Lil'Gal's all night therapy

First Off, Happy New Year's EVE!  I hope everyone has great plans or at least feels blessed and optimistic going into yet, another new year.

Most of y'all who have followed my blog long enough or know me IRL are aware that Lil'Gal has had urinary issues since she was a toddler.  She had a level four urinary reflux which was corrected with surgery (Deflux Injection).

However, she also has a spastic bladder.  This is partly due to the reflux and the fact that her bladder could never expel all the urine.  Both of these were cause for her to have multiple severe bladder infections and run unbreakable fevers of 104 and 105.

So, there is a little history.  Since all that has been managed (surgery and ditropan for the bladder spasms) things have gone pretty well although even at seven-and-a-half years old she still has the occasional leakage.  Also, we have to be very aware of her fiber intake because the medication can (and does) cause constipation = further exacerbating the bladder irritation.

RECENTLY:  The past several weeks we have gone to therapy and learned ways to build her pelvic floor muscles.  This also involves 'retraining' all of those muscles because over the years (especially, before her surgery) her body and mind got confused because no matter what muscles it/they used it didn' seem to hold her urine for her.  We do exercised nightly (I won't go into detail).  But, it is just odd and amazing at how the littlest things affect the body.

NOW:  We are into phase two of her therapy.  Lucky for me, it came over the holiday break.  After she goes to bed (having pottied first) I have to check her each hour to see if her pull-up is dry.  FYI, she only wears the pull-up at night.  The medicine and her own self control have the days worked out although sometimes she can't hold it for very long and has to run for the restroom.

The idea is to see when she actually 'goes' during the night.  And, once we figure that out then we wake her slightly - just enough for her to walk herself to the restroom - and have her empty her bladder.  So, once we figure out when she goes (getting close) then we only have to wake up that once 30 minutes before she usually wets.

This is training both her mental alertness to look for signs AND helps her bladder to relax and hold more urine.  Yes, bladder relax.  Because the sphincter muscle is supposed to kick in and hold the urine.  The bladder is only supposed to contract when expelling the urine.

Additionally, the more we can get the bladder to relax and her other muscles to take over where they should, then she will be able to expel ALL the urine, thus preventing infections, etc.  As it is, she can't fully expel all the urine even if it feels to her like she has.  And, she always has a cell count showing some bacteria in her urine but luckily it has been a long time since we had a bladder infection.

So, we are getting close.  This is all so odd and yet a little fascinating and I'm optimistic that it is all working.  Hopefully, soon Lil'Gal will be able to outgrow the need for a pull-up at night and not have to worry about leakage.

The odd thing is that with all of this, Farmer, Jr. has the bladder the size of a milk jug.  That boy can go all night with drinking water through the night, wake up the next morning, watch Tom & Jerry and eat breakfast before he decides "I gotta' go."  When he does 'go', he floods.... LOL!

Maybe that was TMI.  These things just cross my mind.

Happy New Year's! See/read y'all in 2011!!

Lil'Gal's all night therapy

These Old Jeans | Quazen

Today's content. Well, yesterday's. But it was published today. Ever have a pair of jeans that fit like an old favorite T-Shirt? Well, this is my story.

Pop over if you want to read; I appreciate the traffic! (I get paid by the traffic!)

Happy Tuesday!!!! Sweet Peaches and Cream it is a fabulous day!

A little about comfort clothes, These Old Jeans | Quazen

These Old Jeans | Quazen

Satin Sheets

Satin Sheets to lie on. Satin Sheets to slide on. That's the problem with Satin Sheets. They are cool, and smooth and comfortable. But, they slide off the bed during the night.

This isn't that big of a deal for me. I simply reach down and pull up whatever I can reach then tucking myself back into slumber. Hubby on the other hand takes serious issue with this. The other night he got out of bed and began re-tucking his side. After climbing back in and wriggling around he decided not good enough and again, got out of bed only to turn on a light this time.

I grunted, which translated into, "Turn the D@MN light off." "Oh," he mumbled and turned that light off; seconds later the bathroom light went on but he was kind enough to pull the door. Again, he starts tussling the bed covers and trying to re-make it. The third time I growled and exited the room with pillow in tow. I found the couch.

The next morning I discovered that he had pretty much made up the bed with 'my' side of the sheets and covers, LOL!  No wonder they wouldn't stay in place!

In other news, two more days of school for the kiddos! Yippeeee! Well, actually one more day - tomorrow - and a literature test for both. Friday is half day and the whole half is their party. After that, we be on holiday baby! I'm going to stay up lAAAAAAAte and read by the Christmas tree! I've got several good sequels that I want to read to find out the ending of several series. But, first I have to finish my sexy kindle-smut book about one of Santa's hawtie sons! >;-D

Have to final proof my writing assignment and then I can turn it in on Friday afternoon and I'm fweeeeeeeee!!!

Farmer, Jr. will spend his holiday working with his Dad on his 4-H shop project. That'll be a fun experience. And, we'll practice his baking project (Southern Living Italian Cream Cake; though, I might put a spin on it). And, then we have the bwunnies! Finally, they are eating. They had food and water but wouldn't touch it. Turns out, they don't know how to access their water from the dispenser. TOTALLY WEIRD!

FW finally figured this out. I felt awful; they were super dehydrated and so thirsty. It had been three days... It was thought that they were just a little uncomfortable still after the travel, the validation process and the new location/home. Poor, poor bwunnies. But now? They have been eating and drinking non-stop!

Lil'Gal will spend her holiday hounding me to entertain her, Ha! Ha!

So with this little song, I'm off to weigh the bwunnies. Hoping they made up overnight what they'd lost the past few days!!



Happy Hump-Diggity Day! Whoop! Day before the day before FWFD of the WEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!

Satin Sheets

Silly Wabbits!

The rabbits are here! Aren't they adorable?

Dontcha' just wanna' hug'em, and squeeze'em, and pet'em, and kiss'em and snuggle'em all up?

I must say, this year was a little touch and go for a day or two.  Some of the breeders in Texas lost their rabbits due to the summer's heat and other causes.  So, with the influx of 4-H'ers choosing rabbits as their animal project and the shortage of bunnies it was a bit of a race (and LOTS of phone calls) to be sure to get a pen of four.

We have some great friends though, and they were determined to get Farmer, Jr. a pen of rabbits.  Hubby got on the phone with another friend and my BIL and SIL jumped on the line and in the end we got a pen of four from Port Lavaca.  :-D

They are a little small for this time of year.  As of this morning they are about a pound under where they are supposed to be.  By the day of the show they need to be at five pounds.  So, we're feedin'em up good and letting them slumber all they want.  They are SO super-uber adorable!!!

Today was check in and validation.  This is where they mark your rabbits to keep ya' honest for the show.  A pen of three rabbits are submitted to the show; the fourth is a spare so the best three of the four can be submitted.  The fourth (left-over) can be submitted into another category called 'Fryer'.  [I know. Harsh, huh? :-((  Don't tell Lil'Gal...]  If Farmer, Jr's don't place then they'll come back home with us after the show and we can hug'em, and pet'em, and snuggle'em and all that all we want.

If they DO place, then they get entered into the auction.  This is our first year but so far this is the just of my understanding as to how it works.  I'm super excited!  About as excited as the kids.  Even though Lil'Gal can't enter until next year (students have to be in third grade) she can still participate with us and the rabbits, and the baking project.

Anyhow, there were lots and lots of rabbits at check-in/validation this morning.  There are 429 entries this year at a minimum of four rabbits per entry.  That's a LOT of rabbits!  Some students had pens of five, six and eight.  All white with black ears and red eyes. All uber-soft and adorable.

