life

Not been in the bloggin mood lately... but I'll be back with pictures soon!

Lost my harddrive on my main pc, which meant I lost EVERYTHING. I hadn't completed a backup to my external harddrive for about 6 months. SUCKS!!

Life is chaos right now. Too much to even contemplate blogging about. Will be back soon!!

oh - and I love my hair chick.

She rocks my hair. I can't hardly style it as good as she can, but man she is gifted with those scissors in my opinion!! I gave her a picture, and she worked magic!

Misty ROCKS!!

music

Often I'll hear a song a couple dozen times before I find a reason to like it. Usually because the radio has over played it. I rarely listen to country music, though I am quite broad in my appreciation of music in general. I like anything from classic rock, alternative, indie, to rap - yes, rap. Country music has a way of making me think of my oldest brother, who died in 2007.

Last night on American Idol, one of the guys sang "Already There" by Lonestar. The lyrics grabbed me. Even though the song was written about a father of a child - a father who is still living - who's away from his family, it made me think about Mike. It made me think about how very often I sense him all around me. I just loved the lyrics so I thought I'd post the part that hit home for me here...

Take a look around

I'm the sunshine in your hair

I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind

I'm your imaginary friend

And I know I'm in your prayers

Oh I'm already there

So turn out the light and close your eyes

I'm already there

Don't make a sound

I'm the beat in your heart

I'm the moonlight shining down

I'm the whisper in the wind

We may be a thousand miles apart

But I'll be with you wherever you are

Wordless Wednesday - I laugh EVERY time

I laugh everytime I see this truck hauling around a bunch of "bimbos"...So I guess that makes me 12... oh well

peace out...

this little guy sat and watched as little J and I played in the sand for a long while...

then as quickly as possible, he said "peace out homeys".

10 things...

click to enlarge

A friend posted "10 things" that make her happy, and asked the same question of her readers... go check hers out HERE.

10 things that make me happy....

• Friends - I love em'. They make me happy, even when I'm down... I think it's said that if you come across one true friend in life you're fortunate, and I feel like I've been a lucky lady to have found a handful!
• Family Values/Family Traditions - We have a spectacular lil' family!
• Sunrises - I love sitting at my kitchen table in the morning and watching the sun come up, lifts my mood instantly.
• our lil' creek - we live near a little creek - and for whatever reason, I'm just in love with it!! I love hearing it, stopping by to see it, slowing down when we're near it. And recently, when it snowed, it just became a picture of nature to me!
• Park Bench's - Sitting there, soaking up all of the sun, listening to my kids play and laugh, and even sneaking in a pic or two of a butterfly or squirrel...
• Tree's - and all they represent. Not sure why this makes me "happy" but it does... tree's, just like the sun, have an amazing way of capturing my attention and just creating a feeling of peace.
• Birds - we go to the lake alot, and see tons of birds hovering over the water front. Birds are so free and peaceful. I love watching them play!
• Being an American - I love my country. I love everything it stands for, and believe that we as a country need to re-discover our roots, even still - I love it and love looking at our flag in the wind, and when someone sings our national anthem I get all warm and fuzzy.
• A sleeping child, after a long day of play - Not much is more precious then that of a sweet sleeping child. (our youngest likes to sleep with a dampened baby cloth over his eyes, lol) I'm so happy when I see the peacefulness, it's like there's nothing in the world that could harm them because they're safe in your home and surrounded by your love.

Those are just 10 of the things that make me happy.....

I lost count...

I've lost count of how many times it's snowed. Maybe 4 or 5? Eh, it's been nice!! It's a pretty big change from the South East's usual winters of ice storms only! I've really enjoyed this winter. Watching it snow is so peaceful to me, nothing like a good snowy day and a book with the kiddo's, some comfort food and laughter! Call me strange, but something about the sky looking like a shaken snow globe makes me feel all cozy!! I love every season, I don't really have a true favorite; although, spring brings cherry blossoms and I LOVE those!!

Isn't it funny how when it doesn't snow, you often hear complaints about having none? Then when it does snow, you often hear complaints that it has?? Same goes with rain, and the temperature in general. Weather conversation is sometimes the highlight of the day, and I've heard that it's the most popular conversation starter when there seems to be a lull in communication.

I have a mindset that winter should bring comfort food, holidays and snow, spring should bring showers and blooms and spring cleaning fever, summer should bring the heat, swimming pool visits, and trips to the beach(yay), and fall should bring some of the most amazing rustic colors EVER!!

