Strange but True. I Swear!

I've heard it said that "Northern" fairy tales begin "Once upon a time..." while Southern ones begin "Ya'll ain't gonna believe this shit..."
Well.. Ya'll ain't gonna believe this shit. My cleaning lady had a heart attack while she was cleaning my house!!!! (I'm trying not to take it personally..)
I had commented to Cathy that it was strange that this woman had always done a good job but this week when I got home, it looked like she had done a half-assed job. I was planning to remind her next time of what I wanted done.
Well she called tonight and said while she was here, she started feeling sick, and she laid down on my couch. Finally she decided that she wasn't getting any better, and had just better quit and go home. When she got to her house (after driving there) she was too weak to get out of her car. She said she called 911 and ended up at the hospital where they discovered she'd had a HEART ATTACK. She's home now and slowly recovering.
I keep following my husband around saying, "Gosh, do you think our house was so bad that she had a heart attack over it?"

Book Club Anyone?

I remember Alaskan Amy's blog entry about not getting accepted by her local book club because she wasn't "invited". I know she loves to read. I know Cathy does. Freebird. Plumbtuckered. And me! So I thought why don't we start a reading group? Through a blog? Anyone else who wanted to participate can through comments. What do you think girls? If you all like the idea, then lets pick a book and start reading! Any suggestions?
Speaking of books, the link on the sidebar is for "Letters to My Teacher" the book my next story comes out in that will be available in March. (No I'm not suggesting it for a reading group. We need a great NOVEL. Just thought I'd give ya'll the link to it. )
But someone suggest a novel. Everyone suggest a few and we can vote on them. Or something!

Christmas in Dixie

My step-daughter and her husband came for Christmas. I saw the Christmas pictures my daughter took and emailed me. I look just like Porky Pig. I'm depressed.
My friends are all reporting crappy Christmas events from their homes, too. I say we stay home next year, boycott shopping, eat salad, and watch Judge Judy reruns. Whatdayasay?
I did get a very very nice surprise. The new dulcimer I ordered came EXPRESS mail the day before Christmas. It's beautiful, sounds great and I love it.
So I'll just hide my Porky self away, play my dulcimer, and wish we could all go to Cracker Barrel for Christmas next year.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the turkey, ham, mistletoe, lights, tinsel, gift giving, holly, poinsettas, long lines at Walmart, egg nog, Christmas carols, Santa, Rudolph, and all the elves! And remember:
Friends are God's way of apologizing for our families!

Carols Sung by the FIRE!

My friend I mentioned who was getting divorced had a fire in her home this week. Now she can't live in it until she has a lot of electrical work done, so the Red Cross is putting up her and the kids in a motel. She is suspicious the soon to be ex-husband started it, thinking it would 1) keep her from getting the house in the divorce 2) get insurance money 3) make her life harder. Of course, that's only a suspicion.
She and I had a discussion the other day about finances. I told her I learned after my divorce to live on very little, while she said she learned that in her marriage. She's feeding a very large family on very little grocery money, by shopping sales, buying in bulk, using less meat in her dishes, and clipping coupons. I told her I can make about a million dishes out of hamburger, and have been known to feed my kids mac and cheese for dinner. I don't think it's a bad thing to have to learn to live on very little. I know I can if I ever have to again. She said that's the least thing she's concerned about. My husband and I live on about 40% of his income, and sock the rest away in his retirement account. Of course, we are lucky not to have many bills so we can do that. Still Christmas is hard on everyone. My daughter mentioned us all drawing names next year and I think that's a great idea.
Tomorrow my mother-in-law comes. I went out and bought a new bedspread and curtains for her room, from a great sale at brylanehome online. She'll be here until the 3rd of January. We get along fine.
I didn't get my new dulcimer yet that I ordered some time back. The guy said he thought he would have it to me by Christmas but it's getting close and no dulcimer.
We are planning a cruise in April out of Mobile to Mexico. This is going to be our three year anniversary present to each other. This time out we managed to get a suite instead of a teeny tiny room like we had last time. He got a military discount from Carnival. Anyone who served at least 2 yrs and had an honorable discharge gets the discount, so he qualified. I'm really looking forward to our getting away by ourselves.
My middle son is having headaches and nausea some days on awakening. He's in between insurance right now, so he's trying to put off going to the doctor. They get better after he's up awhile and this happens like twice a week. I wonder if it's migranes, as I have had them in the past and I think my daughter had one recently. I just wish he'd go to the doctor. As a mother, I imagine the worst.
Well that's about all the thoughts for now. I hope all my blog friends have a wonderful Christmas if I don't get to write before then.

