Marvi Marti

And Now A Word About My Stalker…

Marvi Marti — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:20:10 +0000

Yes, I have a stalker. I feel pretty special about that. Actually I have several of them that wander over here to see what I’m doing, but this one in particular is serious bunny boiler material. Her target is actually my daughter.

I would normally ignore this person, as from what I can tell she is a narcissistic psycho. They NEED attention and usually get it from attacking others. That gets a reaction and makes them feel important. If you ever saw the movie, Fatal Attraction, this chick is Alex Forrest played by Glenn Close. This is NOT a compliment. The leading lady stalks the man and his family, she is insane and also insanely jealous of the wife. In this case, our bunny boiler is insanely jealous of my daughter.

See, there was this very nice guy, or so we thought, that told my daughter he was not involved with anyone. He sort of forgot to mention that he was in a relationship, at least the bunny boiler thought she was in one with him, but according to him it was over. My daughter started seeing him and things got pretty intense pretty fast. Then my daughter discovers that well it might not be over between hunky monkey and the psycho. Daughter was done with it at that point, got her heart broken but she, like her mother, cannot stand liars. They can never be trusted and she will never trust hunky monkey again. It’s over and done. Bunny boiler, well she went all psycho bitch from hell on the monkey man, and then turned her wrath on my baby girl. Sorry, sweet, ugly little monster, but it isn’t her fault that he lied, not just to her but to you. You were both dicked over by the same piece of crap guy, it isn’t her fault or yours. It’s HIS.

The fact is, this psycho crazy thing cannot stand that her man strayed (he still holds to the story that they were done) to my daughter. What is not to stray too after all. My daughter is adorable, beautiful, intelligent, caring, sexy…and flat out amazing. Pretty much every man that gets to know her falls in love with her, because of her heart. She is amazing and I’m not saying that as a biased mother. I know many of the male friends she has, and female and everyone that ever meets her just adores her. Except those that get jealous of her magnetic personality and above average good looks. That would be psycho bunny boiler. Her ridiculous jealousy is frankly quite unbecoming on her. Ugly personalities are like that.

She, the bunny boiler, stalks my Twitter account now, periodically doing @marvimarti with unkind things like saying my daughter is a whore. At first I found it amusing and would in turn look at her’s, and leave a remark back at her just to stir the pot a bit. Other than discovering GetGlue thanks to her, I was quickly bored to death with her constant whining about things like the people of our great township and her school. Really, if it’s so bad why do you attend? She texts and has friends text and call my daughter to harass her. I’m thinking it might be time for electronic harassment charges. Now it would seem she also stalks my blogs.

Today, a comment appeared on a youtube video that is on one of my recent blogs. It was a rather unkind remark about my daughter. When one is going to do stuff like that, they really should remove identifying information from their youtube ID. You’ll note in the photo the ID of a myspace for said subscriber, circled in yellow:

Now compare that to the twitter ID of the bunny boiler:

Coincidence? I think not. Now mind you, the comment was received today, on the youtube video at 1:35pm. I have ignored this childish little snot, I stopped caring about what was on her Twitter and opted to just pretend she was dead. But today, she opted to drag me into this again by posting that comment on my youtube video:

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paintsmeblue has made a comment on Christmas Night:

yuck liesls face is terrible

You can reply to this comment by visiting the comments page.

I have remained silent, even though I’ve been told she trashes my daughter to anyone that will listen (can you say obsessed? Perhaps she is just a lesbian and feels jilted because my daughter wasn’t interested in her?), I’ve heard about the texts she along with her childish friends, send my girl. Little Miss Bunny Boiler, aka: Sara Kowatch, is the one opting to continue this high school bullshit. SO today I decided to respond back. If you are going to involve me, expect me to respond at some point. This was my response:

The way I see it, if you are going to read my tweets, stalk my blog, and then leave comments that are unkind about my baby girl (again, SHE chose to go there not me), then I think we should meet! I’m quite willing to go to her.

Then this appears in my feed on Twitter:

Rest assured, Miss Shelly Hissett, I am not threatening your friend. And I am indeed acting like an adult. I did not chose to fire the shot across the bow of the ship today, your ding bat, psycho friend did. I simply responded that it might be time for a visit. She obviously cannot get enough of me if she is 1) reading my tweets and 2) reading my blogs and 3) felt the need to comment. Do you see the common denominator here my dear? YOUR bunny boiler buddy! She is obsessed with my daughter and me, follows what we do, say and leaves comments. Personally, when I have a fan like that I want to meet them!

Now, Miss Sara Kowatch, why don’t you go attempt to fascinate someone else. Stop stalking me, stop reading my tweets, reading my blogs and making unkind comments about my daughter. That or I will indeed have to assume you are lusting for her or me, or maybe you are into some kind of sick, lesbian mother-daughter fantasy of us. You must be, or you’d move on my dear and get over the fact that the dirt bag boyfriend lied to everyone and really doesn’t deserve this much energy from you.

However, I am flattered by all the stalking of my social media. You SURE you don’t me to stop by for a visit? I’ll even give you an autographed photo! It is certainly the least I can do since you spend so much time paying attention to what I do!

