The journey between here and there

You learned the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul;

And you learn that love doesn’t mean security and you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises;

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and eyes wide open with the strength of a man not the grief of a child;

And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid flight;

After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers;

And you learn that you really can endure;

And you really do have worth and you learn and learn with every goodbye you learn.

-unknown author

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially, teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day, in this beautiful shop, they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, “May we see that? We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful.”

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.

“You don’t understand,” It said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My Master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I was shouting out, ‘Leave me alone!’, but He only smiled and said, “Not yet.” “Then I was placed on a spinning wheel,” the teacup said. “And suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I’m getting dizzy!” I screamed.

But the Master only nodded and said, “Not Yet.”

Then He put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why He wanted to burn me. I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see Him through the opening and I could read His lips as He shook His head, “Not yet.”

Finally, the door opened, He put me on the shelf, and I began to cool.

“There, that’s better.” I said. And He brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. “Stop it, stop it!” I cried. He only nodded, “Not yet.”

Then suddenly He put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time, I could see Him through the opening nodding His head saying, “Not yet.”

Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf.

One hour later, He handed me a mirror and said, “Look at yourself.” I did. I said, “Oh no, it’s not me; that couldn’t be me. It’s beautiful, I’m beautiful.”

“I want you to remember, then.” He said, “I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you’d have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I had not done that, you would have hardened and you would not have any color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now, you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.”

I guess by now you already know what the story is all about. Pains, trials, difficulties in life. A non-stop, continuous action-packed adventure. That’s what life is. And the blows; well they keep coming. Guess what’s happening? The Master is putting us -His clay into the oven in order to break us, mold us and form us into His image.

God knows what He’s doing for all of us. He is the Potter, we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we are made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Think about it. Our very area of strength comes from our past “oven experience”. This is why we’re strong today. And that strength is used to help others and bring glory to His name.

Helen Keller says, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself work and my God.” Warren Wiersbe noted that when God permits His children through the furnace, he keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat.

Times are hard and things so uncertain. Difficulties will come. I am determined to do a thing. And this will be the best thing I can do-to remember that I am but I clay. So I will welcome and let the molding continue until the day He completes the work He has begun in me. What a privilege it is to have Christ as my Master!

Francis J. Kong/Living in the Highest

This is such an easy recipe! It’s just divine! I’m throwing together the recipe amounts here. I make this all the time and I never measure. I just do it according to taste. I always hated those kind of cooks cuz I could never get the recipe from them cuz it was always like, “but add more if it doesn’t taste right or look right, etc.” Here I am doing and saying the same thing. Make it a couple times and you can adjust it to your own pallet.

This is an excellent appetizer! I eat it while it’s hot right on the stove… very rarely does it even make it to the table!… unless I’m having guests.

Garlic Prawns.

1/2 Cup of butter (or more)
1 Tbsp. of minced garlic (or more)
pinch of salt (or more)
pinch of fresh ground pepper (or more)
2 Cups of fresh or frozen prawns (or more)

1/8 - 1/4 cup of white wine (optional)

1. If using frozen prawns thaw them out in cool- lukewarm water. There’s usually instructions on the package.

2. Add the butter and garlic in a frying pan. Melt the butter on low heat. (I like this better without wine (again it’s down to personal taste), but if you use white wine, I would add this as well.) Heat the butter mixture, but watch closely and DO NOT BURN the butter or get it too hot. It will add a bad flavor.

3. Add fresh or defrosted prawns into the pan. Lay the prawns down flat in the frying pan. Once the prawn has turned a lovely shade of pink, flip the prawn over to the other side.

4. While the last side is cooking I add the pepper and salt. I grind my pepper mill over the prawns and sprinkle just a wee bit of salt. I use salted butter so I don’t need to use much salt. If you use unsalted butter then use more salt. Don’t overcook the prawns.

Once both sides have turned pink, dump into a deep plate and serve immediately. These need to be eaten HOT that’s why I like eating them right out of the pan as they are finishing cooking. Mmmmm.

Ahhh shopping. Nothing puts a spring in my step like going out and spending money… and not my money. Other people’s money….. Ryan’s boss’ money for the good ole’ Christmas party. So by the time Ryan came home we had 2 hours to buy 5 gifts. 7-9pm. I mapped out the route that we would take, we dropped off the kids at the grandparents (I could not get a sitter for the life of me! Darn FHE! We did ours on Sunday) , driving and running like a banshee we went crazy.

Racing off to Westhills we picked up the watch from Tommy Hilfiger for $105. Next stop was Danier Leather, purchased a women’s leather coat for $129.00. Superstore was the next quick stop, bought a Gameboy Advanced along with 3 games for $100. We ran through the Chinook Centre Mall and put a gift basket together at Fruits and Passions for $124. Seriously this is such a yummy, addicting smelling store… mmmm… So nice on the senses. We were there till mall closing at 9pm… Whatever happened to extended shopping hours for the holiday season? They used to extend the hours till 10pm around Christmas… I wonder why they stopped cuz the mall were always packed until then. Whatever…

Then we headed over to Walmart to buy a BBQ but it wasn’t in stock and we wasted a good 40 min. trying to find the freakn’ thing. So instead I bought a coffee/cappuccino/espresso machine for $100. I didn’t know how well it would go over since the boss and manager is Mormon… but ah well. I could always take it back. I know all the guys they have working for them drink the stuff and I’m sure they’d be thrilled for a machine like this. We tried to make it to Starbucks to pick up a small bag of coffee, but no luck. They closed at 10pm.

