What Matters to Me

Angry doesn't begin to describe it....

2009-05-27T14:59:00.005-05:00

I am frustrated. Back in 2005 Billy and I had to file for bankruptcy. He was laid off of work for 8 months, right after we bought our house. I was making enough to buy groceries and pay the utilities, but that was it. So, we filed bankruptcy.

Well, since then we have done really well. No credit cards, no debt but the house.

Now, we would like to refinance the house and take advantage of the low interest rates. Well, because we don't have revolving debt from a credit card, that's bad. And,it turns out our mortgage company isn't reporting anything the credit bureaus either.

When you file bankruptcy, you are asked if you want to reaffirm on anything. This means that by reaffirming a debt means you sign and file with the bankruptcy court a legally enforceable document, which states that you promise to repay all or a portion of the debt that may otherwise have been discharged in your bankruptcy case.

We reaffirmed on our house and a car. Well, we signed the form that we wanted to reaffirm on the house. Our lawyer, apartently, did not ever send that form to the mortgage company. So, this is why our credit report doesn't reflect 4 years of payments, which would bring our credit rating up.

I am soooooo mad our lawyer and his assistant. First the assistant tells me that they were "so busy and may have forgot to send it." Then she tells Billy that they gave it to the court, and it is up to the court to send it to the mortgage company. Then, when he called her and told her that was a lie, because I called a different lawyer and he told me the process. He called her on the statement where she told me that they might not have sent it, and she told him that she never said that, and that I was lying to him. And, then she told him that she sent it to the mortgage company, and it was up to them to send it back to her. It doesn't work that way either. Argh!!!

So, to sum it all up, our lawyer forgot to send it to the mortgage company. Once your bankruptcy is finalized, about 60 days after you file, you cannot reaffirm on anything. So, we can't reaffirm on the house. Now, the house is ours. The reaffirmation form is what allows the mortgage company to report negative or positive information to the credit bureaus. So, because they didn't get that form, it will never, ever be reported. The house is ours, unless we stop making payments. Then they could take it. But, we have never missed a payment. That is the one thing we made sure to pay every time. But, we can't improve our credit with that now. I was on the phone for over 3 hours yesterday with the mortgage company, lawyers, etc. It was very frustrating.

Now, what do we do at this point? I don't know. I don't know what we can do about our lawyer dropping the ball. We were looking at trying to buy some land from Billy's cousin this summer too. Now, we don't know if we can. It's been a frustrating last few days dealing with this. And, Billy comes home last night and asks me why I was acting bummed out. Can't imagine why. LOL

Where has the time gone!

2009-05-21T17:18:00.002-05:00

I have decided that my children are crazy. I think it runs in the family, but non the less, it's probably official now. LOL

I have been wanting to write in my blog for a while now. So many things have happened since I last posted. I will wake up in the middle of the night with one of the kids and think to myself, "I need to write this down", but in the morning I get so busy that I usually don't have the time to.

We have finally, for the most part, got Zane sleeping in his bed all night. There were a few nights there where I thought I would pull my hair out. He would wake up and cry, and scream for me. I would get up, run in there before he woke up his sister, and see what the emergency was. It would usually turn out that with him saying "I need you, I can't staaannd it!" So, after about 3 nights of that I told him I would turn off the monitor and he could scream to himself for a while. That seemed to work, because now he's sleeping in his bed. I mean, we have a few nights here and there when I will wake up with a 48lb 5yr old in my bed, wondering when he got there. But, not too often.

And yes, he has turned five. When did that happen! I mean, one minute he's my newborn baby, and the next minute he is 3 1/2 feet tall and 5! Time so flies when you have kids. We threw a party for him at the park and he cleaned up pretty good. *sigh* Where has the time gone.

Zoe had surgery for her supra umbilical hernia in the end of March. That went really well. She has a small scar inside of her belly button. The doctor assures me that by the time she wants to wear a bikini no one will be able to see it. Like she will be allowed out of the house in a bikini! LOL If Billy has his way she will be covered from head to toe.

