It is Monday, after all...

Celebrating the Blogginess

So, I didn't get to coordinate these two things together, but I'm celebrating them together anyway. Because it's my blog and I'll do it my way! ha! My one year blogiversary was September 25th, but this is my 200th post. Time to answer all of those questions I asked for.



Y'all came up with some great questions. I was surprised that anyone wanted to know this much about me! I'm terrible at thinking of good questions, so I am impressed!



Off we go......



My first questioner (I totally just made up that word) was AnyMommy. If you do not read AnyMommy's blog, you should do that now. She is amazing and real and I just love her, as well as admire her.





Anyway, her question is:



What's your favorite book and why.





Now AnyMommy, can any reader ever actually answer this question with ONE book? I don't even know where to begin. I love books, love to read. My recently read favorite is I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. Another favorite is We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. An all-time favorite is The Green Mile by Stephen King. There are many movies out there that I've never seen, but I've read the book! As for why, I like books that move me and make me think, and if they make me think about them for a long time after I've finished the book, that's even better.




Speaking of making me think, Lauren has a knack for doing that on her blog. She said:




Ok I'll be bold and ask a tough question. Since you lost 100lbs what happens to the skin? Does it bounce back or is it a problem for you?



Oh, the dreaded skin. It's basically a crapshoot. Some people have more elasticity than others. I think I'm in the mid-range. I have some sagging skin, but it's not that bad. Also, it does tend to firm up in time, and I'm already noticing a difference.






Tracy from Priceless Journey asked:



If you could travel anywhere-where would you go and why? What has been the favorite place you have traveled to thus far and why? Rnadom but I love to travel-so thought others might too.

I LOVE to travel! Our dream when we retire is to get a motor home and travel all over the US.

If I could go anywhere right now, it would be England. My in-laws are from England and they have told me all about it and I've seen the most amazing pictures. I'd love to visit, and meet the part of J's family that still lives across the pond.




My favorite place we've travelled to is the Bahamas. Last year, we cruised to Freeport & Nassau. It was amazing, and I got to snorkel for the first time. We truly loved it!



Little Grumpy Angel asked:
what do you consider your greatest weakeness and how is your progress in overcoming it.



My greatest weakness is letting what other people say or think bug me. I used to be really bad about this, but not any more. I have to actively pay attention to my thinking, and when my thoughts drift into that mode, I intentionally pull them to a positive track.



Feener from MommyVents asked:




i see the cure chiari ribbon, what is that all about and are you touched by in personally




My son has Chiari, so this is definitely very personal for me. I told his Chiari story in five posts, which you can see here.




Kel from Cafe Kel says:



So my question is - based on your experiences, divorce, weight loss, love, life ... what is one thing that you've learned that you feel is a piece of advice we all should know?

There are many things, but to choose just one...don't take things too seriously. ENJOY life. Live, laugh, love!

Wep of WepRuminations inquired:

With the divorce, how did you it was time to stop trying to fix things?

When he had an affair. That, my friends, is a deal-breaker! Which brings me to the next question.....




Jill from Caffeine Court asked:



Okay, I'm nosy. Why did you get a divorce?




To fully answer this would take up at least a whole post, and who wants to post about that? lol I had a really terrible marriage. Abuse, drinking, the whole nine yards. I almost left several times, but I was scared and dumb. Finally, he met someone else. I found out, and everything hit the fan. Long story short, that was what ended the marriage, and I will forever be grateful for that!



MamaHut said:





OK my skinny little friend...am I crazy or did you take pictures of you and the kids off of your blog.



I don't think I had any permanent pics of me & the kids. Maybe my profile pic was of myself & the Princess a while back? Many of my posts have pics of me and the kids, though.





I think Adrian from Adrian's Crazy Life asked a great question.

I've seen some pretty strange posts lately - basically stuff I didn't really want to know about people and their personal lives. How do you decide where to draw the line on what to share on your blog and what not to?
Also, Mrs Bear asked something similiar: Are there any topics you've found that are off limits when you're blogging?

