STORY: Jewelry & A Police Escort In My...PJ's!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

My how good it feels to dig in the dirt again! For the first time in a long time, I actually had to dig dirt out from under my nails today!! I LOVE the smell of dirt! What a great day!!! WooHoo! But…I am EXHAUSTED! Lmao! Cooper and I spent the entire day outside planting seeds in our “make-shift” planters using the two tires from my car (replaced Monday) as well as 2 other tires donated to us for this purpose! I can't think of a better way to use old tires…outside of a tire swing!!?? Unfortunately, we don’t have a branch low and out enough to make a tire swing...or we would have! Trust me!

Speaking of tires…I definitely found my tire place!!! I was told of a place in Opelika, Alabama that sold used tires cheap…so I checked it out!!! There I found the nicest family from Mexico who had started their own business here in America! They were on top of things, boy!!! Very efficient and worked very hard! I was extremely impressed with them! It was funny because when the man started to take off my tires I began to get out of the car…and he said, “No, you don’t have to!” I thought, “kewl”…so I didn’t! He had me up on 4 jacks while rotating my (good) tires and replacing my (bad) tires! Yes, I thought this was tricky and could be dangerous…but I went with it! Hell, it was fun!!! I don’t get out much…! While I sat there in my car, I watched this family work together! Off to the right of me was an American flag flapping in the wind! They wore smiles on their faces…the kind of smile you don’t see often! Not with most Americans these days!! They had made their American Dream come true, and it was nice to support it! Their Daughter had gotten off the bus…school was out…and the man stopped what he was doing to hug and kiss his little girl…! Nothing was more important to him, at that given moment, then saying hello while embracing his child! Wow! I fell in love with this family…! After he was done, he looked at me and nodded letting me know that he was done and warned me before he “let off the jacks”…! I threw my hands up in the air and screamed, “WooHoo” while enjoying the ride! He laughed! It was like Six Flags! They charged me 56 dollars total! Tires and all! What a deal…and I got a free ride out of the deal! Can't beat that!!! I snagged one of their business cards and wished them the best of luck with their business!!! I will go nowhere else! I have found my tire place, fer shur! It was a kewl experience! For the first time in a long time, I was proud to be an American…

I have been having fun! A very productive kinda’ fun! Oh yeah! I began to unload 2 of the 8 suitcases of nothing but Vintage jewelry! That is right! Pure heaven for the little girl living inside of me who still gets excited about treasure boxes! This stuff reminds me of when I used to visit with my Great Grandmother, Nanny! She had an antique vanity filled with sparkly jewelry among many other treasures! Flower pins, rhinestones, and pearls! Netted hats and silk scarves! Fancy perfume bottles with tassels…Oh…and red lipstick! I would play for hours with these things! I would wrap her scarves around my head and pretend that I had long hair! I would run around the house so that my “scarf hair” would “blow in the wind”…! I will never forget the way her things smelled…like a spring garden with a hint of gardenia! So, needless to say, when Tim pulled out these suitcases…I was in “Hog Heaven”…

Anyway, I have begun sorting through these suitcases! Some of the jewelry is broken, so I have plans of creating fine art pieces with them! The pieces that (aren’t) broken will be cleaned and either sold on Etsy or at local gift stores!



Cooper made out with a super kewl helicopter watch and a scare-crow pin! Cooper is fascinated by scarecrows, but the fact that the scarecrow pin was a “chick”…was even more fascinating!



I started the design for our jewelry tags! Our accessories line will be called “Lion Head & Dragonfly Red”…! We are looking specifically for funky-kewl vintage shit to sell at retail stores! For our Etsy account, we will be selling the more “fine-line” vintage jewelry! By the way, If you aren’t familiar with Etsy…you should check it out online! Lots of funky-kewl stuff on that site! All vintage and handmade products! As far as the fine art pieces that we have plans of creating (with all the broken pieces of jewelry), we will display at an art exhibit (one day)! These will be for sale as well…! Together, Tim and I have come up with some great ideas! We have a ton of work to do!

A STORY:

One year around Christmas, my older kids (Kayla and Tripp) and I had decided to take a road trip to Apalachicola, Florida! A wonderfully quaint little “coast” town on the Gulf of Mexico! We got there late afternoon and settled into our motel! We ordered pizza for dinner and took our baths before bed! When we arrived, I had struck up a conversation with one of the locals there hoping to get some ideas as to what the kids and I could do while we were there!!?? She strongly suggested that I drive the kids around “downtown” and look at all the Christmas lights! I thought that was a great idea, and so after the kids and I bathed, that is exactly what we did! The kids were excited! We are all in our PJ’s because we had no intentions of getting out! We were simply going to drive through downtown and check out the lights and then go back to the motel! My hair was still wet, so I had decided to keep my hair wrapped up in a towel because it was cold! It was dark…no-one would notice! They would just think I had really big hair, right??? Well, off we go…! We are driving…slowly…while taking in the scene, when I noticed that a dude on a motorcycle was riding my ass…so I decided to pull over and let him pass us instead of flipping him off! I mean, it (was) Christmas! As I pulled over and the motorcycle dude passed by, a police car pulled up behind me and turned on his blue-lights! The kids were freaking because they thought we were going to jail! I assured them that we weren’t going to jail and to calm down! I had no idea why this Cop had pulled up behind us!!?? I certainly wasn’t speeding! So…here comes the Cop. I rolled down my window and smiled, totally forgetting that I had a towel on my head! I said, ”Um…did I do something wrong, Officer?” He says, “Ma’am, did you know that one of your headlights is out?” I answered,” No!!?? I didn’t!!??” The entire downtown is completely lit up…so I really didn’t notice! The Cop shines his light on me…yes…in my pajama’s! Then glances at the towel on my head! He had this confused…border-line concerned…look on his face as if wondering what the hell I was doing traveling with a towel on my head?? He didn’t know that we were actually (visiting) and not just passing through! I pick up on this and so I begin to explain that we had rented a motel and that the kids wanted to see the lights before bed! Blue-lights and all! Boy, Mom doesn’t fool around! You wanna’ see lights…you got it! *wink* Also, I assured him that I don’t usually drive around in my PJ’s and a towel wrapped around my head! I chuckled! I mean, I did think about removing it...but then I thought that might look...suspicious??? Or...flirtatious??? So, I opted to keep the towel safely on my head! Ya know!!?? Anyway, the Cop gave me his lecture while he wrote me up a warning! Whew! I wiped my brow! He then begins to say, “You guys wanna’ see lights? You should go to my folks house down the road just over the bridge! They have a whole lotta’ lights!” I am thinking, not really!!! But, how do you say no after getting a warning…so I say, “Uh, suuuuure”…!? He says, “follow me and when I point…you turn!” So, off we go…with a police escort (blue lights still a goin', btw)...with a freakin’ towel on my head...lol...on our way to this Cop’s parents house to see Christmas lights in their yard!!! Okay...really??? Does this happen? We cross over the bridge and the Cop points to the left, with a "bloop-bloop" from his siren…and my kids and I turn left! I am thinking he radio'd or called his parents...?...because, there they were…at the front door waving at us! We drive down the driveway slowly as we looked at the lights! We get to the end and I say, “Kayla! Get out real quick and frolic for a second …then get back in the car! Make it look good!” She does…they wave…the kids wave...I wave, towel and all! I mean, one would have thought we were going to Grandma and Grandpas house or something!!?? It was very friendly…and sweet…but just a little crazy…??? All I really wanted to do, was to go back to the motel…and get that damn towel…off…my…head! HeeHee! We drove off! Oh my goodness! Yep, yep…yep! Motel 6 never looked so good! Merry Christmas from Apalachicola!

