Unexpurgated
November 30, 2007 at 12:46 pm | In life | 6 CommentsTags: Chrismukkah, Christmas, Decisions, decorations, Family, Hanukkah, life
Tomorrow is officially THE Holiday season. Not that it didn’t start weeks ago, but atleast it’s past Thanksgiving now and that’s a little better. I’ve come to a crossroad. The last two years we’ve celebrated Hanukkah…mainly because of the kids to give them something to look forward to. Since I was born I celebrated Christmas up until about 11 or 12 years ago. Now I promise you that I’m not trying for a debate here, in fact I hate the discussion, but if you’ve ever researched the origins of Christmas you’d probably come up with more than a few questions. If you’re lucky you might get someone to listen to you and actually tell you the truth about the customs and traditions.
The last couple years we’ve started joining my family at Christmas since it’s the 2nd time of the year aside from Thanksgiving that EVERYONE gets together. This year is no exception. 11 years ago I detested being around it, I didn’t like the thought of what was going on, I cringed at the thought of being asked to help decorate. I even had a client request that I be replaced because I didn’t celebrate Christmas.
Such a judgemental time of the year. Everyone is expected to be so jolly and so righteous, as if we all shouldn’t be that way year long. The thought of presents is enough to make people shit themselves with politeness. Ridiculous.
I haven’t considered myself a Christian in a good 12 years, nor do I consider myself Jewish, I don’t know what I consider myself…there are aspects of everything that I question really.
December is just kinda sucky for me. As much as I used to LOVE Christmas, I thought I could adapt to Hanukkah and it would be just as fun. The aesthetic differences between the two are that there’s no tree, typically no wreath, people don’t really decorate their houses as much as the Christmas folk do… I put up a few decorations in the house…we have a couple strands of lights around the room, some silver garland, some blue light ornaments, and a blue and white bow on the door. It’s nice, and it’s cozy.
Also, no stores have any Hanukkah decorations…we don’t exactally have a high Jewish population in town, so I can understand that…they could atleast throw in a menorah here and there though…sheesh.
Starting out this post I was kind of pouty…woe is me, the holidays suck, but now I really realize that I need to just shut my yap and do what I’ve gotta do. I celebrate Hanukkah, not Christmas. Maybe it’s a little more Chrismukkah for the familys sake. I think next I’m going to order some Chrismukkah ornaments and have my family hang them on their tree. It’s only fair right?! That might be funny.
I have no problem giving my change to the bell ringers outside the stores, I have no problem smiling and saying thank you when someone says Merry Christmas, thought I do prefer Happy Holidays. No Worries.
You Must Be This Tall To Ride…
November 27, 2007 at 3:11 pm | In life | 4 CommentsTags: , blurb.com, Disney World, expo, Family, Fastenal, kids, vacation
I’m a little jealous that Claude gets to go on a little vacay here in the next week. It’s not really vacation, but I say that 5 days away from the Washington weather, away from your family and the chance to stay up as late as you want without a nagging bitch of a wife is SOME sort of vacation!
They are having an expo for a couple days and then they get to go to Disney World for free rides. Woohoo! I’m not so jealous of the rides, but I wouldn’t complain over a change of scenery and free food, just sayin.
Today, is a bit of a nutty day….I kept Shea home since she didn’t feel well yesterday and now I’m regretting it. Kids are so loud! Where do they get all that energy from??? I haven’t had that much energy in years…maybe since I was 8. Kalayah never walks anywhere, she’s always skipping, hopping, jumping, wiggling, and generally throwing herself around. Right this second she’s in the kitchen on top of an upside down laundry basket skiing around on it. What the hell?!
I have chicken in the crock pot for dinner, we haven’t eaten lunch yet; I suppose it’s time for me to get with the program!
I ordered a book not so long ago, it came today. It makes me happy. I paid too much but it was worth it. I’ll take some pictures and show you, but not right now… I’m not 8 anymore. 
