January 6, 2011: 5QF

 

 

1. What is the weather like where you are and do you like it? 

 

It's been in the 80's lately, sunshine and blue skies. I love it. Who wouldn't? I lived in the freaking arctic of Vermont for three years. White Christmases are for the sentimental which isn't me. The snow can suck it. 

2. When you're sick what do you seek comfort from?

 

If it's a cold or bronchitis, I seek comfort from the oblivion of meds. I also like a mint tea and to be left to my misery in bed. Illness can suck it. 

3. What do you need to do before the end of the month?

 

Pay bills and file taxes. Lucky for us, our taxes are ready to go. We're just waiting for the day we're allowed to file. As for bills, with Christmas, the bills and those people wanting paid can suck it. You'll get your money when you get it. 

4. Have you ever served on a jury?

 

Nope. Jury duty can suck it. 

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

 

I think that I would want to be a bird. Maybe a Macaw because of their beautiful plumage and they're from warm climates. I don't want to be anybody's pet though. I want to live in the wild. Being somebody's pet would suck. 

STFU (Updated)

These are saying that I hate. People say them because they can’t think of anything better to say. To hear them is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

• It is what it is. What the eff is this supposed to mean? What IS IT? I can’t think of a phrase that is used more that could mean less.
• When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Come a little closer and I’ll show you how I like to make lemonade when I shove those lemons in one of your orifices. This is such a callous thing to say to someone. Basically you’re telling them that their problems are insignificant. Tread carefully should you choose to say this one within striking distance of me.
• What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. While there is some truth to this statement, very rarely is it something a person wants to hear. Shut up.
• For the good/needs of the Corps. This basically allows the Marine Corps to screw you all the while saying that your problems/needs/wants don’t matter so long as the situation benefits the Marine Corps. I actually saw a bumper sticker type of thing at the legal office on Cherry Point that said something to the effect of if your needs/wants/goals/problems are first in your life, you need to get a new job. I’m not kidding either. I can only shake my head.
• Because I said so. I hated hearing it as a kid and I do my best not to say it to my kids (Yes, I’ve said it to them before but I consciously try not to.). It’s such a copout. When I’m telling my kids no or telling them to do something, I like to explain my reasoning because more often than not, when they understand why something is, it helps to avoid arguments. I also believe respect is a two way street.

There are tons of other sayings that I hate but I can’t think of them right now. Maybe people have good intentions when saying these things, but you know what they say about good intentions…

Feel free to leave a comment with a saying that you find annoying, irritating, insensitive, or just plain stupid.

2/2/10 Additions:

This one came to me from my sister-in-law via Facebook:

• You're strong. You'll get through this. She says, and I agree, that strength oftentimes has little to do with surviving. You get through something because you have little other choice. I also think that's a strength in itself though; to get through something and not give up.

My next one was inspired by the previous saying:

• Don't worry. You'll get through it. Do you have any idea how useless it is to tell someone not to worry about their problems? If you have something staring you in the face, what else are you supposed to do but worry about how the situation is going to be resolved? The only way not to worry, imo, is if you don't care. If you don't care, then it's not really a problem after all.
  

Good Moods vs. Bad Moods

My blog has certainly evolved, or de-evolved depending on your point of view, since I first started it back in 2003. What started out as a simple and easy way of updating family on our move to Vermont turned out to be the only thing that kept me sane during our time in Vermont. A theme has never been seen around here either. I’m not a mom blogger even though I’m a mom who blogs. I’m not a book blogger even though I love to read and occasionally talk about what I’ve read or am reading. I’m currently rereading J.D. Robb’s In Death series in case you were wondering. I’m not a thinly disguised money-making blog. I’ve never earned one red cent by blogging. I’m not even sure how you’d categorize my blog other than to call it a personal, not professional, blog. Blah blah.

What I have learned through the years of blogging is that it is much easier to find things to write about when I am in a bad mood. Ranting, raving, complaining, and just plain bitching are things at which I excel. Idiot drivers, lousy neighbors, family, the Mister’s job, money or the lack thereof, cleaning house, my kids, other people’s kids, and I could go on and on. These are just some of my favorite subjects that I like to blather on about.

Lately, I’ve been in a really good mood. I seriously can’t figure out what’s gotten into me. I’m usually an up and down kinda person. Holidays usually make my moods worse. This year, I just can’t get enough of Christmas. Maybe it’s because I don’t have sucky renters trying to make me go insane this year like I did last year. Or maybe it’s because the Marine Corps isn’t being a major PITA!! like they were in 2006 at Christmastime. Who knows? All I know is that I’ve been in an exceptionally good mood lately which makes it so that I don’t have anything much to say. At least nothing new to say anyway.

I seem to be alone in my joyfulness. I’ve been reading around Facebook and blogs how people aren’t in the Christmas spirit this year. Stop it!! Put out your decorations, bake some cookies, put on some Christmas music or a movie, adopt a reindeer, burn a pine scented candle, whatever it takes!! And hurry it up! My good mood surely won’t last for much longer. ;)

On Being Me

I’ve been in a mood lately. Or to be more accurate, I’ve been moody. What?!?! ME!! Moody?!?! Never! I know. It’s a shocker. I need therapy or something, I’m sure. Anyway, today I am focusing on the positive. Barring any unforeseen punishments, we are taking the kids to a Kinston Indians game tonight. We’re having some spectacular weather and it will be a perfect evening for a game. I’m really looking forward to going as a family this time, lol. For your reading pleasure, I’m going to list some other things that I enjoy. I’ve done something like this before, I know, but my tagging system is, well, not a system and I can’t find my other post, lol. So, if there are any repeats, you can rest assured that it’s something that I really  like.

