Jammie Day....

Ok yesterday was Jammie day, man I haven't done that in ages. I'm actually in the same Jammies I put on 2 days ago. And no I've not left the house. I did clean off the dining room table. Made it smaller and cleared all traces of Christmas. I also cooked dinner. The only difference between me and a 10 year old who is addicted to Zelda, I must tend to domestic chores. Apparently these people don't know how to feed themselves. I thought I had nearly defeated this game then I looked up a completed walkthrough....and it appears I am just barely into part 2.....theres 10 parts.....could be days...possibly weeks. Good thing P's into Lego's right now or I'd have to surrender the DS it is after all his game system. He has no interest in Zelda right now.

I think I may shower and get dressed maybe go outside....see what's going on out there.

Zelda....

Usually when I have a lot of time on my hands I think about creating something, scrapbook page, altered book page, getting out some paints and making a big mess. Then there was Zelda. It's been a while since I was addicted to a video game. Last time it was Lion King 1 1/2, now it's Zelda, I'm helping Link do something, or rescue somebody. All I know is I couldn't do it without the help of some online walkthroughs....my goodness, who knew I'd need a boomerang? Or that I'd need to actually blow into the microphone to blow out some candles. Genius I tell ya! Thank God Perry got a DS for christmas or this game wouldn't be quite as impressive. Thankfully he and his Daddy are busy playing star wars lego, so we all aren't obsessed with defeating the same game. So while I'm NOT working I'll be playing Zelda...errr....I mean cleaning and organizing my house. Right, and doing all things domestic!

It's Christmas People!

LETS PARTY!

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I'm Almost Back....

Starting to feel much better. Everythings bought. Almost everything is wrapped. I eliminated a ginormous burden (nothing to do with the holidays) from my life yesterday, and the tension is slowly leaving my body. Some things are better left unsaid. God was all over my decision and he'll guide me to my next adventure in life. The sky is the limit. I'm excited. Let us first get through the insanity of Christmas.

Here's the group shot from the Christmas party....yeah notice the 2 teenagers sharing the international sign for "I'm cool".....riiiiiight.....to that I must share......

Broken Spirit........

I have not felt this crappy this close to Christmas, pretty much ever. I wish I could say I found my happy place and all is right with the world. I wish I could say my day wasn't ruined and I had fun going to lunch with friends I rarely get to see anymore. I wish I could say people are kind enough to hold off negative stuff till after the holidays. Saddly I can't say any of that. Didn't get to go to lunch with friends because just before hand my spirit was broken, stepped on, and then kicked as far as you could kick it. Then I was suppose to pretend like I was fine the rest of the day.......riiiiight.....
Ron and I make Mix CD's for the *OP's at work.
* should probably tell you what an OP is, it's an Old Person. I used to call them the Geri's (as in geriatrics) but they found that offensive. So I switched it to OP, which is equally as offensive only if you know what it means. OP=someone who is close to or over 50. After 60 sorry you'll have to go with Geri....just how it is. No mean comments from anyone I've offended....my blog...my funny....love everyone OP's and Geri's included.

We've been doing this every year for the past 3 years. We call it the Sexton Classics. And we pick songs that were exceptionally meaningful to us over the last year. Perry included. They enjoy them and it's a nice gift with low cost. I usually will make notes on the inside sleeve or via e-mail as to whose song is whose and why we liked it. The CD's were completed. Including cover art that included a picture of me at the switchfoot concert...very cool! Didn't get to do notes, or give them in person.....see broken spirit.

I am looking forward to Christmas, only because Perry's getting at least 1 thing he asked for. He actually only asked for one thing Castle Legos (got the Chum Bucket instead which will make him equally as happy) ended up just getting the Chariot Lego thing that goes to the castle. Oh and he's getting a DS which he'll be stoked about. I'm so ready to relax and enjoy christmas.....

Home Stretch....

Oh the life of a nightowl....that's me. Just finished a spontaneous project...yes I'm heading to bed. Last day of work before the holiday...woopee....Ok can't figure out how to post a poll to my blog...that'd be cool by the way. So here goes. On Christmas Cards, do you:

a) Have a list of labels you use every year and occasionally add new people.

b) Do you wait to see who you get cards from and send your cards at the last minute.

c) Hold up....I should probably send those.

d) I NEVER send cards, too much pressure.