I was pretty pumped by my purchases. I was annoyed I couldn’t shop more or get what I really wanted, but it’s all good. I’m still happy I spent money. Yipee. We dropped everything off at the boss’ house. He was pretty happy with the purchases. He told me to go pick up the BBQ the next day. Then I’d have to wait for further instruction cuz the manager (who is a man) is throwing a woman sized hissy fit cuz HE can’t do the shopping. So to appease him, the boss is letting him shop too.

I don’t get it. Last year, the manager bitched about having to go shopping and what a pain it was. This year he complains cuz he can’t go? Is he just a sucker for punishment? Or just a control freak? At least I know that some stuff in the middle of the pile is going to be good. They really need input and help when they buy gifts. Ah well. It’s not my money. I’m just happy that I got to buy something. I’m gunning for Fruits and Passions basket… or the leather coat. Just cuz I’d return the leather coat and take the cash to buy something else. Heh. It’s all about getting the most expensive thing at the company party… *sigh* I suppose that’s selfish, rude and greedy on some level, but ah well… I’ll just add that to my list of personality defects I have to work on.

I love to shop. I’m actually a recovering shopaholic. I was in my glory way back in the day. Now with more kids, there isn’t as much money to freely throw around. Ryan’s boss at work always has a elephant gift exchange for Christmas. He buys 100 gifts. One gift for his employee and his wife worth between $75-125. The gift exchange happens after he takes the entire company out to dinner at a really nice restaurant.

The boss is letting me buy some gifts this year cuz I told him how much I love to shop. He doesn’t enjoy shopping or like to shop for all the gifts. I’m just thrilled to pieces! There’s nothing better than going shopping and spending someone else’s’ money! Yipee!!!!!!! I’m soooooooooo excited! I LOVE to shop!

He’s letting me start off with 5 gifts to buy. I’m sure to test to make sure I can buy original gifts. I’ve made a list of 40 things that I was thinking of buying. I’m trying to narrow down the best 5 as my first pickings. I’m trying to figure out what guys that change tires all day and sell tires all day would want. Also what their wives/common-law/girlfriends would want. Besides the owner, the manager, Ryan and another salesman everyone else rents. I’m trying to get Ryan to casually ask them what they would like to see in the Christmas pile and what they are looking forward to, but so far he hasn’t done that for me.

There are always TV’s and VCR’s in the pile so those things are a naturally given. I want things that are original that would appeal to working guys.

So these are the 5 I’m thinking of picking up…. hehe.. and I’m planning to spend $120 on each item. I figure go big or go home.

1. Tommy Hilfiger watch for men.
2. Leather jacket from Danier Leather.
3. A huge basket of lotions, body wash, bubble bath, bath bombs, etc. from Fruits and Passion.
4. A BBQ.
5. A down duvet with 2 pillows.

Those are the top 5 that I figured are original and different from the regular stuff that’s in the pile every year. These are my other ideas.

6. A deep fryer with a jug of oil.
7. Portable DVD player
8. Spotbot and the carpet cleaning liquid. A little green machine carpet, car cleaner. There’s a guy who works there that’s a clean freak and the big fight over gifts was a vacuum cleaner!
9. Robot vacuum.
10. DVD
11. DVD/VCR combo.
12. TV/VCR or DVD combo
13. camcorder
14. Record player, CD/radio machine. (I want this to play my Raffi records.)
15. Coffee maker/Espresso machine with starbucks coffee
16. Mountain bike
17. Gift certificate to Chinook Mall,
18. Gift certificate to Sport Check, hidden in a baseball mitt
19. Gift certificate to Home Depot, hidden in a pair of work gloves.
20. Gift certificate to the Merle Norman spa.
21. Olympic weights.
22. Water cooler
23. Digital camera
24. Lawn mower
25. Keg of Beer (LOL… since the boss and manager is mormon this sooooo isn’t going to fly, but I thought it would be fun. I’ll prolly never get the go ahead for this gift.)
26. Car stereo
27. Gold chain with a pendant
28. IPOD
29. radio/CD player for under the kitchen cupboards.
30. TV
31. Stereo
32. Speakers for a home theatre system.
33. Drill or power saw
34. Foot spa manicure centre facial sauna and body massager
35. Guitar
36. Sony portable CD player, MP3 player, radio with remote
37. Mini Fridge
38. Microwave
39. Hand held gameboy
40. Gamecube
41. Exersaucer and highchair
42. Swing and car seat (There are 2 couples that are prego for the first time.)
43. Hockey game and soccer game table top
44. Tennis Table set.
45. Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ
46. Chocolate Fondue Fountain with chocolate
47. All in one Bread Maker
48. Convection toaster oven.
49. Hand held Two way Radios
50. Micro Audio system.
51. Radar detector.
52. Guess or Timex or Tommy Hilfiger women’s watch
53.

What else could I buy???

You know for some reason or another I just could not get into this episode and I don’t know why. It was ok. The fight scenes were good, although the constant throwing each other began to bug me. I wasn’t thrilled by this episode. I was expecting it to be sooo amazing and good, yet I was disappointed.

