What a lovely Thanksgiving!

We had a nice Thanksgiving... for once no 2 hour drive with 2 screaming kids. Joy Joy!
I kid you not one Easter we drove home and my son Jack did not stop screaming for the whole 2 hours. I wanted to scream too, and did a few times.
We did have a good day, good food, good company. Its fun to see my boys playing with cousins they do not see as often. My nephew Evan is 11 and he is a kid magnet! They love him.
But now my boys are sick. They both woke up puking in the middle of the night. Fun. So, we have been up since 4AM!
Something funny did happen last night about midnight (in between puke bouts) I got 3 calls from an unknown number. The third time I answered it and it was some guy in SO Cal wanting to hook up!!! LOL He asked if I was the girl in San Fransisco! I said no and he said "We can still be friends" hahahaha No thanks. I am sure once he saw me, holding 2 pukey babies he would run so fast... fast enough to cross the border!
I leave you with my pre-pukey babies being goofy. Please ignore the filthy faces and dirty clothes... we were enjoying the tree and the dirt apparently.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether we are thankful to be with our families today, or thankful we are not!

I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and may we be thankful for all we have every day, not just this day!

Wordless Wednesday

My first baby

Thankful Tuesday!

Denise over at Laughing with spoons started this and I am going to tell you things that I am thankful for and I am copying Denise (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (: )
The Holidays are upon us and we are all thankful for many things, like Denise I am thankful for my family.

1. I am thankful to have been born into my family...problems and all. I am thankful to have been brought up as an Italian American. Eating and cooking the best food in the world! Homemade Raviolis, Cardoni, Italian Cookies... YUM YUM! My family may have its issues but I am thankful to be a part of it. My Noni (grandma) has been gone almost 3 years and I still miss her terribly at this time of year the most. We used to make Raviolis together, we used to go to Lions club parties, Italian American parties and just enjoy each others company. I know now that I have to cherish every moment with my loved ones... because I will never see the one person again that I thought and hoped would live forever.

2. I am thankful for my sisters. They are so different and such perfect compliments to me. Laugh, cry, get angry... we do it all and still love each other. With who else could you discuss everything under the sun with? Who else knows exactly where you came from and why you do what you do and feel what you feel? Sisters!!! That's who! Sisters can be like best friends that never go away. I am lucky to have 2 of these in my life.

3. This isn't in order.. so my hubby is next. I am thankful for his kindness, his forgiveness (after I yell just a little too much!) His understanding and his surprising unconditional love for me! I am no prize, but my husband is. He was raised right (I love my Mother and Father in law too... and I don't say that just because they might read this... LOL) He treats me kindly and he is the best father, because he tries and he cares.

4. I am thankful for my animals. I am thankful that 2 of them they were rescued and nurtured to kittenhood by my sisters co-worker. We rescued Rudy locally. They are the most adorable and special kitties in the WORLD!!! They may not be the sweetest, but they are funny, they are amusing, they are lovable and they make me happy to be "their human" there is nothing better than snuggling up to a purring and warm kitty and a good book! Animals are special...cherish them.

5. I am thankful for all of my family... Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Cousin's twice removed, my In-Laws, my mom, my dad... everyone. The people that are in my life have shaped me in small ways... but they bring a richness and a dimension to my life that I could not or would not give up. Even when I want to strangle some of them, I know my life is better with them in it.

6. I am thankful for my children... the 2 most handsome and adorable and smartest boys EVER! I did not want two boys, I did not expect 2 boys... but BOY, I am glad I have them. They are truly the thing that makes my life worth living. I would live, die and go hungry for them... whatever I have to do for them, I will.

I hope you all have a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving!

Ive been tagged...check it out!

Kristin at An Ordinary Life tagged me! So here goes:


The rules are simple to play......
Here goes, first let me see if I can follow the rules:
Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.
Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.
Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.
Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.
Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.

