December Fourth

Son3 went to bed last night worried that he would be sick again and did have a fever but woke this morning all well... I was ready to go too... ready to get back to work... son2 had foggy day bus schedule again... hubby and son1 were off, so son1 changed the oil in the van...
I got to work and it looked just like it did when I left... four days ago... they didn't bring up any boxes while I was gone... they did today though... but that's cause I cleared the wall and made room... I put away all the boots leftover from Black Friday that we didn't sell back inline in the stockroom... stocked the floor a bit... and started sorting through the boxes of all the mismate shoes from Black Friday still left to go through... those had been worked on while I was gone... only worked four hours today though...
Came home and son1 was waiting so I could finish helping him with a bill we had already helped him with but since he didn't give us the info we had asked for when we needed it got even later causing late fees and mixups... so anyway after an hour we got that all fixed... hubby said son1 got upset over it in the morning with the company on the phone and had to leave for a bit to calm down... by time I got home he had all the info and we were able to take care of it... I was also able to talk with him calmly and learned a few reasons of why he could take care of his bills while he was living on his own and not now... so we know for sure we don't want to give him any more money but still trying to decide how much helping him stay organized is too much managing his bills for him... I want him to do it but he is getting eaten alive by late fees... so we are all still a work in progress...
At the age he is right now, I was two months pregnant with him...

He then took off with his friends and is still not back... Hubby and I picked up son2 and son3 from school... I tried to check my email and what not on the computer... burned some fried eggs, hash browns and sausages for dinner... We watched The Polar Express... started decorating the tree... taking a break now to watch Dollhouse... son3 has been on his computer games playing School Tycoon... son2 wanted to go hang with his friends but wanted to eat dinner and decorate the tree... so he stayed home and was with us but didn't actually put any decorations on the tree... he's tired and a bit grumpy... Hubby put the lights on the outside of the house today... Fedex and UPS dropped off packages today... and now it's 10pm and I'm ready for bed... gotta tape Numbers though... Today was the fastest day...


Happy Journaling...

December...

