Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Whatever Happened to my Transylvania Twist?



Let's do The Mash....The Monster Mash! I used to sing this song a LOT before Halloween when I was little. My mom would get so tired of hearing me sing it, but hey, it was a fun little song and I knew all the words. What do you expect from an eight year old? LOL

Tactical Gear


Looking for products to enhance the safety of local law enforcement, fire fighters, etc? Look no further then 5.11 Tactical. They have one of the largest inventories of tactical pants, boots, shirts and other gear in the nation! They also carry popular brands of holsters and flashlights. They ship most orders within 24 hours. And if you email a question, they usually answer within just a couple of hours. How's that for customer service?

this is a sponsored post.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

This is going to come to a shock to several of my friends and family when they read this post, but guess what I did!?!!?! I actually started my Christmas shopping! I have four things crossed off my list already and they are now hidden in my closet. Usually I am out there on Christmas Eve, desparately searching for that one last present, but not this year. I vow that I will be finished by December 1 so that I can sit back and relax and actually enjoy the holiday season. Anybody else want to join me and take it easy this holiday season?

Need Money?

I've been thinking about consolidating all of our loans into one so that I only have to deal with one payment each month. I've been searching online to see what options there are out there to do this. I've seen everything from Home Equity Loans to personal, secured loans.

I think the best way for us to go would be with a homeowner loan, but I think I'm going to check into some more websites to see. I came across one website, called Magic Loans, that looks to provide several different types of loans for people to consolidate their bills. They are located in the UK though so I don't know if I could go through them, but I do like how they answer a lot of questions on their site and they offer repayment times of anywhere from 3 to 30 years. They even have a loan calculator on their website so you can see what type of payments you would be looking at each month and also to see what exactly you could afford to borrow. If you live in the UK, why not check them out for your Home Equity Loans?

this is a sponsored post.

Monday, October 29, 2007

nip/tuck

I just realized that the new season of Nip/Tuck starts tomorrow night on FX! I'm so ready for it! I've waited patiently all summer to see how McNamara-Troy does business in Beverly Hills compared to Miami. I'm sure they'll have just as many adventures and I'm sure there will be several stars making appearances on the show.

A New Me???

How many times have you looked in the mirror and thought "Hmm, I wish those wrinkles weren't so prominent around my eyes" or "Boy, having my kids sure did make my stomach pouchy. I wish I could get rid of it". I've been thinking those thoughts here lately too. I don't know if I'd ever be brave enough to have Plastic Surgery, but if I ever would seriously think about it I would do a ton of research first. The main thing I've heard to look for is a surgeon who is certified in plastic surgery and to check and see how many times he's actually done the procedure you're wanting done yourself. I would also get more then one opinion. Just because one doctor says you need something done doesn't mean that you really do. And finally, if I'd decide to actually be brave and have plastic surgery, I'd want to be put in touch with some of the surgeons other patients to see how they liked the doctor and to make sure they were satisfied with their work. I guess the first thing I need to do though is actually work up the nerve to do it.

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It's Just Another Manic Monday

And I'm going to go insane if the phone doesn't stop ringing. Since I started work at 8am, I think I've easily answered over 100 calls. Most of them are wanting construction dumpsters either removed or delivered. Any other time this would be fine, but today, for some reason, everybody and their mothers are calling in and wanting it done right now. Sorry, but we can only pick up one dumpster at a time. I've also had to make two trips into town (1st to take my son to school, 2nd to take his gym clothes to school) and then another trip to pick one of our trucks up from the shop. That was the best hour of my day:) It was nice and quiet with just the sun streaming through the car window. I could have easily just kept on driving instead of returning to the office. But, no, I was a good girl and came back to my desk with the annoying, nonstop ringing phone.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Dripping Faucet is Driving Me Insane

I am so tired of our bathroom faucet. Every time I turn around, the silly thing is dripping. We have fixed the washer in the silly thing three different times now in the past three months alone, but it just keeps on dripping. When we built our house, we told the contractor that we wanted name brand faucets, something like a Moen faucet would be great, but we got no name, cheap junk faucets instead. So, now we are constantly fixing drips in both bathrooms. I think we will eventually get new faucets for both bathrooms and I am pushing a Moen faucet to replace the junk that we have now.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

My head is going to EXPLODE

Reasons for an exploding head:

1. Went to the bank, lines were out the door. By the time I got to the cashier, she closed her window so she could take a break!

2. Went to the new Super Walmart to get groceries. Couldn't find anything. Spent $50 more then if I'd just driven to the other grocery store in the next town!

3. Came home to a cat who coughed up a hairball and strung it all along the living room carpet. Cat has avoided me since...no comment on why!

4. Have to make a 2 hour trip tonight to drop off our truck at the shop for repairs...again! Why can't anyone within a 20 mile radius work on our trucks?

