Help me.

I need help. I'm having a hard time finding the positive in the current state of our country. Too many people that I know have lost jobs and/or had their hours cut and have no foreseeable way to make it up. Friends who have lost homes to foreclosure and lost everything they have worked for in bankruptcy. Wives are looking for jobs to help supplement what the husbands have lost. We're supposed to be home, raising our families, why is it like this?

I just read a complete nonsense fluff piece as to why gas prices are going up, even though crude oil closed at just under $34.00 a barrel on Friday. This is perhaps the biggest crock of nonsense heaped upon the average Joe since Ford rolled out the Model T. Hello? The big ole Exxon posted their largest profit EVER the last quarter of last year! Why can't the big oil and gas conglomerates issue 'economic stimulus' to the flailing auto industry?

Food. We all eat it. We need it to survive. Yet, as retailers are paying the lowest prices wholesale, they apparently will not extend that same privilege to the mom who is trying to feed a family of 5 on a reduced income. Where is the justice in that? This is another of the biggest crocks heaped upon our society. Do they really think that we are THAT stupid? Note to executive cheapskates in the food industry, "I KNOW THAT EVERY PACKAGE AND CAN I BUY IS SHRINKING!!!!!"

With all that is going on in the world, I am suffering spiritually as well. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. I'm breaking my own rules as far as blogging rules go. Note: I wrote them for my own benefit anyway. It is difficult for me to be happy when I know that others are doing without. It's hard to feel the Spirit when I feel that misery surrounds me.

I have looked through the newspaper, the internet, just trying to find some good news. The obituaries list folks who have died many months ago, yet they want us to contact the mortuary if we have any information on them. How sad is that? A person's whole life reduced to 2 lines in the paper requesting what they did with that life and who cares?

So, again, I implore. Help me. I've lost my center. I am feeling as though everything is spinning out of control with no hopes of it ever becoming grounded. My children's and grandchildren's future have been mortgaged to the hilt. Am I a big baby or what?

Rules of blogging and Facebook and more

1. Don't blog when you are in a bad mood or feeling low, you will only bring down your reader.

B. Be careful of what you post on your wall, others will read it and know that they weren't invited.

3. Try posting something smiley, people will wonder what you are up to.

d. Don't associate with the same people each day, you will establish a rep as "clique-y" whether it is true or not.

5. In the wise words of Dr. Phil, "you wouldn't worry about what people thought of you if you knew how little they do."

F. Try to include photography as much as possible, it really grabs the reader.

7. Don't read too much into what people say as in the context that they are saying it.

h. Always have a cheerful countenance. Even it it hurts to do so.

9. Avoid idle gossip pieces. Period.

10. Can't we all just get along?

See you on the Net!

No, I'm not dead.........yet.

I know, I know I haven't blogged in a while. Maybe I thought that my many musings weren't interesting enough to post, but, I have to break out of this somehow.

On January 16th, Lee and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. I know, old huh? We celebrated our milestone by dropping Mark off at the church for his snow campout and heading over to Black Angus for dinner. Lee had the Prime Rib and I had the Top Sirloin steak. MMMMMMMmmmmMMMMMMmmm good! After we had eaten our leisurely dinner and shared a baked apple crisp for dessert, we meandered over to the theater to see "Paul Blart, Mall Cop". Very funny movie and.......you can actually take the kids to see it.

January 17th was my brother Nathan's 40th birthday. We always check in with each other at least once a month.

Lee has been keeping really busy with ref'ing junior high and JV/Freshman wrestling at the various high schools. Basically, we don't see him 3 nights a week or more for the month of January. You'd think with all that time apart absence would make the heart grow fonder, but we spent way too much time arguing over things. You know, the usual Mars vs. Venus stuff and if you'd just do it the way I asked you, you wouldn't be in the doghouse and vice versa.

January 21st was a fantastic night I like to call Bunko. It was my turn to host this month, and as usual, I was too busy hosting to take pictures. It was a blast though!

