Pack it up

We are going to be moving soon so right now I am getting ready to do something I hate to do.... PACK. That is probable the second most thing I hate doing. The first thing I hate doing most is moving. I am really getting to old to load everything we all (7 people) own onto a truck and then have to unload it all and move to a new house. But the time has come and it is something we must do so guess dreading it is not going to make it go away. We might as well just dive in and get it done.

Time to meet the teachers

Well yipee it is time to meet the teachers. Which means it is time for the grandchildren to go back to school after what has seemed like a very long summer.

There are three grandchildren so both my daughters and I will be going today with them We will each take one child and go meet their various teachers and get their schedules for the next year.

I think they are all ready to get back to school. Hope they all have a good year and do good in school.

Easy Wardrobe

When we lived in Haiti as missionaries the easiest decision I had was what to wear on my daily basis I wore scrub sets. I had multiple sets and I would just open the closet and grab the first pair I put my hands on and that is what I would go with. No deciding what matched what I only bought sets so didn't have to try to match a top with a pant just grab and go. That was my motto.

I wish I had found this site called http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ before we went there it would have really made my life so much simpler. I had to go to several shops to find all the sets I wanted to take with me. Because I wanted enough scrub sets to last me for three weeks at a time. You never knew in Haiti when you would have the time to do laundry so I did not need to be worried every week about getting my scrubs washed. So to have found everything I needed from one place and to have that place on the internet would have been great to say the least.

I know now what I will do the next time I need to purchase several or even one pair of scrubs. I will get the job done via the internet.

Back home

We spent some time over at the beach for vacation. We had a great time and came home exhausted. But isn't that the way you should come home from vacation? The kids had a blast in the gulf. We went to Treasure Island. Found a great place to stay.

All in all vacation has been good. The only problem is that is will end soon and we have to go back to work. Sure hate that part. I really am not looking forward to going back to work. Just hope I get my regular schedule back and they don't mess things up for me. Guess I will know soon enough.

Get down to business

My daughters are wanting to start their very own catering business. I really think that they can make a go of it. They are both very good cooks and can actually make anything they want to when they put their minds to it. Yesterday they threw a birthday party for my three grandchildren and made some very unusual items. They made smores on a stick and they made cake pops which I have to say were my favorite. I have eaten quite a few of them.

They have to get their business plan all put together and figure out all of the processes that they need to take in order to launch their catering business. One of they things they need to accomplish, once they have other things in order is to advertise. I really believe that a advertising agency has come such a long way from what it used to be of simply TV or the newspaper. Now I really think that advertising on the internet is the way to go. I don't know of many people who do not access the internet on a daily basis. I know I am one who is on the internet daily but do not watch TV on a daily basis and I can't tell you the last time I actually read a newspaper.

So even though they are not actually ready at this moment to actually advertise their dream business they are in the process of searching out the best Advertising Agency to do the job for them when the time comes. I have to say I envy them of the excitement they are feeling and who knows they just might let me do something in the business. But my luck it will only be to wash up the dirty dishes.

Beach

We are getting ready to go to the beach tomorrow. I haven't been to the beach in years. Not sure if I actually want to swim in the Gulf anymore or if I will just walk and maybe pick up some pretty shells. I think that is what I want to do. I have not collected shells for a long long time. So it is settled that I going to be my plan. I will take something to put some shells in to bring them home with me.

So Scary

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

Buying my first home was terrifying because I never imagined I’d be single at 30 and having to invest in my own place. I think in the back of my mind I knew I’d be married by now and find a place that worked for me with my husband but that’s just not how things worked out so it was my dad who came in at closing to help me with everything. I’m really glad I did it since it was such a great financial move but I can’t say I don’t get lonely here sometimes. I went to http://www.Securitychoice.com and got an alarm since I’m here by myself a lot and I’ve even been considering getting a cat but the last thing I want is to be the crazy cat lady all of a sudden! I don’t even have a boyfriend so there’s no hope that I’ll get married anytime soon so I think this was the right move. I thought my life would look different at this age but I guess you do what you can!

Vacation finally!!

