Friday Fill Ins

And...here we go!

1. Bring your favorite book, blanket and pillow and curl up!

2. Drinks and snacks are included.

3. I am told this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

4. Well, you see, it's a really long, convuluted story, that most would not, could not understand.

5. I hope this ends soon!

6. But what if 's get you nowhere in life...except down a path of regret and heartache.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to buying groceries (well, not really looking forward to it...but must be done nonetheless), tomorrow my plans include taking my youngest son to Home Depot for the kids workshop, catching up in my journal, blogging, scanning pics and layouts...not sure what else and Sunday, I want to go to church and take a nap!

 

Rock N Roll Friday

David Bowie.

1. Space Oddity “Ground control to Major Tom. Take your protein pill and put your helmet on…”

What vitamin or mineral supplement(s) do you take?

the only time I've ever taken vitamins was when I was pregnant...

2. Changes “And these children that you spit on. As they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re going thru”

What advice or suggestion have you given recently that went unheeded?

i try not to give advice...and if I do, it is up to the person to use it or not

3. Starman “There’s a starman waiting in the sky. He’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds…”

Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets that has been monitoring us on earth?

uh....NO

4. Ziggy Stardust “Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilly, the Spiders from Mars. He played it left hand, but made it too far. Became the special man, then we were Ziggy’s band”

What is your favorite “fad” singer or band that swooped in with a hit and swooped out 15 minutes of fame?

Chely Wright

5. Heroes “I, I will be King, and you, you will be Queen. Though nothing will drive them away. We can beat them just for one day. We can be heroes just for one day…”

Do you think the Royals should remain in England as sovereign rulers?

can't say that I have an opinion one way or the other....

6. Fame “Fame makes a man take things over. Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow. Fame puts you where things are hollow…”

For you, what would be the worst part about being famous?

the lack of privacy, feeling like every aspect of my life and m family's was being scrutinized....

7. Ashes to Ashes “I never done good things, I never done bad things, I never did anything out of the blue…”

Name a good thing and a bad thing you did recently.

Good:  not everyone would agree that this is good, but I filed for divorce last week

Bad:  I doze off at my desk at work (because I don't get enough sleep at night) 

8. Fashion “Fashion! Turn to the left! Fashion! Turn to the right! Ooooooh, Fashion! We are the goon squad and we’re coming to town, beep beep!”

What is the last fashionable item you bought?

i've bought some new shirts recently

9. Let’s Dance “Let’s dance to the song they’re playin on the radio…Let’s sway while color lights up your face, let’s sway, sway thru the crowd to an empty space…”

When was the last time you slow-danced with someone and what was the song?

that was probably New Year's Eve 2004...but don't remember the song...don't even remember for sure if we danced, though we were at a dance;  prior to that would have been high school

10. China Girl “I could escape this feeling with my china girl. I feel a wreck without my china girl…”

What is your favorite Chinese dish?

i like most chinese food....pepper steak, beef and broccoli, sweet and sour chicken or pork....

11. Modern Love “Never gonna fall for modern love walks beside m, modern love walks on by. Modern love gets me to the church on time…”

What is different about modern dating /relationships from what you did as a teenager?

honestly, I don't know; haven't dated since I was 19....but I will be finding out in due time.  Off the top of my head, probably the one thing that is very different are the dating and singles sites for meeting people...

12. Cat People “See these eyes so green, I can stare for a thousand years. Colder than the moon…”

What is your least favorite thing about cats?

they are pretty self sufficient, not needy....give 'em food, water, and a place to go potty, and they're good

13. Rebel Rebel “You love bands when they’re playin hard. You want more and you want it fast. They put you down, they say I’m wrong. You tacky thing, you put them on”

What do you like about your wildest friend or acquaintance?

that she doesn't care what other people think...she knows who she is and does what she wants....she's not intimidated by anyone (not that I've seen anyway)

I admire her for it....

 

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. The phrase or punctuation I overuse most is "I know right?" or "Really?".  I use ellipses alot when I text or type...so much so that my daughter once texted me back and asked what all the little dots were for....


2. Today I am thankful for time.  Time to reflect.  Time to refocus.  Time to get things done.  Time to spend with my children.   Time to learn about me and the circumstances of my life.


