Jerry, Nick and I went to a popular restaurant chain (Bennigan's, if you must know) for dinner. We had a card for a FREE appetizer up to 6.99. The one we ordered was 7.99 and the waitress said she could not only charge us for the difference. I asked for the manager, who replied, "We do not have a button for that". After a bit of conversation she took a percentage off the bill which totaled 6.99... I asked her if that was so hard.

My cable co. just came out with a DVR unit. We already have Tivo. The cable DVR is 9.99 per month and TiVo is 12.99. I called TiVo and asked them if they had any promotion or if they could match the price. The rep said, "No, you should probably switch to the cable DVR".

Today I go to the bank to make a deposit for the school PTO. In the bag were a bunch of checks, about $20 in cash and $20 in Quarters... all quarters. The teller said that the coin machine was broken and she could not put the coin through. I asked her if she could hand count it and she replied, "No but you can call tomorrow to see if our machine it fixed".

What is going on??? Do companies not want to keep the customers they have? It seems to be all about computers, machines and buttons. I am all for technology but nothing is manual anymore... nobody goes out of their way to make the consumer happy. Company policy is written in stone. Loosen up people.

As my kids enter the teen years, I find myself remembering the strangest things from my past...

• SM's mom made the best Tuna sandwiches. We used to trade lunches all the time. She would eat my boring PB&J and I would get this awesome Tuna. I still do not know what she put in there... I have tried to duplicate it. No luck.
• I was the one who would bring extra money for the "friends" who "forgot" theirs... not a surprise, I know.
• After school we would go to the Field House and make out with the boys.
• My dad forbid me to see SS because we were discussing blow jobs on the phone... he picked it up and heard. I went to her house secretly.
• I would wait in the basement until my parents left and ditch school. Sometimes a friend would call in for me... once or twice I called in for Jerry and we would meet.
• JS and I ditched one day, she got caught and told the principal that I thought I was pregnant and she had to take me to the dr. I sat in his office dumbfounded, but kept my mouth shut. She told her mom the same story.
• I told my dad I was sleeping at a friends, but I was at Jerry's for the night. He found out.
• I took the car a few times to ride drive around the neighborhood... before I got my license. I thought it was cool.
• I peed in my pants on a field trip. I covered it by pretending I sat in something wet. We were at a nature preserve.

I'm sure I could come up with more but I won't bore you any further.

We live in a neighborhood of mostly families in their 30's or 40's... 2 or more kids... dog or cat... bikes in the garage... swingset in backyard, etc. In nice weather moms and dads gather to chat or watch the wee ones play. Someone is always washing their car or shoveling the driveway. Dinners are made for those who just had a baby or are recovering from surgery. We have the "she did what?", "I can't believe that!" gossip... even a couple of neighbors who have gotten a little too close.
It is very rare that someone moves in that does not socialize. Some people may not want to... but we can usually drag them over for a beer or cocktail at some point.
My across the street neighbor just had a baby. They moved in a few years ago... funny story. It happened to be Halloween and the neighborhood party was at the house directly behind them. I am surprised they did not turn around and go back to where they came from. Two of the guys at the party, who happened to be the tallest of the group, decided to get more beer from someone's house. Seeing that the new neighbors were moving in, they stopped to say Hi. One was dressed as white trash and the other as a cow. The cow had a flask in his utter and was asking everyone to suck it. Anyway, this poor couple... little Asian people... were greeted my these two large men, on halloween. We have barely seen them since. They have come out a few times. Once to a New Years party at my house... very quiet, stayed about 5 minutes and left. We would see them leaving for work and coming home. Garage door up... door down. Windows never open... it probably smells in there. One day she went to her mailbox and we noticed she was pregnant. Baby came... neighbors did the neighborly thing and send over a gift... nothing. Now I know some people just like keeping to themselves. But it is weird... what do they do in there? Crack a window... open a blind. Who do they talk to? We are friendly... we only dress like that on special occasions... they must know that. Come out of the house. Say Hellooo.

Still awaiting FDA approval.
D A M N I T O L - Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.
ST. M O M M A'S W O R T - Plant extract that treats mom's depressionby rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.
E M P T Y N E S T R O G E N - Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out.
P E P T O B I M B O - Liquid silicone drink for single women.Two full cups swallowed before an evening outincreases breast size, decreases intelligence and prevents conception.
D U M B E R O L - When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country musicand pickup trucks.
F L I P I T O R - Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.
M E N I C I L L I N - Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person...Can we get naked now?"
B U Y A G R A - Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, durationand credit limit of spending spree.
J A C K A S S P I R I N - Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary or phone number.
A N T I - T A L K S I D E N T - A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.
N A G A M E N T - When administered to a husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him all weekend, saving the wife the time and trouble of doing it.