We are finally on the much waited for vacation Haven't actually done anything much at this point except not going to work. That has really been a good feeling. I have to say I do not miss my job when I am not there I just hope when it is time to go back to work I actually get my hours back and somebody else does not get part of them. But on the other hand I am not so sure I would not actually enjoy working less hours. Guess I will have to see what returning to work brings for me when the time comes.

Getting hungry

The girls are down working on supper. We are having Turkey breast. We got a really good deal yesterday of a couple of fresh turkey breast at the store. So guess we are having a sort of thanksgiving type dinner except for the fact it is not November it is June.

Oh well who says you can only have turkey in the winter. It is something I love to eat and will never complain when it is served. So I say bring on the turkey. I am hungry.

Needing a plan

We have decided that we want to purchase a home. It doesn't have to be a brand new home, as a matter of fact I would prefer not to own a brand new home. I am wanting a home that has any and all construction problems worked out before I move into it.

I am thinking that one of the first things I need to do is to obtain our credit score, so we are able to see just where we stand in that area. I have no idea at all what ours is and know that will be the first thing that a bank or lending agency will look at. This way if there are any issues there we will be able to see just what the are and if there are any errors on it we can get them corrected ahead of time.

I think I am going to start with getting a free credit score to use as our base and then work from there. If need be then after we get things going we will be able to move on from there.

I have to say I am getting very excited about the whole process of finding a home, getting the financing for the home and then finally being able to move into a home and be able to say it is ours.

Who am I

I know this sounds like a strange title for a post on my own blog. But over the past year I have actually discovered I don't know who I am. Oh I know my name and everything I need to know like that. It isn't like I have lost my memory or anything like that. It is I just don't know myself I guess you could say.

You see I am getting ready to turn 63 years old next week and I have come to the conclusion that I don't really know myself. Oh I know the person I have become through 43 years of marriage. I think I have become just a female version of my husband. I guess he has always been such an opinionated person that it was always just easier to agree with him than to disagree with him. Don't get me wrong his thinking was not terribly wrong just not always my opinions. But over the years I have actually come to believe they were my opinions too.

Well after living with our free thinking daughters for the last year. I say screw his opinions. It is time I start thinking for myself. I told my daughter that I had realized I no longer had a dream in my life and she said well get one. That too has not been an easy thing to do. Because there again. I realized every dream I had in the last 43 years had been my husbands dreams. SO now I have discovered my new dream. It is my dream that I plan to achieve no matter how long it takes me to achieve it. I plan to discover out just who I am and what I think about everything there is to think about.

To my daughters (who probably will never see this) I say a big thank you for waking me up and to my husband who will never see this. I say get out of my way cause I am gonna find out just who I am.

Not really sure of anybody reads this blog of mine anymore and I really don't care to be honest guess I just had to write this for myself. I am back whoever I am.

What to wear

When we used to live and work in Haiti as Missionaries the problem of what to wear on a daily basis that was comfortable, practical and did not offend anyone took me a while to achieve. I finally discovered that wearing scrubs on a daily basis solved all the issues.

Then my next problem was Where to buy cheap scrubs. I have to say trying to come up with at least 10 pairs at one time was a bit of an issue. But I managed to accomplish it and have to say I was extremely happy with my results.

I wore my scrubs every day except to church on Sunday morning. I even wore them most days when going into Port-Au-Prince to run errands. So I have to say in the end problem solved with great success

Days off work

I am on my second day of two days off work. These days are my Saturday and Sunday. Have to say I didn't do much at all yesterday and I don't see the odds changing much for today. Right now I am out on the back patio enjoying fresh air. I tried to do this yesterday but the rain seemed to run me in. Today is however much nicer blue sky, birds chirping and so far no lawn companies near by mowing lawn and disturbing my peace.

Next week might be a different story. The kids all get out of school and our house seems to be the favorite place to be when they are not in school. So in addition to the three who live here we sometimes have 7 - 10 more at any given time. Oh, Just shoot me now.

