MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Today is Christmas Eve, and many are cooking for tomorrows festivities, except for me. My sister came over and we did Christmas this afternoon. So far I have gotten some gift cards to McCalisters, a T-shirt, and a necklace from James Avery!!! Brooke has scored one of those Lucky the Wonder Pups, a V-smile from her God Parents, a Strawberry Shortcake doll, and a princess book. So far I have played with Lucky and the V-smile, and as I type Brooke and my mom are worn out from the Christmas Eve festivities that will continue tonight. Anyway, I'll keep everyone updated on our status on Christmas. Santa will come tonight though and we'll see what finds we come away with!!!

Life Sucks

Last night my best friend Megan and I celebrated Christmas at our favorite local resteraunt, Moon Garden. It was great fun, and we really enjoyed exchanging Christmas gifts. However, this Christmas is much harder than others in the past have been. I'm saddened by the fact that in the next week we will have our last Moon Garden dinner or lunch for some time. I guess I'll be finding other places or maybe going to eat their by myself. Megan will be moving to Amarillo on the 26th of December, and I'm rather sad. Like I told my mom last night, she has been my rock for so long and I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when she's gone. I mean she's not dying but she is moving a considerable distance from us. I know that she is going to further her life by being with her boyfriend Danny more and going to school and all, but damn. So after the first of January on Friday and Saturday nights you will finding me sitting at home watching something unknown for a length of time because Megan will not be here to hang out with. I'm saddened because my life is going to become so dull. It has always been filled with joy and fun when I'm with Megan or even on the phone with her. We talked last night and it's almost as if I'm not going to make it without her. I don't know what I'm going to do. We have been BEST FRIENDS since the first grade, that would make 17 years in 2007. I know that we will continue our friendship. I nearly lost her once, and I'm not going to let it happen again. I love that girl so much and without her I am lost. Its going to take some time adjusting to all of this change, but I think I'll be okay. Anyway, I hope this is not the last picture of "us" forever, I know it will be a while, but not forever.

Megan, thanks for the good times, our friendship and many other things. It is much appreciated. I hope that I've been there for you as much as you've been there for me, and when you get pregnant, not anytime soon please, I'll be there for you just as you were there for me. I could've have been blessed with a greater friend than you. Thanks for all you do for Brooke and I throughout the year. I know this is not goodbye forever, but more like goodluck, but non the less it's hard. I love you very much, and so does Brooke. So from the both of us hugs, and sugar bearies!!!

*UPDATE: BLOGGER IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO UPLOAD A PICTURE TO THIS POST, SO THEREFORE THERE WILL BE NO PICTURE OF US UNTIL IT CHANGES ITS MIND***

Okay...a small update

I know it's been so long since everyone has heard from me last. Since you've heard from me, I've had nine inches of my hair cut off, and I begin finals on Monday. Kind of excited because I'm ready to be done. DONE I SAY, until next semester that is. I have yet to score a date, and that is fine. I'm going to my company Christmas Party tomorrow and I'm really excited because this is the first time that I've felt like I was part of a company, like I actually belonged there. I LOVE IT!!! I will be so ready to have a break until next semester, because for many of us it is much needed.
I've had better attendence this semester because Brooke hasn't been so sick, and I PRAISE God for that one. Here are a few pictures of my hair, Brooke and our interesting Christmas tree. And I have to say that a fellow blogger has become one of my greatest advisors and friends. I love the friends you can make through the blogging community. You know who you are, and even though he's on the East Coast he can still somehow relate to what's going on in my life right now. Thank you. Go check him out...He's Space Coast Musings on my links. Well, I thought I'd update you guys because I know you must have been wondering if I had fallen off the face of the earth. Brooke is laying beside me on the couch just a snoring away so I guess I had better take the both of us to bed considering it's nearly mid-night. So until next time friends. We'll talk to you later.

Light a Candle for Hope

Today, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the pharmaceutical monolith that charges nearly $1,000 for a 30 day supply of one of its HIV/AIDS medications, is donating $1 to the National AIDS Fund for each person who simply visits their website and "virtually lights a candle."

The tally is over 900,000 now.Please take a minute to "light a candle": https://www.lighttounite.org/

This really will take just a second, promise! :) And feel free to forward on to friends.

Light a candle for Hope, Faith, and Love. For your friends, your family, and those you don't know who are or will be affected by this awful disease.

I read a book when I was a sophomore in high school by Ryan White, who died from AIDS during his writing time. He was born December 6, 1971. The doctors told his parents that he was a Hemophiliac, which meant that anytime he got a cut they had to give him Factor VIII, and the dose that they gave him came from a man that was infected with AIDS. They had no extensive testing back then (1983). He became the poster child for AIDS, visited Michael Jackson's ranch many times, got to spend time with Elton John, and many others. He lived with AIDS for 7 years. He was strong and I admire his family for not treating him any differently and his friends. He left this world on Brooke's birthday April 8, 1990. Here's to you Ryan and the difference you have certainly made in my life. I dedicate this post to you and your family. You were an amazing kid, and I could read "your story" over and over again. So well, written and so meaningful. I hope that more students have the opportunity to read your student.

I was doing a bookreport when I happened upon this book and I was hooked. Hooked for life and so much that I would read it several more times before I graduated. I sat on the fence at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo and cried as I read through this book. I was told that I was not allowed to bring reading material with me again. It was addicting and I could read the whole thing in one night, and it even inspired me to read it again. It never gets old. I LOVE IT!!! I recommend that you pick up "Ryan White: My Own Story" from your local library or Barnes & Nobles and give it a read. It cost me $7.00 at Barnes & Nobles, pretty cheap for a book I love.

May God bless all that are living with or will contract AIDS.

Sorry friends...

Here’s a post for all who want to know….I’m so sick of blogging…I have no time, no energy and no motivation. But I do want to say that yesterday I took a leap of faith and put my number on the windshield of someone I like. I hope they don’t think I’m an idiot and all. But I wrote “Have a good Thanksgiving. Call me sometime if you wanna hang out or do something 425-****. Kourtney” Yes dear friends, I feel like a complete idiot, I really hope that he does not think that I’m some crazy stalker girl. If nothing comes out of it he’s really cool and I would enjoy just hanging out as friends. He’s a hotty however so I’m kind of hoping but not hoping to the point where I’m going to be hurt and disappointed in the end. I have class with him today at 11, I really hope that maybe he makes that leap of faith as well, and that he doesn’t think I’m a real idiot!!!


On a sad note, today we mourn the passing of Sissy Manley, whom I’ve known most of my life and today, they will say their last goodbyes to an amazing woman, mother, wife and grandmother. She was always so perky and so spunky and I’m going to miss running into her in various places. My mom gave me the news last night stating that she did not want to tell me over the phone, and yes I flipped out and cried, as strong as I tried to be I failed. As I sit here and write this I cry, because it was so sudden, no time to say goodbye to the one you love. I remember as a little girl there was this one time that we rode down to Lubbock in their motor home to watch my sister run cross country, and they had this little doll on the window that when you squeezed this little pump, he would moon the car driving by. I was like six or seven, so it was rather amusing. We got to Mae Simmons Park there in Lubbock, and a friend of my sisters was holding me, Caroline, and my sister mentioned that my pants were falling down. So Caroline put me down and I thought it would be funny to moon everyone so I did. I thought it was hysterical, and everyone was so shocked. I remember getting in trouble by my parents and although I was little they didn’t think it was funny at first but they know exactly why I did it. Thanks to the Manley’s and their little mooning doll!!

I appologize IMMENSELY!!!

I AM SO SORRY YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE ALL POWERFUL KOURTNEY IN SOMETIME.

