WORDLESS WEDNESDAY....

(CAPTION READS: SECURITY UPGRADES ARE NOW IN PLACE FOR ALL OF PRESIDENT BUSH PRESS CONFERENCES)

Things aren't good right now....

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week since I posted.....

Not a lot I have to say, I guess...I am glad Christmas is over....I do believe this year was the worst Christmas ever.

The little boys had a good Christmas....so did my two oldest, but not from me...

Their dad bragged about how he spent over $600 a piece on them....I couldn't even begin to touch that. I was only able to give them a small amount of money. I had some put back to give them, but Christmas day, we had a flat tire, before picking them up, so I had to take money from their Christmas money I had saved to replace the tire.

Hubby and I have been arguing a lot...over money, go figure. Christmas night, when the older two boys were up, tensions were high, hubby and I were arguing, stupidly, in front of the kids and my 18 year old went off on me.....he cussed me, talked to me like I was a dog....F this, F that...a side of him I have never seen before....telling me I should manage my money better....all because he was pissed over me not having enough for him for Christmas, I am sure...although he didn't come right out and say it. Anyway, we were downstairs, and my son was screaming at me, cussing at me, hubby and 14 year old were upstairs, and 14 year old looked at hubby and said, "Oh, my God, I think he hit mom"...of course, hubby saw red, came flying down the stairs, grabbed 18 year old by the shirt, they started fighting, 14 year old and I had to seperate them...it was awful...I have never been so ashamed, so hurt and felt like such a bad mother in my entire life. 18 year old started bringing up everything from the past, his dad and I divorcing, how he has put up with so much bullshit....I swear, I have done nothing but given him love and all that I could. His behavior was so out of line...I am still nursing hurt feelings over this....I am still upset.

I currently have some freaky rash, spread all over my neck onto my chest...I think it may be hives...possibly because of my nerves..I don't know. I am tired, I am exhausted and I feel depressed. I need to figure out a way to get out of this funk that I am in...Hubby's attitude is that I just need to "get over it".."let it go"....
Everyone apologized...18 year old, hubby and myself...but the rest of the visit with them was strained, uneasy..I doubt my son will come back to visit me again.

I wish it had never happened...I wish our finances were better...I wish I could do more for my kids than what I can....I wish I were a better mother.

Because I'm bored....

And, I'm not ready to post about my weekend just quite yet....probably bore all of ya'll anyway.
So...I stole this survey/meme thingy from over at Why Are You Stalking Me's Blog....I thought I would give it a whirl....

Name: Donna

Birthdate: Sept 7th

Birthplace: North Carolina

Current Location: Indiana

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Brunett/with reddish highlights

Height: 5′ 2″

Weight: 114 lbs

Piercings: None

Tatoos: Not now/not ever

Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Wonderful Husband

Overused Phraze: Would you kids please be quiet!!!!

FAVORITES

Food: Nice juicy steak

Candy: Dark Chocolate

Number: 7

Color: black

Animal: I don't have an animal, so I can't really have a favorite

Drink: Cherry Coke Zero/Water

Alcohol Drink: Wine, Wine, Wine...

Bagel: Blueberry

Letter: D

Body Part on Opposite sex: Butt

This or That

Pepsi or Coke: Coke

McDonalds or BurgerKing: McDonald's..but only for the salads...Burger King guy creeps me out!

Strawberry or Watermelon: Strawberry

Hot tea or Ice tea: Hot tea in the Winter, Ice tea in the Summer

Hot Chocolate or Coffee: coffee

Kiss or Hug: both

Dog or Cat: Neither

Rap or Punk: Neither

Summer or Winter: Summer

Scary Movies or Funny Movies: Funny Movies

Love or Money: You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't have love, you have nothing!

YOUR…

Bedtime: 11:00 P.M.

Most Missed Memory: Can't recall

Best phyiscal feature: legs

First Thought Waking Up: Oh, God...I don't want to get up...I hate my job!

Goal for this year: Work on controlling my patience

Best Friends: My husband Keith

Weakness: shopping

Fears: something happening to my children

Heritage: Cherokee Indiana (1/8th cherokee)

Longest relationship: Um...My first husband...eight years.

HAVE YOU… Ever

Drank: Yes

Ever Smoked: Tried it once, during my first divorce, not for me..yuck!

Pot: I am ashamed to admit, but yes...in my younger years...

Ever been Drunk: Sadly, yes...

Ever been beaten up: Yes...let's not go there...bad memories!

Ever beaten someone up: No, but I have fought back in defense. Is that the same thing?

Ever Shoplifted: No

Ever Skinny Dipped: No

Ever Kissed Opposite sex: Yes

Been Dumped Lately: No...I have always been the dumpee..

IN A GUY/GIRL

Favorite Eye Color: Hazel

Favorite Hair Color: Brown/Black

Short or Long: short

Height: 6′ +

Style:Current, age appropriate

Looks or Personality: both

Hot or Cute:Cute

Drugs and Alcohol:Prefer he refrain from drugs/alchohol in moderation

Muscular or Really Skinny:Muscular

RANDOMS
Number of Regrets in the Past: two

What country do you want to Visit: Italy

How do you want to Die: Preferrably in my sleep

Been to the Mall Lately: 3-4 times a week, usually

Do you like Thunderstorms: Yes....especially in the summer, when I can sit out on my porch, watch the lightning and listen to the rain.

Get along with your Parents: Only have my Mom left, usually we do...we live 700 miles apart, so it's easy to get along.

Health Freak: Yeah, kinda...

Do you think your Attractive: Yes, I work very hard to be...

Believe in Yourself: Yes

Want to go to College: I would love to go back...maybe one day!

Do you Smoke: Yuck, no!

Do you Drink: Yes, wine, hardly ever anything else

Shower Daily: Twice a day, every day

Been in Love: Yes, with the love of my life right now and forever.

Do you Sing: only in the car

Want to get Married: I am

Do you want Children: I have plenty, so no more for me.

Have your future kids names planned out: no more kids for this chick

Age you wanna lose your Virginity: Um..that happened a long time ago!

Hate anyone: I don't hate...now dislike, hell yeah, lot's of people!

Well, that was fun...feel free to grab it and entertain yourself.

I will be back later with a recap of my glorious, overly stimulating weekend..LOL.

