Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Ways I Save $$$ on/for Gas

1. Stay Home

2. Walk

3. Ride a bike

4. Rollerblade

5. Don't buy Starbucks (you're 'drinking' a gallon & half!)

6. Order 'delivery', the tip is less than what you'd spend to 'pick-up'.

7. Cancel your gym membership (all that walking, who needs a gym?)

8. Have a yard sale to get rid of all those clothes that are too big now due to all the bike riding!

9. Sell the tv that your too busy walking everywhere, to watch.

10. Sell all the work-out videos & DVD's that you also don't need.

11. Get a golf cart.

12. Organize a return to hitchhiking!

13. Move to Venice, where they row gondolas instead.

Nobody Walks in LA....

but I ride my bike! lol Remember that song from the 80's?

It is SO true but w/ these outrageous gas prices, I am determined to DO something. It's not that hard. I am blessed to live in an area where I have 2 grocery stores, 2 Targets, Walgreens, a mall, Bally's, "Restaurant Row", Post office, library, 2 parks & church all within LESS than a 5 min. drive!

So WHY am I even driving in the first place? I drove on fumes ALL weekend & I was about to put gas, finally, on Sunday when I noticed the prices! EEEEKKK! $3.25 for regular @ ARCO! The 'cheapie' gas! (someone has to be pay for their latest ad campaign!)

I said NO WAY! Went home & parked my car. I refused to put gas @ those prices. The ktbunch & I got our bikes out of the {broken} garage. We rode to the library instead. {it's national turn off the tv week too, btw. ;o) } I fully planned on riding my bike to church that evening too like we used to.....UNTIL I spaced out & thought church started an hour later than it did.

Boycotts only work if you're NOT running late. haha. Thinking I had plenty of time & could leave in 10 min. & be pretty early....I realized we were actually 20 min LATE! So we quickly hopped in the car......the fumes could last for 3 more min. of driving. lol

Monday, I had some more errands, I left the car parked. We went to the library & post office & Target, all on the bikes. (the post office & library are right next to each other). It was nice.

Tuesday was my mom's group @ the mall.(not the one nearby! lol) Whew! My body could tell I hadn't done that ride in awhile. What used to take me 25-30 min...took 35! Oh! & that hill! We even rode the bikes all the way home too. (dh used to pick us up) I can't even remember the last time we did that.

Apparently the TaeBo hasn't really been doing much for me. I could feel muscles burning that I hadn't felt since doing my old VHS Buns of Steel. lol

I was also planning on going grocery shopping via my 2 wheels, but I got too busy. Then the 'teacher' called & needed some paperwork that I was going to 'mail' to her, right then...so unless she wanted to wait about an hour, I could not ride my bike...so I had to put gas & drive out to meet her. I only put $10, which put me barely above E. Better than the poor guy who used the pump before me, they only put $7 & that was barely over 2 gallons. yikes!

I also told the ktbunch it was 'turn off the tv week'. It was a good reason to not allow movies or videos games.....(that was on Tuesday). I also knew that it wouldn't hold when DH had his days off Wed. & Thurs. lol Neither would my driving boycott, but that's ok. We took his car anyway. ;o)

We are so spoiled though. The $$$ for these gas prices have to come from somewhere. And many people out there have a bare bones budget as it is. So where do you think it's coming from? The GROCERY budget!

And many people are not as blessed as I am to live 5 min. from a grocery store. Many families already only make 2 trips a month to 'town'. So what now? What about now that those measly 2 trips are costing twice to 3x as much?

I don't see anyone getting a raise to accomodate the gas hike, do you? Many people do not use their cars for liesure but only for basic necesseties like working already.

I am truly going to change my 'habits' cause that is really all it is. I do not need to drive around town. Everything I need to do is within walking distance. The weather is very accomodating where I live, to being outdoors.

Maybe if we really rethink our priorities, we can survive this outrageousness. And maybe if we curb our unnecessary driving habits, it will cause prices to drop because it will create an excess instead of shortage or whatever it is that is encouraging this ridiculousness.

We are a nation of overweight spoiled brats, we could stand to sweat a little. lol

@ least if gas prices don't drop anytime soon (& I don't expect them too) I should be looking REAL hot this summer. ;o)

Why can I feel so busy....

AND still not accomplished anything this week?

Monday morning my grandma went BACK into the hospital. It was my birthday. It was also DH day off. He had Tuesday off too.

