My dad is a hard ass ex-Marine....he can be extremely difficult to get along with. But some of my BEST memories of him are Sunday afternoons in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.
From the time I was four years old, until I was twelve and half we lived in the metropolitan area around Washington DC. My Dad worked for the Federal Government in Personnel and he worked his way up the GS ladder, moving from job to job and base to base. Some of those commutes were long...some were shorter. I actually remember a time when I was five or six, telling my Mom while my brother and sisters and I ate dinner, "I miss Daddy, when are we going to see him again." We ate dinner and went to bed before my Dad got home and he left before we woke up in the morning....so I didn't get to see him much at the time. I guess my Mom told my Dad because just a few days later he took a few days of Annual Leave to spend some time with us. (For those of you who don't know, Annual Leave is something you earn every pay period for the Government, you go from 4 to 8 hours a pay period depending on how long you have been a Government employee and you can pretty much take it anytime you want....it's vacation time.)
Anyway, most Sunday afternoons, I can remember my Dad coming into the family room, and telling all five of us, "Let's go get lost." At the time, that meant that all five of the children would pile into the stationwagon with my Dad and go "Who knows where." Of course in the metro DC area there were a TON of places to go! I'm sure my Dad had a place in mind each and everytime, but he never told us where we were going....so to us, we just kind of ended up someplace really cool. Now let me explain places that are "really cool" to an eight to twelve old (that was me.) Sometimes we would go to a playground, sometimes we would run around Laffayette Park, or we would end up at the Iwojima Memorial (my uncle was there the day they raised that flag....something we heard EVERY time,) sometimes we went to the Washington Memorial, or we raced around the Reflecting Pool after visiting the Lincoln Memorial and racing to the Jefferson Memorial. Then there were times when we just ended up at the campus of the University of Maryland with buckets in hand...and we collected hundreds and hundreds of acorns....Why, I don't know, but it was way cool at the time.....I wonder what he did with that car trunk full of acorns?
I never actually heard my Mom tell my Dad to "Get lost." But years later, when I became a Mom, I finally figured it out. Even though I never heard the conversation, I'm pretty sure it went like this.....Dad..."So what do you want to do this afternoon?" Mom......"Why don't you take the kids and just GET LOST." I can't blame my Mom....she had five kids and I am the oldest, we are pretty much stairstepped, except the youngest who was a surprise...I was nine when he came along.
Today is Sunday afternoon.....my husband has helped our 27 year old move some heavy stuff this morning, cleaned horse stalls and done several other things.....he is tired and sore.....but when his kids asked him to take them to the park this afternoon....he did! My husband is an amazing man and an amazing Dad....when summer vacation rolls around I will try to do something to "Get Lost" every once in a while....this way the kids will be tired in the evening and I can enjoy a peaceful night.
But I am going to suggest something for every Dad or even Mom out there right now......take your kids somewhere, just GET LOST....it doesn't have to cost money, a park, a memorial where they might learn something, a University Campus to romp in the open spaces....just a place to run around.....it's worth it.....and they will remember it when they are 50!
Have a GREAT DAY!
Welcome to my Blog. You may notice I said MY Blog. Thats because thats what this is, MY observations, MY opinions, My reactions to my life. If you believe I've written about you in My Blog then perhaps you have a guilty conscience, I write this Blog for MYSELF. I share it because I want to and I can...NEVER assume any of the content is about YOU, its about ME! And DEFINETLY do not call me and whine if you think I've written about you, again folks, this is about ME!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Our Furry Family Members CAN Talk, YOU Just Have to Know What They are Saying
I am an animal lover. I think everyone knows that. Ok, some people might call me a hoarder, but I'm really not! Yes, I have 12 dogs, 7 housecats, a goat, 3 horses, and the population of cats in the barn rises and falls all the time, since it is spring it will be on the rise very soon. But animal hoarders are people who do not know when to stop and can not take care of the animals they have. If it came to that for me, I would find new homes for all of them.....I would not keep them and make them suffer because I couldn't let go. And just for the record, several of the animals I have did not start out as "mine." My parents had two cats and a 11 year old lab when my Mom passed away last year and my Dad went into the nursing home. Since all 3 of them came from the Humane Society and I was able to just add them to our household I kept them. I also have a pitbull in the house who belongs to my son, and he will be moving into a house soon and will take his dog back (I love my granddog, but I will be happy when he is back with my son.) Then there is the Blue Heeler my son and his wife got as a puppy a few years ago, they will not be taking her, she belongs on a farm and she loves nothing better than to herd my goat around the yard. I am not sure if I will keep her, I would like to find her another home, with an older farm couple who lets her come in the house and sit on the sofa with them, takes her for rides in the car because she loves rides, and lets her hang out with them when they are working outside.
I will say that my animals are all characters, each one different from another and when I'm having a bad day they can make me laugh. When I'm feeling down, they seem to know and will try to make me feel better.
My 11 year old mare scared the heck out of me earlier today. I could hear her carrying on outside like crazy. My horses vocalize on occassion, but not the way she was doing it, I thought something was wrong and rushed outside to see what was going on. When I got outside, I had to laugh.