This is such a good question and definitely varies greatly from blogger to blogger. I have read some posts that absolutely floored me. TMI, people!
I will not blog about my sex life. I may make a cutesie reference to alone time, but that's it. It's just out of my comfort zone. I don't say much about issues with my family (meaning parents, siblings, etc). For one, things are going well now so I don't have much to say, but also, the internet is a big place and I wouldn't want any family members to stumble onto anything. I would never post anything extremely personal about my kids, because that violates their privacy. And I don't like to post a whole lot about my past with my ex, because for one, there's no point in stirring up all that negative energy, and also, his wife reads my blog (NOT by invitation!).
So basically, for me, I just have to stay within my own comfort zone.

My local friend, Irregular Tammie, asked:

1. Where do you get the dogs that you foster? Do they come from animal shelters? How did you get started doing this? I really know nothing about this topic so feel free to talk to me like I'm retarded.

Totally not retarded! Our dogs come from shelters all over Florida, South Georgia, and in some cases like big puppy mills being shut down, they can come from all over the US. We very rarely take in owner surrenders directly. We let our local shelters know to call us when they take in dachshunds. J and I really wanted to do something to help out the rescues and didn't really know where to start. We were helping a local rescue group some, but we didn't feel very welcome or needed. I did a google search for Florida rescue groups, found DARE, emailed them, and here we are! You should come visit us at Petco next Sunday.

2. About your weight loss: Are you worried that when you get to your goal weight(if you're not there already) that maybe you won't be happy? {I hope that question isn't too personal.} I'm just curious because as a teenager I was chubby and I kept thinking "my life will be better when I get thinner." As i grew up and got thinner, life was basically the same. Of course that was a long time ago and a teenager is a lot different than a gal in her thirties but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

I think if I'd done this at a different time in my life, that would've been a problem for me. When I wasn't happy at all with my life, I was sure if I just lost weight, everything would suddenly become wonderful. But at this point in my life, everything else is wonderful. My weight was the only negative, and it was holding me back. So, this is just something I did for my health and for myself, but not in some quest for elusive happiness.

3. What do you do to teach your kids about healthy eating and body image? Again I ask this personal question because it's something I think about often as well. I know that I eat (and want to eat) when stressed, but I know this is unhealthy and don't want to pass this behaviour onto my kids. Yet at the same time I want them to enjoy food and be happy with their bodies, no matter what they look like. It's a balance. How do you strike this balance? Has it gotten easier since the weight loss?

I wish I had an answer for this, and it's actually gotten harder since the weight loss. The kids see me looking at labels and avoiding certain things, and they pick up on that. Especially the youngest, who shouldn't be worrying at seven years old! I was a big-time stress eater and I think I may have already passed that on to my preteen daughter. I am trying hard to reverse any damage I've done, and I really stress healthy eating and everything in moderation. Moderation is a big part of my life now.

John Deere Mom wants to know:

If you had to live on one food only for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Which movie can you recite the most lines from?
Granny panty or thong?



That first one is hard! I think I'd have to say pickles. I have a strange obsession with them and I don't think I'd ever get tired of them!
Movies lines, definitely Forrest Gump. I love, love, love that movie, and my kids can quote the lines too. Second place would be Toy Story.
As for the last question, somewhere in between. I wouldn't call them Granny panties but I do NOT wear butt floss! :P




Semi-Slacker Mom asked:



Are you planning on getting any surgery done when you reach your goal weight? I definity am! 3 babies did a number on my tummy!



Right now I'm undecided. It's a wait and see thing at this point.



Groovy Mom over at Don't Forget to Flush posed this question:




If you could sell your house, all your belongings, and start over with your family somewhere else, where would it be, and what would your life look like?

This is a hard one, because I'm not very well-traveled so I have a limited knowledge of what's out there. Honestly, I love where we are moving to, it's like a dream come true. But my first choice for relocation would be St Augustine, Florida. I love that town and feel a sensation of peace when I am there. After that, I'd choose England. I haven't been there yet, but J's relatives are all from England and I've heard so many stories & seen beautiful pictures. Third choice is California because everyone I've talked who has lived there loved it, and they say it doesn't get HOT like it does here! As for what it would look like, honestly, much the same.

Melissa asked:

Why did you start blogging in the first place?

An online friend of mine mentioned having a blog. I had read a few blogs off and on, but didn't really 'get it' at that time. But I started reading my friend's blog and venturing around the blogosphere, and I was hooked. I knew I had to be a part of it all!

From ABun'sLife:

Do you feel like your whole family has benefited from your weight loss journey?

Most definitely!

Do you feel like you will have to have further surgery to remove excess skin or has it gone back pretty well?

