca cola, no more McDonalds Sweet T, less food intake, definately less sweet stuff and bread! I've been pricking my finger and testing my sugar for a month now. I think I got a handle on this. I watch my carbs, and sugar, and I can keep it in the normal range.

When I was first diagnosed it was super scary as I didn't know what it all meant. And would have to take shots, because that I wasn't down with at all. The doctors office told me very little. She prescibed a few meds, that's I've been taking, I read a few blogs, and the Diabetes website. It took me about 10 days to get my blood sugar in a normal range and I've been around normal ever since. So far no shots, lets hope I can keep it that way.

My official follow up visit is Black Friday, we'll see then where I go from here.

Good-Bye Summer 2011

2011-09-09T11:49:00.000-04:00

It's been quite the eventful Summer. Perry and Ron started the summer with Summer Camp as they have for years. This summer Perry was definately a full on teenager, so when we weren't off on some sort of adventure he was sleeping. At the end of spring this year we had gone to Red River Gorge, which is a place we've always wanted to go and hike, and at the end of the summer we went to Hocking Hills which is another great hiking adventure. Please see fun summer collage below.

1. Big Bugs exhibit at Glenwood Gardens, 2. U2 Concert, 3. Ashtons graduations, 4. IKEA family picnic, 5. Swimming at Kristi's pool, 5. Hocking Hills, hiking old mans cave, 6. Perry attempting "owling" in Hocking Hills, 7. Connie and I sweating at U2 concert, 8. Kristi and I at Glee concert, 9. Ron and I at Hocking Hills, 10. U2

Now it's time for Fall......I've already had a pumpkin spice latte, so it must be time. Geez time goes so fast! Perry's now in 8th grade.

Heres the boy getting on the bus on the first day of school. He probably hates me for this. The bus driver enjoyed it and said turn around so your mom can get a picture. Ha Ha....I'm sure he wanted to die. As you can see it's super dark. Why? It was 6:40 am....ugh....why must they torture us?

OMG I saw U2!

2011-07-07T22:28:00.000-04:00

Yep that's me and Connie, at the U2 concert in Nashville, TN. This was before U2 arrived and did their thing. Which was so so amazing. There are things in life you think, "oh that will never happen". You think, they'll never come to Cincinnati, and you think when you are a teenager, I will never in my life be able to afford to go somewhere else and see them ever. Or my life will be too busy that I won't be able to break away and see U2 in concert. Well all of that just totally happened! We took a little road trip to Nashville and Saw U2 in concert!

Funny how the minute you are pegged as a U2 fan, everyone has an opinion about Bono, unless they don't know who he is, which hello that's kind of wierd. I've had a mix of haters and lovers, which is kind of fun, I welcome a friendly argument to be able to convince the world my love for all things Bono. It will be very hard to top that concert, I'm certain it will be impossible. Unless I see them again, which is not an impossibility!

Now What do I do?

2011-05-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

For the 2 years I was a stay at home mom, 4pm was nap time, and then Oprah and I spent time together. Then I began working again, and couldn't watch Oprah. So on the days I was hope sick, or had a day off during the week, I look forward to spending an hour with Oprah. Now in the days of DVR, I wait until everyone goes to bed and spend time with Oprah, or I wait until 1am (I am a night owl) and I'll watch her in bed as I fall asleep. I love that during her last show she gave props to God...the one and only God, and she made that perfectly clear.

I have been inspired often by Oprah. I've been inspired to lose weight, (I gained and lost over the years just as she did) I've been inspired to read a book or 2. I've watched many a movie because she said it was good. She in so many ways made the world a better place. I love that she gave back as much as she's recieved. I wish Oprah much success with her network, but will miss my daily dose of sitting down with Oprah. I love how beautiful she looks for her last show, and I love that her last words were "to God be the Glory." Love you Oprah!

Strange shift

2011-05-19T23:18:00.000-04:00

So I was off today. I ventured out to the scout shop to get P a new pair of scout pants since he's grown like 6 inches so he needed new paint. The scout shop is near Kenwood, and I had a certificate for a free dozen bagels from Marx Hot Bagels. Anytime I go to Kenwood I always go to Stamp Your Art Out. I love rubber stamps, I just rarely use them. I have a large collection. Creativity seems to be lost on me, and has been for a while. I went to Benchmark instead, because all things hiking seem to make me happy. I don't do that much hiking, I just love all that outdoor gear. I did go on a 5 mile hike in the Red River Gorge, a few weeks ago, and (sarcastic) nearly died....way way way out of shape and illprepared for that craziness, but I survived. And would like to do it again soon.

Giant Rock with great overlook

So it was strange to me that I had no desire to go to the stamping store, and felt like I was in heaven when I was in the hiking store. So maybe now instead of when I'm stressed I feel like being creative, maybe I'll go for a hike. And if I can get me some sweet shoes for all this hiking I'm gonna do, it'll be worth it. I'd really love to have these fancy shoes. They even make socks to go with them. Bet they'd be awesome to hike in.

I just love funky shoes in general. I like any shoes actually except heels. Don't really care for heels at all. I did buy some shoes today. I got some new vans, funky yellow ones. I got P a pair of blue ones just like them. The laces are silk screened on so they look like shoe laces but they actually aren't they are just slip ons. Works awesome for P since he doesn't like to tie his shoes.

Easter Sunday 2011

2011-04-25T00:26:00.000-04:00

We had a fabulous Easter Sunday. It was great to not have to work. After being sick for like 3 days, I am still recovering, but I had a great day anyways. Oddly there are no photo's of me from this year. Which is totally fine since I need my hair cut! Went to a Sonrise service in Middletown with my friend Kristi, it was definately something different than what I am used to, it was a cool service. Then we went to church as a family at our home church, VCC. We prepared ourselves for it to be crazy crowded at the 10:30 service, it really wasn't at all. It was pretty cool, they did baptisms during all the celebrations, and even offered for folks who may have made a decision to follow Jesus right then to get baptised, very cool.

After Church we went spent time with Family at Larry and Jodi's for Easter Brunch. I prepared eggs for the egg hunt. Once again I neglected to count the eggs, so Larry may find eggs for the weeks to come. It was fun to watch all the kids hunt eggs. Ecspecially Keaton as she experienced her first egg hunt, she was quite the pro. It was really nice of Mother Nature to stop the rain long enough for us to hunt eggs and get home and then it started raining again.

1. Keaton's First Egg Hunt, 2. Easter Sunday- Age 13, 3. Maddie Empty's her Eggs, 4. Perry, Maddie and Bailey

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter. Heres to a great Spring and a crazy busy summer!

Migraine inspired blog post

2011-04-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

So today is my day off. I slept in. Sleeping in to me is sleeping until you officially wake up on your own with no alarm. I know I woke up at 8:30 am and felt that was way too early so went back to sleep. I then woke up at 11 am, and I had a head-ache, which quickly developed into a migraine. Dragged my super heavy head to the kitchen to see if some kind of food might make it feel better. Nothing looked good. Quickly decided I needed chicken salad. Arby's used to have the best chicken salad. They don't have that anymore! So I recalled The Daily Grind had some decent Chicken Salad, it wasn't Arby's but it would do. So I devised a plan to get out of the PJ's and into clothes I could go out in public in. And headed to the Daily Grind, praying they were #1 still open and #2 had chicken salad. The place literally looks like it's going to fall down. The awnings are completely gone now. The drive-thru menu looks like it has to have scotch tape added on the daily to keep the menu on the drive thru. It has wierd daily special signs taped in the window, but they were open and they had chicken salad. I got it on a croussant, with a sweet tea. It came with lays potato chips (for the record I hate lays because they are greasy). All of this for 4.75, that's super cheap! I cautiously ate in, in hopes that I would not barf. This is what happens when you have a migrain, you barf. Did not barf, and within 15 minute migrain had subsided and I had energy to write a blog. Tada! I also had taken tylenol 30 minutes before. So I am sure those who do not have migrains, are wondering......."what's the difference between a head-ache and a Migraine??? Migraines suck first of all. Click on the link for a medical discription. My discription would be it feels as though someone wacked you in the head with a hatchet and is now pulling your head into 2 pieces. Light makes it worse, noise seems to be piercingly loud, and any movement makes you sick to your stomach. So the good news is the chicken salad, tylenol, sweet tea combination did the trick. I have now written a blog entirely about a migrain headache. Here is a picture of Perry at the Cincinnati Art Museum on Saturday. You can kind of see how much he's growing up, but in this photo is more subtle which I like. Love this picture!

Please stop Growing!

Troop 969 2011 Mulch Sale

2011-03-14T19:59:00.001-04:00

Premium Hardbark Mulch

Twice shredded and processed Hardwood mulch.

Rich, dark brown color

2 cubic ft. bag @$3.75 ea.

Rosewood:

All natural shredded pine,

no pallets, no nails.

Reddish in color lasting

up to 2 yrs.

2 cubic ft. bags @$3.75 ea.

Cypress:

All natural and light in color

with a medium texture. Whole cypress logs ground up.

2 cubic ft. bags @ $4.25 ea.

AFTER DELIVERY

WE WILL SEND A TEAM

TO SPREAD IT!

Just show us where you want it spread and we will do

the dirty work

and clean up the mess!

ONLY $1.50 PER BAG!

FAIRFIELD TROOP 969 ANNUAL MULCH SALE

3 PREMIUM

MULCH SELECTIONS

OPTIONAL SPREADING

(FOR A SMALL FEE)

SIMPLY COMPLETE

THE ORDER FORM

ORDERS SHOULD

BE RECEIVED BY 3/25/2011

PLEASE NOTE ANY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

12 Great reasons

To buy your mulch

From a scout....

The Boy Scout Law....

A scout is trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly,

courteous, kind,
obedient, cheerful,
thrifty, brave, clean
and reverent.

Your mulch will be
delivered by cheerful scouts
earning their own way so
they can go to summer
camp, high adventure

& many other
scout activities.

This year's summer camp

is at Camp Crooked Creek KY.

and our high adventure will

be a canoe trip to the Boundary Water's in MN.

Delivery will be
April 9^th & 10^th

and April 17^th & 18^th

Orders should be received

By March 25^th, 2011

Contact will be attempted

prior to delivery and spreading

for any special instructions.

Orders exceeding

25 or more bags

receive a $0.25

discount per bag

Detach this portion for your records

& mail completed order form

TO: TRACY BRAUM

5587 CHESAPEAKE WAY

FAIRFIELD, OHIO 45014

PH# 513-205-7161

PAY BY CHECK OR CREDIT CARD

Checks deposited when received

Order Form

Name____________________________

Address_________________________

City____________________Zip______

Phone___________________________

e-mail____________________________

QUANTITY COST

HARDBARK_____x 3.75 = $_______

ROSEWOOD____x 3.75 = $________

CYPRESS ______x 4.25 = $________

SUB TOTAL = $_________

SUBTRACT DISCOUT FOR ORDERS

OF 25 BAGS OR MORE

# OF BAGS_________X 0.25 = $____________

SUB TOTAL$_________

OPTIONAL SPREADING

(# OF BAGS)_______ X 1.50ea. = $________

Total cost of order $ ________

Any special instructions:______________

________________________________________

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:BSA TROOP 969
WE ACCEPT VISA, MASTER CARD OR DISCOVER

NAME__________________________________________

CARD NUMBER________________________________

EXP. DATE______________________________________

I'm Still Alive

2011-03-06T23:57:00.005-05:00

Blogging is just not happening. I'm not going to shut it down I promise. A lot has happened since I last blogged. Most recently, I got me a fancy new Pink Laptop. Pink makes everything better. It's nice to have something new and fancy. Our PC is super slow, and the laptop we scored for $100 from Ron's work, finally bit it. So I was the lucky one who got the new laptop. The man will get one too in a few weeks.

Even more exciting. My dad's gonna get me a laptop bag for my birthday. Nothing other than a fancy pants Vera Bradley bag, because I am fashionable like that. In other news.........

I have become a full on Lego Harry Potter Addict! It's bad. Ron Got it for the Ipod touch, intending it to be for Perry's Ipod, but Perry's Ipod is too old and couldn't suppor the game so I put it on my Ipod. Well I began to play it and was completely obsessed and played it until I finished it. That wasn't enough so we got it for the Wii and it's a whole new game. Now the whole family is playing. We are having loads of fun.

Holiday Madness!

2010-12-14T20:47:00.001-05:00

It's the week we try to get as much holiday stuff done as we can. Starting to feel a little more caught up. If you aren't on the Christmas Card list, the photo collage below is what we're sending this year. You can sure see we are quite involved in scouts as most of our pictures are front scouting events.

We've had a great week. I was awarded Coworker of the Month, and recieved a bike from IKEA for Christmas all on the same day. Kind of a big deal. Nice to be recognized and my boss said a whole lot of really nice things about me. I'm blessed to have a job I really enjoy and one that challenges me everyday. Still have cookies to make, and cards to assemble. Merry Christmas everyone! Be Blessed!

Confessions of a Meat Hoarder

2010-10-19T00:32:00.003-04:00

Heres the angel, picture on the left is his 1st grade first day of school on the right is 7th grade.
So I've owed my fans this story for sometime now. The story is nearly 2 weeks old and feel I have let my blog readers down. Someday my child will read my blog and probably run away immediately for all the stories I've told on him. So I must first say, Perry I love you as much as a mother can love a child, and probably even more than that. You antics bring great joy to my life and many others. So please don't hate me!

So you say you've never heard of meat hoarding? Me either, so I made it up I'm pretty sure. So my child never is willing to go to bed when he's told. It usually starts at 9:30 pm, the bedtime ritual. The question starts, "mommy if I go to bed right now can I watch TV?" If it's truly 9:30, and not closer to 10 I'll usually say yes. The he'll get up cause he's thirsty. Sometimes he'll want popcorn at bedtime, it literally is nonstop nonsense until like 11pm, no joke. So the night in question I was in the basement doing laundry, I had just told him to go to bed, and hear the pitter of patter of no so little feet going from his room, to the kitchen. I lacked the energy to investigate and assumed it was for water consumption. So I came upstairs and I was in my bedroom. At this point it was lights out and closer to 11, and one should be well on his way to dreamland......not so much....I hear a drawer open and close, not ever a good sign either he's setting up clothes for tomorrow (highly unlikely since that's never happened) or he's hiding or doing something he shouldn't. I had, had enough this particular night so I stormed in his room threw on the light and yelled "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He was unable to respond as he was in shock, and he was chewing. "Sweet Lord Jesus, WHAT ARE YOU EATING??" To which he responds quietly, as if it's NORMAL, "salami".........of course.......to which I respond, because I know my kid, "wheres the rest..." he calmly points to his desk drawer which is right next to his bed. I yell get it out. He doesn't hesitate, as this is seemingly normal to him. He reaches into his drawer where he keeps pencils drawing, and other desk items, and pulls out a half inch stack of thinly sliced SALAMI....ya heard...SALAMI. The worlds greasiest meat. Did he have it sealed nicely in a baggie, or wrapped gently in a papertowel of sorts??? NO! Just placed nicely IN HIS DESK DRAWER, as if that's where you keep salami. I inspected the meat from where I stood and could tell this just happened and it was clearly still chilled. I yelled please go put it back before I kill you. I'm not sure I'm going to survive the teenage years.

HAPPY 25TH VCC!

2010-10-03T16:35:00.004-04:00

Say what you want about a mega church. I personally love it, and it's all I've known for 22 years. Well not necessarily all I've known as I went to 2 churches almost every sunday for many years until the early 90's. When I first started going to the Vineyard in 1988, I was in college, and this dynamic guy (Steve Sjogren) came to our BSU (Baptist Student Union) meeting on a Tuesday. We did bible study on Tuesdays during lunch. Tanny our president already was attending his church and invited him to come and share with us his vision.

He came, I went with my cousin. And the rest is 22 years of history. For a few years I attended the methodist church I grew up in and the Vineyard. Eventually I attended just the vineyard. My first our reach was called a Big Fun Bus Run, where there was shelves for groceries built into an old school bus. We bagged up some groceries and delivered them door to door in Lincoln Heights. We offered to pray for folks and they accepted. It's shockingly easy and it worked.

