Monthly Archives: November 2011

The Diaper Diaries ~ Changes (Other Than Diapers)

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Yesterday I watched the one 7yo and her 2yo and 1yo siblings for the last time.  I knew the day would come and was just around the corner but still it came up on us so suddenly.

Their mom’s story is not mine to share, but because she works and has 3 kids she can get some assistance.  Aside from food  stamps she also qualifies for help in the form of vouchers for childcare.  I made an attempt to get certified as a type B provider in my county so I could accept vouchers for payment.  What a ridiculous series of hoops to jump through and hurdles to clear!!  I have no issue with criminal background checks, I don’t even have a parking ticket to my name.  But the other things you must do, classes that must be taken (never mind that I raised 2 kids of my own, 1 step daughter for years part time and was a kinship foster care mom for 4 kids for 1 year and MIGHT have a clue how to do this gig), it is all insane and next to impossible to achieve.  It was silly for the mama to work just to pay me for watching her kids,  which is about all she was doing as there wasn’t much left each week after paying for childcare and I wasn’t even charging what I would have for someone that wasn’t already holding one of the crappiest hands of fate cards I’ve ever seen.

The daycare job came at a time when we both needed each other.  The company I was working for was sinking fast despite the band playing on the deck like nothing was happening.  As the office manager I was privy to our accounts payable and receivable and the writing was in bold, uppercase red letters on the wall.  I got out just before the economy devoured that place and there I was once again out of work.  I was looking but frankly couldn’t face the idea of going back into corporate America, I wanted to work from home.  Once mom and I brain stormed it we realized that me babysitting might be the best route.  It left me home to work as I wanted, was enough money and I could start working Avon.  Win/win all around as I was able to tackle Mt. Washmore and other stuff around the house.  My mom of 3 had just had their white picket fence world turned completely on end and shattered.  For what her 7 year old endured at the hands of a man she called “daddy”, well I just hope there is a special place in the pits of hell for him.

It was a wonderful situation for the kids, mom had piece of mind and since April they’ve been a part of my life.  I’ve watched one come out of her shell, one become easier to understand as he learned to talk, and one go from not able to sit up  on her own to walking.  Yesterday I watched the 7yo’s heart break when she found out it was  their last day with Miss Marti.  I felt a crack or two in my own.

Today it is just me and the 5 month old.  The house is so QUIET.  I didn’t realize just how much I did until I’m sitting here not doing it.  There is more time to conquer the laundry, hold and rock the baby (heaven help her parents she is about to be even more spoiled rotten!), dishes, cleaning, social media, blogging and games.  I realized that I can stick the baby in a car seat now that it is just us during the day and run errands, or work the  Avon business with her cute little self “helping” me.  The other 7yo, the baby’s cousin, is only here for about 15-30 minutes in the morning and then 2 hours tops after school.

I’m praying the Avon works out well and that I won’t need to take on more kids so I have more time for the baby and for ME.

Time will tell….

The Gift I Most Want

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Every year the stress is there of finding those perfect gifts for those I love.  Most everyone I know has everything that they NEED, so what is left is their want list, which is subject to change with every flip of the Sunday paper inserts for what is on sale.  Or a walk through the local mall.

Most years I manage  to find the funds without taking out a loan, to purchase what everyone WANTS.  But this year it will be a lean Christmas, at least as far as money is concerned.  Funny thing, it seems to be going around.  When one woman will spray others with pepper spray to get the item she is wanting to purchase on Black Friday, or two grown men will come to blows over a Barbie Doll (happened here at Walmart in Cincinnati), that tells me that it is more than just getting the must haves.  This seems more and more to be about money.  People are strapped and some flat out broke this holiday season.  Nothing puts stress on a person and a fight between folks like money…or rather the lack of it.

On Thanksgiving my brother, his amazing girlfriend (my future sister-in-law), Angie, and my brother’s kids were here for dinner, along with my dad.  After dinner my son and his fiance and my future granddaughter came over, and my daughter.  Later my other brother arrived with his wife and one of their kids.  Sitting there in the living room with all of these various folks, sharing memories and laughs, I realized that it wasn’t about the traditional meal of turkey and fixings at all.  Thanksgiving was about taking time out of our busy lives to come together and be a family and share time and ourselves with the people we love.  It would not have mattered if we had spaghetti or turkey, what mattered was it was a day to enjoy being together.

I am a very blessed woman, I  have a very good relationship with my siblings, their significant others, and the rest of my family.  I have extremely fond memories of a childhood that while perhaps lean on money, was abundant in love and laughter.  You can buy a lot of things with money, but you cannot run down to Macy’s and purchase what I have…a somewhat dysfunctional, crazy, fun, and LOVING family.  Not for one minute have I ever doubted that my parents love me, or my siblings.  I might never have made “Mom Of The  Year” but I am pretty certain my children know that while I fell short in many areas as a parent, I love them more than life itself.