I'm hoping not to need further surgery.

How many dogs will your hubby allow you to keep as your own if your heart feels like they should be yours? :)

We have an agreement about this. The first time we adopted a foster, it was because HE was the one who fell in love! I was determined not to keep this dog; he was young, adorable, and definitely would be snatched up quickly. But he and hubby totally bonded. So, finally I said we could keep him...IF I could foster and/or adopt as many dogs as I wanted, with whatever issues they might have (I'm a sucker for one-eyed, 3 legged decrepit animals). I don't go crazy with this power (heh heh). The funny thing is, when I first tell him we're getting another foster in, he doesn't say anything but he gives me this look like "Another one?" Then once he meets the dog, he falls in love and is ready to keep it forever. He's already telling me how hard it's going to be to give up our newest foster. He's such a softie!

Momisodes asked:

If you had the chance to go back and "redo" 1 thing from your past, would you do things differently? If so, what would it be and why?

I wish I could've met my current husband before I met my former husband! But, I think life was supposed to work out this way. I had to endure all that crap to appreciate what I have now.

From Kelly, my fellow Gator fan:

What was your breaking point before the weight loss surgery?

Just the usual stuff, mostly. Tired of being overweight, tired of losing weight only to gain it back. Fear of diabetes (it's in my family) & the possible limb loss that sometimes occurs with that really freaks me out.
Tired of buying cute outfits that looked like crap when I put it on! Tired of back pain & other medical issues. I was scared for my health.

What was your heaviest weight?

253 lbs!

Can you post before and after pictures?

This picture was taken last Halloween.








And this was taken just last weekend:

From Tinabean:





What is your favorite song & why?


This is another thing I can never pick just 'one' of. I have so many songs that I really love, from almost every genre of music! Some of my favorites are our wedding songs; God Blessed the Broken Road by Rascall Flatts, Amazed by Lonestar, Me & You by Kenny Chesney, Everything I Do by Bryan Adams....





Who is your go to person when things start to overwhelm you?


Definitely my husband. He is truly my best friend, and he can always calm me down. He knows just what to say and do to make things better. We are 2 peas in a pod, we are so perfect together!


Where was your best vacation & why?


Definitely our trip to the Bahamas. I didn't even have any burning desire to go, but my Mother-in-law (along with J's aunt & grandmother) decided to send us on an all-expense-paid cruise as a Christmas present. It ended up being one of the best times of my life! Snorkeling was like a dream come true, and it was just so romantic and relaxing.


What was the breaking point that made you decide to loose the weight?


see above =)


What is your favorite comfort food?


Chicken & dumplings, although I haven't had them since surgery. And of course, chocolate!





Robin says:


My question:


If someone cuts you off on the road, what would do?


a) Flip them off


b) yell loud obscenties in your car


c) take a deep breath and let it go


d) all of the above

My answer is actually b & c. I yell and call them names, then I let it go and forget all about it.







WHEW! That was harder than I expected! I hope this wasn't too terribly boring. Thank you for all of the support you have all given me.
And I hope y'all are all still around for my 300th post! :o)

Friday Fragments

Courtesy of Half Past Kissin' Time
It's that time of the week again. It's Friday, and I have Fragments!
TGIF, for real.

Fragment Numero Uno:
A Disclaimer. I wanted to make it clear that my dream house and your dream house are probably very different houses. I have simple wants and desires. So, my new house is not some amazing home from a magazine! It's just my dream for my family. My realistic dream, even, not my "we just won the lottery and are having a house custom built", dream.

Fragment Numero Dos:
I have joined the ranks of you caffeine-crazed coffee drinkers. I have no choice! Falling asleep at a red light on your way home from work? Not a good idea. And it scares the crap out of you, just so ya know. So, coffee is my new friend. Just a little, and with the coffee taste killed as much as possible. Blech! French Vanilla Coffee Mate is my new best friend.

Fragment Numero Tres:
*This just in!* I hate when people come and read over my shoulder and ask what I'm reading or who the people are in the pictures and what's a blog? And why do you read them? Find something to do peeps, something that does NOT involve ME!

Fragment Numero Cuatro:
I don't post about politics, and I never will. But I totally support those who do. However, strongly implying that your candidate is the obvious choice and anyone who sees it differently is a moron....is a great way to lose readers and alienate friends. I'm just sayin'.