I did it! Blog every day of November... and then December comes and I don't... lol... actually the last two days of November I fell asleep, luckily Holly stepped in and added some photos for an entry....
I don't know why I stop blogging... I want to be a better blogger... I want to read blogs but I don't... Why... I have no problem spending endless hours playing facebook games... I think I'm hibernating... but then what would it have been called in the summer...
This has been a good week but a not so good week... I worked Sunday 6am-2 setting the ad... barely finished by 2 and I had help... we are way tore up from Black Friday... Monday I was off and the boys went back to school, hubby went to work, son1 had to work and I had a whole day just for me... It was heaven... Then son1 came home from work and announce he was going to his grandfather's for a couple of days since he had a couple of days off... Tuesday I awoke with a gurgily tummy and a thought that I was owed a sick day from work since I only took one this whole year so far, so I called out... Another day of heaven all to myself... Don't remember what I did on which day but I cleaned and Christmas shopped online, watched old episodes of Emergency, watched The Holiday (actually I think that was Sunday) such a cute movie with Jude Law, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet... hung out on the laptop, not blogging though, mostly facebook games... homework with son3...
Then Wednesday I was off again... had a quiet morning... then son3 came home from school and my quiet days were over and I was forced back into reality a half day earlier than I wanted... he had gotten in trouble in class but couldn't remember why... I thought he just didn't want to tell me as he would be in more trouble but I kept telling him the teacher already punished him, he was only in trouble with me for not telling me.... I guess her class rule is when they break a rule they have to pick up so many half sheets of multiplication facts to work... about 50 problems each side but each side counts as one... son3 was up to 19 by time he got home... took him 2 and a half hours to finish... plus one hour and 20 minutes for regular homework... he and son2 are slow when it comes to homework... son2 kicked in about fifth grade where he was finally able to manage his homework on his own and in a timely manner... so there is hope for son3... anyway I finally found out what he had done all day... seems he got four problems wrong on his homework so missed first recess and had to read... since he missed math homework shouldn't he do math work... and since when do you get punished for doing homework... then he dazed out two times in class and wasn't paying attention... and then he forgot to write one homework assignment on his agenda the day before ( we did the homework, it was in the folder)... so I was quite grumpy at the teacher at this point and wondered if she was having a grumpy day... son3 says she wasn't mad at anyone, he was just getting in a little bit of trouble that day... so we finally finish all the drama of homework, have dinner, girlfriend came over, son3 is bouncing off the ceiling and happy that homework is done... although I am telling him he is too happy for someone that was in trouble... settle him bed with his Wolverine cartoon... son1 and girlfriend are watching Christmas Vacation... son2 went to sleep... hubby and I are watching Glee... 10pm son3 is complaining his tummy is not feeling not so good, but I tell him he is fine... I'm thinking fate won't allow me to have another day off of work... so girlfriend has gone home, we are all asleep... Midnight comes and we hear MOM.... BLAH......... all over his bed he throws up.... OK I guess your tummy is not so good and I get to have another day off to make up for my bad regular day off....
So this morning I call me out again, call son3 out of school... son2 has a two hour foggy day delay for buses, hubby is off to work, son1 doesn't work til 2pm... girlfriend came over... son3 woke up at 10am, took a shower and proceeded to bounce all over the house all day... he didn't eat til 3pm though, just a waffle... and lemon lime soda all day... hubby is home, son2 is home, son3 is starving... I told hubby to go get Carl's Jr as all I've been doing for four days is eating.... Bones and Fringe come on tonight...
Hubby and I have been so stressed since son1 moved in... he is not taking responsibility or making any plans or goals... he is comfortable in our home but we are not... as he is very opinionated of what he dislikes... I don't know... I don't want to complain about him in my blog but then that is what the blog is for to work through things and share stories and help each other through the rough patches... I know he's just a kid and learning about life... but he keeps dumping everything in my lap waiting for me to fix it and I am not... so all our work of getting him caught up is falling behind again... he makes promises to us and others and doesn't keep them... as each day is new and whatever happened yesterday has gone away... ummmm no it hasn't.... every month you have to pay that bill again... so why does it seem a surprise when it comes in the mail or the phone rings with a friendly reminder...
Next year is almost here and a whole new decade before us... I have my own goals and bills that I need to address and pay for my own responsibilities... and even though son1 is a former responsibility I can only hope that someday all that we have taught him will come in handy soon... instead of him just thinking the world is against him and keeps taking his money... That's life... be glad you have the money for them to take... I am.... each year hubby and I keep getting through, amazed at how we make it on our little retail jobs... we're amazed we were able to help son1 a bit the last few months and still have something left, although that extra we used for him was supposed to pay down our own credit cards a bit more... so anyway I'm just frustrated that we keep giving him advice and he just ignores us and waits til its down to the wire and mad cause we aren't just handing him more money... and then he's kinda rude and makes comments in front of us in our house where we are welcoming him with open arms...
so that is why I shut down from blogging cause don't want to whine but hard just to write happy thoughts with all the ugly thoughts in my head... so I think I'm hiding in the facebook games...
My Carl's Jr is here and I made a chocolate cake... Back to work tomorrow for the next three days... so I can work off all these calories I have consumed the last four days....
Hubby just finished sorting through the Carl's Jr bags and seems we got our four fries and someone else' s four cross cut fries... is that to make up for son1 calling while I was ordering my Car's Jr to complain about another creditor taking funds out of his bank account that he promised them and now he is overdrawn... I can't seem to get through a whole day without son1 drama... son3 is only 8 and seems some days I never even see him or son2... but son1 has drama every day....
I'm off to drown my sorrows in cross cut fries and start anew tomorrow...

Took these pictures through the dining room window today....


Holly was lurking below... I think I see a Putty Cat...


Much safer up in the tree....

Happy Journaling...

Thanksgiving Pictures

Happy Journaling...

Holly

Happy Journaling...

November Twenty Eight...

We just finished watching The Grinch and having turkey again... One more day of work and this holiday shopping weekend will be done... Wednesday worked til 11pm getting everything ready for the day after... Friday got to work at 3:45am, opened at 4am, small rush but nothing like we have seen before, by 6am there was finally a good busy crowd, by 8am I was at lunch and we were starting to get tore up, by 11am the store was at 56% of our goal for the day, 12pm the morning specials ended and 12:30pm I was on my way home... I only had four hours of sleep the night before so spent the day vegging on the laptop... the store did not make it's goal, so we didn't do our million but the shoe department made it's goal for the day and then some... Today got to work at 6am, the closers were not able to finish cleaning so we were quite shocked by the mess, so I put up the couple of signs for this morning doorbusters and started cleaning men's and athletic shoes, stocked the work boot tables and came home at 10:45am... Hubby made me go to Target today, I don't go shopping on holiday weekends, too crowded... Target wasn't too bad and we even found a few more Christmas presents plus got a couple on after Thanksgiving specials that we wouldn't have got another time... Then we came home and had another lazy day... Hubby did get the lights on the Christmas tree yesterday... We had the best Thanksgiving! wonderful company and good food... still eating turkey leftovers, hubby's putting them away now... had to make more potatoes and stuffing though... but boy am I tired this weekend... I have Monday off and the boys are back in school, so I can regroup... gotta go help hubby clean up the kitchen and get the boys off to bed so I can sleep...
Happy Journaling...

