My body

It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair! Let me just advise any of you reading this post today, if you aren't pre-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal, you'll just think I'm going crazy and just stop reading this particular post.

OK, I understand that I'm getting older. I take comfort in reading many of your posts because you are going through the same things I am, or have been through the same things I'm going through. You can comisserate with me. It really is nice to be able to share my pain with so many of you. Really...

I've decided my body hates me. Now, I accept the fact that I'm getting older and my body is changing. I can deal with that. It's my body's timing that needs to be reset. I've read so many posts about hormones, hot flashes and mustaches, but my biggest pain in all of this is "My dreaded period"!!!!!! Let me give you some examples of the timing of my body:

1) The day before my wedding, I start...
2) Luckily my body decided to skip the whole month of October, which I genuinely appreciate since I went on my honeymoon in October
3) Pay back in November. 3 weeks and 2 days worth of pay back
4) Tomorrow is my 46th birthday, New Years Eve and there will be no kids in the house all night. Guess what just started today???? 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count....

My body hates me. I swear it knows when there are not going to be any teenagers around and then it decides "It's time"!!!!! Does anyone feel my pain???? My FRUSTRATION!!!!!

Now most of you can see why my post from yesterday was so depressing and hormonie...... On the day before I start, I'm about as nice to be around as a pile of dog crap... Seriously... You look at me the wrong way and I'll either claw you're eyes out or start crying or most of the time both....

Back to work... I just had to get that off my chest!

After Christmas blahs...

I don't know about you guys, but I've been in a real bummer mood today. It might be that I had to go back to work or it might be that my mom and dad left for Florida yesterday for the winter or it might just be that Ace and I have worked our butts off on Christmas baskets for the last 2 months and now Christmas is over... I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one that's going through this. I know there are people that are out there that get depressed just because the holidays are coming. For me, the anticipation of the holidays is what gives me the energy to "Get R Done.." I also glad to see that I'm not the only one that hasn't had the time to post lately. I've only had time to read a couple of your posts in the last month. But I'll get caught up. Actually I wanted to unveil a couple of our baskets that I went on about forever.
















I also wanted to show our picture window frames, built by my wonderful husband. The pictures are of our honeymoon in the Smokeys. It looks like you are looking out a window and all you can see are the Smokeys.




I have to pat myself on the back, and Ace's too, when it comes to our Christmas Smokey Mountain gift baskets. We had the window picture frame, homemade noodles, a package 0f country biscuit mix, homemade apple butter and a jar of homemade cocoa that is soooooooooo good and creamy. I'll have to share it with you when it gets really cold outside. (That would be about 10 degrees for those of us who love to experience all fours seasons). On my next post I'll show the Christmas presents from last year. I think you'll appreciate it. Until then, Happy Holidays and be safe!

Noodles

Well four dozen eggs and 12 pounds of flour later, I'm three quarters of the way through making noodles. I ran out of space... These have to dry 3 or 4 days before I can package them up. Plus I have to flip them twice a day and cover them with more flour. So far I've invested about 4 1/2 hours on these. Is it worth it! YES! My family loves there packages of noodles. They expect it now. I finally got my mom's marble rolling pin. I'll have to take a picture of that prize. I've been trying to get this rolling pin from my mom for almost 20 years. Ace says I should keep it because I'm the family noodle maker now, but I think my mom might be having withdrawal symptons from not having her rolling pin. She doesn't like the one I switched her for. Mines about 15 years old and about 10 years ago I put "Husband Tamer" on it with a black sharpie and you can still see it. I'll have to get a picture of the two rolling pins to really see the difference. I talked to mom tonight and she told me to keep it for the winter, since they'll be in Florida until April (Said with a snarl and I'm so jealous).


I wanted to give you quick update on A1. Here's his surgery day picture



Feeling the pain. Not a happy camper at all. But he's doing much better. Has a lot more rotation in his shoulder also. This is a picture of him at his football awards banquet last night.


