This picture pretty much sums it up. I'm sick. I HATE being sick. And while it doesn't happen often, when I do come down with something, I usually get really, really sick.

So, here is my whine for today. My head is so congested that I feel like it could explode. My throat hurts, my ears hurts and my body aches. I have a slight fever, but you'd think it was awful by the way I'm shivering. UGH! I hope this passes soon. I'm supposed to have company Saturday and meet some SS sisters for dinner.

Home Sweet Home...

After a nice trip to see the folks, it's so nice to be home tonight. It was a nice weekend, and the kids LOVED playing with their cousins. It's not that far of a trip, but it sure wears me out. Between the drive, sleeping on the floor with the kids, staying up later than normal and still getting up early--I am absolutely exhausted by the time we get home. Tonight is no exception.

But of course, like a glutton, I'm sitting here in front of the boob tube waiting for Brothers and Sisters to start. Tomorrow is going to be a rough day!

Getting to Know Me

1- What's worse - Physical or Mental cheating?
Physical, though emotional cheating would be a close second

2- Is it easier to forgive or forget?
Forgiving

3- Can men and women be " Just Friends?"
Yes. If not, I'd be VERY lonely, because I have never had many female friends.

4- Dating co-workers?
A BIG no-no.

5- All expenses paid vacation to anywhere?
Alaska for a month

6- On the way to the electric chair - What's your last meal?
Filet mignon, potatoes, lima beans and creme brulee

7- The water park..
is TONS of fun!!

8- When you are "In Love" do you notice other people?
Who doesn't notice other people?! It's acting on it that I don't do.

9- Is flirting cheating?
No, though it's not always innocent either

10- Would you rather have 1 great friend or 5 pals?
1 great friend

11- If someone called you a bitch would you be offended?
It depends on who and why...but probably not.

12- Are you ok with your significant other being friends with an ex?
Yes

13- Would you live with someone without marrying them?
No

14- Favorite sport?
Hockey

15- Is toilet paper hung over or under?
Under

16- Do you squeeze toothpaste from the middle or end of the tube?
I use a pump

17- How do you feel about tanning booths?
I'm scared to death to go in one ever since I had radiation. :(

18- Friends with benefits?
Is NOT for me. I could never bring myself to have meaningless sex

19- Do you believe in angels?
Yes. We all have guardian angels.

20- Would you rather take pictures or be in pictures?
Take them!!

21- Have you ever flirted with someone you had no interest in?
Not on purpose

22 - Ever kissed a random person and then walked away?
No

23- Would you buy bootleg merchandise?
No. I won't even let people give me copies of music CDs--I certainly wouldn't buy it!

24- What color looks best on you?
My mom says I'm an autumn, but I don't know what that means.

25- If you could play any sport professionally what would it be?
Soccer or fast pitch softball

26- Ever break up with someone and regret it?
Nope.

27- Are you a jealous person?
I have personal insecurities that are sometimes seen as jealousy, but really I'm not very jealous.

28- Would you ever have plastic surgery?
Heck ya!

29- When do you want to get married?
I already am married.

30- Who has the sexiest accents?
I LOVE listening to Russell Crowe. I'm not a fan of HIM...but I love his voice/accent.

31- Next concert you're attending?
Who knows. My kids hope it's the Jonas Brothers LOL

32- Favorite song?
Stupid Boy

33- Favorite movie?
A Time to Kill

34- What's your occupation?
Sales Manager for a company that makes automotive parts

35- What's your sign?
Pisces, but I don't read that crap

36- Are you a beach, country or city person?
Country all the way!!

37- Best vacation spot you've been to?
Sweden

38- Have you ever had a "secret affair?"
No

39- If you could own a non-traditional pet which would it be?
Tiger

40- Favorite show as a child?
Little House on the Prairie

41- Where do you spend most of your money?
Target

42- Are you currently working at a job that you hate?
Yes...but it's because of the industry and market, not because of the company

43- Have you ever been so heart broken that you called in sick to work?
No

44- Favorite summer drink?
Pomegranate Fusion Smirnoff Ice

45- Can you change a car tire?
Only when the idiots that rotate the tires don't put the lug nuts on too tight!