Scene: Getting into the car to take Ben to a friends for a sleepover that he has been waiting for all afternoon. "Is it time to go yet?" "Mom, can we leave yet?" "Is it 6:15 yet?" "Why can't we leave now?"
Anyway... to the car.

Ben: "How do the lights go on when you open the door?"
Me: "I don't know Ben"
Ben: "Do you push a button?"
Me: "No Ben"
Ben: "It's cool"
Me: "I know Ben"
Ben: "Mom"
Me: "What Ben"
Ben: "How do the lights go off?"
Me: "We're here... see you tomorrow Ben"

1984



2004

My cat is apparently depressed. Who'd have thunk it. She has been "over-grooming"; biting chunks of fur out til her skin is exposed leaving a skunk like stripe on her back and patches on her belly. The vet says she may be stressed. What can my cat be stressed about? She eats, sleeps and poops. She gets more attention from my son than I do. She has toys. She even has a nice soft corner to relax. We do not yell at her. Nor do we discuss getting another pet. Her food is only the best. OK so I kick her off my bed and tell her she is fat, but please... depressed. A cat. The vet wanted to put her on a pill... for a cat. A depressed cat. To get a pill down her throat would cause her more stress... she would never come out from under the bed. So they are checking to see if it comes in a liquid.
To medicate my cat.

Justin - 1991


Justin - Now

I know that it is supposed to happen and everyone says it happens and it is good that this happens...
My kids are growing up. They are maturing. They are independent. They are tall. They are smart. They do not need me to clean them, cut their nails, wash their faces, dress them. Ben, my 6 year old, runs around naked and I wonder how long that will last. His cute little butt- I won't see that much longer. Justin (14) comes home from school yesterday and gets out a fry pan to make himself a "snack". A full course breakfast... by himself. When did that happen? Dillon (9) takes showers in the morning without being told to... am I in the right house? Nick (12) is almost taller than me. Friends do not call to "play", they call to "hang out". I no longer buy Barney and Elmo... clothing sizes ending with "T" are long gone.
Sometimes I look at them and wonder who they are. These are not my kids. My kids are little toddlers running around coloring on walls and singing "the wheels on the bus go round and round". Not these pre-adults who come and go and blast "hey hey mama said the way you move" from their stereos.
I am not complaining... their independence, in a lot of ways, means mine. It is neat being able to have a conversation that does not include the word potty. Although with boys, actual conversations are rare. It is a wonderful thing to not worry about babysitters. A wonderful thing. To have them all off at school ALL DAY is heaven.
But I miss holding them, feeding them and touching those soft chubby cheeks. It seems like only yesterday...

A friend just called and asked if I wanted to meet her for coffee after the kids go to school. I actually said, "I would love to, but I have to work-out."
WHOA

It is amazing what sugar intake and lack of exercise can do to my brain. Duh. When I sit around all day and eat Gummy Bears (Bears. Not worms, fish or other creatures. And red. Only red.) I get depressed. Duh.
I started exercising again and I am watching what I eat...not enough, but it's a start. I am looking forward to the weather changing so I can start running outside again. I am seeing myself fit into my clothes better.
I am reading- finished two James Patterson books this past week.
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas - Loved it!
Sam's Letters to Jennifer - Hit a bit too close to home for me. Made me wish I knew more about my grandmother.
I think I am sleeping better although still sticking with my trusty pal (AHHHH Ambien). I don't feel so yucky... so loaded down. My kids aren't driving me AS crazy. I am getting little things done that I have been putting off.
I just feel better.

Edited for Blogging.
Labor long but went well. Mom a true trooper. 7lb. 2oz. baby boy born 8:30 am Jan 22nd. Baby beautiful and healthy. Placenta stuck. Mom bleeding. Bad. Mom to OR. Needs Blood. Placenta attached to uterine wall (Placental Accreta). Dr. had to remove uterus and one ovary. Mom now recovering.


"Put me back!"


I came home and with my trusty sleeping pal (AHHHH Ambien) slept. For a long time.

Client in labor... off to the hospital to witness another miracle.

