I have a life outside the Internet world.....doesn't everyone? But please forgive me for being away so long. It isn't that I didn't think about you, blog(gers)...and miss you. It's just well I have been....preoccupied....distracted.....busy.....okay just down-right LAZY about blogging. There I said it! AHHH, now I feel so much better. During the summer I started dating again...and have a blog dedicated to the nightmares/adventures of that whole aspect of trying to find 'the one'. And believe you me, it's difficult! And even more than difficult....EXHAUSTING! Thanks to a co-worker and friend, I have now gotten reacquainted with my country music roots. Between Scotty McCreery, Lady Antebellum, and Alan Jackson to name a few I can now get down with the country-crooning again.
But now it's October, and we're in the full-swing of a beautiful east coast autumn. The leaves are finally changing, and the fire pit nights are in full-swing as we sit and watch the dark night sky, think of our upcoming Thanksgiving feast....and for me the excitement of dressing up for my favorite holiday, Halloween. This year it was a nightmare deciding what I wanted to be, and finding the perfect costume. Surprisingly 2 options came to me in the ninth hour, and I passed them by my mom who actually liked the one I didn't think she'd go for. So now we just have to fit in some pumpkin picking, and snag some fresh produce from the local farms to cook up....like fresh roasted corn, fried cauliflower, and pumpkin pie. Autumn always gets me in the mood to cook up tons of food, and freeze some so dinner isn't that difficult to deal with. My go-to fall foods are stews and chili, and even soup. So get cooking people! And don't let the weather make you blue. Take the dog for an evening stroll...and if your dog is as tubby as ours is, take the dog out several times a day. Actually I am enjoying my walks with Lola...she loves them, they finally got her housebroken, and they get her and I moving.
With all the ugliness and natural disasters happening in the world these days life can get a bit scary. Remember to treat people with kindness and they'll do the same to you. Cherish your friends and family above material objects. When a friend and you no longer have things in common, and start to drift in different directions, don't get angry at them. Instead try and realize that the relationship has run its course, and whatever lesson you or the other party was to teach one another has happened and it is time to move on. No angry words need to be exchanged, no hard feelings need to be made. Try and remember you can not change someone to how you want them to be to fit in to your life. Nor do you need to subject yourself to a person/relationship/situation that is toxic, drama-filled, or negative. Simply wish the other person well, and travel on, down the path of life.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
I just a summertime girl in a summertime world...feeling the slow shift to autumn
Later in the month of June...my dear friend Mikey who is a brother-from-another-mother turned the big 5-0 and there was a surprise birthday party thrown for him. And YES he was indeed surprised. However mom wound up taking a trip tot he E.R. that night, and long story short now has a tear in her left meniscus. Mikey's party was great...and we danced our butts off. But I have to say...my party was better. Sssshhhhhhhhh!
Earlier this year, I had rejoined my original paranormal investigating group...which had been revamped several times. I was unsure if it was going to be as 'drama free' as they said it was, and low-and-behold it is! What is even more awesome is...not only am I doing something I love in my spare time...but all of the TAPS Family Members took part of a TAPS Family Reunion, and I got to meet and become friends with our founders Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. It was an amazing 3-day weekend filled with beautiful scenery, relaxation, and loads of laughter and new friends.
July was pretty quiet, you know just the usual: b-b-q, 4th of July stuff, and sweating in places I never knew could sweat. Oh...but I did see three awesome movies in the month of July: 'Bad teacher', 'The Hangover 2' which I thought was just as funny as the first, and 'Harry Potter & The Deathly Hollows pt. 2' Oh Harry Potter...how I miss you. Thank God for the 'Game of Thrones' book series to take your place for me. I did get sucked in to dating again, which has prompted me to create yet another new blog. If you want to check it out, can do so...I'm not embellishing anything which happens,and I'm not pulling any punches. Let me tell ya folks....dating is a battle ground...and love is getting it's butt kicked! I also took on a 2nd p/t job...working in of-all-places a podiatrist's office! Me! The girl who LOVES shoes but HATES feet! So my time has been somewhat limited between working split shifts, and having mom home retired and hanging out with her.