I'm thinking up a post right now. I've been so busy and there has been no time for posting!! Grrr..I will tell you of the adventures that happened since the last post and I'm pretty for sure you will find yourself rolling in a big puddle of your own urine!!! If not, well, then I'm sorry I could not make you wet yourself.

Until then....oh yes, and Halloween pictures will be coming soon!! I promise!! It maybe Thanksgiving before I get those posted...well, you get the point....

Jalopy

Dear that "Special Someone",

would you come out of that hole that you are hiding in and hit me or something?

It seems that when I start to give up there is someone new that comes into my life. My dad told me that I would find that special someone sometime, and not to grab the first one the passes by...hmm...I'm so sick of waiting and watching and sitting there alone. I'm not asking for the world...just to find that someone special. I don't feel pressured because all my friends are engaged or have been married and divorced, but I'm just tired of being alone. He said, he knows that I get frustrated with all of it, and you know what he's so right. I just want to find someone who will love me for me. Is it really possible? Do I carry too much emotional baggage? Am I a bitter person? Do I look like I hate the world? What the hell is wrong with me? Am I destined to live in the world alone with no one but my daughter and family to love me?

Hmm...things to ponder and cry about..just what I need.

On a good note...Megan is going to be an Aunt...now isn't that exciting....Congrats Megan!! Love you!!

Dear Fish,

You have been replaced by more interesting fish. You were loved and have been hiding in the car for sometime according to Brooke. We now have a black molly, a dalmation molly, a Mickey Mouse Platy, and two glass fish, as well as a frog. You and your baby's are missed, but these guys are more fun.

Okay, I replaced Brooke's fish that I accidently killed, and that is what they were replaced with. I kind of miss the baby's and watching them swim around, however, they were kind of a pain, always having to make sure they didn't accidently get sucked into the filter. The new fish are cool, although I don't think I'd get glass fish again, because they are kind of boring, but I do like watching the molly's play and frolic around the tank, if frolic is a word that can be used in the tank. Anyway, I hope that I'm taking care of them properly. Word to the wise aquarium keepers, do not use any ordinary sponge because unfortunately you run the HUGE risk of killing them. Go to a petstore near you and buy an aquarium sponge....THE FISH ARE BEGGING YOU!!

Have a nice day, and I hope everyone had a great weekend.

~jalopy

WHY ME?

Why does this always happen to me?

So here at work, the office staff is awesome. I can not complain there. However in the women department is it not so great. As a kid I never really had a place in any group and tried my hardest to fit in. Here I am 22 years old and still searching for my place in the world. Although I have come to terms with it more now than ever that I don’t really care about what my place is in any group. I’m not going to lie, cheat, and steal to fit into anyone’s little mold. I am me, I am who I am, and not what everyone else wants me to be. I AM KOURTNEY!!! I however do not appreciated being treated like shit because I don’t fit into your little mold that you have created and designed for those around you. I’m sorry if you don’t like me for who I am, but I am honest. I will not tell fake stories or one’s that are highly exaggerated just so that you think I am “cool.” I am not cool, I will never be cool, and personally I don’t want to be cool. I am a “cool” aunt to my neice and nephew whom I love and adore very much. I do not have anything in common with these “women” here in the office and I see now that I really don’t want to be. I don’t have horses therefore I’m not spoken to unless I speak to them first. I am not accepted here and it’s because I don’t sit at people’s desks for an hour and chit chat about the 100 horses I really don’t have. My god get a life, damn, don’t you have work to do, because damn, I sure do have a lot. If your that bored my fish tank at home needs to be cleaned out, get after it.

I have an amazing friend and some of you may have read her blog before. She is amazing in every sense of the world. She completes who I am. We have had plenty of falling outs but we never have forgotten where our tiny little roots began to grow and then magically blossomed into an amazing flower. We have never forgotten to be humble or even humbled by the things in our lives. We have never forgotten that even though we were not raised with a lot of money our friendship DOES NOT depend on that. We are who we are for a reason and I love Megan more than anything. We have been best friends since we were 6 years old. I can remember her coming over and playing and me going to her house to spend the night on more than one occasion. She is a true friend. When no one stuck by my side when I found out I was pregnant, she was there holding my hand every step of the way. She even was friend enough to carry the pregnancy test around Wal-Mart, even after seeing one of our classmates. She is an amazing woman, and I hope that we grow old together.

Thank your best friend today for being there through the roughest of times!!!

Homecoming 2006

I went to Homecoming for my alma mater and had a decent time. I wouldn't call it great. I'm amazed at how some people who hated you in high school, haven't really changed and then there are those who have made a complete turn around and you can actually stand to be around them. So it's been nearly five years since I graduated and yet I still seem to find a way to torture myself and go anyway. hmmm...do you suppose something is wrong with me. You should go visit Megan's blog to read what she has to say because she put it in words very well. I can't say that I can do a very good job of it.

I did have fun watching my nine year old nephew have a little homecoming date, it was cute and they were cute together. The little girl he chose to take is a real sweetheart!!!! She's cute and I'm sure that she thought I was a little on the weird side, but hey, I'm not too worried about it.

Here are some pictures from homecoming.

My nephew drinking his coke and acting proud to have gone with the prettiest little girl.














Me and my nephews date, Alana. Now isn't she just the cutest little thing?











I think you know these two girls very well, but if you don't that's me and my sister!!!












I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while, the mood has just not struck me in sometime. FCF's could start back up soon, so we'll see.

Mickey Mouse!!

My Mickey Mouse Platy has babies!! Wowza!! I totally wasn't expecting this at all. The first unexpected thing I found was snails and that was at the beginning at the week, and now I find babies, yes friends, I have baby fish. They are cute and when Brooke taps the tank they go EVERYWHERE!! It's crazy, I didn't even know I had a female and a male...hmm....now I guess I know!! I'm not sure what to do but now they are on their own. I'm not getting any special "nursery" for them. If they've made it this long so far, I think they are goign to be okay. I was reading up on them and they're not known to eat their young, so I think we're going to be okay. I hope, if they don't make it I guess it's just natures way of taking care of them. Anyway, here are some pictures I got off the web to show you my new little family members.


Have a good weekend everyone!!!

things

I'm sorry I haven't been around much, things have been rather crazy. I've been so busy with school and work, that I haven't had much time to do anything else. I haven't seen Megan in so long I've begun to forget what she looks like, now that's pretty sad. We've both been really with everything its been really hard to get in touch and get together. I miss her!! She's pretty much the only friend left in Midland that I hang out with. If I'm not with Megan, you will generally only find me one of two places, home or my sisters. So I don't really have anyone else here. Anyway, since we don't have much time together we corrispond via AIM or here through comments. We love each other, and although I haven't fallen off the face of the earth like she's been hoping, I don't mean to neglect everyone else. I want to keep everyone up to date so here's some useless info for you. Just to let you in on how busy I really am I will post my schedule for you to review and criticize...hahahha...j/k....

Mondays and Wednesdays: Class from 8-12:20; work from 1-5; go BACK to class from 5:30-9:50
Tuesdays & Thursdays: Work from 8-10:45; Class from 11-12:20; then BACK to work from 1-5
Fridays: Work

I love my job, and they are talking about sending me out to the field on Friday. I'm rather excited because I want to learn more about what they do, and what I do.

Anyway, Lightning and Mr. Clark, please leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing. We'll talk to you later.

Lt. Charles "Chuck" Margiotta

Today is September 11, 2006 and today is remembered in the hearts of many Americans. As those planes crashed into many remembered building that one faitful day, I was at school. I was a senior in high school at Greenwood High School, and I can remember passing by one of the classrooms where on of our teachers stopped me and asked if I had heard. I obviously had not heard because I didn’t have a clue as to what was going on. He told me and that’s the moment it hit. Our country was under attack and who knew that it would continue for a long time. No one even saw it coming. We had a new President who was doing his best to run the country he believed in so much. The country that had offered him so much without expecting much in return. But more importantly, many of our freedoms were taken that day. I remember going to second period and sitting in there when someone mentioned that the pentagon had been hit. It sank in, “the Pentagon” I screamed, my cousin worked in there on the very side that was hit. He had just walked out of the building when the plane hit, and he went back in to assist where he could. I worried for him for the day and I was sad until we heard he was okay. My cousin is a JAG Lawyer and it could be him that we’re remembering this day.

Today is the day when we remember those who were lost, either by doing their jobs, or others trying to escape. It was a devastating blow to America as a whole and to the Americans that call this place home. America lost some of its finest, Police Officers, Firefighters, and other rescue workers. Those people gave their lives for others, which they were called to duty to do.

On this day I’m called to remember everyone, but someone I was chosen to remember. I can not find much on this fine man, but I’m sure he was married to a lovely lady who loved him very much as well, as he probably had children who loved him very much. His name is Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta. He was 44, from New York, NY and he died trying to assist in the tragic event at the World Trade Center. Today we honor him for giving his life for others and doing it without even second guessing or hesitating. For this we honor you Lt. Margiotta. I’m sure you were New York’s finest, just out there doing your job. You probably impacted many lives and those people will be forever grateful.

I pray that on your journey home you were able to stand at the Pearly Gates of God’s Kingdom. Welcome home Lt.


Here is the Eulogy written for him by his brother Mike Margiotta:

According to Webster, "bravery" is defined as combining confidence with firm resolution in the presence of danger. "Courageous" however is more than brave! It adds a moral element. The courageous man steadily encounters perils to which he may be keenly sensitive at the call of duty. At no time do either of these definitions mention being fearless. Fearless is just the inability to recognize danger.

On September 11th, Chuck had fears…recognized them…called home…and then performed his job with Bravery and Courage; as did all our firefighters and police officers. We thank them all and love them all for being heroes every day.

I thought Chuck was a workaholic. If I told him I had 2 jobs…he would say, “What do you do with the rest of your time?” Chuck didn’t have a career…he had many careers. Along with the FDNY, private investigation and others, Chuck was also a substitute teacher working in the NYC Board of Ed. for 20 years.

They say you can’t mix business with pleasure. Chuck always found a way.

When Chuck was only 12 years old, I watched with amazement at his ability to juggle both. He went to Latourette golf course to fish for carp in one of the ponds. And I mean, literally standing in the pond. The pond was between a Tee off and a green. He would stand in the water fishing and then sell golfballs back to the golfers that didn’t clear the pond. Making money and fishing…Chuck’s perfect world.

Later in life, perhaps even surprising himself, Chuck turned into the perfect dad. His hobbies were planned around his family schedule. Soccer, softball, basketball, baseball…all came first. And not just seeing the games…oh no…Chuck coached his daughter and son in all the sports. Eventually Chuck took over as Director of basketball in this parish, St. Rita’s. His weekends were consumed with scheduling practices, games and tournaments. Through it all, Chuck still managed to plan family vacations, hunting and fishing trips with his buddies and lots of activities that would fulfill all his needs.

Chuck’s plate still wasn’t full. He lived one house away from his parents. He was a great son to his mother and father. He was the mule. Anything that involved a ladder or back breaking work was Chuck’s. Cleaning the gutters and plowing the neighborhood was his specialty. When the first snowflake fell, you knew it wouldn’t be long before you heard Chuck fire up the Toro snowplow! Then like kids looking for Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, neighbors would run to their windows and throw up the sash. And what to their wondering eyes should appear but, Chuck with an orange hunting jump suit, smiling ear to ear.

Chuck was like a superhero to his kids. He was like a superhero to all of his family and friends. One can only imagine what he looked like through the eyes of his children, Norma Jean and Charlie. Chuck was larger than life. He was only 5’ 11”. He was not the 6 feet that he claimed he was. But when you met him, even if you looked down to him physically…you looked up to him in ways that you could not put your finger on. You left Chuck with a feeling that he was much bigger than he really was.

As tough as Chuck looked, and with as gruff a voice as he had, children always knew that he loved them. They instinctively knew he was their ally. And they were right. If he yelled at them for letting a game get a little out of hand, the children usually smiled or laughed. Then Chuck would laugh too, seeing himself in the kids.

Chuck's light shines in the eyes of his children, Norma Jean and Charlie, who look around in admiration at all the people here who loved their father. That light will shine brighter every day until it bursts like a super nova when we join him in heaven.

Chuck is up there now with all the other firefighters lost on September 11th, giving a lesson on how to grow tomatoes and zucchini. He knows he can’t be wrong because he is with Nani and Papa who taught him all about it.

He is up there having a pick up game of basketball against Jesus and the Apostles. Chuck calls his team the Underdogs. I’d like to introduce them to you now:

Starting at Forward…everyone who was too little to fight for themselves. At the other forward… everyone who in the latter years of life were stripped of their dignity and were unable to perform tasks we take for granted. At Right Guard…everyone Chuck loved that left this world before him. At left guard…everyone who ever misjudged Chuck's loyalty while on earth. And STARTING AT CENTER…a man who at only 5’11”, now stands taller than everyone because of the life he led, the traditions he held on to, the compassion he showed and the memories he left...Chuck Margiotta

To honor someone next year you can go to http://www.dcroe.com/2996 and sign up.

God Bless America!!! Stand Tall & Proud!!!!

Never Been Kissed!!

Never Been Kissed

I love this movie so much because Josie Gellar reminds me of myself. They call her Josie Grossie while she was in high school and I was mad fun of in some of the same ways. It was rather embarrassing. However I did not want to be a reporter for any reason. As they are sitting in the lunch room at her office she talks about kissing guys.

JOSIE: The right guy is out there. I'm just not going to kiss a whole bunch of losers to get to him.
ANITA: Yeah, but sometimes kissing the losers can be a fun diversion.
JOSIE: When I finally get kissed, I'll know.
ANITA: Okay. If you've never kissed a guy, we got bigger problems than the underwear.
JOSIE: I've kissed guys. I've just never kissed a guy. Felt that thing--
CYNTHIA: "That thing"? Is that what you kids are calling it these days?
JOSIE: That thing. That moment. You kiss someone and it's like the world around you gets all hazy and the only thing in focus is you and this other person and you know that one person is the person you're meant to be kissing for the rest of your life. And for that one moment you've been given this amazing gift and you want to laugh and cry at the same time because you're so lucky you found it, and so scared that it will all go away.

I am Josie Geller. I have kissed many guys but I haven’t felt that “thing” yet, like when you’re kissing someone and everything around you just goes hazy.

At the end of the movie she sets 5 minutes on a clock and stands on the pitchers mound, after a semester of playing a 17 year old girl and falling in love with her English teacher. She is still waiting for that kiss. She sets the clock and waits. As the clock comes to 5-4-3-2-1 she drops the mike. Her hopes and dreams are lost. She thinks she’s never going to get that kiss, but then here comes Mr. Coulsen her English teacher and he runs to the mound and kisses her, and during that kiss everything around her becomes hazy.

I am still standing on the pitchers mound waiting for my clock to be up and for the man of my dreams to meet me on the mound and kiss me. I’m waiting for that one hazy kiss.

My adventures plus more!!!

Alright, I'm back!! I told you I would write about my adventures of last week so here they go.

Last Monday I took Brooke to the bathroom at about 7 in the evening. We get in there, I pull her panties down, and as I get up from bending over, I notice a not so familiar thing on a towel in the bathroom. I took a double take to make sure I wasn't seeing things, and I wasn't. It wasn't a bad dream at all. There was a rattlesnake at Brooke's feet. Comforting you think. I screamed bloody murder, opened the door, hollared to my dad, and grabbed Brooke and ran out. My dad came running down the hall. He had to take a few things out to get to the little buger, but he put him in a bucket, put a lid on it, took him outside, and I'm pretty for sure that he cut his head off. It was scary, but the good thing is that he was not coiled, but stretched out. No one was hurt, which was awesome. Brooke would've been bitten, but she wasn't.

Then on Friday, Brooke and I went outside to swing and play, and ended up playing with the dog. We left the pool side of the backyard and went to the otherside. Our backyard is divided into two sections and is fenced off. One section is quite small and contains the pool and play equipment, while the other side, which is large, belongs to the dog. Its all for safety reasons beceause of the pool. Its always been that way since I can remember. Anyway, we went back to Gina's side of the backyard, and as we were getting ready to go inside, Brooke started running toward the back porch when all of a sudden, flat as a board there's ANOTHER baby rattlesnake on the backporch, I hollered snake, and again for the second time in a couple of days dad comes running, and chops off his head. We showed Brooke the snake, and she still thinks he's on the back porch and in the bathroom. It doesn't stop her from going to the bathroom or going outside on the back porch, but she remembers those bad boys and knows to look for them. I made my dad show the last snake to her while it was still on the shovel dead, so that she could see it up close and understand that they are "bad." Anyway, I hope no one is having the luck that Brooke and I are having. Because Brooke and I seem to find all the rattlesnakes around here. Happy hunting.

Kourt.

Sorry Friends

I know that I haven't posted in a while, well 6 whole days. I'm still alive I haven't fall off the face of the earth quite yet. I know I know, despite some of your wishes. I've been a busy lady because of my new job and all. I LOVE MY NEW JOB. Let me know that you are still out there, if you haven't quit reading yet. I better get back to the grindstone, I was just thinking of everyone so thought I'd take a little time to say that I haven't gone away quite yet. Tonight I will post about yesterdays adventures in the bathroom.

Stay Tuned.

Kourt.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

As I'm looking forward to this career move I'm reminded of this book by Dr. Suess that many high school graduates get as a gift. I was given this book by my sister Tuesdie, and from time to time I sit down and read it. Well, today is the day I'm off to great places. Wish me well.


Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

---Dr. Seuss

Well, Kids

Tomorrow is my last official day as an employee of Campbell Construction Company. It's been a pleasure working there and interacting with everyone on a daily basis. Know that you all will be missed. I'm sure I will keep in touch with them for the simple fact that my dad works there and I'll see them at Christmas if not sooner. I will be working around the corner from the YMCA downtown. WOOHOO...perhaps I should get a membership...hhahahah....I'll be too busy with school and what not. To those of you who I worked with from other companies, thank you for always being nice to me, no matter what. It's been a pleasure. Mike and lighting you know who you are!!! I'll keep in touch either here or via email, and for some of you I'll just give you a call.

The guys you have been a blessing to me for the past three years and I can not thank you enough for being second dads to me in some cases. You all are great, may you go far.

"You will go far grasshopper." Mike Snow...thanks for everything....

Everyone else, and you know who you are thanks again for everything. I promise I'll keep in touch, I would simply not leave you without saying goodbye or goodluck. I know I'm going to like my new job, it just seems so much more laid back at my new office vs. Campbell. I'll be doing what I love and that is Drafting, its what I'm going to school for and its what I'm passionate about.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Signing off...

Jalopy

Unfaithful?

Rihanna
Unfaithful

Story of my life
Searching for the right
But it keeps avoiding me
Sorrow in my soul
Cause it seems that wrong
Really loves my company

He's more than a man
And this is more than love
The reason that the sky is blue
But clouds are rolling in
Because I'm gone again
And to him I just can't be true

And I know that he knows I'm unfaithful
And it kills him inside
To know that I am happy with some other guy
I can see him dying

I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
Everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer

I feel it in the air
As I'm doing my hair
Preparing for another date
A kiss upon my cheek
As he reluctantly
Asks if I'm gonna be out late
I say I won't be long
Just hanging with the girls
A lie I didn't have to tell
Because we both know
Where I'm about to go
And we know it very well

Cause I know that he knows I'm unfaithful
And it kills him inside
To know that I am happy with some other guy
I can see him dying

I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
Everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer

Our love, his trust
I might as well take a gun and put it to his head
Get it over with
I don't wanna do this
Anymore
Uh
Anymore (anymore)

I don't wanna do this anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
And everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
And I don't wanna hurt him anymore
I don't wanna take away his life
I don't wanna be...
A murderer (a murderer)

No no no no

Yeah yeah yeah

Sorry Kids!!!

There is no FCF for this week as Megan and I didn't get together for lunch on Friday!! We're sorry, but here are some pictures from Saturday.

My nephews ceiling fell in so my sister and I cleaned it up on Saturday all by ourselves.

Talk about ghetto!!!!!!!!

Talk about Ghetto, now I don't call this an official license plate if you ask me. I saw this while I was driving to town to go to megan's for Hoochapalooza 2006 which wasn't as fun as 2005. This is on I20 on an eighteenwheeler...What the heck. So if you get stopped you say, yea thats my "official" license plate issued by the state of Alabama. After all they are a bunch of hillbillies so this probably works in their state, I wonder how far they got in the state of Texas where we don't take crap from anyone. No offense Mike Clark, you are not a hillbilly. You are way cool, and I'm going to miss talking to you when I'm gone from Campbell but I'll definitely keep in touch with you via email. You're an awesome guy, and I LOVE your accent...hehehe!!! Enjoy the ghettoness, theres a touch of it everywhere you look...hahaha

My Saturday attempted drunkeness!!!!!!!!

Saturday night Brooke went to the babysitters house and spent the night and I went to Megans house and spent the night there. We had fun. We did facials, drank, pedicures, drank, manicures, drank, watched seasons of Sex and the City, and drank. We drank a lot and I know I wreaked of alcohol. However the planned drunken stuper never happened. I was bummed. We had cosmopolitans, I had some tarantula, crown and coke, and a beer. Enough alcohol to surely make me drunk. Oh was I wrong. Meg and I took pictures of us doing facials, and pedicures. Oh yes, and I know that its not fortune cookie friday, but we did sit around with a box of 12 fortune cookies, broke them, and checked out our fortunes. So here are my fortunes from the box of 12 of which we both got six. Here they are:

Fortune 1: "If you want to understand a man's mind, listen to his words - in bed."

Fortune 2: "Your life will be happy and peaceful - in bed."

Fortune 3: "Beauty is in your heart, let it out, let it beat, give yourself a treat - in bed."

Fortune 4: "Your life will be happy and peaceful - in bed."

Fortune 5: "Fortune cookies says: There is excitement to be found everywhere you go - in bed."
Fortune 6: "As the sky is blue, the sea waves are true, good fortune is coming to you - in bed."

So the fortune's were good we thought. So here are some pictures from our fun in the dark....


Me being silly in my facial mask!!!













Megan and I in our masks.















Megan looking really cute with her mask on!!!











picture at beginning of blog is mine & Megs feet during our self pedicures.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

HAPPY 100TH JALOPY!!!!!!!!!! You made it. Today this is my 100th post. I can't believe that it seems like just yesterday that I started this thing. Where in the world has time gone. My daughters growing up, she's in panties now, and is talking in full sentences and can carry on some pretty interesting conversations with you. That little stink is my world. ANYWAY, ON TO WHAT YOU REALLY CAME HERE FOR: FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!!!!!!


Here I am. Its Friday again!!!!!! YIPPIE… IT’S FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!! Is there any day better than today. It’s the day that everyone awaits. Fridays are the days where some people only work ½ day, others work full days and look forward to the weekend. And my avid readers look forward to FCF, so it really is a GRAND day.

I had lunch with Megan, my sister, and her kids today, and it was fantastic. So without further a due I present to you my fortune *gong sound*

“Use your charm and personality to your advantage – in bed.”

Have fun friends and join the FCF gang. We think its fun and since we don’t know what else to do with our fortunes we present them to the public for humiliation!!!!!!!
To find out more about FCF go here

Lurking, is not cool....

Dearest Lurkers,

I know you are out there!!! I have put this little map thing on here that you can’t see that tells me that YOU ARE OUT THERE AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM. Don’t be scared my friends, I will not come haunt, stalk, or otherwise hurt you. But its time to come out of the woods, take off the camouflage and tell me who you are and where you’re from. If you have a blog yourself, let me know about it, I’ll come visit you.

Flash, and MC I know you read this thing, but you don’t leave comments anymore….what’s wrong with you people. You gripe because I haven’t posted then when I do post you hardly ever show me that you love me.

Megan, now come on you’re my best friend and have been for 16 years….Now that you don’t have to clean out the litter box, you can litter my comment box with comments.

SO GET UP, QUIT LURKING, AND SHOW ME WHO YOU ARE….I KNOW WHAT CITY AND STATE YOU LIVE IN….IF YOU’RE REALLY NICE I’M MIGHT TELL YOU MY SECRET!!

Until next time lurkers!!

Signing off..
Jalopy

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!!

I know that it’s not Friday, but I haven’t gotten around to doing FCF so here I am now. Megan, Matt, and I went to eat at our local Chinese food hotspot on Friday and today, so you’ll have the pleasure of seeing TWO…yes my friends TWO fortunes. I hope that you will enjoy.

Fridays was:


“You will find your solution where you least expect it – in bed”

Todays is:

“Your health is important. Eat your vegetables – in bed.”


That one didn’t make for a very good laugh….to find out more about FCF go *here*

My dinner...

Enough of that…some people will see things the way you do others won’t. Oh well, you can’t do anything about that.

On to how my date went Friday. Yes, you read that right, I went on a date on Friday. It was nice. He came and picked me up from my sister’s house and took me to dinner at the Garlic Press. Which if some of you don’t know, it’s a rather quite little place to dine on expensive meals. It was fun and I had a great time, I just hope he did too. I had the most amazing dinner. It was Brazilian Style Pork Medallions with Shrimp - Medallions of Pork Tenderloin Sautéed with Garlic and Sweet Red Chile Powder, Finished with Citrus and Pineapple Juice Reduction, Served over Rice and Topped with Two Shrimp. He had a steak and we joked about how my shrimp looked a little like scorpions. It was nice and a little quiet once this mafia like guy left. You had to have seen him. Then there was this other guy who felt as though the whole restaurant needed to hear his conversation. Which was fine if you were interested in what he was speaking about. There is not a lot of furniture to help keep the echo to a minimum, so we just sat in our little corner of the restaurant, eating our dinner and talking even though we couldn’t hear ourselves think. After we were done he took me back to my sisters and we stood outside talking and staring at the stars for an hour and a half.

My feeling on a bronze platter....

I do not feel as though Andrea Yates got what she deserved. As a loving mother of a two year old who sometimes acts ugly, okay, sometimes is putting it nicely. I would never consider killing her. I have had postpartum depression and it did not cause me to even think about those kinds of things, and I was treated with antidepressants…sorry Tom Cruise, you’re an idiot.

I know that 4 years ago before Brooke was conceived I would have considered the facts and then decided based upon those facts and the evidence. What I see today is totally different. I am a mother now and I see things in a completely different life. I feel that she planned it based on the fact that she did it between the time her husband left for work and the time her mother in law would arrive to help her with the children. I’m sorry but when your 7 year old is fighting you, wouldn’t you think of it as a wake up call? Once she realized that she would be punished by sitting the rest of her life out in prison for the killing of her children, she decided to appeal, and now, she’s getting to spend time in a Mental Institution…a whole lot of good that will do for her. She murdered and killed her 5 innocent children, and she gets to go spend the rest of her life looking at white walls. I hope that she regrets every minute the action that she made and how it cut the lives of those children so short. What did they do to deserve this? They act like kids, they are supposed to. She knew what she was doing, therefore she should pay.

I know that some are going to rant and rave over my OPINIONATED blog, but that’s why it’s MY blog, I will not argue nor fight over it, it’s stupid. My opinion is mine because of where I live, the great USA. Post your comment, but do not belittle me or otherwise call me names, or tell me what a horrible person I am. You can do that on your own blog if you so desire, but you will NOT do it on mine.

Andrea Yates…you got off scott free sister….enjoy your freedoms that have been STOLEN FROM THOSE CHILDREN.

You are a liar and a manipulator of our judicial system, and for that you should be put away for life.


To the children, you will never be forgotten in the minds and hearts of many.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

Today is Fortune Cookie Friday!! The best day of the week. Megan and I went to our favorite hotspot and ate none other than Chinese food. Here’s to you Ms. Robinson:

“Opportunity awaits you on next Tuesday – in bed”

Stay tuned to see what opportunity was awaiting me.



I have a date tonight, but there was nothing about that. I’m really excited and I feel like a little school girl all over again. It’s amazing. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a date. The last date I remember going on was with Jason, and we usually went to the Rockhounds games. I feel fortunate to have gotten to spend the time with him that I did before I royally screwed up and got pregnant with Brooke. Which is the picture that I have posted on here. He was one of my best friends who was always willing to be there to be a shoulder to cry on or to plant a kiss on my forehead. I always knew he was in my cheering section and he was rooting me on. He often asked if there was anything he could do and one night I had asked him to come with me to Childbirth Education and be my little sponsor so he could fill mom in on what had gone on. He got sick and I told him to stay home…besides that, it was snowing that evening. I love him very much still. Anyway, in this picture I was 3 weeks away from my due date…eeks….and you guys wonder why Brooke is the size she is. I quit tying my shoes and started making my mom do it at this point because it became a real chore. The kind of chore where you have to lay on the bed and hold your foot in the air to tie them.

To find out more about FCF and how it started visit here.

To the Zoo!!

Well Saturday my mom really hacked me off so I got Brooke dressed and we left. I'm sorry but it was 8:30 in the morning and I had been up since like 6:45. Anyway, we left and as we're driving down the road my sister calls. Well, as it got later we decided to go to the Abilene Zoo and take the kids. This is something that we had been planning on doing all summer, and the opportunity presented itself so we naturally took it. It was explained to me later that this was set up, which it was not. More thoughts on my mother later. Here are some pictures.

The Zoo sign outside of no other than the Zoo. :-)

Pink Flamingo sleeping

The Bear

Spider Monkey

Elephant

Us feeding the Giraffe, that was the best part

The Giraffe running at us...They are beautiful creatures.

Its a rather small zoo, so there wasn't that much to see, but the background is this beautiful lake. It was really beautiful. I think I would take Brooke again, just because it was cheap to get into, and it was small enough that people were there but you weren't having to fight the crowds to see anything, there weren't but about 3 people at any place at the same time. It was really nice. The only bad part was that it was probably over 100 degrees out there, and that concrete and asphalt just radiated the heat. It was nice though.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

Yes, dear friends it’s Friday yet again, and I have a great fortune. Before I give it to you though, I must confess that sometime in the next week I’ll be going on a double date with my sister, brother-in-law, and Freddy. My BIL is trying to hook me up with Freddy. I told Megan about it this morning, and then we went to lunch at our regular Friday lunch hotspot and got our fortunes. So here goes nothing. Oh yes, and this kind of has to go along with ending my current relationship, but if you want more on that you’ll have to either AIM me at KourJalopy, leave a comment, or email me at kourtm2002@hotmail.com. Those are your options, now onto the point of this post.

My fortune for Friday is:

“A new relationship is about to blossom. You will be blessed.” – in bed.

Alright, so there it is.


On a not Fortune Cookie Friday note, we had our lunch paid for by Mr. & Mrs. Thornton, and it was really nice of them. Laura, their daughter, and I grew up together from the time we were in pre-school until we graduated. I pretty much lived at her house, and she lived at mine. I love that girl so much. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Thornton.

NEW BABY NEWS!!

So I found out that my sister is going to have her baby on Friday. Which I’m excited for her, even though she said she was NEVER getting married, and NEVER having kids. Well now this is her third. I have a few mixed emotions over this deal. I’m hurt, because she has not treated me like a sister in a very long time. I’m excited for her because she is so good with kids. Perhaps it’s the part of her partially raising me. I hurt for my dad because that is his daughter and he genuinely cares about his kids, but he has a really hard time showing it sometimes with my mom around. She has controlled and manipulated him for quite some time now, and I’m sure that’s why they are married now. She conned him into asking her to get away from her family. Anyway, enough on my mother, that’s for another post. I’ve been stuck in the middle of this family feud for a really long time and I’m ready to get away from it. I told my sister when I was pregnant that I wanted to have a relationship with her, and I wanted it to be a sisterly one. Yet, not once did I find myself calling her to ask her about being pregnant or things I was experiencing. I did call to tell her that I was having a girl. My sister Celeste was my confidante, my sister, my best friend during all of this, and yet, and I didn’t feel that I could count on my oldest sister to be there. I’m tired of living like this. I’m tired of living in fear that if I talk to my oldest sister, or my grandmother or any of my dad’s family, I’ll be exiled. I’m tired of living in fear that if I decide that the Catholic Church is not for me, I’ll be crucified. I’m tired of living in fear of my mother. I’M TIRED. I’m giving you up mom, if you don’t like my decisions in life, so be it. You haven’t made the best one’s either.

Tuesdie I’m happy for you, and now that I’m older I would like to start building a better relationship with you. I want Brooke to know her cousins, her Aunt Tuesdie, and her Uncle Cody. I want her to know that there is other family out there just besides her Aunt Celeste, Lyndsey, Zachary, Uncle Chris, and Meme and Poppi. I want these things for her and so much more. I want to get to know my three nieces, and I want them to know their Aunt Kourtney. I WANT A BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY FAMILY.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY UPDATE!!

Megan and I went to the drive in last night to see Pirates of the Carribean, and Cars. Well, as we were leaving I get a text message asking me where I had been. Kind of strange because the whole conversation had to do with my fortune this week. Kind of weird I think. I will not name any names because he is someone that I could see myself getting with, not in bed, but in reality. He's someone I could date.

So there ya go...watch out your fortunes may hit right on the button.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

So today is yet again Fortune Cookie Friday, and I am well. Megan, her mom Allison, and I ate lunch at our favorite Chinese food hot spot yesterday, so Megan, THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO POST TODAY!!!

Well, it turns out that by the time last Friday evening rolled around, I was no longer in pain, and I went and got Chinese food. The parents are back in town and once again I AM WELL. I finished the last antibiotic yesterday! WOOHOO!!!

Here is my fortune:

"A friend or partner will soon be calling on you for help" - in bed.

I wonder if it's true!! Considering that there is no "in bed" with anyone for a week, I wonder what kind of help I could be asked to give!!

HAPPY FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

I will post pictures of the goodies my folks brought back soon!! Got some cool stuff.

HAPPY EARLY 4TH!!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July. Hopefully we won't be fighting any fires like we did last year. We'll see.


Myspace Icons Layouts

WOWZA!!!

Okay, so it won't let me upload the picture, but whoever was my 1000th visitor is my hero for the day!! Thanks to all who have supported me, laughed with me, and cried with me too. It's been an amazing journey, and I've loved every bit of it. This has definitely a place where I know that even if no one reads this I was able to write and vent.


Thanks everyone and there are more posts to come...WOOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!

Today is Fortune Cookie Friday, and Kourtney has no fortune for today. Nothing telling me about the guy I'm going to get with in bed or anything. I know everyone must be bummed, but I'm at home lounging around on my rear fighting strep throat while the Brookers is in daycare playing with her friends. The folks are still on vacation so this house can be a very lonely place. It sucks rather bad. I'm watching Rosanne and I don't even like that show...What a loser. Anyway, today is usually the day that I go down to the Sonic down the street from the office and pick me up a number four grilled and a strawberry limeaid. Todays diet consists of pudding and applesauce. I managed to get some chips down last night, but I had to chew those until they were freaking baby food. I'm beginning to feel better as I'm on the downward slide of this mess. Yesterday was the worst as I lived on painkillers most of the day, which only made my face itch once they started wearing off, they did very little for the pain, I've figured out to just live off of hot tea and really cold applesauce, it feels good on the throat. I'm missing my co-workers as something interesting always happens on Fridays, and of coarse Megan, whom I sometimes go to lunch with on Fridays!! I'm bummed. The neighbors behind us are having a Firecracker Fandango tomorrow, we'll probably just listen as they party. Perhaps a few of the hotter ones will want to come over and swim in my pool....now wouldn't that be awesome. Not like Brooke and I will be going while I'm in this condition. Anyway, hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and everyone stays well. Until the next update America.

Laynes 21st Birthday Bash

Megan and I took Layne out for his 21st birthday. I went and picked him up on Friday evening, so that if he became too shitfaced I would be able to drive him home, since I was passing his house anyway. We get there to eat and drink, and he has forgotten his wallet, which contains the all important drivers license, and money. Megan and I had already decided that we would pick up his tab, I mean after all you only turn 21 once, right. We went back to Megans place and had some to drink, then we went and picked up Brooke and I took her home. Here are some pictures that resulted from a very interesting evening.



Apparently the US Government is using telephone poles as recruiting stations...hmmm...this was found on the side of Loop 250, they are stratigically placed on every other telephone pole, beginning at the start of the loop from old Hwy 80, and where you actually get on the loop. Interesting I may add.

Yea baby. This was before we started drinking. "Could you imagine us drunk?!" - Layne

Megan and Layne...

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!

Today is Fortune Cookie Friday!!


Megan and I went to our usual eatery for the good ole Fortune Cookies, and we got some good eats, and the topic of our Friday posts.

We both got rather interesting fortunes to say the least, you can check hers out on her blog. Now remember that when you get a fortune, you have to add “in bed” to the end…it’s a Megan rule.

My Friday Fortune is:

“Now is a good time to explore – in bed.”

Alrighty then….you can go back to my last Fortune Cookie Friday and read my fortune there. What is up?

Things from the Past!!!

As I sit here reading this girls blog about how her life sucks, and I’m sure it really does suck. I remember back to something my dad has said. If you are nice to people sometimes they take it differently. Meaning sometimes they take it as hey, I’ll let you get in my pants. When all you really wanted to do was be nice and be someone’s friend. Yet you are mistaken for your kindness and it turns into something more. I vividly recall this moment when I was a senior. There was this boy, whose name I don’t remember, and he was a freshman and new to the school. He apparently thought I was hot so he decided to give me a note. I didn’t want to be ugly to him, so I was nice polite and spoke to him. He took it as I was hitting on him. It was homecoming and it was obvious that he was looking for a date. He wanted me to come pick him up. Friday came, we didn’t speak during school hours, but he would call me continuously on the phone. He was obsessed. I didn’t come pick him up so he called my house 20 times and left many different messages. I was embarrassed. I had probably just scared him for life. I had done damage to someone I didn’t even know, and yet it was not intentional.