1. I like all my food on separate plates. Meat on one, veggies in another, pasta on another! I don't like to mix foods!
2. I have been a line cook in a former life... LOL I can make all my food and have it finished at the same time!
3. I am a total slob. Living in a messy house doesn't bother me a bit.
4. I was a member of Lions clubs International until I had babies...then I had little time to go to meetings (my club was an hour and a half away)
5. I have never lived anywhere but California.
6. I always wanted to have two children... two girls!!! I have two boys and I honestly could not have imagined how awesome that could be. I would not change it for the world!

I am tagging 3!

1. Lorie at Be different act normal
2.Helene at I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor
3. Lana at The kids did what?!

I have been given some awesome awards!

From Denise at Laughing with spoons comes this:




Here are the rules for this one:

1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.

Six Important Values/Beliefs:

1. Love yourself....
2. Believe in yourself
3. Do kind deeds for others.
4. Be kind to animals.
5. Care for others feelings.
6. Be the friend you would like to have

Six Values/Beliefs I do NOT support:

1. Hurting others
2. Hurting animals
3. Telling lies in order to hurt people
4. Ignoring others points of view because they don't coincide with yours.
5. Discriminating
6. Rudeness to others.


From Saundra at an Italian momma gone crazy comes this:



I am thankful and wish I could do them justice... I have internet issues so I dont have a lot of time to pass it on...forgive me.

I do wish to acknowledge the honor from 2 of my great bloggy friends!

A poem for my internet friends

I truly do appreciate you all~


For My Friend
by Carol Miller


across the miles
you touched my life,
opened my eyes, and
filled my empty heart-

strangers, yet friends,
our spirits reach out,
always touching, never apart- -

you in the east,
me in the west,
never together,
never apart- -

Mama Kats assignment: Forgive and forget... I think

MamaKats Assignment was this"
Choose a prompt:


1.) The last time I laughed really hard...

2.) Forgive and forget...I think.

3.) I remember when...

4.) Write about something that bothered you this week.

5.) Write a poem about a favorite color.

I picked number 2!

Forgiving and forgetting... that is one of the hardest things for me to do. I am a grudge carrier... I am the Elephant... I never forget. Even though I realize that I am hurting no one more than I hurt myself. Yet, I cant seem to help myself.

Why is it so hard to forgive and forget? Is it just something elemental? Or it it our ego that wont let us let go? I know in my heart that to forgive is to turn a corner, learn a lesson and make the hurt, betrayal and anger into something worthwhile. Something useful, dare I say something almost beautiful? For there is beauty in self discovery... in humility... in empathy... and in forgiveness. We become better human beings, we become worthy of forgiveness ourselves.

But who will forgive me if I cannot practice what I preach? I am striving to do so. Every day it gets a little easier. I think I have a harder time forgiving myself of transgressions, mistakes and bad behavior.

Ive done things I don't like to admit to, Ive hurt people, Ive been meaner than I should have been. Two wrongs don't make a right. Forgiving yourself is a hard won gift you can give yourself. I just wish I had the courage to do it.

Mahatma Ghandi said these words: The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

I hope to become stronger and do these wise words justice.

Wordless Wednesday

Tempt Me Tuesday!

This is a photo list of things that tempt me...

Cinnabon... YUM



LOL, I love coffee and squirrels... how perfect!



Cheesecake... yum!



Kittens... I love kittens and cats... they tempt me, I want to be the crazy cat lady!



Art tempts me... I love Art esp Botticelli



Trashy and not so trashy romantic novels!
Julia Quinn rocks!



Really...could you resist?



UM... I am tempted but I cannot touch...



These make me want to kiss their cheeks... too bad they are also tempted...to be naughty! LOL

Ive been tagged and tagged good! LOL

I was tagged by Lisa@crazy adventures in parenting to do this five things meme. These things are listed not by importance... just randomly!


