oh my gosh….2 posts in a row…the world may end!!!    Nah…looked back at last years resolutions…let me go find them and I’ll bring them on here…

1.  not stay so long on the computer, neglecting everything else
2.  clean out garage…AGAIN
3.  budget budget budget
4.  more sex
5.  work with Jason more
6.  keep in touch with friends a little better
7.  send more pics and video up to his family in Alaska
8.  less drug use  (JUST KIDDING!!!)
9.  get fence fixed, office painted, hallway painted, paint over ugly marble in bathroom, redo cabinets in bathroom, paint all outside trim on house….(or find someone to do all this for me!)
10.  and to go with the diet, gym time!!!

Now, those were last years.  No numbers 2, 4 (sigh), 7, or 9.  So, here’s this year’s resolutions…

1.  clean out garage.  This is disgusting.  This is Dh’s room and it is NASTY.  His room, so he should clean it, right?  No thank you…I’d like it done in one day, not in a year.  In the time it takes for him to clean it, he’s already tossed 5 more packs of cigarette butts on the ground and drunk 3 more cases of beer to leave his bottles all over the place…not to mention, gone through every box of computer crap he has out there (about 20 boxes of papers and info he’s collected through the years)…which of course, leaves more mess.  So I’ll just do it.  Ugh.

2.  Budget budget budget…took a decrease in his paycheck, plus legal fees to get the b-tard who stole money from him…

3.  more pics and video up to his family in Alaska…poor grandparents…they usually only get stuff at Christmastime…I really need to get better at that.  Probably seems like they’re soap children…you know how they go off screen to some school for 3 weeks and come back grown adults?  That’s probably how they seem them!

4.  What number 9 above says.  Only do it yourself if possible.  I’m tired of being embarassed to have people in our home.  And I am.  And I’m not a superficial kind of person…I just want it to look nice for once…and to get all these yucky carpets out…I’m sure that would help Jason’s allergies 100fold, ya know? 

5.  I’m going to become a recycle nut.  No, haven’t seen Al Gore’s movie yet, but it just makes sense to do it…used to be a total tree hugger when I was younger, why’d I quit?  Now that I probably have personally killed a whole rainforest, I think I will take some responsibility and start doing this again…and brainwash my children to do it too…

6.  Help more.  People in general.  Volunteer at Good Samaritan House down in E. St. Louis…drag kids in, teach them to do it now.  Get GS troop in to adopt a grandparent at the local nursing home…have GS troop hold fundraiser to buy chicks for starving families in South America…let kids know (mine and GS girls) that all is not peaches and sunshine, and people NEED their help.  I don’t think they really get that. 

7.  Lose 25 more pounds.  Just 25.  The LAST 25.  And keep it off.  Continue going to the gym, even if it means I have to go at 5:30 before I get Jess off to school, and then go to work.  I am going to stay healthy if it kills me.   No, I like having the energy I do now to go out with the kids, not feel lazy all the time, and not scared of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clots, bad knees, shot arches…good to be healthy, and around for awhile.

8.  If God wills it, get my 6 and under activity gym started…get business plan made, and ducks in a row. 

Wow…sounds like I’m going to be a little busy this year.  Yikes.    Should make a number 9…make sure you don’t forget you have a family…pay attention to them too!!!!  What with having a preschool job, teaching swim lessons, and camp in summer, and HOPEFULLY starting my business (which will make preschool job go away), and volunteering, it may get a little hectic.  Remember where your backbone is…your family.  They are your shelter, your home, your heart.  Be there. 

So, how about YOUR resolutions, people?  Got any good ones?  Let’s hear ‘em!!!

           HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 need a new song…but I’m braindead on music right now…needs to be a New Years party type of song, of course…any suggestions? 

Life is good.  Recovered from the lovely flu bug…Jess has yet to get it, Jason had a short version of it on Saturday, and DH hasn’t gotten it yet.  And hopefully won’t. Kids went over to their Aunt’s house on Wednesday, so I could stay in bed all day and get better…Wednesday night sis calls and says S (12 year old cousin) and little A (7yr old cousin) are now throwing up, too.  Ugh.  So I fully expect Jess to come down with it sooner or later…better now, than when school starts back up…And maybe she’ll get lucky and pull a Jason on this one.  Saturday evening he started feeling a little yucky…couple hours later, he says he has to throw up, and does, 5 times in a row.  Then he goes to bed, and wakes up all better.  Nice.  Was even ready to eat normally by lunch time.  Me, I got pukey sick on Tuesday evening, and still don’t feel like eating normally.  Blech.  BUT I”m out of bed, and my body doesn’t ache.  So that is a good thing.