Remember…YOU chose to involve me by commenting on my Youtube video about my daughter. If you want to act like an adult, people will in turn treat you like one. But when you act like a snotty nosed, high school brat, and drag me into your childish little game, well I will in turn treat you in a childish manner. It seems to be your Modus Operandi, so I’m simply trying to speak your language, dear child, so you understand me.

You and your little friend have a nice day!

Grrrrrr…Soap Box Time!

Marvi Marti — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:22:17 +0000

*yanks open the closet door, pulls out the soap box and slides it into the middle of the room. Checking to be sure my shoe strings are tied so I don’t trip and fall off the darn thing, I jump up on the soap box, it is time for me to rant*

I have a bunny in my verbal cross hairs today, she calls herself the Beauty Bunny, and frankly I am of the opinion that her brain is all of about the size of a rabbits. She seems to think that Avon, Mary Kay and Estee Lauder are all “secretly paying for tests on animals in China”. First, if it’s a secret just how does she know this? PETA that’s how. No, not People for the Eating of Tasty Animals, that would be the PETA I would be a member of! A proud one. Meat is dinner especially when paired with a good side dish. But I’m digressing. This would be the folks all about ethical treatment of animals. I’m all about not being cruel in our treatment of animals, my pets are rescue only, but these people are liars and sensationalists. And if she is promoting what PETA says without checking her facts, this bunny is, in my opinion, also a liar and sensationalist. I don’t care how award winning she might be, those giving her awards should be ashamed for awarding a liar. I commented on her post (I’ll be #5) though I doubt she will post my comment because I don’t see a single one of the 4 calling her out for not posting the facts. SO, I’ll do that here.

Here is what PETA says recently about these 3 makeup companies, a quote from their website:

“When we learned that the Chinese government requires tests on animals before many cosmetics products can be marketed in China, we immediately contacted all three companies. While we understand that China is an enormous market that these companies aren’t willing to ignore, we had hoped they would take action to eliminate this requirement or push for non-animal test methods to be accepted. Mary Kay had taken some steps to work with officials in China, and at our urging, promised to continue this effort—but Avon and Estée Lauder appear to have gone along with the painful animal tests without objection.”

You can read that for yourself at PETA.ORG

Now...it is a blatant lie. Avon has not gone along with this without objection. And they are not keeping a secret that there is indeed animal testing REQUIRED BY SOME COUNTRIES for ALL cosmetics of ANY brand sold in those countries. AVON posted on a publicly accessible website for the whole world to see, Avon has addressed this:

“Some select products may be required by law in a few countries to undergo additional safety testing, which potentially includes animal testing, under the directive of a government or health agency. In these instances, Avon will first attempt to persuade the requesting authority to accept non-animal test data. When those attempts are unsuccessful, Avon must abide by local laws and submit the products for additional testing. In 2011, this affected three tenths of one percent of Avon’s products. “(emphasis mine)

Avon marketed 9000 products in 2011 to over 100 countries. Of those 9000 products, 0.3% were required by law in other countries to be tested by animal. Do the math, that is 27 of 9000 products that Avon could not persuade the authorities of those countries to accept non-animal test data. Is it 27 too many? Of course it is! But Avon is still actively, despite what PETA and bunny britches would have you believe, trying to get around that for those remaining 27.

Here is the Avon side of the story, I am copying and pasting it, but please go read it yourself and know the truth! By the way, take note, my breast cancer research support pals, that Avon has raised over $740 million toward the cause and DOES NOT FUND MEDICAL RESEARCH UTILIZING ANIMALS. If they won’t do it to save human lives, do you really think they’d secretly do it to test makeup???

**~*~**

Avon Products, Inc. & Consumer Safety: Commitment to Science…Respect for Animal Welfare

Click here for a pdf of this statement.

The safety of our consumers is of primary concern to Avon. We are committed to selling only safe products, using only safe ingredients in our cosmetics products and complying with applicable regulations in the more than 100 countries in which Avon products are sold. Within this commitment, we also have a deep respect for animal welfare.

In June 1989 Avon announced a permanent end to animal testing of our products, including testing done in outside laboratories. Avon was the first major cosmetic company in the world to end animal testing.
For more than 20 years Avon has independently substantiated the safety of its products without animal testing.
Avon does not conduct nor request animal testing in order to substantiate the safety or efficacy of any of its products or raw ingredients.
Our approach to safety evaluation utilizes data from computational modeling, in vitro (test tube/cell culture) evaluation and clinical tests on human volunteers, as well as utilization of pre-existing data.
Some select products may be required by law in a few countries to undergo additional safety testing, which potentially includes animal testing, under the directive of a government or health agency. In these instances, Avon will first attempt to persuade the requesting authority to accept non-animal test data. When those attempts are unsuccessful, Avon must abide by local laws and submit the products for additional testing. In 2011, this affected three tenths of one percent of Avon’s products.
Avon has been active in the development, implementation and acceptance of alternative test methods since the 1980′s, working to identify and develop new testing alternatives with other cosmetic companies and with external organizations. Avon’s Vice President, Product Safety & Integrity serves on the Scientific Advisory Panel of The Institute of In Vitro Sciences, Inc., a non-profit research and testing organization dedicated to the advancement of in vitro (non-animal) methods worldwide. Recently Avon became a Founding Sponsor of the American Society for Cellular Computational Toxicology. Similarly, Avon continues to support the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) in the UK, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at Johns Hopkins University in the US, and the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing.
Our efforts were recognized as far back as 1993 at the World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences: Education, Research and Testing. Also in 1993, Avon was presented with a Recognition Award from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing in the US for our dedication to the principles of the 3 R’s (refinement, reduction, replacement) and the use of alternative tests for safety evaluation.
Reflecting the same commitment to animal welfare, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade does not fund medical research utilizing animals. Through 2011, the Avon Crusade raised more than $740 million for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.

