I'm still alive ... just a few ramblings

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know I did and as a matter of fact still enjoying the holidays. Wasn't it sweet of that special elf to post for me last week? The IT goones at work decided they wanted to be Scrooge... so Bah Hum Bug to them too... ;-) Last Wednesday night, we picked my brother, Chris, up from the airport in Nashville. It was really good to see him. He hasn't been home in 10 months. On Saturday, Chris drove to Nashville to pick up my Marine. It is so wonderful to have him home for Christmas and the New Year. We had Christmas Day lunch at my Mothers. We were very fortunate to have Tony's daughters share the holiday with us this year. Ok, so what did I get for Christmas... let's see... I got a electric griddle, a new vaccuum cleaner, bath smell good stuff, candles and oh, oh, oh... the cutest Frosty that sings and shivers... ummmmm... just a lot of goodies. But the bestest gift of all was having my entire family together. So what did YOU get for Christmas? We take Chris back to the airport Friday. Matt leaves on Tuesday. I don't know how I'm going to handle Matt leaving. For this time there are no holidays that I can hope and pray that he gets to come home for. It was really hard for me on November 5th letting him go... it's going to be very difficult Jan 1, 2008 letting him go. I want to wish each and every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Merry Christmas

Dixie has in a war with the IT clods at work and can not post, so she asked me.... her Christmas Elf to assist in today's post. Hey, did I say I was a good elf??? Now, I considered splashing pictures of semi-naked men all over her blog, but since this is her HEART & SOUL... and it is the Christmas Season, I decided to play nice... From the HEART & SOUL FAMILY , they send you to this link so you can be all Santa and the reindeer cool and jazzy... yeah baby...cool is the way to be...

My Elf Name

Christmas Elf Name My Christmas Elf Name is Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

Until they come home

There are so many brave young men and women who are unselfishly serving our country so that we may all sleep in peace. May the spirit of Christmas be with all our military service men and women this holiday season. Until they come home Click here to watch I'm sorry if I bore y'all with all this military stuff that I post frequently but to me it's very important. I look at the pictures and videos of service members and think, that could be my son. It could be sooner than I want it to be too. Have a great weekend.

The Gratitude Campaign

Watch this video. Just say thanks. I borrowed this from Semper Fi Mom. She is another Marine Mom who has helped me alot. Thanks Buffy. Remember me asking you to donate a Christmas Tree to our troops. James Ward from Westminister, MD made Christmas a whole lot brighter for thousands of U.S. service member bravely serving our country by mailing them miniature, live spruce trees with ALL the holiday trimmings. Mr. Ward started Operation Christmas Tree to cheer up his deployed stepdaughter and a few of her fellow soldier in Iraq. This project has become a national campaign. This year there were 5,000 trees shipped. Last year there were on 75 trees shipped. What an accomplishment. There were 2,200 2 foot trees packed with bags of colorful ornaments and bettery powered lights that were mailed December 3 to individual service member, mostly in Afghanistan and Iraq, whose families paid $20 to the nonprofit organization. Some of those service members also received 50 or 60 extra trees to share with others. Other batches were sent to chaplains in the war zone to hand out to anyone in uniform who wants one. The $80,000 balance not paid by donations was covered by the Armed Forces Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit that helps the families of deployed troops. Local businesses also collected donations. Keep talking to me. Looks like I will be working out an additional 23 minutes tonight. Thanks to everyone who talked to me yesterday. Especially my Hoochies Anndi and Turnbaby, you know what you did... LOL ... smooches, gropes, hugs, rubs... If anybody wants to join me just let me know. Grab my exercise lady and post away. SMOOCHES~

I do not like me!!!!

Yup, you heard that correctly. I'm DO NOT like myself these days. I'm officially now a "Fluffy Girl". Tony and I have been together 3 years this Christmas. When he and I first got together I was a size ten. I LOVED myself. Now I despise what I have become. One has to love themself before they can love others and right now I don't love me. I will NOT tell you what size I am now. I will tell you that I can't get into the tens anymore, nor can I get in the twelves or the fourteens that I have in my closet. I look in the mirror and I'm totally sickened by what I see. I just want to take a knife and slice the fat off my body. I DO NOT LIKE ME! TAKE ALL THE MIRRORS OUT OF MY HOUSE!!! So what am I going to do about it... I'll tell you. Last Wednesday I made up my mind that I was going to love myself again. I was going to get back into my "Skinny Girl" cloths again. So I joined Curves for Women and have drastically changed my eating habits. I have worked out every day but Sunday. They are closed on Sunday. So, I would like y'all to help me. For every time you speak to me I'll do an extra minute of workout. Right now I'm only working out 30 minutes a day as that is the minimum they recommend. I do not want to post a before picture of myself, but if y'all insist I will. I DO want to post an after picture. Can ya help a fluffy girl become a skinny girl? I will keep you updated on my progress. I would add a progress bar to the blog but then you would know how much I weigh and I'm terribly embarrased. Tony will never know how much I weigh. So get to talking to me. I really need to get this FAT off!