A little Monday Morning Food for Thought...with a humorous twist...

HOW BIG IS WAL-MART?


This should boggle your mind!!
And scare you as well!

HOW BIG IS WAL-MART?

1 .
At Wal-Mart,
Americans spend $36,000,000 every hour
of every day.

2
This works out to $20,928 profit
every minute!

3.
Wal-Mart will sell more
from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th)
than Target sells all year.

4.
Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot +
Kroger + Target + Sears + Costco +
K-Mart combined.

5.
Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people
and is the largest private employer. And most can't speak English

6.
Wal-Mart is the largest company
in the history of the World.

7.
Wal-Mart now sells more food
than Kroger & Safeway combined,
and keep in mind they did this
in only 15 years.

8.
During this same period,
31 Supermarket chains sought bankruptcy
(including Winn-Dixie).

9.
Wal-Mart now sells more food
than any other store in the world.

10.
Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores
in the USA of which 1,906 are SuperCenters;
this is 1,000 more than it had 5 years ago.

11.
This year, 7.2 billion different
purchasing experiences will occur
at a Wal-Mart store.
(Ear th's population is approximately
6.5 billion.)

12.
90% of all Americans live
within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart

13
Let Wal Mart bail out Wall Street

Miracles do come from unexpected places....

A couple days ago...."Mr. Burns"....called me in the office and asked me to meet him for lunch...I really didn't want to go, but he seemed insistent so I did...

Imagine my surprise, while during lunch....he pulled out a christmas card for me. He goes "Merry Christmas"...of course, I felt like an ass, as I didn't have anything for him..with our shaky work relationship, I honestly did not expect anything.
Inside the card was a gift card to Target, with a huge amount of money on it. I am talking huge. I was speechless. This gift card would more than buy Christmas for two little ones, allowing me extra money to give my older two some cash for Christmas.
I told him Thank you, but I couldn't accept it...it was too much. He replied that he wanted to do that for me, he knew (I guess he overheard me talking to my friend Eddie about it..the new office manager)that hubby and I were having a hard time this Christmas...that we weren't going to be able to buy presents until the Friday after Christmas,having our Christmas with the boys, then it was going to be limited. He said he could see how stressed out I was, the dark circles under my eyes, from lack of sleep, etc...he said no one should have to endure the holidays like that...hating them so much, because of lack of money.
He told me how much he appreciated me, he had a good year...he is also a saxophone player, a very good one, and he plays different gigs frequently, makes quite a bit of extra money doing so....so, he said he felt compelled to do something to show his appreciation for me and to me, and to alleviate a little of my burdens this holiday season.
So, I thanked him, with tears in my eyes....finished our lunch and came back to work.

Now....I am eating humble pie....as I have found miracles still occur and from the least expected places....

Thank you Mr. Burns....

This is where I am with this whole damn Holiday b.s.!!!

I hate Christmas! I hate being broke! I hate the pressure of trying to come up with money to buy the "perfect" piece of plastic crap toy! I will just be glad when all of this holiday present buying bull shit is over! I am having anxiety attacks, waking up in the middle of the night, worrying over money...over the fact that I only have 3 presents a piece for my two little guys, and nothing for my older two as of yet, and um..Christmas is in less then 2 weeks away.

My days are spent arguing with the spouse over money, over what bills can go unpaid, or we going to have money to buy what the kids want and make them happy!

I wish we lived back in simpler times, where kids were appreciative to get one toy and some fruit/candy cane in their stocking.

I wished I could just go to sleep and wake up and all of this Christmas crap was over!

I wished I had planned better...started saving in the summer, to insure there would be money there.

I wished Christmas had not became so commericalized...

I wish I made more money!

Again...I must say...Bah Humbug! I hate Christmas!!!!!

That is all..carry on!

Friday Funny...Santa is definitely a woman.....

Santa Claus is a woman!

Santa Claus is a woman because:
The vast majorities of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve and only go for a last-minute shopping spree.
For a he-Santa, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh.
Even if the male Santa did have reindeer, he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.
For a Santa man, there would be unavoidable delays in the chimney, where the Bob Vila-like Santa would stop to inspect and repaint bricks in the flue.
He would also need to check for carbon monoxide fumes in every gas fireplace, and get under every Christmas tree that is crooked to straighten it to a perfectly upright 90-degree angle.
Men can't pack a bag.
Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
Men would feel their masculinity is threatened...having to be seen with all those elves.
Men don't answer their mail.
Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."
Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
Having to do the 'Ho Ho Ho' thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

My kind of diet....

I was perusing some blogs, and clicking from one place to the other, and one of the bloggers I read mentioned she was thankful for white merlot...now, I have never seen or heard of white merlot, so I googled it. When I did, I stumbled upon this link:Easy wine.net

I no longer need to be on a diet to lose weight...but, if I ever have to again, (God forbid)..then this sounds like a plan that would be right up my alley..lol!


The Chardonnay diet was pioneered by girls in the UK and involves drinking large quantities of Chardonnay wine, water and tea. The Chardonnay diet is a short term diet and is not recommended for more than five days at a time. Like other short term diets, the Chardonnay diet will cause you to loose weight rapidly but, unless you change your eating habits afterward, the weight is not guaranteed to stay off.

On day one of the Chardonnay diet you drink at least two pots of tea in the morning and you continue to drink tea throughout the day until you are really quite hungry. You should try to wait until it is at least three o'clock. At this time, you should have a late lunch of either salad or chicken. Now's time for the Chardonnay wine part of the Chardonnay diet. At around six o'clock after your lunch has digested, you begin drinking a bottle of Chardonnay wine. Once you have finished the bottle of Chardonnay wine, you should go to bed.

Follow this same routine for two more days. If you are doing the Chardonnay diet correctly, you should find that you have lost two pounds for each day. That is a total of six pounds lost in the first three days!

The fourth day of the Chardonnay diet is a little bit different from the first three days. On the fourth day of the Chardonnay diet, you will have your usual tea in the morning but this time you will skip lunch altogether. At six o'clock, you can then have a normal dinner. You can choose whatever type of dinner you wish but something healthy would be very appropriate. Just don't forget to have a bottle Chardonnay wine with it. After all this is the Chardonnay diet. Also, you really shouldn't skimp on dinner. Your body really needs to replenish some vitamins and nutrients because the first three days of the Chardonnay diet can leave you feeling quite weak. After the fourth day of the Chardonnay diet, you may discover that you have gained a pound back. This is normal but you are still five pounds lower overall.

