Well...today we are headed back to Camp Hill!!! We have had a great visit! Got some things done and will be coming home with many treasures!!! After writing yesterday about making clay pots, I got really excited!!! I remembered a place here (near Luverne) called Dry Creek where we had gotten clay before in the past! What a great way to spend a beautiful warm day...in the woods searching for clay!!! That is exactly what we did and we ended up with two bags (((full))) of good ol' Alabama clay! We are ready to create some beautiful things!!! Can't wait!!! Here are a few pix of the day...
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I finished Kayla's box last night! It turned out beautifully!!! I took pix...whatcha' think??? She is very happy!!!
Since we will be back in Camp Hill today, I will no longer have the luxury of being online!!! So, it will be a few days before I will post...but do check back, because when I do...I am planning on having a lot to share!!! We have a busy but fun week planned ahead...WEATHER PERMITTING!!! Cross your fingers that the weather is as nice as it has been!!! That would be super awesome!!!
Oh my gosh...the last couple of days have been wonderful!!! So warm!!! Thank God!!! I don't do cold very well!!! I am ready to get hot and sweaty...ya know!!?? Of course, I am half lizard!!! Or at least that is what my friends say!!??
Coop' (my 5y/o) and I are still in Luverne!!! We are doing laundry as we speak...or...type, in this case!!! Kayla, my daughter, goes into work at 1:30!!! She is doing so well!!! I am very proud of her!!! She is very excited about moving to Birmingham!!! I am very excited for her!!!
I am sleepy...
I am kind of at a "stand-still" right now with everything!!! I can't really do anything more to the house until after the first of the month when I have some money!!! We are down to the "nitty gritty" with our change!!! We have $1.00 in paper and $18.00 in metal...$19 big ones!!!! That is around $2.00/day!!! Yep!!! That would be almost 3 sodas out of a coke machine a day...think about it!!! I have a half a tank of gas left and just enough food!!! I will be baking a lot in the next few days!!! Baked goods last awhile and are yummy! Muffins, banana nut bread...biscuits, etc. ! We will be fine! This is the time to be extra creative and thrifty!!! If the weather stays nice then we will do a lot of outdoor stuff!!! We will probably go on "treasure" hunts and see what we can find to make something out of!!! I am hoping we will find some clay and make some pots!!! Paint them and do our first show with our pots!!! I have finished the logo "Mommy & Me"...didn't change much...I just cleaned it up a little!!! I will post it!!! If it is cold...then we will do something creative indoors!!!
Okay...so Kayla and I are going through some of her stuff for the yard sale the other day, and Kayla came across some of the old letters that she had written as well as cards she received from others when she was younger! She has kept cards from 10 years ago!!! Pretty kewl! So she comes across the little note that she had written when she was about 9, or so while staying her very first summer with her Dad...! She was in Birmingham and I was in Florida! It is the sweetest, funniest and probably the most valuable thing I own today!!! I have to share it with you! A very dramatic little person she was...I love this little person I grew!!!! The note says something like this...
To: Momma
From: Kayla
"Hello Momma. I just wanted to write so I could asked how you are doing and most important how much that I love you. I love you to as far as the eyes can see and even further down the path to the cloud of everlasting love. It will always be the same unless my love for you goes farther among the cloud of everlasting love and goes to the path that leads to the cloud of stars of the death love, which brings us together in a very peaceful kind a very conceveing (as she spelled it! ) love, and it will bring us together in a love that never ends. I hope that you understand the love I have for you now. I love you."
Kayla K.
Priceless!!!!! Now ((((this))) is a family heirloom!!!!!!
Cooper is doing GREAT telling the time in homeschool!!! I had to share with you the clock that he drew by himself!!!
lol...yes...this is my little man's world!!! Actually....this is a WHOLE LOT like ((((my)))) world! Gotta love it!!! He did very well...I am proud!!! Cooper has been watching the movies we checked out at the library on "sounding letters"..." vowels and consonants"...the Rainforest and how to react to...strangers!!! Being that he is somewhat on the "dark side" right now he is of course fascinated with the "danger of meeting a stranger"...! Now, this is very serious to me and I loved the idea of him watching this film and learning from it! You know, like..."don't talk to strangers" and so on!!?? There is a section in this movie that talks about when/if a stranger approaches you and takes your arm or hand...or even picks you up!!! It tells you to resist by kicking while screaming, "HELP! YOU ARE NOT MY MOM! YOU ARE NOT MY DAD!!!" This is something that every child should know and practice!!! I am all for it and I have encouraged Cooper to practice...so does the film!!! Well, just the other day I am sitting on the "john" (which is when every "family crisis" seems to happen! I have settled more disputes on the toilet than anywhere else!!!) ...I suddenly hear cooper screaming outside..."HELP!" Well, had there of been an actual "stranger" present it would have been a good thing to know that Cooper reacted the way he was taught just recently! But...there wasn't...a stranger!!! I knew this because I could see him out the bathroom window!!! No stranger, just my son...standing in the yard screaming, "HELP! SHE IS NOT MY MOM!"
Yes...it is true!!!
