The Year in Review 2006

The year in highlights:

1. I started the year off by filing for divorce from Big Red. It is not yet final but should be within the next month. I have come a long way from the teary mess I was at the beginning of this year. I am more confident in myself and my abilities as this year comes to an end.
2. My Mom became engaged and was married in Sepember of this year. It has been interesting to say the least as we try to all get to know each other and combine this huge group of adults into a new family. I have 2 step sisters who are Grandma's and that makes me a Great Aunt. I remember as a child going to funerals of my Great Aunts and I am positive that I am not THAT old.
   

3. I took a huge step in my faith and went on a Missions trip. You faithful readers will know that I went to Jamaica in November. God worked in my heart in so many ways before, during and after that trip. I became more confident in what I CAN do. I discovered I can build things.
4. I am still growing in my faith and I have refused to get angry with God because of choices that Big Red has made.
5. I have discovered the joys of riding around our fair city on my Scooter. I love feeling the wind in my hair (through the helmet of course) and the warm sun on my skin. Oh How I can't wait for summer again!
6. I have become comfortable in sharing the story of how this happened. I no longer burst into tears everytime I think about the day I found out and the impact that one day has had on my life.
7. I am looking forward to 2007. I could not say the same about 2006. I see the future ahead of me and it looks promising. It has to be better than the last 2 years!

Fun and for a good cause...

I think I may have posted this site before about making your own snowflake. This year they are donating money to help out the Salvation Army for every snowflake you make.

A very bad man

I don't care what you political preferences happen to represent.

With that being said check out this link to an article on the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Now I don't want to hear any garbage about the news source I choose to link to, how they are slanted one way or the other or biased.

Saddam Hussein was a very bad man. Period.

He killed people for disagreeing with him. He killed out of intimidation. He killed for power. I believe he killed for the sheer enjoyment he received in his sick little blackened heart.

He wasn't remorseful, sorry or apologetic. He was a representation of true evil.

Yet somehow I am saddened by his death. He carried a copy of the Quran with him to the gallows. Given his mocking last statements, apparent lack of feeling and the overall statement he has made by living his life in this way lead me to believe that he probably did not have a "deathbed conversion" to follow the teachings of Christ.

Some may be happy to see this man "rot in hell". My prayer for those people is that someday they can work through the bitterness and hatred in their heart.

My prayer for the world is that we can start to look past the corruption, evilness and death that this man seemed to represent. We need to look forward and stop blaming each other for the perceived mistakes of others.

Frustration abounds

I can't really discuss the issue I am bothered by today.

Sometimes certain circumstances cause frustration. Sometimes I can say what I need to say. And say it again and again.

The words are written down. The words are heard but not listened to.

Nothing is done. Nothing is settled.

I will continue to say what I need to say until someone listens who can do something about the circumstances.

I apologize that you may not understand this but I am feeling better that I was able to get it off my chest so to speak.

I spent too much time on the template so....

how smart are you
flat out genius

Ok, theres not much I can say here accept congratulations! There is noone smarter than you. Well, except the few others who made it here. I mean Im just gonna leave it at that. Im sure your much too above what I could say.

Take this test

I spent way too much time messing around with the new template so all I really have time for is a few quick quizzes. How do you like this one? Is it better than the pink?

Oh and I am in no way proud of the fact that I know this much about Roseanne...

How well do you know the show Roseanne???
Total Roseanne fanatic!!

You totally love this show! You paid attention to all details! And you probably know more about the show than the stars who played on it do!

Take this test

I am so excited!

Well you know I like Superman....

Beau gave each of us money to buy ourselves a present and wrap it. See the previous post.

I purchased my gift today:o)

I bought the Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition today. I will have it in a few short days from a wonderful person on Ebay for a nice price. She has over 6000 in feedback and has a 100% positive rating. There is no doubt in my mind that I will have it shortly.

