Wednesday, December 31, 2003
2004 is nearly here. I can remember when the year 2000 seemed so far off and we all tried to imagine what all would be going on in that futuristic time. We even wrote stories about it in classes. So now it is here and it doesn't seem that much different in some ways. The things we have now, we never could have imagined back in 19....oh nevermind....
New Year's resoloutions I have so far:
1. My writing goals. (I may post these later.)
2. Lose 20 lbs by summer.
3. Exercise every day.
4. Take vitamins.
5. Find a house. I am so sick of that freakin apartment I can't stand it no more!!!
I had the most bizarre dreams last night. I was working in this store near where I used to live. Why do so many of my dreams lately seem to be about stores around there? Anyway, this man came in and I got the impression he was dangerous. He kept getting in my "personal space." I kept feeling threatened by him and asked him to stand back away from the cash register. I was afraid he wanted to rob the place. He just kept getting worse and wouldn't back off. He kept stepping on my foot. I asked him several times to stop. Then I picked up Rayford's rifle. (He used to keep a shotgun in his store, I imagine he still does). I pointed the rifle at the man's foot and asked him to stop or I would shoot. Defiantly he did it again. He was one stubborn ombrey. (Is that how you spell it?) So, I shot his foot. I remember seeing the bullet go into his foot and the blood spewing out of it. Yucky right? Then I hoped the people around who witnessed the event would take my side when the police came to get me.
As if that wasn't a crazy enough dream, I also dreamed about Mad Cow disease. The government had made it illegal to sell any kind of meat at all. The only way you could get meat was to go out and kill it yourself. Me and the family went to Jim n Nicks for BBQ and was mad because all you could get was veggies and salad.
At one point in my dreaming, I drove down an old road in a light blue small truck.
I just dreamed all night. Really vivid dreams. It was so bizarre.
New Years Eve is here and I worked right up to 4:30. I am looking forward to having five days to finish my work in once again. In the meantime, I have four days off that I plan to enjoy. I really earned these days off with all the hard work I did on Christmas Eve as well as New Year's Eve. But I got it all done amazingly.
I went to lunch with my husband today. We went to Harry's. It is the best hamburger place in Birmingham, and possibly in all of Alabama. The best burger they have is the mushroom swiss burger. yum yum.
Comments-[ comments.]
New Year's resoloutions I have so far:
1. My writing goals. (I may post these later.)
2. Lose 20 lbs by summer.
3. Exercise every day.
4. Take vitamins.
5. Find a house. I am so sick of that freakin apartment I can't stand it no more!!!
I had the most bizarre dreams last night. I was working in this store near where I used to live. Why do so many of my dreams lately seem to be about stores around there? Anyway, this man came in and I got the impression he was dangerous. He kept getting in my "personal space." I kept feeling threatened by him and asked him to stand back away from the cash register. I was afraid he wanted to rob the place. He just kept getting worse and wouldn't back off. He kept stepping on my foot. I asked him several times to stop. Then I picked up Rayford's rifle. (He used to keep a shotgun in his store, I imagine he still does). I pointed the rifle at the man's foot and asked him to stop or I would shoot. Defiantly he did it again. He was one stubborn ombrey. (Is that how you spell it?) So, I shot his foot. I remember seeing the bullet go into his foot and the blood spewing out of it. Yucky right? Then I hoped the people around who witnessed the event would take my side when the police came to get me.
As if that wasn't a crazy enough dream, I also dreamed about Mad Cow disease. The government had made it illegal to sell any kind of meat at all. The only way you could get meat was to go out and kill it yourself. Me and the family went to Jim n Nicks for BBQ and was mad because all you could get was veggies and salad.
At one point in my dreaming, I drove down an old road in a light blue small truck.
I just dreamed all night. Really vivid dreams. It was so bizarre.
New Years Eve is here and I worked right up to 4:30. I am looking forward to having five days to finish my work in once again. In the meantime, I have four days off that I plan to enjoy. I really earned these days off with all the hard work I did on Christmas Eve as well as New Year's Eve. But I got it all done amazingly.
I went to lunch with my husband today. We went to Harry's. It is the best hamburger place in Birmingham, and possibly in all of Alabama. The best burger they have is the mushroom swiss burger. yum yum.
Monday, December 29, 2003
WHEN CHILDREN ASK…
Hey Mom, What’s Foreplay?
The family and I were sitting around watching my favorite sitcom the other night. That Seventies Show—I love it! If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it, because it is so awesome! I never miss it if I can help it. The kids usually watch it as well, even though some of the humor is slightly adult.