Something is not right here - have another smoke, lady.

Standing in front of the room which is full of bloggers
I will admit it... ahem...I have...ahem...Heather** help me out- you talk about it- you make it funny...ahem...I have constipation problems.
Whew, I feel so much better. Like a weight lifted off my butt.

**I feel since we share a common problem that we should be on a first name basis... Hi Heather, my name is Lonna and I am a fellow constipator. You, being the over-achiever, have is worse but I feel your pain.

Speaking of pain...
I am on the toilet with horrible pain- like being in labor only it is totally coming out the wrong spot... and I am not pregnant. I breathe... inhale, exhale. Thinking I have just passed a melon through my ass, I get up and look. Be honest, you look too. The poop was the size of a grape. WHAT! All that pain for a grape sized poop.

OK, I am out... anything you would like to share. Stand up, be brave... go!

You read the Police Blotter to see if any of their friends names are there.

You know the tune: The leg bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone is connected etc...
Last night I got a pretty bad sore throat and my right ear was sore. I thought I had an ear infection or was getting the flu. This afternoon I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning (every 6 months like clockwork) and I told him I had cut my gum back where my wisdom tooth was on the bottom right. He asked if I had a sore throat. I said, "yes and my ear hurts". Turned out the cut is infected and the inflammation is causing my pain. Who woudda thought?!?

A question was brought up on Oprah this morning that I want to put out there...

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would it be? Obviously the now dead people would be alive at the dinner.

I am going to try to answer that question assuming they are talking about famous people. If it were plain folk the answer would be easy... my grandparents.
I guess it would depend on why I am having the dinner (I know, just answer the damn question): To laugh: Gilda Radner - To be inspired: Christopher Reeve - To drool: Matthew McConaughey - To build: Andrew DanJumbo - To sing, sing a song: Jon BonJovi - To "girl talk": Kristy McNichol
I could go on and on and on... and still not answer the question!

Who would you pick?

... there are

• grocery lists
• doctor, dentist and orthodontist appointments
• school schedules
• homework due dates
• my own voice arguing with my own voice
• telephone numbers
• account balances
• to do lists
• not to do lists
• forgot to do lists
• emotions
• basketball schedules
• due dates for clients
• bill payments
• kids, kids, kids

and so on and so on... No wonder I walk into a room and forget why I went there in the first place.

Is it sad when someone gets really excited when the UPS man pulls up in front of her house? Then sits anxiously to see if he is coming to her door. As he heads toward her driveway her heart beats faster as she is thinking, "A package... Correspondence from the outside... in a package". Is it even sadder that she waits for him to ring the bell because she does not want to seem like she is watching? He rings- she waits- he turns to walk back to his truck and she goes to the door. "Thanks" she yells as she picks up the package. "No problem" the UPS guy says, not realizing he made her day.
I need (I mean she needs) to get out of the house.



Sidenote: The package contained toothpaste samples. I am addicted to getting sample sizes of things and, as some of you know, I am also addicted to brushing my teeth.

Another sidenote: The UPS man is quite cute. If I have the option to pick shipping methods, I always choose UPS.

This may be in very bad taste, but I have to...
I think what the actors, entertainers, hosts, networks etc. did last night for Tsunami was a wonderful thing. Taking time out of their busy schedules, donating time and money and air time to raise money is great... but
I was so happy to have TiVo, to be able to fast foward through some of these performers. I know it was not made for entertainment but please. Madonna sucked... if she had been on American Idol she would not have made it through the first round. (Jerry said that) Brian Wilson needs to stop singing. NOW. STOP. NOW. He did not hit the right note through his whole song. Most of the actors screwed up reading the cue cards. What the hell was Stevie and India singing... I couldn't understand a word of the mumbling. Jay Leno did not know what he was doing. Sheryl Crow sounded horrible.
There were a few good ones... Gloria Estefan- although I am not a big fan- had a great voice. Elton, Sarah McLaughlin, Norah Jones all pulled through. It was cool seeing Roger Waters and Eric Clapton together. Josh Groban- what a voice.
Aid and raising money aside... I thought it sucked ass.

Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls- family, health, friends, and integrity- are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.
- James Patterson, "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas"

Jerry has been working... A LOT... I am starting to worry that he can not take much more. His body is tired, his mind is tired - his kids miss him, I miss him. He gets up at 4 or 5 am and works until 6-7-8pm. Last night we had tickets to the Wolves Hockey game with a bunch of families through school and he went straight from work to the game. Then this morning up again at 5. I think he has had 1 or 2 days off since Christmas. When he is home, he tries to spend quality time with us, but he is just so tired. The extra money is nice, but at what cost? It is not that he is a workaholic... he is just a hard worker. When a job needs to be done, he works hard at getting it done. This is their busy season, but I am not sure it has ever lasted so long without him getting a break.

Target has a new line of home products called Global Bazaar. When I walked through the aisles of very cool decor from all over the globe (I am sure all made in the same factory) I was thinking how great it was. Until I looked at the prices... then I got to thinking.
It's Target. Isn't Target supposed to be where you go to get just about everything at reasonable prices? Some of it is pretty good quality, some could be better... but you know you are shopping at Target. Are they getting into a market that they shouldn't be in? Like McDonalds offering hot dogs.
It probably does not matter what I think... I am only a consumer who spends a bizzillion dollars at Target. And I will probably wind up buying some of the stuff in this new line... cause it is pretty cool. I just hope that it doesn't take over and Target becomes Targe'... because it is not... It's Target. Just Target.

Pulled over for a "Nikon Moment"

In the past few years I have been struggling with depression. For me, it is like a big hole I am trying to get out of. Sometimes it rains and the dirt in the hole gets muddy and my feet get stuck. It dries out and then I am left with a big pile of dirt that I need to dig out of. Sometimes I can reach the shovel and other times I could use someone to hand it to me. There are many times I want someone to pick up the damn shovel and dig me out, but I am realizing I have to do it myself.
The dirt is made up of lots of different things... slowly I can sift through it and get rid of the parts that don't allow me to grow. Many things are the fertilizer: family, friends, my "job", volunteer work, and medication. And now I can add this blog to the mix. It has already helped me explore myself and feel more comfortable sharing how I feel. It has also allowed those close to me to know my feelings.
Sometimes I wish that the hole will be replaced by flat land and beautiful purple flowers. Other times I am glad there is a hole because I get bored... I'll just plant the flowers around it.
Thanks for inspiring me Christine...

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Please go to California Hammonds and post a comment TODAY.
This site is run by Greg who is honoring his wife Cheryl. She passed away earlier this year after a long battle with breast cancer. In memory of Cheryl, many contributers are donating money for each comment to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
It won't cost you a cent... just stop over and say Hi. While you are there, read their story.

I need to learn to leave it the fuck alone! In trying to tweak a few changes on the blog, I think I screwed up the Haloscan commenting. I tried to re-load it and not sure if it is working.
I am walking away... for now!

I finally got around to putting away some summer clothes in my kids closets. Yea, I know it's January- shut up!
I have a few vents...

• Those pants with the zip off legs seemed like a good idea until you have to match legs with the shorts... which to which, one leg missing, shit, left or right, shit, shorts faded in wash so leg different color, one leg in this drawer- other is closet, shit, zipper broken. Finally decided to throw all leg parts in bin and deal with it next spring!
• Kids can NOT tell me they have nothing to wear because they have more clothes than me and my hubby put together
• Clothes with tags found that are now too small... shit
• Why oh why do I bother folding their clothes?
• Socks... need I say more?
• It has come to a point where I cannot tell who's underwear is who's... I am going to have to start buying different brands
• I now have even more laundry because how can you tell if something is clean or dirty when it is shoved in a corner next to the dresser... I did smell them (except for underwear and socks, just assumed those were dirty) Shit (ha)
• Candy wrappers... found that stash. Hopefully that is the only "stash" I find cause 14 yr olds room is next.
• Did I mention the pants with the zip off legs? Shit.
• Clothes were everywhere except in the dressers. Under the bed, behind the desk, in the corners, in baskets

I'm going back in... if I'm not back in an hour, send help. I may be sitting in a corner looking like the Pat Benatar cover surrounded by unmatched socks and pant legs saying, "They're alive!!"

OK, I won't look "exactly" like that

Computers 101 

Blogging... Bloggers... Blog
I am in bed because my back is killing me... actually I think it is my sciatica... so I am surfing blogs.

