So, How do you like the pics? Favorite Christmas trees

Well tell me what do you think?  Have you ever had Christmas trees as great as mine?  These are my two favorites!  There are stories behind them.

The one on the top of the page is from 2006 - I think - we were not going to have Christmas at home.  Now I had never gone anywhere for Christmas before.  But in that year we had decided to go to our son and daughter-in-laws house for Christmas.  My husband was about to deploy and the kids thought it would be nice if we all had Christmas together.  As it got closer to the day, Chipper did not understand why we were not putting a tree up.  We told him over and over that Jona and Cooper were putting a tree up.  Being the autistic, CD little boy that he was, that was not good enough.  A few days before we were to leave he went outside to play with the dog.  After a few minutes went by we heard some noise at the door; I could not believe what I saw when I opened the door.  Here was my son standing there with this good sized limb from the lilac brush in his hands - it was almost half of it! 

Michael was right behind me to see this.  I was furious, before I could say anything chipper says look I got us a tree now Santa can find us.  Michael was whispering in my ear, do not be mad he meant well.  It was the cutest thing ever!!! 

So I went out and got a flower pot to put it in; Michael got sand, we stood it up and decorated it!!!  Chipper just could not understand not being home for Christmas and he was afraid if Santa did not find him at his brother's house and we did not have a tree then he would get nothing for Christmas that year!!!  It was great, and we loved the tree!

Now that you have all had a great laugh, have a great day,
Just me

How The Grinch Stole Christmas unemployed and Santa is Coming

Not much going on at our home today.  Let's see I still do not have a job (boo hoo), I missed How the Grinch Stole Christmas a couple of nights ago, it was on when I was in class - sad face.  My presentation about Castro is done - yea!  When it got to my time to present it last night, the professor dismissed the class; I was like noooooooooo please let me get it over with!  He said he thought I would be a good one to start with next week.  Oh well, I am good to go. 

So what has everybody been up to? 

The cat just spilled his water all over the floor; he is so funny when you give him water if he can see his reflection, he will spill the water trying to get at the other cat.  It truly is funny to watch him do this.  Because of this I never give him much water at a time; instead he gets small amounts all day. 

YES!!!  They just said that tonight Santa Claus is Coming to Town is going to be on, yes oh yes yes; that is awesome!!!  Yes I am crazy and love Christmas shows, I do not care that I am totally broke; it does not matter, all is good!

I have rambled about a whole lot of nothing this morning.

Have a Great Day,
Just Me

Nov. 30, 2010 Did Anyone See the Story About Facebook on GMA?

Did anyone see the story this morning about Facebook on Good Morning America?  OK well they did not come out and say it is evil, like my husband says, but they might as well have.  There was not one good thing said about facebook in the story.  It talked about how the flirting starts out innocently enough, but what happens when you do not put a stop to it.  Okay well my husband is not crazy; I know some of you may still think so, but that would be for different reasons - like when he keeps saying to someones dog "who is the big sweetie" in that crazy voice. 

Now I know facebook is what you do with it, I get that; but there is something to this.  So be careful with what you do, it can get away from you. 

Of course I did not get my homework done yesterday; my ADD does not let sit for very long at a time.  I did get it close though.  Maybe a couple more hours, then I will need to practice it since it is an oral presentation.  Maybe I will luck out and I will not get picked tomorrow night to do mine, maybe I will have another week.  That's what I need, lol

Have a Great Day,
Just Me

Nov 29, 2010 Today is About Fidel Castro, and Immunizations

Yes that is right today for me is all about Fidel Castro.  I have an assignment due on Dec 1st about him.  I have to give it as an oral presentation, yuck.  I have been putting this assignment off for months and now it is due, oh boy, I guess I should actually do it - it is hard to fake an oral report.  If you ever have to study the man you will understand why there are so many Cubans in our country that risked their lives to get here; think about the ones that try to get here yet do not make it.  they have good reason to want to live their home land. 

Homework, yuck!  All most done with this semester; not quite done yet though, blah.  Not registered for classes yet for next semester.  My program classes will not be a problem, but I may have to wing the others.  Why is this you ask, well that is a funny story.  It seems there is a law in this state that only applies to the State universities.  You have to have your shot records, I am like are you serious!  Do they not know how old I am?  Do you have a clue how hard it was for me to track this down?  Well guess what, I did not have the shots; no I had the diseases.  Well that is not good enough to cover this law, I have to have the shots!  Until I do, I can not register for classes. LOL  Is that not funny!!!  It is a serious of shots and I get the last one in a couple of weeks.  It turns out I am not the only student at the University of IL who had the mumps and measles as a kid that now has to get shots, because some law makers in our state thinks they are smarter then doctors who say 'you do not need the shots, you have the immunities", what do they know the law makers who probably spent a pretty penny to make this law knows best.  The whole thing is funny, yet not so funny on my bank account.  Insurance does not cover immunizations for adults and it turns out they are not cheap.  But I bet I do not get the measles ever again!

Have a great day everybody,
Just Me

Nov 28, 2010 Home

All right I know I have been off here for a couple of days.  Went up north to my sister's birthday party.  we had much fun!  Surprised chipper at his great-grandma's house and celebrated his b'day also.  We had packed in a lot this weekend; glad to be home now.  I guess everybody under the sun also had decided to go away this weekend (no TSA that way), the roads coming home were packed.  All most like the mall yesterday!  Wow that was a crazy place to have gone over this weekend. But Shelby found her shoes and we got to see Terri's grandbabies sit on Santa's lap, so cute and he was not a weird Santa at all.  The kids told me his beard is real!  Oh cool is that, they were excited.  That was my boring weekend; what did you all do?

Nov 26, 2010 Happy Birthday Terri

Happy Birthday Terri Lynn!!!  Terri is the baby in the pic here.  If you know Terri tell her Happy Birthday!  This is a big one today, the first one of us kids to make it to this age, I am not saying what year though but her birth year ended in a zero.  Well, Happy Birthday!

Just Me

Thanksgiving 2010 Time For Lasagna

Well Thanksgiving is here; I got to sleep in this morning kinda nice.  Got up and made French toast for everyone.  Did you watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade?  We did, I could hardly wait for Santa!  I was driving Chipper nuts with it - he was talking in his evil voice to me about Santa.  I told him Santa will not come to see him; now if you Chipper he is quite literal, if you have young children do let him talk to them about Santa.  Ssshhhhhhhhhhh.... do not tell Santa, but  (oh I am so  embarrassed to say this) he does not believe.  There I said it; it is awful, we try to keep that in the family.  Sometimes kids with autism can be rather interesting; he told me there is no way Santa could go everywhere in one night, then he told not to be so stupid!  Oh well, that's him.

I should get my Thanksgiving lasagna started.  Yes that is right, LASAGNA; I know who has lasagna for Thanksgiving, right.  Do not ask, it has to do with my sister's birthday and my husband.  Long story, just remember husband's sometimes are babies - please do not tell him I said that one. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Just Me

Day Before Thanksgiving

Wow it is the day before Thanksgiving and is the weather crappy all over the country or is it just here?  I went out a little early to start the car; good grief it was windy, rainy and ice all over the car.  I hate it when it gets icy here; they do not do anything with the roads, they just wait for mother nature to take its course.  In other words they wait for it to melt.  I do not have any classes this week, just the kids do; but my first eight miles are the worst of it when it gets icy.  Those eight miles can be treachous.  Maybe this will be all we get, yes!  I am dreading the drive this winter to Springfield; who knows though maybe it will be a mild winter.

The first winter we were down here was incredibily mild.  On Christmas day we were out here playing ball in the yard in shorts and tees.  I have a funny story about that day; the house down the road had two hunting dogs.  Well down the road by the woods someone hit a deer; the dogs stayed there for days protecting the kill - what they are trained to do.  They would look at you when you would drive by like hey someone come help us, we want to go home.  Finally they started dragging it towards their home; this is where it really starts to get funny.  After dragging it a little ways one of the dogs pulled off a hind leg; the dog did not drop it!  Instead he was walking around with it in his mouth whinning.  We were outside and he comes up to us like come on take it, calm it and all we did was laugh.  He did finally make it home and all was good!

Dropping the Kids off for School Nov. 23, 2010

Now I know you can not see this very well, sorry I took it with my cell phone.  Let me set the scene up here for you; I had just dropped Shelby off at school and I went over to the grade/jr. high.  I was dropping Chipper off at his door and the SUV in the picture came around me to go to the grade school.  Can you see what is on the back of it?  It is a deer a buck actually, it had just been shot and gutted this morning.  He is just hanging there on the back strapped on, how cool is that!  They got a buck today and still got the kids to school on time!!!  Yes!  How awesome of a place do I live in?!!! 

