Its just aint right

These 2 plus the above 2 + 1 hubby in 1 bed = me ouuta bed at 4:30 am

Run Run Rudolph

This musical was a riot, Alexis you were wonderful!!

Hello my name is Paula and I am an addict

Sigh do ya'll see these small innocent bells of heaven? Butterfinger Jingles... A simple name, nothing outlandish or far out, simply chocolate and pieces of a well know candy bar. Its not BIG deal really another Christmas candy that's been on the shelf since 2 weeks before Halloween.

" My name is Paula and I am a butterfingerjingleaddict" it started out slow as I was cruising the seasonal isle at my local HEB (grocery store) I spotted them hmmmm I said to myself., the hubby loves Butterfinger chocolate bars... Ill bet he'd like these for his CHRISTMAS stocking.

Into the cart they went without another thought, they went into the pantry and took up residency until the big day when they would find themselves in a Christmas stocking. *fast forward till last week* I am craving chocolate, this is an all out frontal attack of craving chocolate-the kind where getting into the truck and driving to the store at 11:45 pm craving.

is not only considered but has been done before. *note addiction issues previously noted*

"Wait I said to myself" "chocolate radar buzzing... those butterfinger thingys for the hubby, that might just get it..

Shortly there after...sitting among a pile of colorful Christmas foil wrappings chocolate radar no longer at defcon 6 levels, I realize oops the hubby isn't gonna get all his treats, nothing to be too upset about plenty of time till the big day, pick up another bag.. no harm no foul. Here's where I hit rock bottom ya'll, I bought 2 bags... one for hubby and one for the candy dish at home. I opened the one for home in the truck with the idea of just one... one led to two and before I knew it there I was sitting in the truck in the grocery store parking lot surrounded by foil wrappers and no wet wipes, I looked up into the rear view mirror and the person looking back was unrecognizable, the wild eyes, the chocolate smear on my cheek. the chocolate on the steering column of my new truck,"God Help Me"

So friends this is my first step to butterfinger jingle freedom... admitting that I am powerless over jingles...

A rare moment

I found this while looking for the previous picture on my blog, this is a rare moment Thanksgiving Day 2009, I dont get to see much of my son, his lifestyle choices are polar opposite of ours, look how happy Alexis is.... I wish .....

My part of the world

Good Morning ya'll, long time no blog..... just wasn't feeling it....still reading everyone elses though... yes even yours cherkyb,thought I was going to have to revert back to your snowblower review (Texas was in line for some serious snowfall blizzard 2009 an all).

Things have been pretty complicated around here lately-my 19 yr old inherited a good chunk of money when my dad passed in July,he quit his job and literally had it spent by the end of September,so between pawning his newly bought items, selling his truck to us ( to make his rent) and us( his step dad and I trying to get him to understand what he had done to himself its been pretty dang ugly around here) We have been tough lovin it all over the place ( which we all know how popular that makes us) as of today Dec 7 he is working roughly 12 hours a week we own his truck and his pawn slips and eviction is looming... I will not give him a dime, he may come back home to live... but it sure wont be any fun, I will be handling all his money until he can learn to himself....whooohooo Merry Christmas---- not so much- Alexis sat on Santas lap for the first time Saturday, big accomplishment as Santa/the chic-fila cow/ and heaven forbid Chuckie from the cheese pizza joint send her off the deep end runng and screaming for cover as it were.

Medical updates: I spent the first part of November in the hospital the minute they took me off the antibiotics (from my hernia surgery in June) my body said hot damn lets party and the infection was up and running...Best case scenario I live on antibiotics for the next year, and ladies we all know what that entails. or I go for surgery again this will be number 7. Either way hot damn right? They hubby's only comment was..... sigh I'm fixin to get carpal tunnel.

So that's what has been going on in my little part of the world... I love being allowed into ya'lls world.