Click here for a pdf of Q&A below.

Avon Products, Inc. and PETA: A Shared Commitment to Animal Welfare Q & A

1. I thought Avon doesn’t conduct animal testing. Why has PETA put Avon’s name on the list of companies that do test on animals?

Avon’s commitment not to test on animals is the same as it has been for over twenty years – Avon neither conducts nor requests animal testing. Nothing has changed, and we continue to be in communication with PETA on the issue. Avon does business in over 100 countries, and some select products may be required by law in a few countries to undergo additional safety testing, which potentially includes animal testing, under the directive of a government or health agency. In these instances, Avon will first attempt to persuade the requesting authority to accept non-animal test data. When those attempts are unsuccessful, Avon must abide by local laws and submit the products for additional testing. This is not part of Avon’s product safety testing process.

2. How many of your products are tested on animals?

In 2011, Avon offered approximately 9,000 products in over 100 countries, and in that year less than 0.3% of these products were tested on animals under the directives of the law in a few countries. Our goal is to get that number to zero. It is important to reinforce that Avon independently substantiates the safety of its products without any animal testing. The company’s entire global product safety program is built on the foundational principle of opposition to unnecessary animal testing and respect for animal welfare. In 1989 Avon was the first major cosmetic company in the world to establish a policy of no animal testing. The only reason any product is tested on animals is because some governments have yet to accept the use of scientifically valid alternative approaches to safety assessment.

3. If these legal requirements in a few countries are not new, and Avon’s position has not changed, why is the issue being raised now, and why has Avon moved from the PETA list of companies that do NOT test on animals to the list of companies that do?

Although we cannot speak for PETA, we believe they have decided to become more aggressive advocates in the global arena with a focus on changing laws in the handful of countries which require animal testing for some cosmetics. Avon and PETA share a common objective to persuade governments to accept scientifically valid alternative approaches to animal testing. Avon is working together with other global beauty companies to gain acceptance of alternatives to animal testing throughout the world. Avon is just one of a long list of global beauty companies that face the same issue. The only companies that do not are those which market their products in a limited number of countries.

4. What is Avon doing globally to address this issue?

Avon has worked to advance alternatives to animal testing for decades. Avon’s Vice President of Product Safety & Integrity serves on the Scientific Advisory Panel of The Institute of the In Vitro Sciences, Inc., a non-profit research and testing organization dedicated to the advancement of in vitro (non-animal) methods worldwide (PETA is also a supporter of IIVS). Similarly, Avon continues to support research into alternatives conducted by the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) in the United Kingdom, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at Johns Hopkins University in the US, and the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing. Recently, Avon became a Founding Sponsor of the American Society for Cellular Computational Toxicology. In addition, Avon works closely on this issue with other companies in the Beauty industry through the US Personal Care Products Council.

5. Can you specify which countries require animal testing?

As an individual corporation doing business responsibly around the world, Avon does not believe it is in a position to call out specific countries and governments. However, this information is available through various animal rights organizations such as the Humane Society and PETA.

6. I am opposed to animal testing. Can I still use Avon products with confidence?

You can be confident that Avon shares your commitment. Opposition to animal testing and respect for animal welfare has been a cornerstone of Avon’s product safety program since 1989. Avon does not conduct nor request animal testing, and Avon continues to actively work to advance the use of alternatives to animal testing worldwide. As noted, in 2011 less than 0.3% of our approximately 9,000 products were impacted by the government product testing requirements in a few markets, which is not part of Avon’s safety substantiation process. Our shared goal is to permanently end all requirements for animal testing wherever they exist, around the world.
For inquiries about the safety of Avon products, please contact avoncr@avon.com.

**~*~**

And now, for a little humor to lighten the mood because being marvelous I like to put my mood back up on the happy rails. DISCLAIMER: It is NOT meant to offend my vegan friends, if you opt not to eat meat for ANY reason that is your right and I fully support you on that. It’s funny, laugh about it, like I, a natural blond, laugh at a good blond joke. And my Catholic friends laugh at the definition of LENT: Separation of church and steak.

What I DO NOT support is when PETA comes blowing into town and tries to strong arm a local fuel company. This company sells fuels, including gas for our gas grills. PETA threatened this company that if they did not stop selling the gas for those of us that like to grill, because they know we are grilling up meat, that PETA would picket them. This company purchased these shirts for their employees to wear that day. They are for sale at the company. I applaud them for not backing down.

