It rained all day

No I'm not really mad, I just love this picture cuz I do occasionally get mad. I am mad at myself cuz I forgot to take my camera with me today. But it rained allllllllllllll day so pictures wouldn't have looked that great anyway - but you might have gotten a chance to see my new "do" (hairdo that is).

We started out with a couple of local errands then after breakfasting at Sonic, we headed to little rock at about 10:30 a.m. We went to the camera store first - which we found without getting lost - imagine that!! When I walked in, I went to the counter with cabinets full of "point & shoot" digital cameras and the man behind the counter (John - the manager) asked if he could help. I explained my situation (that I had an older Sony digital and that I was a total dingbat regarding photography) he asked WHAT I would be taking pictures of, and I told him "my 3 year old grandson". He steered me away from the "point & shoots" and said they were not what I needed. He then showed me a Nikon D60 (for beginners). I asked about the Canon Rebel, he showed that one to me also. I like the Nikon best. Now I just need $450 more and I can buy it :)

After the camera store we went to Kohls and Norman bought me a pair of jeans - they were on sale!! I really needed them as I had just 2 pair that I have been wearing every day and every night. We went to JC Penney to look for socks but they didn't have what I wanted so I guess I will have to go to worlds softest socks dot com and get them online.

On to the movies. We went to the RAVE theater and saw "The Proposal" - a Sandra Bullock chick flick (Norman picked the movie, I wanted to see Transformers). The movie was actually better than I thought it would be. We both enjoyed it. We decided to go back to Hot Springs for Dinner - I gave Norman the chance to pick the place - he didn't so we had dinner at Olive Garden - one of my favorites.

We got home around five thirty-ish, I'm in my (flannel) jammies, under the covers, relaxin. I think I'll take a nap. Catch you next week.

Sleeping like a baby.....

Here he is - the birthday boy. He falls asleep in the car on the way over here, and he just wouldn't wake up. How cute is that. I got home from work and he was sleeping. We made dinner, ate dinner, he was still sleeping. We went outside for smokes, he was still sleeping. Noman went in and woke him up and asked if he wanted to play golf - that got him up. I got him a big ball for his birthday and we played ball in the garage forever. Chris and Nina got him some BIG bubbles so he blew bubbles with Chris in the front yard - that was too cute. We had a very nice evening.

I had a doctors appt this morning (yearly exam) so I was off work on the day job today, I'll be off tomorrow too - getting my hair done - finally. Thursday I'm off on the day job and I took a vacation day on the night job so I'll have a whole day/night off for the first time in 2 months. Norman is taking the day off too and we are going to Little Rock to a camera shop so i can talk to them about what kind of camera I really need - not just want. We are going to the RAVE movie theater too and out to eat. I can't wait.

Last week at the night job, I was in "cards" almost all week and boy did I stuff some envelopes - close to 12,000 of them. On my feet the majority of the night using a million dollar machine that needs to be blown into a million pieces. It was a hard week - my feet hurt.

Nina and Chris are still doing good. Nina is working overtime to help get the bills paid and Chris is the expert at budgeting. Norman is thinking about taking some vacation time and driving to Florida to see his mother and brothers. If he goes, it will probably be the middle of August. He really needs a vacation. That's all I have time for today -gotta enter my coke codes then maybe take a nap before going to work. REGGIE - take care of yourself, do what YOU want to do - we are all thinking of you. Nina Bear, I love you.

Oh no, it's MONDAY :(

Hi everyone, I would say "happy Monday" but we all know that's impossible. What a horribly long week is has been. My back is killing me - don't know for sure why, but it is really hard to move. Nina & Chris moved over the weekend. They are on this side of town now just a couple miles from me. Norman & I went over to check out their apartment yesterday. It is a one bedroom so it is smaller than the one they just left but plenty of room for the two of them and Izzy (my grandpuppy) seems to approve. The apartments are on the lake so me and Nina took a walk down by the water and it was lovely. We all came back to the empty nest for grilled burgers which were wonderful. I know you are all dying to know what's up with this picture............WEEEELLLL, as most of you know, I love to enter sweepstakes. Lately though, I haven't had much time which is such a bummer. Anyway, for some reason, I entered a sweepstakes that was giving away a bottle of nail polish - AND GUESS WHAT - I WON!!!! (so did 399 other people). And since I don't have time to paint my nails, I gave the polish to Nina Bear.

I do try to enter my coke sweepstakes. So many wonderful people at work save their coke, diet coke, sprite, etc caps for me and some of them even bring me the ends of their refrigerator 12 packs (worth 10 points each). Entering the codes is a pain in the butt - but, Norman reads them off to me every Saturday night which is a huge help. I'll be sure to let you know if I win anything from Coke-they have some great prizes.

For those of you that worry about me working myself to death, I have asked for a schedule change and reduced hours for the day job. I asked for the following schedule:
Mon: 9-2
Tue: OFF
Wed: 9-2
Thu: OFF
Fri: 9-2
Sat: 9-5
Sun: 9-5

Two mornings off - wow. Hopefully this schedule will go into effect next week. I cannot handle ten hour nights on the night job and getting off work at 1:30 in the morning then being at the other job at 9:00 in the morning. Last week we worked one night for ten hours and I was wiped out for 3 days. Tonight, I may be in "CARDS" and if I am - it will be a ten hour night YUCK.