What bugged me:

1. LOIS. She’s beginning to get on my nerves. I still don’t understand why she is so hell bent on trying to take Lex down. He’s been nothing but nice to her. I dunno. Maybe Chloe is filling her head with all the things that have been going on? I just really find it hard to swallow Lois giving Lex a hard time just cuz she doesn’t like seeing rich guys buying their way into office.

2. The scenes between Clark and his mom did not seem real or genuine… there was something missing. I’m not sure what… authenticity? more emotion from Clark? more emotion from Martha? I don’t know. I just didn’t feel that sad… maybe cuz I knew she’d be healed eventually. Where’s the tears Clark? Clark loves his momma so there should have been tears shed cuz his mother is DYING! ALMOST DEAD! HAS HOURS TO LIVE! I mean, if I had a close relationship with my mother like Clark does, I’d be crying. There’s a time to cry and a time to laugh… that moment should have been a tear duct, tissue moment. It seemed just insincere.

Good facial expression, but the words seemed hollow.

3. I even had troubles dealing with the Clark and Brainiac scenes. The acting just didn’t seem bang on this week. I still have trouble with Clark trusting Brainiac. The welcome to earth Zod bothered me too. Even the killing of Brainiac made me annoyed.

4. Can everyone say, “Product placement.” It was TERRIBLE! I really disliked how they pimp out a car, old spice, coke or anything else for that matter. It’s so annoying.

5. The little car maneuvering of Lois when she went to pick up Chloe. I just shook my head. I didn’t like the driving, didn’t like everything about that scene. It seemed fake.

What I liked:
1. I DID like how Chloe viewed Brainiac morphing from the oil through the fan spinning around. I really liked that shot.

2. The snarly remark that Lois makes to Lex… Then the hilarious snark Lex throws back. I just LMAO!
Paraphrasing:

You can have your picture taken 800 times, but it still won’t change that fact that you’re ugly. - Lois

You’re nothing but a muffin pushing, college drop out…. Can I have a blueberry muffin? - Lex

3. I liked Lionel taunting Lex, but it’s slowly beginning to get old. I still don’t know whose side Lionel is on and who he is playing so for now I’m still enjoying the game… but it’s slowly getting old.

*sigh* maybe I was having a bad day, cuz I really can’t put my finger on what exactly bothered me about this episode. Normally I LOVE the fight scenes and the verbal sparing that takes place in this show… but something just didn’t feel right in this episode. I’ll rewatch it again on Monday and hopefully I’ll figure it out.

Update: Well, I didn’t get to watch it Monday. I was too busy shopping and I really didn’t want to waste my time watching on an episode I wasn’t crazy about. If I had to choose between shopping and TV… shopping wins hands down. I’ve taped it, but I doubt I’ll watch that either… depends on how desperate I get during the hiatus…

For now:
2.5 out of 5… And I’m being REALLY generous… I’m almost tempted to give it a 1.

What did you think of it?

Wow! Just when I don’t think this show can sink any lower….. they do. I only liked 4 things from this episode….

1. Tom/Clark in a suit! He looks smokn’ hot!

credit to these pics go to James.

2. The reference to superman helping and providing justice to the world.

3. Clark pulling the helicopter down from the roof.

4. Clark ordering a drink… a coke… on the rocks! LMAO~ that was great!

The whole stripper being killed premise was a total ploy to show some ta-ta’s. It was stupid. Lois couldn’t strip to save her life… I’m sure the point was to show that she wasn’t that good at stripping, but oh come on! A monkey could strip better than her. She just needs to let her inner tramp out! It was seriously sad and pathetic.

I really didn’t care about the Dukes of Hazard reference either. I never grew up watching the show, so besides watching the car being driven like a bat out of hell, it wasn’t enjoyable for me to watch. I didn’t get the inside jokes. I didn’t care for that storyline either.

Why does Lex constantly do favors for Clark when all Clark does is barge in, make accusations, and be pissy around Lex. If it were me, I’d hire a better security team to keep him out…ah well, I’m sure Lex is trying to use him in some way.

So since I didn’t enjoy the stripper story line I’m not going to waste anymore of my time with that… but what I will dwell on is this:

Talk to me!

I seriously never tire from looking at him.

Yes.. it looks the same, but it’s not…look closely and you can see the difference.

So for this episode storyline I give it a 1 out of 5.
For Tom in a suit: 5 out of 5… but then again, when does he NOT look good?

But seriously… the writers need to start writing better storylines, cuz all I’m seeing is bad storylines from Season 4.

I’m done having kids. I can’t handle anymore. I’m not Mary Poppins and I want to enjoy the 4 I have…

Soooooo with that being said… I’ve got some exciting news:

Ryan’s going IN! I booked the appointment. Yep… “THE APPOINTMENT.” Men everywhere are probably wincing and holding a hand protectively over their crown jewels feeling sympathy pain. Thinking they are thankful it’s not them. January 27, 2006. That’s V-Day.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. It’s a huge decision. I was torn because my children always come to me in a dream before they are born… there is still one last one left. Number 5. It’s a little girl. She’s really sweet…but I just can’t handle anymore kids. My mental state of mind is not healthy. I hate being pregnant. I’m always so sick. I just don’t want to go over the edge. I’m teetering on the brink of a mental breakdown and I’m afraid 5 would push me over. 5 kids would be too much to handle.