Biggest Fan

Ok, so I've got a thing for Sean Penn. Never made a secret of it on this blog. I see all his movies. He's my favorite even above DeNiro, and DeNiro is hard to beat in my book. My husband doesn't care for Sean Penn, because of his political views. My crush is not on Sean Penn's political views, but on him as an actor. I couldn't care less about his personal life.
I guess I first took notice of him in "I Am Sam" with Dakota Fanning. I thought, God, that guy is an amazing actor. He even beat out Dustin Hoffman in Rainman in his portrayal of a mentally challenged person. Then my next favorite movie of his was Mystic River. I don't think you could put any person in the scene with the police at his daughter's crime scene and get acting like Sean Penn gave. He was awesome.
So I think he's an incredible actor. But the truth is, I also think he's hot. Not a lot of people agree with me, among my friends. I guess they just don't see it like I do. But you can't deny that in this picture, he's hot. I wouldn't throw him out of bed for eating crackers. Uh huh. No way.

The Elves are Busy

Well I saw my sister and brother-in-law last night. It was strange and awkward. After twelve years, conversation doesn't come easy. I made the mistake of hugging them when I got there, or attempting to, and their reaction reminded me that my side of the family has never been very huggy. Wrong move. After figuring that out, we busied ourselves with discussing the menu, and then comes the part where you have to talk when you wait on the food. Thankfully, my mom filled most of that time. Then the food came and we couldn't talk and eat at the same time. ha. Then time to go. All in all it went.......weird.
Today I went to my husband's office Christmas party. Huge get together, always crowded, loud, and hot (temperature wise). This year was no exception. However, the music, even loud, was good. I heard songs I hadn't heard in thirty years, some my hubby had never heard (Peter, Paul and Mary's "If I Had a Hammer"). After we finally escaped from the party, I talked him into taking me by this bead store I found in an older section of Huntsville. It's in an old house and they have beads that are very unique. I spent my Christmas money from my mom on beads. Got some jasper ones that are gorgeous colors.
Life here is pretty boring right now. All our shopping is done.
My son Chris (aka Jason Cage) has a new website up called DivorceKevin.com and it's drawn a lot of attention. He was interviewed for MTV the other day, and is in US Weekly, Star and USA Today. It's a website dedicated to getting Brittney Spears to divorce Kevin. I told him when he gets rich and famous not to forget his old mom who sacrificed for him all these years,, and gave birth to him, and walked to school, barefoot, ten miles, in the snow, uphill, both ways....

I Cut My Hair

Well, I don't know what overcame me today, after all I had said about letting my hair grow out, but I decided to cut it. I didn't tell my husband (want to see if he'll notice when he gets home), but I really think I like it. I know it feels so much better. I tried to take these pictures of myself with my own camera phone, so please excuse the weirdness of the angles.
Tonight is a big night folks. The sister and brother-in-law I haven't heard from in twelve years are meeting my husband, me, and my mom for dinner at a local restaurant. I feel like I'm going on a blind date. I've tried to figure out what my hope is for tonight, whats I want to happen, the worst that could happen, etc. I really hope we can connect on some level and actually get to know each other as adults. The worst is that it won't happen, but I figure life will just go on like it has for the last twelve years, and I'll be disappointed, but not upset over it. Wish me luck.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the movie, Flawless:
First guy: See there! I'm not nearly as stupid as you think I am!
Second guy: No, no one could be as stupid as I think you are.

