Christmas is coming.....

I made an observation this week. The world of retail begins the holiday season so early when it comes to Christmas week, most people are actually sick of Christmas. I know I am. I mean seriously is it too much to ask to respect the turkey and the pilgrams and just wait? At work we did all of our Christmas festivities a week before Christmas week. So cookie baking happened then, and I made sure all my cards were done before then. Our annual Christmas party was this weekend, so...... now it's the week of Christmas and I feel like it's already happened. The anticipation isn't all that exciting. Although I am hopeful for an amazingly surprised 12 year old when he opens his Wii on Christmas morning. We spent so much on the Wii and all the stuff we need to go with it that Ron and I won't be giving each other much.

I did have an element of a little less stress when I chose not to make my Christmas cards. Other than the few I made for work, my cards were bought cards for the first time in 10 years. Instead I chose to simplify Christmas, and buy these cards.

So they went postal on Friday. Most everyone got the larger cards that I bought but some got a card with a picture Perry made just for my card. For those of you who didn't get that card here ya go.

And those of you who got this card you didn't get the picture of the fam, because it wouldn't fit. So I'll post it here so no one feels left out.

It's hard to keep everyone happy honestly. We also did our annual Santa picture with Grandpa and the Grandkids. Always a good time for all. Funny thing is we've gone to the Cincinnati Mills/Cincinnati Mall/Forest Fair Mall/Money Pit Santa for years. He used to always have a real beard and not look fake at all. Well they hired a homeless skinny guy this year, and oddly enough no one wanted to sit on that Santa's lap. I wasn't really down with sending my kid to him he completely creeped me out. So off to Bass pro's free Santa picture we went. Waited in line for 20 minutes and got our picture taken for free. As my dad eagerly aproached the Jolly fat fellow to get in the picture with the kids, my brother and I slowly turned our back and pretended such craziness is natural. We are sure his days are numbered as far as the kids will eventually not want to carry on t his tradition so we humor him. So all I have left to is wrap, a lot of presents, and have Christmas already. I love Christmas I really do I just wish it didn't start so early, I think I'd love it even more. God Bless everyone, and have a great Christmas!

SWITCHFOOT-Hello Hurricane

Remember back in the day when I would blog about switchfoot like every other day? Well, then life got serious, and I had to act like a respectable member of society and not like a groupie, which is truly what I'd like to be. Well their new album came out a few weeks ago, and I got it on itunes the day it came out. It's super fabulous, close to as good as Beautiful Letdown, which is my all time favorite Switchfoot album, this one doesn't top that one but comes closer than any of their other albums, it's great! So their tour isn't coming even remotely close to cincy, so I stalked flickr and found.....

This, amazing pictures that makes me feel as though I was right there. Enjoy, and if the photographer is out there....thank you, thank you, thank you!

So that we'll never forget.....

Charlie Matthews Celebration of Life from Mason Vineyard Church on Vimeo.

For those I've spoken to since the service, and for those who weren't able to attend. I hope to never forget the impact it had on my life. And now those of you who never knew Charlie can now see why it's so important to never forget him.

Do Over!

This week I'd like to ask for a Do over! Not Halloween it was dandy, and it involved candy. Not sure why I just said dandy but I think it's because it rhymes with candy. "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker....." Anyone??? So Perry was a sock monster. I caught a brief glimpse of this costume at Spookeree last year and memorized it in my head, and recreated it because it's a genius idea. But before Halloween could even begin, while at work I got word that Charlie Matthews , had passed away that morning. Due to medical complications, he had been in the hospital since October 5, and days before seemed to be on the road to recovery. I was crushed. 2 Corintians 4:8 is crap. " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;" Some of it I am certain is true. Crushed.....CHECK.....hard pressed....CHECK......perplexed......CHECK CHECK.......not in despair.....WRONG....Saturday I was fine, sad, but not in despair just yet because I was working and somewhat in disbelief, Sunday in church....was when I started feeling that despair that Paul says in that verse I'm not suppose to be in. Then Monday when I read Dave Workmans blog, he said all the right words, and it was almost like he gave me permisson to be in complete despair.....thanks Dave! (honestly something needed to be released) It just seemed to get worse from there like a crazy downward spiral of overwhelming sadness. It seemed to get worse as the day of his funeral drew closer. Felt somewhat alone in my sadness as I hadn't really been connected with anyone from Alpha in over 2 years. Then I got connected, and it was as though we had never lost touch and they were experiencing the same kind of grief I was. It was so good to reconnect. And grieve with people who knew exactly how I felt. It was good to see even more Alpha peeps at the memorial service.....which was super sad.....super cleansing and was pretty much a life changing event. You could not walk away from that service and not feel like you were commissioned to change the world, and be passionate about doing it. 3 of my Alpha peeps and I were invited back to the Mason Vineyard, after the cemetary. What an honor to see what Charlie had poured his heart into over the past 6 months. And wow these people loved him and his family. They embraced us immediately. It was as though they saw some of Charlie in us, afterall we were trained leaders who served under his leadership for many years. All 4 of us were what many refer to as Alphaholics.....those who serve every session often it would be 3 sessions a year. (that's 30 weeks people) So we got the grand tour.....what a special place.....clearly inspired by all that was Charlie. As I stepped foot into the sactuary, first of all the smallest sactuary I've seen in my whole life. It seats 50 people, anymore you are violating the fire code. I've been at VCC for 22 years, when I first started one service was 200 we had 3 services, when we moved to crescentville we were at one point at like 7 or 8 services. And by the time we got to where we are now, we eventually grew to 8,000, don't check the math but I think it's fairly accurate. So I digress...basically 50 people is like a small group to us. Just a little bit before my time VCC started with as few as 50 people.