I had just finished watching that show the other night and went into the kitchen to perform the nightly (well, almost nightly) clean-up ritual. One of the funnies on the show that evening had been about “foreplay.”
Paul came into the kitchen and asked, “Hey Mom, what’s foreplay mean?”
This is not the first time he has asked me such a question. He’s twelve years old. These questions will be asked. However, I have often wondered, that since he has a dad and a step-dad, why is it I am the one to answer THESE questions?
You can’t say to your adolescent child, “Why do you ask ME these things?”
I simply replied, “Women like to hug and kiss before they have sex.”
I watched him trying to gauge his reaction.
He nodded, satisfied and went back to his TV watching.
I have a theory about “how much to tell” children. You don’t necessarily have to tell them EVERYTHING about a subject. Many times, they just want to assign some meaning to an otherwise unknown phrase, so it is not so mysterious to them. You don’t have to worry you have told too little, because they will ask more questions. If you have told too much they will look horrified. If they smile and nod and walk away you have told just the right amount. This is exactly what my son did in this case. I went about my tasks thinking I had done a good job with my answer.
But, oh Lordy, NO! Here comes my husband into the kitchen frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I think you should have cleaned that up a little!”
“Cleaned what up? I thought that was a pretty clean answer.”
Oh well, now all I have to worry about is one day when my future daughter-in-law is enraged at me because it is my fault her husband thinks foreplay is only a hug and kiss before the deed!
Comments-[ comments.]
Hey Mom, What’s Foreplay?
The family and I were sitting around watching my favorite sitcom the other night. That Seventies Show—I love it! If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it, because it is so awesome! I never miss it if I can help it. The kids usually watch it as well, even though some of the humor is slightly adult.
I had just finished watching that show the other night and went into the kitchen to perform the nightly (well, almost nightly) clean-up ritual. One of the funnies on the show that evening had been about “foreplay.”
Paul came into the kitchen and asked, “Hey Mom, what’s foreplay mean?”
This is not the first time he has asked me such a question. He’s twelve years old. These questions will be asked. However, I have often wondered, that since he has a dad and a step-dad, why is it I am the one to answer THESE questions?
You can’t say to your adolescent child, “Why do you ask ME these things?”
I simply replied, “Women like to hug and kiss before they have sex.”
I watched him trying to gauge his reaction.
He nodded, satisfied and went back to his TV watching.
I have a theory about “how much to tell” children. You don’t necessarily have to tell them EVERYTHING about a subject. Many times, they just want to assign some meaning to an otherwise unknown phrase, so it is not so mysterious to them. You don’t have to worry you have told too little, because they will ask more questions. If you have told too much they will look horrified. If they smile and nod and walk away you have told just the right amount. This is exactly what my son did in this case. I went about my tasks thinking I had done a good job with my answer.
But, oh Lordy, NO! Here comes my husband into the kitchen frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I think you should have cleaned that up a little!”
“Cleaned what up? I thought that was a pretty clean answer.”
Oh well, now all I have to worry about is one day when my future daughter-in-law is enraged at me because it is my fault her husband thinks foreplay is only a hug and kiss before the deed!
I saw a house for rent last Tuesday when I was off work “shopping.” It’s off on highway 25. I went to look at it this past weekend. It is right on the main road, but up on a hill with a lot of trees and shrubs and old growth blocking the view from the road. I expected a tiny old shack of a house. What I found was a charming old house with at least 3 bedrooms and a huge yard with a pen for animals. I think chickens may have been kept in the pen. There are acres and acres of land to walk on and I believe people may even hunt on the land. I hate to get my hopes up. But I plan to call and see how much the rent is on the place.
I went to the bank Friday to cash a check. I didn’t have to go to Hoover, so I went to a bank closer to home. The parking lots are very confusing there, so I wound up in the drugstore parking lot instead of the banks parking lot. I decided to park at the drug store and walk to the bank. It was fine going down the hill. But coming back up the hill was a different story. I had on these slick bottom tennis shoes and every time I made a step up the hill, I immediately slid back down. A man pulled into the parking lot next to my car and saw me. I must have been a hilarious sight. He said, “Could I give you a hand there?” I replied, “Uh, yes please.” It was embarrassing. After he pulled me up what was actually a very small hill, I thanked him and I knew my face was really red.
Talk about blond moments…
I watched “Freaky Friday” on Friday. It was really good. Even Doug said it was “better than he expected.” Brandi seemed to like it as well. One of her favorite games is to pretend she is the Mom and I am the baby. She goes around cal ling me “honey” when she does that.
Comments-[ comments.]