From Buttered Saltines to Doughnuts and Asphalt…

Sunday, March 21, 2010

It has been a while since I have been able to write. Lots of things going on in all directions…my thoughts mostly! I will start with today and work my way backward…

Today, while cooking dinner for Cooper…I found myself wanting to snack on something! I saw some crackers laying on the kitchen counter and off to the side, I saw some butter on a saucer. I think the last time I remember eating buttered crackers was when I was younger. I used to eat out with my Grandparents often, and one of the things we would snack on before our entrees arrived…were buttered crackers! Granny was still alive then and my life was pretty much as I had always known it at that time…safe, secure and just plain out happy. We were a family back then! I miss that time of my life! Everything just seemed to always be…okay!!?? Granny was the only person in my life who had ever loved me unconditionally and believed in me! She totally and completely accepted me for ((me))…! She was the “egg-shell” of our family! Once she died, everyone went their separate ways. It just hasn’t been the same since…! I miss her horribly! Funny how something as simple as “saltines and butter” can bring you back to a certain time in your life. Funny how when I thought about it today, I cried just as hard as I did 13 years ago when she passed away…!!?? Some things you never forget…some things you just can't let go…! That is not always a bad thing…

I have been thinking a lot lately about my life and the world I live in!!?? Yep, I sure have…! Yep, yep, yep! Okay, enough of that shit!!! *wink*

My “new” plan goes something like this:

I have realized over the last few months…hell, the last 2 years…that I am not Super Woman! At least not on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! I can't do it all…! I am tired! I am not 22 anymore…! I think I am ready for a “9 to 5 life” for a change…or at least this is how I felt on Friday!!?? I am ready to settle down…or maybe just “calm down”…! I dunno??? But, what I (((do))) know is… I am ready for a change…

Next month, I am enrolling Cooper in Kindergarten! I think it is best! After he starts school, I am going to completely focus on preparing for Graduate School! I am just about finished with my website (hooray) and when that is done, I can present my work to the Art Director at Georgia State in Atlanta! Hopefully, I will be accepted and push for starting school Spring Semester…beginning in January 2011!!?? Between now and then, I will work (doing…something??? Anything???) and continue with everything else as planned before I had to leave Atlanta!!! I have 10 months! That is plenty of time to have my dental work done among other things mentioned in earlier posts!!! It is killing me that I can't get to Atlanta sooner!!! I don’t want to be in Alabama!!! I don’t belong here anymore!!! I want to get back to the life I began in Atlanta as soon as possible!!! But, my instincts are telling me to sit!!! So, I am sitting! This is the best route…I know it is!!! Soooooo….I am just going to have to be positive and remain focused on accomplishing my goal! Graduate School will change my life…I know it will!!!

You have no idea how much pressure is off my back after deciding to stay in Alabama for awhile!!! I feel like a completely different person today then I did yesterday!!! Amazing how simple it was…! Between warm weather around the corner and all the things I have set forth to do, I am…EXCITED!!! Lots of things to do and experience this spring and summer!!! I am actually looking forward to it all!!!


SOME UPDATES:

FOODSTAMPS: Screw them, basically! I have decided to drop it altogether and take another route…two routes actually!!! I have found out about 2 other programs that I might qualify for! The Food Market and Angel Food Ministries! The Food Market is offered to families with low incomes or a sudden change in lifestyle! I don’t know much about the program, but I do know that I have to make an appointment to see if I qualify! So, more on that later when I find out about it! Angel Food Ministries is bulk food offered at ridiculously affordable prices…and to ((anyone)) interested!!! You have to pre-order and then pick it up when it arrives! I missed the last order, but will mark it on my calendar for the next “go ‘round”…! I believe orders are accepted every 3 months??? Something like that??? I also don’t know much about this program either, but I will...!

MUDD-PIEZ (clay pots and figurines): Believe it or not, they are STILL drying!!! So we haven’t even begun to paint them!!! It takes a while for this clay to dry, but will be worth the wait!!! If the clay dries too fast…it will crack! So, we have to be careful! Cooper is ready to start painting and has been very patient! They will be great when finished! I am very anxious and curious to see how they turn out!!! Exciting!




AUBURN HOUSE: Everything is done except replacing wood in a couple of places and then some caulking and painting! What can I say??? Rain, rain…go away…! But you know, I have decided not to fret over it too much! I will get it done and then I will find a decent person(s) to rent it!! There is a reason why I have been delayed!!! Maybe because if I had rushed and got it all done and then rented it out to the first person(s) who showed interest, I might have ended up making the same mistake I did last time…renting to the wrong person(s) because I was impatient and in a rush to leave Alabama! So, I am not going to complain! It will all work out!! I did have the power turned off, though!!! I started to feel bad about using it without an active account (which I only did a couple of times!). Still, it is best to do things honest!!?? Karma is a bitch!!! I don’t want anything but goooood karma heading my way! So, I am putting nothing but goooood karma out…! Know what I mean, Verne???