The fifth and final day of the Chardonnay diet Day five is a day of fasting. You should eat nothing at all until six o'clock when you have your final bottle of Chardonnay wine.

As with any other temporary weight loss diet, after completing the Chardonnay diet you should be careful of what you eat. Avoid foods that are high in fat and keep your meal sizes to a minimum in order to allow your body to adjust. This will also help to maintain your weight loss.

Although the Chardonnay diet may not be for everyone, someone who enjoys Chardonnay wine may think this is the best diet ever. Please note, you should always consult a doctor before going on a diet.



Now...honestly, my opinion is that this diet can't actually be real. I posted this in good humor...just for fun. I wouldn't recommend excessive drinking to anyone...regardless of whether or not it makes you lose weight....just saying.

Christmas humor....hee hee....

Where Have I Been?

This cartoon pretty much tells it like it is....



Seriously, this upcoming weekend, is my weekend to start my Christmas shopping...and if the crowds that I have seen, from driving by the mall, Toy's R Us, Wal-Mart and Target, I am going to need to up my fitness game to pretty much get it done....Headed to a possible recession my ass! The parking lots are packed, the crowds..unbelievable!

Both of the little boys have made out their lists....my question is, why in the hell do legos have to be so damned expensive...seriously, I have seen sets, of which 9 year old has requested, over $100 freaking dollars! It's just a bunch of plastic pieces...how can they get away with pricing that stuff so high?
I have bought one thing for Max, one thing for Aaron....seriously, that is all I have done, so I have my work cut out for me. I have to score an X Box 360, and I hope Friday when I go to buy it, I will be able to find it. If not, I am screwed! Because, um...that is what they asked Santa for...along with Guitar Hero.....so, pray that I will be able to find one.

Why start so late, you ask? Well...it has to do with that little pesky thing called money, you know..the green stuff....the stuff we have not had any extra off, until this Friday....

I got my tree up last Friday, a few decorations scattered through out the house....no outside lights as of yet....I am the only one that will put them up...and baby, it has been freaking cold outside...I have just not had the motivation...sigh....
Oh, well, if lights are not put up outside, it wont' be the end of the world. Maybe Justin, 14 year old will help me hang some icicle lights this weekend.

The two youngest want to spend Saturday baking cookies....I have been perusing the intranets for some yummy Christmas cookies, something that will knock everyones socks off....beyond the typical sugar cookie and chocolate chip cookie....anyone out there have any great Christmas cookie or candy recipes you would like to share with little ol' Dixie? I would be much obliged.....just send me an email, or leave me a comment. Consider it your Christmas gift to me....lol.

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Dreams...

I very seldom dream....if I do, I hardly ever remember them.
But, this morning, I had the most realistic dream...I was in a school of some sort, I think I was a teacher/aide or something. I believe it was a high school. As I was walking through the school, sitting in a chair, was this man...as I walked by, he grabbed my wrist, twirled me around and pulled me onto his lap....he smiled up at me, and took my face in his hands...pulled me into him, and kissed me....I actually felt the tingle from the kiss, then my alarm went off...Damn! Why does it always do that, when you are dreaming and you get to the good part!

Oh, this is the man I was dreaming about....


Why, I don't know. I seen Quantam of Solace several weeks ago. No one, or nothing was on my mind when I went to bed (Honey, if you are reading this, seriously, I was not fantasizing about another man, or any man) ...
Also, the whole school bit, I don't get that either....Oh, well...I just thought it was funny that I dreamed this sort of dream, about this man in particular.

So, what kind of crazy dreams do you have? Share with me!

FRIDAY FUNNY!

Signs You're Sick of the Holidays
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- 10 -
You've got red and green bags under your eyes
- 9 -
You're serving reindeer pot pie
- 8 -
When you hear, "Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'?," you scream, "No! I'm not listening!"
- 7 -
You climb on your roof and start shooting carolers in the ass with your BB gun
- 6 -
You think you hear your Christmas tree taunting you
- 5 -
Instead of spending time with family, you're watching some guy make photo copies
- 4 -
You're busted for running through town wearing nothing but mistletoe.
- 3 -
You've got eggnog coming out of your ears
- 2 -
Your standard response, "And happy holidays to you too, you bastard"
- 1 -
Two words: tinsel rash


(Source: Top Ten Lists from LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

A Fun Christmas Meme.....

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends. Sometimes gift bags, but most often wrapping paper. There is just something about the fun in ripping the paper off of that gift!

2. Real or artificial tree? Fake. I worry about a real one catching on fire, plus all the pine needles falling off.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it will be this Friday.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the weekend after the New Year.

5. Do you like eggnog? If it has liquor in it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Shamefully, I don't remember.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. Two.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have never received a bad gift. It is always the thought that counts with me.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? I have in years past, don't know if the budget will allow that this year. Maybe to just a few close family and friends.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have two. A Christmas Story and Bad Santa.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually two weeks before Christmas!

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My famous Christmas dinner...ham, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatos, homemade rolls, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, etc...plus all the great before dinner finger foods and desserts/cookies.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear...always!

14. Favorite Christmas song? Rocking around the Christmas tree.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes! To not know them would be so "un-American"..lol!

17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.


18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? I usually let the kids open one present Christmas Eve, that I pick out for them to open.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crowds at the stores and Mall.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Kind of a candy theme...gum drop garland, lot's of candy type ornaments.

21. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk of course! And some "Reindeer food".

22. Least favorite holiday song? White Christmas...I hate snow! I don't even want to sing about it!

23. Favorite ornament? The ones my kids have made.

There you have it...23 fun things about me regarding the holidays. Feel free to take this meme and make it your own. Just leave me a comment so I can come over and check out your answers!

Thursday 13......

13 Interesting Christmas Facts.....

~The Christmas tree was first introduced by Queen Victoria in 1846.

~Electric lights Christmas trees were first used in 1895.

~The movie "It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.

~ The song "Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving but become popular around Christmas time.

~You would receive a total of 364 presents if you were to receive every gift listed on the "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song.

~Candy canes were originally white straight sticks of sugar used to decorate a tree.