This week was 'offically' spring break but since we homeschool, it was my plan to work really hard this week & make a jump fwd w/ the ktbunch's school work anyway. (trust me, they get enough 'breaks') That did not happen.

Thursday was grandma's 91st birthday. We went to visit her that day. She did not look good nor happy. We all pitched in to get her a very large floral bouquet. 90 carnations of various colors + 1 red rose = 91 flowers. She kept whining/moaning a bit. I suspected maybe she was still in pain from the UTI that sent her back to the hospital & asked the nurse about it.......she seemed confused as to why/how grandma would need pain medication. I don't know...uh maybe because UTI's are painful????? duh!

It's frustraing. She can't talk, her efforts @ communication are shown by her lips moving & no sound or minimal sounds coming out, looks in her eyes, or her moving her hands a bit. She's NOT gonna just say that she is in pain!!!!!

Her IV hand was severly swollen. It immediately took me back to the time, as a child, when my great aunt lay dying in the hospital. What I remember most is her swollen hand, the thin skin, bruised & purple w/ the IV. I wondered, again, if today was the day she was going to die.

I pointed it out to the nurse. Grandma cried out a bit when the nurse took her hand to look @ it, so maybe her hand was hurting her.

Grandma was finally moved into a different care center yesterday. I helped my mom out by driving down to get her stuff from the previous care center on Friday. We stopped by to pick up her flowers & spend a little time w/ her as well. She did not look good but the swelling was gone. She was asleep most of the time we were there, she may have opened her eyes once or twice. I tried to talk to her a bit, but mostly held her hand. The ktbunch drew on her white board.

Due to the infection reaching her bloodstream, her immune system is extremely compromised, so the ktbunch could not really get near her, but the staff was nice enough to still allow us into the room on her birthday & Friday.

My mom called me today to see if I would go w/ her to visit grandma in the new place. (which, ironically, is the same place grandma was sent to after she had her pacemaker installed---yikes! what a word to use: installed, I can't think of a more human word right now, sorry)

Well, the alternative was doing school work & my mom quickly remembered & apologized. But hey, who really cares about school work right? lol So I loaded up the ktbunch & headed on over.

The boys stayed w/ my dad, he wasn't feeling well & I took L. L said she wanted to stay & watch cartoons w/ the boys but I reminded her that I thought she wanted to visit grandma, so she changed her mind. ;o) She likes to rub lotion on grandma's arms & hands.

Grandma did not look much better. Still not really recognizing us. I had asked my mom in the car if she had told grandma it was OK to 'let go' & that she (my mom) would be 'ok'. She said she had tried to. She also said that my dad & brother thought maybe grandma was waiting for my aunt to come down. She arrives in about 2 weeks. I hadn't even thought of that, but it made sense.

I don't know. I just don't know how much longer she could possibly hang on & WHY?

@ first I thought she was waiting for Easter & then I thought maybe for her birthday & I wondered what else it could be...but it makes sense that it is for my aunt's visit.

She was still moaning/crying today. She felt kinda warm, even though she only had a sheet on. She is obviously not happy to be there. My mom & I are not sure she is getting quality care there, but I did not tell my mom that. (but if she reads this.....well then...lol) I assured her that I thought the staff were probably doing the best they could, under the circumstances.

There were many 'residents' rolling around. Most of them were strapped into their wheel chairs just wandering the halls. Kinda creepy. It made me think that they were like ghosts....all these people were just ghosts, wandering aimlessly in the halls.

Grandma's roommate, looked well enough & young campared to grandma, she was talking to different people who were not there. I just kept smiling @ her. It sounded like she was talking to some grandchildren, telling them not to fight w/ each other. She called me 'Sue'.

Her face absolutely LIT UP when she saw L. It was kinda funny, I had taken L to the restroom & when we came back she lit up & exclaimed: 'Well, where did you find her!', all excited. Then she asked for her to come back & visit her & then she was looking on her dinner plate for something to give her. ....then she was gone again, talking to 'Rosemary' who was not there. :(

Grandma seemed a bit anxious & frowned a few times & started crying but no smiles. She seemed a bit interested to look @ the Easter pix my mom printed out from my aunt. And we had taken her flowers to her so she stared @ those...but no smile.

I guess, in my naturally straight forward way, I asked grandma: "Are you waiting for Shari to visit? Is that what you are hanging on for? cause if it is, it's ok, you can let go if you want, otherwise, it will only be about 2 more weeks." Now that I think about it, she seemed a bit 'stronger' after I asked her that & that was when she started to make purposeful movements, reaching out & holding the pictures.....