My ex-husband and I never bought each other things for Christmas, we felt we had everything we needed and when we wanted something we went out and got it.  Well as soon as the funds were available.  All  I ever really wanted from him was to know I was loved, to live  without doubt, to have a stocking full of reassurance that no one held  his heart but me.  Sadly, that is the one gift I never was given.  If what he says is true, he never loved me when he married me and didn’t want to marry me.  But it would be the one I treasured most had I received it.

This year, we are way lean in the Diva Den when it comes to money to buy things.  But one thing we are so very wealthy in is love for each other.  Not a day goes by in this house that there is not laughter.  I tweeted this morning that I am truly happy, and I am.  Recently I viewed a video by someone from my past where she said no one is really happy, just satisfied.  That made me sad for her,that she has never really been happy, making it impossible for her to accept that others could really be happy.  I wake every day, granted slower some than others, but I smile each morning, because I am beyond satisfied, I am HAPPY!  Every day one of us if not each of us women still says “gosh I love this house”.  We  are happy here!  Yes it is a great house, but more than the home it is the 3 households that melted and became one big happy family, where all 5 of us are unique, rub each other the wrong way at times, but we love each other.

I don’t want anything this year that can be purchased in a store.  I want those things no one can buy for me.  TIME spent making memories with the people I love.  Cooking together, going to the museum, Festival of Lights (one year me, parents, sibs and offspring rode the train there singing Christmas carols off key, out of tune, and had a blast), church, throwing darts at the bar, snuggled in bed watching TV…whatever the activity, I want the gift that cannot be returned and is gone once it is given except for the warm place in the heart that lives forever as a memory, TIME.  It is way more precious to me and far more appreciated, because when it comes to time with those important to me, there is never enough.

Humble High Roader Or Attention Whore?

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You log onto your Facebook, or check your Twitter feed, or IM and you see the following (paraphrased from multiple such posts):

“Taking the high road, not going to succumb to the negativity, prefer not to waste energy on such person(s), don’t want anyone to take sides, pains me when people feel the need to take sides, please don’t ask I don’t want to talk about it…..blah blah blah blah blah blah.”

Seriously???  And what is the first thing everyone does?  ASKS!!! and jumps on the “oh you are such a good person/poor baby” bandwagon to try to sooth those rumbled feathers.  In no time everyone and their uncle knows what said person is not going to talk about and they are rowing the boat right along with the ‘high roader’ in that river of negativity.  Why? BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT!

NO one that truly doesn’t want drama,  or truly doesn’t want to talk about something or someone, will post ANYTHING about the issue, even a post to say they will take the high road and not talk about it.  It is a total ploy to get people to do just exactly that!  They want the world to ask  what is bugging them, just like the toddler who is pouting wants your attention. DO NOT GIVE IN! Don’t ask so that way they won’t tell!  Well okay they will because if no one asks they will spill it anyway but this way they look like the victim.  They’re precious little ego is stung or  they’ve done something that will show  their true colors and the only way to make sure they appear good is to inform you of how good they are going to be by not talking about it.

If it really pained someone that others were choosing sides in their  little drama fest, they wouldn’t bother to let anyone know there was an issue to begin with!  They WANT you to take a side, THEIRS!  That is why all the “woe is me, the one on the high road not talking about it”.  You ask, they tell you THEIR version that usually is spun to make them appear to be the victim and the sides of the battle are starting to be drawn.  The posts, tweets and IM statuses are just engraved invitations to come bow and make them feel better about their miserable, rotten selves.

They already wasted that supposed energy by even eluding to a problem.  And you know what? They are feeding that negative energy to you when you give it the least bit of attention.  In fact the attention is just fertilizer on their already overly large pile of bull dung.  This type of person is TOXIC!  They use these posts to lure people in to feel sorry for them and to poison the mind by telling you what they said they didn’t want to talk about in the first place.  It’s a sick game of reversed psychology.  They crave the attention and praise of others like an addict craves their cocaine.  Fact is, that swooning and pity IS their drug.

They are drama queens, royal attention whores.  Don’t do it, do not get sucked into their venomous games.  They are not to be pitied, they are sick, dark, evil puppeteers  trying to manipulate people.  They are insecure so they try to make  others look bad in order to appear to be the better person.  Like I said, toxic.  Leave them in their stagnant waste dumps and ignore their pleas for attention.  The only high road they are on is the one that allows them to step all over others, and it is far below that of the fecal matter of bottom  dwellers in a swamp.