Wow…how good it feels to have a positive attitude! Whew! I lost sight there for a little while…but I am back on track! I am only human…what did you expect??? A robot??? *wink*

TAEKWONDO: Spring Break is over and so that means Cooper is back in training!!! We have another week of kicking and “Ah-yah-ing” ahead of us!!! Too fun…!

GARDEN: Our baby sunflowers have emerged!!! Their little heads are poppin’ on up! Perty Kewl! We have also created one other bed (outside of our veggie garden) and two tires filled with dirt for some cut flowers!!! This has been slow progress as well due to the fact that we needed more dirt before we could plant…and…of course…the weather has been unpredictable between cold spurts and lots of rain!!! We didn’t want to plant too soon and lose our seedlings to frost! It’s all good!!! In the meantime, Cooper and I have pulled some treasures out of the woods to make planters out of!!! We found another old tire and a grill to plant in!!! Time to dig up some more dirt! I will say one thing about all this rain…digging up dirt has been a hell of a lot easier! That’s “fer shuer“…!!! See, another example of how everything happens for a reason!!?? I know…I’ll shut up! I don’t want to overdo the “positivenessessessess’ or I will begin to sound like I am on heavy drugs! Lol!

FLAT TIRE: Welp, I am still burnin’ asphalt on a doughnut! That’s right baby!!! Can't stop this gypsy from gettin’ 'round! I don’t mind driving with a doughnut, personally!! Outside of making ((many)) enemies because I can't drive faster than 45mph, it has been fun! Besides, I think the little tire is cute! See how positive I am!? I am just constantly turning that frown upside down and making a smile! *BIG smile* Hard drugs have helped...! Oh yeah, I gave into hard drugs! lol! KIDDING!

Hmmm…I am trying to think…what else…? I believe that is it??? Until next time! In the meantime…GET HIGH ON LIFE! Yeah! Sorry…I couldn’t resist! HeeHee! XO

A BIG Thanks to Raindeer!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

(The food Raindeer gave to us!)

Just wanted to give thanks to my family of friends who have helped us so much during this time! I specifically want to thank Raindear for her contribution! Purging her cabinets/pantry will feed us for the month! Thanx Raindear...we love you! *BIG smile*

Ketchup...

I know this is a random...beautiful tree with moss growing all over it! But for some reason it makes me want to shave??? I know...but it does!!!!!

Okay, so it has been a while since I have been able to write! Between bad weather and bad luck...I have been a busy bee...hmmmm...how about a wasp, Yeah...! NO, yellow jacket...that sounds worse!!! Anyway, lets "ketchup" a little...

BAD WEATHER: Thought I would post a pic of...no, not ice-cubes...but hail!!! Yes!!! Isn't that nice??? I mean, really??? Frozen rain when two days prior it was in the lower 70's??? I am tellin' ya...every time I say I am going to work on the house it either snows, hails or rains for a week!!! For real!!!




NOTE: I have no idea what Cooper is doing??? That little face never rests...! lol! I love that crazy little face...




BAD LUCK: Oh...I had a flat tire! I have been rolling on a doughnut for 2 days...nice! Ha!

Cooper is doing GREAT in Taekwondo!!! He loves it!!! Thought I would show you little man in action!!! Before viewing, put some headgear on!! He is so fast with his moves he is on fire, baby!!! See for yourself...oh yeah!!!





BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: Yep, that's right...I am "torchin' the bitch"...! Not literally! But figuratively speaking, I am "kickin' butt and taken names"...! I am on fire I am so motivated! Wait a minute...Damn! I am on fire...Cooper is on fire...Hmmm...with all this rain how could we be??? I am on a roll with the "fire" thang!!! Anyway, so the beastly mutts that my former tenants owned...you know, the ones that literally ATE my house??? Well, I don't know if I mentioned...but they chewed away half of the base of one of the 4x4x10's that basically holds up the upper deck!!?? After pricing the treated 4x4x10's...plus all the work that would be involved in replacing the entire post(s)...I came up with a more "economical" way to fix the problem! I chose concrete!!! That's right!!! Basically, I got 2 plastic pots...cut a slit down one side of the pots and created molds that fit around the base of 4x4x10's!!! After building a mold, I poured concrete around each post which will now secure and stabilize the deck!!! This was done with the help of my friend Tim! They are still drying! This cost me $9.00!!! Oh yeah...I am cheap!!! Proud of it!!! HeeHee!






The following picture is our make-shift tub that Cooper and I bathed in while camping at the house...since there is no water there! HAHAHAHA! Kidding!!!! Actually, this tub was used to mix concrete...as well as a holding tank for water to flush toilets with, because there really isn't any water at the house! Flush toilets...hmmm...maybe I should have stuck with the first story!? Sounds more exciting!! *wink*




Also, Tim and I hung old rusted tin around the bottom half of the backside of the house! You know, where the dogs chewed away the siding??? I think it looks GREAT!!! I found this old tin buried in the woods at Tim's trailer! This cost me ((((NOTHING))))...!!! It has an authentic feel to it!!! I don't think I have to worry about dogs chewing at my house anymore! All we have to do now is replace wood in a couple of places and that is it!!! I will have FOR RENT signs posted next week!!! Thank God!!!

Cooper and I have been camping at the house the last couple of nights...he has had a blast doing homeschool in our tent...in our house...! I have enjoyed the conveniences of being online (thanks to WiFi)as well as a cell phone signal! Ohhh, the simple pleasures of city life...*smile*




Also...there is no heat at the house because the gas isn't on! But there IS power...though I never had the power company turn it on!!?? Shhhhh...! Actually, I am sure there is a "catch" to this and I will be responsible for the bill...or my former tenant who owes me 5 months rent!!?? Hmmmm...should I call? Should I not call?



This little guy works AWESOME!!!

Welp, I think that is all she wrote for now... Much more on another day... Sweet DreamzZZZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzz...

