Christmas Past

The other day my mom and I went on a trip down memory lane. It was a nice little trip with plenty of good memories... So sit back and come with me down the road to Christmas past.....
My fondest Christmas memories are of Christmas Eve.......
One of my most memorable Christmas's was when I was around 6 or 7. I was just learning to read and I remember Grandpa T. placing his HUGE Bible into my lap (Hey, I was only 6 or 7 EVERYTHING was huge back then). I remember I couldn't read the big words, so grandma would quietly tell me what they were, and I'd say them out loud as though I really did know them all along.

Then of course the time that Aaron, Carrie, Jeremy, and I all took turns reading the Christmas story. One would read a verse or two and pass it on down the line. I don't know about other family members, but I found being picked to read the Christmas story to be a great honor. To see grandpa looking quickly around to see who he'd pick, and I'd always be hoping it would be me. Then again, it would be selfish if I read it every year. The honor should've and was passed equally around.

Then the presents..... Oh the presents. I could always count on Aunt Ida giving me a new dress. She always gave me such pretty dresses... Then there was the year of the "mixed up Christmas gift." Grandma T gave Carrie and I "My Little Pony's". HOWEVER she accidentally switched them, and I remember when we switched back Carrie said "But that's the one I really wanted." I felt HORRIBLE about that. Carrie, I would have traded you, but I was so afraid of hurting Grandma's feelings. Now that I'm grown, I realize she wouldn't have minded if we had switched back. At the time, I just didn't want to see her hurt. But I always had felt bad about that. Still do in a way.

Then there's the "missing baby Jesus" memory. Ashley was 20 months old. She had been sick with a fever her first Christmas, and so her first Christmas Eve was actually her second Christmas. She was an adorable girl who had a dreadful pacifier addiction. Anyway, Grandma and Grandpa T. had a good size, plastic, lit up nativity scene inside their house. It was just Mary, Joseph, and a "detachable" baby Jesus. Once Ashley realized that Baby Jesus could be taken out of the manager, she held onto it for dear life. When we would try to take it away, she'd cry and scream. If I'm not mistaken there's a picture in Grandma's hallway of Ashley sitting on someone's lap (Mine? mom's?) sucking on her pacifier, and holding baby Jesus. It was like pulling teeth to get it away from her.

Then there's a few memories that aren't Christmas Eve related.....
We moved when I was 10. We had just gotten our new house, and wasn't even moved in yet. The only thing in the house was our Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve. Mom, Dad, Aaron, and I all slept in sleeping bags on the dining room floor.

That was the same year that the cabbage patch dolls came out, and I wanted one. I remember seeing on TV people fighting over them. I remember clearly a man on TV holding two dolls saying "I got two of them, I got two of them." I turned to mom and said "That's kind of selfish don't you think? He should only take one, and give the other to another dad that wants one for his little girl."
I wanted one so badly, but I knew there was NO WAY I'd get one. My dad JUST got back to work after being laid off for four years, and money was still tight. We went over to Grandma and Grandpa M's for Christmas day. When it came time to open presents, there was a big gift for me from my Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Rick. It was a Cabbage Patch doll. I don't think I've EVER hugged anyone so much in my life. I was truly a very happy girl.

There are so many memories, but these are just the one's that stick out..... If you need something to warm your heart, or to put you in the Christmas mood, here you go..........

A couple years ago, my Aunt Rebecca took her granddaughter Chelsea (Who was about 7 or 8 at the time) to see Santa. Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas.
Chelsea said "I want everyone in the world that doesn't have a good job to get a good job. And I want everybody in the world that doesn't have enough food, to get enough food."
Santa said: "That's nice but what do YOU want?"
She said: "I want everyone that has to live on the cold streets to have a nice warm bed and a warm house to live in."
Santa: That's wonderful, but what do YOU want?
Chelsea thought for a min, and said: There's a little girl in my class that's poor. Her clothes are old, and she doesn't have a coat. She shivers when she walks into our classroom. I want you to bring her a new coat and some warm clothes, so she won't be cold anymore.
She then climbed off his lap, and Santa called her back. He gave her a HUGE hug and said "God bless you Chelsea." She was so happy that she went running to Rebecca and said "Santa hugged me and said "God Bless you, isn't that the neatest?"