How much longer can a person go on like that? I don't know. Grandma is strong, that is for sure...but for what purpose? I hope the time goes quickly for my auntie to arrive. Alot can happen in 2 weeks...look how much has happened in 1 week?

{sigh} I am tired.

My Birthday

OMY! Was this day WIERD! If I believed in bad luck...I'd say it was a very unlucky day which sux cause 17 is my favorite number! lol

I woke up this morning & things seemed normal enough. THEN I get a call from my mom, I think she's calling to wish me HBD......she is BUT she's also calling to tell me that she was @ the hospital half the night, since AFTER midnight (so already the 17th) w/ grandma---> things don't look good, either congestive herat failure or pnuemonia, the pnuemonia would be the worse of the 2.....BUT to go & have a nice day! ok.

DH wanted to take me to a musical or something---> there are NO shows on Mondays! lol So then I thought a day spa or something but decided to go to this place where you can rent a hot tub by the hour & get a great view of the mountains or sunset...sounds fun & romantic. He's got sitter arrnagements made w/ MIL.

Well the hot tub resort's phone line is busy....???? all morning. SO we decide to catch a movie & get a late lunch then we'll see what happens. DH emails them.

On the way to the movie theater, we are making a left turn & the car on our right decides to make an illegal left turn also & is turning into our lane. H swerves over & the other driver doesn't even blink!

We go to the movies & I see my parents & brother (how wierd is that?) there...mom tells me that it looks like grandma's UTI has gone 'septic' & the infection may have moved to her brain...but go have fun.

In line to buy tix I realize there are tons of KIDS around...I'm like..hhhmmm...maybe we should see an R rated movie cause I DON'T like kids in the movies...there were only like 2 (R movies) & they started too late....DUH! Spring Break! oh well, we take our chances.

After the movie...on the way home...we see my parents, brother & other grandma standing in the middle of the street, cops & 2 cars....My other grandma had gotten into a car accident!!!

I'm starting to think this is personal! lol

After that, closer to home...ANOTHER car turns out of a parking lot as we are passing but turns WIDE, again H had to swerve into the next lane to avoid being hit.

THEN we get home, he checks the email...the hot tub place responded! Due to a bad CAR ACCIDENT ALL their power has been out all day & they hope to have everything up & running tomorrow!

I go to my ladies small group tonight & right before I got there, the waiter had dropped/spilled a full glass of ice water on one of the ladies. I think THAT one was just coincidence, since I wasn't even there yet.

@ least it wasn't boring, right?

Weekend Update!

Easter turned out well enough. I thought the weather report on Thursday said it would be rainy all weekend, I guess I was wrong because although it did rain all day Friday, Saturday & Sunday were gorgeous.

We had an improv show Friday night. I only had my 'C' game. ;o( But overall it went well. We had about 30 or so in the audience which is pretty darn good. About 1/3 of them were strangers from My Space. THAT was really cool. I was really nervous which is odd, because I don't normally get nervous before shows. I am not down about it though. I am excited for next week & expect to do even better.

Saturday I went shopping w/ my mom, which I don't normally do. It was just us girls, I took L w/ us. Mom bought her some Easter shoes since she has recently had a growth spurt or something & didn't have any 'nice' shoes. Her dress was a gorgeous hand me down from a friend's dd who wore it in a wedding. All white, sheer-ish layers of tulle & quite poofy. A couple friends gave me an early b-day gift on Friday, some soft, pinkish/yellowish yarn so I whipped her out a poncho to wear w/ it. She looked like a giant piece of cotton candy. lol

The dress was/is all white but I accented it using pink accessories. A pink hair band from the 99 cents store (cause I AM a bargain shopper), dress socks from there as well. They had a few pairs of ruffled socks but only w/ green ruffles, so I also found some scrapbooking ribbon while I was there, removed the green & sewed on some new pink. Voila'!

The second layer of tulle no longer had a hem, it had been torn off. I rolled it, stretched it & made a new nice hem. Good as new. Later, after numerous 'stepping ons', she tore the top hem. lol SO if she ever wears it again, I'll need to redo the top hem as well.

E had taken the boys to get hair cuts earlier in the week, so I didn't realize it, but it was perfect timing. They dressed nice too.