DENIED!!!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Welp…I was denied foodstamps!!! Can you believe it??? Wow! I bring home too much income according to the letter!!?? FYI, I make in one month what the average person makes in 2 weeks! How humiliating??? Thank GOD I have options!! What if I didn’t have options??? What about others in my boat who DON’T have other options??? What do they do??? No wonder people lie, cheat and steal to get foodstamps!!! Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess??? Huh??? Makes sense to me!!?? Well, we will remain ((honest)) and keep on truckin’ forward! We will be ok!!! I wasn’t “wild” about seeking help from the “Government” anyway!!! It was just my understanding that there were programs “out there” to help people in need! Well, not people like us apparently…hmmmm…???

The bad news is, I overextended our budget this month on repairs for the house because I assumed we qualified based on the information that was given to me by the Foodstamp Office (as well as the caseworker herself)…sooooo…we are going to struggle harder this month!!! That is what I get for “counting my chickens before they hatch“ …! I should have known better!? We have 3 more weeks left in this month and we are already broke!!! So…I have decided to make this “adventurous”…!!! especially in the kitchen!!! What we are going to do is take a food inventory of everything that we have! We will then plan our meals based on this inventory! Then…it will be time to cook!!! We will not be going to the grocery store again until after April 1st…! Whewww...tight!

One word...RECESSION!

Everything that happens to us makes us stronger and wiser...*BIG smile*

STORY: Bad Monkey!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010



Okay…so the porch is just about done!!! Yeehaw!!! Saturday, it will be complete…and I can then post a FOR RENT sign in the front yard! Wow!!! Much accomplished!!!

Cooper started Martial Arts yesterday! He loves it!!! He has been karate chopping everything…good lord, help me!!! The very first thing the instructor asked of Cooper was to please be quiet! Lol! Yep…he is a talker!!! *smile*

Okay…so I am leaving you with a story about a very bad monkey!!! One day, I was taking a stroll at the Mall! You know, shopping! Among other things that people do at the Mall! Just a (((normal))) day. right??? No!!! You know those little monkeys that they have from time to time, dressed in a little “bell-boy” uniform??? They walk up to you and you are supposed to give them a quarter??? Right??? Well, I didn’t have a quarter, so I offered the little guy a nickel!!! Um…he didn’t like that!! Apparently, I insulted this monkey and pissed him off…because it wasn’t shortly after I gave him the nickel that he began to screech and then attacked me!!! This damn monkey jumped 3 feet and latched onto my leg! He began to climb my body like a tree!!! I am screaming…the monkey is screeching…and the owner of the monkey was yelling, “NO!”…as he pulled on the leash attempting to “retrieve” his monkey…pet!!! This was not cool, okay!!! Finally, the monkey was removed from my BODY, and the owner was very apologetic! I shrugged it off, assured the owner it was “ok”…and proceeded to walk away! You know, shopping is just NOT the same after you have been attacked by a monkey! In fact, the zoo is not the same after being attacked by a monkey…National Geographic or the Discovery Channel is just not the same after being attacked by a monkey!! Stuffed animal monkeys are just NOT the same…OK!!?? I suddenly have a fear of monkeys!!! So anyway, I continued to walk away from this (((mad animal)) and decided I was ready to leave! So I walk back towards the direction I came from and there it was…the monkey!!! So, I decided to walk on the other side of the Mall across from this…beast!!! I have my eye on him the entiiiiiire time when we suddenly make eye contact from across the Mall!!! I kid you not…he looks at me and I look at him…it was very romantic for about a second, when he started to screech and was jumping outwardly!!! The owner is pulling on the leash attempting to (once again) control his pet!!! Even across the Mall, this monkey wanted a piece of me!!! He wanted to kick my ass for shortchanging him! I swear!!! He had “beef” with this chick!!! Well, I got away…never to retuuuuurn!!! Take ((that)) bad monkey!!! It is eatin’ him up, I know it is! Ahahahahwhahhhhh! YEAH! I won!

So, the moral of this story is…

“Don’t short change the monkey…!!!”

That’s right!!! You take care of the “monkey” and the “monkey” will always love you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry…I couldn’t resist!

Ok…I am off to explore the hidden world of paint, caulk…and martial arts!!!

Shhhhh...

Sunday, March 7, 2010



This little bird flew away a long time ago...! This little bird was never mine...

ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES...and has absolutely nothing to do with the bird above:

“SOMETIMES ITS GOOD TO SIT IN SILENCE,
AND RE-ACQUAINT YOURSELF TO THE VOICE WITHIN“--Indian Proverb

More noise later, silence for now…

PEACE, LOVE, HAPPINESS!

STORY: GET A JOB!!!

Friday, March 5, 2010


UPDATE:

Dentist:

Tuesday was a big day!!! This day was the day that would basically tell me how long we will be in Alabama! It looks like 4-6 months, depending on whether or not I find someone to rent my house!! It will cost me $2500.00 to fix my teeth!!! I will have 4 extractions (3 wisdom teeth and one molar-I can't afford a root canal and I don’t qualify for their dental plan because I don’t make enough money and my credit is bad thanks to this year, so…the molar will be “yanked“ with the others), um…resin work is done on my 2 front teeth as well as a molar! And…lets do not forget the fillings!!! Yep…I knew it was going to be bad!!! I did not have one cavity in my head until I got pregnant with Cooper! My teeth have gone downhill pretty quickly in the last 6 years!!! Even my Dentist was surprised!! I have no doubts that most of these faults are hereditary because my Grandmother and Mother (both) had bad teeth and had to eventually get dentures!!! Lol…yes…possibly my future! And, no…I really don’t care if everyone knows this about me!!! I assure you, my man would be happy if I could take my teeth out on certain occasions…if ya know what I mean??!! Hell yeah!!! I can't think of any other way to make the best out of having dentures…can you??!!! lol...sorry, I couldn't resist! Anyway…my kids, on the other hand, have good teeth…that is all I care about!!! Any extra money that I have ((ever)) had has always gone to my kids' health and their needs! They have always been first, and always will be…

Foodstamps:

Wednesday I went to the foodstamp office!!! It was actually not as bad as I thought it would be!!! Completely different than the only other time I have ever had to go to the foodstamp office, which was 19 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama! As I sat in the waiting room, I looked around the room at the 22 people who were waiting for their names to be called…this count would include me and Cooper!!! Out of the 22 people, 10 people were white…10 people were black…and only 2 people were Hispanic! 70% of the people waiting were small families or couples! Only 2 of us were single moms! It was an eye-opener for me…to say the least!!!! Another reminder of how bad the economy is, and comforting (in a selfish way) to know that I was not alone…! We will not receive benefits until next month, so this month will be the same as last as far as counting our pennies! I am not complaining, I am very grateful that we will be getting help until I can get back on my feet!