Black Friday...

Happy Journaling...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Journaling...

November Twenty Fifth...

Doing my entry early today as I have to work tonight to set the ad for Friday... Hubby was off to work this morning and gets off a bit early and is planning on stopping at the grocery store on the way home for a couple of things... won't he be surprised... with all the last minute shoppers still getting their Thanksgiving fixings... All the boys are home today... son2 has some homework to do... I've been having a quiet morning on the laptop... had some breakfast... cleaned the boys bathroom, told them they can't use it til Friday as we have company coming tomorrow... watered the houseplants... gotta feed the pets... gonna fix the boys breakfast, son2 is the only one up so far... then have me a bit of lunch... then clean my bathroom and get ready for work... won't be back til late tonight... hopefully hubby will figure out how to tape Glee, Criminal Minds and CSI NY... Son2 just noticed the power is out... I said no it's not, I'm on the laptop, oh I see the icon shows battery and not plug... hmmm wonder why the power is out... hope it comes back on soon or whatever will the boys do... unfortunately it does not take power to clean the bathroom, so will get that done while waiting for power to come on so I can make their breakfast, or they can just have cereal...
Happy Journaling...

November Twenty Fourth...

I knew today was gonna be a fast day at work... I finished up the kids shoe clearance, went to lunch and started staging the door busters for Friday and then it was time to go home... Hubby and I got off at the same time today but I got home first and he works closer, lol... did my crunches, checked email, made cube steak, baked potatoes and sides... watched Castle and watching Numbers now... and here we are 7pm... just gotta clean up from dinner and I'm tired... and that's all I got today... was a very fast day...
Happy Journaling...

November Twenty Third

Got hubby and son1 off to work this morning, son2 and son3 were still sleeping as they have the week out of school and I had several hours of total silence... I played on facebook, had breakfast, cleaned up the dining room getting ready for Thanksgiving... the boys got up... we discovered the tv in the family room would not work, it will play VHS and DVD but no channels... we think the digital box went out and it is not even a year old... the digital box works in my bedroom so we tried the remote from it in the family room and it would not work there... are you still even able to buy the digital boxes... got the boys breakfast... they proceeded to have second and third breakfast throughout the day... I washed three loads of laundry and put away and hung it all up including all the loads I did the other day... had some lunch... hubby came home and we went to Sears to do some more Christmas shopping... got home, had some pot pies for dinner, watched Jeff Dunham Christmas... now we are watching The Big Bang Theory and then taping Castle and going to sleep...
Happy Journaling...

November Twenty Second...

I was at work at 6am, just a little ad today... no tables needed changing as we are just waiting for it to be Friday.... actually Wednesday night we will set everything up... so finished the ad, went to lunch, worked on kids shoes clearance and was home by 1pm... checked email, made some popcorn and cleaned all the kitchen counters and did all the dishes and washed the rugs and swept the kitchen floor... son1 had done a tune up and oil change on one of our cars... and got Carl's Jr for him and the boys... hubby was home early at 3:3opm since they were so dead at his store... he checked son1's work on the car and then fluffed out the artificial Christmas tree he set up yesterday... I made hamburger helper for dinner with corn and rolls... girlfriend came over... son2 was on the computer... son3 was on game boy... and hubby and I watched Criminal Minds and CSI NY... now it is not even 9pm and I am pooped... I am off tomorrow, yay... we are all heading off to our beds now...
Happy Journaling...

November Twenty First

Friday was the longest day at work, of course cause I got off early so the minutes ticked slowly... I did get a lot done though... Stocked the men's work boots, organized the stockroom and worked more kid's clearance... son1 was off at work, son3 was on his computer games and son2 was trying to make plans with friends but no one was available so he came home and watched Smallville with hubby and me... then we all went to bed early...
This morning hubby and I went to Walmart to get a head start on Christmas shopping... I always have big plans to get it all done in one swoop but it never happens, lol... Monday we will hit Sears, then plan a stop at Target some time, a bit of shopping online and a few more stops in December and then we will be done... Then we came home and I had more big plans of cleaning but I had a big headache and a kink in my neck again... so I worked on the Christmas cards a bit, watched the original Halloween with son2 after he raked the leaves in the front yard, hubby blew the leaves in the backyard, hubby did the dishes, I made tuna sandwiches for lunch, son3 has been playing game boy all day, I vacummed and son2 and hubby put up the artificial Christmas tree, I did two loads of laundry, I made breakfast for dinner since we went out early shopping, son1 came home and we watched Role Models, too funny, now son3 is getting ready for bed to watch Narnia 2, son1 is settled on the computer, and hubby, son2 and I are going to watch Trick R Treat, scary..... tomorrow I work really early but get off really early too....
Happy Journaling...