Which brings us back to August. The end of the summer...and yet another jam packed month of festivities, fun, and events.
On August 9th, my sister-from-another-mister Michelle celebrates her birthday. And no way can you make me squeal how old she is. She'll beat me yo! All I can say is that this Michelle Bell (and evidently there are a lot of them, because I just Googled her name, trying to find the link to *my* Michelle's blog) is the best person you could ever want and have in your corner. Michelle and I have been friends for more years than I can remember, and yet it feels like yesterday that we became friends. She has seen my good side and bad, been through my ups and downs, and has never turned her back nor judged me. She has prompted me to be silly, and has given me sage advice, even when it wasn't something I necessarily wanted to face or hear. She is truly my gift from God...because with Michelle I can be me without worrying about being me. Everyone should have a Michelle in their life...and if you do...make sure they know how special they are.
August 18th will bring me under the needle once again as I get inked. Or RE-inked, should I say. I'm having the tattoo on my left foot repaired as it looks like ca-ca...and the tattoo around my right ankle embellished and colored to make me & mom happy. Once these are done, you know photos will be up.
August 19th brings me to seeing my future-baby-daddy/future-husband COLIN FARRELL's latest film Fright Night. I am so stoked.
Colin playing a vampire makes me really makes me want to scream one of my snarky comments 'BITE ME' but with a whole other agenda behind it. I have been in my glory watching Colin making the TV circuit to promote the film...and am counting down the days. Of course there's also the movie 'Horrible Bosses' which he is in, and mom and I have a movie date for this Sunday to see it.And that's my summer in a nut shell. I'm exhausted just reading back all the stuff that's taken place...and reliving the good times. And OH! My favorite band Blue October also re tweeted one of my posts without my prompting them too. So yeah, that made my night/and summer too. Hope you're all enjoying your summer. Enjoy every minute of it, and try not to wish it by.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Book Review & Blog Tour: Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom by Elsie Love
Elaine Jackerson has found herself in quite a predicament. Her husband, Bob, is sleeping with his secretary, her daughter is experimenting in the backseat with random boys, and her eight year old wants nothing to do with her.In an attempt to get herself out of her midlife rut, Elaine joins the Herschel Grammar School PTA. Little does she know, Suni Calverson, the current president has handpicked her to be the newest member of the group. As soon as the ink is dry on the signup sheet, Elaine is thrust into a world that she never knew existed. A world where the PTA gets things done with blackmail, bribes, threats and quite possibly guns.
After stumbling across her husband and his secretary humping in his office, Elaine turns to the only friends she has: Suni and her henchmen. They convince her to let them “take care” of Bob. Elaine agrees to the plan, as long as no one dies. Unfortunately for Elaine, Suni has other plans. Before Elaine can sleep off her Mojitos, her children have been kidnapped and Bob has disappeared. Afraid that Elaine will go back on her word, Suni forces her onto a plane to hide out in a posh suite in Las Vegas that belongs to the famous French landscape photographer Gerard Ilg.
I. Love. This. Book. I love Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom by Elsie Love. And what killed me that as I lay in bed every night with my Kobo, reading, I would drift off to sleep, when all I really wanted to do was scroll to the next page and see what would happen to our protagonist Elaine 'Lanie' Jackerson. When I first started reading this short novel, which is just perfect for summer reading at 208 pages, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to connect with the main character because of where she was in her life, and where I am in mine. However Elsie Love writes so smoothly and without effort that you can't help but get sucked in to the novel, and wrapped up in the characters lives.
Lanie Jackerson is nothing but a hot mess, under appreciated by her daughter, manipulated by her husband, and bullied by her new 'friends' in the PTA. You can't help but root for her, hoping that she'll morph from a Caterpillar to butterfly, and give her husband a swift kick in the balls, and the wallet, should she file for divorce. What makes this novel so delicious is that what appears to be your typical 'woa-is-me' story about a neglected housewife who has lost herself is that it is actually a cleverly disguised 'who-do-you-trust.' A smug husband and obnoxious teenage daughter makes you realize how difficult it can be to be a woman and mother, and not lose yourself in the role of wife and mother. The only bright spot in Lanie's life seems to be her young son whom is equally supportive of his mum as well as embarrassed of her appearance and the nickname she has graced him with.