So there's my quick update. Need to finish putting the polyurethane on our Christmas projects. I can't wait to show you our baskets. One comment though: I've been reading all kinds of articles about the recession and how everyone needs to simplify everything with homemade gifts to conserve on the old budget. I've known this secret for so many years. There is so much satisfaction in giving someone a present that you have made and to tell you the truth, you spend as much on the Christmas projects as you would going out and buying a present, but there is really no ownership or pride attached. You spent money for something someone else made. People are learning the pleasure of making their Christmas presents and I truly believe they will be amazed at the faces on the receivers of those presents. I'd rather have a homemade present that cost $10 then a store bought gift that I'll probably lose or break anyway.

Keep it up ladies! Christmas is getting closer. Christmas is going to be grrrrrrreat this year!

Christmas time! I love it! I've been reading all your blogs and how crazy Christmas time is. We have this to do and that to do and if we don't do these things then nothing else will get done... But we love it! Admit it! You love the challenge of getting it all done. That extra hour you spent after the kids went to bed, adjusting the lights and ornaments the kids had just finished putting up, just because you know where everything should be to look just right. You also have to find that perfect hiding spot for all the presents, because we know if we left it up to our husbands to find a hiding spot, the presents would be in the coat closet with a sign "DO NOT TOUCH OR ELSE". Such cleverness from the male species. We work on homemade crafts or foods we can give as gifts with the knowledge that everyone thinks we are so clever and we bask in the glow. And why do we do this to ourselves???? The only answer I've ever been able to come up with is that we've watched our mothers do this every Christmas and we MUST carry on the tradition... Sorry if there are males out there that are taking offense to what I'm writing, but deep down you know this to be true. Now I'm one of the fortunate ones. My hubby loves Christmas projects. I can't wait to show you our newest Christmas presents, but I'm going to wait until after Christmas, because my mom, dad and sister read my posts. "Ace" is so my male match, soul mate or whatever you want to call it. Just as an example of how wonderful he is, he had just been rubbing my back while I typed this and was reading it (I know Awwww!) He got kind of quiet and it hit me that he might take offense to what I wrote, which I was just generalizing... And I told him he was the exception to the rule. He went back upstairs and I started typing again and he came back down and told me he was sorry that he influenced what I was writing and to take it out.. How many men would have done that???? Maybe more than I imagine, but my past experience with my "ex" serves as my model... Anyway, now that I've completely changed subjects, I'll switch back to Christmas. So far my tree is up with only the lights on it, the lights are up outside, but I still need to finish my wreath and there are boxes all over the place and my dad gave my sister and I one of his Christmas villages, so I want to show them off. I haven't done any shopping, noodles, cool other little gifts (sorry my parents are still reading this and I'm not going to give the secret away), decorated what I need to decorate, but I will get it done, because that is what we do... Thanks for reading!

Well we are home safe and sound. Dr. R said the tear was bigger than he had expected, but the stitches are in place. We even have pictures. Kind of cool to see what your kid looks like inside. When Z1 had to have an emergency appendectomy we got pictures of that also. Not sure why anyone would want pictures of their appendix, but he has them. Dr. R said he's going to have a talk with A1. No more 90 lb dumb bells for him. A1's only about 5'8", but he's very muscular. This is a picture of their band. He's the shortest one. The tallest one with the glasses is my 13 year old step son. The one on the right is my 16 year old step son. The one with the number 22 on his shirt is the drummer. A1 takes after my side of the family. My dad's only an inch taller than me and I'm only 5'3". Anyway, he's doing OK. The 48 hour nerve block is wearing off already, so he's started on the Darvocets. Thank you for all your prayers. I'm sure I'm going to need the patience of a saint come Sunday when the real pain is supposed to hit... Thank you Lord for DARVOCETS.

