40 + 1

OK people, the show is over--move along, there is nothing to see here but the hung over carnage of a girl who had a great time on her birthday.

The day was great--very mellow start--I woke up to MAH House decorated with love!! Check it..

AWESOME! Then my bestest gals and hubby thru me a sweet ass surprise birthday party when tasty food and awesome beverage were consumed in great masses!! Um--Who ever mixed those margaritas--I don't think it's supposed to a 1:1 ratio of mix to tequila--but THANK YOU just the same!! Good times, tons of card, some $$ from family and gift certificates for goodies for myself all made for a fabulous way to bring in another decade!! Thanks everyone!!

Goodbye, Farewell, Aufveridhoweverthehellyouspellit Goodnight...

Ode to my 30's and a other crap to deal with:

Dear 30's

You brought me wisdom, pregnancy, the birth of my only child, another decade of marriage and a whole bunch of other crap in between.

You also brought a newly built house, a new community, new friends, the departure of old friends and the death of loved ones.

The 30's have been an awesome time of growth and life changing events--as they should be. You change into the person you are meant to be--without all the baggage and bullshit of your 20's. You could not pay me to be in my 20's again, but I think I really will miss the 30's--I had a great time (mostly) and learned so much about who I am and what I WANT to be for the next 30 years.

Turning 40 tomorrow will be the start of a NEW adventure. People tell me that it's even better in your 40's because you have already learned how NOT to take crap from people, you are now just not afraid to say it and call people out on their shit. (not that I ever had much of a problem with that--tee hee).

For my last 30's "challenge", I have been visited by a ghost of friendship past. I got a birthday card yesterday from someone who I have not spoken to in almost 2 years. An Olive branch perhaps??? But do I take that branch and do anything with it? I'm not sure. This person was a part of my life since high school--I mean a BIG part. Like I was her birth coach and her daughter is my God-daughter and we walked thru the walls of fire together-- kind of big.

But a couple of years ago, (oh hell, If I'm honest, we have been drifting apart for a lot longer than that) she totally blew me off for an event and I have not heard from her since. I sent her daughter a card with a check for Christmas--check got cashed, never heard a word. Nothing came for my daughter--which is fine, it's not necessary, but I would have liked to hear "thanks" for the money I sent. So I did try to make some sort of contact, but I heard nothing back.

When my (step) dad was killed in a plane crash in Dec of 2006 (2 days after Christmas--so that holiday sucks now), it was major news in this area--TV/newspaper coverage up the ying-yang. We fought off phone calls from so many new sources on a daily basis that I have learned to hate the media for how they treat the people left behind after a sudden tragedy. The funeral was packed and so many of my friends stayed at the funeral home with me, fed my family, took care of my daughter for me and lifted me up in prayer when I just thought I couldn't take it anymore. Did I hear from her at all--No..nothing...silence. So I moved on.

The relationship was not exactly "toxic", but when you watch a person make the same stupid mistakes and never learn from them, it wears on a bitch's ass and tires the soul. Have I missed sharing things with her--yes, but it's not like we were a big part of each other's lives anymore.

So, how do I respond to the Olive Branch? She wrote in the card that she missed me and gave me her cell number. I don't know if I have the strength to deal with her. My life is in it's own little state of flux--with hubby still searching for a job--me working full time again and a DD speeding her way thru her childhood (why does it go so fast?). Do I want to have to give any of my limited, precious time to someone who has always been something to "fix"? Has she changed? Is it worth fighting for? I'm not sure. I guess this will be the last challenge of my 30's, but also the first of my 40's.

4 Days People!.........

A long ass MEME--get a drink, get comfy

I stole this from TenseTeacher.net who stole it from somewhere else. She has a great blog--go visit her.

Kwiz Me Meme

How many people live in your house?
There are 3 of us

Do you like your siblings?
YEs--the real ones--the Ex(due to death)-steps can bite my ass.

What color are your nails?
Natural

What’s your favorite place on earth?
North Carolina

Ever punch someone in the face?
No

Did you have a dream last night?
Not that I remember, but a glass of wine and a sleeping pill can do that to you

Where is your shirt from?
Kohls

Are you mad at someone?
Not at the moment--but it's early, I'm sure someone will commit some sort of fuckery today to piss me off

Where’s your best friend?
In Florida

Last place you bought something from?
The Wal-Marts Got my JOURNEY CD--FINALLY

Last person you were in a car with?
Hubby

What bank do you use?
Bank of Noneyabusiness!

