Camera Ready!

Last week, I got a very early birthday present. A brank spankin' new digital camera. It is the first digital camera I have ever owned. Behind the times? Yes, I am aware of that. But...I am still very excited!

The first time it got any use was last Sunday at my friend Molly's (Lost a Sock) son KJ's 4th birthday bash.

Here he is (with his Auntie Santy) opening a box of Teddy Grahams I bought him (not the only gift!)

Glad he was so pleased with a box of cookies!


And here is my baby, my godson Jack. I can't believe he is 9 months old already!

Isn't he just adorable!!


So all week I have been trying to get used to the camera, because I have 2 big events this weekend to use it for. I am going to yet another Toby Keith concert. (Love his concerts!) And my good friend is being installed as pastor of the parish I used to work previously and am helping out at again.

In trying out all the various, exciting functions on the camera, I decided to take a couple pictures of myself, too. One before my haircut



and one AFTER


the new haircut I just got today. (Please ignore the fact that I decided to try out my camera minus any semblance of makeup!) I kind of like it, but wanted it a bit shorter still. Oh well.

Wish me luck for taking good pics this weekend. I'll share some after the events!

Wake Me Up When September Ends

This song by Green Day kind of became my summer song. With everything going on with my grandma, I kind of set my sights set on the end of September, thinking/hoping that all this would be over by then.

Well here we are, September 26, and it does not look like it will be over anytime soon. She is still weak, in pain a lot, not walking much (after yet another fall 2 weeks ago), and not eating much at all.

I quit my job at the beginning of August to take care of her. Sometimes I wonder if that was the right thing to do. I always told myself that if the time came, that I would do just what I did. And now, if it were just her being sick and me needing to take care of her, I really don't think I would have a problem with it much at all. But all the other "crap" that comes along with it is what gets to me...the her not wanting to eat/me trying to force her to eat something; the not wanting to try to walk/me forcing her to walk a little so as to not get blood clots, bed sores, etc; the her being depressed all the time and getting mad at ME for being the one trying to get her to do this stuff...I could go on and on.

There are times when I seriously think I may be losing my mind. I feel myself getting so angry at her - not for her not being able to do something, but for the attitude she has about everything and towards me, especially. I find myself physically getting so upset - yelling, wanting to throw things, etc. I guess I am just looking for some re-assurance that I am not a horrible person for feeling this way. I guess a person can only take so much.

Along with that, since quitting the job I had, I look for meaningful things to do to keep me busy, especially things in line with what my background is - working in ministry. I crave this, I think, because I need to feel like I am accomplishing something, something that has immediate results, appreciation, and can somehow make me feel like I still valuable at what I know I can do.

While I am not a stay at home mom, I AM a stay at home caretaker. I feel that the sacrifice, dedication, and choice I made is very similar. So I honestly think that I struggle with many of the same issues. Feeling cooped up, unappreciated, wanting to contribute to the world (not just the laundry room or sickbed), missing the career world and interacting with everyone, and just plain getting fed up at times.

So please, I know some of you stay at home (and working) moms - and others - probably have some words of wisdom to share. So please do...!

Dancing with the Stars begins

Well the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" is in full force now, with the first week behind us.

Most of the performances were pretty good, no real stand outs I thought. What I am glad about is that one of my favorite singers, Sara Evans, will be back to try again next week after her less than stellar performance on the dancefloor. It wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't that good either. She got the second to lowest score from the judges. I have to pull for her, even if she wasn't all that great as the show started. Hopefully she will improve.

Other than that, I think that Mario Lopez probably has the best shot at it this season.

And after these first couple of shows I have realized something: that if it were not for his immoral, ridiculous, spawn of Satan, MADE UP show, I would like Jerry Springer, as a person.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fall!

And we all know that FALL means the beginnings of the TV shows we all know and love. A new blog friend of mine is talking all about her Grey's Anatomy, so I figured I would show my love for "The Office."

When I first saw an episode, I really couldn't get into it. But after I saw "The Forty year Old Virgin" (a pretty gross-at-times, yet extremely funny movie) with Steve Carell - star of "The Office" I got into it. He's the reason I started watching, but the developing relationship between Jim and Pam is what keeps me watching.

And I have a theory about THE KISS they had in the last episode last season. Now I could be completely wrong, and I HOPE I AM, but if I am RIGHT, I need to know I shared it with someone else who can attest to my being right.

Right after they kissed, it looked like Pam said something to Jim with no audio and his mouth dropped open a little. My theory is that she is pregnant with her fiance's baby. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

Here is a website with a video of the scene if you want to look at it for yourself, or just to re-live that precious moment again! The kiss is the first YouTube video and the bottom one is a musical montage of scenes of Pam and Jim.

Enjoy - and only 13 days until the new season begins - AND next Thursday they are replaying the final episode from last season, so you can look at that again too!

Tomorrow I will write about another of my favorite shows that I'm obsessed with - Dancing with the Stars!

BACK FROM THE DEAD?????????

Hi All!

I know that a crazy few of you still check my blog periodically to see if I have blogged at all since last MAY! Well, for those who know me well, it has been quite crazy here since May. Short version: my grandma who raised me was in and out of the hospital several times, has now gotten to the point of needing constant care, I resigned from my job to take care of her, and that is what I am doing. So my blogging fell a little by the wayside.

But I had a day 2 days ago, that in the midst of it, I couldn't help but think: THIS DAY IS SO BLOG WORTHY! So that will be my entry back into blogging - which I hope I can keep up doing.

Monday 7am:
Arrive at Kinkos to buy special paper that I needed to print special things. Was there Sunday too and was charged 18 cents per paper. NOW the man behind the counter wants to charge me 29 cents per paper. Oh no no! I tell him. He said it was different paper than day before. I said, well I asked for same stuff. Thank God my receipt from day before was still in my car (being a messy person works out for once?) and eventually he agreed he was wrong and I was right and he charged me for only 50 sheets at 18 cents rather than the 75 sheets I actually walked away with. (You know if everyone would just agree AT THE BEGINNING that I am right and they are wrong, things would always just be so much easier, ya know?)

Monday 8:43am
Arrive at McDonalds drive thru. Politely let another car who arrived just before me go ahead of me. When I saw the man weighed about 600 POUNDS however I thought, aw shit I'll be waiting in line forever! I placed my order and then sat there for 6 minutes waiting, not for the car right ahead of me to get his order, but the car ahead of HIM. After 6 minutes, I laid on my horn and when the girl came to the first window, I said, "Couldn't that guy pull off to the side and wait? I'm SURE MY order (of ONE Egg McMuffin) is ready?" She said no. I said, OK then just give me a refund. She said, "It's OK, it's ready now." So the car waiting there got their order and drove off, the guy right ahead of me got his and drove off immediately, and then I get right up there. I was handed my Coke (which did NOT have the "easy ice" I asked for) and then the person walked away from the window. When a different guy came to the window, I said, "You guys HAVE to move faster than this!" He asked me if I'd move OFF TO THE SIDE TO WAIT FOR MY ORDER, I said, "I'm not going anywhere!" I said I asked for a refund but was told it was ready. He said, "Is that what you want, a refund?" I said, "No - I want my food." About another minute went by and I finally got it - 10 minutes after placing the order.
A chicken could have laid an egg in the time it took me to get my McMuffin!

Monday 9am:
Arrive at church to do weekly money counting. Cannot get in for 25 minutes because the guy was was supposed to let us in (since it was Labor Day and the office was closed) was not there.

Monday 2:10pm:
Arrive at movie theater to see movie - Talladega Nights. As I am in line for ticket I look up at the board..."Movies Sold Out: Talladega Nights 2:10"

Monday 3:45pm:
Arrive at Officemax to have printing order completed. As I get there they cut the papers - all CROOKED (until I stop her). At first CopyMax person says nothing can be done for me to make up for HER MISTAKE of RUINING most of these. I will not take no for an answer, go to manager and stand with him for AN HOUR as he does his best to straighten out all the cards the other person cut crooked.

Monday 5:30pm:
Arrive home, at least in one piece, but with chest pain from the ANXIETY all day long!



So there! How's that for making up for lost time?