~In the United States alone, Visa cards are used an average of 5,500 a minute during the holiday season.

~Each year over 3 billion Christmas cards are sent out in the United States.

~Although many believe the Friday after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year, it is not. It is the fifth to tenth busiest day. The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the two busiest shopping days of the year.

~Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday and the tradition began in 1836.

~One town in Indiana is called Santa Claus. There is also a Santa, Idaho. (I know the one in Indiana is real. Been there. They have an amusement park called Holiday World, where you will find Santa every day of the year...Oops, I stand corrected...Santa is only at Holiday World during the season the amusement park is open, from May until October ).

~"Jingle Bells" was originally written for a Thanksgiving celebration in 1857.

~ The average American takes six months to pay off the holiday credit card bills. (Just in time to start all over again!!)


What interesting facts about Christmas do you know?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

TIS THE SEASON.....

This is so going to be me at our Office Christmas party! LOL...we always have a catered dinner somewhere, with Karaoke....one too many glasses of bubbly, and I very well may be singing, "This job blows"...lol.

I haven't even started my Christmas shopping. Not one single thing as been bought. I don't have any decorations up, nothing.
Don't worry, though...I plan to start the decorating this Friday night. Hubby has to work, I have no kids for the weekend, so it will be just me, the decorations and a bottle of wine! Hopefully, I will get it done. Then, this weekend, I plan to start some shopping. We are on a very tight budget...so, buying for 4 boys, is going to be hard. Our biggest purchase is going to be an XBox 360/Guitar Hero...

It would be so nice, if we could win the lottery or something...I hate how the pressure is on, trying to come up with enough money to satisfy everyone, make everyone happy. Hubby and I never buy for each other. As our primary focus, is the kids. It sucks....maybe that's why I procrastinate about starting my shopping.

Oh, well...I will do the best I can, hopefully the boys will be happy.

If it wasn't for the stress of money, I would love Christmas, but...because that always puts pressure on us, I hate it...it has become so commercialized. When I was a kid, we were just has happy with a few presents, our stocking. Which was usually filled with apples/oranges, candy canes, nuts and a box of chocolate covered cherries.
If my kids got that in their stockings, they would think a cruel joke had been played on them. But, I guess I have no one to blame but myself. I have always went above and beyond, set the bar too high, and it kills me to try to keep that level every year.

So, how many of you are like me, not even started your shopping/decorating?

I'm Back....

Well..hello, all! I am back...Back from the South and back to work! Thanks to all of you that left such heart warming Thanksgiving wishes for me on my last post! You guys rock.

Our Thanksgiving was nice..busy, but nice. It took us 15 hours to get to South Carolina. As I stated in my last post..we left our house Weds Morning at 3:45 a.m. and arrived at my Mom's at 7 p.m....we did ok, until we reached Atlanta, the 285 by pass all the way into South Carolina, was pretty much grid locked, bumper to bumper, 5 miles an hour...for 3 hours! It was horrible. I have never seen traffic so bad. I have made that trip probably 3 dozen times since I have lived in Indiana, and never have I seen traffic that bad. Of course, it wore on our nerves and hubby and I had a few short tempered moments with one another, but...as the saying goes, "All is well, that ends well"...we arrived safely and Mom was thrilled to see us.

Thursday, Thanksgiving, was spent cooking with Mom, as dinner at my brothers was going to be at 5 p.m. that evening. Believe it or not, it went off without a hitch..the sister in law and I were cordial to one another, we didn't have too much to say to one another, but no shots verbally or otherwise were fired. My brother didn't have the white lighting, but he did have a nice bottle of Merlot for me, so that was good. We had a great visit, and a great time....I got to see one of my favorite aunts and uncle's...they made an hour trip down from their house, just to see me! The only one out of four other aunts and one uncle they gave 10 hoots enough to come over and see me. My time was too limited to drive all over half of hell and tarnation to look for them..so, they were the only one's. Oh, well..maybe next time.

Mom and I had huge plans to go do some Black Friday shopping, but we just could not get up and out the door on Friday morning...we finally did venture out to the mall, but the one mall in Anderson was tiny, I forgot how small it really was, we couldn't find anything. WalMart was the same....too many people, it just wasn't worth it to me.
Friday night, hubby and I went to Greenville, which is the larger town, about 20 miles from my Mom's..to check out the Blind Horse saloon...
It was fun, but I was just a tad bit over dressed...lol. Anyway, we left there, went downtown and explored a few other bars, met some nice people from Buford, South Carolina....had a drink with them and ended up at a jazz bar, where I had a George Clooney look a like, totally hitting on me..it was so much fun! Even hubby got a kick out of watching this poor guy make a fool out of himself...

We spent Saturday, our last day, just hanging out with Mom, laying around dozing, watching t.v....we ended up going to pick up take out for dinner, then I went and visited my brother for one last visit, say good bye to my nieces, then we headed back to Mom's...packed up and hit the road at midnight Saturday night...so we could miss the traffic through Atlanta....we did fine there, and it was smooth sailing until almost out of Louisville, KY into Indiana, two accidents caused us to be delayed and once again, a trip that should have took 12 hours, took us 16 hours....

I was extremely glad to be home....now, it's back to work and the start of the Christmas Holidays. I have not even begun my Christmas shopping, still have to put up my tree...the pressure is on....

I will be so glad when the holidays are over and things can get back to normal.

I hope all of you had a terrific Holiday and a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving....(A day early)

I know I am a day early, but I am preparing to leave, in a matter of minutes, to drive to South Carolina...it is 3:30 a.m...I have not had any sleep, nor has hubby....please keep us in your prayers, that we arrive safely and that I can get along with my sister in law...

From my family to yours, Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

FRIDAY FUNNY

MY LIVING WILL





Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all, If that ever happens, just pull the plug."


So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.


She's such a bitch

Family Feud...And Not The Game Show Variety....