 I have no clue how many chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, etc are also entered this year.

Farmer, Jr. has to keep a little diary type journal about the process.  This too will be fun.  What a learning experience!

On a side note, last night I had the Moms and Gals out for my 'General Mills Snack Mix Party'.  It was a hoot!  Everyone had a great time and snacked and ate and imbibed on a little wine and such.  And, of course, we watched Eclipse and had lots of paranormal discussions and book talk!  I'll be posting about that and some recipes a little later.

But, first I have the kitchen, Santa letters to email, and a writing assignment to work on.  Me and WonderMom are making wreaths for the School Christmas party, 26 all together. Hubby and I also have a party to attend tonight (Sweet D and Uncle J are keeping the kids for us, THX Y'all!)   AND, I haven't published any content in weeks at Triond so my earnings this month were a hand count of pennies.  My bad.

But, life is good!  Who can't be happy and wearing a smile when there are bunny-wabbits awound?

Happy Saturday!

Silly Wabbits!

Santa Baby!

I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora while cleaning (overhauling and purging) the kids rooms, baths and the rest of the house. On a side note, one of my speakers Daddy got me for my LT for my birthday a couple years ago is going out. Wonder if it is too late to put those on my Christmas list?

Friday I have the Gals coming out for a General Mills hosted snack event = FREE snacks! And then my Twilight Moms/Gals are staying afterwards to watch ECLIPSE!! Sweeeeet! Totally.... And, Hubby and I have a Christmas party Saturday (pending a sitter) which is Sweeeet/Totally Doubled! ;-)

The hard part will be keeping the house shining over the next two days with young children running amuck. I thought about banning them from their rooms. Would that be bad Mommying? "No, you can't play/read/sleep in your room because you'll mess it up before my friends come.  Make a pallet, sleep in the hall.  The attic is always nice this time of year..." Yeah, guess I'll just have to suck it up and wrap them in gloves and lint roller tape.

I have some Christmas gift wrapping to do today too, which also goes well with Christmas music. There are a few things I still need so I thought, I'd ask Dear Santa.

"Santa Baby,

Please send me an elf to keep my house tidy and the gremlins in check
I would like a new set of speakers for my LT so I can blast music through the whole house while I clean and jam
I've been an awfully good girl, so please help me get through these next two school weeks until Christmas break
Help me get my writing assignment done by December 17th (I realize this is a pre-Christmas task but it doesn't hurt to ask)
I already have a house and a chariot, but I could use a stand-alone mixer ;-)
I've been okay, not totally but at least I tried an angel all year so send me some holiday cheer - with beer!

Thank you Santa,

Farmer*sWife

P.S. I'll leave some corn out for Rudolph and his boys
P.P.S. I'll leave you an ice cold Shiner and some peanuts; I know all that milk and cookies gets old"

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WAIT!  Before you click through to the next page, give this a listen.  It'll brighten your holiday Wednesday mood :-D

Santa Baby!

Lil'Gal, Lil'Gal, let down your hair....

Lil'Gal has long, blond hair. Really looong. Blond locks that sway down to her waist. And, she loves them.  As do I.  As does her Daddy.

But, she HATES to have those lovely locks brushed. It is a fight almost every morning that I have finally come to win if I actually brush her hair once we get to class while she is tending to her backpack, etc.

And, as pretty as it is? To put it up? In braids? Styled? No. Ne, ne, she says. "I like it down wild and free!"

I say, "You look like a hasbeen, like a ragamuffin... Tacky."

To which she flips her hair in answer and shares, "I prefer RAG-A-muffin."

To which we both, "HMFPFT!"


Oh, sure I've argued with her about how if she doesn't take care of it, or at least let me, I'll cut it all off. After all, a girl who won't care for her beautiful hair doesn't deserve those locks -- does she?

But, secret out... As tempted for the life lesson to do so, I know I never will. Because, I love her golden locks as much as she does. And, I'm pretty sure her Grandpa (my Daddy) would put me over his knee for having done so. Regardless of the lesson I was teaching. LOL!

We've read stories together about ladies and heroines and how they all have pretty hair but they also take care of it. Alas, no win. I'm lucky to get a clip to keep it out of her eyes; and, the occasional pony-tail because the manufacturer's warning on the go-cart requires it.

Then..... [notice my fascination with ellipses?  I use them all... the... time.  And, incorrectly.]

ALONG CAME Tangled. [Something I've dealt with personally and daily, hands-stuck-in-hair]. The new and improved Rapunzel movie by Disney.   A power-pack of a movie for both children and adults alike, I must say myself.  And, ooooh the things she can do with her hair! And, oh how magical it is! And, [I made sure to mention to Lil'Gal] how she (Rapunzel) must brush it daily to care for it....

[They had lots of good hair brushing examples in the film; you know... all those feet and yards.  This made FW very happy!]

So, whadda'ya'know! All it took was a multi-million dollar Disney movie -- which topped the final Harry Potter movie release, I might add -- to get a Lil'Gal to care more for her hair.

She brushes it. She asks me to brush it. She requests a pony-tail WITH a ribbon! [Super-Squee!] She wants braids, and waves for the morning.  And, now she wants me to help shampoo it and help condition it.

She wants, Rapunzel hair.

And, I'm doing everything in my power to give it to her!

Thank you Disney, for giving me just what we needed.  If Rapunzel can control her long golden locks, why, so can we.   Not that the 'me' in the 'we' couldn't before, but now the 'she' in the 'we' is actually participating!

;-)

Happy Tuesday!

Lil'Gal, Lil'Gal, let down your hair....

5 Tips to Overcoming Bullying (Guest Post)

This is a guest post from Macheru Njaga, author of Patch, a young adult novel loosely based on his personal experiences with teen bullying.  His book is an effort to encourage discussion among teachers, parents and students.

Bullying has become such an eminent problem that when offered the opportunity to share this article, I felt obliged.  I was on the underhand of bullying as a young child.  I think about my own children as they are making their way in life and I consider myself an advocate against such abuse.


Let’s Address the Real Problem: 5 tips to overcoming bullying



By Mucheru Njaga
Author of Patch
858 words

I was a bully.

I didn’t plan on being one. In fact, before then, I was the victim of bullying. As a freshman in an all-boys boarding school, I, along with all of the junior students, served every command of the "prefects,” the senior leader students. They ruled our school with a heavy hand and had more power than the teachers. They bullied us physically; once I had to jump on my knees. Another time, they took away our privilege to wear pants so that we had to walk around in our boxers. Verbal humiliation was an everyday occurrence as well.

Four years later, I became a “prefect,” a bully and a part of a system I once despised. We would raid the freshman sleeping area in the middle of the night and make them follow whatever we ordered them to do at 2 a.m.—or face a worse punishment. We called them names in front of others in the cafeteria. We made sure to tackle them harder than necessary during rugby practice.

All of this was acceptable— condoned by the school faculty at the time because the "prefects" were seen as the mentors and guardians of the young students.

Today, the danger of bullying and its impact on our society is finally shaking people awake. Many groups and organizations have made significant steps in our fight against bullying, but there continues to be a growing number of bullying related deaths and suicides in America.

So where is the disconnect? Why are we letting this happen? Where does bullying start?

In our efforts to address this growing problem, we tend to focus more on the end result of bullying rather than where and why it starts. The kids we recognize as bullies and vilify as the aggressors could easily be our very own children or next door neighbor. In other words, for every victim, there is a perpetrator, and I set out to find out what transforms a lovable kid or teen into a bully. For the last couple of years, I compiled case studies that I believe could be a catalyst in our bid to stomp out bullying.