So asside from the smallness, it was actually very quaint and cozy, the first thing I noticed was the chairs. I recognized the chairs. Ok so to most these chairs are just chairs. To someone like me who thrives on the simple things.....these chairs signify way way more than just a place to


rest your rear. These chairs were at VCC when we were at Crescentville. These chairs bring back a lot of great memories. Lots of great worship, with Dave Workman as the worship leader. I once saw a women get slain in the spirit and nearly hit her head on one of these chairs (true story) me and my friend Weezer (mean Kim) were right behind her and both of us neglected to even attempt to catch her. She was fine the HG....allowed her to rest gently to the floor. These chairs represent growth and change, because they are moveable and you can always add more. Which I truely believe is going to happen at Mason Vineyard. Charlie set them up for great success.....I got a great sense of the Holy Spirit in this sactuary, and felt like he was saying "great things are going to happen here." Can't wait to see what happens. So I am "double dipping" on Sunday with some of my Alpha peeps, Charlie had prepared to do a series called "One Month to Live." I listened to the first week online at the Mason website....and well lets just say, it's going to be a good one I'm sure of it. Ok so no more crying, pretty sure I've got no more tears left...I said that before then found some more. On to the business of living people we got a world to change! Lots of people blogged about Charlies death. When my friend Michelle had mentioned Steve Fuller had visited Mason Vineyard on Sunday, he's always had a way with words, this time was no exception, very well put and keeping it real just like Charlie would have it.

My Secret...

It's really not a big deal. I was just told by someone who appeared to have a bit of authority, "please don't tell anyone." So I kept it on the "DL" till now. So Chipotle in Fairfields official grand opening isn't until friday. I saw people there eating at lunch time. So I assumed they were open, and the big celebration is on friday. So I made my plans for dinner before leaving work. Went at dinnertime. Walked in like I owned the place (trust me I'll be partial owner in no time) and was stopped by an official looking burrito dude. He asked "do you have an ivitation?". To which I said "no", so he whispered over to an official looking burrito lady....while I stand there looking like a goon. She then said "go ahead, but don't tell anyone since it's free tonight...". DO WHAT? Oh I've had my fair share of free love from them before, lost wallet, tax day, mothers day ect....but not a whole meal. Apparently you could feed the whole fam fo free since the dude in front of me did. I didn't want to be greedy so I just got my burrito and the drink. Considering I didn't get officially invited. So I got the fam's food at the other one that was only like 7 miles up the road. So there's my secret. Was it worth the wait?
Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless

Fall Fun and Blogging from the Blackberry

Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless

Testing Technology

So this is a test. Just set up to blog from my phone! We all know I sure do love me some technology. But which is easier? 140 character tweet, or an entire blog post from my blackberry? That question was answered right away since an SMS post is limited in characters and it breaks it up. So I'll try and do it as an MMS or another way, or just tweet.......

Socks.....and other Nonsense I might come up with at 1:45 am

So I had an epiphany while putting clothes in the dryer, and seeing the mountain of socks on top of my dryer. Socks should magically find their mates while spinning around in the dryer. There I said it. I mean really how many countless hours are spent matching.....(or not)....up socks? In my line of work people rarely see my socks, so if I am too lazy to find the mate sometimes I will find something that's close. Surely I am not the only one in the whole world who does this.

