Ok, we have a nice huge yard.  Huge actually is an understatement - essentially we have a farm surrounding us.  But... I'm speaking about my front yard area here.  Daily, the front yard seems to be littered with "stuff".  Not my "stuff" but other peoples "stuff" that my 9 mo old German Shepherd, Ruby, gathers from throughout the neighborhood.  So far I have found, a pair of someones leather cowboy boots, a plastic mug from DollyWood, a paint roller, a small lap type blanket and interestingly enough, a few pumpkins, which must had been taken off the neighbors porch.  (How did she get her jaw around these pumpkins? I'll never know - but she did it).  I get very annoyed, every other day or so, when I have to go picking up her collections of goodies because my yard looks so messy.  Yesterday was my breaking point.  My dog needs counseling!  I looked out the window at just the perfect time, here comes Ruby,  trotting across the road with someones UPS package in her mouth!  I died and then LMAO - I just couldn't believe it.  Needless to say I need a support group of some kind, please help!

And another thing.... 

I'm not really a very religious person.  Spritual, yes, but I don't go to church or anything like that.  My daughter lives the same way.  I was raised Catholic and her Dad was raised Southern Baptist.  Samantha is not quite sure what she wants to be, if anything.  We happen to live smack dab in the middle of the bible belt, which hasn't much concerned me, to each his own, but apparently my daughter had a recent interesting conversation with a few of the girls at school.  She came home, quite amused at the situation and told me all about it.

It kind of went like this:

Friend:  What religion are you?

Daughter:  I'm not any religion.

Friend:  You mean your not from the U.S.?

Daughter:  Huh?

Friend:  If your no religion then that means your an aethist

Daughter:  I do believe in God

Friend:  Then your a Christian

Daughter:  Do you believe in Ghosts?

Friend:  No

Daughter:  Why?  I do?

Friend:  Then your not a Christian

Ok - Is she or isn't she?  That's my question.  I guess that's for her to determine.  Hey - maybe she's a ghost.

I happen to think it is the best thing since sliced bread.  The first (or most popular) DVR (I think) was Tivo, but now all the satelite companies have them! 

I am a TV person! Being a person that loves TV, I am in love with my DVR.  It's all I ever needed, especially with life being so sapped for time. 

What is a A DVR you ask?  Well it is a hard drive built inside your satelite box.  The DVR records what you are watching Live and/or records anything you tell it to record.  For Instance:  You are watching Live TV, you can rewind or pause that live television show; you miss a part of a show or can't figure out what someone just said - skip back to it; you need to run to the bathroom or refridgerator - just pause it.  Or maybe you love a specific television series...  well you can set it to tape "all episodes" or "all new episodes (no repeats)" and you don't even have to look through the guide to find the episodes, it does it for you and automatically saves the show to your harddrive for future viewing.  And..... while you are watching something you have recorded, you can tape something else that is playing at the same time.  Not to mention that I very rarely have to watch commercials anymore.  (I wonder how the sponsors feel about that). 

So anyway.... my 13 list is up and it is

Thirteen Things currently on my DVR:

1. 

Blue Planet:  Seas of Life

Coasts education:  Breeding forces animals to come onto land; eagles; marine iguana's; Olive Ridley turtles; killer whales hunt sea lion pups; rock hopper penguins.

2.

Medium

Four Dreams:  Allison's former lover takes up residence in the Dubois house following his death. 

3.

The People's Court

4.

The New Detectives

Silent Killers:  Police Search for the driver of an abandoned car; a woman searches for her 10 year old son.

5.

Montel Williams

Woman share stories of survival after uncovering shocking truths about their husbands.

6.

Law & Order - Special Victims Unit

Underbelly:  Stabler & Beck try to get a yong prostitute to testify against her pimp.

7.

Nova 

The Family that walks on all Fours:  Scientific implications of an impairment which causes an impoverished family in Turkey to walk on all fours. 

8.

American Justice

A Warrant to Kill:  A deputy sheriff's dispute with a Texas woman ends in her death.

9.

The Bachelor - Rome

Lorenzo takes the fianl three women to exotic dates in Sweden, Budapest & Sicily; one woman is sent home.

10.

Heroes

Seven Minutes to Midnight:  Peter asks Nathan to help him find a key to the future.

 11.

E True Hollywood Stories - Hip Hop Wives:  Woman married to hip hop artists.

12.

Long Way Round - The Entire Series

The adventures of actors Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman on their 3 month motorcycle trip through 13 countries.