This is for the soliders

Stand with IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Vetrans of America) and Drowning Pool and sign the petition. Message below is from the website this is for the soldiers.org 1.5 million people have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost one-third of them will have a serious mental health problem – like depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That’s why I’m supporting IAVA and Drowning Pool’s “This is For the Soldiers” campaign to make sure the mental health needs of our troops are a top priority. We know you’re a strong supporter of the troops. You co-sponsored the crucial Lane Evans bill, which would get veterans the counseling and support they need. But without your leadership, this bill will continue to just sit in committee. We hope you’ll join us and bring this bill before the committee. With your help, we can get this bill moving and get troops the care they deserve. Do y'all remember back in the spring when I wrote about the homeless man at the Sonic in Pulaski? My post Remembrance that I did on May 10th. Please go back and read if you haven't already. If something is not done then I'm afraid this is what will happen to our brave men and women who are fighting for our freedom so that we may all sleep peacefully at night. For my son, who has not yet to experience the sand box, and I pray that he doesn't... but if he should have to then I pray that God will hold him ever so tightly and bring him back home safe, as I pray for all the other brave men and women's very safe return. Please sign the petition. This is the least we can do for them as they are doing so much more for us. They are giving the ultimate sacrifice.

Christmas Meme

It's Monday, a damp, dreary day in the great State of Tennessee. All I want to do is be at home in bed asleep. I just want to do nothing but sleep on days like this. So I stole this Christmas Meme from Just Tug ... for when I'm in one of these moods... 'tis the season! 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for everything square - gift bags for everything else. 2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial...it's just.easier. 3. When do you put up the tree? the day after Thanksgiving 4. When do you take the tree down? the day after Christmas 5. Do you like eggnog? Nope... that's just EWWWWWWWWWWWW 6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got what was on my list every year...so I guess all of them? 7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...it's a ceramic set. It was my grandmothers. 8. Hardest person to buy for? Well, this year it's going to be Matt. What do you get a Marine? 9. Easiest person to buy for? Kaitlin... cloths, cloths and more cloths 10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? I don't know that I've ever received a bad one... 11. Mail or email Christmas card? When I remember to put them in the mail, I'll mail them... otherwise it's an e-card 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as possible. Usually on Black Friday. 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Shameful to say but Yes... 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All the homemade foods. 16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored on the tree. White everywhere else. 17. Favorite Christmas song? This is tough - I LOVE Christmas music. My most favorite is "O Holy Night" 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home. There's no place like home. 19. Can you name Santa's reindeers? Ummmm let's see... There's Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Blizten, Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Prancer and the most famous of all Rudolph! Yup, guess I can... and NO I DIDN'T LOOK!! 20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star? I have an angel. 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up, we always opened them Christmas morning. I carried this tradition on with my family. We open gifts at Mom's on Christmas Day too. 22. Most annoying thing(s) about this time of year? Some one saying "I got you something for Christmas" and you hardly know this person. You then feel obligated to get them a gift too. Anyone else want to play along?? Let me know, I'd love to read it!