Putt putt, Chuck E Cheese, and one EXHAUSTED teacher OH MY!!!

I wanted to do something special for my Sunday school class for Christmas. Since I only have two kids ages 10 and 11, I thought they were old enough to enjoy a "field trip."
I had planned this trip a month ago, and kept my fingers crossed that I would not be forced to work the planned Sat. Since I knew the ladies of L.I.F.T. (Ladies In Fellowship Together) group from my church was planning a Christmas Party at a local resteraunt this evening, I thought it would just be easier to throw in a Sunday School party the morning of the party. I figured it would be easier to get one Sat off than to try to get two.....
So..... Rewind to yesterday (Friday). I worked a 12 hour shift, and halfway through my shift I was really craving homemade chili. (Chris gave me a great SPICY chili recipe. Can't wait to try it).. SO... After work (mind you I'd been up since 9 AM, which is extremely early for me and pulled a 12 hour shift to boot.) I headed to Walmart and bought the "fixins" to make chili. Amongst other things..... Didn't leave Walmart until a quarter after 1 AM, and FINALLY went to bed at 5 AM. (Forgot I had laundry to dry, and I don't sleep with a dryer on. I also had to wrap some gifts for my SS kids.)
I had told the kids we would leave the church at 10 AM. So, I dragged myself out of bed at 9 AM, left at 9:30 and both kids were waiting for me at the church.
We got to this indoor, glow in the dark putt putt at 10:30, was supposed to open at 10, but the employee didn't show up until 11. Not only that but this other family was already there, and had reservations for a birthday party at 10. To say they weren't very happy was a gross understatement.

She finally opened the doors to let us in, and I found out that this putt putt place is AMAZING!!!! If you have kids, do yourself a favor and take them. It's very reasonable.... $6 for kids 12 and under, and $8 for adults, and you can get glow in the dark necklaces for the whole group for only a buck. It's in the old Lazurus store in the Markland mall. When you walk in it looks VERY small, and I honestly thought that there were MAYBE 9 holes. However after about the fifth hole, you turn the corner, and go behind the wall, and you'll discover it seems to go on forever. There's 40 holes of endless golfing (we counted). Okay so there's no windmills, nor fountains, and there's not even any water, but hey, EVERYTHING glows in the dark. The only lights in this place are the black lights, so if you go wear white. It's awesome. It's really amazing....
We started playing at 11, and we didn't finish until noon. After "golfing" we headed over to Chuck E Cheese, which one of my kids had never been there before. We spent about 2 hours eating and playing games.. Well.... so they played games, I just carried on an interesting one sided conversation with Chuck the mouse.... Yeah, I was a little bored. LOL.

I got the kids home around 2:30, went home, grabbed a 40 min nap and went out to eat with the LIFT group and their spouses.
To say I'm about to drop is putting it lightly. I do know I AM going to bed early tonight. Might throw the ingrediants for chili in my crockpot before church in the morning....MIGHT be done by the time I get home...

My Christmas parties are finished for the year, and I can concentrate on family.

Christmas trees more the merrier?????

Growing up our tradition was that Christmas decorations didn't go up until the first weekend of December. Well, with the weather being so warm last weekend, I put up my outside lights. It's not much just 3 strands outlining my front porch. My tree will be put up this weekend sometime.

I USED to have a 6 and a half foot tree, but I found stringing the lights such a hassle that I downgraded to a 4 foot PRELIT tree last year. It only takes about 2 mins. to put it up. Just snap the two parts together and put it in the stand. I can have the whole tree up and decorated in less than 10 mins.


I went into work four hours early yesterday, and started talking to a lady about Christmas and Christmas trees. She goes all out for Christmas. When I asked her how many Christmas trees she had in her house, her answer about knocked me over..... She has 13.

She has a tree for each of her 13 grandkids. They come over one or two at a time and help put up and decorate their own tree. She told me that each tree matches the personality of that grandkid. For example one grandson is into race cars, so his tree is NASCAR covered, one granddaughter is into princesses, so her tree has a princess theme. Her youngest is into Sesame Street, so there's a SS tree for her. Her oldest grandkid is 21 and her youngest are 2 year old twins. She's done this every year since the oldest was born. When they are born they get a small 2 foot tree, as they get older and add more and more to their tree, they get to "Upgrade" to a bigger tree every 5 years.