In Memory of Rachel Wall

Dear Rachel,
It was twenty-two years ago this Christmas when you took your own life. Every year I think of you and the times we spent together. You were my best friend.
Remember how we met at the doctor's office? Out in the waiting room? I was pregnant and so were you and that doctor was delayed, so we began to talk. I was so isolated at home with a young toddler (and no car) and I didn't have any friends. You and I hit it off instantly. The next day you invited me to come to your house for lunch and you came to pick me up. Remember you had sat up the night before and crocheted me a baby blanket. It was beautiful.
My daughter and your son were the same age, and they became instant pals. Then later, we both had baby boys to add to the mix.
Remember the Halloween when I stayed there and watched the babies while you took our little ones out for trick or treat? My daughter was four then, and she got so mad because she didn't like her costume I had rigged up at the last minute, a Holly Hobbie flannel gown and pigtails. You said she stood there with her little hand on her hip and said, "I can't believe my mother dressed me in this hot gown! You said she sounded like she was a twenty year old, and you laughed every time you told that story.
We exchanged recipes, had many lunches over egg salad sandwiches because we were short on groceries, but always had so much fun. We talked about our husbands and had some good laughs at their expense. You were like the sister I never had. And I loved you like my sister.
Then I got pregnant with baby number three, and it was a long hot summer. You had a nephew come to stay the summer with you, and you were very busy with the children, so we didn't talk as often. One day I called you and asked you to go to a craft class with me and you said you didn't really feel like going out. I begged and you finally agreed to go. I knew that day something was wrong. You seemed so quiet, so withdrawn. Later we started across the parking lot to our car and I spotted a lady from your church, and I waved at her. She walked over and talked to you for a minute, and you got so mad at me for doing that. You said you didn't want to have to talk to her. I didn't understand.
You told me one day you were thinking of leaving your husband. I said, " Why? What did he do?" You said, "That's just it. He hasn't done anything. If he drank, or ran around, I'd have an excuse to leave. He doesn't do any of that. But I truly believe if he had someone here to cook for him and sleep with him, he wouldn't notice if it was me or someone else." I asked where you would go, and you said you had a girlfriend in the town where you went to college who was willing to let you crash at her apt for awhile. I asked about your children and you said you were not planning to take them. I told you that you had to think about them, and what your leaving would do to them. How much everyone would miss you. You just sighed. I'll never forget the way that sigh sounded.
Then Christmas was coming and you began to decorate and shop and I thought you were better. I didn't know then what depression really was, but looking back you had severe depression. After Christmas, you sent your boys home with your mom with the excuse that you needed a few days to get the house back in order from all the Christmas rush. You came by my apt and brought a box. In it was everything I had ever loaned you. I had an uneasy feeling and asked why you were bringing back all that junk. You said you were just cleaning out closets and decluttering. I believed you.
The next day you got up, cleaned your house, bought groceries, took your husband lunch, and came home and went into the garage, closed the garage door, got in the car, and started it. That's where they found you hours later. By then you were gone. They called me later that night. My husband answered the phone and I knew from his responses what had happened. I was in shock and so sad to lose you. I felt it was senseless. I cried for you. I cried for your children. I cried for me losing my friend. You were only thirty years old.
A few days later, I put an ad in the newspaper personal ads in remembrance. It had a saying you had found on a cross-stitch pattern you liked. It said, "What made us friends in the long ago, when we first met? Well I think I know. The best in me, and the best in you, hailed each other, because we knew, that always and always since life began, our being friends was part of God's plan." And it was. I miss you Rachel.

Conquer That Clutter!

Ok, so I admit I am a little anal about the house. My daughter will be happy to verify that for you. I can handle having high blood pressure, natural disasters, workplace situations, but my house can reduce me to tears very quickly. It's getting to the tears point.
I'm a "neatie" and my husband is a "collector". I throw away, he saves. I toss, he retrieves. You get the idea. We've been married almost three years. Lately, I've been having the idea that the only way to get out from under this mess is to move, so I know it's getting desperate. I decided this week I have to get started. I got some boxes and garbage bags. Then I asked him, "If I make a pile in the middle of each room, will you load it up when you get home from work and take it to the thrift store to donate?" He agreed. Balls back in my court now.
Christmas is looming. I've been home for work for several weeks and still I'm not making any progress getting this done. My mother-in-law will be here for two weeks beginning on the 21st. I just have to get this done folks.
Then I realize if I get it done, I am going to have to train him to not bring stuff home. I think he's starting to understand how big of a deal this is to me. He picked up a photo storage box the other day at a store we were in. Nice cherry wood. Pretty. He said, "Do you like this?" I said, "Sure its nice. Who do you want to give it to?" He said, "Well, I was thinking of getting it for us." To which I replied, "And put it where? We have NO WHERE TO PUT ANYTHING ELSE."
So am I being a bitch? Probably. Likely. Am I the only woman this drives nuts?