5. It's been raining all day and we now have a leak in our garage!

Yep, just one more thing and I'm going to look like a balloon that is about ready to burst. Not a good look for me, I might add.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

I'm Just Chillin'

Literally! When I wondered earlier when the autumn weather was going to arrive (read here)I didn't think when it did finally get here that it would be enough to make me drag out the extra blankets.

Ladies and Gentlemen, October has finally arrived. After several weeks of above average temperatures, we're now experiencing cold, wind and rain. Granted, temps are average for this time of year, according to the all knowing weather forecasters, but when you go from 80 degrees one day to 50 degrees the next, I'm telling you, IT...IS....COLD!!!

I even had to turn our furnace on last night! NOOOOO!!!! I was so not ready for that to come on. I must admit though that it did feel good to wake up this morning to a toasty warm bedroom instead of the icebox I awoke to Wednesday morning.

I guess this will teach me to "complain" about the weather.

Bedlam in Bed Land


When we bought our last mattress, we upgraded from a queen size bed to a king size bed. We only bought the frame of the bed. We kept thinking that we'd buy a head/foot board eventually, but it's been several years now and our bed still looks like it belongs in a dorm room. I'm working on my hubby to get him in the mood to go shopping for a new bed frame and I'm hoping he'll give in soon. For now though I'm having to satisfy my shopping urge by checking out different styles online.

There are so many different types out there. From Oak Beds, cherry, mahogany, pine. There are so many different types of wood that you can choose from. I personally like the Oak Beds. Most of the wood in our house is oak and a new oak bed frame would fit in nicely. I'm going to keep working on that dear hubby of mine. Maybe we'll actually buy a bed frame BEFORE we have to buy another new mattress.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Future Photographer?

My daughter has been going around the house lately, snapping pictures left and right. Here are a few that she's uploaded to the computer that I wanted to share with you. I think she is really showing some talent and could possibly go farther with this new hobby of hers if she wanted. What do you think?


SUNSET


BIRD FEEDER IN FALL FOLIAGE

STORM CLOUDS BREAKING

FALL FOLIAGE CATCHES SUNLIGHT

Future photographer? I think so.

Hotel Blackpool


A couple of posts back, I talked about a theme park in Blackpool. Well, if you get the chance to go to the UK to visit that theme park, you're probably going to need a place to stay. How about staying at the new Big Blue Hotel. It is the only new hotel to be built in Blackpool within the last 25 years.

Hotel Blackpool was recently voted Hotel of the Year at the Blackpool Tourism Awards. This hotel consists of oversize rooms with a contemporary feel. The Big Blue Hotel has been featured on national TV and is considered cool and chic.

Some of the amenities of the Big Blue Hotel include an onsight gym, plasma tv's, a restaurant and access to Pleasure Beach, Britain's top tourist attraction.

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Finally Feeling Better

I am so glad to have finally woke up to a morning free of back pain! WooHoo! I was beginning to wonder there if I'd ever be able to walk upright again. I am no longer taking my pain killers or muscle relaxants, but do still have several refills on both in case I get back in that same predicament again. Let's keep the fingers crossed that it isn't any time soon.

Worked out at Curves this morning and was able to do all the machines, no pain at all. Another yippee! Maybe I can get back into the normal groove of things again now.

Blackpool Theme Park


My kids love a good Theme Park so we are always on the lookout for new ones. We are constantly researching places on the web to see who has the best roller coasters and the scariest rides. Last night I ran across a theme park in the UK. I don't know if we'll ever make it there to check it out in person, but online it looks pretty cool.

Blackpool is one of the UK's oldest and most popular theme parks. Some of the rides they are famous for are the Pepsi Max Big One, Big Dipper and Infusion. These rides are world famous and attract over six million visitors each year.

I hope to check it out in person in the future, but for now I'll just have to enjoy looking at their website.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Now Say You're Sorry.....

That's what you tell your kids when they are little and have a fight with a friend, sibling, classmate. You tell them to apologize and then shake hands or give a hug to whomever it is they've hurt. Seems so easy when they are 2, 3, 4 years old, but what do you do when they aren't kids anymore?

Two of our employees do NOT get along. They bicker and argue every day, they both suck up to the boss (DH) to make themselves look better then the other, they are both constantly putting the other one down or trying to get them into trouble. You would think they are 5 year old boys rather then 30 year old men! But, what do you do? They've both been told to try to get along. If they can't get along then to just ignore the other, but that isn't working. They've been reprimanded several times for arguing.

Do we fire one? Do we fire both? They are already doing separate jobs. Neither one really has to even see the other during work hours except for maybe passing each other in the parking lot. Which is what they did this evening and apparantly words were exchanged and yelling erupted. I didn't hear what was said, but you could tell that both guys were peeved. No punches were thrown, thankfully, because that would have been grounds for firing both their behinds. Any suggestions as to how to get these two to just get along? I know neither wants to find themselves out doing the whole job hunt thing any time soon, but that is what it is really leaning towards at the moment. Help!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

What Season is this anyway?

