Turning the other Cheek.

Tonight I feel down, I feel like Im sad for really no reason. So instead of complaining I am taking another road and going to list a few things I am grateful for in-spite of the fact I feel so low. I do this from time to time but if you want to check out a blog that does it everyday, check out Jordan @ Wide Open Spaces.

1. Having a few minutes on a Sunday morning to laugh and chat with Eric.

2. A beautiful fall day that allows me to drive the jeep and feel the wind in my hair.

3. A 10 year olds birthday party.

4. Girl Scout cookies...enough said.

5. Carry out at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Have some respect People!

In the past 2 days I have witnessed 2 things I find very disrespectful. The first one was last night driving home from dinner. We meet an ambulance and we were the ONLY ones that pulled over!!! In fact the truck behind us rode our ass as we slowed down and pulled over. Do they not teach in drivers ed to get out of the way when there is any emergency vehicle coming? Please people show some respect that could be your loved one in there someday. The second thing was this morning when I was leaving work. I work across from a church and as I was leaving there was a funeral procession starting. I continued to stay at the stop sign as all the cars left the church. However other cars were not so kind. They were trying to pull out into the street and go around the procession. Again when I see a funeral procession you NEVER pull out in front of them and if you meet them you respectfully pull over! In the funeral processions I have been in it means a lot to a person to have perfect strangers pull over in respect for your loved one. Its a small gesture but still nice.

When will I learn?

Are you wondering when I will learn what? Well I'm going to tell you...When will I learn that I can't force my Sister and Dad to form a better relationship? I can't make my sister forgive Dad for the things that he has done in the past no more than I can make him apologize for not being there at times when we were younger. I have forgiven Dad for so much and have become extremely close to him in the past few years. I don't like going days without talking to him. I have always hoped that my Sister and Dad would get there to or even close to there. Well it's sadly probably not going to happen! They are both very stubborn and my Dad did something to my Sister that she may never forgive him for. When she was 16 or 17 he signed away custody so he wouldn't have to pay child support because he didn't agree with her riding bulls. She has never came out and said it but I know that hurt her more than anything and to be honest it hurt me to but not the same way. I don't want you all to think I have some dead beat Dad, its not like that. Financially Dad was always there and always tried to help out Mom when he could, but my parents divorced when my sister was 3 months old so they have never really bonded like Dad and I did.

The reason all of this is coming up after 7 years is because of my little brother who is 10. Actually he will be 10, tomorrow is birthday party and my sister isn't coming. She is cleaning on their new house which I think is great but she was going to come today and see him but didn't. She said she is uncomfortable and honestly still holds a grudge against Dad. Now if you've read my post before my Sister is EVERYTHING to me, I mean she is my person, always there for me and supports me. I want my little brother to experience that as well .So I find myself trying to make their relationship out of the few times the my sister does come up here. So, when will I learn? I guess today! I cant make my Sister and Dad's relationship better only they can and I cant make my Sister and Brother close time will tell that on its own. It's hard trying to be the fixer in a family like mine, especially because I'm the one who gets upset when it doesn't work out. For now I am going to call my Sister back and make sure she is okay because I can't stand that she is hurting over something I brought up.

Random take 2 or 3 or.....

So I am in a mood, like a mood that I just cant shake! This is going to be a random post about whats on my mind. First off I am sitting at home feeling sorry for myself while my two girlfriends are out having fun. Yes I said it and I sound like a little baby. Thursday nights have become a night where we go meet up with a few friends have a few drinks and Eric plays pool. Well this Thursday we had decided to take a Thursday off. That was before Eric got called to go to work and I am sitting at home by myself. Eric had no problem with me going but I felt like no we said we were going to skip this one so I should stay home. Not only that but my two girlfriends are single and obviously I am not. Mind you I am happy about being married, I love Eric. I wouldn't want to be out in the single scene. I just don't want the people that live in this small town to get the wrong idea. I have to go out without Eric sometimes but I feel like I should keep it minimum. I know, I know, Eric says screw what everyone thinks but unfortunately I care to much about what people do think so I just can't. Any how the girls sent me a picture they printed off of me, which I'm not sure how they got but anyway the text said, "see you're here with us". I know guilt trip right?! That's where this first random part of my post has come from, basically me feeling bad for myself due to no ones fault but my own!