Five Things On My To Do List
1. Write to my local paper to see if I can do a guest column on the recent Presidential election
2. Slack off at work...LOL (DONE)
3. Get out these client letters
4. Check out my friends blogs today
5. Clean the kitchen floor. YUCK


Five Things I Like To Snack On
1. Candy
2. Cookies with chocolate in or on them
3. Pirate's booty!
4. Trader Joe's Hummus and pita chips
5. Snap pea crisps


Five Things I Would Do If I Was a Millionaire
1. Buy a home for myself and my mom
2. Pay off all of our bills, my families bills too!
3. Go on a European Vacation and visit my relatives in Italy.
4. Invest in the Stock Market... the time to buy is NOW~
5. Set up an Animal charity in mine and my sons names.


Five Places I Have Lived: I have only lived In Cali
1. San Martin, CA
2. Lodi, CA
3. Woodbridge, CA
4. --
5. --


Five Jobs I Have Had
1. I worked for my dad on our farm from the age of 10, full time in the summer. Not fun.
2. I worked at Nordstroms Dept Store as a Cashier and then a Line Cook in the Cafe. I can make 5 salad's in one minute! LOL
3. I worked in the office for an Optical Lab (they grind glasses) this is by far my fave job...lots of down time and a cool boss who treated me as an equal.
4. MOM... full time and NEVER ENDS
5. My current job at an Ameriprise branch, as an Admin. I am happy here, my boss is cool and he and I compare General Hospital comments! YAY!


And finally…
The Five People I’m Tagging
1. Saundra@an Italian mama gone crazy
2. Wendi at the crazy world of an Alaskan mom
3. Denise at Laughing with spoons
4. Michelle at Don't lick the walls
5. Brandi at Consider me dazzled

Not my regular blog post!

We had a lazy Sunday... doing laundry, going to the park, running around the nature area... I thought I would share some pics of my sweet boys. I think they are awful cute (awful and not so cute sometimes too) LOL
Thanks for indulging me!



Jack (He doesn't like to smile)


Max...my sweet, happy Max...Usually!

MamaKat's writers workshop... Why I would like to live in the Regency Era!

MamaKat's Writers Workshop today is:
1.) Write a haiku about what you see out the window. 2.) Begin with "I thought I saw..." 3.) If I could live in any era of history, what would it be -- list 10 reasons why. 4.) Write a light hearted piece on how to get along with an enemy. 5.) The first time you...

I am going to write about why I would like to live in the Regency era of England... and a few reasons why I wouldn't too!

1. I would like to live in Regency England (but I have to specify, I want to be well-to-do no peasants please) I want to wear lovely frocks


and go to numerous parties until 3 am... flirting, eating, dancing and having a grand time!

2. I would like to be doing all of the above in the company of men dressed like this:


Who will kiss my hand, try to steal a kiss and it will be all so deliciously romantic!

3. I would love to live a life of leisure, riding horses, reading, enjoying the English countryside. Or maybe go to Bath and take the waters



4.I want to see historic places...when they were newer!

The Tower of London

5. I want to have an awesome English accent and be able to hear those accents on my hott men friends... LOL What could be sweeter to my ears?
Listen to this (ignore the Chinese characters...LOL)
Sonnet 130
**Swoon**

6. I want to be able to experience life in a different way...without all the outside influences we have today...no TV, no radio, no lights... I want to look up and see the stars without "light pollution"

7. I want to have a garden... and English garden. I love flowers... I want to be able to stroll in my garden with # 2 from above.


8. I want to be a flirt... I want to flirt outrageously, bat my eyelashes, giggle at a man's joke and dance a Waltz with him, without being expected to hop into bed with him (even if I wanted to)

9. I really want a butler, a maid and someone to do my hair for me. I don't like to clean, answer my own door or have the time and patience to do my own hair... I deserve it!

10. I want to for once be a part of an elite group, I want to be a royal, I want to have a cool title (Lady Michelle sounds nice) anything! Just for once it would be nice to be someone that has the world at their feet.