Do you like being in pictures?
YEs, as long as other people are strategically placed around my fat

Who’s your last missed call from?
My neighbor

Ever broken something at someone else’s house?
I don’t remember doing so, but I probably did.

Are you a good driver?
Yes

What’s on your mind right now?
Is it Friday yet?

When is your birthday?
IN 9 DAYS PEOPLE!!!!

What kind of cell phone do you have?
LG 8600

How old will you be in 5 years?
A year younger than I am right now--PERMENANTLY

Are you a movie buff?
Does a bear shit in the woods?

If you could move tomorrow, would you?
If it were to NOrth Carolina yes


Do you like the weather today?
It's actually beautiful here today. A cool night last night and only 80 today

Do you like the outdoors or indoors better?
Give me the indoors

How tall are you?
5′ 5″

If you had to choose an age to remain for the rest of your life what would it be?
32

What’s something in your past you wish you could relive?
I don’t think there is anything I want to re-live… Life is pretty good.

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
Go to NASCAR races--but not this year--Jeff is Sucking it

Favorite nearby vacation destination?
Put-In Bay

How’s the weather?
Sunny and cool

Does anything on your body hurt?
Not yet--but I'm getting old, pain could flare at any minute

What was the last television show you watched?
The Today Show-hour 1

Do you prefer orange or cherry ice-pops?
Cherry!

Do you like pickles?
Oh yeah!!

Does your hair still smell like shampoo?
No--now it smells like hairspray

What’s plugged in in the nearest outlet?
My battery charger

What was the last thing you wrote by hand?
A check to pay for school fees and lunches for the next 2 months

What’s your favorite commercial?
The cellphone one where the parents are talking about allocating minutes and the kids are washing the car--I love the sister giving the brother a wedgie and shoving the hose down his pants

Do you pay attention to celebrity gossip?
YES--it makes me laugh

Have you sung out loud today?
Yes--Sang with my Journey CD all the way to work

Do you wish it was 4 years into the future, or 4 years back?
4 years back--I would have had hubby make other job plans

Can you touch your nose with your foot?
Yes--I'm flexible like that

Do you prefer paper towels, or napkins?
Paper towels

Are you currently texting anyone?
No

What was the last movie you watched?
The Dark Knight--LOVED IT

Whom did you last high-five?
DD--as she started 2nd grade

Describe your best friend in 3 words.
TOO FAR AWAY

Do you watch the Olympics?
Most definitely

Can you dance?
Yes, if enough liquor is involved

Do you keep the oil changed in your car?
yes--every 5000 miles

Have you ever been hunting?
No

Do you like taking pictures?
Yes

What about making scrapbooks?
I do it sporadically--mainly in the winter when it's too damn cold to do anything else

Are you a sushi lover?
Um--NO

What is your favorite restaurant of all time?
Ruth's Chris or Bertolinni's in the Forum at Caesar's in Vegas

Does it annoy you when people drive slow in the fast lane?
Ohmigod, yes--I want a taser for the front of my car for that reason--you lay on a little of the chrome horn and taz that bastard out of your way. (not that I am an aggressive driver or anything)

What do your parents do for a living?
My mom is an insurance biller for a Pharmacy and my dad is semi-retired, but he drives old people around for a senior center

Are there any famous people you’d like to meet?
Tom Cruise--so I can see how short he really is and then I can punch him in the throat for what he & Scientology have done to Katie and Suri

Do you get tired of hearing about celebrity divorces?
Yes

What are your plans for the weekend?
No big plans

How often do you tan?
Tan?? Um hi--I'm Whitey McWhiterson, damn glad to meet you.

Are your nails always manicured?
Bwaaaaaahahahahaaaa! (No)

Could you ever go without eating meat?
No

Where is your favorite place to buy groceries?
Meijer

When was the last time you took a bubble bath?
Back in July when hubby took DD to his parents for the week. I was a SLOTH the whole time and I loved it

Do have good sense of style?
I have a CLASSIC sense of style — I stick with what always works.

If you could have any car, what would it be?
A flying one!!

Do you like fast food?
Um yeah--it works

Have you ever flipped someone off while driving?
OOOOHHHH YEAH!

Do you like to receive compliments or give them?
Both

Have you ever been to a casino?
Yes--Mama Loves The Vegas

What do you do to relax?
Read, sit in my hot-tub

Do you like kids?
I love them, as long as I can send all but my own home to someone else.