Fragment Numero Cinco:
I started Twilight. It better be as good as everyone says it is! I have high expectations, people.

Fragment Numero Seis:
Text message conversation between myself and Ladybug, my Preteen, from yesterday morning. It amused me, so I thought I'd share.
(Background: Ladybug's phone has been giving her some troubles. She texted me from school this morning, I was still at work.)
Ladybug: i hate my phone im gonna kill it
Me: I dont recommend doing that
Ladybug: Can we get me a new one
Me: Sometime
Ladybug: Like after we move
Me: (getting slightly annoyed) We'll see. Shut it off and go learn something.
Ladybug: School hasn't started
Me: Then read a book!!
Ladybug: I dont want to
Me: I dont want to buy you a phone. Ya like how that works?
Ladybug: (7 minutes later) Im reading a book

Yeah, I thought so.
Hope y'all are having a great Friday!

10 Things I Believe In

This is my first time being able to participate in Mama Kat's Writing Assignment. I'm very pleased to be able to do it, finally!
If you have never visited Mama Kat, you are missing out. She is smart, funny, real, beautiful, the whole 9 yards. She has it going on! I love that attention craving poodle.
She's also having a giveaway right now that you should really check out. But if you enter, could you please do it in MY name? I really need a vacuum right now! K thanx bai.
So, for the writing assignment, I chose to list 10 things I believe in. These are scattered and unrelated things, but things that I truly do believe in.

1. Number one has to be Karma. Whatever you choose to call it, I'm a firm believer that what goes around really does come around.
2. Love. I had my doubts at some points in my life, whether or not true love really existed. I have no more doubts. (now I have that Dixie Chicks song in my head. "I believe in love. Love that's real, love that's strong, love that lives, on and on......")
3. Telling your kids NO. Why are some people afraid to set boundaries or say the dreaded "N-O" word to their children? They are doing their children and the world NO favors with this mentality. And it drives.me.crazy.!
4. The Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." It's the number one thing I try to teach my children. I'm not saying I always follow it! But I think it's the ultimate rule to live by.
5. Helping out your fellow man, and those who can't help themselves. Be that children, animals, the elderly, adults who have fallen on hard times....etc.
6. Spaying & neutering, and being a responsible pet owner. This means taking care of your pet in all ways. This does not mean expecting your pet to act & reason like a human. It is OUR job as pet owners to protect them. We take on that responsibility when we take that animal into our home. Please, take it seriously.
7. Fun. Laughter. Enjoying the company of your family & friends. Living life to the fullest, not sitting idly back and watching it pass me by!
8. "You teach people how to treat you." -Dr Phil Whether you like him, love him, or hate him, this quote, in my opinion, is right on. You have to set boundaries with people in your life. Even if it means losing them, that's better than allowing yourself to be treated terribly. Another big thing I try to teach my kids. I had to live & learn.
9. Live & let live. Judge not. And "before you point your finger,make sure your hands are clean." -Bob Marley
10. I believe that this blogosphere is an amazing place. The fact that so many people take time out of their day to read my posts, then leave a comment of support, to wish me well, to commisserate, to laugh......it thrills me to no end. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. When I'm really PMSing, it makes me get choked up. Seriously, blogging is truly amazing. Thank you all for being my friends!

If this is a dream, do NOT wake me up!

First of all, I am NOT pregnant, and those of you who thought/suggested/implied/wished I was....I sent those vibes right back to you! This baby-making operation is Closed.Down.!