Those right there are my favorite socks, with my favorite shoes. One of the socks is missing, but I have a red, white a blue striped one that came in the same pack so essentially it's the same sock just diff colors. Yep I've worn them together. Oh let it out people it's not a big deal, no one cares really. And if you've always wanted to do this and have not, I'm now giving you permission. Make it happen, you'll feel liberated. So while we are on the topic of socks according to Walmart only grown ass men have a need for warm wool socks. True story. Now granted I am not a fan of going to walmart, and if I could afford it I'd avoid it like the plague, but lets be real folks, most of us are BROKE these days and we can't afford to buy that crap anywhere else but walmart. So I was on a quest to purchase some either super warm or wool socks at the Mart of Wals, for the boy and I, along with other essentials needed for camping with the boy scouts in the cold wet climate, of which we are experiencing right now. None could be found for dainty lady feet like mine, and none for little boy feet either, oh but if you are a manly man, and entire section is devoted to warm wool socks. And apparently there aren't any wee little men in the world with wee little feet, they all must have size 9 or larger. UGH.....So I will have to venture out on my day off tomorrow to score warm socks....because Lord knows my strippedy, mismatched socks would not be cold ass camping worthy! My first camping adventure with the Boy Scouts and I choose a wet cold weekend. Cub Scouts don't camp when it's cold. Boy Scouts camp no matter what the climate.....I've hit the big time, pray I don't freeze to death. So to see some of the sites I saw during my late night adventure just go HEAR and pretend it's Hamilton, OH.....or should I say "The Township", don't get all offended Hamilton folks......you know I love you all and you are an exception to the rule, most of you anyways!

The Boy got a TV....in his Room??

I kind of feel like the reason my child has ADHD, would be because he watched ALOT of TV as a baby. Ron and I worked opposite shifts, and opposite meaning we saw each other coming and going. He worked nights and I worked days. So he was home in the mornings with the baby, often quite sleepy. So the TV helped him babysit. Sad but true. So once we got on a regular schedule I vowed the child would never have a TV in his room. I mean seriously, theres a TV in ever other room in the house why would he need one in his room? I don't ever remember having one in my room until I was 16. He didn't really ask for one until the past few years when he started going to friends houses and saw most of his friends have TV in their rooms, and he's like um wheres mine? So he has a whole wall, painted with chalkboard paint, so he drew one, and then crafted a remote control out of cardboard. Imagination+chalk TV+cardboard remote= cheapest TV ever! The power of that TV didn't last very long. So in order for us to get him to do his summer reading this summer we bribed him with a TV in his room if he completed his book. With a little help from Geegaw, and a TV she was getting rid of his dream finally came true today.
So now heres my question, to those of you who are parents of children who are fortunate to have a TV in their room. What sort of rules do you have for that. I can see him up at all hours watching TV. Never leaving his room, ect.....I'm going to need some guidance on the rules here. This is a whole new territory for me. Dag remember when you turned 12 and got a phone in your room? Do people even do that anymore? Few people even have land lines anymore, I am considering getting rid of ours. I mean seriously, why do you even need a landline anymore? I know I've not blogged in forever. Blogging is so 2008 people, microblogging is the wave of the future, regular old fashion blogging involves way too many words.

Retail Hell.....

Hey it could be worse it could be Life Insurance hell which we all know that is a 10 times worse hell, where you are left to rot in a cube, while you enter data into a computer like a trained monkey. I served my time yo. Now I get to be entertained by the mass's of hilarious retail consumers who love all things swedish, and like to bitch about lousy service. Have I mentioned lately I LOVE MY JOB? I am not even being sarcastic.

So I was summons to returns today. (it happens way more often than I would like I roll with it and rarely complain, we're all hurting) and a super tall lady had apparently been waiting 35 minutes or so when she got to me. She was super tall and had about a pound of botox in her lips. I am sure of it, is botox even measured in pounds? She had sunglass on that each lense was the size of a big screen TV, I am not kidding about this you can check the video. And she says to be with her large lips and her large sunglass's...."I don't understand how the rest of the store can be so fabulous and your returns system be so awful...." She said this to me in somekind of movie star I'm from Hollywood voice. Well her return took all of 5 minutes, and she was on her merry way. Maybe she'll think twice about buying shit she don't need!