I will be starting school next month. I have to take the ACT, which I never took because we moved so much when I was in school that I seemed to miss it every time they offered it. That, I can tell you, I'm not looking forward to. I will try to take that between the summer and fall semester. I have to have that done by Feb. 1st. So, I will be embarking on the fun and wonderful journey called College. Pray for me!! :)

Billy has started his new job and is loving it. He's excelling and they all seem to love him. He has them sooo fooled! LOL

I am hoping to see my parents some time this summer. Since Laura's wedding has been called off, we would like to try to make it up to Michigan this Thanksgiving or Christmas. I want to see my family. I was really looking forward to seeing cousins, Aunts and Uncles at Laura's wedding. It will all depend on my school and Billy's work. Since he's a contractor, if he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid. So, we will see.

Well, that's the update so far. Thanks for reading!

Issues of the heart

2009-03-31T14:29:00.003-05:00

There are times that I curse my family genes.

Last summer I started to have problems with feeling like I was going to pass out. The feeling of being really light headed and...well, just bad. I went to my family doctor who sent me to a specialists. This doc ran a series of tests to see what was going on. I had an MRI, 2 Tilt Table tests, stress test, EKG, Carotid ultrasound...etc. I vow I will never have another Tilt test. Those are terrible. Nothing like feeling like you are going to black out while being restrained.

After all the tests, my doc says that I have a problem with my blood pressure dropping out. So he put me on Beta blockers and meds for high cholesterol.

And then I find out that my sister has the same problem with her blood pressure, and that she and my dad are both on Beta Blockers. Niiiceeee. LOL

Most days I feel fine. The last week or so I have been feeling light headed again and a tightness in my chest. I don't want to do any more tests. That, and my doctor has left that practice. So, I will have to see someone new now. And, I just don't feel like messing with it. *sigh*

I wish I could just snap my fingers or wiggle my nose like Samantha and everything would be fixed!

Crazy momma

2009-03-30T16:18:00.002-05:00

Does anyone else have days where it just doesn't seem like you can get anything done right, or have anything work the way you want it to? All the kids want to do is scream and fight and cry. And all you want to do is be left alone for a few minutes so you can use the bathroom in peace. One is calling you names and screaming that they hate you, and the other one is part monkey and climbing everything.

I would love a nice long shower and about an hour to myself. Sometimes being a mom isn't so easy. The days you want to pull your hair out and run screaming away from your own house aren't considered good ones, huh? LOL Some days are just better than others.

What did I do?

2009-03-26T10:25:00.005-05:00

I think it's funny that my husband comes home and says things like, "Did you do anything today?" Or, "You have been off of work for 2 months now, and the house is still a mess." I think he's delusional. What do I do? Let me see here....

I get up at 6 in the morning and cook chicken and veggies and divide them into 3 ounce portions for him to take in his lunch. 3-4 servings.

I get myself dressed.

I lay out the clothes for the kids.

I make Zane's breakfast drink and then go and get him up. Have to have that drink right away so he can suck it down like a man dying of thirst.

I then cuddle him for a few minutes and get him dressed.

I then get Zoe up, change her diaper and dress her.

Billy leaves at this point, the fearless leader...leaving the wife and kids to brave the crazy Tulsa traffic and make the bacon.

At this point I have to either figure out if Zane wants to eat at home for breakfast, or at school...or if we have enough time to run to nanny's for a quick bite. If he's eating at home he eats now.

Zane gets his medicine.

We get coats on, and leave. Either for school or Nanny's for breakfast.

Drop Zane off at 8am for school, giving him kisses, high fives, thumbs up and hugs. Not necessarily in that order.

If there is grocery shopping to do, now is the time when I just have Zoe Jean. Otherwise we head home.

Zoe tells me she is "Seepy" and wants a nap. I try to get her down so that she can get at least an hour and a half before we have to leave at 10:35 to go and get in line at school to pick up the boy.

We come home and I try to get him to play for a little bit before lunch. He usually wants to play with his V-Tech or the X-Box, but I have to limit him on that. He usually gets nasty when it's time to stop playing.

During this time I try to get the dishwasher loaded and the washing machine going. If Tom and Jerry are on I can get about 30 minutes of time to do this.

We eat lunch.

I try to get Zoe down for a nap.