Christmas was great.  Nice and low key…kids all got along…Christmas miracle in and of itself right there….nothing was stressful.  So nice.  DH and I decided to leave most of the kids gifts and ours to each other at our house, rather than bringing them to my mom and dads…gets to be kind of a mad scramble to open gifts there…and with so many opening at once, it’s hard to see who got what from whom, no thank you’s, just crazy.  So when we got back here Tuesday morning, we took turns opening gifts, and oohed and aahed appropriately.  That was great.  I think next year will be severely downsized however.  I think more focus needs to be put on the reason for the season, ya know?  I was getting a little irritated every time I heard someone ask “so are you ready for Christmas, yet?” And the response from people was always a grunted “ugh, no way…I can’t wait for this to be over”.   I was guilty of it too, at first, until I got to thinking about it.  That’s just messed up.  We get so caught up in finding the perfect gift, or what we think would be the perfect gift…media trying to get us to stand in line at God awful hours to accomplish this (thank you Wii people!!! And no, I never got one before Christmas…I gave up.  He can get one for Fathers Day )  when really, if we don’t set ourselves up to begin with, these same people we are trying to please with monetary gifts would be just as happy with something from the heart.  Now, I’m TOTALLY guilty of overspending on my kids this year.  Next year is a different story.  Please remind me of this next year…I may need it.    Jess’s big gift this year was the DS Lite with the Nintendogs game…she had been saving up for it to buy herself…Jason’s was getting his Robby Robot from last year fixed by Santa (new one, ka-ching), and a Robobug.  (build your own robot bug).  Then, of course, alot of smaller gifts from mom and dad.  My wonderful family got me quite a few new Willow Tree figurines.  I love those…they are so pretty.  DH got me the one where the couple is dancing together…made me choke up a little bit with that one….that’s how we spent more than  half of our dating….dancing at the NCO club.  He was such a hot dancer.  Mmmm…  Ahem…anyway…Jason got me the little boy holding a gold heart, his mom gave me the woman with arms outstretched with bluebirds landing on her arms, and SIL gave DH one with a dad holding a little bald baby in his lap.  So sweet.  But yeah, Christmas was fantastic.  DH was so loving and really feeling sweet the whole 2-3 weeks even leading up to Christmas.  It was so nice.  When he took Jess out shopping, he even wore a Santa Claus cap the WHOLE TIME.  Now, how awesome is that?  And when they came home, Jess tells me that this lady in front of them in line at Wal-Mart was asking for help out to her car, they didn’t have time, so DH and Jess jump out of line to help this lady out with her groceries.  Now, THAT’S Christmas spirit, folks, may it last all year round.   

OH, I got that Preschool job.  Took an assistant teaching position…in the 2 year old room.  Ugh.  Sorry, not my favorite age group.  Out of the preschool set, that would be my last one I’d pick. Heck, that’s not even preschool, that’s daycare.   BUT they met my requested hours, and I can’t find anyone else who’ll do that.  Hours will be 9:00-3:30.  Perfect.  Sigh.  Not quite sure how summer will work out, yet.  Told them my summer camp comes right after my kids in priority, they seemed not to have a problem with that…but I also don’t want to spend all day away from my kids, either.  We’ll see how it goes.  Still hoping to raise money for the rent for that building I want…there’s a story that goes to that…very long, will get to that in another post.  I am nervous about it, though.  Not the job thing.  But the whole how do I keep my diet and work at the same time?  Sounds easy to people who’ve never had eating problems.  I liken it to a recovering smoker who hasn’t really had to mix with their old smoking routines while they were in recovery.  Well, I’m mixing again…will this work?  I only have 27 more pounds to go until I reach my military weight…DH is so happy with how I look now, and so am I.  Right now, I’m used to eating nuts whenever I get the snackums, lunch is usually hot and gooey (cheesy), and a sugar free soda mid-day for a sugary treat.  I won’t be able to snack, and only time for a packed lunch…probably cold cuts.  Which will get really old really fast.  And lunch time with the kiddos is supposed to be family style…we’re supposed to eat with them.  I’m going to tell admin that I’m diabetic, and just can’t eat it.  I’m scared, folks.  Is that silly? 