So I called up my cousin Susan and say hey lets go check it out. When I started attending the Vineyard (called Vineyard Christian Fellowship) There was close to 100 folks at Diamond Oaks, it quickly grew to 300 there I believe and just kept growing steadily, we are now at over 6,000. It was overwhelming to see all that God has done with everyone all in one place.

Hi, I'm 13, I'm in 7th Grade and I have an Attitude!

2010-08-31T18:21:00.001-04:00

So we've hit middle school big time. It's only day 4 but I have some thoughts already that I need to share, and not sure if I want to be that parent or just wait it out to see if anything gets better. Soooo a little background. Perry has been in a resource room since 2nd grade when he was officially diagnosed by Cincinnati Childrens Hospital with a language based learning disability. His 3rd and 4th grade years have been by far his best 2 years of school so far. Both years he had great teachers who worked with his abilities and gave him the room and the help to learn at his own pace. It was 2 years of passionate teachers who were excited about milestones Perry would reach. Then the dreaded intermediate school. His teachers were fine, but it was then I started to be uncomfortable with the whole "resource room" concept. Now the kids are majorly segragated from the rest of their peers. They are not integrated really at all that I can see, his curriculum seemed almost too easy, but if it was to be made any harder he'd become frustrated and not succeed really. So we suffered through. I will say his reading got way better, he seems to like Math a little more, and he made it through the prison type school building really unscathed.

Now we are in a new building. His main class is not after all in the trailer out back. He does have 2 class's out there but he doesn't spend the majority of his day in a trailer out back. So I pick up his schedule, and see he's part of the Heroes team. See others who pick up their schedules and they too are on the heroes team and I think oh cool, maybe now they will be a little more integrated. Then I go to Open House, and they direct us to a room where all the Heroes team is meeting to meet teachers and hear about curriculum. So we go in there not a single teacher is Perry's teachers, and they go over curriculum that I know won't be anything he'll be learning, and if he was required to meet the expectations they are speaking of he'd be doomed. Although the Science Fair sounds like a good time, and some of the other projects they discussed sounded like a fun way to learn. Oh but wait he don't get to do that. We make our way to his homeroom after the lengthy schpeal that did not pertain to us AT ALL (great idea). Meet his 2 teachers, get a breakdown of his curriculum, that doesn't involve any text books or projects see his locker and leave.

So on day 4 of year 3 of school that is no longer the elementary school, I find myself questioning Fairfields resource rooms after elementary school. Or really after 3rd grade since Perry's 4th grade year was not typical, but turned out way better than it would have been. So even though they are special needs does that mean they don't get the excitement of covering a new textbook with a grocery bag, or get to have their parents help them with a science project? Understandably most of the kids in his class would lose the textbook on day 2 or would have to have 2 of them one for home and one for school. But why on earth are they part of team of other students they will never see, with teachers they will never be instructed by. Not only that but the teachers he has are on different teams??? Whaaaa? I'll give it a week or 2 more and then maybe if I still feel they could do better maybe I'll make them? Discuss.....your comments are welcome. And just like the trailer education Perry could care less about any of it, he doesn't know any different.

Wicked

2010-08-16T23:21:00.003-04:00

*******POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN WICKED STOP READING************
I had quite the Whirlwind of a weekend. Friday I worked and boy was it busy! When I got off Kristi and I visited The 86 Club open house, and man that is a super cool building where great things are going to happen! We also went to the Thai Cafe beforehand so that made for a fun evening. Then I got up super early on Saturday morning had Oatmeal at First Watch, and then headed over to Stampaway, and shopped for new rubber and all things fun and creative. Hung out with Kathryn most of the day and got to hang with Connie for about an hour. Then I headed to Columbus. Abby and I had dinner at Bon Vie, where sorry mom but I had the best Beef Stroganoff I've ever eaten in my whole life. So much so, hello I'm blogging about it. After a fantastic dinner, Abby and I headed to The Ohio Theater to see Wicked. I have to say it was one of those life changing performances. If you known me for a long time you know that I am a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz. So much so for years I decorated my home in Wiz of Oz movie posters. I own a copy of the script, I just love the movie period! Hasn't there been a time where you love a movie so, and you connect with the characters so much, you wish they were your friend and you knew more about their lives. Wicked did that. Suddenly all the questions you've asked for most of your life are finally answered, and the characters are so much more real. Ever since seeing it I keep thinking about it and keep thinking "Wow, how did the writers know I needed that information to feel complete." Seriously I know I'm completely geeking out on this one, I feel complete. Ha...wierd. Not because of just the completeness of the story now but the story it told as well. Basically so many awesome messages....girl power, ugly girl wins, wicked may not just be wicked, good may not be all that good, everyone has their issues, people matter, stuff matters, and Friendship matters ALOT! So this song has been meaningful to me all weekend, and if you have stuck around long enough to read this crazy blog then this song is for you no matter who you are or how you know me.

Creating Keepsake is coming to the Nati!!!!!

2010-08-03T23:30:00.002-04:00

HERES THE 411..........
Join us for a weekend of scrapbooking and more where you can enjoy shopping, classes, and chances to win at our newest location—CKC-Cincinnati!
Register online now through Monday, August 30 at 9:00 pm at our website: www.ckscrapbookevents.com/cincinnati.
Plus, receive a FREE gift and FREE magazine subscription when you register online (free items available only through online registration).
Schedule:Thursday, September 9Vendor Faire: not open; classes: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm;
CK Sketches Workshop 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Friday, September 10Vendor Faire: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; classes 8:30 am to 8:30 pm;
Friday Celebration Crop 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Saturday, September 11Vendor Faire: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; classes 8:30 am to 5:30 pm;
Super Saturday Crop 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Vendor Faire daily pass pricing: Adults and children ages 10 and up: $10 at door (see web site the week before the event for discount coupons); seniors ages 65 and up: $7; children ages 9 and under: no charge

The World Sucks!

2010-08-01T00:55:00.001-04:00

mail art project 1, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

First off Perry and I are involved in a mail art project this summer that we are hopelessly behind on. We've mailed our first project. This one is mine if you click on it'll take you to Perry's. At this rate we'll still be working on mail art well after school starts but that's ok.

I thought it was just me until other people were having the same sort of rant. People are just generally self absorbed. I am sure I have my moments, but some folks are just flat out SELFISH......it's as though they are completely unaware that there other people in this world besides themself.

Working in customer service you encounter all sorts of people and it ain't just work it's observing everyday life and my surroundings. PEOPLE ARE FREAKIN SELFISH AS HELL! That was last week tomorrow starts a new week and after coming off of 3 days of Cincykids, where I watched small kids learn to be selfless....and serve others.....I've decided to give the world another chance.

Summertime......TEENAGERS

2010-07-04T15:53:00.003-04:00

Wow, seems everytime I blog, I am usually saying, "holy smokes, I haven't blogged in exactly 2 months!" And then I'll say a little something like, "well when you tweet a few times a day, theres not a whole lot to blog about." A true writer would still blog....guess I'm not a true writer, just a wanna be. So since the infamous doctors visit, when I had to pin my child down so some barbarians could inflict pain upon him.....something changed. He turned 13 and turned into a teenager instantly. To say his body has become inhabited by aliens would be an understatement. The ADD medication helps tremendously, I'm not an advocate of medication just so you can deal with your kid, but if he is legitamately ADD, and there is medicine to help him focus, FOR THE LOVE OF NOT KILLING YOUR CHILD get him some! Yesterday was Saturday, we slept in a bit, and the man decided how about we not give him his meds today. I had to work most of the day so I was like....ok that's on you! So I had decided when I got off we'd run on over to our towns fireworks display. I was off in time for us to find a spot at the local CVS, we could sit right there and have the best view in the whole city. Well the boy would not shut up....if he wasn't talking, he was making some sort of noise, and when you asked him to be quiet, he just got louder and would yell at you.....WOW, he's lucky he's alive. And hungry...OMG...hungry every 5 min. As in just now while I was typing this I hear him in the kitchen, oh wait cause apparently I'm dumb and deaf.....he's quickly walking to his room....until I stopped him and said.."what kind of food are you sneaking to your room." He said "nothing", I said how about you go get whatever food you just took to your room...."he returns with a stack of 4 giant chocolate chip cookies..." OMG...he put them back, although I nearly killed him! This is only the beginning people I'm sure it gets worse from here!

Dr's Visit Bullshit!

2010-05-04T00:35:00.002-04:00

So Perry generally rarely gets sick. He's a healthy boy. He's finishing up his 3rd year in a row with perfect attendance. So the only time we go to the doctor is in the spring to fill out summer camp medical forms. It's been a while since he's had to get a shot, and I can't remember him ever freaking out. When he was a baby, he literally never cried when he got a shot. I was the big chicken and would usually send Ron with him if I knew he had to get a shot. This time I didn't think it through very well. And he's almost a teenager and more aware of what going on, not to mention he's got some sensory issues. His learning disability, makes it take him longer to interpret things in his head. It's just how it is. Often times he doesn't want to put forth the effort to try and figure things out because it often just takes too long. Things that are unpredictable send him over the edge. Fire Alarms have been a big issue in the past, basketball buzzer, he doesn't like to ride a bike, it took him a few years to go fast on his razor scooter, the element of pain and it being unpredictable is an issue for him and we've learned to live around it. This is also why he doesn't like to try new foods also.
So discuss in front of him that he's getting a shot, much less 3, bad bad bad idea...and this is my fault, it's been so long since he's had any shots, I didn't think it through and attempt to make accomodations. Like how about we not discuss it, we get that shit together and perform a sneak attack, we will be much better off people. No instead, a lengthy discussion of which shots he was getting, and turn your head and cough incident, more shot discussion and anxiety builds. By the time it's shot time it's been discussed at least 4 times and the nurse show's and Perry's devised a defense plan. Like running around the room, sitting in the chair in the fetal position refusing to move. I offer to hold his hand, and he's not having it. Bribes of toys and what not, ain't working...we are now fighting a losing battle. So the unpleasant nurse, who has no people skills much less any attempt at any niceties, leaves to get reinforcement, and in walks Nurse Cratchet, who is even more evil. She begins to insult the kid who is having full on freak out, by telling him kindergartners who are 5 years old get shots all the time with no issues. REALLY LADY, is that at all necessary. I was mortified but too busy trying to get my kid to sit still so he could be inflicted with pain I requested. So they decide to leave and give me some time to talk him into it, which I am sure I could have done had they given me at least 5 minutes but they gave me all of 30 seconds, came in with my Dr. (whom I love by the way) they make the decision for all of us to hold him down and get it done. Feeling like the worst mom in the world I help in this, he gets the first shot while flayling about screaming like an insane lunatic, he gets the first shot and he says "ahhhhh......silence.....oh that was just a pinch, that didn't hurt so bad....can you let me go now, please....NOT...you got 2 more." Dr. Koehl and I hold him down while unpleasant nurse number 1 and Nurse Cratchet finish the job." Once we're done, Perry was kind enough to apologize to the nice ladies for acting like a nut......while I fall the heck apart. Dr. Koehl says that's not the first time we've had to hold down a 12 year old. Seriously there has to be a better way! Did I mention I had a scheduled appointment, and I had to wait over 1.5 hours, and the whole thing took me 2 hours???? The shot fiasco was all of 20 min maybe. Fairfield Medical you cost me a trip to Culvers, and a new truck from Target....and you may have cost yourself a patient!

Trailer Education

2010-04-28T21:01:00.002-04:00

Ok so I met with Perry's teachers, and the special ed teacher at the Middle School. Didn't want to change anything, everything they are doing is working just fine. He's doing fine. I just want to know what transitioning to the new school will look like. I pretty much do this every year whether he's going to a new school or not. Meet with those who help him learn and make sure we're on the same page, and see if we need to change anything for next year. So you'll have to excuse me for not being completely aware of what's going on with the budget cuts, but I know at least 36 teachers are losing their jobs, the High School is going from 4 blocks to 7 bells, and I am sure theres a ton more that I am unaware of. So me being concerned that my special needs child is being isolated in a trailer outback is the very least of their worries. BUT IT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN. So the special ed kids.....AKA resource room kids are in a trailer behind the Middle School, the trailers are needed because there isn't enough room for everyone in the school. And a few of the special ed kids require air conditioning, and the school isn't air conditioned....which is a lame excuse, as many rooms have window units, and if that was the case, they can provide AC for whatever room the special ed kids are in!
Here's my concern. Middle School, it was called Junior High when I was a kid, is probably the worst 2 years for any kid, you are becoming a teenager, your hormones are raging, you are trying to figure out what social group you belong in, you are losing friends, and gaining new friends or not. Ad in the added presure of a learning disability, a resource room with little to no integration, and you ride the short bus. In addition to all that you are going to isolate these kids in a trailer behind the actual school building. So average kids have little to no social interaction with the special needs kids and the special needs kids have little to no interaction with average kids. Many of the special needs kids are fairly normal, they may have their quirks, but most of them are as normal as any other kid. If they are left with each other they will never learn what is socially acceptable during normal everyday social interactions. A community trip once a week to the dollar store, or a resturant is not enough to teach a kid how to interact socially with his peers. Sure the nose of the hallways, can be overwhelming for a kid with sensory issues, but they don't change class's as often and they can close their door, and they have aids that help them get to where they are going.
Ideally I would be all for total integration with the right assistance it can work. Fairfield doesn't have the budget to do it properly, so theres no way. Not to mention it's not for every kid, but for some I think they'd benefit greatly. Ok I am off my soapbox, feel free to debate, I doubt you'll change my mind, I am not a fan of my kid being isolated in a trailer out back, air conditioned or not, the social implications are not reversable. And for the record my kid could careless, he thinks it sounds cool to have a trailer classroom all for his class. Ha! I am in an uproar for the other kids who do like to socialize, and aren't fine just to talk to themselves.
*I am aware that much of what I said is politically incorrect, it's my blog and I do what I want.

Yellow Springs Adventure 2010

2010-04-03T10:42:00.001-04:00

Yellow Springs Adventure 2010, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

I will add more details of our adventure later, but wanted to post this as I haven't blogged in ages. Enjoy.

SNOW! We are tired of you!

2010-02-15T17:56:00.002-05:00

He charges by the hour, and he may get it shoveled before it melts.

I'd like to take a moment and complain.....

2010-02-12T01:36:00.002-05:00

So my beloved Switchfoot is coming in Concert in the nati, during my birthday month. Heres the problem, actually there is quite a few.....first of all see the awesome pictures below of my beloved Switchfoot, from someone who got to see them in concert recently.....LUCKY. Ok the problem. The one friend who appreciates them as much as I do, will be attending a retreat that weekend, and probably won't be home in time.....yeah retreat....used to do those too, then something happened and I just don't scrap anymore! Yeah I said it, often consider scrapping, think about scrappin....might sit at my scrap table, but haven't scrapped a page probably in nearly a year....it's awful I know. Ok so back to Switchfoot......1. It's at the Underground, which is a nice place, it's just not all that big, and it's no seats (dang I'm old), and it'll be full of teenagers. Enjoyed them the most at The Newport in Columbus, and we have places like that here why not go there? 2. Tickets are $25 to $35, WHAT THE? Seriously I love them...and would pay this much, but come on seriously, that's a big increase from when I saw them before....well not huge but I think the most I paid was $20 and what's it mean $35, it's general seating.....does that come with a backstage pass. 3. I ain't going alone...that's just lame. So this is a PSA, if you LOVE....not moderately like, as in you've heard a song or 2, LOVE as in you own all their songs and they are loaded on your ipod and you know the words. Gimme a hollar......I'd hate to miss this concert since Hello Hurricane is an awesome album, and Switchfoot is my favorite band, and MARCH is my birthday month, I see no other reason! Being a grown up sucks sometimes for real!

2010-02-09T17:06:00.005-05:00

Made this today....it's super yummy. I think we are suppose to get more snow tonight. So I can make more tomorrow. Wow that picture is crap! Maybe if you click on it you'll see it bigger....sorry.