Now, on to my story. I'm going to give you some background first.
Once upon a time......
No.
It was a dark and stormy night....
Nah, that's not right either.
Seriously. Back in my Former Life with my ExHusband, we lived in a small, quaint, friendly little town. I loved living there, and only moved because once we seperated, I needed to be closer to my family. I was only a town away, but convenience was important to a brand-new single mom who also needed to save every penny possible. So, I moved back to the bigger town I was from. But I always planned to move back to Small Town. And at the end of last year, we did. We finally reached that goal, and it was good.
Our house was small, but we were happy. We originally were going to buy it, but thankfully decided to rent for a year first. Now that year is up, and I have no regrets about moving to this house because it got us back to Small Town, where the schools are wonderful and J and I and the kids are very happy. But, we realized this house is not somewhere we want to be forever.
Just on a whim, the other day, I was driving through the neighborhood in the historic district of my town. There are huge, rambling 2-story houses with wrap around porches and beautiful architecture. The yards are big and the neighborhood is wonderful. The town Recreational Center is right 'round the corner. For many, many years, this has been my Dream Neighborhood.
And then I saw it...a "For Rent" sign.
So, I found the house and checked it out. The house was empty, so I walked around looking in the windows, all stalker-like. I walked around the back yard. I quickly came to the conclusion that this was My Dream House, in My Dream Neighborhood. It's a one story house built in the 1950's. The yard is huge, with plants and flowers growing everywhere. The house is big, with large rooms and lots of cabinets and closets and things they just don't put in newer houses. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, and a bonus room. It.was.perfect. So naturally, I assumed it would be out of our price range, or about to explode, or something.
My friends.....it is neither. So the next question was, is it a rental only, or would purchasing be an option?
I'm going to be honest here. Our credit is not perfect. We both came into this marriage with flawed credit from our Past Lives. We're working on it, but it takes time.
So when the owner said that she was looking to rent with an option to purchase, and owner finance it....um, hello?! I nearly fainted.
We can rent it until we're ready to put a down payment on it (hopefully soon), then we'll make payments directly to the owner for five years. Then we'll get our own mortgage.
And it's in our price range. And it's unbelievably amazingly a dream come true!
We're going to live in a house with more space then we'll know what to do with.
We'll have a dishwasher! And a laundry room (no more laundromat, do you hear the angels singing??)! And a wonderful, kid-friendly neighborhood. Walking distance to our beautiful Historic Downtown "Business" District, with a beautiful tree-lined Main Street and sweet little shops and restaurants. Bliss.
I can't even express how elated we all are. It all happened so fast that I wanted to pinch myself!
So, we're packing and cleaning and all of that fun stuff. OK, mostly J is. He LOVES to pack! Can you say weirdo?
Our official move-in date is October 1st. Please don't feel neglected if I don't get to comment as much as usual; I'm just moving into my Dream House, that's all!

A Search is a Search, No Matter How Weird.

I've never done one of these posts before, but upon looking at my google analytics tonight, I decided it was high time.
These are real searches that led people to my blog.


"stories of light shining through the clouds"
I get this. I did a post with a similar title. I liked that post, too.

a person's a person no matter how small
This is definitely from my reference to Horton Hears a Who, and I get searches on this one more than anything else.

dysfunctional people in my life
Yep, I have some of those!

fun back in dysfunctional napkins
Napkins? Seriously? Hmmm.

i am indifferent to my husband
That's sad. I'm not. But I think this came from a post about Fighting Indifference?

judgmental dysfunctional mother
No.Comment.

no turd burglars
All I can do is giggle! Yes, I posted about this, go read it if you want to giggle too.

pee princess
Um, yeah, guilty. I posted about this too. I didn't realize I posted so much potty humor! And it hasn't ended; just today she was singing and nearly peeing herself. When will she learn to pee before dismissal??

sop meat juice
I just don't know what to say. I'm pretty positive I've never posted about meat juice, and I don't even know what 'sop' is. But it sounds disgusting!

tickling my funny bones
Oh, I really enjoyed this post, and if you missed it the first time around, I hope you'll check it out this time. You'll be glad you did!

We're very busy right now, but I promise I'm not neglecting your blogs on purpose. I have some big news to share, too. Great news!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta ~ Found!

"I'm in some weird house filled with dogs and strange people. Send help!"

"What is this place? Dogs Anonymous?"


"I told you we should've stayed in the yard!"

"Um, you're the one who wanted to go run in the highway!"


On Sunday night, my niece was on her way to my house. She called me and told me she had found two chihuhuas running in the highway. "What should I do with them?" she asked. Before I knew it, the words flew out of my mouth: "Bring them to me!"

This should not come as a surprise to anyone who has read my blog for more than 2.5 seconds. But, I was on a mission to get these puppies home. They looked as though they were well cared for, and I just knew that someone out there was missing them. We fed them and gave them a cozy place to sleep, and then I got in the internet. I posted ads on craigslist and our local paper, and got advice from my rescue group. We put up signs near where the dogs were found. I even asked for contacts for chihuahua rescues, just in case I couldn't find their owners. No more dogs for me!

They are so cute, though! The girl is white with black specks, and the boy is chocolate brown.