Cross Eyed Vision

Developing your vision? Setting goals? Most people, even if they don't officially make a list of future goals, at least have some idea of the direction they want their life to take. This is much easier to do when you're young, because if it doesn't take the road you plan, there are so many other avenues available. At birth, all roads are open. As we mature, we close some roads and some close by themselves. For instance, I'll never be a figure skater. I went skating once, stood up, immediately fell down, and broke my wrist in three places. No, figure skating is not for me. I'll never be a movie star. I have strabismus occasionally, of which I am self-conscious, and I'd be too afraid of someone getting a picture of me with one eye wandering. I'll never be a great singer. Just don't have the pipes for it. And some doors I closed for myself.
However, there are still many things open to me. The problem comes in deciding what I want to do. I think my biggest problem is procrastination. I'd rather think about doing something than actually do it. Anyway, if you're wondering where all this talk came from, I watch Starting Over and Iyanla Vanzant, the famous life coach says you have to "define your vision for yourself."
My vision for myself. Hm.. I want to watch my kids live happy lives. I want to be a life-long learner. I want to express my creativity in whatever way strikes me that day, painting, crafts, writing. I want to be a generous, giving person. I want financial security and the means to be able to travel, try new foods, experience new things. I want to stop worrying so much about the past and start looking toward the future and enjoying the second half of my life.
So I guess I do have somewhat of a vision statement. So.....where do you see yourself being in YOUR life ten years from now ?
My quote of the day, "Think of all the women on the Titanic who passed on the dessert cart."

Kill the Kid and Pass the Popcorn

My son's girlfriend had an interesting experience. She's a working single mom with an eight year old, and has a hard time keeping housing in the area she has to stay in to be near the ex for their joint custody arrangement. Anytime she doesn't play by the ex's "rules" he threatens to sue her for sole custody on the basis that she doesn't provide a stable home environment because she moves so much. Well she had a good solid living arrangement with a lady who let her rent two bedrooms in her home. This worked a long time until the lady decided she was getting married, and her "boarder" had to go before the new husband moved in. So Son's girlfriend started looking. Evidently some past credit problems made it impossible for her to rent an apt. (Apts are at a premium there and they can be very picky), so my son started looking on some of the websites of people advertising for a roommate. He found a lady in her area, and she went to see her. She said the lady seemed a little quirky, (her dogs wear diapers) but otherwise nice and she was desperate to find someplace to stay. Well two weeks into it, the lady comes into her room at 2 in the morning and starts yelling at her for not being up to go to work, which made no sense to her because she doesn't work in the middle of the night. This continued several times, so Son's girlfriend decided to sit down and talk to the lady. She said I don't like to be awakened in the middle of the night, I can get myself up for work when it's time, etc. Lady said ok.
Then last night, the lady was waiting when she got home and said, I want you out in fifteen days. Can you imagine? It's Christmas! So now she's looking again for a place to live so she can keep her custody of her son. I feel for her.
Our Thanksgiving was nice. Turns out we're having our Christmas here instead of at a vacation home. So I'm thinking of taking the easy way out and doing something different for Christmas dinner, like spaghetti.
Pet Peeve...Get me interested in a tv show and then don't have any new episodes for weeks at a time. Grrrrr.
I'm so glad I quit my job. I can't imagine now why I hesitated. Being home is great. I'm reading, catching up on movies I wanted to see, making my jewelry, going to the library, browsing craft shops and writing. I even have time to journal now, and I'm so much happier than when I was working. I'm even managing to get some stuff done around the house, decluttering and such.
I read on a bulletin board the other day I subscribe to that some guy had major depression around this time of the year, and he said this year was the worst he'd had in a long time.
I'm been there, had problems with depression, but now I take my little pills and try to stay away from stress and assholes and my mood has improved dramatically. :-) Maybe I should share my advice with him. I know a lot of people suffer with it this time of year.
Ok, confession, I'm a wife swap/trading spouses junkie. Love those two tv shows. Liked the one the other night about the rock star wannabe mom and dad who bum around and let their kids support them while they chill....who traded with the drill instructor mom who kept a tight ship. It's continued so I can't spoil the ending for anyone, but hey, is this a good idea for a show or what. I also like to watch Nanny 911 occasionally, so my husband and I can discuss the ways we'd kill a kid who acted like those do. Makes for very good conversation. Pass the popcorn. I'd beat him to death. I'd leave him a a reststop on the highway. I'd leave him on my ex mother in laws doorstep. Yeah....