I was in denial the first time I heard him say it and then reality kicked in after I heard it the second and third time!!! I thought, OMG!!! If someone hears this they are going to think I have kidnapped my child!!! How horrible!!! As soon as I wiped my ass...yes, I said that!!! We all do it...I hope??? Anyway...I ran outside!!! I praised Cooper for practicing and assured him that he mastered this safety tactic and it was time to move on to something else! lol! This is my life...what can I say...Lardy, lardy...
Ok...we are off to fold clothes and then we are going to go for a ride in the country and see what we might find!!!
Well, the yard sale was a success!!! The girls made out with almost $200.00!!! "Girls" being Kayla and her best friend Erin who came down from Birmingham to sell some things of her own!!! I made out with a new wardrobe...the leftovers!!! Cooper was a big help and really got into it! He was a regular salesman I tell ya!!! He quickly became the yard sale mascot!!! Too funny!!! The weather was so beautiful here in Luverne, Alabama!!! Perfect day to spend time outside!!! I felt like a fat cat sittin' in the sun on that bench I sat on at the yard sale!!! The sun was warm...it about put me to sleep!!!! Well, I dropped off my Foodstamp application and the lady behind the counter told me I would hear from them in 7-10 days!!! In the meantime, we are living off of $29.00 plus $9.00 that I made at the yard sale (I threw in a couple if thangs!)...that's $38.00 bux 'til the first of the month!!! That would be $4.00/day!!! I have a half a tank of gas and plenty of food...We are doing awesome!!! Okay...I have a story to share!!! I was dating this guy whose name was James (we will say)...! It was a physical relationship!!! We enjoyed each other!!! James invited me to his house one summer night to sit in his hot tub and drink some wine with him!!! Sounded GREAT!!! So I arranged for a sitter to watch Kayla and Tripp (they were little people then)and I went out for a while! Well, after a couple of glasses of wine it didn't take long before we jumped into the hot tub...and, of course, we were naked! Shhhhhh!!! Don't tell anyone!!! Well, James was sitting across from me talking, talking...and talking...well, I was feeling ((frisky))!!! So I get closer to James thinking that he would shut-up and get busy! Ya know??? You have done the "shut up I'm frisky" before...I know you have!!! Well, I am feeling extra sexy that night and decided to try out some of my "smooth moves" by sitting behind him on the edge of the hot tub...naked...while wrapping my legs around him!!! Oh yeah!!! Frisky!!! I was trying to be all sexy, OK!! Well, James is STILL talking...his head is bobbing back and forth from side to side passionately talking about....something???? I couldn't hear him anyway, because the hot tub motor was behind and under me on the ground between the privacy fence and the side of the hot tub!!! I was sitting on the edge, which is slippery when wet...okay!!!! You need to be very careful when sitting on the edge of a hot tub while wet!!! Yeah!!! Trust me, I know from experience because I slipped!!!! Not only did I fall off the edge of the hot tub, but I also fell into the gap between the privacy fence and the side of the damn hot tub!!!! Yeah...where that motor is that I was describing earlier! Remember, I mentioned that the motor was loud??? Well, it was sooooo loud that when I fell...James didn't hear me!!! The only thing he heard was his own words as he passionately talked about....something!!! My feet were right beside his head as I watched him bob it up and down and side to side!!! He had no idea that I was....gone! He just kept talking and I am yelling, "James!" Finally, James looked to the side only to discover that he was having a conversation with my feet!!! He quickly turned his head and reacted!!! Now, we are both naked!!! I am pinned between the wall and hot tub, my butt is on the ground with my legs up in the air!!! I am in a jack-knife position!!! James says, "How the hell did you do that?" I am like...pull me out of here, right??? So he pulls...and pulls...naked...and he can't get me out!!! He says, "We need to call the fire department!!!" I am like...HELL NO WE AINT!!! Yeah...I said "ain't" that is how bad this situation was!!! I had at this point lost my "couth" (however you spell that word)...!!! The visual that came with the idea of many firemen coming to rescue me...while my crotch is exposed to the world did not settle well with me!!! Even after a few glasses of wine! I look at James and I am like, "We will cut this fence before we call the fire department, do you understand???" Apparently, I had the look of, "I will kill you" on my face because he went to plan B immediately after a short pause!!! He found some tanning oil on the table and tossed it to me!!! I started pouring that shit all over me!!! I told James to pull and he did!!! I swear I felt like a human cork when he pulled me out of that hole!!! Any wine buzz that I might have had prior to the "slip up" (literally!), I had no longer!!!! We both laughed after it was all over and I decided to just go home!!! After all, how do you "pick up from where you started" after that??? I mean, really???? Now that I think about it, I believe that was the last time I went over to his house??? LMAO! Really!!! I don't remember going back!!!
Pretty funny!
OkeeDokie...Hey! FYI...Cat Power ROX!!!! When you listen to the song (and you should because it is a great song), and you hear the guy scream in the background??? That is what I sounded like when I fell off the hot tub!!! Oh yeah!!! Listen to it. you will understand!!! I did not create this video, FYI...
I hope the message stands clear!!!
Don't ever give up!!!
Ever...!!!
Life is full of surprises...
Trust me on this!