13.  And....  all of the many movies saved by my darling teen-girl Samantha:

• She's the Man (pay per view)
• National Treasure
• Eight Below (pay per view)
• Garfield:  A Tail of Two (pay per view)
• Stick it (pay per view)
• A Cinderella Story
• Love Potion No. 9
• Freddy's Dead - The Final Nightmare
• Lean on Me
• Racing Stripes
• Sixteen Candles
• The Shining
• 200 Cigarettes
• Fantastic Four
• Rumor has it (pay per view)
• Bring it on - pt 2 - All or Nothing (pay per view)

Which ones do you watch?  What are your favorite shows?

MY 13 THURSDAY VISITS - 13 OF THEM

• Thirteen Home Remedies as Scavenged by SHOSHANA

• Thirteen Things quotes from Kahlil Gibran

• Thirteen things about me

• 13 Thursday: On the Couch

• 13 Random Thoughts Coming from My Brain Tonight

• Thirteen things about me.

• Thirteen Web sites about America's Foundings

• Why a week off for Thanksgiving is a good thing

•  Thirteen of my favorite pictures of Baby Boy's first year!

• 13 Random Ramblings

• Thirteen Flowers I like most...

• Things Carmen Loves About Thanksgiving

• Thirteen Reasons Why I Love My Boston
  

Another day and another set of pictures.  I had to shoot around this room, because it's a little small and I couldn't find a good shot of all of it - or even half of it.

Here is a view from the kitchen

And following around the room clockwise:

Ignore the Ghostly Orbs in this picture - and yes I do think we have a presence or two around us.

As promised....  So begins the photo's of the interior of the house.  The house is so big that I have to do it in sections.  The first, for today, is the kitchen and dining areas.

1st View & 2nd View of Kitchen

1st, 2nd & 3rd Views of Attached Dining Area

That's how long it's been since I posted last.  I know, I know, Get with it.  Sorry guys - busy life is getting the best of my time.  I actually wrote a post yesterday and left it up on my computer because I had planned to add more to it before I posted.  But... one of the gremlins I live amongst closed the window when they got on the computer.  Silly me, for not saving as draft!  Then earlier today I posted again - a nice big ole long post - but when I hit the post button - I got the big ole TRIPOD Error and my post was again gone to never never computer land.  The big hole that has tons of posts and emails forever lost.  It'll be very interesting when one day that hole is discovered! 

Needless to say I don't want to post what I wrote earlier - I don't have the time right now - but I'm still here.  My blog is quickly becoming a "Weekend Update" But - that's ok - that's life.  I'm still here...  Awaiting....  for what, I couldn't tell ya!

I slept, like many of you probably did?  And had a pretty strange dream too.

One of my aunts birthdays is today and I just realized this morning that she gets a special extra hour on her birthday!  How cool is that?  Better than having your birthday on Leap Year, if you ask me.  Happy Birthday to You!

That would be frying coke.   (How strange is this?) 

Abel Gonzales, 36, a computer analyst from Dallas, tried about 15 different varieties before coming up with his perfect recipe -- a batter mix made with Coca-Cola syrup, a drissle of strawberry syrup and some strawberries. 

Gonzales ran two stands at the State Fair of Texas and sold up to 35,000 fried Cokes over 24 days for $4.50 each -- and won a prize for coming up with "most creative" new fair food.

The moon was a small sliver last night
and we move our clocks back this weekend.
It is getting darker and darker by the minute.
By next week it will be dark when I leave work 
and dark when I come home.  Some people get 
depressed due to lack of sunlight – but for me, 
I tend to thrive in the Fall.  I am a night owl
and don’t know if that has anything to do with it. 
 
Time moves so quickly.  I find it hard to believe 
how fast time really goes – they say in a blink 
of an eye – and this is so true!  
 
Where do we end up after 70, 80 or 90 years pass?  
 
Life is such a mystery.  
 
My daughter will be 13 next month.  I feel like 
I was 13 just yesterday!  I remember looking up 
to adults wondering what my life would be like 
when I was an adult.  It seemed so far away and 
I felt like I would be so different…….  Honestly,
I don’t feel any different.  As the time flies
I still am the same person – my thinking may have 
matured, but I don’t feel like I thought I would 
as an adult.  I don’t feel much different at all,
no different from when I would look ahead to my 
“adult years”.  
 
Time, in and of itself, is just a matter of perspective.  
 
I wonder if time really exists.  
 
If time flies when your having fun, what is it 
that happens when your not having fun?  
 
