My Thoughts on the BP Spill

As a resident of the Gulf Coast I am sadden by the oil spill that took place in April and the fact that the spill is still continuing to leak out oil.  It has been a month since that tragic day where 11 employees lost their lives on the oil rig.  A month that BP has had to clean up the mess.  I am tired of reading whose fault it is.  I don't really give a damn whose fault it is.  All I want it to people to join together and fix the problem.  We have some brillant brains in the companies in question and they would quit their bickering for a second and use their brains and come up with a solution instead of trying to put the blame on each other maybe there would had been a solution to the problem. 

At the moment most people in the US are not directly affected by the oil spill but those who live near the coast are.  Many of us not only live near the coast but we fish for our daily food.  There are commercial fishermen along with the sportman fisherman.  Now before anyone starts to send hate mail to me you need to understand that those sportsman fisherman also bring home food to their families.  We are a family of five and the fish that my husband used to catch would feed us throughout the summer and winter.  That allowed us to be able to spend less at the grocery store which in this economy is a good thing.  Now since our fish supply is running low since he has not been able to fish I am not sure what we are going to do.  Food stamps are out of the question because you basically have to be not working in order to get those.  With our three jobs we don't qualify.  Also BP says that they are offering jobs to the people who live near the coast and are affected by their giant mess.  Well that is great but how come is that I have send in my resume, get a letter promising a position, have a phone call and then return the phone call and leave 20 + messages on voice mail for the person to call me back and they don't even have the decency to call me back and at least let me know that they filled the position.  It is like they are even leaving the ones that are hoping for employment hanging.  Just like they are leaving the public hanging on what is really going on.  So yes I have reason to mistrust what BP and the goverment is saying about the spill.  They have gave me reason. 

Not only is the spill affecting the lively hood of many on the coast but it is affecting our way of life.  Many of us choose to live here despite the hurricanes.  We love it down here.  Hurricanes we can take but a darn oil spill that BP doesn't seem to be able to clean up is not taken likely. 

What is going to happen next?

Why does it seem like when it rains it pours at my house?  The first episode was when I slipped in our wonderful Walmart and twisted my ankle.  A couple days later David had a heart cath which luckily turned out to be positive and nothing was wrong.  Everything look just like it did when they put the stent in back during 2006.  Has it been that long?  Sunday Gwendolyn broke out in hives.  I thought it was from the latex balloons that she got into at the birthday party but it turns out that she has staph.  More than likely it is MRSA.  We seem to always have a case go through the house around this time of year.

Fast forward to last night.  I get off around 7pm and go to pick Gwendolyn up from my mom with the rest of her siblings.  She is complaining of her leg hurting but honestly I did not pay much attention to her because she is a drama queen.  I know.  I feel bad now that I didn't pay attention to her.  Well after catching a glimpse of her leg and realizing that it was swollen and red with a bull's eye around the sore I realized that it was bad.  Quickly I found a washcloth and heated up in the microwave in order to put a warm compress on her leg.  She squeal and jumped in place but finally let me put the compress on the injure spot.  I know it had to hurt.  Next I gave her some tynelol to help with pain.

She slept through the night but I didn't.  Staph in our house means that everyone is going to get it more than likely.  This morning she got up and the bump had busted and it was oozing pus.  Lots of pus.  Yes I know that is disgusting but it is the truth.  Not something you want to see before you have had that morning cup of coffee.  At that moment I knew we were going to make a trip to the pediatrician.

Update on Gwendolyn:
She appears to have Staph but we do not know if it is MRSA.  I am waiting for the doctor to call.  They put her on heavy dose of antibotics and ointment. 

Disaster awaits the Gulf Coast

Growing up along the Gulf Coast many times we take for granted what we have here until something threatens our way of life.  Hurricanes and tropical storms come and go but oil spills the magnitude of the GOM spill of 2010 is unheard of around my hometown.  We know the damage it could cause but is enough being done to prevent it?  I know they are trying but the efforts could not withstand mother nature this weekend.

The seas from the Gulf of Mexico flowed right over the buoys that were put up to protect the Alabama Gulf Coast.  According to news reports along the Gulf Coast many of these buoys broke apart and are either on the beaches or lost forever.  In Orange Beach, AL some of the buoys had broken apart and were on the beaches.

The buoy that was placed to the entrance of Weeks Bay which is close to where my house is located is missing.  For those who don't much about Mobile Bay and the Bays that surround it do a little research and you will find some interesting information on this area.  Mobile Bay is home to a phenomen called Jubliees.  There is only two or three places in the world that this phenomen occurs.  If the oil enters the bays not only wildlife and marine life is going to be effected by the very lives of many people  are going to be changed forever. 

So yesterday we made a trip to the Coastal area of Alabama.  A place that I have called home for 40 years.  I can't even begin to describe my love for this area except that I talked my husband into moving down here in 2001 with our daughter.  Of course it did not take much to talk my husband into coming South.  All I had to mention was fishing, scuba diving, and enjoying the ocean every day and the rest is history. 

