I am ashamed of myself today.

When my boss got divorced, I went as his witness & afterwards we had cocktails at Georgie's.

When I got divorced, my boss went as my witness & afterwards we had cocktails at Georgie's.

When my brother got divorced, I went as his witness & afterwards we had cocktails at Georgie's.

When Nate got divorced yesterday, I went as his witness & afterwards we had cocktails at Georgie's.

Some what of a tradition, huh?  But I have never been one to sit & drink with my son and I felt weird sitting there with him yesterday and really bad about it today.

Well, never fear, God always gets me when I get out of line....I got home from the bar around 5ish, after having 3 cocktails.  I did a few things around the house & then settled down in front of the TV with a handful of peanuts that I didn't want.  I saw someone pull in my drive as I popped the last unwanted peanut in my mouth and went to answer the door.

To my pastor and his wife, who have never ever visited me before.

Sheesh.

I invited them to sit at the dining room table and as luck would have it, he decided to read some scripture to me, pulling his chair over right beside me so I could read along.  Me hoping the entire time that he smelled peanuts and not vodka on my breath.

Sheesh.

To make matters worse, Nate left the bar & went to a friends house & God only knows what time he got back home, it was after I went to bed at 11:30.  I woke him 3 times this morning, the last time being as I was walking out the door "I'm leaving so I won't be waking you again so get up!".  At 10 my cell phone rang...my brother in law, Nate's boss, wanting to know where Nate was since he wouldn't answer his cell.

Sheesh.

By persistant phone calls to the house and alerts to his two way radio, he finally got up.  I don't know what time he actually made it to work, but I'm guessin around noon.  Long day for him today, boy.

Sheesh.

I have officially lost my "Good Mom" title.

~sigh~

It's the end of the world as we know it, it is the end of the world as we know it, and I (don't) feel fine.....

Well!  I've just been sweatin to the oldies with Richard, and two things are painfully apparent....I am way out of shape, and I am the least coordinated white woman in the United States.    But that'll all get better.  Right?    Richard Simmons is, at the very least, very entertaining.  I figured since I'm losing weight (22 lbs) that exercise would be the smart next step.

I remember back before Nate was even thought of, I worked in a day care, in a room of 25 two year olds,  from 6:15 am till 2:15 pm, went from there to Scandinavian Health Club (Bally's now) 3 days a week, and did aerobics at home 2 days a week.  The aerobics was an album, there were no VCR's back there in those dark ages of my 20's  *g*  And yeah, I thought I was fat *L*  Oh, to be that fat again!!  Geesh.  Stupid kid.

I'm sure there is something that I am disgusted with myself for at this age that in 20 yrs I'll look back and wish I could still do it...we are never satisfied, are we?

Anyhow, I've turned my lunch at the park pining for Kawasaki Man into a little walk around the park when the weather permits.  Today was a beautiful day, the temps were near 60, and no rain so to the park I went.  And was serenaded in my walk by two trumpet players.  One was close to the parking lot, the other way out in the middle of the park and they were doing like dueling trumpets *L*  Not really any song, just more like practice stuff, but it was amusing  and I enjoyed it.

So yeah, no contact from Glen, so he is officially written off.  Wow, that'll really hurt his feelings, huh?    TT, of course, is still calling, although he did wait about 2 weeks before calling me last night.  So I did pick up the phone.  He wanted to tell me he had bought a pick up truck, one of the things that Counselor Terri told him he needed to do to start putting his life back in place, buy a vehicle that didn't carry 80,000 lbs *L*  Why, I swear, next thing you know he'll be tellin me he went and got some teeth    I'm still not interested, but I'm glad to see he's making some progress.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, did you know that? *g*  My friend from S. Dakota is flying in on the 20th till the 28th.  I can't wait to see her, it's been far too long.  We are used to seeing each other twice a year, me going to her place in May, her coming to mine for Thanksgiving.  But the last time we saw each other was a year ago this past May, when I flew out to her place & we drove to Colorado.  Wayyy too long.  I misses her.

Alrighty, I have to go shoot myself full of vomit producing drugs (Yikes! Sorry, that was gross...at least you don't have to live it *L*)  and figure out something to eat that will hopefully stay down. 

Don't forget to vote tomorrow!!!!!!

You kids have a wonderful evening ~ You know I will! 

Oh yeah, tomorrow is also D-Day for Nate!  YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!!

(D-Day = Divorce is final day)

Saddam sentenced to death by hanging

Clashes, celebratory gunfire greet guilty verdict; Talabani says trial was fair

Iraqi policemen and soldiers chant slogans as they celebrate the guilty verdict against former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Sunday in the Shiite holy city of Najaf south of Baghdad, Iraq. 

I love me some happy faces  

Psalms 69:5 - O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

I just read that and for some reason I found myself grinning and thinking of all the foolishness God see's me put myself through, day after day.  I'm convinced He has a great sense of humor.  