Throughout my entire experience, I noticed the common motivation behind bullying is fear. As a victim, I was afraid to fight for what I knew was right, and as a bully, I feared losing the tight grip of power I held. It is this fear that keeps things at status quo and continues the cycle.

This same basic principle plays out in today’s schools. Bullying is almost always a direct or indirect byproduct of "fear." Fear of being labeled. Fear of being uncool. Fear of being seen as weak. Most if not all instances of bullying are rooted in some sort of fear. Sadly, it is this fear that prevents kids from living a free life, where they are free to be different, to be gay, to love a certain kind of music or activity, to be themselves.

So, how does true, progressive change take place?

1. Define bullying with your kids and talk it out. For teens, public perception has substantial influence in their daily decisions. We need to clearly explain to kids what bullying is, how to spot bullying tendencies within themselves and how to avoid acting them out.

2. Take away the cool factor. Show kids that bullying stems from fear, and we could effectively render bullying as an "uncool" deed. In the largely successful anti-smoking "Truth" campaign and the anti-drug "Rise Above the Influence” campaign, ads rendering smoking and drug abuse as “uncool” helped to significantly reduce those habits among young people. A well-executed marketing campaign endorsed by popular teen celebrities that showcases bullying as an unacceptable act can help garner attention for the cause.

3. Be aware of tendencies toward bullying developing in kids. Educators, parents and children alike must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of bullying before the problem gets out of hand. If there is a widespread understanding that fear is the underlying emotion and perpetuator of the bullying cycle, those who observe a child exhibiting signs of fear and insecurity can spot a potential problem early on and raise concerns.

4. Encourage self-reflection. Talk with children who are bullying others and encourage them to consider their behaviors. Often, another problem is bubbling beneath the surface, and it is necessary to determine the root of the behavior in order to fix it. Since this self-examination can prevent those problems from manifesting into something more harmful, the earlier it takes place the better.

5. Promote open communication about bullying problems. We have to change the way kids view talking to adults and authority figures about bullying issues. Kids are often worried about “snitching” and have a negative perception of telling adults when they’re having these types of problems. We must convince them that it is courageous, brave and admirable to put an end to the situation instead of remaining silent.
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Thank you to Mucheru Njaga for sharing his article on my blog.  Thank you also to Megan Renart at Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists for sharing information and wonderful books with me.  Allowing me to share with all of you.

Oh, and be looking forward to my review of Patch coming soon!

Happy Wednesday!

5 Tips to Overcoming Bullying (Guest Post)

"The Three Christmases of William Spencer"

Last month I received the opportunity to read and write a review for "The Three Christmases of William Spencer" written by Derek Blount.  It's not a big book trimmed at 7 x 6 inches. It's not a thick book at a mere 56 pages.

But the three Christmases shared within and the lesson each Christmas reinforces is large and heart warming.

William Spencer was born on Christmas Day. He shares his birthday with Jesus. In the first short story we meet William on his seventh birthday back in rural America in the 1930s. He's anxious, as are all children, to open his Christmas gifts. While he doesn't get the exact gift he'd so determinedly written Santa Clause for he comes to realize that his present is even better.

In the second story we meet up with William again in 1963, now a WWII veteran, a husband and father dealing with life's daily challenges.

In the third story, set on Christmas Day 2010, we meet William as an old man. The story retells the simple lesson that 'happiness is not a condition but an attitude'.

This little book warmed my heart. I read the first story to my children and we discussed young William and the lesson he took to heart from his Christmas present. And, we talked about the theme: happiness is not a condition but an attitude.

Being an optimist, I love this message. And, I love this little book. It'll make a great addition to my table-top Christmas reading collection. It would also make a great gift.

Sorry no giveaway with this review, I'm keeping mine. ;-)

For more information on this book and about the author, Derek Blount, you can visit Three Christmases of William Spencer.
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[EDITOR'S NOTE:  My contact with publicist for this book emailed me that I CAN indeed offer a giveaway copy of this book!  So I'm going to add a box up top with the details for the giveaway!!]

"The Three Christmases of William Spencer"

It's My Drama

And, my Drama is not your Drama or your problem. And, why should it be? I'm sure you have enough Drama of your own. Don't we all?

We all have troubles and tribulations in life. Sometimes it is the little things like an unexpected (are they ever expected?) flat tire, or a school project that we half-heartedly volunteer for. Or, our personal drama can be with our spouses, our children our family -- Life/Death.

And, your Drama is none of my d@mn business. Not that I don't care in a good way but sometimes I think as people we get too caught up in other people's drama when they don't want our opinion. Mind you, our opinion might be right, we might be able to hit the nail on the head. But, it doesn't matter. It's not our life to decide/judge/question/try to lead.

Not our Drama. At least not mine. I think I retaught myself a lesson this holiday weekend. How to mind my own drama a/k/a life and try to let others deal a/k/a live out their own.

Who am I to set the standard of performance for others? Just because "I" think this should be done this way or that doesn't make a rats @$$ to someone else. The only standard of performance that I am responsible for and, I might say qualified to set, is that for my own life.

If someone wants to send their child to bed with chocolate milk each night (without a second brushing) that is NOT my life, my problem or my drama. If someone wants to spend every nickel, dime and quarter on all things shiny, possibly even tossing their loose pennies aside -- not my drama. If someone wants to cheat on their spouse (I highly dis-commend [FW word] this notion) but... Not my child, not my life, not my husband or my wife, and not my money. Not my business; not my Drama.

If someone wants tattoo their who-ha or pierce their thinga'majigger? [OW! True.] That's not my Who-ha or thinga-you-know and not my Drama. Let them endure/enjoy it.

If someone chooses to smoke cigarettes? Well, I don't like it. It's smelly. But, so long as they keep it out of my personal breathing space then it isn't for me to love or hate. I have a slight enamoration (did I just make up another new word?) for spirited beverages and there are those who have an enamored distaste for such indulging. So long as I'm not endangering them with my partaking then not their drama.

I just want the world to be happy. And, when I find myself falling into a rut about "This and That and Him and Her and Why and Why Not and the ever selfish Whoah-is-Me" I kick myself in the pie. My Drama is not anyone else's. It's mine alone. Don't bring down the fantasies of everyone else, just because my dome gets a crack in it now and then. [Making note to God to send in those winged guys to fix that, as it is slightly obstructing my heavenly view.]

I just got tired of the internal whining. So I had to tell myself to pull up my big cowgirl boots and walk through all the Sh!t. There are some things I just can't fix. There are some decisions that aren't mine to make. There are some things that being internally angry about or sad about doesn't help. I'm gonna' have to roll with the punches, roll over the humps and bumps and deal with the life and death.

And as I often do, I've found my way to appreciating each little happy and each little joy, avoiding the urge to resonate on the negative and allowing myself the occasional need to live in a little denial.

That is my Drama. I'll keep to my own and let you have yours. I pray that in each day you find your way to add some Happy to your Drama.

It's My Drama

Thank You.

Thank you.

I haven't said it in quite awhile. Though, I think it quite often. So, this is me officially thanking all of you 'out loud' so that you do know how much I appreciate that you share your time here and there with me and my blog and my family and my life.

That is a big thing. For someone to take time out of their day to read about someone else. Someone not media, not a super-star, not 'in print', just someone. It is funny because I often daydream about suggesting to Ellen or Oprah or Jay Lenno or those other guys to have a guest on from time to time from a drawing who is just a 'regular guy or gal'. What we do is the same as so many of those celebs and all -- on a typical day in and day out -- we just don't get paid so much and aren't so notorious.