Fifty Year Old Woman Turning Cartwheels

Not a pretty sight.. ha.
Got an email from Chicken Soup for the Soul yesterday. I won one of the two grand prizes for the Father's Day Contest for my story I submitted. It will be in the Chicken Soup for the American Soul magazine's Father's Day issue coming out in May. They picked two winners, one of a father's story about daughter and one of a daughter's story about father. My story about my step-dad won. I'm so excited! Just had to share the news with my blog friends!

SOUNDBYTES CUSTOMER SERVICE

A consumer review on Soundbytes......And the Crappiest Customer Service Award Goes to...SOUNDBYTES.
Recently I placed an order online from Soundbytes , a SUPPLIER FOR HEARING AID SUPPLIES. They charged my debit card the 40 bucks, shipped out my stuff. All was fine. A few days later, they charged my debit card AGAIN, and shipped out the same merchandise again. So I have two shipments, two charges. I called and the lady Ispoke to that time was very nice. She looked up the account, said it was her mistake for the second charge, and since I was a first time customer, if I'd send back the second shipment, she'd credit me for BOTH shipments, and hoped I'd be a return customer. I thought this was very nice. So I boxed up their stuff, drove to the post office and shipped their duplicate stuff, and waited.
Two weeks later, I get one $40 buck refund. Okay, so where's the rest of it? I email them, and receive an email back that said you got your one refund on such a such date....Yes, I realize that you stupid people, but that's not what I asked you about in the email!
So I write again. I explain everything AGAIN in detail, including what the girl promised to do on the phone, what was actually done, etc. I get back another email saying we're looking over your "case" and will get back to you tomorrow.
So this lady from SOUNDBYTES just called (Her name was PAM) and she said well we can't give you back both charges, that would be like giving you back FREE merchandise. I said yes, but that wasn't my idea. It was the girl I spoke to from YOUR company that offered that. So PAM says, "Well why should we give you FREE merchandise? I replied, "Because you tied up the money from my checking account for TWO weeks, because I had to box up this crap and take it down to the post office, because this was YOUR mistake, and because YOUR customer service girl OFFERED and assured me that is what she would do! To which PAM from SOUNDBYTES said, "Well what if we give you back 10% on your order, which is $4, will you be happy then, Ma'ammmmm?"
I told her not to bother. I hung up on her mangy butt. She's lost a customer, plus...she gets all this FREE ADVERTISING in my BLOG which is LINKED TO GOOGLE and about ten other SEARCH ENGINES, which it will show up on in a week or so, and I hope anyone out there reading this who is looking for a supplier for HEARING AID BATTERIES, HEARING PROTECTION, VISUAL ALERTING SYSTEMS, TTY AND TDD, VIDEOS ON DEAFNESS AND HEARING LOSS, ASL, AMPLIFIED TELEPHONES, OR OTHER ACCESSORIES, will think very carefully before giving out your CREDIT card information to SOUNDBYTES with such CRAPPY customer service.
There, I feel better.

90 Questions

I borrowed this idea from "A Girl from Texas".