If I did laundry, now is the time to fold it while the "little helper" is asleep. Otherwise she is unfolding everything.

During the rest of the afternoon I try to get what little cleaning I can get done, pick up the living room at least twice. It always looks like I never did anything by the time Billy gets home, though.

Around 4 I try to start dinner. At this point Zane's meds have worn off and he's turned into a brat. He's usually kicking his sister, hitting her or pushing her down. She's telling him to shut up and slapping him back. I usually have to threaten to beat them both and take several trips back and forth from the kitchen to the living room to maintain the peace.

Depending if Billy is working out that night or has to work late, he rolls in around 5 - 5:30pm. He's come home from a day of slaying dragons and exchanging e-mails with vendors in China, and he's ready for dinner. He will then tell me, "Do you realize that you are yelling at Zane?" Of course I do. I don't like to, but at this point I'm ready to pull my hair out and scream, "Calgon, take me away!"

Dinner is an ordeal. Zane can't eat like a normal person. He takes forever to eat his dinner. I have had to buy a timer that he can watch the time tick away so that we can get him to understand that he has to eat, and not take forever about it. If he doesn't, he usually has to go to bed early. He's almost 5, he should be able to eat like a normal little boy. I don't know where he gets it. My dad eats like it's a race, so he didn't get it from Grandpa!

After dinner it's bath time and usually I make them to play for a while. 8:30 is bed time for Zane and then I try to get Zoe down. Once the kids are asleep I try to get a shower before I fall asleep.

Then it starts all over again.

And, that is all on a normal day. Not counting days I have to go to the Unemployment office or to the college to do stuff there.

And, this will all change when I start going to school.

So, what did I do today? Not a thing... LOL

Differences

2009-03-25T12:54:00.002-05:00

I think it's interesting how different my son is from my daughter. Zane has ADHD, so he has a different way of doing things. His medication helps him to concentrate and actually finish things, so I am thankful for that. He is pretty soft spoken. Which is kind of odd, since my husbands family is really loud. I used to think that my father in-law was yelling at me all the time when I first married Billy. As it turns out, that whole side of the family sounds like they are yelling at you. Once you get used to it you don't even notice it any more. LOL

As I was saying, Zane is quite and mumbles a lot. Zoe on the other hand, well, she's loud. And she's a parrot. That might have something to do with being 25 months old too. At 2 she repeats everything. She runs around saying everything she hears us say or what she hears on the TV. She has a really good vocabulary for her age too.

Zane never climbed up on anything or tried to get over gates. Zoe Jean is part monkey. I think she gets that from her daddy too. :) She will climb up into the bookshelf and sit there with the books and read...while still in the bookshelf.

I love both my kids. They are the best thing that I ever did. Sometimes I wish that we would have had more. But, then there are times that 2 is plenty. I'm glad I have one of each. Wouldn't trade them for anything.

"I'm a pretty baby"

2009-03-20T07:28:00.004-05:00

I have to say that my daughter has crazy hair. She wakes up and has the bird nest of curly hair that stands up all over. It reminds me of Gene Wilder in Blazing Saddles with his hair standing up on end. Brushes? We don't need no stinkin' brushes! Poor thing will probably hate it in a few years. She runs around the house saying "I have crazy hair!" She gets it from her daddy. Billy has really curly hair, and has to keep it cut short or he can grow an Afro. Zane is the same way.

Billy says I wanted a girl so I could have a real live doll to play with. I wouldn't say that's true. I do have to admit that I have been enjoying doing things with her hair lately...when she's not running from me yelling "You're hurting my hair!" in her cute little voice. She has this tendency to jump up when I'm putting in a ponytail and try to run away. So, it gets yanked when she does that and then she gives me this dirty look like I did it on purpose. LOL

She is a mess, and I love her to pieces.

Changes...

2009-03-19T12:24:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been an interesting few months. I haven't wrote in a while because I have been super busy. With the lay off at the job and becoming full time mom and taxi driver, I've been very...distracted.

Well, today I went to the unemployment office and I have an appointment tomorrow to fill out all the enrollment paperwork for school. I have to fill out a form too, but that's not too much to do. So....we will see if I am even eligible for schooling. If I can't get the funding through the state, I don't think I will be able to go to school.

