THE SLED OF DOOM! Don't Build this at home!

What used to be games of cowboys and Indians, are now games that are inspired by reality TV shows, like Jackass and World's Dumbest Stunts. Lucky for me, and I mean that most sarcastically, my three boys, yes I am including my husband, are 100% into ideas of wild and fast that border on the lines of extreme and the unsafe. So, in the video in this segment is a sled that my 17 year old son decided to do as a school project with the other students in his Vocational welding class. He learns the hardway that you can't have your cake and eat it too or in other words , it's hard to be the participant and the camera man. Watch and enjoy!



This sled was made by using the hood of an old vehicle, an old school type chair, why they even welded a real seat belt into this contraption. Let’s not forget the protective bar and handle bars...but after the first video that you have seen -They are now looking to replace those pieces with a roll bar. To quote one of my many favorite television commercials -  "That's using your dipstick Jimmy!"

THAR SHE BLOWS!

http://organizingstaceybolinby2013.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-found-it.html

THE CALL THAT STOPPED THE CLUTTER CLEAN

Friday, January 27, 2012

THE CALL THAT STOPPED THE CLUTTER CLEAN

Let me start by saying, that no matter how much clutter I am faced to organize each day, my family will always come first if they need me, my ears, my advice, a hug, my help...you name it, I am there for them good or bad. So where do I start...Oh, I remember, It started out as any normal day would yesterday morning. I have been doing great with keeping up on putting things back in their rightful places. But have you ever had a situation when putting something back in their rightful place was a person? I know odd comment but I’ll explain soon. So, let’s begin today, with my philo that I believe to be fact. Life has a way of tripping you up, but if you’re prepared the outcome can be harmonious and life changing.

Yesterday I began my long to-do list, as I always do on Thursdays.  I have appointed Thursday as my day to leave the house early in the morning to get everything I need tended to that is out of the home.  My list included but was not limited to, taking the boy's to school, getting base stickers for both of our trucks, pick up prescriptions, get lab work done and go to the commissary. All of this accomplished before 10:00 am. I was feeling great that I had done so much in the course of three hours, I wanted to do something extra special for my honey.

My husband has been working at a job that is just around the corner from our home, which is very nice, because I can stop in quickly to drop off something special. I make his  lunch every day, but I know that the same ole sandwich and chips gets boring. I try to switch up his food choices so that it’s a surprise when he sits down to eat. My plan yesterday was to drop him off his favorite candy, but as I pulled up to the job site, clearly something was wrong and had totally disrupted his day. I had not seen that pale look on his face since the doctors told me I had cancer. Immediately my mind was rushed bad images, because I had forgotten my cellphone at home and maybe I missed an important call.

His body language was frightening and I knew I had to stay calm to help keep the situation contained. I had asked if something had happened on the job, to which he replied no. I asked if he was feeling OK, and again, he replied no. So I knew something was upsetting him and asked him flat out, what was wrong. He had indicated that he had gotten a call from home and went on say and I quote “The doctors said there was nothing more they could do for my mom, and she is going downhill fast”. Now what would you think if you hear those words? Get your airline tickets? Make arrangements to take the family home? If it didn’t come from mom or dad directly…call home and find out if it was true?

All of those things entered my brain, and I was ready to have the whole family on a plane to be with his mother today. Yet, then my mind stopped in its tracks and I was forced to ask the one question I already had the answer too. “Who called and told you this?” I was not surprised when he told me who. The Drama Queen strikes again. I assured him that I didn’t feel the situation was as grave as he was thinking and told him I would call home myself to get an update. He assured me that he would call home, but there was no way that I was going to let him work with the heavy machinery that he operates, under that type of worry and stress. I’m glad I went with my gut instinct and I made that call as soon as I got home.

I was unable to get through the first couple of tries, but was finally successful and how shocked I was to hear this upbeat full of life voice on the phone. Instantly my fears subsided when she said that for the most part, in spite of all that she has been through, she was fine. I have to say, his mom has seen her share of medical challenges and keeps on truckin’. We laughed and joked on the phone for more than a half an hour. She shared with me the changes in her medical status, and what the next steps were. She has MS, and not all patients with this disease have the same treatment outcome. They just haven’t found the best regiment that meets all her needs. She had shared with me what the next course of treatment would be and to lighten the mood I was instructed to share with my husband that “Mom is fine and that he needs to realize that she was going to be around a long time to bug him.”  