My husband left the barn door open this morning because my 20 something gelding did not want to go out in the freezing rain and wind and he (the husband) got tired of arguing with him. Storm, my young mare was standing in front of the barn door, pacing back and forth and "yelling" at her mother. Her mother is about 30 and was standing, quite comfortably, in her run in shelter out of the wind and rain. The gelding, who had come out earlier, had gone back into the barn and was standing in the doorway. It was obvious that Storm wanted to go into the barn but she would not go in without her mother. Her mother snorted in answer several times, but Storm would not give up, so her mother finally plodded over and into the barn and Storm happily followed her in and quieted down.
An hour or so later my son was outside. I had told him what Storm had done earlier. He could hear her carrying on again so he went to check on her. Storm's mother and the gelding were at their bale feeder and Storm was going in and out of the barn, yelling at them again. Her mother's ears were pinned back and she was obviously irritated but she finally gave in and plodded back to the barn with the gelding in tow. Storm reminds me very much of a recalitrant teenage human who refuses to give up until she gets her way!
I know people do not believe that our animals understand us when we talk to them, but I am not always so sure, and I believe that sometimes I know exactly what my animals are saying to me. A few minutes after Storm had gotten her mother and her "uncle" into the barn with her, I was outside again. When she saw me, she started "yelling" at me. I looked over at her, she was looking out of the barn door at me. "What," I said. She "yelled" at me again. I knew what she wanted. They were all in the barn, and she was "demanding" that I come close the door and get their hay and oats. So I answered her...."No, I am not slogging out there to shut the door and feed you this early in the afternoon." She rolled her eyes at me, and turned back inside the barn. Recalcitrant teenager, I'm telling you!
So the next time YOUR furry family members have something to say to you....listen, have a conversation, you might be surprised at how much they have to say and how much they understand YOU!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
I will say that my animals are all characters, each one different from another and when I'm having a bad day they can make me laugh. When I'm feeling down, they seem to know and will try to make me feel better.
My 11 year old mare scared the heck out of me earlier today. I could hear her carrying on outside like crazy. My horses vocalize on occassion, but not the way she was doing it, I thought something was wrong and rushed outside to see what was going on. When I got outside, I had to laugh.
My husband left the barn door open this morning because my 20 something gelding did not want to go out in the freezing rain and wind and he (the husband) got tired of arguing with him. Storm, my young mare was standing in front of the barn door, pacing back and forth and "yelling" at her mother. Her mother is about 30 and was standing, quite comfortably, in her run in shelter out of the wind and rain. The gelding, who had come out earlier, had gone back into the barn and was standing in the doorway. It was obvious that Storm wanted to go into the barn but she would not go in without her mother. Her mother snorted in answer several times, but Storm would not give up, so her mother finally plodded over and into the barn and Storm happily followed her in and quieted down.
An hour or so later my son was outside. I had told him what Storm had done earlier. He could hear her carrying on again so he went to check on her. Storm's mother and the gelding were at their bale feeder and Storm was going in and out of the barn, yelling at them again. Her mother's ears were pinned back and she was obviously irritated but she finally gave in and plodded back to the barn with the gelding in tow. Storm reminds me very much of a recalitrant teenage human who refuses to give up until she gets her way!
I know people do not believe that our animals understand us when we talk to them, but I am not always so sure, and I believe that sometimes I know exactly what my animals are saying to me. A few minutes after Storm had gotten her mother and her "uncle" into the barn with her, I was outside again. When she saw me, she started "yelling" at me. I looked over at her, she was looking out of the barn door at me. "What," I said. She "yelled" at me again. I knew what she wanted. They were all in the barn, and she was "demanding" that I come close the door and get their hay and oats. So I answered her...."No, I am not slogging out there to shut the door and feed you this early in the afternoon." She rolled her eyes at me, and turned back inside the barn. Recalcitrant teenager, I'm telling you!
So the next time YOUR furry family members have something to say to you....listen, have a conversation, you might be surprised at how much they have to say and how much they understand YOU!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Facebook Is A Great Place to Reconnect....Just Be Careful Who You Reconnect With
One of my facebook friends posted something yesterday that I thought was no big deal and pretty amusing. As I read through the thread, I became AMAZED at some of the responses and personal attacks that started from what I considered a somewhat run of the mill post.
My friends are a very diverse group of people, and many, many of them are friends from high school. I spent 7th through 11th grade in an American High School in Germany because my father was working for the US Government. Then we transferred to a much smaller post in Utah for my senior year. Thanks to FB I have reconnected with many of them and I love to "talk" to them and hear from them. I would think most of my friends, many of whom were military brats, would be pretty open minded....but apparently when some of them came home and settled in one place or another they became extremely intolerant of others.
My friends post was a simple observation....she saw a group of Asian men, all in blue suits, with thier Murses (man purse, and Murse was my word, not hers) touring her local Walmart and wondered why it was on the itinerary. There were several funny responses. MY first thought was that Walmart is an extremely successful enterprise, that caters to ALL levels of society, and therefore a place that a group of business people might like to tour and get ideas.
What amazed me was that the amusing comments were taken the wrong way by several people and someone actually called someone else a Commie/Pinko/Bitch....Really? Did we just fall back into the '50s? I mean come on folks....everyone has different views in this country. Some are liberal, some conservative, some hate Obama, some like him, some people hate the government all together and believe they are "Soveriegn Citizens." (I met alot of these Soveriegn Citizens when I worked for a governement agency that they hate more than most of the other government agencies.)
