Another year gone

Another year is just about over and a new one is about to come upon us. As I ponder about this past year it wasn't a good one, so this is in hopes for a brighter and better new year. I am glad that Christmas is over and I am going to start taking the stuff all down because I am really sick of looking at it at this point! We did have a nice Christmas my oldest son spend the night Christmas Eve so he was with us in the morning. I thought my kids would be up before me, but I was the first one up which usually never happens since I am not a morning person! I had a hard time sleeping anyway so I figured I may as well get up! We always start with the youngest to the oldest which is my husband and he always likes to be last anyway and wants all the attention on himself! We all got nice gifts and had a good day together because that is what It is really all about is family spend time together. I need that anyway because this Christmas was a little hard for me being that my mom isn't with me anymore. I broke down a few times but I was glad to have my husband and children with me for the support and love. I look forward to moving on and pray for a better year. In hopes of change with the new president and that things turn around. So to you may you have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Trial and Error

Yesterday I made my mom's patica. It was confusioning because she had this cook book with the recipe and in the book she also had a typed up recipe. I wasn't sure which one she used so I ask my daughter. She said she wasn't really sure, but that she never saw grandma use the paper just the book. I got off to a late start because I was finishing up on my cookies I had made the night before. My youngest son was making his pumpkin cookies so I let him finish than off to the kitchen I went to try and figure out this recipe. After reading the one in the book I decided that she double the recipe. First mistake was doing it all at once. It took nine cups of flour so doubled that is 18! I got the dough done and it is a yeast dough so you have to let it rise. Oh I am wrong first mistake was starting so late! After you let it rise to double it's size than you separate it into two balls and yes you let it rise AGAIN! This recipe also calls for 6 pounds of walnuts but reading the recipe in the book it calls for 2 pounds, more confusion! I know my mom always bought more nuts than the recipe calls for so I am thinking since she double the recipe and she puts in more it would have been 3 pounds double 6. I decide why I am waiting for the dough to rise again I would get the nuts together so I am reading the recipe in the book and remembering a little of what I did know about this recipe, oh my mom never taught me how to make it so that is why it was trial and error! Anyway I discovered why she had two different recipes she used some from one and some from the other! Next I was going to go and roll out the dough, but I have no table cloth to roll it out on I left my mom's at the house she lived in, so I call my husband at work and he said he would stop and see if he could buy one for me, what a sweet guy! He comes home and had find a table cloth at Tuesday Morning! So I put on the table and put the flour all over it and get my dough tell my self here goes! Well the table cloth keep moving around so I had my daughter hold on to the end for me and I am rolling and rolling finally I get it rolled out to what I think it should be and now it is time to spread the nut stuff all over the dough, well here is were I am also not sure how much to spread on so I think the first batch got skimped again trial and error. I roll it all up place it on a cookie sheet glaze it with egg yolk and into the over it goes, oh I cut it in half. Now one recipe says set oven at 250 and bake for two hours the other recipe says to bake at 325 and bake for an hour. I decided to go for the latter because by this time it is 9 at night! So my husband ask how much longer do I have to endure this before I can have a taste! So I go check it and it is a good thing I did. There was five minutes left, but when I checked it it was done! When I opened the door I couldn't believe my eyes they were so HUGE! Didn't look like my mom's at all! My husband had a taste and he said for being the first time you ever made this it is so good! I now know why mom only made this once a year, first it is very time consuming and second it is very expensive to make. I know now why she would get up so early to make it too, so she wouldn't be up half the night baking! So now I know how to make it and I know I can make it, but I also know that next year I will do things differently and I will have a little experience behind me. I think that live does give us a lot of trial and error and that God wants us to learn from our mistakes and to learn from them no matter how big or how small! I feel really good that I can carry on a family tradition and know that I can do it. Sometimes I get upset and angry that mom never taught me how to make this, but maybe it was God who wanted me to try on my own because he knew I could do it!

Just pondering

I been pondering lately, about what you may ask mostly about what to write here. I am not very good at this blogging thing and I guess the thing is no one has been commenting on anything I have written lately. I know I am not that funny or savvy or witty or anything like that and yes I know my sentence are probably fragmented really bad, but I am not that good with words and such. So, what I have pondering is if I should even write anything and why I do in the first place. I don't have many friends so there really isn't anyone to bother to make a comment anyway I don't even know what title I should put here. I mostly talk about my family I guess that is pretty boring and don't real makes anyone to comment since it is just about my family. So maybe the whole thing is this is nothing but a journal to myself really. I took some time off of work and have been getting ready for the BIG day. I had finished my shopping and wrapped everything and it is under the tree of which my children are all excited and can't wait until they can open up the gifts to see what they recieved. In a way I will be glad when it is here and over and at the same time that means I have to go back to work. Not really looking forward to that. I have been baking the last two days and today I was trying to make my mom's patica and am not sure it will turn out or not. I have made some cookies and I am going to make the pies tomorrow. I think I will need a vacation from vacation after it is all over with. Not sure I will be writing anything anymore so who ever cares. MERRY CHIRSTMAS!

Christmas

My kids are all excited tomorrow is the last day off school and than they are off for winter break! They couldn't wait for the end of the week especially my daughter she only has a half of day tomorrow. I told her not to rush it, you see I am on vacation myself! I want to savior the time, but it does always go by so fast! It well be nice to spend some time with my kids and hopefully get the baking done that I want to do. Our tree is running out of room under the tree and the packages seem to be coming out into the living room and my poor dog doesn't know what to do with herself! Last week I made a bunch of cookies, but they're almost gone. I do want to make some and take them into work for the gals and they are wanting my husbands candy that he makes every year. Speaking of my husband he was funny this morning there is an ad for this tool store and he was just like a kid in a candy store looking at all the stuff. Oh you can get me this it is only so much money that is really a great price! I just roll my eyes good luck with that one dear!! My kids gave me there list and my daughter keeps adding stuff, I know this wasn't on my list. I just have a few more things I want to get and than I am done, of course after wrapping all these gifts I was like done a long time ago! It reminds me of what my husband was saying just this morning of the times we had to wait for his bonus money and shop on Chirstmas Eve and than have to wrap all the stuff and be up until midnight or later! Now it is nice when I buy something I wrap it and than it is out of the way! I think this conversation came up because my oldest son is having a hard time right now. I hadn't heard or seen him in a week in a half so I called him yesterday of course he didn't answer so I left this message: Hi its mom, remember me well anyway haven't heard from you in a while so just called to see how things were love you talk to you later! Well my other two heard this and was laughing yeah right mom like he has forgottan you, I said get use to it because you might get a call like that someday when you are out on your own!! Not to long after that my son shows up!! Hey did you get my message? That's why I stopped by I was doing errands and wanted to let you know I was ok!! That made my day plus I got a lot of good hugs out of it! He is feeling bad because he can't afford to get presents for his friends, he said I know they understand but I like going out and getting them stuff. I told him I know what he is feeling because I have been there many many times! His water pipes froze and than his heater went out. His water is working now but he still doesn't have his heater working , but he has space heaters so that is a good thing. So times are really hard this year for a lot of people but knowing that the good Lord is always there is the real reason for the season anyway and I am thankful for having him in my life because he has truly got me through a lot of hard times. Merry Christmas!!!

There really is a Santa Claus..

I was watching T.V. the other night and a commercial come on and I am not sure what it was about, but there was a sign that said Santa Claus Indiana. They had a Reindeer restaurant. So I ask my husband I wonder if that is real or not? He said he didn't know but if it was real how cool is that! I was going to ask nursemom if it was true, but I won't see her for a while so I came on line and went to ask.com and low and behold there really is a Santa Claus Indiana!! Now I saved a picture and am going to try to put it on here but I don't know if it well or not. It was pretty interesting reading about this town and how it came about. There are only 2200 people that live there and all the streets are named after the season. They have three lakes there. They have a theme park, museum, candy cane castle. It is the only town that is named Santa Claus so letters to Santa come there from all over the world and they even have elves that answer the letters! Now I don't know if they really have the Reindeer Restaurant or not but I just thought it was pretty neat and thought I would write about it! Hey I did it cool!!

Christmas Shopping

I went and did a little shopping yesterday, now I wish I had the money to just go and get everything. It really is a pain when you don't have the money to just get it over with. I have some money left over, but I only have so much time before I have to pick up the kids from school. So, I take my list and go over to Wally world now mind you this is the store I love to hate! I go over to look at the food processors because that is one of the things my husband ask for and they have several choices, okay I am looking at them and what really drives me crazy is that they aren't very organized about it. The one I am looking at they don't have on the shelve they are never under the sample, so needless to say I said forget it I will look somewhere else. Than I am checking out my daughters list and she has like 42 things on there which is great at least she gives me a choice, than I look at my youngest son's and he only has maybe ten things, but they are like a Wii, and x-box 364 I am like in your dreams son can't afford those!! I probably could get one of those, but that is all they would get together!! I also have never bought there game consoles they have to save their money from their birthday and Christmas and buy it themselves. I heard them talking yesterday about pulling their Christmas money together and getting a Wii and that maybe mom would give us the extra 50.00. I probably would do that! So there where a couple big things on their list that weren't as expensive so I got those. My daughter had a ton of movies on her list so that was pretty easy. Well I get home and I am trying to hurry to wrap all the stuff I got before I had to go pick them up from school. I started doing this a couple years ago wrap the presents just not trim them. It makes my life so much easier!