The dangers of the oil spill is lurking all over the Coastal States that surround the Gulf of Mexico.  It is sad to think that in a couple of days that our beautiful beaches will be covered in oil.  The Gulf will become a Dead Zone for marine life, and the estuaries that surround the coastal bays will be in dangers. 

Serious Matter on our Hands this weekend with the Gulf of Mexico Spill

Before I go on my rant I want to remember the people who lost their lives on this oil rig.  My prayers and thoughts are and have been with their families and friends.

Now for my rant...I live along the Gulf Coast.  Actually I grew up here and moved back in 2001 so I could raise my children down here.  My husband is a fisherman.  We live off of the Gulf's seafood industry.  Not necessary that we make our money from the seafood but what my husband catches when he fishes we eat.  The area I live is home to many shrimp boats, fisherman, and oyster beds.  It is also home to many people who work on these rigs.  Just like the one that blew up and is spilling thousands of gallons of oil at the moment and is threatening the land that I love so much.  For those who do not live here do not understand what is getting ready to happen to the Gulf Coast Coastal area along the Gulf of Mexico.  Hundreds of miles of coastal land is getting ready for a natural disaster.  We are use to hurricanes but oil spills?  In my 40 years I do not believe I can remember one of this magnitude.

Now for a little information about one of the areas that is going to be hit hard.  This pretty much goes for all of the areas that are going to be hit hard by the oil.  I live in a small little town just to the East of Mobile Bay.  My hometown sits on the beautiful Mobile Bay.  Not only do we have sea life here that is unique and its own way but we also have a phenomen called Jubliees.  Mobile_Bay_jubilee

The oil spill is going to also effect these areas too...http://www.mobilebaynep.com/
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
http://www.weeksbay.org/
http://www.outdooralabama.com/Fishing/freshwater/where/rivers/delta/

This is just a few of the places that are going to be devasted by the oil spill from the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.  Several states are going to be affected.  I have read over and over that we need to stop our whining but until you live down here and realize what is going to happen to the place you call home you have no clue what is going on.  We are not whining but are concern about the place we call home.  We are concern for the those who lost their lives in the Gulf of Mexico when the oil rig exploded.  Of course we know that a life can't be replaced and my heart goes out to the familes and friends of the victims. 

Yesterday I spent the day with my fifth grader's class at Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores.  Two of the places that are going to be hit hard by this massive oil leak in the Gulf.  I fear that yesterday will be the last time that I see the white sandy beaches as I remember them.  I am afraid that by Sunday these areas will be covered with a slick coating of oil.  Wildlife will be lost.  Families will lose their jobs because they depend on the waters in order to make a living. 

I would like to thank the Coast Guard for helping because I realize that they are getting a lot of heat for how they responded.  I also would like to thank the people who have volunteer their time to help protect our coastal lands!  I do have one request...President please send some help this way to the Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.  We are going to need all of the help we can get to help fight this major disaster headed our way. 

The Beach as I remember it on 4/28.  Looking at Dauphin Island Bridge

from the top of Fort Morgan Fort.

The White Sandy Beaches of Gulf Shores in Alabama 4/28/10.

Sunday these beach will be covered with a slick coating of black oil.

The sea life that lives in the water will be destroyed.  

Sunday will not see children playing on the beaches but 

instead they will be volunteering to help to do what they can.  

What do you say to an eleven year old when she ask what can I do

to save the animals from the oil?

http://www.wkrg.com/gulf_oil_spill/article/volunteers-needed-for-possible-oil-spill-cleanup/879708/Apr-28-2010_2-38-pm/

Nothing like Recital Week

You would think I was a pro at this by now since my oldest daughter has been taking dance since she was 2 1/2 years old and she is now 11 but every year dance recital week gets me by surprise.  Today we start out our afternoon at the Civic Center in town where they have to have their recital costumes but not the makeup.  That is great because I don't want to put makeup on my 11 year old after she had poison ivy this past weekend.  Today will follow up by Friday afternoon at the Civic Center until after 5:30 in costume.  My two youngest daughters take dance on Fridays so they will be there at that time.  Saturday morning we have to be at the Civic Center in costume and makeup at 8am.  It is going to be a long day.  This is where they actually go through the whole rehearsal for the first Act and it usually takes several hours.  For a short period of time we will go home and rest and around 5pm we have to be back up at the Civic Center for the recital.  The Big Show! 

My Lil Pink Pedal Pusher

Never thought that one of my daughters would get to be a Pink Lady  from the movie Grease!

Sad to say that I do not have a picture of my oldest daughter in her ballet outfit.  I will try to get one this afternoon.  She is a rose from Bette Midler's The Rose.  Another song from my childhood.  :)  The outfit is beautiful and I wish I had one but she didn't want to do pictures the day I took pictures of my two younger girls. 