I went to the bank Friday to cash a check. I didn’t have to go to Hoover, so I went to a bank closer to home. The parking lots are very confusing there, so I wound up in the drugstore parking lot instead of the banks parking lot. I decided to park at the drug store and walk to the bank. It was fine going down the hill. But coming back up the hill was a different story. I had on these slick bottom tennis shoes and every time I made a step up the hill, I immediately slid back down. A man pulled into the parking lot next to my car and saw me. I must have been a hilarious sight. He said, “Could I give you a hand there?” I replied, “Uh, yes please.” It was embarrassing. After he pulled me up what was actually a very small hill, I thanked him and I knew my face was really red.
Talk about blond moments…
I watched “Freaky Friday” on Friday. It was really good. Even Doug said it was “better than he expected.” Brandi seemed to like it as well. One of her favorite games is to pretend she is the Mom and I am the baby. She goes around cal ling me “honey” when she does that.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Just got a box of 3 ornaments from Dr. Jim R.
Comments-[ comments.]
Tuesday morning! I have to finish ALL my work today because I will have two children here at work with me tomorrow. All I will be doing then is answering the phone and taking care of small chores.
I got a sweater from Ms. Ruth and a couple of ornaments from other staff members. I love getting tree ornaments. Each year when I put them on the tree, I think of the person that I received it from.
Well, off to work now!
Update later.
Comments-[ comments.]
I got a sweater from Ms. Ruth and a couple of ornaments from other staff members. I love getting tree ornaments. Each year when I put them on the tree, I think of the person that I received it from.
Well, off to work now!
Update later.
Monday, December 22, 2003
UPDATE:
Presents I received:
Fruit from Nancy, a present from Ms. Ruth, Candy from Steve, an ornament from Amy.
Brandi got a present and both the kids got a present from the church. Paul got $15 from Ms. Ruth.
We went out to lunch for Ms. Ruth's birthday. We went to Dales and I got a veggie plate and Paul got catfish filet and fries and pears.
I am very out of shape. I went and played ping pong for a few minutes with Paul back in the youth room and now I am out of breath. Puff puff. I will make one new years resolution-exercise!!! We can't have this. Especially when I run off to Argentina with Dr. Strangelove.
Comments-[ comments.]
Presents I received:
Fruit from Nancy, a present from Ms. Ruth, Candy from Steve, an ornament from Amy.
Brandi got a present and both the kids got a present from the church. Paul got $15 from Ms. Ruth.
We went out to lunch for Ms. Ruth's birthday. We went to Dales and I got a veggie plate and Paul got catfish filet and fries and pears.
I am very out of shape. I went and played ping pong for a few minutes with Paul back in the youth room and now I am out of breath. Puff puff. I will make one new years resolution-exercise!!! We can't have this. Especially when I run off to Argentina with Dr. Strangelove.
BLUE MONDAY. How I hate Mondays. It has been Monday all over the place too!
Brandi argued with me about what to wear. She developed a fashion sense about the age of four. I believe that is normal for girls. She has very firm ideas about what she will and will not wear.
Well, I got the kids out the door around 15 after seven. While driving Brandi to the day care I heard about a wreck on my exit. I stopped to get gas and food on the way to work. I got a rice crispy marshmallow treat thingy and chipped my cap on my tooth eating the stupid thing. I have had so much trouble with that tooth... I will probably wind up getting a false tooth there. Then I get here and find there is NO WATER in this building. So, if it is off all day I will make about 8 trips total to the other building. THis may be Alabama but it is pretty cold. So this morning is just Monday ever which way!
This weekend, I received my 5th assignment from LRWG and I will be starting on my 6th. It is a story about a really bad cat and my protagonist has to kill it. She's afraid to because she believes the cat's owner may be a witch and may put a spell on her. I was afraid it was too stupid, but my instructor gave me the go-ahead to write it.
I began reading the book "The Intimacy Factor." It is ok. But I don't think I will get much out of it. I have read about half of it, and I just can not imagine having a real conversation with my husband that goes like the examples in the book. I do like the suggestions about respect and "breathing into" the anger. I'm not sure if I were to get REALLY angry I would be able to do it.
Comments-[ comments.]
Brandi argued with me about what to wear. She developed a fashion sense about the age of four. I believe that is normal for girls. She has very firm ideas about what she will and will not wear.
Well, I got the kids out the door around 15 after seven. While driving Brandi to the day care I heard about a wreck on my exit. I stopped to get gas and food on the way to work. I got a rice crispy marshmallow treat thingy and chipped my cap on my tooth eating the stupid thing. I have had so much trouble with that tooth... I will probably wind up getting a false tooth there. Then I get here and find there is NO WATER in this building. So, if it is off all day I will make about 8 trips total to the other building. THis may be Alabama but it is pretty cold. So this morning is just Monday ever which way!