Today, I feel notorious. Because of all of you. I clicked over to my blog (which has been neglected due to life, school, family, yada-yada and yada) to see if I could squeeze in a few catch ups of my peeps in my blogroll. [I have a feed to a reader but I like to read and scroll through my blog roll to see everyones' captions... like skimming books on a shelf :-D]

And, then "[GASP! Happy intake of air!] I have a new follower. I have been quite neglective and yet someone found reason to follow me! How... How... How totally cool and uplifting!"

Sure I know that there are people who take the time to visit me though they never comment. I find their little trails in my stat counter and it warms my heart. "Someone visited me today. From some place I've never been." That is cool. Truly.

So, after all the humdrum y'all already know about the turkeys baked, the dressing for 80 - 100, the social studies test this week [chicken biskets! Grrr-diddle], the science test, the PFE (pelvic floor exercises and therapy for Lil'Gal each night), the short school week and the watch from Singapore that is supposed to be on it's way BACK to me once again... I just wanted to say, "Hey! Thanks! Y'all Rock! Y'all make a Farmer*sWife feel special!"

Thank you. And, to all of those dear truly to you too.

Oh, and to my new follower? I haven't found exactly who you are yet. Please and kindly, introduce yourself in a comment? And, thank you for the smile that I wear. A click and a follow might be a little thing but a click and a follow can be so heartwarming too.

Happy Hump-Day Y'all! Put some Diggity in it! I know I will! Oh, and don't forget to throw out a few, "Thank You"s...

Thank You.

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I apologize for having been so scarce these past eleven or so days. I've been so busy with company and the holiday pre-prep, school projects and a writing assignment that was due. Then a pesky cold invaded my body.

I've been working diligently and I finished the assignment (it's even been graded already). I'm tackling the projects and holiday prep and I'm fighting the cold. Ever so soon I hope to be back with you.

Let me woo you with an offer you something of substance. A Christmas book review and a guest author post coming soon.

Life is ringing and I must take the call.

Please wait for me; I'll make it up to you.


Happy Monday! *smiley-wink*

Dear Blog

Everythings Gonna' Be Alright :-)

The laundry will get folded; Farmer, Jr. seems fine; we'll get through his Social Studies test; my eye ball has returned to normal for the most part; and, the house will be ready for company this weekend. And, I will bake up a yummy dinner side dish somewhere in between, so that I can publish my recipe with pics for another content submission. I don't know the when and the where but I know it will happen.

Tomorrow is Friday. My favorite day of the week. Though, Saturday comes early with a birthday party for Baby SIL's boyfriend's 40th. And, then our company comes in (and I still have a CCD lesson to plan). But, everything is gonna' be alright. ;-)

ROCK-A-BYE



I don't fully get this video but I do love this song!!

Happy Thursday! Almost, well you know! ;-)

Everythings Gonna' Be Alright :-)

Fluster-CLUCK! Even for an Optimist like me.

Yes, so apparently, I can have a Fluster-Cluck day too. Which is blech.

The good thing about it is, I know how to swallow it cry about it drink myself over it and laugh about it in the end.

The day started out all sweet smellin' while me and my awesome MIL were literally smelling all the sweet, sour, fruity, fresh, clean, manly and other scents available from my friend who sells Scentsy products. [AWESOME COOL; like a plug in candle.]

I return home to a wonderful [two hour] call from my Daddy and all is well, except for the fact that I got absolutely nothing else done. [Well, I did publish a recipe so I got some content in today.]

While preparing to pick up the kids hours early from school (Lil'Gal had an appointment with the PA regarding all her urinary issues) I rubbed my itchy eye. It began to feel like there was something very large in it. I run to the mirror only to see that my eye is bulging and growing out and over my eyelid. Like a bubble. Like a blister. "OMG! I ruptured my eye!!! It's oozing out of my skull!!!"

I would immediately jump in the Chariot and race to my loveable eye doc but I'm due to leave to take Lil'Gal to her oh-so-more-important-than-me urinary specialist appointment. I google 'eye bubble' and what do I find? Allergy related; take 'prescription allergy drops' (done), get a steroid drop, may need antibiotic drop; it will not fall out....

So, I drive miserably to get the kids, and an hour all the way back to the appointment (with part of my eyeball bubbled over the side). Appointment ends with Lil'Gal needs her watch (lost, must buy new one), Lil'Gal must/needs/medically required to attend pelvic floor training once a week. Lil'Gal's bladder does not expel all the urine each time = bad, and culprit for UTI infections. If Lil'Gal can't retrain her bladder muscles and we can't get the spasms and crap under control, she could one day have to be cathetered every time it is time to empty her bladder = MAMA CRIES. [It'll be okay, we'll jump through every hoop....]

Try to call hubby = iPhone key pad locks up.  !!??Explicative!!??

Head back to drop off children with Fab MIL and on my way to have my eye put back in and Farmer, Jr. is not feeling well which turns out = He's sick; fever. No bueno.

Go see wonderful, awesome, great eye doc and he puts me on: new allergy drop, steroid drop, benadryl, with suggestion that I see a specialist regarding severe eye allergy issue = possibly I will require shots. He puts eyeball back in...

(See the red place on my eye?  A few hours ago that was all full of fluid down under my bottom eye lid and growing outside of my bottom eye lid.
Ew. Ow.)


Visit pharmacy for 45 minutes = $60 for steroid drop (with insurance).  Call MIL but iPhone key pad still locked up!!  I could surf the web, FB, play Angry Birds and text but no 'dial'. !!explicative!!

[Brain storm] text Sweet D and she calls MIL for me.

Get home to a mess, laundry piled in living room, past dinner time, two test this week for Farmer, Jr. Science tomorrow and [mother !#%$%$#] Social Studies Friday... Wait, Farmer, Jr. won't be in school tomorrow due to said fever = Crap all over again.

Enter house and smell dead rat = FW must find dead smell and possibly rat carcass.

Kids prepare to shower but NO hot water. FW now thinking SFD! and WTF! Send sick child to my bathroom to shower; the other to follow but NO HOT WATER in MY bathroom either (we have two water heaters). GRRRR = FW walks out in cold 40 mph winds to figure out water heater issue.  While out there FW feeds dogs; Farmer, Jr's job but he is sick with fever and should not be out in cold fricken' wild-@$$ wind.

Dead Rat + No Hot Water + Sick Child = FW panic attack as we have company coming to stay with us in a few days and Hubby is FAR, FAR away in SD pheasant hunting... With no phone signal...

Fix hot water heater, insert steroid drops, boil and reheat dinner while kids bathe in now hot water (TTL our's are on-demand so water is heated immediately), every once in awhile I push my eyeball back in though it is getting somewhat better and then -- FW pours herself a drink.

Hubby calls and worships how awesome I am.  And, that my dear friends is how FW fixes a F[C]luster-C[F]uck!  Happy Hump-Day (what a bunch of humps it had), almost the day before FWFD of the _____________ [insert squeeeeeee!]

Fluster-CLUCK! Even for an Optimist like me.

We're All Sneetches

Politics. It ages me. It stresses me. I have friends the whole year long and then suddenly they divide on Facebook on Chat on Emails and this and that. What is it with this one day?

We are ALL allowed to think our OWN way... Where does the great divide begin?
What makes one of us good and the other friend sin?

Voting is a right, to make it all right.
We all see what is best in our own way.

I am never more glad to see my diversity of friends,
than after an awful, wretched election day.

For in the end we are all the same friends,
with the wonderful freedom to choose our own way.