That combined with the Belt Sander, the ring and the MP3 player have made for a great Christmas. I was afraid I wouldn't get any gifts when my Mom talked about just doing money at one point. It isn't really about what you get but it actually for me is about someone remembering me. Growing up that meant we were loved and it is hard to break some of those old patterns.

I actually like giving gifts better than receiving them. I love the look on people's faces when they open a gift.

Boy this post doesn't sound at all like what I wanted to say...But I'm too tired to fix it right now.

Christmas has gone into the memoirs

The memoirs. Here are the highlights:

• I am ecstatic that Beau and Mom got me a new Belt sander for Christmas! This will help me when I turn the garage into a woodworking shop. Oh the things I will build....
• The prayer before dinner was interesting. The new Step Sister in a wheelchair offered to pray and then went on to thank God for the day but COMPLAINED about the whether He gave us...."it's too gloomy and rainy today but you designed it". She also complained about some of the people being late..."but keep them safe anyway". In fact I am not at all sure she ever asked God to bless the food at all.
• Beau ended up in a local ER early this morning. The beginning stages of Pneumonia was the diagnosis. But Christmas would not be stopped!
  
• When one of the new relatives opened a present he wasn't too fond of....when asked what he thought, "It's alright I guess." Several of us wanted to jump the table and strangle him but none of those people was a parent of his!
• I really thought they were joking when they said to wrap the gift we bought with Beau's money...they were not. Several of them actually did it.
• I am planning on putting my money toward SUPERMAN-ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION. I know I can get it locally instead of ordering it online.
  
• No arguements. And we actually got to watch A Christmas Story as well.
  

Merry Christmas

Luke 2

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Is anyone really surprised by this?

You Are Superman

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. And pretty cute too. No wonder you're the most popular superhero ever!

What Superhero Are You?

Guess who got bored today?

OK so I have been messing around with the template a little today. I'm not sure it will stay pink like this but I was tired of the old view.

However it does remind a little too much of either Barbie or Pepto Bismol...

And I bring you good tidings .....

Well maybe not good tidings. I do not understand why my Mom has suddenly become certifiably crazy! When in doubt check out these posts of my lovely sister.

We have never been a Ward and June Cleaver kind of family but this is getting ridiculous!

I have however decided what Mom's Christmas gift will be:

1. Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families
2. The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook
3. Dysfunctional is putting it mildly Keychain
4. I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus : The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide

On the other hand I will be loading us up with:

1. Healing The Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families
2. Straight jackets
3. Lots and lots of Drugs
4. Ear plugs

Why can't Christmas be about the birth of Jesus? Why do I have to jump through hoops for my Mom and the "new family"? This isn't about not liking the new step siblings. It is about not knowing them and being thrown in a room and expected to bond, love each other and all get along immediately. I understand they are in the same boat but don't forget this event.

It has to be better than I expect it to be....

More Quiz things

How well do you know the Bible?
Bible Expert

Well, we know our stuff don't we? Nicely done! We could possibly be a Sunday School teacher, or small group leader.

Take this test

Finally some reasons to tell the difference between my family and myself!

Are you a Red neck
Up town girl/boy

You are just an uptown person. But this doesn't mean you don't love the country also. You are not a redneck or a cowboy you are just you. Love who you are and paint the town red!!!

Take this test

Create your own friendquiz here

The new one is just around the corner....

Feel free to check out the site....create an account and join in on the fun! The draft happens on December 26th and runs for 3 weeks.

So some papers where signed the other day

No it is not final yet. This is a so called "amicable" dissolution of marriage. I signed the agreement and he will be signing before the end of the week. It then goes to the courthouse to set on a desk until it is given the official okay dokey by a judge.

Merry Christmas!

Kind of fitting since the papers were inadvertently filed on Valentines day.

Slang?

It amazes me how much slang is in our language. I realized this especially while I was in Jamaica but I have been paying closer attention and these are some that baffle me and other English as a second language folks:

hair of the dog Noun. An alcoholic chaser which will help relieve the symptoms of a hangover, usually needed on the morning after a drinking binge.