Well, I think I  probably have a long enough post in now…catch ya’ll up?  Oh yeah…we have a 3rd kitty…we wound up fully adopting Noel…and she’s finally starting to mix with the kitties…they’re starting to tolerate her now!  Key word, tolerate. 

Ya’ll have a Happy New Year and don’t drink and drive!!!!!!!!!!

Heh heh heh…this sounds pretty good too…

I’ll post in a bit…spending family time…in the meantime, have yourself a little chuckle…or just nod in agreement…whichever and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! (or the holiday you choose to celebrate!!!!)

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks.  Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows
nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go
next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2.  Drink as much eggnog as you can, and quickly.  Like fine single-malt scotch,
it’s rare. In fact, it’s even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can’t find it any
other time of year but now.  So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in
every sip?  It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something.
It’s a treat. Enjoy it.  Have one for me.  Have two.  It’s later than you think.
It’s Christmas!

3.  If something comes with gravy, use it.  That’s the whole point of gravy.  Gravy
does not stand alone.  Pour it on.  Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes.
Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano.  Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk.
If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic
transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating.
The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for
free.  Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do
that in January when you have nothing else to do.  This is the time for long naps,
which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of
food and that vat of eggnog.

7.  If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted
Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and
don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.
They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes.  If you leave them behind, you’re never
going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple.  Pumpkin.  Mincemeat.  Have a slice of each. Or, if you
don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else
do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory
celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost.  I mean, have SOME standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up
from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but
hurry, January is just around the corner.

OK……Christmas cards to be mailed away, DONE.  Christmas shopping…DONE.  Picked out pictures for MIL and FIL’s scrapbook calendar…DONE.  Now all I have to do is assemble said calendar, bake all Christmas goodies (and yes, I bake ALOT), mail off packages, and wrap presents.  That’s all.  OH…and possibly throw in cleaning the house from top to bottom in the next week…we may be getting new flooring throughout the house!!! WOOHOO…Merry Christmas to me!  So I have to actually clean out stuff from under the beds, behind the dressers, put away laundry that I just shamefully toss in on the closet floor ’cause I don’t wanna hang it up right then, and so on.  Basically make it look like I”m not as bad a housecleaner as I really am.  ‘Cause frankly I am not.  Poor family.  Poor family, my butt.  I’m pretty sure they can clean too.  So, anyway, hopefully, if we can get the home loan we’re going to have stone finish in the kitchen, laundry room, and pantry; all wood floors downstairs (besides aforementioned kitchen area), and new carpeting on stairs and all upstairs.  YEAGH! It will feel so nice and beautiful in here.  Our floors are so gross.  The kitchen tile is from the 70′s…the yellow octagon pattern with flowers in the middle…anyone remember that?  The carpets are hopeless…they’re also original from the house being built…no padding under the major traffic areas anymore, and stains no longer steam clean up.  It’s just plain disgusting.  Always looks filthy no matter what I do.  So Yippee, new flooring!!!!

Am currently making a cherry cobbler crisp for “sing for your supper” tonight at my church…we’re going caroling, too….sounds like SO much fun!!!  This morning went to my sis’ church…neice had a great little Christmas performance…so sweet…wish our church was doing something kiddie for Christmas, but that’s OK…I love it all!!!!  I just especially love the kids’ stuff…they’re just so cute and innocent with everything they do…

OH….hmmm…change in job options…well, not really a change…got called for an interview for preschool teacher tomorrow at 2.  Since I don’t have the moolah for first and last month’s rent at that beautiful building, I’m going to do this until I can raise it…I say that, but I know I’ll sink my heart into preschool again, fall in love with the kids, and not be able to leave.  What should I do?  I need to raise the funds…maybe work a job I hate for a few months?  But preschool kids are my heart.  I dunno….any ideas? 

Well, cobbler’s done, and need to get ready to leave…ya’ll have a great rest of the weekend, and talk atcha all later!!!

