More Flooring

Back in time a lil bit....earlier in the kitchen "before"...

...and the marvelous "after"....

Like I said, we weren't done yet ☺ Next was carpeting in the living room...

Another "before"....

...Us girls got right to work, after we had moved out all the furniture, we started to rip up the old carpeting...

...and scraped up all the old paddin'....

...we of course didn't install ☺ Had some help in that department....

...anddddd....*drum roll please* "after" SO so So much better!

...and so soft on your feet! ☺ Hurray for you Beepa!! Enjoy your "new to you" home! ♥

West Coast Visitor and Lots of Labor

Our cousin Charlotte came to visit from wayyy out on the western coast! Been way too long since we had seen her! ♥

She arrived on a crazy busy labor day weekend...she was put right to work...this was the "before" shot of Beepa's kitchen, before the flooring overhaul...

Everyone that helped heave and hoe and move everything after ripping up the floors...

Tada!! "after"...beau-ti-ful! ☺

and we weren't done yet....

While all that was going on, this big ol' piece of machinery was rented and put to good use!

...up, Up and away...

...hauling away what was cut down....

...Charlotte was a 'bucket assistant'...

...so was Kathy (I had enough sense to stay on the ground, me and heights don't get along well)....

...even got Charlotte drivin' the tractor. ☺

Before she left we were able to squeeze in a night by fire after a day of shoppin'! Finally some vaca time, on her vaca. ☺

Miss her already. ♥

Divorce...

...it's isolating, painful, strengthening, mournful, alienating, freeing, bizarre, shameful, mind-controlling, heartbreaking, defeating, victimizing, selfishness, shattering, angering, frustrating, jealousy, panicky, numbing, scary, brave, listless, relieving, humbling, confusing, bitter-sweet...divorce is life changing.

Little Inspirations

"Forgiveness is not the misguided act of condoning irresponsible, hurtful behavior. Nor is it a superficial turning of the other cheek that leaves us feeling victimized and martyred. Rather it is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past."

-Joan Borysenko

"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable ... but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing."

-Agatha Christie

☺ Mixed Emotions ☻

Today was the day, today was court day! Today brought to an end something that started over two years ago when I left my home and my husband for good. Today is the end of a long road of court papers and procedures and alot of waiting. Today I woke up half terrified with overwhelming bouts of anxiety and panic thinking about having to go to court.

Arriving at court on time left us (me and my super supporters!) waiting another half hour to start. Then calendar calls (basically attendance roll calling and seeing if you are ready) Somehow I ended up in the middle of the mix of lawyers. Then after twenty or so minutes of that, I was all of a sudden called! I was the first person. I was shocked, I wanted to see someone else before me so I could know to do all the right stuff. It was kind of a blessing, it left me little time to think...thinking leaves me too much time to make myself even more nervous.

I had to go up to the prosecutors table (microphones everywhere, super intimidating!) all by myself, then was swiftly brought up to the witness stand. I was sworn in, and asked to present my evidence. I pulled out my pre-filled in testimony paper and just talked into the microphone as I read from my little paper. I could hear the fear quivering in my voice. When I was finished, the judge asked for my paperwork and asked me to step down. Back to my little table I went. Did I mention the court room was filled with people from all the cases that day?!

I was hoping and praying that the judge was signing my stuff and got confirmation when he said, "You got your divorce Ms. M...." I received my paperwork from the bailiff and was not even out of the court room before I burst into tears. Tears of happiness, sadness, grief and so much relief. It was over! Just like that, what I have been waiting for, for so long now, was over! I could start my life again! No more Mrs. A...my whole ordeal was over. I feel free again, with so much weight lifted off my shoulders.