I'm not sure what's happened to me, but since losing my family members literally back to back in the past few years, I've become pretty grateful for little things in this life. I appreciate what the winter weather has done for ME. Slows me down a bit, and it MAKES me stop to appreciate even more what's inside of these walls. My family, our little family - rockin some snow days.

Now that's funny - to me, anyway.

A relative sent me this recently by email, and I enjoyed it a bit. I had to clean it up some but here - enjoy. And if you don't enjoy it, well, I'm sorry about that part. I have a weird sense of humor.

If you are 30, or older, you might think this is hilarious!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways. yadda, yadda, yadda

I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our butts! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and screw it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY!!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your butt and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons!

We didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

Our parents told us to stay outside and play.. all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!

And car seats - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were luckily, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place! See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have no idea!! You guys probably wouldn't last five minutes if you were flashed back to 1980 or any time before!

mama's new 'do'

I haven't had a new "style" in years; so last night I went and got the hair style changed a bit. I'm diggin it so far, it's definately different!!

BEFORE AFTER

That's right, rockin some bangs - I haven't had bangs since highschool!!!

been layin low

I've been laying low this past weekend. Had a strange attack of the gall bladder (pretty certain) and spent most of the weekend taking it easy and relaxing when I could. Hopefully this week I'll be back at it.

Oh, Little J decided all by himself to go from sitting to do "all potty deeds" to standing like a big man to go pee!!! Yay!!!! He also got a new bed and changed to it with no problems, and loves it!! Little man's growing too fast.

Random... I am gonna be honest and say, I did not watch the superbowl - neither of the teams really interested me, so eh. NO. I sat on my bed and watched lifetime movies and got occasional updates by looking at twitter or hearing my hubs downstairs. Instead I watched Identity Theft on LMN and related to it a bit. We have had our turn with that recently, and it sucks.

Well, that was a little random!!! Sorry about that! I just wanted to say HI to all my bloggy friends out there!!

a game plan?

I visited a surgeon this morning, who reviewed my scans, and other tests. After 3 months (my first post about this problem is HERE)of visiting different doctors, for various reasons, but all for the same basic complaint - I may have a game plan. He explained to me that it's 80% likely that removing my gall bladder will solve my pain. There's that chance of me being in the 20%ile of people who do not get pain relief after gall bladder removal. I COULD have an ulcer, I COULD have IBS, or some type of gastro-intestinal issue. He does not feel like what I have is presenting itself in a very obvious manner, but it does fit most of the criteria for a diseased gall bladder. He was very understanding, and realizes that I'm losing my mind with this! My frustration level is pegged, and I'm tired of popping pills EVERY DAY!

He suggested I go back on the 2 meds that were previously given to me for a potential Peptic Ulcer, and said if my problems are resolved simply by taking those meds that he does NOT want to do surgery. However, if the pain still persists then I likely need my diseased gall bladder removed. That it functions at 62% makes it one of those decisions that I get to make on my own. Anything below 50% they suggest removal. It's close, and it's very likely causing me some of the discomfort I have on a regular basis.

I'm just ready to feel better. I'm ready to toss out the pill bottles. So for now, surgery is scheduled for late January.

enjoying the view

Click each photo to enlarge

On our way to my Aunts house (previous post here) we stopped a few times along the road to take some photos. The above photo was taken at a cemetery near Burlington, NC. The way the tree looked was just so peaceful to me.

I was loving how this pond had the trees reflection.

This statue was centerpiece of the cemetery, along side was a weathered bridge that was over a little creek. There was a man there visiting a grave, so I didn't want to drive over there to take a picture of that... but either way - the snow covered cemetery had such a feeling of calmness and beauty.

This was a large farm that we drove past, there were cattle, sheep and emu on past where I took this photo. The red capped silo really stood out to me.

winter is officially here

This weekend, our first "winter" storm in the Carolina's. Looks to be a big deal, weather men are going nuts with the updates! Me, I'm sitting here in my PJ's (at 3pm, yes), sipping on something yummy and thinking of making that Potato Soup that's a big family hit.

Oh dangit!!! I have to run to Walgreens to get my frappin ink cartridge refilled. All you peeps who read this and get Christmas cards from me, they'll be late - most likely. But I did go ahead and pick a "Happy Holiday's" theme (Jennifer C, oddly we printed the EXACT same ones you did about 3 weeks ago!!) and they've been on my table to label for weeks now. I've been so scatter brained that I haven't even printed the labels, and went to do that yesterday and the ink was empty.