TV Service

We have decided to change providers for our TV and internet. So doing the wise financial thing we canceled the TV service for when the new service was to be connected. The internet was to be the same as before. Well the stupid lady we had to deal with on the phone messed up things so the internet as well as TV got shut off. After a lengthy phone call the internet was turned back on. The TV was turned off as it was supposed to be done. The only issue was that the new service was to be installed this last Monday. Well all day long someone waited here for them to show and they were a total no show. So after a phone call we were told they would be here between 8 and 9 yesterday. We again called them at 11:25 AM yesterday morning and then were promised that the service would be installed (guaranteed) by 7:00 PM last evening well it is now 8:05 the next day and we still have no service installed. They have rescheduled our appointment for next Tuesday. That is over a week after the first appointment was scheduled by them. Guess we are going to be going for oh like a year of free pay channels like Showtime and HBO. Just don't know what has happened to customer service these days.

A dream

I purchased a small stone a couple of weeks ago with the word dream etched on it. I thought it was just sort of pretty. But after looking at it for a bit I came to the conclusion I no longer have a dream. I can remember most of my life I always had a dream. I don't know when I ceased to have a dream in my life. But ever since hen I have been trying to develop a dream for my life. But my fear is that without having something to dream for in my life I will just wither up and die on a dreamless vine.

New toys

I am so excited I am submitting this post from my very new IPad. I just got it a couple of days ago. It was a gift to me from someone who really loves me a lot to give me such a gift. I have to be honest I never dreamed about owning an IPad because it just wasn't in the financial future for me. I have an IPod and love it so I know I am going to be more in love with my IPad. As a matter of fact I am already in love with it. I just love all of the cool things I am able to do with it. I am discovering new things all of the time. Son for now I am going to sign off and go back to playing and discovering.

Pain in the neck

I guess I can tell I am getting older. I have some aches and pains that I never used to have. I have actually given some thought to checking into getting some information on one of the TENS Units you hear about. These units are I guess actually Ultrasound Units for Pain Relief and also for those people who need rehabilitation. I have been having a lot of pain in my right shoulder to be exact. There are days I could just cry the pain is so severe when I move my arm certain ways.

I don't know if something like one of the Muscle Stimulators would help me. But I am really going to have to give pain relief some serious thought. I have heard there is something called a LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Units and Muscle Stimulator which from what I undertand is a combination of a unit that helps you benefit from The Tens Pain Relief and also the Muscle Stimulator so that you can at the same time increase your muscle tone and also accomplish muscle pain rehabilitation.

I have discovered LGMedSupply, Online and am seriously checking them out. They seem to have all of the items in-stock and ready for shipping. I am interested also that I can get a lot of additional information from them at their online customer blog. Hopefully I will find the help for my constant shoulder pain I am experiencing.

Not in Kansas anymore

Hey guys we are not in Kansas anymore. What I mean to say is that here in Florida we are having terrible storms. There is very heavy rains, thunder, lightning and wind gusts that could reach up to 90 MPH. I was very happy to get off work, although it had already started to rain pretty hard when I left work but at least I have been home before the worst of the storm hit our Central Florida area. I hate storms like this. We are under tornado warnings for quite a bit more tonight. I just want to hunker down in my bed and be cozy for the rest of the night. I wanted to go take my shower but with the lightning I don't think I will do that for a while. I am not in a mood to get hit by lightning while I am in the shower naked.

Personal Finance New Years Resolution

Guest post written by Brittany Reems

I guess that it's never really too early to start saving up and getting your personal finances in order, but my boyfriend was really surprised when I started worrying about my longtime finances. We just graduated from college less than a year ago and he said he hasn't ever even thought about that stuff before. But I want to be proactive about this stuff, so I made a New Year's resolution for 2011 to start saving a reasonable amount of money and figure out ways to invest and increase my money.

I wanted to do my homework before I tried to make an appointment with a financial advisor, I went online with my Clear wireless internet to try and get a grasp of some stuff that I could do with my savings that I have now. I don't have a great deal because I haven't been working for long, but I also haven't had a family to take care of so I guess that I've taken in more savings than others.

