Friday - And Happy Boxing Day

And how was your Christmas? I spent Christmas Eve and Day working but before that Hannah and I had a night out shopping while Caleb was at his Dad's. This picture was taken in Target. Hannah said "I'm tired and my feet hurt, I wish I could get in the basket just like Caleb." So I told her to go ahead and climb in, which she obviously did, lol. I pushed her around the whole store and she declared this to be "The Best Christmas EVER!" Wow, if I had only known she was so easy to please I wouldn't have bought that 120gb ipod classic, ha ha.

We picked up Caleb tonight and went for our Christmas dinner at Olive Garden. I said "so much for traditional fare" to which Hannah responded, "well what do you think the Italians eat for Christmas". Pictures of turkey spaghetti entered our heads to which we both said "ewwww". I think we'll just stick with the regular pasta, thanks. We did splurge and got desert too, cause what is Christmas without the sweets.

After dinner we came home and opened our presents that were under our little Christmas tree and our little stockings that were hung by the electric fireplace with care (ummm maybe not so much with care as with a hammer and nail :p). Caleb made me a Phoenix Coyote's Calender got me a juicer, and Hannah got me a gift certificate from Victoria's Secret (she evidently got tired of me saying "I don't even have enough money for a bra") and some of my favorite candy (butterfingers and snickers). The kids seemed pleased with their gifts as well, but the best part was that we are all home together, as corny as that sounds.

Work was fairly busy on Christmas Eve, but we only admitted two-three people, with the one heart attack that I had predicted (sorry sir I was right, hope you are doing okay). Christmas Day was very busy as well, and we admitted about twelve people. It finally died off about 1:00am and the rest of the night was cake. I controlled myself enormously and did not graze at the trough that was presented to us. I've lost 5 pounds since Thanksgiving and I'm not going backwards, no way (being told by your ex that you are fat is a very big motivator).

So here's to you and yours with warm wishes for a very pleasant holiday. Enjoy your time with your family and be safe!

Ciao! De ;)

Sunday - And It's Someone's Birthday

Many of you have heard me mention Betty more than one time, but what you may not know is that today is her birthday. Oh she didn't mention it on her blog, but I can on mine, he he.

So pop on over and wish my very dearest friend a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love ya, girl!!

Ciao! De ;)

Saturday - And The Plate In My Head Wasn't Big Enough

Remember in the movie "Vacation" when Cousin Eddie was complaining about not having enough money? "I got laid off when they closed that asbestos factory, and wouldn't you know it, the army cuts my disability pension because they said that the plate in my head wasn't big enough." Well it seems to me that people, just like Cousin Eddie, are always wanting something for nothing and I really get tired of them always expecting the government (i.e. you and me) to pay for everything. I get it alot at work. Now don't get me wrong, there are always the people who need the assistance, but more often than not, I run into the ones who try to work the system anyway they can and still complain they are not getting enough...like the lady who brought in her 1yr old the other night.

So this cute little 1yr old was seen in the ER for difficulty breathing, cough, and wheezing with a history of asthma. She got a few breathing treatments and scripts for home antibiotics and an inhaler. The Mom started complaining why don't we give her a nebulizer because it is easier and I explained how that has to come from the baby's pediatrician. Then Mom tells me the baby doesn't have a pediatrician because her ACCESS (welfare here in AZ) was denied because she couldn't find the little girl's social security number. "How dumb is that?" she asks, "Why do I have to show her social security card. They should just give it to her." Well I started explaining about verifying who people are, making sure they are here legally, etc and the Mom continues complaining about how their benefits keep getting reduced more and more and the little girl's big brother is drinking all the baby's milk, etc etc etc. Mom then goes on to complain about how she is pregnant and due in February and hasn't even had an ultrasound to find out what sex the baby is and how is that right? So I go "Well you know women had babies for thousands of years without knowing what the sex of the baby is and everyone survived." She said "Well I'm on a fixed income and I need to know." Excuse me but do you even see the correlation between the two? Me either. Then she starts talking about how her boyfriend (baby's father) after sleeping all day wakes up and drinks all the baby's milk, "sometimes a whole gallon at a time". Sheesh. Will someone get a job and quit making babies already? **Major sigh**

So then Mom gathers up everything and wants to know where the bus stop is. So I tell her as I walk her out front to check out and I'm like "where is the baby's jacket?" "Oh I left it at home cause I had too much to carry," she says as I notice she is putting her jacket on. Okay so this is at 6:00am and it's dark, cold, and misting. The baby was just in for breathing problems and you want to wait outside in the cold without a jacket for the baby? So my bleeding heart or Christmas spirit (not sure which at this point) kicks in and I get her a cab voucher that the hospital will eat so the baby won't get any sicker, all the while explaining to the Mom that this is a one-time deal and knowing that she is filing it away in her small, self-centered brain that this is one more way to get something for nothing. Okay, now onto more happier subjects, lol.

How is everyone's Christmas shopping coming along? Me? Ha! Almost NOTHING bought. I can't believe it! I have never been less prepared for Christmas than this year, not even when I was far more broke than I am now. Well, it will all work out. Caleb is over here this weekend so that leaves me one more day (Tuesday) before Christmas to buy a few things for him when he is not around. Hannah's main present is the computer I got her in August, but I plan on getting her a few little things too. The only saving grace is at least my tree is up, ha ha.