OK...so, as I have stated in an earlier post...I am leaving next Wednesday morning, to drive to SC to see my Mom and Brother for Thanksgiving. I am really looking forward to it, as I have not seen my Mom in a year and a half and my brother in 2 1/2 years....it's just going to be the Hubby and I....the older kids will be with their Dad's..and Max is going to Grandma/Grandpa's....I will miss them, but traveling with them, more than 10 miles is a nightmare.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing my Mom, My brother..but, not my brother's wife.
You see, several months ago, my brother called me crying, which he has never done before...his wife (who I always thought he was too good for) works with him, or should I say "worked" with him....my brother is a boss in his company, his wife worked in the office...one day, several months ago, my brother's boss called him into his office, along with several of the other "higher ups" and told him they had to fire his wife...the reason being, "They caught her on camera, having sex with several different men, on the job"....my brother was devastated....it was very hard on him, I knew he had not been happy with her for years...I felt so bad for him, his heart was broken...he threw her out, she took my youngest niece and left to go stay with her mother...he was going to file for divorce...he was worried about losing his car/his house, the girls...the oldest niece stayed with him for awhile...then, after a couple of months, for whatever reason, he took her back!

OK...I can understand sometimes it's easier to "just take them back" then have to go through a nasty divorce..and as my Aunt told me, "It's his heart, it's his life..she is the mother of his children"..blah, blah, blah...OK, I understand all that. Lord knows I made plenty of mistakes, especially with husband number two...the abuse I took from that man, was worse than any cheating (of which he did too) that he could have done..but, several times, I took him back, before I saw the light and got out of that marriage.

Maybe it's just going to take a little longer for my little brother to "see the light"....whatever....if that is his decision, to keep that toothless, Jerry Springer show reject, all power to him...sometimes, love truly is blind...

The problem I have is...I am still very angry with her....for what she did to my brother and for the fact that now, she blames what she did on my mother and refuses to let my mom see the girls, the very same girls that my Mom has practically raised, whom she baby sat, every day, for years, while they both worked....now that she has no job, she is at home with the girls, but my Mom has to practically beg to see them..these girls were my Mom's life and she is just devastated.

I wanted to have Thanksgiving at my Mom's apartment....ask my brother to just bring the girls over, by himself, but my Aunt (my Mom's sister) felt that I was being unreasonable...OK, so be it. I just know my temper, and I know that when I see her, it's going to be very hard for me to keep my mouth shut....but, for my Mom, (so she can see the girls) and for my brother, because he is my only baby brother, I will try and keep my mouth shut, we will go over to my brothers and pretend to be one happy family...I will try and be "cordial" to the woman, but that is as far as it goes, inside..I will be seething and I probably should duct tape my mouth shut, because Lord Have Mercy on her if I can't....Pray for me!

My brother did say he was going to acquire some good ole' Tennessee Moonshine..lol...maybe that will help me be a little friendlier..or, it could get really scary and go the other way.

Look for us on the next episode of the Jerry Springer show!

The days of our lives......

Seem to be passing us by in a blur...I can't believe.....



and I can't believe it's been almost a week since my last post. I just haven't had a lot to say, not a lot to talk about.

I am feeling better...and the kids haven't gotten sick..knock on wood. I hope they stay healthy. What with the holidays coming, it would really suck for them to get sick...it would suck regardless, as I feel so helpless when one of them gets sick.


(Forewarning...You men may want to skip the next few paragraphs of this post, has it contains women's body functions, you may not care to know about)

So, last week, Friday...I took the kiddos with me to the gym, put them in the day care, while I worked out...they were fine with that, because after my workout, I promised to take them swimming. What I didn't take into account, was that Mother Nature had decided to bestow her monthly gift upon me earlier in the day, and like a dummy, I came to the gym "unprepared"...I realized I didn't have the necessary "replacement items" upon the drive to the gym, but..I thought, oh, well...I seen a "machine" that dispenses those necessary objects in the women's locker room, I had some quarters...everything would be fine. After my workout, I went to the restroom, realized..uh, oh....everything was so not fine...I went and got a quarter out of my handbag, went to the aforementioned "machine" and it took my quarter...my only quarter, and didn't give me anything...I had Max in the locker room with me, suiting up, so I finished up in the restroom, temporarily created a "toilet paper diaper" for myself, drug Max behind me and went back out to the lobby, to ask one of the girls, that works at the gym, what was wrong with the machine....she goes, "It actually let you put a quarter in it? Well, that's surprising, we don't stock those"...um, you don't what? You have got to be kidding me? I pay $45 a month to come here, you people can't keep sanitary items in the women's locker room? That is ridiculous! So, I proceeded to beg each girl that worked there for one, to no avail....3 girls, not a one of them had a damned tampon. I was screwed....I thought, there is no way I can take them swimming, Max started to cry, we went back to the locker room....I was in a conundrum...what to do, what to do...I didn't want to break the boys heart, so I wadded up more toilet paper, stuffed it down in my pants and went out to the pool, still in my workout clothes, I sat down in a chair, let them play in the pool...for almost an hour, I sat there, praying I wouldn't leave a huge mess everywhere...thankfully, the toilet paper held up, for almost that an hour...until GUSH!!!! Holy shit...I jumped up, wrapped a towel around my waist, and yelled at the boys, "We have got to go and we have got to go now!!!"...they didn't understand why I had to pull them out of the pool...I tried to explain, as subtlety as I could, why....Aaron kind of understood, and was really sweet about it, he was like that's fine Mom, I have swam enough....I want to get home and watch my show on t.v. anyway...Max on the other hand, was not happy with me....I drug him off to the locker room, while Aaron went to the men's to change back into his clothes. While in the restroom, I thought to myself, I am not going to be able to make it home, without a huge mess....I was so mad at myself, I came out of the restroom and there was a new woman in there, getting ready to change her clothes and I approached her, with a pleading look and begged her, Please do you have a tampon? She did! Hallelujah! She was very sweet about it, we chatted for couple of minutes and I went back to the restroom part of the locker room, where Max was standing, now keep in mind, he really didn't know what was going on, he just knew Mom needed "something", and was desperate to have it...he seen my face, the tampon in my hand, he knew I had finally gotten what I needed...I told him to stand out side of the stall, I would be right out, and while in there, he goes, "So, Mom...did you get your coupon?"...I lost it..I laughed so hard, I could barely breathe....

That kid can say some of the darnedest things...I thought that was too cute not to share with the rest of you women out there. I am sure all of you , at one time or the other have had to deal with the same thing...Have you ever had to approach a stranger, ask for a sanitary item? Been caught without one? I swear, I will never let myself get caught in that situation again. My glove box of my car, now contains tampons, my desk at work, my purse will never be without one again. That was so embarrassing..especially since I was alone, with my two little boys, who I really don't care to explain the "birds and the bees" to at this point.