E worked extremely late Saturday night, woke up super early to deliver a car Sunday morning. He said when he got back we'd go to church, but he came in, laid down on the bed & fell asleep in his shoes & tie & everything. Poor guy. I didn't wake him up.

Then he got a business call anyway & had to go in a bit early. We all weren't completely ready yet, so I was a bit tiffed. iykwim. I had a mini-breakdown & let him know I was not happy & I was tired of doing things all by myself ALL the time. He was quite gracious & did not respond back except to say, I love you & have a nice day, then he was off to work.

I tried to stay mad & feel sorry for myself, but it was no use! lol
We went to visit my grandma @ the rehab. She looked nice, mom & I had picked out some really cute clothes for her. We took a few pix then it was off to my parents house.

My mom kinda went all out this year for the kidbits. She, my SIL & I hid the eggs & then the kidbits all came out to find them. I don't think we hid them very well cause it was all over in less than 5 min. lol

Then we were off to make a stop @ the inlaws. We hung out for a bit there, they bought us lunch. They weren't doing anything particularly special otherwise.

Then home for a bit then off to church.

Our Sunday night service was similar to last years, in which the theme was: The Art of the Resurrection. They put up various works of art from congregants & others contributed to the service through various mediums like readings & dance. I LOVED it.

The pastor spoke about becoming God's work of art (or allowing God to create us into His work of art, I can't remember exactly.)

Easter 2006

Arrggghhhh Susan! lol ;o)

Ok she tagged me...I have to write a list of quirky things about myself or something? lol

1. I am a hopeless romantic.
2. Valentines is my favorite 'holiday'. (WAY more than Christmas)
3. My clothes all have to hang in the same direction in my closet.
4. The pants must hang w/ the fold to the outside.
5. My clothes hang facing DH clothes (his hang in the opposite direction).
6. I prefer all the hangers the same color & give my DH & the ktbunch the 'ugly' ones. (brown, purple, all mine are white or pink)
How many were we supposed to list?
7. I enjoy scrubbing showers & tubs.
8. I fold my towels in 3's not halves.
9. I remove the onions but leave the 'ring' on Carl's Jr. Western Bacon Burgers.
10. I decided, last week, that I LOVE to dust.
(maybe I should have saved this for my Thursday Thirteen?)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I consider 'Working Out' 1. Working out w/ the orginal Tae Bo tape. 2. Taking a bike ride 3. Roller blading 4. Dancing 5. Taking a walk to the library 6. Cleaning the living room by picking up items ONE @ a time & putting them away 7. Having sex (well it does get the heart pumping!) 8. Using my SIL new elliptical machine (that thing is FUN!) 9. Sweeping.....w/ a little bit of gusto 10. Letting your dishes pile up so it takes you no less than 20 min. to stand & do them all. 11. Scrubbing a mildewy shower 12. Channel surfing w/ no remote 13. Scouring the living room for a frantic 20 minutes trying to find the remote. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Headboards are Over- Rated Anyway.....

I finally deflated the air mattress & took apart my bed. My 'bed' is now my mattress on stilts. lol No not real stilts but it is sitting on 2x4s.

Actually I wanted it this way about 3 or so years ago when L was a baby, still in her crib but I put it back together anyway.

It feels SO comfortable. I am SO looking fwd to a good nights REST & sleep. The dreams I have been having---freaky! And it's DH day OFF tomorrow woohoo! So we can stay up LATE & sleep IN if we like. I have a feeling....we will! ;o)

It looks funny though cause everything else in the room is midway or above eye level & then whoosh! your eye goes down to the floor when it gets to the bed. It's not very aesthetic or pleasing to the eye, so I might have to rearrange everything now or else it will drive me crazy cause it's 'uneven'. kwim?

Good night! ;o)

Let's rethink this a bit....

Ok, so H 'duty' is to go to work & provide for the family right? ok.

W 'duty' is to 'care' for said family & household & household's laundry, household's food, buy food, buy laundry (clothes), clean household, teach household, buy cleaning supplies fto clean household, make sure household always has ample supply of clean undies & matching socks.....AND THEN we get to be 'resourceful' & not only feed the household but feed from SCRATCH & not only clothe the household but MAKE the clothing & then become MORE crafty so we can SELL stuff to help unburden H load of "providing for the family".

Do you SEE where I am going w/ this? I am exhausted just typing it.
My friend pointed something out the other day....the men get to have a 'lawn service', I know MINE does & I don't begrudge him one bit about it & when he didn't, *I* & oldest mowed most of the time...........but she also pointed out: then why don't WE have a housekeeping service? hhmmmm??? good question.

