Southern Comfort

sooooo cold!

2008-12-11T13:09:00.002-06:00

My lawd, it is frickin cold here today!
We have actually had some snow around the coast....I just have had sleet at my home.
Tomorrow, it could be 80 degrees, ya just never know what to expect. I sure hope the cold stays around for Christmas. Something about seeing people in shorts on Christmas, just kinda kills the whole holly-jolly feeling.

I would like to get all of my closet spaces cleaned out this weekend, but that is just one of those chores that I just seem to put off. The girls are going to switch bedroom furniture. Alicia is not happy about this, but her bedroom furniture is just too big for her room. I think she will be happy, once it is done and she sees just how much more room she has.

She came home yesterday with a form to fill out for the beauty and beau pagent the first of January. She has not participated in them at school before and I am really gonna be stressing over the cha ching it is going to take to be in the pagent. Christmas is just a couple weeks before, I mean DAMN!

Speaking of Christmas....I am going to start my shopping tomorrow. It just amazes me that some people are finished with all their shopping. I am usually shopping up until Christmas eve. The girls have been warned to finish their list up, because once I take it, nothing else will be allowed to be put on it.

Grown Up Christmas List....

2008-12-09T10:00:00.002-06:00

I am reading journals and trying to leave comments....though I am not really doing that great of a job at the comment part as I would like. Do y'all get like that? Like you just can't put nothing out there? I am chalking my lack of response to my sinus troubles, as they have me a lil more brain twisted than normal.

Anyways, I saw over at Heather blog that she did a grown up Christmas list...that she got from Missy's blog.....it is a passer down thing. So here goes.

1. lots of wine for my new wine rack.....pretty bottles is a necessary as the wine*
2. A big azz diamond ring.....
3. A stainless steel panini griddler thingy
4. Big round wine glasses with suppa skinny stems
5. Vera Wang by Vera Wang perfume/body lotion
6. A new spice rack.....loaded with good spices(not that cheap crap)
7. Candles
8. soft cozy socks
9. Coach Wallet
10. all kinds of purrty smellin lotions....again, not any drug store cheap crap!!!

What is on your list?????? Share people!

What a start to my day.....

2008-12-03T11:37:00.003-06:00

I woke up this morning......after going to bed at, not quite 9pm last night(I felt just down and out)
Tom was banging at the front door lol
I had not looked at the calander and even realised that it was time for that, but it would explain the over indulgence at Thanksgiving. Now that I think about it, I think I did look and realize that it was gonna be that time. I dunno', I guess I was/am having one of those senior moments. hehehe

I thought I was just in my down mood last night because of some things that happened yesterday morning to make me sad and worried for someone....today, yeah, I am just pissed about it all. It is their life, they know what they are doing to themself and they are the only one that can decide to make a change. NOT ME(I have to keep telling myself this....daily)

I had to run to the ole Wal Mart and get TOM supplies, as I was not properly prepared for the visit. I wish I would of gotten some hair color, because I have so many damn gray scragglers popping out. Horrible! I did manage to get some stuff for a big salad for supper and even picked up a pack of navy beans. I love beans and have not had homemade beans in like forever. I thought I would throw in my ham bone, that I put in the freezer from Thanksgiving.

I am gonna try and post a video that my girls made.....It is freakin hillarious! I tell ya, they keep us in stitches. I tried to post it once, but it said something was wrong with it not being closed or summin like that. If I can't get it posted myself, I will have them post it. It is a bit slow at the begining, but it picks up andWhat's in my purse (mocking YouTubers)
gets funnier and funnier.

Where did I go wrong...oh let me count the ways

2008-12-02T15:30:00.002-06:00

Well, ya see, what had happened is lol
THANKSGIVING!
I shall never ever be able to be in the same room with my homemade cornbread dressing and stay on track with a healthy diet. NO way, NO HOW!
That, "I am only gonna have one plate at dinner and NO leftovers....ummhumm, yeah, that did not pan out. I just finished eating Thanksgiving scraps Sunday and that is only because that was the end of em. I am sad, I know, but I know I can't be alone. Right? hehehe

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving day. I have not been on blogger and will be playing catch up with your journals.

I just got a call from Alicia and so I have to make this short....because I forgot about picking up supplies for a project she is working on. So, gotta run do that now. Damnit! And I thought I could just veg out in my pj's.

Look forward to hearing about overeating.....lawd, let me not be alone. hehehe

My gettyup, it got up and got outta here

2008-11-25T19:13:00.002-06:00

I am struggling with the healthy eating the past few days.....I do believe it is just TOM, but whatever it is, it is pissing me off. I just have no willpower it seems.
I know from experience that if I allow myself to fall into old habbits, I will be back at the starting gate again and that aint happening!

Today,I caught some of Oprah with Dr.OZ and they were talking about living longer and were showing some elderly people...hell, these people were ten days older than dirt! Yet, they were living life to the fullest. One of the things I saw in all of them was the fact that they were all active.
I think these people were inspirational and something to learn from.

This week and having Thanksgiving dinner is gonna be a trying time for me, but I am determined that I will NOT over indulge. Well, that is the plan anyways. lol

Without even second guessing it, I know I have to get my butt on that treadmill and MOVE, I just soooooo don't wanna.

Well, that is all that is going on in my lil world.....hehehe

The test don't lie....

2008-11-23T11:48:00.002-06:00

Me and Scott had our cholesterol and blood sugar tested this weekend. This is something that I have been wanting to do, just to know that everything is alright and that all this healthy eating has really benefited me. IT DID!
My test results came back PERFECT! Not one bit elevated.
Scott, he is back on the cholesterol meds, but was able to get a different script that he can get at a big big discount.

The girls are out this whole week for the Thanksgiving holidays......I don't recall them getting a whole week off before, but whatevah. I was able to get them in for their 6mth dental prophy and exam during this time, so they do not have to miss any school. Speaking of school, Alicia was approached by a teacher, who is the leader of the schools debate team, she asked Alicia if she would be interested in joining....she said she thought that Alicia would be a great asset to the team. I am so proud of her.

I have a bunch of catching up to do with everyones journals, but I also have so much to get done, in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. I have not went grocery shopping for the stuff and am dreading it. I went into Wal Mart for pet food and it was so damn packed that I almost could not get a parking spot. Crazy!

I hope that each one of ya'll have a great day with your families and realize how much we all have to be thankful for.

say a prayer

2008-11-19T18:47:00.002-06:00

I have had a fellow blogger on my mind today, since she posted an entry on her blog.
Those of you who know Dutch and read her blog, my ups and downs of everyday life, know she posted some health problems that she was diagnosed with today.
Dutch is a sweet lady, who I am in awe of.....she has this way of growing veggies that I have only been able to wish for.
I am reaching out to all that read this to say a prayer for her and for the doctors that will be treating her.
I believe in the power of prayer.

crankin up the heat

2008-11-19T09:21:00.003-06:00

Last night was the coldest night for us so far and so we had to crank up the heater.
I think Scott had it a bit too high, because I woke up during the night a tad warm(or it could be that I was under the electric blanket on high....but we will blame Scott anyways lol)
Other than waking up the one time, I slept like a baby the rest of the night.

I made the family hamburger patties in beef gravy, rice and corn for dinner.....I sauted some bok choy, sliced baby carrots, onion, garlic and pepper flakes in EVOO and chowed down. I could eat that every day! LOVE BOK CHOY!!!

I have enough left over for lunch today or dinner.