Very well-behaved doggies, too.

Finally, late on Tuesday night, the call came in. "I'm so sorry to call this late, but I just saw your ad in the paper. Our two chihuahuas are missing and my son is heartbroken!" She described our houseguests to a "T". Her husband had accidentally left the gate open.

So, on Wednesday, the dogs were returned to their happy owners and their very relieved Little Boy.

And all was right with the world!

~The End~

*Don't forget to check out my new rescue blog, daretorescue.blogspot.com!*
~We're going camping this weekend. Peace out!~

I'm Charmed with the Proximidade! Or something.

I was given this sweet award by JoJo of A Mom's World of Madness and Blessings.

I had no idea what it meant, so I went looking and this is what I found.



This blog invests and believes, the proximity. [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]. They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate?



I'm still a little confused, but I'm pretty sure it's a good thing and it's a really pretty award! Thanks, JoJo!



She also tagged me for this Meme, so here I go!



1. Where were you 10 years ago?
September 1998, I had a 5 year old and 2½ year old. I was staying at home and had a small home day care. Little did I know how much my life would change in the next ten years!



2. What is on today's To Do List?
Court with the ex at 9:30. Good times! Then I'll sleep until it's time to pick up the girls. Then it's dinner and relaxing until time to go to work at 11pm.



3. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
I'd find someone very smart to manage my money, first of all! Then I'd make sure my kids' college education was paid for. We'd get new vehicles for sure. Depending on where we lived, maybe we'd buy another house, who knows. And of course, donate, donate, donate! To all of my favorite charities. I'd take care of my family and close friends. Volunteer more. Spoil my kids more!



4. Name 5 places you have lived:- Well, I've lived in several different places in Gainesville, FL, and in several small towns outside of Gainesville, FL. I've never wandered far.



5. Name 3 of your bad habits:- Being sarcastic, procrastinating, and feeding the dogs whatever I'm eating.



6. What are your favorite snacks? cheese & crackers, fruit, sunflower seeds, veggies & dip, nuts...



7. Who will you tag for this meme? I hate to be a party-pooper but I'm not going to tag anyone, because so many people hate to be tagged. (why is that? memes are fun, people!) Anyway, if anyone wants to do this, consider yourself TAGGED!! ;o)

Spa Day & Pics

Spa Day was absolute bliss. I'd never been to this salon before, but I chose it because it was an all-in-one salon where I could get everything done. I'm SO glad I found this place! Love the hair stylist, love the nail tech. Loved everything about it, including the price!
It was so relaxing and felt great to be pampered. The stylist did a great job on my hair. She actually listened and understood what I wanted, and was able to do exactly what I asked for! When she was done, she took pictures of me for her website. I'm a model! HA!
And, the nail tech is like, totally my new BFF. We have so much in common, and we found out through talking that my Ladybug and her daughter are very good friends!
I am thrilled to have an awesome stylist & nail tech in the same place who are fun to talk to and are very skilled at what they do.
Now I'll do a before & after:

BEFORE: (taken in July)

AFTER:

and a close-up of the highlights:

I likeeeeeeeeee!

I wanna talk about ME!

I am 9 posts away from my 200th post, and 11 days away from my one year blogiversary!
(I'm hoping I can make them coincide, but I'm really not that coordinated or organized....)
Anyhoo!
In honor of this momentous occasion, I'd like to invite you all to ask me questions.
I am pretty much boring an open book, so ask me anything. About my weight loss surgery, job, kids, husband, divorce, dogs, etc. Serious, funny, philosophical. Whatever you want to know, lay it on me! (just don't ask me about your kids' math homework, because I.do.not.know. Me + Math = Suck.)
I want lots of questions, people, so get busy. I'm terrible at thinking of questions to ask other bloggers, but I sure hope y'all are better at it than me!
And maybe just maybe....there will be a giveaway involved!

Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments are bits and pieces of your week that are usually brief; too short for a stand-alone post, but too good to discard. Collect humorous observations, "Heard" items, and other small gems and put them together in a Friday Fragments post.
Courtesy of Mrs.4444.

* I have a new blog for the rescue group. It's still in the beginning stages, but if you would visit, blogroll it, spread the word, and just generally help me pimp out the dawgz, I would be forever in your debt!