Billy is starting a new job. He is quiting his job that he loves because of the pay cut he had to take. Everyone in the company had to take a mandatory 10% pay cut. Then the went from covering 75% of the insurance to 10%. And, they quit doing the 401K as well. With all of this Billy is now bringing home almost $500 less a pay check. We can't afford that. I am getting an unemployment check, but it's no where near what I was making.

Sooo....Billy is going to become a contractor. That is a self employment job. He will be contracting for Spirit Aerospace here in Tulsa. This is going to pay a lot better, but we have to save out all the money for taxes, Social Security and insurance. I am meeting with a friend for lunch today at 1 to talk about money markets, etc. She works for Edward Jones, and should at least have some insight into all of that.

I am nervous. If this all works out the way that they tell us it will, he will bring home more money than when we both were working and before his pay cut...in one paycheck. But, we will really have to budget. I will have to make sure he's not spending it on things he "needs" like a new $800 saw...but that's another story. LOL

So, pray for us that we can make this work and be able to keep our heads above the water.

Decisions, Decisions....

2009-02-05T12:32:00.002-06:00

Well, life is a lot different when you are unemployed. The job market sucks. What jobs that are available are way under what I can make to pay bills, or they are not interesting. Like a blackjack dealer at the casino. Or a valet.

On the upside, I do get to spend more time with my kids. That is also the downside. LOL My son has been trying my patience. About 3-4 pm everyday, he has a melt down. I think his medication wears off at that time. He throws himself down, pretends to be dead, and then will scream and call names when it's time to pick up toys. It's been a challenge, but I will survive it. One of us will, at least. :)

What gets me is, when the big boss came to close the office he told me to call him is 6-8 weeks. He said, "we may need you as a contractor to bail us out with new customer setups." Okay, that's what I was doing before he layed me off. So, he wants to contract in so he can pay me beans compaired to what I was making before (Which wasn't a lot). I should have told him to take his offer and stick it...but I didn't. What nerve.

So, now I'm trying to decide a couple of things.
1. Do a go back to school? Now would be a good time.
2. Do I go back to work?

It's hard to decide. My husband wants met to go to school. I've thought about it. Even went and took a placement test. But, it's been a log time since I went to school, and I suck at math. So, I'm nervous about that. Then there is the matter of money. I might be able to get unemployment to pay for my schooling and unemployment while I go to school. But, that's if I get approved for it. If I don't...I probably won't be able to go to school. *sigh*

God grant me serenity.

What a week....

2009-01-25T14:58:00.002-06:00

Well, this last week has been very...enlightening. To say the least.

I think I've mentioned that my boss has talked about the office closing and me working from home. Well, all week I heard rumors about that again. In Friday my salesman calls me and is going on about upcoming contracts that we are closing on, etc. etc. Well, he then lowers the bomb "and the owner is going to be in Oklahoma next week to move (boss's name) back to Florida. Didn't you know that?" Nope. First I heard of it. So, I gave him a call. Lower anther bomb. I'm being let go. Huh? I was told on several occasions that if the office closed I was safe. That I would work from home. Well, he says that he didn't want to tell me over the phone, and the whole reason that my boss hasn't been in all week is that she's avoiding me. Niiiceee. He was going to tell me on Thursday when he gets in that the next day was my last day. Really classy. Basically it boils down to the simple fact that I am their last loose end in OK. He told me he hired a consultant, and the consultant told him to let me go. Since then I have found out there wasn't a consultant. Just his way of sounding like he wasn't the bad guy letting me go. So, I get to go in this week while she continues to avoid me. He will be in the office Thursday and Friday to pack it up. (The contract isn't up for another year, so they will probably be sued for breaking the contract).

It's a mess, pure and simple.

As Forest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get." Well, I guess he was right!

Presidents...

2009-01-21T15:28:00.002-06:00

I know a lot of people think that President Bush was a terrible man, and that he was a bad president. Now, I may not have agreed with everything that he did in his presidency (and probably won't with Obama either), but I would never say that he was a bad man/president.