Christmas is coming.....

2009-12-22T23:20:00.005-05:00

I made an observation this week. The world of retail begins the holiday season so early when it comes to Christmas week, most people are actually sick of Christmas. I know I am. I mean seriously is it too much to ask to respect the turkey and the pilgrams and just wait? At work we did all of our Christmas festivities a week before Christmas week. So cookie baking happened then, and I made sure all my cards were done before then. Our annual Christmas party was this weekend, so...... now it's the week of Christmas and I feel like it's already happened. The anticipation isn't all that exciting. Although I am hopeful for an amazingly surprised 12 year old when he opens his Wii on Christmas morning. We spent so much on the Wii and all the stuff we need to go with it that Ron and I won't be giving each other much.

I did have an element of a little less stress when I chose not to make my Christmas cards. Other than the few I made for work, my cards were bought cards for the first time in 10 years. Instead I chose to simplify Christmas, and buy these cards.

So they went postal on Friday. Most everyone got the larger cards that I bought but some got a card with a picture Perry made just for my card. For those of you who didn't get that card here ya go.

And those of you who got this card you didn't get the picture of the fam, because it wouldn't fit. So I'll post it here so no one feels left out.

It's hard to keep everyone happy honestly. We also did our annual Santa picture with Grandpa and the Grandkids. Always a good time for all. Funny thing is we've gone to the Cincinnati Mills/Cincinnati Mall/Forest Fair Mall/Money Pit Santa for years. He used to always have a real beard and not look fake at all. Well they hired a homeless skinny guy this year, and oddly enough no one wanted to sit on that Santa's lap. I wasn't really down with sending my kid to him he completely creeped me out. So off to Bass pro's free Santa picture we went. Waited in line for 20 minutes and got our picture taken for free. As my dad eagerly aproached the Jolly fat fellow to get in the picture with the kids, my brother and I slowly turned our back and pretended such craziness is natural. We are sure his days are numbered as far as the kids will eventually not want to carry on t his tradition so we humor him. So all I have left to is wrap, a lot of presents, and have Christmas already. I love Christmas I really do I just wish it didn't start so early, I think I'd love it even more. God Bless everyone, and have a great Christmas!

SWITCHFOOT-Hello Hurricane

2009-11-28T22:45:00.003-05:00

Remember back in the day when I would blog about switchfoot like every other day? Well, then life got serious, and I had to act like a respectable member of society and not like a groupie, which is truly what I'd like to be. Well their new album came out a few weeks ago, and I got it on itunes the day it came out. It's super fabulous, close to as good as Beautiful Letdown, which is my all time favorite Switchfoot album, this one doesn't top that one but comes closer than any of their other albums, it's great! So their tour isn't coming even remotely close to cincy, so I stalked flickr and found.....

This, amazing pictures that makes me feel as though I was right there. Enjoy, and if the photographer is out there....thank you, thank you, thank you!

So that we'll never forget.....

2009-11-13T02:18:00.001-05:00

Charlie Matthews Celebration of Life from Mason Vineyard Church on Vimeo.

For those I've spoken to since the service, and for those who weren't able to attend. I hope to never forget the impact it had on my life. And now those of you who never knew Charlie can now see why it's so important to never forget him.

Do Over!

2009-11-07T00:00:00.005-05:00

This week I'd like to ask for a Do over! Not Halloween it was dandy, and it involved candy. Not sure why I just said dandy but I think it's because it rhymes with candy. "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker....." Anyone??? So Perry was a sock monster. I caught a brief glimpse of this costume at Spookeree last year and memorized it in my head, and recreated it because it's a genius idea. But before Halloween could even begin, while at work I got word that Charlie Matthews , had passed away that morning. Due to medical complications, he had been in the hospital since October 5, and days before seemed to be on the road to recovery. I was crushed. 2 Corintians 4:8 is crap. " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;" Some of it I am certain is true. Crushed.....CHECK.....hard pressed....CHECK......perplexed......CHECK CHECK.......not in despair.....WRONG....Saturday I was fine, sad, but not in despair just yet because I was working and somewhat in disbelief, Sunday in church....was when I started feeling that despair that Paul says in that verse I'm not suppose to be in. Then Monday when I read Dave Workmans blog, he said all the right words, and it was almost like he gave me permisson to be in complete despair.....thanks Dave! (honestly something needed to be released) It just seemed to get worse from there like a crazy downward spiral of overwhelming sadness. It seemed to get worse as the day of his funeral drew closer. Felt somewhat alone in my sadness as I hadn't really been connected with anyone from Alpha in over 2 years. Then I got connected, and it was as though we had never lost touch and they were experiencing the same kind of grief I was. It was so good to reconnect. And grieve with people who knew exactly how I felt. It was good to see even more Alpha peeps at the memorial service.....which was super sad.....super cleansing and was pretty much a life changing event. You could not walk away from that service and not feel like you were commissioned to change the world, and be passionate about doing it. 3 of my Alpha peeps and I were invited back to the Mason Vineyard, after the cemetary. What an honor to see what Charlie had poured his heart into over the past 6 months. And wow these people loved him and his family. They embraced us immediately. It was as though they saw some of Charlie in us, afterall we were trained leaders who served under his leadership for many years. All 4 of us were what many refer to as Alphaholics.....those who serve every session often it would be 3 sessions a year. (that's 30 weeks people) So we got the grand tour.....what a special place.....clearly inspired by all that was Charlie. As I stepped foot into the sactuary, first of all the smallest sactuary I've seen in my whole life. It seats 50 people, anymore you are violating the fire code. I've been at VCC for 22 years, when I first started one service was 200 we had 3 services, when we moved to crescentville we were at one point at like 7 or 8 services. And by the time we got to where we are now, we eventually grew to 8,000, don't check the math but I think it's fairly accurate. So I digress...basically 50 people is like a small group to us. Just a little bit before my time VCC started with as few as 50 people.

So asside from the smallness, it was actually very quaint and cozy, the first thing I noticed was the chairs. I recognized the chairs. Ok so to most these chairs are just chairs. To someone like me who thrives on the simple things.....these chairs signify way way more than just a place to

rest your rear. These chairs were at VCC when we were at Crescentville. These chairs bring back a lot of great memories. Lots of great worship, with Dave Workman as the worship leader. I once saw a women get slain in the spirit and nearly hit her head on one of these chairs (true story) me and my friend Weezer (mean Kim) were right behind her and both of us neglected to even attempt to catch her. She was fine the HG....allowed her to rest gently to the floor. These chairs represent growth and change, because they are moveable and you can always add more. Which I truely believe is going to happen at Mason Vineyard. Charlie set them up for great success.....I got a great sense of the Holy Spirit in this sactuary, and felt like he was saying "great things are going to happen here." Can't wait to see what happens. So I am "double dipping" on Sunday with some of my Alpha peeps, Charlie had prepared to do a series called "One Month to Live." I listened to the first week online at the Mason website....and well lets just say, it's going to be a good one I'm sure of it. Ok so no more crying, pretty sure I've got no more tears left...I said that before then found some more. On to the business of living people we got a world to change! Lots of people blogged about Charlies death. When my friend Michelle had mentioned Steve Fuller had visited Mason Vineyard on Sunday, he's always had a way with words, this time was no exception, very well put and keeping it real just like Charlie would have it.

My Secret...

2009-10-29T01:21:00.001-04:00

It's really not a big deal. I was just told by someone who appeared to have a bit of authority, "please don't tell anyone." So I kept it on the "DL" till now. So Chipotle in Fairfields official grand opening isn't until friday. I saw people there eating at lunch time. So I assumed they were open, and the big celebration is on friday. So I made my plans for dinner before leaving work. Went at dinnertime. Walked in like I owned the place (trust me I'll be partial owner in no time) and was stopped by an official looking burrito dude. He asked "do you have an ivitation?". To which I said "no", so he whispered over to an official looking burrito lady....while I stand there looking like a goon. She then said "go ahead, but don't tell anyone since it's free tonight...". DO WHAT? Oh I've had my fair share of free love from them before, lost wallet, tax day, mothers day ect....but not a whole meal. Apparently you could feed the whole fam fo free since the dude in front of me did. I didn't want to be greedy so I just got my burrito and the drink. Considering I didn't get officially invited. So I got the fam's food at the other one that was only like 7 miles up the road. So there's my secret. Was it worth the wait?
Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless

Fall Fun and Blogging from the Blackberry

2009-10-28T02:03:00.002-04:00

Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless

Testing Technology

2009-10-28T01:44:00.005-04:00

So this is a test. Just set up to blog from my phone! We all know I sure do love me some technology. But which is easier? 140 character tweet, or an entire blog post from my blackberry? That question was answered right away since an SMS post is limited in characters and it breaks it up. So I'll try and do it as an MMS or another way, or just tweet.......

Socks.....and other Nonsense I might come up with at 1:45 am

2009-10-09T01:43:00.006-04:00

So I had an epiphany while putting clothes in the dryer, and seeing the mountain of socks on top of my dryer. Socks should magically find their mates while spinning around in the dryer. There I said it. I mean really how many countless hours are spent matching.....(or not)....up socks? In my line of work people rarely see my socks, so if I am too lazy to find the mate sometimes I will find something that's close. Surely I am not the only one in the whole world who does this.

Those right there are my favorite socks, with my favorite shoes. One of the socks is missing, but I have a red, white a blue striped one that came in the same pack so essentially it's the same sock just diff colors. Yep I've worn them together. Oh let it out people it's not a big deal, no one cares really. And if you've always wanted to do this and have not, I'm now giving you permission. Make it happen, you'll feel liberated. So while we are on the topic of socks according to Walmart only grown ass men have a need for warm wool socks. True story. Now granted I am not a fan of going to walmart, and if I could afford it I'd avoid it like the plague, but lets be real folks, most of us are BROKE these days and we can't afford to buy that crap anywhere else but walmart. So I was on a quest to purchase some either super warm or wool socks at the Mart of Wals, for the boy and I, along with other essentials needed for camping with the boy scouts in the cold wet climate, of which we are experiencing right now. None could be found for dainty lady feet like mine, and none for little boy feet either, oh but if you are a manly man, and entire section is devoted to warm wool socks. And apparently there aren't any wee little men in the world with wee little feet, they all must have size 9 or larger. UGH.....So I will have to venture out on my day off tomorrow to score warm socks....because Lord knows my strippedy, mismatched socks would not be cold ass camping worthy! My first camping adventure with the Boy Scouts and I choose a wet cold weekend. Cub Scouts don't camp when it's cold. Boy Scouts camp no matter what the climate.....I've hit the big time, pray I don't freeze to death. So to see some of the sites I saw during my late night adventure just go HEAR and pretend it's Hamilton, OH.....or should I say "The Township", don't get all offended Hamilton folks......you know I love you all and you are an exception to the rule, most of you anyways!

The Boy got a TV....in his Room??

2009-09-25T21:11:00.005-04:00

I kind of feel like the reason my child has ADHD, would be because he watched ALOT of TV as a baby. Ron and I worked opposite shifts, and opposite meaning we saw each other coming and going. He worked nights and I worked days. So he was home in the mornings with the baby, often quite sleepy. So the TV helped him babysit. Sad but true. So once we got on a regular schedule I vowed the child would never have a TV in his room. I mean seriously, theres a TV in ever other room in the house why would he need one in his room? I don't ever remember having one in my room until I was 16. He didn't really ask for one until the past few years when he started going to friends houses and saw most of his friends have TV in their rooms, and he's like um wheres mine? So he has a whole wall, painted with chalkboard paint, so he drew one, and then crafted a remote control out of cardboard. Imagination+chalk TV+cardboard remote= cheapest TV ever! The power of that TV didn't last very long. So in order for us to get him to do his summer reading this summer we bribed him with a TV in his room if he completed his book. With a little help from Geegaw, and a TV she was getting rid of his dream finally came true today.
So now heres my question, to those of you who are parents of children who are fortunate to have a TV in their room. What sort of rules do you have for that. I can see him up at all hours watching TV. Never leaving his room, ect.....I'm going to need some guidance on the rules here. This is a whole new territory for me. Dag remember when you turned 12 and got a phone in your room? Do people even do that anymore? Few people even have land lines anymore, I am considering getting rid of ours. I mean seriously, why do you even need a landline anymore? I know I've not blogged in forever. Blogging is so 2008 people, microblogging is the wave of the future, regular old fashion blogging involves way too many words.

Retail Hell.....

2009-08-06T21:48:00.002-04:00

Hey it could be worse it could be Life Insurance hell which we all know that is a 10 times worse hell, where you are left to rot in a cube, while you enter data into a computer like a trained monkey. I served my time yo. Now I get to be entertained by the mass's of hilarious retail consumers who love all things swedish, and like to bitch about lousy service. Have I mentioned lately I LOVE MY JOB? I am not even being sarcastic.

So I was summons to returns today. (it happens way more often than I would like I roll with it and rarely complain, we're all hurting) and a super tall lady had apparently been waiting 35 minutes or so when she got to me. She was super tall and had about a pound of botox in her lips. I am sure of it, is botox even measured in pounds? She had sunglass on that each lense was the size of a big screen TV, I am not kidding about this you can check the video. And she says to be with her large lips and her large sunglass's...."I don't understand how the rest of the store can be so fabulous and your returns system be so awful...." She said this to me in somekind of movie star I'm from Hollywood voice. Well her return took all of 5 minutes, and she was on her merry way. Maybe she'll think twice about buying shit she don't need!

Yesterday is the best story of all. I was late getting in yesterday since I had to go to the doctor for a stupid side pain I've had for a week. (back to that in a minute) So no one in my department was in all morning as I was schedule alone for the whole day.....(awesome, it happens with few people) So a women had a fridge delivered that morning, she was a 78 year old women. She freaked the heck out on the poor delivery dude because it opened on the wrong side so it was obvious it was the wrong fridge.....ummmm.....so she called and left message after message when I wasn't there. She talked to every manager she could get transferred to. So when I get in I am bombarded by.....messages from all sides about this crazy women. Um hello people fridge doors are interchangable, it's a feature known to mankind about american fridges....geez....I was fortunate enough to avoid the crazy women, as she was irrational and cussing folks out left and right. Her daughter called me who was very pleasant and apparently afraid of her mother so she lives far far away, so is able to help defuse the situation from affar. Good daughter. The other part of the story was she asked the delivery dude to move her old fridge which they are permitted to do just not haul away since that's an extra charge. So Mr. Delivery guy requests a tip (big no no), she offers $4.....to which he apparently was offended, because if you are going to ask for a tip....it'll need to be more, so he requests $20? (oh Lord) Obviously delivery dude was called out on this and deny's it happened......So there is a happy ending sort of......her fridge was redelivered, after she cussed out the delivery dude again when he called to let her know he'd be there in 30 min. Dispatch told the driver to proceed with caution....LOL....her daughter is hiring a assembly guy to switch how the door opens. Hours of my life spent for one happy customer....it's what they pay me for!

Oh the doctors visit....pulled muscle....(just above my rib cage, no idea how that happened) I HATE GOING TO THE DOCTOR.....I could have diagnosed that myself, which I think I did. It's the medication part I forgot to do. Took some alleve a few times yesterday, and a muscle relaxer provided by my visit to the doctor. And today little to no pain. So no reason to be alarmed I am all better.

Tears....seriously....YOUR CRYING?

2009-07-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

Ok so as of late my new favorite thing to do is blog about my job. Which is fine, because now I have that kind of job. As long as you don't talk about co-workers or your boss, you should be fine. The folks I talk about, I won't share their name and I am just a voice on the phone trying to save their lives apparently.