Today is the day that the local stores start their new weekly deals and so I am gonna research what each one has and go through some coupons and try to save some money. I really need some fresh fruit and apples should be on sale. I would like to start trying to plan ahead and know or at least have a notion as to what I will be preparing for meals during the week. With groceries so exspensive, I have to do something. Having two girls that are sooooooo picky, it really is hard.

Other than that, I am debating having my hair cut. I have been letting my hair grow out during the summer(easier to keep cool when I can just pin it up)but I am at a point where the only way I can wear it is curly, because I have no shape to my hair and it is thick. I dunno. The girls both need cuts and that is just one more thing that seems to keep getting more and more exspensive. The last time I took them, it was 35 for just the cut. I am sure it has gone up again....ya know, with the holidays approaching.

Well, oatmeal is getting cold.....ya'll have a great day!

TMI warning!

2008-11-18T08:26:00.002-06:00

I have been up all dang night!
Not sure what could of caused the insomnia at all. I had NO caffiene after my morning time, hot tea. NONE.
Yesterday, I was in a bit of a pre TOM munchies mode, but I kept it all good.
I had my oatmeal for my breakfast, I had a few slices of beets & onions with some red wine vinegar drizzled over the top, I don't know how many radish slices, a half dozen of cucumber slices with some cracked pepper on top for a mid morning snack, a wasa cracker with a thin layer of natural peanut butter smeared on top, 2 sugar free jello's, lite yogurt for lunch and for dinner I had a smoked turkey on whole wheat bread. All in all, I kept my calories well below 1000, prolly around 600 or so.

I wanted to go to bed early last night and so, at around 10pm, I climbed in and tried to read to get tired. That did not work. I was up and down, heading to the throne. I must of been retaining fluids pretty bad. I went to the bathroom 4 times in an hour! So that is how my night was, up and down, to the bathroom and eventually I ended up on the front living room couch reading till after 2am.
Luckily, and miracuously, I am not cranky(ok, more than the normal Erica cranky that is lol) Having insomnia is so not fun.

I need to go to the grocery store today, but I don't really want to. It is so darn cold and windy. I am wondering if I can convince my crew to just eat some canned Ravioli or canned soup from the hurricane supply cabinet. LOL, Mom of the year ey????

Well, that is all I have to offer......

I was just thinking.....

2008-11-17T10:44:00.002-06:00

Scurry huh? lol

I made a big salad for dinner last week and had to get Scott to stop in at the grocery on his way home for a few things. I asked him to pick up some radishes for our salad. I hardly ever use them, even though I like them.
I enjoyed them and have been munching on them off and on since the purchase.

I decided to look up the nutrition value on them to see what I was putting in the ole tank and was surprised at what wonderfull and healthy things these lil babies are.
Here is what I learned:

Radishes are rich in ascorbic acid, folic acid, and potassium. They are a good source of vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, and calcium. One cup of sliced red radish bulbs provides approximately 20 Calories or less, coming largely from carbohydrates, making radishes, relative to their size, a very filling food for their caloric value.

Radishes are a great source of vitamin C and are rich in minerals like sulphur, iron, and iodine. Daikon is even better, a source of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and folate as well as sulphur, iron, and iodine.

Radishes can be added to vegetable juice to spice up the flavor a little. In this form, they can help clear your sinus cavities and soothe your sore throat. The vitamin C in radishes is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to have a positive effect on asthma symptoms because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Potassium can help lower your risk of kidney stones and strokes, and radishes along a diet high in other fruits and vegetables can significantly lower your risk of multiple sclerosis.

Radishes are suggested as an alternative treatment for a variety of ailments including whooping cough, cancer, coughs, gastric discomfort, liver problems, constipation, dyspepsia, gallbladder problems, arthritis, gallstones, kidney stones[13] and intestinal parasites.[14]

Did ya know???? check out the last one!

2008-11-17T10:18:00.000-06:00

DID YOU KNOW?
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it.
That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease
away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream,
cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed.
Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies.
Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and
at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert.
Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples.
Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream Yummm!
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm.
This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket.
It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.
The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car . When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box .. well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

Monday , Monday, Monday?

2008-11-17T08:36:00.002-06:00

The weekend has just flown by........why is it like that? The days off to spend doing fun things just seems to go by so fast and the other day's of the week, doing things "productive" just feel so drawn out.
It is soooooooo cold here. I am sitting here, wrapped up in an electric throw blanket and sipping my hot tea and yet I am freezing! lol, I love the cold weather, but it is so hard on me. I could get on the treadmill and get the blood pumping and warm up, but yeah, I don't see that happening. lol

Let me ask the parents out there a lil question on something.
The girls got their progress reports in last Thursday and on Lindsay's, she had a zero on a writing project that her and another classmate were assigned to do. They did the project together, but the boy never turned it in. (he printed it out)
I told Lindsay to check with the teacher and ask if they could turn it in or if she could do a make-up writing assignment or whatever. Lindsay came home Friday and said that she went up to the teacher before school started Friday and asked the teacher could she turn it in or do something to pull her grade up and the teacher said that she was gonna go to Lindsay and ask her about the story(because they discussed it with the teacher...it was pretty funny), but that since Lindsay came to her first.....that she could just bring her some chocolate in Monday, and that she really likes Hershey kisses plain. Lindsay said that when she was leaving her class Friday that the teacher said, Lindsay, don't forget the chocolate and we will talk.

You know I grabbed a bag of Hershey Kisses that afternoon and Lindsay is gonna be bringing them to her this morning.

Have any of you parents ever had this happen? If the teacher takes the candy, should Lindsay have to do a report or should that be all? I don't like the whole barter thing with the grade....you either can make it up, by doing WORK or not, right?

You can bet, if Lindsay has to write another story, after buying that lady candy, well....ERICA will be writing the story and you can bet it will be called Bitter Sweet Revenge and will be about a teacher who barters her students grade with candy and ends up choking to death on the candy!!!!

Thankful Thursday and everyday things...

2008-11-13T10:01:00.002-06:00

So yeah, it is Thankful Thursday in blogland so, even though I don't do this every time it rolls around, I do know and want to share some things that I am thankful for.

1. That I have Scott, who I can go to and just let everything that is on my mind and heart out and he listens, really listens and not only that, but he WANTS to know what is on my mind.

2. For my Alicia, my oldest daughter who is just bluntly honest about how she feels. I want my children to have their own opinions about things and not to be influenced be what is the popular thing and she is right on it. Even when I don't agree with her, I do respect her and am thankful that she feels so damn confident with herself to stand up and voice herself.

3. For my Lindsay, my younger daughter, who is so damn funny that she keeps me in stitches. For the fact that she has really shown me what a kind hearted person she is. I have to tell a story here......There is this child at her school that is mentally challenged and she took a shine to my Lindsay. Lindsay did not walk away from this child, because she is different, instead, my Lindsay engaged this child in conversation and makes a point to call out to her when she see's her around campus. This child drew Lindsay a picture(she is 17, but has the mind of a first-third grader)and it is of her and Lindsay and has the caption....Best Friends. I am in tears writing this, because Lindsay hung it in her room on her bulletin board. (ok, Lindz did tell the girl to go back and color it, which just made the girl even more proud of her drawing. lol, my Lindz.....)

4. Online friends.....I have learned many things from a diverse group of people that I prolly will never meet face to face.

