I'm a Bloody Target

I'm a target for all the bad drivers in Monroe! A few months ago, I was driving down the interstate, minding my business, and some "girl" in a white SUV decided that, rather than waiting for me to pass by, she would just merge in on top of me! And, if that wasn't bad enough, she just drove off! I had to call the cops and they tracked her down. Crazy, right? So, Alyssa and I were in a shopping center a week or so ago, shopping for a bird feeder for her school, and while we were there, I decided to stop by Spoiled Rotten, which is a store with grossly overpriced, but adorable, clothes for kids. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, Alyssa jumped up and said she had forgotten her purse in Spoiled Rotten. Granted, there was nothing IN the purse, but I remember a time when I left a Clifford the Dog sticker under a rack at Fred's and my mother wouldn't go back and let me get it (understandably so). I remember being crushed and devastated at the loss of my sticker and I vowed that, if there were any way possible, I would always return to try to find anything my child left in a store. So far, in my daughter's 5 years, I have had to go back to McRae's for a toy phone, SteinMart for a purse (different purse) and Wal-Mart for....something....I can't even remember what it was. Anyway, long story short, I pull out onto the road and then loop back into the parking lot to go back to Spoiled Rotten to get the purse and as soon as I got in, someone hit me! Luckily, he was very nice about it, admitted his fault and gave me his insurance info. It didn't do any real damage, though, and Greg said we wouldn't even bother filing it or fixing it. It just scratched the paint a bit...no biggie! But, I am such a target!!!

Three Little Kittens

I've practiced being the "crazy old cat lady" today. We have a cat and her kittens living in our backyard and I'm in love! I invited them in briefly today to play with my daughter and stepson. There are two girls and a boy. The boy and one of the girls are almost identical. The only difference, really, is the color of their eyes. He has green eyes and she has blue eyes. The other girl is black and white striped. Anyway, the point is, I named the black and white one Delilah. The other girl is Skylah, because her eyes are blue, like the sky, and her brother is Fugly, because he's just really not as pretty as the other two. I'd love to keep Delilah, but on the other hand, I'm badly wanting a puppy and I know that my husband wouldn't go for having TWO animals!

My Monday To-Do

I've already missed the number one thing on my list. I was planning to go to Alyssa's school and pay her tuition and fees, but I didn't wake up until 10 minutes before I was supposed to be there. I talked to her teacher yesterday, and I got the impression that she'd rather me wait until Wednesday anyway, so I figure that's what I'll do. So, with that in mind, here's my "to-do" list for today. I always forget to post later and tell how much of it I got done, but I'll try my best to remember tonight.

1. Work more on Alyssa's flower pot and bird feeder
2. Go to post office and mail some things
3. MORE LAUNDRY--it never ends!!!!
4. Go to Hobby Lobby and buy some dark yellow paint
5. Work more on Christmas stocking

That's all I can think of for today.

Things I Need To Do

Here is my list of things I need to accomplish today. I don't know that I'll get them all done, cause I feel like a mess, but I intend to try!

1. LAUNDRY....lots and lots of laundry!!
2. Change my sheets (technically goes under "laundry", but whatever.
3. Clean my room...it's a MESS!!
4. Go to the post office and mail stuff that I've had forever.
5. Start painting Alyssa's flower pot.
6. Glue letters on Ethan's plaque.
7. Give Alyssa a bath....that shouldn't have to be on the list, but I can't ever remember until bedtime.

So, there you have it. I'll post later tonight to let you know how I did! :)

Hysterical Mommy Story

Okay...just a little setup here. For those who don't know (and I can't imagine who wouldn't since her picture is all over my profile), I have a 4 year old daughter, Alyssa. Well, I have a habit of giving her all the junk mail we recieve, all the stuff addressed to "resident", etc. because she LOVES to get "mail". So, I got out of the shower a few minutes ago and found her sitting on the loveseat, with huge tears running down her cheeks. It appeared she had been crying for awhile. So, I said, "What's wrong, baby?" and she grabbed her piece of "resident" mail I had given her and said, "I got a letter from the cops". So, I looked, and, sure enough, it was an ad for the Crime Stoppers of Ouachita! It had a picture of handcuffs and such as that. She was scared silly that they were coming to put her in jail because she was bad to her Mommy and Daddy! Poor thing!! I tried really hard not to laugh as I explained to her what the "letter" was really about. Luckily, I think she feels better now!

LONG Weekend

I had a long, but great weekend. We left Friday afternoon and spent the night in Madison with my husband's friend. Then we left Saturday morning to go to a cookout reunion for my first high school that I attended from 7th-11th grade. It lasted from 11:00 until 1:00 and I got to see a ton of great people. Then, I was supposed to go to my grandparents' house in Carthage, drop Alyssa off and go to Philadelphia to the reunion for the high school that I went to my senior year and graduated from. But, at the last minute, I decided that I wanted to go to the one for the same high school that had the cookout, because I didn't figure there would be too many people at the other one that I cared to see. There was only one person that I liked going, as far as I knew at the time (turns out there were a few more that showed up, but whatever). So, we went to Carthage and my daughter spent the night with my grandparents and we went back to Meridian to the country club. We had a good time. I loved reuniting with my old friends and I think Greg even enjoyed himself, once he realized they had beer there! It was great to see everyone that I hadn't seen in 10 or 11 years. I wish I could have been at both, but there was only one of me! :)

Reunion Preparations

I'm almost ready. My high school reunions (yes, that's plural) are this weekend and I'm just about ready to go. I went today and had my nails done and my eyebrows waxed. My beautician friend, Kelly, is coming over tonight to retouch my highlights for me. A lot of people would wonder why I'm bothering, and I can tell you exactly why. In high school, I was fat and I was incredibly unattractive. Seriously. The kids would "moo" at me when I was standing at my locker! It was bad. NOW, at the age of 28, I wear a size 10 (and on a girl who's 5'8", that's not too shabby) and I feel like I look a LOT better than I did then. So, I'm excited about showing it! If I see ONE jaw drop, it will be well worth it!

Plans for Today

I honestly have none. We checked the weather and the heat index for today is 110 degrees. So, I'm planning on staying inside as much as possible! I have no desire to be out in the heat. I hesitate to say that I'll be glad when it gets to be winter, because I don't like to be cold, either, but something in between is good! I like it when I can wear jeans and a short sleeved shirt. That's my most favorite kind of weather. I have a class reunion this weekend and the cookout part is outside. I seriously hope we don't fry! The forecast is saying it's only going to be 93 degrees on Sunday, which, to us, is going to feel like we're in the middle of a cold snap!

Rough Day

You know your day is going to be wonderful when your 4 year old "can't sleep" until 2:00am and then you wake up at 5:30 to the sound of gagging and throwing up. It's great! The good news is, the culprit was sinus drainage and not a virus or something icky like that. Now, if I can just get the drainage dried up for her soon, we'll be alright.

On top of that, I received a letter in the mail today from the University of Texas at Austin saying that I have a $25 parking citation. I've never, in my life, been to Austin and I don't drive a gray Honda! So, I've been on the phone trying to straighten that out and haven't really gotten much closer to getting it done. When it rains, it pours!!

I Don't Get It

I was reading an article on Yahoo about the punishments given to parents who accidentally leave their children to die in hot cars. I just don't understand. How can a sane parent get so distracted that they forget that their child is in the backseat of their car??? That makes no sense to me. I'm probably one of the most forgetful people in the world and, yet, when I get out of a car, I never space out so far that my daughter slips my mind. Even IF (and that's a big IF) I forgot to get her out of the car, would it not occur to me that my house was oddly quiet before she had time to die in the car??? I'm not sure I can show any sympathy to these parents. I'd better get my flame-retardant suit on, but I'm not sure that a parent who loves their kids can just "forget" to get them out of the car. I mean, I'm not "mother-of-the-year" material, but there are very few moments of my life when my daughter isn't the foremost thing on my brain and to think of "accidentally" forgetting about her and leaving her in a sweltering hot car for 7 hours or longer to die is just insane!

Plans for Today

I wish I could say that I had some. It's already 1:00 and I haven't even gotten dressed. Starting next week, we're going to alter our schedules. Alyssa and I are, anyway. There's not much I can do with hubby--he's a grown man. But, Alyssa and I are going to start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. She's had Bible school this week in the evenings, so she hasn't gotten home until 8:15 or so and I hate to put her in bed at 8:30 because that only gives her 15 minutes to eat a little bit of supper and play with Daddy, so I've been letting her stay up until 9:30. But that has to stop. She's going to be starting school in roughly a month and we'll have to BE THERE at 8:30, which is LONG before we're used to even waking up! So, she's going to start going to bed between 8:00 and 8:30 and I'm going to have to get in bed before 2:00am, myself!

One Word Only

This time it was Retta who got me. The good news is, as I've said before, I love these things!! So, here we go...answers must be in ONE WORD!