OK, now for a short list of things I do not like from the era: The Poverty and sadness of the peasants, the cruelty, the lack of modern medicine, people died frequently while giving birth.
and #1... above mentioned #2 and the tendency to take YEARLY baths. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I promote blog peace!

I may have been a mean girl at some point in the past but no more!

Now come on all you blogging queens let's join together and let everyone know we won't stand for drama, we won't stand for blocking people from our sites, we won't stand for being immature, we won't stand for bashing other blogs...because we stand for BLOG PEACE!

We come here to have fun, to win stuff, to learn about others and thank God that someone else's child is not ours when we see him/her doing something naughty!

It's a place to be yourself and share who you are with tons of people and brighten other peoples day.

Who's with me, who out there in bloggy land is tired of the blog bullies?

Who out there is tired of the mean girls in the blog world?~And I will be the first to admit I was a mean girl to one blogger in the past and I am so very sorry for what I did~

Who wants to stand up and say "We want blogging to be fun again",

"We want blogging to be about friendships?",

"We want to not have to look over our shoulder and wonder if we are going to be blogged about".

Let's stand together today and say to everyone out there in blog land "We Promote Blog Peace" and we want everyone to just get along.

Please repost, grab the "I Promote Blog Peace" button to wear with pride from
TONI'S Site, and sign mister linky if you want to take a stand for Blog peace and link back
TONI'S Site. As well as let's all get out there and tweet that we promote blog peace too, spread the word. When you tweet just put #blogpeace (no spaces) in your tweet, that way if anyone searches for blogpeace they will find all of us who support it!

Wordless Wednesday

My goofy son (on the left) and his equally goofy cousin!

Five things that I would like to see

This is my list of 5 things that I would like to see, you may agree, you may disagree...if you have a comment, please leave it for me.

1. I would like to see more kindness in the world. I would like to see people performing simple and small acts of kindness. Opening a door for a mom with a screaming child, helping someone who is lost find their way, helping an elderly person carry groceries to their car... something, anything! There is too much self centerd-ness in this world...stop thinking about just yourself and concentrate on someone else...even if just for 5 minutes. Small acts of kindness make this world a happier place.

2. I would like to see more people letting go... letting go of past hurts, past drama, past painful memories. That is not to say forget...just let them go, so you can move on and be at peace. I am very guilty of not letting go. I keep past hurts alive with my inability to understand that even though I know someone was in the wrong, it wont make them admit it or acknowledge it, or even see it. I have to stop trying to make a point and just let it go.

3. I would like to see more tolerance. Tolerance for people different than ourselves. I need to be more tolerant of people who are not as liberal minded as I am. I would hope to see that in return. Tolerance for religious preferences... or lack of religious beliefs. I am an Agnostic person... not a bad or immoral person. Tolerance for gays/lesbians and realization of the fact that they do not love differently than us, they do not feel less hurt or want different things in life. We all want to be free to love whom we love, and to be able to commit ourselves to that person for life. Its not less of a leap of faith for them as it is for us. Intolerance breeds ignorance.

4. I would like to see more people owning up to their mistakes and weaknesses. Its easy to say that we are right, its easy to say why we were not wrong... but its hard, oh, so hard...to admit our mistakes and our faults. To admit we were wrong, we did something bad, we hurt someones feelings. Its not just for the benefit of the one whom was hurt, its to our benefit as well. If you cannot admit a fault or a wrong, how can you correct it, or stop oneself from making the mistake again? I don't think we can without being honest with ourselves.

5. I would like to see forgiveness. No-one need forget, but forgiving others, even people who did horrible and unkind things to us...takes away their power over us. Makes us free to confront our anger and fear and deal with it and work on it and move on. Move on to a better place in our lives. I also would like to see us forgive ourselves. Forgive ourselves for past mistakes, for the wrongs we have done either intentionally or not. As long as we have learned from them and been genuinely sorry for them, this is a gift we should also give ourselves. Forgiveness is contagious... Spread the word!