I can't imagine trying to lead a country like ours. We so many freedoms and rights that other countries don't have. Those countries might be easier to lead, because they are all in fear and afraid. Our country is a people of free thinkers and go getter's. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the president! LOL

A new legacy has started. Yes, we have the first (partial) black president. Yes, he's a Democrat. But, I hope and pray that he's the leader that we need to get us though the next few years of turmoil. Because, President Obama has a lot of pressure to succeed, from all sides.

So, I think that we all should say a prayer, not just for our country, but for our new president. May God lead him down the right path.

Observations

2009-01-20T09:07:00.003-06:00

Well, it seems that I can't make an observation or a comment. When I do, I am called a hypocrite and am told that I'm not being very Christian like. I thought God gave us all free will, and that we are allowed to make our own decisions. Yes, I voted for Obama. To me, he was the better choice. Now, does that make me a heathen or a bad person? Maybe to some. That doesn't mean that I don't think that John McCain was a bad person. I just felt that from my own research of both sides...looking at all viewed...that McCain wasn't the best fit for the job. Everything is allowed to have an opinion.

Today is an important day for all Americans. Weather you want Obama as the president or not. We are all going to have to try to come to some sort of a working relationship together. Because, if certain people or groups wash their hands of everything, then we are worse off than before.

I feel frustrated and sad. Why? Because, no matter what I say now it will be looked at scornfully. With disdain. Defensively.

Just flying in my airplane....

2009-01-12T09:55:00.002-06:00

Well, my boss is in Florida again. She came back on the 1st, didn't come into the office until the 7th, which was a half day, and left again for FL on the 10th. I was told by someone in that office that she begged her parents to let her stay and have her boy toy come back to OK to get her stuff and fly it back to her. They then told me that the office here is to be closed in Feb or March when the lease comes up, and she will move back to Florida. I am supposed to work from home. I asked her on Thursday if she was moving and they were closing this office, because I had heard rumors, and she flat out lied to me. "I don't know what they want to do." Working from home would be good, I wouldn't have to see her but every few months when I have to travel to FL or to clients. But, if I'm to work from home, I will need a lot at the house. A laptop (which they have promised me since June). 2 phone lines, one for a fax and one for the office line. The highest speed Internet. A fax/copier machine. A lot of stuff. Soooo, I'm going to try to call "daddy" at the office and see if he will tell me something. He'll probably lie to me too. I just don't want to get sand bagged at the last moment.

Palin wailin'

2009-01-08T15:45:00.002-06:00

I'm tired of Sarah Palin and her whining.

If she didn't like the way SNL was making fun of her, then why did she go on the show? I can understand not wanting people to make fun of your kids, but when you are in the public spotlight, you can't expect people to steer clear of that. The momma grizzly reference, making her sound like a red neck, back woods hick just makes her more of a laugh. Like the Joe six-pack reference. Geesh...

That, and blaming everything that went wrong with her interviews on the McCain campaign is ludicrous. Like not knowing answers to questions that Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson asked her is their fault. She wasn't ready to be VP, and probably won't be ready for another run in 4 years either.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/08/palin-takes-digs-at-fey-couric/#more-34883

I just couldn't keep quite anymore about her. She may have good morals and be a 'nice' person, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with her and all her followers.

Go Sooners!

2009-01-08T15:25:00.004-06:00

I can't wait to watch the game tonight. It's going to be a good one.

Yeah, Florida has their special teams, and you can't count that out. Yes we will have to watch their defense and speed. And, yes, we are missing DeMarco Murray.

But, you can't rule out our offense.

