The Scale and Random Thoughts

I rarely step on a scale for 2 reasons:

1. Because I think it is not always accurate to getting in shape. Muscle weighs more, you can tell when you're clothes fit better, etc... blah, blah, blah

2. I just don't like what it has to say! and it usually says the same thing! (which reminds me of Rihanna and her songs that always seem to have an echo) ♪Umbrella ella ella♪ ♪Shut up and drive ive ive♪

Today was different! The scale sang a different tune! One of happiness, & delight (not Deee-lite) ♪Groove is in the heart♪ although that is a nice, upbeat tune :)

It told me that I had finally, finally, broke through the barrier! I had made it up the wall (like "See-gar!" in Officer and a Gentleman) and I can now say: "I am under 200lbs!" (and that's with the extra thanksgiving cheesecake!)
♪Go me go me it's my birthday, it's my birthday♪ (can you see me dancing around the room?)


**We got some good news, today. One of the boys that took the Alcohol (need to catch up? read: What Do You Mean, They Robbed a Liquor Store? go ahead, I'll wait) so, one of the boys, turned himself in, and allegedly, told the officer that the girls were not involved. So, maybe, just maybe, my #1 won't be charged, and she'll get to serve a lesser term.
♪And the warden sang, come on somebody♪ (Ol' Red by Blake Shelton)

** It's December! I love the Yuletide season! Never have enough time, but, still I love it! We have taken some of the decorations down from the attic, and the rest will come down this weekend ♪Deck the halls, with bows of holly♪

**17 days until my weekend Getaway to New Orleans! Excited because I love the City, the food and the people, and this time We are seeing a Burlesque show at The House of Blues! Can't wait! ♪Goin down to New Orleans♪ (Kid Rock)

**As some of you may know, I lost my fabulous camera in October (Zombie Weekend Ruined) and now I can't decide if I want the same one (Fuji S2000HD) or if I'll get the Nikon L100, but I need to decide because obviously I'll want new pics of NOLA.

Theme song of the day: ♪Just open your eyes, and see that life is beautiful♪ (Sixx AM)

What do you mean, they robbed a liquor store?!

I was all ready for a girl's night out, and I was heading to Jessica's house to meet up for a fun evening out. ♪ Well, it's a girl's night out♪ (The Judds)

That's when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but it was local, so I answered it. Then my heart sank!

My daughter (#1) was crying hysterically and trying to tell me what happened. She was scared and upset, and kept apologizing. I had to ask her to slow down, so I could understand what was going on, because all I could think about was all those discussions about not getting in the car with someone who had been drinking. She slowed down, and I focused on her words and thankfully, she wasn't hurt, but..

#1 is by nature, a good kid. She is meek and mild, and sweet and innocent. She focuses so hard on getting good grades, and staying out of trouble, that sometimes, I worry that she's not having any fun, at all. Well, she certainly, had her fun this weekend!

She was supposed to be at her best friends house, but her and her best friend decided to go to another friends house. When they got to his house, some friends of his, asked if the girls could give them a ride to the grocery store. Of course, being the sweet girls they are, they said "sure" and off they went.

When they got to the store, the girls stayed in the car talking while the boys went inside. Suddenly, the boys jump back in the car and yell "Go! Go!"

The best friend, is driving away, when #1 turns to see the store manager running out. She tells her best friend "Stop, he's writing down your tag."
The boys yell "Just go!"
And they drive away, only to find out, when they get to the house, that the boys had each shoplifted a bottle of alcohol, and the store manager reported the 2 girls to the police as the get away car.

My Good Girl Straight A Honor Student was now an accomplice to a crime! So much for all that effort in getting good grades and staying out of trouble! That meek and mild, good naturedness has just gotten her into major trouble. And considering the alternatives of the situation, (with older boys & alcohol, at a house off in the woods where no one knows where they are; you can paint all kinds of terrible scenarios.)

So, we spent a few hours talking to police and trying to track down the boys, because they ran off with the alcohol (which the store manager was saying he needed returned in order to drop the charges.) The girls signed their written statements, got a lecture from the officer about only being as good as the people you're with, and we were told we could go home.

We now wait to find out if the girls are going to face any charges. #1 is currently a prisoner of her own home, with no known release date. During her sentence, she has lost all phone and computer privileges, and is serving hard time on the chain gang of household chores.
♪ That's the sound...workin on the chain gang♪ (Sam Cooke)

And, oh! Is it killing me; this sentence, she's serving! I want to just wrap my arms around her and tell her it will be okay, and give her everything back. I must stay strong and dish out that tough love. But who is it toughest on?!

Workin Black Friday

This is the first time I've had to work on Black Friday, since that crazy year about 10 years ago, when I thought it would be "fun" to work a seasonal job at Toys-R-Us, because it would give me a chance to work retail again. What was I thinking?! It was awful!
We were living in Maine. It was ridiculously cold out, and I had to go in at noon. Now, you're probably thinking the same thing, I thought, "Noon? that's not bad, at least it's not buttcrack of dawn early." Well, as any of you know that venture out to go shopping on Black Friday; by noon, there is no where left to park! And, there certainly aren't reserved spots for employees! Nope! So I had to park down the street and walk in that windchill below zero weather, and still had to fight through the crowd, only to clock in 2 minutes late, and be told "we expect people to be on time." Really?! Wow! Wanna hear what I expect?!