First Dance performance

Just give me the damn Happy meal

You know ya'll I am noticing the older I get the less tolerant I am of things. Things? you ask? yes things for example a simple run through the McDonalds drive thru for a healty dinner of saturated fats empty calories and a toy that will end up deep between the dark crevices of my truck where no man nor woman is willing to go. It becomes quickly a battle of wills between my self and the cashier who only speaks enough English to say boy or girl toy not to answer the world stopping all important question(according to my daughter)do you have the horse because we allready have the teddy bear. The question is greeted with this deer in the headlights look and in a flash the cashier is gone and up pops the manager "can I help you" shit eating grin like the answer will solve world hunger and bring peace to all. Ummm yeah I guess ya can help me just asking about the happy meal toy, but really I have allready spent 25 more in the drive thru than I planned and the 40 or so cars behind me are really starting to get ugly as a matter of fact... I think the 3rd truck back is reaching for some type of weapon of mass destruction so all in all can I just get the damn horse and the damn happy meal cause its now almost morning and Ill be here shortly to order pancakes to go....and if I ask for extra butter ...well we only can imagine the chaos that will create.

Only in Texas can you enjoy freshly mowed grass and geraniums bloomng like crazy the last week of October

Can you guess how Alexis and I spent our weekend?

What a weekend our first Brownie camp out... 17 girls, 3 moms and 2 troop leaders thats more hormones than any person male or female should be subject to

The calander says its fall......

But here in Texas its still in the 90's most days, hard to think about pumpkins and leaves crunching under foot when all you really wanna do is strip butt naked and yell cannon ball as you jump into the coolest pool/lake (well you get the idea) I have managed to get my fall decorations out so here they are in all thier fall glory.
(p.s) the big assed tarnatula is real AND WAS NOT STAGED I like to come unglued when I saw it in tthe camera lens.

Meet a good friend of Alexis's

This is Madison, (please scroll down to other central texas news)she is a 2nd grader like Alexis as a matter of fact she is much like Alexis, she is a Brownie, loves icarly involved in dance and so on and so on, the only difference is Madison has Downs Syndrome, but look at her what a beautiful child she is featured in this years calendar, and tonight she rides in a Limo to a Gala in honor of her and other children just like her.

OFFER ACCEPTED

Well this is it... the last chapter almost to an end, my childhood home has an accepted offer on it, theres no going back now. My p.arents are gone, there stuff is gone, I have pictures, memories and a few other things.

Theres no winding the clock back.....shes a big girl now

First day of second grade, you look beautiful Alexis and I am so proud of you!!!

Over the Top

I suprised Alexis and her best buddy with the Greatest Show on Earth,and what a show it was!! We had the best seats ever and every time the ring master stepped out of the ring he would speak to the girls or grab thier toes as he walked by!!!

Hang on Loosely

As ya'll know my dad passed away last month, I just spent the last week or so in Wisconsin cleaning out his home and taking care of the business that needs to be taken care of when someone passes away, my mom passed away 10 years ago and I am the only child so the entire task fell to me. I had some incredible help with my husband and one of our employees, and Rhonda and her family-Thank You All. The hardest thing for me to grasp was after I loaded up the things I wanted to bring home, the few things that friends of my dad picked out and the things that sold in the garage sale, there still was a huge dumpster filled to overflowing of the things that my parents accumulated over the 30 years they were married. Now these were the things that were important to my parents-my moms owl collection-her knickknacks ect. I guess what I am trying to say is... the things that are so important to us..really probably wont be that important to our own children. Maybe we should hang on loosely to the material things in life because in the end... they just fill up a dumpster.

5:30 am in the airport

WHOS WATCHING WHO???

If you are a people watcher, the airport at 5:30 in the morning is the place to be. You see it all, business people,family's, couples who you know are planning to join the mile high club.... you know who they are .

The most moving thing I saw this morning was a young Chinese couple with a 2-3 yr old little boy, this little one was a cute as can be and all over the place as little ones are. I watched him for a few minutes and then looked away...all of a sudden he was crying hysterically, the couple was gone and in their place was a stewardess doing her best to calm him. My first thought was ... what kind of parents would let such a small child fly alone. Turns out this little boy was from a very small poor village in china he was here in the states to have very delicate heart surgery and the young couple were taking care of him while he was in the states, and now he was on his way home to his parents-amazing isn't it? I am back in Wisconsin trying to take care of of my parents estate- what a job 30 years of stuff to decide to keep or not keep.