Beautiful Life taken too Early

Many people in my hometown are asking why this morning?  Why would a young, beautiful girl with so much ahead of her in life had to die this weekend?  There are stories going around at the moment but until the family says what happen I am not going to report what I have heard out of respect for her family and friends.  No need to spread rumors if they are not true.  

As a parent of three daughters I can imagine the pain of Elizabeth's parents.  Nine years ago in 2001 I lost my only son at the tender age of 3 years old and 6 months.  He was a healthy young boy whose life was taken too soon by the hands of another person who shot him.  Nine years later I can say that I have made it.  Somedays are harder than others but there is a light and leaning on faith and friends do help.  My heart goes out to Elizabeth's parents because I remember the numb feeling that I felt when my son was killed.  The feeling that it is a nightmare and when you wake up your child will be there.  The only problem is that the nightmare continues and you do not wake up from it.  Reality sinks in and you ask why?  Why did it happen?  Could I had done anything to prevent it?  Even though I know more than likely Elizabeth's parents will probably never read this they need to know that it is not their fault.  They provided a loving home for their daughter and from what all of her friends and her brother's friends have said they are wonderful people.  There is no blame but just heartache.  

At the moment my heart is torn for this family because this is a club you do not want to join.  A club of losing a child.  I know for me it is different because I have been there and until you experience the heartache of losing a child you do not know the pain.  It is not something you get over.  There is no limit on the grieving.  Nine years later I can tell those parents who are going through this that you never forget but there is a time when you will be able to look at your child's pictures and remember those great memories of them and smile without tears coming to your eyes.  There is life after you lose a child even though at the moment and even years after you feel like there is no life because a part of you has died.  To keep your child's memory alive you must go on living.  Find a positive thing to do in order to remember your child's life.  

I wish this beautiful child would had realized how many people loved her and how many people she has touched.  It is sad that after someone dies that the realization of the love that surrounds the person comes out even though they are not here to witness it.  Please keep Elizabeth and her family in your prayers as they go through the most difficult time in their lives.  Please pray for Elizabeth's journey to heaven and help the family and friends that she has left behind.  If you are a friend of the family that is reading this please pass it on.  Also here is a little advice from just my experience of losing a child.  

Don't be afraid to speak my child's name.  Hearing my child's name will not hurt me.  Actually it is a soothing memory of him/her.  

Don't be afraid of bringing up memories of my child.  I want to hear the stories and remember everything. 

Don't be afraid to show pictures of beautiful child.  I want to see pictures.  

Don't be afraid to comfort me or talk because I am mourning the loss of my child.  I need your friendship more than ever and even though I am crying don't be scared to talk to me.  

Our children are not gone.  They are angels in heaven looking over us until we join them. 

Worry Wart on the lose again

DD had his doctor's appt today and it was not good.  I knew the doctor was going to say that he needed another heart cath so we will be at the hospital on Tuesday morning.  Don't know what will happen from there.  Already have one stent in his artery.  I think that is what they did.  So I guess I better start cleaning house because I can almost bet my mil will be making a visit. 

Short but sweet this morning b/c a certain lab kept me up all night

Going to be short and sweet because I have to get some ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZssssssssssssssss in before I have to be at work this afternoon.  Finally home at last with the girls at school.  They were on a roll this morning because I think I actually threaten to pull over the car and let them walk the rest of way to school because they were fighting.  Got to love mornings where it would be better if they just stayed asleep and woke up on their own so they would not be so cranky. 

On a more postive but not so postive note:  My husband had a nuclear stress test done about two weeks ago and it showed something negative so he has an appt with the heart doctor again.  In 2006 he had a stent put in and had been doing pretty good with it.  So after today we will know more but I have a funny suspicion that he will be having another heart cath which could lead into more stuff.  I don't mean to knock my husband down or anything like that but when you don't take care of yourself all of the time things happen.  He would argue with me on this one but you can't spend the weekends at the bars partying and drinking and eating foods that are not heart friendly and expect everything to be okay.  You can't live a healthy life style one minute and live a unhealhty life style  the other minute and not expect their to be a consequence.  I am praying that nothing is wrong but I am preparing myself for the outcome if the doctor says otherwise and hope that maybe my husband will listen.  It is frustrating when he doesn't listen but like this past weekend he stayed out on Thursday till 2 or 3am, went to work the next day, stayed out till 2am the Friday night, and came home around 1am on Saturday.  Of course he is working till 10:30 or 11:00pm but still this could not be healthy and I know he is drinking some.  It is not a whole lot but he is still drinking and that is not good. 