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT. Scar on inside of calf right above my ankle. It was my first attempt at shaving my legs at twelve.
2. NAME 7 THINGS IN YOUR ROOM. Dulcimer, dresser, bed, nightstands, desk, bookcase, rug.
3. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE? Flip camera phone, Nokia.
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO? Depends on my mood; mostly instrumentals, like acoustic guitar.
5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? It was four in the afternoon. My dad was out buying tires for the car.
6. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS? My fiftieth birthday.
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? People I've lost contact with through the years.
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? My Granny's hairbrush and glasses.
9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? Lavendar
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Yes in MRI machines.
11. IF YOU DIED TOMORROW: I'd hope someone would remember me and smile.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? Just general work situation.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME? L'Aire du Temp by Nina Ricci
WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? Clean hair.
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO ? At a lakeside cabin under the trees watching the stars, although the most romantic one I did receive was in a booth at Darryl's years ago.
16. DO YOU LIKE PORN? Yuck.
17. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD? My husband, tonight, I think. Long story.
18. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? No.
19. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU? I remember dolls at Christmas. Lots of dolls.
20. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? I don't think falling in love is a choice.
21. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? Open your mouth, look in their eyes and say the words.
22. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: 19
23. WHAT IS THE LAST TEXT MSG YOU RECEIVED? My son texted me instructions on getting my wireless internet to work at a coffee shop I was in.
24. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN? I don't call anyone often.
25. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? Phone calls except from a choice few.
26. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE US? Yes, England and Mexico.
27. YOUR WEAKNESSES? Chocolate, hairy chest, sweet talk. ha.
28. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Huntsville AL
29. FIRST JOB? Gopher for a Credit Bureau
30. WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A teacher. Boy was I wrong.
31. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY? Trying to go to sleep and not succeeding.
32. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Tummy tuck.
33. WHY DID YOU FILL THIS SURVEY OUT? I hope others who read my blog will know me better, and then they'll answer and let me know them better.
34. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? My green eyes.
35. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL? Start growing grapes. ha.
36. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? A week all alone, but I won't get it.
37. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? Got all I want now. They are great.
38. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope, my mom just liked names short and sweet.
39. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? Definitely.
40. IF YOU COULD PUT 5 BANDS TOGETHER TO PLAY A CONCERT, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Led Zeppelin, James Taylor (not a band exactly), Alabama, Bread, Eagles.
41. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? A couple of months ago. Stressed out at work and major PMS.
42. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes
43. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO RETIRE? Somewhere warm.
44. ANY BAD HABITS? eat too much. Exercise too little.
45. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF? Don't know.
46. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU. If I let me close enough. (That sounds weird).
47. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL? Probably. No one is perfect.
48. DO LOOKS MATTER? less than they used to.
49. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? cry.
50. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? Dont have one.
51. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY? Too easily.
52. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Chatty Cathy or Barbie.
53. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? forty or so. Only use about ten of them.
54. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Yes, a lot.
55. EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT? Nope.
56. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? Ability to have a peaceful relationship and go with the flow.
57. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? Kath, Kat, Kathy Kat, and Mom.
58. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
59. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE STRONG POINTS? Sure. I'm non-judgemental comes to mind first.
60. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? CHOCOLATEEEEE
61. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 7 1/2
62. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS? pink blue
63. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE? none. Had 'em yanked years ago.
64. WHO DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW? Honestly? Romance, I think.
65. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? Yes all my blog buddies please do.
66. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Train whistle.
67. LAST THING YOU ATE? Ham sandwich.
68. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mom
69. IF YOU WERE GIVEN $100, WHAT WOULD YOU GO BUY? probably beads or books.
70. WHAT QUALITIES MAKE A MAN IRRESISTABLE? A guy who TALKS to me from his heart, and who would rather do that than watch tv.
71. WHO DO YOU THINK IS OVERRATED? Christmas.
72. FAVORITE DRINK? Diet Pepsi Vanilla
73. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Wine.
74. WHAT ARE YOUR NEW YEARS EVE PLANS? Stay home.
75. WHERE WAS YOUR LAST VACATION? Cruise I guess.
76. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Music, art, nature, heartfelt conversation.
77. SIBLINGS? One, who I haven't talked to in twelve years, her choice.
78. FAVORITE MONTH? November. Love Fall.
79. YOU LIKE SUSHI? No
80. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I Walk the Line
81. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? My birthday
82. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? Actually did this once when i was single. Met this guy who used to work on my computers and thought he was very interesting. I sent him an email (chicken!) and said Would you like to have dinner some time? No reply. A month later I got one back and from the dates on the original, somehow he hadn't gotten it until then. He said "sure, I'd love to. call me." By then I was dating Steve so I never replied.
83. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
84. KISSES OR HUGS? Hugs
85. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS? I'm married so it would be relationships.
86. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Tao tse Ching, from hearing about it in Million Little Pieces.
87. WHERE DO YOU WORK? Writing for Assoc Content now and then.
88. WHATS YOUR MAJOR? I majored in math.
89. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Desperate Housewives (Go Bree!) and Grey's Anatomy (go Meredith! You showed him!)
90. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK WHEN YOU WAKE UP? I'm tired. Where's my diet coke?