This weekend, I received my 5th assignment from LRWG and I will be starting on my 6th. It is a story about a really bad cat and my protagonist has to kill it. She's afraid to because she believes the cat's owner may be a witch and may put a spell on her. I was afraid it was too stupid, but my instructor gave me the go-ahead to write it.
I began reading the book "The Intimacy Factor." It is ok. But I don't think I will get much out of it. I have read about half of it, and I just can not imagine having a real conversation with my husband that goes like the examples in the book. I do like the suggestions about respect and "breathing into" the anger. I'm not sure if I were to get REALLY angry I would be able to do it.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Saturday!
YAY!
The kids opened their presents this morning and really loved them. I loved watching them open present.
I am fixing to go to the grocery store and get stuff for supper. I am going to try making cornish hens. That is something I have NEVER cooked before. I know, I said I was going to wait and do Christmas dinner on Christmas. But this isn't REALLY Christmas dinner. Just that Brandi thinks the little chickens are so cute. She got a toy microwave oven as one of her Christmas presents and it has a tiny chicken in there. That gave me the idea to cook the chicken tonight.
I think we are going to take the tree down today. It seems weird to do that this far before Christmas.
I am at the library right now. I just checked out Dean Koontz book "The Face" and Stephen Kings book "Wolves of the Calla" which is part 5 of the Dark Tower Series. This should be interesting... since I have not read any of the dark tower series. I also got a couple of self-help books, The Intimacy Factor and Life Strategies. I never do what self-help books say, that is why I have not read one in so long. I decided to check out the Intimacy Factor for a really odd reason. A dream I had last night. I was at the Yellow Store In Graham and there was a huge sign on the door. It read, "Don't Duke with the Coyote." I know, weird as can be, right? Yep. But then a lady comes to the door and she is holding a peice of paper in her hand. She looks at me and says, "You have to keep your list close." And then I agree, nodding, and say, "Yes, intimately close." Then I start to worry that she thinks I mean something I don't by that comment, because she looks at me really weird. When I woke up, I told my husband about the dream. He told me that he believes that dreams don't mean a thing. I believe differently of course. Well, to sum up that long story, the dream is why the book jumped out at me. I do believe the dream was trying to tell me something and that maybe, just maybe I do need to read this book.
I will let you know how it turns out.
LOVE HUGZ KISSES AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Comments-[ comments.]
YAY!
The kids opened their presents this morning and really loved them. I loved watching them open present.
I am fixing to go to the grocery store and get stuff for supper. I am going to try making cornish hens. That is something I have NEVER cooked before. I know, I said I was going to wait and do Christmas dinner on Christmas. But this isn't REALLY Christmas dinner. Just that Brandi thinks the little chickens are so cute. She got a toy microwave oven as one of her Christmas presents and it has a tiny chicken in there. That gave me the idea to cook the chicken tonight.
I think we are going to take the tree down today. It seems weird to do that this far before Christmas.
I am at the library right now. I just checked out Dean Koontz book "The Face" and Stephen Kings book "Wolves of the Calla" which is part 5 of the Dark Tower Series. This should be interesting... since I have not read any of the dark tower series. I also got a couple of self-help books, The Intimacy Factor and Life Strategies. I never do what self-help books say, that is why I have not read one in so long. I decided to check out the Intimacy Factor for a really odd reason. A dream I had last night. I was at the Yellow Store In Graham and there was a huge sign on the door. It read, "Don't Duke with the Coyote." I know, weird as can be, right? Yep. But then a lady comes to the door and she is holding a peice of paper in her hand. She looks at me and says, "You have to keep your list close." And then I agree, nodding, and say, "Yes, intimately close." Then I start to worry that she thinks I mean something I don't by that comment, because she looks at me really weird. When I woke up, I told my husband about the dream. He told me that he believes that dreams don't mean a thing. I believe differently of course. Well, to sum up that long story, the dream is why the book jumped out at me. I do believe the dream was trying to tell me something and that maybe, just maybe I do need to read this book.
I will let you know how it turns out.
LOVE HUGZ KISSES AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Friday, December 19, 2003
Update:
I got a couple of presents today.
A bag of cheese straws from Patsy. She makes them from scratch every year and I LOVE them.
A card from my mystery man, Dr. Strangelove. He's so foreign and mysterious. Just love that in a man!
Comments-[ comments.]
I got a couple of presents today.
