How much have you done?

Found this on a few blogs, and it seems cool, so I figured I would copy it too! Bold what you have done :)

Enjoy! I've got 58 - holy moley!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - WORLD
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (God, I miss the ocean!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - Photography? Calligraphy?
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - ROFL now me? Running a marathon? I'd have black eyes, and most likely beat myself to death with my bazoombas.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - ahhh Ireland :)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - igPay atinLay!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - but how quickly it all goes away
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - I'm counting the 3 mile hike in Alaska, a lot was on rocks!
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - that bitch kept ignoring us.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - I'm thinking the Dunkin Donuts drive through counts :)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Seen the Lincoln Memorial in person
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (driven through them, does that count?)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - FRONT PAGE!!
85. Read the entire Bible
86. visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92.Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - drove by it - very cool :)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

mmmmmmmmm

After that sandwich (which I had for dinner last night, by the way).. I thought. What could come close to topping that? Not much, I tell you. Not much. But there is some eye candy that I could share.

Here you go. Enjoy!

Yup.

This should be wordless Saturday. Or just worship Saturday. This is what this week is all about. Forget giving thanks. Forget friends and family. THIS is it.... (click on the picture to get an even better view)

Alice?

OK, a day late - but not a dollar short!! It doesn't seem like Thanksgiving without it!

Enjoy :)

Fabulous Friday Festivities!!

Play along! Friday Fun Time!!


Feel better Janet's Dad!!



1. My stomach was so full yesterday. I don't think I should have waited and just eaten one meal. Small meals throughout the day. yeah. Yeah. That's it. LOL
2. Vegetables is what I ate the most of on Thursday. Seriously. How often does THAT happen? But if you think about it - the turkey only takes up a wee bit of space on that plate. The rest is usually veggies!
3. The yard is dirt. I need to figure out what to do with it come springtime.
4. Home in Boston with my family and friends is where I'd rather be at any given time. But I do love the fact that we have NO TRAFFIC out here in cow country ;-)
5. The smell of date-nut bread reminds me of my mother. I make it every year. Just had a piece for breakfast, in fact.
6. JENNY CRAIG is what I need right now! ROFL
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hopefully getting some paint, tomorrow my plans include painting and Sunday, I want to look at my fabulous non-white walls!!

Wordless Wednesday......

I guess the jig is up...

I've been found out. Discovered. Brought out of the closet (so to speak). No more will I reign superior, or be able to use a certain thing over my child's head ever again (well, I can, just not in the same way).

This delightful creature:



Has informed me that he knows. He KNOWS.

that I am NOT...





Well. That makes shopping easier, I guess.

I was talking about it yesterday with a friend (and I've had this conversation with others, too - that do have kids), she thinks if she ever has kids that she may not tell them about Santa. Some people consider it a form of lying to their kids, some thing why have them believe in fantasies?

Really? I think fantasies like Santa were WONDERFUL when I was growing up! The Easter Bunny, all that stuff!

Anyone else have thoughts?

Friday Fill Ins

Friday Fun time <--- click here to play along :)

1. The last band I saw live was Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in Boston, almost exactly a year ago - the last official performance of Danny Federici before he died. It was an amazing show and I am lucky to have been a part of it. Although my son was pissed, because he loves going to Bruce shows with me!!
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is spending time with friends and family. Or friends that have become family. And cooking. And pumpkin pie. And dip. And turkey. Oh my, I'm in trouble! LOL
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is about to begin. Online. Cheap. Got any ideas for a smart-ass 12 year old?
4. Thoughts of jalapeno popper dip fill my head. (I just made some for work and oh my it's good!)
5. I wish I could wear my size 4 Levis that I found. But then I'd have to give up dip. And all other food. For a long time. Damn that food.
6. Bagpipes just do it for me It's probably the whole "what are they wearing under the kilt" thing But it's always my favorite part of the parade on St. Patrick's Day!!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to softer water (softener being installed this afternoon) and a K-Wings game, tomorrow my plans include helping my friend Ashley move and Sunday, I want to work on my Humanities project!

The neighborhood..

OK, when you come into the development, the clubhouse is straight ahead, but you have to turn left (and then a right into their parking lot). Coming down the street my house is straight ahead - the first picture is a view from my house toward the entrance - I think most of the houses on the right are now lived-in. There is also a road up to the left with 5-6 houses on it. Then the road curves (at my house) and goes a bit, then curves again and ends up in a cul-de-sac behind us. There are a few houses that are still being built, but a lot up to mine are now lived in. I think 3 on my street and 3 behind me are ready to be closed on. The second picture is going past my house to the next curve. More later!

 
 

Mission Accomplished!

 

Friday Fill Ins

Better late than never, right?

Freaky Friday Funtime!!

1. Please feel free to leave a comment, give me miles on Northwest, or do random acts of kindness to strangers - it really helps make both your and their days!
2. When I try a new food I can't help sniffing it occasionally (yeah, it's pretty funny I really do this).
3. My favorite thing to cook is mmmmmm now that the cold weather is here? Beef stew, chili, stuff like that. But anyone that knows me knows I can always throw a great dip together!
4. My kid when he's in a good mood and being a goof is something I can't get enough of.
5. That's the thing I love most about the last couple of months of the year is Christmas. Family. I love it all!
6. The amount of stupidity with some of the people that call me at work always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the K-Wings game (they won!), tomorrow my plans include cleaning out the garage (still working on it)and another KWings game local hockey team and Sunday, I want to get some homework done!