A huge Thanks to Rhonda/Amy and Mark for all your help I could not have gotten through this without ya'll

Lemonade Stand update

The girls set up the stand bright and early this am 8:00 am they got up at 5:30 am and wanted to set up then ... but I calmly asked them.... and I quote " ARE YA'LL ON DOPE?" NEEDLESS TO SAY the stand opened up later... they made an additional 16.25 - which brings the grand total to 21.75 now they are considering a garage sale for the next money making adventure.

Now if we do a debit and credit balance sheet it will look something like this...

2 containers of country time pink lemonade 1.78 each

2.00 in change I fronted them

1.69 for package of cups

2 trips to McDonalds for happy meals 3.69 each

1 poster broken off of a 4 poster bed ( jumping for joy on the bed for the above 21.75)

repair estimate 106.95

I have an invested stake of 128.96 - the pure excitement and joy the two girls experienced priceless~!!

Lemonade Stand

Alexis and her friend are running a lemonade stand they have had 4 customers and one even gave them a 5.00 bill. The excitement on their faces is incredible and it reminds me that even in my time of sadness that life is good and will go on.

I haven't said much about my dad passing away... sadly he and I had not spoke for over 4 years.... we both exchanged some ugly words and they were never taken back or apologized for. This is incredibly hard for me to live with as I am an only child and I loved both of my parents dearly. I moved here to Texas several months after my mom passed away, and luckily my dad did get to see Alexis a couple of times before we had words.My father was a hard man to please but everyone loved him. A thought ya'll please don't let hard feelings and words tear you away from the people you care about, you may find yourself unexpectedly in my shoes.

I do love you dad and am so sorry that we left things the way that we did, I hope you have found mom and are finally at peace.

Sad News

I havent been blogging, my father passed away last friday night and have been back in Wisconsin, home in Texas now but will have to go back and forth at least 2 more times.

Have you seen this show yet?

It is a classic brains vs beauty thing, but yet fresh enough to keep your attention.

Update on the job front: I have not received one call from the school district, and a lot of the postings are gone. So I will try not to be too disappointed and keep looking. But I must admit its hard on the self esteem. I truly believe its time to reevaluate my life, how I do things, how I act and react. Seeing the positives in life instead of the negatives, instead of showing the middle finger when someone cuts me off in traffic-maybe just smiling and waving, giving the grocery clerk a little slack when I'm in line with 250.00 worth of food just wanting to pay and get outta there but she would rather flirt with the bag boy-maybe just smile and think to myself man if I was 30 years younger and 50 pounds lighter id be giving her a run for her money.

More patience with my daughter-just living for the moment with her after all it seems it was just yesterday her brother was this age and now look at him hes all grown up and living on his own, and now doesn't have much time for mom. Renew some spark in the marriage being sick the last year hasn't helped much and the hubby has been a real trooper. Re evaluate my relationship with God,see I believe, I have faith but its still pretty shaky-get involved more ,give more of myself.

Get out there and live life again - I have become somewhat of a recluse embarrassed of how I looked with the basketball sized hernia-its fixed now its gone get over myself and get on with living.

ok thats that

see ya'll tommorow

Look at those Legs.....The Rockettes missed out

Can you figure out who this is??
Those legs and that smile sent many a young boy on his way while we were in school.

Respect your elders-sometimes its impossible

I know the old adage "respect your elders" but when they act like this...

I pulled into a parking space this morning opened my door and stepped out at the same timeAlexis opened her door. I am standing there holding her door so she and her friend can get out.