I think there is a giant conspiracy going on here. I don't think most ladies REALLY have it all together like they claim they do. I just don't see HOW they get it 'all' done, all day, every day.

Someone else pointed out something I had NEVER noticed about this whole Prov. 31 Woman idea....did you ever notice that she had SERVANTS? Well DUH! That's why she could arise so early, she only had to make some breakfast for her servant girls & then THEY could take care of everything else. NO wonder she had time to make clothes for her family.

Supposedly Solomon wrote this about his mother....Bathsheba...okay she was married to the KING, which made her the QUEEN right? SO you tell me how hard her life was & how much HARD work she REALLY did on a daily basis.

If that is to be our goal, I totally agree, lets start w/ the servant girls. Where are they? I'd love to arise early & make a nice breakfast knowing someone else was going to clean it up for me. Wouldn't you?

Who's bright idea was it that ONE woman had to be responsible for 5 rooms & all the people living in it & all their stuff too? (kitchen, bathroom, living room & 2 bedrooms, not even counting extra bedroom or bathrooms, dining room or den, backyard or garage!!!!)

I think we need to find this guy & knock some sense into him. ;o)

Weekend Update!

Whew! Ugh! What a non-restful weekend. It wasn't the weekend itself that was the problem it's my still BROKEN bed! aarrggghhh.

My dad said he had a side rail for me that I could have---ok, so I wouldn't have to put my bed on the floor afterall. It was late Friday when he told me so I said I'd get it the next day.

Saturday I was up early for a business meeting. I am on the committee so I always have to arrive early to set up & decorate (it's my specialty ;o)) I still arrived late this time though. After that, I rushed home, my meeting ended late!

I planned on finishing up DD outfit that I had made the top to. We had my nephews birthday party to go to, so I only had about an hour. I plunged right in, got the pants finished, but not w/o a few glitches. I made them too tight @ first, so I added a triangle to the front & back, added a trim to the top to avoid 'crack' when she bent over and put elastic. For some reason they kept falling down. Not sure what to do about that.

Finally arrived to nephews birthday party, we were late, as usual. I knew it would be ok though. He got a new bike & we bought him his helmet. We would have stayed longer but it was breezy cold & I really wanted to put my bed together.

It has been nothing but horror sleeping on the air mattress in the living room. Not only does it take up my entire living room but it is hard & so uncomfortable. I have been cranky & depressed just thinking about the sleep I am NOT getting. I toss & turn all night, have weird dreams & am cold to boot!

I bought a new tool that I needed to take apart the bed, since I never found the original one. I picked up the rail, got it home, took apart the mattresses (they are quite heavy) & of course the rails are TOO short! Even after dad insisted they were 'all the same'! So it's back to square one....taking apart the bed & putting the mattresses on the floor but by then it was just too late.

E worked late all weekend. We tried to get up early to go to church Sunday morning (we normally go Sunday night) since E went in late...but we were all moseying along way too long. So we walked to breakfast instead. The ktbunch & I went to church later as usual. Still no bed. I am tired & frustrated!

Instead I washed & hung new curtains. I bought curtain rods, first time EVER & a few new curtain panels for the living room. (again, first time EVER) & oldest ds & I installed the last of them last night. I also did an impromptu spring cleaning of the bathroom. I really LOVE cleaning the bathroom....now if someone else would just take care of my kitchen.....AND my bed.

wah wah waaaaaaahhhh! Somebody, anybody, call the WAHmbulance! lol

Why does MY life always have to be an 'Adventure'?

Why can't I just have a boring, steady, everything in it's place life?

My bed is broke....overall it's ok but ONE side of the frame is bent beyond repair so if you lay on the bed.....it feels like you are going to roll off....too many cannon balls on the bed I think from the ktbunch & what not.

The bed itself is about 10 years old anyway but I love it, it's wrought iron w/ a canopy but I only use the head of it so I can hang lights & stuff.....ANYWAY....So *I* slept on that side for 2 nights & I refuse to sleep on it again, my back is SO aching & I barely even slept.

I thought I can either A)buy a new bed RIGHT NOW or B)take the bed apart & put the mattresses on the floor. I actually HAVE $$$ to purchase a bed...but how often does THAT happen for us? I thought I shouldn't spend that $$$ because w/ MY life...something will happen & then I won't have ANY $$$$ to deal w/ it...ya know?