My Elfing Family and a few rambling thoughts

From my family to yours click here I stole this from Tisha at Crazy Working Mom . This absolutely hilarious! Just try it. Thanks Tisha! ;-) Then I went over to Roger @ Idaho Daily Photo and asked him where the Marine Corps balls were? ;-) That didn't sound right... but anyway.... I opened my e-mail this morning and here is what he sent... absolutely beautiful. Thank you Roger... Oh how I would LOVE to have a few of these balls on my tree. So what are you doing this weekend? Me, well I am going to try and finish my Christmas shopping. Since Matt doesn't have a permanent duty station and will be in training until mid March or so I haven't a clue as to what and get him. I do have him some civilian cloths and there is nothing at home he can wear. But what else should I get him? Any suggestions? Kaitlin is pretty simple really. Cloths, cloths and more cloths. A gift card from Bath & Body Works and maybe a few more stores. I know she would like those. Tony, well, I have NO CLUE again! Anything with Memphis Tigers or Memphis Grizzlies or Tennessee Titans will do. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "I'll be home for Christmas". Last night when I picked Kaitlin up from gymnastics I heard the Josh Groban version. I burst into tears. If y'all haven't heard it yet let this be a warning... you will cry. Kaitlin said.. "Mom, Matt will be home this year, don't cry." I said... "Yes, honey I know he will be home and I'm so very, very thankful. But you have to realize that there are so many that won't be home." So let's continue to remember our troops. The brave men and women who are giving the utlimate sacrifice so that we all can sleep peacefully at night. Don't forgt to click on the airplane and sign the petition. Thank you Vinny for the link! I'm going to buy his new Christmas CD today. I loves me some Josh Groban anyway. Have a great weekend all! SMOOCHES~

That will be Miss Dixie Sweet Cheeks to you ... ;-)

Your Elf Name Is... Dixie Sweet Cheeks What's Your Elf Name? How did little fellow know me so well? Yesterday I was nice and now he called me Dixie Sweet Cheeks.... Now I've got something that I need to tell you. I mentioned in the comments box over at Sandee's place... you know that wonderful lady at Comedy Plus. Anywho ... she was giving a shout out for The Mo Show, which by the way is every Wedensday at 7:00 pm Eastern time.... ok I'll get on with my story... titled "HO HO HO or Bah Humbug" and I just happen to mention that I found some money at the gas station Wednesday morning. So as Paul Harvey would say ... and now the rest of the story... I got up on Wednesday morning with only $40 in my wallet. I knew that I had to give Kaitlin $20 for school lunches and I needed gas in the car, which would be the other $20. I really didn't want to ask Tony for any money... I don't like asking him... even though he would give it to me. So I kissed him bye and told him that I would see him at work. Yes, he and I work together but it's Wednesday and he has choir practice and bible study so I usually drive. Ok, ok, ok ... I'll get on with it... As I'm driving the 1/2 block to the store I'm thinking to myself... ok, I can put $15.00 worth of gas in the car, which isn't much and still have $5.00 to eat on today. Tomorrow is payday so I should be ok. That is exactly what I had planned to do. I pull up to the gas pump, turn off my car, open my wallet, pull out the $20, look in the change part to see how much change I had, just so I can get a coke, get out of the car and proceed to walk into the store to pay before I pump. I make about 4 steps and something caught my eye. I look down and see something that looks like money. It's folded three times so it's very thin, I bend down, pick it up, open one fold and see that it's a $100. I immediately fold it back and stick it in my coat pocket. I put the entire $20 in my gas tank. As I walk back to my car, I look up and I thanked God for my blessing. For I know that it just wasn't an accident that the $100 was laying on the ground. There is no telling how many people had walked by that and didn't see it. Should I have told the girl working in the store what I found? Should I have given it to her to keep just in case somebody came back looking for it? What would she have done if she had found it? She would have done the very exact same thing I did. Pocketed it... Which reminds me of a time at the Mid-South Fair in Memphis... long story short Matt and I were standing at a lemonade stand. There was a lady behind us and she tapped me on the shoulder. She says to me... "Ma'am, did you drop this $50? my response, and I'm still kicking myself for it today... "No, it's' not mine." So what does this bright lady do... she hands it to the carney and tells him that she found it on the ground and that she was giving it to him in case somebody came back looking for it. What did the carney do with the $50? The exact same thing that I did with the $100 this morning. Actually though, the carney probably needed the $50 worse than me. All things happen for a reason. So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

:-) I was nice this year....

