1 Cars, 2 Mikey's and 4 Scooby Doo's later

We are in South Carolina. Can I tell you that driving with a teenager and a toddler SUCKS? I really don't care, I'm telling you anyways.

Let me point out a few things for you.

No matter how many times you let the toddler watch a movie on your laptop, it still isn't enough.

No matter how good you say your child is in the car....you're wrong! They have that inner know-all that it's not a short trip to the store. They know you are going to be in the car for hours on end and that there is a teenager driving that won't stop so you must pee in a bottle or move quick when he's getting gas, so the toddler is going to scream, bitch and moan until you make every little attempt to fool them into thinking you are letting them out of the car seat.

No matter how much you think your teenager isn't a lead foot....they are. Blue and white lights don't look good at any speed.

Nine hours and thirteen minutes on Google Maps means eight hours and fifteen minutes in teen time.

No matter how much you think you can pack in a car, you can't. You either run out of room, it's just out of arms reach or you just can't shove anything else into any corner of the car.

Did you know there are places in the car that you've never seen? There are and that is exactly where the binky goes when it's 2 hours past the toddlers bed time and he's refuses to sleep.

So I've made it through the first part of the torture only to have to turn around and do it again on Sunday.

I think I need more than one drink.

60 years seems like an eternity

December 4, 1948.

60 years ago. One girl snuck out of the house and married the man that she would move up and down the east coast with, have three children with, watch four grand kids come into the world, two great-grand kids, weddings, divorces and all the memories in between.

Did she ever think on that day, she would be here 60 years later celebrating with family and friends? Probably.

My grandmother. The one that would help my mother raise me. Watch me go through all the lovely pre-teen years and the headaches I caused her. She's full of life, love and you can always count of her to be there for you...no matter where you are.

I hate the fact that we are 700 miles away and she can't watch my kids grow up the way she watched me. I hate the fact that Parkinson's is effecting her ability to do the simplest things like sign a birthday card for her great-grandchildren. But that doesn't get her down. She's still active in her church, walks a mile or more in the mornings and is always willing to have the whole family invade her house on holidays.

And my grandfather.


How he would toture me with the endless jokes, stories about every bridge he built in West Virginia, hearing the same story over and over again but yet he was always willing to let me help in the garden, play ball with me or just let me sit on his lap.

He's still on the go every day. Still has a garden and now tortures my oldest with the endless stories. Something that I wouldn't trade for the world. He's got about as much energy as the youngest and I don't know where he gets it from.

60 years ago today, they eloped. Agaist both parents wishes they made the decision that they were going to spend the rest of their life together. Here we are celebrating what could of never been.

The card I made for the anniversary party

Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! I love you with all my heart!

So they really are the girls next door

One of my guilty pleasures shows that I watch is 'The Girls Next Door'. Why? I have no clue. I think it's just like a car wreck and you just have to watch.

Kendra...I hate her. Her laugh makes me want to reach through the screen and smack the ever loving shit out of her.

Bridgette...well, I can take or leave her. Although she does remind me of that whiny brat that would sit next to you in biology class.

Then there is the true girlfriend. Good ole' Holly. She is a little ditsy but for the most part, she's the only one that I can stand. She is was involved in the daily routine of the magazine, worked on photo editing, etc. So this shows she's at least got some type of head on her shoulders.

So last night was the season premiere or whatever. This was the 55th Playmate anniversary one. This is the one that did it all. Broke up Holly and Hef. Go figure. A 70-something with a 20-something. Yeah, that was to last forever.

Holy cow, I'm so sidetracking here. Anyways, I was watching the episode last night, the oldest goofin' off on Supra Forums, and there come the twins. The ones that kicked Holly to the curb. The ones that took Hef's heart.

The oldest turns to me and says "Oh yeah, those are the ones that we were hanging out with." WHA?!?! Hold up! You were doing what?!

"Yeah, they always used to hang out with us at suchandsuch's apt. Kalee (his girlfriend) sent me a text right after they went out to CA and told me who they were." My response to that...."Umm wha?!"

So there I sat, astonished, amazed and thinking 'wow, their parents must be so proud.' Now I started to rethink who my kid hangs out with. He tried to reassure me that they were just hanging out but went on to tell me that one of his good friends had a "fling" with one of them. Which one? Does it matter? They are now spreading their va-jay-jays all over the pages of a pinup magazine.

And the best part of it all....they are 18. So much better than the 20-something.