5. Fall.....my favorite time of the year.

6. My four legged babies

7. Happiness & Love in my heart

8. Farmers Markets

9. Pumpkinpice scented candles that make me excited for the upcoming holiday

10. Rainy days that are bringing cold fronts with it.

7 more down

2008-11-13T09:04:00.002-06:00

WOOOHOOOO!
I decided to hop on the old demon scale this morning and I was prepared to see just a small lil loss.....I knew it had to be some loss, but felt that it would not be a big one. I was wrong, I had a 7lb loss!
I can't remember the last time I got on, because that is one thing that I can't do, get on every day or even every week, it is just too mental for me.
But yeah, I lost another 7lbs! I am happy with this and even with the sllllllowness of it coming off, because I know that I have completely changed my whole outlook on eating and being accountable and setting myself up for success.
Before, when I would loose weight, I would starve myself, deprive myself and be miserable. Yeah, the weight would come off and FAST, but it always came back on and even faster than it came off.

I am trying to think when I even started this whole healthier eating.....I am thinking about 6-8 weeks ago???? I dunno. So far I have lost about 15lbs and have not one time felt deprived or like I was counting down the days till I was "off the diet" so I could splurge.

I could go on and on, on how many things I have done different and the difference in the choices that I have been making, but I think the main choices that I feel that have worked for me are eating that Quaker Diet friendly oatmeal every morning, having sugar free jello's in the fridge and just staying away from the carbs.(I love me some taters y'all) Sticking to my fruit and veggies is satisfying to me, so it works.

Don't get me wrong, if I have made a batch of homemade mashed taters or tater salad for the family and feel the need to dive in, I just get a appetizer fork and have a taste. THAT IS ALL and I am good with that.

I have talked to Scott about the Thanksgiving menu for this year and I am cutting way back. I am gonna eat and enjoy it all, but for the one meal......I will not be getting more than the one plate and I sure as hell will not be indulging in leftover green bean casserole. (I had to nix my veggie/cheese casserole for my own sanity......I know what I have the strength to fight and what I need to just duck and hide from and THAT would be one of those duck and hide things lol it is that good)

If we could all be like Granny....

2008-11-11T19:06:00.002-06:00

Went to see Granny and she sounded and looked better already. She is ready to bust out. lol
When I was up at the hospital visiting, a nurse with the incare physicians came in to ask Granny some questions.
She asked if Granny had homehealth care going.....Granny kinda looked at her and said, Noooooo
The nurse asked what kinds of medication Granny was taking.....Granny replied with NONE
The nurse looked up and said how wonderful that is. I guess that is where it kinda hit me, Granny is gonna outlive us all! LOL, Granny is in her 80's and has NO health problems, takes no medications and according to the MRI's, she also has NO brain shrinkage, (which everyone starts having after a certain age).
I just wish that Granny did not have so much stress from family members that can't or just won't get their shit together. Another story, another entry.
Then the nurse left, Granny, who was sitting up in the bed, reached over to get her cup of iced down Barq's root-beer and almost fell out the bed. I told Granny, that maybe we should ask how that home health nurse shit works.....LOL, we all were in tears laughing at/with Granny.

I want to thank all of ya'll who sent kind words to me about my Granny.....as most of ya'll know, my granny means so much to me.

Been busy, getting better

2008-11-11T11:29:00.003-06:00

I think I am finally over all the ill issues that have kept me down, but I will not talk about it and jinx myself.
My Granny was admitted to the hospital yesterday with pneumonia and I am a bit scared for her. At 80ish, that is not summin good.
I am going up after lunch to visit with her and bring her something good to eat. I think that they should always have chicken soup available to people in the hospital sick.....ALWAYS! The coffee is the thing that has had her panties in a wad though. Ya gotta have a good, strong cup of coffee. lol not weak, cold tan water.
My sister went up this morning and brought her some real coffee.
You can bet, I am gonna be popping a hella lot of vitamin C before entering the doors of the hospital and be liberally applying germ X every few minutes.
Other than that, it is all SSDD here.

Can't get warm....

2008-11-06T08:31:00.002-06:00

I don't know what is going on with me. I have always been one to need a blanket and socks in the winter(or when the a/c is on lol), but lately, I have been really, really cold. Last night, I was trying to stretch out on the front living room couch and read, while Scott was online playing poker and after a short while, I had to just go get under the electric blanket in the bed, which I set at high. I live in the deep South and it is in the darn high 70's and low 80's, so even I know this is a bit off*
On top of that.....I am not sleeping well. I am tossing and turning. That is what I do when I have things on my mind and believe me, I have things on my mind. Once again though, it is things with people in my family that I have NO control over, but seem to seep into my life. I am a born worry wart. I am just waiting for the phone calls for help to roll in. And of course, it would be the holiday's rolling around. Loverly!

Yesterday, I expected the girls to come in and give me all the hoopla that took place at school, since the election of Obama. NOTHING! It was a normal day. I can't tell you how comforting that was. I guess we are prolly all just a lil politically hungover.

How many days, till the weekend is officially here? hehehehe

So all is said and done....

2008-11-05T08:01:00.002-06:00

I did not sleep at all last night.
I tossed and turned, with so many things going through my head.
We have a "change" coming up with our newly elected President and quite honestly, I am very nervous. I want to be optimistic, but with all the negativity surrounding politics it really is hard.
I am scared for my girls. At there school, it has been so much Obama talk from a group of black children....ignorant talk.
It scares me that a child wore a shirt to school that she hand painted that read, Vote Obama or die and had blood dripping down.
It scares me that a child in one of my oldest daughters class could not keep her mouth shut during a test and had to be sent to the office....she was just going on and on about Obama, even though the test, or the class was NOT discussing the election.
It scares me that the girls bus driver had to stop the bus, tell a group of kids that they had to shut up with the foul language and all the Obama chanting. They were saying that the White House is gonna be the Black House now!!! I bet if a white kid asked them if they were replacing the rose garden with a watermelon patch, they would of been a fight.
Naturally, my Alicia had to turn around, confront one of the black boys doing the loudest chants and ask him exactly WHY is he so FOR Obama, he said, uh uh Change lol, she said, OK, what change exactly? He broke down laughing again and said, I am gonna be honest, it is just because he is black! She shook her head at him and gave him the LOOK.
I told her NOT to get into any damn debate with him or any other ignorant sounding kid about this again.....It fears me, that these kids may think they are invincible and that because of their skin color, because of our newly elected Presidents skin color that they can get away with more. NOT!
Maybe our newly elected President will do good things and make great changes for our country, but I know in my heart and from what I have already seen, the racism is gonna be out like never before.

Oh, I see, said the blind man to his deaf friend....

2008-11-04T09:36:00.002-06:00

So I finally figured out why I was so hungry yesterday.....Tom came crashing in last night. lol
Since I have been eating healthy, I have not had bad cramps and all the warnings of his arrival....although, I do still have the moodynezz a week before.
I did not have any warnings at all this time round; no bloating, no endless hunger pains,sweet cravings, ovary pains, moodynezz(Scott said that is not so, I have been hateful to him. hehehe whatevah*)

So yeah, I ended up eating cabbage for dinner and a 100 calorie bag of popcorn for a night snack.
I know some of y'all think that I am not eating enough or that yesterdays lil menu was a "way to go girl" hehehe....I am not doing any exercises, so I can't eat any more or even feel the need to eat any more.
That lil menu I posted yesterday was a bit more than I normally eat, even if it was all healthy.
I am still working on the mental part of eating and making it a way of life and not a jail sentance. It is NOT all about cutting back and making healthy choices. I can't explain it, but those of you who have always struggled with weight know what I am talking about.

Today is off to a great start, even with Tom in the mix. I feel soooo much better, the weather is beautiful and life in general is GOOD!

is this a sign?