This older man (grandpa age ) starts to pull in the space next to me sees both truck doors open hesitates for a nano second and then proceeds to literally gun it and pulls into the space he barely misses both my doors Alexis jumps back as she is half in and half out. I stand there my mouth open to my knees cant believe this is happening. The man jumps out and I say couldn't you have waited a minute? I have 2 small children I am getting out of the truck ,he says no I have three kids inside and that beats your 2 by 1.(at this point its on... you old sob) So I loudly

say.... oops I hit your car with my door so sorry... he comes running back screaming you had better not have. I shrug my shoulders and say oops. Then he says you had better watch your self you never know what could happen to your truck while your in there. Ohhh ok ASSHOLE its on now... I call local pd they will have an officer make contact with me, walk into the pool sit down at a table look up and low and behold guess whos in the pool yeppers mr asshole himself, he glares at me my phone rings it pd... I very very loudly proceed to file a report complete with description of his vehicle, plate number and describe him perfectly and let the officer know that he is glaring at me as we speak, next thing I know he jumps out of pool and disappears officer suggests I follow him and make sure hes not out in parking lot... sure enough hes out there... hes moving his vehicle clear across the parking lot. So as you can today it was very very hard to respect my elders.

Its official

Well folks its official after the hubby and I talked long and hard about the economy, the future of my business ( I detail used cars for the major Chevy dealership here in Austin) and my health we have decided its best I sell the business and go back to work in an office setting. I have many years experience and to be honest Alexis is 7 and during the school year really doesn't need me during the hours of 8-5 except of course for special things at school. I have decided to follow in my best friends(Rhonda) steps and apply with my local school district, which of course would be the ideal place to get hired, mostly the same days off as Alexis and the entire summer also. Now don't laugh ya'll it took me over a week to tweak my resume and to design a new and hip cover letter (just as I was writing it the yahoo front page had a huge article about the new black in cover letters, said that the key words like team player, goal orientated were not any good) well hell anyways... So its done the application has been filled out and resume and cover letters sent, there was 9 positions within the district I was qualified for and interested in. Pray for me ya'll god only knows if I get 9 rejection letters were my self esteem will fall ( hehehe ) not really funny.. damn scary if ya think about it its been 7 years since I worked out side the home and our 2 business's. Hell ya'll I don't even own appropriate clothing ... unless jean shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes are the new office wear. The fun thing will be if I am blessed to get one of the positions both Alexis and I will be going back to school shopping.

Is it time for to school to start yet??

Today is the day that Alexis will see her mother turn into a screaming meme right in front of her eyes. I swear the child has found every button and every last nerve. Can I have this, can I eat this, can we go here?? It has been non stop since the butt crack of dawn (5:45 am). Now please don't get me wrong I love this child with all my heart, I'm just not liking her much at this moment, she has an answer for everything, a roll of the eyes and a sigh. And I swear if the child puts her hand on her hip and tells me to get a grip one more time... (there is not a court in the world that would convict me for what I am about to do).

The best things come in the mail (just ask Alexis)

Remember this? Well it came in the mail the week I was in the hospital, I didnt get to see her open it, but daddy said she screamed and then proceeded to kick him out of the living room so that she could listen to it.

Thank you Jeani for finding the cd and sending it to Alexis!! you are a hero.

Good Morning

Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July!! Its funny how the each holiday some how means different things to different people. We spent several hours at our local celebration riding rides,eating funnel cakes,lemonade you know all the major food groups. Then went to a wonderful BBQ with good friends,again good food,good conversation and little ones every where. We headed back into town to see the fireworks and meet up with another group of friends and of course more good food (notice a pattern here?) Sadly with the major drought here in Texas and fireworks available fires sprung up every where the last couple of days.

Wednesdays only in Texas

Sigh when he turns it all on, the comforter and the sheet rise at least a foot in the air unless its strategically tucked under ones body.

Shes growing so fast

Look what Alexis learned how to do this weekend!!!! Only my daughter would pick a weekend of triple heat digits to wanna learn!! But as usual daddy was a trooper and I took the pics. I think I am starting to feel normal again, still on antibiotics 4 times a day for the next month, and infection still draining but every day gets a little better.