I am that mom

I am that mom (the one you always shake your head at, the one you wonder if they were raised in a barn...LOL) Yes, I am that mom who:

1. Lets their kids run in the grocery store. Not hog wild, knocking down the elderly and the infirm... I let them run from one end of the aisle to the other *if* no-one is in the aisle with me... grocery shopping is boring. Kids get bored, so I let them get their excess energy out and try to make it fun. Yes, they are loud, they are crazy...but they are normal, fun loving boys. I do check them sometimes!

2. I am that mom who to the horror of my wonderful Mother in law (who might read this... LOL) gives their kids medicine that was not prescribed to them. Let me clarify. My son Jack got the Croup and had to go to the hospital for a breathing treatment and some meds to the tune of $75.00 we don't really have to spare. My son Max then got a mild case so I gave him some of Jack's medicine for a day... maybe its risky, I don't think so really... my mom did it for us and we are fine! I guess I trust my own instincts sometimes.

3. I am that mom who lets their kids have a piece of candy, some chips and OMG (lock me up now) a sprite on special occasions eating out! All things in moderation is my motto. I truly believe the more you stigmatize sugar and sweets as all bad in all quantities, the more you run the risk of having a fat child/adult. Children denied may become adults who gorge. JMHO I don't think that food (for the most part) should be treated as almost evil... it just adds to the appeal.

4. I am that mom who doesn't worry about germs. I do not wipe the grocery cart down, (unless I pass right by the sanitizing wipes and it reminds me) I don't use a cart cover, I don't wipe the toys down every week to kill germs, I don't wash their hands and faces if a. a dog kisses them or b. they pet our cats, or c. they touch another child who looks perfectly well. Germs are necessary to strengthen the immune system in early years so that germs later on don't kick your butt into submission. My mom did not worry about this so I (like my kids now) was rarely sick.

5. I am that mom who doesn't follow trends, I didn't teach my child baby signs. Honestly, I know it would be helpful before they can really talk to let you know if they are thirsty, hungry, wet... but beyond that I do not see a huge value in this. I have a cousin who faithfully taught her daughter and son baby signs (they are the same age as Jack and Max) and her daughter spoke later and less than my son Jack. Her son was about the same as my son Max. No difference at all. My son Jack gets praised by Doctors, and many random people for his large vocabulary, his ability to follow directions and his understanding of words and phrases that some kids his age do not. My son Max is well on his way to mirror those accomplishments...all without the uber trendy baby signs. Sometimes just old fashioned learning is all that's needed.

There are many more actually... I am one of those people who do what I feel is best, I listen and research and make an informed decision based on a combination of facts and gut feelings. I do not take my duties as a mother lightly. But I also know that I am a smart, educated and informed woman who can make a choice for my child without having to consult with other moms to get approval for my actions. I am that mom. I am that mom who instills confidence, who gives unconditional love. I am that mom who makes mistakes, but I am that mom who shows her children how to learn from them. I am that mom who lets their children be kids. That is all I can expect or want from them. Except I hope they do the same for their kids too.

Today is a beautiful day!

It is the day of my birth! LOL
I am proud to say I am 41 years old and not ashamed of it...it may be cliche, but age really is "just a number" I may look like I am 50, but I feel like I am 20!!!

Me as a baby! (sorry for the pics of a pic)

24 awesome and random questions AND Tagged starring ME ME MIMI

I might as well combine this! I was tagged by Jolly Mom for this!
Thanks!



Originally I got this idea from funny gals blog and thought it might be fun to do something a little light! Feel free to steal from me and use for your blog~



1) What would you say your most fundamental flaw is? My inability to let well enough alone. I have to pick, pick, pick at someone and something to get the desired result. With my loser ex-boyfriend it was about staying in a fight and discussion until the end of days! I want everything resolved... I hate when things are not settled. It unnerves me.


2) What was your dream growing up?
I wanted to be a singer. What I really wanted to be was Olivia Newton-John.