Thank You MattieG!

I decided what to do with some of my short story money. My friend Cathy is a very talented painter and has a website with some of her artwork. Because she is so gifted and because she is one of my "bestest friends in the whole world", I wanted very much to have one of her paintings. It arrived today!. I went right out and bought a frame for it. Isn't it pretty? It's so nice to have talented friends, and this will be a keepsake that I'll always treasure. That's exactly the kind of thing I wanted to use my first writing money to buy.

Walking the Line

I have been getting phone calls from people at work, people who just can't stand the idea that I just left without something terrible happening, something someone must have done, something that has a to have a good juicy story behind it.....so they call, and call, and call. My son answers and says I'm not available. It's driving them nuts. Now they leave voice mails saying, "Please just call and tell me what happened? Did someone do something?" My first inclination is to just leave a message on the phone saying, "If you are calling from my former workplace, here's what happened...I quit. I don't work there anymore. Stop calling me!"
I am loving being home. I decided I needed a new hobby. I looked in Hobby Lobby's sale paper and found they have jewelry supplies half price. I thought if Lisa on Starting Over can make jewelry, and she's an idiot, then maybe I can. So I went down there and bought some stuff, made a few pieces, went back and bought some more, made some more. By now my husband is getting interested in what I am doing and he says I should make some for the kids at Christmas. I said I have everything I need except this particular set of pliers that would make this all so much easier, and we agree to go get them at Hobby Lobby before going to get groceries. Well, eighty dollars later (after they took the 50% off), he has bought me pliers, and a pile of beads, jewelry settings, sterling silver stuff, storage boxes for all the beads, etc etc. So now I'm set. Don't know what I 'm going to do with all this stuff after the kids get what they want, but I figure maybe I can sell some on Ebay or something.
We went last night to see Walk the Line. I grew up with country music, whether I wanted to or not, and I whined and complained about it all during my teenage years while my parents had Hank Williams or Chet Atkins or Tammy Wynette blaring on the stereo. But somehow it stuck. When I took up the dulcimer and found all the music for hymns, celtic songs, and country tunes, the country ones ended up making me feel like I was "coming home". So seeing a movie about Johnny Cash and remembering the words to all the songs was pretty cool. Of course, Reese Witherspoon sang a lot better than June Carter ever did, really. But who can beat that deep voice of Johnny Cash? "Because you're mine....I walk the Lineeeeee". Good movie.
Next week all my kids will be home for Thanksgiving, except my step-daughter in Florida. I'm cooking. Menu is Honeybaked Ham, Honeybaked Turkey Breast, Hashbrown Casserole, Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle, Cranberry Relish, Cornbread Dressing, Gravy, Deviled Eggs, Coconut Cake and good ol' Southern Sweet Iced Tea. I'll start cooking on Thursday and we are having dinner on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to it.
Cathy was right. I'm much happier being home than I ever was at work!

Me and Hubby in Savannah. Hair was shorter then and much grayer than now. I cut out the family members who wish to remain incognito (plumbtuckered).