I am also trying to get my tree set up, well it is set up I need to trim it. It is a really hard time for me right now and I have this big black hole in my garage. I was trying to find my Christmas ornaments and it is almost impossible to find anything in this black hole. I couldn't find my stuff or my mom's stuff. I had to go and buy some new ones and even at that my tree is not even close to being finished. My sweet husband said not to worry I will look for them on my days off! Because at this point I am bawling because I can't find this stuff and I know they were put in a place we could find them, well than we had all my mom's stuff put into the garage and now I can't find anything! My husband told me well you have wanted to get new ornaments anyway, I know but I like all the other stuff that we have collected over the years. Not to worry he says I will look for them. What a guy! Thank you!!!

Later I take the kids and we go to Target. I figure I could find the food processor there. My son was wheeling the cart and I guess I went in front of him and he was like, "Mom you don't like it when I go in front of you"! I say, "Did you know I was going to turn down this way", Humm. He said, " I never understand you", And you never will!! I find the food processor's and they have two, much more organized and one was on sale Whoohoo!! So I pick it up and continue on my way. I decided I would put my arm out to let my son know I was turning! He said your not on a bike, I know that but I thought I would let you know I was turning! Your crazy mom. Tell me something I don't know!! I finish up at Target and we go up the hill to the other shops and get most all the things my husband ask for except a couple that I will have to pick up on my next days off!

So we get home and start to wrap the gifts for my husband so that it is out of the way. My husband loves popcorn so at the world market they had this big tube of it with different colored popcorn so we got that for him, but I couldn't find a box to put it in so I told my daughter just to wrap it as is. My husband loves to guess at what the present is so I usually try to deguise it so to speak.

So I guess it is off to work for three nights and than back to buying presents next week, maybe I can get it all done than. I still need to get a give for the boy my husband picked off the tree at chruch and get my son his black pants and white shirt for his winter concert. ( He is in handbells). So much to do so little time!!

Thanksgiving and other things

This is a hard time for me trying to get through the holidays. Don't get me wrong I love the holidays and being with my family, it is just especially hard this year without my mom. My husband is so great he made the whole meal, well I did the yams and made the pumpkin pie, but everything else he did! It came out so great too! He even made gravey! I say that because my daughter and I are the only ones that like gravey! It was nice my oldest son came over so I had all my kids with me. My husband wanted us to go around the table saying what we were thankful for, but I told him I really don't want to be crying right now, so we just said we were thankful for all of being together and for the food on our table. After the meal we sat down and my youngest son decided that we should listen to Christmas music. My oldest son and I are like do we have to listen to that now!! my youngest son says well Thanksgiving is about over so now we have to start thinking of Chirstmas! Ok he had a point and it wasn't that bad listening to the Christmas songs. The next day he decided to start decorateing. So he got out our little village that we had started last year and he put up his little tree and he decided he needed a tree in his room so he put that up! I guess someone is really into the Christmas spirt!

The night before Thanksgiving wasn't to good. We decided on the night before a holiday we would just go out to eat. My husband didn't get off work until 7 and my oldest son was going to go with us and came over a few mintues before his dad got home. We went to Chili's which is always nice. My oldest son usually makes the pumpkin pie, but he said he didn't have time to do it because his kitten was sick. So that is why I made it instead which is no big deal I like to cook and bake anyway. Well my son called me at 11:30 Pm and ask me to come over and I could tell by his voice it wasn't good. We had to take his kitten into the vet hospital. I think this is one of the hardest things I ever had to do as a parent because I was the one always calling my mom to ask her to come over for what ever reason came up and here my son is calling me. Well to make a long story short we had to have the kitten put to sleep. Oh my gosh that was so hard on all of us. They were really nice at the hospital gave us time to be with Chester before they put her to sleep and when we were ready the nurse came in explained what would happen and ask if we were ready. Let me tell you that is not easy when your child is bawling and his friend well of course I was too. I am trying to comfort my son and he is just bawling. I tell you it is hard to be the parent!! I am glad I am hear for my son and I am proud of him and told him he did the right thing that she isn't in pain anymore. He buried her in our yard close to were I had buried my cat of 18 years. It is hard to lose a pet because they become a part of your family almost like another child.

On a lighter note, I did not go out black Friday I hate crowds and there was nothing I want that I need that bad, but my oldest son went out to get an x-box. He had saved money that he got for his birthday to get this but needed 100 and so he asked me for it and that he would pay me back, but I told him that this would be part of his birthday so he doesn't need to pay me back. Well than he didn't want me to get him anything else. He did want this book so I had order that but he wasn't due to come until after his birthday. His birthday was yesterday and it was so nice he spent the night Tuesday night and I took him out to breakfast and he ended up staying all day and we went out to dinner as well. I ended up getting him this micro mini helicopter that he had wanted and I got lucky because it was on sale half off! It was a nice day!

Now that that is all over it is time to think about Christmas. I had got a wish list from my daughter but not my youngest son and my oldest still is thinking about what he would like. My daughter wrote down 42 things and said that is why they call it a wish list! That's find with me it gives me a lot to pick from and having a list at least she will get somethings that she wants. My youngest finally made his the other day. So now all I need is money to go shopping!! Hopefully I will be able to do a little bit tomorrow. I really don't want to wait until the last minute been there have done that! I am going to do some baking today, but I am taking off a week from work so I can have some time off with my kids when they are on winter break, than I will have a lot of baking to do!

New Word

I learned a new word, Wassaling what prey tell does that mean? That is what I said when I read it. "Here we come a wassaling... Does anyone really know what that means? Well I didn't think it even was a word when I read it or I thought maybe it was some slang word. It got the best of my curiosity, so I looked it up on line and low and behold it really is a word!! Here is what I found out:

Wassaling, which is a tradition of going about the town from house to house in the evening at Christmas time, singing at the doors of all the neighbors, wishing them a good New Year and asking them for a treat(usually the treat was a spiced drink, also know as a "Wassail"). This tradition is something of a mix between the modern traditions of caroling and trick-or-treating.

Now where did I read this you may be asking yourself, well nursemom left it by stitch. Who is stitch? Well he is her pet monkey, oh you didn't know nursemom had a pet monkey well it is just a picture of a monkey! She always leaves little tidbets with stitch and this past week when I went to work that is what she left. The week before she left the Jack be nimble nursery rhyme well poor stitch didn't make it over the candle because he wasn't so quick and he burned his brutches!

Anyway, maybe this year you can go a wassaling instead of caroling and get some real nice goodies!

Procrastinate

I admit it I am a procrastinator. I try not to be, but I just can't help it. I am not a planner be any means of the word. Lets face it every time I do plan something which is hardly ever, well it never works out. I have to say though that I have been getting better. I have two years to get my continuing education done to renew my license for work and most of the time I am scrambling at the last minute to get them all done. Not this time by golly I am ready! The thing is I am always saying to myself I have time there is no hurry and than before I know time has slipped away. I do that a lot with most of the things I have to do for work. I wait until the last moment to renew my CPR, or when I had to get my TB shot I wait until the last possible moment I can. Not sure why I do this because you would think the sooner you get it done the better off you are. Never seems to work for me though.





I think I am more like fly by the set of you pants spear of the moment kind of person. I don't like planning things because like I said they never work out for me. I like to say lets do this today!! Some times I like to do things spontaneously. Like one time we were on vacation and about ready to go home and I said , "Lets drive to the ocean before we go, we have time"! It took us three hours to find the ocean! My family was like mom I don't think I like it when you do things on the spear of the moment, but we did have fun that day!





Well, maybe some times the things I plan work out okay! My wedding for one thing, but it wasn't all so simple because there was a point I just wanted to forget the whole wedding thing and just elope, but we made it through. I think one of the hardest things I did have to plan was my mom's funeral. I think because she was still a live when I went to make the arrangements. She told me I needed to before she died, because it was really hard on her when my dad passed away because he died suddenly in his sleep. Yeah that was really hard for me to go pick out the box for her remains and to give the funeral director all the information and what not. It was I think the hardest thing I ever had to do, but it really was good that I planned it out. Oh I have to say I did procrastinate on that too, because my mom kept telling me you need to go and get this done. I know I know. I just didn't want to face the fact that she was dying. It was so surreal because it happened so fast.





The one time that planning out something did work out is when we took a two week vacation to go camping on the coast of Oregon. I planned out that we were going to go to point A and go all the way down to point G. So we went the whole way down the coast of Oregon staying at a camp ground for two days each. Well it was great except my husband told me, "Do you think the next time you plan on a trip like this that we could get a pop up tent trailer"? Oh what's wrong dear, he said I am getting tired of putting up this tent just to take it down again and put it up again some where else. I told him but you have got it down to a tee!! That was a fun time though and I would really love to do that again.





I can't tell you how many Chirstmas I would wait until Christmas Eve to go shopping! Talk about procrastinating! Not only going shopping, but having to come home and wrap it all in one night just to have it all undone in a matter of seconds! I have been better at starting a little eariler. I am not like some people that get all there shopping done in July, but I do get it done a few weeks before Christmas. One other thing I never do is shop the day after Thanksgiving, no thank you!! I don't like crowds as it is and to go out in that mess just to save a couple bucks isn't worth it to me!





I will probably always procrastinate, but I am trying to get a little better at certain things. I don't know maybe it is the adrenaline rush you get when you have to hurry up and get something done I really don't know why I like to wait until the last minute. I will keep on trying to get this done in a timely manner, but there is no guarantee this will happen anytime soon.