*wink*
Well, we are here. I haven’t been able to write the last couple of days due to the fact that I have been sick! Also, because I don’t have a consistent internet signal out here! In fact, I am having to write on “Word” at night, date my material and then copy and paste the material onto my blog when I go to the library! So, go with the date I have (((typed )))…not the date it says it was posted!!! This will give you an idea of how often I get into town! The cell phone is worse out here! I haven’t had a cell phone signal for 2 days. I have been cranky as well, only because I don’t want to be here! I love being with my best friend Tim…I just don’t want to be in Alabama! I have noticed that my spirits have been low, but I am tired and I am sick…that definitely contributes!!! I had a long talk with myself today and reminded myself that I have a plan, and in the end, it will be fine just hang in there…! I decided to wait on sharing the “talk” for later! For now, just listen and see if you hear what I heard earlier…??? This (((IS))) a test! *wink*
Cooper and I arrived in Camp Hill Monday late afternoon. Unfortunately the room we will be staying in had not been cleaned out yet! the last roommate's belongings were still in the room…not to mention it stunk! So, I bagged up their belongings and began to “set up camp”…! I finished at around 8pm! After making the bed Cooper and I said our prayers and he went to sleep! That night was pretty wretched, actually!!! Unfortunately while cleaning earlier that evening, I discovered mold on the side of the bed frame. Not on the wall or carpet…not even the mattress…just the bed??? It was bizarre!!! Well, I am allergic to mold which I have no doubts is the big contributor as to why I am sick! Cooper sleeps on the bed which is a twin. I made me a palate on the floor to sleep on, which I actually prefer! It makes my back feel better when I sleep on the floor! But on the first night here, I couldn’t take it! The smell was so bad I couldn’t sleep! No-one else could smell it, but I could!!! I have the nose of a bloodhound!!! Maybe it was psychological??? Dunno, but I can tell you it was better on the bed that night! When I had cleaned, I stirred up the “funk” and it wasn’t going anywhere!! Tim’s trailer is not heated. We heat our rooms with space heaters which work out well because the rooms are small. That night we had to sleep with the door open in order to get the “funk” out of the room…so it was chilly! But I thought to bring my electric blanket so we were just fine! It wasn’t bad at all actually and I was able to sleep after the room aired out a little! I think I fell asleep at about 3am??? Or at least that was the last time I looked at the time. Cooper slept just fine! I also thought to bring our air filter which I placed right above his head! After a night of airing out the room, as well as running the air filter, it was just fine by late morning!
Tuesday Cooper and I ran errands…alllllll daaayyy!! We got a ton done and he was such a sport!!! We got into town at around 2pm and got back to the trailer at around 8:00!!! We didn’t STOP!!! It was a long 6 hours of running around, but we had fun! Cooper got ice-cream and a bag of balloons for being so good! Before heading out to the trailer we decided to drop by and visit Tim at work! Tim is a Baker and Cooper loves going to the bakery because he always gets a cupcake or a cookie! Well, on this visit we met 3 female college students who fell in love with Cooper…uh, and Cooper fell in love with them! He gave the girls each a balloon from his pockets! He asked if they would blow up the balloons and play with him!!! They DID! It was great! They had a little party at the bakery while waiting for coffee! It was so random and funny, I had to take a pic of the event! No-one likes to wait in line, but on this day…no-one seemed to mind!!! I think every shopping experience should be like this!!! A balloon party should be offered at every register to make the customers happy while waiting in line! Don’t you???
Wednesday was “crud day!” I woke up feeling HORRIBLE, but managed to see the ”Eye-Doc” and get my eyes checked!!!! That is RIGHT!!! I will get my new glasses on the 18th of this month! I will be able to see again!!! Baby steps…baby steps…! After my appointment, we came straight back to the trailer and I went to bed and I haven’t been out of bed since! Cooper and I did homeschooling in bed yesterday and today, which is Thursday!!! Cooper and I ((did)) managed to go into town and get something to eat earlier this evening! He wanted Waffle House, so that is where we went!!! I was so hungry!!! Cooper got a waffle and bacon! I got scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, hash browns, raisin toast and biscuits with gravy!!! Coffee and OJ!!! Hell yeah! I feel much better tonight!!! I am hoping to feel better and better because I have a ton to do!!! I was planning on getting some work done this weekend since I am feeling better… but it is supposed to SNOW tonight! I mean, REALLY???? Any other cold winter day I would be so excited to see SNOW!!! But why now when I have so much to do??? I just want to get this done and over with, ya know??? I want to be in Atlanta!!! All this because someone screwed me up the butt without lube!!! I am tired of the struggle…
WAIT a minute…brakes on!!! Screeeech! Silence!!! Did you hear that??? I did!!! Re-read those last 7 sentences, and listen …shhhhhhh…! Do you hear what I hear??? I hear a scared little girl who wants it her way or nothing!!! I hear a spoiled child who is whining and not paying attention!!! This is what I see in myself right now after typing those words…
It was at this moment when I stopped…took a breath…and had a talk with myself…! Sometimes we get used to easy, even if we aren’t happy with it! It is easier to be miserable then it is to be happy! It is easy for me right now to bitch about what I don’t have when I need to make light of what I do have! Well, nothing worth having has ever been “easy”…! Right??? Ok…well from this point on, I am focusing on what I DO have and will publicly say, that I am very thankful! I have a roof over my head and it is very affordable! Being here will enable me to do things that I haven’t been able to do in years and ((wouldn’t)) be able too for many more otherwise!!! I am so LUCKY that I have a friend who offered me his home to stay in! Cooper and I are very welcomed and loved here! I bought the eye-glasses 2 days ago!!! A goal that I set for myself that I achieved! I am on the right path!!! And you know what…it is going to snow tomorrow and that means more to my 5y/o than anything right now, and same goes for me!!! So, tomorrow…sick or not…we are getting out in the snow and we are enjoying a gift from nature not given to us often! Everything else can wait…!!! I am not a victim, because I have made a choice ((not)) to be!!!
