A Christmas Story...KINDA

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones. Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mother was coming to visit.This stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and another two had jumped the fence and were out..... Heaven knows where.

More stress.
Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. Frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he got to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, breaking it into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to sweep it up, only to find that mice had eaten the straw end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang.

A very irritable Santa trudged to the door, opened it, and there stood a little Angel with a great big Christmas tree. The Angel very cheerfully said, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little Angel on top of the Christmas tree.

The seperation - Part I

Sharon left (with her brother and sister-in-law in tow) and stayed the weekend with them down in Kingston (a small town in MI). Dad did say that Sharon was planning to come back and live in the basement apartment so my niece and nephew wouldn't know something was wrong.

See, a few years ago Ken went thru a divorce. After a couple years and many court battles, he was awarded custody of his two kids. Ken's mom volunteered to help raise B. and C. since Kens job starts at varying times (etimes he starts as early as 4 in the morning!) and calls for long hours. He also started working nights every other week by this time, and needed someone to watch the kids' nights. So, the kids basically lived with us in the house for many years.

After she came back from her brothers, she moved in w/ Ken. I guess things were going ok...Chuck would know more than I since they talked on the phone everyday. During this separation, the dad would call every night and talk to Chuck for hours. This is how I learned just how deceiving she really was. For instance, dad caught her on more than one occasion dressing in front of the camera and taking to Rassel, when he'd come home early from work.

She got dialup while living w/ Ken and was on the internet talking to Rassel like constantly, so she never did call us or even visit us... didn’t really bother me none, but it was starting to get to chuck. The closer it got to Christmas the more depressed he became. I was able too still talk to her everyday though. I was able to keep in touch using yahoo msger. I had always managed to remain on her good side (the part that hadn’t gone totally loopy yet), so she had given me her username.

To be continued....

SCHS Senior Year

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school. The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be.
1. Who was your best friend?
I had a number of good friends... Kristi Elstrom, Brandi Beltz, Dawn Betzner, Sheila Cash...
2.What sports did u play?
Sports? Yuck! I was not one you'd consider to be a jock.
3. What kind of car did you drive?
I never had a car .... Rode bus :( I did drive my dad's Toyota pick-up during a hunting trip once. Did good on the strait-away, but turning is another story :D
4. Football Game??
Hmmmm ... don't think I went to one my senior year.
5. Were you a party animal?
No, I was too shy, but would go to a party if my friends dragged me to one.
6. Were you considered a flirt?
Sure was and am proud of it!
7.U Ever skip school?
Nah, I was a good girl :)
8. Were you a nerd?
No I was a "nobody". *sigh* :(
10. Did you get suspended/expelled?
Nope..again, I was a good girl. In other words, I was boring.
11. Can you sing the fight song?
Nope
12. Who was your favorite teacher?
It’s a tie between my Psych teacher, Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Stein, my family life/home-ec teacher.
14. What was your school's full name?:
Salina Central High School
15. School mascot?
Mustangs.
16. Did you go to Prom?
Yep...made it to that one actually!
17. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
Ahhh...to be young again...but school? Forget it!
18. What do you remember most about graduation?
Feeling sorry for those standing at their chairs till all 200 of us found our seats, while I had my own seat :)
19. Favorite memories of your Senior Year?
Not many. My friends provided me with the best memories.
20. Where were you on senior skip day?
Senior skip day? Would have been nice if somebody told me.
21. Did you have a job your senior year?
Don’t even have one now.
22. Where did you go most often for lunch?
Same table everyday in the cafeteria nears the soup & sandwich bar.
23. Have you gained weight since then?
I plead the 5th!
24. What did you do after graduation?
Spent the day hanging’ w/ my cousin, Amber (Rae), before they left that evening.
25. When did you graduate?
1993
26. Who was your prom date?
Bunch of us gals decided to stag, well low and behold the one I planned it with, shows up w/a date. Only one of the 4 gals w/ a date. Spent most of the night (including after-prom) hanging w/ Brandi Heil.
27. Are you going to your ten-year reunion?
Wanted to, but didn't know about it till after the fact.
28. Who was your homeroom teacher?
We didn't have homeroom teachers.

Repost this with your school name...

The Divorce

His parents volunteered to keep an eye on our animals for us until we got settled. We needed to put up a fence for Chelsea, and we needed to keep Buddy inside at least a week to get him used to his surroundings. With us going in and out moving boxes, we were afraid he’d escape.

Then we went to his parents for Thanksgiving. Chuck’s mom's brother and sister-
in-law were there too, but Sharon was nowhere to be found...she, of course, was tucked away in the computer room talking to that Muslim kid, Rassel, while everyone else prepared dinner. When the food was done and the table set, she finally came out wearing a skin-tight tank top, which was two times her size (way too small for her). Now remember, we are in Michigan, it’s cold (usually 30-40 degrees) and snowy by Thanksgiving up here. Also, she was a 54 yr. old woman (she is now 56) trying to look and act like she’s 20-something, and is actually making people wonder if she's in her late 60’s. Not only was her choice of dress tacky, She even looked old. She looked real tired and had more grey hair and wrinkles (it had only been a week)!

As we ate, Sharon kept trying to start an argument w/ the dad, over little knit-picky stuff. Then towards the end of the meal.... a FAMILY Thanksgiving meal mind u...we all heard ‘it, that all too familiar bling-bling from yahoo IM. Sharon, of course, got up from the table and started toward her computer. Dad yelled after her, “Well, could u at least help w/ the dishes?” She replied, “U cooked ‘it that means u clean it!” I had to stuff my face w/ meshed potatoes in order to stifle a laugh. Ever since I met her, she would away say “I cooked u clean!” (Although dad usually made the big stuff for the Sunday family meals...she manly set the table, mashed the taters and nuked the veggies). Her sister-in-law, Joann, followed Sharon to the room, soon afterwards she (Sharon) comes out from the room w/ red eyes and carrying her shoes. She told me to remember to take my cat because she's tired of him, then she left w/ Joann at her heels.

Dad then explained to Chuck, Ken, and I what was going on. Sharon had filed for a divorce. After 32 years of marriage, she decided to end it w/ out a true explanation. One of the reasons I figured is the fact the dad cheated on her 30 some years ago, after a while he thought she had forgiven him, but apparently not. What bothers me is after he cheated, why didn’t she leave? She claims she stayed for her kids. Ok, but her youngest was 18 after her 21 anniv, so why not leave then? Besides (like I told her), if she’d have left the dad when the boys were younger and explained the true reason why, it would have saved them from depression and the confusion and resentment they are suffering from now. But she never did tell anyone the reason she left...even the dad didn’t now why at the time. I soon learned that she'd tell people that didn’t know the whole story to make her look like a victim.

Thanksgiving and anniversaries

I wanted to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I realize it’s not until Thursday, but I am unsure of what everyone has planned. Someone may have the week off for hunting (as is popular in Michigan). As for Chuck and I, we will go to the Taylor family Thanksgiving at his aunt and uncle’s house. Then on Sat. (the 25th), Chuck and I will celebrate our 9th anniversary. Wow, 9 years...been hard and VERY bumpy, but am sill here and still love him!

WORDS WOMEN USE

~WORDS WOMEN USE~

FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"

GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.

WHATEVER
It's a woman's way of saying *!#@ YOU!

Chuck's dad gave Chuck a job as a truck driver in July of '04...Chuck reluctantly took it. He did not want this job at all, he's got a degree and doing this u barely need a high school diploma! But, it was either take this or be stuck w/ his parents forever. We are still looking for a different job everyday tho!

So, here I was, stuck w/ his mom all day again. Then in Sept of '04, she comes running downstairs smiling, saying a guy IM'd her when she wasn't even in a chat room. She told me he said he hacked in, he knew how to get around Norton and Windows Firewall. She also told me he was not from the states. I remember because when she told me someone was able to hack in and bypass Windows security, it scared me....for I hada lott of personal information stored on my hard drive. She didn't tell me exactly where he was from until a few weeks later when she emailed me his picture. He was a 27 yr. old Muslim from Bangladesh (remember 9/11 happened in '01).

She was always on the computer talking to this guy. Started causing lots of marital troubles, my niece and nephew would complain how they could never play their computer games ‘cus mamaw was always on. So I’d stop what I was doing (usually playing Sims) and let ‘em play on my computer...like that was just so hard!! Then in Nov. ‘04 (a week before Thanksgiving, not to mention our 7th anniversary) Chuck and I finally moved out of his parents basement and into a house of our very own!

A joke

A Fortune

When Charles found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sicklyfather died, he decided he needed a woman to enjoy it with. So one eveninghe went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he hadever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like justan ordinary man," he said as he walked up to her "but in just a week or two,my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million dollars." The woman wenthome with Charles that evening, and three days later, she became hisstepmother.Women are so much smarter. When will men ever learn?

