So behind...so far to catch up...

Hi all... I have been very negligent of my blogger being. I have been busy and less than focused on anything.

Quickly...Steve had his last T-Ball game and it rained and rained for the two innings that they played. Being in the Seattle area I feel very fortunate that we only had one game with rain - that is one game out of 13...That is GREAT. Steve got the game ball and was very excited. We still have the party and trophies but that will be in a couple of weeks.

Last Friday I went on a field trip with Steve's class to the beach. Again it was supposed to be nasty weather and we lucked out and it was nice out. The picture is of a Seastar was saw while we were there. It was the biggest one I have ever seen not being at the aquarium.

Work is hectic...we have a list of projects a mile long and it keeps growing day by day...owell that is how it goes.

My friend at work must be getting very frustrated with me....not only do I hold her back during walks where she kicks my butt all over the path....I have been gone alot between doctors appointments, counseling appointments, field trips and NOW jury duty. Its a good thing she loves me or I would be in deep doo dooo 8)

Today was day one of my two day stint at jury duty. I thought that I would be able to catch up on blogging today, sitting and waiting but first thing I got called. I went through the entire day of the jury selection process just to get dismissed in the second round of lawyer dismissals. Now I get to go back tomorrow and hope that they don't pick me for another trial...if it all works out I will be back at work Friday. Then I should be there everyday till the last day of school...hopefully.

Well, I also booked Steve's plan tickets to Cali.....he is going at the end of June. I am relieved and saddened. I know it is best for him...he need to see his sisters and even his dad.....and this year will be easier I am sure for both of us...but I will still feel lost while he is gone. We will both fly down and then I will turn right around and come back.

Then there is the whole idea of dating...well thats another story...no, no dates YET...but man I tell you I am too old for this 8)

I will try to visit everyone soon. I hope you are all having a great week!!

Timing is Everything…….

People have told me that timing is everything….and it’s true. The hard part about timing is knowing when is the right time to take chances or when is the right time to sit back and wait. For some things it is right to throw caution to the wind and go for it…other times it is right to take it slow and wait for the right moment to go for what you want. My problem has always been knowing which is the right way to proceed at the right time. Sometimes if you wait…you loose the chance to explore the possibilities….then you are left wondering….what if?

I am still getting it wrong a lot…so I am still learning. But I also whole heartedly believe that if something is meant to happen it will…if it is not meant to be it just wont no matter how much you force it….so if there is any doubt…wait……take the time…..something I choose to live by.

Learning Life’s Lesson’s One Day at a Time….

Everyday I know that there is a new lesson for me to learn. I try to keep an open mind to what is out there and never assume that I know it all. Each day I am humbled by what my son presents to me in life. To assume that I will ever stop being faced with a new life lesson is naïve and irresponsible. I hope to always see the good in people and remember bad things in life are only a small part of life’s grandeur.

I think I will get another degree

Back before I left my x husband I was going for a 3rd degree. A Master's in Education. I was getting a 4.0 so far...but after everything feel apart...I couldn't function much other than the day to day care of Steve and my job. Everything else had to go. Now its almost impossible for me to even consider it. I think I am basically ok with that now because I am happier than I have been in a VERY long time....

BUT then I got this email that got me to thinking about maybe trying again...this is how it read....

Subject: Get your deploma today


F A S T T R A C K D I P L O M A P L A N

Achieve it now!

Dear Candidate:

We've been helping people since 1957 obtain the recognition they
deserve for their life experience. Through established relationships
with distinguished non-accredited Universities and Colleges, we can help
you too.

We grant non-accredited recognition for your knowledge and life
experience -

Obtain the Diploma or Degree you deserve. If you're too busy to
sit in a classroom, the fast track provides a Bachelor's, Master's or
Doctorate that shows what you really can do, truly "a higher education
certificate what you ALREADY know" -



:: No Books
:: No Courses!
:: No Tests!
:: No Hassles!



To help us determine the right program for you, tell us about
your

a.. Previous experience or training in the field
for which you are seeking recognition.

b.. Your self-assessment and self-evaluation.

c.. Previous course work.

d.. Personal goals and career path.

NOTE: You must be 27 years of age or older, and must have at
least five years of experience or training in the field for which you are
seeking recognition. Help us to help you by providing an accurate
self-assessment when filling out the form.

Complete as many details as possible. Note that your contact
telephone numbers are very important and that both a daytime and evening
number should be provided for quick response.




-------

REALY - do people really fall for this crap...gosh and to think I took test after test after test to get my degrees....gessshhhh...

Hope everyone is having a great week!!

21 Firsts...

I am at a loss on what to write about lately...so this is one of those list things....when all else fails just tell everyone all about yourself 8) I hope everyone has a great week!!

