My mom phoned shortly after my "Whatever" post, (hmmm) and asked if I would come help her place the foil paper on her front door and hang the decorative tree she had purchased for the door. Together, mom and I had a mission accomplished. I enjoyed spending those moments with her.

My step-dad is the owner and manager of a contracting company at the age of 77; he is used to over-seeing things on the job. Sometimes, well, all the time, his management routine rolls over into his everyday life with us all. He is very ill with emphysema; but what a great attitude he maintains! All the family, listens and smiles as E. instructs us in our affairs. I had a nice time this evening at my mom's place. It's the little moments that make the best memories...

The kids all say it. Nothing 'pissed me off' more than when Victoria would say it to me. It is rude, obnoxious, and a smart-assed thing to say to someone; but, have ya' ever just felt like yelling, "What--Ever!!" to someone when they have been rude or short with you first?

"What--Ever!!"

There now; that feels much better...

My magic for the day is: I found great Reboks on sale. Needed them. Sam needed them. Bought them. Got 'em...

Yep, that's mine! Now go figure your new name.

This only takes a minute. Let me know those names--K?

Follow these instructions:

The following is an excerpt from a children's book, entitled Captain Underpants And The Perilous Plot Of Professor,Poopypants, by Dave Pilker. In the story, the evil professor forces everyone to assume new names. Soooo...

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:

A= Snickle, B= Doombah, C= Goober, D=Cheesey, E= Crusty, F= Greasy, G= Dumbo, H= Farcus, I= Dorkey, J= Doofus, K= Funky, L= Boobie, M= Sleezy, N= Sloopy, O= Fluffy, P= Stinky, Q= Slimy, R= Dorfus, S= Snooty, T= Tootsie, U= Dipsy, V= Sneezy, W= Liver, X= Skippy, Y= Dinky, Z= Zippy

2. Use the second letter of yout last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

A= Dippin, B= Feather, C= Batty, D= Burger, E= Chicken, F= Barffy, G= Lizard, H= Waffle, I= Farkle, J= Monkey, K= Flippin, L= Fricken, M= Bubble, N=Rhino, O= Potty, P= Hamster, Q= Buckle, R= Gizzard, S= Lickin, T= Snickle, U= Chuckle, V= Pickle, W= Hubble, X= Dingle, Y= Gorilla, Z= Girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your last name:

A= Butt, B= Boob, C= Face, D= Nose, E= Hump, F= Breath, G= Pants, H= Shorts, I= Lips, J= Honker, K= Head, L= Tush, M= Chunks, N= Dunkin, O= Brains, P= Bisquits, Q= Toes, R= Doodle, S= Fanny, T= Sniffy, U= Sprinkles, V= Frack, W= Squirt, X= Humperdinck, Y= Hiney, Z= Juice

Merry, Merry Magic!!

Today when I arrived at work, the live christmas tree in our lobby was lit, christmas music was playing throughout the 1st floor of the hotel, individual stockings with each employee's name were hung on the fireplace mantle; they had been made by a fellow employee for each of us to keep after the holidays.

'Tis the season....indeed!

My mom and I spent a few hours together this afternoon in the stores; then we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner, where we ate grilled lemon-peppered trout, sweet baby carrots, greens, and I had mac & cheese. For dessert, I had pecan apple streudle pie. The whole meal was simply wonderful.

Today I saw the last of a few autumn leaves dancing in a whirl together; almost teasingly to my senses, as if to indicate, "we'll come again"...

I bought myself a woodwick candle, and my mom and I both, a miniature coloring book of the Christmas season; with sheets to give the look of stained glass once they are colored. The woodwick candle sounds like a crackling fireplace when it is lit. It emits the aroma of fresh applewood. Aaaah...

gonna' sit by my candle and color a few pages of Christmas. Goodnight all...

Sometimes I realize I am just not okay. I want to be well and okay at those moments; but, I simply am not. My moods shift around at times to my own amazement. They can catch me off guard. Every now and then, a word, or an action can cause me to sink. If I am lucky, I can pick myself back up momentarily; if not, my mood can drag along for hours or days. I hate admitting this to myself, but I must. If one is not honest with themselves, they really have nothing to go on.

