We went out Friday night! Yay!! John and I went to the local bar/restaurant. His friends were going there cause there was a good band playing. We got there early and sat at a table.... had a drink.... ordered a little appetizer to split..... listened to the band.... hmmm.... ok, now what? HA His friends were late and we are so old and out of the loop, we didn't know what to do with ourselves. It was so funny. What are you supposed to do in a bar? I jokingly said, lets bail and go to a movie. 5 min later he says, I really want to go to a movie now. LOL His friends got there and we left! We didn't even say hi to them. It was so funny. We're really lame.

**We went to see Brides Maids. OMG!! It was hysterical. If you haven't seen this movie, GO! Just great, pee your pants funny, good time movie. After, we went driving around trying to find a Dunkin Donuts that was open and that may actually HAVE donuts. I hate the fact that D&D stopped making the donuts in house. So a lot of the times you'll go there late and they wont have donuts. Uhm, HELLO!! The place is called Dunkin DONUTS!!! Which means, you should HAVE DONUTS! We did end up finding one and got home about 2 am.

**Woke up Saturday morning (way to early) and started making a list of all the things we needed to finish off Nick's NJ Project for school. Went shopping and came home to get it done. Half way through Nick says something about it being due Monday. I said, no, it's due Wednesday. We debate back and forth while I find the paper on it only to find out that it does have to be in Monday. CRAPTASTIC!! I really thought we would have more time. But NOOOoooo. Now we're rushing like crazy to get this thing done. He did a lot of it himself, but we had to really pitch in so it was done on time. I worked Sunday and then came home and put in a couple extra hours to finish off the project. But it was worth it. It came out great!

**We took a break from the project Saturday night to visit my friend. She has a new baby and she's very tiny and so cute. She also has a little girl who's almost 3 and she's adorable and loves playing with my kids. Calli said to me earlier that day, "Momma, I wish you would have another baby." After I stopped chocking, I informed her that was NOT going to happen and that's why mommy has friends who have babies so that I can play with them and give them back! I don't have to deal with them when they're 4 and having a temper tantrum and talking back. Woot, best of both worlds. It was nice hanging with Shawna and her gang. I miss adult conversations even if they revolve around the kids, it's still not talking TOO kids.

**Today is cleaning day. I had cleaned up last week, but due to NJ Project mayhem, it looks like a hurricane hit in here. There's just stuff everywhere and you know John didn't clean anything! Ug, MEN! Off to get started. I'll be home if anyone feels like cleaning with me.

I have a hot date tonight!! I told Calli that and she said, you can't go on dates, you have a husband. Yes you can, especially if it's your husband you're dating! We're going out tonight! And we're going out TOGETHER!! LOL This very rarely happens. I go out, he goes out, but one of us is always stuck home with the kids. Especially since our sitter has decided to grow up. She's 17 now and she thinks she has the right to go out and have fun with her friends! What's up with that crap? Luckily, tonight she was free and we can go out and play YAY!! We're just going to a local place, but hey, we're out without the kids! WOOT

**Crappy day at work today. It was soooo dead and they had way to many servers on. In 3 hours, I made 20. I had them cut me an hour early cause it was pointless. I hate days like that.

**Everyone who knows me knows that I have two black thumbs. I kill everything. So a few weeks ago I bought a really healthy looking tomato plant in hopes of keeping it that way. So far so good!! I kept it in its pot and on the front steps so I see it every day and remember to water it. John suggested planting it in the back yard, but I know if I do that, I'll forget about it, never water it and let it die. So, here's my plan. I bought a big pot to transplant it in so it has room to grow and keeping it on the porch. Cross your fingers folks!!

**Nick and I had the "talk" today. I kept telling John that he needed to do it but he refused. They gave them a talk about puberty at school today so I sat down with him to clear up any questions he might have had. He seemed really embarrassed at fist but I think me being calm about it helped him. I explained it all to him. He did ask how sex worked and I told him. I kept saying "This is not something you need to worry about for at LEAST 7 years!!" I'm not jaded. I know my kids are not going to wait till marriage for sex. They'll be teenagers like 95% of the rest of the world. But LATE TEENS is my goal. I stressed LOVE must be involved and all that jazz. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible so in the future, if he ever needs to talk about something, he knows he can come to me. I hope it works. I was very technical, but kept it on his level. He seemed to understand. My gosh, I can't believe he's at this age already. That he's even hitting puberty is CRAZY!! My baby isn't a baby anymore. :o( Two more years and I'll be having this same conversation with Calli. Ug!! Shoot me now.