Yeah, their parents must be proud.

Will they read it? Doubt it.

Letters to my children. Actually not really letters, just a friendly reminder....check list if you will.

To my oldest:

1. You are seventeen...remember that. (Boy, it should really end at that but trust me, there is more.)
2. You are still living under my roof. Really. Look up. See that....it's the ceiling, that right now your grandparents are helping me I pay for.
3. Eating is for the dining room, not your bedroom. I refuse to use elbow grease to scrap the 3 week old cheese off the plate that you have left on top of your speaker.
4. No clean boxers? Damn. See that big box in the garage? You know, the one that spins and makes that funny noise? Yeah, that one. Use it. It's really easy. It even has the directions on the inside of the lid. See?
   
   
5. You can really only stuff so much in the garbage can. Really. I've tried thousands of times but it only holds so much.
6. You put it down, so you should know where it's at. What is "it"? Anything. Your wallet, glasses, shoes, socks...see? Anything
7. This probably won't be the last but guess what? Your seventeen. One - seven. 17. I'm 36. Thirty - six. Three...six. See the difference there? Learn it. Live it and when you're 36 you can do as you want.

Now to the little one. His letter is a little shorter but give him time and it'll get longer.

1. This week is Thanksgiving sweetie. That means the alarm doesn't go off. Means that we don't have to get up before the sun rises. Okay? Thank you so much.
2. I love the fact that you know the "Clean Up" song but can we put it to use? Singing it while mommy cleans up your blocks that you have practiced your pitching arm with, is not cleaning up.
3. When mommy says we need to get ready, this doesn't mean running around the house chasing the dogs or seeing if mommy can catch you. It means sitting down so I can put on your shoes. Oh and a word of advise. If you're going to run from me, don't run into a corner. It's really not to your advantage.
4. And for right now, this will be the last. Your 2 y/o attitude SUCKS! I'm over it.

I love you both boys with all my heart but mommy is really considering seeing if I can trade you in.

Wordless Wednesday

I will apologize right now, but this edition of Wordless Wednesday will have words.

I brought you home not knowing that you would change our lives. We weren't supposed to have animals, only stuffed ones as Dad put it. You changed our hearts. You proved to us that you were made for our family. The perfect dog? There is one and Bullet was it.

You showed Dad that you were going to be the best dog a family can have. Getting the paper for him every morning when we never even taught you how to do it, all you asked for was an ice cube for your treat. Sunday morning walks with Dad but you knew if he didn't come out of the bedroom with his hat and tennis shoes on, that he had to work instead.

You let Matt crawl all over you. You were his first dog and left such an impression that will last a lifetime. You left us so quick, and we didn't have a chance to say good-bye. You were supposed to come home that Tuesday. You weren't supposed to be gone forever.

You were and will always be the best dog our family could of ever asked for. You brought so much joy to our family in the 9 years you were with us. We miss you now and forever.

Bullet ~ September 17, 2001

For actual Wordless Wednesday's...head >here< or you can head over to >5 Minutes for Mom< for more. Take your pick!

I'd rather be a 40 y/o virgin

I've always done my eyebrows myself. Every once in a while I'd have the girls that did my nails do them, ya' know...just to shape 'em up but since I don't have a job, that is out of the question.

Ventured to the mall on Saturday night. I was headed out for a night of drunkenness so I had to shape up. We walk in and there is a new place in the mall, Brows Plus. Ya, really? I look up and it's only $10 to get them done. Mom said she'd pay so how could I pass that up? No money out of my pocket.

As we stand there waiting for the lady in front of me, mom noticed a little tv showing a video. We start watching. They aren't waxing...they are threading. Umm okay I guess I'll give it a shot.

Here's where the 40 y/o virgin comes in to play.


I think at that part of the movie, Steve Carell was screaming obscenities? That would be me. Image being plucked 4000 times. Over.and.over.and.over again. I am here to tell you, IT SUCKED! I would of rather had a full body waxing then to go through that again.

On the upside of it all, I did walk away with some killer eyebrows, no red marks that lasted for days, and oh, had an awesome time out Saturday night :)

Just in case you don't believe me on the pain, here's a video. And this girl is lying...it HURTS!

Haiku Friday: Septemeber 12, 2008

Haiku Friday - Theme: It's been a year

Wow, a year so far
For ku'ers around the world
Let's go for one more

A year already?
What have you done in a year?
Memories to last

Time flies to quickly
Don't forget the simple things
Live life for the best

Another year gone
One eighteen, another two
Both babies growing

To play along with Haiku Friday, do this:

1. Write your own Haiku, either follow the theme or break out your own. What's a Haiku? Well click >here< and Wiki will tell you.