Color Carnival

To Play Visit Martha...

It's Snowman Time....





Happy Journaling...

November Nineteenth...

I always wake up hating Thursdays but then they always turn out fine... Son2 missed the bus this morning because his friend texted him and said it was foggy day schedule... so he came home to check the tv instead of going to the bus stop and checking for the bus... strangely his friends did not miss the bus... son1 was nice to get up and take him to school as his school is on the opposite part of town way out in the grape fields... so I got me and son3 ready and we went our way to school and work... today I finished stocking the men's athletic shoes, went to lunch and then worked on kid's clearance the rest of the day... we also got supplies in and I got the one that I really need that had been broken by other associates... also today is my 29th anniversary at Sears... 29 years ago I was temporary Christmas help... started my first day in the candy/popcorn counter and was a floater the first three months... I never turned in my last day notice as temporary help so they put me in the kids department and the rest is history... Got home and hubby had homework done and leftover chicken soup for dinner with biscuits... Now we are watching Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, too funny... I'm taping my shows: Bones, Fringe and Supernatural... One more day of school and the boys are on vacation for a week!! Off to finish the movie and then to bed, I work early tomorrow...
Happy Journaling...

Color Carnival

To Play Visit Martha...


Cardboard Scarecrows from the Dollar Store last year...


I taped them on the wall over the couch... they're about three feet tall...

Happy Journaling...

November Seventeenth

Today was a long quick day at work, I could of used another hour on top of my eight... I stocked men's athletic and worked the clearance, then after clearing a lot of room in the stockroom, I could finally put away all the fashion boots... I'm off tomorrow and then Thursday will be finishing the men's athletic shoes and then mens' shoes and work boots by Friday... Only a week left til Black Friday...
Got home and hubby had hot dogs and macaroni and cheese made for dinner... Now we've been watching The Proposal ever since... Such a good movie! so funny and sad and happy....
Now it's 9pm already and need to get the boys ready for bed, another day of school tomorrow... son3 got another 100% on his reading book...
now I'm heading to bed too to finish watching Castle that I fell asleep to last night...
Busy day off tomorrow... lots of blogging to do, bathrooms to clean, dishes and laundry to wash, Christmas cards to sign and birthday cards too... Busy Busy Busy.....
Happy Journaling...

November Sixteenth

I survived my first 9-5:45 day today... I kept busy stocking women's and men's athletic shoes so the time went along at a good pace... hopefully it will tomorrow too... we were quite busy this morning so the customers kept me busy too...
On the way home there was a road closure on one of the major roads, Fresnians do not know how to merge and the sad thing is half of them are from the bay area where all we do is merge, so we had to detour, where there was an accident, and then a long line to get through the turn lane without a green arrow, I was going straight, then a fire truck was coming toward us in the opposite lane with it's lights and sirens going and then there was an ambulance coming from behind us with it's lights and sirens going... I got home safely...
hubby had scrambled eggs, chicken fries and leftovers for dinner and he was grumbling about homework taking two hours... I did my crunches, threw a load in the washer, ate dinner and watched Family Guy, read with son3 and now doing my entry for NaBloPoMo, post every day in the month of November... son1 actually ate dinner with us tonight and is settled in for the night and he's off the next two days...
Time to get the boys settled in bed and ready for school tomorrow... I'm off to have some egg nog and get ready to watch Castle tonight... OH and The Proposal came today from Netflix, can't wait to watch it....
Happy Journaling....

November Fifteenth

Not much today... I worked 6am to 2:45pm... spent most of the time setting up the ad... was a small in between ad but I took my time and did everything completely... changed most of the sale tables and printed all the missing signs that got lost since last week... went to lunch in between and spent the last hour stocking men's dress shoes and women's athletic shoes...
Got home, changed, did my crunches, got a drink and settled in for an online chat with The Motivation Station gals, making our plans for next year...
by time we were done, hubby was home, so I pulled out all the leftovers, on Sunday it's fix what you want day...
Now we are watching Numbers from the last two weeks and the boys need to start getting ready for bed and school... Son1 has been out and about all day...
Think I'll have some hot chocolate while watching some shows... tomorrow is another full day at work...
Happy Journaling...