Thanksgiving, Let Me Show You It
November 26, 2007 at 11:28 am | In life | 2 CommentsTags: cancer, Coffee, Family, Food, Relay For Life, thanksgiving, turkey
No Thanksgiving is complete without “Shea Made” Turkey placecards and a straight out of the 70’s table cloth….I don’t care WHO you ask…
From left: Grannie, Grandma Sandy, Mom, Dad, Stephen, Kaytee, Steve and Claude (Not to mention the delish food on the table!)
Leslie offered to sit at the kids table! lol Yay for her! Shea is making a B-Line for the bathroom…she tried a green olive! LMAO!
The Grandma Turkey attacks Grandpa!
Me and my shit skillz…I had my finger over the flash that’s why Austins face is red! lol
We had a great Thanksgiving from what I was able to taste…I hacked and I blew my nose and I ate about 1/2 of what I took…yet I saved plenty of room for the peanut butter cream pie! Mmm that was tasty!
Here is Grannie putting out more cups. I said “Ohhhhh let’s take a picture of Grannie working at the rest area…hehehehe!” She responded…”Ohhh gee, let’s not.” CLICK “Too bad!”
We worked on Saturday from 2-6 in the afternoon it was really fun! I’d do it again in a heartbeat. We went through 4 (30 cup) pots of coffee and a ton of cookies/brownies. We probably brought in about $50-$60 in donations.
My aunt who works for The Daily World, asked if we’d like to work in the rest area since not very many people volunteered to sign up. Their group, Wonders Of The World, is a team for Relay For Life, which helps raise money for the cancer walk.
It was for a good cause, it was fun and next time I’m definately signing up for a double shift!
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!
Coffee & Tea
November 21, 2007 at 11:44 am | In life | No CommentsTags: , birthday, Cleaning, excited, illusionist, parents, preaching, swags, thanksgiving
Those are the two things keeping me alive right now… I feel so crappy.
What I’ve been up to lately:
Thursday-I saved all my pictures and files that were on the laptop to disk. I deleted files and cleaned up the hard drive. Then I packed it up and put it in the car. My parents are leaving for Sacramento Friday because my mom has a conference to go to for the college and she’ll need the laptop. So…I had to say goodbye, but I’m getting way more done around her now, so it’s probably for the best!
Friday-We stayed home and watched movies.
Saturday-It was Grannies 75th birthday so we all went to dinner at Ocean Palace. The kids SCARFED! It was pretty good…I had broccoli chicken, kids had sweet-n-sour chicken and Claude had broccoli and beef. The sweet-n-sour was fantastic as I knew it would be…I should have ordered that for myself. Grannie got a few gifts and cards and it was nice family time together.
After we got home, Claudes mom and her boyfriend came over and watched the kids for us so that we could go out. Robin and Darlene wanted us to go to the Annual Fireman’s Ball, but I didn’t have anything fancy enough to wear.
Claude and I drove around town trying to think of something to do. Once we ended up in Hoquiam, I noticed that there was something going on at 7th Street Theatre so we drove past and I said, “Ohhh, it’s that illusionist guy!” Claude said, well lets go then! So we did. He stood in line and I sat in the car and texted Robin and Darlene who were only about 2 block away at the Ball! They were giving me shit, but that’s cool.
So we found some good seats, and just in time too cuz the place was packed by the time the show started. Andre Kole was the guys name. I’m not going to bother linking to him since I’m slightly annoyed at the fact that we weren’t told that we’d be attending CHURCH mid show. Yes…church. Complete with prayer. I kid you not. The first half of the show was great, he “cut” someones head off and moved it completely across the room, he put a jacket on while his hands were tied behind his back, he levitated.
He “kept” people there for the second half by telling them that he was going to make a replica of the Statue of Liberty disappear…he also said that some people might be uncomfortable with the topic he was going to be covering after the intermission. What he did not say was that he was going to preach for 45 minutes and pray and THEN make the Statue of Liberty disappear.
Overall it was a good time and for $5 each, I shouldn’t bitch, but it was tacky to say the least.
Then we went to Denny’s for something to eat, we had a beer and we talked and had a good time. We were going to meet up with Robin, Darlene and the guys but they were ignoring us, so we went home instead.
We got home about 11 and hung out till about 2 with Patsy (Claudes mom) and Anthony. We had some wine, we watched some tv and talked. Saturday was overall a very good day.