Just curious. Considering I sent over 80 cards. I do get about 75 in return. Love the cards and photos, and letters....fun fun fun....always something unique every year.

The photo's from the Christmas Party are wack. Too much red eye, and then the group photo that does look decent theres a certain teenager showing his "abs" (or lack of) thanks Colin. So I'm sharing a sweet photo of Maddie and the P-man. She lost her tooth that night, the one she had been holding onto for 3 months. I think she finally yanked it because she was kicking it with the 10 year old boys and she likes to seem tough in her Pack 969 t-shirt. That right there is Holiday Cuteness!

Yeah whatever!

I'm in the same condition I was in when I posted last. Not much has changed, except now I'm just used to it. Along with work sucking, the christmas spirit has left the building. I know sad isn't it. I made way too many things by hand, I think it nearly sucked the life out of me. It's nice to get raving reviews from folks who have recieved my letter and card.....but HOLY HECK....I'm just flat out crazy. I suppose it's worth it.

We have last minute shopping to do this weekend can't wait. Our last FPU class.....SERIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT.....thanks for the info Dave Ramsey but some folks are just wack! A pack meeting where I have volunteered to beg for volunteers....like with a speech about needing folks and everything....NOT....looking forward to that. Someone needs to do it and no one else stepped up. Many folks are just burnt out....I'm heading in that direction.

I'll post pics of the Holiday Festivities that happened over the weekend. Good heavens where did all those kids come from? Gone are the days of sipping coffee and having a friendly conversation. Now everyone just talks over each other and no one can even finish a conversation, because kids are masters at interrupting!

This Week

Has been absolute hell. And that's no lie. I prayed for God to be obvious about some things that should never be mentioned on a public blog ask Dooce, it's pretty much why she's a famous blogger. And HOLY CRAP he was all up in my face today. And it's quite clear he's over estimated what my limit is. You know the whole, "God never gives you more than you can handle." Yeah....so what I am saying is. WORK SUCKS.....

Ok there it's out there now can you just pray for me, and that too much Limp Bizkit won't give me a bad or should I say worse attitude. Thanks for having my back!

And in the wise words of a blogger by the name of LA Perry "Merry Christmas Mo Fo." So festive that one!

Handmade Gift Hell....

Ok so handmade gifts are great as long as it's something you like. So in the event you recieve a handmade gift from me and you think it's wack.....you have to pretend to love it! Why you might ask? Because they are worth a lot more cause they are time consuming! The actual stuff it's made out of is inexpensive materials, but when you put them all together it becomes a priceless gift!
I usually suppliment my handmade christmas cards with a box of store bought, because eventually I get tired of making them. Not this year I'm plugging away to assure that they are all handmade, that is just clearly because I am crazy! And because I didn't buy any cards last year when they were on sale, and I'm now too cheap (thank you Dave Ramsey) to pay full price. So if I stick with the plan and we are infact debt free this time next year, I'll make it up to you with a fabulous gift that is not made out of paper! Man I love paper and I sure do have a lot of it!

Drunk Turkey

Drunk Turkey, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

He's learning techniques I wish I had known at his age. Although I do not have the drawing gift he and his daddy have. His creative drawing class was a huge success, he looked forward to it each Saturday, and folks enjoyed coming out to his open house when it was all over. I enjoyed the hours worth of downtime while he was doing it. So we'll do it again in February. So if you missed this open house there will be another in March. Who knows you may get lucky enough to get a piece of Artwork on your christmas card or framed as a gift. If not the artwork you'll get will be my own in the form of a rubberstamp. If you don't get any of that it's not because I don't love ya it's because I sent 80 cards and you didn't make the list....and I'm freakin tired people.

Tis the Season.....

