Revelations Chapter 1, Verse 1

I realized something this weekend.

I'm VERY bothered that it seems I'm so far behind in life compared to others my age.

Let me explain. We visited with some folks at the lake this weekend. We'll call them the Purples. The Purples are just a few years older than Husband and I. They are GRANDPARENTS. They are HOMEOWNERS. They are GROWN-UPS.

We, no.. I am not the first two and don't FEEL like the third. Shecky just turned 8. Most people my age have grand kids.... I feel sort of... out of the loop and left behind. How foolish is that?

Then, yesterday, I was conversing with my parents. Dad mentioned the fact that my brother was going to be a grandfather... my YOUNGER brother... and I was MORTIFIED. I was... JEALOUS. I was SAD. He had beaten me to that milestone by a long, LONG margin.

I wouldn't exchange my child for an older one. I don't want to wish away his youth. I'm THRILLED that he keeps me young and keeps me going. However, I can't help feeling like I've missed the bus somewhere and that I'm a failure at being an adult.

By the way, the age of my son isn't the only thing that makes me feel this way. It's just one that KEEPS popping up for me. :)

House Keeping

Just a few things on this Sunday morning for y'all:

1. IzzyMom has been injured. Her foot is in a CAST y'all! She's gonna have to miss BlogHer. She is selling her 2 day pass for $200.00. That's almost $100.00 less than what they normally go for. If you're still looking for tickets go here. If you're not looking for tickets you might still go and offer her condolences for her misfortune.

2. HOLY CRAP! I'm up. I've got laundry going, dishes going, coffee made and Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls in the oven. (Grands sells em in the refrigerated section... heh) I'm moving right along today.

3. Monday cannot get here fast enough. I wanna know my surgery date damnit. (Praying its not the end of next week. Shecky's birthday is Friday, damnit.)

4. Yeah... I got nothing. Hope everyone has a wonderful, family fun filled Sunday!!!

Summer Time, Summer Time, Sum-Sum-Summer Time

Today is Sheckys first day of Summer Vacation!

The last day of school a letter was sent home with all the kids. On the back, there was an essay by Robert Kelly-Goss of the N.Y. Times News Service. It made me weep... just a little. It made me realize... often, these days, kids are just miniature adults rather than carefree lil' kids.

It's Time Kids Did What Kids Do In Summer As We Used To ...

I want you to run wild and free through the streets of your neighborhood on a hot summer afternoon, tiring yourself so thoroughly that you can barely make it to the bed before you put pajamas on and brush your teeth.

I would like to see you stain the soles of your feet green and brown and cause your mother to shake her head as she scrubs so hard to get it off, but it won't until the first chill of autumn drives your shoes back on your feet.

I want you to show me what a fort looks like and just how you would build it.

I want you to rummage through scrap piles and find wonderfully odd pieces of wood and the like and build a fort, then I DARE you boys to keep the girls out; it won't work. I promise.

I want to see you, when you're tired, sitting int he shade of a giant tree, sipping lemonade poured from the stand you set up, leftover after you sold a few nickles' worth to a passerby.

I would like to see you and your friends on your bikes, towels slung over your shoulders, riding furiously to the local pool or the water hole.

I want to see you on your way back, pedaling a little slower, no worse for the wear, but rightly tired just the same.

I want to see you at bat imitating your favorite player, not at screen, seeing a virtual image of him as he plays a game you control with a joystick.

I want to see you find simple pleasures and joy from merely picking up a dandelion and blowing it into the sky. Watching those little feathery pieces float in the sunlight, your face lit up, ear to ear.

I want to see you give up the frustrations of a life inside, or on the cell phone, and head back out where the world is more than a text message or an e-mail to a friend.

It's where friends meet, or happen upon one another, and days are spent just doing whatever, imagining things and creating games so fanciful and imaginative that suddenly it's late, and your parents are worried, and you might be in for it now because you missed your curfew.

Dear child, I would like to see you jump in the puddles outside your house in the rain or even play a silly game of hide and seek.

I just want to see you, outside, playing, away from video games and computers and cellphones and televisions.

I want to see you having the kind of fun that can only happen because you're bored, and forced to create something out of nothing. That's what I would like for you, child, as summer nears.

He's been inside all day. He can't find anyone to play with outside. He hates playing alone. Meh. So far he's watched TV, played on the laptop, Played with the X-Box 360, watched MORE TV... sigh. I have no clue what to do with him. I want all those things FOR him... but I have no idea how to GIVE them to him when he abhors playing alone so much... and I can't do most of those things just yet.

GAH!

Apparently Shecky has his first... errrrmmmm... ADMIRER.

One of the little girls in his class was watching him at Baseball practice tonight. She told him he did a "GREAT JOB!" (He has no clue what he's doing...) She also picked a wildflower and told him to give it to his mom... I... have... no... words...