What makes the time fly anyway?  Why can’t people fly?  
 
I wish I could fly!
 

Honey I'm home!

I finally have my internet at home, a dish for TV & a phone too (I had my cell phone but didn't get much signal unless I went out on the porch).  This week was "installation" week.  Kevin, who works until 2 a.m., had to stay awake between 8am - noon three days waiting for the installers to come & hook everything up.  I think he is quite tired!  Regardless, we have internet again and I'm so thrilled!  DSL even. 

All is great!  All is really good at the new house.  All is really good at the new job!

We got our furniture the weekend before last and I'm still busy setting up house.  It was like getting a bunch of Christmas gifts, after having everything in storage for close to two years.  I had forgotten a lot of the stuff I had - especially the things that aren't really material - but memories and things I cherish from the past!  I even got a new washer because the one that we had wouldn't work when Kevin hooked it back up.  It worked when we unhooked it two years ago - so who knows what happened between then and now.  But.... actually it was a blessing because I have a new washer!

So - did you miss me?  I hope, if I had any readers, that I didn't lose them.  Love to all!  More later! 

1.     Ye Olde Mille Grille 

Hostess - My 1st job ever.  My mother & grandmother both worked as waitresses at this restaurant for many years.  I think my Nana worked there for over 20 years.  I spent many hours of my childhood at the restaurant between the two of them.  When I finally came "of age" to work, I jumped right in as their Hostess.  I also worked as a dishwasher if they were shorthanded.  I hated dishwashing, but it was cash money!   (The restaurant has long ago switched owners and it is apparently now called Liberty Grille)

2.     Villa Rosa Restaurant 

Busgirl - I moved in with my Dad during 9th grade and spent 2 years living with him in Milton Massachusetts.  After a year of submitting applications, I finally landed this job.  I was so happy to be working, not that it was a very enjoyable job. 

3.  Caldor's

Cashier - Sunday Only employee - When Massachusetts law changed so that stores were allowed to open on Sunday, this position opened up and I got it.  Caldor had to pay us time and a half for Sunday work, which I think is a long gone law.  Overall, I enjoyed cashiering.  Pricing was manually entered with a Dept code - there were no such thing as those Bar scan machines. 

4.  Fotomat Booth

Cashier - This was one of my all time favorite jobs!  I was all alone in a litle booth in the middle of a parking lot, taking film for developing.  I loved the freedom of working on my own!  I was also a teen, so needless to say most of the time my friends would be parked alongside my booth and if there wasn't someone parked than I was chit chatting on the phone.  Thinking back, I wonder how any of my customers got through to check if their pictures were ready.  Papa Gino's was in the strip mall and I ate dinner there almost every night. 

5.  Paragon Park

Game Attendant - Oh how I loved this job!  It was nothing but one long lasting party!  I ran the 50 cent skill games.  "Step right up and give it a try" - "50 cents to play and 50 cents to win"!  Many a gut party, after work!

6.  Al's Speghetti House  (Sorry - couldn't find a pic for this one)

Waitress - Friday & Saturday nights - 10PM - 2AM - Now that I'm thinking back, I had alot of fun in my younger years!  This one was Friday and Saturday nights, for the drunken crowd, eating breakfast, after a night of partying.  Interesting to say the least....  I made some pretty good money, especially if I was in a flirtatious mood.  I also got to know all of the Hull cops, most of whom frequented the restaurant to drink their coffee and get in their socializing.  My aunt once tipped me $30.00 for waiting on her and her friends. 

7.  Childcare (No pic with this either)

Actually I was more like a Nanny.  I watched five (5) small children for an on-site, homeschooling, local Floyd VA, business woman.  Her house sat high on a hill and I can't even begin to tell you how many times I hiked that hill with her baby son on my hip.  Now that was some exercise.... but back then I didn't need the exercise as much as I do now.  This was during the "729" days, during my first stay in VA.  I also worked PT as a waitress at the Pine Tavern (shown below).   

8.  Cinema in San Fran

Movie Theater Snack Bar Attendant - I spent 6 months in San Francisco with my father after I left Virginia.  The only real memorable part of this job was serving Jerry Garcia popcorn.  He was seeing Good Morning Vietnam, which will tell you how long ago this was.....

9.  Dearing Nursing Home

NA & CNA - I was so excited to get hired here.  I was part of a nursing team and finally had a job of some substance.  I started as Nursing Assistant (at the time they didn't require certification).  The law changed while I was employed and I did become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and actually was certified in both MA & FL.  I worked in various nursing homes for about 5-6 years, before finally getting burnt out. 

10.  Aunt Fannie's Truck Stop

Waitress - Yep.... back to waitressing.  When all else fails you can always fall back on waitressing.  This time I was working at a truck stop.  Another experience, in and of itself.  Ever hear of Ilene Wuornos?  She was a serial murderer who found her victims by accepting rides from truckers, some of which picked her up from this parking lot - or so it is told... 

Looking back, I think I remember her.

11.  Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Massachusetts & Virginia

Medical Claims Processor - My healthcare background led me into medical office work.  A good combination of both my interests.

12.  Various Office Positions

For the next ten years or so (wow has it been that long?) I have done many different things in the office world.  Most notably:  Sales & Marketing Administrator, Office Manager, Legal Secretary & Project Coordinator.  Needless to say, I'm very versatile and I know my shit!

13.  Current

Nope - Can't tell you where I work now... In case your a stalker!  Sorry.

I am currently in week 3 of 4 weeks of training as a Document Specialist for a Diabetic Supplier.  This position is very similar to my Claims Processing but it's from the other side of the spectrum.  I submit claims and make sure I have everything needed for insurance to pay on them.  I am really enjoying it, now that I'm further into the training.   

4 weeks of training is required at my new job.  Today is day 2 of week 2 & all is going well.  The first two weeks are classroom and the 2nd two weeks are "hands on".  I don't know about you, but I definately learn better with "hands on".  The trainer is very nice, 7 months pregnant and most people in the class are bearable.  There is one person that I totally can not stand  and of all things, she is the one person out of eight people in training that will be in my department.  Isnt'a that always the way.  I hope not to be situation close to her when we get our seating, but we will have the "hands on" portion together.    It should be interesting.  Overall, I'm pretty satisfied in the new job! 

Samantha finally got on to the school bus this morning.  She was supposed to start yesterday, but the bus decided not to show up and I was going to be late for work if I drove her, so she stayed home again.  Her buss arrives @ 6:30 a.m., which is actually still in during dark hours.  She gets to ride 45 minutes both directions, so needless to say, hopefully she will get some of that homework done in transit. 

The house is AWESOME - with capital letters - as you can see.  We spend the weekend getting situated and also took a FABULOUS - with capital letters - walk through the farmland located behind the house.  We have a pond for fishing, swimming & skating!  I took tons of pics to share, but because my internet is not yet on at home, I don't have time to post them.  I can only post during my lunch breaks and will try to get them up for you all before the end of the week!

Things are pulling together!  (A big smile on my face)

Happy Tuesday!

Straight from the horse's mouth.

Have a terrific weekend to everyone! 

2.  That probablly should have been yesterday's horoscope.

3.  For the record, I'm laughing today.  Not for any specific reason - nothing really has changed  (except maybe my brains chemicals / horomones).

4.  This is a good thing!  I hope it stays this way for awhile....

5.  I am happy that I did have the courage to post yesterday what I posted.  I was very hesitant but they were true feelings and I want my blog to be the truth - plain and simple and black and white.  Putting these feelings out there for the world to read was scary and I did have to re-write it a few times.  I calmed it down quite a bit from the original version.  I'll let you use your imagination....

6.  I just informed my daughter, who is currently soaking in a deep tub, that I was going to eat her Mr. Goodbar.  A loud shreiking "no...." echoed from the bathroom.  More laughter.

7.  Now we are arguing about whether I can use "her" shampoo and conditioner, Sunsilk, $4.00 a bottle.  (Does she even fathom the amount of money I have spent on shampoo & conditioner in her 12 years....)  Boy do I love the teen years!  Tears!     

8.  I mentioned yesterday that my job wasn't what I was accustomed to.  Actually I really do like it and I think it will work out just fine.  It's just that I'm not used to being in a corporate cubicle environment anymore.  The work itself, I think I'm going to love.  If I can just get a grip on being one of a "herd".

9.  We lost the 2nd kitten this morning.  He was curled up next to Sami and died in it's sleep.  Samantha buried him next to his sister. 

10.  We still have Ruby! 

11.  Someone very important to me recently said:   You seem to be having a hard time getting settled in this time.  I think it is sign that you need to stay rooted for awhile.  It is hard, but it too will work out.  It always does for you.    Now theres a thought....   Sometimes people on the outside can see and say just the right thing!

12.  I love my sisters.  Check out my Mom's week of 100 favorite things.  She started with me, her oldest, on Monday.  Tuesday was my sister Beth & Wednesday was my sister Molly.  They are great - along with my Mom's 13 about 100 Things!  

13.  As of Saturday I will be living here.  I won't believe it until it actually happens! 

You can see more pictures at this post! 

It's been awhile since I've posted. 

Alot going on - but then again, not much at all. 

This kind of brings me to my title, should I laugh or should I cry? 

That's how I feel right now. 

I wished I could answer that question because it would make life a whole hell of a lot easier.  But, I can't. 

I'm thinking positive so hopefully I'll be laughing before it's over.....

I started work Monday.  Yep, I have a new job.  I like it pretty well but it's still not what I'm accustomed too.  It is a paycheck - laughter - but not until the 29th of this month - tears on the horizon - because that's almost three weeks - making the tears slightly more self explanatory.  

We move in the new house this weekend.  Great!  Can't wait!  Laughter heard in the distance.  Tears because I don't know how I'm going to survive in that new house until the 29th.  I have yet to get the utilities into our names, which I can gaurantee will cost more money.  Furniture, in and of itself, can't be added until I can get it out of storage - so I get to live like a camper, still, until at least Halloween.  More tears. 

Sami started back to school a few weeks back.  Laughter - it's a great school and she could be doing great.  Tears because she can't attend because I can't get her home from school this week,  due to my new job.  I have asked everybody that is supposed to give a shit and haven't gotten very far.  So... do I keep her home and make her suffer, so as not to lose my job, when she has already missed a few too many days in only three weeks?  Or do I stay home so my daughter lives a "normal" life and stays in good graces at school, but lose my job?  What is normal and where should the sacrifice lie?  What would you do?  Because I'll be damned if I can answer that question.  

The worse part being, if I were home, I wouldn't even be facing this situation.....   (But.... go ahead and say it - I've chosen).  If I could go back I know of something I would change....    

That's what I'm facing tonight and you know what?  I'm tired of facing this type of stuff that normally is mundane for most.

And this is only the beginning.......

So I just re-read, trying to decide whether to even post this.... 

After all - isn't a blog supposed to be a journal?

Here's hoping things are looking up the next time I post!

Summer isn't officially over until the end of September, but for me it's always been "summers end" once Labor day comes and goes.  I don't morn the end of summer, like some do.  Fall is my favorite season and I welcome it in with open arms!  There is something about the smell in the air that brings back wonderful memories and good feelings - although I can't really pinpoint exactaly what it is. 

Remember the kittens we took in a few weeks ago?  Lightning, the Calico kitty, passed away this weekend.  She was pretty sick,  didn't do much but sleep and didn't seem to have any energy to do much.  Samantha gave her the much needed love, attention and nutrition she needed in her last days.  She patiently cleared up Lightenings eyes so that she could see - a task Samantha was dedicated to.  Lightning is better off, I tried to explain, she is not suffering anymore.  My daughters love of animals amazes me.  I don't dislike animals, but I am also not passionate about them, as she seems to be.  She spent most Sunday evening crying over the baby.  I pointed out that we still have Thunder, which brought a smile to my daughters face!   

Today is my 100th Post!  In honor of this, I am finally posting a 100 Things about Me. 

1.    Christine is my first name, but I mostly go by Chrissie or Chris - in the blog world I'm Chris-sea

2.    Marie is my 2nd name

3.    My Mom's name is Kathleen

4.    My mother's middle name is also Marie, or so we thought.  She recently discovered that her birth documents lists her middle name as Maria.

5.    I wonder if that means my middle name is Maria too?

6.    My father's name is/was Robert & his middle name is/was Frances

7.    I'm not sure if he is alive

8.    I am almost positive that he choosing to live as a homeless person in Hawaii

9.    I suppose if you were choosing to be a homeless person, Hawaii would be the place to do it

10.   The last time I physically saw my dad was in 1996

11.   We used to be very close

12.   We did not have any sort of falling out, he just hasn't gotten in touch

13.   I was conceived in Florida

14.   My daughter was also conceived in Florida

15.   I was born in 1968

16.   I was born in March & am an Aries

17.   I was born at Paris Island, during my Dad's marine boot camp - he left for Vietnam shortly thereafter

18.   I am mostly Irish

19.   My family names on my Dad's side are Bryant & Farrell

20.   My family names on my Mom's side are Wentzell & Redman

21.   I guess Wentzell would be the only portion of me that is not Irish

22.   I grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts - 1/2 way between Boston and Cape Cod.

23.   We lived and spent much time at the ocean

24.   I think I've spent more time in my Mom's hometown than I did in my own

25.   I currently live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

26.   The town I live in is literally a "one stop light" town

27.   I love both Virginia and Massachusetts, equally

28.  My ideal would be to be able to have a home at both places and  I have complete faith that one day this will be the case

29.   I have strawberry blond hair which is turning more red as I get older

30.   Boston is my favorite city

31.   San Francisco is my 2nd favorite city

32.   I once served pop-corn to Jerry Garcia  -  I was working at a movie theater in SF and he was seeing Good Morning Vietnam

33.  This was my closest brush with fame

34.   Except for the fact that I was once a radio DJ and had my own radio show

35.   My step fathers name is Ozzy

36.   I have three sisters

37.   My sisters are the most special thing in my life (with the exception of my daughter, of course)

38.   I have three nieces and one nephew (so far)

39.   My first niece was born the day after my birthday - she is also an "Aries" like me

40.   I gave birth, to Samantha, naturally, in 1993, when I was 25 years old

41.   My mother and my sisters were with me and video taped my daughters birth

42.   I am a single mom, but am ok with that, although it isn't easy on the pocketbook

43.   Unfortunately, I get no child support

44.    My daughter will officially be a "teen" in 2 months & 23 days - I find it very hard to believe due to the fact that it feels like yesterday

45.   My boyfriends name is Kevin  

46.   Kevin is a Taurus

47.  Taurus is a Bull & Aries is a Ram =  a very interesting relationship

48.   Both my Mom's husbands were also Taurus

49.   My Mom is one of nine children - To me they feel more like my brothers & sisters than my aunts & uncles -  I lived amongst them

50.   I spent every weekend of my childhood at my grandmothers while my mother waitressed

51.   I was the first grandchild and for 9 years the only grandchild

52.   I now have 19 cousins & a few 2nd cousins

53.   My God mother's name is Sherry

54.  My God father's name was Ricky - he died of a drug overdose when I was about 6 years old

55.   I have moved residences approximately 40 times since I was 18 years old (20 years)

56.   I have never owned my own home

57.   I smoke cigarettes

58.   I am liberal and consider myself a democrat

59.  I am friendly and a "people person"

60.  My favorite hobby is my cross-stitch - I am currently working on a project for my daughters new bedroom and for our new house

61.   I collect record albums -  I have all my Mom's albums from the 60's & 70's and my albums from the 80's - a collection that is literally waist high

62.   I need a needle for my turntable so I can listen to said albums

63.   My favorite movie is Gone with the Wind

64.  My Aries horoscope states that my personality is much like Scarlet O'Hara - I can totally see this

65.  I think I lived in another life during Civil War times

66.  I have also been told I am very similar to Drew Barrymore - I guess I can see that too

67.   I love to read, write and most recently blog

68.   Another favorite past-time is watching movies at home - but I don't much go to the theater

69.   We have three pets - a 6 month old German Shepherd and two kittens named Thunder & Lightning

70.  "The" was the name of my favorite pet.  He was named after "The Cat"   I had "The" for 15 years - he recently died / or went missing (long story, different day)

71.   Becky is my best friend - we grew up together in Massachusetts and she also chose to live here in Virginia  

72.   I work in Office Administration

73.   My favorite vacation spot is Disney - I could go there hundreds of times and never get tired of it

74.   I love to drink coffee

75.   I desperately miss Dunkin Donuts - which is on practically every corner in Massachusetts - but is not on every corner in Virginia

76.   Seafood is my favorite all time food

77.   I love casseroles of all types, too

78.   I don't like and never eat fruit

79.  I drink about a half gallon of milk daily, another one of my favorites

80.  I have RH negative blood

81.   In 1996 I almost died - the Doctors gave me a 20% chance of survival

82.   Colleen was my "next of kin" here in Virginia and she had to relay the bad news to my family

83.  I had a very rare strep pneumonia and had to have thoracic surgery - then I caught a secondary infection

84   I was in a coma

84.  I had some very surreal experiences while in my coma

85.  My hospital bill was $110,000 and I had no health insurance

86.   I ended up having to claim bankruptcy

87.    I have had numerous psychic & ghostly experiences

88.   I have never been married and probably never will be

89.  I was once given a cubic zirconium as a diamond engagement ring and was lead to believe it was a real diamond - I didn't find out the truth until I took it to the pawn shop and was told they would give me $10 for the gold  