Totally wicked smart guy. I'm not gay, I do however have friends and family members that are. And who the hell is anyone to say that they can't have the same rights I have? I only wish I could find the happiness that some of them have found - who CARES if they found love with someone that is the same sex as them???

Holidays :)

So I've decided, because I just had this new house built and all and I have to start, oh, you know - PAYING for it? I can't afford to go home for Thanksgiving. Which means I miss my 25th HS reunion (holy shit, I can't believe it's been 25 years). That's OK. It's usually just a big drink-fest anyway. Not that I couldn't use a big drink fest, but it'll be cheaper doing it here. LOL And I will miss my family for the holiday. But I am going home for Christmas - I don't care if I have to drive there, I will be there. I haven't been there since March. Since I've moved, I think I've been home at least once every three months or so - this is the longest stretch I've gone in 5 years.
BUT... I get to see my family for a week. I will get to see Amanda, otherwise known as Stella!!
I will stay with Rob and Michelle and the adorable Miss Leah, and it absolutely KILLS me that I haven't seen her in person yet.


And my sistah, and brothah, and all the kidlins, and maybe my father and more!

Happy Hump day!

Veterans Day

Thanks to It's all about me! I found this great video and story behind the song (and a great new - to me - singer to check out). Granted, it's all Canadians, but really? On Veterans Day? Who cares what nationality they are. They're veterans. Hug one today and thank them for the freedoms that so many of us take for granted.

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".

Monday Madness!

Did I mention, by the way, that I got a wool coat this weekend for $12.50? Gotta love SA. LOL

Manic Monday time :)

What was the first thing you thought when you looked at yourself in the mirror today?
Not sure - I didn't have my glasses on or contacts in, which is probably a good thing, because I was probably nekkid.

Do you have a recurring nightmare? If so, explain.
I've had nightmares that include car accidents and my son. I think it's every parent's thing - and worst nightmare. Then again, I have this recurring nightmare that I was living with this guy in Michigan... oh wait! I woke up from that one!! LOL

List three foods you can’t stand:
Cauliflower, beets, liver. Nasty stuff all of it. Now I'm off to eat my chicken pot pie that I made last night. :D

Blue...

Why I am not a fan of the color blue any more.. My ex (the fuckwit) loved blue. Would buy anything blue. Cars? Blue. It didn't matter - if it was blue - he loved it and had to have it. The pretty blue Kitchen Aid mixer? It didn't matter that he never used it - didn't even know how - when I left and took it, there was a fit made because *I TOOK THE PRETTY BLUE MIXER*... Catch the drift? OK - here are some pictures (OLD ones) of a friend of mine at one end of the kitchen (with Dewey the wonder dog who we miss very much), and my fat ass at the other. Note the continuing color into the hallway. Yes, it continued.. Enjoy the blue...

Last night was crafty night. My friend Ashley came over and we took 3 old pillows from Crate & Barrel that looked like this:

And turned them into this, something that goes much better with the sofa and isn't falling apart!!

The picture doesn't do them justice - they match the couch and have shades of green, gold and red in them. I actually think I may paint a wall green now! I've been having a hard time deciding on colors for the house, it's pretty much a blank slate. It's an open floor plan, but I don't want to do all one color, I want to do something that looks good but defines each room. I'm thinking of doing wall that is the length of the house a really cool green, and then working off that. Greens and yellows are my favorites (the fuckwit pretty much turned me off blue, but that's another post). I guess I was afraid of doing the same colors that we had at the lake house, but I thought about it, and realized that *I* picked out those colors, not him. He's the one that has to live in it knowing that I picked them all out. ROFL If those are the ones that I like, well then dammit, those are the ones I shall have!!!

Happy Sunday....

Good Friday stuff

1. My blueprint for success includes standing up for what I feel is right, even if I stand alone.
2. Oh Jesus, there's a whole pumpkin full - I can't pick one! was the last candy I ate.
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is some ridiculously expensive stuff from Eminence.
4. A great massage can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about what the boy said yesterday. I asked him to do something for me and his response was "Mom - are you trying to turn me into your little minion or something?"
6. Strength is my strongest characteristic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to SLEEP, tomorrow my plans include cleaning out the garage and Sunday, I want to spend time with my little minion LOL!

Today...

What Erin said

And I'm stealing her picture. LOL

It's that day of the week again! Play along :) Manic Monday

How many hours of TV do you watch per week? Oh Jeez, really? That I get to sit down, do nothing else and just watch TV? Maybe one? Do you feel that's too much, not enough or just right? Obviously it is not enough - my DVR is getting full! I need to catch up - for pete's sake I haven't even watched the season opener of Grey's yet!

Which of the 5 senses do you feel is your strongest sense? Smell. I used to be able to tell when a patient was smoking in their room way before anyone else could (when I used to work in the ER). I smell stuff. I'm a good smeller.