Say these words to yourself every once in a while! It will take the frown off your face as it has mine…
God, my mornings are crazy!!! We wake up not knowing where we are!!! It takes 30 minutes before we realize we aren’t in bed anymore!!! Our first complete sentence for the day is, “Huh?“…! We finish getting dressed in the car!!! I take roll-call on the way to wherever to make sure I didn’t leave anyone behind…that being Cooper!!?? We are NOT morning people!!! Not sure what brought on that tangent, but...hey, hey!
Well…apparently today is a national holiday???? The Foodstamp Office was closed! So, we will do that tomorrow!!! It is supposed to warm up this week (thank GOD!!!) …so I will start the back side of the house in the next couple of days!!! I would like to be finished by the end of the week. This weekend Cooper and I are supposed to go to Luverne, Alabama to see my daughter and help her with a yard sale she is planning on having!!! It will be fun seeing her!!! Maybe she will make a little money!!! Wish us luck!!!
Don’t know if I have mentioned what part of Alabama we are staying in??? Tim’s trailer, where we are staying, is located in a small town called Camp Hill!!! My house is located in Auburn, Alabama which is about 20 minutes from here! Camp Hill is in between Auburn and another small town called Dadeville, which is near one of the largest man-made lakes in Alabama called Lake Martin! Got it??? Google it!!! You can't miss it…look for tons of trees and land and I guarantee we are “smack-dab” in the middle of it! Look for a woman and a small child waving at the satellite…that would be us!!! One thing I truly love about Alabama…land, trees, and water!!! While you “Google” Central Alabama, zoom out and you will notice that most of Alabama ((IS)) land and trees! Absolutely beautiful!!! That’s why they call this state “Alabama the Beautiful” because it really is…beautiful! Well, today Cooper and I took a ride out to Dadeville, Alabama which is at the opposite direction of Auburn (referred to as “town” in earlier posts)…! I decided that we are shopping in Dadeville from now on because I am sick of Auburn! That way I won't feel as though I have “back-tracked” with my life…! Going to Dadeville, as opposed to Auburn, will feel as though we have simply moved to a different town!!! See how smart I am??? So from now on...” going to town” will mean Dadeville, Alabama! Just for future reference!!!
Cooper is doing really well in Homeschool, by the way!!! We are working on letters right now…Capital Letters and Lower-case Letters!!! His handwriting has improved so much in the last couple of days!!! He is interested in Martin Luther King, Michael Jackson, and King Tut!!! Yes…I know??? He is very concerned about Haiti, so we are planning on going to the library, get online and catching up on what is going on over yonder…as well checking out books on “the guys” I mentioned earlier!!! *wink* What a beautiful little mind my son has??? It amazes me what he is interested in, ya know??? What a kewl little dude, even if he is mine!!!
Gotta go for now! Tonight, I am finishing my daughters Christmas present! Yes…Christmas! I wasn’t able to finish her gift due to all the chaos that developed over the holidays with my tenants!!! I had to put all the projects aside and start packing!!! We had planned on getting together at some point after the holidays! Well, that would be this weekend…so I need to get busy!! Also, I am planning on finishing up piecing together emails that my Attorney wanted! Emails between my tenant and I during…the “chaos”…! So I need to get busy!!! How am I able to afford an Attorney you ask??? Well, I am planning on having my former tenants pay for the attorney’s fees as well as rent that they owe me…and damages!! I want to kick butt and take names this week…so I might not write for the next few days!!! But I (((will))) eventually!!!
Final note: FINANCIAL STATUS!!!! $63.00 left!!! Less than $5.00/day until the first of next month!!! Gotta know how to be thrifty on that budget, aye??? We aren’t the only ones!!! The good news is, we have food…a roof, heat, running water…my gas tank is full and we have friends who love us!!! We have what we need…
Sunday, February 14, 2010 Happy Valentines Day!!! Last night Cooper and I had a ton of fun! I baked a cake for the "big people" and Cooper wanted one for Valentines Day as well! So, that’s exactly what we did…we baked! Both cakes turned out beautifully!!! Cooper and I also decorated valentines cards! He did a fine job!!!