90.  No matter how hard I try, I always seem to have "issues" with money - or I should say lack of money

91.   I truly believe this is the result of past life Karma

92.   I type 79 words per minute     

93.   I have a terrible fear of spiders

94.   As a youngster I was involved in lots of activities:  Drum & Bugle Corp, Dance, Drama, Basketball, Softball and was even one of the only girls on the Little League team

95.   Once I started high school I was just too cool for activities - which I do regret

96.   I partied a lot in my teens & early twenties but have since settled down quite a bit

97.   I believe everything happens for a reason

98.   I was home schooled during my 8th grade year

99.   I love my family more than anything in this world

100.  I am Thankful for everything I do have in life

Becky and I took a ride over to the new house Friday afternoon and I finally got some snap shots to share!   

Without further ado, these are for you:

View from across the road.  Don't you love that tree?

View from driveway

Again from the driveway, showing the back portion of the house. 

This shows 1 of about 8 storage bldgs in our yard.  They are old and they all obviously need work.  Kevin is looking forward to fixing a few of them up for use as a workshop, playhouse for Sam, lawn shed and garden shed.  One has a basketball hoop for Sami's pleasure.  

I also love that there is plenty of room for Ruby, our German Sheperd, to run!

If you look closely you can see a tire swing hanging from the tree.  It's a tractor tire and is huge, even though you can't tell from the photo.   There is also a half built tree house in that tree! 

The house lays out like this:

When you walk in the front door you are standing in a hallway with a beautiful staircase on your left side.  Off of the hall there are three rooms - we are not sure yet how we will set them up, but the rooms will be used as a living room, dining room & computer room.  As you walk down the hall you end up in a huge open-area kitchen; complete with an island and an old fashioned wood cook stove.  Behind the kitchen is a laundry area and bathroom.  The side porch (which you can see in the above picture) is off of the back of the kitchen and laundry area.      

Upstairs you will find two  bedrooms which branch off the stairs at the front of the house.  The mid section, above the kitchen open area, is a large sitting / foyer area and there are two more bedrooms off this.  There is another bathroom in the back of the foyer area.

Not to mention.... a full attic and a full basement.     

I promise to get some interior pictures for you as soon as I can!

So.....  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think? 

Myself - I'm still in shock, but I'm not complaining!

Ok - this one beats all!   Allrighty Then had it posted and I couldn't resist but to do the same.

Can you imagine the upcoming holiday's?  There might be a bit of tension, no?  I wouldn't want to be at that dinner table this year! 

On the bright side of things, at least she was nice to the hubby.  It could have been ALOT worse in that regard!  

 

CNN `Live From…’ the Ladies Room
Aug 30, 10:48 AM EST

Kyra Phillips, anchor of CNN’s “Live From…,” unwittingly upstaged President Bush’s speech in New Orleans with on-the-air analysis of her husband and the marriage of her brother — all live from a CNN ladies room.

Unaware that her wireless microphone was “live” during her break, Phillips could be heard overriding Bush’s prepared address Tuesday as he was seen marking the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The Atlanta-based Phillips, in conversation with an unidentified woman in an echoey room, dismissed most men with a vulgar term, but called herself “very lucky in that regard. My husband is handsome and he is genuinely a loving — you know, no ego — you know what I’m saying? Just a really passionate, compassionate, great, great human being. And they exist. They do exist. They’re hard to find. Yup. But they are out there.”

A few moments later, she observed that “brothers have to be, you know, protective. Except for mine. I’ve got to be protective of him.”

Why? “His wife is just a control freak.”

At that point, another voice cut in: “Kyra.”

“Yeah, baby?” replied Phillips on hearing her name.

“Your mike is on. Turn it off. It’s been on the air.”

CNN anchor Daryn Kagan, looking flustered, then broke into the telecast with a recap of what Bush had been saying.

Phillips later apologized to viewers “for an issue we had with our mikes” and “for a little bit of an interruption there during the president.”

CNN issued its own official statement, explaining the network had “experienced audio difficulties during the president’s speech today in New Orleans. We apologize to our viewers and the president for the disruption.”

The network also apologized to the White House.

———

On the Net:

http://www.cnn.com

ONE

My mother deleted her blog last week.  All her supporters chipped in and helped her to retrieve the posts, almost 400 of them, that she lost.  She has a new blog up now and will be weaving some of her previously posted and retrieved posts from her missing blog.  A Particularly Persistent Point of View - Take Two is now open for your reading pleasure.  Do check it out!