2. Leave a comment with your name and the link to your Haiku post.

3. Grab the button at the top. Display it proud.


New holiday layouts over at >Tree Frog Customs< - Stationary for Every Occasion

Don't have anything? Work with what ya' got

We moved into this house a little over 3 weeks ago. For some reason, I'm notorious at making sure the outside of my house is "cool" looking. Just don't come inside ;) With no job (shameless plug right here), you can only work with what you have, right?

Thank heavens with this house, I had a fairly good foundation to work with. We relocated the pond that we had at the previous house. Found a perfect spot for it and there was a "slab" of patio stones currently here.

When we moved, it was sort of a "What are we going to do with that?" See below. We kind of threw everything on top of it until we got moved in and for the most part, settled. After accessing the situation, all I could think of is that we were going to have to remove all the stones, reset them so we had a more even patio.

After dropping off Little Man at daycare yesterday, a few minutes of Plurking, a few resumes sent out, I knew it was time to tackle this project. Perfect day, not too hot, wind blowing thanks to Ike and motivation (the most important part).

After really looking at it, I realized I didn't need to tear up the whole thing, only a few blocks needed to be pulled up, ground leveled, and I was good to go. About 15-20 blocks later, moving the fire pit, planting Plumeras, relocating the grill....I achieved it! Done.

Funny how things look when you just clean them up. No money was spent, just a little sweat equity. I love the final outcome. I might spend about $6 to get some perennials to plant but other than that, I think I'm very happy with how everything turned out.

Can't wait for the Little Man's birthday in 5 weeks so I can show off my back yard :)

Haiku Friday

Haiku Friday: Not sure if there's a theme or not

Mind is blocked from 'kus
Can't think of what to haiku
Mind at a blank loss

Do know it's Friday
It was a short week for all
Still have lots to do

Would love to go out
Lets see how I feel later
Allergies suck big

Guess this is the last
Can't think of much more
Vote at Top Momma

Wanna play? Follow along.
1. Write your own Haiku, either at random or follow the theme. Don't know what a Haiku is? Click here to find out.

2. Leave a comment with a link to your Haiku. Not to your general blog.

3. Grab the button above to display on your blog or in your side bar.

Simple as that. Happy ku'ing!

Coinkidink or a sign?

My father had a good friend, Victor, that was a gem to our family. He was funny, light hearted and probably the most stubborn man you would ever meet all at the same time. On August 31, 2001, he passed. Something that our family never expected. They suspected he had a massive heart attack while taking his Sunday morning nap and never woke up. My father found him the next day, Labor Day.
While cleaning out his apartment, he had this clock that I loved. I've had it since he passed and it's always been Victor's Clock.

When we moved recently, we found the perfect spot on the entertainment center where it is the center of attention. The clock has never kept time. It would wind but would loose time and stop within 12 hours. Never thought about getting it fixed due to the fact that the "dinging" drove me crazy.

On Sunday, mom came over to help with some things. Little One had found the key so I thought "hey, let's see if it winds." So I did. Here I sit 4 days later, the clock still going. Still ticking. No ding, but it's still keeping time.

I'm really not sure how to think of all this. 7 year luck? Is it Victor telling me that he likes where I put the clock? I don't know. But I do know that Sunday was the 7 year anniversary of Victor's death.

Now that makes me think.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

To join in more Wordless Wednesday fun or to see more participants, click here

Top Momma

I DID IT ~ I DID IT!!

I'm finally on Top Momma! Can you believe it? I can't. I'm so excited, can you see me jumping? So now you need to head over to Top Momma and vote for me!

What are you waiting for....NOW!

Haiku Friday

Haiku Friday: Theme - School Time

It's finally here
Last year for the memories
June brings diploma

You've made many friends
Many memories to share
Only ten months left

Can you believe it
You've made it this far along
It's almost over

Ladies as of Wednesday, I am officially the mother of a senior. I can't believe that the time has come. Where the hell has it gone? Seems like he just started pre-school. Congratulation oldest...you've come a long way!

To play along with Haiku Friday, click here and follow these simple rules :)

1. Write your own Haiku. You can do one or a few. Stick to the theme, or make Haiku what's on your mind. What's a Haiku? Click here to find out.