Also in Dec. she has all the females in her family come over for a baking fest. They bake TONS of cookies, pies, and goodies. She said they ALL help.... From the youngest to the oldest.. She told me that she started that when her daughters were little, and now it's grown to include all the granddaughters..... Including her 2 year old granddaughter.

All I can think is, she must have a lot of patience to have the 2 year old to help, and to have that many people in her kitchen.

Helping the less fortunate.......

Please don't think I'm bragging, because that's not my intentions at all... I just had the opportunity to help a poor, extremely under employed young man that normally wouldn't have been able to afford Christmas for his family. I just HAD to help him out, since I always try to help the less fortunate. So .....I took Austin Christmas shopping this weekend....

It brought back so many happy memories of our Friday night shopping sprees... When he was little he would call my cell phone while I was at work, or mom would give me a letter he'd written BEGGING me to take him to Walmart or Meijer Friday night. Being the adorable kid he is, I'd always take him. He would wait up for me to get home from work, and we'd go shopping at midnight. We had a routine. He'd run to the milk section, grab a small container of eggnog (around Christmas) or banana milk,(Which by the way is just as gross as it sounds. This is the same kid that would go through a whole gallon of milk a day if mom would let him.) and he'd drink it while we were shopping. If he was hungry, he'd find something open it up and start eating. It was okay since he always asked, and of course I ALWAYS paid for them. It's funny the clerk would ring up empty things and ask "Do you want to keep these?" That always struck me funny. We normally just went grocery shopping, but more times than not, he'd walk out with a new toy.

He would always fall asleep on the way home, and we'd finally arrive home around 3 am.

I love that kid.... Yes Ashley, I love you too.

Flu Shots and other yucky things....

I had been trying to find cheap flu shots. They were giving them away at work for free, but when I went to get one, they had already packed up and left. So, I found out that some community center was giving them away for $25 each, which is cheaper than the $30-35 I have been seeing. My mom had already gotten hers the day before, and she asked if I wanted her to go with me. Since I didn't know where it was, I agreed.

So, I filled out the paper work, rolled up my sleeve, and turned my head away. If I look, I pass out. I was feeling dizzy and lightheaded, but passed it off as "just in my head". Since this was my first flu shot EVER, the nurse wanted me to stick around for 15 mins, to make sure there wasn't any allergic reactions.

I realized something about myself today...... When it comes to shots/needles, I discovered that I hold my breath. Which would explain the lightheaded, dizziness I was feeling. My mom was a lifesaver though, she pulled out a notebook and we played SEVERAL games of tic tac toe. (By the way she's a wiz at it.) Which got my mind off my feeling "faint", and in no time I was feeling like my old self.

We did stop at McDonalds afterwards. I laughed and said I felt like a little kid being rewarded for being a "big girl".

Then another thought hit me.... I just paid $25 dollars to let them poke me with a needle.... I'm sure I have siblings that would be willing to do that for FREE! Then again, if one of my sibs gave me a shot it would hurt more than just that little poke. It would feel more like a stab. Maybe paying isn't so bad after all.

Copyright police....... They are watching...

Last Feb. I one of my blog posts was about my favorite picture.... "The Touch". In my blog I mentioned that due to copyright laws I couldn't post a copy of the picture on my blog....
So, imagine my surprise when I received the following email recently.............

Subject: Your Feb 2006 blog post
Angela,

Recently I stumbled on a post on your blog: http://angelaslifeorthelackofone.blogspot.com/2006/02/old-answer-to-prayer.html .

In it you mentioned your inability to find a website that would let you display Ron DiCianni's The Touch. First, we appreciation your restraint and your respect of the artist's copyright for this image. The good news is that we here at Tapestry are Ron's agents and would be pleased to give you permission to include the image in your post if you are still interested.

Please let me know and I will get you the appropriate links and permissions. -gjd


Grant DiCianniVice President


This person had also included a phone number and email address, which due to personal information, I didn't post on here.

So, word to the wise... Watch your copyrighted material, you never know who's reading... Infringing copyright laws can be very costly..... So, be careful what pictures you are using.