2008-11-03T13:28:00.002-06:00

As the day drags on, I am constantly having the munchies.
I got up and made myself a sugar free hot chocolate....25 calories(I love this stuff and so glad that Swiss Miss got her crap togetha for the dieters, who need some cokit fix lol)
Had my bowl of oatmeal-160 calories
Before lunch could roll around, I was pacing....I snagged a fire roasted pepper for a snack(I know it sounds weird for a snack, but I love em and have jars of them on hand and they are low in calories....the whole jar is only 50 and so ....)
Lunch came and I had a Wasa Light Rye cracker(30 calories) with some natural peanut butter/sugar free seedless blackberry jam smeared on it a banana and a juice glass of 2%milk(not sure of the exact calories here, but since that is not summin I am a slave to, it's all good)
THEN, hehehe I had a sugar free jello- 5 calories
AND, I am thinking of what NEXT!
Yep, Eca is feeling betta....or sure as hell on her way in that direction.
I promised the girls some hot cinnamon rolls when they got home from school today....lawd, give me strength.

Just poppin in for a sec

2008-11-03T10:12:00.003-06:00

Hope everyone had a spooktafic Halloween. It was eeey, so/so here.
I had my porch decorated, my scurrry sounds blastin and a mess load of candy ready to hand out. I was so shocked by the low turnout of trick or treaters and also of the neighbors, who had these elaborate decorations out for weeks prior, who turned them off and did not hand out candy. Crazy chit man.

I was so over it by 8ish, that I dumped the rest of my loot into this one families buckets and said g'Night. LOL, we turned off our lights and just giggled and had fun outside with some neighbors up the way.

I was not feeling well Friday afternoon, but had some "festivities" anyway that night. I got real ill late that night. Come Saturday, I was sick and was thinking, hangover, but that ended up not being it. I stayed in bed all day Saturday and Sunday and still do not feel completely better.
I was running fever and was useless to anyone.
Scott, he is the best, but could not or would not take, no thankya for an answer. It was "do you want something?" "how about this?", "That?", "you ready for summin now?"
God lovem, I hated to get all angsty on him, but damnnnnn, I was ready to hurl and so NO, I did not want anything.

Today, I have so much to do that I CAN'T be ill another moment.

throwing it all away

2008-10-30T11:57:00.002-06:00

Watching a sibling, who is an alcoholic slowly destroy & kill themselves with the bottle is sad, throw in a second one that is an addict......it can make you all kind of angry about many things.

know what I'malovin right about now????

2008-10-30T07:53:00.002-06:00

My sugar free apple cider(15 calories a cup)and the smell of my home with my new pumpkin spice candle that Scott bought for me yesterday.
I don't say it mere enough, but I love my husband and his thoughtful ways.(don't get me wrong...he can really get on my last nerve a lot and more times than not, it is on purpose lol)
Sunday is our wedding anniversary.......17yrs. That is a long time and as much as I would love to say, we have really worked to make this marriage work, I can't. It just has.

I have been feeling a lil bit more "spiritual" lately. Maybe it is the holidays, maybe it is just the happiness inside me, maybe it is just how it is supposed to always be, i dunno, but regardless, Erica feels the candle inside her.
I tried to make a playlist with some gospel songs on it for my blog, but project playlist is being funny right now. Dangit!

I have so many things running through my head about now, but I gotta get my oatmeal in and some house things done, so I will end with this.

6 random things about moi'

2008-10-29T17:37:00.002-06:00

Ok, can't be left out of this meme going around.
Here are 6 random things about me.....

1. I was raised by my grandparents
2. I have never been inside a Starbucks (someone revive Blondie hehehe)
3. I have this thing, where I can't stand for someones feet to touch me.
4. I vacume my house at least twice a day
5. I am a bit claustraphobic
6. I do not wear a coat....a hoodie is aight, but never can I go a big coat. lol, what's up with that?????

This kid is a hoot!

2008-10-29T17:34:00.001-06:00

At least give me a glass of wine

2008-10-29T11:36:00.002-06:00

If ya plan on screwing me, at least light a freakin candle, summin. Yeah,
Erica is on the war path!
Weekly ads for my local stores came out today and I rushed over to Big Lots, per Scott's request.
They had StarKist Albacore tuna on sale for 50 cents a can. They had the same sale on it a couple of weeks ago and he bought some, went back to load up and it was sold out. Well, I get there and the StarKist tuna they have for the 50 cents is NOT the Albacore. They had Albacore tuna, but not for 50 cents. I snagged the last five cans of the not 50 cents marked, supposed to be fiddy cents cans up and hightail it to the register. In my sweetest voice I questioned it. I got a bitchy azz response and all kinds of attitude. I was told I could speak to a mgr. but that I would have to step over to the other cashiers spot and wait for her. I said fine, just ring me up and I will see what she plans on doing about it. I waited and the heffa never came. I got mad, left and came home and emailed the company.
I would understand if they were already out....that is one hella deal. But they had the cans of tuna that was printed on the ad and the one they had marked for sale was NOT the one advertised.
I mean, right is right, right? I just hate being lied to or tricked......I would of got all snotty back with em, but I was not in the mood.

LOL

2008-10-28T09:27:00.001-06:00

Oh yeah she did....

2008-10-28T07:54:00.003-06:00

I did end up having the McDonalds last night and it was delish. I have not had beef or fast food in two months, so it is all good. I just will not be having it again for at least another two months or more. Too much of a good thing ya know.
I was scared what the greasy burger would do to me(not weight wise, but ya know, digestive wise*)....but my steel stomach was all good. lol I think the alcohol from the night before musta sucked up the grease.

The weather is soooooo cold here, it actually got in the 30's last night and is supposed to be even colder tonight. Bring it on!
I think I will make a pot of cabbage soup tonight......That is something that I love and it will stretch out for a few days for me.

Ya know what I was thinking this morning? I was thinking that I can say that I officially started my Christmas shopping already, ya know, with the new cell phones I ordered and put on my AT&T plan for the girls.And let me say, that is a first....I am a last minute shopper.
Lindsay has already got her list started......she spent an hour on the Sally's website, picking out products. Alicia, she is a different story....she thinks we should just give her cash and lots of it. UHHHM, NOPE! I refuse to do that or to buy any clothing, except for bras, panties, and Victoria Secret jammies & hoodies.

Some days....

2008-10-27T16:29:00.001-06:00

you just have to throw caution to the wind and be
B A D

Don't pitty me....lol

2008-10-27T08:42:00.005-06:00

I will have to come clean and say the ill feeling is NOT from the season and the flu bug......I made chili last night(two pots....a pot with meat and one for me with the tofu. I had to try it again...still hate it! hehehe)
I ended up having a few beers and NO chili...actually, I did not eat anything yesterday, except for two wasa light wheat crackers.
I am a lightweight now on the booze and so my ill feeling is of my own making, jus so ya know. lol
I woke up last night at 11:30, sick and empty feeling. I was up all night waiting for the inevitable...it nevah happend. Even as sick as I felt, I was thinking how great a fried egg sandwich would be. lol I would of ate one to, had someone actually cooked it for me.
I had my oatmeal this morning, but want summin sinful, like a McDonalds cheeseburger.
My eating has been on track and I am not gonna ruin it, but still*****

being sick....

2008-10-27T07:05:00.002-06:00

The weather is sooooo cold and windy here today. I am ill, so it is a good day to grab a book and not do anything.
I have been trying to catch up on journals.....when you miss a couple days, you really get behind.
I ended up getting the cell phone thing taken care of this weekend and the phones should be arriving today. After all the searching and talking to CS, I still believe they have my account fugged up. I have gotten like 10 emails about my account and none of them show a change. Whatevah.
Today is NOT the day that I want to deal with more confusion ya know.