I would love to see Bradford throw another 60 plus points again, showing that he is truly worthy of that Heisman that we all know he deserved. It's going to be a good game, and I'm looking forward to screaming at the TV with my husband.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/01/08/fivereasons.oklahoma/index.html

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-26T08:30:00.003-06:00

Well, Merry Christmas to all! We had a wonderful day with the kids (mainly the boy) screaming in delight whenever he opened a present. The best thing he got was a V-Tech handheld game from Nanny and Pa and we bought a couple of games to go with. All he wants to do is sit on your lap and play it...it's good for him. Teaching spelling, rhyming, etc. Better than just a Gameboy...I think so at least. The girl..well, she got more baby dolls and a stroller and baby bottle...so she's in heaven...lol Now, it's just time to take down the tree and lights outside. The cats will miss the tree, I think. They love to lay down in the back where the kids can't torment them. LOL

This time of year I miss family and friends that all live far away. I always get homesick for the ones I love. It helps that I usually get to see them around this time of year, so that's always good. I also miss church. I can't seem to fine one that I like. I went to one for several years, but they all turned out to be fake. So, I really haven't been back since then. My kids have never really been to church, and I know I need to take them. Our neighbors daughter is going to a church that is meeting at the elementary behind our house that they really like. I'm tempted to take the kids there some time and see how they do. I know it's essential for them to go, and for my husband too. And, my parents drive me nuts about it. They mean well...

My husband has the next 9 days off, so he's going to work on potty training the little girl...good luck to him...lol She is ready. She will pull her pants down, and then say "I pooped, I need a wipe!" LOL When they can tell you that, it's definitely time to potty train.

Brrr!

2008-12-15T09:09:00.002-06:00

After a nice long trip to Tennessee that was a total waste of my time, I come back to the south to have it be 75 on Sunday. Woke up this morning and it's 14 with a windchill of 0. Good grief! We had sleet come down with freezing temps, so it's a frozen wasteland out there. That one of the things about this area, we get a lot of ice. I would much rather have the snow any day. We are supposed to get more ice the next 3 days. I slid my way to my in-law's to drop off the frozen babies...and then slid on into the office. No one here in the whole complex but me...lol. I might just go home for lunch and stay there today, who knows. My boss, who's from Florida won't leave her apartment. I can't say that I blame her. I will be surprised if I see her at all this week. She's leaving for Florida on Saturday for 2 weeks with the boyfriend, leaving the husband here in town. Lord. LOL

I have to finish the Christmas shopping. We are not buying a whole lot this year, because the kids have soo many toys now. My daughter likes baby dolls, so we are going to get her one of those. And, well, the boy wants things that are too expensive. LOL As he gets older the toys cost more. He want's this dionosaur that's about $40, and I know it would just be thrown on the floor and stepped on. Ah, we will see what we can figure out.

What a week

2008-12-05T08:28:00.003-06:00

This week started out that I was going to be traveling to the Nashville area for work, spending 6 days out there away from the kids and husband. Then, this new client says on Wednesday that they want us to postpone coming out. Then yesterday it's that they don't want us to come out at all. But, last night the Salesman says that we can cut their costs by $10,000 a month, so they will probably want us to come out. I talked to him again this morning, and he says that he still doesn't know if we will travel out there or not. The plane leaves on Sunday, so I told him we need to figure it out soon. What a mess. Being head cook and bottle washer, I need to know so I can get things ready for when I am gone. LOL

We are going to try my son out at the Pre-K program again in January. Since he's been on medication for the ADHD his attitude is a lot better. Except when he's with his younger cousin, Korbin. This child is a mess. He cusses like a sailor, and no matter what you do to him, he won't stop. My daughter who is 21 months old now beats on him if he gets close to her. LOL He's such a mean, nasty little boy. And it seems to bring the worst out in my son, and now my daughter. So, we will see how he does in school. We will start him off a few days a week and see how it goes. I think that he will be so excited the first few days that he won't be able to be quite. LOL

Give Thanks....

2008-12-01T08:54:00.004-06:00

Well, December is already upon us. It actually snowed here in the south this morning, which was a treat for my son. He started to yell, "It's Christmas!" LOL It's going to be gone by lunch and in the 60's tomorrow. Go figure.

On Thanksgiving I saw this special on my cousin, Matt, and was happy to see it.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6343621&page=1

I am so thankful for men and women like Matthew. He's doing so good now. He is able to come and spend every other weekend with my aunt and uncle. I just pray that he does better and keeps healing.