1. Where is your cell phone? floor

2. Relationship? stressful

3. Your hair? up

4. Work? constantly

5. Your sister? bed?

6. Your favorite thing? daughter

7. Your dream last night? forgotten

8. Your favorite drink? kool-aid

9. Your dream car? SUV

10. The room you’re in? living

11. Your shoes? off

12. Your fears? barf

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? happy

14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Alyssa

15. What are you not good at? patience

16. Muffin? pass

17. One of your wish list items? camera

18. Where you grew up? Mississippi

19. Last thing you did? type

20. What are you wearing? clothes

21. What aren’t you wearing? pants

22. Your pet? gone

23. Your computer? overused

24. Your life? overwhelming

25. Your mood? bored

26. Missing? parents

27. What are you thinking about right now? entertainment

28. Your car? filthy

29. Your kitchen? cluttered

30. Your summer? hot

31. Your favorite color? pink

32. Last time you laughed? earlier

33. Last time you cried? Wednesday

34. School? hoping

35. Love? Alyssa

Who to tag??? Um....I think I'll get Karen, Melissa, and Sindy. Have fun!!

Trip Home

I love going to Mississippi! I've been missing the heck out of it ever since we moved away in late 2003. Since then, I've been in Texas, gotten sick, lost my mind, moved to Louisiana, blah blah blah. I did, however, have an epiphany. I've been BEGGING Greg to move us back home and I just wonder if it's because I think I'll genuinely be happy there or because I'm hanging on to memories of a time in my life that I'll never be able to relive. I was SO happy in 2000-2003. I'm not sure I realized HOW happy, until it got to be 2007 and I realized that I'm sick and insane. Everything great happened to me between those years. I moved into my own apartment, got my first full time job, bought a brand new sports car, made great friends, went out clubbing, met Greg, got pregnant, got married, moved into a house, had the most beautiful baby girl EVER, and had my life together. I knew who I was.

So, here I am now...2007. I'm in Louisiana, which, in itself, isn't a TERRIBLE thing. But it's not "home", either. I have an "eating disorder" of some sort and haven't had a meal since 2004. I feel like I've lost control of my life. I no longer know who I am or what makes me happy. I haven't been genuinely "happy" in a long time and there's no one to blame for that. For awhile, I tried to blame it on my husband. But, it's not his fault. He's a great husband and father and I'd be lost without him. Then, I tried to blame it on my daughter, indirectly. But, as difficult as being a mom is and as much as I didn't expect and thought I didn't want it, I've come to realize that she's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I didn't realize what I was made of until she screamed her way into my life! I've tried to blame it on Texas, but moving there was only part of the problem. It definitely contributed, but the issue is ultimately mine. I've been through so much in my 28 years, and I know that there are people who have been through more and I have nothing but respect for them. But, everyone has a different breaking point and I hit mine in 2004, when I moved away from the majority of my support system. No one's fault, but it's MY job to get myself out. So, those of you who have a belief in the Big Man Upstairs, please say a prayer for me!

What the Heck?!?!?!?!

I'm having a hard time wrapping my finger around the deaths of WWE wrestler, Chris Benoit, and his family. When I first heard the news from my husband on Monday night, I was stunned and saddened. Then, when I woke up Tuesday and read that it was an apparent murder-suicide and that Chris was responsible, I was flabbergasted! I remember watching him on Raw and other wrestling shows when Greg and I first started dating, but I'm not going to pretend to have known him in-depth, through interviews or anything else. But, it still shocks me that a parent would kill their child. I'm not "mother of the year" material by any means. I don't always play dolls when I should and my child sometimes goes to bed without a bath and every now and then I forget to make her brush her teeth. She even eats fast food when Mommy is too lazy to cook. But I would NEVER, EVER, EVER do anything to cause her physical harm, much less death! What goes through a parent's mind as they're smothering their child???? I feel for the little boy....I feel for his mother....but most of all, I feel for Chris Benoit, because you've GOT to be one messed up SOB to take the life of your own son and I'm enough of a God-fearing girl to believe that it's something HE'LL be paying for in his afterlife!

Ten on Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday is "10 Favorite Bands of All Time". This one was super easy for me because I'm a music fanatic! In fact, the hardest part this week will be narrowing it down to ONLY 10! So, in totally RANDOM order, here they are:

1. Bon Jovi--Jon is SO hot for his age!

2. Motley Crue--I also have a "thing" for Vince Neil and Tommy Lee

3. The Monkees--my mother introduced me to them when I was a kid...they were her favorite growing up.

4. Guns N Roses--can you tell I'm a fan of the 80's "hair bands"?

5. Poison--is it my imagination, or is Brett Michaels STILL hot?

6. 3 Doors Down--Mississippi boys! I worked with the lead singer's brother in law...he was my boss, actually!

7. Daughtry--one of my favorite NEW bands

8. Lynyrd Skynyrd--not sure if I spelled that right, to be honest, but they are the quintessential southern rock band!

9. Red Hot Chili Peppers--love me some Flea!

10. Hinder--another one of my favorite new bands

There you have it! There are SO many more that didn't make the list!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about REBECCA 13 Ways I Can Tell I Am A Mother: 1. I've learned all the words of all the Nick Jr. cartoon theme songs, not so much because I was trying to, but more because of constant repetition. 2. There is at least one toy in EVERY room of my house. 3. There is at least one picture of a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed girl in EVERY room of my house. 4. My daughter hands me a grass weed out of the yard, proudly proclaiming that it's a beautiful flower, and I actually see it no differently. 5. I have twelve dozen of the beforementioned weeds in "vases" around my house. 6. I have sucked up at least a million rocks in my vacuum. 7. Someone can hand me $500 and the first thing I think of is "what does my daughter need/want?" 8. I would honestly rather spend time with my daughter than do anything else in the world. 9. I gave up my awesome red sports car and opted for a 4-door Camry. 10. I've made it my business to collect ALL the Disney movies on DVD. 11. Nothing makes my heart jump more than to hear her say "I love you, Mommy, and you're my best friend in the world." 12. Nothing saddens me more than to know that one day that will change. 13. There's not a night that goes by that I don't say a prayer, thanking God for my miracle and asking Him to help keep her healthy and safe and help me be the best mom I can be.

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All Grown Up

I took Alyssa to her first dance class today. My little angel is getting SO big! I really like her dance studio, though. They have a big lobby with TVs in two corners hooked to a camera in the studio so the parents can watch their children in class. So I got to witness my daughter's first experience with ballet, tumbling, and tap. She did SOOOO good!! Mommy is proud!

My Upcoming Week

Now starts the beginning of my busy summer! I have to be up at 7am every day this week to get Alyssa ready to go to Bible School. Then, Tuesday evening at 5pm, she'll have dance class, which we're really excited about. Then, on Friday, we'll have her final program at Bible School. And, somewhere in the middle, I have to get her bedroom set ordered, find my wedding rings she lost, do laundry, go grocery shopping, call the landlord about the water spot on the ceiling in Alyssa's room, etc. Believe it or not, though, I LOVE being busy! It beats being bored.

Holiday Weekend

I actually sorta forgot this WAS a holiday weekend, to be honest. Memorial Day isn't a holiday that I get into, really. By the time Memorial Day comes around, the kids around here are already out of school (unfortunately), and almost all the stores are open, so it just seems like another day to me. We did, however, have an "event" or two in our household this weekend. For starters, I got my karaoke machine I've been wanting FOREVER (did I mention that already?). Then, today, we went truck shopping for Greg. We wound up in Ruston and he found a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 that he liked, so we are a two vehicle family once again! YAY!!

Now, if I can just get through the rest of this week, next week will be AWESOME!! Alyssa goes to Bible School from 8-12 everyday next week, so I'll have four, count 'em, FOUR glorious child-free hours every day next week!! Exciting!! I just hope nothing spoils it this year. Last year, I looked forward to it for weeks and I wound up getting sick that week with the most horrible cold I'd ever had! So, I couldn't even enjoy my child-free hours because I was too sick. I'm crossing my fingers that this year is better!

Bless Her Heart

I love my daughter with all my heart, but she is getting on my nerves SOOOO bad today!! Every time I turn around, she's right there, wanting to "help" with whatever I'm doing. Unfortunately, her "helping" translates into "standing in Mommy's way so she can't get past me to actually DO what it is that she's trying to do". And, she has NOT shut up! She just jibbers...constantly! I know it's just ME...I'm just having one of my short fuse days, poor thing. But, I will be so glad when it's her bedtime!!

Ten Sad Songs

Today's Ten on Tuesday is "Ten Songs That Make You Sad". So, here are mine:

1. Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton. This is such a sad song on SO many levels. And, the fact that it was written about his own little boy that he lost so young makes it all the more depressing.

2. Turn the Page--Bob Segar. This ordinarily wouldn't be a sad song, but it was my dad's favorite song and a friend of his played the guitar and sang it at my daddy's funeral back in 1995. So, it reminds me of my dad.

3. Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Guns N Roses. I realize this is a cover of an Eric Clapton song, but I honestly prefer the GNR version. It's another one that was played in memory of my dad, so it's sad to me.

4. Butterfly Kisses--Bob Carlisle. I cry everytime I hear this one. I can't believe how quickly my baby girl is growing up!!!

5. Streets of Heaven--Sherrie Austin. This one came out as my grandma was diagnosed with cancer and I had a baby daughter (who actually WAS still a baby!). I just couldn't imagine losing my grandma (which I didn't, for the record) and it was even more sad to think of something like that happening to my little girl.

6. Alyssa Lies--Jason Michael Carroll. I think this song would be sad, regardless, but when you actually HAVE a daughter named Alyssa, it makes it even more difficult to listen to the line that says "Alyssa lies with Jesus because there's nothing anyone would do". Not that I have to worry about MY Alyssa being a fatality of child abuse, but it's sad to think that SOMEONE'S Alyssa might be!

7. Please Remember Me--Tim McGraw. I heard this song in 1998, shortly after a person I was very close to was taken to the hospital after a ruptured brain aneurysm and they didn't expect him to make it through the night. For the record, he DID make it through that night and will be celebrating his 30th birthday this Sunday.

8. Baby Mine--Dumbo Soundtrack. Okay, don't laugh! That part of the movie was always sad to me, but then, it became "our song" when I brought my daughter home from the hospital and would sing it to her when she was just mere days old. So, it's kinda sad and bittersweet to me now that she's four. When I hear it or sing it to her, I think about the little bitty bundle of human I was singing it to back in October, 2002.

9. Amazing Grace. Yes, the hymn. My mother sang this song a capella a few months before she passed away. The music minister then insisted that it be on the hymn list for her memorial service after her death. It was the first time I ever saw my daddy cry.

10. Untitled--Simple Plan. My best friend swears up and down that this is about a person who is dying after a car accident, but after listening to the words, I'm convinced that it's a drug overdose he's dying of. Either way, it's a sad song because we've ALL made mistakes that we'll probably regret as we're dying (if we don't already).

So, there you have it!! See ya next week! :)

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a very bittersweet holiday for me. On the one hand, I have my beautiful daughter to celebrate with. There's nothing better than knowing that there's a person in the world who loves you in spite of your faults. It had been a LONG time since I experienced unconditional love and now I have it!

But, on the other hand, it's a sad reminder that my own mother has been missing from my life (in the flesh, anyway) for 17 Mother's Days. Most everyone who knows me, at all, knows that my mother passed away on January 5, 1990, at the age of 32. I was only 10 years old at the time, so, unfortunately, I wasn't left with many vivid memories of her. It's very hard to fathom that I've spent over half my life without her. It's unfair...I've said it before and I'll say it for the rest of my natural life....it's totally unfair!!

I try not to be bitter about the holiday, for the sake of my daughter. I had no reason to celebrate before her. Granted, I always sent (and still send, actually) a card to my grandma, but it was more out of obligation than anything. I would have much rather stuck my head in some sand somewhere and ignored the Hallmark commercials and such, completely forgetting that it was a day when I was supposed to be shopping for cards and gifts for a mother that, thanks to circumstances beyond my control, I can't even remember.

What I DO remember, though, is a woman who would do whatever she could for her two girls. I remember the birthday parties and the matching outfits and the time she spent with me, practicing my routines for dance recitals and talent shows. I remember her patience, teaching me how to read and how to tie my shoes. And, sadly, I remember the day she left. My father came home after spending less than a week with her in the hospital. He showed up early on a Friday morning, as my sister and I were getting ready for school. He sat us down on the bed in my sister's room and said "Do you remember how your mom was sick this summer?" Well, of course we did. "Well, it came back and God didn't want her to be sick anymore, so He took her up to Heaven to be with him". It didn't make any sense in my 10 year old mind. Mothers didn't DIE!!! Mothers watched their babies grow up. Mothers taught their daughters how to cook and how to drive. Mothers helped their daughters get ready for their first dates and mothers helped them get ready for the prom. Mothers sat in the front row and cried when their "babies" graduated...and then repeated the process when they got married. Mothers morphed into GRANDmothers. That's what they did....they did NOT die!!

Yep....I hate Mother's Day....with a passion!! The ONLY reason I plan to get up in the morning is because I AM a mother and I am blessed to have a beautiful four year old in my world to remind me that life goes on.

Thirteen Things about Rebecca Mother's Day is Sunday...it's a holiday that I didn't have to really participate in until my daughter was born in 2002, but now I do! So, here are my 13 reasons that I love being a mom! 1. I have THE most beautiful little girl in the world, bar none! I realize that this is a biased opinion, but I think she is, and my view on the subject is really the only one that counts, right? 2. There is nothing in the world that is sweeter than my little girl waking me up at the "butt-crack" of dawn saying, "I love you, Mommy, and you're my best friend in the world". 3. Little hugs--'nuff said. 4. I have an automatic shopping buddy. She was more pain than pleasure up until recently and now I can't imagine going shopping without her! 5. Holidays are MUCH more fun through the eyes of a child! I enjoy playing Santa and Easter Bunny! 6. "Why?"--It's a fun question to answer. "Why is the grass green?", "Why is the sky blue?", "Why does my hair stick up when I rub a balloon on my head?" 7. She keeps me from being lonely. I used to get depressed when I was left alone too long. Now that my daughter is here, I'm NEVER ALONE!!!! EVER!!!! 8. She knows how to "fetch". I know it's mean, but when mommy is tired, it's nice to have someone to go get the phone for me! 9. I have an excuse to go see all the "kiddie" movies. How could I play off going to see Shrek the Third when it comes out if I didn't have a kid with me??? 10. She gets excited about EVERYTHING!! It puts a smile on my face when her face lights up at the sound of the ice cream truck. 11. It's like having a "Mini-Me". She doesn't LOOK like me, really, but she acts JUST like me! We need matching outfits! :) 12. I can live vicariously through her. I may or may not have screwed up various aspects of MY life, but, through her, I can relive those moments and watch her have things that I cheated myself out of. 13. How many people can honestly say that their BEST FRIEND in the world is four years old??? I'm blessed to say that I can! :) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Errands

I'm about to go run errands. I only have a MILLION things to do! I have to go return some shoes to Old Navy, then go to Cato and get that orange tank top I fell in love with, and I need dishwasher detergent. My friend Kelly is here, too, so we're going to make a day of running errands! All this while my husband is golfing and the plumber is fixing my bathroom sink!! Fun times!

Ten Things Most People Don't Know About Me

This was a tough Ten on Tuesday because I'm pretty much an open book and there's not just a LOT of stuff that people don't know about me...and the few things that there ARE are things I don't really WANT people to know!! LOL!! But, I decided to give it a try! Maybe there are some things on here that SOME people will know and some won't...perhaps you'll be surprised!

1. I'm an orphan---seriously. My mother died when I was 10 and my father died when I was 16. So, I was a literal "I-don't-have-anywhere-to-go" orphan! Luckily, I had grandparents and such, so I didn't have to go to foster care at 16, but it sure sucked, all the same!!

2. I used to be fat---when I was in high school people would "moo" at me when I was standing at my locker! I can't remember how tall I was, but I'd be willing to say somewhere in the neighborhood of 5'7" and weighed, easily, 185 pounds, most of which was in my butt...and wore a size 16. Kids are cruel! Which brings me to my next one......

3. I have an eating disorder---while this is not directly related to #2, because it's not a body image issue, I still look a lot better NOW than I did in 1996. This is convenient because I was a 1997 graduate, therefore, my reunion is coming up in August! My eating disorder, though, is caused by emetophobia, which is the fear of throwing up. I ate something once that made me feel sick to my stomach and ever since then (2004) I've been AFRAID to eat! Crazy, huh?

4. I'm a "germ-phobe"---and I have this "OCD" thing about washing my hands. It carries over into everything else as soon as someone who is sick comes in my house...I'm following them around with a can of Lysol in one hand and a disinfecting wipe in the other!! I do my best (usually a moot point as I have no power) to keep sick people away from me and my daughter...assuming that I know ahead of time that they're sick.

5. I was in a rock band---people who knew me in college would know this because they saw it. It was a college sponsored band and I was a singer.

6. Had I been born a boy, I would have been named Richard Carl---Richard after my mother's father and Carl after my father and my father's father. They would have called me Richie. All I can say is, thank God for my "girly part"!

7. My daughter was 2 days old before she GOT a name--she was Mariana Katherine until I was about 8 months pregnant and my grandpa offered to leave money to pay for her college if I named her after my grandma. So, we had roughly a month to come up with something that would go with Frances. So, after 2 days and many eliminated choices, she became Alyssa Frances.

8. I hoard craft supplies---and not JUST the stuff I can buy on clearance at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I save junk that "could be used" to make something else. Stuff like baby food jars and pine cones and old CDs. I'll use them "one day".