Does family mean a lot to you?
Yes

Are you going to the beach anytime soon?
No

What is your favorite perfume?
Sunflowers--hard to find now

What is your favorite men’s cologne?
Polo--I know, so 1988, but I still love it

What is your favorite type of dog?
Cocker Spaniel

If you had to move to a different country, which one would you choose?
Austraila

Do you like to color in coloring books?
No--I hate the way crayons feel on paper--especially the "cheap" crayons. It's crayola or nothing

Do you think you would have been a hippie in the 60s and 70s?
yes

Would you rather be cold or hot?
Cold — because you can always put on another layer--hot, sticky and sweaty don't work for me


Incense or candles?
Candles

What brand of cosmetics do you use the most often?
Clinique or Maybelline

What is the one commercial on TV that annoys you the most?
Any Alltel commercial with those 4 dorks and CHAD

Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird

Would you rather be smart or beautiful?
Smart

What is your favorite reality show?
Dancing with the Stars (cause it's the only one I watch)

So whom are you voting for in the upcoming election?
Whomever I think is the best candidate--and I have decided that yet.

What ringtone is on your phone?
Right now it's "SUmmertime" by Kenny Chesney. I will put it back to Crazy BItch after Labor Day

What would you tell a 3-year-old that asks where babies come from?
Mommies and daddies make babies.

What is your favorite type of cereal?
Lucky Charms

Are you double jointed?
No

What videos do you search for on YouTube?
I don’t.

Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
Yes

Have you ever had to go to the emergency room?
Yes

Who is your favorite comedian?
Ron White--saw him live, peed in my pants a little

Name some foods you will not eat:
Sushi

Do you have any irrational fears?
Fear of spiders

Do you snoop in other people’s medicine cabinets?
No--wouldn't want you in mine, so I don't go into yours

What happens if you put the “This side up” side face down while popping microwave popcorn?
All the kernals don't pop--lesson learned by dd

How much would you pay in ransom if someone stole your pet?
The one I've got now--Not a damn thing

Have you ever eaten green eggs and ham?
No

Ever had surgery? On what?
Yes--Non-Cancerous Growth removed from nose, C-Section and Gall Bladder removed

Ever walked through a fast food restaurant drive thru?
No

The First Day of School (aka: Momma does a jig of glee)

This is what NOT amused looks like!



I had to DRAG the so called smile out of the kid this morning--she was SO pissy this morning.

This is what getting excited about a new school year looks like: (It helps that her friends Tessa, Jenna and Sydney were seated in her group of tables.)



SECOND GRADE???? Just think in 10 years, we'll be starting her SENIOR year in highschool. I have no idea where the last 7 years went, so I can only imagine how fast it's going to go for the next 7. My BABY!!!

I like what I have heard about her new teacher. She's tough and really pushes the kids to learn--I'm excited about that. (I've also heard that she is a "yeller"--not so pleased with that, but hell, I yell at ONE 7 year old--can you imagine 16 of them all day? God Help her--I don't know how teachers do it. I'd be a Yeller too I guess)

We had a little visitor

So, I'm sitting on my deck and I keep seeing some motion out of the corner of my eye along the fence. When I turn to look at the fence, I don't really see anything--but DD was down looking along the fence and spotted THIS GUY!



This has to be the biggest moth I have ever seen in my life (I'm assuming a moth due to the large body size) Anyone have an idea what he is or how I can find out? He was longer than the span of my wrist to the tip of my middle finger--which is 7"

He stayed there, just flipping his wings around for at least 6 hours. Every kid in the neighborhood got dragged into our yard to see it. I believe I said "Don't touch it's wings, you'll hurt him" at LEAST 50,000,000 times and I would STILL see kids trying to reach out and touch it. Man, kids don't listen do they?

Here is a view of his big body:



Not usually a fan of the big flying things--but this guy was pretty neat!

EDIT: I'll be damned if I didnt' Google "Large colorful moth" and this came right up! It's my Moth:

Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
This is the largest of the North American moths with a wing spread of five to seven inches. Its overall color is various shades of brown, but there is a conspicuous white mark near the center of each wing. There is a dark eye spot and a tinge of lavender near the tip of the front wing. The moths make their seasonal appearance in early summer and lay their eggs. They are often found at lighted windows at night.





Cecropia Moth (R. Bessin, Univ. of Kentucky)

1980 Something all over again!!

OK--Growing up as a teen in the 80's Journey was one of my FAVOITE bands--Hello "Faithfully", "Open Arms", "Send her my Love" Umm---Steve Perry was singing to ME damn it!!

But alas, Steve moved on and others have tried to take his place--but NO ONE ever will! BUT THIS GUY COMES DARN CLOSE.