**DISCLAIMER: If you think this is about you, then you probably have some self examination to do because there is likely a reason you feel that way, because you are an attention whore!**

Wine & Cheese ~ 43rd Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 43rd serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WINE

:(   It would seem I’ve angered the Farkle gods on Facebook, been losing a few too many rounds this week and thinking it is a good time to just stop the duels for a bit until my luck turns around.

:(   Most all of the gorgeous leaves have  fallen and blown away, now the trees are bare and things are a bit dismal outside.

:(    3  of my crumb crunchers will be moving on very soon.  They need to go where vouchers are accepted.  I will miss their cute little selves.  They came into my life at a financial transition time when I really needed the money.

:(   Shame on stores that will be opening on Thanksgiving and making employees work when they should be home with families!

:| Just not much to really whine about, too many silver linings in the clouds of life of late!

CHEESE

:)   The loss of the 3 little  ones frees me up just when my Avon business is taking off, allowing me to have a lot more time to devote to it and build it.  I’ll still have the 5 month old and the 7yo after school for now so that is something to smile about!

:)   I won’t have to go out and drive in the winter.   Don’t mind it but really hated the responsibility of having another person’s child in my car to and from school if the weather was going to be bad.  I’ll get to stay inside, in front of the fire place, sip my coffee or tea and watch the snow fall!

:)   I love that I work from home, in my sweats, socks or jammies, on the deck in warm weather and in front of the fire in cold. I am blessed in so many ways and that is just one of them!  Little things just tickle me!

DESSERT

My mental post-it notes have no stickum.- FunnyOneLiners Twitter Feed (and entirely TOO true of me at times!)

Meet Me On Monday

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Welcome to the 58th edition of
“Meet Me On Monday!”

Blogging is a funny thing…we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, “who is this person!?” I know them…but yet I don’t know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to “meet” each other!

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

Java will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them better!! Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!!


Questions:

1.  I wish I had more time to _________?
2.  What is your favorite kind of soup?
3.  Where will you eat Thanksgiving dinner? 
4.  What is your favorite time of day?
5.  Did you start Christmas shopping yet?
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1.  I wish I had more time to…..

READ!  First and foremost anyway.  I have SO many books downloaded to my Kindle for work that I want to get read just have so little time between daycare during the day and Avon in the evenings.  I usually fall asleep reading because I am just exhausted.  If I try to read during the day, someone will poo their diaper, need a nose wiped, be hungry…you get the picture.

I would love more time for my Avon business too!

2.  What is your favorite kind if soup?

Wow, that really is mood dictated.  On a snowy day nothing beats a grilled cheese sandwich with a side cup of tomato soup.  If suffering a cold or flu, bring on the home made, chunky chicken  noodle!  Or turkey noodle.  And other times, well stew is awesome.

3.  Where will you eat Thanksgiving dinner?

At home with my family around me, just the way I love it!  Mom, sis, nieces, brother Yatz and Angie, and my kids will hopefully stop in too.

4.  What is your favorite time of day?

Evening, when all the kids have  gone home and the Avon work is done and I can curl up in my pink Snuggie with a cup of Sleepy Time tea and watch TV or  read.

5.  Did you start Christmas shopping yet?

Oh yes!  I try to start early whenever the money is there to begin and I have! Now the key is to FINISH!

OUCH! @#$%^&*!!!!!

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OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!!

I have a very painful boo boo today.

Okay wait, let me back up here a bit first.  Every 2 weeks I am prepping and throwing my Avon brochures.  At least 500, sometimes up to 1000 depending on a number of things.  This is a process of stamping each one on the space on the back with my name, phone number and website for my store.  I also hand date each and every one.  Then if there is an insert, and there nearly always is, I stuff them all.  Then I put each in a plastic bag, roll it like a newspaper and rubber band it.  Needless to say this takes a number of hours to accomplish, anywhere form 4-8 depending on the number I am processing for distribution.  My hands are SO sore by the time I am finished that I look forward to the day I am making enough to hire students to do this task.

Often the process of preparing these books is done along with my mom and sister.  We gather, stack up our boxes of catalogs, then go through the prep process while watching our favorite TV shows a few nights a week.  It is much more pleasant a task in the company of others.

On distribution day I load up my car with 6-10 large boxes of the rolled brochures and head out.  These boxes weigh a LOT and I am out of shape and never properly lift so add a back ache to the hands.  I drive along through various neighborhoods with my driver’s window down (this ought to be a treat come winter) and I go slow, tossing a brochure onto each driveway.  I have some streets that I frequent due to gaining customers on them, others I pick that I’ve never thrown on before.  I don’t come home until all of the brochures are distributed.  This takes only an hour to an hour and a half.  There are many reps that think this method is wrong, that I should hang them on the door handles or even knock on doors and meet the potential clients.  I say that this method works just fine, and besides I know what it is like to be in the middle of something and have the doorbell ring.  If they want Avon they will call and we will meet!