A bag of cheese straws from Patsy. She makes them from scratch every year and I LOVE them.
A card from my mystery man, Dr. Strangelove. He's so foreign and mysterious. Just love that in a man!
This was such a terrible morning! I got the kids ready and out the door on time but then I got in an arugement with my son right there at the school. Then I hated myself all the way to work.
Now I am at work trying to decide what needs to be done first. Wish me luck... It is a rough time of year with all the publications I have to send out.
It is starting to seem like Christmas. Brandi has her Christmas party today. She was all excited this morning. She wore her red Christmas dress that I think makes her look like a Christmas package. She wore it to see Santa this past Saturday. When we were in Shoney's for the breakfast buffet, a man came up to her and told her how beautiful she was and that he and his wife had spotted her in her red dress as she was walking across the parking lot. That helps promote her conceit... She has a princess complex.
The kids will open presents in the morning. I am thinking of what to cook for Christmas dinner next week. Or whether I should just have it this weekend. I think I want to do it next week since there will be no presents left to open then. That will extend the celebration a bit perhaps. We have to go visit my parents sometime next week.
I am reading Natural Blond Instincts. It is a Harlequin Flipside book. I don't usually read romances, but this is one of their new humorous novels and I thought I would give it a try. I also bought Shirley Jump's book "The Bachelor's Dare" that day. After reading so many of her posts at Momwriters and so much about her I wanted to read one of her books as well. I may email her after I read the book.
I have not watched any good movies lately. I want to see "Freaky Friday."
We have been watching "The Simple Life" on FOX. It is so hilarious. Paul and I was rolling on the floor (literally) laughing at that show when it was on the other night. I haven't laughed so hard at anything since Married with Children went off the air. They say the show is scripted, but I don't care. It is just toooooo funny.
TIME TO WORK A WHILE!!!
Comments-[ comments.]
Now I am at work trying to decide what needs to be done first. Wish me luck... It is a rough time of year with all the publications I have to send out.
It is starting to seem like Christmas. Brandi has her Christmas party today. She was all excited this morning. She wore her red Christmas dress that I think makes her look like a Christmas package. She wore it to see Santa this past Saturday. When we were in Shoney's for the breakfast buffet, a man came up to her and told her how beautiful she was and that he and his wife had spotted her in her red dress as she was walking across the parking lot. That helps promote her conceit... She has a princess complex.
The kids will open presents in the morning. I am thinking of what to cook for Christmas dinner next week. Or whether I should just have it this weekend. I think I want to do it next week since there will be no presents left to open then. That will extend the celebration a bit perhaps. We have to go visit my parents sometime next week.
I am reading Natural Blond Instincts. It is a Harlequin Flipside book. I don't usually read romances, but this is one of their new humorous novels and I thought I would give it a try. I also bought Shirley Jump's book "The Bachelor's Dare" that day. After reading so many of her posts at Momwriters and so much about her I wanted to read one of her books as well. I may email her after I read the book.
I have not watched any good movies lately. I want to see "Freaky Friday."
We have been watching "The Simple Life" on FOX. It is so hilarious. Paul and I was rolling on the floor (literally) laughing at that show when it was on the other night. I haven't laughed so hard at anything since Married with Children went off the air. They say the show is scripted, but I don't care. It is just toooooo funny.
TIME TO WORK A WHILE!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Christmas is one week away. I have all my shopping done except for one present. I will be done as soon as I buy my sister a gift.
I feel buried under work and I am really tired today. I have the PMS blues also.
I began getting some really neat presents at work today. I got a gold Christmas ornament from Amanda. A Christmas egg with and egg beater from Traci, and a $50 gift certificate to the Galleria from the SPRC. I also got some candy from Julie and a mystery person left some Christmas tree shaped snack cakes in my mailbox this morning.
We took Brandi to see Santa this past weekend. I was glad that she wasn't scared of him this year.
The kids are getting bikes for Christmas. We will let them open presents Friday, since Paul will be gone for a week after Christmas.
Comments-[ comments.]
I feel buried under work and I am really tired today. I have the PMS blues also.
I began getting some really neat presents at work today. I got a gold Christmas ornament from Amanda. A Christmas egg with and egg beater from Traci, and a $50 gift certificate to the Galleria from the SPRC. I also got some candy from Julie and a mystery person left some Christmas tree shaped snack cakes in my mailbox this morning.
We took Brandi to see Santa this past weekend. I was glad that she wasn't scared of him this year.
The kids are getting bikes for Christmas. We will let them open presents Friday, since Paul will be gone for a week after Christmas.
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