On Your Mark, Get Set….Naaaa…

Marvi Marti — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:14:15 +0000

Coming out of the ‘crazy time’, per the book I was reading and have referenced in previous blogs, I thought perhaps I was finally ready to try out relationships again. By that I mean relationships now that I’ve gotten past the rebound, and the nice-guy-darn-he-is-married, and last but not least, to borrow the Super Hero’s term, the bat-shit crazy (ie: The Count) guy. Having gone through my various stages of grief of my marriage, the wacked out crazy time stuff, and the relationships mentioned, I thought MAYBE I was ready to find Mr. Right.

I was Miss WRONG!

It isn’t that I don’t want to be special to someone, or have someone special in my life. But I’m not craving that either. It certainly sounds nice and all, but….

Getting hurt does not concern me, pain is a part of life. You cannot love and expect to go without being hurt. I’ve had my heart broken plenty of times, some just cracks, and obviously the ex husband completely shattered it. But I am healed and I know that it is likely that it will be broken again. That doesn’t ‘scare’ me. What I am fearful of is hurting someone else. I do not ever want to cause that kind of pain to another human being. I hurt just to breathe when my marriage ended. Thinking hurt, being asleep hurt, being awake hurt. I was half out of my mind in pain I never imagined was possible. It was like a death, I went through the various stages…but this is worse. It is far worse to see him with someone else when he was the center of my world. I will never stop loving him. No, it is not the same by any stretch, but it is still more painful than I could ever have imagined. When I said “I do” I meant for life, forever, and nothing could have prepared me for the raw pain of being rejected by him. Yes, I did indeed dance on the edge of insanity. I see that now. I stopped crying long ago, and can now, because I do love him, really FEEL happy for him that he has found someone to make him happy. But knowing what that did to me makes it hard for me to imagine allowing myself to ever love or be loved like that. I cannot begin to fathom hurting another person that way.

Superhero, Mr. Wonderful, and The Count all were a huge part of the healing process that I now can see as I look back. But they were not my forever love. The first two, once they moved through their own crazy times, well I’d not turn them down, The Count is the only one I know for sure is a no-way-in-hell potential. He is potential hell on this earth, and a totally dodged bullet that I was too stupid and blind to see, but the other two, well the timing was just all wrong. Who knows what another place in time might have been? I remain friends with them both and would have their back without a second thought.

But back to the topic at hand…I thought I was ready to go forward. Even had a potential, let’s see where it goes and just let it unfold type relationship. But I cannot bring myself to go there.

I want to stand completely on my own. Be my own person, financially, mentally and emotionally independent. I want to make all of my own decisions, come and go as I please, answer to no one but myself. I want to pursue my faith and get back where I belong there, I want to go places, see things, do things that I want to do. I don’t want to worry if it is going to upset someone else if I jump on the back of Mr. Wonderful’s bike and we head out for a few hours to let the stress blow off. Or have to cover if I chose to go spend the night sleeping next to someone that makes me feel safe and secure, who holds me and touches me like I’m special to them. I don’t want anyone to even ask where I was, or who I was with, or where I am going or why.

I don’t want to hide from love or run from it, I don’t want to look for it. I don’t want to be IN it.

I just, for once in my life, want to be ME. No more (fill in the blank) and Marti. I just want to be MARTI. Marvelous, crazy, quirky, fun, happy 99.9% of the time, maybe once in a blue moon sad, sometimes a few pounds over my ideal weight, sometimes a few more than that but never with anyone’s critique, spontaneous, predictable, perfectly imperfect ME. The only engine running on this race track, the only act in this circus, being MINE. No risking anyone’s heart including my own. Just LIVING.

My Life Is One Big Slumper Party

Marvi Marti — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:22:04 +0000

MY life is one big slumber party. I just realized that laying in bed this morning debating getting up. I really have a great, FUN life!

For years, while married, I was just a tiny bit envious at times of my baby sister. I had a great life, good marriage, fantastic husband, great kids, nice house with a pool and hot tub, nice cars etc. We weren’t rich but we certainly were comfortably blessed. I had a great job, good medical insurance, and my husband could fix just about anything that broke or needed tweaking. There was a very sweet contentment in my life. Don’t get me wrong, it was not perfect by any stretch but I honestly had little I could complain about. At the top of the hill, when all was ‘good’ or so I thought, my sister had one thing I did not have….mom. She and her two girls were living with my mom.

I think I can safely speak for all of my siblings when I say we are close to my mom. For myself, I talked to her just about every day if not on the phone, via text. I was raised by a mom that had a father who taught the value of family. My gramps was the best in my opinion. He taught all of us growing up that no matter what we lost in life, if we had our family we had everything. I would learn that lesson many times over starting in my teens. Family doesn’t have to agree with you, in fact they’ll often be the first to tell you what an idiot you are, but they still stand behind you and love you through support. Or they should. If they don’t, I honestly think you might want to trade them in for a new one. Too bad you cannot do that!

Long ago it used to be quite the norm as the kids came along, grandma and grandpa were close by, if not living with one of their children, taking care of the little ones. Families farmed, or held jobs ‘in town’. There were no daycare centers and moms worked at home. And it was work! Everything was done by hand in the old days. Grandma and grandpa helped out and families were much closer geographically as a means of survival. Kids KNEW they grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Sure, many will make remarks now about “Oh, he is 53 and lives with his mother…” and I think, yeah? So??? Maybe it is necessary for both to have a comfortable life, or maybe he is a mama’s boy and a loser. Whatever the story he is fortunate enough to still share life with his mom. And that is how I viewed my sister. She had a fantastic job, made great money, and she got to share life with my mom. I know, it was not all coming up roses, the girls were teens and 4 females under one roof spells DRAMA anyway you slice it.