46- Favorite cologne / perfume?
None - I don't wear anything like that

47- Favorite candle scent?
Cinnamon or Pomegranate Cider

48- Would you consider yourself adventurous?
No, I'm more of a "play it safe" girl

49- What is your My Space profile song?
There are a few, I think, that it scrolls through -- Keith Urban and Daughtry mostly

50- Favorite concert attended?
Meatloaf

51- Would you date an already attached man / woman?
No way!

52- Would you sing Karaoke in front of co-workers?
Probably not because I'd have to be drunk to sing it, and I'd never be drunk in front of them

53- Can you shoot pool?
No. I actually like to attempt it, but I'm HORRIBLE.

54- Do you like your siblings' significant others?
Yes.

55- Can you drive a stick?
Yep - that's what I learned on

56- When you marry will you wear white?
I did wear white, yes.

57- Have you ever sat and hoped for a phone call?
Not that I can think of

58- Ever skip school and spend the day at the beach?
No

59- Favorite TV show?
Brothers and Sisters

60-what are you waiting for at the movies?
I never go to the movies -- I can't justify that kind of money for a movie

Time Travels

I really wish I could time travel and skip forward 6 weeks. That's all I ask for is six weeks of time. I want it to be November 5. And I want it now.

Happy Birthday!!

I just wanted to say a big Happy Birthday to my friend, Melissa. She's THIRTY today. WOW - what an old lady! LOL. Welcome to your thirties. It only gets better from here.

SS Blog Challenge 32: Countdown

10 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
*Clean my scrap room LOL!
*Lose weight
*Go back to college
*See my kids grow up
*Find my spiritual center
*Be debt free
*Become a grandma
*Go back to Germany
*Build our dream house
*Get caught up on scrapping

9 Places I Last Spent Money:
*Meijer
*In and out Mart
*Recreation center
*Dairy Freezzz
*Car Dealer
*Babies R us
*JC Penney
*Kohls
*Gas Station

8 Sounds I Routinely Hear Around My House:
*Laughing
*Arguing
*YELLING
*Crying
*Whining
*Loud toys
*TV
*Dogs barking

7 Real Restaurants Where I Last Ate Out:
*Texas Roadhouse
*CiCis Pizza
*Boston Market
*National Coney Island
*Dairy Freezzz
*Chilis
*TGIFridays

6 Things I've Recently Scratched Off My To-Do List:
*Bought some pants (bigger ones - boo hoo!!!)
*Got a pedicure
*Put laundry away
*Salvation Army drop off
*Bought a new couch (BEFORE my car troubles ARGH!!!)
*Used the furminator on the dogs

5 People I Don't Know by would Like to Hang Out With:
There are SO many that this was hard!!!
*Beth
*Brynn
*Melissa
*Joanie
*Sarah

4 Songs That Make Me Happy:
*Great is the Lord
*Holy Are you Lord
*The Joy of the Lord
*Awesome God

3 Things I Hate To Do:
*Clean
*Go to the doctor
*Disappoint my children

2 Things I'm Really Good At:
*Lifting people up when they're down
*Saying no.

1 Bad Habit:
*Not giving myself enough credit or some slack

TGIF

Every week, I hear people say "Thank God it's Friday!" While I also love the weekend, there aren't a lot of Fridays that I wake up and think that. But today was one of them. I have had a loooooooooooooooooong week (a long three weeks,actually), and I am so looking forward to the weekend.

Tonight I am working outside after work and then taking a HOT bath (followed by a HOT shower), and then going to bed early. I have already informed my family that if I am awake before 9am tomorrow, *someone* will be in big trouble. LOL! I have a few things to get done before a baby shower I'm attending in the afternoon, or I would have made that deadline noon.

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY! Enjoy your weekend.

For Today...

Outside my Window... the landscaping company is loud (technically I don't have a window - my work office is in the middle of the building. But that's outside the closest window.)