A postal update

It's about time I updated my blog. You all are prob. wondering, then what happened? Well I'll tell ya.

Chuck and I both graduated from Central Michigan University in Dec '03. Him in Business/MIS and me in Child Development/Psychology. As soon as we graduated, we lost the apartment and had to move back in w/ his parents. Oh gee...living w/ the dreaded mother-in-law, again. Actually though, I didn't mind the idea as much this time. Pets weren't allowed at the apartment so his parents were taking care of our cat and dog in the meantime, and boy did I miss them!

Chuck and I moved back into his parents basement until we found a place of our own. After a few months of looking for work (the job market really really sucks in MI, we're even one of the poorest states for jobs on the national average) Chuck decided to use some of his computer knowledge and network our internet w/ his parents computer, so his parents, too, would have the internet by sharing our connection. Hindsight being 20/20, we now know that was the biggest mistake......

Chuck introduced his parents to Yahoo, showed 'em how to set up e-mail accounts and the messenger, IM people, and even the chat rooms and how they worked. Then he let them have at it and figure some stuff out on there own. Sharon got herself way to involved in chat. She became "friends" w/ this guy from Africa, would talk on the phone, send each other packages (for instance she sent him a bible, and he'd send cards). When he asked her to send him money so he could come to the states, we all advised her against it so she put him on ignore. Like a lot of good that did, he still calls the house to this day. She still was online quite a bit, we'd all get together for family dinner and we'd hear that ding-ding when someone IM'd her. She'd quickly leave the table and run to the computer room each time that happened. Talk about rude!!

10/31 MEANS....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

For the mother out there

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.- -- Jewish proverb

It's here!!!

I got my new chair Monday. The leg thing are still to short (cause I'm a shorty). So, if he can't order me shorter ones, he will see about building either a foam or a wooden platform for my feet to rest on. He will also bring some kind of strap for my feet, so if I cough or sneeze they won't come off the rests. The back is a lot better, I got the foam back so now there is more padding than my other chair. The seat cushion is air filled, not the Jay Cushion I am used to. You can adjust the air intake to make it more comfortable. Right now, my butt is really, really sore and I can't deflate it myself...knowing my luck, I'd probably let all the air out by accident and I have to be out of the chair in order to inflate it back up. Chuck doesn't want me to attempt it til he's home. The chair reclines and the feet raise, which helps my circulation. It has a computer screen mounted on the side (looks like a PDA) which has a scroll menu to choose the option I want. So if I want to recline, I choose tilt; if I want to raise my feet, I choose dual legrests; and so on. But I don't know if I like it, it's in the way and it takes to long for what u want. As for the chair, I like it!

My new chair - posted Oct.5 on MySpace

My new chair will FINALLY be here Mon. My poor body has been in such peril lately. My butt hurts, my back hurts, my legs hurt, my feet hurt, and so on. This is more than the usual, everyday aches and pains, it's much more extravagent.

They called me on the 8th and said it will be there around the 11th. Well, the week of the 11th came and went, and still no chair...not even a phone call. Chuck called them on the 20th, the lady on the other end said it must've been lost in shippig. Said she'd give the manufacterer a call and call us back...she never did.

I called on the 21st and left my name and # w/ the secratary, still no call back. Chuck called back on the 22nd and talked to another woman who knew what was going on. She said the chair was sitting on the manufacterer's floo r and wasn't shipped out til the 21st. They could've at least called!

It was being delivered from Ohio, they hadn't called to tell us it was even in or nothing. I had Chuck call them yesterday and was told it was there...thanx for the call. He then sat up an appt. to get it Monday.

YAY!!!!!!!!!

In the beginning-Part 4: Final Episode

Candy and I didn't work out. We were practically inseparable when at K-state. Then I got married and moved, she had a son then moved where I was. I think in those few years we were apart, we both did some growing. In other words, we no longer saw eye-to-eye. I ended up letting her go and hiring a replacement. Chuck came back w/ an honorable discharge a few months later. He knew of the difficulties between Candy and I, so he hurried back to be w/ me.

Luckily Chuck's unit hadn't left New Jersey yet...However they were loading up to go to Iraq the day Chuck left base. I am happy he's back safely. He changed his MO to Transportation Specialist when he joined the reserves...that is the main thing the Taliban are focusing on, those poor truck drivers. There have been a lot of death due to this war. Several of those lives lost, my husband knew personally. Chuck said most of the guys in his barracks didn't really understand nor agree w/ this war. I may not agree w/ this war, but that does not mean I don't support our troops!!

