Laid-off, house-mouse, pet-peeve blues

Important Announcement...

Due to budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience. (from a forwarded email)

YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE?

*When you get laid off from a job you have had twelve years.

*When all potential employers want to pay you $10-$12 an hour.

*When you decide to be nice and take your son's friend home who lives five blocks away and get a ticket for doing a California stop at a four way stop with no other car in sight. ($110.00)

*When you are supposed to be following your husband on his bike to the lake and he is going so fast you are having to do ninety to keep up and you are pulled over. You know you were doing ninety. The cop does me a favor and writes me a ticket for eighty. ($105.00)

*When your old and senile cat wakes you up every morning at around six, meowing so loudly it is like a baby's screaming cry, because he is hungry. He will not stop until you get up and feed him.... I'm going to say this horrible thing, "Go to to light Bogart, go to the light".

*When you are walking across your kitchen floor bare footed and an unknown dirt source gets stuck to the bottom of your foot.

*When you have swept and dust mopped your floor and you see an animal hair ball floating across it.

*When you are vacuuming and the vacuum will not pic up something.

*When you bend down to pick it up and it is a cigar burn from someone who quit smoking cigarettes in March and has picked up the new habit.

*When you are folding t-shirts and the hem at the bottom stays curled up no matter how many times you give it the shake.

*Animal puke. Need I say more?

*When you have scrubbed your bathroom and your husband decides to take a bath (as opposed of using his shower)when he gets home from work (looks like someone dumped mop water in it).

*When a house member pees on the toilet seat or leaves a poop stripe on the back of it.

*When you sit on it.

*When your trash service does not pick up your large amount of recycling and you have to deliver it to a recycling location.

*When you go to the grocery store and are almost finished and realize you forgot something clear on the other side (really a bummer at the Super Walmart).

*When your pump grinder (temporary holding tank for your sewage that grinds it up before releasing it to the sewer), that is maintained by the city, stops working and you have sewage saturating the grass in your backyard.

*When they say they will use a shovel to dig it to fix it and instead use a backhoe that tears up your back yard (happening right now).

*When you switch phone service (you already had cable and Internet with them) because you have been laid off by the other company, and all of services have not been added as a bundle after the change. You have been charged for each service individually for three months and have called into billing countless times and it is still incorrect. You talk about being over charged, try your bill being doubled. (Isn't it ironic, don't ya think?)

*When your "all-in-one" phone, Internet, and cable service has not worked correctly for the last three months and the company keeps trying quick fixes when it is actually a tree down on an outside cable, on someone else's property, causing the problem they are choosing to ignore.

*When that company says it is the owners responsibility to have the tree removed and have no response when you tell them to remove the cable instead, leave the tree, and fix it. Claim it is not their responsibility to notify that said land owner. Still having service issues.

*When you have ordered a pay-per-view movie and it freezes right at the climax of the movie.

*When you are talking on your phone and intermittently, the other party can't hear you but you can hear them. They eventually hang up.

*When you are on you're taking a test on a potential employer's website and you are on question number seventy, your Internet service intermittently, bleeps out and you have to go back in to retake it and hope it doesn't happen again while you are.

*When you have now had 8 technicians come out to fix it and the problem persists.

I'm sure there are many others that I am forgetting. If so, I will come back and add them later.

You know what I love?

*When my blogger friends are coming to visit, go to a rock concert with me, and do that concert kinda dancing thing with me!!! Whoo woo!

There is a light. I think it is intermittent just like all my other services.

*

The Dream Concert - Tribute Bands

Ok...I now have 36 tickets for the tribute band concert on Saturday, 07/26/08. Come all. Bring your friends. We can meet at my house or maybe before hand at Pizza Hut. We can eat dinner and go. I'm sure the doors open at 6:00pm.

Me - 1 ticket
Lori - 1 ticket
Holly - 1 ticket
Nicki - 4 tickets
Ange - 6 tickets for you
Alan - 2 tickets - Alan, do you need more?
Shep - 1 ticket
Kelscraggs - 1 ticket
Patrick - 2 tickets - Do you need more?

Hmmm, that still leaves us with 17 tickets. Who wants to come to KC and who wants to go to the concert?

Wooo, wooo, Joe Cocker rocks!

Pam, my sister (Lori's too, of course), went to go see Joe Cocker and The Steve Miller Band last night. Randy got us some sweet tickets, center stage, about 18 rows back. I love that man of mine.