OK, gotta go get some other stuff accomplished before heading out = have a good week, try to stay cool, Nina Bear I love you = good luck this week with your new doctor.

The ride is over.....

Now isn't that cute?? This little cutie looks a little like my CiCi Bear - same coloring so I just had to use it. The last couple of weeks have been (another) roller coaster ride and I am truly ready to get off the ride - permanently. I am getting to old to ride roller coasters and I have a feeling if I have to ride this one any more, I may become a casualty. I really need to do some house cleaning as this is the only morning I have off, so the blog time will suffer this week. We are scheduled to work 10 hour nights at the house of horrors this week, thank GOD I am not in book print (although I shouldn't say that, cuz last week I wasn't supposed to be in book print and one night they made me go in there). I know some of you are saying "ENOUGH WITH THE "I HATE BOOK PRINT" - grow up and get over it - it's a job ---- Well too bad, this is MY blog and I can say anything I want - so there.

For those of you wondering about the "roller coaster" - all I can say is Nina and Chris have had some problems (yes that beautiful couple you saw pictures of on this very blog) - Nina's disorder is truly a nightmare and and so very hard for those close to her to deal with. Once again, they are going to try to work things out - and all I can do is wish them the very best.

Let's all hope this week is better than last week.

Monday Blues

It's monday and I'm supposed to blog today but things just aren't going very well in my little world so enjoy this cute picture, try to stay cool in this miserably hot weather and have a great week everyone.

Friends & Family

Sunday at the Empty Nest. I got off work at 5:00 and came home to my little family. I bought Connor a little golf set and since it was SO HOT outside, we decided to play inside by rolling the golf balls up to the "hole". Connor could sit and do this for hours. We had a great dinner-Chris grilled pork chops and we had corn on the cob and mac & cheese. WONDERFUL. I love Sunday evenings with my family. Looks like my "part-time" job's schedule is going to be
Monday: off
Tuesday: 9-2
Wednesday: 9-2
Thursday: 9-2
Friday: 9-2
Saturday: 9-5
Sunday: 9-5
At least this is what it is for the next two weeks. My night job is now OUT OF THE FREEZER for the next 8 weeks - YEAH !!!!!!!!!!

FRIENDS:
You know how you have friends that you see all the time, talk to on the phone, go out and shop with or go out and eat with? Then you have friends that you work with (I just call them my work friends). I don't have any "friend friends" to go out with but I do have some wonderful work friends from my current job and from past jobs. In my last job I was a member of the management team and having "work friends" was not really possible for the most part so it has been a very long time since I have had any "friends" at all. Back in the late 1980's early 1990's I had a super best friend - Katie. Anyway, it is just so awesome to have the "work friends" that I have. Charles and Lydia and Reggie and Miss Terri (Campbell) you are very special people and I am so honored to have you as friends. Darlene, Sandra and Fran are work friends from a past job and they actually still keep in touch with me which just blows my mind. Usually I just lose contact and never see or hear from people again. Paula (Leal) is my Ex husbands wife - she is incredibly special to both me and Nina and we keep in touch via email, blogs and facebook. Some of you know that every night before I go to sleep I say (in my head) every thing and everyone I am grateful for and in addition to my family, I always think of my "friends" too. I am grateful for each and every one of you. For those of you that Pray - Reggie has some health issues and needs your prayers please.

Time to get ready for work - I hope everyone has a great week. Nina call the doctor and make an appointment please - I love you.

Definition of an............

Before I start todays blog, I need to add a disclaimer here - foul language is about to appear and if you can't hang with foul language then don't read todays post - just come back next week. Now for those of us that can handle the bad words, the title of this blog post is "Definition of an ASSHOLE".

Nina's dad (Chris Leal-Orlando Florida) is who I am speaking about. Nina was in Florida in January and had lunch with her dad. There was some discussion about his health and some possible problems. He was going to have some tests, blah blah blah. Nina got in touch with him some time afterwards to see how the tests came out - he said they were going to do more tests. Nina tried several times to find out the results and to see how he was doing - he never responded - until last week.

Nina emailed her dad and asked him if he was terminally ill. His response was = "why, are you looking for insurance money". I took a poll and it was unanimous - He is an asshole and just to be sure I checked the dictionary and looked up "asshole" and lo and behold there was a picture of Chris Leal. (I checked under "jerk" and yep there he was again).

Now for those of you that don't know, Nina has Borderline Personality Disorder (if you don't know what that is, google it) and for her dad to respond to her like this (yes he knows about the disorder) is irresponsible, immature, mean and dangerous.

Ok, enough of that tirade. I worked 35.5 hours at my part time job last week so I'm entitled to be just a tad bit cranky. ONE MORE WEEK IN THE FREEZER (aka book print). I saw SANDRA COOPER at wal-mart a couple weeks ago and SANDRA YOU LOOK FANTASTIC. I am so proud of you. She has lost lots of weight and could probably wear my jeans now. :) Charles - welcome to row 1 and row A (aka the Geriatric row) It will be so nice to have you close by again.

Ok, gotta go as today is the only "day" I have off, gotta do laundry, empty the dishwasher, make lunch for tonight, swiffer the floors, etc etc. I wish every one a great week. Nina Bear, I love you.