House of cards

This is what my life feels like right now... a carefully constructed house of cards built with time and effort but yet with no substance, the slightest breath will send it toppling down.

Lucy Im home again

Well I just got back home from another stay in the hospital, infection set in and on Friday my white cell count was 25,000. I'm home and on antibiotics and crossing my fingers the surgery holds. Feels like last summer all over again.

Lucy Im home

Hello I'm here, been home for a couple of days, miserable beyond belief, I guessing 16 incisions will do that to ya. Please don't think me rude, I have been reading everyone blogs!! I just don't seem to have the energy to write anything.

Here we go again

Well here we go again, I am off to the hospital for number 4 surgery... if ya'll have a minute say a small prayer to the big guy in the sky that all goes well.

Hot weather fun

This is how we spent our sunday what more could you ask for, good friends, hot weather,cool water. I havent been bloggin lately getting things ready for me being in the hospital and the fambly fending for them selves.

On a Mission

Hey Ya'll

I'm on a mission Alexis is collecting the KidzBop Cd's from McDonald's we have exhausted all the local McDonald's no one has cd #3 . If anyone comes across it I would be glad to pay for the Happy Meal and the postage. Now I am very aware it would be just as easy to just go to my local Walmart/Hastings ect... and just buy the KidzBop Cd's but ya'll know how kids are that just wouldn't do.

Thanks everyone!!!

Wednesdays only in Texas

I swear ya'll I dont make these up!!!

Garden Harvest

First garden harvest of the summer don't these peppers look yumo? *note the jalapenos*

Wednesdays only in Texas

Ya'll know we like our trucks here in TEXAS

Better late than never

Hello everyone,

Hope Mothers Day was wonderful for ya"ll- hubby cooked chicken on the grill, I made potato salad and all the fixins, hubbys mom and sister came over for dinner, and we just enjoyed each others company( which is very unusual cause usually the sister is pissed off at me or the hubby

Hubby surprised me with a coast trip for next week a little mini vacation before my surgery, wooohooo lots of sun sand and fishing!!! and fresh sea food for every meal. We will take the bay boat so that we can fish for some big stuff, he will wade fish but not I, there is just something not right about wading out in the ocean with a bait bucket, and a stringer of fish around my waist, to me its a shark taking a bite out of my big white hiney just waiting to happen. Whew I started this post on Monday morning and here it is Wednesday evening( can we say distracted?) lol

It seems there is never enough time in the day anymore to accomplish all the things I want to do. I have lists upon lists of things and if I am lucky I may cross off 1 or 2 things. Organization!! you say is the key!! PRIORITIZE !!! yeah right.... I can prioritize shit till I'm blue in the face , and the hubby can throw a wrench in the works at any moment. Most of the time I love the fact that we are self -employed but having him around all day sometimes makes me wanna come unglued. He finds more bullshit things for me to do,plus all these critters he brings home, they are a full days work alone. Now don't let me fool ya'll I like the critters just as much as he does.

Got definite word on my surgery it will be June 4th and a 6 hour deal ( of course I wont be aware how long it is cause they will have be knocked way the hell out) poor Alexis another summer shot to hell as I wont be able to swim, or do anything that demands any exertion or weighs over 2 pounds. Well thats about it for the last couple of days.. now I can cross off post to my blog on my list Woooooohooooo

Wednesdays only in Texas

Home Sweet Home

Well I must say.... living with another grown man (my 19 yr old son) in my home again sure makes for interesting times. I had gotten used to not shutting the door while in the bathroom/showering/changing. I now have to really remember to check things out before I sit down to use the guest bath, as normally I am the only one to use it. Food and drink disappears before my eyes. Strange people ringing the door bell, calling my cell phone because hes not answering his. Sadly ya'll he didn't learn a thing while out on his own, he may be 19 but hes still thinking like a 15 yr old. He came home with nothing but his bed and a bag of clothes, everything else was lost/stolen or pawned.