We are all Sneetches:



Be sure to recognize the 'purple politician' who eggs us all on in plight of our money:



to add my personal commentary rhyme to Dr. Seuss if I may,

There really aren't parties to toss about our votes.
It is the Me and the You and the Others we know.

AND, the fact we are lucky to vote our opinion in hopes
that the coagulation of all our thoughts and beliefs combined,
will make our years ahead better this time.


If you took the time to watch that the Sneetches the entire way through,

one would realize it mirrors the ME and the YOU.



HAPPY HUMP-DIGGITY DAY! Politics are over and we all just get along again!

[EDITORS NOTE: I am so going to republish this in some fashion via Triond to earn me some pennies... But, I wrote it HERE because y'all are my peeps and we are all stronger united.]

We're All Sneetches

CRIMINALS beware; the BIG DOG'S in town

Out here where we live there is a certain criminal element that tends to wander along our road from time to time.   They present themselves as 'water testers'.  The idea is that they offer a service to come in and 'test' your water to see if it is healthy or needs improvements (that they are to provide?).  Here is the thing.

It's A SCAM.

Even the Sheriff's Department has explained to us that it is a scam.  Today, they came through the area again.  Every so often a new group comes along some dressing the part, some far from, in hopes of scoping out our homes by testing our water.  Really?  People fall for this?  Apparently, they do.

See what they really want is to get inside your house to kind of scope it out.  Also, if you happened not to be home at their visit they would probably intrude and break in robbing you of your favorite, valuable items.  Sum's-of-Bleaches.

Anyhow yesterday: (new people in a new vehicle; you know they think we aren't on to them if they change it up)...  [RING-RING!]  "Hello?"  SIL, "The water testers are back, they are next door (my baby SIL's) and on their way to your house."

Me, "CR@P!"  And, hubby isn't home.  Not that I can't handle it.  But, still.  It's rude to open the door with a pistol in hand, though I do it as I deem necessary.  Still, you never know to what extent these people will go...or, if they might think a mom at home with young children vulnerable enough to mess with.  Though, their racket is 'get in, scope the place, get out and come back to break in later'.

Seeing their van at my baby-SIL's and knowing the dogs are out in the back -- Biggun' free roaming. Meaning un-tied because she only wanders around the house, unlike the wild-one who loves to take off on a wild running spree chasing grasshoppers and critters through the pasture and fields -- I get an idea.

Lickity-split, I run out the back, grab the leash, holler for Biggun' to come and have her leashed and in the house as the predators approach the door.  I open the door greeting they guy (I find out later that my BIL saw three others hiding inside the van) with a 160+ pound dog.  And, she don't look friendly.  And, she wants to get to that guy.

"Hi, I'm here with the -- WHOA!  That's a BIG DOG!"

Me, "Yes, and she doesn't take well to company." [Me holding back a 160+ pound dog about to drag me out of the house after this guy.]

Standing a few yards back he tries his ploy, "I'm with a water testing company", I cut him off.  "I'm not interested, my husband handles that."

Him, "Is that a St. Bernard?"  Me, "No, she's a Mastiff and as you can see she doesn't like company."  Biggun' is continuing to about pull me out of the house and she's looking quite fearsome at this stranger.

The best part of this, beside the fact that my dog probably outweighed this guy, is that now those 'bad guys' believe that she is a full-time, inside dog.  So, even if we aren't home -- I doubt they'd chance to break in never knowing from where her huge size and mouth might attack.

[We keep the gate locked of course, too.  And, MIL and FIL, and the SILs all keep watch on each other's houses.]

While she is a gentle giant, I have seen her agitated.  Should that guy have approached me in a violent manner I have no doubt she would eat him.  He had no doubt, either.  I love that dog.  Best dog I've ever adopted.  And, I'm saving my pennies and dimes because on day far, far, years from now when it is her time to leave us -- I will bring a new Mastiff into our home -- kids at college by then, it might even become a full time inside dog -- Hubby's allergies or not, LOL!!

CRIMINALS beware; the BIG DOG'S in town

I LOCKED IT UP!

Ya'll know how I feel about Candy.  And, thus why I have such disdain for a holiday devoted to -- Candy.

This afternoon we get home and have to go through the numerous goodie bags, gift bags, and candy prizes from school today and the Fall School Party.  [Oh, Joy].  Lil'Gal in an effort of keeping score (though, she doesn't realize she eats the most candy around here) wanted her candy in one bowl, safe and separate from Farmer, Jr.'s candy to be placed in a separate bowl.  Both bowls to reside at hands reach in the pantry.

"Nope.  All candy goes in one bowl", I say.  "WhhhhYYYYYYY????" Lil'Gal whines.  "Because I am not going to have my pantry taken over by bowls of candy."  [More whining.]  Me, "Either one bowl, or I can take all the candy and throw it away and have Daddy take it to the dumpster."

[Unhappy compliance] "OOOOKAY."

Lil'Gal accounts for all candy in bowl.  She leaves and I place it in the Pantry.  [Later] Lil'Gal appears with candy (eating it).  Me, "Didn't I tell you you have had enough candy today?  And, aren't you supposed to ask?"

Lil'Gal "But, I didn't have that much candy today.  I hardly had any and no snack."

Me, "Your teacher told me you had two cupcakes.  AND, you ate candy on the way home.  What else have you eaten?"  Lil'Gal exists frustrated.

Me, brainstorm.  I may not be able to lock the PANTRY but I can lock the 'lock cabinet' I had built in the pantry.  And, what do you know; it will hold a nice big bowl of candy.  >;-D  he, he, he, laughing mischievously.

[LATER]  Lil'Gal walks in pantry.  Lil'Gal exits pantry.  "Mama.  WHERE'd you hide the candy?"  [Arms crossed]

Me, "I locked it away."  Lil'Gal, [whiny] "WHyyyYYYYYY did you lock it awaaaaaAAAAAAY?"
Me, "What difference does it make, you are supposed to ask before you get candy."
Lil'Gal having a tantrum emerging.  [Me, trying not to laugh.]

"WhhhyyyYYYY do you have to lock up the candy.  Why, why, WHYYYYY?"  Going on further to herself while opening a healthy snack, "I wish life was better than this...  I WISH life was BETTER than THIS.  I wish Mama's wouldn't lock up the candy."

I WIN!!  :-D  But, now I have to hide the key!

I LOCKED IT UP!

Because I can't help myself! ;-)

Yes, because I can't help myself.  And, it is my favorite day of the week!  FRIDAY.  No schedules.  Okay, tomorrow we are getting up before the rooster crows to take the kids for some fun.  But, still.  It's FRIDAY.  No homework.  Hubby has a class which leaves me and the kids to do whatever we want for the evening.  Or, to do nuthin' if we want. :-)

And, I will be watching one of my all time favorite movies (after Medium).  So, with that and because I can't help myself (and don't want to):

TAAA-DAAA!!

Because I can't help myself! ;-)

Why I Hate Halloween

I've blogged in years past about my dislike for Halloween.  I've also blogged that in the past two years I have been the one to host a fall costume party for my children and their friends.

Did I decide Halloween was fun?  Hardly.  Could I afford to cheat my children of this somewhat "Americanized as Sacred Holiday"?  Nope.

Sure when they were young.  But now they have external influences, ie: friends who love Halloween.  And, making costumes is fun this year I totally bombed out and purchased cheap disguises from Wal-mart and y'all have seen in the past that I am good at it.

However, the whole door-to-door pan-handling for candy thing is way beyond acceptability for me.  And, it's not the begging since we all know I do a little comment/read me/read-me-over-here/read-me-over-there begging from time to time.