As I said, my FB friends are a diverse group....and to be perfectly honest.....I do not care what their religious or political views are......I am tolerant.....I do not condemn anyone for their beliefs. I do not usually share my political or religious beliefs on FB because I don't feel I need to. I was raised in the Catholic Church but I am no longer a practicing Catholic, although I can still attend Mass and make all the appropriate responses. I believe in a higher power, I choose to call that higher power God. I may mention God occassionally in a post. However, I was always a "trouble making Catholic, with alot of questions about the Church's rules and beliefs." I have no problem with other people who believe in a different higher power. My political views are usually pretty liberal, and I pretty much refuse to talk about politics with anyone....particularly my conservative, redneck husband. And yes, I probably will have to pry the gun from his cold dead hands.....He rants and raves and vents and I bite my tongue until I eventually say..."ok enough, I will not respond just so you can pick a fight with me."
When I see religious or political retoric on FB I usually just scroll right past it. I do not get involved. But when something that I consider a simple observation becomes a political attack, a racists attack, or a personal attack on others, it bothers me. And when someone makes an amusing comment that gets twisted by other people, it bothers me.
I don't want to "unfriend" people because of their political or religious views, I will not comment on posts by Haters. And I have a few friends who spend waaaay to much time posting their religous and political views trying to insitgate HATE, it can take a long time to scroll past their MULTIPLE posts. Then there are the friends who post positive, inspirational quotes, stories, and pictures, these are POSITIVE messages, not NEGATIVE. But on both sides of this coin, these people are like me in one way or another, cat/dog/animal lovers, they grow great gardens, they enjoy some of the same activities, reading material, or sports that I do. So please folks, just play nice on FB, don't allow your own personal views to cloud your judgement and think it gives you the right to attack other people who don't agree with you. And if you are one of the people who posts HATE on FB, please stop, find another forum to spew your HATE! And think about this folks..... if you do not respond to their posts then they do not have a forum.......!
Have a Great DAY!
My friends are a very diverse group of people, and many, many of them are friends from high school. I spent 7th through 11th grade in an American High School in Germany because my father was working for the US Government. Then we transferred to a much smaller post in Utah for my senior year. Thanks to FB I have reconnected with many of them and I love to "talk" to them and hear from them. I would think most of my friends, many of whom were military brats, would be pretty open minded....but apparently when some of them came home and settled in one place or another they became extremely intolerant of others.
My friends post was a simple observation....she saw a group of Asian men, all in blue suits, with thier Murses (man purse, and Murse was my word, not hers) touring her local Walmart and wondered why it was on the itinerary. There were several funny responses. MY first thought was that Walmart is an extremely successful enterprise, that caters to ALL levels of society, and therefore a place that a group of business people might like to tour and get ideas.
What amazed me was that the amusing comments were taken the wrong way by several people and someone actually called someone else a Commie/Pinko/Bitch....Really? Did we just fall back into the '50s? I mean come on folks....everyone has different views in this country. Some are liberal, some conservative, some hate Obama, some like him, some people hate the government all together and believe they are "Soveriegn Citizens." (I met alot of these Soveriegn Citizens when I worked for a governement agency that they hate more than most of the other government agencies.)
As I said, my FB friends are a diverse group....and to be perfectly honest.....I do not care what their religious or political views are......I am tolerant.....I do not condemn anyone for their beliefs. I do not usually share my political or religious beliefs on FB because I don't feel I need to. I was raised in the Catholic Church but I am no longer a practicing Catholic, although I can still attend Mass and make all the appropriate responses. I believe in a higher power, I choose to call that higher power God. I may mention God occassionally in a post. However, I was always a "trouble making Catholic, with alot of questions about the Church's rules and beliefs." I have no problem with other people who believe in a different higher power. My political views are usually pretty liberal, and I pretty much refuse to talk about politics with anyone....particularly my conservative, redneck husband. And yes, I probably will have to pry the gun from his cold dead hands.....He rants and raves and vents and I bite my tongue until I eventually say..."ok enough, I will not respond just so you can pick a fight with me."
When I see religious or political retoric on FB I usually just scroll right past it. I do not get involved. But when something that I consider a simple observation becomes a political attack, a racists attack, or a personal attack on others, it bothers me. And when someone makes an amusing comment that gets twisted by other people, it bothers me.
I don't want to "unfriend" people because of their political or religious views, I will not comment on posts by Haters. And I have a few friends who spend waaaay to much time posting their religous and political views trying to insitgate HATE, it can take a long time to scroll past their MULTIPLE posts. Then there are the friends who post positive, inspirational quotes, stories, and pictures, these are POSITIVE messages, not NEGATIVE. But on both sides of this coin, these people are like me in one way or another, cat/dog/animal lovers, they grow great gardens, they enjoy some of the same activities, reading material, or sports that I do. So please folks, just play nice on FB, don't allow your own personal views to cloud your judgement and think it gives you the right to attack other people who don't agree with you. And if you are one of the people who posts HATE on FB, please stop, find another forum to spew your HATE! And think about this folks..... if you do not respond to their posts then they do not have a forum.......!
Have a Great DAY!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
My Glass is Half Full....What About Yours?
I am a very optomistic person. I'm sure I've mentioned before that I believe the old saying...."You can either laugh or you can cry." I personally prefer to laugh as much as possible. Years ago at my job, one of the many bosses in the office stopped me one day in the hall and said "Kathy, you are always smiling, everytime I see you, you are smiling. Why is that?" I laughed and told him I was just lazy. "Lazy? What do you mean?" he asked. "Well," I said, "it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, so I smile all the time because I'm lazy!"