I am thinking... Clarissa FINALLY gets to start dance tonight. I'm very happy for her because she's SO excited. I'm very happy for me because the constant question of "how much longer until I start dance" will be gone. Until the break for next year's class. LOL!


From the learning rooms... Nothing.


I am thankful for... my children, their health and happiness, my family and friends, my doctors, my job and insurance, my home and many other things I can't think of.


From the kitchen... I HATE cooking. I never have news from the kitchen


I am wearing... Dress slacks, a cami and a short sleeve shirt


I am reading... the North American Light Vehicle Production Forecast


I am hoping... that my house will sell, that my car troubles will stop and I can keep my job through these HORRIBLE economic times in the auto industry.


I am hearing... the music from my MP-3 player through my computer.


Around the house... I have a lot of cleaning to do, both inside and out. I'm hoping to make a dent in that on Saturday before I leave for a baby shower.


One of my favorite things... Snuggling in my covers on cool, brisk mornings while I watch the trees sway and the leaves fall.


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Take Clarissa to dance tonight, relax tomorrow and then clean Saturday before the baby shower.

Wordless Wednesday

No Work for you!

Ron went to the opthamalogist yesterday expecting to be released back to work. While his eyesight improved 40% from his last visit and his ulcer looks better, his eye is still imflamed and the light sensitivity is very painful. She wants to see him again on Friday, so he's here the rest of the week. He has already said he's going back to work Monday no matter what, so I hope things go well on Friday. His boss is upset, as he wanted him in the office today.

My Pep Talk Failed

Well, I really tried to focus on my blessings, but my own pep talk failed. I'm a little depressed today because all I've had is car problems since August. I've already put over $2,000 in my car in less than a month, and it's at the shop today. Add to that the fact that I had to put $700 into Ron's car yesterday, and needless to say, I'm very disappointed in my American vehicles. My van just reached 90,000 miles, so there is no reason I should have needed transmission work. I suppose my alternator was just a matter of time, but it definitely seems like I spend MUCH more on maintenance than my friends that drive "foreign" cars. I'm particularly annoyed by that today.

And nobody tell Sue, but I test drove a TOYOTA Sienna. And I liked it a lot.

I'm Grateful For...

I'm having another "low" right now, so I decided to try and turn it around and blog about the things that I'm grateful for in life. I have so many of them, and I have to focus on them during times like this.

I am grateful for...

Having two healthy and happy children

Having shelter that is safe for my family

Having the money to feed and clothe my family

Having a job that pays my bills and helps with my insurance costs

Having WONDERFUL medical professionals tracking my health

Having insurance to help me pay for my wonderful doctors

Having a car to transport my family

Having a wonderful family

Having an AMAZING support group at SS and through those I've met there

Having steadfast faith in God


I'm sure there are many, many more. But this was enough for me to turn my frown upside down. LOL.

I hope you have a lot to be grateful for, too.

Dreams

Have you ever had a dream where everything seemed very real, either during the dream or after you woke up? I'll share mine. Will you share yours?

One night everyone at our house was sleeping. My mom heard me shouting "Everyone get out. There's a fire." Of course, she jumped out of bed, screamed for my dad and went running. Except she couldn't find a fire. She came into my room, and I was half way out my second story window trying to "escape the fire." She grabbed me and called for my Dad, and he had to pull me back into my room. I almost fell out the window. I was dreaming that our chemistry lab was on fire at school. Weird thing is. I remember the dream very vividly (even all these years later), but I do NOT remember trying to climb out my bedroom window. My parents said they talked to me about it and that I was awake for a while after, but I.do.not.remember that at all. I remember crawling out the window in my dream, but not actually waking up as my dad bonked my head trying to get me back into my bedroom.

Here is a second story. This one is funny, but it wasn't a dream. This happened as I was waking up from a weird dream that an octopus was hugging me. (I know -- what does THAT mean?!)

I woke up one day, and I was trying to adjust my eyes. There was something cloudy over my eyes, but I couldn't focus. Then, I realized there was something laying on my face. I started screaming and shouting because I couldn't get it off. Why couldn't I get it off? It was my own hand -- and it was so asleep I couldn't move it.