Well, say it aint so!

2008-10-23T08:47:00.002-06:00

I guess I do spend more than necessary on groceries. I have to shop for four people.
One of us(ME)is eating extremely healthy, two others(them girls of mine)eat only certain things, prepared certain ways, and then there is the other one(yeah, that would be Scott)who will eat anything.
I spent $118 the other night at the store, then spent 30 summin$'s at another place that had some good deals on my tea and tuna and wheat thins and that is not counting the toiletries(that aint groceries!)or the pet foods. Two cats, two dogs and a 55gallon, stocked aquarium. Plus the outside critters....bird feed and squirrel corn
Nor does this include our booze.....although we are really not much of drinkers anymore.
This does not include all the lil store stops along the week that we all make for those "oh, I need this or that" items.
I told Scott that I was gonna ask y'all about your grocery spending and he said, "sooooo, it does not matter what others spend....we have only so much that WE can spend" After reading all your comments, I am just gonna drop that subject. hehehe
I was gonna make chili tonight, but realised that I do not have the corn chips, sour cream or cheese to go with. hhmmmmmm. Those lil things add up and I don't want to add insult to injury with the whole grocery debate here on the hill.

On a some what different note. Last night, Scott comes in to the living room and said that he weighed himself and that he lost 10lbs! I should be happy and really, I am, but DAMN! I am the one that has not been eating meat and eating extremely healthy, so healthy that I scare myself. lol I have not gotten back on the scale and will not for another week or so. I feel that waiting so long between weighing just makes me keep on keeping up the healthy eating. As crazy as it sounds saying this, I do have to say, something is different this time, I feel like I am not deprived, I feel like I am satisfied, I feel GOOD! I am never, ever going to get back in the bad choices again.....EVER!

Question...

2008-10-22T11:13:00.003-06:00

How much do you normally spend on a weeks worth of groceries?
I am curious as to how much other families spend on groceries....ya know, since I am spending more than necessary! Hating Scott today, spread the word. lol
By the way.....I heard more than I cared to about those damn canned veggies on sale and so when dinner was over, I headed to the store and got a mess load of em. These bitches are gonna be eating canned veggies at every freakin meal! (I can't wait for Scott to hear the bitch'N from the girls....they are frozen/fresh only veggie eaters, but Scott does not believe it. mmmmhhmm*whatevah)

Oven Fried Chicken...

2008-10-21T14:18:00.003-06:00

I am making this for my honey and kids tonight.....They love fried chicken and liked the oven fried version that I made the last time so that is what's on the table @ 5:30 here on the hill.
I have not decided what I am gonna eat.....maybe some sauteed spinach or summin. I dunno, but I have plenty of choices available. I is Setteded up fo success~~
I know what is for desert....white seedless grapes! I found that lil ghetto store ad this week and they had them on sale for 99cents a lb. How freakin cool is that? lol
Yeah, I said it.....freakin cool man!
I was able to get into a pair of my fat pants this weekend, "fat pants" that were no longer fitting my even fatter ass lately, and I was so excited. I really am doing this y'all. (again)
Did I mention my addiction to hot tea lately?
I have purchased 5 new boxes of herbal tea and am just about as giddy over these finds as the damn ghetto grapes.

Life is soooooo good!

Where has Erica been?

2008-10-20T12:11:00.002-06:00

Well, I am still alive, but barely. lol
Thursday afternoon, I get a call that my sister is going to the ER with chest pains......I was sitting by the phone, waiting to hear the worst and ready to bolt.
Turns out she did not have any problems with her heart(she has heart trouble)but she has pleurisy and some other things going on.
Friday.....Was just WOW! lol Scott decided to call AT&T and try to work a deal.
Well, after an hour and a half on the phone with live help, he ended his conversation with insults to the man and talking to his supervisor. I really can't blame Scott this time. Scott told the man what he wanted and asked was it possible, the man said yeah and changed all kinds of things on our cell phone plan and home plan and even our internet, to only say NO, he could not do what they originally talked about!!!
We then went and had lunch and gambled a lil at the casino and then decided to go entry door shopping. NIGHTMARE!
No door was purchased, but we had an idea of what we wanted and the price range.
Saturday, we went to another place to look at doors and after dealing with Scott's lil wishy washy self, I just told the man...."get me that door, I will take that one"
Scott asked if I was sure and I said YEAH! ENOUGH of the friggin doors ya know. lol
We thought that we would just use our old door frame that is super heavy duty....NOT!
We, and I mean Scott here........got the new hardware up and then the door and the frame was off, the door did not match up. As we sat here trying to figure out how to rig it up, my sister calls and tells Scott to call her FIL and he could prolly help.
Normally, Scott would not ask for help, but it was to the point that I had no front door and night time was gonna be here soon.
He tucked his tail, made the call, and within the hour.....I has me a new door on a new door frame!
We celebrated by drinking too much on the front porch, using our front door. lol
We nevah, evah use the front door, so it was nice. Hell, we even ordered pizza and used our front door. Neither one of us had eaten a bite all day and so the beer kicked in quick and by Sunday morning I was hung over big time. NOT fun.
Specially since I needed to get a lot of stuff around the house done fro the week.
This coming weekend is when we are supposed to install the storm door......I may start drinking first!
Going to try and catch up on journals today.
Lovin this weather here.

3 hours!

2008-10-16T08:32:00.002-06:00

This is how long I sat in the bedroom, locked up with Scott, searching online for cell phones for him and the girls. I am a flip flopper and I can appreciate anyone that will analyze things, but damn! Scott just can't make up his mind these days.
When all was said and done.....I did not place an order for the phones.
He had me so uptight and just ready to say F it! (actually, I think I did say that lol)
He would ask me what I thought, then want to question that answer.
I don't know if it is old age creeping up or what, but this is just getting worse with him and not just about big decisions or commitments, but just simple chit.
I dread going shopping Friday to pick out my front door and the storm door. Oh, and now he wants to look at security lights and new light fixtures for the front porch and back porch. I don't see this going well at all.
Maybe I should play my time of the month card.....hehehe

I guess I should of mentioned it....

2008-10-15T13:15:00.002-06:00

I thought I would voice my opinion on the upcoming election.......I still don't know.
I really am so confused. I see good in both and yet I still have my doubts in both.
Reading all that the media puts out and then listening to them just really makes my brain swell.
I do know one thing.....I'm NO fan of Sarah Palin at all. SHE is the biggest reason for me not wanting to see McCain in the big house.
Am I alone on the confusion? Does everyone else seem to know exactly who they are voting for and why?
hmmmmmmmm~

Palin's criticized other politicians for shady business, some good house cleaning has revealed a few skeletons in her own closet.

She's taken trips on the city's tab, utilized office resources to fundraise, accepted money without disclosing it, and in an upsetting abuse of power, pressured the state public safety commissioner to fire her sister's state trooper ex-husband.

The ex-husband was never fired, but the commissioner was.

Democratic state Representative Beth Kerttula admitted that she's frightened of Palin because "It's all about the power" and "She doesn't seem to know where the boundaries are."

Palin has actually done a little ethical straightening up in office, by tightening up state ethics laws, providing more information to taxpayers about state spending, restrictions on lobbyists' giving, increased disclosure requirements for public officials, and posting state spending details on the Internet.

-Although she's criticized other politicians for giving companies too much government control, she appointed the founder of an engineering firm to head of transportation

-She's helped friends and contributors land state jobs

-She's accused of misusing office resources to campaign against a voter referendum for tighter mining regulations, while her husband Todd, accepted a free trip from a mining company to view new site proposals

Democratic state Representative Mike Doogan said her flighty ethics are "insulting to those of us who have always done the right thing.

whatch cuttin back on?