What's the wackiest belief you held as a child? I don't know if it's the wackiest, but it's the one that has been blown out of the water with the biggest splash. I used to think that my father knew everything. Absolutely positively everything. Boy, was I wrong! But I remember fighting with one of my friends on the front lawn about how something was going to happen because "my father said so" and thinking I wanted to punch her in the face for dare to think that he was wrong.

Barb, Jocelyn, they're all the same

I was reading over ---> at Derfward Manor where Mrs. G loves to write, and I love to read, but she makes a post about Barb, forgiveness and being a dirty dog whore. I think we've all got some kind of a Barb in our lives. I happen to have a Jocelyn. Who never slept with my boyfriend, she just let him think that she would to get me out of the picture. And she's not a dirty dog whore, she is known as the "FFW" or the Filthy Fucking Whore. Sometimes, we'll even call her the filthy FILTHY fucking whore. She has made a fool out of my ex. Her initial actions and my ex's subsequent ones put my son into a tailspin that he was lucky to come out of. My ex lets her live in a house rent and utility free. And gives her money. Calls her his "employee" because she cleans his other, empty house when he's not there. Oh, right - she moved her boyfriend into that one, and then the one that she's in. Whoops! So now not only is he supporting her, he's also supporting her boyfriend! There's a village in Michigan, they really want their idiot back. Anyway. We all have a Barb. Forgiveness is tough, especially when there are kids involved. I feel nothing for my ex - I told him that he ceased to matter to me when he fucked with the boy's mind. He really doesn't know any better, I guess.
But her? She knew exactly what she was doing. She knew exactly what the outcome would be. She played him like a well-tuned harmonica. It's going to take a looooooooong time to get to the forgiveness point with her. Maybe after she moves out of the school district we live in and goes back to the trailer park she got evicted from (yes, I'm serious)...
From this:

To this - can't find picture of the rent-free house, but this is the lake house that she sleeps in often (and no - she doesn't wash the sheets)....

the PC has returned...

A couple of months ago, the PC decided that it wanted a little break. Luckily I have the laptop as backup, so I was using that until it got fixed. I kinda got used to the little screen, LOL. I finally got the PC back and it promptly crashed AGAIN. So, the $159 I paid someone to look at it went right out the window as I did what they did - and reinstalled the OS. Only this time (hopefully) it took. I went out and got a new hard drive yesterday, thinking the 2nd reinstall wasn't going to work. It's still freezing up every so often, but so far so good. I may actually return the hard drive and maybe get an external one that I can backup stuff onto. I didn't lose everything on the drive when it crashed - it's just all saved as windows.old - who knew???

I spent hours on this yesterday rather than doing my homework. Must work on homework...

My father called me 5 days after my birthday to wish me a happy birthday. 4 days after my son's. I'm not sure, but I think he's getting a little forgetful? I've stopped letting it get to me, and just let it roll off these days. It used to really piss me off, but it's just not worth it.


The house is still a mess. I still don't have a trash bin. I do, however, have grass in the front (after I'd asked them to wait until spring to lay down the sod) AND.... a friend that is a landscaper may do a kick-ass job here for short money because when you come into the development, mine is one of the first ones you see - and it's like free advertising for him. So we'll see.

Happy Sunday. Go read Other People's Secrets.

And don't forget to get out and vote this week!!!!

Shut UP!

Much like Elaine in Seinfeld ~ Erin - if you were here, I'd shove you. LOL

My friend Erin nominated me for this:

Dayam! I never win anything!! Woot! Woot!

What I'm going to do is nominate some of my faves, some of whom might read here, some I know that don't :):

Cool chick is the blog of Tammy, wife of Melissa Etheridge. I forget why I started reading it, but she's hysterical at times, some of the stories when the kids were babies just cracked me up. I enjoy reading the honest and insightful stories about life on the left coast. :)

Baby Leah is the blog of my cousin Michelle and her journey as a first time mom and her adorable baby that I have YET to see in person. She needs to post more (hint.. hint...) I can't wait to get "home" and see them all. sniff.. sniff...

Urban Paramedic is the blog of a city of Boston medic and his travels through the urban jungle. It's a great blog - but right now you have to go through the archives, he's been deployed to Germany and may or may not be back to the blog. I have to admit, I really miss it.

Enjoy, check them out - and happy reading!!

Today I am going to be knees deep in classwork - my two Fall 2 session classes started Wednesday. Humanities and Sociology. And Sociology would be MUCH easier if I'd gotten that book instead of the Psychology one. Whoops! I'm a maroon.
The house is coming along - the mess is making me nuts, which is a good thing, because that's when I just start throwing shit out. I have to go out and pick up sprinklers and hoses - because of course NOW is when they choose to put in my sod (that I asked not to be installed until the spring) and it needs to be watered the first 24 hours. I'm also going to pick up my PC - minus all the stuff I had on the hard drive, because of course it had to crash. Hopefully there wasn't anything important on it. I know I lost pictures of the fuckwit. ROFL YAY!! So maybe it's a good thing? A fresh start of sorts. :)

Ahhhhh Saturday. At least I slept past 6AM.