So the women on the phone describes to me what she needs and even has a article number, which is rare. She apparently planned incorrectly and got the wrong size coverpanel for her dishwasher. So as she's giving me the article, she begins to cry..........WHAT THE? I place her on hold and begin to freak the heck out. It's a coverpanel, not the end of the world, A COVERPANEL and you are crying. So I gather my thoughts, put on my best "I need to be nice to this person cause she's crying" voice, and tell her how we are going to proceed to get her the correct coverpanel, in hopes that the process doesn't send her into hysterics. She then tells me she hasn't had appliances for 2 weeks, and it's all just too much. I talk calmly and let her know her cover panel will be ready to picked up in 10 to 14 days....which I guess wasn't the right thing to say, because that was super sad to her as well. I try to say nice thing, but she says "you don't have to say anything." So I don't......
Ok so not having appliances could be nerve racking, but can we put this in perspective? You can get some ice and put your shit in a cooler, and you can wash dishes by hand for a while, heck forever, these things are luxurys. Maybe because I've experienced a 3rd world country for 10 days I might feel differently about these things. Or maybe because I am devoted to praying for folks who don't have clean water, I respond to things differently?
PSA#2 Take a deep breath, pull yourself together, before you call me about your coverpanel! I am here to help you, I will make it as painless as possible. I just ask one thing of you......DO NOT CALL AND CRY! Please wait till you hang up, then you can cry yourself a river! If you feel the need to cry Please ask for Kristi or Matt....

PSA: Attention IKEA Shoppers

2009-07-11T23:03:00.002-04:00

Well here goes, I am going to break the #1 blogging rule. I am going to talk about my job. Lets hope I don't get "Dooced" (aka-she got fired)

This first one is to the lady who decided to pick up the display pillow's instead of getting the stuff to make the pillows. Hey Lady.....YOU CAN'T DO THAT....Do you not see that my line goes on for at least a mile, and now you have pillows that I can't sell you. Some people take this as an oppurtunity to pay it forward and say..."you know I don't really need those, I'll get them next time..." Except you didn't say that. Now you know what happens? I have to call all over the store trying to find a co-worker in that area to answer the phone, who will then give me the article numbers for the items you have, and then they will either give me the go ahead to sell the display, or you will have to wait for them to bring you the actual product.....while all the people in the line wait...and wait...and wait. So I call 3 numbers with no answer, and then resort to the manager of that area, who saves the day. She gives me the numbers I need and oddly enough was able to get someone to answer the phone, and bring the customer what she needed. Lesson learned here.....DO NOT TAKE DISPLAYS, read the signs and get the items it takes to make that fancy pillow. Co-workers in market place, answer the phone when I call this saves time and angry customers, just sayin! You've been warned don't let it happen again!
To the people, behind the lady with display pillows, sorry the 5 minute wait was too long for you, however it is not ok to leave your stuff on the belt and walk away. That's just rude! That's like placing an order in the drive-thru and driving away. Now you caused several people more work. I had to place all of your items in my go back bin, which was then full. Then some cashier had to empty that bin and take all the stuff to the go back area, and then you caused a sales co-worker to be at work a little bit longer because they then have to put all that stuff back where it came from. All of this because you couldn't wait 5 minutes! If you ain't got time, you should not come to IKEA on a saturday!
To the lovely couple who attempted to return open pillows. BIG NO NO! It was nice of you to roll them back up and shove them back into the plastic packaging, that was just impressive I ain't even mad at you for that. Please refer to the return policy on the front and the back of your reciept. We can not take back any opened bedding or pillows....those were pillows and those were opened. You look like respectable enough people, but it's clear that you could have lice. I understand you can't tell how they feel when they are rolled very tightly inside the packaging, this is why there are display model right by where you picked up those packaged pillows. I understand you can't get your head up there on that shelf to try it out, but you can get the idea from just touching it. If you can't play by the rules you should not shop at IKEA....you've been told!
Please stay tuned for more PSA's as I spend more time in the cashlanes....it's good for comic relief!

Too Much Time, so Little to do......The one where I pretend to be a Princess!

2009-07-02T00:25:00.003-04:00

Strike that, reverse it. OMG.....Seems that actual blogging has become a thing of the past, now thanks to micro-blogging. Our lives have become so busy that telling the world what we are doing in the moment is far more feasable than sitting down and writting up something super witty that people will read.

I will attempt to share a story I've been meaning to blog about for what seems like forever. So I am a big fan of Kroger, or Bro-Kro (depending where you go, no offense), or K-ro-jay if you are fancy folk. So my usual Kroger is the fairfield Kroger. I don't have a particular day I shop on I just go when we got money and have no food. I am so disorganized that a list may or may not happen, and coupons are way too much for me to think about. Well this one particular Friday I believe it was, we needed food, I created a list on the blackberry, I gathered up coupons Krogers had acutally sent me, since they keep track of what you buy then they send you coupons for those items, quite thoughtful. I was super pleased I remember those coupons, and a list.....the grocery shopping angels were singing. Oh and even better I've made the switch in the past month from plastic to buy your own bags and bring those with you. Fairfield Krogers gives you 3 cents per bag (good people!) Then a wrench was thrown into my plans, my mom needed me to stop by to drop something off, oh that's fine, theres a Kroger right by her house I'll go there, problem solved. So I went to the 747 Kroger (now known as "I will never shop there again" Kroger). First problem, it was completely laid out incorrectly produce was on the left, mines on the right, some sort of crazy isle formation going on in the center....mine doesn't do that....UGH....induce panic attack from the very beginning. So I gather my basket full of groceries, we're talking overflowing amounts of groceries! Head to the cashlanes.....it was around 9:30 pm......appeared not a single lane was open, no cashiers, um is this place closed? Seriously....oh wait.....SELF CHECK OUT IS MY ONLY CHOICE.....for an entire basket full of groceries. That's right, you heard me! Lets recap, I have coupons, my own bags, I gathered these things myself, and now.....NOW I GOT TO SCAN ALL THIS, BAG IT, PAY FOR IT, TAKE OFF MY OWN COUPONS......WTF???? I nearly cried right there. The best part, I am pretty sure I did not get 3 cents per bag, that I remembered to bring to bag my own crap. Yeah 747 Krogers you suck, and I will not be visiting anytime soon, I don't care if you have a starbucks!

ps I am aware that I work at IKEA, the originator of GET IT AND SCAN IT YOUR DAMN SELF. Why do you think I don't shop there during the week.....duh!

It's only been a Month!

2009-06-12T01:02:00.004-04:00

I haven't blogged in a whole month. Thankfully in the past month I started project 365. I am excited about it. It'll document my life with one picture a day for a whole year. And I'll create a scrapbook with those pictures.

1. 365 project 5/23/09, 2. june 8, 3. June 11, 4. june 10, 5. june 9, 6. June 7, 7. june 6, 8. june 5, 9. june 4, 10. june 3, 11. june 2, 12. June 1, 13. may 30, 14. may 29, 15. may 28, 16. may 27, 17. may 26, 18. may 25, 19. may 24, 20. may 23, 21. may 22, 22. may 21, 23. may 20, 24. may 1925. Not available

A ton of craziness has happened in the past month. Perry turned 12, and finished the 5th grade. He's really grown up this year. He leaves for summer camp in a few days with Daddy. Work has been exhausting but I still love it. The economy is starting to effect us big time. Everyones hours have been cut, so we end up covering all over the place and never getting to do our job, so the customers who were already angry get more angry. Speaking of doing everything but my job, one of the fun adventures I got to do the other day.......was offer my assistance to disabled geri's, yep you heard me. Guess a couple called in asked if we had electric wheel chairs, which we do not due to safety issues since we are 2 floors. So they asked if they were to come since they both weren't able to walk the whole store if someone could push them. Who ever they spoke to said "why sure we can...." Probably not thinking they'd actually take us up on it. Oh but they did. I tried to not be the one. But I was the only one around who was available to offer this service.....although I am just one person and they needed two. So the one that was a little more adual chose to push his own wheel chair, so he could sit if he needed to and I pushed the wife. They were very gracious, and sort of embarrassed that they needed my help. Not sure what happened to them, possibly an car accident. It was a lesson in humility and I survived. I'd even do it again.

Proselytizing.....

2009-05-17T15:54:00.003-04:00

The title of this blog, is the last word I cut and pasted for fear of spelling it incorrectly. Sadly I do that a lot. In 2nd grade I was a good speller, sadly as a grownup (see I think that word is suppose to be hyphenated, but I'm gonna leave it.) I'm not such a good speller, this is why I live in a world where there is cut and paste and spellchecker. So that word in the title, big word I know basically means to me sharing your faith. Which I do, not near as often as I should I suppose, but I feel good about what I do, for the most part. I would like to think I am like the man Penn speaks about in the video. The video was played in church this morning. The church service where the HG show'd up and caused a women to speak in tougues. Which I was completely fine with (slightly uncomfortable with, lets be real) but ultimately fine. The husband not so much. But the man he is today, sat and suffered through and waited patiently for it to be over. 15 years ago, he would have been out of there after 15 seconds of it. Proud of him.......

So the best part was Dave explaining what happened in as few words as possible. Instead of ignoring what went down, while many folks had questions, my husband included, Dave still did a good job. This is why I love my church. There are times they create an atmosphere where that is perfectly ok, and accepted and not freaky. However our Sunday morning celebration is packed full of people who see that as freaky and don't understand it, which is fine. It takes a while to get to a place in your walk where you understand what's going down. Thankfully I feel like I am there, and able to explain what that is and what that all means. All that to say church was good this morning, and it's been a good weekend, since Prom was last night....the high school prom not the church prom. That is for another post....yeah I know more than one in a month, I am sure the world is excited.

HG=Holy Ghost

Walk=journey after you become a christian, the learning process.

Learning to Tie your Shoes is overrated!

2009-04-23T14:54:00.004-04:00

Ok so I went shopping....shoe shopping. I've been talking about shoe therapy for the past week. I NEED a new pair of shoes. I am not shoeless, that's for sure. A girl needs options. Well when all 14 pair of flip flops show'd up missing, when one complete pair was found it was like I got a new pair of shoes. It was kind of a fix for a new pair of shoes. So I am good, but I am still looking. I went to Kohls today in search of the perfect shoe. I found some....for Perry...right, dag wasn't I shopping for me. The good news is velcro is cool now, and he still, no lie, can not tie his shoes. Probably because he doesn't have any that require tying. And he's only had a handful of shoes with laces in his life time. So check out what Mommy found for 21.00 at Kohls.....

He'll learn someday when he's got time. Right now he just doesn't have time to learn and doesn't care honestly. Is that wrong? I thought he'd be the only kid who couldn't drink from a straw when he was 4, and now he prefers to drink from a straw. He has to learn knots for Scouts, maybe shoe tying can be one of them. Seriously those shoes are so cute I might need a pair for myself. Oh and everyone begin celebrating, I purchased a size 2 and they fit, which means he might actually be growing!

Check me getting my blog on.......

2009-04-06T23:16:00.002-04:00

So the man asked me, "are you ever going to blog again?" What the heck for when theres facebook? So here I am blogging....not sure about what. The economy? No thats boring, lame and what's there to say.....I'm sure ya'll are broke and so am I, so what's new? Bout to sell some shit at a yard sale so I won't be as broke, and maybe I can buy some new stuff to make life much happier.

So now even the old folks are jumping on Facebook. No kidding the whole freakin world is on facebook. If you ain't on facebook, you need to get it, or you'll be completely out of touch fo sho! (Oh my Lord, the nonsense has trickled onto the blog, sorry I'm leaving fo sho, gives it character or something) You don't even have to say nothing, just get your info on there so you can keep up with folks you ain't seen in 20 years. Oddly enough didn't realize I missed them until the show'd up on FB.

Just finished up 6 LONG weeks of doing 2 simultaneous bible studys. Good grief what was I thinking? I did Beth Moores Esther, that one was 10 weeks, then 4 weeks into that I started reset, and was part of a small group with that. The small group will continue next week, but Beth Moore is DONE....thank you Jesus! One of the best Beth Moore studies I've done, but holy cow, she makes you think and theres homework, and it's TIME CONSUMING. I am much holier now I'm sure. So my time has been my own since I've been done with scouts. Haven't given up my volunteer hours as of yet. I plan on going to committee meetings with Perry's new troop, but that is the extent of my involvement with scouts so far with the troop. So if you want me to volunteer for something you'll need to get me before I go and overcommit myself, it's really only a matter of time!

Perry and I will be in an Art show on good friday. It's from 7-9 on good friday. Give me a shout if you want details. Should be super cool with cool stuff.

On Turning 40.

2009-03-28T14:36:00.003-04:00

IS ANYONE EVEN OUT THERE OR ARE YOU ALL ON FACEBOOK.....If you are reading this and you blog, for the love of all things blog worthy, get off facebook, no one cares that you've just gone shopping or you are going to bed, and blog something, tell us about your life in more than 10 words!

Sorry no blogging...yes I am blaming facebook once again. I am a true addict and not afraid to admit it. So while I was out, I turned 40 while the world was watching. So the tuesday of the week I turned 40 during the Beth Moore video, Beth read from the "redbook" a book full of

e-mails that women sent in in response to "It's tough being a women because....." and the very first one she read was, "It's tough being a women because I am about to turn 40 and I fear becoming normal and ordinary....." Bahahahaha....isn't that what everyone fears? What is normal anyways? Who gets to define normal? This could be why my response to turning 40 was going and getting my nose pierced! Did I do it because I fear being normal? Possibly....I think I do a lot of things because I fear being what I would define as normal. I don't think normal is bad actually. Nose piercing is acutally more normal than it was say 2 maybe 3 years ago. I've been wanting it for probably that long cause I think it looks cool, and I'm glad I did it. One thing I've noticed since turning 40, I feel more adult like. Like I wasn't before and now that I'm no longer in my 30's now I'm a grown up. Which means.....I DO WHAT I WANT! Ha Ha....thanks Kristi, since hearing those words my life has never been the same. Feel free to use that cause it works. Someone asks you some crazy question in regards to something you've done....such as nose piercing. And they say "why?" and you say....."I'm a grown ass women, I DO WHAT I WANT!...." They'll respect anything you say after that I promise.

Something else I've noticed since turning 40, I feel wiser. Not that I'm all knowing, and know everything, I just feel more confident in what I do know. I better take advantage of that since I guess after 60 you lose all that knowledge and gotta relearn it or something.

Mulch Sales

2009-03-13T01:25:00.002-04:00

Need Mulch?

This Scout is selling it.....

Either leave a comment here that you'd like info or e-mail me at Yoda0419@gmail.com and I will get the info to you. Troop 969 thanks you for your support!

Tiny Baby Jesus

2009-02-25T01:19:00.001-05:00

In honor of starting Reset this week. They played this clip at church this sunday so I had to share it here on my blog because I'm pretty sure it's in my top 10 of funniest clips of all time!

Pinewood Derby 09

2009-02-19T13:14:00.002-05:00

Pinewood Derby 09
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419

I was attempting to post this to the packs blog and somehow it ended up here like 4 times. Plus I wanted it to be bigger, dang. I think if you click on the mosaic it will take you to flickr, which then you will get to see all t he picture in their original form.

Girlfriend

2009-02-13T21:45:00.002-05:00

I am a guest blogger over at my friend Michelle's Blog today. She is celebrating life for the whole month of February. So she gave me a word...and the word is GIRLFRIEND. Which has always been a bizzarre word to me. I can remember as a teenager my mother referring to her friends as her girlfriends, which I thought was rather wierd, so I've never liked the word and I rarely would use it. Even when I became a girlfriend, I would never refer to myself as a girlfriend, I was "his squeeze" and he was "my squeeze".......ha, now writing it down or saying it outloud, that's kind of funny. I really wanted to write something more meaningful for Michelles blog, but what you see above is what I came up with on my own.....lame I know so thank God for the author below in the video, her elegant essay about "Girlfriends" is far more meaningful than what I could ever write when referring to my girlfriends. I mean every word of what she's about to say! I could say the same thing about my friends, but she puts the words so much better than I.

Much love to all my peeps......(see I still can't use the word girlfriend)
My milestone birthday is coming up, in March I will be 40 prepare to celebrate the whole month!

I am that Mom!