What has always helped me is to remain aware of myself. I know that much of what I go through is chemical; and yet, I can use what I have learned through the years to manage my reactions to things. I don't always remember to reason things out when I become moody or much too reflective. Who really does? Not many people walk around with a little notepad and pen, writing down the thing that upset or confused them, and then spend 5 or so minutes figuring out why they think they may have acted or reacted a certain way, or what thing put them in a certain mood, or state of mind. Hell, most of the time, when I make a store list, I forget to bring it along with me to the store. I can see myself remembering to bring my little therapy notes for whatever may occur. I can, however, do my best to relax, breath, and WAIT-- before I allow something or someone to trigger my mood toward the negative.

I placed a tree in my kitchen window tonight. My kitchen sink sits cornered, so that my two windows meet one another in a V-shape, with the sink actually sitting at the opened end of the V, leaving lots of space for the tree to sit in the windows behind the sink. Red, green, and white lights adorn my kitchen sink tree. It can be seen from the outside passersby from either window. Coolness...my first decoration so far. Sam has yet to get excited about the season, but then I didn't put my tree there just for him. It makes me smile.

Sometimes the things that may seem insignificant to some, can bring the most delight to others. I have troubles this time of year, I do. However, I intend to look for something magical in every moment of this season. So often, I forget to live in the moment, seeing the positives as I should. I think too much; always have. I pledge to remind myself as I write this post, to live in the moment in which I find myself, as much as possible, and to look for the magical within the ordinary. What do you pledge for yourselves this season? I challenge you to name one magical thing each day in your life from now until the week of Christmas. Won't you join me?

Speaking in total agreement with this blogger, about how terribly expensive things can be, I visited our (very neat and clean) neighborhood Wal-Mart Super Center this morning after I did my banking, and delivered my famous potato salad to my mom for yet another dinner party she will be attending this evening; while I work, I must add.

I stopped in Wal-Mart for a gallon of milk, and $105.00 later, I proceeded home with this very expensive milk. However, on my way back home, it was necessary for me to pass our local K-Mart; well, I could have gone another route in all actuality, however, I was driving in the direction of K-Mart because I had another stop to make in this same direction. When I spied K-Mart, I thought, "I'm not gonna' go in there and fight that crowd; besides I need to catch a nap before work this afternoon." Then, it dawned on me. There would be great sales on items that may help finish my shopping of gifts to add to the gifts already purchased for individuals.

I was very fortunate to leave K-Mart having spent only fifty bucks. Black...hmmm, dark, deceitful. Hmmm, the milk was only $2.85. What the hell happened? The money, gone so quickly. I only stopped for milk! Black Friday, the intriguing SALES!! Great deals, really.

I do believe where Wal-Mart Super Centers are concerned, "Black Friday" is quite a regular thing every Friday; as well as Sundays through Thursdays. Aaah, the swindlers deals never stop there....

My dear Sam says he didn't feel a thing. Of course that could have a little something to do with the 1 valium prescribed to him to take just before his biopsy, to knock him out take the edge off. The doctor thinks everything looks "smooth", as he put it; which we took as a good thing. He really believes the nodule is benign. We shall see a week from today.

My mom took us out to a local sports bar after  the needle was inserted you know where Sam's procedure, where we feasted upon the best sandwiches in town. We all had a beer and proceeded home. Thank you again mom, for hanging out with us through this!

Sam is back to his ole' self again already. He began playing his Fender I bought for him a couple years ago, upon arriving home. I went to the shower, decided to clean the stall while I was in there, and realized I'd left my shampoo sitting on the sink. I began to yell for Sam to come hand me my shampoo and he kept playing his trusty Fender. Needless to say, I managed on my own; as I so often do, while Sam happily played his tunes.

I love this man, ya' know...

Today is the big day for Sam to go in to the specialist's office and bare his butt for the biopsies of a nodule found on his prostrate, during his physical exam a few weeks ago.

We are both a little nervous; well, I am certain Sam is VERY nervous, because he has been healthy during his lifetime, and he tends to have an allergic reaction to drs. or hospitals. I will be glad when this procedure is finished; though we must wait a week for the results.

Aaah, life's little annoyances...