Another 2 in 1 post because the Internet sucks!!!

Well, since my modem decided to die without warning and I was offline for 2 days, I worked on my post in Works. I have decided to just copy and paste them and hope for the best. So the first one is Monday’s post and the second one is what I wrote early this morning while waiting for the tech to show up. So here goes nothing…..

It is weekend update time. Not an overly busy weekend but a lot is still going on.

Hubby came home early to take me to get my MRI. He requested off early Wednesday afternoon as soon as he knew I was having the MRI. For some reason the dingbat dispatcher apparently “forgot” he needed to get off early. She put an extra load on him. He told her he couldn’t get it and she got ill. According to her, they needed that load that day! He told her he would haul it on Saturday morning early. Then he talked to the guy building the house, they weren’t even getting started on it until Monday! And he had already delivered 2 loads to them, that would keep them busy for awhile. She is an idiot! She does that all the time, emergency deliveries that have to go out NOW, only when it gets delivered, they don’t even want it yet. But he got home and we made it to my MRI in plenty of time. We traveled almost an hour to get a 15 minute test. It just doesn’t seem right. But it went well, I don’t generally have a problem with the closed MRI, so I wasn’t expecting a problem and the guy that run it was a real sweetheart.

Because my appointment was at 4pm, Little Miss got off the bus at her Grandma’s house. She doesn’t like to get off the bus there, they don’t go down to get her and she has to walk up that long driveway. Just like her momma had to! I did it for years, but I guess she is special and shouldn’t have to walk. Oh well, the spoiled child will get over it.

SIL and Red were setting up for their yard sale when we got home and we stopped and helped them put some stuff out. What better way to check out the stuff? They had a lot of things and an aunt had decided to put out with them so they had a yard full. A lot of it was clothes and not mine or Little Miss’ size so I came home with a fairy, hey, Easy E’s wife collects them and what better way to suck up than to give her a fairy? (One of these fine days she will deliver my grand baby and I would like my fair share of time with it!) When I got home, I discovered one of the hands was broke off, so I guess I didn’t do so well.

When we got done, me and hubby rode to town and had a little Taco Bell for dinner. We now know how come they can lower the price on so many things. There was hardly any meat on my taco! And the amount of lettuce was minimal too. I did get a good bit of cheese, I guess they had to fill that shell up somehow. From there we rode over to The Dollar Tree. I love this place. We went in for body wash and shampoo and that is all we came out with! I was completely shocked, I usually find a lot of stuff to get. I guess that decision to watch our money really did work. We came home and watched some TV and there was nothing on!

On Saturday we got up early to go and deliver that load that had to be there. Nothing had been moved and no one was there so it could have waited until Monday, but Hubby got a few more hours added to his check, so I will say nothing. He ripped the hide off of his arm somehow. It looked NASTY!!! About a 1×2 inch chunk of hide was missing. He said it wasn’t that bad, but it makes me cringe to just think about it. He said he caught it on the light holder on the trailer, whatever he caught it on had to be sharp. And you know a man, he didn’t need it cleaned or covered! When we got back to the office, we went ahead and cleaned the office so we didn‘t have to go back.

We stopped by SIL’s yard sale coming home and she was disappointed, she said they hadn’t really had any sales. In the end, they came in with almost $200.00 all total, I thought they did pretty good considering it was for one day and on a back road. She said next one they would put in with me and mom. I tried to get them to this time around, but for whatever reason, they didn’t.

I wasn’t feeling real good and Hubby had promised to take Little Miss to Frontier Days in a nearby town so they headed out all by themselves. She came back with me a bracelet and a pair of earrings. I don’t wear jewelry really but at least she thought about me. When she got home she headed down to SIL’s house and did a little yard sale shopping herself. She came back with a wagon full of stuff. She picked up and angel for Easy E’s wife’s Christmas, a glass ball and stand for her grandma, a candle holder for her great aunt, a couple of garden statues for me and a little statue for my desk. She also came in with a ton for herself…… A scarf, a cap, mittens, a PDA, a Neopet, a basket to put her stuff in in her room, an egg for her jewelry, a couple of bracelets, a couple of necklaces, some sort of water art thing for her room, and last but certainly not least a PURPLE BEAN BAG!!!!! She got it all for FREE. She knows when to shop, wait until they are packing it up and they will give it to you. Pretty smart.

My team WON!!! Auburn beat Tennessee!!!! I have a cousin who is a Tennessee fan and when they beat Auburn, I catch hell at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this year my team won by 2 points and now I can go to these dinners and bug the shit out of him. I believe I will wear my Auburn shirt and ask him how Tennessee’s team is doing this year. I really only worry about the Tennessee game and of course the game against Alabama. I want to see them win, but if they don’t I don’t get really upset unless it is one of those games!

I couldn’t believe it when I heard that Paul Newman had died! I also couldn’t believe he was 83!!!!! He aged well! My first drive in movie was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. My parents’ carried us, they set us up in the back seat, blankets, popcorn, coke, pillows, the works. It was a real treat. I remember the opening credits running and then I was asleep in 2 minutes flat! You know I still haven’t seen that movie! And I was in love with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, I can’t believe I fell asleep.

Hubby went and got us a couple of frozen pizzas for dinner. I have a complaint!!!! They say to put them on a cookie sheet and stick it in the oven, right? Well, why don’t they make them the right size to fit on the cookie sheet? A round pizza doesn’t really fit a rectangle cookie sheet! The edges hang off the side and then I end up with cheese melted all in the bottom of my oven!!! And you can’t fit 2 of the damn things in there at the same time! They stick together! And the smoke alarm won’t shut the hell up the whole time they are melting away in my oven!!!!! So my suggestion, yes, pizza should be round, but why not make frozen pizza in a rectangle, fits the damn cookie sheet size and shape!!!!!?????? Just a suggestion.

Also I know Saturday night is date night and they don’t want to miss that all important 18-25 year old demographic, but not everyone is out on Saturday night and for those of us who just happen to be slugs and sit at home, we would like to have something worth watching on TV!!!! I spent the whole night flipping around looking for something to watch. This will tell you how wonderful the programming was, I don’t remember what the hell I even watched!!!

After sitting up and not watching TV worth watching I got to get up early Sunday morning so Little Miss could go to church with her grandparents. She insisted they would be here at 7:10-7:20am. I told her they wouldn’t be here that early, but she KNEW that is what they told her. So I crawled my warm ass out of bed and sucked down my coffee in a chilly living room. She grumbled but got up and took her shower and was ready to go at 7:00am. Then we sat and sat and sat. My parents got here at 8:20am, the time I said they would. She insisted, still, that she had not heard them wrong, they were just late. Even after my mom told her, she still claimed she was right and we were wrong. Whatever!!!!

A couple of years ago, Little Miss stuck an orange seed in some dirt and she now has an orange tree, OK not a tree, but she has what might become a tree in 20 years or so. It is about 9 inches tall now, I have kept it in my kitchen and kept it watered and so far it has lived. I noticed all but 2 of the leaves had fallen off of it, I inspected it to see if I could figure out what was going on. I discovered that there was a ton of itty bitty bugs in the dirt. I have no clue what they were, but it looked like the dirt was moving. I took it outside and re-potted it with new dirt and hopefully it will survive. I decided that I would leave it outside on my table to get a little sun and I forgot it and left it outside all night. I hope it is OK. This child has a green thumb, I have tried a hundred times to plant a damn seed out of fruit and it never does anything!

Hubby went to help his uncle work on a truck and I cleaned up my house a little, very little. I managed to hang the hooks in the kids bathroom. I had been meaning to do that for a week or so and just couldn’t seem to get them up. The plan was to hang them for towels. My children RIP a towel rod off the wall in a couple of days, so I thought maybe these hooks would last a bit longer. They have a problem with leaving wet towels on the floor and then the carpet gets soaked or they actually get them to the hamper but they are wet and then they lay on clothes which mildew! Little Miss lost a school shirt to mildew this week and so I decided it was time to get off my ass and put up the hooks so maybe she won’t lose anymore clothes and it might help out with my wash load! I told them they could reuse them a time or two, we shall see if that happens.

Hubby came home complaining that his neck was killing him so he managed to keep me hopping most of the night. *Let the dogs out, bring the dogs in, could you find the heat pad, etc.* What is it with men that make them think just because they are not feeling up to par, that everyone should feel great and do for them? Doesn’t matter really just curious.

MIL had a dinner, no special reason, but it meant I didn’t have to cook so I was happy. She loaded me up with leftovers so I guess I know what we will be eating for a couple of days. Chicken and dressing, green beans, and potato salad. She is not the best cook in the world, but since I brought it home and put it right in the fridge at least I know it hasn’t gone bad.

I am waiting to hear from hubby about work and I am about to lose my mind. He talked with the boss man and knows what is going on but he was told things could change before the meeting this morning and I have been trying to get in touch with him for 3 hours and I keep getting sent to voice mail. Meetings normally last less than an hour. I know he is cutting the ringer off, if he doesn’t hear the ring, it takes 10 rings to go to voice mail, if he cuts off the ringer it goes to voice mail in 3 rings. And it has been going to voice mail in 3 rings! I am getting a bit nervous. He was expecting it to get ugly anyway. As of Thursday evening this was the plan……

They were having layoffs. They were getting rid of the warehouse guy, aka The Boy, also going was a forklift operator, aka BIL, and 2-3 drivers were going. That would leave Hubby and his 2 cousins for drivers and when the yard was full, they are going to close down the block plant until more block is needed. Which would layoff 4 workers and the block plant manager. Also going is the secretary, which is going to screw up my check. Dingbat dispatcher will never get it turned in on time! I am waiting to get word that they no longer need my cleaning services. Of course if they get rid of me, then the manager will be stuck with cleaning and he isn’t going to like that. So I may be on of the last things to go.

The boss man was afraid if he let The Boy go that Hubby would quit, but he really can’t afford to do that and the warehouse job is always the first to go. So we were expecting it. We are just hoping he can work for the week and then draw unemployment until her can find another job.