Woooo, wooo....Joe Cocker comes out..."Give me a ticket for an aeroplane. Ain't got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone, I'm a going home, my Baby just wrote me a letter." Me, "Pam, it's sprinkling a little". Yes, it started sprinkling the minute Joe came out on stage. Pam and I didn't care. We were standing with our hands in the air, doing the concert-kinda dancing thing. It was great.

It starts raining harder, and harder.....Joe, "You can leave your hat on." Me, "I wished I had a hat. Ah oh Pam, better get out the rain poncho." We are using it like a tarp because we only had one. Rain is dripping off the front of it on our legs and off the back down the back of our pants. It is pouring and we are getting drenched despite our efforts. Fuck it, we are heading down to the stage to see Joe.

Joe, "Unchain my heart, baby let me go." Pam and I doing the concert-kinda dancing thing about three rows back from the stage and in the isle... Little security woman, "Mam can I see your ticket stub? Pam is actually searching her pockets, acting like she can't find it. Whatever, we didn't care, we could take her, we just kept doing the concert-kinda dancing thing. Little security woman, "You are going to have to clear the isle." Me thinking, "Hah, I could kick your ass, so I can't hear you. You are not here. (dance, dance.) " Suddenly Big Security Man rushed in on us, "CLEAR THE ISLES". Me and Pam meekly, "Okay."

Phtt, we have good seats anyway! Pam just wanted to get to the front of the stage so she could throw her bra to Joe. Joe really missed out because of that security guy. He should be fired!

Joe, "You are so beautiful to me." Oh yes, back in the day when we were young and beautiful, we wouldn't have cared about the rain. We would have been dancing and basking in the rain in our jean shorts and wet t-shirts. Now, that we are older and still beautiful, the rain was really suckin'.

Joe, "What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?" Me and Pam, " Wooo, I love this song! To hell with the rain!" We were up dancing, hooting....Back up singers, "Do you need anybody?" At that moment, Joe let out his signature scream and the wind started whipping and sheets of rain began to fall. Joe, "Oh, it's gotta be somebody to love. " By this time the Joe and the band on the covered stage were getting wet as well. ....Thunder, lightning, wind, sheets of rain, our poncho flapping... The song ended and so did the concert for us! After the song, everyone jumped out of their seats and were running for cover. Not me and Pam, we were running for the car. Keep on a rockin' Steve, we gotta go!

Hey, who's coming to Kansas City on the 26th? I have tickets to the "Dream Concert" featuring the tribute bands for Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin and the Doors. Wooo, woo, we could all do that concert-kinda dancing thing together!

Okay, this is what has been delt

For the last 6-7 years, I've been blessed or completely lucky. I mean I've been incredibly happy. My luck has run out. I'm not blessed anymore.

I was laid off from my job at, let's just call them BAY D & D. I had this job for 12 years. The friends I had there were family. I miss seeing their bright smiling faces every day. Asking advice; giving it. Shoulders to lean and cry on. People to laugh with. We had so much fun while working our asses off. I have done so many different jobs for Bay D & D. Every time I would get used to or comfortable with one, they would move me to another. I kicked ass at my job. I totally had it down. I just knew at any minute they would change my job. Oh FUCK no, they laid me off. I have never felt secure in my job. Always the possibility of a lay off. For once, I felt safe. Our office was so busy there was mandatory overtime and they had suspended vacation. WTF. They announced 31 people were at risk. A job was offered to us in Pittsburgh, PA. I probably should have taken it. I just can't see moving my family all over the country for a job. Hell, they will probably lay off there as well at a later date.

The good thing....I do have six months of severance pay and health insurance. I finally received my first severance check to be received bi-weekly. It was sent out about a week late. I waited and waited for the second. I finally called. " We did not disburse a check for the weeks of 04/06-04/19". No shit, that is why I'm calling. This was a joke. Those bastards trained me to do great customer service, it was drilled into my head. Calling their payroll office was a nightmare. I spoke with three people before one of them could understand that they were supposed to disburse me a severance check. I could not speak directly with payroll, only to some outsourced retards who filled out trouble tickets. I was told I would be contacted in 24-48 hours. One full week and a day, and three trouble tickets later, someone called me back. This person said she would have "them" disburse a check. So, "they" direct deposited a check for $342 less than it was supposed to be.