3. My best friend(s) is(are) Jenn and Holly, with Debra and Colby right up there with 'em. 



4. A quirky thing about me is I carry a purse and a bag to work...I sometimes feel like I'm moving in.  I've been told I should call the bag boy....


5. This weekend I will be buying groceries and taking my youngest son to Home Depot for their monthly kids' workshop.  Beyond that, I'm not real sure.  Might go see The Grace Card and maybe a belated birthday dinner for one of the above mentioned best friends (her birthday was last week, but celebration has been postponed).


6. Something that worries me is ...oh, I have lots of worries.  First and foremost is that something I am in the middle of will be delayed and take much longer than it should.


7. On my night stand you would find my cell phone charger, my alarm clock, my medicine, lotion, foot cream and bandaids.

Five ? Friday

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?

no....although I did forget once that I needed to pick my son up after school...

2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)

a seafood restaurant and a movie..."Honey I Shrunk the Kids" ....I think...my first date was a llllllloooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg time ago!!!!

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.)

i dont' think it's silly, but I have been made fun of it for years...I am not afraid of heights or water...but I DO NOT LIKE bridges over water.  Seriously. Freaks. Me. Out.

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?

I try very hard not to cause confrontations, but it happens.  As much as I try to avoid it and run away, not always possible.  Preparation is key...I handle it alot better if I know it's coming.

5. Wood floors or carpet?

do I have wood or carpet or do I prefer wood or carpet?

I like carpet...but wood is pretty.  I have carpet in parts of my house and spanish tile in the rest (excep the bathrooms)

 

Mama Kat's Writing Workshop

The Prompts:

1.) One pet peeve that shouldn’t drive you crazy, but does.

2.) Share 10 “Must Haves” this Spring!

3.) What were you blogging about last year at this time? What has changed?

4.) What inspired you this week?

5.) Perform a random act of service. And then tell us about it.

3.) What were you blogging about last year at this time? What has changed?

actually, I don't have any posts from this time last year...my posts went from Jan to April..so nothing in Feb or Mar...probably because there wasn't much to blog about...and I am notoriously behind...(most of my March activities were posted in April last year)...plus there was also a whole lot of discontent and fighting in my life at this time last year. 
The good news is that that has changed...a whole lot less fighting, a whole lot less stress (in some ways), and a whole new life this year. 

I am....a bereaved parent

I found a new blog hop today....it's a photo blog with a monthly theme....

From Megan, the blog author/host:

I felt the tug inside to share bits of my life. To connect through photos with other women and what they wanted to share - to be seen, to create, to capture life, to capture the everyday. To connect, to uplift to embrace, to empower and to relate - all through a single colorful snapshot.

Given my love of pictures and memory capturing....I think I will be submitting lots of photos!

This month's theme is "Survivor"

Photo I submitted:

"God's fiinger touched him...and he slept."

My identical twin angel son Kyle, born sleeping on Nov. 4, 2004.

 

Wednesday Wickedness

1. An actress can only play a woman. I'm an actor, I can play anything.

If you could experience any life form that was not a human of your sex, what would you pick and why?

I kinda like being me, most of the time, anyway...don't want to be anything else

2. For some reason, all artists have self-esteem issues.

Do you have any self esteem issues? Do tell. (Since we all do.)

yes...I have for a very very long time....not pretty enough, not thin enough, not talented enough, not bold enough, not (fill in the blank) enough...and there have been many things said and done in recent months to keep me feeling not anything enough

3. I am the American Dream. I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said, you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. That's exactly what I've done.

Do you believe in the American Dream or has it passed through time?

I think that it becomes harder and harder to live the American dream...and the dream has changed...

4. I don't have pet peeves, I have whole kennels of irritation.

It's been asked before, probably weekly, but what's irritating you today?

 nothing i care to share here....just very very tired of the continued lies and manipulation 

5. I don't look like Halle Berry. But chances are, she's going to end up looking like me.

What do you think you'll end up looking like? (A picture would help.)

no idea

6. I grew up in a time when it would never have occurred to anyone to tell me there was anything I couldn't do.

Has anyone told you that you could not do something?

often...but I'm pretty good at proving people wrong

7. I want Carl Sagan to explain the sky to me.

Is there anybody dead that you'd like to talk to?

first my son, then my other family members that have preceded me in death

8. If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.

Have you ever done volunteer work?