Second random thing on my mind.....People screening their calls! Why do people do this? I mean I have been known to screen calls from family members but never my friends. If you call me and I don't answer its because I really couldn't get the phone. The sad thing is I don't just have one friend to call out on this little issue. All my friends do this! How about a quick text that says hey swamped right now ttyl. I'm not taking this personal because I really don't think it is, but don't blame your children because thats a cop-out. I am sure that this may make some people unhappy and I'm sorry but its how I'm feeling right now. Tomorrow when this mood flys over I am sure this will all seem so petty, but tonight it was blog worthy and I already feel better.

Check her out!

Im happy to announce that my friend and neighbor has started a blog. You need to check her out! She has 4 little girls, a husband, and 9 sisters and brothers! How could she not have an amazing blog? Her name is Rachel so give her a big blogger welcome and click here to check it out!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Today is my honey's birthday, so a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! This morning about 5 a.m. I woke up to use the little girls room and as I stumbled to the bathroom I thought I should go make Eric a big birthday breakfast before he goes to work at 7. I was thinking he would really like that, if only I was a better wife I would definitely go do that.....that thought was seconds before I fell in the toilet because my wonderful husband left the damn toilet seat up!!! After that I was like nope no birthday breakfast for him, my wet ass is going back to bed!!! I even forgot to give him his card before he left so now I am going to make him something good for dinner and bake an apple pie because he likes that better than cake.

Happy Birthday Eric! I'm glad you're finally the same age as me!

Whats my Problem?

I am still having bloggers block. I can't seem to get things down in writing. Eric and I were off all last week together and did fun things all week but when I would sit down to blog about them it just seemed so boring, I was like I wouldn't want to read this crap and I did it. I am still feeling this way but thought I should attempt to blog something so people wouldn't think I fell off blogger earth. In the past week I have been to a St. Louis Cards game, gone to Moonshine for a yummy hamburger, did some great shopping with my best friend, visited an oil rig,(yes an oil rig, that should be a blog entry in itself), went to see Rodney Carrington, found that I love the beer Land-shark, and slept in way to much! It was a great week off to say the least.

I know it's early in the week but this week is looking good too! Today I went and looked at my sister and her hubbys house they are going to buy. It was very nice, needs some cleaning and paint but other than that will make a great home. Tomorrow is Eric's Birthday so I am sure I will try to plan something fun for him. Hopefully my blogger block will pass soon, but if it doesn't please stick it out with me, would ya?

A Great Weekend

Girls Night Out +

Tailgating at an Illini football game +

Great Sunday for some jeep riding =

A Fantastic Weekend!

Oh how I love a rainy day

My Saturday started by my alarm going off at 5:50 a.m! Yep that's right 5:50 a.m. Maria and I had to start doing up-do's for a wedding here at the house at 6:30. I had the coffee pot set up so it was ready and waiting! We didn't even have to get out of our pajama's. We got their hair done in good time and by 9 a.m. I had my whole day ahead of me. I decided to run into Effingham to get my god son's birthday present and a bite to eat. It had started raining pretty good while I was in town so I decided that the rest of my afternoon would be amazing laying around on the couch maybe catching a nap and sitting on my laptop. I love rainy days because it gives you an excuse to be totally lazy and just lay around and catch up DVR'd tv, facebook quiz's, and eat anything you want. The bad side of a lazy rainy day is now I need to get motivated to do something and that is tough. I may have to have another pot of coffee just get myself up and going again. It's only 6 o'clock and it feels likes it's much later. Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone.

Bloggers Block

I've been sitting here at my computer for the last hour trying to think of something to blog about. I had typed a few ideas in my phone the other day and none of them really seem blog worthy now. I have no funny, witty stories to tell, not even a grip worth typing out to tell people. Its like I have been hit with a bloggers block mac truck. Hopefully this weekend we will do some blog worthy stuff and will be able to share it with you all!

Ahhh I'm still sick!

Im tired of being sick!

I want to go to work!

I want to be around people!

I want to go to lunch with the girls at work!

I want to go on a jeep ride!

I want to put my contacts in and put makeup on!