Yesterday is the best story of all. I was late getting in yesterday since I had to go to the doctor for a stupid side pain I've had for a week. (back to that in a minute) So no one in my department was in all morning as I was schedule alone for the whole day.....(awesome, it happens with few people) So a women had a fridge delivered that morning, she was a 78 year old women. She freaked the heck out on the poor delivery dude because it opened on the wrong side so it was obvious it was the wrong fridge.....ummmm.....so she called and left message after message when I wasn't there. She talked to every manager she could get transferred to. So when I get in I am bombarded by.....messages from all sides about this crazy women. Um hello people fridge doors are interchangable, it's a feature known to mankind about american fridges....geez....I was fortunate enough to avoid the crazy women, as she was irrational and cussing folks out left and right. Her daughter called me who was very pleasant and apparently afraid of her mother so she lives far far away, so is able to help defuse the situation from affar. Good daughter. The other part of the story was she asked the delivery dude to move her old fridge which they are permitted to do just not haul away since that's an extra charge. So Mr. Delivery guy requests a tip (big no no), she offers $4.....to which he apparently was offended, because if you are going to ask for a tip....it'll need to be more, so he requests $20? (oh Lord) Obviously delivery dude was called out on this and deny's it happened......So there is a happy ending sort of......her fridge was redelivered, after she cussed out the delivery dude again when he called to let her know he'd be there in 30 min. Dispatch told the driver to proceed with caution....LOL....her daughter is hiring a assembly guy to switch how the door opens. Hours of my life spent for one happy customer....it's what they pay me for!

Oh the doctors visit....pulled muscle....(just above my rib cage, no idea how that happened) I HATE GOING TO THE DOCTOR.....I could have diagnosed that myself, which I think I did. It's the medication part I forgot to do. Took some alleve a few times yesterday, and a muscle relaxer provided by my visit to the doctor. And today little to no pain. So no reason to be alarmed I am all better.

Tears....seriously....YOUR CRYING?

Ok so as of late my new favorite thing to do is blog about my job. Which is fine, because now I have that kind of job. As long as you don't talk about co-workers or your boss, you should be fine. The folks I talk about, I won't share their name and I am just a voice on the phone trying to save their lives apparently.

So the women on the phone describes to me what she needs and even has a article number, which is rare. She apparently planned incorrectly and got the wrong size coverpanel for her dishwasher. So as she's giving me the article, she begins to cry..........WHAT THE? I place her on hold and begin to freak the heck out. It's a coverpanel, not the end of the world, A COVERPANEL and you are crying. So I gather my thoughts, put on my best "I need to be nice to this person cause she's crying" voice, and tell her how we are going to proceed to get her the correct coverpanel, in hopes that the process doesn't send her into hysterics. She then tells me she hasn't had appliances for 2 weeks, and it's all just too much. I talk calmly and let her know her cover panel will be ready to picked up in 10 to 14 days....which I guess wasn't the right thing to say, because that was super sad to her as well. I try to say nice thing, but she says "you don't have to say anything." So I don't......
Ok so not having appliances could be nerve racking, but can we put this in perspective? You can get some ice and put your shit in a cooler, and you can wash dishes by hand for a while, heck forever, these things are luxurys. Maybe because I've experienced a 3rd world country for 10 days I might feel differently about these things. Or maybe because I am devoted to praying for folks who don't have clean water, I respond to things differently?
PSA#2 Take a deep breath, pull yourself together, before you call me about your coverpanel! I am here to help you, I will make it as painless as possible. I just ask one thing of you......DO NOT CALL AND CRY! Please wait till you hang up, then you can cry yourself a river! If you feel the need to cry Please ask for Kristi or Matt....

PSA: Attention IKEA Shoppers

Well here goes, I am going to break the #1 blogging rule. I am going to talk about my job. Lets hope I don't get "Dooced" (aka-she got fired)

This first one is to the lady who decided to pick up the display pillow's instead of getting the stuff to make the pillows. Hey Lady.....YOU CAN'T DO THAT....Do you not see that my line goes on for at least a mile, and now you have pillows that I can't sell you. Some people take this as an oppurtunity to pay it forward and say..."you know I don't really need those, I'll get them next time..." Except you didn't say that. Now you know what happens? I have to call all over the store trying to find a co-worker in that area to answer the phone, who will then give me the article numbers for the items you have, and then they will either give me the go ahead to sell the display, or you will have to wait for them to bring you the actual product.....while all the people in the line wait...and wait...and wait. So I call 3 numbers with no answer, and then resort to the manager of that area, who saves the day. She gives me the numbers I need and oddly enough was able to get someone to answer the phone, and bring the customer what she needed. Lesson learned here.....DO NOT TAKE DISPLAYS, read the signs and get the items it takes to make that fancy pillow. Co-workers in market place, answer the phone when I call this saves time and angry customers, just sayin! You've been warned don't let it happen again!
To the people, behind the lady with display pillows, sorry the 5 minute wait was too long for you, however it is not ok to leave your stuff on the belt and walk away. That's just rude! That's like placing an order in the drive-thru and driving away. Now you caused several people more work. I had to place all of your items in my go back bin, which was then full. Then some cashier had to empty that bin and take all the stuff to the go back area, and then you caused a sales co-worker to be at work a little bit longer because they then have to put all that stuff back where it came from. All of this because you couldn't wait 5 minutes! If you ain't got time, you should not come to IKEA on a saturday!
To the lovely couple who attempted to return open pillows. BIG NO NO! It was nice of you to roll them back up and shove them back into the plastic packaging, that was just impressive I ain't even mad at you for that. Please refer to the return policy on the front and the back of your reciept. We can not take back any opened bedding or pillows....those were pillows and those were opened. You look like respectable enough people, but it's clear that you could have lice. I understand you can't tell how they feel when they are rolled very tightly inside the packaging, this is why there are display model right by where you picked up those packaged pillows. I understand you can't get your head up there on that shelf to try it out, but you can get the idea from just touching it. If you can't play by the rules you should not shop at IKEA....you've been told!
Please stay tuned for more PSA's as I spend more time in the cashlanes....it's good for comic relief!