In Other Words

In reading friends blogs not that I am trying to take what they say away or anything it just got me thinking. God made us in his likeness, so who are we to say we aren't beautiful? Well lets face it people are just down right cruel, especially kids. I mean middle school and high school are the worse. I always tell my kids they are beautiful inside and out and not to listen to what other kids say to them. It really breaks my heart sometimes when a kid had been mean to my daughter and said stuff to her or threw stuff at her. I got a call one time to come in to talk to the councilor because my daughter was writing an essay and mentioned suicide in the essay. I was beside myself when she told me this. I mean if a kid can say something or do something to make you feel like killing yourself even when you have been brought up in God's house what about the kids that aren't? As a parent you always want to be there for your children and sometimes you can't. We watch our daughter really closely ever since this and her big brother had a talk with her after this had happened, because after all a teenager really doesn't want to talk to MOM about that, and I thought that if her big brother talked to her it would be a lot better. She is doing good and she even said today that she is beautiful inside and out no matter what other people think. Kudo's to you sweetheart!!

God made us in his likeness and made us perfect, but Adam and Eve blew it so than we became sinful and God had to give us imperfections because of that, but he also gave his one only only son to wash away our sin's and he died for us and if you believe you will be saved. Isn't it nice to know that no matter what if you believe you will be saved and have eternal life and be perfect with God. I'm really not sure where I am going with this but I think you know what I am saying. That no matter what people or kids say you shouldn't let them get to you because they aren't perfect either and you are just more beautiful than they are because you know the truth.

So when life has got you down or something or someone has said something to make you feel bad just remember God loves you and is always there for you. I will try to remember that as well because sometimes I don't remember.

Animal Chat

The other day as I was getting ready for work my husband told me there was people at the store giving away puppie's I said, oh that's nice. He said I almost brought one home, but thought I better not. Ok before I go on let me just say I love animals and would have a whole slew of them if I could, but this is what my husband always says when I am in aw of a puppy, "We aren't getting another animal until Nala (our mutt of a dog) goes". End of story. So I just look at him when he is telling me about the puppy and how he almost brought one home and I say to him now I would have been a bit upset because you are always telling me I can't have another animal until Nala goes and YOU almost bring one home? I didn't did I? Beside they were small dogs I think the lady told me they were chihuahua mix. I know you don't care for them and I thought if I brought it home you might think it was a rat. Oh please!! Yesterday he tells me there is a poster for bulldog puppies and they were asking 125.00 for them. They are so cute he says. Well that is really cheap for a bulldog they go for 1000.00 to 2000.00. Than last night on the news someone had stolen two bulldog puppies and if anyone had any information to contact secret witness. So my husband thinks maybe the poster from the store are those puppies. Today he went to the sheriff's department and they gave him the number to secret witness and he called to tell them about the poster. I don't know it could be different puppies. So he is saying if they are the ones he would get a reward and it would be nice right before Christmas. I am like good luck with that, you will be lucky if you see it before March!! Don't get your hopes up dear I tell him!!



I talked to my oldest son yesterday and in the conversation he was telling me they had to take the kitty into the vet last week. Is he okay I ask? Well worse case scenario he might have this fatal cat diease in which they would have to put him down. I told him I was praying that it isn't that and that he is going to be okay. I told him to call me to let me know what they found out. They were taking him in at 3:00 PM I haven't heard from him yet. This is the kitty they rescued and I hope for my son's sake he is going to be fine.



My son has 3 cats and the kitten and I was over his place last week and his one cat missy is so loving. I was petting her and stopped and she was pawing at me because she didn't want me to stop! I love cats like that!!



I would have 3 dogs if I could and a few cats. I can't have cats because of my daughter being allergic to them. I don't know what is up with my husband because everytime I would mention wanting another dog he wants nothing to do with it, but now he has been talking about these puppies lately does he have a change of heart? Who knows it is just strange

Sickness and Health

A friend wrote about blessings and guardian angels and it got me thinking about my blessings. I thank God everyday for my families health. My children have had their share of sickness,but nothing that couldn't be fixed with medication. I think my oldest was sick more than the other two with my youngest being sick the least. None of them have had any broken bones so I am really grateful there. Now when I was young I was sick all the time. I had chronic ear infections all the time and every time I got an ear infection I always had two other things going on. I was always in the hospital getting buttons put into my ears and it was a hardship on my parents. I had seizures because of high temperatures and was put on seizure medication which gave me night terrors. I finally out grew the ear infections when I was 13 and was very grateful for sure and so were my parents. So when my first child was born and he got sick for the first time he started to have a seizure which my mom knew that's what was going on because of me having them when I was young. We took him to the ER and they said it was seizure from the high temp. What happens is he would start out with a little temp, but it would shoot up so fast that is what would cause the seizure. I tell you that was so scary! He had a few more and his doctor put him on the seizure medication for a year and than took him off and he never had another seizure after that. I thank God for that!







He went on to have ear infections, strep throat, tonsillitis (which he got a lot when he was young, but not often enough to have them removed) When he was 5 he got chicken pox. They didn't have the shot for that when he was young. Well low and behold guess who else got them, ME I was 31 at the time and couldn't believe it! I called my mom and ask her didn't I get chicken pox when I was young, well she said yes but just a small case of them. That was awful! He also got bronchiectasis which he still gets at least once a year. He didn't have any broken bones, but he sliced his finger wide open that it almost cut the tendons. He was at a youth trip and the guy called me and said he might need stitches when he got home and I saw it I couldn't believe it, I said MIGHT need stitches Yeah think!! He had seven put in. His shoulders would dislocate and he would pop them back in, well one to many times and it started not to pop back in he had to go to the ER so they could pop them back in and he would wear a sling for a while. One time he was at youth camp and I got a call and they were taking him to the hospital because they could pop it back in. He had jumped in the lake and it popped out. He had surgery last year they put hooks so to speck in his shoulder. He hasn't had a problem with it since.







My daughter got sick with ear infections and strep throat, but with her it didn't matter what she had she would always vomit. When she was a baby she got croup, ear infection, and strep throat at the same time. The croup was the worst because she had this terrible barking cough. She has had some respiratory problems and she is really bad when she is around cats. No broken bones no bad cuts although I had gotten her ears pierced and they got infected so bad we couldn't take the earrings out and I had to take her to have the doctor cut them out and than she had stitches. She wants to get her ear pierced again but I am not so sure!







My youngest has had a few ear infections but not like his older brother or sister. He hasn't got as sick as they did and not really sick even when he was a baby.







So I am counting my blessings and thanking God everyday for healthy children I don't like to see them sick anyway, but than who does! I am thankful for when they have been sick it was something that could be taken care of with medication.

Recipes

I love to cook and bake and am always looking to try something new. My husband is usually game for new stuff it is my youngest son who is so darn picky. My oldest is too, but since he lives on his own I guess I can't really count him in anymore. I get this bill in the mail thanking me for ordering taste of home magazine. I am like I didn't order this. So I ask my husband. He said I didn't think I order it, but I wanted to order it. Well it was to late to cancel because they happily said my first magazine was in the mail. I thought well ok it is only 10 bucks anyway not to bad I am always looking for new recipes so hey what the heck. Than I get another bill for good house keeping I am what the heck!! My husband said I didn't order it, well I didn't either!! This one was 20 bucks. So I went ahead and paid for both in hopes I don't get some other magazine in the mail saying "Thank you for your order we are so happy you subscribed".

The other day I was looking through a magzine at work and found a recipe for pumpkin-ginger cheesecake that looks yummy so I had to make a copy of it! On this they also have chocolate-pecan tart with butterscotch cream, now that sounds really rich! I also found another recidpe for holiday walnut cake. Another time I had found potluck polynesian chicken which I made one time and even my youngest put a thumbs up!! So I will be making that again.

Now I did say in another blog about my mom always making this nut roll every year for the holidays and how she never taught me how to make it. So I was going through some of her cook books trying to find the "green" one because I know that is where the recipe is and I got so up set because I thought I might have left it at the house she lived in. I was asking my children if they remember if I took it because cleaning out the house was a blure anyways, they said maybe you put it in a box that you took to the shed. I searched and I found it, I was so happy!! So I had the task of trying to find the recipe in this book, but I opened it up and low and behold my mom had it typed up! The nut roll is called "Potica" I am not good with stuff made with yeast, but I am going to try on my own to make this no matter if I have to do the dough several times. After all it was a tradition every year for as long as I can remember! My mom even made last Christmas even though she wasn't feeling all that well bless her heart!

Jabber

A friend wrote: "To blog or not to blog". Well it got me thinking on why I blog. I came across it by accident really. My friend was telling me about her daughter's blog and than gave me the web site to go to, well the only way to leave a comment was to have your own account, so that is really how I got started. I really didn't know how it all worked or what I should say, because I never done this before. I really just write done what is happening in my life at the time and it usually about my children. I think it is just a way to express your feelings or thoughts at that time. Sometime I get thinking in my head what I could write and it sounds pretty good. I write it done and it usually doesn't sound as good as it did in my head! So with that said I do have something in my head that I will write down.

Monday night my husband and daughter went to the theater to watch Monday night football my son and I didn't want to go. My daughter texted me and this is how the conversation went:

daughter: Hi mommy guess what I won a bud light weird huh.
me: How could you win that you aren't even old enough.
daughter: What's your point?
me: My point is you aren't old enough to drink beer.
daughter: It's just a hat.
me: Oh well you didn't say that in your first text.
daughter: I told you it was a hat and if I didn't I'm sorry. Love you mommy!!
me: Love you too!

As you can see I wasn't getting how she won a beer when she is only 16 and here it was just a hat that has bud light on it!!

Sunday was my youngest son's birthday he turned 13. I had worked Saturday night so I wanted to sleep a couple hours so I wouldn't be so tired for his big day! My husband comes in woke me up and I was of course a little upset to say the least, but he said my oldest son was here. So I got up and was half a sleep when my husband was trying to tell me something which he should have known better I am not awake! I don't know why he does that! I was trying to talk to my oldest son,but to no avail so I just told him I would talk to him when he came over on one of his days off. My husband took my son to the movies while I woke up and than that night we took him out to dinner. He invited two of his friends and my daughter invited her friend. So he said he had a nice birthday of which I was glad. They came back to the house for cake and they played for a while and I took them home.

The other day I went and bought a new vacuum that I desperately need and my husband was putting it together and tells me, "you won't believe this", what won't I believe? "I almost read the instructions". I roll my eyes! What is it about men and not reading the instructions? My oldest son is the same way. Than they wonder why they have extra screws left. My husband says they are extras. I say NOT they come with the amount of stuff they need. MEN!

Tradition

In my last blog I wrote about the holidays, well that got me to thinking about holidays past and present. My mom was from a family of 7 kids. She had two older brothers, two older sisters, and two younger sisters. When growing up we would have the holidays with family. We usually either had Christmas at our place or my one aunts house. It usually was the four sisters who got all their family's to go to one of the houses. So it was a pretty big get together with the sisters their spouses and all the kids! My grandmother would also be there of course, so it was really alot of fun to have most of the family together. As time went on though and all the grandkids grew up we didn't have those get togethers. It would be just each family doing their own thing with there own family. I kind of missed have everyone together. Well than the grandkids started to have kids so I really don't think we could have had everyone all in the same place.



When I had started my family we would go to my parents place for Christmas, but we would have Chirstmas Eve at my husbands family because that was their "tradition" to celebrate on Christmas Eve. That always work at perfect! When my grandmom was still alive she would take turns on who's family she would go to. I always loved when it was our turn for her to come and I really miss that. Every year since I could remember my mom would make this nut roll for Christmas and I always look forward to it and that was the only time she would make it so it made it even more speical.



When my dad past away we had a new tradition. My mom wasn't going to put the tree up because she just felt she couldn't do it, so my oldest son surprised her and put it up. We decided that year we would take all the gifts over to mom's house and spend the night on Christmas Eve so that mom wouldn't be alone on Christmas morning. We did that for three years. My mom past away this past March and it has been really hard on me not wanting to enjoy the holidays, but I went to the store today and saw all the nice Christmas decorations and although it will be hard I know it will be a great Christmas and I will just have to start some new traditions! Oh my mom never taught me how to make that nut roll, but by golly I will try to learn it on my own.

Holidays

Even though I would just like to forget about the holidays this year I know in reality I can't, so I was asking my husband what do we do about our son's now ex-girlfriend? He said he didn't know that I should ask our son what he has planned. ( figures he puts the ball in my court!) My son happen to come over that day so I asked him what he had planned and what Rachel had planned? He said he didn't know what she was planning on doing. My question is should we still asked her to come here? Should I still get her something for Christmas? ( I already really planned on still getting her something) It is a very hard time right now. My son did say they were having a freindsgiving. Oh I say is that like picking names and exchanging gifts? No mom Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving! OH I get it!! Well that really nice. Another one of their friends has a Christmas cookie exchange party! Oh that a fun idea! As far as my son goes he is planning on spending the holidays with us. I guess I could still invite Rachel I just don't know if she would feel uncomfortable. We will just see what happens. In the mean time I am going to get ready for my youngest son's birthday. He finally told me some of the things he wanted, but still doesn't know where he wants to go for his special dinner. He has invited four friends. One of the friends is my daughters friend and her sister. We drive them to and from school. My husband said that my daughter and son were fighting over who was going to give them the invitation! Well since it is my son birthday I would think he should give them the invite!! So life marches on and I can just only take it one day at a time.

My Youngest

Sunday my youngest turns 13. Wow, where did the time go? By the end of last school year his voice started to change. We always ask our children where they would like to go for dinner on their special day. We keep asking him and he still doesn't know where he wants to go. We let them invite a friend or two to go as well. So here it is Thrusday already and he still doesn't know where he wants to go for dinner. My husband said maybe we should just pick the place, I said NO it is his special day he has to pick where we're going, after all it is kind of a tradition. I know by Sunday he will know where he wants to go. In the mean time I have been asking him what he would like for his birthday he finally told me yesterday. So I will going shopping tomorrow. I always try and get them what they want, but I always have to threw in some clothes which he needs pants anyway. He has grown out of his pants and only has two pairs. I love to shop anyway so it will be fun to go out and get somethings that he wants. My sister in law always sends the kids money for their birthday and for Christmas and I got thinking the other night of how much money they would have had, had they saved all this money. Nursemom said yeah but it's birthday money. So, my son had got his money last Saturday and of course it was burning a hole in his pocket so on Sunday my husband took him out so he could spend it. He bought this batman lego game for the play station and than he ask me if he could buy his own cell phone. I told him he could but that if he abused the privilege we would take it away as a punishment he agreed. He bought the phone and now my daughter is upset because his phone is nicer than hers. Oh my gosh! Having two teenagers in the house is very different for me since my oldest son is so much older. Nursemom how did you do it with having how many teenagers at one time? I took his birthday off so it will be nice to have six days off work! I really need it too. I haven't been feeling all that great, not that I am sick or anything just feeling kind of blah. So I am looking forward to my son's birthday and having the time off to collect my thoughts and in hopes that I just stop feeling this blah. I think it is because the holidays are coming up and it will be the first year without my mom. This too will pass.

Pet Peeve

I just got my annal letter from employee health about getting my T.B. shot and F.I.T. test. It was to remind me I have until the end of the month to make an appointment to come in, well this is really nice of them to remind me, but my pet peeve is do they really have to put in bright red coloring that if I don't come in by the end of the month I could be suspended. That just bugs the heck out of me. What am I stupid or something, like I am not going to make an appointment to come in a risk losing my job, I don't think so, I am not a child here Hello!! It also reminds me of a D.O.N. we had that would write these memos and post them at the nurses station. She would capitalize something that she wanted to make sure you understood what she was getting at or she would use exclamation mark not one but three! Use to drive me crazy! Well one day we had a meeting with just person and it was in the morning after work. I was sitting next to nursemom and the D.O.N. had passed out these papers. So what does nursemom do she shows me the exclamation marks and we start cracking up laughing!! Never sit next to nursemom when you have a meeting after work!! Well the D.O.N. wanted to know what was so funny, we just told her oh nothing it is an inside joke!!! ( Notice the exclamation marks)

Another pet peeve I have is work. They want to cut back here and there. Ok I know times are tough and it is everywhere, but patient care give me a break! Everyone is saying the most important thing is taking care of the patients. They want each department to cut back on hours, how do you do that and take care of the patients? I know where they can cut back how about the big CEO not get his big Fat Bonus of 600,000 a year that would surely help don't yeah think!! The mangers who also get these nice bonuses if they cut those that would surely help out to, but do you think they will I highly doubt it! We have been cut so much in our department we are a skeleton crew. We don't get the supplies we used to it is just very on nerving. What about the nurses, nursing assistants, lab tech, x-ray techs and so on they are the people that make the hospital work by taking care of these patients it isn't Mr CEO that is for sure. Is he cutting back his hours? I doubt that to. The thing about him he is probably salary paid so it wouldn't matter if he did cut his hours he would still get the same pay. Where is the justice?

Another thing these other big time CEO's saying how they have lost money on there retirement funds just like "US" give me a break you are still doing fine and you still are rich so don't cry to me about losing money, PLEASE! It isn't like you are hurting like some of these people who are retired and depend on that income they are truly the one's hurting!

Anyway just thought on election day I would share some of my thoughts or pet peeves in hopes that things well turn around and we can breath a little better!

Another Halloween come and gone

Well got through another Halloween. Thursday my oldest son came over to visit and he hadn't got all the things he needed for his costume. So I ask if he wanted to go to Mervyns to see if we could find the last couple of things. So off we went. Found the pants he needed, but not the gloves so off to J.C. Penney we go. We were looking for the location of the gloves and couldn't seen them so friendly employee ask if we were finding everything ok and of course we say no and tell him what we are looking for. He leads us right to what we were looking for making jokes and what not. So we get the gloves go to pay for them and friendly sales person tells the other sales person since he is new go and check out the customer. Than friendly sales person tells him as we are leaving that he likes to joke around with the customers. Well I would rather have a sales person that is friendly and joking than one who could careless. We go back home and I bribe my son to stay for dinner. He goes home first to put the stuff we bought away only to come back over all dress in his costume, which looked pretty cool! He goes with me to pick up the pizza I order and this lady ask me if I take him every where I go!! So I laugh and say yes. That is the fun thing about Halloween is getting other people reaction to your costume! My son is always coming up with these ideas for Halloween that most people don't have a clue of what he is unless they are a geek like him! Now I mean that in the best of ways really!! Last year he was a borg. If you don't know what that is it is a character from star trek. This year he was a character from the comic book "The Watchmen", which I didn't know until the trailer came out for the movie. Anyway he looked really cool! My youngest son was the joker and he did all his own make up and everything and did a pretty good job! My daughter was dead nurse and she also did a good job with her make up. They went over to her friends house for a party and ended up going out trick or treating. It is the first year that their dad or I didn't go with them and that felt pretty weird. I didn't get to many trick or treaters at the door so now I have all this candy left over, oh well darn I guess I will just have to suffer, NOT!! LOL

I Am No Susie Housewife

I hate house work, well who doesn't!! I was trying to clean up my kitchen floor yesterday and was getting so frustrated from sweeping my floor and than trying to mop it only to find dog hair! I have come to the conclusion that when you have children and animals it is a never ending battle!! I am no Susie homemaker that is for sure! I love to cook and bake I just don't like the cleaning up part! It is just never ending! Dusting is the worst! What is the point I ask you really? You dust and two seconds later it is all back! My dog has long fur and it doesn't matter what time of year it is she has her fur all over the place. I am always after my kids to pick up after themselves, do they listen, Heck No!! I try to keep my house half way decent, but does anyway care or help me along the way, NO. Dishes are never ending as well even when I have a dish washer there are somethings I just don't put in there and sometimes if you put to much stuff in the dish washer it fills up to fast. I blame my mom for my lack of keeping up. She had O.C.D. really bad!! I can remember growing up and her wanting me to do chores, well I never could get things as clean as her, because after Iwould do what ever chore she had ask me to do she would go back and clean again! My mom's house was always spotless! We had hard wood floors and she would strip and wax them once a month! That is a bit extreme in my books. I think once a year would have sufficed. If there was a speck of anything on the floor she was picking it up. She ironed just about everything! After a meal she would tell me to clear off the table and if I didn't jump up and do it right than and there she would be off in a huff and tell me never mind I will do it myself. I was an only child and I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if she had more than one to contend with!! I think growing up with a mom who was over kill, killed it for me! I know I shouldn't blame my mom, but do you know what it is like to live in the shadow of someone with O.C.D.? Than not doing a good enough job in her eyes that she had to go back and reclean everything! Than I have so much stuff that I don't even know what to do with. Well see I have my stuff and than my mother in law passed away and we have her stuff and my mom passed away and I have all her stuff plus my dad's stuff. I had got a little organized before my mom passed away I had put stuff that I had and wanted to keep in plastic bends and put them away and things were looking pretty good until my mom passed away and I brought her stuff over. I just dont know where to put everything! Christmas time was really something when we went over there the last few years, I would tease her. The kids would be opening up their presents and the paper was all over and I could just tell by looking at my mom she wanted to get up and pick everything up. It drove her crazy to see something on the rug she had to pick it up! I don't know it is a never ending battle that I am just going to have to try and deal with, but I really need help. I need to put my foot down and say to my family I NEED HELP!!! That's my soap box for the day.

Yesterday

My daughter had a science project to do that is due today. She had to make a animal cell out of a cake, which is kind-of ironic because she had to do the same thing in 7th grade. My husband was suppose to pick up a cake when he went shopping, but of course he forgot! So, off to the store we went after school. Well we decide to get a cake mix and have her make the cake because all the cakes at the store are already decorated. We pick out the cake mix and the frosting and we check to see what colors we need for all the stuff she has to put on top of the cake to make a animal cell, well it turns out we have to get just about every color. I also had to pick up something to go with dinner, the funny thing is my husband planned on hot dogs, but he got nothing to go with it. In the mean time we run into my oldest son who works at the store and of course I have to stop to give him a hug! I see this display with thermometers and I saw this one that says "It's not SHOPPING it's retail therapy" Well I had to have it!! I stop to talk to son1 and son2 says, "Did you get a hat yet for your costume"? Son1, "No I haven't", son2 "What about those ones"? son1 "They cost to much", Me well how much are they son1 tells me, well I will buy it for you, son1 oh ok thanks!! I go to the check out and they have one checker and the self check outs I hate the self check outs so I go to stand in the line. Well there are like six people behind me and there's a checker who doesn't have her light on so no one is moving over there and she isn't offering anyone to go over to her, I was a little ticked off and was about to say something when a checker came over and lead me to check out 9, lucky for the gal in check out 13! We get home and my daughter makes her cake and everything I get dinner going and everything going along good, oh I forgot when I was talking to son1 he said he had something for me from his girlfriend he said it was money and a letter. Oh why is she giving me money? Because she feels she needed to pay you back for the dress. Me: I never ask her for the money back I wanted to do it? Son1: I know but she feels like she should. I go over to where she is working to say hello and to tell her I didn't want the money. She says she appreicated everything I have done for her and she felt she owed me. I said I was sorry for the way things turned out and hope that she finds what ever she is seeking. So I get home like I said I read the note, well let me tell you I lost it! I could not stop crying! I know big news there!! So we have dinner and my daughter starts to finish up on her cell and my husband comes home. My daughter finished her cell and ask if I have something she can carry the cake in to take it to school. Well I thought I had grabbed my mom's cake carrier but I didn't so than I thought well maybe son1 had it so I called. He said he didn't either than ask me what the note said, so I read it to him and lost it all over again, but than there was silence on the other end, me: Are you still there? Yeah. Ok by the way I have the hat and I wrote a letter if you want to come by after work or you can wait until tomorrow. I will probably come by after work. I go out and my husband said are you crying? Yeah I just read the letter to son1. So I let him read it well he was a little up set because in the letter she mentioned what a great job I did with raising son1. I see she didn't mention me, I told him, the letter is to ME so of course she isn't going to say anything about you. This whole thing has got us all upset, so I just told her I hope that she finds what she is looking for and that she doesn't give my son false hope. It is hard and I hate to see my son hurting and I want to make it all better! So it doesn't matter how old your children are as a mother you want to be there and protect them and make the hurt go away. Even when you are in your forty's your mom is going to say, You better put on a coat it is cold outside! That is my thought for today: No matter what, no matter how old your mom well always care for you!

Haunted House

I took my kids to the haunted house last night. It's 12.00 but if you bring two cans of food you get two dollars off, so we pay 10.00 each. My husband drove us, but didn't go in with us. He never has like those kind of things. I love horror films and have always like going to haunted houses during Halloween. My kids have been wanting me to take them for the last couple years and I held off because I really didn't think they were ready! So, we stand by the chain and a gal comes out and gives a little speach about turning off cell phones and stuff and that we are going to be really scared, oh and don't touch the actors or props and they will try not to touch you! So, we start to go in and my son is holding on to one arm and my daughter is on the other and it's dark. We get to the end of the first hall way if you will and this gal comes out and tells you a story about Grime's Castle and how it came to Carson City. About how science went wrong. Than she yells back at all the actors saying they have company! We go in and the first room is white with "blood" all over the walls and "organ" parts all over with this mad scientist that is holding on to this girl and she is screaming and as we go through another one is pleading for our help! In this room they have a strobe light as well. My kids are holding onto me for dear life! We go down the next hallway and it is super dark and you hear a gal so a little closer, a little more and I am thinking this hallway is never going to end! Well than it is a maze as well and being that it is so dark in there you are never sure on which way to go. You have people in corners that jump out at you and than follow you and my kids are still holding onto me for dear life pulling on my arms and I am trying to drag them through this maze!! We come to this one corner and there is a mime in the door way and he points the way to go which of course is a dead end so he says sorry I meant your other right so we go back into the door and he jumps out at you and my son slips and falls on the ground from freight!! We come to this room with this big ugly monster standing by a coffin and he is standing so still you don't think he's real until he scares you!! There is also sound affects and banging of the walls and what not and stuff hanging down from the ceiling. We come to the end and there are six doors you open the wrong door and someone jumps out at you, finally get the right door go out and as your leaving one more scare!! It was fun and my kids liked it even they like I said they were holding onto me for dear life and dragging me down while I was trying to walk through this maze! They have a web site www.grimescastle.com check it out you just might be scared too!

Comic Book

I was watching Smallville last night and the character Doomsday was going to be on the show. Well first let me say I haven't a clue. I never read comic books as a kid, but let me tell you my husband and older son are the authority on them. So, Doomsday is this EMT, but he didn't show what he looks like as the "Character". I guess this Doosmday guy kills people. Well this kid shows up as a black shadowy person and proclaims that he did all the damage and kill the people at this night club, my son said that better not be Doomsday because that isn't what he looks like. Well it wasn't of course it was this bad kid who now is in the hands of this evil woman who took over for Lex. She is collecting these kids to do evil. We have been watching this show for the eight years that it has been on, it isn't mine thing, but I watch it after all the show's I watch that my family puts up with it is the least I can do. They have had Green Arrow, Aqua Man and a few others that I don't know their names, but the form the "American Legion". Well now Clark aka Superman is fianally going to use his flying powers on next weeks show, that is a big thing to my husband and sons! So, back to what my point of this blog is: I haven't a clue on all this comic book stuff, I mean I had no clue that Blade was a comic book as well as The Punisher, Ghostrider, and this new movie that is coming out in March call "The Watchmen". Which my oldest son is really looking forward to and in fact he is going to be one of the characters for Halloween. Comic books are just that books! Not those magazines of which I know of. My youngest son likes to get the Ghostrider comic books at about 15 bucks a pop!! I think those comic books of old that cost what about .25 cents and went up to maybe 1.25, 1.50 are way in the past. I remember you could go to the local five and dime store and they had a rack with the comic books and now those comic's of old are worth a lot of money! Who would have thonk!! Well I will just take my husband and son's word on this that and the other about comic books turned into movies or tv shows because I still don't have a clue!

Melt Down

I had a bit of a melt down at work the other day, well let start off with at the begining of my work week which is Saturday my husband came home from work and he had this look on his face, so I ask him what was wrong. He sits down in front of me and says well I just talked to our son about coming over so we could order those glasses for the wedding and he says well I have been meaning to tell you that Rachel is having second thoughts and not to order them right now. I didn't know exactly what that all meant because my son couldn't really talk about it being that he was still working. Sometimes when people tell my husband things he puts more into it and makes out worse than what it is, but I had to work without being able to talk to my son to get the "whole" picture. I did call him to let him know that if he needed to talk that dad and I are here for him. I worked four nights this week and on my fourth night I was looking forward to getting it over with and expecting to work on my unit, well I get to work and I had to float to another unit. I was pretty upset, but I went and two people had called in so the gal that was working was grateful to have me there. We each had ten patients and it was really busy and I was going kind of nuts and just started crying. I couldn't stop. A little later my husband and kids show up with a bunch of flowers!! I thought that was the sweetest thing and couldn't have come at a better time. I was so glad when the night was over and I got home and my husband said how's my girl? I said I am so glad it is over and thank you so much for the flowers it really made my night. He said how did the rest of your night go, I said well once I got settled and I got my mojo on it was ok! I hate when I have a melt down at work it is so awful, but I think having to float and being worried about my son it just all exploded.

My son came over yesterday and I asked him if he wanted to talk and he did so we sat down and I told his brother and sister to go in their rooms so we could talk. Oh needless to say we didn't make it to the DMV, but anyway so I ask what was going on with his girlfriend and he said the wedding is off because she isn't sure it is the right thing to do right now. She has always been afraid of commitment and she wants to be on her own and doesn't want to make a commitment and later down the road think what has she done with her life. Now, my son is talking to me and he is all choked up and I know his heart is broken and all I want to do is make it all better. That is what mothers do and it is killing me inside to see him this way. She has to do this to get her head clear and she wants to move to Indiana. I am like ok here I am going to steel a quote from the mindless banterer "What the freak"!!! Why does she want to move so far? He said because she wants to see places and she feels living in Carson City she isn't going to be able to do that. She said she can get a studio apartment for cheaper than what it is here. I am like yeah and the wages are probably cheaper too. I don't feel right now is the time to be moving and trying to find a job. He said it was a little more complicated and he doesn't understand a lot of it either. I said she is the one who told dad that she was going to ask you to marry her that she felt that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with you. So you start planning this wedding and buying the dress and all the stuff we just got and now she isn't sure? She feels they are too young and she just isn't sure it is what she wants right now, "HELLO", why didn't she think of this a few months ago when she decided she wanted to marry you? I told him I was in unbelief because I have come to love her and it is breaking my heart too, but mostly because of my son. After he left the more I thought the angrier I got. How could she do this? What does she expect my son to do, wait until she has her head together? Than, I felt betrayed and I am not sure if I should feel that. I just can't believe this is happening after all the get togethers, the talking, the planning for her to say now she isn't sure is beyond belief really. All the people I have told and the happiness I felt that my son was going to get married now this. I just don't know.

My sixteen year old daughter

My daughter asked me the other day if since they don't have school on Wednesday if I could take her to take the test to get her permit. I told her I would have to find her birth certificate, but yeah I can do that. See she took the driver's education class during the summer a month ago I had to take my oldest son into DMV and I was going to kill two birds with one stone( not really I wouldn't kill a bird) and have my daughter take the test than, well I forgot you had to bring in the birth certificate and social security number. I work tonight so that is nice the kids don't go to school tomorrow and I can get a little sleep than try to find the birth certificate so that she can take the test and get her drivers permit! Not that I am ready to teach her to drive, but I know how she feels because when I was her age I couldn't wait to learn to drive so I could get my drivers license. My oldest son went to take his test to get his permit when he was 16, but didn't pass the first time. I kept asking him if he wanted to try again until I gave up asking. He finally told me one day when he was 19 that he was ready to take the test he did he past and it began the nightmare of trying to teach him to drive! I was so nervous! I took him to an empty parking lot before I took him on the road which was a good thing! I finally had to let my husband take over because I was making my son to nervous. So we will see how my daughter does and I am sure my husband well end up taking over again!! Another thing is I can't afford more gray hair!

Kitty

My son and his girl friend rescued a kitten from certain death. They now have 3 cats and this kitten. They took it to the vet yesterday because it wasn't doing so well and my son called to ask me to pick his girl friend up because he had to go back to work. I did and this kitten is so darn cute!! They said they aren't going to keep it just get it well enough to give it away. They named this kitten "Chester", I am afraid that they will end up keeping it because they named it! It is about six weeks old and they have to hand feed it with a syringe. Poor little thing is so dehydrated and malnourished, but with a little tender loving care and water, food I think he will be okay. My son is so good hearted and loves all animals I wasn't surprised when he told me about the rescue! If I could I would take this kitten, because I too love all animals! My daughter is allergic to cats though so I can't take it in! I would have all kinds of animals if we lived where we had enough land. My husband's dream was to have a self-sustaining farm. Which is a nice dream, but I wouldn't be able to eat any of the animals, because I would have names for them all! I can go to the store and buy meat and it doesn't bother me because I didn't know that cow, chicken, pig or what ever. If I had seen this animal alive and had any part of its upbringing there is no way I could eat it. I could eat the chicken's eggs, but I couldn't eat the chicken. I could even drink the cow's milk, but I couldn't eat the cow. It is probably a good thing we don't live on a "farm" because I know they would all be my pets!! That would be a lot of pets to feed! Well see how it goes with this kitten and see if they give it away or not. I was holding it yesterday and even Rachel said I was first one she thought of to give it too, but she knows my daughter is allergic.

another tag

I was on the mindless banter blog and thought even though I don't have anyone to tag I would answer the questions just for fun so here goes:

1. In six months I will be: Hopefully getting closer to my son's wedding

2. In one year I will be: Maybe being able to work part-time instead of full-time.

3. In five years I will be: Celebrating my daughter being 21.

4. In ten years I will be: Hopefully a grandmom

5. I will be 73 years old on my golden anniversary and wll: Hopefully be retired enjoying what ever life I have left and having a lot of grandchildren!

Potpourri

I have been after my youngest son to do his book report. Well it is due today. Last night I tell him to get on it because it is due tomorrow. He said he "lost" the paper. I tell him your grounded!! I go in search of my papers with the teacher's email address and find the one I am looking for which has the forms he needs for his book report. I come out to give him the paper and what do you know he is on the teachers site. Amazing what a threat can do!! It took him to 10PM to get it done, but at least it is done and he can turn it in today! I am always after him about his homework. He has math homework everyday except Friday. Yesterday he says it is extra credit so I don't have to do it, I am you should it will help your grade. Well it is extra credit and it means I don't have to do it. It is so frustrating!

My oldest son I haven't talked to or seen in two weeks. I called him yesterday and he is like what's up? Nothing just haven't heard from you or seen you in a while so I just called to say Hi and see how you are doing? I'm doing good mom. I am at dmv Rachel is taking the test to get her permit. Oh thats good. Ok I love you and miss you. I love and miss you too mom!! Now you have to understand, he has been out on his own for almost three years now. It was a hard adjustment for me, but I am doing better now!! I know he has his own life and all, but I still like to hear from him or see him once in a while. My husband used to always say, Oh you need a Brandon fix!! LOL yeah dear what ever!! He is right of course! Than he calls me later Oh I forgot to tell you Rachel and I rescued a kitty! Oh you did so now you have four cats? Well he was all skinny and what not so we took him in and feed him so he is doing better. This is the child that brought me a stick bug when he was little, Yuck!!! He said isn't it cool mom, I am like yes dear now take it outside now. Can I keep it? You can keep it outside!! He did and than set it free a week later!!

My daughter brought home the other day the catalog for class rings. She said she would rather have a class ring than a letterman jacket. We bought our oldest son the jacket. So I filled out all the information on what ring she wanted and she is supposed to turn it in today at lunch. I told her I got a class ring and still have it, oh can I see it? I went and dug it out and showed her. That's really nice, yeah it is a nice memory to have. So I hope that when she gets her ring she will keep it too!

My husband and I never did go on a date this week, but we did get to spend some alone time together before he had to go to work and that was really nice! He made breakfast for us the other day that was a treat as well. Tonight we are going to go to the movies with the kids so that will be a nice family outing. We try to do that if we can it always depends on when he gets off of work. My kids are wanting to go to the haunted house, but I think I will try and take them next week. My husband really doesn't care about that kind of stuff and I think it is fun! I like scary movies and stuff like that anyway. My husband was happy when our oldest was old enough to watch those kind of movies so he didn't have to!! Now my daughter wants to watch them too!

Specking of scary movies: My favorite well maybe it really isn't so much as scary, but vampires I love movies with vampires! One of my favorites is Dracula! Bram Stokers. I think that movie is romantic in a sick sort of way!! The one I am talking about is the one with Winona Rider and Keaneu Reeves. I also love Underworld, Van Helsing, and Blade. I just pick up another tv series that happens to be about vampires it is Angel! David Boreanaz is so HOT as my daughter says!! This was a spin off from Buffy the vampire slayer. He plays a good vampire! Between pervasive evil and countless temptations lurking beneath the city's glittery facde, L.A. is the ideal address for a fallen vampire looking to save a few lost souls and, in turn, perhaps redeem his own! The other night my shows weren't on so we watched a few episodes of this and even my husband was saying how sexy he is. I love him on Bones as well. I haven't read the books on Twilight yet, but my daughter read the first book and is on the second and we are looking forward to that movie as well! This is more geared to teenagers, but I will still probably go see it just because it is about vampires and a love story!!

That is my potpourri for the day! Thought I would just say a little about different things that were on my mind!

Growing up

I went yesterday to pick up my kids from school and my youngest son wanted to go over to his friends house. Well I decided to let him go over. I get this call from him saying he is going over to another friends house and that his mother was taking them over there. Now, I forget to ask where does this friend live what is his address what is his phone number is his mom going to be home well you get the picture! I am a nervous wreck!! I take my daughter to her play come home and there is a message mom I want to stay at my other friends house for another hour or so ok? AW NO IT ISN'T OK!! So thankfully I have caller ID like most of us have and I call the number it is his friends cell phone which tells me to listen to the music while your party is being reached, ok dum da dum leave a message, WHAT!!!! Leave a message saying this is Kyle's mom have him call me RIGHT away!! He finally calls me back and I say NO you can't stay longer I need you home NOW!! Where does your friend live? He tells me and I tell him to meet me at 7-11. We get home and I am asking all these questions, well come to find out he went to his one friends than they went to the park, YOU DID WHAT!! How did you get there? Who took you? WHY didn't you call and ask me? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???? MOM, we just went to the skate park! That is not the point is it?? You were supposed to stay at your friends house and you know you are to call me if plans have changed! Before he had called me back I had left a message to my husband that Kyle wasn't home and I couldn't get a hold of him and I am thinking maybe we need to get him a cell phone! I really am not sure I like this growing up stuff, but my son also knows the rules and than I could kick myself for not asking all those questions it isn't like me not to do that!! Later I realized that yesterday he was supposed to go to confirmation class he had missed last week because of the dance. He is home safe and that is the main thing but I can't believe he did that. My husband came home and gave me all these opitions and said it is up to me if I want to get the cell phone for him or not. WHY is it up to me? I just got my daughter a cell phone, but she is 16 and with drama she really needs it and I am glad I got it for her. I am sure if I do decide to get her brother one she is going to be upset and say it isn't fair because she had to wait to get one and on and on!! Or I can just tell my son no going over to his friends anymore if he is going to end up somewhere else!

Gardening

This spring I had decided I was going to start to work in my front yard to try to get it to look half way decent. I have these ugly rocks in my yard that I have hated since we moved in, so I start to rake them up into a pile. I have no idea how I am going to get rid of them all together, but for now this well have to do. It took me a while to get this one area cleaned up and by this time it was the begining of summer and it was starting to get hot. I than decided that I would go get some flowers to put in this area, so off to wal-mart I went with my kids and picked up a bunch of flowers. Now the task of planeting them! Well I kept going back for more and I would drag my kids along with me and they are like oh no mom not again!! It was almost like an obsession. Than my husband started buying me these cool garden tools that are lite weight! He just bought me a couple more just the other day!! One problem I have with getting the flowers is I alway forget which ones come back year after year. I always think it is annual, but I know that it is perennials that come back year after year. Well I did pick up the annuals the first time around and than when I went back several times is when I got the perennials. My favorite color is purple and that is what I got a lot of is different colors of purple flowers. I also got other colors like pink, white, red, and yellow, but mostly they are purple! This little flower garden has been my sanctuary. Now it is fall and the leaves are falling off the peach tree and we had our first cold spell and snow dusting that has left a few of the plants with frost bite. Yesterday was a beautiful day as is today and I decided to start raking some of the leaves up. I got a lot of them raked up the only problem is I know I will have more because there are still leaves on the tree. As I was raking to I would bump into the tree and more leaves would fall. I gave up after a while, but it looks a little better where my flowers are. My yard still needs a lot of work and it is going to take me a long time to get it to what I want it to be. I would like to cut down the peach tree get rid of all the rocks and plant a lot of plants and flowers. I would like to get a different tree as well. I want a lot of lilac and butterfly bushes, honeysuckle and snow ball plants are great too! What really nags me is my neighbor has an elm tree which I hate those trees and those darn seeds that blow into my yard and plant themselves. I have a few that I keep cuting but they keep growing back. I have asked my husband to dig them up, but he says the roots are never ending, so I am going to try what a friend suggested was to take boiling water add salt and pour into where the trees are and it will kill the roots! I will probably go out later today and try to do some more work while the weather is perfect!

Time

I was ready to leave for work last night, but before I go I always give my family a hug and kiss and tell them I love them. So I was saying good-bye to my husband and he says "When are we going to have time alone together"? He is so sweet and I do miss him when I am at work. We work opposite shifts with different days off, so sometime it is tough, but you do what you have to do. It is hard to "go out on a date" when you have different days off. There are days he gets off at a decent hour, but I don't like to leave my kids by themselves even though my daughter is 16 and my youngest son is going to be 13 and it isn't that I don't trust them because I do it's just that I worry about them. YES I am one of those worrier! I can't help it I just worry about everything. When it comes to my children wow they even tell me "Mom you just worry to much". I can't help it! My mom was the same way though. I remember a few years ago when she came over to stay with my kids, I was leaving for work and had a sweater on and she told me that I should wear my coat. I told her I was fine not to "worry". I guess there are a lot of things we pick up from our parents and then there's other things we did differently. I guess I got off track a little, I think my husband and I really do need to have a date night to get out even if it is to go out to dinner just the two of us. Things are so much different when you don't have your parents around any more and I really do miss them and sometimes it is hard to cope, because you realize that you are getting older and that is scary sometimes. It seems too that the older you get the more time just seems to fly by, I mean it is October already! I guess this blog doesn't have no rhythm or reason just kind of going with what I am feeling right now.

On another note, it is sprit week at high school so they have different themes for each day. Yesterday it was class color day so them were to wear that color to school only my daughter forgot. I think today was tropical day or something and one day is each class has a country they are to dress at so I am not sure how that will work out! Friday is homecoming and Saturday is the dance. I think my daughter wants to go, but I would want her to go with a friend. I know there I go being a worry wart again! Dad well have to take her and pick her up if she decides to go because I work Saturday night. We will see how it all goes. That is it for my blog today.

Last week

We had a busy week last week. My daughter is in drama and last week was what they call tech week. The kids in drama have been practicing every week and last week being that it was tech week they had to practice everyday after school, so it has been busy. The play opened last night and being that it was opening night they were to be there at 6 because the teacher figured they were going to be nervous. It was so nice that my husband got off work at a decent hour and we got to go see the play together! The play is called "Murder In The Knife Room" and the cast has some really funny names. There's Mysterious Host, Wealthy Dowager, Respected General, Southern Belle, Decrepit Invalid, Sketchy Foreigner, Brainless Model( The gal that played her played her well!), Bearded Scholar, Tramp, Pompous Millionaire, Reckless Cowboy, Boy Band Reject, Inspector/Faking, Plastic Politician, Washed-up Actress, Santa, Serial Killer, Spooky Pirate, Dirty Hippie, Dolphins Fan, Stand-up Comic, Intimidating Mobster. So all these people are in the knife room of Mysterious Host's Mansion and each one is telling a little about themselves. The Mysterious Host goes to open this chest the lights go out and the host is murdered. Of course each one of them has a motive of which now they tell another part of the story in which my daughter comes in to the picture. She plays three short parts of which the people are re-enacting there story. She plays Idea number 3 which Pompous Millonaire is explaining how he became a millionaire by steeling someone elses idea. Than she plays Kevin who is one of the back street boys, which Boy Band Reject is re-enacting why he is a Reject.
Than she plays Paw, Which where Reckless Cowboy comes in and tells his story. She plays Paw and her of spring (or I should say his off spring) Are Reckless, Foolish, Irresponsible and Negligent!! The play was really cute and all the actors did really great! It was good to go see one of my children in a play it has been a while, my oldest son was in drama also and my daughter only had one play last year and it was at the end of the school year. This was the first of five this year so it will be a busy year for sure. The next play is in December they always do a Christmas play and this year it is "Babes In Toyland". January's play is "John Brown's Body", March/April is "Cats" I am looking forward to this one! The last play is "King Midas and The Touch of Gold". The only thing about going to these plays is my mom won't be there to see them, she loved going to see my oldest son and it is sad she won't be able to see her grand daughter. I hope that there is a play that my oldest son can go see his sister in he has to work and won't be able to see this one, she goes back tonight and the last show is on Sunday the 19th.

My youngest son this week had a school dance that he went to on Wednesday after school. He said it was awesome oh and a girl ask him to dance, oh boy!!

Wonder if, faith, and God's will

Sometimes things in my life makes me" wonder if", but than I think about faith. I am an only child and I often wonder if I had an older brother. I say older brother because I always thought I would have loved to have an older brother. I "wonder if" my life would be different. I don't know how having a brother would have made things different, but I just often "wonder if". I know God has a plan and he leads you, but I know sometimes we don't always follow in the right path. I don't so much anymore "wonder if" I married Tommy, but when I was young I thought Tommy and I would get married have four kids and live in a house with a picket fence. That didn't happen and Tommy broke my heart. Than I "wonder if" my parents didn't move away where would have my life taken me than. Well, if they wouldn't have moved I wouldn't have moved and I wouldn't have married my husband. Well it was God's plan.

I think when we are young and have all these hopes, dreams and plans it does make you "wonder if". I know when I was young I always wanted to be a nurse. I would doctor up my dolls and my mom would always ask me did you use all the bandaids again? I didn't become a nurse but later I did become a nursing assistant. I "wonder if" I would have gone to school and become a nurse would I be where I am today? I don't think I would be. So, it was God's will that the way my life has played out was for a reason. At the time I didn't think that way, but as I have grown and have God in my life it some how makes some sense.

After Tommy broke my heart and my parents moved away I was very depressed. That is when I decided to move too! I wasn't looking for love, but it somehow found me! I now know it was God's will that brought me here and his will that my husband and I met or you could say it was faith that brought us together.

I know there will always be "wonder if", but with faith I know God's plan is the right thing for me as long as I keep believing that no matter what he has his reasons and grant it sometimes I don't understand, but it is faith that I know he knows what he is doing, He is God after all.

Wedding and other stuff..

Yesterday I told my son to come over and we would go and get some of the stuff they were wanting to get for the wedding, so while I was waiting I decided I needed to go to wal-mart to pick up some "girly" stuff. As I was driving down the parking lot to find a place to park and waiting for the people crossing the street this car is coming toward me on the wrong side of the rode. I am jestering this person to MOVE and the car is not moving! FINALLY, he starts to go on the "right" side of the rode drives past me and gives me the RASPBERRIES!! I am like "HELLO" you are in the wrong!! Sometimes I just don't get people!!

My son shows up so we go to Michael's We are picking out this and that and I am asking what about this, oh we didn't look at that yet. See I don't want to get anything that both him and my future daughter in law have decided on. They are planning a outside wedding so we pick up the arch, the run way, the invitations, the pen and a few other things. They picked out a pen but not a guest book. I wanted to get the pillow for the rings, but they hadn't talked about that yet. There is a few things at believe it or not dollar tree that we can get so that will be good. Now the invitations my son is going to make up on the computer. He has photo shop and he had done up my mom's memorial cards and they came out so good! The arch they well have to pick up the stuff to decorate it with. Now I was talking to him the other day about if they decided where exactly they want to have the wedding, he said not really. Now before they were wanting it up at the Lake which they still do, but they aren't sure exactly where or who they are going to get to marry them. I know they have seven months, but it does go by fast. I was glad I was able to get some of the stuff they wanted and I still want to do more for them just give me the word!!

When my son was over the other day he was using the sewing machine to make his halloween costume, well he was have trouble with it because it wasn't threaded right, now it has been a while since I have used it so I said did you read the instruction book, he is like mom since when do I read instructions, well he had a point there!! We got it threaded and he was on his way!! At least he was sewing it himself and not asking me to do it!!

My daughter is in drama and next week is tech week. Which means pratice, pratice, pratice!! Show opens on Friday night! So looks like it well be a busy week next week!!

My youngest son has a dance on Wednesday, but that is when he has confirmation class, but I think he can skip one class and go to the dance because he really does want to go. They had changed 7th grade class from Sunday to Wednesday anyway which I am not sure why, but anyway looks like a pretty full week!

A work in progress or is that process?

I have made it through another open house!! I know that might not sound like a big deal to you, but for me it really is and I am so glad the open house's are over! Last year I didn't go and my children I think were really hurt by that. Well a lot has happened this year and there is a lot of things I have done that I didn't before, so it is a work in progress/process not sure which word I would use here! I have a really hard time being in crowds and around people I don't know, so going to these open house's was a big step for me and that's not to say I have never been to any open house's because I have, but in the past both my husband and I would go so that makes a big difference. One thing is a the teacher's say oh your child is so sweet, well of course that makes me feel a whole lot better! When I went to my son's open house the other night the only problem I did have was going to the book fair. It was so crowded in this small area I had to tell my son I need to go out I mean I thought I was going to pass out on the spot and was so glad to get out of there.

Another thing that I have done is go to a lot of movies. I know that another thing that may sound kind out there, but I would maybe go to the theater once a year. Again it is the crowd being around people I don't know and sitting in the theater and have someone kicking my set, it really bothers me. Well I am here to tell you I "survived" the theater!! In fact my family and I have seen a lot of movies this summer and they were so glad that I went with them. In fact we went and saw the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight" that was a lot of fun. A young man dressed up as the joker which I thought was pretty cool!

I took them to the Lake a few times this summer as well, but I also did that last year and they really have a lot of fun. As most kids they love the water and it was so nice to go up there to cool off for the day. One time we stopped off at my aunt's because she had made me something so when we got there and she gave me the gift she said, "This is what your mom asked me to make for you for mothers day" It was a knited purse of which I saw her making! Of course it made me cry.

I took my daughter to her first concert this summer! We went and saw "Styx". We had an awesome time and it was great to go see a band from my era! Now, I am not just stuck with music from my era I love a lot of the new bands and have always loved music, so there is a lot of bands I would love to see.

You may be thinking to yourself where is she going with this, well let me tell you a little bit about what is behind this blog. My mom passed away in March and I have not been the same and it got me thinking that life really is much to short and that I needed to stop and think about my own life. So I decided that nothing matters more to my than my family and that I really need to spend as much time as I can with them.

Now there is a lot of things I don't get to do or place I get to go because of my work schedule, but if I know ahead of time I may be able to plan it out better. This weekend is the Candy dance and I won't be able to go to that, but like I said it is a work in progress/process which ever way you look at it!

Fall TV Season

I was reading the mindless banterer blog about DVR and the commercials. It got me thinking how truly hooked I am on the tv shows I watch. A lot of the shows I watch had these cliff hangers at the end of last season, so I was really looking forward to find out "What" happened.

"Bones" was the first of the shows I watch to have it's two hour season premiere. It was so good to see all the people that are in this show, but one is missing because he is now in a hospital for the criminally insane. His name is Zach and I really loved this character and was so sad when he got into trouble at the end of last season. That is the thing about this show all the characters have this bond that makes the show so good! Well, this week they had "Zach" on the show! It was so cool to see him and all the others were so glad and he helped them to solve their case!!

Last week it was "House" and one of the characters in this show is leaving. Wilson is leaving. It makes you wonder if they are going to replace him and if they do how is that going to affect the show.

"Criminal Minds" was on Wednesday night, now I couldn't wait for this show because at the end of last season a car blows up, but of course you don't know which one because all the characters get into the same kind of car. Well everything turned out good none of the "Main" characters die so all is good, but "Morgan" gets a promotion to lead his own team, NO he can't leave!!!!

So it brings me to my very favorite show that I have been watching since day one when it started well I might as well say 15 years ago. My beloved ER!! Now I have seen characters come and go on this show, but I love this show and have grown to love all the characters and am so sad this is the final season! At the end of last season the cliff hanger was you don't know who dies or if they die. A ambulance blows up. So it opens with that and ok Abby's alright, Sam wasn't in the ambulance so that leaves Pratt. He's Alive!!!! Well not for long he ends up dying. So, here is the point I want to make. I am so hooked on these shows and their "characters" that I sit there and cry through the show!!

I guess what I am saying is I get hooked on these shows and get used to the people or "characters" if you will that they become part of my live. Is that crazy or what? Another show I like is Ghost Whisperer and now they are saying they are going to kill off Melinda's husband Jim. What is up with that? He is as must a part of the show as she is and this really makes me upset and a whole lot of other fans as well!! I just hate when they mess with the show like that.

Just thought I would share with you my thoughts on this season tv shows and hope that they aren't changing the shows you watch to much!

Just another day

It was just a normal day which begins with me coming home from work kissing my husband and kids good by telling them I love them than off to bed I go, pretty normal. I don't go to work tonight and I pick up the kids from school so I can't sleep but a couple hours, still pretty normal day. Alarm goes off, ugh I get up have to make coffee can't start my day without that take a shower. Get everything I need to get done to get myself going and have a few minutes go on the computer decide to check out some poems, well that was my first mistake! I could not stop crying. I have been thinking about my mom the last few days and well reading those poems just started me going. So I pull myself together and go wait for my daughter. She is in high school and gets out of school at 1:50 my youngest son is in middle school and gets out at 2:15, so I usually have time to get from point A to point B, Well my daughter decides to talk to her English teacher and here it is 2:11, ok now I am panic I am not going to get to the middle school in time, oh wait my oldest son is off work today I will call him, Thank goodness he was home and yes he would pick him up! My daughter finally makes it out to the car and it is now 2:17, what were you doing? Thats when she tells me about talking to the teacher. I drop her friend off at home my oldest son gets here with my youngest son and wants to know what took his sister so long we go through the whole thing again. In the mean time last week my oldest son came over and he was having some problems with his car insurance so we go and put him on our policy which is better for him anyway because it will cost him less, so with that we go on our way. Well I get a new bill so I go today with my oldest son and pay for that thinking now we are done until next month. On the way back to the house my son says oh did I tell you a cop pulled me over a week or so ago, no I say what for. He said my light was out on my license plate, I am like what? Well than he proceed to tell me the cop says can I check your car, I am like WHAT did you tell him NO? He's no mom I wasn't going to tell him no. I would be so ticked off and mouthing off at the cop, what gives him the right to pull my son over for a lousy light being out on his darn license plate anyway? That is not all oh no, he patted him down to make sure he didn't have any weapons or drugs on him and had the gull to ask if he had any needles in his pocket! When he found nothing wrong what did he do, just sent me on my way!! I was in disbelieve!

So we get back to the house and he comes in for a while and than says he is going to take off, so I asked him if he needed money for gas, yeah it couldn't hurt. So I give him some money and my younest says, oh I need 3 dollars for my gloves for handbells, and my daughter says yeah I still need 15 for my make-up for drama, I am yeah I guess just call me mom the atm!! LOL Well than my daughter says yeah mom the atm machine, my oldest son says you don't say machine after atm that is redundant. My daughter is like what do you mean? He says the m in atm is machine, so it is like you are saying machine machine that's redundant!! We laugh! My son leaves and I get the mail only to get another adjustment on my car insurance, so once again I will have to go back to the insurance company and give them the balance of the new adjustment.