So, today I loaded the car and headed out on my rounds.  About half way through I received my severe ouchie.  I was pulling the rolled books from the box, in a hurry, and depositing them in my lap.  I have very long nails (yep you see where this is going) that are acrylic as I cannot grow them myself.  I wasn’t being careful and jammed my hand into the box.  I’ve done this hundreds of times without issue, but this time I did it at just the WRONG angle.  I snapped the nail on my birdie finger (that one we so like to use to inform other drivers when they are #1).  Not only did it snap but it tore the real nail beneath it, off the nail bed, about a quarter of the way down my natural nail. I uttered quite the string of obscenities that would have made a trucker blush.  Sadly the nail was still hanging on by a piece of the nail bed and now was bleeding.

I stopped the car and pulled off the broken piece, followed by a few more choice, not-family-friendly words.  Thankfully I had a band-aid in my purse (I have everything in there, once winning a contest for the most items on a given list, in my purse, including an unidentifiable object).  So now I am typing with the injured digit wrapped in a bandage, which is very awkward with mostly a stub and the other fingers having rather long nails.  I’m so ticked at myself, as it will be weeks before that finger can have a nail on it again.  SIGH….

Oh well, the day wasn’t a loss, all 600 books were distributed, already have one new customer from this toss round, and signed up a new recruit for my team.

By the way, if you’d like to start living the life of an Avon Lady yourself, join my team.  Doesn’t matter where you live I can sign you up, train you (live video etc) and help you make a nice living (decide what that is and you can earn it).  Just go to Start Avon and enter the code: BREDESTEGE-GARD and for $20 you too can make money and have some interesting stories to write about!  You will also receive top notch support from me, as your upline, as I take good care of my recruits.

Five Question Friday

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It’s Five Question Friday, link up and join the fun!

1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?

3. What are you thankful for?

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?

5. Do you wait until the “low fuel” light comes on before you fill up the gas tank?

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1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?
No, not so much.  There are several songs actually, though just turning on the radio  will usually do the trick.
2.  Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?
Having been married to the fire department, back when my first child was born, I go with fake.  I’ve seen too many videos of how fast  live tree goes up in flames to feel safe with one in my house.  Paranoid? Maybe, fire is one of my biggest fears, but I’d rather be overly cautious.
3.  What are you thankful for?
There isn’t anything I am NOT thankful for!  Every blessing and trial make me who I am and I like me a lot!  But this morning, especially thankful for my baby girl, who is busy taking her state board exam for Vet Tech.  Praying extra for her though I have no doubt she will pass this one.
4.  Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?
Honestly? None.  Just nothing from back that then I don’t wear that I wish I could.  If I like something, I wear it, and don’t really care what is ‘in’ at the moment.
5.  Do you wait until the “low fuel” light comes on before you fill the gas tank?
Well, yes I do sometimes.  If I have to go anywhere of distance or where I will be sitting in traffic, then no.  Otherwise, I tend to hold out for that light.  Funny thing  is I used to never allow the tank to go below 1/4 before filling it!

I Am Paying It Forward In Faith

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One thing I believe is that every blessing we receive  is meant to be shared with those in need.  We pay it forward and it blesses others lives.  We receive a second blessing in giving what we have been given.

Nothing will rip my heart apart more than seeing anyone suffer, especially a child.  Every so often I will see one of those telethons for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the one that is doing all they can to cure cancer and other catastrophic illnesses that attack children.  The stories will rip your heart out and many do not have a happy ending, though so many DO.  St. Jude’s never denies a child treatment based on their family’s inability to pay, which makes them outstanding.  They rely on donations to keep them up and running in the business of research and treatment to try to give these kids a fighting chance.

I was blessed that my kids grew up without these issues, and I give thanks often for this because they could just as easily have been one of those patients fighting for their life.

Avon has been a blessing to me, giving me extra income, allowing me to forge friendships  with other women and giving me the chance at a financially secure, debt free future.  One thing I want to always do is give back, pay it forward, in some way.

I am starting For The Children Friday.  Everyone who buys online or submits  their Avon order to me on Fridays, 20%  of their total will be donated to St. Jude’s.  So once a month I will donate 20% of the total Friday sales, both online and regular phone/email sales for that month.  Each Saturday I will post what the previous day’s sales were, and each month I will post the monthly Friday totals, and a copy of the receipt for my donation so that if anyone has any concerns about my actually doing this, that way I am accountable.

Beginning tomorrow, For The Children Friday begins.  Pray for this ministry of  mine, that it might be very successful…for the children.