Sunday-I sat around the house, caught up on some cleaning downstairs, vacuumed upstairs and cleaned out from behind the girls’ dresser. Grannie brought the second part of my birthday present over which is a table runner that she made. Her first one, she said I have to keep it for posterity! As if I wouldn’t keep it to begin with!
Monday-I drove out to my parents house to clean, when I walked in the door, the entire contents of the refrigerator was sitting on the kitchen table and my dad was at the sing scrubbing the shelves. He saw me and said, “GOOD! You’re here, now I can take a break! Grab a cup of coffee and lets go sit down!” So we did. Two cups actually. Then I cleaned and visited some more with the animals and with my dad. He rode into town with me so he could go to a doctors appointment with my mom, so I drove him up to the college and picked up all the kids and that was about it for Monday.
Tuesday-I went to Ross and found a really cute shirt. That was all I bought. $14, can’t beat that.
Then it was time for Swag Hell! Keri picked me up at 6:15 and we headed to the pre-school to make swags. There were branches everywhere, tables with ribbon, tables with pine cones and tables with snacks and kids and wire and just…stuff. I settled at the pine cone table along with a few other people, we had fun gabbing and wiring pine cones and making bows. Then Keri and I started putting the bows and cones on the swags and oh my hell it was painful!!! We all had little scratches and poke marks from the pine needles and holly leaves. There were close to 80 orders and I don’t think that even half of those got finished last night. I brought all but 1 of mine home last night and that’s only because I forgot that I needed 9 instead of 8. Duh.
Also…I made something. I can’t tell you what yet, but as soon as I get it, I will take pictures and show you. I’m very excited, it’s not anything that you would expect and it’s something that I’ve never done and until yesterday hadn’t even thought was possible. It will probably be a couple weeks before I get it…so be patient!
Today-At 3, people will be at the pre-school making the rest of the swags…I would go and help but I really do feel like shit, and I don’t want to have all my kids running rampant around the school. I feel bad for not helping again but what can I do…
Tomorrow is turkey day and I’m so excited! Shea is making name tags at school today for all the guests. We’re having T-Day at Grannies this year and I told her that I’d come early and help her set up and cook and do whatever she needs me to do. I’m ready for turkey….so so ready!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a nice long weekend!!!
~11:50~
November 13, 2007 at 2:31 pm | In life | 5 CommentsThat, my friends, is what time Shea is out of school this week. Conferences.
The school called me at 12:10 letting me know what Shea was waiting in the office for me, I apologized profusely and told her that, “I NEVER forget stuff like that, it’s just not like me!” I’m glad that I didn’t go out of town or something, that would have been BAD! lol
On another note, I kinda sorta sound like the close relative of a goose these last few days. Sometimes it’s when I cough, but mostly it’s when I talk. Claude usually says it sounds cute, but I dunno. I don’t think it’s particularly cute when only 1/2 words come out and I get confused as to what I was trying to say to begin with! haha
I just hope it doesn’t stick around as the last cold did. That sucked.
I don’t really have anything to say I guess… leaving my kid stranded at school was probably the highlight of the week! *Replays available upon request*
High Wind Warning: When Screen Doors Attack!
November 12, 2007 at 5:36 pm | In life | 2 CommentsTags: storm, wind, hurricane force winds, 70mps, screen doors, injury, arm, bruised, landlords,
Yesterday the news was warning people in the area that we would be having some rather crappy weather rolling in. Not too long ago our Landlord replaced our broken screen door with a brand new storm door. That being said, you’d think he’d want to install the stupid thing the right way. No, he’d rather do it half assed and then attempt “tenant murder by screen door.”
Since there was no school today I’d planned to sleep in. About 8:30 my dad called to see if I was still coming out to clean and let me know that they were coming into town. I told him it was “windy as hell” and he let me know that it was sure howling out there too. He told me I should call my uncle Bill before I head out to make sure they didn’t lose power. I hung up and was trying to go back to sleep. I heard the screen door downstairs and I heard the kids in their room so I asked Shea if she’d please run down and make sure the screen door was locked. She ran down and locked it, only to shut the house door and have the screen door fly open again, this time not only breaking the door off the hinges but breaking the railing that runs right behind the door.