Well I had a ton of things I could talk about tonight, as it was in fact a extremely busy weekend. Perry's open house for his creative drawing class was this weekend. Big thank you to everyone who show'd up to see Perry's artwork. Those of you who were sick, or forgot, or something else crazy and unexpected happen not to worry. There will be other chances. It was very nice and very kid friendly. I could talk about this mornings message a church which was also very nice and timely and talked about Art as worship.....very cool stuff. Instead I'll leave you with this, which is my new favorite website to visit daily.


Can I just say I wish I had his last name, just so I could say it like that!

A few observations/wants.....

Being a grown up......sucks a lot of the time.

I wish there was more than 24 hours in a day. I might be able to make it work with 40.

I'd like to eat an entire pan of brownies and a giant cup of cold milk and not feel bloated afterwards.

I'd like a job I could be totally creative at and not feel like it was work and get paid a LOT of money.

Debt is pretty freakin stupid, as is most of the world. (except the person or persons reading this obviously that'd be just rude) Wish I had known about how stupid debt was sooner.

Insurance of any kind is boring. A necessity but pretty freakin boring.

Eating an entire pan of brownies would be a very dumb idea, so I won't. Good thing theres only two left. Thank God it wasn't me.

Laundry is stupid. I hate dirty clothes.

I hate bras.

Sugar Cookie Herbal Tea is yummy.

4th Grade Homework is a necessity, and it sucks. Ask your average 4th grader, and then your slightly below average 4th grader, heck ask any grader.

Magazines seem to multiply at my house, they don't just have other baby magazines but the vomit paper everywhere. Does this happen anywhere else.

Schools need to be a paperless enviroment.

I'll end on a happy note.

The Notebook is a fabulous love story I highly recommend the movie....might be in my top 10 favorites of all time....maybe. I'll get back to ya on that.

That was Fun!

Seriously I have no idea what this is going to look like. But we'll see, and I've never heard that song before, not many options though. It was fun to make.

Perry's Open House

Perry has an open house next Saturday, for his creative drawing class. Should be a cool event. If you'd like to come and need details, send me an e-mail. There are 4 kids from his class, and potentially other kids from 2 other class's. Gimme a shout if you'd like to come and need details.

Got Milk?

After 2 weeks of being off the organic milk Perry emerged from the basement with this??? Gasp. We knew something would happen but we had no idea of the severity. Thankfully he's still pretty young and shouldn't have any problem learning to walk with one alien foot and one regular foot. The problems going to be find shoes. He may be able to get by with one larger croc. Thanksgiving

The turkey turned our nice. Tasted yummy, was afraid with it only being 12 lbs we wouldn't have much left over. We has just the right about that we won't waste any. We have enough for one more sandwich and it's gone. Which I'm glad cause I've had my fill! 2 things that are very important to my thanksgiving. Cool whip for the pumpkin pie, (or in this case pumpkin crunch), and the Thanksgiving Enquirer so I can check out all the sales ads, and see the Turkeys. So Ron had to go to the grocery for some chicken broth, so I made sure newspaper was on his list, written very large so he wouldn't forget.......he forgot and I forgot to put cool whip on his list. So I called my dad and asked him to pick one up on his way over. Poor old man stopped at 8 different places, no paper....it's a conspiracy. So called my mom, made sure she was aware her exhusband stopped at 8 places in search of. She stopped at 4, all no papers. CRAZY! So reluctantly I enjoyed my meal, only to continue to comment how empty I felt without the paper and no cool whip. No one else seemed to mind....except me.