Glasses:

My glasses arrived early, so I was able to get them on Tuesday!!! Nice surprise…and they are wonderful!!! I can see so much better!!! I am a “happy camper”…!!! There was a couple at the register before me. A man in his fifties and a woman in her forties! It was evident that the woman had vision problems! She was somewhat disfigured and strained to see the detail! She was holding her credit card while waiting to hear the balance before swiping her card. The balance was right at $400.00 …she gasped!!! The man was very unhappy, to say the least, and at one point started to raise his voice…not at the cashier, but at his wife…while she held the card! He said, “These once a year eye exams are getting ridiculous…I’m not going to pay $400 dollars for a pair of glasses!” She stood there…paused…still holding the card, as if believing that he would change his mind after blowing up…and he did! You could tell she was embarrassed…! It made my heart hurt…! He was an employee for the company…$400 was ((after)) his employee discount…! He saved $20.00!!! My heart hurt again! I don’t know which direction, emotionally, to feel with this story…do you??? I felt like the weather the other day…raining and snowing at the same time…on a cold, cold day…

House:

I painted my porch today! Tomorrow I have plans of painting the siding and foundation! Once that is done, I will stake that “FOR RENT” sign in that beautiful Alabama red clay! Wish me luck! WooHoo! Making progress!!!

RANDOM TID-BIT:

Get a job I tell ya! Get a job!!!

You know…that sounds so easy!!?? Lets back up a little…! I have this desire to share something about me and the lifestyle that I have chosen…! This will take a while, so pop some popcorn!

You know, I have never been “afraid” to work! I actually ((love)) to work!!! In fact, I can't sit still! I have to be doing SOMETHING or I go stir crazy!!! If I am not “working” then you can guarantee that I have several projects going on…! I stay busy to a point where I literally wear myself out!!! Anyone who knows me knows this about me. If you don’t know this about me…then you simply don’t know me!! It is simply that simple!!! HeeHee!

Anyway, this is what seems to be confusing to most people. I made a decision 13 years ago, that I was not going to live a 9 to 5 life!!! I refuse!!! When I was pregnant with my first child, Kayla, I worked from 8am to 11pm every day until the day I started to have contractions!!! I stood on my feet for 13 hours ((every day)) for 5 days a week…and STILL qualified for foodstamps! After giving birth to Kayla, I went right back to work after my 6-week maternity leave was up!!! I continued to work these hours for 2 years until I found out I was pregnant with my oldest son, Tripp!!! I did the same exact thing with Tripp that I did with Kayla…I went right back to both jobs after 6 weeks!!! Until one day I stopped…and I looked around me!!! What the hell was I doing??? I quit my job at UAB Bookstore after 5 years! At night, I folded t-shirts for 2 years at a screen printing company before quitting…! After leaving both jobs, I started my on in-house daycare (where I could be home with both of my children while earning money)…and worked for Big-B Drugs in the evenings!!! I HAVE WORKED…but for what???? For what??? Where was I going with my life, and what was I doing??? I was a freakin’ robot!!! See, I am different than some people…maybe most people…??? I don’t value my life by what I own, or how much money I have…or a “career”…! These things do not “identify” who I am as a person or human being! So…I made a decision!!! I looked around my house at all my shit and I suddenly saw a bunch of junk!!! I call this “junk" (today) "weight”…! I began to get very claustrophobic when I looked around and decided to sell everything I owned! I kept nothing but our bare necessities along with a few treasures that I wanted to pass down to my children one day! I made $2000 dollars at a yard sale!!! That is not a typo…$2000 dollars at a YARD SALE, people!!! That is how much “weight” that I had been carrying around for so many years! Hey, and guess what?? I was still the same person WITHOUT these things!!! These things never meant anything…they were just “things” that, unfortunately, I had worked so hard for! What a waste! After it was all done, all I could say was, “Wow“…I felt so liberated!!! It was a new way of life…a new beginning…! I made a decision…

I don’t want a lot of money! I don’t need it because I don’t require much…! When we moved to Atlanta, the van I used to move with carried my bed, my camping gear…a few personal items, art supplies and Coopers toys…that’s it!!! OH! And one TV! I don’t own cable either! The first time I bought cable was in 2001...and that was solely for the weather channel and only because we lived in Florida and I wanted to be able to watch the radar during hurricane season! I haven’t had cable since!!! So when I say, “We do not watch TV…”, we really DON’T watch TV!!! It's funny because even when I repeatedly say that we don’t watch TV, people still talk about TV shows or commercials…as if I know what the hell they are talking about! I dated a guy once who said he didn’t watch TV either, but would watch the TV show “The Office” on his computer…as if watching it on his computer was somehow different??? Lol! Funny! Nope…not us…! Theater is different! I do enjoy a good movie from time to time! Mostly Independent films or documentaries! Even so, don’t bother asking me if I have watched a certain movie…because I probably haven’t….! Whoa! Stop! Screech! Boy...what a tangent!!?? Hmmmm….

Anyway…

My point is this: The lifestyle that I have chosen to live has NOTHING to do with the situation that I am in today! The reason why I am in the situation I am in today is because I made a deal with someone and trusted that this “someone” would honor their word! I made plans around their “word”, but they did not honor their word…causing me to abandon my plan! This recession has made it harder for me to do anything about it!!!! It is hard to find a job right now! It is even harder for a single parent who can only work from 8am-2pm, Monday-Friday (not on weekends) because the single parent cannot afford after-school daycare! With the few jobs that are out there right now, most of them require more from me then I can give…bottom line!! The key word is “can” give, not “will” give…! So, I have to be thrifty!