Have a Great Day,
Just Me

Bath & Body Works

So this weekend one of my daughters wanted to go to the movies with her friends, she was meeting them there.  The theater is in this little tiny mall about twenty five miles from our house.  With the price of gas I was not going to drop her off and go home; so I am like a teenager again "hanging out at the mall".  The problem with this was, one I was by myself, two our mall has less than ten stores in it.  Not much to pick from to hang out at.  So where did I go......

Bath & Body Works of course.  I think I sniffed and smelled every scent they had in the store.  Now I have to say some of their scents send me into an asthma attack.  Then there are some that when you smell them you just get all the warm fuzzy feelings, the scents take you back to all good and wonderful scents of all things good with the world.  Right now they have different colored Wallflowers; all different colors plus some that are for the holidays, like a snowman wallflower!  Very Cool!  Plus there are some new scents.

The sales people in the store probably thought I was nuts smelling and checking everything out in the store.  I did tell them I had a child at the movies with friends and was waiting for it to get over with.  The store had no customers; it was kinda fun cause they were telling me the scents they preferred and the ones they thought were not so good.  Well, I knew I was going to buy some new lotion my favorite is White Tea and Ginger; they do not carry it right now.  My next choice is Coconut Lime Verbena from their Signature Collection, I love this one it smells so good.  I thought though that maybe I would try something different.  This is where I started looking at and smelling everything in the store.  When I came to the Aromatherapy section; there were several different scents in that section I liked and I did not feel like my lungs were going to collapse from smelling them - never a good thing.  Then I smelled Orange Ginger, oh my gosh have you ever smelled this one?  It is the great!!!  I tried it, loved it, bought it!  I have it on right now, I just keep smelling my hands!

 I have to say I do like to make my own body butter, I will have to see if I can match this scent.  What is your favorite scent from Bath & Body Works, tell me please.  How could you not like this store, right.  I have to tell you I like the wallflowers for a good reason, I live in a very old house; it started out as just a little cabin and has been added on to.  There is no foundation underneath the house, it is just dirt; old dirt, old musty dirt.  We have gotten animals under there; we had skunks in the vents last year (man did we know it).  If I have a wallflower plugged in at the door it helps to cover up the odor of the dirt.  My house is an adventure to live in. 

That's it for now everybody; don't forget to tell me what your favorite scent is from Bath & Body Works is.

Have a Great Day,
Just Me

Nascar

I can not hardly speak about today's race, the last race of the season.  Ohhhhh Geeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz, I could hardly stand it.  Then the end; I am sorry I am so emotional about it I just can't talk about it today.  I was gonna post the pics of my Nascar and John Deere kitchen, today but.  It is a sad day.  All I can say is maybe next year, spoken like a Cubs fan.

Just Me

Charlie Tuna

To Charlie Tuna I say happy would be birthday!  Those of who knew my brother he was called that when he was young; today would be his 40th birthday.  Do any of you have any funny stories about him?  Feel free to share.

I had to give a speech on the anniversary of his death last year.  Now, if you knew my bother you know he was a true smart ass and I think he set me up in class.  I was one of four left to give my speech, now I could have easily given this speech without getting emotional, BUT the student who went in front of me gave such a tremendously emotional speech the whole class was shocked, there was not a person in the class with dry eyes.  Well, I had to follow this geeezzzzzzzzzzz.  So I go to podium and can not speak, I am just standing there the girl (Kelly) is right in front of me; I told her thank you for such a beautiful speech, then thanked her for leaving me with the inability to speak.  She smiled at me and I tried again still not able to speak I said to the guy who was to follow me it was his turn, I told the teacher (who was still crying) I would take a zero.  I sat down, the next guy gave his speech; he said goodbye to his grandfather he passed away while he was overseas serving.  I do not think our class could have gotten any more emotional at that point.  There was now, myself and one more guy to go and we as a class had decided he had to go last because he was given our teacher an award as a joke.  All right, so I go back up to try again.  It was not easy, but I did it; my speech even gave them a laugh when I told the story of Fatty and Skinny, when I was done I received a standing ovation - probably just because they tired of seeing me.  Well the following is my speech from that day:

A Tribute to Chuck

Chuck,

            On this anniversary of your death, I am writing this tribute to you.  I want to say thank you for the life you have given me.   As a little boy your humor was always coming through.  Like dinner on your first day of Kindergarten when you had everyone's captive attention at the table; Mom excitedly asked you what you learned on your first day of school, and you being born a true smartass looked around at everybody and announced "I learned a poem today" of course you knew you then had everybody's attention.  Without much urging, you quickly said your poem, "fatty and skinny went to bed fatty rolled over and skinny was died". You then looked at our rather large mother and our quite skinny father and smiled.  You then got the response you wanted; everyone at the table was rolling on the floor with laughter.  Or how about when you would make Mom so mad and she would try to catch you to spank and you said "peish Mama, peish" while making the peace sign to her; you knew you were not getting a spanking.  Maybe your humor is how you dealt with being the youngest and the only boy in a house full of girls.

            We grew up best being best friends; both of us may have partied a little too much but we enjoyed life.  We definitely gave Mom and Dad a run for their money.  When Joe died, you were just a teenager, you did not try to be the kids Dad, but you stepped in so they had a male influence in their lives. Unfortunately they do not remember their Dad but they remember Uncle Chuck.  It would drive you crazy to see me alone, for years you were always trying to find someone for me.  Yet when Mom would get after me to get married again you were the first to tell her that I was a big girl and if I wanted to be married, I would.

            On the day you died part of me died too that I will never get back.  I was at a total loss; I had no one.  I think you knew this and this is what I want to so thank you for; in my heart I think you and Joe got together to find me someone who would meet all of my needs, but also be able to meet all of Joe's requirements for me.  I picture the two of you with a list of guys and checking them off until you got to one, Mike.  I knew it at your visitation, you know what I am talking about, but at your visitation, you couldn't have waited?  Come on.   

            All these years later we are still together, still love each other.  We joke about not having a perfect marriage but it is a marriage made in heaven.  You knew your sister very well, you knew I needed a younger husband, thank you very much for that!  He become my best friend and a great father to my kids, we have two more kids a little girl Shelby and a little boy, not only is named after you but looks just like you.

            So this is where I will close saying thank you again for the life you gave me, who knew that with your death I would be given a completely new life.  It is not a perfect life; we don't have much but we have a lot of love for each other and for all of our kids.  Give our whole big family a hug from me, maybe you can give Linda a birthday party today.  Play with my grandbabies for me and tell them funny stories about their Grandma.  I love you, Tammy

           

           

Praising Dunkin' Donuts Coffee, I Worship You

Good morning to all,

Yes Dunkin' Donuts coffee is the world's best coffee ever -not a paid spokes person, because who cares what I have to say- Dunkin' Donuts coffee has kept me going this week!  I got home on Wednesday night from school around 11pm, got to bed around midnight then had to up at 4:30 am out the door by 5 am and back in Springfield by 7 am.  I would not have been able to do this without the help of Dunkin' Donuts coffee.  The day it started to sold in grocery stores was the day I knew I was going to heaven and God loved me.  We have none of their stores close; so I thank you Dunkin' Donuts for this brilliant marketing plan, wonderful!

So about my morning yesterday, when I was coming home from Springfield the night before I saw maybe four or five cars on the road once I left the city; I noticed yesterday morning it was still dark like the night before but there many more cars out and about.  I thought to myself these people must know something I do not; I thought about following them to see where there were going, where do they live, what is it they were doing out so early in the morning, WHAT was it all about?  Then it hit me; Early to bed early to raise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise -you know Ben Franklin's words of wisdom. 


These people are whom he was referring to.  Maybe I should be up and out more often in the morning and go to bed much earlier at night; maybe I would not be broke at this time and trying to get through school and out going back to Springfield to take a PT test for a job.  A job that over sixty other people came to apply for also.  Yes it was an epiphany for me!!!  So I will start on Monday to be up early, go to bed early then by Tuesday morning my life should have changed, right.  By the way I passed the PT test, which was intensive; they lost half of the applicants with that. Not as much competition for the job now, yes maybe I stand a chance yet. 

By the way, shotgun season is here!  Or firearms, which ever you prefer to call it.  The deer are going to hide in my barn with the skunk.  Two of the deer bit the dust in the woods behind my house this morning.  To all the hunters have at it, you are doing your part to keep the roads safer.  Thank you!

