ADORABLE: My son in his Tiger cub uniform, getting his Tiger Cub patch at the Blue and Gold banquet.  

Ahhhhhhh......hee hee the weird noise Napoleon makes when he's sighing. Still trying to figure out why I love this movie so much?? Probably because it wasn't funny the first time, but then you watch it again, and you laugh because it's just so freakin STUPID. Then after you watch it the third time, and you have friends who have also seen it this many times or more, and you start quoting it. That, right there is when a movie becomes incredibly funny.

Taking a break from the encyclepedia thing for a momet. Went to scrappin time this saturday, I am in a major creative funk. I got nothing. I did 2 pages and I hated them both. I made 3 cards and they looked like crap. Maybe it's scrappin time?? I need to clean my scrappin table and just make some time to scrap at home. Sometimes other people can just suck the life out of you, and then you just don't feel like scrappin I guess??? Or you just feel like socializing with folks and you can't scrap. I just got sucked into reading blogs, man that can be addicting, but you find cool stuff, like cool music to listen to, and cool books to read. So I'd encourage a little blog surfing every once in a while, you won't be sorry.

A.....

Abstanence: Best form of birth control. And very hard I might add. But I'd have to say it's how God intended it to be, for you to wait till you are married. For some reason, I've always felt weird telling people I waited. Don't know why?? I should celebrate the fact that I waited, but I figure the majority of people I encounter either don't understand or they don't believe me.

ADHD: How is it, that is seems like this was only discovered a few years ago? Or is it more widely accepted? I obviously am ADD, my son has actually been diagnosed. I think most people if they just embrace it and accept, hey that's just who I am they can and will be very successful and secure people. Most folks I know who are this, are VERY interesting people, myself included.

Artist: I wish this was my profession.

Alpha: Only the coolest ministry team at the Vineyard ever. I love being part of the Alpha team, I feel like I've found my niche for now. I say for now because being a part of this thing called the vineyard for nearly 18 years, things are evolving and changing all the time, and sometimes your niche gets shifted and moved. But for now this feels right.

More A's...........

analytical: Of which I am not. Man I am in the wrong job.

Asshole: Most favorite curse word that I use to describe someone I am extremely mad at.

Analyst: I know people with this title, why do I know these people. If this title is all that was used to describe them, I would not want to know them. Numbers are not my friend I do not like numbers. Refer to job reference.

Army: Melinda mentioned the Army in her comments....hummmmm.....this word conjures up many feelings of ill will. Don't get me wrong I am all for folks being in Iraq and being deployed for the reasons that I trust are good reasons. But the Army I have found to be full of leaders who are disorganized morans who haven't a clue about what the hell they are doing as far as administration type stuff. The only Army personnel that can be trusted are WOMEN!

Anthropology: Most amazing store in the whole world. Everything about that store makes me feel happy. And what a cool name Anthropology

A......

A:
Albatross....first word that comes to mind. Theres a song that goes to it, but the last time I sang that little tune the person thought I was nuts. When my brother entered kindergarten, and I was in the 4th grade. My parents decided to put us in a Christian school. Immanuel Baptist Church. We had been going to daycare there for years, and they just started a school that went all the way to 12th grade. So in Kindergarten that is how they learned their letters, I only remember A and B. And my brother didn't even learn how to read, we went there just 2 years, and when they put us back in public school. My brother was terribly behind and had to repeat second grade. So so much for their nutty alphabet songs.

Fun has begun!

Previously my life seemed boring and uneventful. Until my husband took me to dinner at my favorite resturant and we went shopping in my favorite store. And at that store I bought my now new favorite book. This book is so awesome. Because I am unable to come up with my own creative ideas, I am going to take this concept and use it on my blog. I mean after all it is a book about an ordinary life, and my life is just that Ordinary. So I'll start with A and write all the meaningful stuff I can think of that start with A. And those few people who leave comments please feel free to join in, comment on something that starts with A and so on. So here goes!

In Search of Fun!