I mentioned that The Boy had bought a trailer and that he was selling it, well it looks like the guy that wanted to buy it may be looking to back out. We know the people he was going to sell it to have already found a trailer and he has been bringing people to look at it and I think he isn’t finding another buyer. Or at least I think he is bringing people out to see it, he has been over there fooling around a few times this past week. Anyway now he says if he can’t cut down a little bush he isn’t going to fool with getting it. It doesn’t appear that the bush would get in the way of moving it and I think he is just using it for an excuse. The Boy said that was OK, he would just keep it. I told him he could put a little money in it here and there and not move in right away. Then he will either have a nice trailer too move into when he can afford it or he would be able to sell it and get more money out of it. He is up in the air, I think he wants it, but without a job, he can’t afford it.

Well, I guess I should go and get busy. I have a house to clean and clothes to wash and it isn’t getting done with me sitting in front of this computer. Until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!

 

 

 

Well, I am currently typing this in Works because my Internet is DOWN! What are the odds they will actually show up when they say they are to fix it. I am thinking not so good. Between 8 and 12.….Why the huge window? Why not between now and never! With any luck I will be able to post this and the one I did yesterday later this afternoon. But who the hell knows. I may get to keep this up and post six weeks at once. Wouldn’t that be a joy? So besides the Internet being a pain in my ass, what else is going on? Not too much.

The Boy got his layoff paperwork yesterday. He was suppose to have the week, but yesterday was his last day. The Boss Man had said he would not blindside anyone, but he decided not to have the meeting and just talk to the ones affected. Person one, The Boy. He knew it was coming but he wasn’t suppose to. The best I can figure he pulled the ones laid off to the side and told them yesterday was their last day. So much for not blindsiding anyone. Mr. Man , my hubby, wanted the layoff. I just don’t understand him sometimes. I understand, it would save gas and we would have our insurance for 3 months, but, uh…… Money is a nice thing.

He has his mind set to make me insane! He has found a truck and he wants it. As in, start up his business again! I supported him for many years. We made some money one year, otherwise we pretty much broke even. Don’t get me wrong, we always had groceries, the bills were paid and at times we had money to splurge with. But we had NO insurance, no holiday pay, no vacation days, no set hours, you know the nice things with having a company job.

What we did have was……Huge fuel bills, huge tire cost, huge parts bills, huge insurance (on the truck) bills, huge tax debt, huge headaches, you know all the great things with owning your own business.

I got some added extras, I got to worry about whether or not he would have to work on the truck all night just to be able to work the next day. I got to worry about whether or not he would be able to work the next day because he had worked on the truck all night (you know the whole back problems thing). I got to worry about keeping track of all of the expenses for tax time. I got to worry about whether we would lose everything because of a wreck. I got to fight with him to get him out of the bed, because he doesn’t want to get up when he works for himself and sets his own hours. I got to find the money for repairs that weren’t planned. You can plan to replace brakes and tires and put back money for that, but you can’t plan for a blown up motor, a transmission going down, a blown out tire, etc.

Don’t get me wrong, I know he worried but he just didn’t care too much about it. If the bills were paid and we had groceries in the house, he was a happy camper. In his words….. Why worry about what could happen, just be happy that right now everything is going OK. He usually said that right before the truck cost us 1000 bucks or so to fix, which would leave us scrambling to come up with money. He remembers the $5000.00 checks, he forgets that it took $4700.00 to cover expenses! He points out how much we “made” when he owned his own truck. I point out how much we had to spend when he owned his own truck.

I am hoping that this is all because of the slowdown at work. Every so often he picks up this dream again and after a couple of weeks he puts it up again. We have never did really well with owning a truck, he wants to keep them up and it cost a fortune to keep them up. And when he sets his own hours, he has a problem with getting up, could have something to do with working on the truck all night.

He knows I have always supported him, he knows I have supported him at the expense of family ties. *My father never lets me forget that he had to bail us out a time or two because of breakdowns.* But he also knows I can’t support him in it again. I can’t do it anymore. My nerves won’t take it. I have always just let him dream and not said anything. Providing he keeps it a dream. Because it maybe his dream but it is my nightmare.

I have, this time, pointed out the cost of fuel, having insurance now, his neck problems, the fact that every truck he has bought from his uncle is a great truck until he gets it and then he can’t keep it on the road, reminding him that with the last truck if he made 100. Bucks, it cost him 150 bucks to keep it on the road. You know I have done my part to try to remind him that owning his own truck was not all wine and roses. We had a lot of vinegar and thorns!

I have never, ever not supported him in his dreams. But this time, if he does it, I will not fight with him, I will not talk to him about, I won’t try to talk him out of it, I will just pack my shit and leave. Normally if I just let him talk, in a few weeks he will just let it go. This time he is like a dog with a bone. Normally he will tell me I am not quitting my job, I just like to think about it. Not so far this time. He is tired and he is not liking his job right now. But I am hoping with the layoffs there will be more hours on his check and that will help. I am also hoping that since they are having someone else haul the cement, he won’t have the early mornings and the long drives and it will help.

I understand where he is coming from, we have been going further in debt and getting further behind lately. Short weeks, less hours, less pay, things get behind and it gets tough. And with Christmas around the corner and Little Miss already making up her wish list, it gets harder. But now, in this economy and this close to winter, it is not the time to switch gears and buy a truck. Winter is not the time to start a trucking company, winter is hard when you have 9 months to save for it.

I am not going to worry about it too much and I am not going to fight with him about it. I am going to just sit back and wait. But I had to get that off my chest. So thanks for letting me vent. I am sure he will let this go again and all will be fine in the world again. We will pull out of this hole that we seem to be in, we will get caught up, we will get the cabinets full again, we will do just fine. But sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are in there. With all that is going on here I am slowly losing it, but I will survive, I think, I hope.

So here is hoping Bellsouth/AT&T will get out here and replace the cable or filters or whatever the hell is wrong with my Internet and get me back up and running! I am missing all 5 of you and missing posting and missing Plurk! I am also missing my on-line games! They have no idea how bad it is getting here! Heh!! Little Miss is going out of her mind, Hubby is missing his Ebay/95 Rock time and The Boy has tried to get on-line on 3 different occasions to go on his sites. It is getting bad. Withdrawal is a bad thing! That would probably explain why I am still a smoker! So until next time……..

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!

Hey that wasn’t bad! Very long, but easy to do. Hopefully tomorrow I will back back and back to normal *if I ever was* So again, Until next time…..

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Why does he do this?

It has been a while since I griped about my husband, OK maybe not too long, but I feel the need to gripe today. It’s a little silly but he is driving me insane with this.

OK, everyone here knows I am having a bit of health problems. This is my place to gripe about them. I talk to mom a bit, I talk to hubby when it is really bad and I can’t hide it, but really I don’t talk about it much to anyone else. I avoid it with my MIL, she just pisses me off. I rarely talk to my SIL about it, she has her own problems with Bug. My children, not so much, except to say I am hurting or not feeling well. I really don’t put it out there much.

If I am limping or dragging my leg and I am questioned about it, I throw it off on my leg hurts. If I am dropping everything I touch, I mumble something about my arm or hand hurting, or laugh it off as being a Klutz. If I use the wrong word or lose my train of thought, I laugh it off as I am an idiot. I don’t go into long details of how bad I feel, how tired I am, or all my pages of symptoms. (I haven’t listed all symptoms here even.) I just don’t want to talk about it in public and I hate getting the looks. The “bless your heart” look or the “your a nut” look. I just don’t want the attention! That’s right!

I. DON’T. WANT. THE. ATTENTION.

Somehow it is different here, you “know” me but you don’t “know” me. I can come here (or Plurk), gripe and receive a feel better, a little sympathy, some advice and move on. But in public, with people I see everyday, it is different. Once it is out there, they watch me, they look at me different. Not always in pity, but like they are wondering what is going on.

*Simple explanation to the above statement…… I have fair days, bad days, and worse days. I rarely feel good anymore, I did up until a month or so ago. I used to have days when I felt pretty good all day, not lately. I get up feeling decent and go down all day, or I get up feeling like shit and improve as the day goes on, or I can get up feeling like shit and continue to feel like shit all day. One day it might be my legs that are the worst, another it may be my arms, another it could be my mind that is going, one day it is my eyes that are wonky. It is hard to explain, I hate the “traveling” problems part of it all. But the “traveling” part is the part that gets me a few strange looks. And the fair days and worse days. One day I appear to be fine, another I am barely mobile. People look at me like I am playing a strange little game. I wish it was that. One man actually told my husband, I looked good the day before for someone who was supposed  to feel so bad. That is why I just don’t want it out.*

Here lays the problem with my husband. At home he can be an ASS about it. As in, “What is wrong with you today?” Not a lot of help on the days that are really bad, except to say, “It will be there when you feel better, no need to do it today.” I don’t want his sympathy or his pity, but I could do without his asshattery too! But in public, when I am not doing so good, he is Mr. Concerned Husband. Just last night, I was having trouble with my arms and legs and he insisted I go with him to The Pig to get something for supper and over to the store for gas and such. The woman working behind the counter knows I have back problems, so when I came in limping and dragging my leg, she noticed it and asked how I was doing. I started to say, something like, ” Oh, same ole same ole.” and let it go. Mr. Concerned Husband jumped in and started in with, “She is getting worse and the doctors just aren’t worried about it. She has days when she can’t get out of the bed and she tells the doctor that she is about the same. One of these days she is going to be bed ridden and maybe the doctor will figure it out then! She is absolutely losing her mind. Just today she was trying to say from the table to the TV and she kept saying from the television to the TV, even when I corrected her, she corrected it by saying, ” From the TV to the television.” I wish they would figure it out, get her some medicine or something. I don’t know what it is, but it is something and the doctors treat her like she is crazy.”

It made me feel worse. The store was full and I had people looking at me. Atleast I felt  like people were staring at me. I could have crawled under a rock. I felt like he was trying to convince her that something was really wrong. I mean really was that all necessary? Could he not have left off that I am losing my mind?