Met my friend, Lesa, at The Holiday last night for after work cocktails.  What a funny girl.  This woman came into the bar, saw Lesa and just screamed, LESA!!  Lesa looks at me & says "Who the hell is this?"  Well, apparently Lesa was in this girl's wedding, about 27 yrs ago, but Lesa doesn't remember being in it, barely remembers the girl, in fact.  *L*  How are you going to be in someone's wedding & not remember it?  Oh yeah, that was back in the druggy days.....Wow!  That'll make you think back and wonder what else you've misfiled in your fried egg brain, huh? 

Last night made me realize that I need to stop withdrawing when I am feeling bluesy.  I am so bad about that...I call no one, I see no one, I just go to work & come home.  Exactly what I would have done last night had Lesa not emailed & insisted we meet after work.  I am feeling so much lighter today, I wish I could just remember that the next time the blues hit, call a friend.  How hard is that, sheesh.  I wonder when I developed this Lone Ranger bullshit.

Another good thing about going out last night, I find, to my utter joy, that I still have my integrity intact.    Not that I was worried that I'd lost it somewhere down the road, but a test of it, that you pass, well....that's a good feeling.  A very good looking gentleman sat himself beside me and engaged in conversation with Lesa & I, and then just I for quite a while....and ended up inviting me to go "have hot sex with him" because he "just knew it would be hot with me" *L*  Yeah, ok...Wife is in Florida for the weekend, eh?  I know I've been needing some human touch, but I don't think so, pal.  But, the conversation was fun and, ok, the ego boost was a bonus   I really can't stand roaming married men, I don't care how good lookin they are.  Sheesh.

Ok, I got nothing else but laundry & cleaning, so I reckon I'll get to it.  You kids have a marvelous weekend  ~  You know I will!!!  

Thought I'd share some Iraq stuff with you today.  The following is from the son of a WW2 Navy vet. His son Matt is currently serving in the US Army in Iraq. Matt has an interesting front-line view of the war on terror, a take on things we don't often get from our media.

Hello All,

I hope all of you are doing well. I am doing fine and things are getting easier, as I have been here over two months now and have developed a routine.The chow is decent and my trailer is looking more lived in now that I have lots of artwork provided by all the kids. Plus several pictures from this summer on the beach in Hawaii.

There is something I would like to pass on to all of you. I think we have all been troubled by the amount of soldiers we have lost here in Iraq. There is no doubt that these are Magnificent Patriots that have truly given their life for their brother. It is because of this fact that it troubles me to see the media reduce them to simple statistics. Each one of these Soldiers, Sailors,Marines, and Airmen deserve to be called by their name and if their family chooses, to have their stories told. I personally will turn off any show, or fold up any newspaper that only wants to talk the numbers. I also am turning off any news source that will only broadcast this war in a negative light.

Can you imagine how WWII would have went if the news stories stopped at how many soldiers had died on any particular day, No mention of progress made, No mention of the good that happened, No mention of the support we have. Three years now we have gotten: "more dead today", "Why don't you tell us all the Battle Plan", and "How much longer?". Did we tell Hitler when D Day was. Did the news move on to another story as soon as they finished telling you about the number killed in France or the Philippines.

Look at what is considered news these days. What is the bigger story that one Lieutenant didn't show up for his deployment, or that 4000 from the same place did. Look back to earlier this year when the enemy held the four hostages. The first one was killed and it was the big headline for over a week. Then a few weeks later the other three were rescued and you could find a small paragraph on page six.

In March of this year I was privileged to go to Phoenix and ride in a huge rally there called the "Ride For the Troops". (I was loaned a very nice motorcycle from Chandler Harley Davidson) So they shut down 17 miles of road through the center of Phoenix with Sheriff's, Police, and Volunteers at every corner. Over 2500 motorcycles of all kinds. With thousands of people and guess how many channels carried it. Try and do an Internet search for it and you would think it didn't happen. Then you just need five protesters with signs on an overpass and all the major networks will carry it.

If you cant tell I am a little tired of the complete black out of any story that shows things in a positive light. Since I seem to be the only one thinking this way. I have come up with "Ten Things I Would Like Friends and Family To Know About the Global War On Terrorism

10. Re-enlistment goals are being met in many deployed units

9. Terrorists have not stopped either elections held in Iraq

8. Iraq has a Constitution

7. Soon the courts here will release the verdict on the Saddam Trial

6. The Army made its Recruiting Goal early this year

5. Our Country has NEVER fought a war this long with an "All Volunteer Force" 

4.  We will get rid of "All the Terrorists" the same time we get rid of all the "Gangs" in every big city in the US

3.  Three years later the City of Dallas still turns out to meet every flight of Soldiers that pass through there

2. If the terrorist hate them I like them. If the Terrorist like them then I probably hate them.Apply this to other things like our leaders, other countries, and Pork (I Love Bacon)

1.  I would rather hear "Happy Hunting" instead of "Hurry Home". Yellow ribbons are great but we have work to do

Now I do not want this to turn in to one of those chain emails. You know the one where if you have to send it to your entire address book if you want to get one more terrorist killed. Really this is a war, people die and that is the bottom line. Each and every one is a great American. They deserve our respect and using them as a statistic to push an agenda is beyond words. Our military is the greatest in the world because we have the finest soldiers in the world. Know that these hero's are making me proud every day

Very respectfully

Matt.