I have not had the easiest life. I didn't get a fairy tale. I had a good childhood, we moved several times, but I got to see the world. I got married when I was 21 and by the ripe old age of 23, I was a widow, with a special needs child and a 6 month old baby. I struggled to support us and sometimes worked two jobs. I made several bad choices over the years, a few with men and I got knocked around because of those bad choices. (Maybe I'll tell you more about that sometime.) But throughout it all, I tried to remain upbeat, my kids never saw me cry except at a couple of sappy movies and we came out on the other side with a new marriage, a new Dad, and 5 more siblings.
My husband is not an optomist. If you listen to him, we will be bankrupt at any moment, the kids are bleeding us dry and we will all probably have to live in the Suburban, if we can afford to keep the payments up on that. Maybe we will live in the F250 instead, it's already paid for.... My personal opinion is it will all work out, we will make it, just like we always have, and I will not give myself ulcers worrying about stuff that hasn't happend yet. You know what I mean, my husband sits around thinking...well IF this and this happen, then THIS could happen and we could all go to "hell in a handbasket." We are no where near bankruptcy, our life is good, he just likes to worry!
If I have to go back to work...fine....I'm not stupid, I can get another job and I can help out. Do I know how tough things are out there right now, and people my age are not getting jobs....sure, but I also know ME and if I need to go back to work, I WILL find a job.
I guess I just don't understand people who are pessimistic, like my husand. I want to be happy and feel good...how can you do that if you are always trying to find the bad side of everything? Sure there are things in life that are ugly and difficult. There have been several events during the past year or so in the media that have been horrible....but I can't live in fear and lock myself and my family up in our house with the windows and doors barred against the ugliness in the world. The Mr. Roger's quote, "Always look for the helpers," is the way I look at these events.
If you are a pessimist please try and look at the bright side of the world. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset, laugh with your kids or grandkids or friends. There is ALWAYS a bright side to EVERY situation. And remember..."God never gives you more than you can handle and when He closes a door, He opens a window." Sometimes the weight on your shoulders can be very heavy and those windows can be really hard to find.....but you CAN DO IT!
Have a Great Day! (AND BE LAZY.....SMILE!)
I have not had the easiest life. I didn't get a fairy tale. I had a good childhood, we moved several times, but I got to see the world. I got married when I was 21 and by the ripe old age of 23, I was a widow, with a special needs child and a 6 month old baby. I struggled to support us and sometimes worked two jobs. I made several bad choices over the years, a few with men and I got knocked around because of those bad choices. (Maybe I'll tell you more about that sometime.) But throughout it all, I tried to remain upbeat, my kids never saw me cry except at a couple of sappy movies and we came out on the other side with a new marriage, a new Dad, and 5 more siblings.
My husband is not an optomist. If you listen to him, we will be bankrupt at any moment, the kids are bleeding us dry and we will all probably have to live in the Suburban, if we can afford to keep the payments up on that. Maybe we will live in the F250 instead, it's already paid for.... My personal opinion is it will all work out, we will make it, just like we always have, and I will not give myself ulcers worrying about stuff that hasn't happend yet. You know what I mean, my husband sits around thinking...well IF this and this happen, then THIS could happen and we could all go to "hell in a handbasket." We are no where near bankruptcy, our life is good, he just likes to worry!
If I have to go back to work...fine....I'm not stupid, I can get another job and I can help out. Do I know how tough things are out there right now, and people my age are not getting jobs....sure, but I also know ME and if I need to go back to work, I WILL find a job.
I guess I just don't understand people who are pessimistic, like my husand. I want to be happy and feel good...how can you do that if you are always trying to find the bad side of everything? Sure there are things in life that are ugly and difficult. There have been several events during the past year or so in the media that have been horrible....but I can't live in fear and lock myself and my family up in our house with the windows and doors barred against the ugliness in the world. The Mr. Roger's quote, "Always look for the helpers," is the way I look at these events.
If you are a pessimist please try and look at the bright side of the world. Enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset, laugh with your kids or grandkids or friends. There is ALWAYS a bright side to EVERY situation. And remember..."God never gives you more than you can handle and when He closes a door, He opens a window." Sometimes the weight on your shoulders can be very heavy and those windows can be really hard to find.....but you CAN DO IT!
Have a Great Day! (AND BE LAZY.....SMILE!)
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
What Would YOU Do?
The events at the Boston Marathon are still on my mind tonight. So I want to ask you all what you would do in an emergency situation. There were many, many people yesterday who ran toward the carnage instead of away, some of them were trained medical personnel, police officers, some were bystanders, some were volunteers at the race and others were National Guard members, and still others were running in the race.
In that kind of emergency situation.....What would YOU do?......I have never been in a situation like that with multiple casualties and I can tell you that who was with me would make my reactions totally different.
If I had any of my children/grandchildren with me, I would shield them and run in the other direction....my job as their Mom/Grandma is to protect them, at all costs. I would not want them exposed to the scene of a tragedy like that and would do anything I had to to get them out of the area as quickly as possible.
But if I was by myself or with my husband or another adult, my reaction would be to run straight towards the people hurt and injured, and do anything I could to help.....I have never been in a mass casualty situation as I said, but I have been the first person on the scene of a car accident, twice. And both times, I have had children with me....they were not in harms way, and I knew that, and apparently my tone of voice in an emergency situation is much different than usual....I have told my children on more than one occasion to "stay in the car" and they have pretty much ignored me....but in both instances when I was the first on the scene of car accidents...I did not shut the car off, I simply jumped out and said to the child in question..."stay in the car and don't move" and they watched me out of the window and did exactly what they were told to do.
