Sisterhood Award

Martha at A Sense of Humor is Essential nominated me for the sisterhood award. She has become one of my biggest cheerleaders and I appreciate her so much.

So here are the rules:

Put the logo on your blog or post.
Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude.
Be sure to link to your nominees in your post.
Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.
Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.

Now, I'm sure some of the nominees will be repeats. And I'm adding my own rule. Just know that I really appreciate, enjoy your blog if you are nominated and will in no way be upset if you do not participate in paying it forward. Sometimes all of these awards can be overwhelming though sweet and affirming at the same time. So, that said in particular order I nominate:

Annie at Writer's, Witches and Words Oh My
Rose at What Rose Made Today
Laura at Purple Rose Musings
Lynette at Crazed Mind
Debby at Life's Funny Like That
Kathy at The Amortization of goodwill
Darcy at Welcome to My Rants

Friday

Cookies were delivered. Classes signed up for. Half of the grocery shopping done. Hubby took me to lunch. Supper made and youngest grounded. She thought it was OK to not do all of her homework and lie about it to the teacher. She also skipped out on her time with the teacher to make up the work. She also lied to hubby telling him all of her homework was done. So, we told her no electronic anything until the homework was complete and she could do a few extra chores around the house.

Bio called after supper. Youngest's voice went to that of a four year old as she cooed mama I miss you, Kim is mean to me. She makes me empty the trash and it's to heavy for me. For the record, I had emptied the trash and put the bag on the deck. When I asked her to bring it to the shed (about 10 feet away) oldest had already done it. I had her empty the compost bucket instead. And if she keeps lying and not doing her homework I will continue to be mean. My job is to be her parent not her friend.

Today I have a birthday party to attend after I finish grocery shopping. It is a potluck. I love to cook but, I'm at a loss as to what to make. I'm not sure if we are eating right away so I'm not sure I want to bring a hot dish. I could put something in a crock pot but they'd have to have an outlet. I think I'm just going to make a tortellini salad.

Youngest is sleeping at a friend's birthday party tonight. Oldest is having a friend sleep over and hubby is taking son out to buy new boots. Tomorrow mother and father-in-love come to dinner.

Cookies

The other day hubby responded to a car accident. It took the state police and the fire department (FD) to find the car over the bank. It went down into the woods about a hundred feet and there were hardly any signs where he went off the road. He was lucky he had his cell phone on and was able to call. The man in the accident should be fine. My friends at the TFD were on call and said hi. I asked hubby if he gave them a hug and a kiss from me. I got a big loud, NOOOO! It was there last night on. I said perfect, it will be there first day on my next day off and I can bring them cookies. So, last night I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a batch of peanut butter cookies with white chocolate chips (Phil's favorite). For special occasions everyone is asked to bring gifts I'm asked to bake cookies. They say it's because I bake them with love. That and I can remember everyone's favorite treat and I cater to that. OK, so I spoil them.
It is also the last day for our paid driver at WFD. He was offered a job making a LOT more money. With four kids at home the extra cash would be great. And the hours are fantastic. I'll be seeing him around as he is my girlfriend's (at the farm)brother-in-law. Small world. So, I made peanut butter cookies (no chocolate) for him. So, hubby and I will be making the fire house rounds.
We also have to stop at the police department and pick up an application for son to join the explorers. And, he is in a much better mood so whatever it was has passed.
And stop by the high school for oldest's course selections. I asked and she'd like us to be there. At 16 I would have been annoyed the sent a letter to my parents and never would have wanted them to come but, hay I was a different kid. It wasn't until my second masters that I actually started taking fluff classes instead of stuff I needed to get into college or get the next degree.
Someone wondered what I would write about now that bio is far, far away. I have a lot on my mind. A lot less to vent though. I really should change the tag at the top of my blog. I'll just add that to the list - right after grocery shopping.

Going, Going Gone

When we were joking last week about boyfriend wanting to tatoo his penis - oldest didn't seem upset when I said they might not be together forever and he shouldn't tatoo her picture there (son's idea).
Yesterday he announced he was moving back to Phillie and that they should just remain friends. She acted fine. Hubby was a little confused - oldest was not upset. Son had been in a foul mood for two days now but, that is another story. On the way to our meeting oldest confided that she was OK because she had been thinking about dumping him. I care about him but, I don't really love him anymore. That's OK.
It went quicker than we thought without bio forcing the two upon each other. He's a nice kid but he has no direction or ambition. He said he's going to help his mother. Funny just Saturday his uncle told him to get a job or get out.