Christmas Season Has Officially Started..

Even though I have ALMOST all my shopping finished (only 4 people to go), the Christmas season didn't officially start until Today (Thursday).
Every year the local radio station has a "trim a tree" auction... Different businesses, churches, and schools decorate Christmas trees.. There are close to 50 trees with 50 different themes. The trees and wreathes are displayed in the local mall for 2 weeks. On November 11? 12? All the trees and wreathes will be auctioned off. the winners not only win the trees, but also whatever is under the tree. For example "Texas Roadhouse" has a tree this year, you not only win the tree, but also all the gift certificates that are under the tree...

The money goes to several nonprofit charities... I know the Salvation Army and the Rescue Mission are only 2 of the charities that the money goes to..

Every year my mom and I go look at the trees. We always go during the week before I go to work. We always admire each tree and pick something that's really neat or really unusual. (The chains of glued peanuts on the Texas Roadhouse tree did make an unsual, but very fitting garland.) There were a few trees that brought tears to my eyes. One was a red, white, and blue tree with pictures of every Indiana soldier that has lost their lives in Iraq.

After looking at the trees, we went to the radio station store in the mall (which is only open until the tree auction) we bought some Doo Dahs (Which are chocolate covered carmel corn) and a couple Christmas cds. The artists are all local people and churches. Really neat.

After leaving the mall, we popped in the cd and listened to it all the way home. I am now in the Christmas mood. :)

A Flattering but Overwhelming Offer.......

Last night as I was leaving work my friend Dave stopped me. Dave is our fill-in Union steward. When our normal one isn't there Dave steps in, and he's really good. I told him that he needs to run sometime for a full time stewardship. Anyway, he was telling me that a lot of people on second shift has been complaining that we don't have a second shift chaplin. There's one on the two other shifts but ours. Dave, being the person he is, brought up my name. He then asked me if I'd be interested. I know IF I do this, I would be an "intern" until they think I can handle it on my own, and I'd be on the chaplin commitee. I told him that I have to pray about it, and he said "See? You just proved that you'd be perfect for it." I am still overwhelmed by this idea. I'm not a preacher, nor am I Bible College graduate.I'm just a quite, partly shy, backward, 32 year old 4,5, and 6th grade Sunday school teacher. I'm praying for guidence and wisdom in this situation...

Scared little girls turn into Brave Women...

My friend Lois and I realized the other day that we had some of the same fears as kids. The only difference is she was the youngest and her older brother and sisters were always scaring her.
She said that every night she'd go to her room and her brother would say "Watch out for the green eye." Even though she had NO idea what that was, it always scared her.

Even though I didn't have that fear,I did discover that we both were the champs at long jumps. I found out that she (like myself) would turn off the light and jump as far as she could to the bed. Why you ask? Because we KNEW there was something under our beds that would grab our ankles and drag us under the bed if we were caught. Once I did miss the bed and fell straight to the floor beside my bed. I thought for sure I was a goner, but I guess the under-the-bed-monster was off duty that night.

She was also scared of skeletons. She was so scared, that her parents bought her a little, tiny, plastic movable one that she slept with every night. She even named it, I THINK she said it's name was Scaley. But something sad happened to poor "scaley?" She thought he was cold one night, so she put him on top of her lamp. In the morning it was just a melted plastic pile.

It's so hard to believe that this person that was terrified of skeletons, green eyes, and things under the bed..... Grew up, joined the Air Force, and served in Desert Storm. Her job was to identify body parts after battles. She would go to the field, and when she found a body part, she'd put a flag by it, then someone else coming behind would know where the pieces were and put each piece in individual body bags. She told me that you NEVER stand there and try to figure out what body part it was. "You don't stand there and think 'that's an arm, or that's a leg' You just stick your flag in the ground, and move on to the next part. You don't waste time thinking about what you're really doing. If you did, you'd need counseling."

Her 7 (now 8) year old son, Philip, asked "Mommy why are you retarded?" She said "What do you mean?" "Why are you retarded from the Air Force?" Last April, Lois retired from the Air Force. So, now we refer to her as being retarded. Lois, you're my hero, and I salute you!!!!!!!!!


With Veterans day coming up, do me a favor and thank a veteran.

Great friends....