Too Much Time, so Little to do......The one where I pretend to be a Princess!

Strike that, reverse it. OMG.....Seems that actual blogging has become a thing of the past, now thanks to micro-blogging. Our lives have become so busy that telling the world what we are doing in the moment is far more feasable than sitting down and writting up something super witty that people will read.

I will attempt to share a story I've been meaning to blog about for what seems like forever. So I am a big fan of Kroger, or Bro-Kro (depending where you go, no offense), or K-ro-jay if you are fancy folk. So my usual Kroger is the fairfield Kroger. I don't have a particular day I shop on I just go when we got money and have no food. I am so disorganized that a list may or may not happen, and coupons are way too much for me to think about. Well this one particular Friday I believe it was, we needed food, I created a list on the blackberry, I gathered up coupons Krogers had acutally sent me, since they keep track of what you buy then they send you coupons for those items, quite thoughtful. I was super pleased I remember those coupons, and a list.....the grocery shopping angels were singing. Oh and even better I've made the switch in the past month from plastic to buy your own bags and bring those with you. Fairfield Krogers gives you 3 cents per bag (good people!) Then a wrench was thrown into my plans, my mom needed me to stop by to drop something off, oh that's fine, theres a Kroger right by her house I'll go there, problem solved. So I went to the 747 Kroger (now known as "I will never shop there again" Kroger). First problem, it was completely laid out incorrectly produce was on the left, mines on the right, some sort of crazy isle formation going on in the center....mine doesn't do that....UGH....induce panic attack from the very beginning. So I gather my basket full of groceries, we're talking overflowing amounts of groceries! Head to the cashlanes.....it was around 9:30 pm......appeared not a single lane was open, no cashiers, um is this place closed? Seriously....oh wait.....SELF CHECK OUT IS MY ONLY CHOICE.....for an entire basket full of groceries. That's right, you heard me! Lets recap, I have coupons, my own bags, I gathered these things myself, and now.....NOW I GOT TO SCAN ALL THIS, BAG IT, PAY FOR IT, TAKE OFF MY OWN COUPONS......WTF???? I nearly cried right there. The best part, I am pretty sure I did not get 3 cents per bag, that I remembered to bring to bag my own crap. Yeah 747 Krogers you suck, and I will not be visiting anytime soon, I don't care if you have a starbucks!

ps I am aware that I work at IKEA, the originator of GET IT AND SCAN IT YOUR DAMN SELF. Why do you think I don't shop there during the week.....duh!

It's only been a Month!

I haven't blogged in a whole month. Thankfully in the past month I started project 365. I am excited about it. It'll document my life with one picture a day for a whole year. And I'll create a scrapbook with those pictures.

1. 365 project 5/23/09, 2. june 8, 3. June 11, 4. june 10, 5. june 9, 6. June 7, 7. june 6, 8. june 5, 9. june 4, 10. june 3, 11. june 2, 12. June 1, 13. may 30, 14. may 29, 15. may 28, 16. may 27, 17. may 26, 18. may 25, 19. may 24, 20. may 23, 21. may 22, 22. may 21, 23. may 20, 24. may 1925. Not available

A ton of craziness has happened in the past month. Perry turned 12, and finished the 5th grade. He's really grown up this year. He leaves for summer camp in a few days with Daddy. Work has been exhausting but I still love it. The economy is starting to effect us big time. Everyones hours have been cut, so we end up covering all over the place and never getting to do our job, so the customers who were already angry get more angry. Speaking of doing everything but my job, one of the fun adventures I got to do the other day.......was offer my assistance to disabled geri's, yep you heard me. Guess a couple called in asked if we had electric wheel chairs, which we do not due to safety issues since we are 2 floors. So they asked if they were to come since they both weren't able to walk the whole store if someone could push them. Who ever they spoke to said "why sure we can...." Probably not thinking they'd actually take us up on it. Oh but they did. I tried to not be the one. But I was the only one around who was available to offer this service.....although I am just one person and they needed two. So the one that was a little more adual chose to push his own wheel chair, so he could sit if he needed to and I pushed the wife. They were very gracious, and sort of embarrassed that they needed my help. Not sure what happened to them, possibly an car accident. It was a lesson in humility and I survived. I'd even do it again.