I am not a good sick person. One afternoon home sick from work is plenty. It's not like a snow day where you can do little things around in the house...oh no its more like lay around cough, sneeze, snot you get the picture. I'm trying to get some extra sleep because I know that will help my body fight this sickness but I can only lay in bed for so long till I just cant do it. Eric said if I was a good sick person maybe he would take me on a short jeep ride later this evening. Surely some fresh air will make me feel better or the allergies in the air will add fuel to the fire we shall see. Until then I guess I will try and sleep and find something on horrible day time tv.

Im sick again!!!!

I hate to say it but I am sick AGAIN!!! This may be like my 3 or 4th sick post since I started blogging and thats in less than a year!!! Well this time it started out as allergies and sinus's but has really gotten worse in the past two days. It doesn't help that I just went to the doctor today and ran myself ragged last week. I went to the doctor after lunch and thought I would go back to work after I got my meds. However I was running a fever and feeling worse by the second, so one of the girls at work moved my clients and I came home. I got myself all settled in on the couch to take a nap. Fast forward 30 minutes and I start coughing my head off! My eyes are watering then I sneeze a few times, cough some more and then finally have to just get up. I haven't been able to sleep the last 2 nights so I don't know why I thought this would be any better. I have tried propping myself up and thats not cutting it! I am really wishing I would have let Eric buy the recliner he wanted for the house instead of this trendy chair and ottoman! Live and learn. I guess I will try and get propped back up for another cat nap. A big Thank You to Stacy for making me go to the doctor and for also moving my clients.

My husband AKA Martha Stewart

I don't enjoy things like working in the garden, picking things in a garden nor canning things out of the garden. However my husband does. Even though I don't actually enjoy getting the stuff out of the garden I like to eat certain things. I like corn and green beans. I don't like tomatoes but do like having the juice for chili and soups. My Dad puts out a HUGE garden every year so much that Eric doesn't have to do one his self but can reap the benefits. This year Eric put up some corn which I said I wouldn't help with but reluctantly ended up helping anyway and then tonight at 7pm he decides he's going to put up tomato juice. I was like Babe really??!!! First I was like why do you enjoy doing this so much?! I really don't enjoy it one bit and two you don't start a project like this at 7 in the evening. Its now almost 10pm and he is still in the kitchen working on it. I hate to see what my kitchen looks like right now, hopefully not worse than when I took these pics. Thank goodness his cousin came over and Eric convinced him to stay and help. I guess on the up side we will not only have some really good juice for our soups but also for a few bloody mary's!

Eric and Cody working hard

I'm Proud to be an American.

On Thursday my Mom, cousin and cousin in law left for our trip to Great Lakes Naval Base to watch my cousin Morgan graduate from her Navy Recruit Training Program. It was a long drive up but so very worth it. I have never been to a military graduation so I didn't know what to expect but it exceeded every expectation that I had. We got randomly picked to go through a security check where we had to get out of the car and have the car searched which was really no big deal they were very nice about the whole process. Finally we got into where the graduation would be held and we all anxiously awaited the recruits to enter. It was absolutely the greatest thing I have ever seen. I cant even explain it, I wish I could because it was amazing. The flags, the band, the chorus (which Morgan was part of) the marching in perfect uniform. I loved it. There were over 700 graduates which made me so proud of all these young men and women who will leave their families to serve our great country. After graduation was over we made our way down to see Morgan searching our way through a sea of white uniforms. When we finally got to her it was such a proud moment, there were hugs and kisses and a few tears. Of course we all had a ton of questions so we made our way to a little restaurant so we could all try and catch up in the little time we had. Morgan's Mom, brother, almost step-Dad and step-sister were staying the weekend but we had to make our way home. It was so nice to see Morgan happy, even excited to start her A school training. She seemed so proud to belong to this new Navy family and it made my heart beam with joy. She has worked so hard to get here even with all the things she's been faced with the last few years. So on a finale note...Morgan, I am so proud of you and love you so much...and a big thank you and God bless to all the military men and women and their families.

Happy Birthday Shelly!

I would like to wish a big Happy Birthday to my sister. She normally hates her birthday because of her birthday curse. Yes I said curse...for the last I don't know how many years around her birthday something bad has happened. Here is just a few of the big things that have occurred..both our Grandparents passed away within a week of her birthday(not the same year), she and Jimmy where in a horrible car accident where she almost went through the windshield, she had to move reluctantly from her home on her birthday one year, Jimmy burned his eyes with a welder last year a day before her birthday. I am sure there is more but no need to go into more I think you get the idea. Well this year the curse was broken! She had a great birthday and the week before was good too! Mom and I made our way down to her house and we ate lunch and then went to the beach. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here you go...