I have...I volunteered for a while at a youth residential mental health facility, and I am team captain for a March for Babies Family Team....watch for the button soon!

9. It's being willing to walk away that gives you strength and power - if you're willing to accept the consequences of doing what you want to do.

Have you ever walked away from a job and regretted it?

no

10. Normal is in the eye of the beholder.

Are you normal? Explain.

normal...no...abnormal in a lot of ways I am not going to begin to explain here....I am a work in progress...

Wee Bit of Me

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?

I don't wear them holey...and I sure as heck DO NOT buy them that way

{two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?

i do good to get a full 4 hours of sleep per night

{three} what’s your favorite way to eat an oreo?

i take it apart....give the non iced side to my son or throw it away....then put two iced sides together and eat it; i also dunk them in milk

{four} do you wear shoes in your house?

nope...i wear shoes only when absolutely necessary

{five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?

since I don't play...winning is pretty much out of the question....but my mom, my daughter

{six} have you ever been in a food fight?

nope…

{seven} do you snore?

not normally, i don't think; when i'm sick or when i fall asleep in the car, I tend to snore

{eight} do you know how fast you type?

no idea...pretty fast though.  the last time i took a typing test was 7.5 years ago as a formality for my employment at the hospital I work at....I was offered and had accepted the job and moved to TN before taking the test...

{nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?

not sure I could do a headstand with a wall....LOL

{ten} how do you like your popcorn?

with salt and extra butter

 

Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Things you've learned about money

1--that there is never enough!  It seems that there is always something needing to be purchased, someone needing to be paid, something needed for or at school, something something something....

 

2--that it is the root of all evil....explore a problem or issue long and hard enough, and money (or the lack of) can often be found at the cause

 

 

 

The Queen's Meme

1. When is the last time you returned a library book?

trying to remember the last time I had a library book...probably sometime last year

2. Is there anyone you'd like to see return to your life?

um....not anyone that comes to mind, no

3. Have you finished your income tax return?

yep, filed, received, spent

4. Do you ever return things to the store for refund, credit or exchange? Have you had a bad experience with customer service over this issue? Tell us your story.

I have on occasion, but try not to...can't think of a bad experience...although I have called to complain about the customer service at a photo place..but it was not a return; we had had pictures made of our children...went to review them....waited for probably 15-20 minutes before we left.  The photographer was in a session, which I understand...but barely acknowledged we were even there.  I called and complained...the response was that "they are short staffed"...that is not my problem.  I never went back to that photo place.

5. You would like to see your favorite movie named The Return of ___________________.

leave it blank....returns of anything are seldom good...except the return of Jesus Christ will be AWESOME!!!!

6. Is there something you're still waiting to be returned to you?

I'd kinda like to have my heart back, but it's been so damaged and destroyed, not sure it will go back where it belongs.

7. You are in a canyon. On the other side stands your beloved. You stand and shout something to him/her making a large echo. What do you want to hear in return?

that would depend on what I've shouted in the first place....

8. If you could turn back and go in the reverse direction in your life, making things better for yourself and those you love, how would your journey begin?

oh wow...I have contemplated this much over the last few weeks...and honestly, I'm not sure I would.  The experiences we have make us who we are...even if we don't quite know who that is yet. 

Hypothetically speaking, however, I would NOT have married who and when I did.  I would have waited, I would have stood firm in my beliefs and values and not short changed myself.

 

HOO Am I??

1. Do you make a budget and keep it, or just fly by the seat of your pants?

no...I should, and I have the forms and a notebook set up...just haven't quite gotten pen to paper yet

 

2. Do you do spring cleaning and if so which month?

not really....I do massive clean ups at various times...whenever the clutter starts to nmess with my OCD...

 

3. Are you a yard sale lover and do you have them and go to them?

love to go to them.....don't love to have them

4. What do you take when you have a headache?

used to be ibuprofen and I still take that for my back...but I started getting tension headaches last summer....so I take Fioricet for that (it's prescription...)