Next week is going to be a busy one! I am feeling better, so I want to try to make up for lost time!!! We have $88.00 to live off of until the first of March! That is $44.00 a week! We have lived off less…trust me! So when I say, “You don't need much to live,” it is more like, you don’t need much to survive!!! We are in survival mode right now! We are at our lowest point at the present, but my plan is to get back on our feet!!! People prioritize things differently than one another! Some people believe a big house is a priority over a small one! Some people believe a nice car is a priority over a nice home! Some people believe that your appearance is a priority over both house and car…! I prioritize health over everything!!! A healthy body, mind, and soul are more important to me and my family over anything else! Because without my health, I can not give my all!!! Without (((me))) my kids would have nothing!!! And my kids are always first!!!! Today, I have to do what it takes to make sure we have what we need…and I am going to have to swallow a little pride while doing so!!! Due to the recession...I am not the only one!
The last time I applied for food stamps it was in 1990 when I was 22 and pregnant with my first child! I hated being on foodstamps! It was humiliating, but we needed it! I had to do it! I worked 2 jobs and I STILL qualified! Today, it is 2010...I am 42 with a 5-year-old and guess what…I once again qualify!!! So, that is one of our priorities next week!!! We are going to the Foodstamp Office and we will be applying for foodstamps!!! I remind myself that we need it right now until we get on our feet!!! It will help us, and that is what it is there for! We need a little help until I can find a job!!!
Second, my house…which is another story and too involved to go into right now! But in a “nut-shell”, the house was a verbal gift given to me 12 years ago. It is not mine, completely! It belongs to my Grandfather who told me it would be mine one day, but there are strings attached! I am responsible for maintaining the property, which I have struggled over the years doing so!!! I have done in the past, and continue to do today, most of the work that needs to be done to the property!!! I can not afford to hire someone else to do the work!!! Some useful pioneering skills that I acquired from being a carpenters daughter!!! Quite frankly, the work is killing me!!! I am tired!!! Renting the house was an option I created and pursued because I did not want to leave the house empty! The last time I left the house empty, it was vandalized!!! Some teenagers broke into the house 5 years ago and did about $10,000.00 worth of damage to the property! Renting the home is another form of income that can help us get on our feet!!! That is how we got to Atlanta, to begin with, but, that is ((also)) why we had to leave Atlanta!!! If I can find tenants to rent the house, that would be great!!! But if they end up being like the last tenants who lived there, then I am left with another mess to clean up! My goal is to get out from under this house and get on our feet without being dependent on rent coming from tenants!!! But, for now, we need it!!! Even though I desperately want to be free from it!!! I would love to just walk away and say, “No thanks!“…but I cant!!! Please don’t think that I am ungrateful, because that is not the case!!! It's just that this house has controlled my life for so many years, and I simply want to be freed from it!!! Again, another story for another day…! So…I have to finish fixing the backside of the house so that I can rent it out!!! That is goal #2 for next week!!! I will keep you posted…
Okay, I am tired (still not 100%)...I will write again tomorrow!!!
Yesterday we did absolutely nothing but play in the snow!!! We hiked in it…sled in it…we were wet from head to toe! Oh…and we went to the graveyard! Yes, to appease my son's obsession with death! Death? I know, I know!!! There is something about this “age” with boys where they become intrigued by death, blood, wrestling, and karate (God help me)!!?? Little girls are very different at this age!!! It took me a while to get used to being tackled, sucker punched and karate kicked by my boys!!! Not to mention the questions I answer day to day about why people die! It helped by talking with his Doctor about this “phase“…!!! I asked, “Doctor, is it normal for a 5y/o to want to kill his Mother (not literally)???” He said, “Unfortunately for you, Mom“… as he puts his hands on my shoulders attempting to comfort me, “yes!” Being a genie pig isn’t all that bad once you accept it! You learn to stay one step ahead, like dodging for example! That helps! Oh, and the new rule that we can only talk about death once a day now!!! Anyway…It was a great day! Very whimsical! Very beautiful!
I thought I would share some pictures with you! Hope you enjoy them… I am still not feeling well, though I did enjoy the brisk clean air!!! I could breathe so much better!!! Wish I could bag it up and carry it with me somehow!!!
Tim and I went walking later that evening...the snow was about 4-5 inches...the air was still!!! Very peaceful!!!
Oh, I failed to mention the spruce tree! The one we had in Atlanta! When I was loading up the car on our last day at Atlanta, I began to realize quickly that the spruce tree wasn’t going to fit!!! I thought about strapping it to the top of the car, but wasn’t sure if it would make the trip without killing it!!! We bought the tree for Christmas! Cooper wanted a real tree! After pricing cut trees I thought, “whew”…” expensive”…! A lot of money and it just seemed like such a waste! So, we saw the little spruce trees!!! I asked Cooper if he wanted a cut tree, which we would have to eventually throw away…Or, would he like to have a spruce tree that we could plant and still be alive!!! He decided that the spruce tree was what we needed! Only, after a while…the little tree was in need of some sunshine! It wasn’t quite getting enough sun from our apartment in Atlanta!!! So, we decided that it needed to be planted somewhere special! We thought at first to plant in here in Alabama at our dogs grave! His name was Mo, who was killed by a car just a few months ago! But since we couldn’t bring the spruce tree with us to Alabama, we decided to donate it as a gift to our neighbors! See, our neighbors’ cat had passed away the night before we left Atlanta…and they had plans of burying it at some graveyard in Decatur, GA! We asked if we could give this to them to plant on top of their cat at the burial, and they said yes!!! They were happy and very touched by our gesture! See…there ya go!!! We found a special place for the spruce!!!