And hell, I always get out of the bed, I may not feel like it, but I always get up. Someone has to get Little Miss up and off to school. I may end up on the couch for most of the day, but I always get up! So he was making it worse than it was. I wonder if he is looking for the pity sometimes, as in, ” Bless his heart, he is so good to take care of her. It must be hard.” Or if he is trying to convince himself. He says he believes something is wrong, but sometimes the way he talks or acts, it makes me wonder.

Don’t get me wrong, he is good to me, most of the time. He tries to help out on some things. He doesn’t expect me to do things when I feel bad. He tries to be sympathetic. Sometimes he falls short, but he tries. He has a tendency to get ill about it when it interferes with something he wants. If he wants sex and I am in pain, if he wants to go and do something and I am not able to, you know interferes with his life. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am too close to the whole thing. Maybe my feelings are getting in the way. I guess on occasion I get my feelings hurt fairly easy.

But really when/if I find out what it is, I will, of course, tell him. I will tell my parents and I will give my children a name for what has made their life miserable. And for sure I will tell all of you. But I don’t know if I will tell others until it becomes necessary/ if it is necessary. I doubt I will even tell my MIL, until I have to/if I have to. She would tell everybody and probably just screw it up. *I mean she is the one who said MS was little more than losing  weight. Really she said it wasn’t bad, you just lose weight. Dumb ass*. I might would tell my SIL, she does ask how I am doing and shows real interest in what the doctor says. But I don’t really want to tell the “world” if I don’t have to. I would prefer to share as needed. I used to think I would shout it from the roof tops, but now, I just want a name for it, for me. *OK, I would go straight to my family doctor and sling the diagnosis in his face, just because he thinks it is nothing and I am just requiring attention.* But the rest of the people around, just those who may be affected by it, so it would be just family and close friends.

My parents go to church with a nice lady who has MS and she still insist that I have MS. She has started a support group for people with MS and their family and friends. She really wants me to come to it. She says it will help me to see that I have most of the symptoms of MS and see how they cope with it. That it would show me how they were judged as nuts for years before being diagnosed, to show me I am not alone in the aggravation of not getting answers. So I won’t give up looking for the answers and to speak up to the doctors about my symptoms. She says even if I don’t have MS, I am welcome because I am putting up with a lot of what they went through.

The doctors treating them for depression, going through test after test that come back fine, having doubts about whether or not they were crazy, the oddity of symptoms, the feeling fine one day and feeling like shit the next, how they deal with the symptoms without medicine. The small tricks they have learned about how to get things done when they are down. She says it will be helpful for me and my family. I don’t feel comfortable going. I haven’t been diagnosed with MS, in fact, the MS doctor says it isn’t MS, but she says it took 2 spinal taps for her to get the diagnosis of MS, the symptoms fit but the MRI wasn’t showing it. She says doctors just don’t think MS because it shows up different in most patients. The symptoms vary from person to person, the first symptoms vary from patient to patient, and the test aren’t always right, it is hard to diagnose, it is more a method of ruling out other conditions and it mimics other more common conditions.

But I would feel like I am intruding, I mean these people have been diagnosed with something. And I couldn’t get hubby to go with me. And he really doesn’t like to talk about it, kinda like if he can ignore it, it won’t get worse. I hate to tell him, but it is getting worse, it is getting harder and harder for me to ignore it. Right now, my hands are killing me and my eyes are getting blurry from sitting here typing and reading all of this. It is really starting to get in the way of things I enjoy. Like reading blogs and writing my own post. Working in my flower garden and decorating my house. Playing with Little Miss and enjoying life. I still can have a good time, I still laugh, I still smile, I still bitch, I do enjoy myself, but it is getting harder to get out and about and just visit with others.

I know Mr. Hubby needs someone to talk to. Someone besides me. I know he talks to his boss man about me. I am a little uncomfortable with it, but I understand he needs someone. He was a perfect choice because he is also my boss, I do clean the office, and it kinda come about when I was down and the office was showing the signs of it. He is fairly close with Mr. Boss man too, so it was natural for him to choose him. So why can’t he leave it at that. Why add people at the store and strangers who overhear the conversations.

So am I am being over emotional about it? Does he have the right to share my problems with whoever he sees? Is it helpful to him or is he looking for sympathy or trying to convince himself? Does he think it is somehow helpful to me? And as an added bonus…..Should I check out the support group?

So that’s it for now, have a great weekend! Until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few rumblings…..

Well, I am ready for all of the interruptions of my time to stop! So many things going on here lately. So yesterday Mr Hubby was off and that screwed up my day! I  swear they are just doing it to piss me off!

Work has decided that no one should get more than 40 hours a week, so if you are getting close they give you a day off. Hubby was getting 50+ hours a week and was told his OT was not a problem. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as bills go, but then suddenly it all changed! Now they don’t want anyone to get more than 40 hours, that would be great if everyone was getting treated the same! One guy, the new guy, is getting 12 hours a day 5 days a week. More than his 40 hours, I say. One guy gets 5-8 hours OT because he stays to cover for those sent home. The Boy was sent home 3 hours early and this guy picked up 3 hours OT by covering for him! How many hours did The Boy have for the week when he was sent home? 38 hours!!! So that guy got 3 hours OT at $5.00 an hour more than The Boy! It doesn’t make sense. The other trailer driver is picking up more than 40 hours a week. My husband, coming in with 38 hours on average! I told him he pissed someone off!

Anyway, I don’t know why he is getting screwed, but it is really cutting in to my time and I don’t like it! He had told them he needed off at 2pm to carry me to the doctor and they told him to just consider that his day off. It would be nice if he helped out around here when he was off. But I must admit he let me take a nap, so I won’t complain! He also went in early to work this morning so that we didn’t have to go clean the office last night.

So what happened at the doctor’s office. Well, the last test came back fine but I already knew that. So he wants another MRI of my neck and some lab work. The nice nurse came in to draw blood and she tried to kill me! I have never had any trouble with having blood drawn, but this lady told me my veins roll. Never before but she was pushing the needle in and drawing it out as she twisted it trying to find the vein. She finally gave up and went after the other arm, she found her vein and drained me of 5 vials. Hopefully something will show up, I fear a spinal tap in my future, the doctor hinted that that was next on the list. But I didn’t really found out anything. He is checking for Lupus, myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis and other things like that. I give him credit, he hasn’t given up yet. Most give up after one test. He is trying to give my problem a name.

I managed to see the premieres of 3 shows. Well the premieres of 2 and a new one of the other. Bones, Criminal Minds and CSI: New York. I like those kind of shows. I missed House on Tuesday. But I managed to catch up with my oldest son. Him and his wife are looking for a house and they thought they found the perfect one. Turns out it wasn’t. It failed inspection! Now they are looking at 6 or 8 other ones. I was able to get on the Internet and check them out, I liked about 4 of them, but I wish they would look in nicer neighborhoods. Where they are looking is older neighborhoods that are bordering bad neighborhoods. Not gang neighborhoods, I don’t think, but shady areas. Maybe drugs and thugs. But the neighbors they would have would be like grandparents. Or at least the age of grandparents. I hope they find something.

The Boy has decided to sell the mobile home he bought before he even moves it. He isn’t ready to be out on his own I guess. It is a relief but I was kinda looking forward to extra room. I mean he has to move out at some point anyway. And he is rarely here, mainly sleeps here through the week. He is going to have to start helping out. Physically anyway, if not financially. That boy can put away a lot of food. And I believe he has the ability to keep his room clean and help out when asked. You know actually clean off a table when asked instead of leaving it there.

I guess I should go and accomplish something. I am not feeling too good today and Little Miss gets out of school early for parent/ teacher conferences. I have an appointment, I don’t know why. She makes As and Bs, but that mouth keeps her in trouble! I really don’t know where she gets it. Must be her daddy! *HUSH!!!* SO until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!

Some people are just stupid!

When did people become stupid? Yesterday on Plurk AFF mentioned her milk carton contained a warning that it contained MILK! All I could think was DURRR! That got me to thinking…..People are either stupid or greedy. Because they are either too stupid to know better or they do something stupid so they can sue and say “I didn’t know.”

Jeff Foxworthy made a fortune with his “You might be a redneck….” routine. I found out you don’t have to live in the south to be a redneck. Not all southern people are rednecks or stupid just like all rednecks aren’t stupid, but……. we have our fair share of both in the south.

Bill Engvall made a fortune with his ” Here’s your sign…..” routine and that showed that people really are stupid or they just don’t use their brain. I love this guy and I am embarrassed to say, I have done or said some of the things he talks about. Hey we can’t be brilliant all the time, but some people abuse the privilege!

So why do I think some people are just stupid? Just look at the warnings on everyday products.

My hair dryer warns me not to use it in the shower! Has anyone every tried this when they weren’t trying to kill themselves? I mean really, what kind of idiot decides they could save time by drying their hair while rinsing off in the shower? And I can’t see how that would work anyway, I mean the water splashes on my hair when I am in the shower. Public Service Announcement……..Electricity and water DO NOT MIX!!!!!

My curling iron says the same thing. I’m thinking it is the most useless warning ever. I mean really you ain’t going to make it that far! Once you bring the hair dryer in the shower, it is over. So why put the warning on the curling iron? Again people……Electricity and water NOT GOOD!!!!

I really wish I hadn’t taken my warning off my toaster. I am curious to know if it warns me not to make toast in the tub. Who the hell makes toast in the tub anyway, but I bet there was a warning against it. When was the last time you were lounging in the tub and thought, “This would be perfect if I just had some toast!”

I understand putting say wheat warnings on food. I mean unless it is wheat bread you may not know it contains wheat. Really warn people that a food contains something they may not know is in there, but come on…….Peanut M and Ms have peanuts in them! But did you know they may also contain Almonds? Look at the back of the bag. I know you will now. Peanut Butter, guess what it contains peanuts *gasp*! Public Service Announcement…… If the picture shows nuts in the product, chances are it contains nuts!

The warning that gets me is the one that goes something like this…….”This product may have been processed on equipment that may have processed nuts” HUH? That just seems unsanitary to me. What did someone say, “What the fuck, the health inspector isn’t coming today, why clean the equipment when we change out products!”

