Shallow End.

I have to dive into the shallow end. I just can't dwell on the idiots and asshats today.

So talk to me about blue jeans. Favorite brand? Type of cut? Where do you buy them?

I just discovered that my favorite brand, Cruel Girl, has carpenter style jeans. Same great fit, but a bit more relaxed for those oh-so-bloated, icky, ooky days. Love them!!!

Pro-Birth, Pro-Death, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice...WTF Ever

As Post #498, I'm afraid my thoughts will get lost, so I will copy them here. I have more to say on this and may add more at a later time. Right now, I'm so overwhelmed with thoughts, I'll leave it at this:

I'm quite sure that I will not be able to express my thoughts and opinions as impressively as many on this thread have. However, I feel that I must. Why? Because I am able to make that choice, which is what this entire monster boils down to.

I've made that choice once. I had it made for me another time. I was 18 the first time I conceived with my ex-BF, while on the Pill. A freshman in college. God made the first choice for me by having me miscarry. The second pregnancy was at 19, while on the Pill. At the end of my second year of college. I was asked point blank by my ex stepmother what I was going to do about IT. My baby was never an IT to me. It was my child from the moment I found out I was pregnant. He was not planned, I had no clue how I'd manage to have him and support him, but I knew I would.

HOWEVER! That was my choice. A choice that I am quite thankful I was able to make. You see, I also have a friend who was pregnant at that time. She was in a bad place in life - no family, few friends, very little stability and no money. The child's sperm donor walked out before she found out she was pregnant. Having that child was something that just was not possible for her at that point. And yes, she too was on the Pill.

Pregnancy happens, planned or not, birth control or not. What choice my friend made is not important to the story. The knowledge that she had the choice was enough. She did what she felt was best in her life. And while I could not see myself ever making the decision she did, I respect her for knowing herself well enough to make the decision.

How many children are left to die in dumpsters across this country? How many children are dropped on orphanage, church, hospital or fire department steps within hours of birth? How many children live in foster homes or orphanages for 18 years, never knowing what family is all about because their mother left them in another's care with hopes of a better life? How many children grow up with no clothes, minimal food, and a cardboard box for shelter? How many children cannot read and write because they do not go to school? How many children will never know the beauty of life because their family is in a horrible place that cannot be remedied? How many children can you identify that your child knows, you pass on the street, or hear about in a news story that are abused or left for dead or murdered by "loving" parents? How many parents hate their child and cannot stand the sight of raising it?

How many abortions are performed in the United States each year for whatever reason?

ETA: My ex-DH was adopted, as was his brother. If he had been aborted, my children would not be. Still, that is not enough for me to tell any woman of any age that she has no choice.

ETA #2: Have you ever heard of a story where the doctors try to persuade a woman to have an abortion because it is a severe possibility that she could die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth? I have. My own mother's doctor tried to convince her not to have me because of her health condition. To her, having a child was more important. Was it the right choice for her? I'd like to think so. If she hadn't had that choice....

Only a woman knows.

DH's New Truck

So DH finally found a vehicle he wanted. There were some things at Christmas that had to be taken care of, so we didn't get anything then. So anyway, here it is (sort of):

This is a picture I found on the internet of the same style truck - an 82 Ford F-150 step side. It looks identical to this except his is...yep...fire engine red. *grin* He bought it yesterday for $1000 and we've put about $150 in parts and $150 in TT&L into it and it is beautiful! *bigger grin* The best part? Full coverage insurance is $28.16 a month! *biggest grin*

I even told DH to watch his keys or I might just be taking his truck to work.

Edited because I'm a moron and the truck is a 1982 Ford, not an '85.

*peeks head in*

*looks around*

*tiptoes through blog land*

*runs back into hiding*

---------------------------

Sorry I've pretty well disappeared on you guys. It's not intentional, I promise. Unfortunatly, real life has been a bitch the last couple of weeks. DH is back to himself, the kids are at their dad's for the weekend, I've completed the car window shopping for today, and I'm putting off the housework that is screaming to be done.
*smooch*

Hey ya'll!

How is your week going? Been crazy busy at work again this week plus with Rotten1's birthday...Whew! Tonight, I have the house to myself with DH at work and the Rottens at their grandma's. I think I'll be soaking in a tub, doing a mini-pedicure and playing online while watching Lost. Who wants to play online with me?