In my former position at work, I was trained as a first responder, with first aid knowledge. It was MY responsibilty to decide when 200 people needed to take cover from a storm, or tornado, it was MY responsibilty to conduct fire drills, and when the alarms went off for no reason that I was aware of, I was the LAST person out of the building after checking every floor, even though I had floor chiefs, and making sure everyone was out. I had prepared statements for the media, if an emergency situation ever arose and people were injured or killed, and I can tell you that I would have and still would be there digging with my bare hands to try and get the injured out, if necessary. Even 7 years after I quit, the person who has that responsibility now knows that I have his back...if there are tornados in the area, I call him to let him know....and he knows that even now, he can count on me to get to his side and help in whatever capacity he needs me.
So tell me folks...have you ever thought about this kind of situation? What would YOU do? I urge EVERYONE to take a first aid and CPR class, and to know how to use a portable defibulator....although in most cases, there are very good instructions on portable defibulators. If you don't feel you have the training to help, maybe you can just talk to someone, hold their hand, and tell them you are there and will stay with them, that everything is going to be ok, even if it's a lie, because sometimes that is just what people need to hear. And if you need to run the other way, that's OK too....because sometimes, that is the best thing to do...and NO ONE will judge you for it! Sometimes, just leaving the area and allowing the trained medical personnel and first responders to do their jobs is the best thing to do.
So just think about it....and HAVE A GOOD DAY!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
If I Am Part of the "Sandwich Generation" I Must Be a Club Sandwich!
The "Sandwich Generation," I'm never really sure how I feel about that term but I'm a living part of it! And I'm not just a regular sandwich, I'm a Club sandwich! Why? Well Club sandwiches (which I love by the way) have lots of layers and I am stuck in the middle of 4 generations!
My mom passed away in late April of last year. Before she moved to the nursing home a couple of months before her death, she and my Dad lived here in my house in addition we built for them. My Dad is now in Assisted Living at a nursing home as well. I run errands for him and visit him. I am also involved in the lives of two other elderly people who I consider family. They live about 40 minutes away.
Then there are my kids, the three oldest who are 34, 28, and 26. Two of them are married and have kids so I am a Grandma. The 28 year old is special needs and I will be taking care of her for as long as I am physically able to do it. We also adopted 4 other children a few years ago....so we have an 11 year old, a 9 year old, an 8 year old and a 6 year old. Yep, we started all over again, and each one of them came to us as babies. I also have neices and nephews and a couple great-neices and nephews. We see some of them frequently.
We are a close family. So I am surrounded by most of these people on a regular basis. I answer to Mom, Grandma, Honey, Kathy, MILK (mother in law Kathy), Aunt Kathy, and sometimes just "Hey you." I also respond to barks, neighing, bleeting, and meowing since we have several furry family members who require my attention as well.
I also try to volunteer to do things for the younger kids and grandkids schools when I can. I enjoy being around the kids' school and like the fact that pretty much every kid in school knows who I am because they see me there so often.
Its a crazy life, as my blog title indicates. But I don't think I would want it any other way. Sure it can be difficult and there is ALWAYS drama, and most nights I fall into bed exhausted. There were years when I worked outside of the home too, but I chose to become a stay at home mom about 7 years ago, just a couple of months before the 3 youngest started joining our family. (Apparently my becoming a stay at home mom was destined to be because I never could have continued my job and been able to take in 3 more children.) But I am happy, though there are several people who would tell you I am nuts! The life I live isn't for everyone, but its the one God has given me, and my shoulders have been broad enough to do it all in the past and I'm sure I will continue to "Do it All" for years to come!
Have a great day!
My mom passed away in late April of last year. Before she moved to the nursing home a couple of months before her death, she and my Dad lived here in my house in addition we built for them. My Dad is now in Assisted Living at a nursing home as well. I run errands for him and visit him. I am also involved in the lives of two other elderly people who I consider family. They live about 40 minutes away.
Then there are my kids, the three oldest who are 34, 28, and 26. Two of them are married and have kids so I am a Grandma. The 28 year old is special needs and I will be taking care of her for as long as I am physically able to do it. We also adopted 4 other children a few years ago....so we have an 11 year old, a 9 year old, an 8 year old and a 6 year old. Yep, we started all over again, and each one of them came to us as babies. I also have neices and nephews and a couple great-neices and nephews. We see some of them frequently.
We are a close family. So I am surrounded by most of these people on a regular basis. I answer to Mom, Grandma, Honey, Kathy, MILK (mother in law Kathy), Aunt Kathy, and sometimes just "Hey you." I also respond to barks, neighing, bleeting, and meowing since we have several furry family members who require my attention as well.
I also try to volunteer to do things for the younger kids and grandkids schools when I can. I enjoy being around the kids' school and like the fact that pretty much every kid in school knows who I am because they see me there so often.