I guess I am frustrated with things right now because I want my husband to wake up and realize that his lifestyle is not healthy for him and that he has three beautiful daughters that need him.  Of course I need him but I don't think he cares at times what I think even though he should.  I know he is stressed out over money, losing his father last year, and his job situation but you know there are somethings that we can not help and the money situation is one of them since prices have gone up and wages have not.  Actually my wages have been cut in half thanks to my wonderful job which thought it would be nice to force me to step down from my full time position.  Of course they can take my job and shove it at the moments.  LOL 

Well I guess I better keep my word and make this short and sweet because I need some sleep.  Especially if there is a chance I am going to coop up at the local hospital in town tomorrow and will not be able to sleep. 

The End of Spring Break

Spring Break was last week for my darling daughters.  As usual my place of employment decides to increase my hours the week that my girls are out of school.  Last week I had 30 hours and this coming week I have 19 when the girls are back in school.  Spring Break was kind of cut short for my kids thank to my wonderful job.  The girls did get to do a few things this past week.  On Monday we went to watch my 7 year old nephew play baseball and they won!  On the days that I had to work my mom took the girls to the pool and the beach at the Yacht Club.  They seemed to have a good time.  Friday we went to Orange Beach with my neighbor and her children.  Now if everyday could had been like that for us it would had been a Spring Break.  Even despite my car getting stuck in the parking lot because I drove off on the edge and into the sand while I was trying to turn around.  It took five teenagers lifting my car up and one pulling it out with four wheel drive.  Thank goodness for these polite young men who were at the beach during their Spring Break.  It is great to be able to write something positive about our youth population because so many times it is negative and there are some good kids out there that deserve recognition for what they do. 

The house is quiet at the moment.  Almost too quiet!  I am probably the only one who is sad that my girls had to go back to school and I am counting down the days till Summer Break.  I actually enjoy their company.  On the other note I am going to take this morning to relax and catch up on some needed sleep.  I am exhausted from working and trying to keep the girls busy when I was off.

Another trip to the doctor this afternoon. Hopefully good news!

Lately I have been spending my days at the pediatricians, othropedic, or the hospital.  We have been to the x-ray department at Thomas so many times in the last month that they are starting to know my daughter by her first name.  LOL  Today we have another appointment and hopefully we will find out why she can not walk on her foot that she hurt roller skating four weeks ago.  We do know she has an extra bone in her foot that was discover last Friday when they did xrays of her foot.  Now if they can figure out if that extra bone is the culprit.  So in a few minutes I will be driving to the next little town up in the street to see a doctor.  I am sure BCBS is beginning to hate me at the moment. 

Some people wonder if she is making it up because the first diagnose was a sprain.  My husband still thinks I am overreacting and that it is just sprain.  He keeps insisting that she needs to put weight on it.  Of course that might be the case but what if there is something major wrong with her foot and the xrays missed it.  Well I guess that is why the doctor order the nuclear bone scans yesterday.  So I will be updating later tonight on what happens at the doctor.  Meanwhile I am fighting what appears to be allergies and a cold and Gwendi has a touch of what appears to be a stomach virus but could be from the radiation that they gave her yesterday in order to do the tests.  I don't know if she would have a reaction from it or not. 

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Update on my daughter with the hurt foot!

Four weeks ago on Tuesday night Gwendi turned her ankle while racing at the local skating rink.  With tears and a few mumble words out of her mouth she hopped to the side of the rink where we were sitting.  I quickly took her skates off of her feet and placed her on the mushroom seats that they have.  I think those must be a custom to skating rinks because they had them when I was younger.  One of my friends quickly went to the snack bar to get some ice and I headed to get the car.  On the way home she was begging to go to the ER so I called my dad on the cell.  He works at the local hospital and ask him what I should since our copay to the ER is outrageous plus there is no telling what one might catch from sitting in the ER.  After dad wrapped her ankle we went home and made plans to take her to the pediatrician. 

The next day after I got the girls to school I took Gwendolyn to the pediatrician.  We were sent over to the hospital to have xrays that morning and then waited to hear something about her ankle.  Around 4pm I finally called the doctor's office to see if they had any news.  Her xrays didn't show any fractures so we thought we were in the good.  The only problem is that she couldn't walk so later that night my husband and I looked all over the town for a pair of pediatric crutches.  Well the local pharmacies do not carry them.  The next morning we went to my mom's church and they help me find a pair of crutches in her size.  Funny that they would have them at a local pharmacy in downtown which was of course close when I was looking for them. 

Several weeks went by and still no sign of improvement with Gwendi's ankle.  We tried to get her to walk on it but she would just hop around the area she was in.  Easter egg hunt involved crawling on the ground with her foot up in the air.  I had plan to take her to the doctor but the schools were having SAT testing so I had to wait until a day when they didnt' have them schedule which of course would be the make up day on Good Friday.  So the pediatrician worked in that afternoon and called the orthopedic to see if we could get her in that afternoon.  After picking up her xrays from the hospital we rushed up to the next town to see the doctor.  Well they decided to do a foot xray to see if maybe it was her foot causing the problems instead of the ankle.  They called a sport medicine doctor in to examine her foot along with the orthopedic.  I have to say was very impressed with both doctors.  After looking at her xrays they discover that she had an extra bone in her foot which could be the culprit. 