To purchase Avon from me any day, but especially on Friday, CLICK HERE.

Wine & Cheese ~ 42nd Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 42nd serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WINE

:(   It is absolutely dreary outside today!  Rainy, overcast, gray, trees are bare, it just isn’t much to look at!  I don’t mind rain, I get that we need it, but this is the 3rd day of this yucky-ness, I’m over it, where is the sunshine?

:(   I’m really disappointed in the stores that are opting to open on Thanksgiving.  I remember growing up that nothing was open on Sunday or holidays.  You had to plan  ahead.  In the name of profits more and more places are remaining open on Sundays and now holidays.  Shame on those stores that are making employees come to work to open a store at 9pm or 11pm or even midnight!  Open Black Friday at a DECENT hour, people  will still come and shop.  Let the employees enjoy their day with their families.

:(   The  baby I watch has the sniffles bad today.  Poor thing, I have to keep wiping her nose which is less than thrilling to her.  Makes drinking her bottle a real chore for her too.  I feel so bad for her.

CHEESE

The little butterball I babysit

:)   Despite her little  cold/sniffles issue, she is a happy baby!  She is just adorable and makes me smile.  I love watching her, she gets that ‘baby fix’ filled for me until my kids start having children of their own.

:)   I had a wonderful day Sunday with my honey, Steve.  I usually hate shopping, but with him it is fun.  Throughout the day  little touches, kisses, and him holding my hand let me know that I am special to him. I never need to seek reassurance of his feelings, I am told, every day multiple times a day.  One of my favorite quotes from The Single Woman: “Sometimes life sends us people  who don’t love us enough, to remind us of what we are worthy of”.  I’ve been loved in the past, but not nearly enough, and not nearly as much as I loved in return.  To finally be loved as I am worthy, well that is reason to smile!

:)   Pancakes on a chilly, rainy day!  Nothing says cheer up and smile like a hot breakfast!

CHOCOLATE

The only way that raising children could be any harder is if they decided to unionize. ~ FunnyOneLiners Twitter feed

Outside Of The Box

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She  is an amazing young woman.

Cute, blond, petite, spunky, intelligent, diamond in the rough, gentle, brazen, unsure and yet bold and confident.

Most of us live in a box, so we have to learn to think outside of the box.

She has  never been in the box, cannot imagine life in that box.  She sits outside of the box unable to comprehend it.

She has more energy than anyone you’ll know.

She  knows when she looks adorable, then needs someone to reassure her.

To know  her is to love her.

One minute you want to duct tape her to a chair, the next you feel her energy and it inspires you.

My bet is her IQ is off the charts.

Eccentric? Oh for certain.

Feminine and loves pink, and lace.

She wants to be a sniper.

A knock out in high heels and bling.

She wants to wear combat boots and a uniform and serve her  country.

I’m blessed and honored to know her, to share a home with her.

One minute she can make me crazy, but most of the time I just want to hug her.

She makes me laugh,  smile, and I’ve shed a few tears for her.

She’ll learn to kick ass,  take names, in high heels and without breaking a sweat.

Some knock her, and think she cannot do it.

I say back the hell up, shut the hell up and watch.

She signed up, leaves us in 250 days.

They will help her reach down inside herself, find who she really is, and pull up the strength and drive to be one of the few, the proud, the Marines.

She’ll serve her country.

And I’ll always be proud of her.

My niece.

Jeanne Bean.

I love you kiddo, you DO  have what it takes, pull it up and use it, you WILL succeed.

In Due Time, The Gloves WILL Come Off

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If you want a BIGGER life..be the BIGGER person. There is no more fabulous view than the one from the high road. ~ The Single Woman

That quote is very true, the high road does indeed have  the most  fabulous view.  No doubt this is because we rise above our bitterness, anger, hatred and other negatives that blind us not only from the truth, but from being who  we  could be.

The high road is the more difficult road to take in life.    Lately I’m walking on the high road, but with great difficulty.  What I really want to do is yank the self imposed gloves off and really just lash out and let you know what I think of you!  Should I remove the gloves, there is also a leash that has been put on the family pit-bull.  Out of respect I’ve not chewed through that leash, but the day is coming,  and not  that far  down the road now.  Instead,  like a guard dog behind a fence, I am pacing back and forth.  I see you, I’m watching you, and I will get free one day and then beware.  Perhaps I should publish every careless word that was sent, every lie told, that the  truth might be known.

That truth…that you are not the victim you play yourself to be.  No, you are no angel,  no victim at all.  You are a dark, mean, bitter soul.  Not the person I thought for a very long time.  Not one of character and grace, upstanding and honest.  Your integrity is non-existant.  The accusations you have made, while indeed true in some cases….well pot, meet kettle as they say.  You’re no better as it is now known and in due time will be known by all.  You point your finger and cry “foul” while 3 of your fingers point back at you.