Abject Terror...

What a way to start the day!

Have you ever had a moment of complete, untainted fear that brings a clarity the likes of which you experience only a few times in a lifetime? Yeah... I started my day with one today.

J called this morning when he got home from work. One of the people he works with is apparently, ummm... unstable. Mentally.

Night before last this guy went OFF on the lady that sits behind him. When I say went off I mean threatened to "Take her out" among other things.

Last night the dude was suspended for his behavior. No big... happens all the time, right? Well apparently Senior Psychopath came BACK to the workplace later in the evening ... with a gun.

This was all relayed to me WITHOUT one small piece of information. It occurred about 15 minutes before J arrived at work. Mr. Crazy McCrazypants was in a cop car when J arrived. There were still 4-5 police vehicles there at the time.

Needless to say, without that small piece of information my heart fucking STOPPED. I was hit with terror the likes of which I've only felt when my child or someone else I love is in danger.

Then it hit me... dude... J is FAMILY. Not by blood or genetics but by choice, by shared experiences and love.

J... I do love you, truly. However, if you EVER tell me a story like that without all the pertinent information up front, I'll kick yer ass myself. Heh.

Randomosity

* How ironic is it that the Democrats in the state of Texas are trying to decide between a woman and a man of color for their presidential candidate. Texas is irony's bitch.

* I realized the music in the '80s... The music I grew up with... kinda sucks.

* I also realized that several of the "Top 10" men... kinda suck.

* Jason Castro, David Archuletta and the Fawker David Cook... kinda don't.

* Homemade Fudge... is the DEVIL.

* I still have this frakking cold.

* Sugar Free Hall's Cough Drops are a food group now.

* My 7 year old son has an 8 year old "girlfriend" ... and she lives in another state. Oy.

* He CALLED her Monday... ON THE FRONT PORCH SO I COULDN'T LISTEN IN!

Second Verse...

... same as the first.

Sorry I've been such an absent Bloggy Mama lately. I just really haven't had much to say.

I lost 1.3 lbs last week. I'm down a total of 68 lbs. I should be stoked but I'm feeling very... meh. I don't know if its a bout of depression or I'm getting sick or what.

I had a decent couple of days Sunday and Monday. J came to visit and we goofed off together. We watched a movie. (We interrupt this post to bring you a mini-review of "Knocked Up". OMFG it cracked my ass up! SO FUNNY!) We also played lots of Culdacept Saga on the 360. I'm addicted to this game. It's like the bastard love child of Monopoly and the Magic the Gathering card game. It's. My. Crack.

American Idol tonight was interesting. I really like David Archuletta and Jason Castro. They both have really good voices... yet... they're completely different. Archuletta is like a giant overly friendly puppy dog and I just wanna take him home and smoosh him! Castro... I dunno what it is about him. His EYES just... entrance me. His voice makes me pay attention. I really, REALLY hate these themes for the semi-finals though. IF YER GONNA LIMIT THEIR SONG CHOICES TO A THEME... AND THEN LIMIT THE THEME TO 50 SPECIFIC SONG DO NOT DING THE CONTESTANTS FOR SONG CHOICE YOU STUPID, STUPID BASTARDS.

That is all... *cough*

Things I Learned Today

* When the room temp. is 75 and the water temp. is 90... DO NOT EXPECT TO BE WARM AS YOU EXERCISE IN THE FRICKIN' POOL... It's not gonna happen...

* Parents of children who play sports are often NOT very nice to the referee's

* Above mentioned referee's are INSANE and Saintly for dealing with the above mentioned parents.

* I know virtually nothing about my friends in the Blogging Community
( :P Lizarita!)

* Once I get cold like I did in the above mentioned pool... I cannot warm up.. EVER... apparently.. its like... a law or something

* I love being involved with my son's basketball league... cause I'm really getting to know the parents and kids he goes to school with

* 7 year olds can have testicular cancer... How scary is THAT shit?

* There IS such a thing as sugar free, fat free, calorie free chocolate... and it's not too shabby at all.

* It's also ummm... not NATURAL either.

* I wanna party with some of my Blogger Buddies but I'm too scared to even CONSIDER going to Blogher

We're Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution...

Heh not really. More like wrapping up the weekend. Husband came in Friday and finally got to see one of Shecky's basketball games. They lost again but at least he got to see him on the court.

There was one kid that was left up there by his parents for the entire day. Just dropped off... for the day... with no money or supervision. I was appalled. I bought the kiddo lunch and gave him a $5.00 bill before I left in case he needed anything else during the day. I was not ABOUT to leave that kid stranded with no money for the entire day while my family and I traipsed about town, having lunch and buying DVD's. I was angry but I felt SOMEONE needed to watch out for the child.

Weigh in was this morning. I lost 6 lbs this past week. WOOT. 395 is the new weight. I LOVE CORE PLAN! I just eat so much better on it rather than on points.