My friend Weezer and I went to Columbus last weekend and visited a friend. It was a lovely time had by all. We watched chic flicks, drank wine and margarita's, and ate way too much. Abby made me a birthday cake, like she does every year, spice cake with Penucci icing. OMG....love that stuff. Not at all WW friendly, but it's my birthday month and I'm celebrating the whole month. Hopefully there will be a weight loss tomorrow, or I will have to cut down on the celebrating. Sorry nothing else fun and exciting has been going on. It's fairly boring around here. Sure would like some excitement!

Good News Please!

Ok enough already. When you go to 2 funerals in one week, somethings wrong with your week. I've cried enough tears in the past week to last me a good while. A friend had a baby this week, only it was born too soon. It had a genetic birth defect that didn't allow it's brain to grow. So she gave birth to baby James, at only 24 weeks. He lived for 53 minutes. She said if he was born alive, she'd celebrate that life no matter how long it was, and that she did. There was a beautiful memorial service on Tuesday night. So therefor, Jodi is spent, done finished through! I need some shoe therapy. There seems to be a void of sadness that needs to be replaced with a new pair of shoes. I'll let you know if that happens. In the mean time I could use some good news please!

Preparing for a Gain

Ok tomorrow is the dreaded weigh in. I've been completely surprised for the past weeks. But this week was different. I did a whole lot of emotional eating. Went to Buca Di Beppo for dinner on Saturday with some friends and it's been all downhill since then. It was as if I completely forgot I was trying to decrease my size. So it's back on the wagon for me come tomorrow. I'll try to keep things under control this weekend. So start sending up some words I can maintain control. And get this eating back on track. By the way Buca Di Beppo is now officially my favorite resturant. And splenda is my favorite artificial sweetner.

Lenora Jan. 2, 1928- Feb. 18, 2005

Lenora 

Motivation at an all time Low!

Death and grieving must just do it to you. A dear friend of my mothers passed away on friday. It was her sister in law. The second to die in the past year. I've known her my whole life from church, but wasn't ever that close to her. I feel it's one of those things that was taken for granted. Growing up at Lindenwald United Methodist, she was one of those people who was just always there. I thought of my best friend on Sunday, and how hard it was to go to church that particular sunday with no Lenora.
My best friend moved down the street from Lenora 2 years ago. Ashton her 11 year old daughter formed a relationship with Lenora. She would visit her and keep her company pretty much everyday. Lenora shared stories with her, the kind that her grandkids and children probably heard a million times. But with Ashton she had fresh ears. Ashton leaned on her every word. And to Ashton Lenora knew everything. Tomorrow is the funeral and I am taking Ashton. It'll be hard to hear everyones memories about Lenora. I am glad Ashton got the oppurtunity to develope this special relationship. It then doesn't seem that we missed out, since we will get to see Lenora through Ashton's eyes. Once I figure out how to post a picture I'll do a proper memorial post.

Wheres the Flavor?

Ok so I gained 8oz last week. To me that's basically just staying the same, I could have pee'd out 8 oz. It's tough though, as big as I am, I'll have to eat like this for the rest of my life. It just doesn't seem like fun. Will it ever get fun? I mean ever since I've started on the journey to lose weight all I want is chicken wings! Not just a few but like 10. And man that would send me over the edge for sure. Why does everything that's bad for you have to taste so good? And things that are good for you.......not so good. I had one of those skinny cow ice cream things last night, it tasted cold, and wet. But there didn't seem to be much flavor! I am helping with the Valentines day party at school today. Oh help me! I like my kid and maybe 1 friend but 24 of them.....yikes. I would imagine there will be some out sick so that's less kids.

Oh my!

It's been a while. I did lose 3.5 lbs in the second week of WW. So I am down 8.5, maybe. I didn't go last week since I was heading out of town to FOOD HELL, otherwise known as a weekend scrapbooking retreat. The kind where counting points just ain't gonna happen. Treats available 24/7 and these people like McDonalds are just trying to kill people. I mean they are my friends and they do love me, but spinich dip, cheese balls, roll ups, brownies, cookies, mexican dips, it goes on and on.........so I splurged, mostly grazed and never made a plate. Figured if I just grazed I'd eat less.....Well I grazed often. So we shall see come friday. It's been really hard to get back in the swing of things after FOOD HELL.