21 Firsts

1.Who was your first prom date?
I never went to prom

2. Who was your first roommate?
SH from high school. We lived in the apartment for one week before she moved her new boyfriend in....I think I lasted 6 months there and went back home for two months before moving out again, with another friend and then her boyfriend.

3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time?
Vodka and orange juice.

4. What was your first job?
I was a busperson at a restaurant. I was 15.

5. What was your first car?
It was a dodge omni - it cost me $800.

6. When did you go to your first funeral?
One of my great aunts when I was about 12.

7. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?
25

8. Who was your first grade teacher?
I think it was Miss Elliason

9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
Montana but I dont remember. The first one I remember was Reno, Nevada when I was 21.

10. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
2 guys...but no it was totally innocent..all we did was walk everywhere in the rain. Goodness my poor mother. But I don't think she knows even now.

11. Who was your first Best Friend and are you still friends?
Kim...nope I haven't seen her since we were 16. The next one was Ang. and yes we are still friends...She is the one I went to visit in Reno.

12. Where was your first sleepover?
Kim's when we lived next door from each other. I was always at her house.

13. How and when did you first meet the person who did this before you?
The person I got this from was Steves first daycare teacher. She's a doll.

14. Whose wedding were you in the first time you were a participant?
My cousin's I was a brides maide.

15. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Take a shower

16. What was the first concert you ever went to?
ACDC - yeah my mom had no idea. I went with a friend and her mom.

17. First tattoo or piercing?
First piercing was my ears, I was 12. I don't have a tattoo

18. First celebrity crush?
Scott Baio

19. Age of first real kiss?
13

20. First crush?
Cory - Years later when I met Brett, I found out that they were cousins.

21. First REAL love?
Scott - I call him my nightmare highschool boyfriend. But I loved him as much I ever though possible at the time.
I don't believe I have really experienced REAL love....

Stuff...

I have been neglecting my blog friends lately...and I am sorry for that. Its been so beautiful here. Steve and I have been spending a great deal of time outside and it makes me very tired. But the rain is back and I will try to catch up this weekend. This is a picture of a duck we saw at the zoo this week. It was in the marsh area..one we had never seen before in all out visits to date. It was interesting. We also got to see the jaguar who was on vacation when we had visited before. Now he was cool.


There is a new blog out there that I think is worth a visit...Alan...Please visit and give him some encouragement!!


I learned this week that birds love my car...no really I guess I just finaly accepted it this week. In my yard I have a big red leaf cherry tree right next to the drive way...that drop leaves and sap all over my car...besides the birds in the tree poop on my car...so I park it in front of the yard...no trees. Well there are power lines..guess where the birds poop..yup that's right on my car. I don't like to drive my car with the top down when it is dirty inside or out...a thing I have....So the top is either always up or the car is washed often...But it never fails...the birds poop the top stays on...owell.

I heard about a doctor who told his patient, a woman in her 60's with severe back pain...having had surgery..that her daughter could not accompany her to the examination room...because while they were awaiting surgery and getting the run around waiting for information, test results, rescheduling because of test results (waiting about a month for results) not getting answers and the poor woman in severe debilitating pain...the daughter was rude on the phone...Gee I bet they never get that from family members of suffering patients. I don't get it....I know this family personally I can't imagine anything that could not be excused based on the situation. How can a doctor deny his patient the support she needs...this woman also suffers from a situation where she loses her short term memory at times...she had told him up front that one of her daughters would be with her for each appointment.

Steve's father has still not purchased the plane tickets for his visit which is supposed to start July 1st. Mmmmm he thinks the prices are going to get cheaper...hey I never said he was smart. If he can't pay for the tickets to get his son to visit..how can he pay for Disney Land and Universal Studios??

Just in time for the rain...we have a weekend full of t-ball. The second to the last game of the season and the carnival. Should be fun....hopefully it wont rain too much.

Anyway

I hope you all have a great weekend. I will try to visit this weekend - best to you all!!

You just don't know

My extended family and I are very close. On my moms side of the family I have 4 cousins and three of which I see on a regular basis. The fourth is dearly missed as he is dealing with a falling out with part of the family and staying away. My aunt and them are very dear to me just like my parents and siblings. I know my ex husbands family was not like ours and he really did not grasp how it was for us. We know that we have each other...its such a strong sense of love, support and loyalty that is like nothing else. I cherish it with my very being.

They all live within an hours drive north of me...well actually for some of them the commute has grown to almost an hour and a half because of all the growth in the area in which they all live. With all that growth comes a great deal of traffic...with additional traffic comes more accidents.