Proselytizing.....

The title of this blog, is the last word I cut and pasted for fear of spelling it incorrectly. Sadly I do that a lot. In 2nd grade I was a good speller, sadly as a grownup (see I think that word is suppose to be hyphenated, but I'm gonna leave it.) I'm not such a good speller, this is why I live in a world where there is cut and paste and spellchecker. So that word in the title, big word I know basically means to me sharing your faith. Which I do, not near as often as I should I suppose, but I feel good about what I do, for the most part. I would like to think I am like the man Penn speaks about in the video. The video was played in church this morning. The church service where the HG show'd up and caused a women to speak in tougues. Which I was completely fine with (slightly uncomfortable with, lets be real) but ultimately fine. The husband not so much. But the man he is today, sat and suffered through and waited patiently for it to be over. 15 years ago, he would have been out of there after 15 seconds of it. Proud of him.......

So the best part was Dave explaining what happened in as few words as possible. Instead of ignoring what went down, while many folks had questions, my husband included, Dave still did a good job. This is why I love my church. There are times they create an atmosphere where that is perfectly ok, and accepted and not freaky. However our Sunday morning celebration is packed full of people who see that as freaky and don't understand it, which is fine. It takes a while to get to a place in your walk where you understand what's going down. Thankfully I feel like I am there, and able to explain what that is and what that all means. All that to say church was good this morning, and it's been a good weekend, since Prom was last night....the high school prom not the church prom. That is for another post....yeah I know more than one in a month, I am sure the world is excited.

HG=Holy Ghost

Walk=journey after you become a christian, the learning process.

Learning to Tie your Shoes is overrated!

Ok so I went shopping....shoe shopping. I've been talking about shoe therapy for the past week. I NEED a new pair of shoes. I am not shoeless, that's for sure. A girl needs options. Well when all 14 pair of flip flops show'd up missing, when one complete pair was found it was like I got a new pair of shoes. It was kind of a fix for a new pair of shoes. So I am good, but I am still looking. I went to Kohls today in search of the perfect shoe. I found some....for Perry...right, dag wasn't I shopping for me. The good news is velcro is cool now, and he still, no lie, can not tie his shoes. Probably because he doesn't have any that require tying. And he's only had a handful of shoes with laces in his life time. So check out what Mommy found for 21.00 at Kohls.....

He'll learn someday when he's got time. Right now he just doesn't have time to learn and doesn't care honestly. Is that wrong? I thought he'd be the only kid who couldn't drink from a straw when he was 4, and now he prefers to drink from a straw. He has to learn knots for Scouts, maybe shoe tying can be one of them. Seriously those shoes are so cute I might need a pair for myself. Oh and everyone begin celebrating, I purchased a size 2 and they fit, which means he might actually be growing!

Check me getting my blog on.......

So the man asked me, "are you ever going to blog again?" What the heck for when theres facebook? So here I am blogging....not sure about what. The economy? No thats boring, lame and what's there to say.....I'm sure ya'll are broke and so am I, so what's new? Bout to sell some shit at a yard sale so I won't be as broke, and maybe I can buy some new stuff to make life much happier.

So now even the old folks are jumping on Facebook. No kidding the whole freakin world is on facebook. If you ain't on facebook, you need to get it, or you'll be completely out of touch fo sho! (Oh my Lord, the nonsense has trickled onto the blog, sorry I'm leaving fo sho, gives it character or something) You don't even have to say nothing, just get your info on there so you can keep up with folks you ain't seen in 20 years. Oddly enough didn't realize I missed them until the show'd up on FB.

Just finished up 6 LONG weeks of doing 2 simultaneous bible studys. Good grief what was I thinking? I did Beth Moores Esther, that one was 10 weeks, then 4 weeks into that I started reset, and was part of a small group with that. The small group will continue next week, but Beth Moore is DONE....thank you Jesus! One of the best Beth Moore studies I've done, but holy cow, she makes you think and theres homework, and it's TIME CONSUMING. I am much holier now I'm sure. So my time has been my own since I've been done with scouts. Haven't given up my volunteer hours as of yet. I plan on going to committee meetings with Perry's new troop, but that is the extent of my involvement with scouts so far with the troop. So if you want me to volunteer for something you'll need to get me before I go and overcommit myself, it's really only a matter of time!