Is it really worth it

Well tomorrow is the big day. My baby, oh ok I know he's 18, but he's still my baby, has his shoulder surgery. He's been a power lifter for a couple of years and he plays football. To say the least, the child has two bad shoulders, two bad knees, we've been through 3 concussions and a bruised spine. But this is the first time he's actually had to have surgery to repair something. I'm not sure how I feel about this. The anxiety level is definitely there, but I hope all this pain he's been going through and will be going through will teach him he's not invincible. I put the majority of the responsibility on him, because he's the one that did it to himself, but I also blame the coaches. They push these kids so hard and there are consequences if you don't do as they say. He should have had this surgery over a month ago, but the head coach was adamant that he wait until after the football season. So he waited. Is it really worth the punishment the kids go through to have a winning football team. Yes, there is some good that does come with it. My nephew is one of the ones that has benefited greatly from football. He's got a full ride scholarship to a great University and this Sunday he's leaving for Hawaii for the American Bowl. Like I'll ever get to see Hawaii... But, he's had knee and foot surgery already and he's only a senior in high school. I can only imagine what he'll be like with four years of college football debilitating his body. Is it worth a life time of pain for football? Yes, if you make several million dollars a game, but high school football. I think not. Now before all you men get huffy about your football, don't get me wrong. I love football, but I don't like the coaches and training staffs, because I've seen what matters to these coaches and I don't think its the players. It's winning at all costs. It's kind of like a politician. They are all gung ho about war, but what if their child was over in Iraq? Don't tell me that wouldn't play on their conscious when they were making these decisions about whether to leave or stay. Make more money or bite the bullet and stand up for what is right. Damn! the money. But that doesn't happen very often does it? I didn't start this out to be a vent sessions, but oh well... I had to tell someone how I was feeling besides my husband. Let me know what you think... Am I just being a mom and letting my emotions take over, or do you agree with me. What can we do about it? I don't know... I'm just venting at the moment. Have a great night, I'll try to get some sleep... I'll let you know how everything went tomorrow. See ya!

I need to write something happy or I'm going to start beating my head against the cement wall. Had a wonderful 4 day weekend, not too much drama, and then it happened... I had to go back to work. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job, I'm good at it, but I do the job that at least for now, could use 3 full time associates helping me out. Then you read the headlines on Yahoo "Economists officially declare US in a recession. Obama picks Clinton for Secretary of State. (maybe that's a good thing) and the list goes on. So I'm going to think happy thoughts now... I love my husband. I've never met another person that wants to make me so happy all the time. He actually cares about what I want. I have the most wonderful mom and dad who I'm just now realizing how much stress I've put them under, especially the first 3 years after my divorce. I'm truly sorry mom and dad... I have 2 sons of my own, who have always been the center of my universe and I'd do the whole 20 years over again, just to have those two. I have 2 step sons. They need to start picking up after themselves, but they truly are amazing. I have aunts and uncles and cousins I love and I'm loved by them. I have the most wonderful and funny sister. Her email about Christmas lights was in my last post. I have brother/sister in laws and ex brother/sister in laws who love me and would do anything for me. I have a niece and a nephew that are so much like their parents, who I love dearly. I have a man who truly loves me, I have a career with a very stable company, I have a home (well actually two homes, my oldest son lives in my house in another town, but I still pay the mortgage) That's a blog in itself... I could use some advice about that, I'm not hungry, I'm warm.... So to hell with the world that is outside of my control. I'm going do the best I can, I'm going to cherish every moment with my husband and family and I'm going to thank God every night and morning for the things he has given me. I guess I should have made this my "What I'm Thankful" post. Thanks for taking the time to let me vent and lose some stress along the way. I hope you all have a warm and wonderful evening.

My sister

My sister sent this email. I had to share it with you!

We did it! Todd and I hung our outdoor Christmas lights today! I just had to share our holiday spirit, so I wrote this message to the tune of,"The Twelve Days of Chrismas," just to share our joy! Here goes...During the first phase of decorating the outside of our house we made Twelve trips up the ladder, needed Eleven feet of extension cord, made ten trips to the attic, straightened nine tangled light strands, needed eight brand new fuses, replaced seven burnt out light bulbs, shouted six,"I don't knows!", endured five hours of swearing!!!! spent Four twenty dollar bills, gulped three Frapuccinos, made two trips to WalMart, and discussed one pending divorce! Ta! Da! We made it! Happy %$#@ Holidays! So what's your Christmas story?