2 years ago I was spending every available moment over at my mom’s house with her, my sister and my nieces. I was about a month into accepting that my husband wanted out off the marriage and the plan was for me to move out. In hind sight there are a few things I would change about my divorce agreement…like since he was getting ALL the toys, the house, pool, hot tub etc, that he took ALL of the debt. I had no way to see down the road that I’d end up laid off from another job and the other company would go under, and that finding work in this economy is damn near impossible. My credit is shot to hell because I just cannot quite make ends meet at the moment, having lost 3 of the little ones I was babysitting because I don’t (and won’t) take vouchers. It sucks. But I’m hijacking my blog, back on topic. The Divas had determined I was moving in with them, and the hunt had transpired for a house suited to all 5 of us. Who knew the second house we looked at was our dream house. It was one of those that, had I gotten bored and went a looked at houses while happily married, I would have wanted a reason to own it, it is such a cool house. So, 2 years ago today we were all sitting around mom’s table on a Sunday afternoon just dreaming that all the pieces were going to fall into place and we’d get the house. And we did!

Fast forward and welcome to our ongoing slumber party.

No one that heard what our plan was thought this had a chance of working out, but inside me somewhere I knew it would. Maybe it was the one night 2 years ago when I left my mom’s to go home (I had to text them when I was in safely), and when I was crawling into my bed, the big one I had shared with hubby that I now slept in alone, I was sad and lonely until I received a text from my youngest niece. It said, “Don’t lose your green card, we want you back!”. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time. I felt wanted at a time when I was feeling humiliated, rejected and worthless.

The past 2 years in this house (our 2 year anniversary of the official establishment of the Diva Den/Estrogen Central is 5/1/12) has been FUN! Really, most days we laugh a LOT. Laughter is healing, trust me on this. I noticed there is an over all JOY in this house. My daughter loves coming over to visit because she laughs til her mascara is running down her cheeks. Drama happens, but very, very rarely. I’ve lost my temper, sure, 3 times. Once with my sister, twice with my niece. That tells me something when I know the number of times. It may sound like a lot until you break it down, that in 630 days, give or take a few, I’ve lost my cool 3 times. The two nieces are good for driving each other bonkers and some drama, but not often and usually not much at all. Mostly, this house, this HOME, is filled with JOY. We all love the house itself, it just is awesome. And we all enjoy each other.

We stay up late some nights, like little girls at a sleep over, watching TV, talking and laughing. We enjoy mornings on the weekends of extended coffee drinking with bed-head and jammies. We support each other, hug each other, eat meals together, break into song and dance together, tease each other, and laugh together, a LOT. We help each other, cry together over chick flick moments on TV, encourage or discourage each other as needed, and help each other out when money is tight. A need was there that turned out to be the greatest of blessings. When I was shattered emotionally and mentally at the end of the marriage, I was wrapped in the protective love of the women in my family. I was able to heal with on site support. We’re the true “girls next door” and we’re one big ole laughing, good time!

And the best part is that I get to live with my mom. I’m not embarrassed to say it at all, I am about to turn 49 in 88 or so days, and I live with my mom. And my sister and one of my nieces (one has since moved out on her own to be closer to school and work). I get to tap into her wisdom, live, laugh and love with her, and enjoy moments that I’d have never had if my life and not taken the turn it did 2 years ago. I’m not content, I AM HAPPY!

Here is a little treat, what happened in the middle of playing Farkle on Christmas night at the Diva Den. Featuring my sister, nieces, and my daughter. It is pretty typical of the fun we have on a daily basis (mostly without the beer). A song comes on and suddenly everyone has a spontaneous sing along. Though we don’t often need the song on the radio, we just kinda break into song because our life is like a very bizarre musical some days:

Late Night Flight Of The Nose Moth

Marvi Marti — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:06:48 +0000

Last night I put my sorry butt in bed at 9:30, loaded for bear on Mucinex DM and 2 beers. Might as well make those strange, drug induced dreams more fun, right? In addition to this cold that has come back. Again. For. The. Fourth. Time. I am also in the midst of menopausal like crap of keeping vampire hours, hot flashes and night sweats. Picture this: me, in a long sleeved white t-shirt, red fleece jammie bottoms, lime green sport bra, no makeup because I use a skin care regimen and wash my face nightly, nose running off my face, lip balm on the end of my nose to aid in easing raw spots from blowing my snot filled nasal passages clear, sweating from the INSIDE out now and then and I know, I’m one sexy, hot mess right now! The final touch of this “I’m sexy and I know it” visual, a nasal strip to help open those nostrils up to function as they are meant too…for BREATHING! No hating ladies, I know you are jealous of this seductive, sassy look, and men are holding themselves back. What can I say, when ya got it, flaunt it baby! (Admit it, all you boys are dying to curl up next to this hot mama)

I usually turn on my electric blanket before bed to warm up the sheets. Last night I was actually cold when I went to bed so I did just that, but on low so as to only keep the chill out. I left the comforter over the blanket, hopefully not some fire hazard as I think I have enough excitement in my life to dodge without adding to it my big, lumpy, lily white ass hanging over a firefighters shoulder, being carried down a ladder from my bedroom window, those sexy jammie pants half burned off of me. I turned on the Sound Scapes channel on Music Choice on my television. This provides a bit of ambient light to the room, and some soft, yet sometimes strange, music to lull me to sleep. My cat seems to come under the spell of the music, as she is curled up, head upside-down on the end of the bed. She kinda looked like road kill, contorted position, eyes partially open and all. That probably should have served as a warning but under this spicy, auburn do there are natural blond roots.