Perry and I will be in an Art show on good friday. It's from 7-9 on good friday. Give me a shout if you want details. Should be super cool with cool stuff.

On Turning 40.

IS ANYONE EVEN OUT THERE OR ARE YOU ALL ON FACEBOOK.....If you are reading this and you blog, for the love of all things blog worthy, get off facebook, no one cares that you've just gone shopping or you are going to bed, and blog something, tell us about your life in more than 10 words!

Sorry no blogging...yes I am blaming facebook once again. I am a true addict and not afraid to admit it. So while I was out, I turned 40 while the world was watching. So the tuesday of the week I turned 40 during the Beth Moore video, Beth read from the "redbook" a book full of

e-mails that women sent in in response to "It's tough being a women because....." and the very first one she read was, "It's tough being a women because I am about to turn 40 and I fear becoming normal and ordinary....." Bahahahaha....isn't that what everyone fears? What is normal anyways? Who gets to define normal? This could be why my response to turning 40 was going and getting my nose pierced! Did I do it because I fear being normal? Possibly....I think I do a lot of things because I fear being what I would define as normal. I don't think normal is bad actually. Nose piercing is acutally more normal than it was say 2 maybe 3 years ago. I've been wanting it for probably that long cause I think it looks cool, and I'm glad I did it. One thing I've noticed since turning 40, I feel more adult like. Like I wasn't before and now that I'm no longer in my 30's now I'm a grown up. Which means.....I DO WHAT I WANT! Ha Ha....thanks Kristi, since hearing those words my life has never been the same. Feel free to use that cause it works. Someone asks you some crazy question in regards to something you've done....such as nose piercing. And they say "why?" and you say....."I'm a grown ass women, I DO WHAT I WANT!...." They'll respect anything you say after that I promise.

Something else I've noticed since turning 40, I feel wiser. Not that I'm all knowing, and know everything, I just feel more confident in what I do know. I better take advantage of that since I guess after 60 you lose all that knowledge and gotta relearn it or something.

Mulch Sales

Need Mulch?

This Scout is selling it.....

Either leave a comment here that you'd like info or e-mail me at Yoda0419@gmail.com and I will get the info to you. Troop 969 thanks you for your support!

Tiny Baby Jesus

In honor of starting Reset this week. They played this clip at church this sunday so I had to share it here on my blog because I'm pretty sure it's in my top 10 of funniest clips of all time!

Pinewood Derby 09

Pinewood Derby 09
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419

I was attempting to post this to the packs blog and somehow it ended up here like 4 times. Plus I wanted it to be bigger, dang. I think if you click on the mosaic it will take you to flickr, which then you will get to see all t he picture in their original form.

Girlfriend

I am a guest blogger over at my friend Michelle's Blog today. She is celebrating life for the whole month of February. So she gave me a word...and the word is GIRLFRIEND. Which has always been a bizzarre word to me. I can remember as a teenager my mother referring to her friends as her girlfriends, which I thought was rather wierd, so I've never liked the word and I rarely would use it. Even when I became a girlfriend, I would never refer to myself as a girlfriend, I was "his squeeze" and he was "my squeeze".......ha, now writing it down or saying it outloud, that's kind of funny. I really wanted to write something more meaningful for Michelles blog, but what you see above is what I came up with on my own.....lame I know so thank God for the author below in the video, her elegant essay about "Girlfriends" is far more meaningful than what I could ever write when referring to my girlfriends. I mean every word of what she's about to say! I could say the same thing about my friends, but she puts the words so much better than I.



Much love to all my peeps......(see I still can't use the word girlfriend)
My milestone birthday is coming up, in March I will be 40 prepare to celebrate the whole month!

I am that Mom!

Being the mother of a child with special needs is rarely easy. Rewarding beyond anything you can imagine, but never easy. There have been times I've felt very alone, and as though no one could possibly relate to how I feel. Perry was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago with a language based learning disability. Dislexia falls in this catagory, but he doesn't have that. Some would just like to say he's autistic, but he's not that either. People like labels they understand, unfortunately when it comes to a kid with a learning disability there may not always be a label most would understand. Every kid is different, and kids with special needs they are all different.


This movie is the closest thing to explaining how Perry is that I could ever come close to. It's all about finding that one person, in this case it's a teacher. Who gets it! Who knows that all kids are different and a kid with special needs doesn't learn like every other kid. Oh if teachers could just tailor the curriculum to fit each individual, the world would be a better place. It's safe to say this movie is probably my most favorite movie ever! Click the poster above it'll take you to the website.