*smooch*

Happy Birthday to my baby

I can no longer hug, kiss, or say I love you in public. I can no longer act like a concerned parent unless he says it's okay. I can't say he's cute, only that he's cool. I can't pick out his shoes, because I no longer know what shoes are in style. I can still pick out clothes, but not all the time. I no longer tell him how to wear his hair, because really, it's not worth the fight.

My baby is growing up. He says things like Yes, Ma'am and No Sir without being told. He has been on the All A Honor Roll since kindergarten. He thinks for himself, enjoys a challenge and has an extremely wonderful sense of who he is at this age. He knows what he likes, he isn't afraid to speak his mind, and most of all, he actually knows about respect and the truth. And, most importantly (to him anyway), girls aren't quite so icky and gross anymore.

My baby, named for himself and my baby brother, is eight years old today!

One of my favorite pictures of Rotten1 - at two years old.

And one from earlier this month

*happy dance*

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday!

So what are your weekend plans? It's supposed to be verrrrrrrrry cold with freezing rain and sleet and temps no higher than 35 for the weekend. Poor Rotten1. What crummy weather for his birthday weekend. Of course, that's only my opinion. He's quite excited about the prospect of "snow" on his birthday. Tonight, I'll stop by the firewood place and grab a few bundles and head to the house, where I will stay warm and toasty all weekend. Which reminds me, what do you do about that fireplace smell that seems to linger in the house for a day or so after you clean out the ashes from the fireplace?

MEN! Ugh.

Who takes care of the bill paying in your household? Do you have individual bank accounts or a joint account? If you have individual accounts, do you both contribute the same amount to bill paying? Here's the background. DH and I have individual accounts that our paychecks are deposited into. We also have a joint account that I pay all of the bills out of. Every other Friday when I get paid, I go deposit a significant (80% or better) chunk of my check into our joint account. On Saturday, I pay bills. Lately, I have had to ask DH a few times for money to pay bills (40% of his check or so). I am the primary breadwinner and I also am the only one who has a car payment at the moment. We get paid on the same day. This isn't a new routine. I've decided that I'm no longer going to ask him to give our joint account money. If the bills don't get paid because he didn't put his share into our account, then so be it. It's Thursday afternoon and we got paid last Friday. No $$$ yet. Can we say frustration?

Now, I'm also irritated because this weekend is Rotten1's birthday. He's decided he doesn't want a party like we've done for every birthday he's ever had. He wants his best friend since birth to come over and spend the night Saturday. Okay, no big deal there. DH mentioned last weekend that he might take the boys to play laser tag on Saturday for Rotten1's birthday. Well, Rotten1's friend's mom called last night and they have a Cub Scout thing on Saturday night. No biggie. We'll work around that. So I call DH today to let him know all of this....he tells me to do whatever Rotten1 and I want and we can go do whatever, whenever. UGH! I remind him about laser tag. He's not sure he wants to take the boys. What.the.fuck.

I'm about ready to tell him to pull his head out of his ass and get with the program. Never, in the four years I've known him, has he been as frustrating and irritating as he has been this past week. And I'm not even PMSing!

Alright, Alright. Sheesh.

Can't a girl have a life outside the box? *grin*

Seriously, I've been in and out with a minute here or there to check up on others' blogs and whatnot. Work went stupid on me (again) and I took yesterday off work to go to the kids' Valentine's parties at school all day. Life has just been crazy busy the last few days.

But I'm here. I'm alive. And no, I didn't pass out from all my rum and cokes. Although, I'm wishing I had.

So.
Carey? How is your back?
Kim? How was the hotel? Was Chris surprised?
mm? Did DH leave you alone for V Day?
Sonya? Did Max ask you to marry him?
Tkit? How's the weight loss/gym time going?
Bob? Did you ever write your abstracts? How are your Ramen noodles? Graduate pay must really suck.
Glowbug? How was your first Valentine's Day as a married woman?
Monsty? AllStah wasn't a Valentine lobstah, was he?
Nookie? As Mr Nookie made it through blogland yet? I wouldn't want to miss him.

*smooooooooooooch*

Ahhhh. Bliss.

Weekends are much more enjoyable with coconut rum and orange juice or coke and a fire in the fireplace.

Last night, I wanted to be part of the Friday Night Loser's Club. Apparently, I was the only one online. I slept in til almost 9 today and spent much of the day roaming around the local towns doing a bit of shopping. Found a Monster Truck Jam DVD, a computer game on clearance, and a learn to play your acoustic guitar CD/book for Rotten1's birthday next weekend. I've been playing with a computer game for a while tonight, made beef stew and cornbread tonight for dinner and I'm now relaxing with yet another rum and coke and a fire.