My sister doesn't own a pair of sandals so she went to the beach in her boots! I guess thats why we love her so much. She doesn't give a crap what people think about her she is just her. Hope you had a GREAT Birthday Shell, I love you.

What's up with the sickness in the summer??

Only a couple of weeks ago Eric and I were sick with some nasty stomach flu and now Eric has an upper respiratory infection or at least thats what the Dr. at our Prompt Care Clinic says. His mouth is full of sores, so is his throat and his face is swollen because of his glands. I have heard of more people being sick this summer and its not right. Its summer we are supposed to be soaking up the sun, having fruity drinks, and hanging out with friends. Instead I am inside disinfecting anything Eric touches because I don't want any chance for this summer sickness to spread to me.Please no more summer sickness in our house we've had enough! Hope everyone else out there is avoiding this summer sickness going around.

My sister is stronger than me

You all know how much I love my sister, I am her biggest fan but also her toughest critic. My sister has always been strong physically and emotionally but tonight she is doing something I am not sure I could do in her shoes. She is attending her 5 year class reunion. Now unlike me she didn't enjoy high school so this is a big deal for her. She had a two close girlfriends in high school but most of the other girls were not so nice. She ended up dropping out her junior year and getting her GED. I cant' say that the only reason for this was her fellow classmates because there was way more to it than that but I am saying that I am really proud of her for going back and facing anyone that doubted that she would do something with her life. I love you Shell.

Another Blog Worthy Product

I have found another product that I feel is worthy of making my blog. It has been a saving grace for my hair this summer. It's called Moroccan Oil. Its a whole line of Shampoo, Conditioner, an oil treatment, intense curl cream, hydrating styling cream, a shine spray and a few other products. I have to say I have only used the shampoo, conditioner, and the oil treatment but I will be checking out the other products very soon.

Okay...So why I love this product. It tames down any frizz, it makes my hair super soft and touchable! Oh and the shine is amazing! I use it everyday and the oil has yet to weigh my hair down and I am using probably more than I should. If you want to know more of the details on why this product works click here to check out their website it will be easier than me going into all the technical stuff.

I got a new camera!!!

Eric and I seem to have the worse luck with our cameras, and with worse luck I mean Eric dropped ours one night like 4 times and it was bye bye Kodak Easy Share. This is our 3rd digital camera in like 4 years. Our previous 2 cameras were Kodak and I loved them they were easy to use with a decent amount of features. However after much thought and researching I went with the Cannon Power Shot. Its 12 mega pixels, 3x optical zoom, with lots of options that I am not sure how to even use yet. I haven't had a ton of photo opportunities but thought I would post a few of the pictures I have taken.

Me and Eric. I thought this picture was pretty good.

Aren't they pretty

Me and my best friend. I like this

one but we are a little shinny.

I hope to be able to figure out all my features because I hear really good things about Canons. I also will defiantly be making sure Eric puts the built in insurance around his wrist when he is using it.

A double standard...I think so.

I know that everywhere we look there are double standards.

I know that are not always fair but that's the way it is.

At the little bar in the town where I live you are bound to have them.

So tonight when my girlfriend ask me to go and have one drink and I mean one drink at the bar I agree and we head up there. It takes literally 30 seconds cause that's how close I live to it. Its kinda like the bar on Cheers where everyone knows your name and if they don't know yours they know your Dads. Anyway we walk in and there are about 12 people in there, I mean 12 guys some older and a few younger. We say hello and get our drinks and then we get a few "what are you guys doing up here" questions. No biggie I guess just small talk and nosiness. Then my girlfriend and I are going to step outside and smoke (which I only do when I am drinking or socially with her, I know shes a bad influence. Love you Minda) Anyway a few of the guys that know Eric are like Bridget you better not I'm gonna tell on you. Now I know that they are just giving me a hard time but I have to wonder......Would those same guys even wonder why Eric was at the bar with out me or tease him about doing something I may not like? Probably not which is where the double standard comes in. Its perfectly acceptable for a husband to go have a drink after work with his buddies to get time away from his wife but not okay for a wife to do the same. Don't get me wrong I don't agree with sitting at the bar all night with out your significant other but lets keep the double standards to a minimum:)