**Ok, off to get dolled up for my hot date! Woot

I watched Barry Manilow on The Talk yesterday (LOVE THAT SHOW). I forgot how many of his songs I really like. I actually love me some Barry. BUT.... what the hell has he done to himself??? He's had so much plastic surgery he looks like he's dead. Ya know when you go to a funeral and you see the body in the casket and their skin is tight and the makeup is caked on? That's what his face is like. And between that and all the botox.... He was smiling and you couldn't even tell! I hate when people do that to themselves. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind plastic surgery for a lift here and there, but when you pull your skin so tight that you can't blink, that's too much. I was really enjoying the music, I just did my best not to look at the tv.

I had a feel good moment at work today. I had a couple of tables going. One was a woman and her son who was handicapped and another was a group of guys, workmen on lunch. When the guys were finished I gave them their check and one of the men asked for the ladies check as well. I smiled and handed it to him. He paid both checks, left me a hefty tip and asked that I not say anything till they were gone. When the woman was done and asked for her check I told her the gentleman at the other table paid it already. She looked at me and said "What? Why? Why would he do that??" I said, "I have no idea, just smile and pay it forward." She smiled, but I think she was in shock. LOL Who knows why he paid the bill. Maybe he has a disabled child of his own and knows the struggles, maybe he just won the lottery and picked a random table, maybe he was grateful the her child was the only kid in the place that wasn't screaming and he appreciated the behavior. We'll never know. But to that man... My hats off to you. Learn a lesson from him my friends.

May we all take a moment to try and make a random strangers life a little easier, whether it be paying the toll on the bridge for the guy behind you, picking up the check for a weary mom, or helping someone with their groceries. A small act that makes someone smile can make you smile as well and warm your hearts for a long time.

When I'm out and about, doing my grocery shopping or what have you, I make sure I use the facilities before I leave home. But on the rare occasion that I've had too much coffee or the shopping is taking longer then planned, I may need to use the loo. On these occasions, I usually try to hold it for as long as possible in hopes of getting out of there and home to my own potty so as to not have to use the public rest room.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! To all of those who use the public restrooms: It is a PUBLIC restroom, which means, more people than just YOU are going to be using it. Now I understand that some of you have the crazy "Ew, germs" fear of toilet bowls and refuse to sit even using the little paper sanitizer thingy. So, you do the hover. That's fine. I have no problem with the hover. The problem I have is now that you've hovered, you've proceeded to pee all over the seat. And what do you do? Do you have common courtesy and wipe the seat so the next person can use the facilities without being totally grossed out?? NNNOOOoooooo You pull up your pants and walk out like your urethra has perfect aim and would never allow a drop to spill in an unwanted area. Never even bothering to consider the poor soul who while trying to hold it till she gets home has now waited too long and is about to pee her pants. And she may just have too pee her pants because unlike the hoverers... some of us pee for longer periods of time and can not hover. We MUST sit and there is someone else's disgusting pee all over the seat.

Please note that I ALWAYS wipe the seat before I sit for two reasons. 1. To of course make sure the seat is (semi) clean and not wet and 2. that way you always know if there's toilet paper. My point is this, If I'm about to pee myself, a quick wipe down is ok. But when you now have to do a thorough cleaning and double to triple wipes because the seat is covered all while doing the criss cross pee pee dance, you may not make it. It is not fair to the sitters to have to suffer for the hoverers.

So Please, if you are a hoverer.... If you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat! Jeeze louise!

That is my public service announcement for the day. Thank You

P.S. - FYI, I was able to hold it long enough to get a good wipe down. No clothing was pee'd on during the making of this blog.

It's hard to get to sleep when there isn't someone else in bed with you. Don't get me wrong, I like having the entire bed to myself to spread out and I love not having to kick said other person to get them to stop snoring. But, actually going into your empty room and getting in an empty bed is kind of unnerving. John had to go to NC yesterday for work. He'll be home tonight though, so I'll have someone to kick again. YAY

Ha, I have this little chinese woman who walks my road every day. Good for her getting her exercise. She's gotta be in her 60's and she walks up and down and backwards. But the funniest thing is she talks. I assume that she has a blue tooth in and is talking to someone, but that is just an assumption. LOL I've never actually seen a blue tooth in her ear. And boy does she get animated. She gets to yellin' in chinese and it's hysterical. Gotta love her.