Its a crazy life, as my blog title indicates. But I don't think I would want it any other way. Sure it can be difficult and there is ALWAYS drama, and most nights I fall into bed exhausted. There were years when I worked outside of the home too, but I chose to become a stay at home mom about 7 years ago, just a couple of months before the 3 youngest started joining our family. (Apparently my becoming a stay at home mom was destined to be because I never could have continued my job and been able to take in 3 more children.) But I am happy, though there are several people who would tell you I am nuts! The life I live isn't for everyone, but its the one God has given me, and my shoulders have been broad enough to do it all in the past and I'm sure I will continue to "Do it All" for years to come!
Have a great day!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Don't EVER, EVER, EVER Mess with MY FAMILY
The word Family to me is a relative term. You may not understand that, but I have opened up my FAMILY to more people than you can ever imagine.....and they ALL visit and participate in FAMILY gatherings. I believe in Hilary's theory " It takes a village", so I created one.
My Family consists of my parents and brothers and sisters, my husband and his sister and her husband and her children and their children and several of those childrens' biological parents. I know it's confusing but it gets worse. I also have my children, their biological parents and siblings. Then there are my first husbands' family of brothers and sister, and father, and neices and their children. Then I have a couple of exes, I still consider several members of their family MY family. Then there are just the people I have "adopted" to become a part of my "family." Is your head spinning yet?
I know, I know, you all know I am trying to save the world....it's true and I will do anything I can to help people and make them part of my extended family. A friend of mine posted something recently that was TOTALLY me: Family is family, but FRIENDS are the family you choose yourself! That is so me! But I would never turn away someone who was for real family either.
Today, someone threatened my family and HIS girlfriend. I went into overdrive. I am expecting company very soon, who feel they needed to vacate their residence to be safe....of course I told them to come here. In addition, I talked to HIS girlfriend, who I have never met or spoken to before tonight, discussed her issues with her, including her 4 young children, and have started looking for a safe haven for them in Virginia. HE is not a member of my family, well except by marriage, but through experience I know an abuser when I see one and I spotted him several years ago.....I just needed the family member to wake up...and I know how hard that is because I've been there and done that. (I guess I am really going to have to come clean about all that soon.)
But the REAL point here is, someone threatened and continues to threaten my family. We will close the gates on the property this weekend. The NO TRESPASSING signs will go up, and if someone does not heed the warning and enters the property uninvited, they will be warned of the consequences....And just so you all know.....if you "feel" someone is a threat to you, your family or your property" in this state, you can be legally shoot them....I'm not saying that is what is going to happen here, this weekend, just make sure you let me know if you're coming over before you get here!
There is something else I can tell you. I have NEVER met a man or a woman who would abuse a spouse or child who has the guts to stand up to someone when they themselves are threatened. These people, ok mostly men, are COWARDS. And I learned long ago to stand up to them and dial 911. I'll be telling the kids to do just that while I'm standing on the front porch with a firearm telling him not to move!
So you guys have a great weekend....we will be armed and dangerous, and I WILL PROTECT MY FAMILY!
My Family consists of my parents and brothers and sisters, my husband and his sister and her husband and her children and their children and several of those childrens' biological parents. I know it's confusing but it gets worse. I also have my children, their biological parents and siblings. Then there are my first husbands' family of brothers and sister, and father, and neices and their children. Then I have a couple of exes, I still consider several members of their family MY family. Then there are just the people I have "adopted" to become a part of my "family." Is your head spinning yet?
I know, I know, you all know I am trying to save the world....it's true and I will do anything I can to help people and make them part of my extended family. A friend of mine posted something recently that was TOTALLY me: Family is family, but FRIENDS are the family you choose yourself! That is so me! But I would never turn away someone who was for real family either.
Today, someone threatened my family and HIS girlfriend. I went into overdrive. I am expecting company very soon, who feel they needed to vacate their residence to be safe....of course I told them to come here. In addition, I talked to HIS girlfriend, who I have never met or spoken to before tonight, discussed her issues with her, including her 4 young children, and have started looking for a safe haven for them in Virginia. HE is not a member of my family, well except by marriage, but through experience I know an abuser when I see one and I spotted him several years ago.....I just needed the family member to wake up...and I know how hard that is because I've been there and done that. (I guess I am really going to have to come clean about all that soon.)
But the REAL point here is, someone threatened and continues to threaten my family. We will close the gates on the property this weekend. The NO TRESPASSING signs will go up, and if someone does not heed the warning and enters the property uninvited, they will be warned of the consequences....And just so you all know.....if you "feel" someone is a threat to you, your family or your property" in this state, you can be legally shoot them....I'm not saying that is what is going to happen here, this weekend, just make sure you let me know if you're coming over before you get here!
There is something else I can tell you. I have NEVER met a man or a woman who would abuse a spouse or child who has the guts to stand up to someone when they themselves are threatened. These people, ok mostly men, are COWARDS. And I learned long ago to stand up to them and dial 911. I'll be telling the kids to do just that while I'm standing on the front porch with a firearm telling him not to move!
So you guys have a great weekend....we will be armed and dangerous, and I WILL PROTECT MY FAMILY!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Where Do They Go?
So I was thinking of an old Whitney Houston song tonight...."Where Do Broken Hearts Go".....such a beautiful, touching song: Where do broken hearts go...Can they find their way home....back to the open arms....of a love that's waiting there...and if somebody loves you....won't they always love you....I look in your eyes and I know that you still care for meeeee....
Well I'm going to change the lyrics up a bit today....same tune, different words.....
Where do all the SHOES go....Can they find their way home....back to the shoooe tub....right there by the frooont door.....and if they find there way there....why can't they stay there...I just want my kids toooo put their shoooesss awwaayyyy!