9. I'm petrified of spiders, cockroaches, mice, rats, dogs, heights, water over my head, lightning, tornadoes, driving over bridges, driving over railroad tracks, and eating while I'm by myself (I've always been afraid I'd choke to death while no one was around).

10. I can't sleep without chapstick and a ceiling fan---I've tried...can't be done!

Five On Friday

I thought these questions were interesting:

1. Do you curse/swear or otherwise use curse/swear words?

Yes, I do. More than I should, I'm afraid.

2. Do you substitute faux curse words, like shoot or crap, for the real thing?

When I think about what I'm going to say ahead of time, I do...particularly when my 4 year old is around!

3. Which curse words and phrases do you abuse most often?

LOL! I don't know if there are any I use "most often". I don't play favorites!

4. Are you annoyed or pleased when you hear movies, songs, or shows that have been edited to cover or replace inappropriate language?

I usually don't care. What does annoy me though, is when they will edit out certain words, but then allow others that, in my opinion, are just as "bad" if not worse!

5. What are your thoughts on the use of curses and swear words in modern society? Is it more or less prevalent than in previous generations? Is it fine or causing irreprable harm to our culture? Do you think we should create (or in some cases keep) laws forbidding cursing?

I don't know if you can really place and enforce a law against it. The words being used in modern society doesn't really bother me. The only thing I wish would happen is for people to TRY to refrain from using the language around children. I'm an adult and I don't offend easily, nor do I really care what ADULT my language offends, but I don't want my child picking up foul language from a perfect stranger. Tact is the key!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Rebecca I was talking to a friend about my life and all the things I've done and didn't do and would like to do and won't be able to do. So, this week's 13 will be "Thirteen Things That I Would Do (Or Would Like To Have Done) If I Didn't Have A Child": 1. Finish school---I realize I can still do this WITH a child...it's just harder to pay for it now, especially if I want to put HER in good schools, and harder to find quiet time to study when there's a child constantly hollering for Mommy! 2. Move to NYC---this was my dream when I was in college. I wanted to move to NYC and be an singer/actress. I NEED to be on stage! 3. Go out and have fun---I did this before I had a kid and, if I didn't have one, I would still be enjoying my 20s before they're over! 4. Watch grown up shows---my daughter gets thoroughly pissed off when I change her cartoons to watch my soaps! 5. Have money---which I would, if I weren't constantly having to pay for birthday parties and holiday gifts and dental work and school tuition and clothes and such! 6. Sleep in---every once in a while, I'd like to sleep until noon! 7. Accompany my husband on trips to the casino---he gets to stay in the great hotels and play slots all night while I'm stuck home with the kid! 8. Choose my friends for something OTHER than how many kids they have---any time I make a new friend, nowadays, one of the factors that goes into how much time I spend with the person is how many children she has and how close they are to MY child's age! 9. Get rid of this damn cat---I hate this cat...but my daughter loves him and won't let me throw him out! 10. Have far less laundry---I am constantly doing clothes because she plays outside and gets sweaty or she drops her food in her lap or something! 11. Be called something besides "Mommy"---my own grandparents now refer to me as "Alyssa's mommy". 12. Go to the bathroom without an audience---it doesn't matter WHAT I'm doing in there, she's got to come oversee! 13. Live an empty, unfulfilling life with no reason to smile---sure, there are things I could have done and should have done, but bottom line is, I love my little girl and I wouldn't trade her for a thing!! :) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

10 Things I Like To Do Alone

Okay, okay....I know there's only 10 more minutes left in Tuesday, but I wanted to do this week's Ten on Tuesday. So, here's a list of 10 things I like to do alone.

1. Take a bath--a thing of luxury since giving birth.
2. Sleep--my daughter kicks and my husband snores! I'm better off alone!
3. Shop--It's ONLY annoying when I can't decide between multiple things and I'd like to have an opinion. Otherwise, it's heavenly to not have to chase my child or listen to my husband complain about all the things he'd rather be doing.
4. Watch TV--when I'm alone, I can watch the channel I want and I don't have to worry about someone talking in the middle of it.
5. Drive--I can sing along with the radio and get a lot of thinking done.
6. Talk on the phone--again, only because I hate distractions and two people trying to talk to me at once.
7. Relax--it would be great to have a whole night and day by myself to veg out on the couch and watch a movie or read a book or something.
8. Work--which is why I love working at home.
9. Clean the house--That way, I don't have a child messing it up as fast as I can clean it or a husband making smartass comments about how he can't believe I'm doing it!
and FINALLY......

10. GO TO THE BATHROOM--No explanation necessary!!

It's Saturday!

Yes, it's the first day of the weekend and you ask yourself, what does Rebecca have on tap for today? Well, my friend, the answer is NOTHING!! I'd like to say I had these huge weekend plans, but that would be a lie. This time last weekend, I was enjoying a couple of child-free hours while Greg and Alyssa were gone. This weekend, not so much. I didn't wake up until 10:30 and now it's noon and I haven't even gotten a shower yet. Now, I HAVE done things. I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. I rewashed a load of laundry I forgot about and left in the washer overnight. I made my bed and cleaned out 3 of my purses. Those are accomplishments. I do have to go, at some point today, and pick up my contacts. The ones I have are burning my eyes in a major way. I just hope they're in. They should be...it's been long enough!

Five On Friday

1. How neat are the clothes you wear? Do you iron? Fold them promptly? Pull them out of the dirty laundry?

I iron ONLY if I have to. If they're wrinkled I'll iron them, but most of the time, I manage to get them out of the dryer before they wrinkle...either that, or I'll wear them long enough before I leave the house that the wrinkles kinda "fall" out. I hate ironing!

2. How do you make your bed? Hospital corners? All over the floor? Or somewhere in between?

When I make my bed at all, I tuck the top sheet in at the bottom and along the sides...then throw blankets and the comforter on top. Relatively neat looking, but nowhere near perfection.

3. Do you leave dirty dishes in your dishwasher? In the sink? On the counters? In other rooms?

There are sometimes dishes in my sink, but I try to stay on top of that as best I can. I'm looking at 2 dirty glasses on the nightstand table beside me, but it's rare that I have any other dishes anywhere else in the house.

4. Are your floors clean enough to eat off of or is there an old science experiment growing in the corner?

Somewhere in between. I wouldn't eat off my floor at any given point, but they're not just NASTY!

5. How clean is the outside of your car? How about the inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

The outside is pretty dirty, mainly because of all the pollen floating around. The inside isn't TOO bad. It needs to be vacuumed, but it's okay. And, there's USUALLY nothing in my trunk, unless I've been to the grocery store. Right now, my husband's golf clubs are still in there from yesterday, but he'll eventually get those out.

Go AWAY!!

Rain is okay...I can handle that. What I hate are storms! I can even handle most of them, unless they produce tornadoes. I'm scared to death that, one day, I'm going to get blown away like the girl in The Wizard of Oz. If it weren't for those, I'd be okay. I like the sound of rain when I'm trying to sleep and I can sleep through most storms, but geez....who wants to have to be afraid of being whisked away in their sleep??

Parenting, At Its Finest

Okay, I admit it!! There are times when I wish that child abuse was legal and socially acceptable! Well, maybe not...but my child was really trying my patience tonight! We went grocery shopping, and she was HORRIBLE!! I mean, she whined and cried and smarted off and backtalked....you name it and, if it was bad, she did it!! Honestly, I LOVE my child, but wow! I'm not sure my sanity can take much more!!!

Happy Anniversary to ME!! (and my husband, of course!) :)

Today is mine and my husband's (who from this point on, will be called Greg...because, well, that's his name) fifth anniversary. We married on Saturday, April 13, 2002. Our wedding was a little unconventional, and admittedly, not the way I always dreamed my wedding would be, but, looking back, I wouldn't really change a thing. We had a whirlwind engagement that started with the pink line on the EPT. He finally met my grandparents for the first time a week before our scheduled nuptials. All this led up to the wedding, which was held in my grandparents living room. There were a handful of guests, which included my family, his family, his friends, and some friends of my family, that weren't exactly close friends of MINE, but at least I knew them (grandparental controlling, at its finest). One of them slipped me a $100 bill after the reception, so I can't complain! My aunt was in charge of the music, and I can't honestly tell you what they played, but I can tell you that I had NO say in it, whatsoever. I was then walked down the "aisle", which was actually the hallway from my former bedroom into the living room, by my uncle, due to the absence of my grandpa, who was in the hospital, suffering from a bleeding ulcer that I'm sure was caused by his oldest granddaughter's "shotgun wedding". Our "attendants" were his brother, Scott (who actually looked pretty hot, if I do say so myself) and my sister, who I had to BEG to come in the first place, cause she already had plans for that weekend and my wedding was very "spur of the moment". The preacher was my second choice, as my first choice also had plans for that weekend. Any normal person would have postponed the wedding and waited for grandpa to get out of the hospital and for the preacher of my choice, etc...but not me. I was 3 months pregnant and time was of the essence. However, amid all the chaos and control, there was only one moment that truly mattered, and that was the moment when Bro. Jim introduced us to the onlookers as "Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Shane Williamson". What else matters, really? Five years later, it doesn't matter that my dress was ivory and his suit was brown. It makes no difference that there weren't any flowers, aside from my bouquet. I'm sure no one remembers that my car didn't get decorated with shaving cream and who knows what else. The ONLY thing that matters is the fact that I am still "Mrs. Gregory Shane Williamson". So, no, my wedding wasn't that of fairy tales, but you know what? I am just as married to my prince as Cinderella was when the story was over!