2. Leave a comment below with your URL to your Haiku. Not to your general blog (unless it's the last post). Need help with this? Contact me or Christina.

3. Pick up the Haiku button to display by clicking the button at the top.

Remember: Don't post your link unless you've Haiku'd.

Happy Friday All :)

Thank you again Mother Nature

I would just like to thank Mother Nature again for screwing up every thing that today was to offer.

You see, we have a little storm out there, Tropical Storm/Hurricane Fay. Maybe you've read about it? Maybe you've seen it on the news. Was supposed to take the same path as our lovely Charlie did back in '04. And unless you were living under a rock, you know the damage that Charlie did.

So here we are on Sunday, waiting in anticipation to see what this storm is going to do once it passes Cuba. School was set to start today. Once again, Home Depot was the most popular place in the county and all I watched was the weather channel.

Monday comes. EOC plans a meeting at 1pm to determine whether or not the munchkins would start school. No way, they decided. To dangerous.

Whatever! Here I sit on Tuesday morning, the oldest home from school, not a drop of rain in the sky, maybe a few clouds. The Tampa Bay area is to get nothing. That's right...NOTHING! I called this yesterday. I called that we wouldn't get anything. I need to change my profession...really.

So thank you again Mother Nature for making the Floridians scramble like it's midnight on Christmas Eve.

Sarcastic Saturday Huh?

So my wonderful friend Christina, over at Mad Liberal Mommy decided that on Saturday's we were going to start his whole "tag~you're it" on our blogs. Saturday's being the given day and sarcasim at it's finest. I have a really hard time with sarcasm, I do but I'll give it a shot anyways.

This week I've been car shopping. Something that I'd rather do besides car shop? Poke my eyes out with ice pics. Really.

Every plaid~clad salesman within a 100 mile range knows that I have the littlest amount of money to buy a car with and they are going to try and suck every red cent out of me. See it all started when this lady from NJ decided to slam on her brakes in a millisecond. Did you know that 8000lb Buicks don't stop on a dime? I'm here to tell you they don't.

So I'm off to car shop, for a third day in a row. Did I mention that I have to move in the process of all this? Yeah, great fun. Ice pics please.

Next week's tag...Shirley with her Army of Five.

Haiku Friday - On Staurday

Confused? You should be. I'm lazy, I forgot. So here you go...Haiku Friday: Saturday Edition

Car shopping blows big chunks
Nothing I see seems to fit
The small pocketbook

The Buick lasted
I sent it to car heaven
Long live the Buick

SUV or car?
Which one should it be for me
Really, should go green

This week has been miserable. I totaled the car on the 30th. I really didn't total it but State Farm seems to think so. I sit here with hardly anything in the bank for what they gave me but it just isn't enough to get something reliable. Car payment? No thank you but I think that's where it's headed. I haven't had a car payment in 3 years. Not really where I want all my money going but I guess I'll have to.

Happy Saturday All! Sorry I'm late but then again...I'll probably be late for my own funeral :)

To Haiku with others, click here

A walk down memory lane

As I sit here this morning going through the 100's of pictures on Photobucket and Flickr, I realized something. My oldest will be 18 in six months. Please pick me up off the floor. I'm still trying to figure out where all the time has gone. It seems like yesterday that he was starting kindergarten with a broken thumb, getting stitches in the chin for the fifth time or even getting his heart broken by the "first" girlfriend.

He's mama's boy. We've been through so much over the years together and he's never doubted me once. It's amazing how the bond of a mother and son is so strong.

At one point in my life he was shorter than me. Am I shrinking? Because I know he's not growing up...he's not allowed. Kids aren't supposed to grow up. They are supposed to stay innocent, sweet, never talk back...who am I kidding.

He has to grow up. He's needs to take care of me when I'm old and decrepit right? That's why we have kids :)


Then he drove. I aged 10 years in the one sentence. "Here you go Mr. Matt, you are now a licensed driver." The car. Buying his first car was worse then a woman shopping for shoes. This is his baby, his pride and joy. Sometimes you would of thought he birthed this car himself.


So now I sit here, 6 months and I get to plan an 18th birthday party. Right after is graduation. I think that is where it's going to hit me the most. He'll be graduating. Done with school. No longer the little boy that needs mommy to walk him to class. No longer the little boy that needs to hold mommy's hand while crossing the street.

He has grown into a man. He's now my 6'4", 165lb little boy that still does want mommy when he doesn't feel good. I hope some things never change.