2009-02-09T22:12:00.003-05:00

Being the mother of a child with special needs is rarely easy. Rewarding beyond anything you can imagine, but never easy. There have been times I've felt very alone, and as though no one could possibly relate to how I feel. Perry was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago with a language based learning disability. Dislexia falls in this catagory, but he doesn't have that. Some would just like to say he's autistic, but he's not that either. People like labels they understand, unfortunately when it comes to a kid with a learning disability there may not always be a label most would understand. Every kid is different, and kids with special needs they are all different.

This movie is the closest thing to explaining how Perry is that I could ever come close to. It's all about finding that one person, in this case it's a teacher. Who gets it! Who knows that all kids are different and a kid with special needs doesn't learn like every other kid. Oh if teachers could just tailor the curriculum to fit each individual, the world would be a better place. It's safe to say this movie is probably my most favorite movie ever! Click the poster above it'll take you to the website.

50 Odd things About You.....

2009-01-24T21:21:00.003-05:00

Swiped this from Monica on Facebook, you can do it there too...just thought I'd blog it, have fun!
50 ODD Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you!
1) Favorite hobby? Rubber Stamping, collecting rubber stamps, paper art, scrapbooking, camping...none of which I ever get to do!
2) Have you ever smoked heroin? You smoke it? Didn't know, so I guess I've never done it!
3) Do you own guns? I myself do not but theres one in my home with some crazy lock on it that if we needed to use it in a hurry we'd get killed while they waited for us to unlock it.
4) What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? I like a Watermelon or Cherry Slushy and The banana shake is super yummy.
5) Do you get nervous before doctors apts? Yes if I know a needle is involved.
6) What do you think of hot dogs? I think they are tasty when they are all beef.
7) Favorite Christmas song? Hippo Song and Silent Night by OTR
8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee or Water
9) Can you do push ups? Maybe one
10) Can you do a chin up? Maybe one
11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? small dangly earrings, and celtic everlasting friendship right
12) Do you like blue cheese? The kind at Buffalo Wings and Rings is the best
.13) Ever been in a car wreck?A couple minor fender benders.
14) Do you have ADD? It's very possible, but I'm not admitting it.
15) What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Takes me a while to speak up for myself.
16) Middle name? Joelle
17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: The cake is done, I should be scrapping, I should be doing laundry.
19) Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Water, Sweet Tea, and Coffee
20) Current worry? That I am going to owe taxes barf
21) Current hate right now? Shady people, Unappreciative people, the weather
23) How did you bring in the New Year? at home with the fam.
24) Where would you like to be right now? Gonna copy Monica on one of these Garbage Dumps in Mexico City, At the beach or camping in the Mountains
25) Name three people who will complete this? Michelle, Layni cause she needs a reason to blog (slacker), Kathryn (you can do it on facebook as a note, it's how it started)
26) Do you own slippers? Yes they are bunny slippers.
27) What shirt are you wearing? Favorite Red Hoodie
28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Too slippery
29) Can you whistle? Yes, and even an entire song.
31) Would you be a pirate? Sure
32) What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever songs in my head
33) Favorite girl's name?Grace
34) Favorite boy's name? Perry
35) What's in your pocket? Lint
36) Last thing that made you laugh? I just made Brass Monkey my ringtone
37) Best bed sheets as a child? Linus and Snoopy, loved that pillowcase.
38) Worst injury you've ever had? a cut finger, I know lame but I've been fortunate, child birth is the worst pain I've ever been through.
39) Do you love where you live? It works, but wouldn't mind somewhere else.
41) Who is your loudest friend? Alex but I haven't seen her in years, so now it'd have to be Kristi....hee hee...
42) How many dogs do you have? 2
43) Does someone have a crush on you? My husband
45) What is your favorite book? Walking on Water- Reflection on faith and art by Madeleine L'Engle
46) What is your favorite candy? CHOCOLATE and gummy bears
47) Favorite Sports Team? Don't have one
48) What song do you want played at your funeral? You are my Hiding place
49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Chatting with Abby on Facebook
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today? Crap I'm running late.

Such Fond Memories...I hope to never forget!

2009-01-22T00:17:00.002-05:00

I wish I had pictures for this post. I do have pictures but my PC is so slow scanning them and uploading them would be a nightmare. So you'll just have to picture it. I went to a funeral today of a friend of the family. I never knew this women as an adult. I'd see her at church almost every sunday for years and years. She was a friend of the family from my old neighborhood, where I lived until I was 8 years old. The old neighborhood was Brampton Drive.....whenever I even think of he name of the street it stirs up amazing memories, of families that hung out together all the time. Where we kids played outside constantly. We played kickball in the street all the time and no one ever got ran over.

Memories of my friend Mark and I playing with ants in a puddle, yes that was in the street too. I remember playing in Marks backyard at the top of the hill and jumping the fence to Tony's house. Or Tony jumping the fence to go to Marks. I remember Tony once tricked me into trading a canadian dollar I had from my trip to Niagra Falls for a bag of pretzels. Ha....crazy stuff I remember. I remember never wanting to play in Tracy's back yard cause she had too much dog poop and I'd always step in it. I remember mom's screaming out the door when it was time to come home. One particular mom who had 8 kids she'd scream and yell trying to get them to come home and she'd always say cuss words. Those were the Kidd Kids, and they were bad, one of them once gave me 2 black eyes, I'm pretty sure my dad almost killed him....his name was Roy, their mom's name was Ruby, and my mom would always threaten that if I was bad, I'd have to go live with Ruby. Heck she had so many kids she probably wouldn't even notice.
It was a nice funeral today, Judy's daughter Amy called it a life celebration, quite fitting. It stirred up a time and a place from over 30 years ago, saddly it seems life can never be like that again, the world is such a different place. Pray for the Uhl family they lost their mom.....I'm sure she's looking down on them from heaven.

Christmas, Cancer, and the New Year

2008-12-28T23:33:00.007-05:00

Oh I have been a straight up blog slacker! I'd like to do as my cousin did and blame Facebook. I can also blame my mother who went into the emergency room a month ago with a kidney stone, and in a matter of days she was having emergency surgery to remove a tumor from her bladder....which was cancer. For the record no offense to anyone who might know him, her surgeon was an ASSclown!!! Who drops the C bomb on ones family like it's no big deal and then walks out of the room with no clarification??? Which is what he did right after the surgery that was suppose to take 2 hours and took 5 instead. So she was in the hospital way too long and then from there went to Shroder Manor a nursing home so she could continue her recovery. She came home on Christmas Eve.

Funny little thing happened when I went to pick my mom up. I was loading her stuff into my trunk. I went to step up on the curb, and didn't quite lift my foot enough, and tripped and fell directly on my face....face did not hit the pavement since ones instinct is to put out arms so the palms of my hands is what hit the pavement....but not for long cause I jumped right up. I was down long enough for the caroling Geri's to catch a glimps of me on the ground, which I'm sure was enjoyable. OUCH!

We had a good Christmas. My cousins house on Christmas Eve was wierd since this is the first christmas without Rachel. There was just an underlying sadness, but it was good to be with family. The Christmas cards were light this year, didn't get as many as I have in the past.

This past year I feel like I did a whole lot of stuff, and didn't really do anything as good as I could have. As in I was spreading myself way too thin. I hope in the coming year to find one thing to volunteer for and do it well. I really want to find something God wants me to do, and to give it my all.....cause lets be real I got some skills in something, and I'm sure God can use those skills somewhere. (something other than scouts....just a hint God....just saying I don't think that's it.....)

Cute kids from my christmas Party. Patiently waiting to open their presents.

Another more disasterous attempt at a Gingerbread House. The kids were tired, and I was tired and slap happy maybe a bit tipsy as well. A more serious attempt will be made next year!
Thank You Santa for arming my child, and my husband with Nerf ammo. No animal, stuffed or live is safe in our home.

And I present to you a Christmas Princess!

Fun with Sugar

2008-12-06T16:45:00.004-05:00

This here is photo's from our Gingerbread House making adventure. Not a whole lot of planning went into this. We are proud of our structure, however we have some stiff professional looking competition, and we are going to require sympathy votes to win. So all of you blog viewers need to go to IKEA starting Monday and vote for our house....the one with the blue roof....the one that may appear to be falling down. We win a pizza party for our department....CUSTOMER SERVICE....and the best part recognition. Thanks for all your votes we'll need it....oh and buy some furniture while you are there.

1. Builders, 2. Customer Service, 3. Delapidated structure, 4. Pretty sure we were drunk!, 5. People who didn't make the cut...and got eaten, 6. The couch looked good until we saw the competition!, 7. Adding more goo, 8. DSCN0060, 9. DSCN0059, 10. Seriously we were wasted, 11. Hee...., 12. Nice touch, 13. Store manager.., 14. We rock, 15. What we had to work with, 16. DSCN0044, 17. DSCN0045, 18. DSCN0047, 19. Stuff from Bistro...this ain't ours!, 20. Competition

First Video

2008-12-03T00:22:00.006-05:00

Ok got a new camera, and I recorded this video, of my precious angel!

It gets a little scary at the end so be prepared. I had to delete the funny funny IKEA video because I couldn't take it off of autoplay and it was annoying me.

What up People?

2008-11-25T22:42:00.003-05:00

One must use the turkey picture when we are just days away from the big day. I think this picture will now be a thanksgiving tradition. This year it got transformed into facebook flair. And now that it's on the blog it can be swiped and used all over the internet. Remember who the artist is when he is famous!

Geez, I've not posted in sometime now. I am sure a lot has happened since the last I posted. Obama was elected, not because I voted for him but because apparently a lot of people were closet Obama fans?? We'll see what the next 4 year brings. It's kind of cool that an African American is going to be president, show there is hope for the world and we can change. Now if he "F's" things up then I'll say I told ya so!!

Dude I am straight up reading books.....that's right I said BOOKS. I finished that one book I was reading about that dude from Korn, it wasn't too bad, but then I read The Shack.....holy crap, that book was the bomb. Life changing kind of book that everyone should read. And if you've been knowing me for sometime you know since the birth of my child I've not been much of a reader. I only recently started again for fear of Alzheimers and my brain turning to mush. Just before I was done with The Shack, I picked up Twilight, mainly because the world was talking about it and saw the amount of pages in that thing and knew it would end up on the shelf amongst all my other pretty books that are just for show. However I started it a week ago, and I'm already 250 pages in, no lie. There is something intriguing about high school kids and vampires??? I mean seriously everytime I pick it up it sucks me in. And I think geez where is this going surely at some point I'm going to lose interest and stop reading like I always do. So far that hasn't happened. We'll see if I make it through all 4 books. I need to go read now. Happy Thanksgiving!

Glad that's over.....

2008-11-05T22:37:00.002-05:00

Seriously this whole election process has been a total blast. I could do without the political commercials, and the political junkmail (seriously people save a tree!), oh and the political phone calls....geez, seriously 8 out of 10 messages, is that necessary??

Heres somethings I loved.....

The fun back and forth I had with some of my coworkers. The best of all was my african american friend. We were texting each other all night last night as the results were coming it. I love how she respected my position and where I was coming from and I respected her and through it all we still love each other. I love sharing in racial humor with people who know me well enough that I don't and never will see color. She had fun with me today, and gave me a picture of a Donkey that said Democrat, and told me to color it, I put a big red circle around it with a line through it.

Something else that was fun, trying to explain to Perry why I vote the way I did....AKA....brainwashing your child. I used the halloween candy analogy, which he totally got. Told him he'd have to share his candy with the kids, who didn't necessarily want to go trick or treating. To which he carried it over to his toys and his money. And he even went so far as to say "I don't mind sharing with my family and friends, or even people I know might need it, but I don't have enough stuff to share with everybody. " I am all about helping out the poor, but we all know that's not what ends up happening.

Something not so fun...the Abortion issue and the War. I'm not comfortable with what may go down with those two issues. Ultimately God is in control.
History was made and it was pretty cool to watch. Little bit mad at Oprah but whatever, I was mad at her before the election. It's just an election, don't be mad at me when ya'll are standing in line for medical care, just sayin.....love you all regardless of how you voted.

2 More Weeks....

2008-10-25T12:05:00.002-04:00

So I've not been involved in the politcal craziness other than attending the McCain/Palin Rally a month ago, and being informed enough to know where I stand. But no matter which side of the fence you are on this is a super cool time to be alive. It could just be my age and to be able to see where our country has come from and where we are right now.

Just the possibility that a women could have been president. And now the very real possibility that a women just might be vice President, is amazing. The fact that it wasn't too long ago that a women wasn't even allowed to vote. Not to mention the idea that an African American could be president, that also is way cool!! They too weren't even allowed to vote not too long ago. Say what you want about whomever, the whole process is interesting to watch. I just hope my candidate wins, I am doing some serious praying about that, I'm slightly scared of it going the other way, and if it does, I am sure God has a reason, and we'll all be ok.

Why I'm Voting Republican!

2008-10-21T22:15:00.002-04:00

It really doesn't take much more than this to impress me or get my vote.

No Seriously, I'm not playin' God is Awesome!!!

2008-10-20T20:23:00.003-04:00

Ok so I've been praying everyday for God to not allow anything to steal the joy I feel from my after prom buzz. So maybe if I just keep posting stuff about it until the next time we get to do it again, I will never ever lose that joy.

Seriously people, my junior prom, the one where I got fixed up with some hoodlum that was friends with my neighbors, and God forbid I go to prom without a date. Dude drank beer (gasp, I was a good christian girl for real people) in the car all the way there, didn't even offer me any.....such the gentleman! Yeah this prom, a bajillion times better. Then there was my senior prom, and the boy I had a major crush on, although we were just friends, asked me to prom, "if we both weren't attached at the time." Then he got attached to a girl he knew he'd get a booty call from.....cause it wasn't going to be me. Then another one of my guy friends said he'd go with me and we'd have a blast, yeah that boy decided he'd rather spend his money on golf clubs......I've never let him live that one down, I've even told his wife that one!!! He's not changed apparently. So I ended up going stag, and had a blast!!! But not near as much fun as I did at this Prom no way not even close!!!!

Get some tissues before you watch this one!

So big shout out to Harmony, for once again making me cry in church, lets be real folks I've been a hot mess since prom ended. Most importantly thanks to Harmony for sharing her dream and allowing us to be a part of making it a reality. That night was a night I will never forget!!!

Overwhelmed by God

2008-10-13T22:48:00.008-04:00

So I'm out here experiencing life. Just living like I always do. Being completely crazy busy, and pretty sure I can not fit another thing in my life. Being the wife of a scouter and a scouter myself to some degree leaves little room for much anything else.

Well then there was this little thing some peeps of mine started talking about. Pretty much non-stop they talked about this....Prom.....a to do they began planning at the beginning of the year, possibly before. Not just any prom, a Prom for special needs adults. This is when I heard the needle on the record scratch. Why? Well because I do have gifts in some areas of life. Special needs folks is not one of my gifts. Think of me as a horrible person if you will but it gets better I promise. Plain and simple I don't like unpredictable. I like to have some idea of what's going to happen next. With special needs folks you don't get that luxury. Ok whatever I got issues. Plus I had a cousin with special needs growing up and, he scared the crap out of me on more than one occasion, one of which was when he tried to drown me....so I got issues. So then the peeps, talk, and talk, and talk about prom. And when my church does things, they can't do anything small, so therefor they need help when they do things because it requires half a city of volunteers to pull things off. So I jump on board making it clear I should not be in direct contact with any special needs folks since I don't have those skills. So I help sort dress's, that was safe and fun. Oh and don't worry a thousand dress's at least were donated. Well then I had to be involved in the actual event. Again with the half a city needed to volunteer, so I sign up for Volunteer check in.....volunteers are not the ones with special needs, again I'm safe. Well then 800 special needs folks show'd up, expecting 600, I was officially out numbered....therefor was forced to interact with them.

This lady kept talking about her parents were looking down from heaven and smiling.
Soooooo......I'm here to tell you, not only did I survive, it's quite possible I'm a changed person. I don't see me volunteering at a group home anytime soon, however, I am certain the next time I see a special needs person at the grocery store or at church, I won't look away as if I don't see them in hopes that someone else will speak to them, I may say "Hi..." possibly even more then that, I will probably ask them how they are doing, what's their name......or what they did last night.