Ok..moving on...let's see, one day last week, I set up an account on face book...look for me, add me as a friend if you want....I am under Donna Hatke....I signed up basically to try and reconnect with my older boys a little more, as they have Face book accounts...and also, to try and find/locate some of the people I went to high school with, people from my hometown of Williamston, South Carolina....I found a couple...and surprisingly, one of my favorite bloggers, Raquel...found me! Hi, Raquel! I think I like it a little better than MySpace.....

Saturday, I slept in until around 9 a.m....that was as long as Max would let me sleep, before he started his demands of being fed...he gets up at the crack of dawn...and usually, he is ok for an hour or so, watching cartoons, playing with his action figures/army guys, until he can't stand it and has to get me up.
I spent the afternoon, syncing Aaron's Ipod and my Ipod, deleting songs/adding songs, etc....Hubby had worked the night before, so I tried to keep the boys as quiet as possible, so that he could get some sleep....After he woke up, we all showered and dressed, he took us out to eat at La Scala's....a wonderful Italian restaurant in downtown West Lafayette....the food was amazing...the boys actually behaved themselves...we had a nice evening. After Max went to bed, hubby went to work, Aaron and I stayed up and watched a movie on the computer together...

Sunday...we went to the movies..we seen this...


I was a little concerned about it being too graphic for the kids, but it was rated PG 13....so, I figured it wouldn't be too bad....and it wasn't. I wasn't 100% thrilled with it, due to some of the language...but, the boys know not to repeat some of the things they heard. Why can't they make a movie without having to curse so much? Anyway, Aaron loves James Bond...and had been begging me to go see it, Max was indifferent....he just wanted to go to the movies..because it meant popcorn/candy...that's all he cared about. Anyway, the movie was action packed...and loud...my Gosh, was it loud. Max had a hard time staying quiet...he got bored with it quickly...so, after two trips to the bathroom with him, a lot of shushing, we finally got through the movie and headed home.
I made some homemade chicken and dumplings for dinner...we ate, cleaned up and spent the rest of the evening relaxing...

Now, it's back to work...and I am in for a long, long week. I do have some consolation though...after this week, I only have to work two days next week, then I am going to SC to visit my Mom and brother for the Thanksgiving Holidays...I can't wait.

Hope you all have a good week!

Dixiechick...out!

Friday Funny...Dairy of a snow shoveler....(Warning..long post, but so funny!)

Subject: Diary of a Snow Shoveler



I guess you folks all know it snowed here last night. Here's a little something to warm up your souls.

December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season
and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window
watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven.
It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds
again. I love snow!

December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering
every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight!
Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the
best idea I've ever had.
Shoveled for the first time in years, felt like a boy again.
I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.
This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and
closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
disappointment.
My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white
Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful!
Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want
to see snow again.
I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our
neighbor.

December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped
to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so.
The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and
sidewalks. This is the life!
The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I
didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll
certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer.
Bought snow tires for the wife's car and two extra shovels. Stocked the
freezer.
The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think
that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the
driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour,
which I think was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere.
Electricity was off for five hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay
warm.
Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I
should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her.
God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in
my own living room.

December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff
last night. More shoveling. Took all day.
Damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but
they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying.
Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower,
and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're
lying.
Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I
think he's lying.

December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas, because 13 more inches
of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt 'til
August.
Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel, and then I
had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again, I was
too tired to shovel!
Tried to hire Bob, who has a plow on his truck, for the rest of the winter;
but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.

December 23: Only 2" of snow today, and it warmed up to "0". The wife
wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What, is she
nuts!!!
Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did, but I
think she's lying.

December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel.
Thought I was having a heart attack.
If I ever catch the son-of-a----- who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him
through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel.
I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling
and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow
all over everywhere I've just been!
Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our
presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25: Merry F!=3D@x@!x!x1 Christmas. 20 more inches of the
!=3D@x@!x!x1 slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my
blood boil.
God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a
donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have
a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's
a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was
all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27: Temperature dropped to -30, and the pipes froze. Plumber
came after 14 hours of waiting for him; he only charged me $1,400 to
replace all my pipes.

December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. The BITCH is
driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it
could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he
think I am?


December 30: Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver. He is now
suing me for a million dollars; not for only the beating I gave him, but
also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went
home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31: I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8: Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep
giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

The Flu....running rampant!

I am sick...missed work yesterday...I think it's the flu..my throat is sore, my head is stuffed up/achy, my body is sore/achy...I am so tired. I feel like I have a ton of bricks lying on my chest, I haven't been to the gym in four days....doubt I will go today. I am at work, but I don't want to be..missing yesterday guarantees no one will speak to me for the next two or three days....My hubby has been sick, he's just now getting over it...tells me it lasts about a week...yay! Just pray my kiddos don't get it....

Waahhhhhh! I want to go home!

The first major comment...from our President Elect.....

My Ancestry...

I haven't talked a lot about my past....how I grew up...my childhood..nor, have I talked about my heritage....as you may have perceived, via the title of my blog, I grew up in the south...the deep south...that I did...but, I was born in North Carolina..Ashville, to be exact....my Mom, married my dad when she was only 15 years old....that is one truth of the south..the women marry young...anyway, my dad was a truck driver...he drove the big rigs....one day, he came home from a run to California....he had been gone for several days....upon arriving home, he had complained to my Mom, who was only 18 years old at the time, that he didn't feel good...his chest hurt, his head hurt, he was going to lie down....my Mom went in to check on him, because she heard him cry out, and he ended up having a massive coronary and died in my Mama's arms...she was 2 months pregnant with me...I never met my Dad....Often, I am sad about that...my Mom remarried when I was two years old, and my Step Dad...he was a good guy....he raised me, but I kept my real dad's last name...and his heritage....you see, my real Dad...Eddie....was half Cherokee Indian..my Real Grandmother/Grandfather, whom I never met...were full blooded Cherokee Indians....my father was raised in foster care, so my real relatives have never been a part of my life...but, I know, due to my ancestry, that I am a 1/4 Cherokee...and when I listen to music, made by my ancestors...it touches a special place in my heart....as a child, my mother and step father took me and my brother to Cherokee NC many times....I danced the "rain dance", I wore the head dress...I had my own special tomahawk and female Indian dress....those memories are so special to me...and I so much want to be able to share those with my children....Where you come from means so much.....never be ashamed of your heritage...each country, each nationality has it's own special place in the world; embrace it, honor it and accept it....love one another......you may be around your friends, your loved ones, each and every day, but do you truly know them? Do you truly know yourself? If not, research your family history, see where your roots grew from, and embrace them, love them and be proud of them...I know that I am.