Did I mention that not only did oldest send me love, Saturday she made a point to save me a sip from her mocha frapaccino that hubby bought her on the way to DMV? And that the ring bio gave her has come off - it was turning black and so was her finger. Now all she wears is her cladagh ring (similar to the one I wear). And she hates me. LOL

lotion

My first batch of lotion is dwindling. I love the smell and the effect but it is a little - OK a lot runny. I cooled it too fast and the beeswax did not stay blended but ended up like little chunks mixed throughout. I had to push it through a strainer. I did save the little chunks and added them to the new batch. So, Saturday I tried again. I had the lanolin to add this time. I whisked the oils really well as they melted and before the cooled. I brought all the ingredients to room temperature slowly. Then I mixed again as I added the water mixture. And I have a beautiful butter cream looking patchouli lotion. Face your fears and you can do anything. OK, I admit I was afraid of making lotion. I had heard horror stories of how hard it was. NOT!

As a side note - when I do go for the occasional facial the girl tells me how wonderful my skin is. What do you use, she asks? I make my own soap, toner and lotion. Oh, she stutters you should be using.... Yeah, but you just said I have great skin. I know she gets paid extra to sell products and I applaud her effort.

Cleaning Frenzy

I don't know if it's spring or hormones that have me on a cleaning binge but it doesn't really matter. The closet in the spare bedroom is youngest's toy chest. She has magically reached that age where toys are no longer part of her world and small expensive techno gadgets are. The stuff was spilling everywhere and that drives me nuts. I like things in their place even if they are covered in a layer of dust.
So, Sunday afternoon youngest and I emptied the closet and sorted by recyclable, trash and give a way. It went from a bulging closet full of stuff to two small shelves with art supplies. We then went to her room and sorted clothes, moved furniture dusted and vacuumed everything. Monday morning hubby loaded the truck to capacity and went to the dump.
I asked the older kids who was next. They laughed. They think I'm joking. I suggested they set a timer and spend 15 minutes a day and they could be done by the week end. Or, they could wait for me. Youngest and I spent almost three hours and nothing went untouched.
Monday I vacuumed the play room and office. I dusted and did laundry. I pulled out all the magazines by my bed and started sorting.
I've been sleeping better and have energy. Watch out kids, hubby, world. You thought giving me caffeine was bed - try a good nights sleep a few days in a row. Youngest has been downstairs only once in the past week and I was able to tuck her back in. The stress level has gone down dramatically. Once bio left everyone thought I would be instantly stress free. I had to wait and see how the kids were. They are adjusting beautifully. And you know when you eat way too much garlic (like that is possible) and it seeps out of your pores? For the last two weeks I've felt the stress seep out of every pore. I wiped it a way, washed it a way, smudged and lit candles. I also scheduled a new appointment at the spa. Ah, life is good!!!!

The Day I Met my Hubby

August 24, 2002

The day would have been my sixth wedding anniversary to my wasband (was my husband for less than a year). It was safety day for the fire department. The fire department takes over the local camp ground, invites the public to attend and does numerous demonstrations. That day included a cold water rescue, extrication and life star landing. The tower truck was there letting fire personal climb the ladder to the bucket. I am afraid of heights, especially 100 foot ladders. I climbed anyway. I put someone ahead of me and someone behind and didn't mention my fears. I made it to the top heart pounding. I have pictures to prove it. One is looking back down the ladder to the tower operator - his head looks like a pin. This picture still hangs on my bathroom mirror to remind me to face my fears. I did not have to climb back down - they lowered the bucket.

That night everyone camped out except me. Ten minutes from home I was going to sleep in my own bed. Everyone one had dinner together and visited. This is when hubby arrived to visit a mutual friend of ours. I had met him a couple of times before when he was in uniform and thought he was a cocky SOB. LA said I should talk to him. Are you nuts? He has four kids! I went one way and he went another visiting people. I headed back to base camp to say good night. He was there looking damn hot in his jeans and cowboy hat. At 6'7" he is one hottie if I do say so myself. Then the cocky SOB started talking about his kids. Youngest was 4 at the time and he mentioned how her hair was so fine that he couldn't do anything with it. His mom had found some barrettes that actually stayed in her hair. He was so excited by this and I just melted. We ended up talking until 2 in the morning. I gave him a ride back to LA's house where he was spending the night.

The following week end LA had a picnic. Of course when I arrived the only other person she invited was hubby. LA's husband ate and left for work. About midnight LA went in and left us sitting by the bon fire. At one point I looked at my watch and said that if I went home and showered I could make it to work on time. And we've been together ever since.