Sorry for all the rambling. Nite Nite.

Weekend Wrap Up

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday friends. I was exhausted and fell asleep while sitting up in a chair... waiting for Shecky to go to sleep... at ohhh... 9:30pm.

Yesterday was a LOOOONG day. We had a basketball game at the school which means I worked up there all day. I left the house a 8am and got home around 4. Bleh. I did have some great conversations with some of the other mom's there though.

We walked into the house and OOF... the tension! It was horrible. The parental units had been fighting all day. Made for an uncomfortable rest of the day. It's prolly a good thing I passed out dead to the world as early as I did.

Shecky's team ALMOST squeeked out a win. At one point the score was 8 to 10 in favor of the other team and I was SO excited. Final score was 8-12... However, I don't feel so bad about the near miss. I found out shortly after the game it was THEIR first win ever. They prolly needed it more. :)

Today has been kinda.. meh. I weighed in this morning and I'm.. at 401. I gained. I was so pissed off. Mom thought I should go up to 35 points because of the added exercise. I managed to do it this week and I GAINED. Yeah... we're going on core tomorrow.

I exercised in the pool today. Immediately after Shecky joined me and we horsed around for another 30-45 minutes playing Marco Polo and trying to surf on his kick board. Heh.

That's pretty much my weekend in a nutshell.

Go Here...

... If you wanna laugh yer ass off. I LOVE this woman.. really I do. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that does shit like this!!!

Random Ravings of a Rubenesque

Short random comments on stuffs...

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SURVIVOR Favorites Vs. Fanatics started tonight! WOOT!!

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WW Friendly Chicken or Turkey A La King:

Chicken or Turkey A LA King

1 lb baked or boiled Turkey or Chicken
½ Cup Flour
½ Cup I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray
5 Cups Skim Milk
1 Can Green Peas
2 Tbsp. Better Than Bullion Chicken Flavor
Salt and Pepper to taste.

In large pot combine flour and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray. Stir until flour and spray are incorporated. Add Skim Milk 1 Cup at a time incorporating into flour mixture. Boil until it begins to thicken. Add Chicken or Turkey and allow meat to heat through. Add Green Peas. Season to taste. MUST STIR CONSTANTLY FROM BEGINNING TO END OF RECIPE.

Serve with biscuits, rolls or bread and a salad for a complete meal.

4 points per cup.
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I did my Valentine's Day shopping today. Found some GREAT stuffs!

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I HURT. My calves and my hips are performing slow torture upon me. Phuckers!

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My son's school is trying to bankrupt me one quarter at a time. Candygrams, Crush Cans, Tee Shirts, Cookbooks... and he wants it ALL!!!!

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Have you ever wondered why Woodchuks WOULD chuck wood?

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I feel like I have ADD tonight...

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SURVIVOR WAS ON ... wait... already did that one...

I'm fresh outta ideas I guess! heh. Have a great night.

...

...

I got nothing. Feelin' kinda punk... just gonna say goodnight. G'night Moon... err... yeah...

The Sound...

of Silence.

Shecky is at school. My parents just left town and won't be back until sometime tomorrow. I'm sitting here... basking in the silence and the peace. Living here has been a blessing. It saved my life. However, its damaging my calm. (Gold star for whoever gets the movie reference.) Dad is always yelling and complaining and bitching. Usually its about nothing. Rarely is it ever justified. Mom is usually this bundle of nerves waiting for Dad's next explosion. Shecky is a ball of noise and energy with spurts of whiney cajoling and inane non-sequitors.

It's lovely to have the place to myself...

So, why is it that I'm bored after just 30 minutes? Sigh...

NY GIANTS WIN SUPERBOWL 42!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (HATE the Patriots. Apologies to anyone that is a fan of theirs. Tom Brady is just so... ::Wrinkles nose:: Ewwww... smarmy!

Bastkeball Diaries

Shecky had 2 basketball games today. MUCH hilarity ensued. They lost both games... by a sizable amount. However, I haven't laughed so hard in AGES.

Shecky played all but one quarter. The quarter he sat out I watched him on the bench as he fiddled with the coach's clipboard. The coach called for him to go back into the game and Shecky approached him with the clipboard.

Shecky: "Hey Coach! I've got a game plan here. Everyone goes where I tell them and we'll WIN THE GAME!" ::Shecky proudly shows Coach the diagram he's done up on the clipboard.

Coach A: ::Trying desperately not to laugh as he looks at the clipboard:: "Give me the clipboard Shecky. Get out there and play some ball." ::Coach then looks at me, as I am sitting right behind the bench, and we both CRACK. THE. HELL. UP.::

Shecky (now on the court): "MICHAEL! TAYLOR! TANNER! EVERYONE GO TO THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT!!!"