November Fourteenth...

Waiting for the pizzas to finish cooking... the beans for the dip are simmering on the stove... Saturday is coming to an end and back to work tomorrow... a full 40 hours this week... makes for long days... I know, I know... I'm just spoiled with my six hour days... still have to come home and be the mom too...
Been a quiet day today... son3 is feeling better... no throwing up, drinking fluids and says he wants pizza, although he hasn't had any food yet... son1 worked this morning and isn't home yet... son2 has been lazy all day on facebook... his report card came today... not pretty at all... he of course has all the answers and refuses to change his ways to try our way since obviously his way isn't working... four D's, two C's, one B and one A in computers 2...
I've done dishes, tons of laundry, worked on the computer, barely any facebook for me today, ordered some Christmas from CurrentCatalog and made brownies... Hubby has begun setting up the Christmas decorations in the house... Garland and lights all around the family room... and I put snowmen all over the entertainment center...
Lots of shows from the week to watch that we taped... think we will start with Castle and Supernatural... Pizza is just about ready... the sun has set and need to close the blinds...
Happy Journaling...

Friday the Thirteenth...

I always embrace Friday the 13th! It's a spooky day not an unlucky day...
I am home from work early today... son3 has been throwing up since 3am, so no school for him today... hubby is off on Friday so I didn't need to call out of work but I did ask to work a half day so I could reprieve hubby and he could get his errands done... plus the house is now in need of delousing... and lots of laundry to do... at work I just needed to count the men's shoes for the weekly count... they accidentally counted the athletics yesterday...
I am eager to get the Christmas shopping started but haven't had a chance yet...
It so does not seem that it is Christmas time already... how can it be November already when it was just August... I'm getting in the spirit but seems we are doing it the wrong month, lol.... I want hubby to start putting up the decorations in the house...
Son3 is sleeping and the dryer is buzzing so I should get busy on that delousing...
Be sure to visit The Motivation Station today as there is a surprise give away!!!
Happy Journaling...

November Twelfth

I always dread going to work on Thursdays... maybe cause Wednesday is my day off and I just don't want to go back to work... or cause usually we don't have as much coverage on Thursdays... but I always end up having a good day... go figure... today went really quick... I worked athletic clearance, went to lunch and stocked the women's athletic shoes... tomorrow I go in early and get off early...
now it's 8pm already and all I've done is come home, do my 100 crunches, heat up leftovers, eat dinner and here I am....
we had rain today! last week the weatherman said rain on Wednesday this week... then this week they said rain Thursday and Saturday... then this morning they showed no rain all week..., I went to lunch and discovered it was pouring outside... lol....
Bones has started and I'm missing it... I still have to get a tape ready to tape Supernatural and the sink has dirty dishes in it...
Happy Journaling... :)

November Eleventh

I have just a few minutes til Glee comes on and I settle in for the night... Had a nice day off with the boys today... They slept in, I had quiet time... Got lots of paper filing and list making done today... didn't go on facebook even once... yay me... I missed it but it will still be there tomorrow and I was less stressed getting things done instead of playing on facebook... Son2 went with son1 to get his car insurance... then son1 was off to see girlfriend... son2 was on the computer and then went off with his friends... son3 was a computer game guy all day... well they did do their homework this morning when they first got up so they could have computer privileges... I watched an episode of Emergency while paying bills and filing papers... Hubby, I and son3 went to the grocery store when hubby got home from work... got groceries and all the fixings for Thanksgiving and deli chicken family pac for dinner.... and chocolate cream pie for dessert... I'll have some while I'm watching Glee... I finished washing all son1's bedding from when he was sick and a load of work clothes for me and hubby... still have a sink full of dishes but don't feel like emptying the dishwasher, that's my least favorite part, don't mind filling it... I also wanted to clean out son3's long sleeve shirts but ran out of time... Don't forget to visit The Motivation Station tomorrow as it's my day to host... I'm off to find jammies, watch Glee and have pie... Ok now I'm off... laptop lost connection so I am now on the main computer... put the laptop to sleep for the night...
Happy Journaling...

November Tenth...