Sunday Dec 3   

                                                      Ice is NOT nice…

No electricity yet, folks.  We’ve been going home occasionally to grab stuff day by day that we need, hoping electricity will come on, and checking on the kitty-kitties…Poor kitties.  Glad they have their own fur coats.  Last time we were home, temp gage read 44 degrees in house.  Brrrr.  So we have to head back into town this evening, pick up stuff kids will need for school tomorrow (possibly…no idea if they’re gonna be open or not, but better be ready just in case!).   And say goodbye to my wonderful and lovely bil and sil for letting us stay at their home for the weekend. Lord love them.  Even did the laundry we were wearing since Thursday. Ahh…(yes, we did bring changes of clothing…I meant all the clothes we’ve worn since), so the kids will have SOME clean clothes for the next 2 days…please let us have electricity before Wednesday!!!  So…we have to try to find a hotel for tonight…I’ve heard there’s slim pickings for them, though, with the closest open hotel 30 minutes away, and too close to East St. Louis for my comfort level.  Sis also still has no electricity…her fish wound up dying, just too cold.  Kimodo the snake is having sleepovers at someone elses house with heat.  I’m hoping Jess’s fish makes it…hers were the teeny neon tetras and a siamese fighter fish. Ours is a hardy little goldfish…so just maybe he’ll be OK.  I just want to sleep at home, decorate for Christmas, work on Christmas gifts, and just be home….that’s all I want.  Sigh. In the meantime, though, since I can’t do my normal stuff, I am keeping up with xanga alot better!!!

Sis and I are supposed to start doing phonebooks again tomorrow….we’re pretty slow at it, but they know we’re honest, and that’s good.  Apparently some people just take their phone books and chuck them anywhere, ’cause you get paid by the book.  Made some nice extra cash for Christmas last year with it…hope to do even better this year, since we’re old-timers!!!

For those of you who asked about my business I want to open…it’s a kid’s activity thing for ages 6 mo-6 yrs…tricking kids into exercising, if you will…much fun…I’ll go into more detail when I get opened and set up…wouldn’t want anyone (not you guys who are my buddies), but just the cruise-byers to get any ideas, ya know?  ‘Cause it’s gonna rock. 

Well, we’re about to head back to Ice Land, so ya’ll take care of yourselves, pray for everyone here to get their heat back!!!!

Edit:  Ya’ll must have some mighty strong prayers…we pull into our subdivision, see Christmas lights up and down the street..pull into our drive, our neighbor’s outside and says power just went on 10 minutes ago!!!  House is at 42 degrees, a little cold, but we’ve cranked on the oven, cranked up the heat, put a fire in the fireplace with fans surrounding it, and hopefully will warm up soon!!!! 

Edit 2:  10:30 p.m….sis now has electricity too…was having her stay the night here, she went back to get the kids’ stuff, gets home, and lights ARE ON!!!  Woohoo!!!!  Thanks for the prayers everyone!!!!  LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Here’s some chuckles…

The Indians asked their Chiefin autumn if the winter was going to be cold or not. Not really knowingan answer, the chief replies that the winter was going to be cold andthat the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared.

Beinga good leader, he then went to the next phone booth and called theNational Weather Service and asked, “Is this winter to be cold?”

The man on the phone responded, “This winter is going to be quite cold indeed.”

Sothe Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood tobe prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again,”Is it going to be a very cold winter?”

“Yes”, the man replied, “it’s going to be a very cold winter.”

Sothe Chief goes back to his people and orders them to go and find everyscrap of wood they can find. Two weeks later he calls the NationalWeather Service again: “Are you absolutely sure that the
winter is going to be very cold?”

“Absolutely,” the man replies, “the Indians are collecting wood like crazy!”

Friday, Dec 1

                                               BRRRRRR…..