Friday Fill-In

I was searching for a meme to keep me busy on Fridays and my "most goodest" friend, Loretta found me the Friday Fill-In. I think I'm really going to like this one...here goes.....

1. When I need inspiration I'm usually just SOL, unless I can look around my room and find something to inspire me!
2. Sleeping is my favorite way to recharge my batteries.
3. I never get sick of sitting on the computer. One would think that I would, after awhile....but I don't.
4. One of my fondest memories is being a teenager and having my daddy and all his "weird" biker friends around. There are no truer friends than bikers...remember that!!.
5. My daughter always makes me laugh.
6. I am tired,antsy and about to go shave my husband's neck!
7. This weekend, I'm looking forward to celebrating my 5th anniversary (today).

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about REBECCA I was having a hard time coming up with a "Thursday Thirteen" to do this week, so I decided to fall back on a classic: 13 Of My Favorite Things 1. My daughter. Alyssa is my life force. She drives me crazy, but I can't imagine my life without her. 2. Floam. I have only recently discovered this stuff and it's just so freakin' fun to play with! 3. Karaoke. I used to be a much better singer than I probably am now, but I like it anyway. 4. Shopping. This is particularly true when I have money to spend and can find something I want. 5. Sleeping. LOVE sleeping! 'Nuff said! 6. My soaps. Guilty pleasure of mine. My daddy called them "trash", but I can't help but be hooked. 7. Being alone. I think I really like this one because I get it so seldom! 8. Cooking. Believe it or not, if I'm in the right mood, I actually enjoy creating something out of nothing! 9. Holidays when I get to shop for my daughter. Again, only true if I have LOTS of money to spend on her...otherwise, it's just depressing! 10. Cross stitching. It's my "thinking" time. 11. Mary Kay skincare products. I actually had a man come to my house and ask if my mom was home!! This stuff is GREAT!! 12. My hair straightener. I'd look like the Bride of Frankenstein without it!! 13. Blogging. It give me an opportunity to share my thoughts with a whole new batch of victims! Enjoy!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Rainy Day

I can't decide if I have any appreciation for rain or not. I mean, I LOVE the sound it makes as it hits the window and the roof, but that's really only relaxing when I'm ABLE to relax. So, I think the verdict is that I like rain when I'm trying to sleep, but I don't like it during the day because it prevents me from going and doing whatever I want. I realize that I COULD still go shopping even though it's raining, but I hate driving in the rain and I hate getting wet when I get out of the car. I prefer to do all my "running around" when it's nice and dry outside. I also prefer it to be warm, which is another thing it hasn't been for the past several days. I'm ready for the rain to stop and the temperature to rise, just a little!

What A Surprise! Didn't See THAT Coming!

Your Inner Child Is Angry

You're not an angry person. But when you don't get your way, watch out. Like a very manipulative kid, you will get what you want. Even if it takes a little kicking and screaming.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Done!

Easter is finally over. I'm starting to really hate holidays. I just come up with expectations and then I'm disappointed and cranky. So my whole holiday is filled with expectation, disappointment, and crankiness! The expecting part would be fun if I EVER got what I expected, instead of a huge letdown....but, I don't, so it sucks! Hopefully this week will be okay, though. I don't know what leads me to believe that it will....maybe I'm just hoping here. My anniversary is this weekend and I'm TRYING not to expect that it will go like I've planned....but it's hard because I want it to SOOO badly!!

These Are My Obsessions

Thirteen Things about Rebecca Yesterday, I saw where my friend Loretta had been "tagged" and she listed 5 of her obsessions. I almost participated in that, then I realized that I could wait until today and take it a step further. So, this week, I'm listing 13 I obsess over. 1. Germs!! I hate germs! I hate when I'm not sick and someone who IS sick comes within a mile of me! I will follow that person around with a can of Lysol in one hand and a disinfecting wipe in the other. I realize I can't shield my daughter from every germ and virus there is, but it won't be for a lack of trying!! 2. Manners. I make sure my daughter knows to say "yes, ma'am" and "no ma'am" and "yes sir" and "no, sir", and "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" and "I'm sorry". I can't stand rudeness. It takes so little effort to teach kids to be polite! 3. Laundry. I hate to do it, for sure, but once I get started, I want to wash EVERYTHING!!! Back when I lived alone, I would walk around naked while I washed everything, including the clothes I had on! 4. Skin care. I want to look young as long as I can, so I have to be careful about how I treat my skin. Only Mary Kay products for me! 5. Taking pictures. I want pictures of everything. My daughter will only be four years old for 365 days (and half of those are already gone). I want to capture as many of her "moments" as I can, no matter how ridiculous I look carrying a huge camera bag with me everywhere I go. 6. My soaps. I realize this is a sick obsession, but it makes me feel better to know that it could always be worse. 7. Shopping. Sometimes I want to go, even when I have no money or nothing to shop FOR. I just like going and looking. Naturally, I prefer to BUY, but anything to get out of the house sometimes. 8. My health. I probably would be classified as a hypochondriac. So far, I've "had" (not really, but I thought I did) cancer, tuberculosis, a yeast infection, a stomach virus, gallstones, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Luckily, as it turned out, I had none of these things (although the jury is still out on the stomach virus, cause I totally think that's what that was). 9. Clipping coupons. I buy Sunday papers just for the coupons...then regularly forget to use them. And, yet, I still continue to clip and forget! 10. Kool-aid. I can't get enough black cherry kool-aid! Periodically, I'll slip in a pitcher of tropical punch, but black cherry is my favorite! 11. Email. I check my email constantly!! So much, in fact, that people have accused me of staying on the computer 24/7. This is not true, actually. I'll be up doing other things, but every time I pass the computer, I HAVE to check to see if I got a new email!! 12. Surveys. I'm on myspace and every time someone posts a new bulletin that's one of those cheesy "what is your name?", "what did you eat for breakfast?" surveys, I feel compelled to do it...not sure why...it's a sickness! 13. Brushing my teeth. This is something that gets done AT LEAST twice a day and sometimes more often, if they're feeling a little "furry". I can not STAND for my teeth to feel nasty! And, whoever came up with the concept of "less intense Listerine" is full of crap!!!!!!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It's a New Month!

It's always good to have goals. Here are some of mine for April:

--figure out what happened to the "mysterious, vanishing $200" that was supposedly declined to my daughter's dentist office that, in actuality, was taken out of my account.

--go to Harvest Assembly of God church for Easter to hear Testify sing.

--celebrate my anniversary (the 13th) with my husband in Shreveport. This is going to require finding an overnight sitter.

--get my husband a really great birthday gift on the 23rd. He'll be 36 this year....he's getting old! LOL!

I'm sure I'll come up with more as the month progresses.

Supper Time!

I am SO lucky! My daughter is the least picky eater of all the children I know! About the only things I've ever seen her turn down are bananas (and she's even warming up to those now), jello, and onions (she calls them "omyums", which is adorable). Other than that, she eats anything!! She LOVES vegetables, including celery, which I can't say for myself, cause that is some NASTY stuff! She eats whatever I cook and is darn glad to have it! Just the kind of child I can love and appreciate!

I, on the other hand, don't eat anything. This is a mental disorder that I have. I'm afraid to get sick, therefore I don't eat....at all. This disease only hurts after the 3rd year! I haven't had a real "meal" since 2004. Most people would say this is odd...and it is, but it's become a way of life for me! I'm just hoping that one day I can get back to "normal", cause I REALLY want a chicken quesadilla!!

Days Like Today.....

...should be strictly prohibited!! This day has just been crappy from the get-go! I seriously wish I would have stayed in bed....or gone out of town...yeah, out of town would have been better! I have a terrible headache, I'm tired, I'm irritable, I'm concerned about my daughter's future illness she will receive, I'm cranky....I just want to crawl under a rock!!

Hopefully tomorrow will be better....I'd say it can't get any worse, but that would just jinx me.

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Movie Characters I LOVE:

1. Ouiser Boudreaux (Steel Magnolias)--I just can't get over some of the things she says in that movie...she's so cranky, much like I expect to be at that age!!

2. Forrest Gump--how can you NOT love Forrest Gump...honestly??? We ALL need a "Forrest Gump" in our lives....no matter how bad we screw up our lives, he'll ALWAYS love us!