This blog is not about my struggles as much as it is making the best of an unfortunate situation…that’s all! Trust me, I dusted the dirt off my knees a long time ago!!! I am sharing my story because maybe I can help someone who is in the same situation I am in, find ways to cope…by making the best out of an unfortunate situation! Remember, my plan was working just fine…until I basically got screwed up the ass with a 10-foot pole…and no lube! But hey, everything happens for a reason…and I have made it my “life mission” right now to ignore ((nothing)) and figure out exactly what that reason is! This is a journey…

Life is a decision…its ((my)) decision…it’s the only thing I rightfully own! Nothing pisses me off more than someone or something making decisions for me!!! Uh huh! ‘Dats right! You heard it, right here baby…oh yeah!

Okay…now, back to my “bitchin’…!” *wink*

STORY: White Trash and Religion

Monday, March 1, 2010
UPDATES:

Well, today went well! I spoke with my attorney and everything is a go!!! We will start taking action in a couple of months!!! He and I both feel very confident that things will go over well…??? But, then again…you never know with these things!!! My attorney said that I did an awesome job with gathering evidence!!! So, again…we will see??? I can't really say much more about it, because it is a legal issue…but PLEASE cross your fingers and toes for us!!! We need this!!! What was done to us was wrong!!! I truly do not like confrontation, but I am simply tired of mean people running over others!!! I have chosen to stand my ground, and I feel (most importantly) that I will teach my kids a lesson in life through the process!!!

Our “Mudd -Piez” are drying slowly but surely…which is a good thing!!! They are doing perfectly!!! It will just take time! Once dried, we will begin to paint them! Very exciting!!!

Tim built the “Lasagna Garden” this afternoon without us!!! I got tied up in Auburn and Cooper and I  both was unable to participate in building the bed!!! BUT…we have every intention if planting seeds!!! We will probably start that sometime this weekend!!! We are going to get cups and start by seed!!! It will take around 7-14 days for the seeds to germinate!!! Once they sprout, we will plant them in the soil!!! We will probably buy some seeds for starters! We still are planning on planting seeds that we harvest from fresh veggies!!! They will be planted a little later, but no worries!!! We are definitely planting sunflowers as well! It is a MUST! Those will be fun…especially if we get the Mammoth Sunflower, which will tower over Cooper!!! He will like that!!!

Pay Day tomorrow!!! Thank GOD!!!! We are at $0.00!!! That spells, “BROKE”…! I think we did well budgeting our “pennies” this month!!! This too is a good lesson for my son to learn!!!

Tomorrow is a BIG day!!! I have my Dentist appointment!!! This appointment will basically determine how long we will be in Alabama!!! I am not leaving until I get the work done on my teeth that I need to have done!!! I can't afford it otherwise and it has to be done!!! Again, cross your fingers and toes!!!

A Couple of Stories…

Before reading any further, I have to warn you that the following material might not be suitable for some readers!!! So, if you are sensitive to certain subjects…those relating to drug addictions, sex, and dysfunctional family situations…then you should stop right now!!! Hmmmm…Temptation, what a bitch!

Before I start, I have to explain a few things for you!!! My Mother abandoned my sister and me when I was just over 3 years of age and my sister almost 2 years of age! I did not have a Mother while growing up as a child! She was not apart of my life!!! This is not a sad story, just a reality! As I grew older I took it upon myself to reunite with my Mother! I believe I was 23 at the time! Ok…so…my Mother had a lot of problems!!! She probably should have never had kids, but she did!!! Her intentions were good, but her addictions controlled her!!! She was an alcoholic and a drug user!!! She made some bad decisions in her life and paid the price for them!!! I never held any of this against her…she was human…she made a few mistakes!!! So have I, so have you…! We spoke on the phone several times before meeting in person! Keep in mind, I did not know this person!!! I didn’t even know what she looked like??? She could have been standing in front of me waiting in line at a grocery store…and I would not have known her!!! Well, she still drank heavily during this time and would call me at 3...4...5 o’clock in the mornings crying!!! She would beg for my forgiveness for abandoning my sister and me! She assured me over and over that she never, not once, stopped thinking…or loving…my sister and I! The guilt that this woman carried in her heart over the years was overwhelming, to say the least! I felt sorry for her!!! One night she called me, she had been drinking…and once again started to cry!! I said to her, “Mother if we try to make up for the 20 years that we have lost…we, will always be 20 years behind!!! Why don’t we start all over…with today!” She agreed…! So that’s exactly what we did!!! I could feel the relief in her voice…as if an 18 wheeler had dropped off her back!!! It was a new beginning…

My Mother was a fugitive…for real!!! She was a little rough around the edges, in her day, and tried very hard to hide her past…and present from me! I, on the other hand, wanted to know MORE about her lifestyle…I couldn’t get enough of the stories that I would hear from her friends, who were also fugitives (basically), chalking up everything as “good times”…! These stories were a little “messed up”, to say the least!!! Not a lifestyle that I would choose to live…but, ARE YOU KIDDING???? I loved this shit! Who needed to rent movies??? I lived vicariously through my Mother, because…I didn’t have it in me!!! Whatever “it” was…??? They referred to “it” as “passion”…! I eventually “got it” as the years went by! After a while, my Mother opened up to me and her true colors began to shine through!! She shared with me some of the most horrible…and I mean horrible, but funniest stories I had ever heard!!! I have to share a couple…

So, with all that said…WARNING…WARNING…turn back while you can, ‘cause here we go…

My Mother’s 5th husband was named…uh, let's see…we will call him Ralph!!! Ralph was a drunk, to say the least. Mother also…would have a few drinks here and there...a lot! They shared a “love-hate” relationship!! They would fight like cats and dogs and drink until they passed out! Well, on this given day…Mother was sober, but Ralph…was not! He had passed out on the bed beside Mother! She had just bought a brand new comforter and was really pissed off that Ralph had passed out on top of it…drooling!!! While she told me this story, she said, “Leigh, I was sitting on the bed smoking a cigarette listening to Ralph snore…and all I could see was drool coming out of his mouth all over my brand new comforter. Every time I took a drag off my cigarette…I hated him more! I looked at him…then the puddle of drool…and then my cigarette…” She pauses, while recollecting the moment, and continues,”…I laid that cigarette on the comforter right beside him, thinking...I could get another comforter…and then I left! I walked upstairs and waited…! I sat upstairs for probably an hour, waiting for the smoke to come roaring up from downstairs, but it didn’t! I am getting impatient because I had things to do! I finally walked downstairs to see what the problem was! When I went downstairs, the cigarette had extinguished and there was a huge hole in my brand new comforter…and...there was Ralph…drooling! I looked at the tag on the comforter and it said ((FLAME RESISTANT))!” She then continues, “ I was so pissed, that I slapped him on the head to wake him up!!! When Ralph woke up Mother said to him, “Get up you drunk you are drooling on the bed…and look what you did, asshole! You passed out with a cigarette and burned a hole in my brand new comforter!”