Once a Jerk, Always a Jerk

A friend called me tonight and told me she filed divorce papers today. I guess the polite thing to do would to have been to view it as a bad thing and tell her how sorry I was, but the truth is, I wanted to yell yeeee-hawww and wave my hat in the air. She's been married thirty years to a huge jerk. She has no self-esteem, has not known any love or friendship or affection or emotional support from this man as long as I've known her (24 yrs). Recently she asked what they were going to do to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary and he stared at her like she had lost her mind and said, "Not a damn thing." And they didn't.
She has had NO life for so long that she doesn't even realize how bad it is. Or she hadn't. Until last week. She's mentioned divorce a few times, but always felt it was "wrong in the eyes of God" even though this slug slept with her sister the first year they were married (she forgave them both) and had sex with a woman in the hospital bathroom when their child was in the hospital very ill (again, she forgave). Well both of those were years ago. Since then they've lived together and had no real marriage, other than both being at home with the kids. As her friend, I've wanted to give her a wake up call, but you really can't make anyone do anything to help themselves until they're ready.
Well it turns out their nineteen year old son overheard Dad on the phone with his girlfriend the other day (Dad thought no one was home) and confronted his father. Of course, he denied it, and the kid began to wonder if he was wrong. So instead of telling his mom his "suspicions" he decided to find out the facts. He did some investigating, found out from some folks that worked with "Dad" that the girlfriend is twenty-three and has slept with pretty much every man at the plant, and that yes, Dad is one of her steadies. So he sat Dad up. He waited until everyone was gone from home and then snuck back in his bedroom window and listened to Dear Ol' Dad calling up the girlfriend and planning their next escapade. He then confronted Dad again, and of course he got very very defensive this time, even standing up in his son's face and telling him he did not have to listen to him. At which point, son pushed Dad back down into the chair and told him yes, he was going to listen. He then told Dad exactly what kind of man and father he was.
Well the son told his Mom, who didn't seem that upset over it (I think she was probably rejoicing over finding a true Christian-accepted reason for divorcing his sorry ass). Then the older daughters came to her and told her they also knew about Dad's philandering. Turns out a lot of the family has known but didn't tell her.
So she found a lawyer, paid him with her money she's put back from the grocery money for awhile now (Yes, my idea), and he is filling out the papers, saying it's a no-fault divorce, she gets all the property and savings, plus child support and alimony and he has to pay her health insurance. Lawyer said not to mention it to him until she picks up the papers, and then to say, "You can either sign these like they are, or we can go to court, and I'm bringing in all of our grown children and your co-workers to prove your adultery, and you will pay all of the court costs and my lawyer fees."
He doesn't know what's about to hit him. He doesn't even know he's about to get a divorce. Yeeeee Hawwwwww.

It's Me From A to Z

Me from A to Z
I stole this from Amy who stole it from Nora.
A is for Age – 49 and holding, until May anyway
B is for Booze – glass of wine with dinner occasionally
C is for Career – Newly appointed domestic goddess, previous secretary, previous high school math teacher, past entreprenuer, and current aspiring writer.
D is for Dad's Name- Richard
E is for Essential items to bring to a party-My husband alwayts takes pasta salad to everything. He makes it. It's good.
F is for Favorite song at the moment - Anything played by David Schnaufer
G is for Goof off thing to do –google everything I can think of.
H is for Hometown – Huntsville AL
I is for Instrument you play – Dulcimer
J is for Jam or Jelly you like – Strawberry, or Pear
K is for Kids – mine!
L is for Living arrangement – Husband, middle son, and dog Rags
M is for Mom’s name –
N is for Name of best friend – Cathy and Dawn
O is for Overnight Stay in a Hospital – Bunches and bunches of times!
P is for Phobias – Heights, bugs, going down stairs
Q is for Quote you like –Does the chicken have talons?
R is for Relationship that lasted longest – First husband and my children's father- 20 yrs
S is for Siblings – One sister, four years older, a lot meaner. ha.
T is for Texas, ever been? – Only through the airport.
S is for Unique trait – Good at Algebra, does that count? ha.
V if for Vegetable you love – Potatoes
W is for Worst traits – Isolating myself
X- is for X-rays you’ve had – all over
Y is for Yummy food you make – Pina Colada Coconut Cake (I hope my daughter takes this. She makes Do-Do Cookies. ha)
Z is for Zodiac sign – Taurus or Gemini, depending on which magazine it's in. May 21