Who could blame me? She was beautiful and a great singer. (At least i thought so, which is why I cut every picture of her out of a magazine and pasted it in a photo album...I eventually had 10 such photo albums)

3) What talent do you wish you had?
I would love to sing. I would also love to be creative, I would love to paint...especially cats. I am obsessed with the beauty and gracefulness of cats. Could there be a more heart breakingly beautiful animal?



No wonder the Ancient Egyptians worshipped them.

4) If I were bought a drink what would it be?
Pina Colada Baby!!! I love Foo Foo Girly drinks!



Best when enjoyed on a sunny beach in Maui!


5) Favourite vegetable?
I like many... I love Brussel Sprouts and Carrots.

6) What was the last book you read?
Julia Quinn's "Mr Cavendish, I presume.

JULIA QUINN


7) What zodiac sign are you?
Scorpio: Scorpio is considered highly passionate, imaginative, determined, persevering, inflexible and self-confident.

That pretty much describes Moi!

SUN SIGNS

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
HELL NO. (Well, only my ears) I don't care for pain, and I don't care for the look of piercings and tattoo's

9) Worst Habit?
Procrastination. I am the worst... I put off everything until the very last minute. Then I berate myself for it, but I never change. UGH


10) What is your favourite sport?
I have none. If I were forced to pick... um, Don't force me. It might get ugly.


11) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
I think I lean towards Pessimism, with a dollop of Optimism. My glass is always half full. But I prefer to live in reality and be pleasantly surprised if things go right!


12) Tell me one weird fact about you.
I am a Harry Potter fanatic. LOVE the books, the movies... everything. I think JK Rowling is one of the most gifted and talented writers this world has ever known...Shakespeare being #1 in my book.



OK, that's not really weird...but I didn't have anything good for ya. I am not double jointed, I cant touch my nose with my tongue and I cant burp the ABC's!


13) Do you have any pets?
3 gorgeous, beautiful and annoying Black cats. Rudy, Percy and Polly.
Here is Percy! Percy was named for Percy Bysshe Shelly




14) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
Creepy. Who likes clowns?

15) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
I would like to be thin... thin with no effort! I am a little vain actually. I think I am cute otherwise.


16) What color eyes do you have?
Brown...just brown.


17) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
Pay off my car, credit cards and then have a shopping spree! I need new clothes desperately. Then I would be a mature adult and save the rest. I know, its so boring and responsible of me. Blah


18) Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes. Ive seen a ghost actually... but being me, it was just a ghost of a non scary dog... nothing like Most Haunted Live

19) Favourite thing to do in your spare time?
I have little spare time, I have 2 boys under the age of 4, 3 cats and a full time job. But when I do have some time I surf my forums, I read a little and I practice being right... LOL The latter comes quite easily for me.

20) Do you swear a lot?
A little. I try to be good.

21) Biggest pet peeve?
Rudeness. Period. If you cant say a kind word, or say "Thank You" and "Please" I have no time for you.

22) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Unique

23) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
I love romance in movies, poetry and books... I am not overly romantic in my every day life though... when my husband acts romantic, I tend to giggle.

24) Do you believe in God?
No, I honestly believe God was invented to keep peasants in line, explain the sometimes unexplainable, help people to cope with the bad things that happen in this world, and to give hope. Its easier to say "It's God's will" than to accept and try to understand that bad things happen sometimes without rhyme or reason. That's just my honest opinion.

Welcome to a new era in America!

Senator Barack Obama is our new President! Can I say how happy and pleased I am to be here for this historic day. Not dead in my grave with worms for company... not infirm in a hospital with my mind on my childhood memories. Because I want to remember this era, I want to remember the day a man I voted for became President. A man whom many thought would never be able to represent America.

I want to remember the words he spoke, the promises he made and hold him to them. I want to be surprised when he achieves as many of his promises as he is able. And I want to be not so surprised when he continues to do it again and again. Because I want the hope, the elation and that proud feeling I felt not to be in vain. I hope it wont be in vain, I believe it will not be in vain.