Wow, either ya’ll are as busy as I am, or I don’t get on here often enough to rate a howdy!!!  Our internet connection at home keeps going down…I had planned to go to everyone’s site when I posted the other day, but the stupid computer said no.  We’re switching internet companies REAL soon.  I’m sitting at my husband’s work right now…may not have ANY computer at all for a little bit.  No power at all.  Gone.  And freezing.  Power went out last night about 11:30 or so with that huge ice storm that hit.  Apparently most of the metro east (of St. Louis) is without.  Last rumor I heard is we’ll be without for more than a few days.  REALLY REALLY hope and pray that is false.  They’re saying this is worse than that spring storm we got last year…lines were busted, transformers were blown…too much ice.  It is beautiful outside, though…like crystal sculptures everywhere.  Alot of our branches are down in the yard, lost one pine tree…couldn’t take the weight…and the gum tree that’s really close to the house apparently has a crack in it near the point where it will fall right on the house. Great. How’re you doing, sherrytwinklz?  HOPEfully that is a false rumor…I can’t imagine not having electricity for that long.  In this cold.  Get our temps back to where they were last week and no problem…but this is just a little brrr.  My bil and sil in Chesterfield called and said we could shack up with them…probably thinking this wouldn’t last too long…though they did say we could bring our kitties with us.  They’re so sweet. 

Kitties.  We do seem to have an extra kitty right now.  Coming home from church on Wednesday, Jas and I see this cute little kitty outside the car…and SO friendly and cute.  Wrapped right around our legs and everything.  So we go inside, thinking the kitty must belong to someone to be so friendly.  Jess comes home an hour later, knocking on the door with kitty in her arms.  So we sit out on the front step loving on this kitty cat…and it comes up that it’s supposed to freeze, and we’re feeding kitty on the porch at this time.  Jess bursts into tears that kitty is going to freeze to death, can’t we please just shelter it for the night…I’m thinking cracking the garage door, letting kitty decide to either go to it’s home (I really think it has one…it’s just too friendly and not bony enough…plus it pawed at our door like it expected to go in) or go in for shelter.  Call Dad, he doesn’t want the door open (he has computer equipment inside- it would freeze up, I guess), and to hole up kitty in the office.  So Noel is up in the office until I either get up found kitty posters and someone claims her, or we give up on that and just have a new kitty.  You did notice she has a name, now.  Sigh.  She’s mostly black with a white triangle that goes down from her nose to her chest and paws.  Such a cutie.  Name came about by trying to come up with a Christmas-time name since that’s when we found her…called her Holly, no response, called her Nikki (for St. Nick), no response, tried Noel, she looks up from her food, does a little chirping meow, and starts purring and rubbing. So, Noel it is.  I think we may have been adopted.  Will have to take her to the vet, though, before we expose her to the other kitties, make sure she’s not gonna disease my babies.   Hoping they don’t freeze in the house…I can’t see taking them to Bil-Sil’s…Kiya already pees everywhere when she’s stressed out…Callie would be fine, and new kitty can’t get around the other kitties ’til she’s checked.  NOT new kitty…I mean TEMPORARY kitty.  Good grief.

Sis just called…her son’s snake has gone into hibernation, it’s so cold in their house right now.  Hopefully they can pack up and go to our mom and dad’s to stay warm for the weekend. 

I found a building for my business.  Let’s all pray that it doesn’t get rented before I raise first month’s rent and deposit, and come up with a viable business plan.  And a loan for everything needed, though preferably a grant. If you’re familiar with O’fallon, the old Parent Teacher Tool’s building.  It’s P E R F E C T.  And can’t actually be rented until March of next year.  So I’m hoping that will put off some people that want something immediately. I really really want this…and I truly feel everything I’ve done has led me to this, and more importantly, that I’m SUPPOSED to do this, and this is what He wants for me, ya know?  So I’m doing some heavy duty praying, and if this IS where I’m supposed to do this and WHEN I’m supposed to do this, then it should all work out, right?  I’m not expecting it to be easy, though, don’t worry!!!  Tons of work in front of me, for sure!!! 

Hmm…that’s about all that’s going on right now…li’l guy has strep, by the way.  That’s why we’re holed up here at St. E’s and not at the mall or the Y…3:30 pm is the magic 24 hour “I’m not contagious anymore” time period.  Ever since Dad started working at the hospital, he’s become kind of a stickler about such things…Personally, I think if we took ourselves out of quarantine an hour earlier, it wouldn’t make a difference.  At 3:30 he’s just not going to be magically fixed.  Oh well, at least we’re warm and entertained.  We each have a computer to play on…Jess is webbing, Jason is on mspaint, and me on xanga…all is good. 

Well, I’m gonna head, though…I do want to check out everyone, make sure you’re all doing OK…take care all, and hope everyone’s nice and warm!