People blog about anything and everything- parenting, marriage, politics, current events, sex, siblings, entertainment, personals, computers, what they eat, how they poop (or don't poop), TV, movies, books, photos,weather, plants, scrapbooking, cross-stitching, weight loss... OH MY!
All ages, countries, languages, races are blogging.
Some are funny, serious, sad, touching, boring...
There are blogs with really cool graphics that take too long to load, lots of different fonts, links galore, trackers... some tell you what mood the blogger is in.
Word of the day, phrase of the week.
Did you know? Have you heard? Have you ever?
Spammers, Lurkers, Posters

I have so much to learn in this new world. So much to see. Come with me, I could use the company!

I thought I'd share some stories of the awesome job I have as a Doula. Names and dates have changed or omitted because... well, that would just be wrong.

I have had the honor of seeing two of Toni's (AKA "Chickenshit") children enter this world. They were both beautiful and Toni... I mean Chickenshit... was calm and collected both times. You can read her birth stories somewhere here. I would link directly to them, but I am too lazy do search through the archives. By the way, she calls herself Chickenshit... I would NEVER call her or any of my clients that.

Seriously, I have attended some incredible births. Some quick... some long... some very long... some painless (yes, painless)... some medicated... some not. ** I do not like to use the term "natural" because, in my opinion, every vaginal birth is natural** All showed me the strength of women and the miracle of life. (Corny I know, but true)

The first birth I attended was a close friend. This was before I was a Doula, but I knew from the moment of seeing that little head crown that I was going to become one. It was more like a party - not a very realistic introduction of what I was going to be doing. Mom was having her 4th, comfortably medicated and dad, grandma, 2 aunts (I think) and I were cheering her on. I am sure more people would have been there but we were already pushing (ha) our luck. Tears flowed by all as little M's head popped out followed by the rest of him. I was thinking "very cool".

Another "very cool" moment was being in the room at a c-section for the first time. Not that I was happy that T was having one. It was not planned. The doctor was awesome and allowed her to give it one more try of pushing in the OR room before prepping to cut. Since I was already in there they let me stay. Now I have always been into all the shows that focus on the gorry stuff... operations, ER traumas etc; but nothing could have prepared me for the "coolness" of this. I know I should have been paying more attention to mom, but I could not keep my eyes off her belly. I walked out, went up to my dad (yes, it was a family member) who is also into blood and gore, and said, "Way cool". Of course after letting everyone know she and baby were OK and it was a girl.... yadda yadda.

I really am a good Doula, I swear!

Ingredients:
4 whole crabby children
3 hours sleep
1 non-stop working husband
12 wet gloves, hats and coats
8 smelly boots
1 broken computer
Dash of depression
pinch of friendship aggravation
2 basketball games
smidgen of worry

Blend together slowly mixing in one sinus headache, heat to a boil.
Makes one serving.
CAUTION: contents may burst at any time. Handle with care.

Reduce to simmer... cover in soft blanket checking occasionally.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Hey Lon, read your blog last night when I got home. It's cool reading. I'm reminded of past memories that I can appreciate and laugh about, while learning things that we don't normally talk about. Sometimes I feel like commenting, but don't want the world to hear. Anyway, cool stuff. Proud of all you do.

I'm sorry you had a rough day thinking about your Gran...It is a beautiful letter. I hope you know I often think about her, and Papa too. And even though they weren't my grandparents, I did love them, and miss them too. I know I cant help your pain, but wish I could.


Te amo mucho,
Me.

There are days, like today, where for no particular reason I miss you more than usual. It is not your birthday or the anniversary of anything and nothing has happened to spark a memory. There is just an emptiness, a sadness... moments where I want to pick up the phone and say Hi, moments where the I realize I will never see your name on my caller ID. Why they hit so hard, I have no idea- why at odd times it hurts so bad, I don't know. I have learned to not fight these moments, to listen to my heart and deal with the thoughts. I think about you every single day. I know you see the boys and how much they've grown. And I know you watch over me and my family. I know death is a part of life, but I hate it. I want you to know how very much I love you, how I am so grateful that my kids remember you and how much I wish you were still here.
Love,
Lon

...January in Chicago. No school, snow day.

We live in Chicago and everyone seems so shocked when it snows. Talk of school closings, people shoveling, plows on the street, salt trucks... it is all over the news. HELLO- It is January and WE LIVE IN CHICAGO.

Do the Girl Scouts purposely schedule the cookie sale right after the Holidays when you are broke and feel fat?