Another easy day at work.... I worked on men's clearance, went to lunch and then opened boxes til 5pm...
Came home and hubby had made lasagna... we're trying something new... I leave him a note of the main thing to fix for dinner and then I just have to finish up with the sides when I get home... no school tomorrow but still had homework but hubby only had him do half and then I'll finish up with him tomorrow... another 100% on his reading test today...
Son1 went back to work today... he was feeling better all around today... he's working on a payment plan with the guy he owes money to for the car... he also has a fix it ticket/court date that caught up with him that we are working on a plan for... always something... one more thing...
But now we are all getting ready for bed for sleeping... I'm tired and this getting dark early is not helping... just want to crawl into my flannel sheets and big comforter and sleep and sleep and sleep...
Tomorrow all the boys have the day off except for hubby... I'm off too....
I want to work on Motivation Station Stuff and Christmas stuff and bill paying/paper pile stuff, blog reading stuff, making lists stuff and all kinds of stuff...
But for now I am in my comfy bed watching Dancing With the Stars and then Numbers with hubby...
Happy Journaling...

November Ninth...

It's chilly in here.... that's a good thing... no air conditioner... had to turn the heater on yesterday though... it's 70 but feels cooler... 55 outside...
Quick day at work today... opened boxes and helped the associates now on commission learn how to use the registers...
son1 called out of work today... he and girlfriend went to Red Robin last night, came back to watch TV and then son1 was throwing up til this morning... he kept down some oatmeal and juice but still has a tummy ache... everyone at his work has been sick and he had a stressful weekend so think everything just caught up with him... don't think girlfriend got sick...
Hubby is teaching son2 and son3 how to play chess... son3 is catching on quite quickly...
We had chicken quesadillas for dinner... kitchen is all cleaned up... garbage totes put out... I had big plans to get more done but I'm tired and getting a headache... so as soon as son3 is done with his chess game gonna read with him and then get him in bed... meanwhile I just remembered I was at a good part in my book so gonna read a bit while waiting for Castle to come on....
Happy Journaling...

Sunday Selection...

To Play Visit Martha...

Today we are sharing our favorite photos...

I just took this one the other day... I like how the foreground leaves are blurry making a frame around the sunlit leaves...


I love this picture of son3 from Halloween... SAY CHEESE!


Monterey last summer... I'm needing a beach day soon....

Happy Journaling...

Color Carnival

To Play Visit Martha...


Trees at the park...


Tree in my side yard...


Close up of tree in my side yard...

Happy Journaling...

Sad Day...

I am a very mean mom... I have been very frustrated with son1... probably the cause of my stiff neck and headache for two weeks... I can overlook his coming and goings... and his room area that he doesn't keep clean, he's the one that has friends over... I've tried to help him keep up on his bills but he lived on his own for two years, you'd think he could handle that... the DMV finally sent him a notice to get car insurance... he is working and getting his unemployment to compensate for the part time... he got his car running good but still owes friend money for car he no longer has... I wish we talked more instead of just when he needs something or is hungry... I wish he never got his second dog, actually third dog as girlfriend took second dog when they broke up and he took first dog... My backyard is destroyed... I can not overlook the fact that son1 has only scooped the poop maybe four times in the four months he has been moved back home... I did it every day for two weeks at the beginning of October maybe giving a hint, but he never even said thank you... he did notice... He feeds the dogs maybe every twelve hours, when he gets up and when he gets home... Danny is fine as he is inside and a small dog... however Pistol is outside all alone and only five months old... I've had son2 feeding Pistol in between... I am a mean mom... Pistol has been sick twice before when son1 brings him over to friend's house and they have dog food out so Pistol gorges himself and then can't eat for a day... Pistol got his initial puppy shots but never his follow up ones and don't know if had his rabies shot... son1 did not want to get him fixed either... wanted to raise him as a hunting/breeding dog... Well Pistol hasn't been anywhere since before Halloween and yesterday morning he threw up and didn't eat all day as he didn't feel well... Son1 went off to friend's house and then to work at 2pm-8pm and then didn't come home til 10pm... Pistol was still sick... we suggested some chicken and rice soup, but he wouldn't eat it... He was up and walking around... This morning Pistol still would not eat but was up a bit but then laying around a lot more... I'm a mean mom as I said a lot of mean things this morning about son1 not caring for his dog and God teaching him a valuable lesson and hopefully he would learn that his dog needs him... we went through all this two months ago when I told him a dog was like a child and needed constant nurturing, not like a cat that could take more care of itself... Son1 went to get friend and to PetSmart to get advice and talked to friend's vet and they said probably Parvo... to give him Pedialyte and chicken broth... So son1 gave him some Pedialyte and then went to work at noon... me still being a mean mom was still lecturing everyone on caring for pets and respecting my house... At 1:30pm me being the uncaring mom that I am checked on Pistol and he had passed away... I really didn't think God would take the lesson that far... This is not the way I wanted to get my yard back... I do not blame the poor puppy but son1 who tries to have it all.... Hubby called son1 at work and told him and told him to stay at work and he and son2 took Pistol to the SPCA... Now hubby and son2 are back and hubby is cleaning the backyard as Danny still needs to go out there and if it was Parvo I don't want him to get it...
Son2 is getting ready to mow the front yard, son3 is on his computer games (he does know about Pistol) and I am going back to my mountain of laundry and sink full of dishes/pots and pans....
Happy Journaling... :(

November Sixth...