And guess what…. Poison is bad for you! Yes that bug spray that kills bugs, not good for you either! Hell, bug poison has gotten so weak over the years, you are damn near just pissing the ants off now! But they have to weaken it, because people apparently don’t know if it will kill bugs (or mice), it may not be good for you. And have you seen the warning? It says DO NOT INGEST. I am thinking if you don’t know the meaning of the word poison you don’t know the meaning of ingest!

I understand putting the number for Poison Control on the label, babies and kids can’t read. But really poison should be stored so kids can’t get them. But adults who can read, either you, yourself, decided to end it all or the people around you don’t like you very much and you are screwed. Perhaps if you are an ass you should really sniff your food and drink. Because the actual spray poison stinks to high heaven!

Can someone explain child proof lids to me? There are times when I have to get Little Miss to open them for me. When you are in pain, either as in a headache or injury, really can you open those damn tops? And the pain reliever Little Miss uses isn’t in a bottle but rather those blister packs. Tear it here and pull down, that is what it says. I can’t tear that damn paper! And try to cut the shit with a pair of scissors, I cut the damn pill in half. Again, put the shit up so kids can’t get to it! And those damn child proof cabinet door things are useless. I swear my oldest figured out how to get in the cabinet faster than my husband did! He damn near ripped the door off the hinges trying to get a bowl.

And don’t get me started on stupid commercials!

So what is the stupidest warning label you have seen? I may not be around tomorrow, Hubby is suppose to be off….griping about that will come later. And I have a doctor’s appointment, so until next time…….

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! We have a RECORD BREAKER!!!!!!

I feel like I haven’t been here in forevah! But I am back!!!!! This is a long one since I have updates since Wednesday, so without any further yakking, here I go, pictures and all!!!!!

Thought I would start you out with a picture of my parent’s new house, This is the first year at this one!

This here would be the Koi pond I got to enjoy during a couple of minutes of down time during the evening. It is absolutely gorgeous at night with the lights on!

It is hard to tell, but I had to literally JUMP up on this bed! I needed a step stool. But boy, it slept great!

So on Wednesday, we got an earlier than normal start on setup. I got there at around 7:45. Mom was already out in the shop dragging out what we had stored in the shop from the last yard sale and what I had added since the last yard sale, it was a lot more than we thought it was. We also found a few things my dad wouldn’t miss if we sold it. Then we moved down to what mom had in the old house. The living room was full of boxes. We moved all of this stuff down and PILED it up in the center of where we were going to set it out. Then we moved the tables we use down there. We started to unpack the boxes and an elderly couple came up and asked if we were open for business, we told them they were welcome to dig through boxes and dig they did! As they were digging through others came up. So set up day turned in to the first day of the yard sale!

Mom had to work at the church dinner so she went up to get a shower and get ready at around 2:15. Little Miss got off the bus at mom’s and I kept on unpacking and taking in money! Hubby came up and him and Little Miss went to the office to clean so I could keep unpacking. When I say we had a LOT, I mean we had TONS!!! I worked until 7:15, it was dark and I still had to get me and Little Miss packed for the weekend!

When I stopped we still had 3 huge bags of men’s and children clothes and 4 tubs left to unpack, 2 stereo cabinets (1 with components and speakers), 2 microwaves, a TV and about 20 pictures to bring down! When I got back to mom’s it was about 8 and I had not eaten all day! I got lucky mom had some shrimp from dinner the night before left so I finally got to eat! I told her I had sold 2 of her outside tables and the man was coming back for them the next day and that I had put back a over a camp fire pop corn popper. A man wanted it and said he didn’t have the money on him for it and if I would put it back he would pay double for it. I told him I would keep it out of the sale until Friday Morning (He never came back and we sold it within 30 minutes of putting it back out.). After getting together the money, totaling the sales and showering I finally got in the bed at 11:45!

Total sales for the day………$146.85. Not bad considering that the yard sale wasn’t officially open!

That brings us to Thursday! The official opening of the annual yard sale. I got up at 5am! I got dressed, had my coffee and went out to smoke a cigarette (I have chosen not to smoke in the new house, they don’t smoke and I just hate to do it!). I got out to uncover what we had put out and start unpacking the rest of the stuff at 6am. We had our first sale at 6:15! Mom got Little Miss up at 6:30 and by 6:45 she was out with me! It takes me 10 minutes to get her out of bed in the morning and she was dressed and ready in 15 minutes for mom! URG!!!! Daddy worked at the Disaster Relief Warehouse and mom had to get him up and fed so she got out at around 8:00. The following pictures were taken before we brought down pictures, the stereo cabinets, microwaves, TV and I still had 3 bags and 3 boxes left to unpack…….

( this is the ladies clothes, in sections…..pants, shirts, jackets and dresses.)

(ladies clothes, men clothes and children clothes. The cart was full of shorts and some jeans. By the end of the sale we had stuffed animals in it.)

(wide shot of the side sections. The books are in this part as are a lot of trinkets.)

(The other side of the yard in a wide shot. Mainly pretties and electronic stuff.)

(Up close with some of the pretties.)

(Wide shot of as much of the whole yard I could get.)

(most of the center section is books!)

(This trailer had about 20 pictures added to it!)

Mom had 2 church pews and they sold in less than 1 hour! We sold the 2 microwaves and the TV before we got them out of the house!! The man came back for his tables and fussed that we weren’t using them to display things and decided he would get them Friday evening so we could use them.

I found out that mom and dad are in a cell phone DEAD ZONE!!!! I have Verizon, the Verizon people are apparently afraid of their yard!! I talked to hubby once all day and he came up for about an hour to visit. I was able to tell him that I sold the round brush he swore would not sell! When I put it in he told me to put it in the garbage nobody would buy it. I showed him!

Oh, we had a first!!!!! A man came up and brought 2 pairs of jeans, 2 shirts, a pair of boots and pair of lady’s socks and a ball cap. He asked if he could use a bathroom to try on the jeans and he came out wearing the jeans he just bought, changed out of his flip flops into the boots and changed his ball cap out and then said he was ready to go to work and left!!!! We actually sold him clothes and he changed into them for work! Never before. We went in at 7:15, I ate dinner. I actually had 3 meals, mom brought me out breakfast and lunch!

Daddy was a bit pushy about the money, he wanted to roll up change and got mad when I told him there was no reason to, we had to have change the next day and if we rolled the change we would have only had a dollar if each of them. After all was said and done I got in the bed at around 11:30.

Total sales for the day……. $302.45!!!!!! Not bad considering we sold a lot for a nickel, dime and a quarter!!!!

On Friday I got up at 5am again and was out around 6 again. Our first sale was at 6:30. Daddy had decided to run errands and after mom got done with him she got out around 7:45. Friday is old lady day. They seem to get out on Fridays, I don’t know why, but we have a lot of old ladies on that day. I am talking in their 70s and 80s. We also get the flea market people on Friday. They come to find things to sell at the flea market on Saturday and Sunday.

We also got what I call the professional yard saler. She went from table to table loaded her arms and brought it to us and made a pile. She hit tables then the trailer then the clothes. She knew what she was looking for and what she wanted. They are amazing to watch!

We sold the item I swore wouldn’t sale on Friday. I t was a couple of cans of crystals that change the color of the flames in a fireplace or camp fire. It was from the seventies and I swore no one would know what it was and it would be sitting there when we packed up! We always sale what I swear won’t sale!

After waiting for hubby or dad to move down the stereo cabinets, they weren’t heavy just bulky. We decided we didn’t need no stinkin’ men and moved it down ourselves. The cabinet with the components in it sold in 15 minutes!

Dad got mad at mom over a couple of sales. First she sold the cabinet and components for 20 bucks, he said they were about 300 bucks when they were bought. She told him they were 20 to 30 years old and she didn’t need them. He was mad. He  also got mad because she sold a hanging macrame table for 3 dollars. He said that his mom had spent days or weeks making it. She told him that she had used it for 10 years and it had been in storage for 20 years! The guy who bought the tables came back and decided he would get them Saturday. I swear he has changed his mind and doesn’t want them.

I had a stroke and aneurysm! We had an older lady come and she made piles all over the yard and she was totaling her loot and I was trying to keep a running tally in my head as to how much for who and write it down. I think she got some for free and I think I messed up on where the money went.

Little Miss stayed with her dad. That meant I would have that bed to myself! We went in at 7:30. Daddy had his nightly fit about rolling the change. I rolled the dimes and nickels because we had a few dollars after rolling them. He wanted to roll the quarters but if we did we would have like 3 quarters for change so there was no reason to do it. After weathering the fit and getting a shower and such I climbed in to the bed at 11:00. I don’t remember laying down good before I fell asleep.

Total sales……$87.25. Friday seems to be a steady day, but slow on sales.

Saturday, the final day of the big yard sale. We slept in til 5:30, people don’t get out as early on Saturday. As luck would have it, we got done early and was walking out the door at 6am. When mom opened the door, I saw it! A misty rain and from the look of the porch it had been doing it for hours!!! We sat on the back porch til the rain finally quit at 6:45. We did however get to enjoy watching a red fox run around at the edge of the woods! We went down and started drying the stuff that got wet. We were so lucky only a couple of tables got wet and it was the ones with glasses and stuff. And the trees had protected the clothes and only the shoulders were a little damp. We had time to dry stuff our first sale wasn’t until about 8:30. Little Miss was in and out. She went to the Hartselle Depot Days with her dad and to a birthday party.

We had a group of three older ladies and one of them was American Idol’s Bo Bice’s grandma. She is a hoot and a half! According to her, Bo has a new CD coming out soon and it is gospel songs and (a direct quote) “It is AWWWESSSOMMMMEEEE!!!!!!”

We also had a lady come up and she was on the phone with her daughter and they were fighting! She was cussing this child for all she was worth! Apparently they put their house up on a loan to buy her a house and she was going to rent it to a friend and move in with her boyfriend and they had been stuck with the last 3 payments and knew they would be left with the remaining payments. The lady had bought all the furniture for the house and she wanted it back and she had loaned her money and she wanted that back. She was screaming at the phone and cussing and ranting up a storm. She had her granddaughter with her and I had my 2nd stroke and aneurysm of the weekend. This kid was piling all the toys up for her grandma to buy and the lady was piling stuff around. I couldn’t keep track of it all!