I’m not really sure as to why I’m a magnet for freaky guys!! Do you? I don’t seek to love many people; I just want to be friends with lots of people. I like people, and I consider myself a people person. But I always attract weirdly odd people….WHATS WRONG WITH ME!! I did have this great boyfriend one time, Jason. I screwed that one up. He didn’t know what he wanted with me, and I was so confused by his confusion I didn’t know what to do. He was truly a really great guy, and had I just stuck it out with him, I probably wouldn’t have Brooke, and I possibly wouldn’t still be living in Middle of no where, Texas. I don’t know, but everything happens for a reason.

I would like to share about how our relationship came to be. After graduating high school, I went back to help my old track coach, doing what I loved best, keeping times, distances, what not. I was in the training room quite a bit, when I decided to introduce myself, and tell this man, whom I belonged to. I guess we hit it off then. But then that weekend, we had a track meet in Kermit. He started hanging out by me, while I was doing my job and picking on me heavily. Well, one thing led to another and he asked if I wanted to go with him to lunch. I said I wasn’t that hungry, but I would ride with him. I just got me some French fries. Then he told me as we were sitting there, that he was going to pay for my food. I said that was alright. Then one evening he had just gotten back from Blaine’s Picnic in San Angelo, and he came by Subway, where I was employed at the time, left me his business card, and told me he lived in 713. I went by after work, since I got off at like 8 or something. Then things began happening, not those kinds of things, but we started bonding and connecting. On Easter, I went to work early so that I could go to the ballgame with him. He came by, got a sandwich and left an Easter card on my car. How sweet. When he would leave town, he would make me play this hide and seek game, only with cards, and prizes, and everyday, there would be a new card, and a new prize. I LOVED IT!! It was fun. I loved him, and I still do. We had our hard times, and things were rough at times, just as in all relationships. He was there all during my pregnancy supporting me every step of the way, and he was there after she was born as well. The most meaningful thing is him coming to visit me the day after she was born.

This man definitely made a huge impact in my life. I definitely want to find someone like him, with the same great attitude and outlook on life. If you’re out there, know that you DID make a difference in my life.

Broken Spirit next?

I am broken, along with everything else that I seem to own. I don’t know that I’ve given up on hope, or if it gave up on me. They say that everything happens in three’s. We’re going to find out. First, my laptop mouse breaks, causing me to use the little touch pad mouse thing, which is pretty inconvenient. Then my cell phone decides that it’s going to just not going to cooperate. I called to have the mouse replaced, done. Now we are working on the cell phone. Apparently this is something to do with perhaps the electrical wiring of the phone. I can’t talk to anyone other than by headset or speaker phone. Frankly you can’t walk through Wal-mart on speaker phone. Not everyone needs to know what you and your boy toy did last night. Not, that I have one, but still. So we’ll see. What’s the third you may ask, well, I have no idea, as it has not happened yet. Although, I did see a little maroon Saturn being towed away, just like my car a year ago. It made me sad, and perhaps this is some insight as to what might be coming my way. I’ve been in too many accidents to know that they are avoidable, but sometimes can’t be. I’ve been in situations, the accuser, and the victim. Neither are fun, honestly. Have fun contemplating what’s next in the drama of “The Day of My Life.” Next episode Kourtney talks about how it went and what happened. Whether they replaced her phone, or if she was just screwed for the next year. Stay tuned for episode two.

The Past on Two Legs

So the past has two legs. Two legs you may say...yes two legs, two arms, and the rest you know about. The past is male. This man I call my ex, which is from when I was 18, always calls when his WIFE is out of town. He always wants me to come over and see him or go out of town with him to somewhere. No is always the answer, for heaven's sake he is married. And if I were really mean I would call his wife when I know that he is at work and inform her of these occurances, but I don't want to ruin the marriage because she will find out and it won't be pretty. However, I will not be the barrer of bad news to his family, that's his job. It would be totally different if I were friends with he AND his wife, but I am not. I do know her from when they dated way back when, but I'm not familiar with her now. I feel kind of creeped out because he is a pervert, and he has asked me to sleep with him many of times since they've been married. This girl is not giving in, she is not going to ruin someone's marriage. I will not ALLOW it to happen, nor will I be the fuel to feed the fire to his family. I am much stronger than that, although some may dissagree.

You should check out Megan's blog as she had an ex boyfriend encounter yesterday as well. Perhaps yesterday was Ex boyfriend day, and no one told us.

We went to the baseball game last night with my dad, I'll post pictures later.

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

FORTUNE COOKIE FRIDAY!!!

So it's Fortune Cookie Friday!!

Here is my fortune:

"Find release from your cares, have a good time" - in bed

Hell yea...I'll have a good time in bed...oh wait, don't you have to have a man to have a good time in bed with? Well, never mind then.

Visit Megan to see if she has posted hers yet, and if not let her know how behind she is.

OH BOY!!!

When does this week end?! It has been a rather long week! Brooke has been so grumpy and fussy when we get home in the evenings. My mom is leaving town tomorrow and will be gone until Sunday. Then my parents leave for Missouri next Saturday and return July 3rd. They were supposed to leave later and get back on the 5th, but I expressed my concerns about being home on the fourth of July with a two year old. Considering my neighbors caught the back pasture on fire last year!! I told my dad that under no circumstances would I be fighting a fire with a two year old on my hip and watching my house burn down all while my parents were out of town. So I feel a little bit relieved that they’re plans are changing. I have a wedding to attend the Saturday they leave for my childhood best friend! I got myself into a situation that I cannot seem to dig my way out of!! Oops!! I’m working on the side doing some drafting for some people we do business with, and I need to get that finished! My house is a total disaster! I need to buy some tile for the bathroom and get to work on that!! Hmm…Do I hear any volunteers?! It’s just the self stick tile, but none the less it doesn’t do itself, and it’s a makeover to my bathroom, which I just redid in a frog theme for Brooke. Its some beautiful tile that will go down to replace the yellow marble linoleum that is way outdated and has been there since 1983!!! GROSS!! It looks like someone missed the damn toilet and peed all over the damn floor. There is hairspray buildup I’m sure from my sisters, considering I did not grow up in the hairspray era. They grew up in the day of BIG HAIR!! I mean they really had regulations on how tall your bangs could be!!! So the floor is black in some areas and rather noticeable. It’s kind of gross if you ask me. The big part will be scrubbing the floor to get that crap off!! This could take a while.

There is my next couple of weeks at a glance!! I need a hot sexy man to come do the bathroom!! Any volunteers?!! Oh yea…and this girl will probably be doing it herself, without her daddy’s help for once!!!

Well, Brooke and I went on our picnic on Friday to a rather cool park that they’ve just remodeled. It was nice. I’ll post more about it and pictures later.