THE AFTER PARTY

After all the guests left. And I was feeling a bit bloated Layni called to see how things went. She decided to experiment on her turkey to see if she could make the white meat juicier. She cooked it breast side down. Didn't make a difference still somewhat dry. I complained to her about no paper, and no cool whip. And feeling we still had a little bit of life left in us, she says....."wanna go find a paper. " Not sure she was serious....I replay what she said in my head. It was 10 pm, I had been on my feet all day slaving over a hot stove, so had she. But I didn't get to see the turkeys. Or the colorful ads that make me happy. So I said sure come and get me. And she did. So begins the adventure. She asked me where we should head first? I said Lindenwald (no offense) because not many read there. As we are heading toward Lindenwald (part of Hamilton that's somewhat a low income sort of area...best way to describe it.) Layni calls her mom to see if she got the paper. She said she had, and it was "out there in the garbage"....to which we assumed out there would mean out in the kitchen??? Nope, out there in the garbage can at the curb!!!! What the??? That didn't stop us from picking through her trash, she informed us it was in the heavier bag that contained only paper. Layni dug out a grocery bag of paper, but that wasn't it, she then informed us today's paper was loose in there. Great....my turn. As I am going elbow deep into the trash bag, I ask...."there is only newspaper in here right?" she says in a wee wee small voice, "well that and my dirty tissues...." but it was too late I had already touched one and it was not dry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to which I quickly picked up the bag and through it back in the can...and said, "seriously, we'll find one thanks anyways!!!" Sadly I had no anti-bacteria on hand, so it had to wait until the end of the adventure. We headed to the Circle K. Where we were greeted to men in a pimped out hoopty painted with a nice shade of primer, who hollered sweet nothings to Layni as she emerged from her car. We are too damn old for this.....but it is what we do best! She exited circle K victoriously with paper in hand. We headed to her house for some wine and time to peruse the ads and come up with a game plan for the next day.

BLACK FRIDAY

It's not every year we part-take in this strange American tradition, but this year we were up for the challenge. Even though we went to bed well after 1 am. We vowed to each other we'd get up at the crack of dawn. To go shopping and score some deals. Not to mention check out the lunatics who do this nonsense year after year. This year....we had kids in tow. With the promise of breakfast out, Maddie and Perry were both game and didn't mind we snagged them from their slumber at 5am. We made it to K-mart a little after 6am, scored some much much much needed LEGO.....for a low low price. Layni was in charge of distracting children. It was shopping madness. Our last stop was Target. We were shocked that it didn't appear to be as crowded or busy. Except after we were in there about 30 min it was as though the running of the bulls had been released. We were in the DVD area and you literally couldn't go anywhere, there was so many people. Maddie and Perry just sat down in the isle and read books. As we were checking out and leaving there were people waiting around for carts. We were home and back to bed by 10am......I'm thinking next year we're taking black Friday off....it's exhausting. Be sure to check back tomorrow or later this week. Saw lots of movies this weekend. All on DVD so I'll give a review. I'm sure you all can't wait!

Pretty Dang Funny......

So I had to wait till the last minute to do my turkey day shopping because of circumstances sort of within my control but not really. Ron and I both get paid on the same week now. We were used to having money going into our account every week. Big or small there was cash flow....then SURPRISE.....right.....Ok so did my shopping this evening stricken with fear all turkeys would be frozen, didn't want to risk it so I prayed for a Fresh one. Layni suggested the free, range organic her sister in law scored but that would mean, some sort of ordering nonsense, a trip to the big city and a signature on the birth certificate. Dude I just want a damn turkey that isn't frozen, and ain't gonna cost me a damn fortune. Considering the Turkeys of the organic nature at the Costco were $99 for 15 lbs....yeah that ain't in the budget. Heck for $99 they better have the shell the turkey was hatched from and a genealogy report! Plus you know about me and the Costco and organic stuff, don't even get me started! I researched the eggs.....yes I did.....probably not all bad, but not as good as one would like when buying organic. So funny I first went and rocked Aldi's (it's a new thing I'm doing when I go somewhere and have a good time I'm gonna say I rocked that) considered purchasing the turkey there, but don't normally like to buy meat products there....couldn't anyways because they were all rock solid. Oh Aldi's is a new experiment I'm trying. Went with my super organized and able to stick to a budget friend the other night so she could show me how to properly save money while grocery shopping, buying healthy, going to Aldi's and Biggs (or Krogers) and coming in under budget. She's the bomb! Anyways so what I'm getting at.......I ended up getting my turkey at Biggs, and it's Amish, of the free range verity, and I think his name was Thadeus.....poor thing was young and not fat, and only 12 lbs. So all you greenies can now begin rejoicing....although me and organic ain't getting along right now. Nuff said.

Mysterious and Unexpected...