"They" or "them" disbursed this two week check as a "lump sum" severance payment instead of a bi-weekly severance paycheck resulting in 25% more taxes being taken out; you know, the way our government taxes bonuses. I had the opportunity to take my severance in a lump sum but requested it in bi-weekly checks because this would save me a fortune in taxes.

Another week and another trouble ticket, I was told, tough, there is nothing wrong with the payment I received. I called my old HR manager for assistance and she told me she had spoken with payroll and I had never missed a check that I received all and cashed them as well. She also stated technically I no longer work for Bay D & D and not to call her.

So, what do I do? I called my union, they did not know their ass from a whole in the ground. The only time I've ever needed them; I was not impressed. I guess I will take Bay D & D to small claims court. It really pisses me off because I have wasted two weeks of my life on the phone with people who had no clue how to do their jobs. Now I will have to take them to court. God only knows how long that will take me. I WILL get my money....sons-a-bitches.

I have been billed incorrectly by my cable company, my shrinks office, and Bay D & D has decided to give the government $342 of my money because they forgot to send me a paycheck and when they did they disbursed it incorrectly. I have spent the last two weeks on the phone with billing offices and payroll offices. I'm not getting paid for it though. Oh dear God I hope I was more empathetic and adept than these people when I did customer service.

Whew...got that out. I'm trying to utilize all my insurance while I still have it. I went to get my deviated septum corrected. Right now I have both nostrils packed with sponges and a mustache bandage under my nose. I can not breathe at all through my nose. When I try to drink or swallow, my ears pop. I have drainage in the back of my throat and out my nostrils. With my luck, I'm surprised the doctor did not slip and give me a lobotomy during surgery. I'm on steroids and pain pills. I'm just a joy to be around right now. I want to rip these sponges out of my nose. I'm not sure I will be able to wait until Monday afternoon. I was going to post some pictures, but I did not want to scare anyone.

Thank you God for giving me the most wonderful husband. He has been so understanding and supportive. I guess I'm still blessed where that is concerned. Love you daddy.

I'm baaaack.

Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall

Randy and I visited the Moving Wall. It is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was created by three California veterans.

It truly was a "moving" tribute. Randy's cousin, Daniel Case, was on the wall. He was only 19 when he was killed. His tour began Feb. 12th, 1970 and tragically ended Apr. 11th, 1970. Very sad.

We found his name and did a charcoal etching for Randy's mom. The display was impressive. It kind of creeps me out that we were smiling in the pictures, standing in front of 58,178 names of the people that died in Vietnam. Sorry...

We went back the next day and volunteered to help tear it down, pack it up, and escort it out of town. Four of us from the Patriot Guard were there. (I'll post pictures later.)

I was the only woman there, except, of course, the woman that was in charge. I was the "screw girl". Yes, that's me; the screw girl. That's what the old veterans were calling me as I held the can for the screws as we tore down the wall. It was pretty tough for them to keep their composure as they would call out, "Screw Girl", to collect the screws they had for their part of the tear down. I just don't know how they would have done it without the screw girl. Oh, those guys were sooo sweet. Whatever, those Vets are some crazy sombitches; crazy fun. It was very interesting to hear the good stories they had and disturbing to hear the others. I don't think I could survive a battlefield, emotionally or physically. God bless 'em. All in all, we actually had a good time together.

The VFW served us lunch and we got on our bikes and escorted them about 20 miles out of town.

To our Vietnam Vets, the families, and the communities, you have our sincere condolences to all the names on the wall.

If you would like to search the wall for friends and family, you can do it here.
http://thewall-usa.com/

Pictures taken by our local newspaper...
http://communityfaces.kcstar.com/?action=slideshow&id=671&expand=new&s=1&ac=1&ct=1&pc=1&fs=1&stf=1&currentPage=26&play=1#slides

Randy did a little work

My man did a little work on Lori's Dad's house. She wanted me to post them on blogger. So, here it is.

He weeded the flower beds, mowed, painted the basement, and unfinished trim, power washed the back of the house, and laid the flooring in the bathroom. The biggest accomplishment was power washing the deck. Whew, what a difference. It was a grey-black-green color and looked like it needed to be replaced.... It almost looks brand new!!

Whataya think Lori?

Tip of the day

Alaskan Sister

Back in 1975 my sister (Goldy) and her then live-in boyfriend (now husband, Gold Digger), being the hippies they were, packed up their VW Van, and drove to the last frontier. In Alaska, you could still homestead. When they arrived they did several odd jobs to survive; and indeed, it was survival. They had no where to live. As my sister said, they lived out in the bush.