Well he did come home also about 1500 in debt and a 10 hour a week fast food job. (sigh) The saddest part is this...... there is no drug or alcohol issues its just pure laziness and thinking the world owes him. Now dont get me wrong ya'll I love my first born and he has a heart of gold and the soul of an angel.

We just cant seem to learn him any common sense or street sense. He wants to go into the military which to be honest I think would be the best thing for him!!!! He needs to lose some inches to make the requirements, and just wont take it seriously.

Alexis loves having him home!! His step dad and I well the jury's still out (laughing).

Random things

• We are hitting the 90's all ready here in Texas
• My 19 yr old has moved back home
• My surgery has been scheduled for June 4 at a different hospital almost an hour away from home
• While I was in the grocery store yesterday my husband moved my truck from where I had parked it and I came unglued because I thought it had been stolen
• We have saved over 700 box tops worth 10 cents each for Alexis school
• There are 30 more days left of school
• My newest favorite TV shows are 2 1/2 men and house
• I have found the best recipe for chicken empenadas
• I have almost convinced myself that I need to have my eyes checked and glasses are gonna happen no matter how much I deny it
• Alexis can sing LOWLIFE/ALLSUMMER LONG BY KID ROCK WORD FOR WORD

Wednesdays only in Texas

The Big Texan a must see and do when ya'll visit Texas!!

An act of kindness

I received a card and pictures and a

personal note from TANYETTA recently along with some gorgeous pictures of the one and only DJ!! This was quite a surprise as I did not realize she had my snail mail addy, and to be honest she knows I read her religiously but I didn't realize she read me often enough to see that I was hurting, what a pick me up!!!!!!!! So thank you Madam Gorgeous your act of kindness was received with great happiness and surprise!!!

with love

paula

Wednesdays only in Texas

Quiet

Ok so its obvious I havent had much to say lately, things are pretty mundane and quiet, we have some new additions here at the ranch two baby chicks and our cat has presented us with 2 new kittens. This is the month that my mom lost her battle with lung cancer 10 years ago,we were extremly close and even though it has been 10 years sometimes the hurt is as raw as the day she passed. As most of ya'll know I spent most of last summer in the hospital trying to get my basketball sized hernia repaired, between the infections, and my body rejecting the mesh it was a horrible/painful miserable time, but at least I didnt appear to be 9 months pregnant anymore. I still have a 3 by 5 inch area that is not healed that has to be bandaged at all times, well about 3 months ago my surgeon and I noticed I was starting to grow again ( the repair has become un repaired and even bigger) I am in constant pain, and even walking is becomming no fun at all. So the doc has decided to try and repair again which means hospitable/surgery/recovery 6 weeks and god forbid any complications like last time. So I have been very reclusive and to be totally honest on a pity party to end all pity parties, I AM WORKING ON PULLING MY HEAD OUT OF MY ASS AND PUTTING ON MY BIG GIRL PANTIES AND GETTING OVER IT!!!!! thats what hopefully this post will help me

Wednesdays only in Texas

Well it does get hot here

Happy Politically correct Spring(um er Easter)

I won I won

Remember this

Well the prize arrived today and its beautiful!!

Thank you Tanyetta for this contest!!

Wednesdays only in Texas

Nothing to say

Sometimes when you have nothing good to say................................Its best to say nothing at all

Wednesdays only in Texas

te

welcome to the Texas state fair thats what Big Tex says to all who visit

Meet Dottie

WEll ya'll knew it was bound to happen it has been a while since we have had any new additions to the ranch .......... meet Dottie she is a 6 day old Dorper lamb she was born 2 weeks premature and her twin brother did not make it, she weighs less than a pound and needs to be fed every 2 hours by bottle. As ususal my loving husband was sure I do not have enough to do around here and was convinced that I would welcome here with open arms and barely open eyes as the around the clock feedings commenced, yes you are reading correctly just like a new born human child every 2 hours does mean every 2 hours.

WHAT the loving hubby did forget was....... I am having major surgery again next month and the task of feeding all the critters he brings home will fall on him even the 2 hour feedings..... hehehehe.