Well I work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so I think we are either going to the Christmas service on the 23rd, or before I go to work on the 24th. Caleb will be back on the 26th and we'll do Christmas then. What are your plans? What are your traditions? What are you cooking?

If I don't pop on before....Merry Christmas!!!

De ;)

PS: This video is for Katie...

Sunday - And It's Movie Review Time

Hannah and I had a girl's night out on Thursday as I had a night off in between several and Caleb was at his dad's. First off we decided to splurge and went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner, certainly not something you can do every day or very often for that matter. Very nice, pricey, but just want we needed. We laughed our way through dinner (annoying the couple next to us of course) and indulged in some decadent cheesecake. Again, not something you can do everyday, especially if you are making a half-hearted attempt at dieting (ha ha).

For the second part of our night out we decided to take in the midnight showing of The Day The Earth Stood Still. In case you are too young (and I hate you if you are, lol), or you live in a vacuum (and I do at times) then you might not realize this is a remake of the 1951 classic. (alas Hollywood is becoming uncreative). The movie stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, and they each do a fair job of acting. The movie also stars Jaden Smith, Will Smith's son who you met in The Pursuit of Happyness. I jokingly say that Keanu Reeves is perfect for the part of the alien who shows no emotion because I really don't think the man is capable of a facial expression or anything more than a monotone voice. I enjoyed the movie for the most part except for the political theme, but once again I wouldn't recommend paying anything more than matinee price. You wouldn't miss anything by waiting for the DVD either.

I think the most interesting thing that occurred was after the movie and we saw this guy get tased by the police. We are walking out of the theater and there was this drunk guy who had been trying to get into the theater when we arrived, and he was still in the parking lot causing havoc. The manager had evidently grown tired of this guy, called the police, and he was, by all appearances, resisting arresting. All of a sudden he jerked and fell straight down and Hannah was "omg what happened?". I said "omg he just got tased!". We were in no immediate danger as we were observing this from a safe distance, and it was certainly more suspenseful than the movie, lol.

In case you can't tell, I am in better spirits than my last entry. Oh David is still messing with my mind, but getting back to work was really the best thing for me. Routine stuff to fill your day so you don't wallow in self-pity. Who needs expensive therapy? I've got a great family who listen to my woes and good friends to lend a shoulder to cry on when I need it. And if I am really feeling sorry for myself, then I just have to take a look at the lives of the homeless drunks who come into the ER on a daily basis. I am healthy (albeit overweight), have a job (thank you God!), have a place to live, have money to pay my bills, put food on the table, and buy a few Christmas presents for the kiddos. Life could be less stressful with the support money I'm entitled to, but overall, life is good. Really...life is very good, especially when both my kids are here with me, as they are tonight.

Apparently Veronica and Melissa have deemed me worthy of the Marie Antoinette Award. I'm not quite sure that I'm worthy, but apparently all you have to do is write about everyday life. While I feel honored, I don't know that what I have to say is particularly inspiring, but then again, maybe it doesn't have to be. So thank you Veronica and Melissa, and I pass on the rules and nominate the following:

The Rules:
1. Please put the logo in your blog (let me know if you need the file)
2. Place a link from the person, from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more
4. Put the links of those on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blog to let them know

And I nominate:
1. Betty of A Corgi in Southern California
2. Lyn of Brit's Blog
3. Dawn of Carpe Diem
4. Julia of Julia's New Journal
5. Lily of I Guess I'm Dreaming
6. Marti of Porch Stories
7. Robin of The Yellow Brick Road

Wow...that was hard to limit this to just seven.

Well tonight starts another three day stretch for me. I did get a short recess and have a chance to go to church and dinner tonight with the kids. It's finally cooler here in Phoenix (highs in the 60s this week) and maybe, just maybe, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Ciao! De ;)

PS: New entry and title just for you Kat! :p

Thursday - And I Like My Men Cold, Undead, and Sparkly

Okay, so in case you can't figure out by my title, I saw the Twilight movie last week and now I'm hooked. The movie itself starts out a little awkward like the author was in a hurry to get the story going and forgot to let you get acquainted with the characters, but it builds into a nice plot and the acting is superb. And of course Robert Pattinson as "Edward" is absolutely hot!

And to make my new obsession even worse, Hannah goes and gives me the first two books in the series for my birthday. I don't know whether to hug her or ground her, ha ha. I've been sleep deprived by reading. Seeing the movie doesn't ruin the first book, as the book fills you in more on everyone's backgrounds more thoroughly. I'm well into the second book, New Moon, now.

Part of me wishes I hadn't seen the movie or read the books. It makes me wistful and a little depressed. I've joked that I wish I was 17 again (no way, honestly)...but 29 would really be nice. I can feel Bella's anguish, longing, and depression (which means the author does a good job of pulling you into the story) which is not good for me right now. It has nothing to do with being older, fatter, or uglier than I was when I was 17. It has nothing to do with wishing I had a boyfriend, husband, or a vampire. It just has to do with where I am in my life right now and the tough time I am having. My self-esteem isn't the highest and I'm constantly stressed with figuring out the budget issues (and no the jerk still isn't paying me the court ordered support). And I'm upset trying to figure out how to give the kids some sort of Christmas. **Sigh** I should've warned you this was going to be a depressing entry, lol.

I should get off here before I bore you or make you depressed at this time of the year. I'll just leave by saying this...every girl deserves an Edward.

Ciao! De ;)