Oh yeah!!! That was my Mom!!! Okay, so she was trying to kill Ralph…basically!!! But to know my Mother and then to know Ralph…Mother couldn’t get rid of him! He wouldn’t leave! Hell, she couldn’t even kill him! I am sorry, but this story was hysterical to me!!! It is so horrible, that it is great! A classic!!! By the way, the next one is worse…! I will throw another WARNING out there…

We will call my Mothers 3rd husband Johnny, ok??? Johnny was a cocaine dealer and user…so was my Mother! This happened around Christmas. Well, Johnny dropped off Mother at the local grocery store where they lived. Johnny didn’t want to go inside because he was so high on cocaine that he thought it would be better if he went back to the house and waited an hour, then come back to get Mother after she was finished shopping! Well, Mother had finished shopping and she waited well over an hour in the grocery store parking lot for Johnny…and he was nowhere to be found! This was before cell phones…keep in mind!!! Mother was pissed and decided to walk home from the grocery store…buggy, food and all! She said it was about 3 miles and in December, so this was not a pleasant “walk around the park on a beautiful day” kinda’ moment!! When she got home, she walked through the front door and there was Johnny…! Johnny was standing in the kitchen bent over the counter, screwing himself with one of Mothers Christmas bells!! Yep…I warned you!!! Mother said that when Johnny saw her, He panicked and started to run down the hallway…bell and all, if you know what I mean??? Mother said, “Leigh, I was speechless!!” She said, “As if catching him in the act wasn’t bad enough…when Johnny took off running, the bell was still in his ass, and all you could hear was…Jing, Jing, Jing…as he ran all the way down the hall!!!”

Ya know…there is a reason why I never did cocaine!!!

Mothers life was interesting to me. Even though these stories might be voted “offensive“…this was her life!!! As it is with many others, who have lived with the struggles of addiction!!! My Mother was not a perfect person, but I would not be here without her! My kids wouldn’t be here without her…for that, I love her!! As her daughter, I love her for her…she is my Mother! I appreciate her life because...it ((happened))!!! She once told me, “The only way that I can make light of some of the things that I have done, is to just find humor in it!!! Otherwise, I guess I would have just jumped off a bridge…a long time ago???” Deep within her soul, there was a songwriter…a dancer…a poet…and a Mother! She just wandered off and got lost for a while, that’s all! I am just thankful that I was able to be a part of her life when she found her way back home!!! In 2005, my Mother died of cancer! In the last four years of her life, she dedicated her life to Christianity…gave up drinking…drugs…and wrote gospel music! Some of her songs can be heard on the radio today!!!

You cant write the blues without feeling a little pain…can you??!! I guess you can't write about “Faith” until you understand what it means to have it. Well, it meant something to my Mother…and somehow, it changed her life…that's all that matters...

You know, I am not a perfect person, nor will I ever pretend to be! I have never “candy coated” things for my kids! I would never do that to them! I would never lie to them like that…! How horrible! Just throw ‘em to the sharks why don’t ya!? Nope, we live in the real world around here…! One of my favorite all-time quotes was by one of my favorite all-time actresses, Susan Sarandon! She said, “One of the biggest mistakes a parent can make, is forgetting that they are not perfect…”

Well, I am not perfect…

STORY: Ghost Town

Sunday, February 28, 2010





Today is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! It is so warm!!! I am loving it!!! Cooper is outside doing a “Paint-by-Number” kit that I bought from Kayla at her yard sale!!! This is a good way for Cooper to work with his “eye to hand” co-ordination!!! I showed him different ways to hold a brush, as well as how to focus on detail!!! I am curious to see how his masterpiece works out??? This will be fun!!!



Also, while painting, I cut up some fresh cantaloupe as a snack for him to munch on while he paints! We have decided to start keeping our seeds from the foods that we eat and plant them in our garden! We probably should have started on this earlier, but we were in such transition that we weren’t able to! But now we are harvesting!!!! We have some cantaloupe seeds from today, in the process of drying out!!! Tim has some bell peppers that we will harvest seeds from as well!!! It will be interesting as to what kind of garden we come up with!!! Fresh cut flowers from a wildflower garden would be nice as well!! The veggie garden should have already been built and soil ready to plant this month…but we are running a little behind!!! If we plant in the next week we will be fine!!! There is a gardening technique called “Lasagna Gardening” which is a quick and easy way to start a garden! Tim is in Auburn right now looking it up online and hopefully will come back home with details on how to do this type of gardening!!! I have never done this before, but I have read about it in the past! I have just forgotten over the years how to build one!!! I liked the concept because it was so easy to do! The bed basically consists of materials that most people already have in their backyard!!! They call it “Lasagna” because it requires layers of certain organic matter! Even the newspaper is involved! A great way to make use of the newspaper outside of recycling!!! It will be fun!

Yesterday was a good day!!! We went to the grocery store in Dadeville, now referred to as “town“…remember?? The store was called Foodland!!! Foodland was an experience, to say the least!! We were definitely “outsiders” visiting…we stood out mostly because we were having fun!!! We made our shopping experience a good one!!! Cooper got to ride in one of those car buggies!!! He has never ridden in one of those!!! In fact, NONE of my kids have ridden in one!!! I think they are super great and I have always wanted to try one out!!! Hell…I would ride in one if I could find someone to push me!!! Unfortunately, there has just never been one available when I thought about it in the past!!! They didn’t have those when Kayla and Tripp were little…so…Cooper and I snagged one today!!! Cooper was so funny! The simplest things make him happy!!! We got into it too!!! This wasn’t just a buggy…this was a riiiiiide!!! Oh yeah!!! Cooper kept yelling, “Faster, Mom!” We didn’t get too terribly crazy!!! Only a couple of innocent bystanders were wounded!!! They didn’t kick us out, so that was a plus!!! Once we went outside in the parking lot we hauled ass!!! Cooper whipped that buggy right on into a parking place…well…okay, so…Mom did!!! HeeHee!