I choose to keep my kids at home and host a fun party for their friends and folks at our house where I know the whos, and the whats and the activities and the eats and the games and the tricks and the treats.  I like to be 'aware' in control like that.

My disdain for Halloween is based on more than the candy.  Though, y'all know I hate candy; candy should be outlawed; or, maybe they could make people who consumed candy wear a monitor like x-ray techs that would sound an alarm and cut one off when they had exceeded the safe level of candy intake.

Candy makes my sweet Lil'Gal turn into an out of control demon, horns, forked tongue, tail and all. I have found her stashes (stolen from the pantry, BTW) under her bed, in her closet, wrappers hidden in the dirty laundry, inside a sock.

She has no control when it comes to candy.  We tried to admit her to a CLA (Candy Lovers Anonymous) but AA said their is no such thing.  Really?  With all the -candy-over-indulgers?

Everyone knows cigarettes can kill.  And drinkin' too much. But, where is the self-help for candy???

To help you better understand me, let me share via a list:

A)  The Candy = I HATE candy.  You know that song "IIIIIIII want Candy?"  Yeah, like the song but only because I think it is about a girl named Candy.  If you are named Candy then no hate intended.  If you are candy then I distain you.

B)  Safety = Who are we kidding.  Of course now days most parents take their kids through the neighborhood to the houses of peeps they know and trust.  But there are still parents out there who just let their kids go roaming (some with a driver to other neighborhoods) for alternative venues in search of free candy.

C)  Candy = Empty $$ Pocketbook!!!  Candy is expensive!  Lucky for me I live in the country.  If someone comes up and rings my doorbell?  It won't be for candy and they won't be greeted with candy either. [If you ring my doorbell?  That means I don't know you AND, more importantly you don't know me.  That means I greet you armed and dangerous.  That means you'll probably be leaving very soon.] LOL!

D) WEIRDos = The stupid, crazy-monger people come out.  Doing more than pranks, but ill-will.  The 31st is simply the day after the 30th and they day before November 1st.  The month where we are all about being forgiving and thankful and sharing.  Yet, on Halloween, there are gatherings of people who think that skinning a cat, gutting a dog, cow, goat, or worse - exchanging blood in some unfathomable to me process will 'empower' them because it's any day of the week of the year been designated as "Halloween".

True, I do hold a soft spot for a certain vampire (or three), some of whom partake in the blood exchange process.  But, that's fiction (And, they actually have fangs. Among other things). >;-) he, he, he...

I realize that 90% of America luuuuuuuuvs Halloween.  While I'm one of the 10% who could truly do without it, I will now step down off my soap box and let the rest of you enjoy your Haunted Holiday.  And.  Your candy.

With that rant, Happy almost FWFD of the WEEK!!!!

Why I Hate Halloween

Sweet November

So it is November!  Thanksgiving already.  OK, technically we still have a few days of October dragging out but to me I'm booked through Turkey Day.  And, immediately after that my schedule is full through Christmas -- so, actually, it's 2011 in my world already.  

HOW?

WHERE did the next two months go?

This weekend we are headed to San Antonio to take the kids to the RiverWalk for it's annual floating coffin parade (and a little Christmas shopping at Cabella's).  Next week hubby and the BIL will be going pheasant hunting for about five days; meanwhile, I'll be polishing the castle as we have family coming in from Georgia that weekend to stay with us through the following week.

There's a week in-between to get caught up on whatever was missed during the rest and then we have the school Thanksgiving luncheon and then we head up to Arkansas to see my Daddy for a Thanksgiving dinner and a few walks in the woods.  [I'm looking forward to this because it falls in scene with my WIP so I'm hoping I'll be able to sit at the picnic table and type away at several chapters!]

Back home for Turkey Day with family here and then Christmas decorations and preparations and parties and presents and (pressure) and then it's another Happy New Year.

Time sure does fly.  It can be overwhelming at times.  But, I have to look at it like this.  With all of these plans and all of these activities and all the things I gotta do, wanna do, and just do -- I am a lucky Gal.  I've got a full life, I've got people in it who are important to me, I've got love.  

So, with that -- Happy Wednesday (the day before the day before FWFD of the weeeeeeek) and Happy Sweet, Cold, November Rain...  :-)

Sweet November

The Way You Do The Things You Do....

It's Monday, again.  A new day and a new week to get it right, get it better, and get it done!  Just be sure you like the way you do the things you do and it'll all work out just fine!

And, where a smile while you do the things you do.  Do a little dance while you do the things you do.  Hum a little song while you do the things you do.  And, enjoy today while you do the things you do!

After all, this is the only 'today' you've got today. ;-)

Happy Monday!

The Way You Do The Things You Do....

I need 9 clicks, please!

Howdy!

Quick note! Help a FW out? I'm nine clicks shy of the 200 badge on my Triond page. If anyone has the time, would you click on my Triond widget over to the left side bar (ya' have to scroll down' a little) and click on one of my recently published articles and/or recipes there? [If an ad pops up you can 'x' it out.]

A comment would be great, but a click (well nine) is all I really need to get my badge!

One more article published this month over there and I'll double my iddy-bitty earnings. Though, the iddy-bitty is growing as my content grows! I can't wait to see where I am at the end of this quarter! (And, I'll be publishing more than one more article this month!)

Wish me luck and thank you for the help and support!

Happy Saturday!

I need 9 clicks, please!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Howdy Y'all!

Recently (a few weeks or a month or so ago) I read "A Bitch Named Karma" by Stephanie Haefner.  And, I LOVE IT!!  I posted a review about it here.

Looks good, right?  It IS.

Well GUESS WHAT??  She's having a giveaway and is giving away two copies of this book!  YAY for Y'all!!

All you have to do is click here:  HERE and then follow her on FB and on Twitter!  That easy!

[She's fun to follow too!]

Good luck!!!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

It's Still Rock and Roll....

Billy looks quite young in this video, no?  I ran into someone the other day that I hadn't seen in years.  I thought to myself, 'Wow, she's aged..."  Then, I wondered if she saw and thought the same of me...

As time keeps flying, I'm half way through the middle of the day, in the middle of the week.  Some things accomplished, others pending.  But Rockin' and a Rollin' through it all!

[Oh, and I met my goal of one published item today!  Just have to make time to work on my writing assignment that is due in three weeks...  First comes Farmer, Jr.'s social studies project though --  that's Saturday's agenda!]

It's Still Rock and Roll....

What's going on in my blog?

Howdy Y'all!

Seein' as I was going to tread the mill, but it took me a little longer to get my article published today, I thought I'd use my last 15 minutes before children time to catch everyone up on what has been going on around here....  [Because, I know y'all are all so interested and have been dying to know.] ;-)

First off, the gremlins have messed with my life clock because I swear I'm only getting 12 out of the 24 hours in the day lately.  Not sure how they managed that but it IS happening (ie: the lack of treadmill time).

Secondly, I'd like to bring y'all all up to speed on my writing as of late.  I've been working diligently squeezing it in wherever possible to build up my content and publish articles regularly over at TRIOND.com.

Triond os a venue where writers can publish their articles, pictures, poems and other creative writing, recipes, etc, etc with flexibility of when and what.  Triond in turns publishes the piece on a website and/or venue where it feels it fits best (in accordance with some tags, and labels the writer gives along with the piece).  So, I have several photos, a poem, a recipe and five other articles up.

The cool thing is that the way I get paid, is by building my content.  And, of course, by the masses of internet users around the world who search and visit my stuff.  I get credit for traffic.  Additionally, at the publication of my fifth article I qualified for google ads within my work.  Clicks on those also provide me with pennies; half of what the click is worth to the advertiser.