Tuesday morning we have to be at the hospital at 8am to have more tests.  This time they are doing a nuclear bone dense scan on the foot to see if it will reveal more of what is going on and then we are going to the orthpedic on Wednesday afternoon.  So hopefully we will have an answer to what is going on with her foot.  Oh did I mention that she has a dance recital the first week of May that I have already paid for the outfit and months of lessons.  Grrr!.

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Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone!  Hope everyone is having a great day.  Well despite the crutches and bum foot and an upset stomach the girls have had a fairly good day.  They look so darn cute in their dresses.  We were planning to go to church but unfortunately Laura got the runnies and I decided that it might not be a wise decision to go to church with that type of issue. 

Overall we have had a good morning though.  Hunted easter eggs out in the front yard.  Even Gwendolyn manage to find some with the help of her sister Laura.  It is amazing when the girls want to be nice that they can be.  I guess it is sibling rivarly.  I should know because I have sister too but I just don't remember fighting like my three girls do.  LOL

I guess I am going to try to stop by the park and go see my co-workers at their little get together.  

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Why Can't the Schools in my area make sure that they do not do things on the same day?

I have three children and they all go to three different schools.  Overall this is not a bad thing but when the schools plan activities it makes it really difficult for the parent.  Why don't they make sure that the other school doesn't do the same thing on the same day so I don't have to disappointment one of my girls.  Would that be too much to ask? 

I found out this morning my youngest daughter's field day is on the same day my middle daughter is going on a field trip.  Now why would this happen?  Did they plan it?  I can't believe in two places at the same time.  I want to be but one of my girls will be at her school for field day while the other is on a field trip several cities away which I had already planned to go to.  So how do I break this to the youngest?  I have gone on several of her field trips and have not gone on a field with my 8 year old.   

I want to scream at the moment because I do not want to pick between the two. 

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Don't be a Bully!. Step up and do the right thing! Stand up and take a stand against bulliness!

A week after my best friend's stepson was bullied and taunted on the internet through a facebook hate group, the headlines today are about a young, beautiful girl by the name of  Phoebe Prince, who was drove to killing herself because she was taunted and bullied at school.  My heart goes out to her family for the pain they are going through right now and the pain she went through.  Focus on why this happen to this beautiful young woman?  What drove her to do this?  A group of teens from her school traumatize her with their constant taunting and hateful actions.  Wny did they taunt this beautiful young girl?  From the article on Fox News they taunted her because she was beautiful and sensitive.  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,590111,00.html 

Last week my childhood friend's stepson was taunted online.  A group of us found about it and went to the group and started to point out that this was wrong.  We even tried to get the administer of the group to shut it down but he refused to do so.  The kids on the site commented on the fact that they saw nothing wrong with what they were doing to this young men.  Facebook did take action and removed the hate group and are working with the school district and the local sheriff.  My question is why does today's youth think it is okay to tease and taunt other human beings because they are different.  Do they not realize that those who they tease have feelings too?  Don't they realize that their words and actions cause pain?  Or is it because some of our today's youth do not care what others think or feel?  Do they think only about themselves?  I do have to include a big thank you to the teens who stood up for what was right and recognize that the teasing and taunting was wrong and defended the young man.  They also took a lot of verbal abuse from those who continued the constant bulliness. 

As a parent I know that I need to talk to my children about treating all children the way they want to be treated.  If other children are teasing that child you need to step in and say that is enough because it is wrong.  Don't join in the taunting because everyone else is.  Stand up and do the right thing.  From an early age I have tried to teach my girls that they need to treat everyone nicely.   It is hard to be a parent in today's time but we must stop this type of behavior in our youth before someone else is driven to the point of killing their selves because the pain and heartache of being bullied.  Talk to you children about why it is wrong to bully children and make sure they know they can talk to you if kids in their school are taunting them.  Have an open policy that they can talk to you about anything.  Urge them to stand up for what is right and report those who participating in bullying another child.  Some schools have a no bully tolerance.  I know our school district does and the minute you anonymously make the call the police are alerted and it is taken seriously.  If your school district does not have a policy start one! 

We need to as a community stop this type of behavior.  No Tolerance for bullying!  Stand up and do the right thing! 

Here are some links that help stop bullying!
http://www.tolerance.org/activity/bullying-tips-students

My blog is dedicated to Phoebe Prince and all of the other children who are bullied to the point that they have taken their precious lives because the pain was too much to bare.  May God be with you and your families!  And to those who are being bullied at the moment and don't know where to turn please tell someone so we can stop.  My friend's son who was bullied didn't tell anyone and was going to take the abuse.  His cousin found the hate group on facebook and told her aunt about it.  We found the link to it and had it shut down.  So don't feel alone and feel like you have no one to turn to. Contact the local police in your town if you have to because it is a crime if someone is bullying you online and in person.  Stop the abuse!  If you know someone who is being bullied at school or away from school step up and the do the right thing and report it the authorities.  A lot of time children who are bullied will not speak up for themselves. 