Foodland was an experience!!! The parking lot was RUTHLESS!!! Good Lord…every man (or I should say every woman in this case) was out for themselves!!! I am talking 90-year-old women haulin’ ass in that parking lot!!! It was crazy!!! I was scared!!!! It became evident why we weren’t kicked out of Foodland after experiencing the parking lot!!!! They were used to crazy driving!!!! It must have been senior citizen day or something because we were surrounded by old ladies trying to get to the sale items before anyone else!!! These women were taking candy from babies, ok!!! Some serious shoppers on that given day!!! They wore me out dodging them!!! I had to come home and take a nap for God's sake!!! Their food items were pretty pricey for a small town…especially the fruit and veggies!!! Between now and the time our future garden blooms, we will definitely keep our eyes open for local farmers! But for now…it works!



On our way home I saw a sign that read “Camp Hill Business District“…!!! Yes, Camp Hill actually has a business district!!! I think the last time I drove through downtown Camp Hill was 12 years ago…or more!!! I had looked at a house that was for sale!!! An old 20th century home selling for pennies…but the area wasn’t what I was looking for at the time!!! It is much more interesting today!!! In fact, it is a ghost town!!! Quite a surprise!!! The town is dead!!! It was sad and creepy (in a way)...!!! The business district was empty except maybe 2 businesses “hanging in there“…!!! Buildings falling down…old beautiful 19-20th-century homes empty…abandoned!!!



I wanted to take a picture of every house that was empty on the main strip, but there were so many that it would have taken me hours!!! So, I basically just drove and snapped…snap…snap…hanging my camera out the window…snap…!!! Wow!!! It was a reminder of how bad our economy is today and how not only single families are affected, but entire towns!!! Towns in history books, like Camp Hill!!! Camp Hill will one day be remembered in books through pictures…only!!! One day…it will be completely gone!!! As sad as that is, it was still really cool to drive down the main strip and look at all the houses!!! Gosh if I had the money, I would buy that town!!! It is beautiful…in its own way! Of course, I have a romantic attachment to old abandoned homes and buildings!!! What might be beautiful to me, might not be to the next person…but then again, that’s the beauty of being an “individual”…! 

Yep, Camp Hill will be my next adventure one day when I am kid-less!!! It will be a great photo-shoot opportunity…aka “photo-op”…in the near future! I want to strike up a conversation(s) with a few locals and see what the story of the town is!!! Also, see if there are any ghost stories to be told!!! I love ghost stories!!!

I have a few of my own!!! I totally and completely believe in ghosts, only because I have seen a few in the past!!! I have only had one bad ghost encounter…one that seemed to follow me where ever I went!!! He was not friendly, and I have no doubts that he wanted to hurt me!!! Come to find out, he also followed my Mother and one of my half sisters!!! We were unaware of this until one evening we spoke independently of him and realized he was the same ghost…or spirit…by description!!! We all had the feeling that his intentions were not good!!!

The first time I saw him, I was very young!!! In fact, I believe that I was 3 years old! Only because I was able to describe a certain house that me, my sister…and my Mother and Dad lived in at the time!!! Also, I remember my sister being in a baby bed…and my parents were still together!!! My Mother and Dad divorced when I was 3...my sister was 1 yr and a half!!! I remember sleeping in my parents' bed…it was dark. My parents were arguing and they woke me up!!! When I awoke, I saw a shadow of a man with a “Dick Tracey” kind of hat on…and a long coat!!! He scared me as he stood in front of this window…very still, as if listening to my parents argue! I panicked and jumped out of the bed to warn my parents!!! I was still somewhat in “sleep state” and my balance was a little off!!! When I ran down the hall towards where my parents were, I lost my balance and fell against the wall!!! My parents came running towards me and picked me up off the ground while asking me if I was ok!!?? I started crying as I told my Dad of the strange shadow of a man outside the bedroom window!!! My Dad went outside while my Mom put me back in bed!!! The strange man was gone by the time my Dad went outside!!! They tried to comfort me by telling me that I had a bad dream, but I knew I hadn’t!!! Years later, as an adult…I was in Mobile, Alabama working on a few restoration pieces for an old cemetery! My Husband, at the time (now Ex), was a sculptor and we worked together as Artists on this particular job!!! Some kids had gone through the cemetery one night with baseball bats and spray paint and took it upon themselves to bash in Jesus’ head and spray paint vulgarity on a mosaic piece of The Last Supper!!! This cemetery was absolutely beautiful!!! Every statue was carved from marble only found in Italy!!! Pure white marble!!! This place took my breath away!!! Anyway, one night while we slept at the hotel…I woke up feeling as though someone was watching me…and there was!!! It was him!!! He stood at the foot of the bed holding a window frame and peering through it! He wore the same hat and coat…solid black!!! I was afraid to move!!! All I knew to do was to fall back asleep!!! And so I did…! I haven’t seen him since!!! My Mother saw him when she was a small child!!! She said he was standing under a tree looking up at her looking down at him through her bedroom window... with the same hat and coat on!!! He just stood there!!! My Sister saw him one night while sleeping at our Grandmothers house!!! She had fallen asleep with a piece of chewing gum in her mouth and apparently was blowing bubbles in her sleep! When a bubble popped, she woke herself up…he was standing in the hallway looking at her! She blew another bubble while in shock…it popped and scared him away! Yes, I know…!!! Remember to have chewing gum available if you ever go on a ghost hunt!!! Apparently, they don’t like it when you pop bubbles!!! Lol! Yep, yep, yep…I have no doubts that someone in our family, generations, and generations ago, dabbled in black magic…or were witches!!! They say that whatever you “arouse” while performing this kind of magic, can follow generations to come!!! Well, it did!!! I have many more stories to tell of other encounters, but I don’t want to talk about it much after speaking of him!!! I know it sounds weird, but…I haven’t seen him in a while and I don’t want to!!! I fear that speaking too much about him in too much detail could summon him!!! So…we will get off the subject for now!!!

Boy…it sure was a pretty day today!!! Uh-Hum…!!!