This? is the life. It's 35 outside now and expected to be around 20 in the AM. BRRRR!!!! Hope you all are staying warm and relaxed tonight. *smooch*

Thank Goodness

I haven't been this happy to see a Friday in quite a while. It's been an unbelievably stressful week at work, the kids have been heathens, one of my employees is out with strep throat, and I am in desperate need of a break. The kids are at their dad's this weekend. Work will be over in 8 1/2 hours. DH will be home all weekend, so maybe, just maybe I can relax tonight while he's at work and be ready to go again tomorrow.

Edited to add this bit stolen from Arkie:

Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real"

You're a bit of a cynic when it comes to love.You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!) Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get

What does your candy heart say about you?

I'm hungry

I didn't eat breakfast this morning because...well, I don't normally eat breakfast. Yes, I know, it's the most important meal of the day. But, at 6 am, food is just not an appealing thought. Blech. And normally, I don't even think about food until around 10:30-11 am anyway. But today? I'm hungry and it's only 9. I'll never make it til lunch. So, between the Coke machine, the coffee maker, the hot chocolate, and our vending machine...what should I eat/drink? Or, will you send me some of your breakfast?

Cute Rottens!

Since I didn't feel the need to drag the kids to get their pictures taken....I took a bunch in our backyard yesterday.

Four Things Meme

I got tagged by Carey, who got tagged by Catt, who got tagged by Mon Cherie, who got tagged by Dweeze, so here are my answers:

Four jobs I've had:
1. Production Supervisor/Product Coordinator
2. Office Manager
3. Waitress
4. Preschool Teacher

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Toy Story
2. Pretty Woman
3. Ladder 49
4. Stepmom

Four Places I have lived:
1. Union Valley, Texas
2. Jacksonville, Texas
3. Nacogdoches, Texas
4. Houston, Texas

Four Shows I love:
1. Lost
2. Survivor
3. CSI (The original one)
4. Spongebob Squarepants

Four highly-touted TV shows I detest:
1. Battlestar Galactica
2. CSI Miami
3. American Idol
4. 24

Four books I'd recommend to anyone, anytime:
1. The Stephanie Plum series
2. Little Women
3. Huckleberry Finn
4. Most anything by Nora Roberts

Four places I have vacationed:
1. Kansas City/Branson/Silver Dollar City, Missouri
2. Las Vegas
3. San Antonio
4. Nashville

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Seafood
2. Mainstream Mexican food
3. Most Italian food
4. Barbeque - ribs, chicken, pork, ham, turkey

Four sites I visit daily:
1. OT
2. blogger
3. ebay
4. MSN/Yahoo games

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Some beach, some where
2. Hawaii
3. Home
4. Picking up the winnings from Saturday's winning lotto

And I'm tagging:
1. Iggy
2. Supes
3. weltek
4. Breezy, who doesn't have a blog.

Edited once cause I tagged Bob, who had already been tagged by Boo. Edited again to remove Sonya, who was tagged by Coco, and mm because she already has hers up

Calling all gardeners......

When are you supposed to plant bulbs? I think I want to plant a new section of garden and I'd love to do some bulbs...is it too late? Early?

Questions

So I was in the shower and getting ready for bed last night and I thought of a few random questions I have.

1. When do you stop getting pimples? Every month, without fail, I will get 2-3 monsters right about that time. Not to mention the smaller ones I get regularly on my chin and near my eyes.

2. Do you drink milk? How often? I almost never drink milk.

3. Besides playing in blogland and on the computer, do you have a hobby? I don't. And I really think I need one. But I don't know what I want to do.

Oh shit.

I was sitting here writing a letter to my Grandma when I realized something so major, such a huge faux pas...I cannot believe I committed this mortal sin. I'm going to hell for sure. I forgot to send my aunt a Thank You card for our Christmas gifts. She knows I'm a flake about stuff like this, but....I feel awful. Is it too late to send a thank you? Should I expect to be cut off for the next five years?

Crap.Crap.Crap.

ETA: I should mention that this is my aunt who is known (and has done it for years) for sending only belated birthday cards or letters she wrote over a month ago and added an update to before sending two months later.

Your mission for today.....

is to say something nice to a fellow blogger.

And no, you cannot refuse to accept your mission.

It's Hump Day - so call it foreplay if you must.