Close your eyes and just listen to the music---you would swear you are hearing Steve himself--but this is the new front man for Journey. Arnel Pineda. He could maybe even pass for his son or way younger brother.

This is the new hit from their CD Revelation--you can buy it at Journymusic.com--but I am going to scour the stores for it

edit--Blogger is a bastard--you'll have to paste the link Sorry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswnbpA2qZ0

The Dark Knight......OMG!!

OK--so it took me 3 weeks, but DH and I went to see this on Saturday. OH MY GOD~

What a totally awesome picture--so much action and so intense!!

I know people are going on and on about Heath Ledger (may he rest in peace) and even DH thought--oh it's hype because he's dead now--but NO!!!! Heath is AMAZING in this movie--the "ticks" and facial features and the "Crazy" he had to maintain this character is just out of this world. He truely deserves the Oscar for this.




Looking at Christian Bale for a couple of hours isn't a bad thing either-hee hee!

Maggie G--eh, she did alright, but I really wanted her to blow Katie Holmes' version of Rachel Dawson out of the water--but sadly, she didn't. She was just "fine".

This whole movie and it's twists and turns is an awesome way to spend the time!! Even at full price.

OH--and not sure if all theatres have this now--but at Levis Common's Theatre's there is this White Cheddar power you can sprinkle on your popcorn and it is ORGASMIC!!!! Gotta find some of that business in the store!!

You've been SLAPPED!

Staycation Part 3--Put-In-Bay

So Sunday was the most awesome weather day--so we took off for "The Bay".

Put-In-Bay, OH to be exact--fun filled family time by day, drunken crazy by night. As were were waiting for the Miller Ferry to take us over, the first ferry pulled in and all the hung over drunks from Saturday night were off loaded. Those were some sorry looking folks--included a few who looked a little "green around the gills" if you know what I mean.

We got over to the island, picked up our rental golf cart (man did the price ever go up on those--yikes!) and headed off to see the Perry Memorial and Peace Monument:



It's like 35 stories tall and we took the elevator up to the top to enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Erie:






Ontaria Canada's mainland is just 23 miles from the Bay----you can see some of the Canadian smaller islands from here on a clear day. What else is off in the distance you ask?



Oh yeah--The Nuclear Reactor Cooling Tower for Davis Bessie--nice--yes, we live near one of those things--three actually because in a another direction you can see the twin cooling towers of FERMI Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan

We then took off to Heinemans Winery for mama's trip to the "motherland". Heinemans--Home of the Pink Catawba, The Niagra and The Sweet Belle wines that mama holds so dear to her heart. We took DD down into the Geode (sp?) cave there--It's all crystals and pretty cool. This is what learning about something fun looks like:



I ordered my case of wine (bulk discount ya know) to be waiting for us at the Ferry when it was time to go and then off we went again--touring the island by golf cart, taking the munchkin to the Butterfly house--seeing that they wanted $7.50 A PERSON to go thru the gardens and decided to take her out to the Butterfly house in Whitehouse another time--I mean, come on--almost $25.00 to MAYBE see some butterflies--I don't think so. Mama has her priorities--I could have bought more wine with that kind of money--haha!

We did the lunch thing, we saw a "historic" demonstration about how they used the muskets and bayonnets in the war of 1812 that was fought right here on our Ohio lands:



Then the munchkin played in the park and there were bagpipers--very annoying after a while. This is what "Chillin" looks like:




Then, after about 7 hours, it was time to head on back to the Ferry:



This is what tired and pissy looks like after a day running around the island:

Le Sigh...........It's August! OH NO!!

OK--As I turned over the calendar to August, I felt my stomach fall to the floor. IN exactly 28 days I will be f.. I will turn f.... Oh crap, I cannot even type it.

39 plus 1 = f..o.. Nope, still cannot do it.

Where did it go? I mean, like the past 20 years have FLOWN by--the last 7 years especially--how is it possible that my BABY is 7 and I am f..o..--nope still not gonna do it. Why does time go so fast, just when you finally have realized how to enjoy it a bit?

Well, that is is, I just will not have a birthday this year--I'll call a do over on 39. Maybe next year I'll be ready...or maybe not.

OH CRAP--this means it's time for a driver's license renewal too--ugh!! Call the hair dresser, get some new make-up, pile on the wrinkle remover--HELP!!!!!!!!! WHHHHYYYYYY for the love of all that is holy WHHHHHYYYYYY must this happen???

I guess it could be worse, it could NOT really happen. And after all: F..O..(nope) is the new 30 right?

WHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH