Mama's Midlife Mire: Question of the Day

So I need to look for a Corolla??

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:39:09 GMT

Wow! By an overwhelming majority, that seems to be the car of choice, no? Probably out of my even-less-than-meager budget, but I'll have a look, anyhow.....

Hey!

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:18:31 GMT

So! None of you have even asked me about why my sister and I went to a bar! Do you think I do that every day? Huh?? Do Ya?? LOL!!!

Hey! About Blog walking...

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:54:27 GMT

So is it just me, because I don't have some great plan or list or something, that it takes me for-flippin'-ever to get around to visit other blogs, maybe leave a comment or two?? I mean, really, just because I am a SAHM doesn't mean I can spend endless hours online...and yet, I like to make those connections. Is there some wonderful method of popping around here that I haven't discovered, or what are your secrets?? I really want to know.

Stinkin' Appliances!!

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:54:36 GMT

Today's question is: Why in the world is our manufacturing ability or quality control so poor that a major appliance breaks down after 4 years??? My refrigerator is working again. That's the good news. The bad news is, for a $25.00 part I had to also pay $200.00 to have it installed! Highway robbery at it's finest, I believe they call that. Now, if we'd not had our brains running overtime on other fretful matters, we probably should've talked to the refrigeration guys who do the work at Alan's shops and maybe we could've repaired it ourselves....duh. All we could think was "Arrrgh!! We need a refrigerator!! Our food is rotting!!" You live, you learn. When I complained to the repairman about the darn thing quitting at such a young age, he told me that 4 years is a very typical life span of parts these days... what the heck?? My washer/dryer is like, 14 years old and it's still working! I know my parents have appliances older than that! But he said "nowadays" it's just not so good. Doesn't say much about the companies who make this stuff, does it? He told me that certain parts always seem to go out, depending on the make and model...that in fact, when he read my work order, he automatically threw in one particular part, and 'bingo'... that was the one that broke. It was a...well, of course I forgot.... the motor "starter thingie" (yeah, I know you all love what a technical person I am!) it's this 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch little plastic box. Geez.

But, hey.... I will praise God in all things.... I can now buy some half&half to put in my coffee!! Two days without that has been a near-death experience! Ha. Not to mention I don't have to go out on the back porch to get my orange juice or cheese... or fight the cat who is desperately trying to escape the confines of the house each time I open that back door....

must....get....out....

Super (???) Tuesday

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:42:00 GMT

I love my country. I love our freedoms. But do you ever wonder....huh?? I understand - basically - how the whole election process works. However, I don't always "get" it. To understand is not necessarily to understand. If you've read my blog much, you probably know I'm a conservative, Christian, Republican, right-winger; whatever you want to call it. Putting that aside for a moment though, I want to know this....why is it, in this day and age, when most Christians get ripped apart for their beliefs, that Barack Obama and his crew are trying to use his supposed Christianity as a major selling point - and it's working???? If some other candidate (like, say, a Republican) was out there saying "look at my beliefs, look how Christian I am - the Lord told me to become president".... the media would be shredding him, making him a laughingstock. I'm not saying I wouldn't love to have a sold-out-for-Christ president. That'd be totally awesome! What I'm saying is A) I don't trust him, and what he's saying; is it just a ploy to get our minds off the whole muslim thing (I don't know the man, so I can't say either way...but it makes me go hmm...) and B) if any of the other candidates were espousing the same line, they'd have already been pushed out of the running. Now, don't anyone get on here and tell me how wondrous Obama is, or how narrow-minded I am, or whatever. Because that's not my point. Obviously, since I'm a Republican I don't want any of the Democratic candidates to become president. Duh. I'm also not saying that all Muslims are terrorists or anything. It's just sort of strange, the way things are twisting, don't you think?? In all the years since I've been old enough to vote - actually, before that - since I was old enough to listen to my parents about their voting - we've had presidents I've liked and ones I haven't liked and so on, of course. But this is the first time I've been truly scared about where our nation might be heading. Seriously. My comfort is in knowing that it is God who places people in power, to bring about His will (it says so in the Bible, so I believe it!). But I guess it could be His will that our country goes to Hell in a handbasket, right??! Maybe the End is near?! Lol, I'm kidding, but do you know what I mean?

Bad girl, bad girl...and other wonderings

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:04:27 GMT

Do you ever ~ have a thought about something, and the realization of what you just thought makes you think "geez, I'm a bad person"?? Like, let's say someone you know...a family member, maybe...is upset about something in their life (something minor, like, "I thought sure this puppy we got at the pound was going to be a {fancy hoity toity breed} but I'm beginning to think it's just a mutt of some sort") and your immediate reaction is something like "HAHA! In-your-face!!" How horrible is that ?! Not that I'd ever voice those kinds of thoughts...golly, I am way too sweet for that....or am I??

Do you ever ~ wonder why men are so stupid? (sorry, men...I mean husbands...sorry husbands...I mean, my husband) There are just some days that..... aaahhhggg. I love him. I really do. But there are days I could just smack him silly.

Do you ever ~ wonder why our public school system is trying to make our children stupid?? Check out 'Tea and Bonbons with Amy' over on Blogger if you want to be truly concerned about the goings on. Which is why I homeschool, even on the hard days. I want to instill in my child a love of learning, and common sense, and the ability to problem-solve.

So, there are my questions for today.

Do you know what this object is??? See my pics....

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:41:38 GMT

Thursday morning I dropped Kiki off at the Co-op, headed over to the local java shop with a few of the other moms for a little chit-chat, then took girlie-dog for a walk along the river. We came across a very interesting thing...I've posted a few pictures of it for you to check out. My guess it that it is some sort of military issue tent...it even had windows - with frames and screens - and a hole for a stove pipe, it looked like. Why it was laying in a vacant lot near the river walk is a bit of a wonder...maybe someone stole it and then got scared, so they dumped it off? Who knows. Anyway, take a look at it, alright? Let me know if you can make a "positive I.D." on it...just 'cause I'm curious!

Was I Supposed to do a "Tag"??

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:06:59 GMT

Am I crazy, or was I tagged and supposed to do something...."8 things about me you didn't know" or something....?? I'll get on that.... I want it to be interesting stuff.....

Can they really be THAT stupid??!

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:02:14 GMT

Okay....this is pretty frightening. There are days I think there is no hope for our country! Today, we went to the fair - Kiki, myself, my mom, my sis and her daughter. It was a beautiful day for it, as it was overcast and not nearly as hot as it has been...in fact, it was probably the coolest "day at the fair" I've experienced here. But, I digress... that's not the point. We were on our way over to the petting zoo area, and there was a tent where, for a mere dollar, you could see the "World's Largest Hog". Now, I was not raised on a farm, but there was just stuff that we knew as kids. I guess kids these days, maybe they don't know much?? Two teenage or older girls were walking by, and we overheard one say to the other "What's a 'hog'?" What the .....??? Seriously??? Yes. And her friend hadn't a clue, either. Not much later at all, we were in the petting zoo...a small group wanders over, mostly adults, and they look into a pen with several types of poulty inside. This woman is checking out a turkey, and then she says "Wow! I had no idea chickens could get so big." She is completely serious. I am not making this up, people!! Be afraid. Be very afraid!

Oh, Heelies, how I hate thee

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:58:43 GMT

What do you do when your child truly believes they must have some particular item, for which you can see absolutely no purpose?? Kiki is absolutely dying for a pair of Heelies. For you not "in the know", they are like Athletic shoes with a rather bulky rubber sole, in the heel of which you can put a little skate wheel...so you can sort of rollerblade on your heels. I think they are stupid. They look absolutely clunky to walk in - the child basically has to walk on their toes - then the kids run and pop up on their heels to 'roll'... I have been nearly run down more than once in the market or mall with these things. Most parents probably wouldn't let their kids wear rollerblades or skates to school or church or the store, but everyone seems to think Heelies are for everywhere. Our Sunday school leaders and School principal have been telling and telling the kids not to wear these because they are totally trashing the gym floor, but the kids just keep on doing it. "They're just tennis shoes, I don't have to roll on them" True, but you are rolling on them! So, I think they are absolute rubbish - she has tennies, she has rollerblades, she's good to go. But she says "everyone" has them (yeah, ah hah...I've heard that before and I don't care!) - but, seriously, she is one of the two in her classroom of 15 that does not have them. Which makes me wonder about the sanity of the other parents,... I mean, these little suckers are expensive, too...they are like $60 - $70.00... not to mention the sheer annoyance of them! Of course, Kiki only mentioned these a week before Christmas, and that was because she found out her cousin was getting them (thank you sooo much, people!) and I have mentioned how competetive Kiki and this cousin are.... and of course, everyone in class got them for Christmas, too, I swear, she's even counting people in the mall who have them, as we are shopping....It was too late at this point, I'd already bought her Christmas gifts...and, I don't know if I'd have gotten Heelies anyway, as I despise them...but, maybe I just don't get it. I'm not a "tween" and I don't want them, but I am sure I wanted stuff my parents thought was dumb... now, I'm not for getting her stuff just because 'everyone else' has it, but am I being...stuffy? Non-understanding? Then she has started saying how her cousin and other friends have clothes that are much 'cooler' than her own clothes. She did say she knows she has nice clothes, and she likes them, but they are more "cute" than "cool". Which I have done completely on purpose, thank you. She's a little girl, dang it, not a teeny-bopper. So, she'd like to go and "maybe get some cool clothes..." Uhg. My little girl is growing up, and I am so not thrilled about it! I mostly just want her to be her own person, not to have to follow the crowd...how do you teach that? To be yourself, not a carbon-copy of everyone else out there, dressing how 'they' say you need to? Ah, Parenting....it's not for wimps!!

"Driving" Myself Crazy

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 05:45:29 GMT

Do you absolutely hate having to make big purchases? Like, a house, or a car....? I can second guess myself to death, and right now my stomach is absolutely in knots over my latest "need to make" decision. We sold my Saab over the weekend - which is great. I mean, it was a fabulous car, an automobile my father would say...so fun to drive, elegant. This was overshadowed by constant worrying over when it would next cost me $$$ to repair, which it did on a regular basis. We are using the money (it was paid off, but not really; it was part of our home loan) so we are using that to pay off some consumer debt (the only we have besides the house and other car) and then use the leftover cash to buy an inexpensive used car for hubby. He was thinking a small pickup or something in case he has to carry stuff for his job. Which is rare...but, whatever. Problem is, I don't like his car, which was to become mine. It's fine, just...boring. And nowhere to carry the dog, and I take her just about everywhere. So today, he comes home with this awesome midsize SUV he traded his car in for, because he knew I'd like it way better than his car. Which I do. I love-love-love this car! First off, because I am a truck girl. Always have been. And SUV's are just spacious trucks, really. It will hold 7 passengers, so it does what a minivan will do without being a 'mom car'. ( No offense to all you who have them, I had one, it was great, but it's just not me.) It will also pull a horse trailer - you know, just in case! So, what's the catch? Well, we are trying to save money, to simplify. This will be about $60. more per month than we're paying on his car. Alright, so that doesn't seem too bad...it's also a used car, so it's not ridiculously expensive. But wouldn't we be better off buying down, not up? The worst part is, I have been reading up on this vehicle tonight (we have 3 days to take it back if we change our minds)...and, it gets lousy gas mileage. I'm talking 15 - 20 mpg. Cripes, in this day of mega-pricey gas? Not that my Saab rocked in that dept., I got about 23, but that beats the heck out of 15!! So I can fill it with Regular instead of Plus... I don't think that'll fully make up for it. I really don't suppose I can convince Alan that he'd have to get, like, a Geo Metro or something! 50 mpg. or better....?! Am I a horrible person for considering a vehicle that consumes that amount of fuel? I really, really like this car! So does Kiki...poor kid, she cried when we dropped off the Saab, and she didn't even want to look at cars...but she went wild when Daddy brought home "an SUV!!!" She's already trying to come up with a name for our new car... Shoot. I will not be able to sleep tonight. Thoughts and opinions??