1. I really love getting into a freshly made bed at night. Crisp, clean, lovely smelling sheets are a perfect prelude to a good night’s sleep.
2. Coming home to a clean house after being away for a few days.
3. Hannah when she sleeps in my lap. Or as much in my lap as a 60 pound dog can be. She’s such a cuddler that I think she’s a lap dog trapped in a larger dog’s body.
4. Bailey when she smiles. She’s four years old and it still makes me giggle every time she does it.
5. A hug from my youngest daughter. She gives the best hugs out of anybody I’ve ever known my entire life. You can tell she means to give love and comfort with her tiny arms.
6. When I look at my oldest daughter and I’m suddenly struck with how beautiful she is and getting a glimpse of the young woman she’s becoming. Every once in a while, I’ll glance at her and see that woman on her face. It’s amazing.
7. Watching my husband watch TV or read. I don’t know what it is about it, but I just like watching him concentrate on something, lol.
8. In the early, humid, morning, right after the sun has risen, I love the scent in the air. That smell that is fresh and a bit crisp because the day is still chilly but you can tell it’s going to be a scorcher. I love that. It reminds me of my dad.
9. My desk after it’s been clean and organized.
10. The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She is so funny. I laugh throughout the entire show and it just makes me feel good. Her Move It, Move It game makes me laugh until I’m crying. It’s a must DVR show.
11. This one is shallow, but having money in the bank. When we’re broke and I’m worrying about finances, I have migraines and insomnia. Sleeping at night and getting through the week without emptying a bottle of Excedrin is a good thing.
12. Relaxing with a glass of my favorite wine and an episode of a favorite show. I actually have “Wine” shows, lol. Weeds, Californication, Dexter, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, are a few of the shows that a glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment.
13. Listening to the rain at night. I like to leave the windows open, turn off the lights, and light candles while it’s raining at night.
14. Playing the radio LOUD in my car. We have a rockin’ stereo in the Scion and it' is so much fun cruising around with it bumpin’. No. I’m not 17 years old, heheh.

That’s it for now. I have laundry waiting for me. Not a favorite thing of mine, heheh. But I’m wearing my last clean pair of underwear so it’s a must do.

Have a great and awesome weekend.

The Past Few Days

We had a fantastic time at the N.C. Seafood Festival Saturday night. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was gorgeous. We had shrimp, funnel cakes, and salt water taffy. There was also a N.C. vineyard, J. Wesley Vineyards, that hosted a wine tasting at the festival so I tried I think five different wines and bought a pretty decent bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

The thing about these outdoor festival deals is that your choice of restroom is pretty limited. You have porta potties and restrooms inside of businesses which are usually closed to the public. Well, the youngest was in desperate need of a potty so we headed towards a bank of porta potties. I checked them out and HOLY COW!! Unfit for humans is the only nice way to put it. I wouldn’t even let my dogs in those things. But what do you expect from porta potties? By this time, the child was doing the pee pee dance and was looking pathetic. Our only choice was to head to a restaurant and pay for some food. We went to this restaurant called Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant. We didn’t actually want to eat there because we wanted to eat at the festival so we got salads and drinks. For the privilege of a clean restroom and a little bit of food, we paid $52.00. Oh well.

The wine tasting.

Heading towards the funnel cake vendor.

Looking down a street.

Sunset over the river or inlet or whatever body of water this is. I really like this picture though.

On the way home we stopped at Petsmart for some dog food and ended up buying Bailey her Halloween costume.

Heheh.

Bailey the ham.

Those pictures were taken with my digi camera not my phone.

Sunday we didn’t do a whole lot except for go to the commissary, the Mister ran 14 miles or something like that, and he mowed the lawn which needs watering.

Yesterday I was feeling quiet. Not depressed or grumpy, just quiet. I didn’t want to hear the TV, the kids, music, or anything. I dug out a book from one of the boxes in the garage and read it. It’s the first time in recent memory that I’ve started and finished a book in one day. I miss that. It was sort of like visiting with an old friend.

Today I’m still feeling a little bit on the quiet side. Unfortunately, both of my phones have been ringing off the hook and I’ve had to deal with rent issues again. My rent, not the Vermont rent. I first tried mailing the rent check on 9/22 and it was returned as undeliverable yesterday. Then, on 10/3 I tried doing an electronic transfer. I got an e-mail from the Mister this morning saying that they still didn’t have the money so I went into a bit of a panic and a lot of fury and proceeded to figure out what the hell. Turns out that it takes three business days for electronic transfers to complete when they are transacted between my bank and an outside bank. All in all, it took me 11 days to pay my rent. What a PIA.

Funkiness

I read a lot about Monday funkiness around the Net yesterday which made me feel somewhat better that it wasn't just me. The Mister came home from work in a bad mood and the kids were a bit touchy too. Everyone in our house kept to our own corners last night. Posting my post yesterday (which nobody seemed to want to touch, you chickens) didn't help in the least. It also didn't help that a friend called out of the blue, said she was coming over, and three hours later called to say she had a contagious illness and couldn't come over after all. At least she gave me three hours to bust my ass (pardon the French) to clean my house for no good reason. Holy cow!! I'm still in a bad mood, lol. Trying to move on...

Did anyone catch last night's Medium? Was it or was it not AWESOME!! I won't give anything away in case someone has it waiting for them on their DVR but I LOVE that show. And Bones!! OMG! I had read online at TVGuide that it had a surprise ending but I totally didn't see that coming. The Big Bang Theory was positively hilarious too. I am so glad that it got renewed for next season and didn't become a victim of the strikes.



Something to make us all laugh. I just took this picture of Hannah. The girls dressed her and brought her in for me to see.


Now didn't that make you giggle a little?? I truly hope everyone has a good Tuesday.