Do you ever look around and think to yourselves, "WTF?" I thought to myself WTF about every hour today! I hate dealing with the public, ya know?? I am not being ugly...but really???I could bitch about my day today, but instead...I have chosen to sum it up with one word...IDIOTS!
I have a story to share with you! My Daughter, Kayla, and I were running errands one afternoon! I had to run by the bank and cash a check! First of all...I hate banks, okay! Well...we pull up to the window and I send the check through the "rocket"...whatever the hell that tube thing is??? I explain that I needed to cash a check! You know...simple, right??? Well, the teller begins to whisper softly through the speaker to me!!?? I am not sure what she is saying, because I failed to take "lip reading" in High School...?...but it went something like this:
"Ma'am, I can not cash this check for you..." "Why??", I ask... "Because...you have...innnsuficientah fundzzzzzah!", she whispers...
Okay...I am in a panic-defense mode now, because I am wondering WHY am I in the "NSF"...!!! Damn it!!! What "fee" did the bank charge me NOW in order to be in the "NSF"...! I just KNEW her next words were going to be, that I was negative $200 dollars or something??? Only because, it is ALWAYS $200 dollars!!! Ever noticed that??? There is some book or something that they look at that helps them "round off" everything to about $200 dollars! Trust me!!!
"Insufficient funds!!??", I ask boldly...
See, I don't whisper...I prefer to hang my "dirty underwear" on my front porch!!! Ya know??? I have to let it be known that not ONLY am I in the "NSF", but I had nothing to do with that happening!!! As if me opposing was going to somehow make those imaginary $200 dollars disssapeeeearrrrr...! Nope...It doesn't work like that!
"What is my balance?", I ask with an irritated tone... "Uh, you have"...she pauses..." only a penny in your account..." says she...
A penny, I am thinking! A penny??? She gave me a heart attack over a penny??? That's not "NSF"...! I looked at my daughter and we both started to chuckle!!! I must have had that "look" on my face because Kayla just hung her head...closed her eyes...and grinned gesturing a "Here we goooooo"...! She knew I was going to say something! It was too funny, I am sorry!!! I was on a mission...
"A penny? Well, okay...so that means I am still in the positive, right???", I ask... "Yes...", she answers...
Okay...listen, I know that the bank can NOT cash a check if you do not have the funds available to cover the check! This was not the issue! The issue was, her attitude against me! I don't mean ((defensive)), because she wasn't! But she was snooty and really did make a big deal about the fact that I had only a "penny" in the bank for God's sake as if I should be embarrassed! It just irritated me...that's all...! I just wanted to make a point, unfortunately for her...poor gal!!!
"Ma'am", I begin..., "If I needed a dollar and all I had was 99 cents...that penny would be pretty important, wouldn't it??? If I found that penny on heads, I would be considered lucky...wouldn't I??? Also...if it wasn't for that penny, you wouldn't have a job...now would you???"
I look at her...she looks at me! The space between me, the window and the "rocket" grew still! The look on her face as if someone pressed the pause button! Crickets begin to chirp...! The silence was awkward, but I stood my ground! I had a point to prove!!! Even if she thought I had totally lost my gourd, it felt GOOD! Whew!!! Hell yeah!!! I loved the silence...give it to me!!!
"Can I help you with anything else, Ma'am"...she asks, breaking the silence...
I say, "Yes...I would like to make a withdrawal!"
I was very proud to hold that penny!!! It made me feel good that I stood up for myself! To me, that penny was worth a million dollars...
Well...last night was our last night in Atlanta! The apartment emptied...lights turned out as we enjoyed the city lights shining in...! I decided to finish off my bottle of Merlot and chocolate bar! Yummy combo!!!! I lit some candles while burning incense!!! Another nice combo!!!
Thought I would share the moment with you...
The shadows have always been nice here! I love the light coming in...a nice atmospheric touch...
Just me, Cooper...our bags...and our spruce tree! Thought I would light it up on our last night here...
Goodbye Atlanta...see you soon...
Well...we are off! Loaded up the car and heading out!!! Uh...and no...not in this truck!!! But we might be coming BACK in this truck! Hell yeah! Bring back some good 'ol Alabama "culah"...! lol!
I am looking forward to progress!!! I will enjoy the ride as I think about everything, reminding myself that I didn't fail...it just wasn't the right time! So, next time...when we return (with or without the bad-ass truck), we will be READY!!! I hope Atlanta is!!!
Well...tomorrow is the day!!!! I got the moving van today and started loading it up! I will have to say, "OUCH! My back is KILLING me!" Good Lord! You know, my spirit is young...but my body is saying, "Hey, hey heeeey!!! Whoa, cowgirl!" I forget that at age 42 it is highly recommended to stretch right before doing ANYTHING! Like...tying your shoes!??? Even before brushing your teeth it is a good idea to stretch right before doing so!!! I am serious! Ridiculous! Well, I failed to stretch...but I will be alright! Nothing a hot tub and a glass of Merlot won't take care of! I had gotten the van early, so I wanted to get a jump start on tomorrow! Making progress...making progress...
