Monday, January 30, 2012

Perfect

A daily reminder must for me since even the slightest thing goes wrong or I feel like what I had done was inadequate, I flounder and get flustered and loose track of everything else while I wallow on what I didn't do.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Some Wonderful Ideas!




Clever ideas: hull strawberries with a straw 
Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarrantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw)..
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Clever ideas: use a walnut to heal furniture scratches  
Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.
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Clever ideas: WD40 for cleaning crayon off TV screens 
Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).
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Clever ideas: keep a cut apple from going brown 
Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.
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Clever ideas: store bedlinen sets inside their pillowcases
Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
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Clever ideas: bowl as iPhone sound amplifier 
Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.
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Placing SOS pads in the freezer between uses will prevent rusting.


PCleaver ideas: wet wipe dispenser as plastic bag storage 
Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
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Clever ideas: baby powder to remove sand from feet 
Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!
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Clever ideas: velcro strip on wall to hold soft toys 
Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
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Clever ideas: gift wrap storage on cupboard ceiling 
Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.
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Clever idea: stocking over vacuum to pick up lost items 
Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.
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Clever idea: box lid cupcake holder 
Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
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Clever idea: how to fold a fitted sheet 
For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.
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Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door
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Clever idea: use shower caps to hold shoes when packing 
A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!
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Clever idea: muffin pan craft storage 
A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.
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Clever idea: bread tags as cable labels 
Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
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Clever idea: cook cupcakes in ice cream cones 
Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this!
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Clever idea: microwave your own popcorn in a plain paper bag 
Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
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Clever idea: use a tension rod to hang spray bottles 
Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!
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Clever idea: how to make heart-shaped eggs 
Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!
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Clever idea: use upside-down muffic pan to make cookie bowls 
Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.
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Clever idea: freeze aloe vera lotion for soothing burns 
Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.
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Clever idea: gutter veggie garden 
Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering..
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Clever idea: egg cartons for Christmas ornament storage 
Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.


 

Coffee with Jesus


Monday, January 23, 2012

It's been two years...

You died two years ago today.  We weren't even speaking when it happened because of the fight we got into 2 days before.  I really didn't believe your sister when she was screaming into the phone at me.  All I could do was look at our daughter and wonder what the hell I was going to tell her when she started asking.  It wouldn't be for years since she wasn't even two months old yet.  I know you can see how big she's getting and all that she does, including trying my patience with a smile the way you use to.  We had so many plans.  I wonder sometimes if any of it could have happened if really had let go of all your demons, or if this was the way it was suppose to be.  The only thing I'm asking is that you make sure she can hear you at night when you know she's in the process of making the wrong decision.  She needs to know someone is always looking out for her.  That's what dads are suppose to do.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

I might like you better if we slept together...

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

I received this in an email from my Aunt Erika who I happen to hold in the highest regards.

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.  All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Dancing



I miss dancing in nothing but the moonlight and the stars illuminating each step I take to the beats pouring from the speakers.  I use to do this a lot.  I haven't done this outside of sleep in too many years.  They say youth is wasted on the young.  Mine was not wasted.  It was filled to the brim and poured over every once in a while.  At least, this is what my memory says.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Jimmy Castor Bunch It's Just Begun

I need a little old school today.


Sometimes...


...I feel like I'm at the edge, looking down at all that is.  Sometimes, I'm hanging on for dear life trying not to plunge over the side.  Other times, I'm merely glancing at all the going-ons in wonderment.  And yet, there are times I'm simply lost in a daydream not even aware of the world around me.  Those are my favorite moments.

Monday, January 9, 2012

I wish everyone could have a big brother like this.


Dear Customer Who Stuck Up For His Little Brother



You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.
Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.
The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.
That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."
They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.


This piece was originally published on Kristen's blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Such a wise woman!


That's like what I've been saying all these years - I only run when I know my life is in danger.

Monday, January 2, 2012

I like what if's


Bus Driver

Bus Driver - "You can't drink that coffee on the bus."

Me - "I've almost always have coffee in the morning on the bus and none of the drivers have ever said otherwise."

Bus Driver - "The sign clearly says no food or drink on the bus."

Me - "How about I put it in the bag and hold it on my lap until I get to my stop?"

Bus Driver - "You can't bring food or drinks on the bus."

Me - "So, you're telling me if I had to go grocery shopping and had to take the bus, I couldn't bring that food and drinks on the bus because the sign clearly states that there is no food or drinks allowed on the bus?"

Bus Driver - "......."

Me - "That's what I thought."

Small triumphs of wit make me feel better about my day.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

...

"It's a great job", she says. 

"Don't do anything to get fired," she says. 

"You've got a good thing there, so don't  screw it up for yourself," she says. 

I do everything I possibly can to step up at work, help out when needed, do what I need to do.  The oldest is in school, set up a bus to take her there and back and afterschool program.  The baby's day care I've had since she was 3 months old.  Yet, I have to go back to work tomorrow, found out yesterday that the schools and day care are closed and when I originally asked yesterday if she could watch them and I would leave early, she said yes.  Now, 15 minutes ago, I'm being told she can't watch them because she thought I said I wasn't going to go in.  How can I not go in on a first day back from a 2 week break?  I have no else to help me yet I'm always expected to drop and help everyone.  I don't know what to do.  What a way to start off the new year...