Me and Coach A: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! GET UNDER THE BASKET!" (We both proceed to loosing our shit laughing again.)

God help me, the child just cracks my ass up! Thank goodness the coach feels the same way!

"HOLY CRAP!" Or "How Did I Get So Friggin' OLD?"

Today I turned 39. ::pick jaw up offa the floor:: Fuck, I'm OLD! lol. I hate saying that but its true. When I was 18... 39 was ANCIENT! Now that I'm 39 I'm like... "errrmmm... Its not really THAT Old... Not... REALLY!" Heh.

I have had a lovely day. Dad finished the pool/deck/pool house yesterday. He's been killing himself all week to get it done for my birthday. (Thanks Daddy. Love you.) *Yes... I'm 39 and still call him Daddy occasionally. Bite me!*

Husband drove in this morning. He brought me a dozen roses and an XBox 360 game with arcade games on it and a lovely card. Thanks Honey. You did a great job this year. :)

Mom fixed a fabulous lunch of fried shrimp (Yeah I know... so not on the diet but so VERY worth the splurge in calories) and oven fries. Thank you Momma. :) You Rock.

J came in Friday and stayed until after lunch. He brought me this wicked cool thing that does a light show with flashing colored lights and a nylon string. Heh. Its awesome. I've been informed there's other things coming in the mail. You're a love J. Thank you for thinking of me.

Shecky set the table for the family lunch. I was so proud of my lil guy wanting to help out so I didn't have to do anything. He was so frickin' cute.

I got calls from many other family and friends with good wishes and "Happy Birthday" greetings. What more could a girl ask for? Heheh how about the 7.8 lb loss I posted this morning as well? WOOT! Its been a damn good day! I hope you all had a day just as great!

Bitter Pills

There's something I need to get off my chest. I watch the media circus surrounding Brittney Spears and I have to take a step back. I mean... She's a PERSON. She has CHILDREN.

She OBVIOUSLY has some problems. I'm sure some of them are... errr.. pharmaceutical related but I honestly believe she has a larger, more urgent problem. The media and the people surrounding her, feeding the media frenzy, need to STEP OFF and let this woman get some help. In fact, the people in her LIFE, not her public life but her REAL life, need to STEP IN and make sure that happens. Yeah she's a public figure. Yeah, she's got tons of money. Yeah, many people can't stop reading/watching/talking about the train wreck that her life has become. I, however, can.

I've been reading and watching the news about her since her head shaving incident with awe and horror. No more. I wish I could reach out to her, take her by the hand and lead her away from all this nonsense and get her some help. I can't. I know that. Instead, I'll keep her and her children in my prayers and hope that someone who CAN help her... does.

Short and Sweet

I've been sick all day. Fighting Nausea. Feeling like HELL. Doing a bit better now but you'll get nothing of substance from me today! No, I'm NOT pregnant. Don't even think it! I've been attacked by some sort of stomach bug.

Had a huge assed sugar crash today. Blood Sugar was at 52. Ate a brownie. Counted the points. Still have 7 left for the day. Still scared to eat. Meh.

Happy Frickin' Friday.

Mmmmmm Fall

Today has been a really nice day thus far. I was up till 3am.. ish. Which sucked. Husband was driving to Fort Worth for his monthly USAF Reserve duty. The traffic, due to the start of hunting season which... yanno... I TOTALLY DON'T GET!, was HORRENDOUS. It was bumper to bumper going out of town. Husband decided to go home and sleep for a couple of hours and head out around 9pm. Great idea except since he was driving so late I din sleep. I never do when someone I care about is traveling. I called him every thirty minutes to an hour to make sure he was still awake and not yanno... laying on the road somewhere after smashing into an 18 wheeler ... cough... (And I wonder where Shecky's imagination comes from heh).

I slept till almost 10am. Holy crap. That's unusual. I feel really great today because I actually got some sleep! I got up and Shecky and I made Caramel apples together. That was actually REALLY fun. The kiddo was drooling over them... hehehe... I made him wait till after lunch to have one. Evil Mama that I am.

Now I'm just kinda... chillin. Surfing the web, gonna read a bit, having just a lazy kinda day.

Weight loss wise its going pretty well. I was kinda bad at 2am. I had a donut. I wanted the sugar to help keep me awake. I counted the 5 points as my breakfast. Heh. Whut? It was after midnight and EVERYONE knows your points start over at midnight!!!!

For lunch I had 6 oz turkey sausage in a tomato sauce and onion gravy with 1 cup of rice. I've had a total of 16 points. Tonight for dinner it'll be Meatball Stew (ZOMG do I LOVE that crap! My Mom is the bestest cook EVAH!) with Cous Cous and some sort of veggies. I need to eat some yogurt and fruit today as well. I'm not feeling terribly organized food-wise today. Heh. Its kinda nice really.

Hope you're all having a great Saturday as well!