I slipped into the hug of my sheets, blanket and comforter, turned off the light and wrapped around my teddy bear. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep I started coughing, my throat irritated from the crap running out of my head. SIGH…damn water bottle is empty. I crawl back out, head to the kitchen and fill my water bottle back up then go back and repeat the entry mode to the bed. Thankfully teddy bears never complain, they are the perfect man to sleep with, girls. No rude pokes in the back when you snore, no comments about your morning breath because they cannot smell it. And they never wake up wanting a little ‘some some’ when you look like the Swamp Thing and have the muck mouth to confirm your origins. Mine tells me I look gorgeous no matter what I might resemble.

Any strange dreams I had during the night were not noted so I don’t remember them other than knowing they were odd. I was not about to take time to jot a note in my phone memo pad and risk waking up just enough to not go back to sleep. I drifted back out to la-la land to the chanting in a piece playing on the music channel that I vaguely recall thinking it sounded something like a witch doctor summoning demonic apparitions in the jungle but that is as much as I retained. And that very well could have been my cat stretching, yawning a meow and repositioning on the bed, hard to be certain.

I thought for sure I would get a great night of rest, but my vampire hours returned at 3:03am.

Vampires wake slowly from their slumber, trust me I know this as I am, it would seem, of that species. I’m a hybrid, however, I don’t have fangs and I don’t need blood to survive, but I do have the up all night and way pale complexion of the dead features. If you’ve ever read a truly good book about them (try Christine Feehan’s Dark Series) you know that vampires sleep the sleep of the dead. Ask my ex-husband, he’ll tell you I sleep like a corpse. You can stick your foot in my back and shove me out of the bed to the floor and I will go right on snoring. Just like a Carpathian gone to ground, no heart beating, lifeless and all. It’s a special super power of mine.

Shortly after 3am, just like life beginning to flow through the body of the fanged ones, from deep within my body it started, heat like the life force of blood, from my core it oozed outward toward the surface. I woke very slowly, as those that sleep like the dead do, vaguely aware of the chanting again in another song (I really need to switch stations, those voices and the chimes gotta go). Before I even opened my eyes I became aware of the cause of my arousal from my nightmares in Dawn of The Living Dead Land, night sweats. Beads of moisture were starting to form around the backs of my knees, neck, in the bend of my elbows and along my hair line. And like the blood suckers looking for a dark cave at sunrise, I sought after the cold spots in my bed where my now over heated body had not been laying. I flipped over the pillows going for the cool, other side against my face. Beads of sweat started running between my boobs, (there is that sexy stuff again, damn I’m something) and down the small of my back. I pushed the covers all off, laying there in the t-shirt and bra, hair growing damp and cursing under my breath at the cat who meowed protest at the covers landing on her.

It was about this time I became aware of the Nose Moth.

You will recall that I went to bed wearing a nasal strip to assist my ability to breathe. Under normal circumstances, trying to remove one of these contraptions will result in the first layer of skin going with it. However it would seem that cement they call adhesive is no match for the perspiration from night sweats. Little by little I could feel the strip releasing itself from the sides of my nose, almost in an identical pattern on either side. It kinda tickled which made me wiggle my nose a bit, only helping to free the ends. Suddenly it ‘popped’ and the little strips, like delicate wings carried it upward, with a majestic arc into the air it flew, on it’s first and last flight, the nose moth. OH the beauty of what happens in the dark of night. Okay so it more or less plopped off my nose and onto the black pillow case next to my face, but it sounds so much better the other way, don’t you think? After that it did in fact fly, because I flicked it off the pillow and onto the vanity, causing the cat to get up and go investigate to see what had just landed there and if it was edible.

I gave up sleeping at that point, wandered to the bathroom and back, then checked Facebook, Twitter and a few other social media addictions before I settled in to watch the clock tick off the next few hours, with damp, matted hair, damp t-shirt and bra, and now clogged nasal passages.

I’m sexy and I know it! jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle yeah! (FYI fat doesn’t wiggle, it jiggles)

Meet Me On Monday

Marvi Marti — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:24:44 +0000

It’s been several weeks since Java at Never Growing Old posted a set of Meet Me on Monday questions, but we’ve been missing it – so Acting Balanced decided to resurrect the idea and starting today she’ll be posting 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers!

Here are today’s Questions:

1. Are you planning anything for Valentine’s Day?

2. What song automatically popped into your head when you saw this question?

3. What did you have for breakfast today?

4. Where do you keep your keys?

5. Who was your favorite teacher from when you were in school?

Answer them on your blog and link up!