Having the good fortune to have attended the Vineyard for over 18 years I've experienced more than my fair share of HG moments. This by far was the absolute best. Everytime I even allow myself to think about how happy these people were just doing something most people get to experience in their lifetimes, often more than once, I cry. When Dave mentioned that we truly lived out this verse......"Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." ~Matthew 14:12-14 Seriously I fell the heck apart. That is it! We did exactly that, and it was the most amazing thing I've been involved in, thanks friends for nudging me to be involved. This was no luncheon my friends this was a full on Banquet!

Everyone walked the redcarpet, complete with paparrazzi.

I recruited some of my peeps to help out. Layni and Ashton went and helped folks pick out dress's the weekend before.

ETA: Go Here and fast forward to 53.28, and here how the prom went. You're sure to cry.

Cub Scout MADNESS

2008-10-01T01:02:00.002-04:00

Ok so they say....(not sure who they are, but I'm sure they're experts) that those people who are the busiest make the best most organized leaders. Hello Sarah Palin, future Vice President. Oh and Hello Jodi, future cub scout leader BURN OUT. Not sure who it was that told me it would be a good idea for me to not only be the committee chair (my fulltime volunteer job, in charge of doing all that other stuff no one else is doing), do school night (apparently part of the committee chairs job), Cub-O-Ree sign ups, (I said yes to that too???), oh and then throw in Peterloon sign ups....ok did I mention all of this stuff happens ALL AT THE SAME DAMN TIME. Thank goodness Cyndi's doing Spookeree sign ups. And if you see "they" you know those experts, let them know I get what they are saying, but I'd like to know if they have any advice or leads on how one goes about cloning themselves, them being experts and all that would be some helpful info!

Who Turned off The Lights???

2008-09-17T22:23:00.002-04:00

Mother Nature that's who! It's safe to say 48 hours is way too damn long to be without power. My hair can officially not be pretty without a blow dryer. Preferably I need a blow dryer and a flat iron but can make due with just the blow dryer. For those 48 hours I had neither. The good news is IKEA was kind enough to hook us up with official IKEA west chester hats a few weeks ago so I was able to hide away the fly away nonsense that is my hair if left to air dry.

So Sunday afternoon, Ron was out of town participating in Woodbadge, don't ask people you would not even begin to understand. Lets just say the man is in leadership heaven, and it's good he's found his niche in life. So while he's camping out with other woodbadgers (it's an actual name trust me on this one) P and I are enjoying lunch after church at Steak and Shake. It was slightly more windy than usual but nothing crazy yet. We had to Costco to purchase large quantities of frozen veggies, and our must have gallon and a half of organic milk. We inevitably ended up with other things that we had to have. We head to the car to fill the trunk with our buy in bulk goodness, as I step my foot into the parking lot, not only is it much more windy than usual it is pick you body up off the ground windy....what the heck is going on? Clearly it's the end of the world. Perry freaked the heck out by the wind that was trying to blow him away gets in the car with the quickness, as I am attempting to get the crap in the trunk, as I am putting the stuff int he truck closes on me....as in half my body was inside the truck....um....did anyone get this on tape? Kid completely oblivious to the fact that the person who gave him life has just been crushed by the trunk.....not to worry I got it off me, thank God I'm meatier than your average middle aged women. And proceeded with the task at hand, getting the crap in the trunk and me in the car before I lost my lovely life. I get in only to witness a girl (teenager with mother) who had a plastic bag of something possibly bell peppers, she was holding tight to the plastic bag and within seconds whatever was in it blew directly out of the bag and vanished...gone...she still had the bag, whatever was in it was now gone!

We had no trouble getting home but when we got there, it was a sea of distruction. I had to clear the driveway of ginormous tree limbs to get in the driveway. And when we got inside there was no power.....keep in mind I have a trunk full of frozen bulk happiness. We suffered through with no power for 24 hours heading into day 2 we took our food to moms who still had power. We didn't lose much. She cooked anything that appeared to be thawed, so it was all good and we have a ton of leftovers for our lunches the next few days. The goodness is that during BLACKOUT CINCINNATI 2008, IKEA remained open even though we were on partial power provided by a generator. So even if you couldn't watch TV at your home you could go to IKEA and buy a sofa. And they made some pretty decent sales with no power. And I got a lot of work done since I was hidden away at a different desk since my computer wasn't working and no one could find me. Woohoo to now power it was fun, but I'm glad to be back to business as usual.

I SAID CRAZY!

2008-09-12T07:32:00.002-04:00

The previous blog, that was only a glimpse of things to come. Dooce, always says not to talk about work on your blog, however it's completely unavoidable since PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!

Raise your hand if you know where I work.....ok most....
Raise your hand if you know YOU GOTTA BUILD THAT SHIT.....yep all of you.
Someone neglected to tell the women who ended up on my phone on Tuesday evening. Somehow, no offense people, she thought because she was in a wheel chair her furniture once she set it up for home delivery, those flatpacked boxes would arrive at her home, as built pieces of furniture. WHAT? As in she was holding the delivery guy hostage at her house because he brought her boxes of flatpacked furniture as she requested. As in dude was unable to leave because she was yelling at him and me (I was on the phone).

Couple helpful tips. If you require a wheel chair, I'd suggest not coming to my place of employment unless you are going in to buy a skillet and then leave. Or if you have a willing servant to push you around the entire time. Don't come if you think that, the couch you see in the showroom will arrive at your home looking just like that, cause it doesn't. You gotta put that shit together. As in put the legs on, and put the cover on. It's called, You do a little, we do a little and together we save alot. If you want assembled furniture to arrive at your house, go to value city and be in debt for the rest of your life. PSA......ends here....don't make me bring it up again!

My life is Crazy

2008-09-06T23:30:00.002-04:00

Plain and simple. It's the beginning of the school year. IKEA is coming out of the tail end of their busy season, my first to experience this and seriously people it was CRAZY. I was all over the place for the nonsense, but it was a good organized (somewhat) crazy. Our job has suffered since we were helping with the madness we couldn't address the madness that was going on behind the scenes, as in crazy angry people ringing our phones off the hook and we weren't there because we were dealing with in your face kind of craziness. So now we are dealing with the aftermath of lunatics who've been waiting for hardware for 2 weeks, it's all good people we'll get you your screws! So since I am unable to articulate an intelligent sentence and I am gearing up to recruit some Cub Scouts (go me)hopefully all of which will have super parents who are ready to carry a pack for 4 years, cause this white girls flying the coup in February....don't even ask me to stay, I'm out!....ok so the articulate an intelligent sentence part, yeah that ain't happening. So what I have for you is this......
CAUSE PUNK ROCK RULES!

I have to give Ron credit for finding these boys but all of their songs are awesome!

Nobama!

2008-09-03T16:53:00.003-04:00

Thanks to my friend Ginger for finding this. It's nice to have all the nonsense accumulated into one video. I hate politics, hate it. I hate having to formulate an educated response as to why I vote. I'd just assume to get on with the business of living, and not think about it. But alas one has to make a decision.

Well it's perfectly clear. Ok Ok Ok....promise not another word on politics until after the first of the year promise.

MAMA MIA....

2008-08-30T12:53:00.003-04:00

Saw Mama Mia with Cyndi last night. What a fabulous movie! Who knew what an impact ABBA music has made on my life. I could remember hearing these songs as a kid growing up, and often who would be singing them sometimes it was my babysitter, kinda fun. It was such a great movie. Except Colin Ferth being gay, wierd, wasn't necessary but whatever, his character was still great. All the characters were wonderful and the singing was great!

I might need to download the soundtrack when Ron's not looking!

My Baby's in 5th Grade

2008-08-28T17:27:00.001-04:00

This handsome boy is a big time 5th Grader. I am happy to report I did not cry. I think I did enough crying last year to hold me a few years. Refer to the archives if you've forgotten. We survived, and he was blessed with awesome teachers. He's also been blessed with a great teacher this year. I really have a good feeling about this year. I hooked him up with special transportation so he's not riding the bus with Junior High kids. I remember Junior High and he's too little for that nonsense. No short bus jokes....cause it definately was the short bus, which gave me a giggle as I walked back home. I was extremely happy when I saw the 6th grader walk to their bus stop to take the regular bus, um the girls had boobies.....ewwww....yeah stay away from my baby. They didn't even say "hi" to Perry so whatever, he's got his own ride!

Cardboard Testimony

2008-08-26T01:32:00.001-04:00

What would your cardboard testimony be?

Holy Crap it's 2am!!!

2008-08-25T02:01:00.006-04:00

Why on earth am I still up and it's 2am? Well I'll tell ya, my child is in my bed and he now weighs 67 lbs. He was so much easier when he weighed only 52 lbs oh say 3 months ago. So I got sucked into the Facebook ebis, "oh look there friends with so and so, wonder what they're up to?" And then it spirals out of control.

Ok so Cub Scouts has officially started, someone remind me on a daily basis that it's for the kid, it's for the kid, it's for the kid. Right thanks for that. School is creeping up on us with Open house on Tuesday. Then officially starting on thursday, with an earlier start time........I HATE MORNINGS..........Art Class starts in a few weeks. Good news we're skipping basketball this year. Maybe we'll try tennis?? That's a one on one sport with no buzzer unless he goes pro, which by that time he could get over his buzzer issues. We'll see do 11 year olds play tennis?

Have I mentioned that so far Perry's been blessed with teachers who care enough to keep in touch and email me and tell me to keep in touch and let them know how Perry's doing......Future teachers have a lot to live up to. No pressure.
Ok I'll go to bed now.....after moving the large child in my bed, UGH!!!!

Oh I forgot to mention, POISON IVY IS STRAIGHT FROM HELL......

I have spent most of my 39 years running around in the woods. I was a girl scout. I am now what one would call a Scouter (cub scout volunteer) I have never in my life caught poison ivy, every. I know I've been in contact with in on more than one occasion, and never caught it. We camped last weekend, and the precious children we had with us Ben and Perry decided that burning poison ivy would be fun, dragging branches infested with poison ivy would also be fun, we all know what it looks like 3 leaves red stem, hello we're cub scouts. Although we were on a leasurely camping trip which apparently cub scouts rules do not apply one should throw caution to the wind, act crazy and not inspect what your children are throwing on the fire. Or what you yourself are breaking up and throwing on the fire Ben: "hey Jodi why is the inside of this branch red?" Knowledgeable grown up reading book (ME): "I don't know, that's wierd...." Get's tossed in the fire.

Here is what Perry looked like on Sunday after the camping trip, some redness on the nose, eye was slightly puffy. That was it.

Here is what my homeboy looked like the next day. (this was a week ago) Yeah we called the doctor immediately. He prescibed some steroids that cleared it up pretty quickly, along with lotion, and benedryl to make it stop itching.

Oh but wait it get's better. I was covered in what I thought was bug bites we all were. Then my bug bites began to multiply, and look wierd....bonus the mama has the poison as well. So investigated on Webmd. Poison Ivy may appear to be spreading, it does not spread off of it's own rash. You only can get it from direct contact with the plant oils. So if someone touches the plant then touches you soon there after. Or if you clothing touches it and the oils are on the clothes you can catch it that way. You can not catch it from the rash itself. (so quit looking at me like I got the plague.) I don't have it near as bad as Perry or Ben (his is all over his stomach....) I have a spot on my arm, some on my neck, and a few small spots on my other arm. So the bad news is it can take up to 15 days to show up???? WHAAAAA...it's only been a week people. Good news is they can't call me to cover Smaland, parents dropping their kids off for free childcare, don't believe you when you say it can't be caught from the rash itself, so it's best to stay away!

MIA sorry....

2008-08-21T20:53:00.007-04:00

Ok I am sure in the history of this blog, August hits and all hell breaks loose. On top of the madness that is August, I now have a job that is busier in August than a Christmas time. True story. The new Catalogue....."drops".....in August, and all the sudden folks are like.....IKEA, a fun place to take 1000 of your friends and shop all on the same day. So not only is it crazy busy, at random times, like at 3pm on a Tuesday or something, but theres a whole lot of crap wrong with stuff people buy, I am sure it's not anything unusual considering the volumes of crap they are selling our case load isn't that outrageous it's just folks in my department are way too accessable and highly trained in all areas so we are pulled to do anything and everything in all areas of the store. Therefor we end up not tending to angry customers with busted up furniture which makes them more angry and that's when it's so so so much more fun for everyone involved.

Oh, but wait theres more....school starts in a week, so wheres the dang bus card thing? I requested special transportation so P doesn't have to ride the bus with thugs that are 3 times his size. And he's not on a bus that makes several stops at other schools before it arrives where he's suppose to get off. I can just see him in that instance ending up at the high school or something........ Hopefully they don't mess that up.....Oh but wait theres more. Cub Scouts...oh cub scouts gotta love some cub scouts, crazy non-volunteering cub scouts.....God bless the folks who do volunteer, but good heavens we are tired and burned out and need some folks to help out so if that's you, help a sister out would ya! So with all that going down at once how about we not think about it and just renew out love for Jars of Clay, shall we?

Discover Jars of Clay!

Yes before there was Switchfoot love there was Jars of Clay love. Sorry to say, I just might like Jars of Clay more, they have a sweeter more worshipful sound. However, Switchfoot is definately hotter.....and those boys know how to rock out at a concert.

Ok ok, calm down people I'll represent for both. Geez, how's Deezer not going to have switchfoot? Haters!

Colors that make me happy

2008-08-13T21:36:00.000-04:00

This is for Stacie.....

The rest will come later. It won't be anything overly exciting or inspirational but it makes me happy!

Best Day Ever.....

2008-08-09T20:40:00.004-04:00

If you have been reading my blog for some time now, you pretty much know that Stampaway is the highlight of my summer! Love it! I may never use the stamps I purchase, but the smell of rubber, and the possibilities it all brings, just brings me great joy! I always come away inspired and ready to conquire a multitude of art project that all involve, ink, rubber, paint, embossing powder, and the possibility of catching something on fire. I always haul in my lute spread it out, sniff the new rubber that now needs to be mounted and catalogued, and then begin to make plans for my stuff! Heres to hoping that this year I actually do great things with my l lute and not find it in the same bag it came in just before stampaway next year.

You will see in the picture above my lute from this year. I didn't buy as much rubber as I usually do, as you can see the only random rubber pieces are on the left and then the sheet on the right....which are cute little christmas stick people called inklings.....oh I got big holiday plans for those little guys. In the center you will notice some chick tracts, this was a total impulse buy, I already have a collection of these from when I was in high school. I knew exactly where that collection was, but the fact that they were being sold at a rubber stamp convention in an assortment pack made me need to buy them, and in the event I had duplicates I could use them in some sort of altered artwork, possibly mail art. (yep I had them all....) These tracts now crack me up, they always have a "turn or burn" message, which I'm sure is what some folks need, but I think the majority of folks want to feel loved, and not be told they might burn in a firey pit called HELL! Oh.....sorry read one too many from my collection......Oh and yes that is a stripedy sock monkey purchased at Carmens Veranda, along with the plastic screaming Mini.....you squeeze her and she screams REALLY LOUDLY....I'm taking her to work when someone calls and is freaking out about their furniture that is likely made out of sawdust, cardboard and glue. Ok, Ok, Ok what is the recipe for BEST DAY EVER?

Awaken at aproximately 7am

Depart home alone with approximately 50 premade ATC's, a small amount of cash with the Visa back up.

Stop at Starbucks, Grande Cinamon Dolche please!

Recieve phone call from Julie, wondering if I was in line yet? Thank you technology...no need to wonder when I get there if Julie is here yet.

Find Julie...set down Latte.....begin trading.....trade half.....Connie arrives, I'm officially tired of ATC trading, why'd I make so many?

Finally we get in......we agree to head to the top floor first....good thing cause that's where all the good stuff was. We spent 3 hours on the top floor and nearly all of our money. Met up with Jennifer, Jana and crew....ooo'd and aaaah'd over the over abundance of Owl stamps....resisted the owls and went for some cute birdies instead.