The Karma bus that you’ve attempted to drive yourself, is coming for you.  When it rolls  over  you,  and the truth exposed, you’ll be lucky if anyone reaches out to help you.  If only they all really knew, huh? Your real  thoughts of them, your real feelings, and that they are but all pawns in a game you won’t win.  Good always wins over evil, and you are indeed very evil.  It is just sad that so many will be hit and rolled over by that Karma bus, yet they deserve it when it does finally run them down.  So much truth is now in the proper hands, and sadly all the wicked queen’s hench men and women will fall with her.  To think someone struggles with that, because his heart  really is very good, and it will pain him more than those under the wheels, when the Karma bus runs  them over.

I know that you come here, and come to my Twitter.  It is why I leave them open.  Keep laughing and reading,  because  I will have the last laugh.  He is too good a person to laugh but not me.  No, I will laugh again and again.

I know  that the song wasn’t about this, but these words are oh so applicable…

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

30 Things I’m Thankful For

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It has been harder than I thought to keep up with daily posts, I’m just TOO busy. So, instead of a daily post I’m going to list 30 things I am thankful for this year.  As time allows I may post an individual post of something that strikes me on a particular day.

30  THINGS FOR WHICH I GIVE THANKS

  1. Time alone, in quiet, with my Bible and God, just meditating on His Word and feeling His presence.
  2. God’s mercy and grace, undeserved but given through faith in Christ. I’m blessed beyond measure.
  3. My kids – both are amazing adults, with drive, ambition, fantastic senses of humor and just good hearted people.  I love them both with all my heart.
  4. My Divas – Mom, Boo, Sarah and Jeanne – surrounding my life with love, laughter and fun.
  5. My brothers – A lifetime of memories, especially the growing up years of riding pillows down a flight of steps and such insanity.
  6. Angie – she came into our lives last Thanksgiving at a time of unrest in my family.  I didn’t want to like her, but that wasn’t her fault.  Instead I love her to pieces for the love, joy and laughter she not only brings to my life, but my brother and his children’s lives.  She is an amazing woman!
  7. The Count – aka Steve.  Proof that someone can love me, want me all to himself, treat me like a lady and do so many little things to let me know how much I’m loved.
  8. The Halloween camping trip with the Count – brought back childhood memories, and made some wonderful new ones with him and his family.
  9. Pixel Kitten – my cat is a blast and I just love her.  I rescued her but she rescued my heart when it most needed to heal by loving someone that needed me.
  10. Dirty diapers, runny noses, whiny, hungry, needing attention kids – without them I’d be looking for work! :)   They keep me very busy but laughing all day.
  11. AVON – my business is starting to snow ball and take off, hanging on for the ride and loving it!
  12. My electric blanket – nothing says “I don’t want to get out of this bed” like the warmth surrounding me thanks to my blanket.
  13. My pink Snuggie – It keeps me nice and warm when reading or watching TV at night when I am curled up on my bed against the pillows.
  14. Every tear I’ve shed in the past year.  Each one just made me that much stronger, that much more determined.
  15. Getting laid off again, and the company that went under, both paving the way for me to work at home as I had dreamed of doing…I just never considered that childcare IS working and doing it at home!
  16. Coffee – nothing smells so wonderful first thing in the morning.  So simple and yet so priceless to me each day.
  17. Friends who have my back, that know the real me and take up for me when others do not, and aren’t afraid to tell me what I NEED to hear rather than what I might want to hear.
  18. Reading – I am thankful that I read well, always have.  Mom fostered the love of reading in me.   I’m thankful for TIME to read too!
  19. Attitude – mine is always positive, I see the glass half full and a silver lining in every cloud.  Sometimes it takes a bit longer than others, but I’m thankful for my positive attitude.
  20. My sense of humor – it gets me through so many situations where crying is often the only other option to laughing. Like baby blow out diapers up to their cute arm pits. You just have to laugh.
  21. My Kindle – Everywhere I go, no matter what I am doing, I have hundreds of books, Facebook and Twitter at my fingertips.  It feeds my love of reading!
  22. The Avon delivery truck arriving – it means I am making money!  The  more boxes the better :)
  23. Days spent with Steve..doesn’t matter if we’re out  to a movie, shopping, or sitting talking over dinner, just as long as we’re together.
  24. Those unexpected times he wraps his hand around mine,  holding it as we are out and  about or in the  truck headed somewhere.
  25. “I’m coming to see you” texts from my daughter and her unexpected visit.  Makes my day!
  26. Texts in the middle of my day, just simple 3 letter ones, “ILU” that let me know someone loves me and is thinking of me.
  27. Every little ache and pain from the arthritis  that keeps getting worse with the weather – it lets me know I alive and  moving!
  28. Those songs that come on the radio that lift the spirit and soul, reminding me that God is in His heaven and all is right  in my  world even when  it might  not  seem so!
  29. KLOVE radio that plays those  awesome songs!
  30. Those last moments at night when I’m snuggled in my bed, hearing sounds faintly drifting up the stairs and down the hallway that remind me I am safe, secure and surrounded by the love of the women in my family that share my joys and sorrows each day.