1. I am the first born of three girls
2. The first house I remember was on Tanglewood Drive
3. My room had bright neon pink flowered wallpaper
4. My dad and uncle owned a record store chain and promoted concerts
5. My grandparents (mothers side) came over every Wednesday night to watch Tony Orlando and Dawn
6. I was, and still am, very independent
7. My mom reminds me of the time I send myself to my room
8. I remind her of the time I came to her room in the middle of the night to tell her I got sick and she told me to make sure I cleaned it up
9. My husband and I met in 7th grade- Senora Lovrenchec was our spanish teacher and Mr. Keehn was our science teacher
10. I used to sing "You light up my life" into a hairbrush with my friend
11. I went on a cruise for my 16th birthday with my grandma (dads side)
12. I miss her very much
13. I have a fear of open staircases, falling into the grates on sidewalks, open spaces and glass elevators
14. But I want to go on The Amazing Race
15. I like to be needed
16. I hate to be needy
17. I have always wanted 2,4 or more kids. Not 1 or 3...
18. I have seen most, if not all, Kristy McNichol movies
19. I also had her album (with her brother Jimmy) (She sang, "My boyfriends back")
20. I know a lot about The Brady Bunch
21. The first concert, of many, I saw was Shawn Cassidy
22. My dad took me into the first aid room at a rock concert and I saw all the people passed out on drugs. I can still see them. It worked
23. I have a teeth fetish
24. My parents went on vacation one year and Mrs. Gallimore left her teeth in a glass in the cabinet. I found them by accident. I brush my teeth... a lot.
25. My favorite color is purple
26. I like things in mini size
27. I have seen close to 40 babies come into this world
28. It is the most awesome thing... everytime
29. I got sick at Great America once- after going on that ride where you spin and the floor falls
30. I don't spin anymore
31. I also don't do something else which has nothing to do with spinning
32. My Papa Marty was the funniest person I have ever known
33. He wished he could buy me a Porsche
34. I used to ride horses
35. I am re-discovering my love of photography
36. I do not want to drive a mini-van anymore
37. So far this has taken me 28 minutes
38. I am watching Roseanne
39. My favorite sitcom is Will and Grace
40. I don't sleep very well
41. Neither did my grandma
42. Sometimes I want another child
43. Sometimes I don't want the one's I have
44. I love my husband very much
45. I am not always good at showing it
46. If I could be any animal I would be a wild horse. Their strength and beauty is amazing
47. When I am bored I Google people I used to know
48. I had a lock on my door to keep my sisters out
49. I want to find a white donut phone like the one I had in my room
50. I find myself wanting more and more to remember my childhood
51. I AM NOT getting old
52. I started working at my dads store when I was 14
53. I did not go to college
54. I do not regret it at all
55. Sometimes I am a bit anal about things
56. Sometimes I could care less
57. I only drink milk if it is really cold
58. I usually send soup back at restaurants because it is not hot enough
59. I have only had sex with my husband
60. I rarely wear lipstick
61. I have candles in every room
62. We have a cat named Kix
63. I am in awe of people who creatively express how they feel
64. I usually keep my feelings inside
65. So does my son, Nick
66. I do not like coffee or tea
67. Carbonation makes me burp- a lot
68. I always have laundry to do
69. This number still makes me giggle inside
70. See number 31
71. I sleep with earplugs because I am sensitive to sound (OK my husband breathes really loud)
72. I was at camp and sick... while in the Nurses area lying down, a boy I liked walked past. The girl in the next cot was snoring and the boy thought it was me. Since then I hear everything.
73. I think Matthew McConaughey is so cute
74. He has dimples
75. I love soft jammies
76. My parents are awesome grandparents
77. I wish I could put my brain on pause so I could rest
78. I have a wooden snowman outside year round and put different decoration on him depending on the season
79. I value my friendships
80. I have a tattoo on my shoulder
81. My husband was not happy about it
82. I would like another one - on my ankle
83. I cannot stand gum chewing
84. I have a double-jointed toe
85. I get very frustrated at Christmas time
86. I am glad when it is over
87. I tend to kill live plants so I don't have any
88. I don't like to cook
89. I do like to eat (out)
90. My new love is TiVo
91. It is mine and nobody else is allowed to touch it
92. Same goes for my laptop
93. My kids frustrate me
94. I love them dearly and wouldn't trade them for anything
95. It scares me that they are growing up
96. I want to travel more and take long weekends away
97. I challenge others to do this
98. It has taken me 82 minutes
99. As much as I sometimes want something else, I like my life
100. I am sure that I will be thinking of more things instead of sleeping