3. Bridget Jones--she's so real. There should be more movies with REAL characters!

4. Erin Brockovich--that woman got things done!!

5. Robert "Radio" Kennedy (Radio)--soft spot in my heart for that little guy.

6. Sam Dawson (I Am Sam)--okay, so maybe I just have a soft spot for tards in movies!

7. Dr. Evil (the Austin Powers movies)--everything that comes out of this guy's mouth cracks me up!

8. Willy Wonka--I prefer the character as portrayed by Gene Wilder, but Johnny Depp did a good job too! I love a good eccentric character!

9. Shrek--proof that ogres CAN be kinda cute!

10. Aileen Wuornos (Monster)--serial killer or not, this was fun to watch! And, the fact that it was true made it more intriguing to me!

*BONUS*--It's not a movie, but possibly my favorite television character of all time is Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women. I love a southern belle with an attitude. She is followed closely by Sophia Petrillo from The Golden Girls!!

It FINALLY happened!!

I was finally able to tell my best friend something she didn't know! Jessica always knows a little bit about everything and I actually got to share some information with HER, for a change. I was discussing my daughter's future education and told her that Alyssa would be going to Montessori school in the fall, and Jess didn't know what Montessori school was! I was so excited to be able to explain to her what it was!! That very seldom happens and I've known Jessica for almost 10 years! Go me!

Anyone Want A Cat?

Is it wrong to despise your pet?? I got my daughter a kitten, thinking that it would be sweet and cuddly, like every other cat I ever had. I was SO wrong! This cat, from day one, has had a crummy attitude and is the worst smelling cat I have ever been around! He doesn't like to be cuddled, or carried. He's only recently started warming up to my daughter, who LOVES him (otherwise he'd find himself as an outside cat). He will NOT stay off my counters, no matter what I do, and all he does is eat and poop, in succession. He's gross!! I've never disliked a cat...LOVE cats...but there's something about this one that doesn't agree with me! If it weren't for my daughter, we'd get rid of this one and try again!

Boring Day

So far, nothing exciting. Greg went to play golf...or fish....or something, so I don't know if I should do the whole Easter dress shopping today or wait and force (more like guilt) him into going. I know he doesn't WANT to go, but I want someone to go and give me an opinion on her dress. I found a really cute one at Stage the other day, but I wasn't sure if it would make a cute Easter dress or not, and, of course, it was just me and her, so I couldn't really get anyone else's opinion. I want her to have the "perfect" dress, so I need a little assistance. Maybe we'll go LOOK and if I see anything that strikes me, I can either get it, if I'm sure, or bring him back to look if I have doubts about it. Either way, I have to accomplish SOMETHING today!

Weekend Plans

I have SO much I want to accomplish this weekend! I need to get out tomorrow and find Alyssa an Easter dress. We don't currently have a regular church to go to, but I want to find somewhere to take her on Easter Sunday. I love to dress her up in pretty dresses and I really want to start taking her to church regularly so she can develop some wonderful morals and values, like the ones I had growing up. I also think it would be a terrific and free way for her to get some weekly interaction with other children. It would be wonderful for her.

Aside from that, I want to get Alyssa's room cleaned up. I cleaned mine today and now it's time for hers. It's a pigsty!

Then, Monday, we have a dentist appointment. Gotta love the dentist! Alyssa has a cavity and she needs to have a spacer put into the spot where she had a tooth pulled last summer. My poor baby has had some issues with her teeth, bless her heart!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about REBECCA This weekend (tomorrow, actually) would have been my mother's 50th birthday. She passed away from cancer in 1990 at the age of 32. I was only 10 years old when I lost my mother and I have a hard time believing that she SHOULD be 50! So, today's thirteen is going to be "Thirteen Memories I Actually HAVE of My Mother". 1. When my little sister was born in 1983, I was 4 years old and they wouldn't let me in to see my mother in her room because I was under 12. Well, I remember that this irked my mother to no end, because she loved me (naturally) and wanted to saee me. So, she walked all the way up a LONG hall, shortly after giving birth, to see me. 2. When we would go out to eat, my sister and I would often fight over who got to sit by Mommy. I imagine we hurt our father's feelings, but I'm glad now that we did that, because we wound up with an extra 6 years to fight over him after she was gone. 3. In the summer of 1989, my mother had a hysterectomy and was laid up in bed. She was an avid cross stitcher and used this opportunity to teach her older daughter (that'd be me) how to stitch. I still have the "Happy Birthday" panda bear she helped me stitch for my dad. 4. She dressed up as the Easter Bunny, Raggedy Ann, a witch among other things for my birthday parties and school parties when I was younger. 5. All of my birthday cakes were homemade and hand decorated. 6. When I was sick with the flu (or anything else), my mother would sit with me and read me as many books as I wanted to listen to and would do crossword puzzles with me. 7. Once, when I was 8 years old, I was doing my homework and smarted off to my mother about something and she slapped me across my face, which was totally out of character and later we found out that it was the cancer in her brain that made her act so odd. 8. My mother had a beautiful singing voice and shortly before her death sang "Amazing Grace" at our church, a cappella. We later sang that hymn at her memorial service. 9. My parents got into a fight one time and my mother threw pots and pans at my father's head (again, out of character and a result of the cancer) and then when he left, she had my sister and me pack up all of his things and put them outside our apartment. They DID make up when he got home and remained married until her death, after which my father was still completely in love and committed until his own death. 10. My parents and I took my sister to a birthday party when she was in kindergarten. The party was for a little girl who had recently lost her father to cancer and my mother told my dad that if anything ever happened to her, she wanted him to look up that girl's mother. He did, and they dated for over a year. She wound up being "super bitch", so that relationship, thankfully, didn't work out. 11. My mother had a degree in elementary education and taught for about 6 weeks when I was in the 5th grade. She taught 1st grade and hated it. She came home and cried every night until, finally, my dad told her to just quit. I never knew exactly WHY she hated it so much, but she did. 12. My mother did a lot of sewing and made me and my sister a lot of matching outfits. At the time, I found them annoying, but looking back, if I had two daughters, I would SO do the same thing!! 13. The last time I saw my mother alive was December 31, 1989. She was VERY sick and my dad was dropping my sister and me off at our grandparents' and taking her to the hospital. When they backed out of the driveway, I just waved to her. Only a wave. No hug. No kiss. No "I love you". I just waved. I had no idea it would be the last time I'd see her. It's a mistake I've had to live with ever since and one I repeated on November 3, 1995, which is the last time I saw my father. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

St. Paddy's Day

I don't even think I OWN any green clothes, other than my camoflage pants, so I guess I'll have to wear those. I just wore them yesterday, but I wasn't thinking about St. Paddy's Day, so I'll have to wear them again and hope I don't see any of the same people.

Greg still isn't home. Not coming until tomorrow, looks like. They're going somewhere to eat and to see the movie 300 today. It'll be alright. That'll just give me more time to get the house cleaned up before he gets home. He hates a mess.

I have to go back to Wal-Mart and return some stuff I bought yesterday. I brought it home and it just isn't going to work for what I wanted. I need a new way to file my cross stitch patterns and such, but that box isn't going to do. It's not big enough for the folders. I'll have to think of something else.

Alone

Booger is out of town for the weekend. In case anyone is wondering, "Booger" is my husband, Greg. Don't ask WHY I call him Booger....just always have. Anyway, he went to Texas to pick up his brother. I didn't want him to go, but I couldn't think of a really good reason to keep him here, so he's gone. He'll be home Saturday or Sunday, though, so it won't be long. Until then, Alyssa and I will have "girl time". I told her it was going to be a slumber party. She seems to have bought it. It'll be okay. We'll have a good time, if I can hold out long enough. My sinuses are really acting up with all the pollen in the air. I can feel the pressure and there's this weird pain that keeps popping up on the side of my head. It makes me a little dizzy, but I'm sure it's just my sinuses, since this seems to happen whenever there's a change in the weather, particularly springtime, when the pollen starts.

Another Day

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for every day that God allows me to grace the Earth, but today is just a boring, blah day. It's raining outside, which means that it's a crappy day to GO anywhere, and my stomach hurts, so I don't really feel too much like going anywhere anyway! I managed to do a few things yesterday and felt pretty good, so I'm hoping that today will be another day like that. I want to get back up to where I was before, which was only about 75%, but I was okay with that. I told myself that if I can get back up to my usual 75%, I would do whatever I had to do to improve from there. So, I'm working on that. Wish me luck!

Questions

Let's talk about looooove.

1) Are you currently married or involved with a significant other? Give specifics and length of time that you have been with that person.

We've been together since November, 2000 and we got married in 2002, shortly after the EPT proposed for us--5 years on April 13!


2) Where did you meet your significant other?

In a bar. I, literally, ran from him for an hour, because I thought he was a freak! I will NEVER doubt my first impressions EVER again!! LOL! Just kidding!