Random Tuesday Thoughts - remembering, H1N1 and happy hour

Today would have been my brothers 42nd birthday. I laughed a little this morning, thinking of how I'd have called him and gave him hell about being old. I think today should be nationally recognized as I'm sure most anyone who's lost someone would feel. Why doesn't the entire world stop for a moment and become aware that today's the day we'd have celebrated? Anyway, I plan to make today all about pushing forward. I have the swine flu, but it isn't gonna stop me today. So - TAKE THAT PIGGY flu!!

Speaking of the flu.... I've sat around and thought about all of the ways to try to make light of this H1N1 situation at home. Even though it is, and can become, a very serious flu - I still have to smile, right?

So here's a few thoughts I've had:

Someone, quick, call a hambulance, we have a snoutbreak.
Bird flu, Swine flu, Mad Cow Disease - OMG it's Farmegeddon!
Should I go for my follow up visit wearing a pig mask?
I think I need some oinkment.
Feel like I'm gonna sneeze again, aaaachooooink!
Someone should make a movie: Pig Trouble in Little Mexico - maybe it could star Kevin Bacon

BassAckwards sidenote: My sense of humor is not intended to offend at all. I am REALLY aware of how serious the flu can be for anyone, and may have to go in for chest xrays tonight. Even the flu vaccine can be serious - some people have very strange, and life altering side effects. I just try to lighten the mood for myself, and though maybe you'd get a giggle or two as well. I hope none of you who read this blog ever get the swine flu, or any adverse reactions to the vaccine(s). I have a friend who was really blogbashed recently because of her 'sit back and laugh at it' approach to some things in her life, her sense of humor is amazing after all that she's been through!! I just want to say up front - humor is a must in my house these days, and that is why I try to see the lighter side of things as often as possible. We, in our house, know all too well how quick things can change. I'm making fun of ME, not anyone else ;-)

Lastly, I went by Steak & Shake earlier today to grab a coke. I may very well have strep throat developing along with this flu. It is a very familiar feeling right now. Rambling. So, as I'm waiting to pay for my NON diet coke (yeah, that's right, I'm a rebel) and I saw a picture of a Turtle Caramel Nut Milk Shake. YES. IT IS TRUE!!! And all of a zillion calories I'm sure. Oh man, I was drooling. So as I'm typing this I glance over at my coke cup and notice "Hand dipped happy hour, 1/2 shakes 2-4pm M-F" you bet your butt I'm going back. And YES, I'm gonna use my brother's birthday as my excuse. *selfish snort laughter*

counting my chickens...

Just found out that I should get MY car back tomorrow!!! Not the car that was WRECKED, but MY car. The one that was towed in to because of a dead battery, and turned out that it was not towed properly and the 4WD was ruined. So after everything, and 1 wrecked loaner car plus 4 separate rental cars later - I get to drive MY car again!!! MAN I've missed it!!!

YAY!!!!

*sidenote - Nationwide has been my insurance company for over 15 years, and they really WERE on my side. They went to bat for me to help me handle this with the tow service. I'm just glad it's finally getting repaired!

**second sidenote & life lesson # 2,311,379 IF you own a Honda Element - get it towed on a rollback style tow truck IF you happen to break down.....

sunrise

What a wonderful way to start the day....

blew it....

I didn't make it on NaPoBloMo.... I blew it! With only two days to go!! I'm ok with it. I'm sure no-one was keeping track but me :D So much going on this time of year!! Happy December!

who you gonna call?

When I went out to my mailbox I was surprised with TONS of advertisements for Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Lawyers, auto body repair people. Over 20 envelopes addressed to both little J and I. Several free massage coupons, thanks to my accident. Evidently we're up for bids between all of these people....

I'm pretty thankful that I can walk to the mailbox, because I know of people who have been in car accidents that were less then 40mph impacts who have loss of use of their legs, or major back injuries. S for THAT yes, I'm THANKFUL.

Stellan is SVT free

Day 9

Tonight I'm thankful to read that Stellan is SVT free. If you've never read his story, go HERE to read all about it... it's been a long scary journey for Stellan and his family. The ride isn't over yet, there's still recovery ahead, but they were able to get his procedure done today and he's officially SVT FREE!

Absolutely. Undeniably. Amazing.

blah

that's about it... just blah.

alot to write about, just no real urge to sit and type....

4 posts "in draft" for 30 days of thanks.... but I have not finished them! HA!

maybe tomorrow.

until then... thanks for stopping by to read about my 'blahness'

I'll be back!