Shingles Update :(

Ron's shingles are looking nasty today. He has the blisters ALL over the outside of his eye, above his brow, on his nose, etc. He looks like Sloth from the Goonies, and the kids and the dogs are afraid of him.

Shingles on the face can cause painful blisters or lesions on the cornea. Corneal lesions usually heal by themselves, but antiviral treatment and/or topical steroid eyedrops may reduce the inflammation. The ophthalmologist said that she could see Ron's lesions, and she wants to follow them closely. He's got antiviral pills already, and he has an eye drop and a cream that I have to put in his eye. It's so painful for him because I have to pull his bottom eyelid out to squirt it in there, and that hurts him a lot. The ophthalmologist wants to see him back next week to check on it, and he'll have to be closely monitored for glaucoma from now on. I'm sure he'll keep up on that the same he does with his cholesterol and gout.

Anyways, he's still in a lot of pain. I hope that subsides soon. He's been sleeping a lot, which is good, but when he's awake, he has sensitivity to light and noise. It looks like he's getting MORE blisters, though, on the back of his head now. Everything is on the left side of his face/head, but we'll see in the next few days if those are more coming out. He's out of work until next Wed., but he'll know more after his appt with the ophthalmologist.

Thanks for all the prayers. I sincerely hope you never, ever get shingles...unless they are for your roof. :)

Wanna Win a Contest??

If you blog, go to Mommy Chronicles and enter this contest. (I sure hope I linked this right. You should be able just to click on the picture.)









Here are the details:

Deadline to enter: Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
1 Winner will be randomly selected (up to 3 entries per person... see below)
Announcement of winner will be Thursday, September 11th

What you'll win:
Custom 2 or 3 column blog design
Custom signature
Installation of your new design

What you'll need:

An existing blog account with Blogger (it's free!)
A Photobucket account (it's free also!)

If the picture doesn't work, click here.

Shingles Suck...

I apologize if you're offended by my title, but it's the nicest thing I could say about it.

Ron has shingles. It's DISGUSTING. He has blisters all over the left side of his head, and they are in and around his eyes. The poor guy is completely miserable, and I can't even put the medicine on without hurting him.

He goes to the opthamologist today because the doctor that diagnosed him with shingles saw a lesion, so it has to be monitored. He is less than thrilled with seeing another doctor, but we aren't messing around with his eyesight. These lesions can cause permanent eye problems, including blindness.

If you're so inclined, please say a prayer for him. He's in so much pain, and he's worried about his eyesight. Thanks.

SS Blog Challenge #30

What is your favorite color and why?

My favorite color is GREEN. It's a really silly reason, but I've always liked green because I was born on St. Patrick's Day. I chose green as my favorite color when I was young and just kind of stuck with it all these years.

Are you Full of Yourself?

Nar·cis·sism: inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

Tell me, folks, are YOU narcissistic?

Would a narcissist admit it if they were? I don't know.

Regardless, click this link to take a quiz and see if you are narcissistic.

2nd Verse, Same as the 1st

Day 2 was as cruddy as day 1 in kindergarten today.

That's about all I have to say about that. :(

SS Blog Challenge #29: Wordless

Courtesy of Joanie...
So this will be a wordless challenge this week. Find a picture that speaks for you. Use google image or one of your own images. Martha used a site called
http://failblog.org/ for some funny ones.

I can't wait to see what everyone has to "say"

School's In Session!!!

Today was the kids' first day of school. Jacob entered the school for his first day of 2nd grade proudly with a wave to Dad, and Clarissa entered the school for her first day of kindergarten with great trepidation...and squeezing on to my hand so tight. She did not want to go in there today. I know she's fine already - she was fine two minutes after walking in the school. But for those few minutes we stood outside waiting, I saw her scared side. She doesn't often let anyone see her that vulnerable. Today she didn't care. She didn't cry - but came very close. I'm sure when she comes home today, she will be smiling with excitement.

Here are some shots I took at home before we left.