Also, if you'd like to hear about some good things that are happening in Iraq, don't even try watching the news....Go here instead:  www.glennbeck.com/realstory/iraq-video.shtml

You kids have a lovely evening ~ You know I will! 

I guess news travels fast:

Trailers for sale or rent
rooms to left fifty cents
No phones no pool no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes

Would some one please tell me why this shmuckin song has been going through my brain for the past 3 weeks?  I can't even tell ya when I heard it last.  A million years ago.  Except playin in my brain, of course.  Holy Moly.

Well, good friends and neighbors, I have been travelin down a dark path the past few weeks.   Takin a little stroll down a rose colored memory lane, where only the good things are remembered and the bad things are poo poo'ed, like they never happened, making the past look like it was some place I'd like to still be inhabiting.  A couple tears have been cried.  A few angry shouts of "Yea, but you're forgetting about...." have been shouted into the empty darkness where no one heard, but the one who needed to. 

So I took all the bad things I could recall, and I wrapped them up tightly with all the good things I could recall, and I threw them out.  No tucking them in, way deep down under, where they could possibly be made to resurface some time in the future, nope, I chucked them mother shmuckers right outta here.

And we will have no more of THAT.

Today I awoke to a brand new day.  Sitting on my back porch with coffee and a cigarette (I aint got no cigarettes) a gentle breeze blowing my hair dry, I could SMELL the change coming.  And I welcomed it, with open arms.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowin through the jasmine in my mind......

Edit:

I wonder if you can get in trouble for emailing a United States Senator and telling him to go f*ck himself...hmmm

Ummm...sorry, here's why:  "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq,"   John Kerry Idiot Supreme

I just got an email from Just My Size advertising a sale on their Minimizing Bra's.  In a few more weeks I'll be able to just wear wife beaters, forget the bra altogether.    Why is it that the boobs are always the first to go?  Sheesh.

Drum roll, please.....21 lbs gone as of this morning.  Yippee!

I was just listening to a campaign ad for Ted Strickland.  He's running for....I think Governor of Ohio, against Ken Blackwell, whom I intend to vote for.  Anyhow, Ted's talking about how when he was a kid his father worked in the mills, and ever meal he had he was ever mindful that there were other children in the household who had to eat also.  So...how does this make him a good candidate for  Governor?  Does this mean he will make sure I have food in my fridge?  Damn nice of him.   Hmmmm...also, they have some former school teacher who praises him for his work with children and his "ministry".  So, I'm taking it that he's some kind of pastor??  So...how is it that he consistently votes for abortion and for same sex marriage?  Just askin.....

I'm going to say one thing about the Michael J. Fox/Rush Limbaugh thing.  This is my opinion & you can feel free to disagree with me, but that doesn't make me wrong     I personally am tired of "victims" coming forward, saying anything they want to say, even if it's not factual, and then the rest of us cannot respond because they are poor, poor victims.  If you are going to put yourself out there as an authority on something, if you are going to stand in front of me and give me your opinion on some topic, then you are fair game for rebuttal. 

Michael J. Fox, yes, he is sick, and yes, it is sad, but the things he said in his campaign ad are not factual and maybe he should think about raising false hopes in people with similar conditions as his.  The measure that is on the ballet in Missouri is actually a cloning measure, not a stem cell proposal, stem cell research is already going on in Missouri ...but he isn't telling you that, just that the mean ole Republican is against finding cures for poor diseased people.  If you would take a minute to remember the last Pope... he had Parkinson's also..and the media thought he should step down and stop forcing us to see his suffering.  But when it makes good press for a senator or whatever running for office, then lets drag out & parade the sick among us.  Kinda poor taste, if you ask me. 

Cindy Sheehan is another one, along with the Jersey 4.  They are victims, so whatever they say, we have to give them a pass, we cannot criticize or rebut them.  Bullshit.  3,000 families lost loved ones on 9-11, the Jersey 4 doesn't corner that market.  Almost 3,000 other families have lost loved ones in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars...Cindy doesn't corner that market.  My own son was wounded in Iraq..well, guess what?  I'm one in hundreds of thousands of families who have loved ones who have been wounded, so I don't corner that market.  Victim or not, if you're wrong, you're wrong, and I for one do not appreciate the Emperor's new clothes syndrome that we are all suppose to subscribe to.

So...how's your day goin?  

Another gray, rainy-ass day in Akron, Ohio...ho hum

You kids have a fantastic Friday  ~  You know I will!!!  

 In an attempt to cheer up my friend, Fran, I took a stroll through the Goodyear Metropolitan Park this afternoon and took these shots....Fall in Northeast Ohio.

You kids have a lovely day ~  You know I will!!!