What is friendship, and what is false friendship? How do you know someone likes you for you or is being a phony? When Lanie gets involved with the PTA ladies she quickly has to figure out who is friend and who is foe while staying true to herself. This is something we all have to deal with in our lives. With more than one love interest for Lanie once she's hiding out in Sin City...you can't help but wish for a happy ending for her...as you hope she never goes back to her loser and abusive husband.
Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom by Elsie Love is so fun I have informed my own mother she must read this novel now. And I urge you all to do the same. I very much look forward to Elsie Love's next books. You can purchase Confessions of a PTA Mafia Mom in either e-reader format of soft cover book at Amazon, Smashwords or on Elsie's own web site.This is book review # 7 for the Chick Lit Plus 2011 Challenge. Remember it's never to late to start to read.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Dating can make a girl's hair curl!
http://dating-on-a-dare.blogspot.com/
Yep....I'm back in the dating world. Hopefully I won't have to kiss too many frogs. Thus far no such luck though. The worst thing that could happen? My dating experiences turn me in to the next Candice Bushnell.
Follow me and my dating experiences on http://dating-on-a-dare.blogspot.com/
Yep....I'm back in the dating world. Hopefully I won't have to kiss too many frogs. Thus far no such luck though. The worst thing that could happen? My dating experiences turn me in to the next Candice Bushnell.
Follow me and my dating experiences on http://dating-on-a-dare.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Book review & Blog Tour: Little Miss Teacher by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sacher
Book review: Little Miss Teacher by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar
I am very excited having the opportunity of participating in the blog tour for author Ms. Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar. I have also become acquainted with the on-line book store SmashWords, which not only is another site to purchase e-books, but if you are a writer and do not have an agent or publisher, this is a site which is affordable to self publish.
Little Miss Teacher is a short read, at only 199 pages, and as the story is told in the first person point-of-view it makes the novel a perfect length. Each chapter is titled with a quirky title which one can relate to in their own daily life. And what made reading this so enjoyable was that Ms. Sachar had us go through an entire school year, and covered a multitude of hot topics which have touched so many lives, both in the lives of young adults, and those of us who may be parents or have younger siblings. As you read, you are propelled back to your own school days, and what it felt like to be ‘trapped’ in a classroom and suffering through assignments. However it doesn’t just focus on the lives of students. It gives you food for thought as to what it’s like being a teacher, especially a first-year teacher…fresh out of college, and trying to make her mark on the world.
Take a journey through a school year, with the protagonist Candace Turner who is a freshman English teacher who is passionate about the subject she teaches and passionate about her ‘secret-crush’ who may…or may not be equally interested in her. Candace is roommates with her best friend Megan, and although they are thick-as-thieves, their outlook on dating and random hook-ups is as different as night and day. And as you look at their friendship and their personal values, it makes you reflect on your own relationships with people and how you either are a realist, and don’t try to sugarcoat the facts, or if you tend to look through rose-tinted glasses. Candace faces everything from trying to make her lesson plans equally fun and educational, to the death of a student, to being both sexually harassed and accused of being a bigot by two different students, to dealing with the fact that even her personal life isn’t as perfect as she thought it was when she has to face the fact that her roommate has a very serious health issue.
Little Miss teacher is one of those ‘it’ books. What I mean is that it’s one of those books, that as you’re reading what the main character, Candace Turner is dealing with, you say to yourself: ‘I’ve done that’, or ‘I knew someone who had to deal with…’, or “Oh my, when I was that age I had…happen to me.’ Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is a rare author who presents to us real-life issues in this novel, without sounding too preachy or condescending. It makes us realize that in a world where more often than not, teachers who are abusing their students in one form or another are getting recognition, instead of the teachers who genuinely care about their students. Without giving too much of this novel away, I want to say that each of the topics handled in this book are covered with compassion, and makes the reader open their eyes to what we can face in our lives, regardless of age or profession. I highly recommend Little Miss teacher by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar, which is available in e-book format at Smashwords.It's never to late to start to read. This is book review # 6 for the ChickLit Plus 2011 Challenge.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Holy crap....and I'm in shock!