Have a great day,
Just Me

Nov 18 2010 Too Tired

Too tired to post.  How boring am I?  Super long day; I hope everybody's day was not as long I can not say bad, but not as long.

To all have a great night,
Just Me

Okay, You Know You Live In The Country When

I love this one!  In my kids school handbook on the page stating what is excused absences one of the days is the FIRST DAY OF DEER HUNTING SEASON - shotgun season.  How funny is that; if you are old enough to have a hunting license your parents do not even have to call you in for this day!  My kids want a license just to miss the day!  Now remember this is the same school who lost my son, lol.  The high school on this day has around 75% of the students gone on this day; there are only 250 students in the high school, it is empty.  This is also the same school that told me that my kids do not need to attend close family members funerals if they are on school days; I was told I need to get my priorities straight, what? 

See, I do live in Hillbilly Heaven!  Have a great day.

Just Me

Deer in the Road, oh my!

Well so it is late and I am coming home from school last night; I am on two lane roads, you know how that goes.  Now remember I did not have my shotgun with me; well I guess this five pointer (a buck to you who do understand- a deer for those of you who really do not understand) did not realize I did not have this with me, it was quite obvious to me he wanted to be on my wall or in my freezer when he jumped out in front of me.  What was he thinking?  My reflexes were faster then he; he did not become a hood ornament at least not on my car. 

Just Me

Nov 16, 2010 Royal Wedding, and a lost Hydrogen Bomb, What?

Good Morning to all!  It is just before 9 am here and I have all ready had a busy day and been up for hours.  I will not get home tonight until around midnight and have to up again tomorrow by 6 am.  By the time I get home on Wednesday night I am dragging, Thursdays are even worse.  Oh well I wanted to do this; someone please just remind me why?  Ugggg...

Well anyway, when I got up this morning the first thing I heard on the news was the Prince is getting married, WHAT really?  Why is this news and is it really news to any of us; were any of you shocked when you heard this?  Geezzz, we have been hearing about this for ever now haven't we?  The couple (the prince and soon to be wife) must be so sick of all of us wanting to know their business.  What is wrong with all of us?  Ok, I have to tell you the truth, when they do get married if I am at home I will probably watch it, lol.  I am just as bad.

Did any of you know that in the 1950's the US Air Force lost a hydrogen bomb off the coast off GA?  According to a documentary I watched last night they did and are still looking for it.  What, please go look for it and find it; these are things we do not want just laying at the bottom of the ocean, right are you with me on this one?

On that I bid you good day, make it a great one,
Just Me

Can Not Study

I can see you have been looking, do not be afraid to be a follower or post a comment; just don't be mean (haha); I do not like meaners. 

I know I should be studing, too much on my mind and am finding it difficult to stay on it.  I have an exam and a test tomorrow that could be interesting.  Oh well.

Just Me

Nov 15, 2010

Could this site please get some different fonts, please.  Nothing going on at my house today or my in my life right now, at least not much.  Spasing a little because my husband pay is missing, we were told it will show up; oh well.

You know yesterday I titled my post all the leaves have fallen, then never talked about the leaves.  Well until Sunday morning at out house the leaves were still on the trees here; then it rained overnight and wow when I took out the dog she was drowning in leaves.  It was too funny, should have taken a picture of it. 

Last night when I took the dog out, there was a skunk out by the barn.  OH CRAP, the dog took off after the skunk!  I told her to stop, but wasn't chasing after her.  I was not getting to close to the skunk.  Then I thought OMG what am I going to do with the dog if she gets sprayed?  She was not coming in the house and I could not leave her out she would be eaten by the coyotes out there.  This dog thinks she can take on ever animal out here, so very fierce - right.  Well she finally came back without having gotten sprayed and all is well.  The worse part of this is she is not our dog, I really did not want to call Mary Jo and tell her that her dog got sprayed by a skunk or that she gotten eaten by one of the wild animals out here.  She - the dog- was much cuter hidden in the leaves.

Well I have a ton of homework to do, guess I have avoided it long enough.

Have a great day,
Just Me

Nascar

I just have to say it; I LOVE NASCAR!!!  One race to go and it is close in points!  All right, some people like football, some like baseball, some even like hockey (you know who you are), me I have to say it again I LOVE NASCAR!!!