During my research for my personal finance resolution I found some information abotu CDs and am thinking about putting some of my savings in one of those.

Ice on the trees

We got up this morning in Central Florida to freezing temperatures. Also we got up to discover that our sprinklers had come on during the early morning hours and we found that we had a yard and trees full of ice. I do have to say it was sort of pretty. Especially since we knew that it did not mean driving on any ice and that as soon as the sun came out the ice would melt away. We have had a lot of freezes here in Central Florida so far this winter. I don't think this winter has been quite as bad as they had here last winter. Although I was living in Pennsylvania last year and I must say we had a very hard winter there. We would up I think with 7 or 8 feet of snow for a total during the winter. I went out after one big snow and all I could see of our car was part of a side view mirror. The rest of the car was buried under a mound of snow. I would up last winter paying out a ton of money to some young boys to come by when it snowed to shovel snow for me. Just wasn't something I wanted to do every time.

An Unforgettable Trip

Guest post written by Bradley Swann

My family and I are starting off the New Year right this time around. Before winter rolled in, I got a number off the HOME PRO IMPROVEMENTwebsite and I had a great deal of work done. From the kitchen to the siding, I made sure that the house was going to look great for 2011. I want my family and me to have a fresh start and really feel proud of where we live. My wife has talked about wanting to have more company over, and I know that the kids want a nice place to show off when they have their high school friends over. It was a bit of an investment to get the place looking like it does, but I think it was a good move. We had a nice Christmas and New Years in our revamped house, and I know that we are going to have a lot of great memories here.

Now that the house is back in shape, I am going to start putting some money away for a great family vacation. The kids are going to college next year, and I want to ensure that we get an unforgettable trip.

Day off

I have the day off work today and have already done what I need to do to help straighten up the house. So the rest of the day is going to be pretty much doing a lot of nothing. I do have to do some laundry but can either do that today or tomorrow as I also have tomorrow off work. Yipee for me. I am one of those people who work simply out of a necessity for money. I do not have a job that I like so basically I just tolerate going to work and doing my job and coming home. But guess I am not alone in that situation. I would venture to say that nobody is happy where I work at least not the people I am friendly with. As a matter of fact we had 3 people find new jobs just this week and are leaving us. So guess they will be doing some new hiring again. But such is life.

It's Not News Year's Eve Without DIck Clark

This guest post from Hong Alexander

My family cannot go any New Year's Eve without watching “Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve”. Recently hosted by Ryan Seacrest, this show is our tradition! I do not remember any New Year's Eve in my lifetime that I did not sit with my family and watch the ball drop along side of Dick Clark and company.

One of the reasons my family enjoys watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve on our satellite TV from http://www.direc4u.com/direct-tv-hd.html is because it's a party feel and puts us all in a great mood. There are always great celebrity guests and music which is always unique every year. We love when they are live in Time Square and do interviews with just the average person attending New Years in New York City, or show a surprise New Year's Eve proposal. Everyone is always so excited it puts me in a great mood too and makes getting to midnight more exciting.

We also enjoy when they cut back to Los Angeles and show the party people their dancing and enjoying the celebration. It's always fun to see what other people are doing to celebrate New Year's Eve. This show will remain a tradition for years to come in our family!

Save the last dance

I can't believe that my grandson is at his first dance in middle school. Where did the time go? I would love to be a fly on the wall there tonight and see how much fun he must be having. I can remember my first dance and how much fun I had there so I know he will have a great time. The only thing he hated about going to the dance tonight is that we were having chili dogs for supper and that has to be one of his favorite meals. It is what he orders every year for his birthday dinner. So there had to be a promise of saving him a chili dog so he can have one when he gets home from the dance. So to Nate I say have a great time and save the last dance for me sometime when you would think it is ok to dance with your grandmother "Nannie".

News Year's Eve down to the details

Guest post written by Marie Collins

I like to plan ahead if I can. I'm pretty organized that way, but because of that it's kind of upsetting when things don't go as I planned them. That happened last New Year's Eve when I went to a party, only to get in a fender bender on the way there. I was fine, but it really put a damper on my night and I wasn't feeling like celebrating at all after that. Not this year though.