If I can one day look like and be able to do this....

Then I have truly reached my fitness goal...does this chick not have a freaking smoking body? How many more days at the gym do I have to go to achieve this? I am down to 114 lbs....and I am still what you call "skinny fat".....keep in mind, I have had four kids...and I doubt that I can achieve that stomach without a tummy tuck..but, dang it...I am trying....

I am no longer "dieting"...I watch what I eat every day....I have a gym membership...but, I don't have a trainer....I think that's what I need to pay extra for....and I will do so willingly..if they can teach me what I need to know to sculpt my body like hers...is that possible?

Belated Weekend/Halloween....

Wow, where is time going? Honestly....Halloween is over, we have elected a new President...and we are headed downhill, rapidly to Thanksgiving...I was in Hell-Mart yesterday....Christmas trees are up, decorations are out...and I have not even started my shopping. I feel like my life is passing by in a blur....

That's why I have not posted about our Halloween, or the previous weekend....I won't elaborate...old news now...I took the kids trick-or-treating...the ex tagged along for Aaron...can you say awkward? Then hubby invited him to tag along with us to the local Pizza King for dinner....I could have kicked his butt....but, it made Aaron happy...so, what's a mom and ex wife to do?

Anyway, here are a few pictures from Halloween.....


Max..as a Power Ranger....

Aaron...as a soldier....

I took pics of them afterwards...sorting their candy..but, unfortunately...the flash on my camera didn't work right, the pictures came out way too dark.
Anyway, they had fun....that's all that matters...

Now, I have to keep the candy hid, dole it out sparingly, or Max would get into it and eat it all in one setting.

My Saturday was spent running to Waveland to get Justin, grocery shopping, etc...
I did make a huge pot of chili...it was so yummy. I am talking a stock pot full...with cornbread...By Sunday night, it was gone...seriously...I had one little bowl...but the boys, ate it up! I went to the gym Saturday night...I like going on the weekends...late in the evening...hardly anyone is there. Nothing irritates me more than to go and find the place packed and have to wait on machines...that happened to me Monday..my work out normally takes an hour and a half..but Monday night it took 2 hours!

On the job front..Mr. Burns finished last week, hardly speaking to me, nor I to him....this week, he has been cordial...I still haven't put my personal effects back out on my desk, don't know if I will...because next time, which I am sure there will be a next time, that he goes off on me...I am walking out. I am smart, work hard and attractive...I should have no problem finding a new job..I mean, we have several hospitals, Purdue University, Ivy Tech, plus several Manufacturing plants, of which I am sure need office help...I can find another job. If things go smoothly, then I will wait until after Christmas, we file our income taxes, so when I do quit, and I don't have another job lined up, then we will be ok financially for a while until I do find one.

Well, that's about it...it's hump day...got to get through it and the rest of the week is easy peazy.

Have a good one everyone!

Election Day....

I voted..did you?

My first time ever..isn't that a shame...but, at least I finally did....I don't know why I felt so compelled this time....I watched the debates....I swayed back and forth, and I'm not sure I am 100% comfortable with my decision..but...It will be what it will be...

If you haven't voted, and you are registered, please do so...depending on where you live the polls are open until 6, or 7 p.m....make a difference...Vote!

A Little Halloween Humor on this Freaky Friday Halloween......

The Bar.


It was Halloween and three vampires went into a saloon and walked up to the bar.
"What will you have?" the bartender asked.
"I'll have a glass of blood," the first replied.
"I'll have a glass of blood, too, please," said the second.
"I'll have a glass of plasma," said the third.
"OK, let me get this straight," the bartender said. "That'll be two bloods and a blood light?"

Thursday 13.....Worst Halloween Candy

Halloween is almost here, have you bought your candy, are your costumes ready?



Halloween is full of fun/funny memories for me. I remember dressing up, my mom driving me and my brother around in her car, parking at the end of the street and letting us go up to the houses, as she followed behind in the car. We always made our own costumes every year....not like today, when you just go buy them off the rack, with no thought and hardly any planning. We were witches, mummy's, ghosts, ho boes....I only had one bought costume as a child....I believe I was in first or second grade and I was Raggedy Ann....it was a cheap plastic smock/dress that went over your clothes with a plastic mask, held by rubber band over your head...it had the two little slits where your nose went and little holes for your eyes...looked just like this actually.

Looking at it now, I laugh out loud at how ridiculous it was....but, back then, at eight years old, I thought it was the shiznit....yow!

Anyway, thinking about going out to buy my Halloween Candy today, got me to thinking about some of the worst Halloween Candy I got when I was a child, so I thought, what a perfect Idea for a Thursday 13 post...

So, here goes...13 of the worst Halloween candy from my childhood memories...

1. ) Apples (possiblity of razor blades)...they were always thrown away!

Why, even today, do people continue to give kids apples? Unless they are family, they get thrown away. My mom didn't allow us to eat them, I don't allow my kids....I am sure most are fine, but, I don't take that chance.

2.) Raisins....when trick or treating, it's for candy...raisins, unless cooked in something, or just gross..

Getting these as a kid, my brother and I usually chucked them out of our bag before we even left the front of the persons house.

3.) Toothbrushes...

What kind of evil person, gives a kid a toothbrush for their loot bag on Halloween....seriously? Even if you are dentist, that's just all kinds of wrong.

4.) Religious tracks..

Come on, we were kids...we didn't need to be told we were going to hell for trick or treating...luckily, I have never seen my kids get one of these..but, I grew up in the South, the Bible Belt...and you better believe there was always one or two religious fanatics out there that threw these in our bag...weirdos!

5.) Popcorn balls..