2008-10-15T11:29:00.002-06:00

With the economy the way it is today and people just not sure on what is going to happen next, I was wondering if there are things that any of y'all are doing to cut back on expenses in your everyday lives?

in a fog

2008-10-15T08:08:00.002-06:00

This morning, I am in a bit of a fog.
I had that headache, that did not go away and so I popped some Tylenol pm and it just had me loopy last night and drained this morning.
That stuff is just not for me.
I guess the fact that I took it on an empty stomach was prolly no help. lol
Did anyone watch GMA this morning? I'm talking about the new throat cancer, the one caused from HPV virus that is transmitted through oral sex.
That is so scary.....all I kept thinking about is, how "popular" oral is among young people today, it is not considered something big, not even as intimate as kissing.(so they said on Oprah a while back lol)it is just casual to them.
Times really do change, don't they?
I have had problems with my throat, my left tonsil actually, and I looked at Scott and he just shook his head and said "not likely" heheheh yep, he's right!

who needs real sketti?

2008-10-14T12:17:00.002-06:00

Last night, I made a pot of spaghetti sauce with meat for the family and since I am not doing the meat thing much, I made a separate sauce with sauteed garlic & onions, spinach and diced Italian maters. I did add a lil whole wheat pasta to make it complete and it was soooo good! And it was very low in calories. I had the leftovers for lunch today.
For some reason, I have been a bit hungry today and I feel just BLAH :-/
I have a slight headache, because I am trying to change cell phone plans through AT&T(I have an individual plan and am gonna go with adding Scott and the girls to it....this will be one of the girls Christmas gifts, new phone and a plan)
Scott, he is the source of the headache, he keeps insisting that he can talk to them and get them to waive the activation fees and throw in free cell phones. I found some cell phones they offer for free, but not the ones that I think the girls will like or just not in the color they would like and then I made the mistake of sharing that with ole bargain britchez himself.
Hey, I aint knocking my man, he is a bargainer. He once called Dominos(tipsy) and said he had 10 dollars and wanted two large supreme pizza's with french dressing on the side and after they laughed and he said he was serious and joked with them....they freakin delivered his order and collected 10 dollars. He has a way.
But yeah....I may have to pop some tylenol tonight, just to deal with him and AT&T.

VOTE

2008-10-14T09:45:00.000-06:00

This is a matter of opinion and opinions are like ( well you know ) everybody has one.

My personal opinion?
*******************************
A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.

Pause a moment, reflect back.

These events are actual events from history..

They really happened!!!

Do you remember?

1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a Muslim male extremist.

2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists.

3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by Muslim male extremists.

4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by Muslim male extremists.

5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by Muslim male extremists.

6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by Muslim male extremists.

7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens , and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by Muslim male extremists. ( remember the pilot of this flight was from Richmond , MO )

8. In 1988 , Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by Muslim male extremists.

9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by Muslim male extremists.

10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Muslim male extremists.

11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take down the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by Muslim male extremists.

12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against Muslim male extremists.

13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by-- you guessed it-- Muslim male extremists.

Now, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people... Absolutely No Profiling!

They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winner and former Governor Joe Foss, but leave Muslim Males alone lest they be guilty of profiling.

According to The Book of Revelation:

The Anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, he will destroy everything.

And Now:
For the award winning Act of Stupidity Of all times the People of America want to elect, to the most Powerful position on the face of the Planet -- The Presidency of the United states of America .. A Male of Muslim descent who is the most extremely liberal Senator in Congress ( in other words an extremist ) and in his 40's.

Have the American People completely lost their Minds, or just their Power of Reason ???

I'm sorry but I refuse to take a chance on the 'unknown'
Candidate Obama...
Let's send this to as many people as we can so that the
Gloria Aldreds and other stupid attorneys along with Federal Justices that want to thwart common sense, feel ashamed of themselves -- if they have any such sense.

As the writer of the award winning story ' Forest Gump' so
Aptly put it,
'Stupid Is As Stupid Does'

Each opportunity that you have to send it to a friend or
Media outlet... do it!
Or again. . . Just delete if you disagree.

maybe adding a private blog

2008-10-14T08:39:00.002-06:00

HMMMMM! just thinking that I may need to do a private blog....along the lines of my Southern Comfort blog, where I can vent on the happenings of the hood. lol
A lot of things have happened and are happening now that I have not vented about.
Just maybe.....

For Heather.....

2008-10-14T08:16:00.002-06:00

Heather, over @ corset, asked for some participation of her readers and so here is my answers to her questions.

1. I have several bible verses that I have committed to memory that give me strength when I am discouraged. Can you share a few of your favorite? Or maybe just a quote or passage or song lyric that you find empowering?

I do not have any certain verse, quote or lyric that I find empowering, but I do know that when I am feeling low, or strugglin I just listen to the song Beulah Land and it makes me cry and miss my Paw Paw, who instilled any bit of religion into me and it gives me strength to know that this is just worldly issues and that one day, my land away from these troubles awaits.

2. What would you consider your "lean" years as far as finances are concerned? Many might say college - or when they were newly married. Tell me about your hard times and how you survived... ramen noodles? I may glean some tips that help us get through!

NOW! lol, Money is very tight and does not seem to stretch, like it has in the past. This new company that Scott works for is not one of the better ones that have been in place. I have never really had "lean years" I guess. I was raised by my Granny & Paw Paw and they did not have financial struggles and then I married Scott in my early 20's and have been fortunate to always have the necessities in my life. Times have been better at some times, than others, but we have never been on any type of govt. assistance or gone hungry, cold or without. I consider myself LUCKY to have been able to stay home and raise my girls, it was just a matter of giving up certain luxuries that a second paycheck would provide.

3. I'm interested in your love stories. It's discouraging to not be "lucky in love". My first marriage was abyssmal. My second marriage was, without a doubt, the greatest disappointment I've ever faced. I want to hear stories about how you may have given up on finding someone special and ended up meeting him...

Once again, I guess it was luck.....I met Scott on May 20, 1990 and was married on November 2, 1990 and it has been true bliss* lol, don't get me wrong, we have had our share of "disagreements", but never about anything that would cause me to look at him in an unfavorable light.

4. I'm loving having TV again after 3 weeks of not really watching. I'm a big tv junkie. My favorite show right now is Jon & Kate Plus 8... what show are you watching obsessively and why?

I'm really into The first 48, Mysteries of the ER, Docta G, medical examiner, Survivor, Desperate Housewives, Bridezillas

5. I'm also a big magazine reader. I love People, Shape, Self, Weight Watchers, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping... lots and lots of random mags. What magazine do you never miss? Why?

I like any of the gossip mags. and I have several delivered to my home.....Thanks Scott!!! lol

Well Hell!

2008-10-13T09:17:00.002-06:00

Who would of thought that doors could cost so damn much?
I have in my mind the kind of door I want, but I don't have the budget to match it.
The door I wanted is almost 2k....yeah, I was thinking more like 2hundred lol.
It's cool, it is just a damn door and actually, we do not even use our front door, we always use the side door.
As we were watching Desperate Housewives last night I saw that one of their housed is the same colorish green that we painted. Remember, I said same "COLORISH GREEN"...my house does NOT look like one of the sprawling homes on wisteria lane.....maybe the size of the garage or summin lol.