A HUGE thank you to all those that have been behind me through all this, I could not have done this alone. Needed all that love and support to help get me here! ♥

Hurricane Irene

Well all the hype is over and the skies have cleared. Hurricane Irene made it here, and I seem to be so far inland that we didn't even get rain! I know it hit the coast very hard, but all we had all day was some winds and cloudy skies, and that would be it! The rest we only saw on TV. ☺

♪ ♫ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On ♫ ♪

Tuesday I was in the craft room paintin' and minding my own business when I heard something from the roof. At first I thought it was a squirrel and the louder it got, for a second I was seriously wondering if someone was up there! Then I realized that the ceiling fans were moving and so was my chair! Everything in the room was rattling. That can't be...an earthquake?? I ran out of the room only to meet my mother at the doorway saying "We are having an earthquake!"

My mom thought at first that I was behind her jumping up and down or making her chair move. Until she turned to catch me in the act and realized, I wasn't there! (I have no idea why she immediately jumped to that conclusion, hehe) She heard the dishes rattling in the cupboards of the kitchen and saw the lights lightly swaying from the ceiling. That was when she realized what was really going on, and ran to get me from the craft room.

It only lasted 30-60 seconds...we were soon on the phone with Beepa, who thought her kitty Becky had somehow climbed into her recliner she was sitting in and was trying to get out! Wasn't Becky moving her seat. ☺ Immediately after we were on facebook where friends and relatives all over the east coast were saying they felt the earthquake too. It took the news a bit of time to catch up with what happened. The phone lines were all jammed and we were having alot of trouble getting ahold of anyone. Letting everyone know that we were just fine. Just a lil' "shaken up".

Later the news reported that it was indeed an earthquake located in VA, and it was a 5.8 or 5.9 depending on who reported it. Once the phones were working again the county even called verifying that our county did indeed experience an earthquake and giving us a number to call to report any kind of damage.

I heard somewheres that we only had a 2.5 here. So no biggie, but I sure don't wanna have that happen again, once was enough for me!

Southern Funny 19

The Southern Salesman

A young guy from Mississippi moves to Florida and goes to a big “everything under one roof” department store looking for a job. The Manager says, “Do you have any sales experience?”

The guy says “Yeah. I was a salesman back in Mississippi”

Well, the boss liked the guy and gave him the job. “You start tomorrow. I’ll come down after we close and see how you did.”

His first day on the job was rough, but he got through it.

After the store was locked up, the boss came down.

“How many customers bought something from you today?

The guy says “One.”

The boss says “Just one? Our sales people average 20 to 30 customers a day. How much was the sale for?”

The guy says “$121,237.65.”

The boss says “$121,237.65? What the hell did you sell?”

The guy says, “First, I sold him a small fish hook.

Then I sold him medium fish hook.

Then I sold him a larger fish hook.

Then I sold him a new fishing rod.

Then I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast, So I told him he was going to need a boat. So we went down to the boat department, and I sold him a twin engine Boston Whaler.

Then he said he didn’t think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that 4 x 4 Expedition.”

The boss said, “A guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a BOAT and a TRUCK?”

The guy said, “No, the guy came in here to buy Tampons for his wife, and I said, “Dude, your weekend’s shot, you should . . . . . . go fishing!!”

Ba-ha-ha! ☺

He's My Favorite

So one of my BIG gifts for turning the BIG 3-0 took a bit to get here. It came all the way from Shanghai!! It was kept super secret, and now I know why...I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!!!!!!

I got a jersey from one of my ALL time favorite players, Tedy Bruschi from the New England Patriots!!!

Pictures don't do it justice...I was shocked at all the embroidery on this thing! I couldn't wait to get it on!

It may seem insignificant to some, but to me, it means alot!! I ♥ it!! Thank you Kathy, Mom & Dad for finding it!!

Best birthday in a long time ☺

30!