5. Name 3 things that you feel lucky to have in your life!

my faith, my friends, and my employment

 

McLinky Monday

Crockpot Recipes

Easy Cheesy Crockpot Chicken

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup

2 cans condenesed cream of chicken soup

Place chicken breasts in crockpot.

Mix the undiluted soups together with the garlic powder. 

Pour over chicken.

Cover.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Crockpot Italian Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 package Italian dressing mix

1/2 an onion

butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup water

1 package cream cheese(8oz), softened

Combine chicken and dressing mix in crockpot.

Bake in crockpot on low for 4 hours or on high for 2.5 hours.

When cooked, break into small pieces.

Saute onion in butter.

Add soup and water.

Add cream cheese.

Stir until melted.

Add sauce to the chicken in crockpot 5 minutes before serving.

Serve over rice, pasta or potatoes.

MMonM

1. What are you wearing right now?

clothes....lol....blue shirt with black scooped neckline with black jewel things, black pants,

2. Do you have any freckles?

i'm told I have one on my head but have not ever seen it and I have lots of sun spots on my shoulders

3. What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor?

cherry, I think (whatever the red one is); i also several of the tropical fruit flavors

4. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

Eclipse, last summer

5. Would you rather live without tv or without music?

tv absolutely...gotta have my music

 

FMM

Movie Questions

 

1) What is your favorite movie?

I have a lot of favorites...The Twilight movies for sure, Titanic, Red Eye, The Notebook, Armegeddon,

2) If you could trade lives with an actor or actress for one day, who would you choose? And why?
I don't know that I would...I'm not a public person, don't like having my life examined and picked apart by people who don't know me

3) Who is your favorite actor/actress? I have a few of these too....Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, the girl in The Notebook and Red Eye (can't call her name at the moment)

Saturday 9

1. How does your day usually go on Monday?

busy....I have to go in late on Mondays, so I feel behind from the moment I walk in....plus every other Monday I have to process payroll for  my staff...

2. Who was the last band you saw live?

oh my gosh....I'm not sure I remember....it's been so long....

3. When was the last time you purchased something over $50?

one item?  last weekend...bought Microsoft Office 2010

4. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

yeah, definitely

5. Do you wish you were someplace else right now?

physically...no: emotionally, for sure....

6. Tell us about the last wedding that you attended.

I think it was my (soon to be ex) husband's sister's wedding......it was so nice...she was a beautiful bride

7. What's annoying you right now?

not annoyed...for the first time in a long time, not annoyed, not angry....just ready to get on with my life

8. What is your best skill/ability? Why?

used to be organization....working on getting back to that...why?...because I'm a type A personality with moderate OCD

9. If someone asked a friend of yours, "Hey, what is one thing your friend is exceptional at?", what would they say about you? Why?

scrapbooking...because I am...when I do things I like, I do them well

Patricks Saturday Six

1. Have you filed your state and federal taxes yet?

yep...got them back already

2. When do you traditionally file?

as soon as W-2s are received

3. Are you expecting a refund or a balance due this year?

refund

4. Do you file them yourself manually, with help from software, or do you take it to a tax professional?

used to do them ourself, then started going to H&R Block....this year, I filed online using H&R Block

5. If you are expecting a refund, what would you be most likely to buy with that money?

this year, I paid for my lawyer and divorce filing fee....bought some things for my children and bought Microsoft Office 2010 for me

6. What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever purchased with a tax refund?

probably this year, paying for the lawyer and fiing fee



Six Word Saturday

And now the next phase begins.....

 (fyi....divorce complaint filed on Wednesday)

Rock N Roll Friday

Areosmith.

1. Dream On “Every time that I look in the mirror, All these lines in my face getting clearer. The past is gone. It went by like dusk to dawn. Isn’t that the way. Everybody’s got their dues in life to pay”

Do you pay dues or something such as a membership in a union, church, civic group, gang, etc?