Meet Me On Monday

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Welcome to the 57th edition of “Meet Me On Monday!” 

Blogging  is a funny thing…we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read  and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, “who is  this person!?”  I know them…but yet I don’t know them!  I want  to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great  way for all of us to “meet” each other!

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we  can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

Java will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them  better!!  Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!!

Questions:

1.  Does your family/friends know about your blog?
2.  What is your favorite card game?
3.  What do you wear to bed? 
4.  What is your favorite kind of French Fry?
5.  What is your usual bed time?
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My Answers!

1.  Does your family/friends know about your blog?

Yes, my family, friends,  the ex-husband, the kids, guys I dated off the online dating sites (some of them even subscribe to it!) and yes, Steve knows and to my knowledge doesn’t read it but supports me, probably the only people that really don’t know about my blog is the current neighbors.   I have an open door policy for my blog.  Though I admit, parts are password protected, and I DO post on a site  where I can let it all loose when I just need to vent without hurting feelings.

2.  What is your favorite card game?

That  would be Rook (aka Baptist Bridge).  I really am not much of a card player but I really like Rook…I GET IT  so it is a good game!

3.  What do you wear to bed?

Well…jammies until I am IN the bed.  Then partial jammies.  No bottoms as nothing bugs the crap out of me more than getting tangled in my jammies so I remove those.  They are close by lest the house catch fire and I have to hang my big white butt  out of the window naked.  NOT good fodder for the community press or the 11pm news.

4.  What is your favorite kind of French Fry?

Regular old fries….used to be McDonald’s but they got all healthy and ruined the flavor.  Now, I suppose White Castle is good, Burger King….just fries, ya know?  For the most part I haven’t met a french fry I didn’t like.

5.  What is your usual bed time?

Well I aim for 10pm but lucky to get there at 11pm most nights.  Once in a while  I am just too tired and go earlier but that is  rare.  11pm ish  so to speak would be my regular bed time.

Change Is Good!

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I am likely ADHD or ADD, change isn’t always easy for me and is rarely a welcome thing.  But once in a while it is a GOOD thing.  You will notice that my blog page has changed to a prettier, more feminine look today.  I decided it was time to revamp the look.  This meant sticking everything in one side bar that had been in two before.  I will be cleaning that up in the days to come.  Meanwhile I hope the new look is well received.

I’m working on my time management and hope this week to get back to posting more frequently so hang on and stay with me!

 

30 Days Of Thankfulness ~ Day 4

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TheSingleWoman™ ~  Toxic people pollute everything around them. It’s not only okay to remove them from your life..it’s necessary.

OH such a very true statement that is!  My life has been infiltrated by a few toxic folks over time.  Some were just negative, others annoying and depressing, and still others out right damaging.

Negative people are like cement shoes around your feet in a smelly swamp.  They weigh you down, pulling you into the stagnant waters of their miserable attitudes and personalities.  No matter what there is good about someone or something, they find only the negative to capitalize on.  In some cases it is jealousy driven, no one else can be seen as pretty, sexy or as handsome as them.  Evil Queen syndrome, like from Snow White, they believe their ‘magic mirror’ ego that they are the most beautiful in the land when in fact they are nothing but covered in negative warts of ugliness. Gossip, lies and attacks are all they know, and if they do seem to be nice, it is about them, not you.  You are only worthy of their praise until they no longer have use for you.  They find fault in your ability to be happy in the worst of situations, because they are not happy people.  They suck you in to their misery and taint your view of others and often yourself.

Annoying and depressed people are harmless for the most part but they still are a drain on the emotions and mind.  Usually they are very needy types that suck your good will dry when you try to lend an ear or a helping hand.  If something bad happens to them, they are stuck there for years, unable to move forward even with professional help and drugs.  They are miserable and want someone to pay for their misery, their inability to just get over things and move on with their lives.  They cannot see that even if wronged, their reaction to their situations and choice to nurture and feed their hurt is making them sick, emotionally and mentally.  They try to sway others to their view, even concocting elaborate lies if necessary.  Infected boils on the happiness of others, they need to go!