Week in Review

A friend of mine, Jewels, reminded me last night that she Haiku'd yesterday and it got me thinking that I hadn't blogged in a week. Life has just gotten in the way and I really think my head spun like Linda Blair.

Let's see...what's been going on. Last Saturday a good friend of mine threw be a birthday surprise party. Something that was just supposed to be me, the kids and her family turned into everyone. Nothing like showing up to a formal affair wearing your semi-formal attire. It was all good though. We ate, drank, swam and had a great time. Even J did. He tried crawfish for the first time. Kind of forgot that you have to take off the shell. I didn't forget...he wouldn't let me. He was having too much fun sucking all the juices off the shell. Ewwww.



Moving on to the oldest. Well he's just a teenager. Wednesday he wanted to take mom out on the boat so bad for my birthday. That was it...spend a day just us, without the baby. Everything and anything yet wrong. It was actually kind of funny but he's got that male attitude where the world is going to come to an end if nothing goes right...yeah that one ;) It was all good as far as I was concerned. I was on the water, getting sun, not having to deal with anything but he was screaming, yelling, ranting and raving like that was going to make the motor start. Needless to say....this is how the day ended.

Bah....tan lines were made regardless of how it happened. And here in Florida...that's a good thing.


Moving on to me. I finally got off my tush and got the site up and running. I feel so cool to have a part of the web. I really own something now. It's strange to have that feeling that people are watching what you are doing, what you come up with next. I kind of like it :) I know that it's not going to make me millions right now...but hey, ya' never know what the future might hold. I'd be happy if it made the hosting payment right now :)


So that's about life in a nutshell. After this weekend I will be back, up and running, like a bad rerun of Friends.


Until then....everyone have a great weekend!

Seventeen....UGH

Seventeen......

What a wonderful age....NOT! Why is it when I was 17 things weren't so complicated. School was school, no questions asked. Girlfriends/boyfriends were nice, cute, liked your mom type of of kids. I'm really starting to not like this age, really.

The boy has been 17 for 6 months now. You know what? He's learned everything about life in that 6 months. He knows it all. I was born the day I gave birth to him and never once in my life experienced anything. He knows how to deal with girls, he knows what he needs to do in school but yet we won't discuss the last report card :) His mind is set on what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. He's already growing into the "male". Won't do anything unless he's specifically told. Yep, he's preparing for marriage.

So I try and sit back and think....where did I go wrong? What did I do to deserve this. Then it all hits me. The mother curse. Remember back when and your mother said to you "When you grow up, I hope you have kids just like you." Well it's happened. Back then I didn't think I was doing it to my mother, but now I realize...I did. Gives me a new found appreciation for my mom. God love her.

Now, can anyone point me to the website that will overnight straight jackets? Thanks. Because in 15 years, I have to do it all again. UGH!

Should you force 'em?

Dealing with an absent parent

I was cruising through a "mom" site this morning and came across this post about mother that had an absent parent, sperm donor if you wish, and how she was contacting his parents about being involved in her daughters life. It got me thinking about my own situation with the oldest. His sperm donor hasn't been a part of his life since I told him I was pregnant 18 years ago now. So should you contact the grandparents? Here's how I look at it.

Like I said, sperm donor walked away the day I told him I was pregnant. I was 17, he was 19 and neither one of us should of been raising a child together. So it was either we stay together and I end up in jail, or I deal with the fact that he was going to walk away and never look back. I chose the ladder. I had a wonderful support system with my family and friends therefore knowing that I could make it. Times did cross my mind about contacting his mother but then I thought to myself, why? She knew I was pregnant, she knew that he could find me, so why should I bother forcing a relationship with her first grandchild? It wasn't worth all the pain (emotionally) that I would have put myself through.

Why should you force a relationship with the grandparents if they don't want one? Why put yourself through all that. My oldest has grown up to know how his sperm donor feels. I have never talked ill about him, never said what has really been on my mind about it, and I've always been nice when he's asked about him. He recently got the opportunity to meet him face to face. 15 minutes...that was it. That was a year and a half ago and SD never looked back once again. Every ounce of energy in my body wanted to call him and become George Carlin in every word that I knew, but the more I thought about it, the better off I knew we were and are without him.

So just reading this mom's post, don't force it. Like so many other things in life, you can't change someone. You can't change how they feel. And you definitely are going to make them have a relationship that they don't want to have.