The man with the tables came up and said he would get them on Sunday. I swear he doesn’t want them and just doesn’t have the guts to tell me!

We started packing up at about 5 and as always we had to stop several times for people to look around at our stuff and dig through boxes. The following pictures are from right before we started packing up. I am the queen of the move around. As tables would empty I would move things around and off tubs and boxes and as clothes would sale off the line I would put clothes from tables on the line.

(the lady’s clothes didn’t seem to go down but we sold a tone of them!)

The children’s clothes went down a lot! I had a table and a box of clothes and I kept moving them to the line.)

(Only about 4 pictures left. WOOT!)

(These boxes were either full of stuff or turned over and used for a table and they got thrown over here as we emptied them.)

(Note a lot of space between the tables now!)

(A lot less boxes there)

(Fewer boxes of books and the ones left are in near empty boxes. The books went!)

( Nearly empty spaces!)

(Another shot of the clothes)

We finally stopped packing at 7:30 because it was too dark to see. That and Daddy was mad because he hadn’t had supper yet. And my father has to eat 3 meals a day and supper has to be before 5:30! After I got the money counted and divided up and packed me and Little Miss up to head home. I pulled in to the driveway at home at 9:15! I was showered and in the bed by 10:30.

Total sales for the day…….$106.40. Not too shabby considering the misty rain off and on most of the day and that we marked down prices throughout the day. So most that was sold for less than 50 cents an item. We came up with $13.40 over on the money. I don’t know if we forget to write something down or if we gave the wrong change. Better to come up with too much money than too little money!

Would you like to see what I came home to?

(where are my counters?)

(I haven’t a clue what is in that bowl! I don’t want to know either!)

(somebody exploded something in my microwave, but no one is admitting to it!)

(The living room has looked worse, but Little Miss said she cleaned it up.)

I took these on Sunday morning. I was too tired to deal with it Saturday night!

I must admit I came home with a few things. An old Avon bottle for my bathroom, a doorbell, a hummingbird note holder for the fridge, a quilt pattern and a pattern for a sundress and a gown, a sleep shirt, 2 sundresses and a trinket box for Little Miss’ room. I also got a table and umbrella and 2 chairs for my porch. And I am getting a swing to replace my old swing. Mom got a set of my glasses so we called it even.

( My loot minus the note holder, which was already on the fridge)

(My table, I have always wanted a table on my porch. Now I have a place to sit and watch the world go by.)

And the biggest pain in my ass the last two yard sales……..

I hate this thing! We paid like 100 bucks for it and then about 40 bucks to put furniture in it and Little Miss played with it 3 times! This is the sign that I put on it….

You will note I marked it down! It won’t go anywhere!!!! I am know accepting bids for this damn thing! If you want it make me an offer. Please keep in mind that I would have to ship it to you. I am not kidding, It is now up for auction!!!! I don’t want to store it until spring!

We had a great time. I was sore and achy all weekend, but it was worth it. We had no accidents this year and I am so glad. Neither SILput in, I don’t know why, I told them I would keep track of all of it. And  to top it off, they are having one this coming Saturday. I don’t know if I pissed them off or what. I can’t think of a thing I did or said, but Hubby said they were mad about something all weekend. I hope they aren’t mad or anything. But if they are, there is nothing I can do about it. I wish them well at their yard sale!

Daddy was antisocial all weekend. I don’t know what was wrong with him. He said that the yard sale stuff wasn’t going back in the shop and in the way, so I am going to go and help mom clean out the shop tomorrow so we can get it in and out of the way.

For those of you who have not kept a running total in your head, the total sales for the weekend was…..Drum Roll please………$642.95!!!!!!!

Sunday was pretty busy. I had to clean up the disaster area my family left me, finish packing up the yard sale stuff, clean up the office and go to a birthday party for a 4 year old! And I slept til 9:30. Hubby was a bit ill when I got up, I don’t know what his problem was! I planned on resting, but that was not to be.

Adding to this already long post I would like to provide a public service. Here are a few tips for your own yard sale. Just a few things I have figured out over the past 7 or 8 years.

1. I am the queen of the move around. If it isn’t getting looked out, move it and most likely it will sell. Keep the tables full but not packed tight.

2. Get things off the ground. People don’t like to bend over to look at stuff. A trailer is a great table.

3. Winter clothes only sell late in the summer on cool mornings. If you have a lot of fall/winter things have your sale in late September or early October.

4. Sections, sections and more sections! Electronics, books, kitchen things, clothes, trinkets, pictures, curtains, sheets, etc. If they are looking for kitchen things, they don’t want to look all over the place.

5. The things you think will never sell, probably will.

6. Use those tubs. Put the lid on the bottom of a tub turned upside down and use it for a table. But move it to taller tables as soon as you can. Remember people don’t want to bend. It is easy to cover at night too. Just put the lid on the ground and put the tub over it!

7. Hang clothes. If you have tables full of clothes and hang them too, people will think the hung clothes are expensive. But do use tables for shorts and such. Spread them out, people don’t want to dig through full boxes of clothes. I will, but a lot won’t.

8. A money box with separate sections for change are a great investment if you do this every year. Start with a lot of change. A roll of quarters, dimes and nickels, 20 ones, 5 tens and 10 fives. You’d be amazed by the people who will pay for a quarter item with a 20.

9. Count money and totals every night.

10. Have lots of trinkets and pretties and put them up front! Pretties draw people in faster than clothes.

11. Have it close to the road. If they can see it, they will stop.

12. Thursday is a good start day, you are not competing with other yard sales so people aren’t saving their money for the possible deals they will find later.

13. Start early in the morning, you catch people on the way to school and work. Keep it out late, catch those people coming home from work!

14. Saturday is usually busy but the sales could be low. People save their money for other deals.

15. Get together with a few people. More stuff= more traffic.

16. Signs at the end of the driveway get their attention, but balloons really draw them in!

17. Never work alone. People are inpatient. If they think they may have to wait to pay for that quarter shirt, they will leave.

18. Kids are born salesmen! Give them the money from their toys, books and games and they will sell them! Little Miss made $78.00. And most of it sold when she was there to push it!

19. Price it cheap but not too cheap. If it is too cheap people will assume there is something wrong with it.

20. Have fun, talk, laugh! It makes the day go quicker!

Well, this is a record breaking post! So I shall go and until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!

The annual yard sale….

As I mentioned the yard sale is this weekend and so I have been busy getting things together. You know getting rid of some of my stuff to make room for my “new” stuff. *AHEM tismee2 did you see that?* I also mentioned that my MIL brought over a pile of stuff to put in. I got it all priced yesterday and if all goes well, she may make some money this year. She complained she didn’t know why she bothered with putting anything in she never makes any money. This got me to thinking……Every year I see her stuff and clothes being bought up, only Red always prices it for her, and when Red prices it she puts her name on it! So Red has been making MIL’s money. The one year that she brought stuff over and I priced it for her, she told me to just give it to Red, since she was the one to dig it out and get it together. So her not making money, is her fault!

We have a lot of people who watch for our yard sale every year and buy every year. We have a sweet and strange old lady who comes to buy dresses every year. She is in the bigger sizes and that means she grabs Red’s and my MIL clothes. One of the first years Red put a maternity dress in. She priced it fairly high, $15, she said she had given 45 bucks for it and she wasn’t going to give it away. This little old lady loved this dress. I just didn’t have the heart to tell her it was a maternity dress. She would drool over this dress and look at the price and ask if we could take less. Red had already told us not to lower the price. So every year, it was packed back up. And every year we would bring it back out and wash it and lower the price a little. Last year, the 4th year it was in, we priced it at a buck, this little old lady finally got her dress! She was the happiest woman in the world. She would come daily and check the price on that dress. To say she wanted that dress was an understatement. I never did tell her it was a maternity dress, it was just cut huge in the stomach, so I guess it was OK. This was the same lady who bought 6 nursing bras. I guess she  just didn’t care.

Yard sales bring out strange people. The man who buys all bras. The guy who looks for socks. The people who ask if you will take a quarter for a 25 dollar chair. I love the ones who grab everything that they might want and  carry it around for an hour and then buy 1 thing. Breaks my heart, when I think I have a big sale only to get a quarter. But they can’t allow anyone to get what they might want. The kids are the best though. They crawl through every toy and play with everything and beg for it all. Usually mom will give in and buy something for them. But after they leave it takes an hour to get everything cleaned up.

Every year we have an accident in the driveway. Never anything bad, but every year somebody gets hit. Most years we have a woman who starts her period as she is bent over a pile of clothes. And to make it worse I am the one who has to point it out to her! Every year we have people digging through as we try to put it out. And every year someone will dig through the garbage! And 9 out of 10 times they will take something home with them from the garbage! Not old food garbage, but the box that we put things in that someone bought something and left part of it there or that we discover we didn’t bring all the parts for something.

But the worst is every year we have things stolen! And it is so stupid. It isn’t the high dollar stuff, no it is the things priced for a quarter! I swear, every year we have a thief. One year it was a duck marked at 25 cents, another year it was a few shirts, 50 cents a piece. The worst was when The Boy put in his ball cards. He had a complete set in a folder and it was priced together, he had a couple of folders filled and they were priced together and he had a huge tub of single cards and they were like 10 for a buck. I kept those cards close to the money table and watched them. I checked them every night. I couldn’t tell if single cards were missing, but I could see all the cards missing from the complete sets! He had a few cards he was proud of and people tried to say they came out of the tub. I knew better. But I guess if they can live with stealing them I can live without them. One man even pointed out a few good cards and how we should watch them close, after he left I couldn’t find the good cards he had pointed out. ASS! To steal from a child can you get worse?