3) What is your anniversary or special day of ANY kind and what did you do on that day with your significant other?

Well, our wedding anniversary is April 13, but November 25 is also special, cause that's when we met and we haven't dated anyone else since then. We usually just spend our special days together, doing whatever. If we have a sitter, we'll go to a movie, if not, we'll either hang out at the house with Alyssa, or the three of us will go somewhere. Doesn't have to be fancy, as long as we're together.


4) What is the nicest thing that a person that you are or have been involved with has done for you?

That's a tough one, cause every guy I ever dated or cared about did special things, and my husband does special things for me all the time. Little things, like going all the way back to the store when he realizes he forgot something that I asked him to pick up, and big things, like paying all the bills all by himself, so that I can stay at home and be with our daughter and not miss ANY part of her growing up. He and I don't always get along and sometimes it seems like we fight more than we don't, but truth be known, my life would be rather empty without him in it and I NEVER want him to think that I don't appreciate all he does and has done for me!

5) Do you have a special song or movie or place with your significant other? Describe.

Not really. I mean, the bar where we met was pretty special, but it's closed down now. Our first house together was special, but it's in Mississippi, and we're not. We don't really have "a song", as far as I know, although he DID put a song by Celine Dion and Pavarotti...I can't remember the name of it, but it was a really sweet "relationship" song about how we don't always get along, but when it comes down to it "I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you". I guess you could call that "our song"?

My Soaps

I'm addicted. I admit it. I can't get enough of All My Children, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and Days of Our Lives! They each have some MAJOR story lines going on right now that I'm determined to follow, except maybe Days, which is getting a little repetitive and annoying. I can hardly wait to see if anyone tells JR that Babe is still alive, or who killed Rick Webber or if Antonio will ever find out that Jessica "almost" slept with Nash, and who the heck killed Spencer Truman??

I should really get a life!!

A Little Better

I posted earlier that I've been sick for two days. Today, my fever is back to normal, but I have some serious drainage going on that makes me want to gag. I'm also SLOWLY trying to eat again. I'm nibbling on bread and whatnot. I just hope I can get back up to my usual 75% soon, so I can go do things with my daughter and go check out the Montessori school I want to put her in. I hate feeling bad and I'm ready to get my strength back so it'll all be OVER!!!!

Sick :(

I hate being sick! I've had a fever since last night and I just feel like crap! My temp stayed at 101.2 all night last night and today hasn't gone below 100.0. I'm in the process of taking it now and I hope it's down a little. I'm ready to hug and kiss my little girl again. I'm also hungry, but I'm afraid to eat because my stomach was feeling a little icky last night. It hasn't bothered me much today, other than being empty, but I'm just scared it might start up again. Okay, just took the temp and it's now 99.7. I hope it's gonna keep going down. Alyssa has a birthday party to go to this weekend and I have to feel like carrying her. I'm also hoping and praying that she doesn't get this.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Rebecca I am SO glad that the "Thursday Thirteen" is going to continue! I really enjoy making up a list every week and then reading everyone else's. So, today I'm going to list 13 things that I NEED to get accomplished, at least within the next few days. These are in no particular order, although I am going to go with the 13 MOST crucial things, since there are WAY more than 13 things on my "To Do" list! 1. Get in touch with someone from the Montessori school so we can go check it out and possibly get Alyssa in for this fall. 2. Talk to someone at the dance studio and get her registered for dance this summer. My child has been wanting to take dance lessons since she was two! 3. Get my hair cut and highlighted. I really need this to be done before my high school reunion, whenever that is! 4. Finish this Christmas stocking I'm stitching. I have an April 1 deadline on this. I'm almost there, but I hate being stressed! 5. LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY!!!!! 'Nuff said! 6. Call my friend Kelly and get our kids together to play. Kelly has been wanting me to teach her how to cross stitch and she has recently learned to sew, so we could collaborate and teach each other, right?? 7. Call my friend Heather and get her daughter over here to play. Gracie is Alyssa's "best friend" and they haven't played together in ages, due to busy mommies. 8. Go through my pictures and get started on some scrapbooking. I bought the stuff years ago and haven't done a thing! 9. Go to the DMV and get my Louisiana license. I'm still sporting my one from Texas that I finally got after I lived there for almost 2 years! 10. Take Alyssa in to get some spring portraits done. I have the dress and everything...just have to get off my butt. 11. Go get a birthday present for Alyssa to take to Gracie's birthday party on the 10th. 12. Go through my email and read and delete. I have over 100 unread emails because I don't find the time to read all the forwards my grandpa sends me. 13. Bake cookies. I wanted to make a Valentine cake for Alyssa, but I didn't get around to that either. So, there you have it....wish me luck!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Loaded Questions

I found a new meme called Loaded Questions and decided it would be fun to participate. I love questions and answers that provide insight into who I am!


Hypotheticals: If you could bathe in a vat of any drink or food item, what would you choose?
vanilla pudding....not sure why....I just think the consistency and texture of pudding would make it cool to bathe in...and I chose vanilla because the odds of it staining my skin some weird color would be slim to none.

Anything Goes: What world-changing event would you like to take credit for?
I can't think of any one event that changed the whole world....I know there were some, but none I'd want to take credit for because most of them were tragic (the ones I can think of, anyway).

No-Brainers: What song do you keep hearing over and over again?
Whichever one I'm intentionally playing over and over again, I suppose. Currently that's "Black Horse and The Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall.

Personals: What are you most proud of?
My daughter...she's the best thing I've ever done. I only wish I could say I "done it" on purpose! :)

Bad Weather

Tornados ripped through Arkansas yesterday and tore apart a whole town! I HATE bad weather!! My husband, on the other hand, is completely obsessed and intrigued by it. He would go out and chase tornadoes if I would let him. Keep in mind, though, that it isn't a matter of me "letting" him. I told him he could go, as long as he made sure to take out a life insurance policy on himself before he left. I don't want to be widowed AND broke!! LOL!!

Old MacDonald Had A Farm....

E-I-E-I-O! And on this farm he had some kids....here a kid, there a kid, everywhere a freakin' kid! Amazing how I only gave birth to ONE child, and yet, between my house and my yard I am now surrounded by FIVE kids!! Luckily, I'm only responsible for two of them at the moment....otherwise I'd be INSANE!! There are people in this world who are cut out for little miniature people....I'm not one of those people!!

I checked out the movie Hollywoodland last night. I didn't hate it, really. It was weird, but not altogether bad. I watched Running With Scissors a few nights ago, too, and THAT one was weird!! It did help me to realize that I'm not officially nuts yet!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about REBECCA I was thinking, on my way home from town, about writing a blog that listed my pet peeves. Then, when I got home, I remembered that it was Thursday and I thought, hey, what a great "Thursday Thirteen" idea. So, listed here, in NO particular order, are 13 of my greatest pet peeves!! 1. Red lights that turn red when there is absolutely NO ONE to go in the other direction. Make sense? I got stopped at a red light and there was no one coming on the other direction of the intersection. So, I had to sit there and wait on the light for NAUGHT! NOTHING! NO GOOD REASON! It annoyed me!! 2. People who stand behind you in line and want to invade your "personal space". This actually happened to me today, too. There was a lady behind me in line at the post office and I, literally, could NOT breathe for her being crammed up into my back. I couldn't turn around and every time she would move, she would hit me in the arm with her purse. If I took a tiny step forward to try to get away from her, she was right behind me, taking a step forward. I've never been THAT glad to get out of the post office...and I hate the post office!! 3. Gum smacking. This is the reason I hate for my daughter to have gum. I don't want her to turn into one of those kids who makes people's flesh crawl when they come around with a wad of gum in their mouth as big as their head! 4. When people call your house and then call right back if you don't answer. Nine times out of ten, I'm screening my calls. Reason being, I sometimes don't feel like talking. Plenty understandable, right? Then, inevitably, SOMEONE is going to decide they're too important to be ignored and call back incessantly. What they don't realize is that, after they've done that, I just get pissed off and don't answer out of spite! 5. Whiny children. This goes for mine, as well as anyone else's. At least if it's mine, I can TELL her she's driving me nuts and shut the heck up! I think it's MORE annoying when it's someone else's kid, because you're stuck having to listen to them and can't say anything. 6. People who come to work sick. This is particularly true for cashiers and restaurant workers. I do NOT want someone who has just sniffled and wiped her nose with her hand giving me my receipt, much less bringing me my dinner!! I realize that people need money, but isn't that what the concept of "sick days" is all about?? Maybe my peeve should be more with the management that won't let the person off work when they're sick? 7. When people stab you in the back or otherwise betray you and then, when you don't talk to them, for lack of something to say to the sleazeballs, they have the nerve to act shocked. Like, "Are you mad at me? What did I do?" What are they thinking?? Were they not around when their mouths started blabbing everything they knew??? 8. When my washer, for whatever reason, doesn't get my clothes rinsed out. Not sure why that happens, but it goes hand-in-hand with when my dryer doesn't get my clothes dry the first time. Small thing, yes, but aggravating, nonetheless. 9. Voice mail messages that lead you to believe that the person answered the phone. I realize that some people think they're cute, but I absolutely hate when I call someone to have an intelligent conversation, or in the event of an emergency and I hear "Hello? Hello? OHHH, I'm not here!" Or my personal "favorite", "Hey! What's up.....Oh yeah?......I don't know....well, that's cool.....oh, by the way, this isn't me, it's my voice mail"....WHATEVER!! 10. Clothing stores and manufacturers who apparently think that EVERYONE is either 15 or 60. From what I can gather, most stores have two sections, juniors and old ladies. There's NOTHING for people like me, in their late 20s who don't want to look like we're trying to get back into highschool, but don't want to appear to be headed for a retirement residence either. What gives?? We're all not either a size 2 or 20, either. There ARE in-between people! 11. Toys with battery compartments that you need a screwdriver to get into. This isn't all that bad, but my daughter got a Barbie doll that dances when she has a AAA battery in each leg. Problem is, the screw is SO tiny, it took FOREVER for me to find a screwdriver that would allow me to open the compartment to get the battery in! 12. Wal-Mart ('nuff said?) and the fact that they remodeled their stores to add WAY more checkout lines, but they still have the same number of cashiers, so what was the point? I'm still having to wait in an astronomically long line, only now, I'm being taunted by the unmanned register next to me. 13. ANY noise while I'm trying to sleep. This includes talking, coughing, snoring, the TV, radio, the cat meowing, dogs barking, etc. I'm a very light sleeper and noises wake me up and usually prevent me from going back to sleep, which pretty much assures that I will be one cranky "biznitch" the next day!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Psychopathic Kitty