Once Chuck came back at the end of April and enrolled into school starting the fall semester. We decided to stay in the apartment until we both graduated in '03.

About me

Well for starters, I am a nice and understanding person. Who, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) has been...and even still going...thru a lot. But, thanks to my friends and family I have learned to deal with it, to look on the brighter side of things. See, I am in a wheelchair...have been since I was 17 years of age. I suffer from a nueromuscular disease...related to muscular dystrophy...wich caused my scholiosis since I was 11. When 17, I not only became more dependant on a wheelchair for mobility, but I was also found to have diabetes. It really sucks, but...what most people don't realize is I'm a person too. Ok, on to other things, I have been married since I was 23. Have no children, but really really want 'em. I absolutely adore children and have always wanted to work around 'em...when 4 or 5 I wanted to be a babysitter for the movie star's children. Now, I have a Bachelor's in Child Development so I definately can work around kids! But, as of today and my physical limitations, I am home bound and on the computer alot. When not online I am playing my Sims2 PC game.

Part. 3

In March of 2001, Chuck joined the reserves. Then everyone knows (or at least, should know) what happened in Sept. Yep, that is the infamous day the Twin Towers fell. We all knew Chuck would be activated any day, since Bush...I REALLY do not like him, he's a war hungry mongrel, who has basically let his own country suffer while he focuses all his attention overseas. Oh sure, he said there are more job opportunities. Yeah....McDonald's! Michigan has the highest unemployment in the nation and I am having a very hard time finding Chuck a job. Well anyways, Bush declared war. Our military is super small, so the reserves and national guard were needed.

Chuck got the call in Feb. of '02. We had a weekend to decide what to do about school and also look for help for me. I found an accessible apartment on campus and my friend, Candy (I have known her since K-State and have even brought her to camp a couple times, she and her son moved to MI and in w/my brother-in-law a few years after my move) volunteered to live w/ me while Chuck was gone.

Chuck flew to NJ (that is where they did some outpost stuff before being sent to Iraq) on that following Tues. My dad and brother drove up fro Kansas to help me, Candy, and her 4 year old son move. This was a solution so I could stay in school, but also so I could get away from the mom (Sharon) for a little bit. Which was a nice break, but while Chuck was gone, she never even called me...not even to see how I was doing. She used to call me all the time in KS! She'd rather be buddy-buddy w/ chuck's ex-girlfriend than w/ his current wife. Chuck's dad would call or stop in every so often tho. So maybe she thought that counted?

More to come...

Fun Meme

1. Your Middle Name:

2. Age:

3. Single or Taken:

4. Favorite Movie:

5. Favorite Song:

6. Favorite Band/Artist:

7. Dirty or Clean:

8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:

HERE COMES THE FUN ... ... ...

1. Do we know each other in real life?

2. What’s your philosophy on life?

3. Would you have my back in a fight?

4. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?

5. What is your favorite memory of us?

6. Would you give me a kidney?

7. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:

8. Would you take care of me when I'm sick?

9. Can we get together and make a cake?

10. Have you heard any rumors of me lately?

11. Do you/have you talk(ed) crap about me?

12. Do you think I'm a good person?

13. Would you drive across country with me?

14. Do you think I'm attractive?

15. If you could change anything about me, would you?

16. What do you wear to sleep?

17. Would you come over for no reason just to hang out?

18. Would you go on a date with me if I asked you?

19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?

20. Will you repost this in your blog for me to answer for you (or email it to me if you don't have a blog)?

Part 2

OK, I left off enrolling into a University after getting an associates. In the spring of 2000, I started attending Central Michigan University. I majored in psychology and minored in child Development at first, but in one of my required classes called for observations of a pre-school class that was on campus. There were student teachers in the classes I observed...which I thought would be such fun! I found out in order to be a student teacher u needed to major in Child Development, well I couldn't pass stats (I took it 3 times and it's a requirements for psych majors) so I decided to major in C>D. and minor in Psych.

We still lived w/ his parents at this time. I so wanted out, his mom was driving me crazy! She would nit-pick about everything! She was constantly upset with her husband (Chuck's dad). Not fighting, just the daily scowls and talking behind his back. Sharon would always complain about what a b**** her sister-in-law is and how she can't stand her. Yet she would go stay w/ them for a week or so every few months.

I noticed the dad would do just about anything to keep her happy...it occurred to me that I was also giving in to her every whimper. She wanted the dad to get rid of his motorcycle when the boys were young, he did. She suddenly got interested in going camping...and not in a tent, but an RV...so he bought a pop-up. She wanted an RV w/ its own bathroom, he traded the one they had in, and bought her a fifth wheel w/ a bathroom. And so on...