I have a friend, Lois ('Ello Captain!)who I work with and is my best friend.

We text each other ALL the time at work. One day I had over 80 text mess. from her and vice versa... Thankfully we both have the same service provider so all texts are FREE!!!!! Lately we've been on this pirate kick. We be textin' tryin' ta sound like pirates all day.. AARR matey. (By the way I can type/write piratey better than I can speak it.) I gave her the nickname Captain, and she gave me the nickname Poppet. (Okay family keep that in mind when we play Curses.... I am getting pretty good at piratey talk. ;)

Talking about pirates...One day I was trying to text Lois, and my mind was on pirate talk... My boss walks up and asks if skilled trades was working on my machine. Keep in mind that my brain was in pirate mode... I look up and said "Aye Captain.... AAAARRR." He looked at me VERY strangely and walked away. I was laughing so hard that of course I had to text Lois and tell her what I did, which she found funny as well.

A couple weeks ago we went plunderin' Starbucks after work, and didn't leave until close to 3AM. Gotta love 24 hour Starbucks. We were the only ones in there and the guy working there gave us free drinks.. That's how I got hooked on the Spiced Pumpkin Lattes.

She's always been there for me. After Grandpa T died, she called me to make sure I was ok.... I was at work when Grandpa M died, and she was right there letting me cry on her shoulder... Wonderful friend to have around.....By the way her birthday is.......... July 7.... So every year we do something to CELEBRATE...

Now skip to my other friend, Dave. He's Lois's boyfriend.... When my ex boyfriend, whom I don't speak of....(Aunt Carol knows who I'm talking about.)backed out of taking me to my 10 year class reunion, Dave is the one that spoke up and said "I'll go." Lois said "There you go. Go with Dave." I was shocked. I kept asking her if she was sure, and she said "Of course." Later when Dave wasn't around, I asked "Are you positive that you're okay with me going with Dave? If you're the least bit upset about it I won't go." She said "If you were anyone else, I'd be mad, but I know what kind of person you are and I know you're not out to "steal" Dave." So, I went to my reunion with Dave.

Okay so fast forward to last week...... The Monday after my birthday, Lois took me out for lunch before work (She gave me a book about pirates I thought I was very funny.) On the way to work I got to a stop sign and heard a loud Thud and then grinding noise. It sounded like the whole back end of my jeep fell off.

I made it to work, and told Lois about it. She told Dave, who in turn told me about this guy that fixes brakes at a really cheap price. Here's the problem, I wasn't going to have the money until the next (this) week. So, Lois took me to this guy's house, dropped off my jeep, drove me ALL the way home, and was willing to pick me up for work the next day. (I borrowed my mom's car. No reason for her to pick me up for work then take me home. That was too much.)

She drove me home (By the way does anyone know the words to the Silly songs with Larry about the caribou? We've tried our best to think of the tune. If I had the words I would know the tune.)

The next day I called the brake guy up (Dave gave me the number) and asked how much it was going to cost....... ALL 4 of my brakes were down to the metal and the brake cable in the back broke off... Was told that was the thud I heard, and it's a wonder I had any type of braking at all. So, I'm thinking ok this is going to cost a lot of money..... The guy said "Dave took care of it."

So, I picked my jeep up with a heartfelt gratitude for having such great friends..... So, I told Dave that I needed to know how much it was so I could pay him back.... He said it was $175. So, I was thinking $175 a brake, but no that's for the whole thing.... (I called the guy and asked. I don't want to cheat my friends.)

So now I have great brakes and WONDERFUL friends.....

A Day of nice surprises......

Friday night as I was driving home from work my cell rang, which in itself is quite surprising since hardly anyone calls my cell. So, I answered and it was no other than my wonderful, charming, and delightful little sister. No, I'm not sucking up either... I really mean that.

We talked for a few mins when I asked "Where are you?" (She's usually on her way somewhere when she calls me...Baskin Robbins, the mall, Walmart... You get the picture) Imagine my surprise when she said "Home". So I thought ok, she's at her dorm. "No, at home...in my room. I came home for the weekend".... So we talked for what an hour? She told me that Aaron and Chris invited the family over for dinner Sat. night....