Yay it's Friday! I worked early today and got off at 3:30 today but here it is almost 8pm already... Hubby was off today and finished the last rung on the fence... and did some yard work and had some quiet time for himself... I finished stocking the men's workboots and then opened boxes after lunch... Got home and put on my jammies, son2 was off with friends, son1 is off at work, son3 on his computer games... son3 has been getting 100% on his reading tests! hubby went to the store to pick up a few basics and eggs, hash browns, kelbosa for breakfast and egg nog and pumpkin cake... signed up for medical benefits for 2010, today was the last day, I was not wanting to see what it is going up to and I was right... paid the bills that need to get in the mail... made dinner: frozen family turkey and chicken with leftovers from the fridge... We are all off tomorrow which is good cause I have a sink full of dishes and a mountain of laundry to do... Now I'm off to watch Smallville and tape Ghost Whisperer...
Happy Journaling...

November Fifth...

We're watching Bones and Fringe... Taping Supernatural...
We had leftover stew and hubby made cornbread in the mini bundt cake pan, so we all had a huge corn bread cake either in our stew or with butter...
I ran the dishwasher but I still have a sink full of pans from the week to wash... I also only did half the laundry yesterday... no sign of son1 after work today yet... most days he doesn't have dinner with us...
I thought I wouldn't have anything to do at work today due to the visit but I spent the day stocking men's workboots, didn't even finish... and I still want to stock the men's dress shoes... I work early tomorrow... I hear son1 home now... and I just found Holly, she's so soft...
Our weather is supposed to get a bit cooler this weekend and maybe even rain...
I still have to read with son3 for his reading test tomorrow and he has a spelling test, math test and maybe multiplication test tomorrow...
Hubby is snoring next to me, time for jammies and set my alarm clock...
Be sure to visit The Motivation Station tomorrow, we have a new Friday host!!
Happy Journaling...

November Fourth

I was off today... Racing the clock to get everything done... I had a nice day though but I'm grumbly now... I got lots cleaned up but the laundry is still not done and the sink is full of dishes again... I did get Halloween put away and Thanksgiving set up but the bills aren't paid... I made stew, it was really good... Son3 did good homework but also had classwork he brought home... He's now studying his multiplication flash cards... Son1 called home from work and made me grumpy... three years ago his friend loaned him money to buy a car, he no longer has the car nor has he paid the friend any money... the friend called him again today demanding the money or give him the car... he doesn't know that son1 no longer has the car... son1 wants me to co sign a loan... I refuse to help him on this... they were both wrong to make this agreement and the friend got nothing in writing... son1 has made several plans in the last three years to pay back the friend but has not followed through on anything... son1 wants to have all the money at once to pay him... he didn't like my no answer on the phone so he hung up on me... my headache came back and I still have the kink in my neck... finished son3's homework, talked with hubby, talked with son2... ate our stew for dinner while watching Aliens in the Attic and son1 came home an hour before he was supposed to be off work... he did come to talk to me and hubby but just to say don't worry he had taken care of it... stopped at the bank for a loan and made a plan with his dad... see it's all or nothing with him... I gave him a stern lecture about being grown up and responsible and following through and would we ever be able to have a full conversation without one of us getting angry... he doesn't want to discuss things... he wants an instant plan and then tomorrow it's a new plan... not to mention I'm sure he asked to leave work early so that's 4 points now, he is still in his 90 day probation... and girlfriend was with him... they are watching TV... I'm off to get son3 settled for the night and then get my jammies on and watch Drag Me To Hell with hubby... Holly is sleeping next to me.... Work tomorrow and our VIP visit...
Happy Journaling...

Halloween 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow Happy Journaling...

November Third...