* Our annual Gator Walk for March of Dimes is in November. We do this every year in honor of Dysfunctional Dad's firtborn son, Baby JW, who died from complications of prematurity. So, it's fundraising time! For the next 2 months I will be annoying you with requests for donations to this wonderful cause. (and if anyone can teach me how to make a 'sticky' on the bottom of each post during this time....that would ROCK.)

* If I'm blogging from home, there is a dog in my lap, always. My sweet old girl, Suzie, comes tottering up as soon as I sit down in front of the computer. She puts her front paws on the chair and just looks at me until I pick her up. She doesn't whine or anything, she just looks at me. I pick her up, and she immediately falls asleep in my lap. And there she stays until I get up. She is fourteen years old and those of you who have been reading here for a while may remember that she was a foster who I couldn't let go of. She's such a sweet, sweet thing.

* I am coming up on my 200th post, and my one year blogiversary! What shall I do? I need to plan something exciting......

* Spa Day is tomorrow. Friends, I am so excited! A day for me. Lovely!

* My puppy picture did not win the contest I entered, and I am so offended. The winners were not nearly as cute as my picture is! As if.

* I am so glad Autumn is nearing. Sure, it'll still be hot here until late October. But I love the fall festivals, fall decorations, and everything that is Autumn. Love it!

* I got 47 comments on my last post and I cannot describe how much that THRILLS me. It's mind-blowing to know that 47 people read my disjointed thoughts and are kind enough to leave me their thoughts in return! I truly appreciate you all! xoxo



Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Drip, Pant, Swoon

Sounds like maybe I've just been looking at a Playgirl magazine, right?
Wrong.
J had the day off today, and he got this great idea.
See, in the evenings, we've been taking these lovely walks to the quaint downtown area of our little town, strolling along and really enjoying ourselves.
So today he said, "We should walk to pick the girls up from school instead of driving!" I considered it, and decided I was game. Exercise is good, the schools aren't that much further than the downtown area. Sounded great!
Yeah, it wasn't great. Not at all.
Because the one thing I failed to take into consideration is that our other walks have been in the evenings, when the temperature has started dropping, as well as the sun.
The girls get out of school in mid-afternoon, when the temps are high and so is the sun.
I took my trusty bottle of water and wore my stupid flip-flops because we all know it's more important to be cute than comfortable, no?
The walk to the first school wasn't that bad. We talked, we laughed. J and I always make each other laugh but for the last few days, we've really been on a roll, absolutely cracking each other up. It was fun! But it was hot. And before we even got to the first school, I was getting blisters. (picture my pouty face right here.)
Now you may notice I said "the first school". The girls attend 2 different schools, elementary and middle, which are in opposite directions from our home. This meant that after retracing our steps to the first school, we still had to go all the way down to the middle school.
It was hot. I had blisters.
It sucked.
The Princess thought it was a great adventure, until she decided she had to go potty.
Woops. We didn't plan for that.
So, we stopped at a gas station and by this time, the Ladybug's school was getting out. I texted her: "Start walking home."
So she did, happily texting me as I was dying of a heat stroke. At one point, she called me. I didn't answer but texted her back: "Hot as hell. In no mood to talk." She texted back: "Oooookay."
After we left the gas station, the Misting Fan of Heaven came on and the Shades of Glory were drawn. Clouds and sprinkling rain; it was heavenly! The good Lord heard my prayers and took mercy on my poor sweaty soul.
Ladybug actually beat us home.
Me to J: "I will NEVER do this again on purpose."

Drum Roll Please!

As of today, I have officially lost............

100 pounds!

::::happy dance::::

And I have to share with you what my stepson said to me this weekend. He hadn't seen me in a while and the last time he saw me, the weight loss wasn't as dramatic as it was this time. So after a while he looked at me and said, "You look shorter." And I said, "Shorter? Really?" And he said "Well......what do you call it when you do like this?"

And he spread his arms waaaaaay out as far as they would go, and then pulled them in about a foot apart!!

Hilarious! Best weight loss compliment ever.

Advice from the DysFUNctional Family

When you plan a party at a park, and the plan is to grill hot dogs on the park grills.........
take a little drive by the park before the Party Day, and make sure they haven't removed the @#$% *&$#@ grills!!!!
It's all good, though. We ate dessert first, had our party, and had fun! Then we ate our hot dogs at home. A good time was had by all.

Our sweet pirate a.k.a. Spiderman.