Okay, here's the thing about that...... I VOLUNTEERED to work Sat.... Ashley, my dear sweet sister (being sarcastic now) decided to tell NO ONE but Aaron and Chris that she was coming home this weekend....

Now, skip to Sat. around noon.... Ashley and I decided to go out for lunch, and we were on our way when my cell phone rings.... It was Aaron, who by the way NEVER calls me, it's always Chris that calls.... He invited me over for dinner HIMSELF.... I told him that I had to work, and he told me to "get out of it" and that I "NEED to be there." Then he hung up and called Ashley asking if she thought he convinced me...

So, I was caught in a dilemma...... Go to work like a "loyal" employee or forget work and spend time with Ashley and the rest of the family...... I normally leave for work at 2:12, and there it was 2:10 and I was still trying to decide.... Finally I said "Ashley would you like to take a small walk with me?" We sat out in my jeep, and I called in and told them I couldn't make it in..... Yes, I, Angela Dawn M., played hooky from work.....

After I hung up, my wonderful (not being sarcastic here) sister and I went to the mall.. Which was fun.... Okay, waiting for Ashley to try on a million things at Old Navy, (well maybe it was more like 10)wasn't too fun, but spending time with her was.... Afterwards we went over to Aaron and Chris's.....

We got there the same time mom and dad showed up.... We went in and Chris said "We have surprises for you..... Her dining room looked like it was ready for a kid's Birthday party.... Each seat had a balloon tied to it, and each setting had birthday plates, cups, and party favors.... Also at each place was a gift.... Aaron and Chris bought gifts for the whole family. They said that since they can never remember anyone's birthday they decided to have a big party for everyone.... There was a birthday cake and ice cream..... I've never seen so many names on a cake in my life..... Everyone's name was on it.... It was great...

After mom and dad left, Chris cut mine and Ashley's hair and waxed our eyebrows.... The waxing wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be, and I LOVE my haircut....

Let's just say I don't regret not going to work.

Katrina Rescue Story for Animal lovers...

I stumbled across this website and had to share it.. It's really something...

http://www.classicalliance.net/katrinastory/katrinastory.html

My Christmas "wishlist"......

Okay, so I was asked for my list. I was thinking why send this list to several people when I can put it one place and let EVERYONE see it..... So here it is.............
My Christmas List.....(just in case you care)

Books I want......................
Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado (Has a really neat cover I think)

slow cooker/crockpot cookbook(s)

By Wanda E Brunstetter
( I have the first book in the Brides of Lancaster County series.)
Looking for a Miracle, Brides of Lancaster County Series #2
Plain & Fancy, Brides of Lancaster County Series #3
The Hope Chest, Brides of Lancaster County Series #4.
Allison's Journey
Holiday Hope written with DiAnn Mills
Patchwork Holiday written with Renee DeMarco and DiAnn Mills
Kelly's Chance

DVDs I want

Love's Abiding Joy (will be released on 12/19)
ANY of the Victor Borge dvds.

Also, feel free to browse my Amazon wishlist.
Now, if you're thinking on gift cards.........
I also am a frequent Starbucks drinker, Walmart, Simon Mall AND now Meijer shopper, and a Steak N Shake milkshake sundae eater. LOL.


Word to the wise...... Since I'm giving this same list to EVERYONE (M. side of the family don't exchange gifts anymore) you might want to keep the lines of communication open and "discuss" it with each other.... Don't want the "embarrassment" of two people giving the same thing... Right?

Something to make you smile or even laugh....

I read this and found it very funny. Enjoy........