They plotted out gold mining claims for a large property owner. Living in a tent with a camping stove and dutch oven and supplies they could carry from their van on the long hike. She told me stories of digging out the snow in area large enough to accommodate their tent. The deeper they dug, the warmer they stayed. Fine dining included, black tailed deer , canned vegetables, and fresh baked bread. Goldy said she would mix her dough and sleep with it in her sleeping bag so it would rise and not freeze. Goldy and Gold Digger panned for gold for extra money as well.

My Aunt and Uncle owned small hunting lodge and lived in Alaska for two years. Goldy and Gold Digger grew tired of living in the bush and working for the man. Cold and tired, they trekked out of the bush, back to their hippie van for the long drive back to town. As luck would have it, their love bus broke down. On a remote highway, out in the middle of nowhere, it died. Goldy said it was a miracle. They spotted a truck and waved it down. Can you believe it? It was my Aunt and Uncle. They stayed with the relatives for a couple of days and it was time; time to homestead.

They packed their tent, clothes, and supplies and paid a Cessna pilot to take them to a small island off the coast of Alaska called Montigue Island. They built a log cabin and small barn. Of course, the cabin had no electricity and no running water. There were three other couples living on the island. A community hut was built were the islanders would eat dinner together. All couples took turns cooking. They hung their black tailed deer outside the hut and would lower it to get cuts of meat. A small plane flew in every three days delivering supplies and mail.

They cut tree bulbs and crafted sconces and furniture. They combed the beach with a metal detector to find treasures, and panned for gold so they could afford supplies to live.

As nature has it, Goldy found she was with child. Natural childbirth was the hippie way and Montigue Midas was born. (Yes, this what they named their son.) Montigue was for the island and Midas after the mythical King Midas with the golden touch. Goldy would strap Monty on her back, strap on her 357, and hall water back to her home. She had to protect herself and her baby from the bears. Goldy was and is tough as hell; all 110 lbs of her.

Around two years went by. Goldy and Monty were out in the barn when Monty fell from the loft and broke his collarbone. Poor baby, they would have wait three days before the mail and supply plane would arrive so they could take him to a doctor.

That was it. Goldy insisted they move back to civilization for the safety of her child. Living in Wasilla, Alaska, my sister is no longer a Kansan, but a true Alaskan.

A picture of my Alaskan sister and brother (who lives in Lori's town). I love those guys...

Hair

Hi all,

I have missed all of you soooo much. I have been working and have had people to see and things to do every weekend.

This weekend I cut my hair and taking it easy. My neice donated her services and I donated my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Pantene Beautiful Lengths was created to support and encourage women who have lost their hair during cancer treatment.

I thought the second picture made my ass look big. Sooo, I tried to suck it up. I then noticed it just looked like I was humping my kitchen counter. Damn it to hell, I just have a big ass.....Becky's gotta a big'o butt, oh yeah....

Ten inches gone. Now, if I could just do the same thing with my arse!

This is for my fellow sistas. Kick cancer's ass girls!




















www.locksoflove.com
http://www.pantene.com/en_US/beautifullengths/index_home.jsp

Thinking about my friends

Cool Graphics at
REVOLUTIONMYSPACE.com


I have been thinking about all of you. I ran across this "Hello Kitty" and thought of Rain. I picture her being sparkley and happy. Hi Rain! How are you? I have been far too busy to blog. Re did much of the house and now we are finding there are many small things we have to do as well. We need to re varnish a large shelf, mirror, and table to match my cherry wood day bed in the extra bedroom. I need to find three new prints to frame for my living room. We definitely need new kitchen and entry way flooring. It doesn't mean I'm not thinking about each and every one of you!!! Miss ya!

A message to all of my blogger friends

I know I have been very busy. But I love you all. This says it all. Fuck, fuck , fuckity fuck.

XXXXXOOOO, Becky

Why does this post twice? I dunno. Cute huh?

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The Wizard for James

Alright, I obviously don't know what I'm doing. Click on the URL below and listen to the song that reminds me of my friend James. I hope it works! For you James!!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1716752378

Try not to focus on the sexy dancing girls in the back. Just listen to the words. The song is "The Wizard" by Uriah Heep. One of my favorite bands of the seventies. Man this video is dated. It makes me feel oooold.