What the?

Ok seriously Spongbob is not gay so shut up already. Leave him along he's a sponge for God sake and he's in love with a diving suite wearing squirrel named Sandy.

5 Lbs Lighter

That's right, the fat girl has taken the plunge, and started Weight Watchers. Didn't want to go public till I knew it was possible, with a bazillion pounds to lose 5 lbs the first weeks, not too shabby, and had I actually excersized I would have lost more. Oh and had I stayed strictly to healthy foods only, I would have lost a lot more, but WHO CAN LIVE LIKE THAT? I felt deprived as it was, but not really. I am just used to eating whatever whenever, and as much as I want, thus the reason I am not a small figured women. But when you realize what is in the foods you love to eat and you actually think about it, WOW....that shit could kill you in large doses! Plus I watched the movie Supersize Me, yeah that'll change a girls eating habits with the quickness, and I don't eat Mcdoogles all that much, but they are murderer's those Golden Arches, they are slowly killing people one Big Mac at a time, stay away! Sure I got the fat gene, I've seen pictures, but I am determined to break the family curse and avoid being cut open, and having most of my stomach sectioned off to gather gassy juices, and be forced to eat 1 cup of whatever per meal. It's not that extreme, but you get my point. So I got the rest of the winter to lose some weight so that once it's warm outside I don't look like a large fat women trying to ride a mountian bike. I'll just look slightly pudgy, and by summer, I'll need to buy a new swim suit because I will no longer be able to fit into the fat suit, I've been forced to wear for years. So whose with me? Seriously pay attention to what you eat, the fast food resturants are trying to kill folks, Oh and Olive Garden with the Fettucini Alfredo? Come on, why must so many fat grams be in one dish?? Nuff said!

Laundry

Man I can't stand laundry. I wish I could get away with wearing the same thing everyday! And my clothes would never get dirty. I avoid the folding and putting away of laundry at all costs. Thank goodness wrinkles can come out in a dryer. Well Ron was on vacation this week, and he couldn't take the mountian of clothes any longer, so he basically forced me to fold...ugh....and put away like 3 baskets of clothes. Theres still probably like 6 in the laundry room. Why do I have so many clothes?? I am at least pretty good about Perry's clothes and I keep them put away, but mine....whose got time for that? Ron does his own laundry for obvious reasons. Speaking of laundry I should go do some. Thank goodness tomorrows friday. And no work or school on Monday.....yipeee.....

Empty

Ok so two in one night compared to none in a week. I must have a lot to say. I have felt spiritually empty for a while now. A small group that basically just didn't happen, and I wasn't a leader at the last Alpha because it's better to do every other one, so you don't get burned out. So I've not really been connected and have had no one to hold me accountable regularly in a while. Thank God for Christian radio! I was late to work this morning, was under a Perry schedule which has no time frame and no kind of hurry for nothing. So I got to hear most of Focus on the Family which Ravi Zacharias spoke. He has got to be the most amazing Christian speaker I've ever heard. Everytime I am lucky enough to hear him I am in awe that after being a christian for over 25 year I am still able to continue to learn and grow. He's indian and has this super cool accent, and he uses big words and sounds as if he's speaking way over my head. But then I scare myself a bit because I totally understand what he's saying. Which to me has to be because God is speaking through him because otherwise I wouldn't understand a word he was saying. Ha Ha! There is so much he said, I wish my brain could record and play it back whenever I wanted to make a profound point to someone. His topic was Mirror for the Soul. There was so much he said in such a short time. But the jest of what I got was how important it is for us to raise our children to live with a moral code based on scripture. God intended for the bible to be the moral law, he designed it so that we could live by it. Humility, Spirituality, and Faith must be carved into our conscience. My hope is that I am raising my son to fight against the moral decay of our world, and that he doesn't get swept up into it.