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Beautiful Day on the Eastern Shore so why am I sick today

The sun out and the temps are nice with a little crisp to the air.  Instead I find myself laying on the couch and hopes that I don't get sick again.  I know where I caught it.  My oldest darling daughter was sick Sunday afternoon and yesterday she got sick at school.  So of course I had to catch it and now I find myself laying on the couch fighting the urge to run the restroom again.  Of all kind of illness I think the stomach virus is the worse when it comes to being sick.  Every bone in my body is aching.  My head is spinning.  I feel like I have a fever.  So while I lay on the couch in misery I can dream about being on a sailboat in the middle of Mobile Bay.

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Nice, Big Surprise this morning related to the Twilight Series

This morning I logged onto facebook and discover that Stephenie Meyer's has a new book coming out related to the Twilight Series.  I have to admit that I was hoping that maybe she had finished Midnight Sun but I will settle with the story of Bree Tanner from the Eclipse-The Twilight Saga.  The book is title The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and it will be released before Eclipse.  Here is the link that tells all.  http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

I have to admit that I am excited because I have read the four books of the Twilight Saga over and over until the  point that I have certain verse memorized.  I have read Midnight Sun several times from the link Stephenie Meyers gave her fans through her website.  i am ready for a new book and this will help people understand the whole newborn army that Victoria has formed to hunt down Bella.  I think it will be a great addition to the movie coming out and can't wait to read it.  I will also be attending the midnight showing of Eclipse.  Thank you Stephenie Meyer for your wonderful talent of writing! 

So fans please go out and show Stephenie your support by buying this book.  I am so excited.  It is like opening a present on Christmas Day as a child and realizing that you got exactly what you wanted from Santa Claus.  I guess one could say that some of received an early Christmas Gift.  :) 

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Oh Great! I live next door to a racist pig.

I am all for the 1st Amendment: but when it comes to being racist there is no excuse.  Several years ago we had neighbors move in across the street.  At first they seemed okay but over time their true colors started to show.  The first sign was when the male figure at the house would not allow his child play with neighbor's children because the color their skin.  One might wonder how I know this is the reason...coming from the mouth of an innocent child...I was told that he told his child to come in because you are not allowed to play with the likes of them.  Real nice!

After a year a confederate flag started to fly over his house.  Let me state we do have a homeowner's association but they do nothing.  They can make comments about edging our yard when we do not own an edger but they will stand up to a racist pig that flies the confederate flag knowing that we have several African-American families that live in our neighborhood.  After a couple of years the confederate flag came down and was replaced with The Bonnie Blue Flag.  My girls and my neighbor's son wanted me to look up the meaning of this flag and sadly I found this about it:  The flag itself has a history of southern heritage but after knowing the way this man acts I am pretty sure he is flying it because of southern rights.

Hey I am a southerner.  Born and raised in the South.  The one difference is that my parents taught me to accept all people regardless of their differences.  Throughout the years I have tried to teach my children the same and hope they will pass it on to their children.  Life is too short to hate people just because they are different than you.  That is what makes us unique.

The sad things it that this individual calls himself a christian.  My problem with this is that I do not believe God is smiling when he hears such comments made by this person.  God taught us to love one another.  I pray that my neighbor will find the light and change his ways.  It is really sad because he doesn't realize how nice our neighbors are because he will not give them a chance due to the color of their skin.

I must find another job or my head is going to explode.

For two and half years I have been working for a big Retail Chain which I will not name in this blog.  When I first started working for this company life was sweet.  They really did care about their employees.  The year passed and our manager was quickly replaced with a drill sergeant bitch who didn't care about anyone but herself and how she appeared to the big bosses.  Slowly I watched employees that worked very hard and gave their job 300% disappear over crazy issues that were set up by other employees working under her.  The atmosphere at the store became a dog eat dog world.  Basically people were stabbing each other in the back to cover their asses and it didn't matter who they took down when they took such terrible actions toward their fellow employees.

Several months ago I stepped down from my position and went part time in a certain part of the store that requires a lot of hard work.  The main reason why I stepped down was because of the politics that involved my job position and I was tired of the back stabbing, childish games some of my peers were playing in order to keep their freaking jobs.  So when I was given the chance to step down I didn't hesitate.  Except I didn't step down but was actually forced to step down because they would not work with my schedule so I could get my children to school.  Yes, I was forced to step down because according to upper management I was told that I had to have open availability in order to work the job that I had been working at the time for over a year and half.   I know that they were lying through their teeth because the person that they hire in my place can only work nights.  So what is that about open availability?  Yes, another one of their lies.