Speaking of yelling. Our neighbors across the street ... whooo boy. Can that woman scream! I think she's right up there with John. Either her kids are awful or really slow or something cause she's in there at 7:30 or so just bustin' an aneurysm in her head screaming about teeth brushing and bookbags. The entire street can hear her with the windows open. I sit out on the front porch and just listen. Not because I'm nosey (although I totally am) it's more.... well, it makes me feel like a better mother. LOL Hey, I yell at the kids, don't get me wrong, but she's insane and her voice is very shrill. I know she's a crazy busy woman. I think at this point she has too much on her plate and she's lost her mind. I pray I don't get that bad.

So spring came and went in about 2 days flat. I don't understand what's happening with the weather. It's crazy. We went from the 30's to the 90's almost instantly. The next few days are supposed to be near 100. It's insane. BUT, the beginning of summer and the end of spring is a really good thing! Not only is the beautiful weather here, but it means the END OF SPORTS!! WOOT!! No more running from this event to that one, practices, missing cleats, uniforms and hats. No more 4 hour long track meets (that ones for John). Calli has one or two more games and Nick is down to just his banquet. It's a wonderful thing. We can all take a deep breath and relax a little bit. During the spring I get maybe one or two nights off a week. The weekends are booked and it feels never ending. Now it's a count down to the end of school.

The end of school means some good things and some bad.

Good: I no longer work during the week (the cost of a babysitter would negate any money I make).

Bad: I loose that income.

Good: I get to sleep in a little bit.

Bad: I'll be woken to the screams of "NICK STOP IT!!" or "Mom, I'm hungry"

Good: We'll have time to do things out and about.

Bad: We wont have the money to do things.

Good: The kids will be able to play outside all the time

Bad: The kids will tell me at least 100 times a day that they're bored and hungry!

Good: We have a pool in the backyard so the kids can swim all they want.

Bad: They kids will tell me every day that they don't want to swim in our pool, they want to go to Allison's!!

Good: I get to spend time with the kids that doesn't consist of us running from here to there.

Bad: I have to spend time with the kids while they try to kill each other for the next 2 months.

So see, there's always a dark side to the bright side. But.... HAPPY THOUGHTS!!

Happy Thoughts is my mantra. The folks at the Cracker Barrel know not to get cranky around me cause they'll have me yelling it in their ears. "Hey, none of that! Happy Thoughts!" Most of the time the response I get is, "Fuck your happy thoughts"... but, it always comes with a smile and I know I've cheered them up a little bit at least. I'm the Mom there and guidance counselor. I try to keep everyone happy as much as possible. Cause when they're miserable, the whole place goes to hell. Happy Thoughts make Happy People

Gotta clean my house today. That is my goal. I've been sick for the last couple days and haven't been able to do much. I did do the laundry and dishes, but that's about it. Today is cleaning. Mom's coming over tomorrow, so I need the house presentable. I hate having people come over when the house is trashed. BUT, I'm usually too lazy to clean it. LOL Hence, not many people come over. Although, you're ALWAYS welcome to come over. Just give me a little warning so I can shove everything in closets. And know that it wont be "clean", just picked up enough to not need the hazmat team.

Ok, enough procrastinating. MUST CLEAN BOOOooooooooo

The "sicks" have hit our house. Ug. I've been fighting a chest cold. Yesterday, I was miserable. If I coughed... OUCH! I actually called out of work which I NEVER do. Especially on a Sunday (my money day). But John worked a lot of overtime this week, so it balanced.

Calli was starting to feel it last night and woke up pretty crappy this morning. She didn't have a fever, so I sent her to school with instructions to go to the nurse if she's really miserable. We'll see if she lasts the day. I hate summer colds! You should never get sick in the summer. It ruins the fun.

I sat at Nick's last track meet yesterday. He did pretty well. Track is not his thing. He hates it and I think it was a one time deal. But trying something new is always important. He did improve over the season and that's great. We left early though. He had done some extra events so he didn't want to wait the hour or so for his last event (I didn't blame him). We missed some interesting happenings though. Apparently, during the down time in between events, some of the kids went into the woods and thought it would be fun to throw rocks into the parking lot. They then played target practice with the cars! They damaged 3 or 4 cars (two of which were coaches) and set off an alarm which brought people looking and got them busted. Police were called and needless to say, our coach is PISSED!!

