Welcome 2006

Let this be the year of changes:

Positive changes.Spiritually, emotionally, physically.

Time to "get it all together".

To stop worrying about what everyone thinks.

No wasting time on people who are say they are your friend but really aren't.

To be able to recognize who the true friends really are.

Time to lose weight and get in better health.

Let's worry about ourselves and stop passing judgment on everyone else.

Smooth sailing, sort of

Words cannot express how much my family enjoyed being able to have Thanksgiving dinner split up instead of going through gastrointestinal torture as we have in years past. If only we can talk the parents into doing it next year!

I know, I should stop going on so much about it but those of you that have had to make appearances at two places on the same day every year know what I'm talking about.

Another plus this year: I did not have to go to Wal-mart for the big 5 to 11 sale but still got what I wanted anyway. My brother-in-law was going and got the stuff for me. Can you say HUGE sigh of relief?! Although Wallyworld did get me back that day in the form or really CRAPPY service. I had made an appointment to get David's picture taken 3:00 on Friday.

That was the earliest the girl could schedule him in. We get there at 2:40 and a sign is there saying worker is at lunch, will be back at 3:00. There is a family of four sitting there saying they were waiting for pics too. Okay, possibly they were scheduled before us. Could have been delayed.

The worker gets back at 3 and tells me the family is only taking one group shot, it won't be long. Whatever! They went through everything short of throwing the family dog in for a few shots. Meantime, David is dressed up and getting very impatient. The worker doesn't even get to David until 3:45. Says she is sorry, the family had to wait for 3-4 hours to get their pics done and that they lied to her about the one pic thing.

I ask why did they have to wait if they had an appt.? She said "Oh, they didn't have one. I promised them I would go ahead and squeeze them in." Over my appt. Thanks a lot jerk. This made me so mad. The whole time I thought those people had an appt.

On top of that by the time David got on the table he was grouchy and wanted to get out of there. The standard is usually 8 poses I think but we could only get four that were worth saving. Most of the time was spent with David giving the worker quite a bit of attitude and putting his finger in her face telling her no. I got onto him for the way he was acting but inside I felt like the worker deserved it.

Finally when we looked at the poses to choose for the package(like there were so many!) she said the only thing she could do for me to compensate was ask me to put down $15 on the package instead of the usual 50% down. What a deal! When I got home, noticed there was a number for customer service on the bottom so I called them. Told the lady my situation and said she would let the regional manager know. In the meantime they will be mailing coupons for a free sitting and free package(I think it's the $40 package.

By the way, my sister in law went as a walk-in today to get her kids pics done and the worker told her she had to put the appts. first. Then she would get to her a.s.a.p. , which she did. She should have done that in the first place, don't you think?

The Holidays are almost upon us . . .

For some of you that's a good thing, others bad. For me that usually means a LOT of indigestion from going to two different houses but not this year!

My family is having Thanksgiving this weekend mostly because some family members can't be around next week. Believe me, Paul and I are both thankful for that. The food is good but when make yourself sick that is NOT good.

You know that everyone worked hard getting their meals ready and you can't just not eat anything. Especially if these people are mother and mother-in-law. So we would go to my parents place, try to eat enough to not offend anyone but still save some room for in-law's house.

Then we would go home and pass out. I am hoping maybe to talk my family into doing this again next year. It would work so well for those of us that have two places to go.

We're back in Kansas, Dorothy . . .

We got back from New Mexico Oct. 30. The time we were there just flew by which usually happens when on vacation. It was very hard to get back into the old routine of work and all the humdrum stuff.

The kids had a lot of fun, being Halloween week and all. We took them to a kid's party at my sister-in-law's work, the zoo and the pumpkin patch. Everyone had to go through a corn maze to get to the pumpkins and after that went on a hayride that took us back to where we started.

There are lots of pictures from this trip but have no idea when we can develop them all. I used to be on top of that kind of thing but now that I have a 2yr old...well you know how that goes. Most of my time is now being spent keeping up with him. I am surprised to be able to post at all!

New Mexico

It looks as though my family we will taking a trip to Albuquerque this Tuesday before my husband starts his new job Nov. 3. It has been quite awhile since we have been anywhere. (For me anyway. Can't say the same for Paul.)

Paul's sister and family live there. We have a trip to the pumpkin patch planned and a trip to the zoo for the kids. David will go with his cousin and aunt to the Halloween party where aunt works with pre-schoolers. He will have fun.

Paul and I will get a chance to go to the movies or eat somewhere while they are at the party for a few hours. Funny, now that David's here I wonder why we could not get more things done when we were childless. Compared to now it feels like we had all the time in the world.

We will be taking a lot of pictures I'm sure. It will be added to the collection we have now on the pc that hasn't been printed yet. I swear, I think it was easier to take film rolls to Wal-mart and just let them do the work. Didn't have to worry about being able to afford the ink or having enough paper.

Yes there are benefits to the digital like seeing the picture you just took and if it was a bad one it can just be deleted but still . .

It's an idea. I may just get out my camera and get some cheap Fuji film. Yes, in my opinion it works as well as Kodak gold and all the other higher dollar the store gets you to spend money on. I used to buy only Kodak and someone happened to buy the other for me and now I wonder how I could have spent the extra money.Oh well live and learn.

Queasy . . .

I am up late. Unusual for me but I don't feel so good. At Wal-mart today ran into a friend from work and she wanted to eat lunch. We went to Golden Corral, maybe that could be the cause? Either way I am sure extra stress couldn't have helpedeither.

Hope my husband is having fun. He is out of town with a friend.

Just love those guilt trips

After getting home from work yesterday there was a message from my mother. So I returned her call thinking that she just wanted to talk when what she really called for was to take me on a (imagine the Psycho music in the background) GUILT TRIP! Had she given some advance notice I could have at least packed a bag or two.

Anyway she starts off with some innocent enough small talk. Then launches into the "why haven't you guys come out to see us lately? I bet you go to see HIS parents all the time. We are feeling like step-children." I wanted to say that's how I feel they are when certain siblings are around but resist that urge. Being the oldest of three it is expected that I always be the bigger person.

A family situation came up a few years ago that was not my fault and I thought the other person should make the first move because my family was upset too, not just me. To make a long story short my mother would not let it go until I went to the offending party and "broke the ice." She told me I did a good thing but it didn't make me feel any better. And where is this relationship now? No better than it was before. Actually in my opinion more distant than ever.

But you can't make someone care or want to be around you even if it is family, right? The other person has to want to see you at times other than holidays or when they need something from you. My mother lets this person get away with just about everything but for some reason always feels the need to call ME on the carpet for whatever happens to come up.

Okay, that's enough complaining. I just had to vent.