So I step down from my position and went out to the garden center part time.  Things were going well out there.  Even during the cold months I manage to make it through the days.  I could always find stuff to do and stay busy.  Life was good!  Less stress!  Then this past week my manager over me came up to about going out for a department manager position over another area.  I wasn't sure about it because of the stuff that I had put up with up front and the headaches and stress that was involved.  After talking to several department managers about whether or not I should go out for the position I decided that I would go out for it.  I was also told that my department manager was also going out for it.  See where this is going.

Today we were busy.  People were buying plants left and right.  I don't think I took two minutes to breathe.  My store manager came out to the garden center which she never does.  It turns out that they were having problems getting a hold of me up front because the walkies were acting up.  Several time I made the comment over the walkie that if someone could hear me please answer because I didn't think my walkie was working correctly.  Oh by the way she brought me a pull to assemble together and set up during this busy day.  Needless to say Buddha never made it to the fountain area because a few washers and nuts were missing.  After she realize that I was busy and working at the register the whole time and she couldn't bash me for something I didn't do she sent out my department manager to do the dirty work.

We were busy and as I was checking out people out my dept manager went on to say that I have to tell you something that you don't want to hear.  Just remember that this is coming from upper management and I am having to do this.  Well lets just say this was done during a time when a customer walked in that knew me and heard everything that was going on.  So now I have a witness.  Anyway it turns out that my freaking store management thinks that I sit around all day at the register and do nothing.  Whatever!

Needless to say I am very upset by this comment because I work my butt off in the garden center.  I do not give 100% but 1000%.  If I was standing around and doing what they said I was doing that would be fine to coach me but this is b.s.  And when I asked what it was that they wanted me to do and they reply I told them that I do that.  It is not my fault that the darn wind blows everything back into the area where I work after I leave the premises.  No matter what I do it is never good enough.  Plus what is up with a coaching in front of a customer.

So I am off to find another job.  Wait I have been doing that ever since the witch lady came to our store.

The Hatred must Stop Now

This is in response to a fb group that was started about a Student (my best friend stepson) by some students to harass him because he is unique and different in a good way.

I woke up this morning with all intentions of getting a nap since I stayed up late watching a movie on CMT.  Like every morning I log onto facebook to see what my friends are doing.  It is an early morning ritual.  I came across a new group that several of my friend that are like family where joining and decided to check it out since the group was about my friend's step son.  When I click the link to the group I was appalled by the comments that were being made on this fb group page and that facebook had not deleted it yet.  My dislike for what was going became anger that someone would target a young teenager for being unique and different.  


For those who did this I am really sad because they obviously have no heart.  Have they ever heard of bullying?  Do they not know that there are laws against this type of behavior.  I wish that teenagers would think before they do because their reactions can hurt other people.  As read the comments and the reaction that this young boy was writing back with  my heart went out to him because he was really upset.  At one point he even talked about he didn't even know why he was living.  As I read that my anger started to boil over because no child should be mad to feel that way.  


If only his classmates would take the time to get to know this young man they would realize that he is a very caring and loving person who would not hurt anyone.  That is unique personality is what makes him what he is and that his friendship would be worth more than any amount of money in the world.  Sadly this age is difficult because those who do the hateful acts do not realize the consequences that they could be causing.  


For the young population and my children please think before you tease someone because those comments will hurt the person even though they hide the heart ache you cause them.  Just because someone is different doesn't mean that someone should treat them like XXXX.  Uniqueness is what makes one an individual.  

A New Day, A New Me

This morning I wrote a blog entry out of anger and hurt but decided not to post it because it is was more of a way to get my feelings out for myself but not for others to see.  In the process I did come up with this.

Today is a new day and the start of a new me.  No one is going to tell me what to do unless I want to do it.  I am myself and I must stand up for myself.  I know what I need and only I can provide those needs.  Money will not provide those things. Money is a materialistic item.  I need to start with the soul, heart, and the mind and let what is meant to be occur naturally.

The Release of New Moon at Midnight is like waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

I feel like a child on Christmas morning waiting to see what Santa Claus has brought me.  New Moon will be released on DVD at 12:01am this morning and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  Yes, I am what they call a Twi-Mom.  What is the definition of a Twi-Mom?  A mom who is addicted to Stephenie Meyers Twilight Saga Books.

I came across the books by accident one day while I was working and decided if everyone else was reading the book that maybe I should buy a copy of Twilight.  My oldest daughter was ten at the time.  I asked her if she had heard of the book called Twilight.  She quickly acknowledge that she had heard of the book and her friends that had read the Twilight said it was great.  Unfortunately her school librarian would not let her check the book out because she claim it was not on her reading level.  I later found out that the book was on her reading level and proceeded to let her read the book.  It was December and Christmas was around the corner.  I was very busy at work since I work retail and was trying to find a way to unwind without doing something that would be damaging to my health.  I soon found myself wrapped up in Stephenie Meyer's Vampire World that I could not put the book down.  As Edward said Bella was his type of drug in Twilight...Stephenie Meyer's style of writing was my personal drug for me.  A healthy drug that would not hurt my body.