Things to do in an elevator
1. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.
2. Blow your nose and offer to show the contents of your kleenex to other passengers.
3. Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering, "Shut up, all of you just shut UP!"
4. Whistle the first seven notes of It's a Small World incessantly.
5. Sell Girl Scout cookies.
6. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
7. Shave.
8. Crack open your briefcase or purse and, while peering inside, ask, "Got enough air in there?"
9. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator. Wear yours upside-down.
10. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
11. When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.
12. Lean over to another passenger and whisper, "Noogie patrol coming!"
13. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you 'Admiral'.
14. One word: Flatulence!
15. On the highest floor, hold the door open and demand that it stay open until you hear the penny you dropped down the shaft go 'plink' at the bottom.
16. Do Tai Chi exercises.
17. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while and then announce, "I've got new socks on!"
18. When at least eight people have boarded, moan from the back, "Oh, not now - motion sickness!"
19. Give religious tracts to each passenger.
20. Meow occasionally.
21. Bet the other passengers you can fit a quarter in your nose.
22. Frown and mutter, "gotta go, gotta go." Then, sigh and say, "oops!"
23. Show other passengers a wound and ask if it looks infected.
24. Sing Mary Had a Little Lamb while continually pushing buttons.
25. Holler "Chutes away!" whenever the elevator descends.
26. Walk on with a cooler that says 'human head' on the side.
27. Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce "You're one of THEM!" and move to the far corner of the elevator.
28. Burp and then say, "mmmm... tasty!"
29. Leave a box between the doors.
30. Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.
31. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers 'through' it.
32. Start a sing-along.
33. When the elevator is silent, look around and ask, "Is that your beeper?"
34. Play the harmonica.
35. Shadow box.
36. Say "Ding!" at each floor.
37. Lean against the button panel.
38. Say "I wonder what all these do" and push the red buttons.
39. Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.
40. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your 'personal space'.
41. Bring a chair along.
42. Take a bite of a sandwich and ask another passenger, "Wanna see wha in muh mouf?"
43. Blow spit bubbles.
44. Pull your gum out of your mouth in long strings.
45. Carry a blanket and clutch it protectively.
46. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
47. Stare at your thumb and say, "I think it's getting larger."
48. If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler, "Bad Touch!"

I feel like the America's Funniest Video Host!!!!!!!

Do you have a picture of a family member picking their nose? How about taking a bite out of a sandwich? If you do,or have similar strange photos I want them........

I'm asking my family to search their family photos and find those funny, unique, and hilarious family photos of the T. side of the family.

I need mostly the adults. I have Marlina's kids, and Carrie's boys. However, if you have funny photos of the kids that you want to send my way that's fine too. It will give me more variety. Oh, yes, and this also includes me....... I know Ashley you must have some funny photos of me. Right?

This also includes pictures of Grandpa T, and Aunt Ida.... These two don't have to be funny, but I'm trying to stay away from the traditional, smile-as-nicely-as-you-can-because-this-is-costing-me-money type photos.
It don't have to be pictures of your immediate family.... Cousins, aunts, and uncle photos count too. Just make sure it's the T. side of the family...

There's a couple ways to send them to me...........

1. My computer printer prints HORRIBLE photos. So, if you have a printer that prints good quality photos you can print them out. (I'll reimburse you for the ink.)

2. You can scan/email pictures you do have, let me pick,and then you make a copy....(I will pay you back for the printing.)

OR

3. Give me the original copy. I promise you will get the picture(s) back.

You can either mail the picture(s) to me,(I will pay for postage... Add a piece of cardboard in the envelope. It will keep the pictures from being bent.),

or if you're going to be in the area, give them to Aunt Carol (sorry to be drafting you) and she'll give them to my mom.......If you choose this "method", and you want the pictures back, put your name on the envelope, and I'll MAKE sure you get them back.


I can't go into detail WHY I need these, let's just say it's very important that I do get pictures.... You have two choices.....Hand over the pictures now or I get your picture MY way.... The choice is yours. Ha ha ha ha.....

What are you waiting for? Find those funny, and embarrassing (ok, maybe not TOO embarrassing) photos.

Christmas!!!!!!!

For some the thought of Christmas puts them in a panic. They don't know what to buy people, or what kids like, ext.... My mom falls into that category..... Then there are others that the mere thought brings the warm, fuzzy feeling, and aren't too concerned about gifts..... I fall in the last category........ I have over half of my gifts bought so far...... However, I need help.......... So, what I'm asking is................

Ashley could you email me a list?

AND

Carrie what are your boys into? What do they like? What do they want?
Feel free to email me privately.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Imaginary Friends

I don't know what got my mom and I on the subject of imaginary friends, but she was telling me that she always had imaginary brothers and sisters. I thought it strange that she'd imagine having sisters, since as we know, she had 3 She said her "sisters" were usually a twin, and would agree with her on EVERYTHING....

I know all four of us kids had/have very active imaginations, and I got to thinking.