Exactly how I like the Holy Spirit to show up. Which he did on Saturday night right here in my computer room. WARNING: This could potentially freak some folks the heck out. There you've been officially warned, oh and you may cry. Don't say I didn't pre-warn you.
It's no secret that I am a christian, and I love Jesus. I kind of keep it real like that so many folks will get this, and I'm ok that some folks won't "get" this. Ok Ok Ok on with it already.........:::breathe::::

So I was on my computer Saturday night after making some Christmas cards. I was scanning and editing stuff, while listening to a CD I had just ripped into itunes. The CD is Pocket Full of Rocks- Manifesto it's a worship CD I had heard really good things about, I had sampled a few songs on itunes but hadn't ever heard a full song......until Saturday. I'm minding my own business, scanning, editing and listening. This song caught my attention...like....hummm...what is that, it's got a good worshipful sound to it, then all the sudden it was so much more. I got all tingly, and warm.....and my head was full (like seriously I could thinking of nothing else) of a friend of mine. Whose mother in law was just diagnosed with advanced stages of Ovarian cancer. So first it was thoughts of her, and then my head was full of every detail I knew about her mother in law....again could think of nothing else. Like at the time I didn't even know her name really, I new small details about her like what her grandchildren called her, that she's German, the kind of wine she likes, the traditions she keeps, that she likes gardening. These are things I had learned just during small talk with my friend, but I could think of nothing else. It was so overwhelming I began to get very weepie. I was like "what the heck...." I mean I knew it was God but WHOA....why me, why now? I had prayed for her like I do anytime someone asks me to pray, usually in my car on the way to work, or in the shower....(sorry but it's true, it's quiet there) or when I'm going to sleep. So I was like WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON GOD??? So I was like maybe it's the song.....so I opened the itunes window....to see what the name of the song was.......The name of the song was HEAL.....and yes I did cry my face clean off. And then I had to go lay down because I was then exhausted. The song is based on

Psalms 107:20

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."

A Piece of My Childhood

Joe Nuxhall died last night. I had heard he was in the hospital but he's had some health issues the past couple years and he's always bounced back. This time not so lucky. They put a wreath and a tent around his statue at the stadium. They turned off all the lights at the stadium except the broadcasters booth. And the sign says "Heading for Home........" I spent the younger years of my childhood laying in bed with my grandma listening to the reds games. Marty and Joe were the voice of the Reds to me. When he stopped announcing, I knew his voice anywhere when he'd do commercials or be on the radio for some reason or another. He's a local icon for all his charity work....and he will be missed!

Annoyed and Frustrated?

Why you might ask? I am not green by any means. But I feel good because I provide organic milk to my family, and figure because the government regulates such things well it's safe to assume when they say USDA organic , they ain't lying to you. Bastards! I enjoy going to the Costco and getting the 3 1/2 gallons for 7.50, yes it does cost a bit more but if it cuts down on the growth hormones entering my body and delays my son going into puberty at age 10 well then it's better for you. Except now I find out those bastards are big fat liars. I've investigated in all possible angles and if anyone can see otherwise let me know. Check this out....prepare yourself if you are green cause you ain't gonna be happy. Oh and go here and you'll find what milk truely is organic. You might have to travel to Vermont to get it. This world is a twisted screwed up place. It could be a million times worse I know this, but when they have procedures in place to check up on these things you just trust that folks ain't lying and they're doing your job. Geez....guess I need to buy me a cow and some chickens.....damn....haven't even checked on the eggs yet.....

Cute Kid Alert.....

So I got together with my old small group. We used to meet every week, and talk about life and God and how that all fit together. We haven't met formally in 4 years, but we still get together maybe once a year. We did this past weekend to shower one of our peeps with gifts cause she had a baby. This one here is baby #8. She added baby #9 to the growing population of children brought forth by my old small group. When we were first started meeting Perry was the only one. By the end of the small group there was 3 more. I jokingly referred to it as the lactating small group because during the 2 hours or so we'd meet one, if not all of those babies would need to eat. So now theres 9, with 2 more on the way. I love these people and their crazy offspring. I hope we continue to catch up once a year forever!