After I finished reading Twilight I went on to read the other three book and have read them over and over.  I love the movies and have seen both movies in the theaters.  When New Moon came out I had my best friend meet me at work around 11pm and we went to the Midnight Showing for her 40th birthday!  My oldest daughter tag along with us even though she had school the next morning.  It was worth staying up all night to watch New Moon and I will do the same when Eclipse is released.  The movies keep getting better and better!

So you can only imagine my excitement over the New Moon DVD being released on the 20th of March at Midnight.  Will I be one of the nuts up there at Walmart purchasing the DVD?  Probably not since Target has the DVD with the 3 Disc that I want.  Plus I get 10% off of it!  Now if June 30th will come!  I want to see Eclipse!

Busy mornings=Busy Days

I don't think I have stopped since early this morning and my head is still spinning in full disarray of everything that is going on.  First I didn't want to get up this morning.  I really need that extra hour of sleep that the daylight saving time took away.  Then it was off to get the kids ready for school.  Nothing like running around the house looking for school uniforms under the mountain of clothes that need to find a home sometime this week.  Maybe I will get to that task this weekend.  David left this morning to head to the hospital for his annual nuclear stress test.  Hope everything turns out okay because he has been under a lot of stress lately.  I know he doesn't think I care but I do.  

Laura and Jeanne are at school and I went by FBC to see if maybe they have a pair of crutches that will fit Gwendolyn.  I grew up at FBC and my parents are still members.  The girls have been going to their Wednesday night program since our church doesn't have a good youth program.  Today I met Rev. Henry for the first time and all I can say is that he made a good lasting impression on me.  Actually the whole church staff will always have a place in my heart.  Even though they didn't have pediatric crutches they spent over an hour calling around till we located a pair.  In the event if we had not found a pair Rev. Henry was going to fix the pair that I had to fit Gwendolyn.  Now this is dedication in God's Work.  When I think I am going losing my faith in mankind someone manages to bring back that faith and makes my faith in God even stronger.  

We manage to make it to the school by 9:10 and I walked her to class.  She insisted on going to school even though I have to pick her up at 12:30 because I have no one to pick her up from school this afternoon in the car line.  There is no way I am going to let her ride the bus home while on crutches.  She seem to do really well on the crutches and I think she is going to have a good day.  I also met an angel named Bailey today.  She is one of the special needs children at the school and her smile melt my heart today.  

It looks like we are going to participate in the Spring Fever Chase this weekend.  Gwendolyn wanted to race but there was no way that she could with her sprain ankle.  Thanks to FBC I have acquire a wheel chair for the race and will be pushing Gwendi.  I imagine it will be not only an interesting day but we will have a great time!  Pictures later of course!  

As the clock ticks on I need to think about getting dressed for work.  After today I am off for four whole days.  I have not been off for a full weekend since October.  I can't wait for this short vacation.  I imagine that I will probably be in a lot of trouble when I arrive at work because I had to call out yesterday due to being at the hospital with my 8 year old daughter who sprain her foot.  My store is not great about understanding that you have children and sometimes you have to be out.  Part of the reason I am having to check Gwendi out of school early is so I can go into work this afternoon and work 4 1/2 hours.  I dare them to write me up for yesterday because not only am I going to refuse to sign the papers I am also going to leave a nice little message on it about how ridiculous it is that you expect me to be at work while I am at the hospital with my 8 year old daughter  having her injured ankle x-rayed because we think it is broke.  

I think it is time to stop for a second and smell the flowers!

A Bowl of Cherries vs the Bowl of Sour Grapes

To write is a gift.  Some say it does the heart good too!

I never gave it much thought about how my life would turn out when I was little girl.  I always dreamed of living the perfect fairy tale life. .  Skip the drama and heartache and move on to the part where you live happily ever after.  As I got older I realize that fairy tales where just stories.  That life was complicated.  Maybe complicated is not the exact word.  Drama might explain it better.  

As you get older you realize that life is not a bowl of cherries.  It is a bowl of sour grapes that explode in your face when you least expect it.  I guess you could say it is like a time bomb waiting to go off any minute when the button is pushed down.  Tick Tock, Tick Tock!  Boom!  The sour grapes explode all over your face. It sticks to you very existence of life.  

So why isn't life a bowl of cherries!  Did we choose this path to follow?  Could we have changed the outcome of our lives?  In some cases people do choose the path which they follow while others end up on that path because of complications in their lives.  Complications that they wished they could go back and changed and pick the right path.  Others end on that path because of situations that were out of their control.  Do you really believe that someone would choose a between a bowl of cherries and a bowl of sour grapes?  Think about it.  A bowl of cherries taste a lot better than a bowl of sour grapes.