We had to go to the grocery store last night.....as my house was pretty barren.
Seriously, we had NO milk, eggs, sandwich meat, bread, meat of any kind, nothing but oatmeal, yogurt, natural peanut butter, sugar free jello, fat free pop corn, fruit out the azz and a box of un opened Total wheat flakes with raisins. lol, I did not see a problem ,but the kids and Scott were a lil pissy about it.

OMG! I hate, hate, HATE going to the grocery store with SCOTT!
He is like an old person, with nothing better to do than, to walk around and pick stuff up and examine it. OMG!!! I prolly earned my devil horns last night with all the bad thoughts and verbal names I was projecting toward him....seriously!
I mean, if you have to eat bologna, why not just not worry about the sodium and calories in it......it is BOLOGNA. The bitch got turkey bologna* whatevah

My home now has food in it. Not stocked, but enough for the week maybe.

About them-there pictures

2008-10-12T15:02:00.003-06:00

I am gonna share pics of the paint job, but I want to wait until my new door and shutters are up......I actually tried to take pics of Scott in the full swing of painting to show ya'll, but I could not locate my camera.(seems Lindsay had it in her purse....her camera card was full and my camera was there, soooooo lol)
Granny came by today and saw it and said it looked better than she thought it would......she also suggested that I get a RED door* hmmmmmm NO! lol, actually, I have wanted a red door, but several people in the area got new doors in RED, sooooooo.

Sore Sunday

2008-10-12T08:44:00.002-06:00

Well, the house is painted and it is GREEN! lol
I love it, and gonna love it more when my new door is installed, and the new shutters on the windows are installed, and when I get my new back porch furniture, and when I get my new swing, and, and......LOL, I was really so excited and pumping all this out to Scott, when I took a breath and actually saw the look on his face.......you can imagine. Him, paint covered and exhausted, listening to me making a longer honey do list. lol I had him barbecued ribs & sausage cooked and cold beer waiting, when that paint brush was finally chucked in the garbage. It was all good.
This is the first year that I have not put out Halloween decorations...I may stick a few out the week of Halloween, but nothing like I normally do.
This painting the house has been so long going, because of years of neglect...our fault. lol but the house has been wire brushed, caulked, primed and painted with some good paint. We were talking about how much money we saved doing it ourselves.(Scott is the "ourselves" part lol)
Were were quoted 3K to do this work and that did not include the wire brushing...they would pressure wash and it did not include the price of how much caulk would be needed. So we saved a hella lot!
OK, lets talk diet/weight loss.
I shared my grief and not so much of it, in my previous post on how well I felt and how well I was doing with my new way of nourishing my body and yet had not lost anymore weight. Well, I got on the scale yesterday and had a lil over a 3lb loss.
Hey, this is gonna be a slower process of loosing weight than it has ever been for me, but it is one that is gonna last and one that I know I can live with...and it is about living ya know.
Well, off to online shop for stuff.....

who knew

2008-10-09T17:12:00.002-06:00

Who knew that holding a ladder could wear someone out. lol
We started painting the house today....well, Scott painted and I braced the ladder.
Living on a hill is great at times, painting, yeah, that is NOT one of those "times"
12ft extension ladder, uneven ground, ERICA in charge of bracing a ladder.....this just has disaster written all ovah it!
I did not paint today, it was just getting the high parts painted.
We went with a deep olive green and it looks like I am gonna really like it.(unlike the blush color that turned out purple.....WOW!)
Well, I am pooped and waiting for my shower......somehow I got paint all over me, even though I did not actually pick up a paintbrush.

WTF is wrong with our children these days?

2008-10-08T12:43:00.000-06:00

This can't be true! Can it??????

JAMIE LYNN IS PREGNANT Y'ALL!!!

According to The National Enquirer, the 17-year-old former star of Zoey 101 is 8 weeks along, a mere 3 months after giving birth to her first baby, Maddie Briann.

Oops! She did it again!

Lynne Spears apparently hit the roof when she found out and family and friends are urging Jamie to end the pregnancy. It's already difficult being being a teen mother to one kid, but to two?

Morning sickness while breastfeeding?!

When Jamie missed her period and a home pregnancy test kit came back positive, she "cried her eyes out," a source tells the mag.

Jamie apparently thought she couldn't get pregnant while she was still breastfeeding, but didn't she learn anything from her big sister?

We need to better edumicate the children of America about reproduction, y'all.

The family was trying to keep it a secret to everyone, including the baby daddy - but too late!

It's called a condom!!!

We can't wait to see how this will all pan out!

What a night

2008-10-08T10:13:00.002-06:00

Last night was horrible and I am dragg'N ass today.
I was no tired and after tossing and turning, I just got up and came into the front living room to read.
The damn batteries in the smoke detector started going out, because the alarm kept making that screech noise. I thought Scott would get up and take the batteries out and all would be good.
NOPE! He was out. It had Nolerbeanz shaking and crying. I got a chair and hoisted my big butt up and took it down and ripped the batteries out.
Nola could not settle down and just wanted outside.
I was NOT letting her out, because I knew she would not want to come back inside and I would be on the couch all night, waiting.
All I kept thinking about was Myra and that damn bobcat and what would get Nolerbeanz outside. lol, I doubt it would be a bobcat, but we do have opossums that wonder up in the night.
I ended up falling asleep on the couch anyways and woke up this morning, after only a couple hours of sleep, with my hips killing me.
I ended up having to take some ibuprofen and cranking up the electric blanket and crawling in bed under the blanket to get my hips to ease up. I thought for sure, that with all this healthy eating that this go round of TOM would be a piece of cake......NOT.
Let it be known, Erica, is NOT in a pleasant mood.

guts or balls?

2008-10-07T20:03:00.000-06:00

Guts or Balls? There is a medical distinction. We've all heard about

people having guts or balls, but do you really know the difference between

them? In an effort to keep you informed, and to alleviate further

confusion,

the following definitions are listed below:

GUTS - Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being met by

your wife with a broom, and having the guts to ask: 'Are you still

cleaning,

or are you flying somewhere?'

BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of

perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt

and having the balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'

I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions. Medically speaking,

there is no difference in the outcome, since both ultimately result in death.

spill the beans people

2008-10-07T16:24:00.002-06:00

What is for dinner at your house tonight? Are you cooking or eating out?
I am fixin a breakfast dinner.
I have bacon,sausage,buttered grits,scrammbled eggs and homemade bread.
Not that I am eating any of that. lol
I will be having a toasted piece of whole wheat bread with an over easy, poached egg, on top. Maybe a few slices of apple on the side.
I normally do not fix high fat/calorie dinners like this for the family, but it has been forever since they had bacon.

Banking question....

2008-10-07T13:28:00.003-06:00

Say you get your payroll check and you go to your bank and just want to cash it.
Does your bank insist that you have at least half of the amount that the payroll check is made out for in your checking account?
Or, or ya ignant and don't really know? lol

These things just don't "HAPPEN"

2008-10-07T12:54:00.004-06:00

I have a neighbor, that every once in a while(a lot lol I have a key to her place) lately has asked me to go over and take care of her animals.......1 dog, 3 inside cats and 1 outside cat.
Yesterday, she called and asked if I could go today at lunch time and let the dog out and so on. I said yeah, no problem. I have told her that I will do this and she is not to pay me, but she said if she can't pay me, then she can't ask me to do it.
Whatev!
I get over there today and she has the money and a bag, with a note, asking if I could use these items inside.
I open it and find two full boxes of oatmeal.....lol. She does not even know of my newfound love of the stuff!
Thing is, Tom showed up this morning and I had no desire to make a trip to the grocery store,in my "condition" but I had eaten the last of the oatmeal this morning and needed to go.
Miracles people! If it is a box of gifted oatmeal or something we would consider much more grand, the fact is.......Miracles are taking place in our lives every day and we best start noticing them and quit ranting on about BS.
ppppst* to bad she did not have some stocked up tampons lol, I would of roughed it up to go get that oatmeal, but Scott is gonna have to do a tampon run after work.