You would think this was May instead of October the way the weather has been lately. Last night, there were several storms that went through my area. We had rain and wind and even a tornado warning! Not what you usually see around here in October. Today it is 80 degrees! Where the heck is Autumn?!?! Sure, the leaves are changing color, but where is the cool weather? The crispness in the morning air? I'm ready for it to be cool enough that if I want to wear a sweat shirt, I can. I want to be able to throw open my windows and enjoy the fresh air rather then having the AC on and everything closed. Today they are saying we're going to get more severe storms this afternoon and then tomorrow it is FINALLY supposed to be cool...around 70 degrees....and I'll get my lovely autumn weather. Don't get me wrong, I love summer and the sunny, warm weather that comes with it. I'm just ready to put that time of year behind me and enjoy my favorite season for awhile.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Let's Visit Spain

I have always thought it would be fun to visit Spain. I don't know what it is about that country that is so fasinating to me, but it just blows me away every time I see something on tv about it. I don't know which city I'd rather go to visit. There is always Madrid! There are just so many things to do and see in Madrid. I'd love to see the Plaza Mayor. It used to be used as a marketplace during the week and then there would be bullfights on the weekends. Now, you'll find an assortment of shops in that area.


There is also Barcelona! Barcelona is where the Magic Fountain is located. That would be my first stop if I were to visit there. There is just something about water and fountains that intrigue me to no end.

I think if I ever get the chance to go to Spain then I will look into www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk to find my accomodations. They offer last minute and year round accomodations at prices much cheaper then other websites I have found.

this is a sponsored post.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

First day back at Curves

Today was my first day back to Curves since hurting my back. I was hoping that since I woke up this morning to no pain that working out would be easy and normal. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Even though I took it slow and easy, I was still only able to complete one circuit of the machines and had to skip two of them because it hurt my back. I ended up stopping and just watching my mom finish up. Maybe by next week, I'll be back to normal.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Me on Muscle Relaxants and Vicodin

Hubby and I are in the car, carrying on a decent conversation...or so I thought.

Me: Did I tell you Paul called me yesterday?

DH: No, what did he want?

Me: He said that when he took the groceries to Louise that she was giving him the third degree as to why I wasn't there.

DH: Oh yeah?

Me: Yep, Paul said that he was putting her groceries in the freezer, the one out in her garage, and she came up behind him and just about scared him to death.

DH: Isn't Louise blind? How did she even know he was there?

Me: She's only blind enough that she can't see!

Yes, I said that. I MEANT she is considered legally blind and can't DRIVE, but the pills made it come out completely wrong. Oops!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Spondylolisthesis

This is what the doctor thinks is wrong with my back. I'm still researching it online so don't have much information, but from what I've read it is basically that the vertebrae has shifted and is no longer aligned with the ones above and below it. Here's a link to one of the webpages that I've been reading.... www.spineuniverse.com . It's pretty informative.

I don't know if I agree that this is what I have, but I won't know for sure for about a week. When I went to the doctor yesterday, they took several xrays, none of which were comfortable for me to do, and they are sending them off to a neurologist who specializes in spondylolisthesis to see for sure. I'll let you know when I get the results. On a good note, the doctor DID prescribe me some vicodin and relafen so I'm good to go. I took a dose of each last night before bed and finally, FINALLY, slept comfortably.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

It got the best of me

I broke down and called the doctor today. My sciatica got the best of me last night. I was feeling a little better yesterday afternoon, but when I went to bed it flaired up again. I was in enough pain that I laid there and just cried until almost 2am. Every time I'd move, there would be searing pain rip through my lower back and down my right leg. I couldn't find a comfortable position no matter how hard I tried. And then, when I did finally fall asleep, I dreamed that I was falling. I must have been almost to the point of hitting the ground because hubby said I jerked really hard and let out a horrible scream. He thought I was being murdered in my sleep! All I knew was that I was in terrible pain and wide awake....again.

After that episode, I gave up trying to get anymore sleep and just got up and went out to the living room. I took several ibuprofen in the hopes that they would at least take the edge off and let me be a bit comfortable, but no such luck. I ended up cancelling going to the gym this morning and will probably cancel tomorrow too unless the doc gives me some super good muscle relaxers or pain killers.

Anyway, I waited around this morning until the doctor's office opened and then called, hoping that they might just call in a RX, but no, they wanted me to come in for an exam. Usually I would protest because I hate going to a doctor just to pay to have them tell me what I already know is wrong, but I'm in enough pain this time to say "Oh well, here's the money, now give me some pills".