More to come...

In the beginning-Part 1

I was unable to find the blogs about what happened w/ my in-laws...mainly probs w/ my mother-in-law...on myspace. So these next few blogs will not be copied from another blog, I will have to write them from my own memory. Here's what happened:

My husband, Chuck, and I met in '96, and married in '97. At the beginning he thought it was so cool that his parents were still together...cause now-a-days that's a rare commodity...and better yet, so were mine. He is originally from Michigan so 6 months later (after his army commitment was over) we moved to MI so he could go to college. When we got here, we moved in w/ his parents. Of course, he told me it was only temporary...OK, I can handle that...Although we didn't move out until 6 yrs later, temporary my @$$!...But that's a whole other story. He enrolled into a community college a couple miles from his parents, so that's why we moved in w/ them.

I never really liked his mom at the start...even the very first time we met! I just felt really uncomfortable and uneasy around her. It may be due to the fact that on our first encounter she told me hairstyle reminds her of that pic of My Lil Dutch boy (Paint). My ear had gotten so infected from piercing my cartilage, I had to have surgery to remove the dead cartilage. So I had my hair cut. So I kinda took her comment as an insult, since in her next breath she was saying what a goofy looking kid he is. I didn't confront her tho, kept it to myself. But that is not something you do upon first meeting them.

We moved into their walkout basement and his dad turned it into a mini-apartment (the only thing missing was a kitchen) for us. Chuck went to college, his dad worked, and I was stuck w/ his mom all day. I then started college the next semester...partly because I wanted to finish what I started at KSU, and partly because I wanted to get away from his mom.

I graduated in 1 semester w/ an Associates. During the summer, Chuck transferred to a university and started going there in the fall, as I looked for a job and stayed home w/ his mom for the following year. I was unable to find work w/ just an associates, so I started doing volunteer work at a preschool. I decided to be a preschool teacher and go to the university too.

Labor Day

I didn't want to write until my new chair was here, so I could be more comfy when I wrote. Well, as u prob guessed, I am still waiting! GRRR....starting to piss me off!! Even called 2 wks ago and said it'll be another week. Well I tell u if I still have no chair or even heard from them by the end of the week, I will start calling them EVERYDAY til it's done.

So, how was everyone's Labor Day weekend? Mine was uneventful...except Saturday, chuck went to his works dumping well (for those of u who don't know, Chuck drives a transport truck for liquid...mostly oil...transportation services) and brought me and Bebe along with him. He usually doesn't invite me to tag along, but he did this time. Him and his brother cut down a tree while me and my sis-in-law chatted and walked our dogs. Then Ken invited us for pizza. So Saturday was fun.

So, did everyone watch the telethon yesterday? Chuck and I did. But, I don't know, I just can't seem to get in that same excited mood as I used to feel 5 yrs ago...I thought 1) because I no longer live in Kansas, or 2) because I am kind of upset with MDA for dropping me and leaving me out of things once I turned 21. I may not be a dough eyed, freckle faced little girl anymore, but I'm still alive dammit! And still need your help! The following is from my friend (& fellow camper) Gina's blog. I feel the same way Gina!

It occured to me this morning just how odd life can be.For years Labor Day Week-end meant one thing.Telethon.Now that word Telethon didn't stand for what you think.It didn't really mean... Raise lots of money for Jerry's Kids.Not to me atleast.

Sure,It meant, I'd work my butt off to raise that money to help the best way I could.The difference is the motivation.Telethon meant I got to go to KAKE,Stay up ALL Night,See all of my best camp friends,Relive that one week in the summer when EVERYTHING was perfect.We'd talk about it the whole two months between camp & telethon.Then we'd gather in the studio to watch camp clips, or stories of our friends lives... I'd feel touched.

Now when I watch it as the Adult they pushed away.I watch those same clips without those warm feelings of the previous camp.Instead of warm and touched, I feel sick.Not because I'm not a part of it but, because I can truly see threw it.MDA started out as a good organization but, somewhere along the way...The lost it.Every plea was about a cure.A cure would be great for the future but, What about those of us who already live with it day to day?MDA should remember those who have MD and buyWheelchairs, Ramps, Lifts and other assitive devices intead of focusing soley on Research.

That's only half of my whole rant...The other can be summed up in one word. If you know me you'll understand.MDA needs to lose the PITY plea.Sick...Sick...Sick