I think she should blog...

Oooops!!!

I know, I blew it. That's what happens when my mind starts rambling. My thoughts go faster than my fingers and I Oooops! it... Yes, Ace's real name is John. So I guess I can forget having a real cool name for my husband. I really like Harley Stud and Briefcase. Ace's name came from the fact that my husband loves KISS! And especially Ace. So the gigs up. Oh well...

The Holidays

I love the holidays. When I think of Thanksgiving and Christmas I actually feel a warm glow inside. I'm not trying to be poet. I'm explaining a feeling. It's because I know I'm going home for the holidays. Don't get me wrong, I love Ace and the life we are growing together, but there is no place like home. Dad and Mom's or "DAM" for short. When I'm at my mom and dad's I can leave my troubles behind for awhile. I don't have to be a mom. I don't have to be an associate. I just get to be me. My family means everything to me. I remember in my previous job, I was offered an opportunity to move to Florida and manage one of our offices. 2 weeks before I was to leave, I decided I couldn't leave my family and I wasn't going. My boss wasn't happy, but he got over it. I live about 2 hours from DAM's. The trip there seems to go so fast and the drive home seems to go on forever. But back to my holiday memoirs... When I was young, every Christmas Eve, we would go to church for a candle light service, then drive over to Gma and Gpa' S. house and the whole family would be there to watch the "G's" open their presents. Now you have to imagine this... My mom and SMB's dad are brother and sister. There are 8 siblings all together and they're there with their families. Let's just say we always packed ourselves in like sardines. But that was the fun of it. When we left the "G's" house, we'd go home and always get to open one present. It was always pj's but it was still exciting. On Christmas morning my sister and I would be dying to go downstairs, but we had to wait until the "G's" got there. On Christmas day, the "G's" would go visit everyone of their kid's families that lived near enough. We always got first dibs... Then we'd have our Christmas and breakfast. The G's would leave and we'd get ready to go have Christmas was my dad's side of the family. They always drove us kids downstairs after the presents were opened, but we had always gotten some kind of gift that we could use to put a show on. (Like ventriloquist dolls or dress up clothes). So the kids would go downstairs and make up a skit or song or something. then we'd put on a show for the adults. We thought it was a blast. Our parents were so clever. They got us out of their hair for an hour or so and we didn't get it... So my memories of Christmas's are all about family. Our families are getting older and moving further apart. Take this Christmas, we are going to DAM's house the weekend before Christmas for our big family Christmas and then sometime over the weekend, we'll have our separate DAM Christmas. But on Christmas day, John, I and the boys will be staying home... I'm not real sure if I'm ready or old enough to make this transition, but it's being forced upon me. I really don't like it because right after Christmas, DAM go to Florida for 3 months. But I'll adjust. John and I have talked about our new family. I have 4 sons now. And when they get married, there will be 8 of them. And if they each have 2 kids, that will be 24 of them coming over for holidays. I'll need a bigger house... Family means everything to me. My oldest son, his girlfriend and her son come over almost every Sunday for dinner and just be together. I enjoy cooking and I especially enjoy having my family around. I hope you are all with your family for Thanksgiving, but if you aren't, be happy just being with your own family. Cherish the time. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Thanks for your support