To "Friend" or Not to "Friend"...that is the question

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:54:35 GMT

To everyone who has sent me a request to be on your "friends" list, please don't think my non-response-so-far in any way implies that I don't want to be your friend! Gosh, I need all the friends I can get! I just, well, I don't know about the whole "friends list" deal. Do I get great kudos because I have 27 friends -or hundreds- and someone else has only 3? Does it make someone else feel bad because I don't have them listed as my "friend"? I am just not exactly sure how I want to proceed on this issue...so I hope you will please be my friend, even if you're not my "friend". Thanks for asking, though!! I feel the love!

Are you ever blissfully happy?

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 07:35:28 GMT

The other day, I was wandering thru the house, and as I walked into my bedroom, this delicious breeze came wafting through the window. The curtains were billowing into the room, and I felt the coolness caress my cheek. I stopped dead in my tracks, as the thought ran through my head "This is wonderful...this feels, nice...this feels...happy." Then the pure joy of that emotion came fully into me...I'm happy....life, today, is good... Maybe, to those of you who have always been basically happy, this seems silly, even ridiculous. I used to be like that. I had a relatively happy childhood, and decent - tho lonely - teen years. I was raised in a church that taught me if I was a good little Christian and just behaved myself, my life would go well. Excuse me, what Bible were they teaching out of?? We live in a messed up world with a bunch of messed up people. Even those of us who are trying make giant mistakes...and then there are those who don't even try. I learned something in the last decade - "Jesus was a man of sorrows, and well acquainted with grief." That's in the Bible. So, I've been happy, yes. But I've also been in the deepest, darkest pit of depression...thinking life was just pain, wondering how I could possibly stand existing on this planet even another hour, much less days, months, years...Contemplating suicide...but knowing even in the murkiness that the people who had not caused my pain - my parents, my sisters - would be forever hurt by that action. I thank God He kept me sane enough to not take that path - a permanent solution to a temporary problem. So, the point is, the other day it just hit me, how far I have come...how life is so worth the living, no matter how hard it is sometimes. To think I haven't just survived but that I have lived...and enjoyed it! Wow. I want to tell you something, too. The hell I went through, that I didn't choose, that was thrust on me by someone else's choices...in the path to healing, I have learned so much; about myself, about our God, and how much much much he loves me...(and you) that I can say, honestly, if I could erase the bad that happened but I would also have to erase all that I now know - I wouldn't do it. Sure, I wish I could have learned things in an easier way, but I would not give up the truths I now have. I have joy, even when I don't have happiness. Happiness is an emotion, and emotions can be fleeting...but it's nice when it comes to visit!!

Who knows that you blog?

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 07:04:21 GMT

I am just curious...who knows that you are keeping a web log? No one knows I am...I mean, short of anyone reading this, obviously...!! What I mean is, I haven't told anyone personally. My husband would think I'm nuts, my daughter is really too young to understand, my parents wouldn't even know what a blog is, and my sister, well, she has teenagers so I'm sure she knows what it is, but she rarely gets on the computer herself. I guess it's my "dirty little secret" - and I like it that way...I mean, really, if I want to come here to vent, rage against the...whatever...family...world in general...I don't want anyone to recognize themselves here! (if you ever do recognize yourself here, maybe you need to be learning a lesson?) So, what about you all out there in cyberspace land? Who knows about you??

Does it scare you for your kids to grow up?

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:18:50 GMT

This weekend (at dinner, before the concert) some of the other people in our group was a family - mom, dad, 20-something daughter and her husband. As we were talking, they shared their story of this young couple...the mom had a friend who was looking for a "nice, christian girl" for her son to meet. So, she said "I have a daughter who fits that description" so she goes home to try to set up her daughter with this guy. The daughter tells her "mom, I have a boyfriend." Mom says "since when??" Daughter says "just a couple months...met him on the internet." Mom says that was shocking enough, 'cause she didn't have an inkling, but then....later on that night as mom and dad are grilling daughter for info on this relationship, the bomb is dropped...she's pregnant. Like, as of their 2nd or 3rd date. Holey crap. Is it fate for us as parents to not have a flippin' clue what are kids our up to??! That scares the heck out of me.