Ya, if I had another one, I’d love it and think that I couldn’t live without her. Still where do you draw the line? There has to be some point in which I say. “Ok. Stop! You’re going crazy! You can’t handle anymore. You’re constantly crabby to the ones you have now. ”

I’ve been debating and meaning to book this appointment for over a year. It’s a huge decision! Even while making the call, booking the appointment and then emailing Ryan about the date I felt like crying. This was huge! I felt like I was letting a little spirit out there down…. But really… would she want to have a crazy, wacky mother like me? I don’t have the mental fortitude to do it. I really want to enjoy the kids I have now. To have fun. To enjoy watching them grow. To teach them, to help them learn how to navigate the waters of life.

So unless something earth shattering happens, like Jesus Christ himself appearing to tell me to have one more and that I can handle it, I’m done. Now that a few days have passed I’m really happy about it. I’m starting to get excited!

I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not always going to be snotty noses, whining and crying. I’ve decided to sign up for a cake decorating course in December and go to some scrapbooking late night crops just to get out of the house. I’m toying with the idea of a gym membership to get back in shape… I’m skinny, but I can barely make it up the stairs without collapsing from lack of breath… how pathetic.

I miss the days when I was a fitness instructor. I loved the adrenaline rush and the high I would get from working out. I loved helping people work out. I need the extra energy. It would help in dealing with the craziness of my day.

I’m also toying with getting a job. I would like to be a photographer’s assistant to brush up on my schooling and refresh myself. All these decisions and options are placed before me. It’s making me excited and happy. I just need to get out more. I’ll be a happier, refreshed mommy.

When Laura was around 18 months old I began to work for the Calgary Herald. I was an editorial assistant. It was so much fun! I loved it! I was good at my job. I liked putting the paper to bed and enjoyed working the evening shift. I came back refreshed and happy. I enjoyed being with Laura during the day and Laura had her own daddy time without mommy interference. Of course after a year or so I got knocked up with Josh so I went on maternity leave and never returned. I’m thinking I want to pursue my degree more and delve more into the photography world.

The horizon is looking a lot brighter…. and all it took was one simple phone call.

We Wear The Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,-
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

I go into the bathroom and just sit my lil’ ass on the toilet when Ryan barges into our en-suite…

“Hey, lift up an ass cheek I really gotta go,” he says.

I give him the look of death.

1. I HATE when anyone barges in on me… seeing that it was 12:30 in the morning I figured I didn’t have to contend with the kids let alone contend with him so I didn’t lock the door.

2. I HATE when he pees while I am in the bathroom with him. It’s just gross.

3. ‘Lift up an ass cheek?!?’ Right… like I want to get sprayed …. I’m not a freakn’ fire hydrant!

“Go to the kids bathroom,” I growl.

“What?!? Awww, come on!”

“We’ve got 2 other bathrooms in this house besides this one. Pick another one!” I snap.

“What’s the big deal?” He grins mischievously as he heads out of the bathroom, ducking his head just as the Kleenex box whizzes by his head.

*sigh* Sometimes I wonder about him.

click on the image

Cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch sduty at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy says, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are,
the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod
as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

The Weakest Thing

Which is the weakest thing of all
Mine heart can ponder?
The sun, a little cloud can pall
With darkness yonder?
The cloud, a little wind can move
Where’er it listeth?
The wind, a little leaf above,
Though sere, resisteth?

What time that yellow leaf was green,
My days were gladder;
But now, whatever Spring may mean,
I must grow sadder.
Ah me! a leaf with sighs can wring
My lips asunder -
Then is mine heart the weakest thing
Itself can ponder.

Yet, Heart, when sun and cloud are pined
And drop together,
And at a blast, which is not wind,
The forests wither,
Thou, from the darkening deathly curse
To glory breakest, -
The Strongest of the universe
Guarding the weakest!

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man my son!

~By Rudyard Kipling

That’s how I feel right now. I hate my life and the way it turned out. I hate the constant whine of the kids. I hate being stuck at home. I hate being a mother and a housewife. I feel like I don’t have a purpose on this sordid planet. Raising kids is not a good enough purpose for me. It’s a taxing, monotonous, contrived waste of my time and energy. I’m just a breeding milking cow. I suck at being a mom and a housewife. I’m not good at anything and am a waste of space on this pathetic plane of existence. I just can’t handle this pathetic, morbid, dull and unfulfilling life that I lead. I hate the very bane of existence in which this horrid body inhabits. I hate living here. I have found no joy in my life and the drudgery is at times unbearable. I hate life right now. How can I know where to go or which path to go down, when I myself don’t even know. I’m wandering around in circles. Lost and raging against the very thing I thought would be so wonderful. Blah. Life sucks.

This is amazing! I love it! It’s just like the recipe that my fav. Greek restaurant uses. Delicious! Divine!

4 ripe fresh tomatoes, chopped into 1/2 ” pieces
1 cucumber, chopped into 1/2 ” pieces
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 “pieces
1/2 cup chopped red onions into 1/2 ” pieces
1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1/4 cup kalamata olives
1/2 cup - 1 Cup feta cheese, crumbled

1. Mix together vinegars, oil, salt and oregano.
2. Add vegetables, cheese and olives.
3. Marinate several hours in refrigerator to allow flavors to blend.

Whenever I hear him on the radio promoting a movie or Smallville he comes off very funny! Sometimes it’s a dry humor, where he slides a joke in and if people are not paying attention they don’t catch it. Or he can be just outright funny. Gotta love a guy who can make you laugh and has a great sense of humor!