The Princess & the Spiderman.

9 candles on the Pirates of the Caribbean Cupcake Cake.

Silly string fun!

I just have one thing to say...

GO GATORS!!!!!!

Make that 2 things......I'm really behind on reading blogs but I do plan to catch up...soon!

Friday Fragments

Today's post is my first Friday Fragments post. As Mrs4444 from Half Past Kissin' Time explains: "Friday Fragments are bits and pieces of your week that are usually brief; too short for a stand-alone post, but too good to discard."
I like the concept; when you just have a few things to blog about and want to condense it into one post, this is just perfect!

So, here are my Fragments for today.

1. The Princess's teacher asked me to be the Homeroom Mom. I haven't done much school volunteering since I went back to work full-time, but I'm going to give it a go. I did so much volunteering when the older two were in school, and I want Elayna to have that experience too. Hopefully I won't fall asleep on the job!

2. Today I'm helping out with a Radiothon for the Children's Miracle Network. I'll either be answering phones or helping to sell t-shirts & things. It should be fun. Again...

hopefully I won't fall asleep on the job!

3. I totally fell asleep on the job today. Not my paying job, my mommy job. I missed my alarm and slept right through time to pick up the girls from school! The school called me about 20 minutes after pick-up time. I felt terrible and flew to the school, thinking the Princess would be worried and crying. Nope, she was sitting in the office with the other Children of Late Parents, watching Spongebob!

4. We have a Fun Family weekend planned, including a birthday party for my stepson, Spiderman, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm also really hoping Ike stays away so we can have the party at the park, as planned!

5. Tonight has been THE busiest night I have ever had at work. Totally exhausting but actually a really good night!

My Bucket List

I saw this meme over at Cafe Kel. It looked like fun, so I decided to play along.

If any of you have seen (or heard of) the movie it's pretty self explanatory. I need to write out 8 things I want to do before I "kick the bucket."

My first thoughts are about raising great children & helping lots of animals, but this is truly about ME so I'm going to do a purely selfish Bucket List.

*ETA* I thought of a couple more things to add, and I decided I will make this a work in progress and add to it when I think of new things. Also, if I do manage to accomplish any of these, I'll be sure to let y'all know!*

1. visit England (& I could name many other countries too but that's #1).
   
2. buy an RV and travel the United States.
   
3. have a HUGE family reunion with all of the family members that I don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like.
   
4. own a vintage restored Mustang.
   
5. make a difference in as many lives as possible.
   
6. read every book I've ever wanted to read.
   
7. go diving (I'm too afraid, but maybe if I were facing death anyway....).
   
8. renew our vows on the beach.
9. go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
10. meet all of the amazing, wonderful friends I've made over the internet throughout the years.

I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to grab this thought-provoking meme!

*Check out my post over here also!

Ladies, this is not pretty.

Seriously.

I was in Target on Monday and walked into a bathroom stall. Lo and behold, what do I see?
This.

Go ahead, let's all say it together:
"EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!"
I might expect to see that in a men's bathroom if I were to ever venture into that Great Unknown. And when my T-bone was little, it wouldn't have surprised me to see it at home.

But in a ladies' room? Come on ladies. We are not supposed to sprinkle when we tinkle! We should NOT pizzle on the sizzle! And IF we have a little mishap while hovering, for the love of sweet baby Jesus, please, please wipe it. Do not defile the ladies' room with your golden shower droplets!

I've actually seen this a lot lately and frankly, it disturbs me. Why are women dripping all over the place? It's just not normal, and ladies, it is NOT pretty.

No more pizzle on the sizzle!

My First Political Post

I usually don't discuss politics on my blog.
That's just not what I'm about.
But in light of recent events, I just have to speak out about the candidate I am favoring. I've invited this candidate to my state as part of their On the Road campaign, and I hope you will do the same.
The candidates I am backing are......

Hallie & the Sock Monkey.
That's right folks, Hallie and Mr Sock Monkey are running for the Big Ticket. And you can help them out by inviting them to come to your state to speak, er, blog! Read all about it here.

And another thing I need to inform you about (because as US Citizens, we need to stay informed!), is an awesome jewelery giveaway at SeVeN cLoWn CiRcUs. It's a Twisted Silver Giveaway and their stuff is funky and beautiful.
Check it out, and have a great noLabor Day!