Witchy Woman

2008-11-20T15:08:00.003-06:00

Stress is killing me. I thought it was possibly my thyroid or my kids that kept me from sleeping...and then I realized it was my 23 yr old boss that was doing it. LOL

I think I have mentioned her before. She's 23, the bosses daughter and this is the only job she has ever held. She kills me with her unprofessional attitude and the "I can do no wrong" attitude as well. She flies to Florida every 2 weeks, or fewer to see her family. She is there now on the pretense that she's "training" the CSR's there. But, I found out the real reason is that they flew her in, and our Salesman from Tennessee because they are having a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. (Which I wasn't invited to, btw) Why tomorrow, you might ask. Because, she doesn't want to leave her "lover" alone for Thanksgiving back here in the south. She's not worried about her husband that still lives in their house. She's worried about the boy toy that lives with her at her apartment.

For Christmas she has told me that she's taking lover boy and her two kittens to Florida for 2 weeks to stay with her parents. So, I'm trying to figure out if there will be a trip between next week when she gets back and Christmas. I'm sure there will be at least one.

And, I find out today that she's looking at buying a townhouse in Florida from one of the girls there. Now, it's just she and I in this office. Don't you think I should know about this? Does that mean that they will close this office? Do I get to keep my job and work from home, (which I could be doing now if they provided me with a lap top) or will they end my position?

The main thing that this girl does is lie. Lie, lie, lie. She told me she was leaving at noon on Monday for Florida, and I got a copy of her schedule, and her plane left at 2:20. So, I nailed her to the floor for lying to me. And, what does she do? She lies again. Says that she thought she changed her flight to an earlier flight. But, she had told the girls and her mother there in the office on Monday that she was leaving after 2. Kills me. Just kills me.

So, if the stress from this little twit doesn't kill me...the lack of sleep will. LOL

Can't we all just get along?

2008-11-17T08:34:00.003-06:00

I'm frustrated with all of the bickering and fighting within the government. The Republicans think that they are right. The Democrats think that they are right. Then you have the right wing and the left wing. No matter how much everyone wants things to be their way, it never will be one way or the other. There isn't a way to please everyone. Because, if you meet in the middle, there are those that say there is compromise, and that's just as bad as letting the other side have their way. I understand both sides. I see where the Conservatives want change. They want the nation to become more godly and have better morals. And then I see the liberal side. Where they don't want the government telling them what they can and cannot do.

Isn't that why our ancestors moved across the ocean to a new land? For change, less oppression? Yes, a godly nation, but the right to be your own people and start fresh? I had ancestors come over on that boat back in 1620. The Mayflower was a new beginning. A fresh start into a brand new world. And, I would like to think that no matter where we are now, how far we have come from that time over 400 years ago...that we can still try to work together and make this nation a better place. The Conservatives will have to continue to pray and help lead, and the Liberals will continue to have to fight for people's rights. Just because you are a republican doesn't mean you are a Christian, and just because you are a Democrat doesn't mean that you are a liberal either. There are people on both sides in both parties. It's a matter of us all finding a balance and working together.

I'm glad that the election is over. I don't know if Obama is the best for the job, but he's the president elect, and we have to support him. I'm hoping that with guidance and prayer, this nation can get out of the mess that we are in, and move forward.

Help wanted...

2008-11-12T11:09:00.003-06:00

My son has been diagnosed with ADHD. So, we have decided with his doctor to put him on a trial for 30 days on this medication to see if it helps. It's basically supposed to help him focus and not fly off the handle all the time. So....we will see. I don't want him to be medicated if it's not needed. But, we should see results in about a week. I am thinking that maybe my nephew could use some too, as he is 3 and a monster. Maybe he just needs to be sat on and made to be still...LOL I am hoping this will all work out for the best. It's a wait and see at this point.

So, I have decided to have Thanksgiving at my house this year. Which means I have to clean, clean, clean... It always looks like a toy box exploded in my house...toys strewn from one end to the other. The kids have an extra bedroom as a play room, but between them and the cats dragging toys out we end up having as much in there as out in the living room. My parents are traveling down from the Midwest to spend the week with us, so we have to get that play room clean so they can stay in there anyways. It's a never ending battle!