Go over to James site at TomWelling.org, scroll down to Wednesday, November 2, 2005 and click on the Buckhead show at the bottom of the post. Tom is such a funny guy…. So charming and kind. His momma raised him well! Good job Momma Welling!

Winter time is now upon us. Ryan and I play the thermostat game. I’m always cold, so I turn up the temperature. Ryan is always hot, so he turns it down to 0 below Kelvin.

While sitting at the supper table I feel goosebumps travel up my arms and down my legs. I begin shivering.

“It’s cold did you turn down the heat?” I ask Ryan.

Ryan innocently looks at me. “Nope. I turned it up.” He grins his evil mischievous grin at me.

“You did not! You turned it down!”

“Isn’t up this way?” he asks, pointing down.

“You know how I know you turned it down?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me, ” he sighs wearily.

“It’s cuz my nose is cold… AND cuz I have goosebumps all over!”

“You know I think I’m going to buy a new thermometer to control the heater. It will have a password on it…”

I glare at him.

“…just so you can put a passcode on it and prevent me from turning the temperature down all the time!”

“Quit giving me a false sense of control. I’m on to you!”

1. If you poke it with a broom to coax it from under the car, the cat will poop on the broom when you’re not looking.

2. If you lock the cat in your bedroom in attempts to prevent it’s escape the cat will poop on your bed and on the floor by your bed.

3. Joshua (4 yrs. old): “Hey mom, did you know that when you throw a cat it lands on it’s feet?”

5 min later.

4. Joshua: “Hey dad, did you know that when you throw a cat it will scratch you?”

OCTOBER 29, 2005:

We are on the road heading to Edmonton to go to our niece’s 1st birthday party. The ride down was the most enjoyable part of the day. We rearranged seating so the boys were separated and it made everything go so smoothly. Josh sat up in the front and I sat in the back. Since Josh is the main instigator when it comes to causing trouble and pulling pranks on his siblings we figured that if he stayed in the front it would stem the tide of jokes. It worked! Josh bothered Mya for a little, but that girl is full of piss and vinegar and she held her own. She shrieked loudly if he tried to come close to her. I think she’ll be just fine going up against the boys…

Then we had a fabulous Mastercard moment.

Gas to drive from Okotoks to Edmonton: $90.00
Snacks and beverages to keep everyone fed on the drive up: $40.00
Kids sing-a-long CD to keep the kids occupied: $9.99
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Watching your 1 year old flinging fresh poop from her diaper toward her father while he is driving……. Priceless.
Some things money can’t buy.

One of the reasons Josh stopped bugging Mya is because she had pooped her diaper and stunk really bad. I had asked Ryan to pull over so we could changer her diaper but he refused. He wanted to get there on time. Mya was getting madder and madder that no one was changing her diaper. Ryan kept refusing to stop. So Mya, my ingenious Mya, dug down deep in her diaper took some poo and began to fling it at Ryan.

All of a sudden he starts swearing and swerving all over the road. He veers over to the closest roadside bathroom/rest stop and pulls Mya out of her seat. He holds her at arms length away from him with a diaper and wipes in hand heading to the bathroom to change her diaper… HA-HA-HA-HA. I had tears running down my face, I was laughing so hard…. Serves him right… heheh… I’m so evil.

Everyone was giving him strange looks as he hauls the baby in high over his head, arm extended with a pissed off look on his face. OMG… it was priceless. I was grinning madly and didn’t say a word when he brought her back. Hehehe… he was so mad. After the poop flinging incident everyone fell asleep until we got about 1/2 hour from Edmonton. I woke everyone up and proceeded to put Halloween make-up on Laura.

A few days before we had to head up to Edmonton to visit the brother-in-law, his wife calls and tells us the 1st birthday party for their daughter is going to be a Halloween party. We were all to dress up in costumes. Wow! How fun…. right???

Wrong!

*sigh* I should have known.

Laura is dressed as a fairy. Her face is full of glitter, sparkles, fake eye lashes and make-up. She has a purple fancy dress on that poufs out and wings to go on her back. I decided to go as a bitch…. Yes, you read right… I went as a BITCH… of the DOG variety. I transformed my face to look like a Dalmatian dog with splotches everywhere and 2 pony tails for the ears. I had a faux fur sweater and black pants. The boys were going to go as super hero’s. Josh as Batman, Brandon as Superman. Ryan refused to take part in any dressing up, claiming he was going as a grumpy dad.

We arrive and everyone stares at us. No one else dressed up! Not even their KID!

“What’s going on?” I asked a little bewildered and quite annoyed. “I thought this was suppose to be a Halloween party?”

“Yeah, it was, but I was too lazy and too tired to put on a costume so we decided to scrap the idea…. but hey you look great!,” smiles the sister-in-law.

“Nice. You could’ve called. Hey, guess what I am?…. A Bitch!”

Obviously she’s one too, she just forgot to put her make-up on.

So all their friends show up and surprise, surprise NO ONE has a costume… everyone has “forgotten” theirs… Whatever. Bend over people and I’ll bite you in the ass.

I seriously hate his family. They suck.

I hate Christmas. It is so stressful and I really do not enjoy the holiday. This year I just want it to be us. No in-laws, no parents, no siblings, nobody. Just the kids , Ryan and I. I really wish we lived far, far away from his parents so we wouldn’t have to feel obligated to go to their house on Christmas Eve. We never do anything when we go over there anyway. Just eat then everyone sits and watches TV. It drives me crazy. I hate the constant TV watching that his family indulges in. I always want to do something different, but I’m the only one that does. Everyone else is content to waste their lives in front of a screaming square box.