You know, I get annoyed with Twitter and often think about deleting my Twitter account. Although great for communicating in real-time with friends and colleagues....it does suck you in to the Internet and celebrity zone. Who do you follow, do you trend or retweet....ask a celebrity a question and pray for a reply. And some of my friends have been acknowledged by celebrities and that is so cool. But I have not and it gets me irked at times. But I digress.
Tonight on FaceBook one of my favorite TV actors....from one of my favorite TV shows, SuperNatural did something uuber awesome. He acknowledged my birthday!!! Yep it's true! Jensen Ackles of SuperNatural, 1/2 of the hottie brothers wished yours truly a happy birthday! Am I a nerd and sound like a teenie-bopper? You betcha...and I am! But it's cool none-the-less and I'm a braggin' about it!
Tonight on FaceBook one of my favorite TV actors....from one of my favorite TV shows, SuperNatural did something uuber awesome. He acknowledged my birthday!!! Yep it's true! Jensen Ackles of SuperNatural, 1/2 of the hottie brothers wished yours truly a happy birthday! Am I a nerd and sound like a teenie-bopper? You betcha...and I am! But it's cool none-the-less and I'm a braggin' about it!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Live every day as if it were your last
Today is yet another reminder to us that we should all live our lives with love and joy in our hearts. When someone slights us or offends us, it is very easy to get angry at them or even hold a grudge. But it takes more energy to muscle strength to keep a 'hate or anger' burning strong, or to keep a frown on our face. We should try and remember to smile, to take the time to smell the flowers, and to always let those who mean the world to us, and whom we cherish know how much we love them. Try not to live your life with regrets, such as 'I should have done this...." or "I could have done...", or even "I always wanted to be..." Life is a precious gift which we all happen to take for granted.
You never know when you or someone you love is not going to be there to share that funny story with them, or even not be able to hold a conversation like they used to due to age or illness. There may be an accident, or too many miles separating you from one another. You may doubt your own abilities, and prevent yourself from going after a dream you always wanted to fulfill. Don't give in to the "shoulda...woulda...coulda's", and live each day as if it is your last. Make sure to take the time to give love to those you care about, and take time to see the beauty in the simple things such as a sunrise or your child's drawing. Too many tragedies happen, and too many people lose their lives before they should.
Today the wrestling world and Poppo family lost a wonderful man known as 'Macho Man' Randy Savage. I had the good fortune of knowing Randy for a short time, and can only speak of good things. He was selfless and compassionate, and generous to a fault. Even after Randy and his beloved (first wife) Elizabeth divorced, he had it arranged that whatever wrestling outfit he worked for would have to employ Elizabeth as well. And it didn't stop there... he also had the same clause in his contract for his brother. Randy worked with countless charities as well, and always had a smile on his face. R.I.P. Macho Man, as you will be greatly missed by so many people whose lives you had touched.
But it doesn't start or stop with today's loss. What about so many others in the world, both recognized and not that are taken from us before their time. What about the missed opportunities we prevent ourselves from having because we don't have faith in ourself? Enjoy these moments because we do live on borrowed time. No one knows when their last day will be. So make sure you embrace those and appreciate what you have.
Spend an extra five minutes with your family tonight....maybe give a sibling or parent a call just for no reason. Perhaps you'll sit on your patio tonight and enjoy a cup of tea and take in the silence of the falling night. Remember how fortunate you are to have a roof over your head, and someone to hug. And remember to thank all those who have given their lives to ensure our safety and freedom, as well as a prayer for the people whom you don't know who were taken too soon. Live each day with no regrets....live each day as if it were your last. Because you never know.................
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| Macho Man Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth |
| Princess Diana |
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| Heath Ledger |
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| Brandon Lee |
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| All the victims & hero's of the 9/11 attacks |
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Me, Mish, and one of my favorite little 10 month olds! West Anaximander Collins, or Nax as I call him, is probably one of the cutest little ones I've had the chance to get to know. He's that little man I can count on seeing around whenever Vicky brings him and I love him dearly as one of my own! Below is my *proof* that he did, and mine and Jensen's posts are the last two. Yay me....and THANK YOU JENSEN!!!!