1. Are you planning anything for Valentine’s Day?

That would be a huge NO! I jokingly refer to it as ‘Single Awareness Day’ and think it is a nothing but a big scam by greeting card and candy companies. It is also a guilt driven reason to show some token of affection, which I wrote about last year in my post, My Favorite Valentine Tradition. I don’t want, need or even appreciate anything on that day from anyone professing to love me. Do it another day when the rest of the world isn’t, because you thought of me and wanted me to know you love me. If you do it for Valentine’s Day, then I cannot help but believe that is the reason you did anything, out of fear of being a dolt and not because there is a true desire to show affection.

2. What song automatically popped into your head when you saw this question?

Seriously, some dumb song I cannot even sing more than a line or two of because that is all I know, from a goofy animated, singing thing we found at Walgreen’s. I was out shopping with my sister and I happened upon it. I suggested my brother needed this at the firehouse to amuse himself and the other firefighters. Here is a small video clip of the insanity that I took before we dropped it off to him at work yesterday.

3. What did you have for breakfast today?

Nothing yet other than coffee. It is only 7:08 and I rarely eat at this hour. I need to be up a few hours before I can handle food.

4. Where do you keep your keys?

I keep my keys in my car. I park in the garage so I see no reason to take them out of the car or then I never seem to be able to locate them!

5. Who was your favorite teacher from when you were in school?

Mr. Peter from English I and later Creative Writing when in high school. He always challenged us and he and I would go head to head now and then. I actually learned much about myself as a person thanks to him those two classes.

My Vampire Nights

Marvi Marti — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:28:54 +0000

My sister-in-law, Trina, refers to those nights when you just cannot sleep as a vampire night. Menopause seems to bring with it an entire phase of nights of the living dead. It is just stupid ridiculous. Lately, that is right where I am too, awake far more than I am asleep and getting paler by the day (thanks to not tanning for several years now), and with this short crop of spiky, auburn hair I’m looking the part too.

If that isn’t bad enough I’m starting on round 4 of some sort of cold type bug that leaves one coughing, sneezing like it’s my job and I’m working on a bonus check, and just feeling run down. This not sleeping crap along with it makes for a tired Marvelous one. The only thing that really works over night is Mucinex DM, which when I do sleep gives me off the wall nightmares. Like last night’s, for example. In one I was married again, to the ex-husband. Not sure who that would be the true nightmare for, since he released me to pursue a better opportunity. He DID repair my car in the dream, but I won’t go any further down that road. I also had a wretched nightmare that I was married to The Count. Being married to him is, quite frankly, more frightening to ponder than being again bound to the ex husband. I’d far rather be back with my ex, if forced to chose, than the hell that would be in living as the wife of that control freak. And in the dream, or rather vivid nightmare, he was indeed a living hell. I woke from my sleep both times wishing that this medication that is so good at hitting my symptoms didn’t come with such a crappy side effect.

I slept, over all, 10 hours last night. I did wake up a few times but was able to drift back to scary dream land fairly easily. Exhaustion will do that, though hopefully it simply means my latest vampire phase is over for now. Meanwhile I have again purchased a ticket on the Dreams From The Darkness Express for tonight. Lucky me. I should have interesting tales to share that my subconscious weaves through the night.

This all brought back to me the fact that I had stumbled on an old Facebook ID I used for playing Vampire Wars. I needed more team members but didn’t want to let every Tom, Dick and Harry on my friend’s list so I had a bogus ID just for games. The only ‘blond’ avatar option in the game had long blond hair. I had short, spiky blond so I didn’t care for it and made my character the auburn look. Now? That fits me perfectly as the hair looks a good deal like mine. How dang appropriate! So, as I head off on the nightmare train, hopefully I will find restful sleep and not be back in my vampire phase tonight. But just in case, here is the look I’d be sporting if I were among the ‘undead’ of the night.

Fairy Who?

Marvi Marti — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:49:41 +0000

This has been a really busy, trying week.

First – I’ve changed the 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks to simply Reasons Being Single Rocks. Not that I cannot come up with 365, there are 365 days in a year, 366 this year, and every day I have a reason why I am glad I am single! But I don’t always have time to post so it’s better to be able to not keep it to a post a day. But don’t worry I have plenty more coming that will likely exceed 365 as time goes on.

That book, Crazy Time, is awesome! The more I read the more I see how normal I was throughout the entire process, and how I’m not quite at the end of things just yet. It has been such a help and supportive to me in my decision to not date this whole year.

My car is…well I don’t know to be honest. At the moment a choice selection of obscenities comes to mind but that won’t fix anything. And I’m no mechanic. Seeings as how the ex husband released me to move on to another opportunity*, and I have no desire any longer to pursue another opportunity, my car is going to be sitting there for a bit. I have no idea what is wrong with it and don’t really have time or the funds at the moment to mess with it.

The auto issue IS a sticky one, as I was about to start working part time an evening or two a week for a friend in their office catching up their filing that is well very behind and some other miscellaneous office work. As I lack the transportation to get there…yeah. FAIL! However this simply means the Lord has something better in mind for me so I’m thanking Him now for that lost opportunity and waiting on what He has in store.