Every year someone changes the prices on stuff. A quarter on a couple of dollar dress, 50 cents on an antique, sometimes we catch it , sometimes we don’t until later. It is crazy. We have an adventure every year. We get up and head out to uncover the stuff at 6am, before the sun is up and we have went out to find people already out there! We close up at around dark, 7 or so, and as we are covering up the stuff, people will stop and uncover it to look.

People know we have it every year and if we are late. like this year, we are asked if they missed it. People want to know when it is, what we might have, it is insane. We usually have a fairly big day on Thursday, little less on Friday and Saturday is always a surprise. Sometimes better than the other days sometimes we won’t sell 50 dollars. I think last year was our best year with a bit over $600 for the weekend. Not bad for selling stuff we don’t need anymore. Mom should have a good year, what with getting rid of stuff from the old house.

I am curious to see what sells this year. One year it will be clothes, one year it will be household stuff, we never know. Every year we pick the item we don’t think will sell and what item we think will go first, we have never guessed right. Stuff we swear is going when it is over, will sell. Stuff we just put in will sit.

So what else, oh, they are cutting back hours where hubby and The Boy work. The Boy will be off on Mondays now and I will never know when Hubby will be off. He is off today and has to call in tomorrow. I know there is a slow down in deliveries but it is getting bad. Hubby’s paycheck isn’t a lot with OT, but it will be bad, very bad, with short hours! I know it is hard all over, we shall survive this too. So I guess I will be looking for ways to save a dime here and there. Good thing yard sale season is about over. heh!!

Well, this is it for the week, I think. I am taking the camera with me, hopefully I will get a few good shots of how well we did. You know before and after. I figure the yard will be full so hopefully when it is over it will be empty! Hey I can dream!! heh! So until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a weekend!

As you know Friday was my anniversary and plans were in the air as to what we were going to do. Turns out, we had no major plans, but yard sales were on the agenda! Hubby got to come home early and he announced he needed to run into town and we would see if we could find a few yard sales. I am telling you if it weren’t for him driving me insane I would swear he loves me! So how did we do this weekend? You be the judge……

We hit 3 yard sales on Friday, I happened to find something at all of them. The first one was Little Miss clothes, mainly to wear around the house. The second one, clothes for me! The third one, was mainly household stuff…….

That would be 2 pairs of blue jeans and 2 pairs of capri pants and 3 shirts! All for me! And they actually fit, not that I will be able to wear them when I lose weight! I am damn near naked here and I was excited to find clothes to fit my ass!The hubby, found him a couple of pairs of jeans and shorts. Well, swim trunks. They were mixed in a box of shirts and such. He found this box of shirts and the lady said $2.00 for the box and he figured if nothing else grease rags, so……. He found these swim trunks and ……..
these 3 shirts that he liked. There were more shirts but either they would not fit or he didn’t like them so he came out with a lot of grease rags, but he was happy with his 3 shirts.

These little things I picked up for a dime apiece. What will I do with them? I am not really sure yet, but I am thinking Christmas tree for two of them. And the pendant, well, I just thought it was cute.

This here little chair will go in my kitchen and one of my dolls will have a cute little seat. I am not really sure which one, but one of them will get a rest from all the standing around.

This is the clothes I found in Little Miss’ size. The PJs she loved, the shirt….it was a perfect match for a skirt she has and the overalls, she said I could do away with them. I even told her  he daddy picked them out, it didn’t matter, she does not like them and will not wear them. They will go in my yard sale.

The shade brand new in the box, 3 bucks. I recently found out Little Miss wants red in her room and this fit the bill really well. The ginger jar, my mom had it and it is a perfect fit. OK, I know a candle is suppose to be under that shade, but I don’t trust her not to burn the house down if she has a candle in her room. So ginger jar it is, she can put jewelry in it.
This little egg, also had colors in it for Little Miss’s room. For a dime, I can hang it from her dresser mirror if I have to, but I want to attach it to her curtains, if I ever find those.

These dishes, no I didn’t need them, were 6 bucks for all of it. They are so pretty and I swear I will get rid of dishes, I will have to I don’t have a place to put them. I also plan on using them, I mean hey, I didn’t pay much for them.

I was really proud of Hubby, he was patient and let me look and he carried my loot! We took Little Miss to Grandma’s and after we finally ran off all the people who came to sit around. We went out for a steak dinner! And then we went to Hel-Mart for dog food. Romantic I tell you! Then it was home to watch TV.

Saturday had a few more yard sales on tap. We went to a total of six and I only bought at 3. Kinda proud of myself!
This here sconce was the best find of the day! My mom had one like it and she needed one more and I happened to stop at a yard sale and find this one that is a perfect match for her sconce. Yes, it needs a few scratches touched up and the mirror has came lose, but still there, so it is fixable. And I was excited to get it for a buck!
I picked up this purse for Little Miss, she has a problem with shoes and purses! She can’t have too many. And she had wanted one like this at her birthday and I couldn’t find one for less than 30 bucks! And we all know I won’t be giving 30 bucks for a purse for a 4th grader to carry around! So when I ran across this one for 2 dollars, I grabbed it.
I also grabbed these few shirts for Little Miss. She will wear them around the house only, but now I can get rid of the stained shirts she refuses to give up! In fact I did that very thing before she got home!
These two sundresses and this short set, I figure I gave about 20 cents each for them! Yes, I found a yard sale and they told me, whatever I could cram in a bag I could have for a dollar! And again, I can wear them NOW!!!! No waiting til I lose weight! And they are so comfortable. I love sundresses but I can never find any that don’t cling to my gut! These just flow, I love them! And the linen one, in the fall and winter I can throw a jacket over it and wear it.
This wall sconce will be perfect in my kitchen, I only have to paint it black. I think I decided on metal and magnolias in my kitchen at just the right time. Everyone is getting rid of their metal, now if they would let loose with the magnolias!

These candle sticks were also at the dollar a bag yard sale, so a coat of black paint and they will go in the kitchen or leave them alone and they will match in my bedroom.

After the yard sales we headed off to clean the office and after that Hubby had a desire to go to Harbor Freight and it just happens to be next to  Tuesday Morning, a little store I love to browse through. Since I had already done a good deal of damage at the yard sales I was able to get out of there with NOTHING!!!! Not only was my darling husband proud of me he was completely shocked! I rarely walk out of there with nothing, that would be why he only takes me a couple of times a year!

We came home to a strange boy walking down our driveway, turns out he was selling magazines for some sort of contest. He was a friendly sort, conned my husband into buying a magazine for Little Miss. Apparently these kids are just out of high school and they get dropped off in different neighborhoods and meet people and con them into buying magazines.

I washed all the “new” clothes and  picked up around the house. I started having a couple of issues with my back, it kept catching up and it was driving me crazy. It had my hips and back hurting, which had my husband irritated. You know he hurts when I hurt. AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Yea right, he feared having to do my work! He stayed out most of the afternoon working on his truck. I haven’t mentioned my husband return to his teen years. He is lowering his truck, you know so it is the most uncomfortable ride in the world, because it bounces you all over the truck!  But he likes it.

Speaking of returning to his teen years, we had to run into Hel-Mart to get a present for the oldest Hellion and when we went to leave, some young man was showing off his new stereo system to a few young ladies and they were very impressed. Well, we were in The Boy’s truck and he has a system that you can hear coming from the highway, well, you can hear the bumping. Anyway……Hubby couldn’t resist cranking up The Boy’s stereo, you know to show the young man what a stereo should sound like. I am ashamed to say, the young man turned off his stereo and the young ladies walked away! I told my husband he should be ashamed of himself, costing that boy a possible “lucky” night!! He was proud of himself. Something about loud music takes him back to his youth and he must show off! It was kinda funny though the looks on the faces of these children when they realized the BOOM, BOOM they were hearing was coming from the Blazer that contained old farts! Little Miss was a bit embarrassed too, so that was a bonus. Don’t get me wrong, the attention she liked, the BOOMING music she liked, being seen with us…..not so much!

So on to Sunday, I mentioned it was the oldest hellions birthday and that means a dinner. My MIL cooked. Chicken and Dressing *have I mentioned she uses WAY too much sage?* Anyway, my MIL managed to piss off both of my SILs before I even got there! When I walked in you would have thought there was a death in the family! No one was talking and everyone was pissed. So that made for an enjoyable dinner. She even managed to jump me for not telling her about a yard sale I went to that had her size clothes *This woman never goes to yard sales!*. She further pissed off Red by telling her her Cole Slaw wasn’t fitting to eat, too much mayonnaise. And then the other SIL by complaining that she was taking home leftovers so she wouldn’t have to cook for 2 weeks. *She fixed 2 lunch plates and took home a plate for Bug* So MIL was on her game and pissing off the world.

Little Miss got stung by a DEAD red wasp! Red killed it in the living room and left it laying in the floor, where Little Miss promptly laid her hand down on it! Her finger hit that stinger and she came off it quick but not quick enough. A little crying and bitching, a little tobacco and a band aid and she finally settled down.

The little Hellion didn’t appreciate his gift, he never does. He thinks he should get BIG gifts from everyone, I don’t see spending a ton of money on toys he doesn’t need. The kid has more toys than any kid should have, and I mean more than Little Miss, who has more toys than God intended any child to have! It’s always nice when they have a dinner!

Hubby managed to work on his truck most all day and avoid most all of the family. Except for “the Ass” who always manages to track him down and irritate the hell out of him. I laid around most of the evening, my back was giving me a fit still and I wasn’t feeling real good. MIL’s cooking has a tendency to not agree with me or anyone else.

So that was my weekend, how was yours? My back is still giving me a fit and I have a ton of washing and cleaning to do and my MIL took this opportunity to drop off her part of the yard sale stuff, you know so I can price it for her. Now my living room is full of MIL clothes to be priced and stored.