So I decide to just take apart the bed, it's not too crazy under there, mostly boxes of junk, but @ least it's boxed right?

Well, S opened the garage (automatic) while my car was parked IN FRONT OF IT. This is signifigant because 1) it won't open @ all now 2) it's the logical place to relocate the boxes under the bed 3) there is a tool I need called a 'key' to unscrew all the special screws on my bed & I think it may be in the garage!!!!

I can put the boxes in the 'lair' (this other room connected to the garage) BUT I can't find that stupid tool now! Last time I saw it was w/ H paintball gear, which is IN THE GARAGE!I fought w/ the garage door this morning & got it open enough for my SKIINY oldest to get in there......it was our one chance...but like most boys/13 yo? he brings out ONE bag of paintball gear & all it has in it are the GUNS NOT any tools!!!! aaarrrggghhh! AND he cannot 'see' anymore gear bags!!!!The garage has NO other door, the only way IN or OUT is the garage door!!! And it makes a horrific sound just trying to open it. I think the gears may be stripped.

So now that I have decided to put the mattresses on the floor AND even IF I bought a new bed....I can NOT take apart my old one!!!!I saw my EXACT bed @ Big Lots for $80!!! But I am not going to buy the SAME bed when I all I need is a new side bed frame rail. IF I am going to get a NEW bed, it will be a NEW bed! kwim?

I am scouring the house in every concieveable place I can think of ever seeing that darn tool & it's NOWHERE! But I found the staple gun & staples so I can reupholster my dining room chairs again! aarrgggghhhh!

How do you LOSE a tool like that????

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I can see in front of me while typing this.... 1. Bottle of all purpose glue 2. Empty green can of Alto Grande Super Premium Coffee from Puerto Rico. 3. A small, personal size, red, empty box of Sees Candy I received as a gift from a friend in our mom's group for Valentine's Day. 4. A closed up Passion Flower given to me from DD earlier today. 5. A ceramic napkin ring w/ a rose on it that dd brought to me saying it belonged ot Nana. (it doesn't) 6. My silver plated logo business card holder that I always forget to carry w/ me. 7. A booklet of 1800 mini rewards stickers. 8. A bottle of LA Looks gel that noone uses & therefore it is full. 9. A tub/plastic jar of Freeman Peach & pearberry Body butter. it sux so I let my dd use it. ;o) 10. A picture my ds made me that is a collage of Winnie the Pooh stickers, all the characters are doing cool stuff, like Piglet is flying in the wind w/ a towel parachute. ;o) 11. Oldest ds music program CD. 12. My atm/debit card...for quick & easy silver jewelry club purchases. ;o) 13. My checkbook w/ lots of checks I hardly ever use. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Learning for Lifetime 2. Treasure of Jewels 3. TNChick 4. The Zandi Bunch 5. Maremagnum

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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My Passion Flower

This is from my backyard. Ever since I first saw this flower growing on a chain link fence edging the river bed (sewer), I fell in love w/ it. I picked a plume & brought it home to grow...it didn't. I then noticed some growing @ a park & wondered WHERE I could get that plant. DH heard it was 'hard to grow'. I finally found one on clearance @ the end of a season. I planted in a spot in the fartherst corner of my back yard, I knew it was a vine so it had plenty of fence to cover. It produced lots of wasted fruit last year but hardly any flowers.

I had also heard it was a very symbolic plant of Christ & his crucifixion, which may have influenced it's name. Today my dd brought me a flower, like she always does, from the backyard...I did not even know it ws in 'bloom'. I went out & took this pic & foudn many flowers getting ready to bloom. Also, here is what I found on this amazing looking flower's symbolic meaning:

The Passion Flower symbolism, as originally perceived, and then augmented, includes:

The spiraled tendrils - the lash of Christ's scourging

The central flower column - the pillar of the Scourging

The 72 radial filaments - the Crown of Thorns

The top 3 stigma - the 3 Nails

The lower 5 anthers - the 5 wounds

The Style - the Sponge used to moisten
Christ's Lips with Vinegar

The leaves (some species) - the head of the Centurion's Spear

The red stains - Christ's Blood Drops

The Round Fruit - The World Christ came to save

The Fragrance - The Spices prepared by the Holy
Women

Who am I?

I want my BABY back!

S lost his FIRST tooth!
I am NOT ready for this! It's been wiggly for awhile....but we didn't really mess w/ it...it didn't even get to the hanging by a gum-thread stage!