So I ran down and tried to get it closet but it was too off kilter from being 99% seperated from the door frame. I had Shea bring me the screw driver so I could take the top 2 screws out and carry it to the garage. Holding the door with my left arm and using my right hand to attempt to unscrew, I’d almost had the screw out when a HUGE gust of wind voilently ripped the door out of my grasp and slammed into my right arm causing the screw driver to fly out in the yard. It hurt so bad I was bawling and carrying on. Either myself or one of the kids shut the door and they kept saying what happened? Are you ok? Mom? What happened? All I could do was call Claude in hysterics and say “I need your help!” What happened? Are you ok? “I need you to come get the door!” He said ok and hung up.
He got here fast but I was still bawling, I felt like someone had taken a hammer and tried to bust my arm with it. (Not that I know what that feels like, but I can only imagine!) It’s bruised and swollen a little on the surface but my whole entire forearm is just throbbing.
So after coming to the rescue he hauled the offending door off to the side of the house where hopefully it won’t try to kill someone else anytime soon. As for the door frame? That’s gonna have to be replaced and maybe just maybe our Landlord will install the next door right this time. If one of the kids would have been outside they would have been killed. The wind gusts were up to 70 mph today, it was downright nasty out there.
That being said, I love stormy weather, but not when it kicks my ass!
Day 11, In Which The Router Causes A Riot…
November 11, 2007 at 10:44 pm | In life | No CommentsWhen I’m sitting here late at night, things that normally aren’t that funny, really crack me up. By the sound of air escaping Claude’s ass, he’s been eating WAY too much raisin bran, and I’m finding it particularly amusing!
A few minutes ago, he was muttering something while sitting at the computer…I repeated out loud what I thought he’d said, “What? That CAR’S a mexican? What the hell did you just say?” To which there were no words only billows of laughter! He started to talk and couldn’t because it was just too funny.
After he had the chance to calm down he glanced up on top of the entertainment center to tell me what was so shittin’ funny and started laughing again. Finally he told me that the router, the way it’s sitting, reminds him of a “mexicans car” with hydraulics. Someone pulled the cords behind the entertainment center and so the router is tipped backwards like it was poppin’ a wheelie, translates to, “That car’s a mexican!”
Ignore the dust people. =]
29
November 10, 2007 at 4:25 pm | In life | 3 CommentsTags: 29, birthday, dishes, Fiesta, parents, presents
Tomorrow I’ll be the big 29….
Before you ask, no, I don’t have any plans…I’ll probably stay home and finish up this mountain of laundry that has accumulated over the last week. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s laundry, why can’t it just “do” itself.
My legs hurt today…from my little jaunt to the park with the preschoolers yesterday, my sinuses are as screwed up as always and I’m getting tired of coughing! Rinse and repeat (except for the leg pain).
My dad called me last night and asked me what I wanted for my birthday. After 10 hmmm’s and 13.4 wellllll’s I told them that aside from a brand spankin’ new camera, I wanted dishes. Yes, I did say I wanted dishes for my birthday. Stupid? - Maybe. Practical? - Yes! They are Fiesta dishes…in case you aren’t familiar, go click on that link and take a looksee!
When I graduated they bought me place settings for 4, plus a couple serving bowls, a platter, cream and sugar set and salt/pepper shakers. Over the past 10 years, a few dishes were broken, so I asked for the replacement pieces and two new place settings and coffee mugs also. They bought me the replacement pieces, a place setting in plum, and 2 of what I worded as “Java” mugs which weren’t what I wanted. The cups I wanted were basically like the cups that came in the set, but held a couple more ounces. So, we returned the 2 Java mugs to the store and bought 4 more coffee cups like that ones that came in the plum set.
So I now have place settings for 5. I plan on buying a shamrock colored place setting here soon….and maybe a couple extra pieces. The problem is that these dishes aren’t cheap…. $12 for a coffee cup at the store they bought them at, and $48 for ONE set… on the website I’ve been eyeing for awhile now, a set is on sale for $24.99 still. I’m hoping that on the 16th I’ll be able to order atleast that set. It’ll be cheaper even paying S&H than it would be to go to the store and buy it.
