She's here!! She's here!! Yay!

We picked her up with perfect timing! Then we went to "Outback" for dinner. Mom had what she called the "Perfect Margarita"! Dinner was great & we were full. They even sang happy birthday to her. Yay!

This morning I have a short list of things to do and then we are on our way. I can't wait.

You might not hear from me again for a little while. I'll take lots of pictures though!!

Love to all!
Me

Good morning all! I hope this finds you all healthy & happy this morning. It's hump day!! Yay, the week is half over!

I didn't really sleep last night. Up until 1:30 I just tossed and turned. After 1:30 I did finally go on to sleep. I don't seem any worse for the wear this morning. I am sure it will catch up with me later. I would have thought after all that work yesterday that I would have slept like a baby... but I didn't. I thought about everything under the sun... as usual. I didn't get up, like I normally would, I just wanted to be laying down & as comfortable as I could be. I even feel wide awake this morning. Something good is about to happen. It's like Christmas morning before you get into the living room to see all that Santa brought! Part of that feeling is because Mom is coming in today and that's really enough for me.

So today I am planning on taking it a little easier than I did yesterday. That was a rough day! But I must say it paid off because everything looks great. I am not any more uncomfortable today from all of it than I have been on any other day... so that's a good sign. What I hope to accomplish today is to situate the office in such a way that I can still get to what I need to get to, have room for the puppies & be able to stack boxes in there. We shall see how that goes. Additionally I would like to pack up the spare bedroom closets today. I have a box O'Shit that needs to go away, so I'll find some place to take that today too. I need to go to CVS and pick up a prescription, so I'll do that then too, two birds with one stone so to speak.

Mom will be here this evening! I can't wait. We will go pick her up around 6:30 and she's scheduled to arrive at 6:53 I believe. We will probably have to pick something up for dinner on our way home. Then we will do our best to settle down & get some sleep. The plan is to get up with Tancy tomorrow morning, have coffee & then head to the airport to pick Carol up (she gets in at 10:51, no I am not kidding) the airport in WILMINGTON!! Anyway, from there we will head to the beach house. I absolutely cannot wait! I always enjoy time with Mom & to be at the beach on top of that, well, that's just freakin' awesome... AND celebrating her 50th birthday, it really just doesn't get much better! Tancy & Sandy (if Sandy can get out of work) will be there for the weekend. They & Carol will leave at the end of the weekend and then I have her all to myself for a few days. I plan on doing whatever Mom wants to do, I mean, she is turning 50! And she really doesn't get to go to the beach often, even though she loves it. So, I am planning walks on the beach in the mornings and evenings. We will see what she wants to do though.

I do wish that some of those we love dearly were able to join us. Casie & Marlie, Aunt Jan.... they are at the top of the list... I wont name any more names because there are many and if I leave someone out I'll feel like a horses ass! They will be with us in our hearts and I'll take many pictures to share with them.

I'm just excited. Today is one of those days when you can feel that something good is coming. It's almost tangible. I don't know what it is, but its coming full force and I think its gonna be big! We shall see. For now I am focused on one day at a time, I don't want to miss any of the good stuff thinking about Mom leaving or who can't be at the beach. I just want to soak it all in and file it away for when I am missing her. Now if I could just get time like that with Pops it'd be all good!

Ok, so this morning I'll make the bed, put away pajamas, generally pick up and put away. I need to clean the skillet I cooked bacon in last night & wipe down the stove. Then I need to do any remaining dirty clothes and begin in the office and then bedroom closets. It will be another busy day, just not back breaking like yesterday.

Alright ladies, I know you are reading my blogs, looking at my pictures.... but you aren't blogging.... you aren't even leaving comments! Get with the program, I want to see something from you.

Love to all!
Me

Hello all. It is currently 1:13 and I am taking a quick break, blogging and then getting back to the floor. 

So far this morning I have managed to get the grass cut, the 3 wheeler in the back of the truck (it isn't running & I did it by myself... are you impressed?!) and I used the blower on the carport, driveway, front porch, front porch steps, walkway & back porch, I loaded the hammock stand in the back of the truck too, I cleaned the puppies water bowl & got them fresh water, I moved the patio table & chairs, removed all of the trash from the back deck, swept and polished the back two bedrooms floor AND came up with a very inventive way to keep the puppies off of the porch for now. (This involved moving the picnic table by myself, hence the break.)

I still need to finish the floor. I am working on the hard wood to start and then I will move to the tile. I also need to figure out where to put the boxes of things already packed. If I knew we would sell our house (and be in the new house) before Thanksgiving I would take down the bed in the front bedroom and use it. But I don't know that and I really want my family NOT to stay in a hotel or make other arrangements. So, I will probably use the "office" as storage for now. When I have packed so much that I have outgrown that room I will reevaluate my packing!! LOL.

Oh, did I tell you that we have 3 - 18 gallon totes full of books?! Who even knew we could read?! LMAO!! I knew we had quite a few books, but I didn't think we had that many. I have this thing about having books. I don't want to get them from the library, I want to buy them... then if I want to reread them or give them to someone to read I can. If it takes me 3 months to read a book, no worries. To me, for whatever reason, there's alot of value to having books.

I slept like a rock last night. I hope I sleep that good again tonight. I am exhausted by the end of the day... but we all know that doesn't always mean sleep. My body is adjusting to the work load, it still aches, but its getting better. I sweat like a hog though! Man, my shirt is soaked within just a few minutes of beginning work & I have sweat dripping off the end of my nose. It's gross. I mean, I guess you could say I don't have any toxins left in my body... but jeeze. I don't like to sweat that much!

So I have all our knickknacks, books and pictures packed up. Next I will start packing up anything in either of the spare bedrooms that we don't need. For example, if it isn't covers, sheets, pillows, pillow cases or blankets then we probably don't need it in that room. Then I can also use the closets for boxes. I also need to pack all our games. I am sure that I will be surprised with how many of those we have too. Especially since I just brought home a bunch from Louisiana. After that I am not sure what I will pack.... guess we will have to wait and see. I might be able to pack some bathroom stuff... but if I can pack bathroom stuff and not miss it, then I probably don't need it. (I suppose the same could be said about all of it, but pictures and knickknacks are different, so are books.) I am trying to cull as I am packing. Throw out trash and take the good stuff that we just don't need to Habitat or Goodwill. Here's the trouble I see with moving into a bigger place... you inevitably fill the extra space with more shit! I am going to try to avoid that... but if we live in the house for 20 years (rough estimate on retirement) then we will eventually be like most everyone else I know and have more stuff than we need. Ugh! I don't like being a consumer... I don't want to be materialistic.... I try not to be..... but I am only human and sometimes I am the things I don't want to be. Aren't we all?

Oh, did I tell you we've not had the air on in nearly two weeks now?! Some days, during the day its a little warm... but I am really proud of myself (I like it cold enough to hang meat). The nights, I manage, also proud of that... I usually have trouble getting comfortable if it isn't cool enough in the house. Tancy would prefer the air to be off all the time I think. I know I'll be glad of all the extra ceiling fans in the Monterey place... hopefully it'll help keep it cool without having to run the air alot. I do fine with the lights... if I never turned on a light in the house I would be fine... I'm fine with not turning on the TV... and I am fine with the heater... just enough to take the chill out of the air, I can wear sweat pants and a sweat shirt... but the heat, that's tough. I need the oven/stove, the coffee pot, a radio and air movement! I am also trying to do better about not using so much electricity. Wish me luck on that one.

Ok kids I really need to get the floor done. I would like to have a shower & be done with my chores at a reasonable time tonight. Have a great evening.

Love to all!
Me

Good morning all. I hope this finds everyone healthy & happy this morning. At least Monday is over! For me its just another day presenting with another opportunity to mark some things off the list. That is a good thing, even though that didn't sound like it, I am just tired.

I actually slept last night & got some relief from the back pain I've had for days now, thanks to Tylenol PM. I want to still be sleeping though. Today I am going to sweep the floor & then get outside and cut the grass. I need to be out of the house for a while today. Hopefully soak up some sunshine. Although it isn't accurate, I feel like I haven't left the house in weeks.

Yesterday was a very productive day. Mandy came over around 8:00 to help me in the house. We got everything done inside that was on my list: fans wiped down, hall walls, baseboards, clean out oven, clean out fridge, reorganize utility room, start packing miscellaneous items, Mandy even fashioned a skirt for the aquarium to hide the guts beneath it. Everything really looks great. Sandy came over and painted the back doors and front porch. I think she's coming back today for a second coat on the back doors and finish up the front porch. Tancy got the trim put down in the utility room when she got home. I took some building material items to Jenn and her rain barrel. Then I went to Heather & Sonia's to borrow their blower.

Once I got home we ate the roast I had put in the oven earlier. I didn't have any rice, so Tancy made mashed potatoes. It was pretty yummy for a throw together meal. Sometimes those are the best. Truly the great part about that roast was it took me 5 minutes to get it in the oven. I didn't brown it first like I usually do. I just seasoned the hell out of it, quartered 2 onions, added water and threw it in the oven. Pretty lean & really easy! It was yummy too.

After Sandy left we were up for a bit, but not for long. I took the very first shower in our bathroom with the new shower head and "set-up". It was fantastic. There's something really great about a shower. It seems to wash away the grime of the day... but also a bad mood. Sounds crazy I know. And I love a good soak, but that's a luxury to be honest.... a shower is more of a necessary thing, for me, at the end of a grueling day. I felt like a different person when it was all said and done... still tired, but much better attitude. Funny how the small things affect you the most. Then it was bedtime.

This morning I read Angies blog which has given me pause to ponder the current state of our governments finances. I do agree with her that we got ourselves into this mess. I also agree with her that we have to stop passing the buck. Everyone wants to blame someone else... we are like kids who just spilled juice on Mom's carpet, pointing the finger at a sibling or the dog, afraid to be in trouble. With that said, in accepting responsibility for it, we should also accept the repercussions of our actions. When you wrecked your Mom's car when you were 17, no one saved you... you paid the price, the ticket, the repairs... you suffered the consequences. This is really no different. We have wrecked the car and now we have to accept what comes next. We are all responsible, the regular everyday Joe like you and me AND Uncle Sam, Wall Street, Dear Mr. Bush. All of us. Now, I will say I have no clear idea of what would/will happen if there's no "Bail Out". But maybe, just maybe instead of remaining a nation that only produces debt we would get back to a nation that produces. Back to people who know how to raise a garden. Back to being ok with driving an older car with some dings instead of needing a new Caddy or Porche. Back to families that eat a home cooked meal together instead the drive through society we have become.

Just food for thought.

I have been doing some research on energy saving & "green" ideas. We haven't recycled that much here. I do put plastic bottles in a location to take for recycling. And most recently I took a 30 gallon garbage bag full of magazines to be recycled. I also try to take any "extra" grocery bags to recycling. I do use them as trash bags in the bathrooms & utility room. I have been keeping glass jars that had jelly and the like in them, washing them and figuring on reusing them later. I try not to "waste" water, turning it off while I am brushing my teeth, washing full loads of clothes & dishes. I wash our clothes on cold for energy conservation, only occasionally do I feel like I really need hot water to wash something. And I work hard to not throw away food, eat left overs, give food to friends if we aren't going to eat it and not buy what we don't need. But there are so many other things we could be doing. I think, when we move into our new home, that will be my resolve... to recycle more. To find & utilize energy saving tools (caulking windows & doors, compact bulbs, rain barrels, etc.) and learn how to live better.

I really can't think of anything else to report tomorrow. I am tickled shitless about tomorrow evening. I cannot wait!!

Oh, also, my sister contacted me yesterday asking for some input with something she's working to do differently. It wasn't life changing, but it made me so happy, to be involved in her life... for her to want my help. It is the small things in life, truly. I enjoy being there for her, sharing in her life however possible and helping out however I can. I have also been trying to be aware of opportunities to incorporate her in my life. Time has a way of changing relationships. It does so for a reason, even if we don't know what that is. I like to think that Casie's & my relationship is evolving to be even stronger. It is strained sometimes. I don't know if we always know how to relate to each other. Our lives are very different. She's straight, married and has a baby. They live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Nothing wrong with that, it can be quite comforting. Me... well, I'm not straight, living with my partner, trying to have a baby (clinical process) and living in a place where we don't know many people outside of our circle. They go to church, I don't even always know what I believe with regard to religion. She works hard and has to make sacrifices for her child and find a way to balance it all. I currently do not work. Our differences seem vast sometimes. However we are sisters, we know each other (when we don't get caught up in trying to know each other... I am speaking for me). We are both aware of ourselves, which isn't always a good thing. We worry about being "good" at something. And even though we don't put it out there, we worry about what people think. My sister is very precious to me. She has been since the day she was born. I can't explain it... but I don't ever remember being jealous of her as a kid... or having to share my parents with her... or the attention a new baby gets. I just remember wanting to hold her when she came home, wanting to help Mom take care of her. Wanting to just love her, protect her and for her to love me. I don't exactly know where I am going with this... it just made me happy for her to involve me in her life on a basic level. Again, it truly is the small things in life. I am so proud of her. Maybe my lesson to learn in our relationship is that I don't need to protect her, I can't hold her anymore... we are equals, adults and our relationship should reflect that. I thought it did, but maybe it hasn't. Something for me to think about.

Alright. I have gone on quite enough this morning. I need to get moving or I am going to be tempted to go back to sleep!! LOL. Have a great day!

Love to all!
Me

Good Monday morning all. I hope this finds you all well, healthy & happy. I am going to be optimistic that you all had a great weekend. It's early Monday morning, it feels alot earlier than it actually is since I wasn't asleep till midnight.

Today is another day full of work, but I think the house is looking good, I posted pics & videos... you tell me. Today will be detail day and packing. I think we have decided to use the "office" to store our packed items. We have moved some items (2 truck loads to be exact) to Mandy's, but we really don't want to have to move from two locations. The office is kind of useless space right now anyway with the kennels in there, so storing boxes would certainly make it useful again at least. Once we get to a certain point in packing we can put boxes in the bedroom closets, but we are a little way from that at this point. I am honestly hoping we don't have to try to live in a packed house for long.

There isn't too much else to report. I told you all about my plans last night. Work, work & more work. We did get some Mums for two pots that we have. They will go on the front porch for now. I still don't know where the hell I am going to put all my plants when its time to bring them in. If we are at the Monterey place it wont be an issue, if we are still here I am going to have to be creative.

Mom will be here Wednesday!! Yay!! It wont be till almost 7:00, but who cares?! She'll be here. That will give me one more day to scratch off a few items on the "To Do" list. I am hoping to knock quite a bit out today. Then go get the blower & pressure washer after taking some things to Jenn. That will scratch off one item and allow me to start on a couple more! Hopefully by Wednesday I will have those items scratched off. From then, it really should just be maintenance. Ah, I do need to make a run to the dump at some point too. See, I keep adding to the list!

Ok kids. I don't really have anything else to report. I am optimistic that alot of progress will be made today. And I am excited about the week! I hope you all have a great day today.

Love to all!
Me

Hello all. I am sure this wont find most of you until morning. It is 10:00 my time and yet again I find myself unable to sleep. I tried to sleep, but I laid in bed thinking of all the things I've yet to mark off of my "To Do" list. It seems like it just keeps growing.

Tomorrow Sandy will be here to paint the front porch for us. I am going to ask her if she will paint the back doors too. Mandy is coming over to help me out as well, so we will be cleaning & packing. Tomorrow evening I need to go over to Heather & Sonia's to get their blower and Sonia's Dad's pressure washer. Then Tuesday I will be washing the back deck, carport, etc.

Wednesday will be my last day to wrap up any last minute details before Mom gets here. I cannot wait!! I am going to soak up every second with her that I can. It seems like I have been waiting on this for some time now. I don't know what all the week at the beach holds for us, but I am looking forward to it. I do wish that Tancy could come with us for the full week, but it will be nice to have some one on one time with Mom. I don't know if anyone other than Tancy will join us for the weekend... but no matter, it will be a good visit for who ever shows up.

Tancy hasn't felt well all day. She's had a headache since she woke up & even with Naproxen it hasn't gotten better. She's sleeping as I type & I am hoping that when she wakes up in the morning she no longer has a headache.

I felt much better from a G.I. perspective today. Thank goodness! I don't think I could have taken another day like yesterday. I am sure that seems overly dramatic, but if today had been like yesterday I would have gone to Urgent Care at the very least.

I honestly don't have much of anything to report... just battling insomnia and trying to purge those pesky thoughts that keep me awake. I can't believe tomorrow is Monday already. It seems like just a few hours ago Tancy came home from work. I currently have a headache. I don't know if it is my own or a sympathy headache from Tancy... strange as that may sound, I do that sometimes... have sympathy pains for Tancy.

Why is it that when I sit here to type I can go minutes without anything to type out, but as soon as I go back to bed a million and three will flood my mind?! I suppose I can thank my Mom for that! Haha.

We went to Mandy's this afternoon with another truck load of shit. We hung out for a while & I cooked dinner. Mandy had to work, so about the time she got in from work it as done. Beef Stroganoff. It was pretty good. I kinda wish I had some now. We stayed and visited with Mandy for a bit & then headed home. Tancy was feeling pretty crappy and I was tired too. Once we got home we had a few things to do here and then we got baths and on to bed. Tancy was asleep by 9:30 and here I sit... waiting for sleep to come. I didn't think I missed my window, but maybe I did. I hate not being able to sleep.

On the two week wait there isn't much to report. I am nauseous each and every day. It comes in waves. Luckily I am not throwing up or anything, just feel like I am going to. This afternoon I started cramping, like when you are expecting your period to start, only its way too early for that yet... but that's the only way I know to describe it. I have gotten a little better at identifying my moods...but not necessarily at controlling them. Ther really isn't much else to be honest. I really haven't even had time to think that much about it. That is a good thing.

Ok, I am not going to bore you anymore with my insomniac rambling. I hope you are all resting well, comfy in your beds.

Love to all!
Me

Good Sunday morning all. I hope you are all doing well. Hopefully enjoying this Sunday morning with a good cup of coffee and starting your day slowly.

Yesterday Tancy worked on the floor and I worked on not shitting my pants. I don't know what was wrong, other than a ridiculous bout with IBS, but it was a tough day. I had so hoped to get alot accomplished... lets just say that went down the drain... pun intended. Tancy got the living room floor done, it looks really good. I managed to get the kitchen picked up from dinner Friday night & Saturday morning grilled cheese. We got boxes and the threshold for our bathroom and a few little grocery items.

We got a text from Sonia & Heather around 3:00 I think, to come over there for dinner & some music playing. We agreed, a night out of the house is what we needed! Especially with friends, food, laughter and music. We had a great time. We had some political conversation, which I am finding I enjoy. We laughed alot... I think we all have our own stressful situations going on & we have all been struggling with bad attitudes, so it was good to blow off some steam for all of us. Tancy, Sandy, Angie & Heather played guitar. Sonia, Crystal & Heather played percussion. I sang some.

Mostly I suffered the second half of the day with horrific reflux. I had done all I knew to do to help it... but nothing was working & it was even making my stomach feel like I'd been punched. We ended up leaving earlier than we expected, 11:00 I think, because I was so miserable. I hated to leave, but I really was hurting. We came home, got in our PJ's and got in bed. We watched SNL and I tried to get comfortable and get some relief. Around 12:00 it did finally start easing and I went to sleep.

I was awake this morning around 7:00. I got up and fed the dogs, made coffee and decided to catch up on my emails and blogging. So, here I am. I am feeling better this morning. Hopefully I can get quite a bit done today, I need to pack, clean & reorganize. There still seems to be so much to do. I would like it, if the weather clears today to do some things outside even. I've been feeling a little cagey.

We are going to take a load of stuff over to Mandy's this afternoon when she gets in from work & then we will have dinner with her. I think we are going for a walk or bike ride too, that will be nice, stretch our legs, get some fresh air and hopefully clear our heads.

This week coming I will continue to work around the house, getting things we don't need on a regular basis packed & keeping everything nice and tidy. The lady that we are talking to about our mortgage says that we are in a good price range and that the houses here have been moving pretty fast, she did most of the original loans on the houses in our subdivision. She said "Your house is going to sell fast". I said "From your lips to Gods ears". What is meant to be will surely be. All that's left to do now, other than continue to work our asses off in the house, is wait and see.

It's 8:30 and Tancy is still sleeping. She was up early yesterday so I'll let her sleep today. She's been going to work and then coming home and working. I know she has to be tired. She's also been putting up with me... and I've been putting up with her... lol. That's enough to wear you down right there.

Alright kids, I think that's about all I've got for now. I hope you all have a great day today.

Love to all!
Me

Hello all! I hope this finds you all doing well on this Friday evening.

The weather is lovely here. It's grey, cool (62 degrees) and raining. Has been raining all day. Sometimes just a fine mist and other times quarter size drops. It's a gloomy day for sure. Good news is my mood has improved some, so the weather isn't bothering me too much at the moment.

So I'll give you a recap of my day so far... I got moving early this morning, not my typical 8:30 that's for sure. I started with general "picking up" around the house. Then I moved to folding clothes and from there to packing up items in the back bedroom. I managed to get everything put together the way it needed to be in time to go for a second look at the Monterey property. That is what I will be calling it from now on, make a note! LOL.

Tancy passed her test today, she only missed one!! Go Tancy!! So she called on her way home, needed to get gas & there was a line. This is becoming a trend here. I don't know if people are just idiots or gas stations are just bending us over a barrel (pun intended), but this is really getting ridiculous. Anyway! So we decided it was best for us to meet her at Monterey. Mandy & Steve were already almost here, no problem. More than half way there she called and said that the station was in fact out of gas & people were waiting in line, apparently, on a truck to get there so they could get gas. She wasn't going to sit and wait. She met us at Monterey. Mandy & Steve had picked up McDonald's so we sat in the car, in the rain and ate our lunch.

Linda, our Realtor, wasn't too far behind and we were able to get the lock on the gate open this time! Yay! We drove back. The drive is pretty good, soft in places, so we will need some rocks (more an observation in the rain & mental note than anything you really care to know... alot like everything else in my blogs now that I think about it. LOL). We walked around the house again, noticed a few things that need to be checked out told Linda, made mental notes. Tancy & Steve went under the house and checked out the "crawl space", which is taller than the ceilings in any normal home (14 feet at its tallest point). Steve is about 6' 4" and he can stand upright clear to the middle of the crawl space... so that's pretty good. The floor joists run the way we want them to, so that's good. All the stabilizing requirements are there too.

After that Tancy, Linda & I headed to the house and Mandy & Steve headed to Shelby for his D.O.T. physical. Once we got home we started going over all the paperwork, fees, costs, percentages, dates, time frames, blood type, city we were born in... Ok, I am making that up... but it feels like you cover all kinds of crap. We signed the listing agreement and then started working on our offer for Monterey. Wow... I mean we have been working all week to get to this point... but some things are just surreal. Anyway, we feel good about it all. Just really hope & pray that it all moves quickly. Pops keeps making jokes about having Thanksgiving in a shelter and shit... its funny, he's funny, but it sticks to the back of my mind sometimes and I worry about it all working out like we want it to. Thanksgiving is a big deal this year. Our families will meet for the first time (let me remind you we have been together 4.5 years), we will exchange bands, my last name will change, and I turn 30 (Tancy, equally important, turns 37)! I want everything to work out for those plans, no matter which house we are in.

Tancy's cooking dinner for me tonight. Sausage, potatoes & onions. I can't wait, it sounds yummy and is already smelling good. We are taking a break tonight from our break neck pace. We both need it. We are run down, worn out & over it. So, we can recharge tonight and hit it again hard tomorrow. I need to go get more boxes and paper to wrap breakable items. I will start that process again tomorrow and Tancy will work on the floors. We also have to take the rest of the shit in the yard to Mandys. I have yet another list of items to attend to... we'd just cleared the first list. I anticipate repetition of this ritual until we sell the house.