Christmas Day is just going to be us this year. No one else. I’m so sick and tired of entertaining… imagine that. I never thought I’d say that, but I am. *ugh* I used to love a party at my house at Christmas. Now I’m annoyed at everyone in Ryan’s family and at my mother. I won’t have to worry about my brothers showing up, cuz they always do their own thing.

I started feeling stressed out over Christmas in September when I went into Blockbuster and they had a fake Christmas tree up already! Walmart had some Christmas stuff out on their shelves at the end of September as well. September!!! That’s just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to early in my books! Why can’t stores wait until November 1 to put out their stupid Christmas crap. It just seems to get earlier and earlier every year and it drives me bonkers. If I drank, that would drive me to drink, just to calm my nerves.

These are the reasons I hate Christmas:

1. The gift giving. It can be so freakn’ expensive. It stresses me out as to what to buy someone, if they will like it, if they will need it and how much I spend on each person. I used to do a gift exchange with all my friends. Now that most of them are married with kids, I’ve just ask that it be reduced to a bake exchange. It just got waaaay too expensive. What if I forget someone and they give me a gift? Then I feel OBLIGATED to give them a gift back, when I wasn’t going to give them a gift in the first place. Then I have to go through the whole hassle of what to get, etc.

2. The decorations. My house is quite sparse normally. The kids destroy everything I own, so I don’t clutter my shelves with nick knack crap. I have a very open and nick knack free house. I also don’t have many pictures on my wall cuz my kids like to spin the frames on my wall causing them to fall and crash to the ground.

People who come to my house for the first time always ask this, “Did you just move in recently?”

“No.”

They always look surprised and comment on my lack of decorating that I do to the house.

*sigh* Whatever. I’ll never be a Martha Stewart of home decorating. Why deal with the stress of things being broken or keeping the kids away from it? It’s not worth my energy. So therefore I don’t decorate.

At Christmas however, I have 10 huge Rubbermaid bins full of Christmas decoration and nick knacks that I put out all over the place. I hate putting it up, so I procrastinate and boxes sit around in my living room for what seems like forever. Then I hate having to put it all away again at the end of Christmas. It’s such a pain in the ass. We once had our Christmas tree up till the end of February. Friends made fun of me, but I really didn’t care. Some even say that we left the tree up until April. I don’t recall that , but obviously they do and remind me of it every year. Whatever, again I don’t care. I hate taking stuff down that badly.

Ryan and I have an arrangement now. I’ll put up the Christmas decorations and he’ll take it down… and that usually works… sometimes. It depends on our moods if either of us feels like putting up or taking down. If I don’t then the house doesn’t get decorated until a week before Christmas… sometimes not until a couple days before. Ryan sometimes won’t take it down until middle of January. Whatever. I just hate the process.

3. There’s never any snow around Christmas. It drives me crazy! For some reason, right around Christmas a Chinook blows in and melts all the snow. Then there’s a yucky brown all over. I don’t feel Christmasy when there’s no snow! One year it was so warm that golf courses opened on Christmas Day! I want SNOW for CHRISTMAS! It’s not Christmas unless there is snow!

4. Money. There never seems to be enough of it around Christmas. That probably is my biggest stress of all. I always have these grandeur ideas of what to get everybody, but have to compromise to fit the budget. Drives me batty. I really want to get everyone I know something and it makes me feel like crap because I can’t.

5. Ryan always buys me something stupid. I have a list that I put out for him, but he REFUSES to buy stuff off the list. Instead he goes out and gets me stuff that I DON’T want and end up returning anyway. He just needs to stick to the list. I don’t care about the surprise element. Yes, I surprised. I’m surprised it’s something stupid! I just want the stuff on my freakn’ list! I never buy stuff for myself, so when I get something I want it to be something that’s ON THE LIST!!! Seriously! Is that too hard to ask?

He never pays attention when we are out and I coo over something so therefore I make a list for that very reason. Why he doesn’t understand the ‘get me a gift off my list’ concept is beyond me. *sigh*

Bah Humbug… I hate Christmas.

WOW! WOW!WOW! WOW!WOW! WOW!WOW! WOW!WOW! WOW! This show kicked serious arse. I am so deliriously happy! This is just such a great episode. What did I like? Everything! I didn’t even write about Exposed last week cuz it sucked so bad and I was upset that it was the 3rd episode in a row that sucked monkey butts… Thankfully Smallville managed to rebound with a Tomerific episode of Splinter.

The WOWIE KAZOWIE!

That red farm truck constantly gets wrecked! The crash scene was awesome! The tires rolling, smoke billowing out, metal smashing! Wow! I love to watch a good crash. I wonder if the Kents will get a different colored truck or different model… their insurance has GOT to be expensive!

Everything! Tom is such a great actor. I know I’ve mentioned that before, but I really need to mention it again. He is Fabuloso baby! He does an incredible ‘crazy, deranged’ person!

I loved how the make-up artists made him look more and more crazy as the show went on.

I loved the gradual build up of tension and craziness in Clark.

I loved seeing Clark beat everyone up and kick the livin’ piss outta people that he loved. It was powerful.

I love how Brainiac is playing with Clark and messing with his mind.