I was prepared for the Christmas music at work today so just a bit of headache lingering in the back, actually since vacation I have had a kink on the right side of my neck so can't turn to the right or look up, I'm thinking too much laptop on vacation... I'm also still tensing my jaw, not grinding, which is also causing my headache...
Our temps have still been in the 70's... going down to the 60's this weekend with a chance of rain... but did you know at 5:30 when I get out of work it's dark already, I don't like the dark...
I got the stockroom all cleaned today and all shoes put away... and wow we have so much help, all the new associates are all doing a great job... I was so done, well I could of done something but for the last hour I did nothing... I had even swept the stockroom... tons of boxes were coming up from the truck as I was leaving though...
The boys have finished their homework and need to head for the showers... I have a ton of things to do on my day off tomorrow... laundry, dishes, find the dining room table, pay bills, balance checkbook, go through the mail, clean bathrooms, put flannel sheets on my bed, put a bit of Halloween away, vacuum, check out my health benefits for next year and my entry for The Motivation Station...
But for now I am heading for my jammies, get the boys settled for the night, watch a bit of TV and read too...
Happy Journaling...

November Second...

I had a headache THIS BIG all day.... We are now playing Christmas music at work... half Christmas and half regular music but I think it was the same five Christmas songs over and over...
I started reorganizing the stockroom since I have so many associates to cover the floor now... We had a visit while I was on vacation and we have one more on Thursday and then we are done for this year...
I worked all day 9-5:30... I still need to get the house back together from Halloween... Lots of laundry still to be done and pots and pans to be washed... but not tonight, after this entry I am going to bed to veg and watch TV...
Hubby had a stressful vacation week trying to decide on some changes at work... He was going to step down from his position but after talking to his supervisor today he is still unsure of what he wants to do...
Lots of laughing in the house with the boys and hubby when I got home from work and then even into dinner...
Girlfriend is over too, they went to Starbucks and then gonna watch TV...
Another long day at work tomorrow and it's almost 9pm so off to veg and watch TV... Castle tonight!!
I'm working on the Halloween slide show... hopefully by tomorrow it will be ready to post...
Happy Journaling...

November First...

Today begins our thirty days of blogging... It's National Blog Posting Month at NaBloPoMo, so I've signed up for the month with a promise to post every day...
Halloween night was a blast... I will be making a smile box slide show to share soon... Trick or treaters didn't start showing up til 6pm and abruptly stopped at 8:30 but we waited til about 8:50 to be sure before we brought everything in to the garage... Don't leave anything out over night, don't want any tricksters to come back and leave a trick on us... Only had 17 goodie bags left over and a few toys, so had over 150 trick or treaters, hard to tell though as son3 was giving out two treats every so often... I fixed son3 some soup but he fell asleep before he had a chance to eat... Handing out candy is a hard job...Son2 as a werewolf was a success... Scared lots of big people and tried not to scare the little ones... Lots of pictures were taken of him... He's probably popping up all over My Space and Facebook today, lol... I didn't think of it when he picked out the werewolf costume of the Twilight movie until someone asked him if he was Edward, teasing him cause they thought he was Jacob... I ate a caramel apple after the trick or treating was done... Very good! and then I ate a candy apple, not so good... the candy melted off the apples so I just rinsed off the candy and we will quickly eat the apples... I'm still eating the tortilla soup, yummy...
I have a sink full of dishes that I am slowly working my way through... and seven loads of laundry to do from all the Halloween dummies... I'm on load #2...
Hubby and I were back to work today... I worked 6am-2:30pm... hubby only worked 11-4 as they were very slow so we got a good start on getting Halloween put away... I was busy at work... Setting up the ad, training the new guy to set the ad, he kept up on boxes while I was gone but still lots to do and organize, a dozen new associates that I haven't even met them all yet, so we had lots of help today, too much even, lol...
Now we've finished dinner and watching Numbers... and I need to get back on dishes and laundry...
Happy Journaling...

Krazy Kitchen

I made caramel apples today...



I made candy apples today...

I had a little trouble... finish reading instructions would be a good thing... I put the apples in the oven to warm the caramel and then read that I was supposed to stretch the caramel over the apple, I thought it would melt...

I dunked the apples in the candy covering but it came out too thin so I thought I would pour some more over the apples... looks really cool all over the pan, like blood, but try to pick one up and get all of them, lol...

I was gonna make Halloween cut out cookies too... Had a leftover kit box from Christmas and Halloween cookie cutters... Mixed the dough and it was so runny, kept adding flour... thought this must be older than I thought... So made a batch of dough from scratch realizing the flour was from 2007, it's all crumbly... When almost throwing out the second bag from the Christmas kit realized what I thought was two bags of dough mix was actually a frosting mix, lol.... So I will try one more time to see if I can get some dough together so son3 can cut out some cookies and frost them... I had planned on making frosting, didn't remember it came in the box....

The Krazy Kitchen is still partying, so head on over...

Happy Halloween!
Happy Journaling...