Holy guacamole, I am 30!?? How did that happen...ok ok, I know how it happened...I just can't believe I've been around for so long. I hear alot of "30 is the new 20". Course, that's all the 30-somethings saying that, since they don't want to feel old...haha. But really, I was completely dreading moving out of my 20's. Though I have some white hairs to give my age away, I don't really feel like I am 30. I do feel a smidgen wiser, and slightly more mature, but just a teeny bit. ☺

What really brought me around though was what happened on Monday, the car accident changed how I looked at alot of stuff. Stupid squabbles, and ages....when I kept saying "I don't wanna be 30!" I hadn't meant that I wanted to not be around before then! So when Thursday rolled around I was more then happy to have my birthday and become another year older. Wave goodbye to my 20's and all that happened in them. I learned alot, I am more humble and so much more grateful for all that I do have. Though I have gone through struggles and some rough times, things in my life could be so much worse. I am safe, have a roof over my head, I am surrounded by loving family, and have all my immediate needs met. Along with my pets...I am truly blessed. So here is to 30 and all that it brings! I am ready to start anew. ☺

...That's Why They Call Them Accidents

Without trying to sound all dramatic, this past week has been, life changing. A few days ago, Beepa and I were out and about going to places like the bookstore and department stores.

Then while going down the wrong road at the wrong time, we came to an intersection.

We were hit by a large pick-up truck. Eye witnesses said our car spun, and we then hit another car head on. I don't remember all that much, just flashes of what happened, and then us trying to clamor out of the car afterwards. Trying to wrap our heads around what had just happened.

Luckily, and by the grace of God, no one was seriously hurt. The drivers in the other vehicles were just fine, and Beepa and I were able to walk away, with no more then small cuts and bruises on our legs and arms. I received a burn from the airbags and we were certainly feeling the muscle aches and pains the next day. I am SO so thankful that was all that happened. Thank you seat belts, thank you airbags, and most of all Thank you God! I haven't taken what happened lightly. I may have even been beating myself up a little too much, since I was the one driving. But I can say, I have never been so grateful in all my life. I am going to be taking on driving again, very slowly.

Mini Meltdown

I have heard about "how strong I am" for leaving a certain situation. Hearing that just makes me feel like a fraud. I may give off the facade of being brave, it's really just a brave face. It's a mask, because shortly after I am the one crying behind closed doors. All so that no one knows how I am really coping. I do the best that I can, but sometimes I feel like it's not good enough. I feel my role as the eldest, as the example, as the "role model" was botched.

I am about to turn 30 very soon, too soon. I am not dealing with that very well at all. This is not where I wanted to be in my life when I hit that milestone. I keep trying to tell myself this is the point, this is when things will really turn around and I can gain my life back. The way I wanted it. I am thankful for all that I do have, don't think me wrong on that point. But there are just days when all that has happened overwhelms and envelopes me...thankfully they are less frequent. Most days I am okay, others I just fake it 'til I am okay. I can't wait until such a time comes, and they are just ghosts of my past.

My Pup

3 years ago today, I drove to the middle of no-where...after answering an ad on craigslist and some back and forth emails about an adorable 'lil dog.

Toby has literally followed me everyday since then.

Though I will admit, not even a week after getting him I was asking myself "Why, oh, why, did I get a dog?!". Emergency visits to the vet (was one sick pup when I got him), anxious and afraid of everything (he was abused by a previous owner), not housebroken, problematic back legs (was kept in a crate by someone for far too long),

he was shedding like a beast, and had no manners what-so-ever. I felt like I bit off way more then I could chew.

But after lots of vet visits, many many walks to get his legs better, and an abundance of re-training...I don't ask myself why I got him anymore. I love him to pieces. I know he is "just a dog" but they give out the most unconditional love and ask nothing in return. He has been with me through some of my worst stuff. And I feel lucky everyday that I have my lil' shadow ♥

Investigatin'

Toby...trying to figure out if that there is a rock?? or a turtle??

It's another eastern box turtle ☺

Nothing Like Homemade

Fresh out of my mom's garden was a bunch of tomatoes...what to do with so 'em...?? I made homemade salsa, was a first...and I must say, very yummy! ☺