My cat is a demon. It just runs up and attacks people for no good reason. I could see it if someone were tormenting him, but we can just be sitting, minding our own business and suddenly find ourselves with cat claws in our skin. My husband and I are seeing this as a problem, since our 4 year old has scratch marks down her face. The ONLY reason the cat isn't already gone for that one is, with her I never really know if the cat attacked randomly or if she was bugging him. And, when I asked, she said she was just "holding" the kitty. So, there's a good chance that she was squeezing the kitty and he scratched out of self defense, and I can't blame him for THAT. However, I have witnessed his random ambushes and if he hurts my daughter for no reason, he will find himself outside in the cold with the neighbors' dogs!

Poor Sick Baby

I've been doctoring a sick 4 year old all week. Luckily, it's nothing serious, just a cold, but still....it's heartbreaking to know that your child is sick and there's nothing you can really do other than administer some medicine every 4-8 hours. It's just pitiful and now I'm going to go watch Open Season with her, so maybe she'll feel better.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about REBECCA As some know (most don't), I am a beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics (there's a link to my site on the side of this page). This week, I'm going to list 13 of my favorite Mary Kay products and, if anyone finds something they'd be interested in trying, let me know! :) 1. Time-Wise Miracle Set--this is probably the product I couldn't LIVE without. The 3-in-1 Cleanser cleanses, tones, and exfoliates, all at the same time. Then there's the day/night solutions. The day solution protects your skin from the harmful UVA/UVB rays (among other things) and the night solution firms and tones your skin while you sleep! Then, of course, there's the moisturizer--I can't say enough good things about this! 2. Microdermabrasion--I'm the queen of exfoliation! I can't get enough. This stuff is two steps, refine and replenish. The "replinish" step is the one that makes the MK set different from having microderm done at a dermatologist's office. It puts all the necessary elements back into your skin so you can put on your makeup directly after treatment. 3. Oil-Free Hydrating gel--gives skin that healthy "glow" without being greasy! LOVE IT! 4. Firming Eye Cream--the name says it all. You can feel this stuff firming your eye skin immediately after applying. 5. Satin Hands--I love to have soft hands. This three step set also has a light peachy smell, which is awesome. 6. Facial Highlighting Pen--looks almost like concealer, but it isn't. It actually brightens up the area under your eyes and practically erases signs of undereye circles. I need 10 of these!! 7. Time-Wise Visibly Fit body lotion--If anyone's interested, I have a before/after pic of this product. I slather this stuff on after I shave and I get virtually NO razor rash! Also helps with those icky spider veins! 8. Eye Primer--I didn't think I would like this stuff. But, I tried it and it really works. My eye makeup looks WAY more vibrant and stays on MUCH longer when I use the primer. 9. Eye Makeup Remover--I used to think I wasn't THAT picky about my eye makeup remover, until I left my Mary Kay at home once and had to use a different brand. It's oil-free so it's not greasy and it practically lifts the makeup off with NO rubbing! 10. Tinted Moisturizer--for those Saturdays when you're running to the store and don't want to put full makeup on, but don't want to look pale and washed out either. It's a moisturizer with just a light color to it. Just enough to even out your skin, but not enough to be heavy. 11. Medium Coverage Foundation--speaking of "heavy", I hate foundations that make you feel all slimy and gross. The MK foundations don't do that. It hardly feels like you're wearing any foundation at all. And it doesn't transfer once it dries, which is great on the clothes! 12. Dual-Coverage Foundation--I use mine as a pressed powder, but, since it's also considered a foundation, you can wear it alone and have a sheer coverage. 13. Ultimate Mascara--a lot of your other brands have a mascara that lengthens, another one that volumizes, and another one they call "waterproof", etc. Mary Kay has put all of those elements into ONE mascara. This is another one I didn't realize I was picky about until I used it for awhile and then had to use another brand when I left mine at home! It's amazing!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Sad News

I received an email from a friend of mine from Texas today telling me that her son, Ian, passed away Saturday. He was not quite 3 years old. He and his sister, Hope, who is my daughter's age, were Alyssa's best friends when we lived in Texas. This is the saddest thing I've heard in a LONG time. Apparently, he got sick on Friday and kept getting worse, so she took him to the ER on Saturday and his heart stopped two hours later. It's scary, because it makes my own child seem less immortal. In my heart, I've always known that live is fragile, and that's why I have to take so many precautions as her parent, but, at the same time, in the back of my mind, I always think, "that couldn't happen to MY child". But, it could! It could have been Alyssa just as easily as it was Ian and that scares me more than anything in the world!

If you read this, and you believe in the power of prayer, please say one for my friend, Julia, her daughter, Hope, Hope and Ian's dad, Christopher, all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc....and, of course, Ian.

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK!!

We came in from Jackson this afternoon. It was a fun trip. I got to hit a lot of the new stores that they built or added to the mall after we moved away, like Build-A-Bear. Alyssa got a new pink bear she named Hallah. It was a lot of fun. The only thing that stinks is that Alyssa is sick. She was up all night with a stuffy nose, etc. and just isn't feeling well at all, poor baby. I wish there was something more I could do for her, but there isn't....not that I can think of anyway. Hopefully she'll feel better in a day or two. I hate it when my baby is sick.

Out Of Town

We might be heading to Jackson, Mississippi for the weekend and I couldn't be more excited! Jackson is kinda my hometown and I miss it. I would do almost anything to move back there, but I don't know if my husband would go for it or not. After all, THIS is his home! But, I'll go this weekend and I'll enjoy the time I have at "home". We'll be back either Sunday or Monday, depending on whether we decide to watch the Super Bowl there or not. I'm rooting for Monday, because I'd like to have time to bum around Jackson a little and still get to go by, maybe Sunday, and visit the grandparents for a little bit. So, if I don't get a chance to blog while I'm there, I'll "see" you guys Sunday or Monday! :)

Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen Things about Rebecca Not only is today Thursday, but it's the beginning of the month of February, so today, my list will be dedicated to my goals for the month. 1. I'm going to finish the stitching on the Christmas stocking I'm being paid to do. I need to do this so I can spend March backstitching and have it finished before April 1st. 2. I'm going to remember to call and make Alyssa a dentist appointment to put in her spacer. 3. I'm going to visit Claiborne Christian School and make a decision about whether or not to enroll Alyssa there for next year. 4. I'm going to save money...for what, I'm not sure, but I'm going to start doing it anyway. 5. I'm going to blog...every day!! 6. I'm going to try at least ONE new food. I've got to get my diet back on track. 7. I'm going to straighten and organize Alyssa's bedroom, throwing things away and donating to Goodwill where necessary. 8. I'm going to take my daughter and have some portraits made with her. 9. I'm going to make my family get up and go to church. 10. I'm going to spend LESS time on the computer and MORE time doing other things, such as reading to my daughter, reading my own books, cleaning, etc. 11. I'm going to find a new project to paint because I have thoroughly enjoyed painting Alyssa's bookcase and I'm almost finished. 12. I'm going to buy a new Lizzie Kate Flip-It Stamp. 13. I'm going to start my base tan in the tanning bed (maybe). Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants