Almost 2006

Some final thoughts for the year 2005....

Little did I think a couple of days ago that it would be 10:45 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and I would be making a journal entry.  The "creeping crud", as I call it has struck again; not just me but also my BF so for the first time since we've been together, we haven't spent New Year's Eve together.  At first, I was a bit pouty, well, not actually, because I don't have enough energy to pout but let's say down in the dumps.  I would call myself superstitious; my mom calls me "fanciful."  I was feeling it's a bad omen not to spend the evening welcoming in the New Year with my BF.  I've been putting things into perspective.  It really is just another evening.  I also thought of Penny and her Christmas and just how whiny I was sounding to myself.

The house is quiet.  The kids all are out.  Megan is spending the night at a friend's house.    Reality is I know she will be drinking and she knows that I know.  She also knows the car has to be parked and not moved once she arrives.....yet I still worry because she has basically always followed Mom's rules but she is my child who sometimes wants to break the mold.  I pray this is one rule she never, ever breaks for her own safety and the safety of others.

Joey and Becky are going to see a friend's group perform and then they are going back to Becky's apartment and having a party with a group of friends.  Reality is they will also be drinking but I know they will not break the rules.  They called and let me know they are safely back from the concert.  I wasn't worried about them drinking there but about the others on the road who had started drinking early today.

So to all my dear J-Land friends...HAPPY NEW YEAR.  I'm so glad that I will be welcoming 2006 in with all of you!  May we all continue to let the Lord bless us and strengthen us as we begin a new year in our lives.........

                                       CHRIS

I've Been Tagged

LOL...guess I can't say I look just like the "diva in the pic up there anymore, can I?  Shucks....a little trip to fat camp and the plastic surgeon and voila....that's me.

Here are the rules; the first player of this game starts with the topic. Five weird habits of yourself and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their five weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forget to leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assuming they take comments) and tell them to read yours.  Deb Frosty Thoughts   tagged me...lol....thanks.

OK....here goes.......

1.  I saw Deb has a newspaper weird thing.  Ok, so do I.  When I read the sale ads I always and I means always read them from back to front.  Never, ever front to back.

2.  I hate chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, chocolate icecream, anything chocolate but I absolutely love good chocolate candy and fudge and I love hot fudge toppings on sundaes.

3.  I love all types of music but I actually listen to rap and hip hop.  Weird because I'm 52 so I'm not normal...lol.

4.  I could only sleep on my couch in my familyroom for two years; could not fall asleep or stay asleep in my bed.  I can now but go through phases where I can only sleep on the couch with the tv on.

5.  I have a loud noise phobia...fireworks, thunder, etc. make me break out in a cold sweat at the very least, partial nervous breakdown at worst.

Ok, here are the lucky dogs to get tagged:

Penny Penny`s Place if you're feeling up to it.

Sharon Golf and Other Stuff...

Jeff Jeff's addition to your boring day  LOL...you love this stuff, I know it; this should be easy for you anyway (only teasing)

Kara A Day With Kara  when you get your cable up and running

David Sunshine Colorado Notes

OK....so give it a try. 

 

                                            

O Christmas Tree and Vacuum

Well, a little late but here's the "ghetto" tree.  And, of course, the vacuum.  You live and learn.  I have another sans the vacuum but cut the star off.  Now, isn't that the purpose of digital cameras so that you don't cut off heads or stars.  The tree skirt is also missing because the needles are dropping like flies.  And notice the black chair on the left.  Yep, that's where I'm sitting right now.  My computer is in that corner.

Oh well, goodnight all....I have to be up at 5:00 a.m.

 

                       CHRIS

Some Pics

Yikes....I hate pictures of myself...LOL.  I do love the "star" above my head.  Well, obviously Becky did the trick for me.  She got everything downloaded and my zip file back up set up.  She called me at work and told me I should put in the tutorial disc.  Yeah right.  I plunged right in and started searching for the pictures and then actually edited and resized them myself.  What a whiz I'm becoming.  But dayum, I hate that moon face of mine.

Now don't ya just love the garbage bag.  These are my three stooges and my mom.  I was going to crop it but I didn't want to cut my mother out.  I do have a  picture of Megan with my SIL but oh well....another time.  Becky is on the left; Megan on the right in the green.  Of course, Joey is in the middle.

Another monster has been created.  Sorry, children of mine, but you will never get on this computer when mom is home.

Well, I'm off to go clicking away.  Got to put a picture of my Grizzly Bear (my doggy) up.

                            

                                     

2006....can you believe it?  Wow, it just seems like we were all anticipating the year 2000.  Where does time fly to?

Tomorrow Becky is coming up but I'll be working.  I wish she had told me sooner so I could have switched my day off.  She is going to back up my files and do some computer reconfiguring plus set up my disc for loading my pictures.  She told me to leave her a list but prioritze it...LOL...there isn't enough time in the day for her to do everything.  I need drivers downloaded off the internet for my two printers.  I haven't had a printer since I got this new computer in Oct. because I couldn't get my drivers. 

Thank you, Shelly, for the PSP 9 program and the patience for the download time.  I will have DSL by the end of the week.   Awesome program but I just click away.  I really need to learn to follow directions.  I'm struggling my way through the fonts but I actually managed to find the program, unzip it and save it to my desktop....a feat in itself...LOL

I swear I'm such a confused old lady when it comes to the simplist technical things but I'm slowly learning.  Next project...pictures on here. Stay tuned all.  I'll be doing the photo and scavenger hunts....

 

                                                  

Shopping, PSP and Other Things

I got myself up very early today and hit Walmart, Target and K-Mart.  I got the tree for my livingroom at K-Mart.  It's a pre-lit one and still in the box.  I'm just putting it in the attic until next year.

I got home and my BF called and asked me if I wanted to go to the mall...need he ask...LOL?  Off we went.  I got a memory card for my camera at Radio Shack.  I just got the 256 MB because it was on sale for $20 and will hold about 130 pictures.  I still have to insert the disc so I can start downloading them on the computer but my mind is fried tonight.  Of course, it's fried because Shelly is being kind enough to IM me PSP 9.  I have PSP 7 on here now from her.  Since I have dial up, I think we're about 27% into this......Man, do I want DSL.  I have to start looking into it.  These download times just kill me.

My BF bought me a new coat and boots at the mall.  LOL...somehow I knew I would end up getting something.  We ate and I came home and couldn't avoid my computer, once again.  Anyhoo, I probably won't get around to many journals because I'm only slowing down the already turtle slow download but I'll be around tomorrow night when I get home from work.

Most of the graphics lately have been my own.  I'm keeping them up and watching for improvement. 

Next thing I have to learn is downloading my pictures and using the photobucket....oy vay...my brain is already spinning.  But I did actually put my own memory card in my camera.  I have to admit I'm a loss with any electronics.  My new clock radio blew my mind, and my kids still need to set my cell phone.

Take care and be patient with me.....I'll be visiting everybody soon.  (Whoo-hoo, Shelly...29%)

                             

Winding Down

Winding down from what turned out to be a wonderful day and actually a not-so-bad Christmas Eve.  My brother's wife was quite mellow after all the fuss.

My BF bought me a digital camera...YEAH!  I picked it out but wasn't sure I liked it at first but it's great.  I have to get a memory card so look out.  I'll be posting pictures soon.

My brother and his wife were both still at my mother's at 4 today when I arrived.  My mom and I still can't figure out what caused my SIL to hang around so long but things were very, very nice. 

My kids surprised me with so many things this year.  Becky, my oldest, is quite a shopper.  I got all kinds of snowmen and cutsie things I love.  Things I just would never spend the money on myself for.  Megan and Joey got me my piano playing Snowman from Hallmark....so dorky but so cute.  I'm not used to all of this.  They also got me the cutest Dreamsicle to add to my collection.  My three were all happy with everything they got; mostly money but other little things also. 

I was finally able to take some pictures.  I took a picture of my BF, his brother, and mother.  I'm going to frame it for her for Mother's Day.

Also got a half decent one of my BF and me.  LOL...I'll be posting that also.  I told him that.  He was cracking up.

So, I'm putting my list together for my mega shopping extravaganza tomorrow.  Target is my first stop and then Walmart and who know where else we may end up.  Megan and I are leaving before 7 so we're both off to bed to be well rested.

Take Care all.......        

                                              

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

I'm off to start another busy day but just wanted to extend my best wishes for a joyous Christmas to all.  Be safe and take time to remember the reason for the season.

One little added note....I got an e-mail from Penny's (pennietoonz) daughter last night.  Penny has been hospitalized with pneumonia.  Please keep dear Penny in your prayers.  What a way to spend a Christmas Day that she was so looking forward to.  Extending Hugz to Penny and praying that God envelopes her in His hands (as I know he is) and that she is back on feet very, very soon.  Prayers also extended for Corey, her daughter, for strength at this time.

Love ya, Penny.....get back to us soon!

Take Care all and be thankful for all the many blessings that are extended upon us that we take for granted.

See you all tomorrow after my super day after Christmas shopping.

 

                           

Christmas Past~Memories

First, I just want to say I absolutely adore the above graphic.  I'm sure I'm going to have to resize it because it wasn't even downloading properly into my journal.  (LOL...I didn't have to resize it and the download time is going to take a while but question for Shelly.  I just noticed this when I saved it.  The girl who made this is very experienced in PSP.  Do you think she left the checks in there for design's sake or just didn't crop or use her eraser?)

Christmas memories are just that when a family is split.  So many in J-Land live this life.  My Christmas traditions were tied in with my ex-laws from 1975 until around 1999.  I continued going for a few years after we separated because it had become my tradition, and I adore the extended family of my ex.

My children continue the tradition.  Church and then a huge Christmas Eve feast and gathering at my ex mother-in-law's house.  I wouldn't even think of robbing them of this time but this leaves me a bit sad and lonely.  Tonight I will go to my mother's and visit with her and my brother and his wife.  Some of you are aware that I am less than enthusiastic about my brother and can barely tolerate his wife.  Lord, help me to bite my tongue.  I used to cook a huge Christmas dinner, and both sides gathered at our old house.  I loved it.  I continued also to do this until I moved out and bought this house in 1999 and my ex moved back into our old house.  Geez, I miss my dad so much also.  I'm supposing this entry will be somewhat of a downer but I have to remember the reason for the season and let the past go.  My kids are big but dayum I miss them already.

Tomorrow is going to be a fiasco.  My mom just called me and said dinner this year is at 2:30 because Linda's (my brother's wife) has once again changed the time of their gathering.  Why do things always have to revolve around her family and their times?  I'm seeing them tonite so I will go to my mom's when I get there.  I'm spending tomorrow with my BF, his mother, brother, son, son's GF and the 4 year old grandson.  My kids...I'm not even sure how they will work this out.  They go to their step-mom's parents' house for brunch.  I must say the step grandparents have actually embraced my children.  LOL..not the step-mom though.  They are supposed to stop at my ex's sister's at noon.  Aunt Lynn is a gem.  She loves my children to death.  Nothing has changed with my in-laws.  There is so much love in that family.  Where did my ex come from?

Right now I'm sort of in a daze.  I have to call the kids coz they are all back in Pgh already.  This is going to go over like a ton of bricks.  I usually go to church with them on Christmas Eve but this changes each year because my brother keeps changing the time for our Christmas Eve gathering.  The only problem is I won't bend to his rules.  And then my mother keeps saying..."You know your brother; he's all about family."  Hmmmm...someday I'm going to tell her what I think or maybe not.  She's good to me and we've mended far too many problems for me to rock the boat once again.  Besides that, she's a vibrant 86 year old and doesn't deserve the strife it would cause.

Anyway...HUGZ to all and have a blessed Christmas.  I'm working on reviving my spirit.  A trip to Christmas Eve service would do the trick. 

On a lighter note....Megan came down last night to model her Christmas Eve outfit.  I almost choked.  I mean it's not that it's totally improper for maybe a New Year's Eve gathering but a church service...YIKES...maybe I'll just go to a service here tonight.  Let her dad handle this one.  I told her what I thought.  She said she thought I would say that but oh well...Oh well, Merry Christmas, Daddy...she's all yours tonight...rofl.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!           

I'm Back

I'm back..lol.  I've spread myself so thin this week and should have known better.  Talk about being a glutton for punishment.

Tues. I spent the whole day doctor hopping.  Megan had her GI follow-up for celiac.  Her antibody count indicates that the celiac is in total remission...Praise the Lord!  The downside is she has full blown osteoporosis.  She went for another bone scan yesterday.  Her last was done in August when she had only been on a wheat-free diet for a month.  The doctor is hoping that this will have corrected itself since she has been wheat-free now six months.  If not, she will have to see a bone specialist.  After the GI visit, she went to the eye doctor and then I had a dermatologist appointment.  We left at 7:00 and got home after 5 in the evening.  What a day!

Then.....I really got myself into way more than I needed.  I'm in a PSP group.  I like to snag the stuff.  They were having a Secret Santa all month, which I didn't participate in because I wasn't good enough.  Well, everybody, even the newbies, got into this one, including me.  Yikes...thanks to Shelly for tagging me but I had to do some on my own.  I was spending 24/7 when I was home fumbling through tutorials from people and creating graphics.  Thank the Lord that is done.  I have a super headache and had totally abandoned my journal.  I did get some super graphics from my secret santa and have more tags with my name on than I'll ever use but none with purple so I'm not using one today...lol.  The above was made for all of us. (Jeff, I'm amazed you could even read this entry.  I had to resize that graphic because my journal is already way out of whack from a big graphic and was totally out of whack when I first posted it today until I made the graphic smaller.)

So, to all my J-Land friends...I'm still alive and kicking and haven't forgotten you...just got totally sidetracked.  (Hehehehe...Penny, you know me all too well.  No putting away PSP for me, at least not this past week.)  I'm definitely putting the PSP on hold now because I simply have no energy left to even try and figure out the font smart thingy I downloaded.

I'll be making my visiting rounds a little later this evening.  Hope all of you are well...I have lots of catching up to do.

Blessed Christmas to all......I will be back tomorrow to wish all those still hanging around another Merry Christmas.                   

                                                                                           

        CHRIS

                                                             

The Tornado Strikes

PSP is officially closing until after Christmas.  Somehow, I managed to add snow.  Now, it took me all evening and nothing else got done so today I am avoiding this computer.  Actually, I think I need IA (internet anonymous).

I went to bed around midnight.  Megan was working until 11:30 and then was picking up a girlfriend to go to a friend's party.  The friend lives way out in the sticks.  Megan is not allowed to drive that far alone that late.  I'm not sure why she didn't go but she was supposed to spend the night there (also one of my rules).

All I know is that I was just falling into a deep sleep and heard a blood curdling scream; at least I thought I heard it.  I actually thought I was dreaming.  But no, I heard it again, and my heart stopped.  It was Megan.  Joey was home so she was downstairs with him.  She came flying up the steps crying like I've never heard her cry; literally hysterical.  Thank God she looked fine and in one piece.  My first thought was the car.  She could barely get her words out....but she did. 

ROFL....Goldie, the almost two year old, carnival goldfish was floating belly up in the bowl when she got home from work.   Goldie had sat on our bar in the familyroom for 24 hrs in half of his water when she got home from school.  She did change the water sometime yesterday, and I bought Goldie more food when we were dodging the crowds at Walmart yesterday afternoon.  No...Mocha didn't eat Goldie.  I believe Goldie's time had come.  Megan was also hysterical because Mocha had been drinking the crusty old water out of Goldie's bowl.  She was sure Mocha had expired also...Nope, Mocha is alive and well and eating right now beside me.

Anyway, now was the time to put Goldie to rest.  Joey was all too willing to be the one to flush Goldie (ok, where's the wuss who wouldn't clean up the dead mouse).  I wanted Goldie in the garbage.  Goldie is no small goldfish and my plumbing is always backing up anyway.  LOL...the tears came flowing again.  Goldie had to go back to his "roots".  The sewage system?  Oh, well...Goldie got flushed and the plumbing is still flowing.  Megan went to bed after she called all her friends grieving about the goldfish that she is always moaning about being such a pain.  She simply could not go anywhere after this devestating experience.

Again, gotta love those 19 year old girls.  And she's been home for what....not quite 48 hrs.  It's going to be a long and interesting month, for sure.

Take care all...crunch time is coming.  

                                        CHRIS

PSP Madness

LOL....Shelly, I was able to master 2/3 of your tutorial in layering.  For some reason, the snowflake layer and I couldn't cooperate but your lesson wasn't in vain.  I still have some hair left on my head.....but I swear I'll get those snowflakes in another one yet.  Chris

Strange Day

                                     

(Thanks to my dear Penny for finding this snowman she made me and sending it back to me so I could "gif" it and have the animations restored....)

Yesterday began on a frustrating note which set the tone for the whole day.  I should have known when my older car I drive got helplessly stuck in the snow which has formed into ice because of freezing rain when was leaving before 6 am to catch the bus.  We are the third house at the end of a lane (I call it a lane...lol...my neighbors call it an alley because I'm in a neighborhood in a rural area.  What rural folks consider an alley is totally different from a suburbanite who fled the suburbs...)  There is a slope to reach the level part of the lane.  In the summer, there doesn't even appear to be a slope.  In the winter, it is a nightmare to get up this teensy upgrade.  I did manage to angle my car and hit the edge of the landscaping and then hit the edge of my neighbor's carport and escaped...lol...  Now I still have to follow my old tracks or I'll be stuck in this icy mess.  I would need to employ a salt truck for mucho bucks to get through the six inches of snow covered ice....Oh well...that was my beginning of the day.

Our team (the govt has teams now, not units or sections) had our Christmas luncheon yesterday.  The guy who planned it is a dufus, big time.  Lunch was at 1:30 which had all the "girls" huffing and puffing to begin with.  We were famished and sort of PO'd because we knew the guy planning it was planning a liquid lunch for himself.   He left at 1 to make sure the buffet was set up at 1:30.  Uh..guess what...we got there at 1:45...no food.  Anger was definitely setting in among the "girls."  Then, came the worst offense.  The barmaid....yikes....now I am no prude and sometimes know the Lord wishes I was far more of a prude.  The barmaid had a denim shirt on unbuttoned to her belt with DDD implants literally falling out every time she bent over.  I mean we were totally outraged at this.  Cmon...a Christmas luncheon.  If I was totally shocked and outraged, you can only imagine the rest.  Then the "food" came out.  A small cheese tray, a tray with tuna fish and a few cold french fry wedges, a couple dozen chicken wings, a couple dozen fried zucchini and cauliflower, and a tray of nachos with melted cheese and olives on it.  The plates were dessert size.  We ate one of each thing coz that's all we could and walked out.  They guys continued their liquid lunch.  We went back and called our supervisor at home (she had furnace problems) and squealed like pigs.  She had generously paid for the "buffet" for the 20 some people on our team.  She's planning on paying a visit to the place Monday to see exactly what she paid for.

Then coming home an ice storm came through.  My 1 hr bus trip turned into a 3 hr ordeal.  Thank the Lord my BF was off yesterday.  He went to the Days Inn where I park and had to go into the Days Inn and get a bucket of warm water.  My car was literally frozen all over with a thick layer of ice.  I would have never been able to open it to even get in it.  He had gone out earlier and his truck was that way.  Of course, I had been filling him in all day on my escapades (especially the lunch fiasco) so he knew I would have probably sat down and cried when I got off the bus and couldn't get in my car.  I love him so much!  And, he said he would have said something to the owners about the waitress/barmaid.  Not all guys appreciate nudity at lunch.  Lord, I was afraid to eat the darned food.

Lighter note:  Megan is home and thinks the tree is too "pretty."  Hunh?  She wanted to know why I only put nice ornaments on and not the old, "ghetto" ones.  And where are the "ghetto" lifesavers?  Didn't I know that was the whole purpose of our family room tree?  ROLF...kids?  Lose/lose situation all the time.

                                     

                                                   

                                                                                            

                              

         

LOL...I'm lovin AOL tonight.  Can't get into my file manager, no text color but oh, well,  if it saves, I'll be happy.  (But, as Penny picked up, I just have to have my text color match my graphics.)

I just want to give Kara a BIG hug for starting the caroling around J-Land.  What fun it has been to explore new journals.  I just love looking at all the different graphics...surprise, surprise.  I'm sure I'll be making some return visits.  I met many of my current J-Land friends during Trick or Treat.

We were let out of work at 3 today because of a treachorous ice storm that turned into snow.  I couldn't get a bus home until 4.  Thank the Lord, the best bus driver was on that run.  I live 50 miles north of Pgh and the farther north we got; the worse the roads and weather got.  Tomorrow should be a treat getting into work.  All I have to do is slide down my windy hill, which I love doing...NOT.

Tomorrow, the tornado rolls in ...LOL...yep...Megan is coming home for a month.  Problems already with transportation....two cars; three people working different schedules.  Last year was so nice because the weather was mild; no snow until Feb.  Joey's Mustang wasn't stuck in our garage.

Joe has to pick her up tomorrow morning before he goes to work.  Of course, I'm extremely worried about how the road conditions will be.  I did mention to her tonight that she may have to wait until Saturday morning to come home.  That did not go over extremely well.  I guess she is working Sat. sometime.  I wasn't exactly sure what she was saying through the huffing and puffing.  Gotta love 19 year old girls.

I've got most of my decorating up.  I just haven't quite got all the boxes and things put away.  LOL...I'm sure I'll hear about this when Megan gets here.  My kids love to complain but don't seem so anxious to help remedy the problem. 

I had intentions of finishing the clean-up tonight but should have known that this is very hard to accomplish after 12 hours of being gone all day (actually 11 today, but who's counting). 

Hope all who went caroling and continue to enjoy themselves....    

                  CHRIS

Caroling through J-Land

I was visiting Kara's journal and it's that time again...time for traveling through J-Land and visiting.. A Day With Kara 

Back in October, some clever J-Lander came up with the idea to "Trick or treat" through J-Land. I met so many wonderful new friends and found some great journals. So now I think the time has come to go Caroling through J-Land.

To participate: 

1) Make an entry titled "Caroling Through J-Land" with these same instructions so others can play along.

2) Visit as many journals as you can and look for their entry titled "Caroling Through J-Land". Leave the title of your favorite carol, along with your name and link to your journal for other carolers.

3) Spread the word so we all can meet new friends and spread some Christmas cheer!

4) Caroling ends this Sunday night at midnight to give everyone plenty of time to make the rounds.

Happy Caroling and Merry Christmas!  (My favorite:  ~ Mary Did You Know? ~)

                 

                                                                             

The Good and the Bad

Sorry for the long download time but I'm just in love with the glitz and graphics of the Christmas Spirit.  I think I'll talk about yesterday.

There are five of us at work that our old time friends.  We went out for our annual Christmas lunch.  We went to a place called Cafe Euro which had formerly been a Nick and Tony's (sp).  The food was outstanding.  I had a seafood medley pasta which had shrimp, scallops, crab and salmon in it with a light alfredo sauce.  It was on the pricey end but, hey, it's Christmas.  Out of this world....it was a huge platter with some of the biggest shrimp and scallops I've ever had.  The crab and salmon were outstanding.  And, of course...lol...I devoured every bite.

When we got back, my BF had been to the nurse's office.  He felt like his blood pressure was up but actually his pulse was racing.  She wanted him to go straight to an ER.   Of course, he didn't.  I'm thinking she called his doctor.  A long story short....his doctor thought he should leave and go home and go straight to the hospital for testing.  It was around 3 so he waited until 4 for the bus.  Then he told me he was going to wait until this morning...not a good idea...but he's stubborn.  Actually, he did go when he got home.  Had a full work-up except for the stress test which will be next week.  So far, everything checks out good. His shingles are flaring up again.  The docs think that is playing a part in his problems, and the nurse probably scared the life out of him which caused his pulse to raise higher.  I was ready to lose it but then threw my prayers up for some peace from the Lord over something I couldn't control and for the strength to accept whatever outcome.

This newfound (actually old faith, which I let slip) faith is restoring my sanity to a previous level.  Why do I periodically let go?  I don't know but I've done this occasionally throughout my life.  The good thing is God never lets me go too far without pulling the rug out from under me.

Megan will be home Friday (haha).  I'm putting off my shopping until she gets home.  She loves it and will be a super help so why not let her?

Have a great day all....I'm cleaning and finishing my decorating because next week will be far too hectic......

                                                                  chris        

I've been tagged by Penny Penny`s Place and Deb Frosty Thoughts to do this:

Ten Things That Make Me Happy:

10.  My computer...drives me crazy most times but definitely makes me happy (and graphics and PSP...LOL).

9.  My friends in J-Land...has it only been two months since I started this journal?  I'm loving you all more each day.

8.  My job....the fact that I have a decent paying job (lol..not great paying but decent) and benefits.

7.  My son has been continued on my health insurance as a temporary disabled adult...whoo hoo...not that I'm happy that he has a disability but that he has time to find himself and I won't go into bankruptcy paying for his meds.

6.  My son has a job and is becoming a stronger individual day by day.

5.  My mother.....it's been a long time coming but my mom and I have finally made our peace.  I thank the Lord every day for this.

4.  Being healthy today.

3.  My boyfriend....loving, supportive and he thinks I'm the most beautiful woman that walks this earth.

2.  My three children...God blessed me indeed when he presented these three gifts to me.  I love them more than my own life.

AND NUMBER ONE:

JESUS....God loved us enough to give his only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we may have everlasting life.  Without Jesus, I would have nothing and be nothing.

So my five I'm tagging to do this:

Miss Katie Jane

Deb from Deb's Daily Trash

Kara

Shelly

Sherilyn

Love to all my dear J-Land friends!  (lOl...yeah, Penny, you caught on to my matching my script color to the graphics) ....CHRIS         

                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

I got this in an e-mail today and really derived some comfort and satisfaction from this message.

I've been doing very well with my budget until just the past payday.  I am skimming by until Friday (payday) and still have to get the kids some presents.  I know this is not a unique problem as I've seen from reading other journals.  I'm refusing to add any more than I have to on my credit cards.

I spent today wracking my brain trying to think of things to get my three that won't push me into debt.  Of course, putting $500 into my car has not helped.  Then I opened my e-mail and read this.

My children are basically grown and understand the financial situation in our household.  They definitely got far too much when there dad and I were together.  I went into serious credit card debt to try and keep their lives the same after the separation.  I then cut up the credit cards, and we began to live a frugal but comfortable lifestyle.

They get plenty for Christmas.  My mother, in-laws and even their dad (surprise, surprise) come through at Christmas which has always taken the pressure off of me.  I felt bad at first but kids adapt and can understand.  Of course, they weren't babies when we separated.

All in all, I think my three have actually benefitted from not having everything handed to them.  They have all had to work for the extras that they want and have learned to save and budget and wait...no instant gratification.

I remember many Easters where I would have to wait until the day after when things were half off to get them their baskets.  It actually became quite an exciting thing for them.  I would come home from work with a huge shopping bag with plush animals and Easter goodies.  They would be waiting anxiously at the door for me.  We still joke about that.

So, I am shooting prayers to God right now to lead me to the perfect things for each one.....He will.....and am enjoying the warm glow of mytree.....and thinking of some time and talent that I can donate generously to spread the reason for the season.............chris                     

                                        

                                                                                                                                                                  

 

70 Questions

Oh No, you say...not more questions...LOL.  I took this from Kara's journal because I thought the questions were different and sort of neat.  A nice break from my tree decorating which I might add is done....yippee.  I dumped the lifesavers and bought some teeny gold garland with burgandy/red stars on it.  Looks pretty and got some different lights this year.  Of course, I cannot distribute lights evenly at all and can't mess with the tree too much more because the needles are dropping.  No more Blue Spruces for me.  I must remember this next year when tree shopping.  I'd go artificial but I absolutely love the pine aroma from a live tree. 

1. DO YOU SNORE? -Yep.  If I'm on my back I can saw down a forest.

2. ARE YOU A LOVER OR A FIGHTER? -A lover and peacemaker but I don't allow people to walk all over me. 

3. WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? - My children getting a terminal illnes or death of one of my children.

4. AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO MANIAC? - No.  Legos weren't around when I was a kid.  (LOL...showing my age.)

5. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY" TV?- I'm addicted to American's Top Model and the Surreal Life.  And sometime Survivor....need I say more? 

6. DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS? -Yep.                             
7. WERE YOU A CUTE BABY? - What baby isn't cute?  Of course I was...hehehehe                                                                  
8. IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU? -I love being single but having a BF who doesn't live me.  Weird but true.

9. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD? -Black.

10. DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? -No.  I take a bath...lol.  But I do sing in the car.

11. HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED? - NO!  I'm far too unlucky.  The cord would absolutely break.  I know it.

12. ANY SECRET TALENTS? - No.  If I had them, I would use them and share them.

13. WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT? - Florida.

14. IS JAY LENO FUNNY? -I prefer Conan who cracks me up.  Leno is ok.

15. CAN YOU SWIM? - yes.                                                           
16. HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"? - Hunh?                                                                                               
17. DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OZONE? - Nah...that's not on the top of my concern list.

18. HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP? - I crunch it all at once.  No licks for me.

19. CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS? - Yeah, right...LOL

20. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE? - Yep but I hate to fly.                                                                                       
21. ARE YOU AN ONLY CHILD? - No.  One older brother

22. DO YOU PREFER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL PENCIL SHARPENER? Pencils?  Haven't used a pencil in years.  Haven't used a pencil sharpener in years.

23. WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING? - I don't mind it. As long as the meat gets used. Although I could never do it. (Kara's answer which I agree with although I abhor guns around the house.)                                                                                       
24. IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE? - I'm not so sure about this.  Maybe when the kids are on their own and out of the house....who knows?

25. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No way!                   
26. WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO? -some preservatives used in makeup.  I can only use Loreal, Lancombe and Clinique.

27. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU? - Every day to my children and my BF.

28. IS ELVIS STILL ALIVE? -Possibly....but I'm not a big Elvis fan.                                                                                                   
29. DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS? - I do.  I cry watching movies, listening to beautiful music, reading journal entries....I'm a crier...lol

30. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? - Over easy.

31. ARE BLONDES DUMB? Shh...don't ever say that around my Becky....no way are they dumb.

32. WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP? -Probably in my computer with all my folders I lose.

33. WHAT TIME IS IT? -6:09 p.m.  EST                                      
34. DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? - Mom, Boss (my son calls me that), Bosko....many people call me that.                                   
35. IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING? -Yep.  Haven't been there in ages.

36. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR? - An hour ago when I went to Walmart.                                                   
37.DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS? - Baths...I absolutely love to soak away my aches and pains.

38. IS SANTA CLAUS REAL? - YES!                                            
39. DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NECK KISSED? Yes...if it's my BF.                                                                                              
40. ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? Nope!                              
41. WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO? My computer, my journal, graphics, and PSP.

42. CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER? - Creamy!          
43. CAN YOU CRACK YOUR NECK? - Yep.  Every bone in my body cracks all by itself....age related?  LOL

44. HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE? Yes.  We were in a very serious car accident in 1991.

45. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY? - Once                                                                              
46. IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE? - Illicit drugs?  Absolutely!

47. ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER? - Sometimes.

48. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? - Green.                            
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE? - I love and treasure life.            
51. WHOSE IS BETTER? -Life?  No one's life is better.  We all live our own lives.                                                                             
52. ARE YOU PSYCHIC? - Psychic... no... but spiritally in tune.. yes.  (Taking this one from you also, Kara.)                                    
53. HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"? - Yes.  Many moons ago.

54. DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS? - I played the piano when I was a kid.                                                                             
55. HAVE U EVER STOLEN MONEY? -Yes.  When I was a teenager....didn't steal much money but it still bothers me.                                    
56. CAN YOU SNOWBOARD? - Nope.  Don't even want to.  I hate cold weather and snow.                                                           
57. DO YOU LIKE CAMPING? - Nope.  I'm far too into the comforts of life....                                                                            
58. DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH? - Always.                                                 
59. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? - No.                                      
60. ARE DOGS A MAN'S BEST FRIEND? - I think so.  I love my Grizzly even though he is a pain sometimes.

61. YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE? - Not really but it happens for various reasons and I don't judge.  I'm divorced because of abuse.

62. CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK? - I cannot.                         
63. DO YOU MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES? - Quite often.          
64. IS IT COLD OUTSIDE TODAY? -Cold and snowing again.

65. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? - A breakfast sandwich my boyfriend made me this morning.  Fried eggs, hame and cheese.  He's a great cook!

66. DO YOU WEAR NAIL POLISH? - LOL...I barely have any nails to polish.  No.  My nails are always breaking at work.

67. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KISSED? - Many times!                    
68. WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL? - Zoom, Zoom kid...Mazda and Can you hear me now...Verizon.         
69. DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE? - Yes for my kids. No for myself because honestly I cannot fit into anything there. 
70. FAVORITE BAND AT THE MOMENT? - Outkast, but BB King is my all time favorite.

I really did enjoy doing this one.  Hope some of you try it.....

                                     

  Thanks Shelly for the great tag you made me...lol...I have my glitter and all now.

I'm back and awake.  I have to admit that the reason I was so super tired today was that I up until 1 am this morning messing around with PSP.  I'm laughing at the stuff I make because it is so super basic. I am only at the stage where I take a pre-made tube and just add text or "snag" a tag that was made like the one below that was sent to me to decorate.  Decorating for me is adding text.  The more intricate graphics are made in layers.  That what I was attempting last night from the help section in my paint shop.  LOL...attempting but not accomplishing.  This is definitely an art and also requires numerous steps which require some moderate computer skills, at the very least.

We are permitted to use our internet at work on break time and lunch.  Uncle Sam is pretty restrictive about that.  I printed some basic tutorials for beginners in adding layers so watch out everyone.  I may have some skills by Valentines Day.  The reason I have to print them at work?  I can't access my printer yet from my new computer because I have to download drivers from HP off the internet.  So says, Becky who did it for me when my old computer crashed.  Computers are my nemesis.  I'm a computer train wreck.

I pick the one patient IT guy's head at work.  He is very hesitant to give me any advice because I can screw up a computer without even knowing it.  My latest with this computer, which is two months old, is that somehow when I delete files, they don't go into my recycle bin.  I have no idea where they are going...LOL.  I asked my buddy about that yesterday.  He just shook his head and said I could redefine my browser and then just laughed.  He said wait until your daughter comes to visit.

The above tag was made for me.  Not as easy as you would think it would be to make.  I really like it, though, because it seems to encompass all that is happening in our world this Christmas.  Pray for peace but support those who are defending our freedoms........... 

I'm laughing still at my quiz I posted.  Take care all.  Have a great evening!

                                             

                             

I just got home from working OT and I think my mind is frazzled.  I'm drawing a blank so I took another quiz.  LOL...good time to take a quiz to rate your life when I can't even think straight.  Oh well, I'm going to take a nap and come back to catch up on my journals.  (And I'm not advertising for e.harmony (rofl) but it I had to copy the HT whatever code to copy this so no endorsements from me for that....it's just there at the bottom.)   Later all.........

 

 

Life: 7.2

Mind:  7.5

Body: 6

Spirit: 7.5

Friends/Family: 5.9

Love: 7

Finance: 5.6

 

Rate My Life Self-Help Quiz - How Good Is Your Life?

 

 

Your Life Analysis:

Life: Your life rating is a score of the sum total of your life, and accounts for how satisfied, successful, balanced, capable, valuable, and happy you are. The quiz attempts to put a number on the summation of all of these things, based on your answers. Your life score is reasonably high. This means that you are on a good path. Continue doing what is working and set about to improve in areas which continue to lag. Do this starting today and you will begin to reap the benefits immediately. (Read more on improving your life)

Mind: Your mind rating is a score of your mind's clarity, ability, and health. Higher scores indicate an advancement in knowledge, clear and capable thinking, high mental health, and pure thought free of interference. Your mind score is within a healthy zone. This means you have achieved a level of mental balance and harmony consistent with living a healthy, happy life. Continue doing what works, and keep your focus. In our fast-paced world, mental clutter is all too common. Be vigilant in maintaining healthy mental function. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the mind.

Body: Your body rating measures your body's health, fitness, and general wellness. A healthy body contributes to a happy life, however many of us are lacking in this area. Your body score is fairly average, which means there is room for improvement. Keep a focus on your physical health. Protect your body as it is your most valuable physical asset. Nutrition, stress reduction, and exercise are key. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the body.

Spirit: Your spirit rating seeks to capture in a number that elusive quality which is found in your faith, your attitude, and your philosophy on life. A higher score indicates a greater sense of inner peace and balance. Your spirit score is relatively high, which means you are rewarded by your beliefs. Spirituality is clearly important to do. Never let it slip, and continue to learn and grow. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the spirit.

Friends/Family: Your friends and family rating measures your relationships with those around you, and is based on how large, healthy, and dependable your social network is. Your friends and family score is not bad but can be improved. Maintain your current social net, while you try to expand it. Try new things and form new friendships. You will be rewarded greatly.

Love: Your love rating is a measure of your current romantic situation. Sharing your heart with another person is one of life's most glorious, terrifying, rewarding experiences. Your love score is in good shape, meaning that things are going well. Do all you can to maintain it, and continue to grow and move ahead. Read advice from other quiz-takers on finding and maintaining love.

Finance: Your finance rating is a score that rates your current financial health and stability. Your finances are somewhat in the middle, neither bad or exceptional. Keep doing what works for you, and improve what doesn't. Focus on long-term financial stability as your goal. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving your finances.

Try the match-making site that works. Try eharmony.com.

 

Thoughts

I guess as you could all tell, I've been getting myself in a tizzy lately; sort of spiraling out of control.  Last night, I was talking to my BF and OCD'ing about everything (his term for my fussing).  He said I needed to let it go.  My tree is up but not decorated but most likely will be completely done by Sunday.  I simply don't have the time to do it right now.  I got home from work at 7:30 tonight and it's already 10.  Just not enough time in the day.  Working OT Saturday is also hindering me but necessary.  Made sense.  So, the world will not end if my house takes another few days to get decorated.  (I still have two more trees to go but they're artificial and I cheat with those...they aren't real large so I put them in the basement, fully decorated after Christmas...lol...just drag them up and they're ready to go.)

Then early this morning I went to Kara's journal A Day With Kara and her thoughts only reinforced what I had sort of already concluded.  The true meaning of Christmas is not being frazzled and frustrated.  It's a celebration of the birth of our Lord.  All else is just a little bit of glitter and icing on the cake but not worth losing my perspective of what the season is really about.

Off to work I went.  I put my local radio station on that plays continuous Christmas music and settled my soul down.  Of course, I'm still fussing a little bit.  My live Blue Spruce in the family room seems to be dropping needles.  There are certain pines that drop needles faster than others and darned when I go to buy one can I remember which pines retain them longer.  I have to laugh because one year our tree had mainly stick branches left a couple days after Christmas because the needles had all fallen off.  The year before last, we didn't lose any.  LOL...I should write this stuff down when I find the right tree again.

Mari...lol to the bird nests.  You can buy ornaments that are artificial little nests with little fake birds in them.  That's my livingroom tree.  My familyroom tree has all the cute ornaments on them

So, my heart is much calmer.  I will get to the attic Sunday and finish the tree.  I would have left it outside until Saturday but we are expecting some major snowfall tonight (anywhere from 4-10" depending on the course it takes).  I didn't want my tree sitting outside getting snow covered.

Christmas blessings to all my J-Land friends.  Thanks, Kara!  It seems the Lord is always leading me to the answers.......

 

                    CHRIS                                                   

Another Quiz

Of course, you all know I have this little thing for goofy quizzes.  So, here's another one.  Your Christmas Elf name.

Mine is:  Your Christmas Elf Name   

                            

                                          Christmas Elf Name

 

BAH HUMBUG

Kids, shaking my head....Little Miss Baby best hope she doesn't get coal in her stocking this year.

I went out and bought a Blue Spruce tree this year for the family room.  Not quite as large as usual but really pretty.   As soon as I got in the door, Megan was on the phone.  Great!  I told her I bought a Christmas tree.  Her response was:  "Oh, no!  Now, I'm gonna come home and see that tacky tree in the familyroom."   TACKY????  I was talking with no words coming out of my mouth.  TACKY????  Yep, tacky ornaments, tacky lifesaver candy garland (she has a point with that because we have never found anything we like to replace it) but tacky ornnaments...puhlease.  She goes shopping every year with me the day after Christmas.  We go to Hallmark, Target, little crafty gift shops, etc., and need I remind her she has chosen most of those "tacky" ornaments, which are not too inexepensive, to say the least, even half off.  I swear, we've spent a small fortune on ornaments.  Lord, my head was spinning.

My tree is still on the back deck.  We haven't gotten it up yet.  Boy, am I tempted to have a pine tree bonfire and go out and buy the "tackiest" artificial tree I can find and put some Dollar Store ornaments on it.  But I won't because I happen to love our tacky tree as does everyone else who comes here.

This child's nose goes farther in the air with every year of college.  She goes to a private college in Pgh and most of her friends are from very well off families.  They go way on vacations for Thanksgiving and have companies come in and professionally decorate their homes inside and out.  Takes the fun out of Christmas, I think.

The kicker was she was having a fit when I said I was replacing the articial tree in the livingroom.  I've had it three years and her and Joey crack up every time they go through the livingroom.  Now, she tells me she LOVES that tree.  It's adorable with the actual bark pole and the birds and nests on its.  Hunh?

I give up....they are just taking all the thrill out of all of this.  So, I say, blankety blank them.  It's my house and I'm doing it the way I want.

LOL...there is not enough Christmas music to calm this soul down today.  Think it's time to say a prayer.......

 

                                                   

Charlie Brown is Back

I think I'm finding computers to be sooooooo frustrating.  I wish I had an in-house computer tech to guide me through all this.  And sometimes AOL is so skittsy that it's hard to tell if it's the computer, me or just AOL acting up.

I'm becoming so indecisive that everything is driving me crazy so I just do nothing or change my mind a million times like I just did right now.  LOL..Betty...Charlie Brown is gone because the graphic was so big it knocked my journal out of whack so I deleted it.  Well, I guess it's still up there for the time being.  I think that's what the comment was.   So I put this angel up but it will drive me crazy because the text isn't centered.  I have the same thing with a shadowed text but I made it way too big and don't feel like messing around and resizing it.

LOL...OCD....I went in this morning when my mind is at its "freshest" and resized the graphic.  So Charlie is back because my favorite Christmas special was on last night.

No PSP for me tonight.  I'm way too frustrated already.  But it wasn't a bad day or night all in all.  My BF's tv is dying so we went to look at the new one he is getting.  He wanted my opinion.

Big changes for him.  I have to laugh.  He was going to buy another 27" because he didn't want a bigger one.  Don't take me and ask my opinion.  I told him to go 32".  Well, darned if he isn't getting a 36" Sony Trinatron from Sears....I'm so jealous.  Not really.  He can afford it and it's a very, very nice tv.  I bought my toy, this new computer, so I'm happy with my 27" tv for now.

He's also apartment shopping.  He's looking at an apt. tomorrow in the new end of his complex.....really upgrading here.  Gas log fireplace, laundry unit, plush entities.  But he deserves some nice things.  He sacrificed so much after his divorce to put his kids through college even when they were far past the age of child support.  I love him for that.  My ex is just the opposite.  I just told him he best not be thinking of trading me in.

No tree up yet.  Tomorrow is the day to get my live tree and start getting some things up around the house.  This year I seem so far behind.

Anyway, I will feel much better when I start to get some decorations up.  The only problem is I really have to do some cleaning so I know I won't get everything done tomorrow that I want to.  And then I will be living with boxes sitting around for a few days until I finish....yikes.

                                                         Thanks, Penny...so true but does anyone have any idea why I receive graphics that are gifs in email but my computer will only save it as a bmp so there's no animation?  Arrrgghh!   

                                                                                       chris

                                    

It's a cold one tonight in Pa.  Already in the low teens...brrr.  Work was strange today, really a strange one but something I'm not feeling like getting into right now.  I can't believe it's almost 10:00.

I had to stop at Target on the way home to pay my credit card.  LOL...I paid if off last month and can't believe I actually charged more this past month. So, it's paid off once again. Of course, I had to take a quick walk through the store but resisted temptation.  I was scouting out the Christmas things because Target is my first stop the day after Christmas.  Well, guess what?  They really don't have a whole lot left.  Pickins are going to be slim there this year.

And I still haven't done hardly any Christmas shopping.  I'm still so undecided about what to buy everyone.  Megan is easy but I have to get to Old Navy.  It's driving me crazy because I'm working OT again on Saturday so that day is shot.  I want to get my live tree on Wednesday.  My head is spinning because the days are just flying by.

I want to get around to visit journals and had a ton of mail in my box this evening.  I hope I get around to visit everyone.  If not, tomorrow night I definitely will...hooray...Wednesday is my day off so I can stay up late Tues. night.

Take care and thanks for your comments....chris

Addicted to PSP???

Yikes....I have another toy to play with.  I guess there could be worse endeavors.  I've been messing around with PSP, once again.  PSP is going to bed for the night or I'll never get anything accomplished.

Have a nice evening....see everyone tomorrow....

 

                                             

MY FIRST ATTEMPT

My first attempt at PSP..lol...Shelly...thanks!  My poor angel's wings are a bit clipped because I couldn't quite get the cropping done right and the color pallette was blowing my mind, along with just about everything else but I did it!

What a frustrating day this has been.  I had to download AOL's new security center because I couldn't scan the spyware.  Sheesh, why don't they tell you about this stuff?

I had to go into my master SN to do it which doesn't bother me but it took over 2 hrs.  I found out why.  My computer has a Norton firewall that came with it.  It wasn't downloading properly.  Had to disable that and start again.  It downloaded quickly after that.  What really, really annoyed me was that I had to access it through AIM.  AIM is under Megan's SN and password.  Now what is the purpose of me doing under the Master SN to download but then have to enter it through my daughter's AIM account?  Luckily it popped up her password and I was able to change it to my SN.  I was ready to bang my head off the wall.

LOL...AOL's firewall was annoying me because it seemed like every 30 seconds I was being alerted to something trying to enter a port.

Then I opened up Shelly's journal and saw the PSP download she so generously provided and thought "OH NO".  Yep, confusing as all get out but she also provided a step-by-step tutorial for us.  Still going crazy but I managed a crude attempt. 

I had Fox News on while I was downloading all this stuff.  There was a story about internet addiction.  If you spend more than two hours a day online, not work related, then you have an internet addiction.  Guess, that's me.....

So, anyway, I'm off to read journals.  I'm breaking in my new crockpot today with barbecued pork, carrots, peppers, onions, potatoes, etc.  Smells really good plus I don't have to do anything but let it cook.   That way, I can continue feeding my internet addiction. 

Hope everyone has a great day!  My head is pounding.  I'm too old for all this new stuff..lol

Chris