You Were Nice This Year! You're an uber-perfect person who is on the top of Santa's list. You probably didn't even *think* any naughty thoughts this year. Unless you're a Mormon, you've probably been a little too good. Is that extra candy cane worth being a sweetheart for 365 days straight? Were You Naughty or Nice This Year? Well, that's what is says anyway. So what were you Naughty or Nice? On another note, being the nice person I am I wanted to give y'all a little peek at Matt Man's Christmas Tree. From what I understand it took him all weekend to get it up but.... well.... here it is..... and see he even has this Christmas shopping done.... ;-) Awwww yes..... Matty's Salvation in a Bottle.... *giggles*

Fair air fares

Everyone that reads my blog knows that we had to drive 31 hours round trip to pick Matt up for Thanksgiving. Now there is no way that I am complaining at all... I'd do anything to have my son home for the holidays however, there were many, many men and women who could not go home for the holidays simply because they could NOT afford it. Let me explain. When Matt called me after one week of being at SOI to let me know he was getting to come home for Thanksgiving I immediately tried to get him a plane home. I went online and checked several airlines. They fares were too expensive, well around $800 round trip to be exact. I could not pay that nor could Matt nor was I going to ask Tony, Chris or Mother to. I then called a travel agent here in town to see what she could do for me. I explained to her that Matt was a U. S. Marine and could she get him a flight to Nashville with a military discount. She checked here system and her words to me were ... "I'm sorry, but I really can't do any better that what you have already found. It appears that all the military discounts have already been taken." and my response was .... "What do you mean all the military discounts have been taken... how can that be?" "Well ma'am, the airlines only allow a certain number of seats with military discounts." Needless to say I was shocked. How could this be? After all our service men and women do to defend our freedom the airlines only allow a certain number of seats for military discounts. So this morning, I find this in my e-mail and immediately signed my name to the petition. What am I asking you to do it please sign your name to this petition also. Let's help to make it affordable for all service men and women to be home with their families... not just at holidays but any time of the year they are able to come home. Because of this some families do not get to see their sons, daughters, wife, husband, father, mother, aunt, uncle, brothers, sisters off before being deployed. So please do your part and sign the petition today. I have the link at the bottom of this post. Please forward this on too to everyone on your e-mail list. Matt is also getting to come home for Christmas. How is he getting home? My brother, who also served our country for 4 years as a soldier in the U. S. Army, bought him his plane ticket home with no military discounts. You think I'm kinda passionate about this???? from the Blue Star Moms website To: President Bush and U.S. Congress FREEDOM IS NOT FREE Our military is not “flying free” as most Americans believe. As a majority of the airlines do not provide discount fares for the military, the men and women actively serving our country are paying for their own flights home during leave and – in many instances – are paying higher fares than most of the public. The reason for this is that they are unable to book their tickets in advance as their leaves are not always granted 21, 14 nor 7 days in advance. All too often, our military are not informed of their leave dates until the last minute. Then they frequently cannot afford the “walk up” fares. As a result, many family members have difficulty seeing their sons or daughters as neither can afford the airfare. In other instances, parents are paying exorbitant airfares to bring their children home before their deployment—worrying that this may very well be the last time they see them. We recently sent a letter to the CEO’s of eleven airlines (Alaska, America West, American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest, Southwest, United, US Airways and Jet Blue) asking them to do two things: 1)Reinstate the airfare that was offered to active duty military personnel during the Vietnam War. It was called Military Standby. It was less expensive than “Military Reserve”, which was the other airfare offered during that time. Anyone showing an active military ID paid a greatly reduced price for his or her ticket. We want the airlines to fill--their otherwise empty seats--with the men and women who are putting their lives on the line to serve our country. 2)Provide active duty military personnel a guaranteed seat at the 21-day advance fare for all tickets booked anytime prior to the flight. If a flight needs to be changed because of a change in orders (which can be substantiated), the airlines should waive any fees or penalties and refund the total amount of the fare. Blue Star Moms and the undersigned, are asking for a resolution from the United States Congress that airlines voluntarily provide military travelers on leave with their lowest fares, even on short notice. If a flight needs to be changed because of a change in orders (which can be substantiated), the airlines should waive any fees or penalties and refund the total amount of the fare. The airfare(s) structure should be easy for all military personnel to understand and for the airline reservations sales agents to execute. We are asking Congress to work with the airlines to make this a win-win for all concerned. With the threats of terrorism being a real concern for all, the airlines and their customers receive the benefit of added security when military personnel are aboard their flights – and the military receives a loud message that you honor the service they provide their country. Our Sons and Daughters joined the military for honorable reasons…to serve and protect their fellow Americans’ rights for liberty, freedom and justice. They are proud and will give their lives to protect the people they love—Americans—you and me. As they fight terrorism to protect our nation, show them the respect and appreciation they never ask for, yet deserve. Show them that you believe in them by supporting this resolution. Blue Star Moms…Our hearts are on the line www.BlueStarMoms.org http://www.petitiononline.com/BSMMIL/