Heads up for the rest of the week……. The annual yard sale is this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you who have been around for a while know this but for the new folks…….I will be MIA at the end of the week! We usually set up on Wednesday evening and I just stay there, but this year mom has to work the church dinner Wednesday night and so we will be setting up Wednesday during the day. Mom has a ton to put out, so I plan to get up there early and get started. So I may not be around Wednesday. I know I won’t be here Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, Sunday is my day of recovery! I will be back, everybody willing on Monday with plenty to gossip about and complain about. I am already dreading it, I planned it for a weekend my SILs have to work, I have been informed they will be taking off to “help” with the yard sale on Saturday. I keep telling them there is no reason for them to do that, I will handle it and I will have mom there to help, but so far they are not getting it! This is not good, they want to close up no later than 10 am, so they can go and do their other things. I stay out until I figure there are no more people to buy. So this will be interesting! Anyway, until next time……..

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!!!!!

It happened 21 years ago…..

Some days it feels like only yesterday, other days it feels like a lifetime ago. But 21 years ago I married the love of my life.

It all started with a phone call from a mutual friend. He said he had a boy who wanted to go out with me. (We curse him daily to this day! heh!!)

My date that night was the sweetest, quietest, shyest boy I had ever met. We rode in silence. He answered my questions with one word. He kept BOTH hands on the steering wheel at all times. Though he did relax before the night was over, he was still the sweetest boy ever. I came straight home and wrote my best friend a letter, she still had it last I heard, and told her I was going to marry this boy. Who knew?

He was by my side everyday. When most young man would have turned tail and run when I announced I was pregnant, he stood by my side. * He even brought me Reece’s Cups everyday, my only craving, that is a sure sign of a good man!* He was right there during the delivery *screaming for pain meds.* He was there for all of the scary new mom times too. He said all of the right words and did all the right things.

We put my engagement ring on lay-a-way *hey, we were broke and young*, it should have taken 6 months to pay it off, but he took every odd job he could find and in less than a month we were sitting in the parking lot of the mall and he was asking me to marry him. Of course I said yes! I mean at 16, what is more romantic than a mall parking lot!?! Besides I had made up my mind after one date.

On September 12, 1987, I stood in my bedroom with my father and my son, getting ready to walk out the door into a whole new life. I never wondered if it was the right thing to do, I never thought about whether or not I had lost my mind. I took a deep breath, walked through the door and never looked back. He was offered a ride in the fastest car in the yard, the best way to escape. He refused the offer, I think he regrets that decision daily. heh!!

In the year that followed, I swear if we lived together for 6 months I would be shocked to discover it. We were young, we were spoiled, we were stupid. We fought like cats and dogs! He spent his time with his dad, ate dinner with his mom, ran with his buddies like any other 18 year old boy. I on the other hand, took care of a toddler, I cleaned up the house he rarely saw, I cooked the meals he never ate, I was forgotten by my friends *a toddler is a joy kill for most teens!*

Every time we fought, I run to momma and he ran to his friends. One time we even went as far as dividing our things. And he promptly sold many of the things he got. The microwave, the dishes, the flatware and a few other things. After a few weeks, we really talked, the first time since we got married and something clicked. I would love to say we have been happy ever since, I would be lying, but I would love to say it.

We never do anything on the traditional anniversaries. For our first, I cooked supper *roast, potatoes and carrots* and got a babysitter. We forgot to eat the wedding cake we saved.

For our 2nd anniversary we went camping. WOOT!! Camping in a tent! Now that makes for a romantic weekend.

We went to Gatlinburg for our 9th anniversary. Rented a cabin, went on nature walks, shopped. We even dressed up and went to a nice restaurant for dinner. Then on our 10th, Nothing, Nada. I guess I cooked dinner. I mean we usually eat out or I cook a nice meal for dinner.

Then came the 14th anniversary, we completely forgot it. That was the year that 9/11happened and we, like the rest of he world, were parked in front of the TV. I don’t think we even said happy anniversary!

On the 17th, we went to Tunica. MS and gambled away our money. Actually we broke even. We got lucky and won fairly big early on and gambled away our winnings.

For the big 2-0. Dinner and a babysitter. So see the normal big ones, we do nothing. The odd years we take trips or have big plans! We are weird. So what is in store for number 21, who knows. I am hoping for a romantic weekend for two at home, he still wants to go to Gatlinburg to the car show. Maybe it will be a romantic weekend for one at home and a car show for the other.

After 21 years I had to ask myself a question……..Would I change anything? Maybe but probably not. Our first year was rough but it taught us to talk to each other and every year since has brought us closer. He is my husband and my best friend. He puts up with my crap. I can’t say that for many people, so I think he is a keeper.

I married an 18 year old boy, we grew up together, we fought, we made up, we loved each other, we have stood by each other in good times and bad, in sickness and health and in poor and poorer *we are still waiting for that richer part*. We have raised two wonderful boys, who have grown into very special young men. We are raising a wonderful daughter and hope she becomes a special young lady someday soon. We have been through a lot. More than some and less than others and we have survived it all.

So I raise my glass to my wonderful husband. The boy I married and the man I continue to love.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

Until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!

Two post in one……

I have two completly post floating around in my brain. Both post should be wrote and I just can’t decide which one, so bare with me as I try to seamlessly put them together.

Where were you?

There are times when you know you will always remember where you were at when something happens. Like when Kennedy was shot. When the US landed on the moon. When the war started, be it WW1, WW2, the Korean, Vietnam or either Iraq war. This generation has 9-11. No need for a year or even to mention the month by name. Just 2 little numbers. Is there another day in history like that?

Where was I? Little Miss spent the night with her Grandma and I decided to cover a photo album with material while I had a few minutes to myself. I tuned in to Regis and Kathy Lee to have a little noise in the background. I had no intention of watching it, but once I saw what was going on I had no choice but to sit and watch. I called my parent’s, who had no idea what had happened and then I called my brother, who was in Chicago, to check on him. After that, I did exactly what every other person in the world did, I sat in front of the TV and watched in horror at what was happening.

I couldn’t hold my husband or children close enough. To know they were safe was the only concern I had. I couldn’t then or can I now imagine how the loved ones of the victims felt. The not knowing, the waiting for word. No I can’t imagine that and I surely would not want to live it.

Everything changed that day. Not only rules for planes, metal detectors in buildings but people in general changed. People didn’t trust anymore. Sure they came together and mourned for the victims and helped the families in anyway possible, but they watched for anything different. I admit low flying helicopters and planes got my attention, but really, I live in Ohmygawd, Alabama. I was fairly sure I was safe, Really, there isn’t a lot close by that terrorist would find interesting. But still, like most others, I was concerned. Over the past 7 years, things have settled and people feel safer. We all still notice things that before we would have never noticed.

On the anniversary of 9-11, I want to thank all of the policemen, firemen and volunteers for all that you did. And to the loved ones of the victims and anyone touched by this tradegy, my heart goes out to you. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for all of you for your strength. There was 3 sites on that tradgic day. Everyone remembers and talks about the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, but there was a third site and burghbaby has a great tribute to the third site and all ad revenue this month is going to the Flight 93 Memorial Fund. So please go over there and click through as many pages as your little mouse will allow!

By damn I don’t care what they say!

Hot on the heels of Palin’s “People call me a hockey mom,…….The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick.” (very loose quote.). Obama comes up with, “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.”

Love him, hate him, support him or not, you have to admit that it is a slam against Palin. They can say all day long, “…all we meant was you can call a bad thing anything you want, it is still a bad thing…..”, but PALEAZE!!!! Everyone says he is a great speaker, so couldn’t his speech writers come up with something else? No he wasn’t calling Palin a pig, but clearly he was tying it to her.

I have said it before and I say it again, I don’t really follow politics too much. I read some in the newspaper, I catch clips on the news, but politicians, in my opinion, really don’t warrant too much of my time. So I will try to slam all of them and keep it as short as possible. Because I really think we are screwed no matter which way we go.

Since I am already on him I will start with Obama. I haven’t really saw him answer a DIRECT question with a straight answer. The following example is old, I admit it, but I couldn’t think of a better example.

Newsman: If you were President right now, would you give out the incentive check?

Obama: The incentive check is a short term solution, what we need is a long term solution. A short term solution is needed too, but I do not know if this is the solution Americans need. What we need is a short term and long term solution.

Me: Whaaaaaa??????

But this whole lipstick thing has done exactly what it is suppose to do. Get his face in the news. Free ads, how much better can it get?

And moving right along…….Biden, don’t know a lot about him, but he seems dry as dirt. But that is also just my opinion.

To keep this all fair…….

McCain can deny it all he wants, he picked Palin because she is a woman! Because we all know…….If you were crazy enough to vote for Hilary, because you only voted for her because she is a woman, you will vote for him because he has a woman for VP. She has a vagina, you must vote for her me. *Can you hear the sarcasm?*

And on to Palin, I kinda feel sorry for her. I mean she compares herself to a dog. What else could she expect but to be attacked from every direction.

OK, she is inexperienced. So are all the others, none of them have been president or vice- president before. She has an unmarried, pregnant daughter. So did my parents. What does she stand for? I don’t have a clue, all I see is all the personal stuff. But think about this. McCain is OLD, BUT the medical profession could keep him alive forever so I don’t see her sitting at the desk in the oval office. I can’t really slam her, do it for me please.

I remember when….a long time ago……The press didn’t attack a candidate for personal stuff. They kept it to the political career, the issues, you know the important stuff. When did the personal life of the candidates and their family become more important? Do you care that McCain called his wife a cunt in public? No, but if he would call her that in public what does he call her at home? Maybe Mistress Cindy! Do you care? I don’t! Do you care whether or not Palin has a A/R coating on her glasses? Well, I don’t! Does it really matter to you that Obama is of mixed race? Or is he? I could care less. Do you care that Biden is a callous ass? Aren’t we all at some point of our lives? I don’t care if he makes a snippy comment here and there. What I want to know is where do they stand on the important things. The war, terrorism, the economy, cost of gas and groceries, you know the important things. The other crap would be like asking Bush what his favorite boy band is. Interesting to know, but really as important as a fart in a hurricane.

So enough already. I am undecided, I am leaning one way, but I could sway the other. Convince me. Who is your man (or woman), why should they get my vote? This is the last political post I hope to do. That is unless someone else says something stupid. Or the press acts stupid again. Who knows, this may become the political views of Justmylife. Because I foresee a lot of stupid things coming out of the mouths of both candidates and the press.