Meanwhile I’m waiting for my fangs to grow. I am having such a difficult time with sleep lately. I go to bed exhausted, sleep deep, then wake up a few hours later, in the middle of the night, and cannot get back to sleep. When I finally do drift off I’m not snoozing deeply and wake up over and over every 20 minutes or so. My sister-in-law, Trina, refers to these as our vampire phases. If I’m going to go through a vampire phase, then I want my fangs and the very cool, sexy black clothing. It’s only fair.

My “One Word” for this year is JOY. Finding JOY in all things, God first and every person and situation in my life. Believe it or not, I just kinda rolled with it when the car became an issue. WOW, really? Okay whatever, next! I amaze even myself at the way I am rolling with the punches.

I signed a new recruit today, that excited me a great deal. My goal is to have 100 in my first generation of my down-line by the end of this year. I currently have 14 with this recruit. 28 total in my 3 generations but I want 100 in the first. It means I have a lot of work to do. I need to sign 5 recruits per campaign between now and the end of the year, and really more than that as some will drop off. SO if you are thinking about becoming an Avon representative, now is a great time to contact me! Even if you are not in the area, I can still sign you up on my team and train you no matter where you are, thanks to technology!

My son is getting married in just over a month, I still have to find a dress (don’t panic anyone, can you say resale shop or rental? yes I mean that). I have to fund half of the rehearsal dinner too, a little more difficult as I have no sugar daddy but I’ll manage it. Meanwhile feel free to help a sister out and buy some Avon! Seriously it does help me a lot. If you are local (within the 275 loop) I’ll gladly deliver! Others enjoy the opportunity to shop with me online! Your business is very much appreciated.

Has anyone seen my Fairy God-Mother? She is obviously incompetent and I have her pink slip waiting for her.

Guess if I want something done right, I’m going to have to slap on my tiara and wings and go do it myself!

*I must thank my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, for that description of divorce, it cracks me up and sounds so much nicer than saying that the *&^%$# booted this princess from the castle.

Why Not YOU?

Marvi Marti — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:44:11 +0000

We all need it, mad money. That little bit of extra cash that allows us to buy lunch out at the office now and then, go out for a drink at happy hour, or to a matinee on the weekend. Maybe you need it to take the kids to dinner or an indoor water park on a snowy day. Or maybe you need more than that, you need a part time income to supplement your family budget. After all, many workers haven’t seen a raise in a few years and things are getting tighter by the day. Maybe, like me, you lost your job when the economy tanked and need a full time income.

Why not try Avon? Why NOT you, and why NOT today?

Save money on childcare by being HOME while you work to build your own business. Set you own hours, be your own boss.

Alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics were the things during the depression that INCREASED in sales. In every bad economy those things are on the rise. We gals can live with being poor, but we’re going to look darn good doing it! And when money is tight people change their spending habits. Avon offers quality products in cosmetics, jewelry, fashion, every day, bath and body and more, that are top of the line. They can do everything those expensive department store brands can for a considerable savings. Don’t be mistaken, higher price does not mean better quality. And with Avon, your customers have the convenience of shopping from their seat and not their feet.

You earn 20-50% commission based on your sales, so you can make as little or as much as you want. Even if you just purchased your family’s needs (bath products, hair care, cosmetics, lotions/moisturizers) you’d have enough in sales to get quite a commission! Our sales are always outstanding in the brochures, and as an independent sales representative for Avon you would be getting those great sale items at an additional 20-50% savings!

$10-$20 to start, and that is ALL you need. That small fee ($10 if you are local to me, $20 if you sign up online) gets you everything you need to launch your very own at-home business. There is a wonderful amount of online training (free!) and you would be in my downline so you would get lots of help and training from me as well. I use Skype to connect with my out of the area team members and for them to be able to attend the team meetings every 2 weeks! With Avon you truly are in business for yourself, but not by yourself.

I am always looking for ambitious men and women (some of our top sellers are men!) to join my team. Why not you, why NOT today?

To join my team and start working for yourself, just go to START AVON and sign up with the code: MARTIGARDNER

You will receive everything you need in 5-7 days to begin working for yourself.

Skeptical? I’ve met those women making 6 figures in Avon. Just check out Barb Avery, her and her husband got there in less than 2 years! Watch her video on her site, “Our Story” for how they did it. YOU can do this too!

Dermatologist Recommends Avon Product On Dr. Oz

Marvi Marti — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:49:50 +0000

Dr. Oz had on a dermatologist Thursday that recommended one of Avon’s products, Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel for fighting wrinkles! She said it is similar to what she uses in her office but obviously far more affordable through your Avon representative.

She most likely was unaware, since these shows are filmed in advance, of the new products we have now on the market, Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid! The peel is once a week to twice a week, but the Resurfacing Fluid is a daily (evening and morning) product.

Nothing beats a dermatologist recommending the product, right? I’ve linked the video so you can see it for yourself. NOTE: Anew Eye Genics is coming out in campaign 7, that will do amazing things for your eyes. Also, our Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro is an inexpensive alternative to a surgical eye lift and really works! I use it daily AM/PM along with the Genics Eye Cream.

Shop my online store for these products and more, and remember orders ship FREE if they are $30 or more! Be sure to register your email address to receive sales notices and specials that are sometimes only available to our email subscribers!!!

Video Link To The Dr. Oz feature of Avon Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel

Here is a review by a makeup artist of this product as well!