I am happy to say, that since I don't work retail, parking, for me, was not an issue today, but my heart goes out to the retail workers that are battling for a parking spot in the rain,snow and freezing temperatures, so that we may enjoy our day of shopping madness.
♪Workin' for a livin', livin' and workin'♪ (Huey Lewis and The News)

So, yesterday, with my mother in NYC for the Macy's Parade, (which by the way, Mom says looks much different on TV. She apparently asked someone "where's Times Square?" and he said "you're standing in it!") my baby brother came with me to hubby's parents house. His other option was to go with my sister to Tennessee, but as an 18 year old gamer, he wanted nothing to do with 4 days in the mountains without technology (including TV, what are they thinking?!) accompanied by 7 screaming kids. And I can't say that I blame him.
♪Time to play the game♪ (Motorhead)

Because of our age difference, (he is only 1 1/2 years older than #1) I was out of the house long before he was out of diapers, so we are only just now getting to really know each other. And, because Mom discovered medications, when he was young, and married a more domesticated man, he had a much different childhood, than I. So, I used this as an opportunity to share some stories of Dear Mom.

See, Baby Brother can not remember a time when mom cooked, or even attempted cooking. Mom, was never Suzy Homemaker by any means, but she had her moments. She could make an edible lasagna, (well, at least one of her personalities did, though that one never was around, much) and Shepherds Pie was a standard (although I never liked it, especially after that time it was shoved down my throat, but that's another story.)

One Thanksgiving, Mom decided that she would try to make homemade gravy. She was all prepared with the drippings, and the flour. She mixed it and seasoned it, and mixed it some more, but it was still too lumpy, so she used a strainer to pour it through to get out the lumps. This worked perfectly! The lumps were in the strainer, and the gravy was in... The Sink?! Yup! It seems mom didn't think about where the liquid was going when it went through the strainer. After that, we only ate canned gravy.
♪Gravy comes in a can, it was put there by a man♪ (Really should be Peaches by TPOTUSA but I can't help the way lyrics get twisted in my head)

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and a safe, fun, stress-free Black Friday! ♪City Sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday cheer♪

Learned My Lesson Well

When I was growing up, I was quite the tomboy, preferring jeans and sneakers over a dress, despite my mother's constant pleas to "just once look like a girl." Along with my boyish clothing, it was also the boys that I chose to hang with, and it was from these boys that I learned to solve my problems with fists, (and sometimes glue, but that's a story for another day.)

Fighting was a way of life. If I didn't like what someone said: I'd punch 'em, If someone took something of mine: I'd kick 'em. I would do whatever it took to show that I was just as strong as any boy, and prove that no one could hurt me.

And so it went, I fought my way right up through 6th grade when I got in a fight with Rebeccah. Rebeccah was the girl that nobody liked, she was mean to everyone, she would always get people in trouble, nobody wanted to have to sit by her, and she didn't care. She would do everything she could to annoy everyone.

One day, Rebeccah was repeatedly kicking my chair and pulling my friends hair while the teacher was out of the room. I couldn't take it any longer, and I snapped. I started yelling at her and everyone gathered around us. With all the kids screaming, "hit her!" and pushing us together, I punched her right in the face! Then, I stood back awaiting the cheers of all the people that would say I did the right thing, and be so thankful for finally being the one to shut her up. I would be a hero, the kid people would remember for years to come, like a modern dragon slayer. ♪It's the eye of the Tiger it's the thrill of the fight, rising up...♪ (Survivor)


But, that's not what happened. Not even close. In fact,everyone turned on me. They consoled her, and accused me of being so mean. They questioned why, I hurt her. They all ran to the teacher and accused me of just randomly hitting her. They never mentioned their role in it all, how they encouraged me to do it, and almost forced my hand. They never told of all the negative things she had said to me. No, it was all my fault because I had struck the most hurtful blow.


I stood all alone, wondering what had happened. What had gone wrong. How could they not see, that I was trying to help them? I looked over at Rebeccah, and felt true regret for what I had done. I didn't want to hurt her. I only meant to make everyone else happy.


Today, I once again feel like that same little sixth grader. I fought back for what I thought was right. I tried to help a friend, and when I threw a hurtful blow, I was attacked. (For the record, there was no blood shed this time, but there were still plenty of tears)



Recently, someone told me negativity breeds negativity, and I definitely think that is true. It is also true that no matter how many positive things you say or do, it is the negative ones that stand out. Because of this, I would like to point out some messages that were apparently missed in a previous post.



♪If I could turn back time, If I could find a way, I'd take back those words that have hurt you♪



♪I didn't really mean to hurt you, I didn't really mean to make you cry♪



The fact is, I can't change the past. The only thing I can do is take responsibility for the actions that were my own, and learn from them. I can hope others will do the same, but ultimately they must bear the weight of their own actions.

♪ It's alright now, I've learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself♪ (Johnny Lee)

After the fight with Rebeccah, I never had a physical fight again. I didn't need to. It seems that the story of what happened spread its way through the school, and even those that weren't there seemed to know exactly what happened, and they all had an opinion on it. Apparently, I had beaten her to a pulp and she was hospitalized, and... Goes to show, don't talk about what you don't know.

♪You can't judge a book by looking at the cover. Oh, can't you see, you misjudge me♪ (Bo Diddley)

Wordless Wednesday- Gimme Shelter

Not just a thing of beauty, but a shelter of defense for what's within.

♪Oh, a storm is threat'ning my very life today, If I don't get some shelter, Oh, yeah, I'm gonna fade away♪

(Rolling Stones)

♪Crawling in my skin, these wounds they will not heal...My walls are closing in♪

(Linkin Park)

♪All in all it was just a brick in the wall♪

(Pink Floyd)