I don't know if the additional traffic in an area so rural is the cause, but it seems that there are more fatal accidents in that area than any other in this state. Every time I hear about an accident on the freeways near there...I cringe...I hold my breath...I look closely at the pictures on the screen.....I don't wish that on anyone but the fear of losing them...I just pray that it was not them...

Over the weekend there was an accident that killed on high school girl. I didn't hear much about the accident except that it was a bunch of girls in a car leaving a party. They named the area and I thought the school district..so it wasn't my cousins family's..I was sad for the families...but also relieved.

I usually make an almost instant call to my cousins to make sure it wasn't them or anyone they know...for some reason I did not this time...I don't know why..

I talked to my cousin, who is my best friend, yesterday just checking in like I very often do..and she sounded very tired. She said it had been a rough couple of days...I asked her why...she asked if I had heard about the accident...I had but thought it was in a different area..it wasn't. They were students from the high school she works at, the one her oldest graduated from last year, the one another of her children attends right now....they were students that she knew..everyone knew.

When you hear that they were leaving a party you instantly think..drinking and/or drugs..I mean kids do that...we don't want to think so..but they do..more than we think probably..more than they did when I was that age.

But that was not the case with this accident...it was a supervised party...cake, ice cream, soda and games. Innocent. The girl that was driving was ok...she did not get seriously injured..the back seat girl is serious and the passenger was killed.

And you know what the young lady with her life ahead of her, academic awards and athletics did...she did not put on her seat belt. She probably would have been ok if she had worn her seat belt. So sad..so tragic.

Years ago one of my other cousins was in an accident - he was just a bit older than these girls...he got into the car with the wrong driver....but he wore his seat belt and was pretty severely injured but he survived to tell his story. His injuries where a result of the seat belt...but his life is also the result of the seat belt..without it, he would have probably been killed much like this young lady.

It doesn't matter...I know there are plenty of things that increase the risk of an automobile accident...but it can happen to anyone anyplace no matter what you do....but what you can do...what you do to increase your odds of survival is wear your seat belt every time you get into the car even if it is just to go down the street. It does not matter how far..any distance and any speed.

My dad is mad because its a LAW to wear your seat belt...who are they to tell him what do do..well dad..I love you but..your wrong here..because if it wasn't a law more people would make an excuse not to put it on...not to do their part to save their own lives.

Buckle up..it could save your life.

Happy Mother's Day

This is one of the many email's I have recieved about Mother's Day..To you all I hope you have a wondeful and special day..you deserve it!!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with
sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer
wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies
who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with
spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses
and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies
and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies
they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave
them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art
collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal
bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the
warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me,
Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the
world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in
the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet
and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count
to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their
children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)
mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for a ll the mothers who go hungry, so their
children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a
night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children
to tie their shoelaces before they started school. A And for all
the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to
cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns
automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know
their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to
school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got
there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them
to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,
who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another
woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love...
sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they
bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school
shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who
sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came
home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children
to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience?
Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a
button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the
ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street,
walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you
from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on
the back of a sleeping baby? 4 the panic, years later, that comes
again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know
they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you
are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a
child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our
thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep
deprivation... And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.
And pray.



"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all
fall."

Early Mommy's day present

I got the best early Mommy's Day present...it was a cook book gather by Steve's class.

I wanted to share some of the wonderful recipes..I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.

Recipe #1 Mashed Potatoes
Serves 3
Ingredients:
Milk
Potatoes

Directions:
1. Cook potatoes for 10 minutes in water
2. Mash potatoes with spoons
3. Add milk
4. Wait until they get cold
5. SERVE!

Recipe #2 Dinosaur Chicken
Serves 11
Ingredients:
Box of dinosaur chicken
ketchup

Directions:
1. Put chicken on a pan
2. Bake for 5 minutes at 2 degrees
3. Eat with ketchup
4. Enjoy

Recipe #3 Pizza
Serves 3
Ingredients:
Sugar
Cheese
Water
Pizza Sauce
Pizza Bread

Directions:
1. Put sauce and cheese on pizza bread
2. Bake about 8 hours at 100 degrees
3. Enjoy!!


My favorite
Recipe #4 Chicken Broccoli
Serves 3
Ingredients:
Chicken
Broccoli

1. Burn chicken
2. After a few minutes add 2 broccoli per chicken
3. Cook for 1 minute
4. Enjoy

Just to give you and idea of my wonderful gift 8)

Dilbert email...greatness!!