After 3 hours on the top floor, and rubbing booties with way too many ladies with large butts, I wasn't sure I could do the bottom floor. Caught up with Stacie on our way downstairs...got all chatty....then headed to the bottom floor.

Ran through in record time....we were out of money and out of steam....and lets be real folks Connie's a nursing mother she was losing something else if you know what I mean!

Ran through the bottom floor in record time....again tired and hungry.

Julie went home to help the teenager get new jeans. Connie and I headed to Lu Lu's, and split a plate of noodles.....(heaven)....

I head home access the damage I did to my wallet, stayed well within my means.

Head to Kenwood Mall (why?). Didn't intend to buy anything just window shop.

Went to Dewey's for dinner.....MMMMMMMM.....favorite food round 2. Then came home.

What a fabulous day.

On a side note....I am not a big Reds fan, at all so how do I end up going to the game twice within a few weeks for free?? Because it's the only way I'd go that's why.....

SUPER FAN!!!!!!

A Great Day for Blogging

2008-08-08T11:42:00.003-04:00

It is 8/8/08 so that's pretty stinkin cool. Heres why, 8 is my favorite number. Yep sure is, people go through their list of "what's you favorite?" When they get to number I say 8, always have. Not because the amount, not because of anything except for the way it looks. Apparently from what they say on the web, and you know anything that's on the web is FACT....it's a lucky number.

So I snagged this sweet picture from Flickr, cause no good blogpost is complete without a picture. Just so you know if I read you blog and you go for more than a paragraph without a picture, um you lost me. Just saying. I call that too wordy. Keepin it real here folks! Ok 2 days off Ashton's here and we're gonna go kick it. How you might ask? By going to my work, (yeah the place that is my day off from) and picking up heavenly cookies for my BFF and her roadtrip. Oh and a storage device for P's stuffed toys. Wish me luck, and send up some words that the folks who got their catalogue have not made their way to the land of plenty of inexpensive furniture.

Random Summer Fun 08

2008-08-04T23:47:00.005-04:00

We had a fun week. If it wasn't enough that I got to see a Beth Moore Simulcast this past weekend, which was so so good for my soul. We had a fun weekend on top of that. Perry hung out with Ben 3 days in a row which made them both quite happy. Perry had fun at Maddie's birthday party. He was 1 of 2 boys. Connor kind of stayed clear of the girls or was shooting them with a super soaker, Perry just hung out and played with them. Oh and his world became complete when WALL E arrived in the mail today at Geegaws. This was kept a secret from me by everyone so Perry could surprise me. I have to say WALL E is my favorite Pixar movie so far. Perry agrees.

Need for Speed

2008-07-27T20:40:00.002-04:00

So we purchased an external hard drive almost a month ago. Ron's fear of most things electronic leaves the task of moving stuff to it to me....."hello free-time".....So I've been dragging my feet since I know that moving 9 days worth of music and podcasts to the external hard-drive would in fact take hours out of my life. WHICH IT DID.....to ensure proper moving of all files and to not lose any of our precious music, a check and re-check had to be done. I am happy to report everyting itunes related is now on the external hard-drive, and I feel the need to lock it in a safe or something. I'll definately feel that way when I move the pictures there....yikes.

Glad to see everyone enjoyed the mail-art fun! I must repeat the banana was not real.....it was plastic people. Oh and don't worry if you responded to the previous mail art e-mail there will be something 3 dimensional landing in you mailbox soon, remember the free time....not a whole lot of that going around, besides Guitar Hero must get played!

Spent some time with my friend Connie the other night, we made some ATC's for Stampaway. She was in much need of some adult interaction, a 2 year old and a newborn, oh and the 6 year old, all girls....and the husband was out of town for a week....yikes she was quite desperate for some grown-up time. I'm happy to report she's in better spirits, and looking forward to Stampaway!!! As I am, love the smell of fresh cut rubber.....mmmmmm.....

Produce Mail???

2008-07-20T21:01:00.003-04:00

That's right people, that's exactly what happened I put a Banana directily in the mail after I decorated it with STOLEN banana stickers. I had some help in this quest. Ok so they weren't necessarily stolen. It doesn't say anywhere that you actually have to purchase banana's to get the stickers.....besides who needs 4 stickers on one bunch of banana's anyways??? No one, so whoever purchased banana's on the Friday or the Monday a few weeks ago, may have been shorted a few stickers. Do common folk even appreciate the funny stickers anyways? Mail artists like myself however....see them as a challenge and subsequently ART! Oh and the helpers.....my BFF Layni and Fam, she got about 12 stickers during her weekly visit to her grocery establishment, and I went to the same place a few days later and got about 12 more. Don't give away the place since I am in the process of investigating them for a Cub Scout fundraiser, they may find me untrustworthy if they knew I was part of the banana sticker bandits. Oh by the way it ain't real....it's one of my favorite things.....plastic food!!! Ok time to panic, Cub Scout planning meeting was this evening which means time to buy school supplies for Cincykids and my own kid and that also means SUMMERS ALMOST OVER and my tan has faded.......OH my heavens which means it's almost Christmas!!!!! I'm so over being a grown up!

WALL-E

2008-07-17T19:14:00.002-04:00

P and I saw this last week. I actually didn't fall asleep, which is a first for me since I always fall asleep during a movie at home and in the theater. It's really cute and has a great message for kids and grown ups.

WALL-E reminds me a lot of Perry. Who would be content in this world to build towers out of garbage and collect random objects. WALL-E is also afraid of unpredictable loud noises.

Why God?

2008-07-14T19:46:00.006-04:00

This falls under the catagory of, I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to question God, and hopefully he doesn't mind if I'm just mad at him right now. Katie Reider (see link on right) passed away this morning. See full story here. (warning read while listening to her beautiful voice and you are guarenteed to fall the heck apart.) Just as it just didn't seem fair that Rachel was taken so soon, it just doesn't seem fair that Katie was taken too soon. She had done way more living than Rachel and had 2 babies. Not to mention truly blessed by God with a beautiful voice, and extremely talented. Story from the local paper.

The very first time I heard Katie sing was at church. The Vineyard was recording it's very first worship CD, and she wrote and sang a song on it. It was also my recording debut (I was in the audience.....you can hear me I swear...) for some reason I think they called it the "grape jam" not sure why probably because VCC is wierd. I remember I e-mailed Dave, he was then associate pastor or worship leader then, and asked him who she was cause her voice was amazing and that song was the coolest I'd ever heard. He said she was a young girl who came a very talented family, and don't be surprised if she did great things some day. I think that may have been 1994 or 1995? A few years later she and her dad performed as part of a play at church, he acting as a crazy lounge singer (again my church is crazy) and she singing the most amazing version of silent night I had ever heard.

She made a name for herself locally in the 10 years that followed. She has a huge fan base in Cincinnati and Columbus, along with little pockets of people all over the US, and 4 albums can be found on Itunes. She had an amazing voice I own a lot of her songs, and was amazing to see live I saw her only twice in concert once with her brother Robbie. When she became sick I started following her story and linking others. I was certain she'd pull through, I'm sure she gave it all she had. It just stinks for the Reider family......Katie's mom Gaile just passed away almost a year ago. I will be praying for her family, as most of them have had an impact on my whole life. Her dad Rob I watched on the Bob Braun show with my dad when I was a kid. Katie and her beautiful music. Gaile speaking at womens events at church helped me grow spiritually. Robbie the best worship leader in the whole world......worship music helped me grow more than anything else. Amazing family....they don't deserve so much tragedy. Sorry God maybe I'll find a way not to be mad tomorrow but right now....still mad!

I've lost my Mind.....literally

2008-07-13T18:47:00.003-04:00

Ok so my weekends activities included going to dinner and my former boss's house in Indiana with a couple of my co-workers. It was lovely and we had a good time talking about how wack many of my co-workers are. Sorry folks if you actually read my blog, which I don't think you do, but the majority of you are straight crazy. So while at said grill-out/dinner to-do, I was telling a story about some of my previous employment. And couldn't remember when this employment was, as in COULD NOT REMEMBER YEAR, TIMEFRAME, NOTHING.....it was a little scary. So yesterday we went to another grill-out, this one was with the fam, at a previous co-workers house (Kings Island Peeps for those who know my life) and again we were doing a little bit of "remember when" and there was a lot of people whose names I couldn't remember......Decided on the way home....sweet Jesus, I must be dying. Seriously people, I have a mind like a steel trap, I remember faces, names, people I may have briefly ran into in 10th grade and spoke two words to. I'll see someone like that at the grocery store and I'll be like that's so and so and they used to do such and such.....for real.

So it's now time for what I'd like to call Operation Brain Stretch! AKA Sexton's Read! Perry's reading a chapter book about WALL-E, so far he's completed 3 pages...not bad for one day. Ron's reading some book about Zombie Wars....stimulating I'm sure. And I'm reading a book about......ready........HOW KORN FOUND JESUS.....that's right you heard me. It was either that or a book by Fannie Flagg, which I've read a few of her books back in the day. Ron wanted me to get a book he would read. He said he might read this one, so there ya go.

So as part of the Korn tribute I offer you a list of some of my favorite Korn tunes, for you listening enjoyment. Be patient with Shoots and Ladders cause it's got some wicked bagpipes at the beginning that are awesome....but then he kicks up midway through....by far my favorite!

SeeqPod - Playable Search
My brother will be so proud!
Oh and we must never forget.....

If you listen to none of the Korn tunes you must listen to that one, with Amy Lee freakin amazing!

Summer Fun....

2008-07-06T11:25:00.003-04:00

I never did say anything about Perry and Daddy's adventures at Summer Camp. Let me post one picture to entice you to return tomorrow cause I gotta take off to work!

Precious child. Sorry I wasn't there. Well maybe just sorry I wasn't there during the day for the fun, except for the part about climbing cardiac hill to go swimming, or the part about the food that is less than desirable. More about camp later!

Grouchy People.....GEEZ!

2008-07-05T01:08:00.002-04:00

Ok so heres the thing, the more challenging my job becomes the more I love it, don't know why but it's true. Management can be completely jacked up on many different levels, I can end up on register for 3 hours, but I still love the challenge of my work. Maybe it's because there was so much about Life insurance that was way way way too challenging and I didn't understand half the crap I did, now I have control over a lot of stuff, and understand completely 100% of what I do, strange how that can make a difference. And for the most part I can make the most unhappy customer happy and satified, doesn't take much. A few people are like oh this place is so jacked they'll be closed in a year......bahaha....NOT..I see the inner circle of this crazy nonsense you call IKEA. IKEA has brand recognition, people will travel for hours to shop at IKEA, and buy a muffin tin with the IKEA logo on it. You can piss off 100 people, but you have 200 more that don't care what it is if it says IKEA they will buy it and spend a lot of money to do so. So heres what I say to my grouchy co-workers.......SHUT UP.....already, I'm having fun!

I'm saying that now, but the changes that are coming in the next month, I may change my mind. Lets just say theres a good possibility some crazy personalities are about to colide and it may not be very pretty. I intend to hang in there but I suspect there a a good number of folks who will not hang in there. Stay tuned!

2008-06-30T23:36:00.002-04:00

Lets be real folks, in the infinite words of my homegirl Kristi, my life is straight busted. Or more importantly the admin. area of your beloved IKEA is busted! It's feeling the ripple effect of Leesa's departure, see blog below because apparently you people either forgot to pray or God needs her elsewhere. I'm so over that....just get shit figured out and leave me alone so I can make happy formerly pissed off customers! So on with bigger and happier things. Looking forward to the Beth Moore simulcast....go here and click on Beth Moore if you are interested. (then e-mail me and tell me you are going cause as of now I'm going by myself, no pressure) It's worth every penny, I've been before, as well have done 3 of her bible studies and in 2 days your life will be changed, she's amazing!

Beth Moore Live- Check that out for more details.

Up for a Challenge?

2008-06-23T21:53:00.001-04:00

Ok I have some three dimensional items I'd like to challenge the postal system with. Oh you better believe a little something will be showing up in Mrs. Moo Mail's mail box, but I got 3 others that need to get some art too. So heres the rules. To accept this challenge you have to:

1. Enjoy something funky showing up in your mailbox
2. Be willing to challenge the postal system yourself
3. Be able to take a picture of the item upon arrival and e-mail me a photo

Any takers? If so e-mail me your address. Yoda0419@gmail.com

Unleashed....

2008-06-22T21:54:00.006-04:00

Good Lord.....to say the Holy Spirit was unleashed at SOS would be the understatement of the Summer!!! This was my 3rd year serving on the prayer team.....ok need I remind you that my blog is all about being honest. Which could very well mean a little bit of a background story. I've been a Christian for 30 years, over these many I've seen a lot of stuff, and there are a lot of come to Jesus stories. I went to Ichthus many years as a teenager and they'd always do an altar call at least one of the nights. Then I went to Ichthus as a grown up, and was a youth leader.....Altar Call night came, and I was moved by the number of kids who went forward, until one of the kids in my group said...."most people just go forward for the free stuff....." DO WHAT? The thought had never occured to me, I was scarred. And now I've scarred many of you. I do believe in that moment I became suspicious of every rotten teenager I encountered, and decided teenagers were not my gift. So that was like 12 or 13 years ago.......I stayed away from teenagers for 10 years, I think I needed to mature a little and grow spiritually myself. 3 years ago I volunteered for the first time for SOS, I joined the prayer team for one night. I figured I don't really have to like teenagers to pray for them, if anything I can make a difference by praying for them. So I jumped in, and fought through my sinicalness, and did just fine. Not to mention had a blast and decided I'd go for every night the next year. So the next year I did one night of security and the rest prayer, slowly my fear of teenagers began to dimenish. Now this year, seems I've learned how to hear Gods voice, and how to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit better than I ever have before. Either that or the power of the Holy Spirit was super powerful this year....which it could be both. Seriously the HG shows up year after year.....this year....it was off the hook. Kids were praying for the gift of healing and immediately using it, I'm for real, we saw it happen. I was way more comfortable praying for folks this year and watching to see what was happening. I love that the Vineyard (Karin Maney-trains most everyone how to pray) teaches us that it's ok to ask while praying what they are feeling....or to share tentitively what we feel God is saying. It's so awesome to get and give feedback! Seriously I can't wait till next year, and if you have a teenager plan now. If you sign up in March you get a discount. Check out the Art and Faith blog link on the right. For a photographers perspective, and Stacie's first SOS. Oh and check out the Vineyard website for video of todays service which was an awesome recap of SOS great video footage. Just click on this weeks message.

In other news I got my wig busted. All the gay men at work love it so that means I must look fabulous (well only one gay man...but whatever)
Here's the before and after. Picture #1 is at the Mugrages 50th Anniversary party with Weezer who also has a fabulous new haircut. She is always making crazy faces for pictures....but I look good.....kind of....Picture #2 is my best attempt at putting your arm out and taking a self portrait after many hours working at IKEA. Excuse the blemish, and the multiple chins.....I am far more fabulous in person! Oh and picture #1 I am sporting a grown up frilly shirt....as in not a t-shirt which is what I usually wear but a non-t-shirt sort of shirt with ruffles and poofy sleeves....I know...I was looking like a girl everyone was shocked. It's not everyday folks are still together after 50 years, had to represent.
While we are on the subject of life and fabulous people....best transition really.....my fabulous boss Leesa is quitting IKEA....taking a job at Honda, I'm sure it's better....or not....how could it be IKEA is awesome. It's possibly management screwed up and didn't treat her right or something, I didn't ask for the details cause honestly I like not knowing. However if you are the praying type.....how about you pray they offer her loads of money to stay or something.....we have about 6 days to keep her there so get to praying people. She's the best boss I've ever had, and IKEA is stupid for letting her go. Everyone she's in charge of is pretty much super sad and frustrated she's leaving, she is definately NOT replaceable. There are some changes in life that are just no fun, and if we could make them not happen we'd go to great length......so pray people!

Did you say Dancing Cows?