I'm going to cook the turkey again this year. I did last year, and it turns out really well. I have a convection oven, so it doesn't take as long to cook it. I usually soak it in a brine, and last year I stuffed it with oranges and lemons. It turned out so moist and good. I'm actually looking forward to cooking it again. I will have my mom help me with her stuffing. It's so good, but she usually stuffs the bird. I might do it that way, I don't know.

How tired do you have to be before you pass out from exhaustion? LOL

Honoring our Veterans

2008-11-11T09:36:00.004-06:00

My cousin Matt was injured back in 2004 in Iraq. Matthew went to Iraq because he wanted to be a "hero". He was 18 at the time he enrolled. A suicide bomber in Qaim, Iraq blew up his Humvee, killing all the soldiers but Matthew. I remember my mom calling me saying that Uncle Tom and Aunt Adrienne (his step mom) were flying to Germany to see if Matt was going to make it. He had terrible injuries, and his brain had swelled during the flight from Iraq to Germany. They didn't think he would make it. But, though the grace of God, Matthew is alive. He had several surgeries, tons of rehab...but he's a functioning adult. Do you remember hearing about Bob Woodruff when he got injured in Iraq? Matthew and he had the same brain injury. Bob got the correct rehab, but Matthew didn't. Do you know why? His mom.

What is sad is that his mom took advantage of all of the publicity and used him for her own fame. His step father didn't want him at their home, and refused to even let "Extreme Home Makeover" come and re-do their house for them. And, Matthew didn't know any different. When he was in rehab at Walter Reed, his mother would get upset saying they were hurting her baby, and pulled him out. Rehab is hard. It's not supposed to be fun, and it hurts. If she would have left him alone...he could have recovered soo much faster and maybe would have been able to get back to where he was mentally and emotionally.

Today, Matthew is in assisted living, and has received a purple heart for his service in Iraq. I'm proud of Matthew. He's a strong young man that has endured a lot. Matthew was happy do serve his time, and loves to help other veterans. I am thankful that Matthew served his country and fought for out freedom. God bless him.

Here is Matthew's mother's homepage: http://matthewtdrake.tripod.com/

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=6145211

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-h20050419-57

Mawage, Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday

2008-11-07T16:44:00.004-06:00

How can two people who love each other and have a good relationship stay together and not want to fight all the time when you have money problems? We are always short on cash, can't pay all the bills...medical bills are piling up...the kids both have medical procedures that need to be done, and we are just scraping by. Barely. My husband thinks he needs a second job, and maybe he does. Or at least one of us do. But, then he will have less time with the children, and they need him. It's stressful enough with that...and then Christmas is coming up. I hope we can afford to get them something.

I am hoping that Obama can get us out of this mess. It's going to be a slow and hard journey, but I think that he can do it. Bush and his oil buddies have sunk us so low into debt with their greed, that it's going to take a while to see the light. Maybe then it will trickle down to the rest of us. Don't get me wrong, Bush did a few good things. But, overall, he made a mess of it.

Can two people make it when things are so rough? I think so...I hope so...because, doesn't love conquer all?

What matters to you?

2008-11-07T11:33:00.003-06:00

Well, this is my first posting. I've never had a blog before, so this will be fun.

A lot has been going on with the nation, the world and with each of us. We all have our personal battles that we deal with, our family issues. Right now I am frustrated with my job. I know I should be happy that I have one with the economy as it is right now. And I am. But, I work for a 23 year old, who's father owns the company and is the president. She's only ever really had this job and she can do no wrong. She never works a full 8 hours, and travels back to the home office in Florida about every two weeks. We have an office, and I'm the only one here. Seems a waste to me. I would love to work for a company that is hiring adults that would like to make a decent wage and actually make a difference. but, alas...no one seems to be hiring for a job I want.

I'm happy that I have a healthy family, and we all seem to get along. My son, though, seems to be having problems. I'm having him evaluated on Monday for behavior problems. He's 4 and goes from extremely mad to extremely sad and clingy. It’s been really bad this week. We are also going to find out if it might be a food allergy as well. Some weeks he's good, really good. Then others he's out of control. No matter how much we talk to him or punish him, it seems that we can't get him to stop. We give him one on one time and play with him, but nothing seems to work. So, I'm frustrated. I want to find out what's causing this so that we can help him be a functioning individual.