Dilbert Management Today





A magazine recently ran a "Dilbert Quotes" contest. They were looking for people to submit quotes from their real-life Dilbert-type managers. These were voted the top ten quotes from Dilbert managers in corporate America , circa 2004:


"As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday, and employees will receive their cards in two weeks." (This was the winning quote from Fred Dales, Microsoft Corp. in Redmond WA)


"What I need is an exact list of specific unknown problems we might encounter." (Lykes Lines Shipping)



"E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business." (Accounting manager, Electric Boat Company)


"This project is so important we can't let things that are more important interfere with it." (Advertising/Marketing manager, United Parcel Service)


"Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule." (Plant Manager, Delco Corporation)


"No one will believe you solved this problem in one day! We've been working on it for months. Now go act busy for a few weeks and I'll let you know when it's time to tell them." (R&D supervisor, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing/3M Corp.)


Quote from the Boss: "Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say." (Marketing executive, Citrix Corporation)


My sister passed away and her funeral was scheduled for Monday. When I told my Boss, he said she died on purpose so that I would have to miss work on the busiest day of the year. He then asked if we could change her burial to Friday. He said, "That would be better for me." (Shipping executive, FTD Florists)


"We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees." (Switching supervisor, AT&T Long Lines Division)

Took Long enough

Its official as of this morning I have finally lost more than 10lbs. I have been trying to improve myself in many ways this year....mostly about my self image.

I eat to stuff my feelings....always have...except when I stopped eating about 13 years ago and lost more weight than I should, ever. That really messes with your body..don't do it.

Anyway I was doing really well when my marriage fell apart and I kind of fell apart...but well I expected it. I gained at least 25lbs...after the new year I decided to increase my activity, watch what I was eating and work on dealing with my feelings instead of eating them. I did real well at first but then I got stuck and could not lose more than the 9lbs and was going up and down within a 5lb range. Well that barrier has been broken and I am more than 10lbs down. Now I just need to keep up with it all. I think the main barrier being broken is my self image....I feel better about myself, really I do.

Have a GREAT WEEK!!

Thank you ..oh no Thank you

Does saying Thank you ever get old.......At work my friend and I are constantly saying Thank You....

"Thank you" for holding the door....
"Thank you" for handing me the paper.....
"Thank you" for giving me the clue to solve the problem....

Then there is the revolving thank you....
"Thank you for holding the door"
"oh..Well Thank you for letting me through first" etc...etc...

During a recent meeting that I was unable to attend there was discussion about the recent upgrade we did....everyone was very please as to how it went and how successful they felt it had gone. My friend said that someone should thank me....
So later the person came down and said

Administrative Manager "Kylee I wanted to say Thank you for all the hard work you did to make this upgrade so successful..."

Me:" Oh Thank you for the Thank you ...I appreciate it"

Well gee there you go...how many times can you say thank you....

Sometimes its not enough...is it ever too much??

I drive a convertible...

Really....I do. Its not what one would expect someone like me to drive. When I think about convertibles I think of confident open people who like to bring attention to themselves and that is SOOO not me. But here I am with my convertible...in Seattle no less.

I got the convertible while I was still married and in Texas. I blame it on my ex husband. It was the last Material ITEM that he wanted and that I "gave" to him. He had the house he wanted, he had the job he wanted, he had the vehicle he wanted, he had the dog he wanted, he had the child in the home he wanted, he had his band, he had the band equipment he wanted.....all that he wanted next was for ME to have a new car....a convertible or a VW bug...maybe even a convertible VW bug. What did I want?....the vehicle I had that was almost paid off with a new paint job.....but I have a convertible (not a VW).....2 months after we bought my new car...he decided he wanted to be the rock star and get the girl who wasnt his wife.

Anyway....I drove out of Texas with a 2004 convertible. I don't like too much attention....I am not self confident.....I don't like being a show off....and here I drive a convertible. I have a 6 year old and a golden retriever....and I have a 2 door convertible.

If it wasn't for my little angel of a little boy.....I would never appreciate my convertible. But he likes having the top down and riding around together. Its fun and I have also enjoyed it.

Seattle's weather has been wonderful!!! Today I left work early, Steve and I went to his counseling appointment and then we went to the zoo for an afternoon of visiting the animals. After it was over he wanted the top down....I took the top down and we cruised on down to Alki Beach...it was beautiful. He loved it. All we did was drive today but we will be visiting the beach again. It was refreshing and enjoyable...even if we were out there for the world to see. He is going to be what saves me from myself!!

I hope everyone is having a GREAT week.

Did I hear that right?

Yesterday after work I picked up Steve he said
"Mom...I want to hear that song we heard this morning you know...two sixty four"

"Mom you remember right the two sixty four song"

Me:"No I am not sure what song your are taking about."

Steve: "Mom you know...the two sixty four"

Me:"Sorry honey I am not sure what song you are talking about"

Steve: "Mom you know the song that goes...I am two sixty four my shirt.."

Oh....Too Sexy For ......by Right Said Fred...