Well I figured out how to post a picture. Yeah! So I'm starting off with some Smokey Mountain pictures. Thanks SMB for the help. I was reading some of comments on my second blog. I can't believe most of you don't crave homemade chicken and noodles. There is no other taste in the world that can come close to the homemade chicken and noodles. Don't even compare them to the noodles that are in the stores. It's so simple: For every egg you use, you use about a cup of flour and a dash of salt. In a normal meal, I fix between 4 or 5 eggs worth of noodles. Mix it all together. Keep adding flour so it won't be sticky. Roll out to about an 1/8th of inch thickness. Cut in strips then cut them noodle size and let them dry. You'll never go back to store bought noodles again.... I made a dozen eggs worth for Thanksgiving and I am counted upon at Christmas time to have at least one bag in every Christmas basket we give, so I figure I'll use about 4 dozen eggs for all of those... But it's worth it. Give it a try. TRY IT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!!! I guess I better get back to work (don't tell anyone that I wrote this during business hours). HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! BE SAFE IF YOU ARE DRIVING (SMB). I look forward to reading all your blogs! And thanks once again for your support! I'll get better! PROMISE!

What a wonderful Saturday. Cold outside. The temperatures hovering around 20 degrees. And the sky was the most beautiful blue (and please no one comment that the sky is not really blue, its just all the pollution in the air) Ace and I took our honeymoon mid October. We got married in August, but we both love the fall and I had never been to the Smokeys so that is where we went. God was surely with us. It was 80 degrees at the base of the mountain and about 60 degrees at the very top. And the most beautiful blue skies. Todays sky reminded me of those Smokey Mountain skies... Once someone tells me how to post a picture on this thing, I'll show you some of the most gorgeous views made for man. Anyway, back to my Saturday. Ace and I got up around 6:30 (now isn't that just down right wrong on a Saturday morning) Lowe's opens at 6:30 you know. In the morning... early morning...We're once again back to making our annual Christmas presents. I'm not going to give it away, but it is an original. It's going to be our Smokey Mountain baskets and that is all I have to say on that subject. So off to Lowe's we go... I LOVE THAT STORE! Makes me feel like I can tackle any project at home someone throws at me. I have to drag Ace away from all the power tools. We've spent a mini fortune just getting the garage ready for us to work in. Flourescent lights, heaters, work benches, multiple types of saws and drills. But its fun and we only get to splurge like this once a year. Ace and I don't exchange presents and we use the money we save to make even more special Christmas items. Then at tax time we reward ourselves with a little something Last year it was surround sound system for the living room. But as you can tell, I tend to get off my subject when I start rambling. So it's Saturday I'm going to be little miss susie homebaker today. I make noodles until I can't see straight. Do you realize how many noodles you get out of dozen eggs. A lot... So they're laying on the counter drying out for our Yummy Thanksgiving dinner up north with my parents. Z1 and his future fiance aren't coming with us this year. They're going to Illinois to L1's grandparents for Thanksgiving. I don't like not having all of my family with me at Thanksgiving, but I guess I have to learn to share my boys with other women.... So noodles made... I started on the made from scratch banana bread. It smelled heavenly in the house. Then, like I haven't made enough already, I had to make Ace his pecan pie. I believe that you need to train for Thanksgiving and Christmas like an Olympic game. You have to slowly stretch the stomach so it can hold all the sumptuous food that must be gorged upon. Around 6, I had to drop A1 off at the bowling alley. My ex-sister in law turned 50 yesterday and they surprised her with a birthday party and cosmic bowling. I'm the ex- in that family, but I still get hugs and kisses and I do love them all dearly. You can't spend almost 20 years with a family and then just forget them. Luckily, my ex and I don't have to see each other very much and we've been able to stay friends. I'll have to tell you the story about right after we filed for divorce and he was in a motor cycle accident... I was the most doting ex wife to be you have ever known. I'm like that, even if I don't like you, I can't stand to see anyone down and I'll do whatever is in my power to help them back up, if that is possible. Well, its getting late. Ace is asleep and I'm on my way upstairs to tell some boys to shut down the stereo or they can be wearing it tomorrow morning. I hate that screaming stuff they call music nowadays. So how was your saturday? Hopefully as productive as mine was. I'll try to stop back in and finish another post tomorrow, but now guarantees. I have a couple started, but I wasn't in the right frame of mind to finish them yet. Well, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings for the day. I'm going to sneak upstairs now and have a piece of banana bread and then hit the hay! Good night y'all from Indiana Homegrown