In closing…..

Remember those who lost their lives this day 7 years ago. The innocent on the planes and in the buildings, the brave who gave all to help and the soldiers who are fighting for our freedom. This started 7 years ago and it continues to this very day……God Bless us all.

Until next time……

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!

And the fight goes on……

Nothing major, not a marriage breaker, but still a disagreement and I am looking for YOUR opinion. Am I wrong? Would you like to know what the disagreement is about before you make a decision? Well, here is a little back story……

The disagreement itself wouldn’t be a big deal if I weren’t already annoyed with that man I share my bed with. Yesterday, I developed a slight headache and you may already know if I ignore them, they only get worse, I can lay down and generally it will ease up or go away. I mention to that man that I am going to lay down. As soon as my head hits the pillow, my mom calls and I talk to her about 20 minutes. I decided to go to the bathroom before laying back down. On my way to the bathroom, I stepped in a puddle of water. Misty, the toothless wonder dog left it there for me, she has a problem with keeping the water in her mouth. When I stepped in said puddle I slipped and fell. I hit the floor hard and my head harder. *The wooden garbage can will never be the same, no I didn’t break it, but I don’t see how I didn’t.* This did NOT help my headache or my mood. Now in addition to my headache, my back is sore, my arm hurts from twisting it and my leg hurts from landing on it. Nothing was broken, but the muscles, they were hurting. So I decide laying down would be a wonderful idea. I no sooner lay down than that man calls and giggles as he asks how my nap was. I told him I hadn’t had it yet and go into great detail of how much I dislike the dog at this point. I received very little sympathy from that man, but I wasn’t looking for sympathy. He points out that it is almost time to drive down to get Little Miss off the bus. I point out I have 1 hour and 15 minutes, for resting and I really need it. The headache which was mild is now throbbing and it hurts to open my eyes.

So you would think I would get an hour before he called back. Right? Wrong! In 25 minutes he calls, again giggling, as he asks how my nap went. I promptly let him know I was not amused. He let me know he just wanted to make sure I didn’t forget to get Little Miss.

So there goes my nap. SO I am really sore and I have a massive headache and Little Miss comes home and she is the whiniest human in the world! Speaking to her sends her into tears and all out hissy fits! She wants everything, a  drink, something to eat, Daisy out of the pin to play with her, you name it she wanted it. She decides to take all the dogs out and puts Daisy on the leash and Daisy promptly yanks the leash out of her hand and runs off into the field. Which sends Little Miss in and crying that she lost Daisy. I went out and walked around and called the dumbass dog and finally got her home. So needless to say, when that man came home I wasn’t a happy camper.

Does he come in and try to be nice to me? Well, no! He rolls his eyes that I am still attempting to get rid of my headache. What does he do? Lays back in the recliner and goes to SLEEP!!!! What did I do? Well, I am not in jail so you know I did not kill him! I cooked supper. Can you say painful? Yes, we had meatloaf, three cheese potatoes, green peas, pintos and cornbread. Nice supper isn’t it! A lot of mixing in that meal, really didn’t agree with my arm, but I did it. I also cleaned up the kitchen. I never asked him to help, he didn’t offer. Still not the disagreement, but we are now at the disagreement and where I need your opinion.

There is a show on ABC Family, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”, it is a show for teens, this I know. I also know that Little Miss is not a teen yet, she is only 9, she still has a few years til she officially becomes a teenager. But I like the show and I watch it. Little Miss likes the show and she watches it WITH ME. The key words here are WITH ME!

For those of you not familiar with the show the main character is a 15 year old girl who becomes pregnant during her first experience having sex. *This is why I originally watched the show. I was pregnant at 15 and I wanted to see just how they handled it, whether it was realistic or if they dropped the ball. They have hit it fairly close.* The show has many characters that teenagers see everyday. The “oops” pregnant girl, her good guy boyfriend (who is not the father of the baby), the bad boy (the father of the baby), the slut (who was dating the bad boy and yes having sex with him), the good girl (who has chosen abstinence but is facing the pressures of having sex), the two best friends of the pregnant girl (who are facing issues of just being odd teenagers), the parents of the pregnant girl (who are facing a divorce, but it has nothing to do with the pregnant daughter), the parents of the good girl (who are also raising a Down Syndrome son and pushing the good girl to not have sex) and the best friends of the good boyfriend (who have been dating forever).

Yes, there is a lot of talk about sex. It is showing many sides of sex. Getting pregnant, even on the first time. That shows what can happen. The slutty girl who seems to have no problem having sex with a boy who doesn’t have true feelings with her. Showing that some  girls have sex for the attention. The 2 best friends of the good guy having sex for the first time and it being bad. That shows that sex may not be exactly what you think it will be. And there is talk of having sex alone (masturbation). Yes, some very embarrassing subjects. Yes, a bit of an adult theme. But, it doesn’t show anyone having sex, rather it lets you know it happened without being explicit.

So as the season finale was on last night and that man happened to be in here and watched it with us. He had a fit! Little Miss had NO business watching a show like that. It was too young for me and too old for her. I tried to point out, Little Miss was around the corner from dealing with these same issues. * I must point out I know a young lady who got pregnant and had a baby at the tender age of 12, yes, you read that right, TWELVE!!!!*

That man refused to see that by watching this show with me,it had opened up a few talks between me and Little Miss. That she is seeing how things (sex) are handled. And  learning a few things. What is she learning at her tender age of 9……..

1. That if you have sex, you can get pregnant, even the first time.

2. That some guys are just slugs! She has pointed out to me how awful the bad guy (Ricky) treats girls and how they (Adrienne, Grace and the 2 best friends) just don’t see it and how they should. Pretty observant of a 9 year old.

3. How the pregnant girl’s (Amy) pregnancy is affecting more than just her. How it is affecting her new boyfriend, her parents, her friends, the parents of the other girls.

4. How even though Ricky is the father of the baby, his life or life style hasn’t really changed. He still has sex. He is looking for a new girlfriend, kinda pressuring other girls to have sex, trying to play up the “poor guy” side of the whole she is keeping the baby thing.

5. The options for a girl who is pregnant. Abortion, adoption and keeping the baby.

6. That sometimes parents have problems and it has nothing to do with their kids!

The list goes on, but this is some of the topics the shows has opened up for us. It has given her questions and she asked them. And I did my best to answer them without going into grand detail.

Like she asked why Adrienne told Ricky she wasn’t going to have sex with him anymore, but he called while she was upset and she told him to come over and they had sex. She wanted to know why she would do that. I explained to her that some girls feel like they can only be loved if they have sex with boys. And how they think it will help make their problems go away. She thought that was crazy!

Another example, She wanted to know why people had a problem with Amy (the pregnant girl) and treated her different but not Ricky (the father of the baby). I told her that was just how it was. If your pregnant, it can be seen and it is a constant reminder, but fathering a child had no outward signs. The whole boys will be boys thing. She wanted to know why it was different for boys to have sex. How it was fine if a boy had sex but a girl was a slut if she had sex, didn’t there have to be a girl having sex if a boy had sex. Again she floored me with her smarts. I told her it was a double standard, that boys couldn’t get pregnant and that seemed to make it OK in the eyes of some people. Girls on the other hand, should know better, should know that they can get pregnant.  It really is a double standard.

And she wanted to know how you could decide what to do if you did get pregnant. I told her it was different for different girls. Some girls decide to have an abortion because they are not able to continue a pregnancy for what ever reason (and I did hit on some reasons they couldn’t continue it). Some girls can not handle the idea of an abortion, but are not able to keep the baby for some reason (yes, I hit on reasons for not being able to keep it) and adoption is a great option. And that some girls decide to not only continue the pregnancy but to keep the baby. That opened up a talk about how I made my decision and why it was the right decision for me but how it wouldn’t be right for others.

She wondered what kind of problems parents can have that doesn’t involve the kids. As far as she is concerned parents don’t have a life except for what happens to the kids. The whole world revolves around the children doesn’t it? She knows that parents do have lives outside of kids and that the world doesn’t stop when children sleep. She learned a few years ago that mom and dad have to have time alone. I hoped she didn’t know why, but she knew we wanted time alone. Now she knows that sometimes there are other problems between parents.

See how it opened up discussions? A little bit of an adult topic, but still something she will have to deal with at some point in her life. The sex part anyway, I hope the pregnancy part only comes after marriage, hell, I hope the sex part comes after marriage, but that will have to be her decision. And I hope our little talks help her to make the decision that is best for her and if she chooses to have sex, to be responsible about it.

They say talk to your child earlier than you think you need to. The night before the first date is too late, that you should talk to your child about sex way before that. Is 9 too young, I don’t know. Hubby says she has years before sex will be an issue and she is way to young to even know about sex. Well, I say that ship has already sailed, she watches TV and has known the word sex for a long time.

So am I wrong to let her watch this show? Is that man right? Is she too young? Have I caused her to have grown up conversations before she is old enough? I haven’t told her the mechanics of sex, more the emotional side and the consequence side of it. That is what the show does. I want her to know the consequences to having sex. I want her to know it just isn’t physical, that it really is very much emotional. I want her to know I am there for her. That she can ask me anything and I will try to answer them in a way she can understand. But is this topic to old for her? That man thinks we are years from having to have any kind of conversations with her on that level.

When I read about 9 year olds raping 8 year olds, it makes me think. Maybe 9 isn’t too young to have talks with kids. I stress that sex is for adults. That 9 is way to young for it. That you don’t have to be married to have sex, but it is best if you are in love with the other person and they love you. And that the best way to not get pregnant is to not have sex.  And when you do decide to have sex, you have to be responsible and know what can happen. Not just the  getting pregnant part, but also the possibility of getting sick. I try to keep everything on her level but let her know the facts without scaring the hell out of her.

That man wants her to be a  kid, so do I. But I want her to be prepared, whenever the time comes. So what do you think? Am I wrong? Am I making her grow up too fast? I am not telling her sex is OK, I am not telling her to have sex. Let me have it. I can handle it!

Until next time……….

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!!!!!!