So, now you know all there is to know about my dishes…
Oh, and Happy Birthday to me….tomorrow. Not today, but still. =]
Size 12? I Wish.
November 6, 2007 at 2:23 pm | In life | 4 CommentsTags: Photoshop, marriage, love, size 12, weight, self image, health, image, battle
I don’t think I’ve been a size 12 since somewhere around 7th grade. Seriously. I can remember at one time that my cousin and I were the same size and she’s 4 years older than I am. We were able to trade jeans a couple times…but that didn’t last long.
Being the moron that I am, I decided to Photoshop my face onto someone elses body. It turned out alright, but in the end it just depresses me. I seem to lack control when it comes to food. My self image is slim to none. Some days are better than others but all in all it’s a constant battle. Quite a few people in my family have struggled with weight and I’m no exception… luckily, so far I don’t have any health problems.
I don’t doubt that people still love me the same and think that I am beautiful and/or sexy in my own way, but to me, I just don’t see it. I can’t see it for myself. If only I could snap my fingers and voila! perfection!!! Whose perfection would that be?
Happiness doesn’t always come in small packages but I wonder how it would change the way I feel. I know that my husband loves me to the moon and back and thinks I’m beautiful and sexy and the only thing he wants me to be is healthy and happy. I AM happy, but I think I could be happier…
It is MY battle, but when is the final last call?
“You Think You Know Me, But You Have No Idea.” True Life
November 4, 2007 at 5:58 pm | In life | 4 CommentsTags: childhood, cycles, Don't Judge Me, elderly, Family, Friends, life, You Don't Even Know Me
When I was a little kid, I used to pretend I was a cat named Natney. Natney came complete with meowing, crawling on all fours and and rubbing against human legs. I liked the attention, I wanted to be pet, talked to and cherished as a cat.
I spend a lot of time at my grandparents house, especially on the weekends. I wanted to go and play with the neighborhood kids and play hide and seek in the evenings by the light of the street lights. I was friends with quite a few elderly couples in the neighborhood too. There was Pat & Ted that lived (still do!) in the alley behind Grannie and Grandpas house…I’d stop by unannounced with or without a friend. Go in, play for a bit, maybe get a snack, and be on my way. They had a little stream that ran through their yard and there was a bridge that you could walk across. That was pretty cool.
Then there was Mrs. Schrader…she lived kitty corner from Grannie and Grandpa, she had a huge house and blackberry bushes and a circular driveway, great for riding bikes on! She also had 2 huge cherry trees in the front yard and my cousins and I would climb up and eat cherrys right from the tree. She always gave us snacks or a drink of juice when we went for a visit.
There was also Mrs. Powell…she lived in the block just before my grandparents, she had a huge dog, a plethera of arts and crafts and endless amounts of Pepperidge Farm cookies and milk. I loved going to her house, she was my favorite stop. If Grannie couldn’t find me, she’d call Mrs. Powells house and she’d send me home.
I shouldn’t mislead you into thinking that I didn’t enjoy my home life…what wasn’t there to love! We lived 12 miles out of town in the country, we had horses, sheep, geese, a pot bellied pig, cows, dogs and cats and it was downright awesome. I had a neighbor next door, Joe that was only a year older than me. We’d ride bikes, walk to the store, climb trees, play basketball, whatever we wanted pretty much. Not the mention the various other friends I had from school. It was the country after all.
Now I’m all grown up and married with my own family. My kids like to pretend they are animals, rockstars and Hannah Montana. They love animals, they love to play with their friends and cousins just as much as I did. Regardless of what you think you know about me, you don’t know how important my family and my friends are to me. You might think that you have some insight into my wee little life, but unless you’re a true friend you have no clue at all.
We’ve all made mistakes and hopefully most of us learn from them, we’ve made friends, lost friends, lost touch, got back in touch and so on and so forth.
Life is a cycle, don’t assume that the last time you saw me is the same person I was then that I am today. You really have no idea. Do you.
[Written for all the judgemental types out there.]
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