What I LOVE about this is that I have the flexibility to publish anything I want without serious deadlines so it allows me to think more openly and work when I can.  [I am trying to set up a schedule where three mornings, minimum, will be dedicated to submitting content.]  And, the best part as that once an item is published, I continue to receive hits on it and earnings forever.  So, the recipe for today?  Keeps on bringing in $$ and I never have to even look at it again (but I do; for comments and 'likes' and stuf).

:-)

FYI, if you check out my right side bar and scroll down a little you will see a widget from Triond.  It makes available the most recent articles I have published.  So, if you don't catch me on FB or Twitter you can always click over there and see what I've been writing about (please click over there and see what I've been writing about). :-D

Last on this matter, I have made a few changes to the blog.  Still not thoroughly pleased with the way everything is placed but working on it.  One of those changes includes adding (oh, yes I did) back the google ad sense ads.  This is for two reasons: 1) When I checked it out I found out that I had earned $15.00 when I had these there in the past but never knew it, 2) It kind of works together to my benefit since I have the google ads via my Triond posts as well.  (Bottom line, I'll take any pennies I can get).

Next:  I have still been haven't been able to type a single dang word working on my WIP.  While it has been open in the background, I will admit that I haven't actually typed any words there.  But, I do have several scenes from the story line outlined in my head that will be inputted there as soon as I get through this school week with the kids.  [Apparently, my child-free time is all booked up and mostly out of the house this week.  Again.]

Third, that church children's activities for our Octoberfest went over really well!  Everyone had a good time and appreciated the set up!  And, now it is over so I can reclaim some of that time back.

Fourth, Farmer, Jr. is now officially a member of the 4-H!!  YEA!!!  He will be raising rabbits.  They are born at the breeder in November and picked up early December.  This is only a month long (animal) project and seeing as how we get to pet and love on the rabbits and feed'em up fat (but not too fat) I see this as a pleasing experience for all of us! :-)  I mean who doesn't love sweet, soft, widdle-bunny-wunnies??

Farmer, Jr. will also be building a shop project with his Daddy (which I need to get them working on already because January will be here in NO. TIME.).

As for Lil'Gal, I don't have an extra curricular set up for her this year.  This after school, during the week stuff is hard to manage (I know so many of you who do it well, but I have Fourth grade Science and Social studies to pass again -- FJ is in third grade but his studies are with the fourth graders).  And, I like to keep a strict homework, play, dinner, bathe, bedtime schedule.  I'm all uptight that way.

If we don't do anything this year, she will also be in 4-H in the Spring as soon as she begins third grade.  So that will give her something extra as well as caging two birds with one stone. ;-)

Last, I received a little letter in the mail from the school where I take my writing course and it said, "Hey, GHFG?  Get your pie in business!  Your break is over and your assignment is do in three weeks!"  SOO-ooooo, I'll be working that in too.  Somewhere. Somehow....

There is so much more but I just saw the clock and it is time to head out to pick up the youngins so I best run.  But, that is a little of what has been going on around here.  If you are still looking for more from me at this moment; click: 1) My Triond widget to see what I've been writing, 2) my 'other' widgets around here, 3) leave me happy comments and I'll respond when I get back!

Happy Tuesday, it's almost Hump-diggity Day, which is two days away from FWFD of the weeeeek!

What's going on in my blog?

Embedding

So, I had a great post.  But, the embedding was disabled.  Chicken Biskets.

Happy Tuesday....

Embedding

Motorin' by...

So where are the days going?  I spent this morning paying bills (usually Hubby does this but I get the little one's that come in the mail now; he handles most online bill payments) and then signing up for, and printing entry applications for Farmer, Jr. to participate in 4-H and this year's livestock show.  (Okay, the show is in January but it follows with this season).

So, Farmer, Jr. is going to raise rabbits!  We have some good friends with three years under their belt and lots of experience and knowledge about this so I feel that Farmer, Jr. will be in good hands with this project.  Also, he is going to build a shop project with his Daddy (more to come on that and probably photo pics as it will be a working project), and also he'll enter a cookie or cake recipe.  [It'll be cake because I have a dead-on from scratch recipe that will have those judges drooling!] >;-D

Other than that, I've gotten no content published today for Triond.  THAT will be another post to bring y'all up to date on my latest writing/publication experience and venue and how it all works and why that Triond button is over to the right (ya' have to scroll down a little).

And, I am in the middle of washing Lil'Gal's sheets (again).  Accidents lately (even with the pull-up).  I don't think she has been fully following her vibrating watch schedule during the day -- though, all liquids are cut off shortly after dinner.  She did good for several days with no accident, even in her undies.  But, this last week to ten days I've changed her sheets every second and third day or so...

I haven't been on the treadmill since, when?  Friday for 30 minutes?  I'm totally feeling it too.  All slugish.  And, I'm behind all over again (two weeks in?) on my blog reads as well as keeping up with my friends and connections at Triond [kind of a support system].

And, here it is at 1:14 and I'm rushing to clean the kitchen floor and hide the laundry cart and jump on the treadmill.  I am so totally MOTORIN' around here.

And, with that, enjoy this song:

Motorin' by...

There's the bad, there's the crap. Then there's Wonderful.

I wrote this post last night and published about for or five minutes to midnight.  This morning I read it and I thought, 'this is not the message I intended to put out there.  No one wants to read all this cr@p.'

So, I pulled it and am publishing this post instead.

The point is, I could b!itch about A, B, and C.  I could p!$$ and moan about this and that.  But who wants to hear that?  Right?  Sure we need to vent sometimes, but not today.

Today is FRIDAY!  FWFD of the week!  Absolutely! The sun is shining, my kids are happy and learning in class at this moment.  I have friends coming over this afternoon.  There is gas in my vehicle, food in my fridge and my pantry is stocked.

We have clean clothes (though, yes they need folding) and the socks are sorted.  Oh, and the internet is up and running at full speed again (it was s-l-o-w slow this morning).

So, see?  Everything is wonderful!  I mean life has ups and downs.  But it is how we look at it that motivates our mood.  So, I'm hoping this little diddy will pick up your mood as well!


This is not the original video; as is sometimes the issue the actual video does not have embedding rights available.]



Happy Friday!!

There's the bad, there's the crap. Then there's Wonderful.

WIP! Just doin' my thing (writing style) :-D

So this morning, as usual, I'm just going about my day doing my thing.  Lil'Gal woke with flaming red eyes which later dissipated but after a confirmation trip to the eye doc -- she got put on drops.  Early catch so she can go back to school tomorrow non-contagious.  And, with antibiotic drop armor against anyone else who might be carrying an eye cootie.

[Bare with me here and drudge through this post to the end because, I'm going to give a little *sneak peak* excerpt (like all my cool writing/author friends do) from my WIP.  That being of one of the two scenes that presented themselves to me this morning.]  Squeeeeeee!!!

After the doc's office we do the Walmart and errand thing. Lil'Gal, happily chewing a piece of her new gum, was quite quiet on the trip home.  Thus, allowing Mama's thoughts to wander.  At one point a good song came on the radio, one I hadn't heard in a long time and could never catch the artist.

And with that, out of NO WHERE, a little scene hits me!  A scene for my WIP!  And, after I think that one through -- a second one to go with!!!  I'm like "YAY!"  Because this is where I've been stumped.  Where is MC going with all of this?  I've kept asking myself....  I mean, I know she's got issues but where does the remedy come in??

For those of you new here wondering what this is all about, you can check out THIS POST.