I NEVER had imaginary friends... I had imaginary PETS...... I had a pet grizzly bear, polar bear, lion, elephant, killer whale, horses, LARGE dogs (Great Danes, Mastiffs, St. Benards-which are still my dog of choice. Please forgive my spelling.) and dolphins.

I remember all of those EXCEPT the elephant. My mom told me I came home from school (1st grade?) and told her that I rode an elephant to school and at recess gave all the kids rides on it. I told her that everyone liked me. So, I was SUPPOSEDLY "popular" for the day.....

If you haven't noticed, most of my "pets" are wild and dangerous animals. The bears would "sleep" at the foot of my bed, and if anyone came into my room during the night, it would stand with me between it's front and back legs. In a "protective" stance. I am thinking that perhaps I felt I "needed" protection from something or someone. Then again, it could be that these are animals that wouldn't make good pets and I really wanted them as pets.

Then again, I could've been just a weird kid... After all, I was a kid that actually believed my dolls came to life when I wasn't in the room.

They paid me how much to play with Legos??????

I have tried to update this SEVERAL times, but for some reason the site won't let me. I will be amazed if this goes through, but I thought I'd try it again....

This week I had to go to WOM training....

I was PAID my regular 40 hour shift (3PM - 11) to..........

1 Go to a class everyday and make paper boats, help my "team" to get across an alligator "Invested" river, use our bodies to make rope shapes with my team members with our eyes CLOSED, assemble and reassemble ink pens (over 500 all together), and make 298 Lego robots.

2. Listen to lectures off and on during the week, between "fun" activities.

3. Had 2, 15 min breaks and 1 hour lunch on Mon, Tues, & Fri. Left at 11 on Mon & Tues. Had 2 half hour breaks with 1 hour, 20 min lunch breaks and left at 9:40 on Wens & Thursday, and on Friday we left at 8:30.

4. spent my hour/ hour 20 min. dinner breaks roaming the mall,Browsing in Books-A-Million, Target, and Best Buy, reading in my Jeep, and drinking Starbucks (The Spiced Pumpkin Lattes are EXCELLENT by the way.)

All of that just to learn to work together as a team.... I walked into that classroom not knowing ANYONE walked out with friends. Everyone else was from Aaron's plant, and they all knew each other. I was the "outsider", but that changed VERY quickly.

Now,to keep in mind that next week, I go back to the factory and get back to the rut of only 18 min. dinner breaks. (Boo boo, hiss hiss)

Joke.......

My best friend, Lois, told me this joke tonight. I found it so funny tears were ROLLING down my cheeks.... Whether it was from the Starbucks at 2 AM,lack of sleep, or the joke is really that funny, I'll leave it up to you to decide..........

A young man joined the army. Well, they ran out of weapons, so they gave this young man a stick and told him to hold it like a gun and shout "Bang, Bang" whenever he fired it......

The young man asked, "okay so what if the enemy is close enough for hand to hand combat?" He was told to tie leaves at the end, and yell "Stab, Stab."

So this young man goes to war.. He picks up his stick, points, and yells "Bang, Bang." A guy falls down. The man thought "Wow, this really works."
So he was shouting "Bang, Bang, stab, stab." And the enemy was falling left and right. Well, he saw a guy, yelled Bang, Bang, stab stab, but the guy kept coming closer. He yelled a little louder "Bang Bang, Stab Stab." The guy walked a little closer. So, he yelled again "Bang, Bang, Stab, Stab." The enemy was now right in front of him..... The enemy then yelled "TANK, TANK"

Scary situation.........

I had a scary thing happen last Sat, and I just wanted to know if anyone's ever experienced this........

I wasn't feeling well, so I went to bed and took a 2 hour nap. Which is quite normal for me.... However when I woke up. I put my glasses on, and my vision was just as blurry with my glasses on than it was off. In other words there was no difference. I managed to get up, make it to the living room, and crashed on the couch. I just figured that I wasn't awake yet. So, I sat down and my nose started bleeding. Not "gushing" but a light nose bleed. When I got up to get some tissues, I was dizzy and almost fell. I was also burning up hot. The vision, nosebleed, and "hot" spell wore off within 2 hours, and the dizziness was gone the next morning. However, on Sunday I felt wore out and weak. It was weird.