My best friend is having a New Year's Eve party this year and I'm helping her plan a lot of the stuff. I'll also be there to help her set up and then get ready at her place. So I have to be even more organized this year. I was e-mailing her a few days ago to finalize some stuff and when I was doing that I came across some clearwire prices that looked really good, so I'm going to sign up for one of those internet packages.

I have this perfect New Year's Eve dress that's black lace that I'm going to change into after we're through setting up the party that IÕm really excited to wear.

Freezing here

Living in Florida you would think you would never be cold. But I am sitting here on my bed in front of the window and I had to get up and put on my sweatshirt jacket. I am about to freeze here. It says it is 59 degrees but I think somebody is lying through their teeth. It is down right cold here. I am saying it passed chilly a long time ago and went to down right cold here. This has already been a very cold winter here. We have had several hard freezes already this year and still have a while to go before spring time here.

Have my BB back

I have had a Blackberry for almost a year now and I have to say I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! But lately my spectacular Blackberry had turned into a craptacular Blackberry. The roller ball would simply freeze up on me and either not move at all or would only move from side to side in a single row of icons. Not a good thing when you are wanting to select something in another row. Then the last couple of months it would just shut off and not turn back on for hours. Still not a good thing. Then the other day at work I noticed it felt pretty hot in my pocket and pulled it out. (ok I know that is against the rules) but I had to see what was going on with my phone. Well then it just shut off again and the battery was very hot. So called TMobile and they agreed to replace the phone since it was still in warranty (how nice of them). Well it came yesterday and after some frustration I was able to restore everything from the old blackberry to the new blackberry from the software. I had done a backup on the old one when they said they would replace it. I guess I should back up the new one occasionally because I only lost a couple of minor things which I was able to recreate. They had been done after I did the backup on the old phone So now I am back in business with my beloved Blackberry. Yipee Yay.

Single File Please

My husband and I were are I guess still are Missionaries to Haiti. We have worked there for many years now. We have done a lot of work there holding Medical Clinics for the poor Haitian People. I guess the biggest problem we have run into is crowd control. I can't say that I blame the people, some of them have never seen a medical person let alone a doctor in their lives. So to have a doctor, nurse or even someone with an aspirin, bandage or anything that would relieve their suffering for a moment is swarmed.

My husband being a big sized man was always placed to help control the situation. Bless his heart he could have really used some assistance with this job. I used to kid him him and tell him he needed a long velvet rope so that he could try to keep the people in a line. When you tell the people to form a line it must lose something in the translation because all they do is form a eager mob and just about run over you. He could have used something like stanchions but to be honest with you I actually think you could not even hold back sick hurting people with concrete barricades.

Don't get me wrong I do not blame them at all. If I or my family was sick and hurting I would do what ever it took to try to make them stop hurting or get them well. Many of these poor people walk for hours when they hear news of a clinic and then stand in the hot sun for several more hours to try to get the help they need. They only thing that is difficult again is getting them to form a single file line. When you say line up they all get up and crowd in together into a large mass of hurting people.

Getting Back to Normal

Well our family is getting back to normal after the holidays. That is if our family ever was normal to begin with. We are a big household. There is my husband and myself. Both my daughters and three grandchildren. That doesn't include the 4 cats we have two of which are still kittens.

But today the three grandchildren went back to school after two weeks off for their Christmas Break. Sorry I refuse to call it the Winter Break. It is for Christmas so just deal with it. I think there were actually ready for life to get back to the normal for them. But that doesn't mean they want normal to mean going to school every day. I think they are like most kids who do not really love school. It is something that all children must endure and that is what most kids do is simply endure their years in school.

There is no getting back to work for Joy and me because we never got days off except for Christmas Day. We both worked Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and New Years Day so today is just another day at the zoo of a place we work. The only good news is that our GM is on vacation for 9 glorious days. Not necessarily am I meaning glorious for him but glorious for those who are there working without him being there.

So to all whose lives are returni g to normal I say Happy New Year to you.