The words:


He was the wizard of a thousand kings.
And a chance to meet him one night wondering.
He told me tales and he drank my wine.
Me and my magic man kinda feeling fine.
He had a cloak of gold and eyes of fire.
And as he spoke I felt a deep desire to free the world of its fear and pain and help the people to feel free again.
Why don't we listen to the voices in our hearts?Cause then I know we'll find we're not so far apart.
Everybody's got to be happy, everyone should see.
For we know the joy of life and peace that love can bring.
So spoke the wizard in his mountain home.
The vision of his wisdom means we'll never be alone.
And I will dream of my magic night and the million silver stars that guide me with their light.

The Bathroom has been painted!

I have missed you all so much. I have been so busy with painting, reorganizing and cleaning, I haven't had much time to blog.

In the middle of all of, Lori came to visit. And yes, she helped me with all of it. I painted my bathroom a very bright yellow. There isn't really anything special about my bathroom except for THIS BEAUTIFUL, ORIGINAL MURAL, FINE ARTIST PAINTED ON THE WALL! This is Lori's blank canvas.



This is the finished MASTERPIECE! I LOVE it! I also love my sister very, very much. Thank you Lori. You are the greatest sister and artist in the America....in the world!




Poor Lori. I worked her to death. We finished painting the kitchen and redecorated it as well.


All is well at my home. I'm lovin' the new look. I'll post pictures of my kitchen next. We still have the downstairs rec-room to go, and it is a wreck, but it will not be for long. Oh, did I tell you Lori is the greatest sister and artist in the world?!!!!

Slow progress painting the house

Progress is slow painting only when you have the time. In this case, it is a process, not an event.

The first two pictures are of Devin's room. He chose the lovely color (???) of white duck. He worked so hard on it, the only thing he will hang on the walls is his tapestry and his Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calender.

The third room is my living room, painted utterly tan with a second darker color to make the fireplace pop. We also painted the mantel. We didn't want to but paint dripped all over it. I personally think it looks better than what it did.

The fourth picture is my dining room. It and the kitchen will be a very pale blue. It has not been painted yet. I just thought I would share it because Snowball looked so cute trying to help with the preparation. If I absolutely love the color blue. It is a good thing there are other opinions to consider. I would truly get carried away and paint the entire house different shades of blue. I find it calming.

The fifth picture is our extra bedroom, painted a color we created from some oops paint mixed with white. It is tan as well with a bit more of a gold hue in comparison to the living room.

I can't wait until it is complete. We will lay ceramic tile in the entry way and possibly in the kitchen next. Maybe we will do laminent in the kitchen. I will have to wait and see how easy or difficult laminent is to lay from Shell and Ron.... But that will be another long drawn out project. I haven't visited the blogisphere as often as I had been. I have been spending most of my spare time painting.

Chou think your bad?

Way back when, I lived in Phoenix (Glendale), AZ. I had been there about a week. My friend Chris and I decided to go for a ride. Chris and I were new to Phoenix and had no idea about the Glendale element. Chris had a beautiful blue Harley Davidson Panhead chopper. It was a bad ass bike. It was all chrome, springer front end, hard tail, pulled back ape hanger handle bars, with a tall sissy bar. It was your classic, old school chopper.

We stopped a QT to get some ciggies. A low rider Chevy pulls in. The young man in the car was glaring at us. He was looking all gang banger with his blue bandanna-doo rag on his head.
He got out of his car and walked towards us. He was wanting a fight. He approached us and asked in a very strong Chicano street accent, “Sooo, chou think your pretty bad on your on harleydavisonmotorcycle, DON'T chou?

Chris and I turned and looked at each other and just started laughing our a$$e$ off. I don't know if it was the accent, the way the guy carried himself, or what. It was just funny. Hell, it was hilarious. The guy gave us a very confused look and just walked away with his tail between his legs, got in his car, and left. Chris and I were still laughing as he pulled out.

Right after I moved to Phoenix

Oh, the Phoenix night life... We were new to Arizona. One night, my buddy Chris and I went out to have a beer. We arrived at this little dive and headed in. We ordered a pitcher and began watching the people. The clientele were mainly bikers. They would enter, their long hair, braids, beards, leathers, and guns. Yes, guns. At the front door was a gun rack. You see, it is legal in Arizona to carry a gun as long as it's not concealed. They would check their guns and sit down, order, and party.