I'll let you know later what happens and all. Who knows, if I get the right kind of medicine that might just make for some really fun and goofy posts for you all to read. Did I tell you that pain killers and muscle relaxants make me loopy? lol

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

If it's not one thing, it's another

Last Friday, we had to take one of our business trucks to the shop. It started out with a leak in the rear seal and ended $4500 later with a new rear end. It was out of commission from Friday until this morning. Now, our other truck has decided to be a pain and break down too so it is also in the shop. Unfortunately, we can't go without this truck and are having to rent one to the tune of $1500 per week! It seems like every time something breaks around here, it's never something small. It's always something big and expensive. Argh!

To top it all off, my back is still bugging me (read about that here ) I was really hoping that by now, my back would be back up to par, but I guess it is going to be temperamental just to give me something else to deal with. Lucky me.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Paintball

My son has recently gotten into paintball. He goes with several of his friends each weekend. He is just starting out though (they call him a Newb) and since most of his friends are vets at the game, my son is usually told to "camp" (sit in one hidden spot the entire game)so he doesn't have as much of a chance of getting hit.

Anyway, last night he gave me a list of things he would like to have for Christmas. On his list were paintball guns. But not just ANY paintball guns. He wanted spyder paintball guns. He said all of his friends have spyder's and that's what he wanted to. I guess I'll be shopping online at Ultimate Paintball to get the best prices around. They also offer free shipping!


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Friday, October 5, 2007

I think I'm falling apart


I was hoping that my back would be feeling better today, but no such luck. When I got up this morning, I was just barely able to stand up straight. I went into town to go to the bank and when I walked back out to my car, I must have stepped wrong because I had a pain shoot down my leg and up to my shoulder blades (at the same time). It hurt bad enough that I actually had to stop and catch my breath.

I've been dealing with this back pain for so long now that I feel it is a part of my life. I'd love to have it "fixed" but I have limited options on what to do about it. I have scoliosis and have two metal rods in my back so going to see a chiropractor is out of the question. I've asked the local ones if they'd do anything for me and both said they wouldn't touch my back with a ten foot pole (too much liability). Our regular doctor also hasn't given me many options. He says the majority of my back pain comes from the scoliosis and figures that some of it is also nerve related (sciatic). He also thinks that when I had my back surgery, the doctors somehow caught a nerve when they were sewing me back up and that's why there is a certain area of my lower back that I can't even stand to have someone touch. That is also where the majority of my back pain hits...lower back.

For the most part, I've just dealt with the pain. Usually I'll be down about once a month or so for a couple of days, but here lately it seems to be bothering me more and more often. I'm to the point of calling the doctor and getting some major muscle relaxants or something just to take the edge off so that I can function. I hate to go that route because it's not fixing the problem, it's just helping me cope. Any opinions on what I should do?

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Ch-ch-ch-changes

As I'm sure you can tell, I changed the looks of my blog....again. I was getting tired of the other one. I don't know why. It was perfectly acceptable. I guess I just felt like something different for awhile. I do that with a lot of things. I am constantly moving my furniture around. I'll rearrange kitchen drawers and change things around in our closets. My hubby gets so frustrated with me at times because I'll rearrange his dresser drawers and then, of course, he can't find anything. That's just me though. I don't think it hurts anything. It gives things a new perspective.

Garage Lights

Every time I go out into our garage, I end up tripping over something because there isn't enough light to see. I've been after my hubby to put up more garage lighting ever since we moved into this house, but still no luck. I'm just waiting for the day that HE goes out there, trips and scratches up his car because of it. I bet there will be new garage lighting put up then.

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@@?!?%!?

Back pain sucks! Somehow, yet again, I've messed mine up. I think it was something that I did at the gym on Tuesday because it seemed to start up not long afterwards. Yesterday morning, when I got out of bed, it twinged a few times, but I made it through the day. Today it's a whole different story. I did make it out of bed and I even made it to the gym, but I only did a halfhearted workout because every step I took sent shooting pain through my lower back and down my leg. Once I got back home, I immediately got out my trusty ol' heating pad and have been cooking ever since. I am still mobile, but every time I get up and walk around it hurts. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be better. I hope it is anyway because the kids are off of school for the day and I have things that I really need/want to get done. Granted, if I'm not back up to par, there are always the kids that I can recruit to do those things for me. Hmm, maybe it would be better if I'm still hurting. LOL

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Britney Spears loses custody



It's hard to believe that things have gone downhill so fast for Britney Spears. Now, she has been ordered to turn her kids over to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, and he will have full custody from now on. For the full story, read here.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Rock of Love Winner


If you watch the show, Rock of Love, then you already know that Jes won on last night's finale. She won the heart of Poison front man, Bret Michaels.

I must admit that I'm happy she won. I liked Heather, but just didn't like the way she was acting there towards the end. Was Jes the one you hoped to win or did you have another favorite who left the show earlier then you'd hoped? Let me know by leaving a comment.