I pay tithing at church, and pay membership dues to the professional organization for my field of work

2. Angel “Without your love, I’m nothing but a beggar. Without your love, a dog without a bone…”

What is your favorite dog breed?

chihuahua....looking forward to getting a smaller dog soon

3. Sweet Emotion “You stand in the front just a shakin your ass. I’ll take you backstage you can drink from my glass…”

Have you ever been backstage at a concert to meet the band? If not, what band would you like to meet backstage?

nope, not ever been backstage...and not sure who I'd like to meet...probably Taylor Swift or Martina McBride...I relate to so much of their music

4. Walk This Way “So I took a big chance at the high school dance with a missy who was ready to play…”

What was the first song you ever danced to at a school dance?

oh geez....I'm not sure I remember...the first school dance I went to was 8th grade graduation, which was 1985, I think.  The only song I remember was Cotton Eyed Joe..but that was at the end.

5. Crazy “You’re packin up your stuff and talkin like it’s tough. And tryin to tell me that it’s time to go, yeah. But I know you ain’t wearin nothing underneath that overcoat. And it’s all a show, yeah.”

Ever worn your PJs in public?

absolutely NOT...I have walked outside my house in them, but not out in public ....

6. Cryin “I was cryin when I met you. Now I’m tryin to forget you. Your love is sweet misery.”

What is the worst film you went to see in the past 5 years?

I don't go to the movies much...and the only movies I have gone to see in the last 3 years have been the Twilight movies

7. Draw The Line “Checkmate honey beat you at your own damn game. No dice honey I’m livin on the astral plane. Feet’s on the ground and your head’s goin down the drain. Oh heads I win tails you lose….”

What is your favorite board game?

I like Sorry and Monopoly

8. Big Ten Inch Record “My girl don’t go for smoking, and liquor just makes her flinch. Seems she’ll go for nuthin, ‘cept for my big ten inch… Record of a band that plays the blues…”

What was your favorite record (or CD) when you were 18 years old?

yeah...cuz I remember that....that was 20 years ago....

9. Janie’s Got A Gun “It’s Janies last IOU She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain…”

What was the last IOU written for that you either gave or received?

a friend loaned me some money recently....signed a promissory note; paid her back 3 days early

10. Jaded “My my baby blue. Yeah I’ve been thinkin bout you. My my baby blue, yeah you’re so jaded. And I’m the one that jaded you”

Are you jaded on a subject or issue?

yep....men, love....it all sucks 

11. I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing “I don’t wanna close my eyes. I don’t wanna fall asleep cause I’d miss you baby And I don’t wanna miss a thing….”

What was the last event that you missed that you regret?

the last 20 years of  my life....they've been wasted on someone that wasn't real, and on something that can never be....

12. Rag Doll “Yes I’m movin, I’m really movin. Sloe Gin fizzy, do it til you’re dizzy. Give it all you got until your put out of your misery”

What is the most miserable thing that happened to you recently?

realizing that divorcing my husband was the only option to the happiness of my family and myself

13. Love In An Elevator “Love in an elevator, lovin it up when I’m goin down. Love in an elevator. Livin it up when I hit the ground…”

What is the most unusual place that you have made love?

because it matters? 

 

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. I am currently obsessed with learning about narcissism and how to free myself of the effects of living with it.


2. Today I am annoyed because for every small step forward, I take 5 steps backward!!!


3. The age I am is 38 and the age I feel is so much older...ancient.


4. My favorite place is my bedroom...it's my haven, my workspace, my world.


5. Something I have been procrastinating is cleaning up my home office...again.


6. The last thing I purchased was a Chick Fil A chicken biscuit.


7. The thing I love most about my home is that there is less fighting and finally some peace in it.

Five ? Friday

1. Can you drive a stick shift?

nope...and no desire to learn

2. What are two foods you just can't eat?

peas and raisins...i pick them out of anything they are in...or I don't eat it

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?

oh yes....trefoils and samoa's....YUM...just bought some last week...and will probably get more tomorrow

4. How do you pamper yourself?

biweekly visits to the nail shop....went last week and got a pedicure....it was heavenly!!!

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?

mich....it was a friend in high school that started calling me that, not sure why

(my soon to be ex husband has since used that nickname, but I've learned it's because he didn't like to type my full name....)