I was sitting at our table thinking, "Hmmm, if I'm going to live here, am I going to need one of those?" So's anyways, I'm drinking, watching, and realizing how much crazier the bikers are in Arizona than Kansas. Drinking beer...I had to pee. "Chris, I'll be right back."

I go in the bathroom, lock the door, and I'm doing my business. Suddenly, I hear chairs and tables being overturned out in the bar and what sounded like a man grunting and growling. Alarmed, I'm thinking, "What in the hell is going on out there?" Suddenly and abruptly, the bathroom door is kicked open. A large, scraggly, bearded, dark haired man, rushes into the bathroom. There I am, sitting there in shock with my pants around my ankles. He comes right up to me, bends over and nose to nose he growls, "You're lucky you're not her." His nose was touching mine, while I was peeing! I would have peed my panties if I didn't already have them pulled down. I said, "Er um, yea". With that, he exited the bathroom and then the bar.

I came out of the bathroom a little shaken. The bar tender was out picking up the chairs and tables. Most everyone was standing up except those at the bar. Many were acting as if it was nothing and most of them were laughing...Well except for Chris. As I was coming out of the bathroom he was running back to me. "It all happened so fast. Are you alright?", he asked. I said, "You know what that guy did?" Of course, I told him, "I was peeing...nose to nose...he said... yadda, yadda, yadda" ... He was trying to keep a straight face, and then we just busted out laughing. I mean, come on, he didn't hurt me. I didn't feel victimized. It was just extraordinarily odd and extremely uncomfortable. What do you do when you feel weird and uncomfortable? Well, I'll tell you. You laugh.

We finished our pitcher and left.

Yours, mine, and ours, and, and....

The Family Dynasty for Jo


Ruth Elvira and Otto Laverne – birthed Grandma Martha who married Grandpa Isaac

Martha Lucille and Isaac Henry – birthed Mom Sharon

Sharon and 1st husband Charles – birthed Pam
Sharon and 2nd husband Dutch – birthed Bill
Sharon and boyfriend Michael – birthed Lori

My dad Jim and 1st wife Verna – birthed Mike and Marian - Verna died after giving birth to Marian

Sharon and 3rd husband (my dad) Jim – birthed Becky, Crystal, Tom, and adopted Judy

Sharon and 4th husband Larry – birthed Brian
Sharon and 5th common-law husband Dick - thank God, no children
Sharon and 6th husband Ted – birthed Kelly
Sharon and 7th husband JD – thank God to old to have children
Sharon and 8th common-law husband Duffy- thank God to old to have children

All brothers and sisters: Mike, Marian, Judy, Pam, Bill, Lori, Becky, Crystal, Tom, Brian, and Kelly.

I know this leaves you begging for a story....Oh, no, I don't want to go there. So, I'm referring you to a post Lori wrote back on 07/28/05. One thing Lori left out is our adopted sister Judy. Jim and Sharon adopted her when she was 15. Judy's mother committed suicide and she had no where to go. She was Marian's friend and Mom and dad legally adopted her so she would not be sent to a foster home. She lived with us until she was married at 17. The second thing she left out was Mom's drunk common-law husband Duffy (yes, he was the last one).

Click on the link below for the sorted story.

http://fineartist.blogspot.com/2005/07/m-is-for-mother.html

Christmas Morning

I am sooo happy Christmas is over. I'll be even happier when this year is over.

I was so bah humbug this Christmas, I put off buying stocking stuffers until Christmas Eve day. Well....We had some unexpected company that day. I didn't get to the store until 6:00PM. Everything was closed. Can you believe it? This had never happened to me before. I've always gotten great stocking stuffers. Damn it to hell, what was a poor girl to do?

So, a little light bulb came on in my head and I borrowed an idea from Pickles. (Yes, writer mom's Pickles.) http://writermotherwifeme.blogspot.com/2006/12/elves-and-not-orlando-bloom-kind.html
I went through the kitchen and gathered macaroni and cheese, instant oatmeal, Carnation Instant Breakfast, some cookies, and coffee pods and stuffed all of our stockings. You should have seen the look on Devin's face when he pulled out a box of macaroni and cheese out of his stocking. We all laughed our a$$e$ off.

The animals had better stocking stuffers than us.

I added this picture of my favorite gift this year. Devin made it for me in shop class. It is a paper towell and napkin holder. We had a nice Christmas. I hope all of you did as well.

Thanks for the idea Pickles!