Anyhow, said WIP stays open in a back window on my Mac most of the time but other than a tinker here and there I've been too busy to sit down to it creatively.

[I must say, the lack of time and creativity can wittle away at my confidence sometimes when I sit there with nada new.  Sometimes even causing me to doubt myself slightly, thinking, "What if I'm just a make-believe-I-wanna-be-a-writer?"  I know.  FW doubt herself???   Rare. ;-P

So, I'm driving along listening to this new-to-me-again song and this scene pops in my head.  I don't even know exactly when it happens in the story yet because I haven't written ahead that far (still working out the break between Chapter Four and Chapter Five).  But, it told me where the story is going.

See, the story starts out harsh, with a lot of anger and frustration -- but, the new character (that just finally fully introduced himself to me and to my MC) outlined the second half of the story.  The part where things look up for my MC.  The part where she is finally able to tackle her demons (actually, her mother's demons) and I now feel satisfied that this story will come to fruition on a peaceful note.

THAT, makes FW very, very happy!

Oh, the scene.  Here is a little clip.  Still rusty as it has just been typed fresh from my head but I am too excited to worry about tweaks and perfection right now:

His one hand on the small of my back, he ran the other one up to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair as he pulled me tightly to him.  My cheek rested upon his shoulder as we stood there, frozen for several moments in complete silence. 

“I’ll never let you go.” He spoke into my hair.  “As long as you are with me…”  A hot tear streaked down my cheek as he whispered it again, to himself as much as to me, “I’ll never let you go.”  I believed him.

What do you think!!!!????  Please share!!!!

Oh, and in case you were wondering -- this is the song:

WIP! Just doin' my thing (writing style) :-D

Joke for the day! Have a laugh!

A young blonde girl in her late teens, wanting to earn some extra money for the summer, decided to hire herself out as a "handy woman" and started canvassing a nearby well-to-do neighbourhood. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any odd jobs for her to do. "Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint the porch" he said.


"How much will you charge me? "Delighted, the girl quickly responded, "How about $150? "The man agreed and told her that the paint and brushes and everything she would need were in the garage. The man's wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, "Does she realize that our porch goes ALL the way around the house? "That's a bit cynical, isn't it?" he responded. The wife replied, "You're right. I guess I'm starting to believe all those dumb blonde jokes. "A few hours later the blonde came to the door to collect her money. "You're finished already??" the startled husband asked.


"Yes," the blonde replied, "and I even had paint left over so I gave it two coats. "Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $150 and handed it to her along with a $20 tip.


"Thank you," the blonde said, "And, by the way, it's not a Porch, it's a Lexus."


Oh no, she didn't???  Happy Monday!

Joke for the day! Have a laugh!

Sleeping Beauty, quite truly.

She so loves her Princesses and fairly tales,
if she only knew...
She is my fairy tale Princess come true.



Riding upon the shoulder of my sweet Prince,
King Daddy tucks her in with a hug and a kiss.

Into her dreams her mind will wander...
all the while I watch her and ponder.

What sweet dream is this, so wonderful and true?
I have an idea how, you do too, I presume.

I've been blessed by our sweet Lord from above.
She is my kiss, and,



HE, is my hug.

This is a repost from January of 2008.  I was reviewing some of my older posts looking for creative inspiration for new creative submission to the new venue where I am publishing content.  And, I thought, "Hey, this definitely deserves a repost."

I think I had just begun blogging in December of '07.  I was such a newbie back then... ;-)

Sleeping Beauty, quite truly.

70s Flashback-- Rod Stewart

So, it seems I've been doing quite the many music flashbacks here lately. It's good to remember when, though - eh?

Anyhow, I seem to pay most attention to the 80s and 90s and primarily the old rock from those decades.... Well, some is rock but others have been pop or new age or whatever they call it when it isn't classic, country or rap but also not true rock.

Anyhow, I found myself in the mood for a little Rod Stewart this late afternoon/early evening. :-)  It takes me back to when I was truly a kid.  Funny what I remember when I hear these songs.  I won't break out names or the bust factor but I will say that I recall many adults experimenting in all that was the  70s *wink-wink* and some of y'all know exactly what I'm referring to.

I remember one time, when I was VEEERY young and I was running around my uncle's house (the eccentric one; he's a true genius but with that comes some, well, eccentricities in his persona, LOL!).  Anyhow, I was young enough that I must have half way dressed as I recall running around into the living room in my undies and no shirt [wait a minute, is that where Lil'Gal gets it?  Nah, I'm very inhibited about any form of exhibitionism.]

Said uncle did the 'come here' motion with his hands and as he squatted down to pick me up his 'lit' cigarette burned my chest to the Northeast of my (then non-existent) chee-chee.  Um, OW.  Yeah, and as I recall that memory the record player was playing "Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy!"  Ha! Ha!

Oh, I have other vivid memories from visits with that uncle.  Like the time I was blamed (being older) for writing on the inside walls of the playhouse he had made for my cousin (his daughter); of which he made a couple more to sell.  [She told me it was her playhouse and she could write in/on it if she wanted to.  Who was I to argue with her at the time?]

And, the time he lived in this awesome house but for whatever reason (this is SOUTH TEXAS keep in mind) it didn't have air-conditioning.  Whaaaaat?  Me and my cousin got extremely sunburned in the pool and at night, rather than sticking to the sheets, we camped out in the cool of the pool water until we about passed out where we sat/submerged/floated.

I found the actual music video for this song but -- of course D@mn them! Why do they do that the embedding was disabled by request... Pblft.




This song gets in my head and I'll sing it over and over and over again, out loud, in my head, and humming from the purse of my lips.  I love this song.



But this one.  This is my all time favorite.  Every heart break, every heartache, well you know.  The first cut is the deepest...



Always try to love again <3; Happy Hump-day.  I sure hope you put a little diggity in it.  Afterall, this is the very last October 6th, 2010 you'll ever experience.  Make it worth it!

70s Flashback-- Rod Stewart

De Ja Vu? Lover Boy!

Jammin!  But what's with all the aliens???

De Ja Vu? Lover Boy!

Fall in South Texas (photo shoot)

Howdy y'all!

We went to my MIL and FIL's ranch this weekend to enjoy the absolutely God given beautiful weather.  Crisp but not overly cool, sunny, light breeze on occasion...  Hubby and Farmer, Jr. also did a little dove hunting with a friend and my BIL and nephew. They had a blast!  

Anyhow, here are some shots:

The cows coming in...  (I *heart* cows)

Pretty tree....

Here donkey, donkey, donkey...

Now that's some serious bull$h!t !!

That's not a leaf; it is a grasshopper.  If you zoom in more you can see the legs and all.  He hop-flew away after I took this.

See the tan cow?  She's looking at me.  Everywhere I went, I would find her looking at me.  In the morning Lil'Gal and I were playing in the yard and low and behold this cow stood by the fence and just stared at me...  Oh, and see the black cow next to her?  They are running buddies.  Because wherever I saw the tan cow (watching/stalking me) her BFF was just a few feet away.

Papa built a floating pier for fishing...  Everyone knows Farmer, Jr. is all about fishing...

[And, farming, and hunting.]

Lookie, a cow AND a windmill (y'all know I *heart* windmills too!)

And, the boys!  My BIL a/k/a Big S as named by Lil'Gal several years ago, my nephew (a fellow tractor die-hard like Farmer, Jr.), Farmer, Jr., the Hubster -- and dinner!!!  [Lil'Gal is hanging out behind Big S.)

Isn't that a handsome bunch?!

With that it is time to tend to my duties!  Happy Hump-Day!

Fall in South Texas (photo shoot)