He went to brush his teeth tonight & OUT it popped!

I just wanted to CRY---but I acted excited for him! HE doesn't believe hte tooth fairy is really going to come & bring him a 'present'. lol He can't believe it....wah wah wah waaaaaaaahhhhh!

It seems like he BARELY got those teeth! THIS is SO unfair!& that means he'll soon be in the goofy-crooked-giant-buck-teeth stage!!!!!!!!! waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

And then he'll be starting puberty & THAT means lil E will soon graduate & grow up & get married & then L will be getting her period! WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! It's ALL just TOO fast!

I can't take this! I JUST CAN'T! I'm not ready.

First he's READING (unassisted, last Friday!) & now this!
Children are such TRAITORS! ;o)

Weekend Update!

Not so busy as last weekend.

Friday night was a lazy day & evening @ home. Saturday I totally forgot my mom was having a candle party through my friend from church. When she called to ask if I was coming over, I rushed on over. lol

Later I had a party for my business. It was supposed to be tons of ladies, it didn't pan out. It was an atmosphere I was not used to so I couldn't wait to get out of there, ASAP.

I remembered the time change & for some reason was STILL up bright & early Sunday morning for a business training seminar. It was OK. The food was disappointing, just fruit, some crackers & cheese. I was expecting cold-cuts or something @ least!

Sunday night @ Halogen (church) was great as usual. I had to try really hard to stay awake during the message. No fault of the speaker....& they kept the houselights down for some reason, which was dumb because then we couldn't see to read our Bibles...that only encouraged my sleepiness. I didn't fall asleep though but I had to work very hard to stay awake.

DH rented North Country, so we stayed up REALLY late to watch it. It was a very good movie actually. Almost sad, what the women had to endure. I don't really like Charlize Theron but she did well in this movie, I think.

I'm it!

Ok, TOJ tagged me....so here goes.....


How did you get the idea for your profile name?
It's based on my name, it's the title I've always had for my 'stories'. lol

What song are you playing now, or wish you were playing?
Nothing...I don't think I have a favorite that I could pick just one....

Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
I don't think so.....

What colour underwear are you wearing?
Pink

Do you want a baby?
Doesn't everybody? but then they grow UP, I am not sure if I will have anymore or not.

What does your dad do for a living?
He is a locksmith

What does your mum do for a living?
I forget the title, but she makes all the travel arrangements for her company.

What is/are your pet's name(s)?
Min May, she is the only one left........alive, but we do have a few soon-to-be-butterflies starting their chrysalids.

What colour are your bed sheets?
Black & white stripes, they are "Raiders" sheets.

What are the last 3 digits of your phone number?
977

What was the last concert you went to?
should I admit this? Counting Crows, 1 of the only 2 concerts I have ever been to in my life.

Who was with you?
DH

What was the last film you watched?
North Country

What do you dislike most at this moment?
the time change.....now I don't wake up until 11:00 AM!

What food do you crave right now?
nothign because I jsut ate, but earleir it was a juicy hamburger & fries.

Did you dream last night?
I don't remember, normally I do though.

What was the last TV show you watched?
Grey's Anatomy

What is your fav piece of jewelery?
A millifiori glass heart pendant that DH gave me YEARS ago. I get tons of compliments on it.

What is to the left of you?
My bed.

What was the last thing you ate?
Slice of French Apple pie w/ ice cream @ Marie Callenders, no it wasn't that great but it was good.

Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
DH

Who last MSN'd you?
I use yahoo

Where is your significant other right now?
Staying over night @ the RITZ CARLTON for a 'training'.

Do you have a crush?
yes......

What is his/her name?
DH

When was the last time you had your hair cut?
I think last year, when I forced H to cut the back to make it even!!!!

Are you on any meds?
NO! Somedays I think I should be though. lol

Do you have a mental disease?
Is there really such thing as a mental disease, I mean have you ever met someone who was contagious? Maybe the question shoudl say: mental disorder? lol

What shirt are you wearing?
A pinkish sweater that I think is too short for me, personally.

Are you sexy?
Probably only according to DH.

What's your favourite store?
Target.

Are you thirsty?
No I drank a ton of water @ MC.

Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
I can't imagine NOT being married.

Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
My BERRY BEST friend, Kim in TN.

Where do you work?
@ home, but I don't get paid monetarily ;o) AND I also have a direct sales biz......

I LOVE these kids!