2008-10-07T12:54:00.000-06:00

If ya had to.....

2008-10-07T08:54:00.002-06:00

What are your three favorite food items....I don't mean sketti& meatballs or anything mexican, I mean individual items.
Mine, these days, would have to be
*Oatmeal

*Natural Peanut butter

*Apples

since I got time....

2008-10-06T18:41:00.002-06:00

Scott is in the den, watching the Saints game, the girls are in their rooms, grounded from the computers and I am snuggled up in my cozy bed, fixin to watch a movie.

I thought that I would come here and talk diet......As ya'll know, I started off, once again to eat better and get this weight off.
I am happy to say, I have been doing great still with the health eating.
I am eating my oatmeal every morning and really eating mostly veggies and fruit.
Being that I have not met a veggie I did not like.....this is not a problem. I thought I would miss meat, but to be honest, i have not missed it once. I mean, don't get me wrong....I have had meat, I am never gonna be a vegetarian.
The one thing that is bugging me is the fact that my weight has not gone down.....I did loose those few pounds, but no more since that.
I know that I am NOT going to get this weight off, unless I buck up and start moving. Just the facts man.
I feel so much better and though that is not all this is for me, the feel good, hell, I could feel real good with a bottle of wine and cheese lol
It is a start and it is a change and it is one that I know that I can and will keep up.
I found an ad for a grocery store that is not in the best part of town, but had 3lbs of Rome apples on sale for 3 bucks. They also had a bag of navel oranges for 4 bucks. I am gonna have to keep my eye open for their lil ad. Fruit is so damn expensive!

That kind of mood....hehehee

2008-10-06T14:06:00.002-06:00

I'm not funny...MIKEINK.com

Back is better...

2008-10-06T13:44:00.002-06:00

My back is better, but I think I am gonna pull it out again, after picking up the mess that everyone has left for me.
It is a gloomy day here and the freakin humidity is horrible. I wish it would just rain already, my grass needs it terribly.
As soon as I finish this load of laundry I am gonna fix my crew dinner early and grab a long shower, then veg out with a movie or just finish up some books laying around here....Scott is gonna be watching the Saints.

moan'N and groan'N

2008-10-05T08:39:00.002-06:00

This back of mine has just ruined my weekend.
The family is sick of hearing me moan and groan and has lil sympathy for me. Bastards! lol
I got up yesterday and was in a good mood, because my back felt ok, still a lil sore, but better ya know.
Well, come a couple hours later and the pain was back and as bad, if not worse.

I guess I would get some sympathy from these people, had I been actually doing something physical to pull the muscle, but naw, I was just in the shower, conditioning my hair when it took place. lol

muscle pain

2008-10-03T08:25:00.002-06:00

I pulled a back muscle a couple hours ago and I am in so much damn pain, pain that has me sick to my stomach.
And today is casino day!
I can't stand up straight and when I turn certain ways, the pain about makes me scream.
I best win a damn jackpot today........

six pack Joe

2008-10-02T20:10:00.000-06:00

ya think he is talking politics?

say what?

2008-10-02T20:01:00.002-06:00

Did Biden just start his answer the the question.....blah blah blah, are whatever you asked????
But hey, they both love Israel :-/

Ya'll watching right???

2008-10-02T19:44:00.002-06:00

I am here watching and having my own debate with Scott on it all.

2008-10-02T10:01:00.001-06:00

Revelations 3:8

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! 'The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

Much better today....

2008-10-02T08:31:00.002-06:00

I woke up this morning with my throat feeling "normal", guess it was just my allergies and not the lil sick kids at the pediatrician.
The weather has been so beautiful here....so chilly in the morning that I was able to open the windows and air out the house.(my allergies will not like this)
Poor lil ole Nolerbeanz. She is already having a hard time with the temps dropping.
I told Scott that this weekend she was getting her winter wear and some boots!
She has gotten fat just like her momma and nothing from last year fits.
She had to be made to go off the porch this morning to take care of business.
That lil heffa was gonna hold it and save it for the so called "accident pad" we leave out for her "I will not be completly potty trained self"

I knew it!

2008-10-01T19:43:00.001-06:00

My left side of my throat is swollen and itchy.
I knew that I would end up getting summin from those lil snotty nose chillen at the pediatric office yesterday.

Sweet N Sour Simease

2008-10-01T15:19:00.000-06:00

holding on by a thread

2008-10-01T14:24:00.002-06:00

I have been in a funk all damn day.
I am dealing with pms and it is really kicking my ass about now.
Trying to NOT give into the sweet tooth, but I have to admit, when I was just having a light Banana Cream Pie yogurt, all I kept thinking was that I bet a warm home baked oatmeal cookie would be good with this. I am pitiful people, pitiful I tell ya.

~Think Pink~

2008-10-01T10:40:00.002-06:00

http://ww3.komen.org/home/ Go here to educate yourself and to help support.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month

2008-10-01T07:54:00.002-06:00

What kind of hot tea do you drink?
I love my Twinings in the herbal citrus. Yummy!

OH YEAH....

2008-10-01T07:13:00.002-06:00

In my ill state I almost forgot to mention that I am having a hard time adding other journals on here. I have two on my list, that have been blogging for a while on here, yet my new "BLOGGER" pals, (old pals from aol) I can't add. I am thinking it is because they made a blog on here, but have yet to post in it. I dunno.

It is gonna be one of those days.....I just know it

2008-10-01T07:06:00.002-06:00

I have the kids off to school, Scott off to work, and it is just me and the four legged babies here.
Yesterday, I spent the morning in the doctors office with Alicia and her pink eyed self. I think I got a lil lightheaded, trying not to breath in all the damn germs floating around in the waiting room. It was packed!
I believe I just may be trying to come down with something, because my joints were hurting so bad last night and this morning, I just feel BLAH.
My only plan for today is to camp out in the bed, reading, watching movies, playing on the laptop and sipping good tea. It is that, or clean house.

SABOTAGE

2008-09-30T13:23:00.003-06:00

I think that aol is just trying to sabotage my diet efforts.
They know that jland in aol is where I was able to get most of my support and encouragement. Bastards!

AOL journals are closing shop

2008-09-30T12:58:00.002-06:00

Well, I guess aol is really closing down jland, so this is going to be my new place to blog or whatevah you wanna call it. lol

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-11-15T08:58:00.001-06:00

For the girls

2007-02-14T13:59:00.000-06:00

Pay no attention to my missing crown molding on the kitchen walls.....this is my work in progress, after firing a couple inadequate contractors.
I have traded in my shoe fetish for power tools! Scurrrry hehehe

Hugs
Erica

2007-02-14T13:37:00.001-06:00

Valentines Day...WoooPeeee*

2007-02-14T12:47:00.000-06:00

Somehow, between getting my girls Valentines gifts, gifts for their friends(they are teens and do not do the lil Valentine parties at school any longer) and gift bags made for the nieces and nephews....well I am just over the whole day*

My poor lil four legged baby boy....VALENTINE*(<---- Thats him over there) has had it pretty bad too, thinking WTF, why do I keep hearing my name?

It is freakin cold out, so i am not even gonna consider going out tonight for dinner, it is much more fun, being home with the sweety and kids anyway.

Erica

*Southern Comfort*