Tonight his faith like a child was a true display that I am doing something right. As we watched the 20/20 special on the Tsunami, I was able to see true devastation through the eyes of a 7 year old child. His first reaction was, is that going to come here? I assured him "no".
Perry: "Mommy did all that water take away those peoples houses?"
Me: "yes"
Perry: "What about the kids, did it take away their toys?"
Me: "yes"
Perry: "Did some of them die?"
Me: "Yes many of them died."
Perry: "Oh Mommy, that is very sad, it makes me kind of want to cry.'
As I hug him he says "we should pray for them"
Me: Ok when you go to bed we'll pray for them tonight
Perry: "No, I think we should pray for them right now."
So we held hands and prayed. And his special request was "Please Jesus take that giant wave away and don't let it come back again."
We see so much devastation in movies, and 911 was like watching a movie on TV, as was the Tsunami, it's hard to realize how real it is. Until you are thrown into reality by a child with simple questions about life and why things happen. It was only then that I was able to react as one should and cry for the lives that have been lost.

Whoa it's been a while.

Christmas took over my life and I've not blogged in sometime now. The cat vest story was funny enough to sustain my addoring fans for sometime though. The vest was a big hit and not as dreadful as the story made it sound. I did get my shoes. And there is a lovely story behind that adventure. First off a brief run down of the holiday events. God decided to dump an outrageous amount of snow on us a few days before christmas. Probably all the crazy's praying for a White Christmas, be careful what you pray for. Most everyone was stranded in their homes on Thursday because of the 16" of snow on the ground. Many folks were without electricity. Not us, thank God! So since the snow was dumped on Wednesday I didn't make it to the Christmas play at Church, considering it took me 2 hours to get to my hair appointment, trying to make it to church for the play was not a good idea. It ended up being cancelled anyways. That just started the dominoe effect of things that happen to mess up tradition. We usually go to my cousins in Indiana, well they don't believe in snow plows in Indiana so four wheeling through the back roads of Indiana and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere didn't sound fun. So we ventured out and went to the Movies instead, (not a tradition) Polar Express in IMAX 3D very cool! We then came home and had appetizers for dinner, another non-tradition but fun anyways. Perry went to bed with no arguement so he could quickly sleep to greet his presents from Santa in the AM. Ron and I exchanged gifts finally a tradition happens, we always exchange gifts to each other on Christmas eve after Perry goes to bed. His packages were low in numbers since Mr. Last Minute didn't anticipate the snowstorm, and expected me to finish his christmas shopping to myself for him when I ran around early on Christmas eve. Didn't happen! I did however receive Kitchen aid pots and pans.....woooohooo! They have the non-stick surface and the cushion handles. Lucky Lucky me! And even cooler they are red! I got a cookbook and My Fair Lady on DVD also.

Finally on Christmas day a few traditions began to happen. Had to wake Perry up so we could get an early start. Crazy, what kid doesn't have their internal clock set for 5 am on Christmas morning?? We always did. He was delighted with his parade of toys and none too pleased with the gift of clothing from Santa. "I didn't ask for clothes, those are stupid, why would he give me clothes???" Rotten kid, the even more Rotten Nephew Zack was just as displeased with the clothing he received from Grandpa, both boys flung their clothes to the floor in protest. So we didn't thaw the Turkey for Christmas day, and couldn't find a decent ham, so my brother resorted to Holiday Hamburgers! What??? Yep, Holiday Hamburgers, that he burned. MERRY CHRISTMAS....ha ha ha.....We did have a wonderful Christmas Breakfast which we always look forward to. So all was not lost. And we had Jodi's Potatoes and Pumpkin Crunch, so it was all good. We'll be skipping the burgers next year. This was the second year not going to Grandmas (Ron's) and it still stinks. Theres just something about going to Grandma's on Christmas that just seems so right. But dysfunctional family issues keep us from going. We did however make it to Geegaw Migrages house the day after. In regular people language that would be Grandma Mugrage, which is my best friend Abby's parents house. Love going there because theres always a ton of kids running crazy and Perry just falls right into the mix. Then you just hang out chat, and play a board game usually. Didn't have to miss the Vineyard play completely, they did it on Sunday during church so I wasn't completely disappointed.

Snowstorm 2004 

Festive Cat print t-shirt that's going directly back to the store!