Graze: Verb To eat a lot of food without actually having a proper meal, usually in the context of picking at food that is readily available at a buffet.

see a man about a horse: Any general business that needs attending to that you may not care to discuss with the present party.

break a leg: What you tell someone about to perform in a drama or musical performance to wish them well. What you don't say is "good luck".

Bought The Farm: Passed away. Expired. Vacated this worldly plain. Snuffed it. Died.

trolling: the act of seeking out a person to hook up with. In a bar or on the Internet

hook up: 1. received a good or service as a favor 2. to make out with someone 3. to have sex with someone

No holds barred: wrestling term used to describe a no rules match.

Going commando: To wear pants without underwear

Is it no wonder people have a difficult time learning our language? I commend people who make the effort to understand us.

I am amazed at how most slang words deal with sex or illegal activities.

Just a little observation.

Maybe the movie wasn't that far off after all...

The article can be found here:

Police

BB strikes teen’s eye; vision loss unlikely

By Abby Slutsky

The Journal Gazette

Fort Wayne police were called to Parkview Hospital’s emergency room Tuesday after a 16-year-old Fort Wayne boy reported being shot in the eye with a BB gun.

According to the police report, the boy was with a friend when the shooting happened just before 8 p.m.

The boy told police that his friend yelled to him from about 5 feet away and when he turned, his friend fired an air-soft gun, police said.

Both the boy and his mother told police that they thought the shooting was unintentional, police said.

According to the report, doctors told police that the BB did not puncture the boy’s eye, and as long as the swelling subsided, he would not lose vision in it.

Oh no....

I am curious to see where my beloved sis scores on this one.

Hat tip to Laura for the idea...

Pet Peeves Part 3

I am really annoyed by people who do not seem to realize that when you are in a car other people can still see you. Therefore please do not partcipate in any of the following if you happen to be in a car next to me...

1. Do NOT pick your nose.
2. Do not wipe booger from #1 on the seat of your car or your door.
3. Please try to remain fully clothed at all times. I do not want or need to see a shirtless man with back hair at the light smiling at me. By the way it is only 50 degrees outside not 95.
4. I am all for hands free headsets for cell phones in the car. However this does not mean your hands are therefore free to continue to apply your makeup because you are running late.

Whew I feel better now...although it would be nice if people actually read this and took the advice.

I miss Jamaica.

I miss Jamaica.

I miss the warmth that I was complaining about being too hot in.

I miss the views I was blessed enough to see every day.

I miss the closeness of the friendships I developed there.

I maintained the friendships but it's just not quite the same.

I miss the kids that I bonded with in such a short time.

I miss the feelings of accomplishment that I had from the projects we did.

I do not however miss the bugs, roaches or chiggers that bit me or scared me by scurrying across the floor.

I do have to laugh as I remember someone trying to spray the bugs on the wall and the spray being too powerful...the bugs blew off the wall onto all of us standing there. Not funny then but it is now.

Or I laugh when I think of "Lilly" being scared of a cockroach scurrying in our bedroom while she was doing her hair...as she screamed to "JEEEEEEEESSSSSSSUUUUUUSSSSSS" for help she doused the roach with about a half a can of aerosol hairspray. I am sure he is shellacked to a wall somewhere in Jamaica.

I am however happy to be back online....sleeping in my own bed....eating familiar foods...but I do miss the Jucci patties.

I am still alive......

The rumors of my death have been exaggerated. I am however without an internet connection until the services are hooked up in my name "no later than Weds. December 20th" WHAT! How did I ever survive without the internet all those years? I am missing my little online friendships, my daily blog reads, the ability to check my email anytime I want and what about my daily devotions that are emailed to me and my friends I communicate with by email because it is cheaper than the phone calls.

Life has been busy and interesting in this last week. I have however been lucky enough to miss out on the slew of emails from my Mom. My Mom rarely uses the phone anymore. She communicates almost exclusively through email with me. Although I do miss the announcements that she will be stopping by my house to pick up more of her stuff...so I can't avoid her arrival or straighten the place up if needed.