2008-06-18T01:00:00.004-04:00

That's right people...it's time for SOS. Oh and this year 820 smelly teenagers, add in 1500 volunteers, and you got yourself some straight up nasty bathrooms. God bless the VCC custodial staff, cause teenagers are gross! Gross however they live in this F'd up world so God definately needs to pour out some blessings on them. But before he did that Family Force 5 show'd up and got things started in a super loud and off the hook way......had never heard them, had heard of them cause I know a few teenagers so their name got thrown around in a few conversations. They rolled up on stage and I was like HOLD UP, these boys got some talent. Loud talent.....whole lot of screaming....but talented, and I loved it, made me shake my booty! Oh and they had some dancing cows! Which was amazing and went right along with the cow theme Stacie started for the summer!

That's just a sampling, I stuck it out for an hour of that craziness....yeah I'll need that to be my next full album download!
Tonight the Holy Spirit show'd up in a huge way and I was blessed and blown away at my lack of fear to pray for folks and just allow the HG to speak through me, I prayed for a lot of kids tonight. Send up some words that God will continue to use me, and my peeps to love on some kids till Friday!

Tidbits of my Life.....

2008-06-12T13:08:00.006-04:00

So as expected IKEA cut hours. Shouldn't last long since the new catalogue comes out in late July I believe. So I'm going to enjoy the time off since it is summer and not complain. However, I am broke people so if you want me to do anything....which you should cause I ain't working so I can kick it with my peeps. Try and make sure it's free fun then you won't feel guilty for not paying my way. Just sayin!

Super important fact of the day. I SCORED 100% ON "HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT" ON GUITAR HERO. This is big news people....why you might asks? Because my homeslice Connie, who just had a baby the other day (place image here).....by the way...has been playing GH2 for longer than me, scores usually 98 or 99 on every song she plays has yet to get 100%. I am rarely if ever an over achiever...if anything I am usually an under achiever....not this time people it's on now!

Cute quote of the week: As said by my 11 year old to his Daddy while mommy was at work. "Daddy, I know why you love Mama so much.......because she's so beautiful!"

Ok I'm losing sunlite....I'll say something important tomorrow.

Moo Mail!

2008-06-08T23:24:00.002-04:00

About a month ago, Stacie gave a shout out to some peeps in regards to a mail art challenge. She collected address's for anyone who cared to partake in this activity. Stacie and I took a Mail Art class a few years ago where we sent and recieved all sorts of fun art via the mail. It was fun to recieve 3 dimensional art pieces from all over the world, some from England and Austrailia. So I took the challenge and prepared a flipflop, and threw it in the post.

Well she may have had to rack her brain to top that one, but oh my friends she did! I present to you what arrived in my mailbox Saturday Morning. That's right I think a plastic cow with decoupage fabric on it, lipstick, eyelashes and a NOSE RING, completely tops a flip flop! Now it's on.....I have something in mind but feel free to e-mail me any ideas you might have.

Kudo's to Stacie who was a big chicken last time to mail a wooden letter and put it in an envelope. Moomail came with no covering....just as is....it's all about pushing the postal system to it's limits one plastic object at a time!

Inducing Panic one bottle of water at a time.....

2008-06-04T21:49:00.005-04:00

So I was hangin out at my favorite scrappin website, seeing what folks are up to. One of my peeps sends a shout out about smart plastic. So now come the PSA via me.....Apparently according the Matt on the today show, his experts stated any plastic with a #7 on it is pretty much unsafe to use EVER???? Oh and super smart people who know this stuff created this useful document. So then I've been freaking the heck out because I get attached to things that make me happy. And this bottle makes me happy. It's pink (a dark pink) looks red in the picture. It has the life is good guy on it, and it has a cool pink spash guard so that I don't end up with a face full of water everytime I drink. I use it almost everyday for tea or water. So after I saw the segment and read the documents I went and ran to my faithful friend that happens to be a water bottle. Only to find it has the dreaded #7 on the bottom. Which Mr. Waterbottle expert stated you should never use anything with #7. That's just great, no wonder I can't remember shit, and have hormone issues (don't even ask people you don't want to go there) I'm poluting my body daily with poly-something-or-other. Then I found this document, and the panic was over. Oh and the people at Nalgene, have it plastered right on their home page. Apparently Matt stirred up quite the commotion! My question is this.....Who do we believe? We have to trust educated people cause we can't all be that dang smart to know what chemicals are where. And obviously Nalgene is going to dispute it since they want you to buy their bottles. How do I get involved in these things anyways. I need to isolate myself.....heading to the basement to play guitar hero and pretend none of this happened. The hormone issues must be from some other chemical I'm polluting my body with, I'll let you know when I find out what that is. Probably has something to do with toothpaste or laundry detergent.....

Sorry....so dang Busy...

2008-06-02T10:30:00.002-04:00

Oh my gosh, I'm busy. I'm busy with work, camping, birthday party, end of school, preparing everyone for summer camp. Just before summer camp is SOS which I am working at the whole week, and can't wait. I wish every teenager I knew would go to SOS, it's such a great experience for the kids, like no other. Ok off to work, promise to update more often, as time allows.

Jason Mraz

2008-05-21T23:48:00.004-04:00

Jason Mraz and Colbey Calet, should hook up, or maybe they have and I juSt don't know it. This the latest full album I'd like to buy. So if you owe me a gift...this here album on the itunes would be SWEET!

The one where Dave Ramsey gets thrown under the bus.....

2008-05-20T21:27:00.004-04:00

Sorry Dave. Not sure what happened after taking Financial Peace. We were good for many months, even paid off a student loan we were chiseling away at for over 10 years. Then we got a little extra cash flow from Mr. IRS, and all the sudden we lose our damn minds. Budgets are for smart people, apparently neither Ron or I are smart. I'm sure if you are a regular reader you've determined that considering my poor grammer and bad spelling. Ha! Not so smart, but a really quick wit! So for mothers day, after much pleading, and researching I talked the man into Guitar Hero III, because I was in a former life a Rocker chic.
I am quite good at easy songs so far, I tried moving on to Medium level, and when you add a 4th key all hell breaks lose! So I'll stick to 3 keys for a little while longer. Seriously though we either need a bigger TV or we need to put it up higher, because no one looks good with their chin to their chest playing guitar! So because of my guitar playing buzz, I unintentionally washed and dried my cellphone. Honestly am I the only one whose ever done this? I hear folks drop them in the toilet all the time.....ewwww.....but that's probably a quick wet...in out sort of thing (I hope). Apparently several gallons of water flushing through it and then a quick spin in the dryer for an hour isn't exactly the best thing for your cellphone. So headed to the phone store for a accessment of the damage...it was toast....sims card erased, and I lost all my peeps....NOOOOOO.... in this day and age, that's where everyone is, if they ain't there they don't exist. So if you are a peep of mine, and you've not sent me your digits and care to ever hear from me again. E-mail me your digits or you are lost forever. So I upgraded to a blackberry (hello Mr. IRS). Was a bit afraid to tell the man who I knew wouldn't be happy considering it was twice as much as I needed to spend, however theres a sweet rebate of $100 bones after 90 days. Predictably he was real mad...even hung up on me...yelled...was annoyed, but knew he'd lose eventually and began to research the phone I got.....SHOCK...it was a wise purchase. No one can resist cool and affordable technology, so the man had to have one for himself and scored one for an early fathers day gift. Oh and he had to get the better one, with a flash, and has video capabilities.....WHATEVER!

Go find this....

2008-05-16T01:35:00.002-04:00

So Ashton and I planted a letterbox for Pack 969. Someone has actually found it and logged in on the letterboxing website. Very cool. Now you people GO FIND IT!

Now for the Hard Stuff

2008-05-13T03:05:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow begins the 2 day grieving process. I've been coping fairly well, trying not to think about any of it. I created a very cool card to help with the coping process.

Gone too Soon!!!!!

2008-05-10T22:03:00.009-04:00

Warning this blog post could suck....royally....but newsflash life sucks royally sometimes. So I've dealt with some sucky funerals in my day. Grandparents are the closest death I've dealt with, and the childhood friend I lost to suicide that was the suckiest of all. But a family members child....this could potentially suck, and suck bad! My cousin (technically 2nd cousin) Rachel lost her life in a car accident last night, I can't continue to skirt around it sorry. My attempt to busy myself with a busy Saturday to try and control my grief has now come to a screeching hault and I am faced with the reality that a beautiful 15 year old girl is no longer with us.

So I am preparing myself for a fairly crappy week. I'm not sure how it could not be.

What I did to get my mind off things today?

We had a busy busy Saturday on tap. We went and participated in the Clean Sweep....cleaning up the Miami River banks. I had mentally prepared myself that this could potentially be yucky since often this river can be rather stinky, and where we were going was near the sewage treatment plant, that to me just sounds stinky. Good news no funk smell at all. It was actually a beautiful day. And bonus, they must have had a crew of volunteers yesterday because we didn't score that much trash. I mean a stove, a fridge, an old rusty washtub and some remains of a rusted out car, and a few tires were our big finds. Oh Oh Oh, the best of all was when one of our Tiger cubs emerged from the woods with a shopping cart basket. So stinkin cute. 10 year olds rarely want to cooperate when I'd like to get a cool photo of them in the storm sewer. Thought it'd be a cool shot of all of them peeking out of the concrete circle. However no one cared to listen to me. I am fairly certain they see me as Perry's annoying mom who is always taking pictures. Like here this is a cool photo Ron caught....and then theres one of the little mud mongers red gloved hand in the shot. Right if I had photo shop I could chop his hand off as if it was never there and I am sure some software on here could do that. However if they would just care about my desire to get a decent shot this would not happen. They are precious angels who have fun together....but um they are 10 and they are dirty and they smell bad. Today required 2 showers.....2 showers for a reluctent 10 year old is no fun for anyone. So in observance of the fact my weeks going to suck....I shall end the day by consuming a banquet dinner (the suckiest of all meals) at 11:15 at night because I did not have time to eat dinner tonight.

No stink smelly 10 year olds were required for this cool shot I got.

Please pray for my family as we head into a week of mourning. Pray for my cousin Monica as she grieves the loss of her baby. My dad's side of the family is a close knit bunch, and this kind of death is going to be hard on everyone. Hug you kids a whole lot tighter tonight, and consider waiting on letting them drive.

Video Share...

2008-05-07T00:05:00.000-04:00

OMG....this is dang funny! I love Natalie Portman!

What I'd call Perfection.....

2008-05-05T23:52:00.004-04:00

SWITCHFOOT LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and getting lost in the woods with my favorite teenager! Well it wasn't out intentions to get lost in the woods, or be frightened by the unsuspecting man who came up behind us.

We scared the poor man with our screams more than he scared us. It was so funny! It was not our intentions to leave the cellphone in the car. Our plan was to plant the letterbox and head back to the car. So there was no reason to bring the bottle of water with us, it was a short hike. Then the trail we had never traveled before beckoned us, seriously how long could it be. It said at the beginning of the trail, some kind of loop which usually means you end up back where you started. We missed the part that it was 1.5 miles, and we weren't completely sure it was a loop??? Because we are both ding bats (me a grown up one), and neither of us have a good sense of direction. Thank Goodness for the compass on my watch, except I didn't know what direction we should be heading in. Hee Hee....Needless to say 1 mile into it, we weren't sure we would ever see our car again, and then we spied the thorny tree near the letterbox we planted, we had indeed made a full circle. Woohoo.....next time we might want to take some water....maybe a snack. We plan to explore the part we missed next week, which means we'll be lost again!

Don't Ask....

2008-04-27T22:06:00.006-04:00

Because I have no idea why on earth I am blogging. Spent the weekend camping with the Cub Scouts. Volunteering is hard hard hard work. I am not the greatest volunteer, I'll admit that. But you can see why folks don't volunteer, you often feel under appreciated. I see folks who put themselves out there ALOT, and get burnt out and bitter. Told myself on Friday I wasn't going to do that, and that I wouldn't beat myself up if folks didn't like or appreciate what we had planned. Regardless, when you look at the pictures of those cute little 10 year olds (and under) and see how dirty they are and exhausted from playing so hard, all the hard work is worth it. The fact that my body hurts from running around in the woods and climbing a steep hill more than once to go in the creek..........I think that's worth it too. With that I think I might go pass out right about now.

But not until I share a few photo's from this weekend. All the boys in our den had these boots to run around in the creek with. Talk about dirty boy cuteness!

Joey brought his dogs out on Saturday! Talk about sweet and cute! And they were good for puppies too. I am now going to go pass out.

Overwhelmed

2008-04-22T00:43:00.003-04:00

I don't know if it's my worklife trickling over into my homelife (honestly that's never happened) or if it's just that time to be completely overwhelmed. Work is crazy busy. I think since it's now been open a month, the fact that a lot of people have no clue what the heck they are doing it catching up to my department and we are feeling the heat. For the most part people are super nice and super patient. But then there are the few who expect you to give them so much to compensate for our screw up. Or the people who really don't have a problem yet want to create a problem so they can get free stuff....come on as if we don't smell you coming! So that's work, and because of work and wierd retail nonsense hours, my house is a "hot mess"! And I've been slacking in my committee chair duties because I can't be at anything cause I am always working when the world is living their lives. So I found this song by David Crowder, and if I close my eyes and just listen, God makes me feel so much better. He knows my needs and rarely gives me more than I can handle. He does however enjoy stretching my limit a little bit more all the time.

I'm dumber Now.....

2008-04-19T03:18:00.002-04:00

Ok guilty pleasure. If you can even call it a pleasure. I'd like to refer to it as mindless TV viewing. I am happy to admit I didn't watch this seasons Rock of Love from the very beginning. Therefor not a whole lot of time was wasted on becoming dumber. It did not take many episodes though. I couldn't stop watching, because I had to see if he chose the dumbest bimbo I've ever seen on TV. Seems super mean and wrong. But holy crap 5 min. of watching her the nicest person would feel the same way. I will say if I ever am super sad because a hot rock star dumped me, I will say the same thing she said. "OMG...I want to totally roll up in a ball and eat a lot of ice cream...." BRILLIANT!
So will I waste time on watching the reunion show, and see one of last seasons girls beat up the bimbo that was booted this season. Man might be hard to pass up!

Mother Nature Wins....

2008-04-13T17:30:00.003-04:00

OK need I remind you that discussing the weather on ones blog is unacceptable and well....lame...except when you are super happy it's warm out, and then Ohio decides to have (as Joe at church so gracefully put it) a second winter?? You know what that's just mean! So we had hiking plans. And because I am hardcore if I have hiking plans and it snows we hike anyways cause what did I say.....I HAVE HIKING PLANS.....people know this about me. So it rained Friday night more soggy yuckiness, and our plans were for Saturday, hiking without the kid, to create clues for our letterboxing adventure in a few weeks for the Cub Scouts. So we unloaded the kid at Geegaws, and off we went, camelbacks for of ice water, notebook, GPS, and 3 layers of clothing. Seriously it was the nicest, most peaceful hike we've had pretty much ever. We weren't all super romantic and dorky because we were kidless, we walked at our own pace, taking in everything on a trail we'd never been on before. It was lovely. We even discovered an abandoned old cemetery in the middle of the woods. I inherited that from my mom, the fascination of old cemeteries full of dead strangers. It's fun to read the old gravestones. Speaking of beautiful strangers, I found more abandoned strangers at the Antique Mall. I wish I had loads of money so I could buy up all the old photos. It makes me so sad to find scrapbooks full of old photos being sold for money in antique stores. If that's where my scrapbooks end up, I will come back and haunt my family!
Ron and I aren't all that in to antiques. We like a few random items, but we aren't one to purchase furniture or decorate with antiques. We like to score lucky little things like an old Cub Scout handbook, or vintage Cartoon glass's. My friend Abby and her brothers collect cartoon glass's. I was told long ago I could play along with them but never really went hunting till yesterday when it was the first thing I saw when I walked in. I didn't want to jump right in and go with Looney Toons glass's which is mostly what they collect. Instead I went with "Camp Snoopy", sold at McDonalds in the 70's. They were $3 a glass and I scored 2. I was told by Abby part of the fun is to make sure you spend less than $10 a glass. Ok, game on!