The damaging types can be controlling, or abusive though mostly with their words sometimes it goes physical.  They can never tell you anything you do right, just what you do wrong.  You are to blame for everything wrong with them, from their temper to how they treat you.  There is no taking responsibility for their actions or reactions.  Before long you have compromised yourself and your self esteem to please them.

I’ve known toxic people of each type, but removing them is harder for someone like me.  I’m entirely too forgiving, I try hard to see the good in people and make excuses for their bad or lame behavior.  I’ve stayed in relationships long after I should have chosen to exit stage left and run like hell because I have a desire to make things right and hate that anyone is angry with me or finds fault in me.

Thankfully, 3 of the most toxic people in my life made the choice to remove themselves from my sphere of existence, and it was on the level of having cancerous tumors removed!  It wasn’t until after they were gone and I had time to heal from the broken relationship and friendships that I realized just how ‘ill’ I had become by their poisonous presence in my life.

I never thought the day would come, but I am ever so thankful now for the persons in my life that were toxic and chose to leave me behind them and move on.  They did for me what I was unable to do for myself because I allowed my love for them the cloud my common sense and level headed thinking.

30 Days Of Thankfulness ~ Day 1, 2, and 3

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I’m a bit slow getting started on this project, but I think taking time to count one’s blessings and give thanks for them is important.  Before the list is too long for one post it is time to get started!  This should mean at least a post a day from me again!  :)

The idea is for 30 days, throughout the month of November, each day to reflect on one thing you are thankful for and share that!  I love the idea, years ago I did it on my other blog when I was married.  It sounded easy but it wasn’t.  Not because there isn’t plenty to be thankful for, but for the contemplation into my life, leading my thoughts down paths to remind me of where I have been, where I am now, and what may be in my future.  It can get pretty deep at times.  I encourage you to do this, it is a great exercise even if not posted publicly.

As seen on a church sign, by a  friend:

“If you woke up tomorrow with only what you had thanked God for last night, what would you have?”

DAY 1

I am thankful for my children.  Both have proven to be outstanding adults.  They make me so very proud.  Sometimes I lay awake at night praying for them, their safety, prosperity, hearts and their souls, and I find myself smiling in the dark as I think of them.  So many memories of their growing up years, so many fun times now that they are all grown up.  I am blessed to have such terrific kids!

DAY 2

Connected to day #1 is of course thankful for the almost 22 years I was married to my ex, who is more responsible than me for how they turned out.  During a good portion of their ‘formative’ years he was a stay h0me dad, and he was the champ of all Mr. Moms.  We had a clean house, great meals, and my kids were safe and sound with the only other person who could begin to love them as much as I do.  There were bad times, certainly, and I am 50% to blame for the failing of said marriage, but that man loves those kids and without him influencing them and guiding them there is no telling how they would have turned out.  And despite the 10% bad times (his words), I have extremely wonderful memories of the 90% that was good to great.

Day 3

I am very thankful for new beginnings.  Everything that ends in our life opens up space and opportunity for something new to begin.  It is never easy when something or someone we love and enjoy comes to an end, but often it simply paved the way for something better.  So, one new beginning I am thankful for this year, my current jobs.

When I left corporate America due to down sizing, I never imagined myself doing anything outside of administrative work.  My next two positions were office manger for companies, and one part time office manager spot with a 3rd.  The first was a seasonal job with a paint company, and when the late Autumn hit that job ended.  Within a day, thanks to spreading the word through social networking, I had another job as office manager for a heating and air company.  Unfortunately the economy wasn’t kind to them, a start up company, and I found myself jobless again.  While spreading the word again, my boss from the company I had worked for all those 26 years, suggested I consider something outside of administrative as those jobs were so few and far between.  I thought about it, and I knew he was right, I needed to look into something else.  The part time job was sporadic and so I put my thinking cap on and brain stormed with my mom about other skills I possessed.  That was how I ended up doing daycare at home.

Daycare is one tough job.  Sure, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but seriously nothing really can prepare you for those days when everyone is whiny, has a dirty diaper on, a runny nose, is hungry.  I thought I’d have  time to blog, read etc.  Little did I know what the days would be like!  That is another blog but I’m so busy I rarely get time to do more than post via my cell phone some days.  I do enjoy this job though, one of the best I have had.

Avon has allowed me to tap into my marketing skills and it is flat out FUN!  It isn’t easy but at the same time it isn’t stressful like managing offices could be.  Customer service is a strength too, and when it comes to business I am organized and can get the job done.  I love Avon most of all the jobs I’ve had and now that my business is growing it is getting to be more enjoyable and exciting.

So on an employment front, I’m very thankful for the opportunities of the past that put me where I am today and thankful I am enjoying a whole new way of earning a living!