I can't imagine what the parents of those kids are feeling right now. I'm sure they are freaking out. I'm just glad it wasn't my kid! Thank God! I can say, NICK DIDN"T DO IT! What were these kids thinking?? Throw rocks.. ok... Hit cars with them???? WHAT? That's just crazy. Unfortunately, I know that Nick is such a follower, that if he was there with them, he probably would have done it too. So glad we left. Although, Nick has to stay with us during meets because there is so much down time, he easily gets in trouble. I used it as a teaching tool this morning though. I told him what happened and then gave him a big long speach about it. Basically, if you ever did something like that, this, this, this and this would happen. Blah blah blah, I'm sure I sounded like the Peanuts teacher by the end. But hopefully it sunk it that doing something like that is NOT a good idea.

We walked the Denville street festival afterwards, but I was feeling so awful, I just wanted to go home. We watched Gnomeo & Juliet which was cute and then John and I watched 127 Hours. That's the movie about the guy that went climbing and the rock fell and caught his arm and he had to cut his arm off to save himself. It was pretty intense. Poor guy!! Would I do that? Would I say "Fuck it" and die there or would I be able to cut my arm off and walk out with my stump. I don't know. I don't think I would worry about the loss of the arm. It would be the actual cutting off of the arm that would cause me pause. I can't handle a stubbed toe!!

Ok, on a new tangent.... Like I said before, I went back and read all my old posts. I talk a lot about how crappy my memory is. Well, apparently that is correct, because I couldn't remember half of what I wrote!! I'm laughing at all this stuff and reading it to John. (He didn't remember some of it either so I didn't feel too bad). Damn kids suck your brain cells out and they never regenerate! I really need to keep up with the blog so I can look back at it when I'm in my 80's and know what I did! My entire life is just a whisper in the wind. What I really need is to have our lives on one of those reality shows. Have cameras around us all the time so that its all caught on tape and we can never forget it. Although... having everything we do and say on tape.... maybe not such a good idea. LOL

I have more to say, but I think I've changed subjects enough for today. More tomorrow. Off to do laundry, yup, still have that to do constantly!

Long Time, No Type

I can't believe it's been almost 2 years since I've written my blog. Two Years!! That's just crazy. A friend recently mentioned that he missed reading it so I thought I would run down memory lane and see what I wrote.

I just spent the last 2 days re-reading all my posts. I think some of them are missing. Especially the very first ones. They're all gone, but that's all right.

Dang, I was a miserable son of a bitch, wasn't I? I can't believe how down I was all time. I didn't have many good things to say, although I did say it very eloquently. I didn't realize how well I wrote. LOL

I do realize that most of this was written pre-surgery which would explain the depression and also that was not a great time for John and I.

Boy, how times have changed....

The last time I wrote, we had just moved to Rockaway. Well, we've been here two years now and are really happy. I love this town. Always have. The kids are in school and are both doing great. Nick started main stream school this year and really happy.

John's working at a place he likes (so far). He's not making great money, but enough. I work part time at Cracker Barrel. I went back to my roots, waitressing. It works well for our schedule. I work while the kids are at school and on Sundays. During the summer, I only work Sundays. How many jobs will let you do that??? None. Our collars couldn't be any bluer at this point, but hey, we're the typical American family.

We've semi gotten our finances in order. The house still hasn't sold in Byram. Can you believe that!! It's still sitting there. Waiting for foreclosure, but we've just pretty much forgotten about it. That's the past. We've gotten most of our bills paid off (through the help of friends) and now we're trying to pay off those friends. Always in debt I guess. John was getting paid a lot last year with his last job (but insane hours) but the new job is a lot less. At this point we are just getting by so of course, paying others off is going to take longer than we hoped. But it WILL happen damnit. I'm determined! At least at this point we're not stressing over whether we'll have money for the bills. It's always there! That's an amazing feeling.

I think being able to pay the bills has done a number on us. It's changed our lives for the better. John and I rarely fight anymore (not never, but rarely LOL) We're less stressed and just happier people.

I've been at 150 pounds for almost 2 years now. It's awesome. I'm in a size 6. Can you believe that? From a 18 - 22 to a 6! Yay Surgery! I'm still not happy with my body though (of course). I really want a body lift! Boobs, tummy, butt, arms. I look really good in clothes, but naked.... not so much. I look like the incredible melting woman. It's sad, but hey, I look good in clothes. LOL

My mood is definitely MUCH better. I still have my days where I hate everyone and everything, but that's mostly my PMS times.

So, hopefully, I'll start this blog back up and running and have way better things to talk about... happier things.

I'm off to work now. More to come!