Cooper's last day of school was yesterday! His party went over so well!!! He was showered with, gifts, cards, love, and tears while his friends and Teachers said goodbye! It was a very special day for Cooper! He is very excited about traveling homeschool, and none of this is phasing him! ((MOM)), on the other hand, cries at the drop of a hat!!! It's SICK! I am PMS-ing in a bad way!!! I am very sensitive right now...and when all those beautiful little faces hugged Cooper and told them that they loved him...I lost it! I had a "Steele Magnolia's" moment in the classroom! That is what I call it when I lose it!! Did you watch Steele Magnolias? Well, I did...and it wasn't pretty! I thought they were going to have to carry me out of the movie theater on a stretcher because I cried so much! Anyway, what a wonderful day it was to see my sons face...smiling from ear to ear!!! He felt loved! He felt "purpose" in his classroom on that day...! It was great to see...
Today was a great day! Cooper came home with a bag full of cards that his friends made for him at school saying goodbye!! It made Cooper feel really good and very special! He is so excited about traveling to Alabama now...I think the cards have encouraged him! All the attention he is getting has been a good thing! We will keep them forever! *smile*
Also today, we delivered some homemade cookies to "The Hot-Rod Guys" up the street who fixed my windshield wipers and didn't charge me a penny!! We asked if they liked cookies...they said yes...and so we baked them some as a way to say thanx! They were so excited to get fresh baked cookies!!! I think the cookies made (((them))) feel special!!?? They are a kewl group of guys who are planning on setting up a hot-rod shop in East Atlanta! The garage made a big impression on Cooper, so much that Cooper has decided that he wants to build cars when he grows up! They had a super kewl little "hippie bus" at the shop that I would like to have!! *smile*
The image to the left is mine and Coopers "logo" for our artwork that I am hoping we will sell while in Alabama! I am still working on it, but this gives you an idea of what it will look like when completed! "Mommy & Me" will be an extension from my "Roadside Treasure Junkie" folk art line! We will (of course) be using recycled garbage and creating art with it!!! This design will be used for our tags as well as the header for our flyer! The flyer will tell our story! I am hoping it will get a good response! Should be interesting and fun! I hope to make a little money??? We will see what happens...
A Happening...... I believe I heard a drive-by shooting last-nite??? It was late and I was awakened by screeching tires...and then pop! The sound of a gun! I couldn't see anything because I have plastic over my very drafty windows! I don't like my windows covered, but my power bill was right at $200.00 last month!!! I can't afford that! So...we have plastic... Count Down...Cooper's last day of school is Friday! His class is planning on having a little farewell party for him...chocolate cupcakes, yummy!!! He will appreciate that!!! 3 more days...
My Head...I am ready to get this done and over with!!! I am ready to get to Alabama! The sooner I get to Alabama, the sooner I will return to Atlanta!!! The more I sit here surrounded by boxes, the more anxious I get...! Since I will be saving money by living with Tim, I am going to take care of some health issues before anything else! Things that I haven't been able to afford and have put off for some time! Only because the cost of living is ridiculous!!! The first thing I am going to do when I get to Alabama is getting my eyeglass prescription updated!!! The last time I had my eyes checked was 4-5 years ago!!! My prescription has been looooong time out of date!!! I can't see with them anymore!!! So I have been using these cheap over-the-counter reading glasses, which have worked GREAT up until the last couple of years!!! My eyes hurt...and I can't see very well to paint!!! If I am going to Graduate School to PAINT...I need to be able to see!!! So, first priority!!! Since my rent has gone from $800.00/mo (Atlanta) to $150.00/mo (Tim's)...I will be able to afford some things I haven't in awhile! Even when I lived in my house...the utilities alone ran me around $500.00/mo!! Sure...I could move back into my house, but why??? When I can rent it out and bring in more income!! The house is way too big for Cooper and I...and too much maintenance!!! I'd have to come up with deposits to turn the utilities on...and to be very honest, I don't want to let go of any money!!!! We aren't staying in Alabama permanently, so why bother going through all that for just a couple of months! The house will stay clean and ready to show for future tenants if it remains empty! Besides...I have made a promise to myself that I was going to take care of the health-related issues going on with me, before anything else!!! These things have been put off for way too long and it cant continue!!! I had rather have less and get new glasses!!! I HAVE to go to the Dentist, or I will lose my teeth...bottom line!!! I have a couple of spots on my skin that I have to have looked at!!! I have to take care of myself because I have children who need me to be healthy! Even if I ((could)) afford to pay for Health/Dental Insurance right now, it wouldn't help me...because I have a lot of pre-existing "shit" that Health Insurance will not cover!!! With Dental...I have to wait a year before the benefits kick in and I need work done NOW!!!! I can't wait and it is not in my budget to throw out $200/mo for something that won't help me today!!!I don't know why I got off on this subject...really??? Because it pisses me off every time!!! People are killing themselves over health-care issues...because they simply can't afford it! People had rather die...!! They had rather die...?? Wow...