These were just..NASTY.....who in their right mind gives these to kids? Seriously, these were always thrown away...unless you are having a party at home, for people you know, don't give these out to trick or treaters...they will be thrown away!

6.) Mary Janes...

These came in this packaging, but also in the black and orange wrapping. Remember those? They always were the last halloween candy left and by Spring, Mom usually threw them away. My kids hate them too...and in our household, they are usually thrown away within the first week.

7.) Wax bottles..with the juice inside...

These were nasty...my brother would squirt the juice inside at me....I hated them!
Wax lips too..any kind of candy, made with wax, is just not candy!

8.) Bit-O-Honey....

I felt the same about these as I did about Mary Janes....anything that I had to chew for minutes and minutes, just not worth the effort...and the taste, don't even get me started on that...not like honey at all.

9.) Good-N-Plenty...

They looked like medicine, they tasted like it too...I absolutely abhorred this stuff....needless to say, right into the trash they went as well.

10.) Dots...

Chewy, jelly like candy...usually hard, no flavor...not a good candy to give out.

11.) Candy Corn...

As a child, I hated this candy as well...I like it now though....mixed in with some popcorn, not too bad.

12.) Pixie Sticks...

It's not that these were that bad, they were just a pain in the ass to eat...usually, the tip of the stick would get wet, from your mouth, you couldn't get all of the candy out...plus, they were messy. Today, if my kids get them, into the trash they go!

13.) Licorice...

Out of all the candy out there...this, black licorice is the one I loathe the most.
Hated it as a kid, hate it now.

That's it..my 13 most hated candies from my childhood trick or treat days..
What were your worst candies?

Also, how many of you parents out there wait until your Kids go to sleep, and pilfer through their candy, taking out your favorites and stashing them away for yourself?

I think this year, I am going to tell my kids that they have to tithe their candy, like you do in church, 10% of their loot, goes to me....just to cover my expenses, you know..for the costumes I lazily bought them, the gas money to drive them around, etc....Don't you think that's a good idea? Then I won't have to feel guilty about secretly stealing it from them after they go to bed..lol.

On a more serious note, I hope my kids also remember Halloween fondly when they grow up. I hope they make trick-or-treating fun for their children one day. I hope that with every year, I have been able to help create special Halloween memories for them.

And...to keep your house safe and make it memorable for your trick or treaters...give out the good candy, none of that crap I listed above..or you might end up being remembered by your neighboorhood kids as....


Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Take This Job And Shove It!!!!

Yesterday....I quit my job! UM....but, the Branch Manager wouldn't let me...

Here's the scoop...

You all know how much I hate my job and I dislike my Commercial Manager..i.e..Mr. Burns....well, yesterday, the shit literally hit the fan! I was at my desk, dutifully working, and he walks in, ranting and raving about an invoice for a sub contractor that we use...an improperly submitted invoice, by the contractor...an invoice without correct information on it,that two months ago I had called the subcontractor about, told them until we get proper information and a W-9..we could not process it for payment..I had to leave a message for them, as they didn't answer the phone...they never called back...so, yesterday, Mr. Burns had a meeting at an apartment complex in town, for some work he was going to sub contract them for...at the meeting, they asked Mr. Burns where there payment was...so, he came back to the office, bellowing/yelling at me, loudly and hatefully...I calmly looked at him, trying to explain my end of the deal, and told him not to yell at me.....he continued on and on and on, ranting and raving, I calmly stood up, looked at him and said, "I Quit...I have put up with enough !"...I went to the restroom, stood in the stall and started crying, "Oh, shit...oh, shit, oh, shit...I just quit my job, two months before Christmas, and I just quit my job"....Hubby had already emailed me that morning, telling me to quit before hand, as we had just had a discussion about it the night before and that morning, before I came to work....yet, I freaked out! I went into my Office Managers office (she is new, 3 weeks-not really, she worked here several years ago and came back, and is also a friend of mine) and she had heard Mr. Burns yell at me, said it was totally uncalled for and he was out of line, but for me to please reconsider, please not quit...I told her how I have been feeling for a long time about my job, how much I have come to loathe it ...she understood, but begged me to reconsider...

I came back into my office and Mr. Burns was on the phone and I started packing up all my personal stuff (pictures of my kids, candles, drawings the kids made me, etc.) and he immediately lies and tells the person on the phone that he had an urgent meeting that came up and he had to go....he jumped up from behind his desk and came right up behind me, saying things like, "Donna, please don't do this...stop! I need you..I can't do this without you"....blah, blah, blah.......he came around to the front of my desk and started yelling, "I am sorry I am not Tony (Tony was my former commercial manager and I totally thought the world of him)...You have never liked me, because I am not Tony" on and on, whaaa whaaa...as he was yelling this, extremely loudly, like a crazed psycho..my Branch Manager who is across the hall, came into our office, told Mr. Burns to, basically, sit down and shut up....He reamed Mr. Burn's ass, told him he heard him yelling at me across the hall and there was absolutely no excuse for it...Mr. Burns immediately started apologizing..."I am so sorry Donna...I was on a job site, yelling across the property and didn't realize I had not toned it down"...bull shit! He was trying to cover his ass with our boss...at this point, and I hate when I do this, but I was in tears...streaming down my face...my Branch Manager pulls up a chair, and basically begs me to reconsider...telling me, "We have been together a long time, please reconsider this...I don't want to lose such an exceptional employee, the company doesn't want to lose you"....like I said, blah, blah, blah....

I mean, I was going to walk out the door, right then, right there....but, I do like my Branch Manager and my Office Manager, and I couldn't do that to them...I told him I would think about it, he said that was all he could ask, but if I were going to quit, to please give them a couple weeks.....he then continued to ream Mr. Burn's....also telling him he needed to relax, calm down and quit being so off the wall all the time....

For the rest of the day, I had bouts of crying spells, and Mr. Burns didn't speak to me hardly at all....I emailed hubby, asked him what I should do, he still tells me to quit...

Right now, this morning, I don't know where I stand....I am scared...as it is so close to Christmas and without my income, I doubt the kids will have Christmas and I can't do that to them..I have to have a job lined up...so, I am torn...I had a very sleepless night last night....I am sure there are going to be many more sleepless nights until I figure out what to do...this job is like a cancer, it continues to break me down, mentally and emotionally.....I know I have to make a change...if not now, the first of the year.....