Never fear I will be back soon enough with tales of my adventures...Surely there will be some as I have all this free time....

Not that I would but.....

Not that I believe in these voodoo dolls but the thought has crossed my mind lately. It seems like every time we get to the point that paperwork can be signed and presented to a judge Big Red throws a wrench in the works. He's pushing to have it finalized so that he can refinance and make the house payment go down but he keeps "adjusting" the agreements we made months ago.

He has never retained a lawyer in this process and now he's talking about doing it. I told him go ahead but that will make this drag out longer as the lawyers duke it out and then we lose the right to have much say over what happens. Maybe that would be best to just let them do the arguing.

I am at the point that I want to say fine...I'm in no hurry...take your time...we can drag this out and cost you more money....oh and did I mention that you, Big Red, will now be responsible for my lawyer fees and that point is non negotiable :o)

But somehow I think that could back fire on me somehow.

Just venting.

Now I need to go put away all the stuff my Mom left out Sunday before she comes back tonight and accuses me of "letting the house go".

The clutter of my life...

People wonder at times how I can go from a season of living in clutter and chaos to needing everything to be in it's place and put away. (DISCLAIMER: My bedroom in no way is included in this statement).

My Mom has always been a pack rat. Big Red was a pack rat. I (being the sentimental fool that I am) have pack rat tendencies. None of my tendencies even compare to the legacy that I have come from.

I am easily overwhelmed by change. Heck I am just easily overwhelmed by many things...

Today was a perfect example. Lunch for Mom's birthday. I thought this would be a nice little lunch followed by cake and then since this was a restaurant we could all go on our on merry little ways afterward. Oh but wait my Mom is involved...

You see every time...EVERY TIME.... we have a get together, coffee, stop by to say Hi or anything that causes a conversation to happen my sister and I get blessed. Blessed with sitting down and going though boxes of stuff with Mom. Stuff she bought on sale, bought to many, bought and lost them but look now I found them...just stuff. The same stuff she buys every year but maybe a different color or size. The same stuff she tries to give us every year...every time we see her. The same stuff she got mad at us last week for not wanting to take.

But have mercy if we take something (that she has asked us no less than 100 times to take and we have refused) and she comes over to the house and sees it in a closet, garage sale, goodwill pile or drawer. Then it comes down to....well if you didn't want it you should not have taken it!

You can see the dilemma.

But still every time we see her we are sent home with something...unless we manage to "forget it" on the counter.

I can't remember a single time since I moved out 15 years ago that I have been able to see her without going through a box or taking something home with me.

Today after lunch we were invited (read ordered or not given a choice because I live there) back to the house to sort through a couple of totes...no more than a half hour she promised.

Two and a half hours later we had gone through a couple of totes and 9 more bags she had pulled out of the closet in the hallway. My sister, myself and a new step sister were trying to waste time and repack the boxes without taking much while she quietly pulled these other bags out.

She just waits.....
and waits....
waits.....
until we finally take a few things and she agrees that we can repack the items.

I have found myself in a unique position now that I live here. She can leave it here and I can't say anything about it. It is still her house. She does let me live here rather cheaply.

Sigh...

And that is not even touching the issue of her insisting my sister has a hysterectomy this summer (she hasn't) and a colonoscopy that discovered polyps (she didn't). One would be every other female in our family and the other could be our Dad or brother....but not her.

Sigh.....

I feel a headache coming...

We have a nasty weather front coming though. Earlier this week it was almost 70 degrees and now it is barely 30 degrees and well if you add in those 50 mile per hour wind gust....you get the picture. With the funky little weather front barreling through, clowning tomorrow (for Christmas $$) and the birthday bash for dear ole Mom on Sunday after church I decided to take Monday off work to regroup. I am still playing catch up from the Jamaica trip and well....

I'm just tired.

I have put on the full press to change certain aspects of my life. And it has taken a lot of time, energy, correspondence etc etc etc.

Not sure how much I'll check in this weekend...but have a good one and be safe.