UPDATE:
Pre-Existing Conditions
Under current law, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts.
These rules went into effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
ALSO: FYI...once you reach a certain age, you will always have dental, skin and eye conditions...and more...so buckle up and enjoy the ride! *wink*
Whoops! I got off on a tangent there!!! Sorry...uh hum! Now... the kewl story.....
The kids were in Elementary School...we lived in Florida at the time. The year 2001, I believe!! I had an awakening...! I am an observer and a thinker!!! I NOTICE!!! I noticed that our street was quiet!!! There were no children...none!!! I thought back remembering when I was a child, and we were OUTSIDE!!!! We were playing in the woods and the creek...until the sun came down! We...played!!!
I was at the grocery store one day, around Christmas time...and while I waited in line, I over-heard a Mother and her Daughter talking about how Christmas was "around the corner"...! Then the little girl started repeating over and over all the things she wanted for Christmas! Now, she was 7??? Maybe 9??? And so she begins her want-list of video games...I think it was PlayStation at the time...cell phone...Game Boy...and so on! I can't remember everything, but I do remember that nothing cost under $50.00 and her list was endless!!! I was thinking, "What?????" Hell, I had just bought cable for the first time that year!!! I had only had a cell phone for maybe...6 months!!! We still watched VHS...and just this last year bought a DVD player! lol! I sold my VHS tapes just before moving to Atlanta...! And this kid wanted a spaceship!!?? Anyway, I stood there and listened...and I thought, "Wow"...! Where are the kids today???
Well, I went home after grocery shopping, and out of curiosity asked Kayla what she wanted for Christmas...and she said, "crayons, paper, kite...and a puppy!" I was proud as I wiped my brow and thought to myself, "whoosh! Thank God!" But even so, I couldn't get the neighborhood silence out of my head!!! That night I thought ALOT, and made a decision...
The next morning fell on a Saturday! I walked into Kayla's room and said, "Kayla! Today, I want you to pick 3 of your favorite toys and 10 outfits..that being 10 pairs of pants, tops, socks and underwear...Oh, and 3 pair of shoes! When you have picked these items out...!" She did a fine job at selecting these items! Within 7 days, we boxed everything we owned and put it into storage! I bought a 10 foot (yes...10) camper and we moved into it! We had a huge, big bulky...old 46" TV that we inherited from a friend of mine who stored it at my place and never picked it up! Tripp is a very ((visual)) person, especially being Autistic...watching movies was about the only thing that calmed him down at times, so we always had a TV! In fact, several! Even when we camped, we brought our little (?)10" camping TV and VCR for Tripp! Now, this TV was huge sitting inside that 10 footer! I told everyone instead of "tie-downs" we used the TV to anchor the camper in-case of strong winds...! lol!
My friends thought that I had lost my mind! A girlfriend of mine stopped by to check out our new used camper! She said, "Girl! I thought I was brave moving from Georgia to Florida with 2 little boys!!! I was WRONG!!! Now THAT (pointing to the camper), is brave!!!" The kids Dad was pissed at first!!! In his mind this "move" was negligent and inadequate for the needs of his children! I told him tough shit!!! After all...he was a "part-time" Dad and had very little to do with the kids life to begin with!!! His "hands-off opinion" meant nothing to me! I shrugged it all off, because I believed that what I was doing was good! I was teaching my kids something here! The fact that the rest of the world didn't "get it", was all the more reason to DO IT! Point given!
We had a BLAST!!! We cooked outside...built a campfire every night! Planted a small garden and many evenings I slept on a hammock I had made from scrap canvas and a few boards I found! Every weekend we had a project planned!!! Cleaning up the property became our main focus, since there was so much liter! I don't mean just paper trash, I mean tires, wood, scrap metal...! Treasures!!! We cleaned up our little patch of earth and made use of what we had found!!! A double mission! Outside of our projects, the kids had chores!!! Gathering firewood was one of them!...
Kayla and I were sitting beside the campfire one evening...Kayla was doing her homework...Tripp was in bed! I look over at her and I ask, "Kayla...how many kids do you think are doing their homework by a campfire tonight?" Kayla said, "Not many Mom...!" she smiled...
After awhile, this lifestyle started to rub off on other folks! People actually started showing interest in camping with us! After the shock wore off for the kids Dad, he visited a few times himself...and even brought friends from Alabama with him to camp with us!!! They set up tents and brought their kids! Yeah....!!! It became the "kewl place" to be...! It was a great feeling to see everyone hanging out at our home and having fun!!! People actually "got it"...
We learned alot from living in that camper! The most important lesson being, we don't really NEED alot to live! The camper was small and the three of us lived in it together! When I saw this camper for the first time, I said to myself..."Kewl! Just enough space for sleeping, meaning more time outdoors!" Being that the camper was so small, we learned to be organized and managed our space well! We learned to be respectful of one another by being patient and considerate! Hell...we didn't have a CHOICE!!! 10 feet is smaalllllll.....!! Cooking outside also encouraged more outdoor time! It was awesome! We had a blast! My daughter is now 19, and that camper is ((still)) one of her favorite places we have ever lived...! *smile*