I realized today, possibly for the first time, that we have a nice house. We have worked hard & it looks good. It's comfortable and homey... however with the wood floors and tile it could be a show house if someone so chose. We don't chose that... although I guess it will be that as long as it's on the market... we like to live in our house. I am hating that there's virtually no personalization right now. There are, in fact, things in place that neither of us like...but it's what we have to do to sell it. I think Linda is cautiously optimistic about its listing and subsequent sale. We've worked really hard, both over the nearly three years we have lived here and in the last week, to make it an appealing home. Not to mention the way we are listing it, we are offering closing costs, a home warranty, the remaining time paid on the alarm system, the fridge, washer & dryer... oh and we will also pay for a pre-inspection to show not only our motivation but that it is sound & there are no repairs to be made (or have been made). I honestly don't know what else we could do to make it more attractive!

We talked about how we go from one house to the other seamlessly. I don't really want to have to move everything twice. We will have to talk to the lender about that in order to work it out. But she said it is possible. So we will talk to the lender about it and make it happen.

Oh! Is everyone watching the debate tonight? For once I am looking forward to watching a Presidential debate. I am interested to hear them talk on the issues... I wonder if they will talk about the "bail out". Last I heard they haven't come to an agreement on a "plan". I hope they don't. Here's another question for you... How in the hell are we going to give these companies all this money when we, the government, are already trillions of dollars in debt? Am I the only one that thought process doesn't make sense to?! How can I loan you money if I am in the red?! We shall see how the debate goes and what they talk about... I doubt that much of anything could happen tonight to change how I will vote, but its good to be informed.

Mom & I had a great, political, conversation today. That's fairly unusual. I don't usually talk politics with my family. We have differing views you might say. It's just not worth the argument. I respect that we feel differently and different issues are important to us, that's what this country was founded on. And hey, stand for something, know what that is and why you believe in it... it doesn't matter if people agree or disagree... nothing pisses me off more than a politically opinionated person who is only parroting what someone else has told them.

Ok, off that soap box. You already know what we will be doing this weekend. Fun!! But what I haven't mentioned in a while that Mom will be here on Wednesday! Yay! I absolutely cannot wait!! A week at the beach is probably just exactly what I need... but that is really secondary to spending a week with my Mom. Coffee in the mornings on the deck. I can smell the salty air now!

Alright kids I really should wrap this up. I hope you all have a great evening!

Love to all!
Me

Good morning all. I hope this finds everyone well. No doubt looking forward to the end of the day already!

My blog today will probably lack my usual "oomph". I am exhausted. We have been working our asses off in the house & there seems to be no end. As a matter of fact, I will type out this blog, get dressed, brush my teeth & start again. My body hurts, I haven't been feeling well, allergies, headache, just general yuckiness. I called Dr. Teaff's office yesterday to find out what I could take for a migraine, Tylenol PM is about it... so last night, in an effort to shake off the headache, the body aches and just get some rest I took a dose of Tylenol PM. Wow, I probably shouldn't have done that.... This morning I just want to go back to bed. I can't though, there's just too much to be done today before Linda gets here. I don't know how I can keep this pace up for much longer. I sat in the tub last night, trying to loosen up my tense aching muscles and cried. No, I am not insane, just stretched past the point. I don't have much left to give physically, mentally or emotionally. There's just too much going on.

On the pregnancy watch during the 2 week wait there isn't too much to report. I have been cramping. My boobs look huge (bet ya wanted to know that!) and already tender. I am moody, and who knows if that is hormonal or situational at this point...... Yesterday I had some spottingish kinda stuff. Nauseous like last time, which really just sucks! Tired, but again, who knows if it is hormonal or situational. Of course, at this point, just a few days after IUI none of this really means anything. I am thankful that I am ridiculously busy for one reason, it keeps me from focusing on "T" day (test day), any (possible) symptoms or signs, and just the entire process in general. I thought about it yesterday for the first time since Tuesday because of the headache and needing to find out what I could take. Reach doesn't want me taking anything I couldn't take if I were pregnant... and they could possibly be more strict given the drug interactions possible with the fertility meds I am taking.