Yes, there are nay sayers and people out there who would belittle this important and historic time in America's history. I know how hard it it to be on the losers side. Ive been there for eight years now, I got used to it. I didn't like it, but I did. And I did my best to hope for the best from President Bush and take the good things he did and try to look on the bright side. I did not agree with much of what he did, but I respected the fact that he tried to do what he thought was best. I think huge mistakes were made, but that's another post and one I do not care to get into. Because this post is about hope and joy and jubilation. I will not sully it with negativity.

When Obama said these words:

"Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."

When he said those words I believed him, believed in him. If anyone can do this, he can. Or in his words "Yes, we can"

Please people of all political affiliations, give him a chance. Give us a chance. Give us, more than half your country a chance, give us the benefit of the doubt... try to understand our need for change, our feelings of hope. I know we might be different, but we are all the same really, we want what is best for our family, our country and ourselves. That is what America is all about. Different people coming together as one.

As John Dickinson said "Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!"

Wordless Wednesday

More to come in a later blog post

I think Ive been a naughty girl. I need to confess my sins.

OK, so as a few of you who have read my blog, I think I am a mature, kind, unbiased (to some extent) dare I say an even tempered and humor finding person? Well, yes... I did dare to say it, didn't I? So, I have been aware of my tendency to live in the past, to carry on hurts, to have a hard time forgiving and forgetting. I think I transfer my anger and disappointment in people into sarcastic comments and ambiguous blog posts and comments. Its not well done of me, but it is me. Its hard to change a life long character trait...or flaw. Depending on who you ask.

I am aware that every post I make, or comment I make is probably suspect, or suspected to be something more... sometimes it is, sometimes not. Or maybe I am just fooling myself that this person ever really cared for me at all, or still does think of me. I just wish that I could pretend to not care, not feel hurt and not still feel the indignation and anger that flares up in me when I least expect it. Thank goodness it gets better every day.

I have to say this: You were wrong, you made mistakes and you HURT good, kind people. You hurt me, and I was loyal for a long time, way too long. And yes, "You" know who you are. I was not blameless... but I have admitted my part in things, admitted my faults... too bad self-knowledge and the want and need for it, isn't something you can gift to another. Because I would give you this gift. You would find yourself to be a flawed person... but I think by cutting out the things that are bad in ourselves, we graft in the good. I know it has worked this way for me.

So, I know this post once again will make no sense to a few people...but its something I needed to say. Because I cannot say it to the person I would like to... that person would not listen. It makes me sad actually. Sad that in order to be right, that person has thrown away good friends. I also know that no matter what I say, this post will just be excused and disregarded as jealousy, spite, unkindness... Just think of it as one last loyal deed I have done for you. I am still loyal enough to want for you what I think you could have, could have had. Not kiss-ups, not yes men but Real Friendship. Real friends who tell you what you want to hear, and what you don't. That is real friendship and a gift worth risking everything for.

Halloween isnt what it used to be

Either I am really old, or I am stodgy now... but I really think that Halloween has changed, and not for the better. Kids are stingy with thank you and pleases... as are the parents. Teens are out without costumes not caring if they are:
1. Being obnoxiously loud
2. Knocking down little ones
3. Being greedy
4. littering

I had some questionable (age wise) kids come to my door, not saying please or thank you. OK, I can deal with that... but when I go to take my kids out, I see wrappers from my candy littering my sidewalk. Do people actually teach manners anymore? Its frustrating and makes me feel bad for feeling this way about our future generation.

Our future generation of mothers and fathers... because the way some of these pre-teens and early teens were dressed made me realize that they were dressing to attract the opposite sex... imagine a 12 year old girl trick or treating alone in this
Cant imagine it? Well, I saw it. I was shocked, and I am no prude.

Its sad because when I had kids I was excited to be able to do the fun things like this with them... see the wonder on their faces, the awe, the excitement. I did see that... but I wish some of those teens and pre-teens I saw could go back, start over and remember that Halloween is for the young and young at heart...