TWO

 We are getting some big-time rain this weekend from Tropical Storm Ernesto.  I am one of the few people that love rain and storms and am looking forward to it!  The stormier, the better!

THREE

Reality based television shows are one of my favorite things.  I look forward to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday's so I can watch Big Brother.  I also am watching Rockstar Supernova and am looking forward to the new season of Survivor, beginning in September!

FOUR

I enjoy playing Blog games at Michele's.  Do you?

FIVE

I also enjoy doing Thirteen Thursday.  But.... I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get the Thirteen Thursday Blogroll up on my sidebar.  That's Tripod for you.

SIX

I am getting so very tired of paying so much for gas!

SEVEN

Becky and I looked back on some old picture albums the other night.  One of the books we looked through was when we moved to Virginia to live with Colleen.  We were 19 years young, and pretty cute too!  Where has the time gone?

EIGHT

I wish there was a way to time hop backwards!

NINE

This book is on my bedside.  It was a little slow to get into, but is becoming a page turner.  What are you reading?

TEN

My Family has an email group that we call the Love-Link.  We are able to talk to eachother, via email, in group fashion.  Some days I might only get 4 or 5 messages and other days I might find 50 messages waiting!  The nice thing about it is that it's always there when you need it!  

ELEVEN

It's the 5-year Anniversay of some sad moments for our family.  Jim and Danny's deaths and also 911.  But it's also the Love-Link's 5 year anniversary.  As I write this message # 30,129 has just popped into my in-box!

TWELVE

Message #30126 on the Love-Link was a message from my cousin Rachael.  She wanted to share her sister Danielle's portfolio.  She is VERY GOOD.  I had no idea!   

THIRTEEN

Labor day weekend is about here.  The summer has come and gone with a blink of an eye - Again!

Wow - I'm impressing myself.  I am actually posting more than once this week.  If things still look up later tonight I might even be able to get in a Thirteen Thursday for tomorrow!

Today's Horoscope is looking rather positive:

Your Aries horoscope for August 30, 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------

You should be getting along fairly well with others right now. Even if
there are lots of things for you to take care of, you probably won't mind
all that much, and you should have the stamina you need to take care of all your obligations. You're bound to feel good about everything you do today, and your cooperative attitude could pay off for you in the long run.

I wish this would have been my horoscope the other day while trying to get along with my child!  I have a 12 year old daughter.  She is a wonderful, beautiful little girl - but she is also 12.  Two nights ago we had a really big fight - it really blew me away.  I think this was the worst one yet and ranks right up there with the fights I used to have with my Mom (sorry Mom, I'm so sorry!)  School started last Wednesday for her but the kids in Roanoke haven't started school yet, so they have been still been out playing pretty late.  Sami wanted two girlfriends to spend the night on a school night.  I am usually a pretty laid back Mom and pick n choose my battles with her, but after I said "No", she threw the absolute biggest fit I have ever seen.  She started yelling & arguing with me in front of the two friends, who I then promptly asked to leave.  She then lost 1 hour of the time she had originally had to be out playing with them, which created an even bigger fit!  Holy Crap, I don't know if I can do this "Mothering a Teen" thing.  I know it has only just begun!  Nip it in the bud..... I know..... but she is so strong willed and it isn't going to be easy.

Last night Becky and I watched a 4 hour documentary on The Drug Years, which spanned the 60's through 00's.  It was excellent!  I'd recommend it to anyone who loves documentaries and such.  It was on VH1 (but we had it taped on the DVR, so I'm not sure when it actually aired).  Check it out if you get a chance. 

It's been five (5) years since we lost Jimmy and Danny - and still it seems like yesterday.  Prayers and Memories for my uncles!

Becky, Sam & I drove over to the farmhouse so I could give her the tour.    There was a guy there working on it, but he didn't mind if I showed her around a little.  He was putting down my new kitchen floor and two carpets will be going in this coming week!  Becky loved the house!  Both of us had intentions to take some pics with our phones but then forgot all about it.  Oh well - next time I'll have some to share.  I can't stay away from the place!

I have had insomnia two nights in a row.  Insomnia has got to be one of the worst things in the world.  For anyone that has never had insomnia - you don't want to have it!  I didn't sleep Sunday night and finally ended up sleeping about 3 hours Monday morning after I dropped Sam off at school.  You'd think I would have slept well last night, but nope, I also didn't sleep last night either - so..... I'm going to catch some ZZZZ's.  My schedule is way off balance but I start work on Sept. 11 so it should be back to normal soon.

Love and Peace to you all!