For my friend Megan the day after her birthday:

This is my beautiful friend Megan. She has been my best friend since the 1st grade. Let’s do some calculations, so for 16 years we have been inseparable. When I was pregnant she was my biggest supporter. She even carried around the pregnancy test for me and we saw an old classmate in Wal-Mart that particular night. She didn’t care. She was the first to get the call after the first test. She reassured me to keep taking them, since after all 3 did come to a box. Better be safe than sorry. She went with me to my first OBGYN appointment, and she was a shoulder that I cried on after it was all over. I cried today because yesterday was her birthday, she is now the big 22. Welcome to the 22 club. She has been there for me for so long that it’s hard to not be able to see her. When she lived in Lubbock, if she came home we were not apart but to sleep. I would also make weekend trips up there while being pregnant to spend time with her, because I was dealing with depression and she was my get away. Friday mornings I would get up, get dressed and decide that at 5 I would be on my way to Lubbock, a few phone calls later and I was packed and ready to hit the road. This



continued until it became too uncomfortable to travel, and then I went no where. Toward the end of my pregnancy I made one last trip up there to see that girl, and it was long overdue. She was the main hostess of my first baby shower, and a great one at that. We disagreed a lot and she would tell you that yes, I was a real bitch during this time, but she didn’t give me up as a friend. We dealt accordingly knowing that all too soon this time would pass. She was there with me every step of the way, encouraging me and guiding me down this seemingly long and endless road. She was the first of my friends to hold the baby, and that was a joyous moment, although she was scared that she would somehow harm this little fragile baby, we called Cornelius for sooo long. I just hope that I have been as great of a friend to her as she’s been to me. I LOVE THIS GIRL so much, it’s hard to imagine my life without her. She’s the only one who has really stuck around after having Brooke. I know that she is my one TRUE friend, and that no matter what we go through together, she will always be there.

Picnicking in a beautiful park...

Brooke and I went on a picnic on Friday, and I enjoyed it so much that I think we’ll make it a tradition and perhaps try out all the parks in town. I enjoyed watching her play and only having to get onto her a few times for running near the street or something, but overall she was really good and I think she enjoyed the freedom. She likes to swing so she did that a lot, climbed on things, ran around and just enjoyed getting some fresh air for two hours. Before we left we sat on a blanket and ate some fruit and she really enjoyed that. We went to HEB got sandwiches, chex mix, fruit, Capri Sun’s, and water. Next time we will take some balls and play out in the grass. I love the park we visited it’s so beautiful and serene. I will take pictures and post them for everyone to see. I didn’t get any pictures of Brooke but the park itself is beautiful. For a while it was just me and Brooke and a few walkers, and then people started coming from everywhere. We had so much fun. I love to watch her run and play and just have a good time. It makes me happy to see her so delighted at the simplest things. Fridays are definitely picnic and ice cream days for us. If you’d like to go with us on our fun Fridays then contact me here!!!

Oh yes and please this is our first hurray at picnicking so if you have any ideas as to some food that I could take a long that is easy please comment here as well. I’m new at this kind of thing. She doesn’t eat much meat but I’m trying my hardest to change that, she’s in love with chicken and tuna, a long with hot dog weenies. So if you have any thoughts, feel free to put them here.

HAPPY PICNICKING!!!

Valentine's Day 1995

I know it’s not Valentine’s Day, but I don’t care.


While sitting here I remember a particular night of my very young life. I was in the 5th grade and they had a Valentine’s Day dance at the school. I tried to put myself out there when I was young and participated in everything they had, fun nights, dances, you know elementary things. I was not popular, I did not wear the best clothes and I was somewhat okay with that. My parents were trying to pay for my oldest sisters wedding at that time! So I went to the dance with hope that someone there might ask me to dance! Well, my hopes were shattered! I got to dance with someone and that’s because their girlfriend, who was my best friend at the time, told them to come dance with me. So we danced, I can’t say it was all star filled because I knew the truth, he was forced to. After the night ended and everyone went home, I was still hopeless. On Monday everyone came back to school, and my friend, the girlfriend, told me that after he danced with me he told her that he was going to have to go home and burn his clothes! I was not nasty, I did not stink, but I definitely didn’t wear the clothes he did either! Did I mention that we were poor? I tried to let it go, but it today has come back to haunt me!! How could my best friend let him say something like that and not stand up for me? I know I was young, but at that age your body is starting to change, well at least mine was. I had hit puberty and that was traumatizing to me. Not to mention that my class was still adjusting to the new teacher because our first teacher Mrs. Carder had left us at Christmas to move back to her hometown with her husband. I remember this event because I wondered if the new teacher would be able to deal with my ADHD as Mrs. Carder had, and she assured me that everything would be okay. She wrote letters and what not, but it was hard with her gone. This was a long time ago, just think 11 years and its still haunting me. I’ve never been ugly to him since that very day. I let it go, but think that could possibly be part of my insecurities. I bet he doesn’t even remember that day at all.

Set in my ways? Stubborn?

Is it wrong to not want to talk to someone on a Monday morning? Or perhaps did I come into the office in one mindset, to piss people off? Why do I feel that I don’t really want to speak to this person unless deemed necessary? Of course if I huffed and puffed through the office like I was mad all the time no one would want to talk to me either, I guess turnabout is fair play.

But don’t you just love people who do not pick up after themselves. Makes more than one pot of coffee but won’t clean it up at the end of the day. Takes the last cup but doesn’t go get anymore, or tell anyone. Expects everyone’s opinion to be the same as theirs, and doesn’t give a crap about what you think. They’re always right. Thinks ground squirrels are prairie dogs, and begs to differ when you tell them differently. Knows everything about drugs on the market because they’ve been on so many, so suddenly they are a pharmacist. Is paranoid and thinks everyone is out to get them, which they’re not. Stares at you because they has nothing else better to do. Makes everyone’s business their own because they doesn’t have any. Doesn’t like “mixed” babies because they are going to feel different in this world, even if you treat them normally. Doesn’t like the fact that I did not file for child support, and they can kiss my rear. Probably doesn’t like the fact that I too have a “mixed” child, but I don’t care because she’s beautiful. They never compliment anyone because I’m sure they don’t like themselves. Thinks everyone is a dumb ass, and they are smarter than everyone else.

Frankly I get tired of telling people like this that they look nice, or that I noticed they got a haircut, or anything else. When they act like you should give everything to them and cater to them. So, perhaps I’m stubborn or perhaps I was brought up with a few manors. Or it just could be that I’m very set in my ways.

Make a nice day!!

Random photos of my family!!!

My neice Lyndsey (7), nephew Zachary (9), and my daughter Brooke (2). A trip to Target, the French Department Store.

My sister, Celeste, and I bbq'in and having a good time...

My dad playing his guitar in the backyard. It's his hobby and he's good at it too. Brooke has always liked to be around when he played too.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids, that we made them worse. I'd like better

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream, and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed, mow the lawn, and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye for fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bathroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister want to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy/girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue to a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he's not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs and kisses you at Hanukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you -- tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, its the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University Seniors.

What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it you'll die?

I found this very much like Paul Harvey. Even though he has really annoying music, he always has good points to make. Please post your answers in the comments of this section. In a couple of days I'll will let you know the answer and who was right. Happy commenting!!!

A LOOONG WEEKEND!!!!

I hope that everyone had a safe Memorial Day. A time to remember those who have given their time for my freedom, and some their lives. I am forever grateful for those Service Men & Women. Thank you doesn't say enough for their time and lives.

It has been a severely long weekend. Brooke has been sick with all kinds of stuff, and I was planning on going to work today, but being thrown up on last night for most of the night was just too much for me. I got a call on Friday that she was throwing up. I took her to HEB because she acted fine, but then unexpectedly she threw up all over HEB, and some nice lady helped me out by getting us paper towels and offering to do my shopping for me. She was probably a mother who had been through this before. What an amazing lady, offering to do my shopping for me while I stayed in that aisle. She is the last of her kind I'm sure, because no one would have been that helpful. Anyway, sorry for my blogging hiatus, it's been crazy with work, work, work, and Brooke. Have a good day, and here's a shout to Loren!!

Please be safe.