Ok, it might not be a hit song, but jeez...I do have a few places in my house that are supposed to help us be organized and find stuff.
Several years ago I found some stacking baskets that were perfect for shoes and I put it right by the front door. OK, I admit I probably first saw this idea in a magazine or on TV, but I claim it as mine now.....
The shoe drawers, as we call them, are stacked oldest on the bottom and on up to the youngest because I am usually getting his shoes out anyway.....but the baskets are almost always empty. And when we are getting ready for school in the morning, or the kids want to go play outside or go to the store, NO ONE can ever find their shoes. Why? Because unless I am cleaning the house and collecting shoes from the living room, dining room, and bedrooms....NO ONE knows where they put their shoes. Of course when I'm cleaning the house I DO put the shoes in the appropriate shoe drawer. Unfortunately the kids STILL can't find them because they would never consider looking there because they never put their shoes away....it's a viscious cycle.
Maybe you've seen my kids at school, the barefoot children slogging through the snow.... Sometimes they DO find some shoes, usually one from two different pair and both are for the same foot. And I refuse to let my kids wear sandals or flip flops to school in the winter just because those are all they can find. I know, I am a REALLY mean Mom.
Amazingly enough, when I tell my kids they will go to school barefoot, while they are screaming at me to help find their shoes (I refuse to do this,) they always seem to find SOMETHING to put on their feet! They each have at least two pair of tennis shoes and one pair of boots, fashion for the girls and cowboy for the boys. There is no reason they can't find a pair of shoes for school. Of course, when you are walking around the house looking at the ceiling it can be difficult to find your shoes, because we don't keep shoes on the ceiling in this house, maybe you do at your house, but we don't. Then there is the child standing in the middle of the living room staring at the TV and yelling, "Mom, I've looked everywhere, I can't find them...", not alot of shoes on top of the flat screen mounted to the wall either....
So why are the Shoe Drawers always empty, where do all the shoes go...please shoes, come back home to your tubs....Mommy needs you!
Well I'm going to change the lyrics up a bit today....same tune, different words.....
Where do all the SHOES go....Can they find their way home....back to the shoooe tub....right there by the frooont door.....and if they find there way there....why can't they stay there...I just want my kids toooo put their shoooesss awwaayyyy!
Ok, it might not be a hit song, but jeez...I do have a few places in my house that are supposed to help us be organized and find stuff.
Several years ago I found some stacking baskets that were perfect for shoes and I put it right by the front door. OK, I admit I probably first saw this idea in a magazine or on TV, but I claim it as mine now.....
The shoe drawers, as we call them, are stacked oldest on the bottom and on up to the youngest because I am usually getting his shoes out anyway.....but the baskets are almost always empty. And when we are getting ready for school in the morning, or the kids want to go play outside or go to the store, NO ONE can ever find their shoes. Why? Because unless I am cleaning the house and collecting shoes from the living room, dining room, and bedrooms....NO ONE knows where they put their shoes. Of course when I'm cleaning the house I DO put the shoes in the appropriate shoe drawer. Unfortunately the kids STILL can't find them because they would never consider looking there because they never put their shoes away....it's a viscious cycle.
Maybe you've seen my kids at school, the barefoot children slogging through the snow.... Sometimes they DO find some shoes, usually one from two different pair and both are for the same foot. And I refuse to let my kids wear sandals or flip flops to school in the winter just because those are all they can find. I know, I am a REALLY mean Mom.
Amazingly enough, when I tell my kids they will go to school barefoot, while they are screaming at me to help find their shoes (I refuse to do this,) they always seem to find SOMETHING to put on their feet! They each have at least two pair of tennis shoes and one pair of boots, fashion for the girls and cowboy for the boys. There is no reason they can't find a pair of shoes for school. Of course, when you are walking around the house looking at the ceiling it can be difficult to find your shoes, because we don't keep shoes on the ceiling in this house, maybe you do at your house, but we don't. Then there is the child standing in the middle of the living room staring at the TV and yelling, "Mom, I've looked everywhere, I can't find them...", not alot of shoes on top of the flat screen mounted to the wall either....
So why are the Shoe Drawers always empty, where do all the shoes go...please shoes, come back home to your tubs....Mommy needs you!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
So How Was Your Day?
I will not allow the blog to become my job. I will post stuff when I want to or need to...so you won't see a post everyday. But I hope when I do post you enjoy them.
So how was your day?
Mine started out fighting kids to get dressed and ready for school. Then, when they should have been getting dressed, half of them went to Easter Baskets and got handfulls of candy to eat while they were getting dressed, or after, or on the way to school. Then there was the 6 year old, who stole an entire solid chocolate rabbit and was hiding under the dining room table trying to eat it all before we had to leave....Don't worry, the candy is gone now....I ate the rest of it...ok, not really, but I'm already tired of this crap 3 days after Easter so the candy has disappeared....I will eat it slowly.....BAHAHAHA! (Evil Mom laugh..)
After I finally kicked the kids out of the car at school, I headed for the Independent Living Center where my Dad is to deliver his most recent Walmart order. Then back home to start some laundry, dishes, etc. with my 28 year old special needs daughter. Within about 5 minutes she started throwing a huge fit, unfortunately she doesn't speak, so I just have to figure out what is wrong. I did, and she was happily watching Doc, otherwise known as Back to the Future II!