Once again I love the morphing images of Brainiac ingesting the silver kryptonite from the rock.

Awwww… I almost had tears in my eyes when Chloe said she would die to protect Clark’s secret… now is that foreshadowing or what! I’m so sad.

Chloe is such a great character! I really hope they don’t kill her off.

I wish I could say the same about Lana… they just base her character on being a hypocrite… SECRETS and LIES! SECRETS and LIES! is all that seems to come out of her mouth, yet she’s got her own secrets and lies that she keeps from Clark. I was actually happy that Clark was strangling her. I was secretly hoping she’d die. I wish the writers would make her character stronger, better and more enjoyable to watch. I like Kristin as an actress, but the material they give her to work with is horrible. It seems all she does is whine about people keeping secrets and lies yet she’s got lots of her own.

The HUH?

When did Lionel get money? I thought Lex wasn’t giving him anything and he was broke. When did Papa Luthor get coin? I know it was a paranoia moment with the cash, but papa Luthor looked well dressed.

Why didn’t Clark ask Brainiac what he did with the blood and the splinter he sucked out of his neck? Or how he knew what to do?

Wasn’t Clark curious as to what kind of instrument he used?

Clark is too trusting of Brainiac… the last few ‘Kryptonians’ he met have been no good to him…. Kara got him sucked back into the cave and the 2 that came out of the ship tried to kill him because he wouldn’t follow their plans. Clark is the most skeptical and leery person when it comes to other people and his secret. Why does he confide in Brainiac? Why does he trust Brainiac all of a sudden? I dunno.

Clark almost KILLS Lana and she’s all, “I forgive you, I understand” in the hospital. Riiiiiight. Lana is pissy and holds a grudge. She got pissed at Clark and didn’t want to see him again when the horse stomped on her while she was looking after Lex in the ‘Shattered’ episode. Now she’s all sweet, forgiving and demure??? Whatever. That’s not the Lana I’ve watched.

…then again if that pair of eyes came begging for my forgiveness I would forgive him in a heart beat.

Seriously can anyone say no to that face? Those lips?…. I don’t think so!

Clark smashes his mother across the face and she goes hurling across the floor and into mirrors and all kinds of crap and she’s not MAD? Or doesn’t have ANY bruises or cuts?!?

Yeah right!

Lex had a bunch of cuts and bruises!

Clark whipped him around and beat him up in the same manner as momma Kent. Same with Jonathan. Clark goes nutso on him and he’s not pissed off… not even a little??? Hot headed Jonathan Kent isn’t even a teensy weensy pissed? that his wife( the one he loves and is head over heels for) gets knocked around by Clark? Jonathan and Martha are being painted as waaaaaaaaay to perfect…like a lil’ “Leave it to Beaver” family. I don’t buy that. No parents can be THAT understanding… silver kryptonite or not. When Clark went off on Jonathan in the ‘Red’ episode Jonathan was more than a little ticked off. I dunno, maybe it’s just me. I don’t buy the perfection in Jonathan and Martha.

Wouldn’t Lex have video surveillance on his lil’ pet project? He seems like he has cameras everywhere else. You’d think he’d have cameras on the spaceship so he can see Brainiac coming and going…. just curious that’s all.

How did papa Luthor know that Lex liked Lana? Was he snooping in Lex’s diary cuz there never was mention of this annoying Clark/Lex/Lana triangle till a few episodes ago. Or maybe Lex has been doodling ‘Lex loves Lana’ all over his work notes and leaves them lying around? It’s just odd that daddy-O would know such an intimate detail on his son. Don’t get it.

However, despite my gripes and snarks this episode was superb!

5 out of 5. It was wonderfully executed. I really liked it!… ok.. I LOVED IT! I’m also partially ecstatic that there’s FINALLY a good episode thrown in.

I taped it so I want to watch it AGAIN! Whoo hooo hoo!

Well, I’m sleepy. Night, night, sleep tight. Happy dreams of Tom tonite!

Josh: I heard a band play at school today.

Me: Did you like it?

Josh: Yes! I liked it a lot!

Me: Would you like to play a musical instrument? Your daddy learned to play the saxophone in school.

Josh: *big sigh* Well, good for him, but I dont’ know what I want to be when I grow up.

I cannot believe the sarcasm that comes from his little mouth!

That’s how many lives this cat has left… it’s not doing too good.

When Ryan found the kitten he rescued it from a mechanics sump pump, all covered in grease and chemicals. It was locked in there for 5 days without food or water. It survived. Ryan brought it home…. I’m beginning to think it had a better chance on the farm he got it from.

First the boys broke her little bone in her leg then they pretty much torment her all day by carrying her around, snuggling her and basically treating her like Elmyra Duff from Tiny Toons.

“I’m going to hug you and love you and lock you in a cage!” is my kids philosophy. The cat has started a dodge and evade policy when it comes to the kids.

I tried to put it up in the ceiling to catch the mice, but there was no ceiling, just a stud… so down, down, down the kitten fell 7 feet. Oopsie Daisy. She threw up and wobbled around for a bit. Poor cat.