I am sick of the political propaganda on TV. Everyone wants you to believe their lies, their spin, their promises. It's all mud slinging and attacks. The focus isn't on what they stand for, what they want to do, what they are about... it's on the other guy and his faults, mistakes & dirty secrets. I don't think it is any secret I will be voting for Obama, but honestly, listening to some of the TV ads and even interviews... it's like being back in High School. I realize, at this point, it really is a popularity contest more than anything... lets face it, we don't know the truth to say that we vote for what people stand for (for the most part). But can't we grow up? Let's talk facts, be adults and let the people decide. And what's with educated, intelligent adults buying into the hype?! It's like Dad told me when I was a kid, believe nothing you hear & only half of what you see. If you apply that to politics it certainly eliminates alot of the bullshit. Of course, I am sure there's a Republican out there who would say that I am delusional if I think Obama will be a good. I am talking about the hype from both sides... everyone does it. No matter which side you are on, we are all drinkin' the kool aide!

Enough about that. I am honestly sick of politics. We got the kitchen painted yesterday, I suppose I should say that Tancy got it painted since that is the truth. This morning I need to put the house back together (once again we tore it up getting things done) and pack the nick nacks in the back bedroom. I also need to generally tidy up and organize again. The floor needs to be done & we have another truck load of stuff to take to Mandy's.

At 12:00 today we meet Linda at the other property, take a look around, really look at the house, walk around the property and give ourselves one last look before we make a contingency offer. Then we will head home and take care of all the paper work to list our house & take pictures to put up with the listing.

Not too much else to report. I hope you all have a great day. I have about 30 minutes (I have given myself) to just chill out & finish my coffee before I really need to get moving & bust ass to get it all done in time.

I do have a question for you all and I would really LOVE some input on this one. What do you think about this "bail out" plan? Are you for it or against it and why? I don't understand all the details... but from what I do understand (again, very little) I think all that money would be better served helping us, the citizens, who are having trouble. When we get into financial trouble Uncle Sam doesn't step in to bail us out, why should big business be any different?

Ok, that's it for me today. Have a great Friday.

Love to all!
Me

Good Thursday morning all. How are you all this fine Thursday morning?

I am doing well. Yesterday I worked under the house all day. But, when it was all said & done we got it fairly organized and cleared out. We took a load of trash to the dump. We also got our aquarium to Pail to set up at his shop. I have a load in the back of the truck to take to Mandy's this morning. I am constantly amazed at how much shit two people can have! I sneezed so much yesterday and more again today... my back hurt so bad last night I went to sleep with a cold pack on my back... in addition to the sneezing, I am itchy.... I guess there's something under the house that my body doesn't like.... and we were both fairly crabby yesterday before it was all said and done.

When we got back from taking the aquarium to Paul it was around 5:00. Mandy was on her way over to the house we hadn't had dinner yet. So I started heating our dinner up. Just as Tancy and I were eating our dinner Mandy drove up. Perfect timing!! We all ate and then went for a walk. It was wonderful weather for a walk. We took all three dogs. They did pretty well surprisingly. We try to take them when we can, they'll never get better if we don't keep working with them.

We came back home and sat for a minute and visited. Then Mandy headed home & we got our baths. It was off to bed after that. We watched another episode (we are behind) of Bill Maher. He's interesting, intelligent & informed on political matters. He's also funny! I don't like to watch him alot... like one episode a day is enough... but he is informative.

Alright kids, I have a ton of running to do today; take the truck load of stuff to Mandy's, home and tape off the kitchen, start "touch ups", load the truck with another run for Mandy's, take out the trash, wash off the front porch, pick up the last items off the back porch, sweep out the carport, do the dishes, do the laundry.... it's quite a list today. Tomorrow the house will be "on the market"! So, everything has to be ready for that.

I hope you all have a great day today!

Love to all!
Me

P.S. Oh, and did I mention we have a gas shortage here?