I settled in on the couch after starting the dishwasher and washer and dryer and the phone rang. It was a girlfriend I don't talk to often so I thought maybe we could have a nice long chat. Instead, she let me know that she had just seen an obituary in her local paper, my previous town, and wanted to let me know my Ex died on Saturday. GREEEAAATTTT! My Ex was 53, I'm sure he drank himself into the grave. (I might or might not talk about that another time.) But I am still in contact with his grandmother, who I still call Grandma. I don't speak to her all the time, but at least 2 or 3 times a year. I called her and she told me she was in a Nursing Home now and had only been there a week or two. Her Power of Attorney is not a family member, in fact he ran her over with a church bus once, I think guilt led him to be her POA. I talked to him after I talked to Grandma and he told me her mind was going and that she had been in the Nursing Home for about 4 months. I will be visiting her on Friday so I can assess the situation myself.
I have also been going through my Dad's Life Insurance information lately to make sure the beneficiary information is up to date since we lost my Mom almost a year ago. Tomorrow I will FAX my POA to the insurance companies who would not talk to me today so that I can get the information I need.
Then the kids came home from school and started screaming and fighting and looking for candy.....just a normal day for them! In the meantime I was still trying to talk to Life Insurance companies who could hear kids screaming, dogs barking, and television in the backround....sooo proffesional.
I had to forcibly take my 6 year old outside to pick up the coat he left on the basketball court in the backyard, and then make him pick up said coat when he threw it down on the floor in the mud room after I made him pick it up. I had one in the tub who apparently planned to stay there until tomorrow with her sister keeping her company in the bathroom. When she got out of the tub I made her brush her hair....I AM THE WORST MOM EEEEVVVVVEEEERRRR! When she was done, I asked to run the brush through her hair myself....yep, it was ugly, but I still have a pic from the '80s and it comes in handy. Oh and while I was detangling her hair I heard again...YOU ARE THE WORST MOM EEEEEVVVVEEERRR!
They are all in their PJs now, and upstairs with their Dad.....he will be screaming at them anytime now. (We won't talk about where he was, or the whining he was doing while I was going through all of this.) OH, there he goes......he deals with them for a few hours a day....can't wait for summer vacation!
Have a great night!
So how was your day?
Mine started out fighting kids to get dressed and ready for school. Then, when they should have been getting dressed, half of them went to Easter Baskets and got handfulls of candy to eat while they were getting dressed, or after, or on the way to school. Then there was the 6 year old, who stole an entire solid chocolate rabbit and was hiding under the dining room table trying to eat it all before we had to leave....Don't worry, the candy is gone now....I ate the rest of it...ok, not really, but I'm already tired of this crap 3 days after Easter so the candy has disappeared....I will eat it slowly.....BAHAHAHA! (Evil Mom laugh..)
After I finally kicked the kids out of the car at school, I headed for the Independent Living Center where my Dad is to deliver his most recent Walmart order. Then back home to start some laundry, dishes, etc. with my 28 year old special needs daughter. Within about 5 minutes she started throwing a huge fit, unfortunately she doesn't speak, so I just have to figure out what is wrong. I did, and she was happily watching Doc, otherwise known as Back to the Future II!
I settled in on the couch after starting the dishwasher and washer and dryer and the phone rang. It was a girlfriend I don't talk to often so I thought maybe we could have a nice long chat. Instead, she let me know that she had just seen an obituary in her local paper, my previous town, and wanted to let me know my Ex died on Saturday. GREEEAAATTTT! My Ex was 53, I'm sure he drank himself into the grave. (I might or might not talk about that another time.) But I am still in contact with his grandmother, who I still call Grandma. I don't speak to her all the time, but at least 2 or 3 times a year. I called her and she told me she was in a Nursing Home now and had only been there a week or two. Her Power of Attorney is not a family member, in fact he ran her over with a church bus once, I think guilt led him to be her POA. I talked to him after I talked to Grandma and he told me her mind was going and that she had been in the Nursing Home for about 4 months. I will be visiting her on Friday so I can assess the situation myself.
I have also been going through my Dad's Life Insurance information lately to make sure the beneficiary information is up to date since we lost my Mom almost a year ago. Tomorrow I will FAX my POA to the insurance companies who would not talk to me today so that I can get the information I need.
Then the kids came home from school and started screaming and fighting and looking for candy.....just a normal day for them! In the meantime I was still trying to talk to Life Insurance companies who could hear kids screaming, dogs barking, and television in the backround....sooo proffesional.
I had to forcibly take my 6 year old outside to pick up the coat he left on the basketball court in the backyard, and then make him pick up said coat when he threw it down on the floor in the mud room after I made him pick it up. I had one in the tub who apparently planned to stay there until tomorrow with her sister keeping her company in the bathroom. When she got out of the tub I made her brush her hair....I AM THE WORST MOM EEEEVVVVVEEEERRRR! When she was done, I asked to run the brush through her hair myself....yep, it was ugly, but I still have a pic from the '80s and it comes in handy. Oh and while I was detangling her hair I heard again...YOU ARE THE WORST MOM EEEEEVVVVEEERRR!
They are all in their PJs now, and upstairs with their Dad.....he will be screaming at them anytime now. (We won't talk about where he was, or the whining he was doing while I was going through all of this.) OH, there he goes......he deals with them for a few hours a day....can't wait for summer vacation!
Have a great night!