I’m so sick of people…

1. Who don’t see the bigger picture.
2. Who don’t think outside the box.
3. Who don’t like good HOMEMADE GOURMET food…. (and I’m not talking about M&M meat shops either… that’s not gourmet, that’s garbage.)
4. Who think that “FUNERAL POTATOES” (GAG me with a spoon and slowly poison me now) is GREAT!
5. Who don’t know how to cook anything and burn water!
6. Who can’t SHUT THE F*CK up for a second so I can get a word in.
7. Who rules the activity committee like Hitler or Stalin.
8. Who have no regard for anybody else but themselves.
9. Who doesn’t have an open mind.
10. Who cannot be polite and respectful to others opinions or to listen to what they have to say.
11. Who say, “I this…” and “I that…” at least 100 times when they speak. “I think we should so this. I know because I just did a wedding. I don’t like having kids around because I think they are noisy and disruptive. When you get older you’ll understand. I’m the leader so you just do what I say. I don’t care what other people think. I’m too busy to put in any effort. I just want it to be simple. I don’t have time. You can’t do that because I need you here instead.”

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

I’m launching a campaign to get rid of her as the leader. Is that wrong? I really don’t know, but I do know she won’t listen to anyone else that may have an opinion. She hates me and my opinions. She’s a bitter, negative woman who only thinks about herself. I’m so mad I could spit. What’s wrong with people? ….and YES you CAN please EVERYONE if you TRY to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!!!!!!!

If I can’t get her ousted by the end of December I’m quitting. I’m doing this one Christmas party, then there better be a new leader before I stomp on Mrs. Hitler. *sigh* It is so frustrating dealing with people when they are negative to EVERYTHING.

Vinaigrette Salad dressing

Part 1:
1/3 Cup of olive oil
2 tbs. red wine vinegar
2 tbs. maple syrup
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper

Part 2: Then add any flavor you want:

Orange Flavor:
1/2 Cup or 1 Cup (depending on how much flavor you want) concentrated orange juice undiluted

Raspberry Flavor:
1/2 Cup - 1 Cup fresh raspberries (if using frozen thaw in microwave first). Puree in a mini chopper then add to dressing.

Strawberry Flavor:
1/2 Cup - 1 Cup fresh strawberries (if using frozen thaw in microwave first). Puree in a mini chopper then add to dressing.

Mix Part 1 and Part 2 together in a dressing shaker or jar. Shake it up. Serve over salad. Store in your fridge if there is left overs, but use within a week. If the olive oil jells from sitting in the fridge, liquefy in microwave for 10 seconds before you use it.

I love this dressing! I got it from a wonderful restaurant out here called 79 and also ‘La Petite Table’ has an orange dressing similar to this. Each dressing will taste slightly different depending on the flavor (obviously) so try them all and see which is your favorite….Play with the amounts of strawberries, raspberries or orange you put in… That too will also change the taste slightly.

I like to combine raspberry and strawberry… Whoa… look out, stop the horsey that’s just crazy! Anyway, onwards to my favorite salad.

SALAD

Fancy Mixed Salad Greens (don’t use crappy iceberg lettuce or large romaine heads. Use the baby mixed salad greens! It’s yummy)

Mandarin oranges
Sliced fresh strawberries
toasted pine nuts or whole pecans (both these nuts MUST be toasted)
diced green onions

Can also add:
feta cheese 1/4 cup
red onion sliced very thinly in an O shape.

Toss the salad with the oranges, strawberries and green onions. Sprinkle toasted pine nuts, feta cheese and a couple of red onion slices on top. Drizzle raspberry vinaigrette dressing on salad. (or Orange or Strawberry dressing) Serve and eat immediately….

This is my Police Dept. Answering Machine Message that I put on just for Chad cuz he’s an extra special “stick em’ up” cop!

Hello, you have reached the Police Department Voice Mail. Pay close attention as we have to update the choices often as new and unusual circumstances arrive. Please select one of the following options:

To whine about us not doing anything to solve a problem that you created yourself, press 1.

To inquire as to whether someone has to die before we’ll do something about a problem, press 2.

To report an officer for bad manners, when in reality the officer is trying to keep your neighborhood safe, speak loudly after the click then hit the phone on your head 3 times.

If you would like us to raise your children, press 3.

If you would like us to instantly restore order to a situation that took years to deteriorate, press 4.

To provide a list of officers you personally know so we will not take enforcement action against you, press 5.

To sue us, or tell us you pay our salary and you’ll have our badge, or to proclaim our career is over, press 6.

To whine about a ticket and/or complain about the many other uses for police rather than keeping your dumb ass in line, press 7.

Please note your call may be monitored, so we can all laugh about it at the donut shop later…and remember… we’re here to save your ass, NOT kiss it.

Thank you for calling your local police dept. and have a nice day!

I’m fighting like a rabid dog over our ward Christmas party and I refuse to go down without a fight! Look out… I’m roaring and ready to fight. I don’t get these opportunities to fight in my life so I look forward to rumble with people. I’ve got the claws out and I’m ready to go. They knew that I was a fighter when they called me to this position so now I’m sure they are regretting it. I just know how to throw a good party and when they’re done screwing around with stupid lame ass parties they need to let me take charge. I’m pissed and ready to fight to put on a good party. Bring it on.

Below are two birds. Study them closely…. See if you can spot which of the two is the female. It can be done. Even by one with limited bird watching skills. Observe closely and quietly…..
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“As Long As You Love Me” lip sync by 2 Chinese students.
H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S!!!

Click on the picture.

One More!

“I want it that way.”

These are just funny as hell! “I want it that way” is my favorite! I can’t stop laughing. It’s great!