50 Odd things About You.....

Swiped this from Monica on Facebook, you can do it there too...just thought I'd blog it, have fun!
50 ODD Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you!
1) Favorite hobby? Rubber Stamping, collecting rubber stamps, paper art, scrapbooking, camping...none of which I ever get to do!
2) Have you ever smoked heroin? You smoke it? Didn't know, so I guess I've never done it!
3) Do you own guns? I myself do not but theres one in my home with some crazy lock on it that if we needed to use it in a hurry we'd get killed while they waited for us to unlock it.
4) What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? I like a Watermelon or Cherry Slushy and The banana shake is super yummy.
5) Do you get nervous before doctors apts? Yes if I know a needle is involved.
6) What do you think of hot dogs? I think they are tasty when they are all beef.
7) Favorite Christmas song? Hippo Song and Silent Night by OTR
8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee or Water
9) Can you do push ups? Maybe one
10) Can you do a chin up? Maybe one
11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? small dangly earrings, and celtic everlasting friendship right
12) Do you like blue cheese? The kind at Buffalo Wings and Rings is the best
.13) Ever been in a car wreck?A couple minor fender benders.
14) Do you have ADD? It's very possible, but I'm not admitting it.
15) What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Takes me a while to speak up for myself.
16) Middle name? Joelle
17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: The cake is done, I should be scrapping, I should be doing laundry.
19) Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Water, Sweet Tea, and Coffee
20) Current worry? That I am going to owe taxes barf
21) Current hate right now? Shady people, Unappreciative people, the weather
23) How did you bring in the New Year? at home with the fam.
24) Where would you like to be right now? Gonna copy Monica on one of these Garbage Dumps in Mexico City, At the beach or camping in the Mountains
25) Name three people who will complete this? Michelle, Layni cause she needs a reason to blog (slacker), Kathryn (you can do it on facebook as a note, it's how it started)
26) Do you own slippers? Yes they are bunny slippers.
27) What shirt are you wearing? Favorite Red Hoodie
28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Too slippery
29) Can you whistle? Yes, and even an entire song.
31) Would you be a pirate? Sure
32) What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever songs in my head
33) Favorite girl's name?Grace
34) Favorite boy's name? Perry
35) What's in your pocket? Lint
36) Last thing that made you laugh? I just made Brass Monkey my ringtone
37) Best bed sheets as a child? Linus and Snoopy, loved that pillowcase.
38) Worst injury you've ever had? a cut finger, I know lame but I've been fortunate, child birth is the worst pain I've ever been through.
39) Do you love where you live? It works, but wouldn't mind somewhere else.
41) Who is your loudest friend? Alex but I haven't seen her in years, so now it'd have to be Kristi....hee hee...
42) How many dogs do you have? 2
43) Does someone have a crush on you? My husband
45) What is your favorite book? Walking on Water- Reflection on faith and art by Madeleine L'Engle
46) What is your favorite candy? CHOCOLATE and gummy bears
47) Favorite Sports Team? Don't have one
48) What song do you want played at your funeral? You are my Hiding place
49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Chatting with Abby on Facebook
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today? Crap I'm running late.

Such Fond Memories...I hope to never forget!

I wish I had pictures for this post. I do have pictures but my PC is so slow scanning them and uploading them would be a nightmare. So you'll just have to picture it. I went to a funeral today of a friend of the family. I never knew this women as an adult. I'd see her at church almost every sunday for years and years. She was a friend of the family from my old neighborhood, where I lived until I was 8 years old. The old neighborhood was Brampton Drive.....whenever I even think of he name of the street it stirs up amazing memories, of families that hung out together all the time. Where we kids played outside constantly. We played kickball in the street all the time and no one ever got ran over.

Memories of my friend Mark and I playing with ants in a puddle, yes that was in the street too. I remember playing in Marks backyard at the top of the hill and jumping the fence to Tony's house. Or Tony jumping the fence to go to Marks. I remember Tony once tricked me into trading a canadian dollar I had from my trip to Niagra Falls for a bag of pretzels. Ha....crazy stuff I remember. I remember never wanting to play in Tracy's back yard cause she had too much dog poop and I'd always step in it. I remember mom's screaming out the door when it was time to come home. One particular mom who had 8 kids she'd scream and yell trying to get them to come home and she'd always say cuss words. Those were the Kidd Kids, and they were bad, one of them once gave me 2 black eyes, I'm pretty sure my dad almost killed him....his name was Roy, their mom's name was Ruby, and my mom would always threaten that if I was bad, I'd have to go live with Ruby. Heck she had so many kids she probably wouldn't even notice.
It was a nice funeral today, Judy's daughter Amy called it a life celebration, quite fitting. It stirred up a time and a place from over 30 years ago, saddly it seems life can never be like that again, the world is such a different place. Pray for the Uhl family they lost their mom.....I'm sure she's looking down on them from heaven.