January 30th, was my niece, Erica's 14th birthday. The following morning I flew to Salt Lake City for a much needed break. I stayed with my brother and my nieces and nephew. Their mother had flown to Texas to visit her brother. I enjoyed the snow, the sights, Park City, and good old family fun and the Super Bowl. I flew home on February 2nd.

Today, I'm back to work. I missed my husband and my children, and yes, the beagles too. I knew what challenges I would be returning to, and yes, I'm biting my tongue.

If my head wasn't glued to my neck......

I'd be kicking it around like a soccer ball! I am not a techno savvy person by any stretch of the imagination. My problem yesterday was that I couldn't figure out how to follow simple directions in changing my blog background. The "Cutest Blog on the Block" website was having some server issues and therefore, they had configured a way to be able to provide the service they are so well known for.

Where are my children when I need them?

I promise, I'll have something much more interesting to post tomorrow.

I'm having some issues......

Having a few problems with my layout. Will be back soon.

I doed it!

Well (put hands over ears) crap! I did it. Didn't really want to, but I did it anyway. I turned (gasp) another year older. If you're on Facebook, you know how old that is.

Here's the cute and funny card my sassy and beautiful daughter gave me.




(don't know why it's sideways)

The festivities started Saturday afternoon. After our annual Primary "Meet the Teacher" activity/breakfast, Elizabeth, Julie, and Valynn (sorry for the shameless theft of your photos Valynn) took me to Taco Bell, er uh, Olive Garden for lunch.
We had fun and they had a turn watching me blush for the birthday song. I know I have enjoyed watching them on their birthdays! Maybe a little too much.;)

Me and Elizabeth

Valynn and Julee

On Monday night, Lee and Mark took me to dinner at Mi Amigos. I never knew they sang to you there until I got my birthday coupon. I got $5.00 off my meal, free sopapillas and a song complete with sombrero! They start singing as they leave the kitchen so everyone in the restaurant is staring. Then, who should be walking in about the same time? Joanne and Tom Asburry and her twin sister and her husband. They were seated right next to us. Great! Witnesses!!




Tuesday,(yesterday) my actual birthday, Lee had wrestling reffing to do and Mark had Mutual, so I settled in for a day and evening to myself. I made myself a chocolate cake and went to Party City and bought myself a balloon bouquet. For all they knew I was buying balloons for a "14" year old girl!

About 3:45pm Brittany came over. She had taken the day off work, just for me! What a sweet and wonderful daughter. Brittany took me to get my "paws" done, front and back. Then, she took me to dinner at where? Drum roll please..........big surprise........Olive Garden! Anyone know that I love Olive Garden? MMMMMmmmmmm pasta, salad, and breadsticks, oh my.

I received 24 "happy birthdays" on Facebook, a handful of birthday cards, and phone calls too. Lisa Perry came over and brought me a small tin of Danish butter cookies because we had run into her and her family at Target last week and I was looking for some. I don't think she knew it was my birthday, but, I'm counting it anyway because it was ever so sweet and thoughtful.

So, thank you everyone. It sure made a wonderful day and look, I get another year! I'm going to make it a good one. My love to you all.

Happy New Year, New You

You know that you have seen them. Don't lie. They started about the day after Christmas. Designed to conjure up doubt and lose confidence in yourself. Do you have any idea what I am talking about yet?

Overindulge a little over the holidays? Step up to the company potluck one too many times? Ate your body weight in cinnamon rolls, chocolates, Christmas cookies galore, all the while washing it down with some delicious, creamy hot cocoa?

It's time. The piper needs to be paid. Your number is up.





You know who you are. So all you girlie men get out there.


I am Hans, and I am Franz, and we are here to pump (clap hands once)....YOU UP!

If that isn't motivation enough for you, I'll send Billy Blanks over to kick your lily white seat cushion!