Now clearly the way that my husband had stated what her condition was, would have led you to believe she was about to take her last breath. I felt bad, but I had even told my husband before I left, that I didn’t believe this situation was all truth and that it was another one of those, feel bad for me the sky is falling moments. He was mad at my comment, but that quickly changed about an hour later. Going on, my husband is a nice guy, will do anything for anyone, and takes people at their word. But the one thing about this good hearted man...He hates a liar." He gets mad when I keep bring up that people these days have this great ability to stretch the truth.  I’m told I am over reacting, but today was the turning moment when I called him back and updated him. I sensed his anger and this time it wasn’t towards me. Phew! I through sure he was going to be mad that I made the call that he told me not to. He is very aware that his mom is going through a lot, and he worries about her every day. The problem with this is that my husband has gotten this type of urgent call like clockwork for the past 12 years, putting this strong woman on her death bed. SAD! I take notice when something becomes repetitive and these types of calls are hard on my husband which in turn affects the whole family. Which has me thinking that the caller didn't completely listen to the news they had gotten at home and paniced or that are treading along the lines of intentional and could be viewed as a form of emotional abuse to make him feel guilty that he has not moved back home to be with his family more.

This is another reason why I dislike cell phones more and more. This whole situation could have waited until after working hours. People need to get the clue that, his boss can’t stress it enough at his place of employment…NO PERSONAL CALLS ON HIS (THE BOSSES) TIME! And I don’t blame him in the least. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen, when I was working, abuse the use of personal calls during working hours. Now don’t get me wrong, my husband doesn’t get nearly the calls that he used to and I will admit I’ve called my husband at work…and that is the two key words (My husband). Yet even being married to him, I don’t abuse the phone. Once in a great while I am following up to see how he was feeling, if I knew he had left the house not feeling his best. I try to make sure that he has headache and sinus meds with him. I may also call just to update him on a change in plans with the boys. But for the most part, I let him call me, but don’t wait by the phone expecting it. If he does call from work it is usually only on days when he will have breaks, or in a pause status as he waiting for the next part of a project to begin. But you’ll never see me calling and talking for 35 minutes on the bosses time.

By the end of the day, I didn’t know how he had faired the emotional storm, but was so happy when he came in the front door smiling and grabbed the house phone and said he was calling his mom back. I was again relieved to hear that he called her directly. Thank God!  He had been talking with his mother on the phone, on his way home from work when his battery died. He immediately called her back and the two of them had a wonderful conversation. I stepped out of the room to give him some privacy, but I couldn't help but over hear his laughter that filled every room of our home while he spoke. 

When his call was over, We both agreed that he needed to call his mother and father directly and weekly. That if he didn't and something happened to them, he would never forgive himself. That he needed to build his bond with them, even if over the phone for now, until we finally get out west before our retirement years. That what they talk about should be kept between them, so that it would be their special time unless someone indicates that something they said was ok to tell others. I feel that it is very important that he keeps in constant contact with them as their son, and should share with them what is going on in his life first hand and vise-versa. I am also doing the same as their daughter-in-law and that I truly have enjoyed getting to know them again and I have made it very clear that they will be informed if something bad happens here. That they will hear it directly from us so that there are no questions. By making these changes in our lives , we anticipate that the dramatic episodes and third person miss information will reduce, with quickness – we can only hope.

So in analyzing my extreme procrastination, I have found that I must take each life situation and take the information in, review it rather than react to it by, either sleeping on it or address it. After that file it away, and get back to my cleaning this house out. Or if all else fails...write a book about it or blog it.  Now I think you will be surprise, and I will not let myself be embarrased to openly admit that I have found an organizer that is willing to work with me pro-bono. Her request is to get the big stuff either put in its place or thrown away, and then she will come in to work on the little things with me. I’m excited. I can only hope she will also help me to stay on track when things happen unexpectedly. I should have my progress photos up soon. I’m hoping later tonight, but I am also writing a story for a contest that is due in next Tuesday. UGGH! (Smile). My plate is full, but I'm energized and have graduated from the speed of snail to a turtles pace. Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for reading.

Excuses, Excuses.

I just had to share this, thanks Josie!

You know me, always full of excuses as to why I don't finish something, or why I never get started, but actually - today was one of those, do a bit of everything all at once and accomplish something kind of day. To my surprise I actually found my kitchen under all the counter clutter, I also found the matching socks to about 3 dozen orphan socks that had been released from captivity in my oldest son's room, (Trust me, you wouldn't go looking in there either. You'd wait too.) I picked up my oldest son and his very large welding (What the heck are you going to do with it?) project, from his vocational school and then (I really like this part) I still found the time to increase my surfing experience...Oh, my Internet surfing experience (Think I could add professional Internet surfer to my resume? OK I tried.) To keep this day moving smoothly, it looks like it's going to be a breakfast kind of dinner. Yummy! Happy Hump Day everyone! Two more days until Friday - Keeping my fingers crossed it will be another date night Friday kind of night. :)

Weight Loss Goal Finally Reached!

Here is a story that appeared on my newest blog

organizingstaceybolinby2013.blogspot.com

Organizing Stacey Bolin By 2013: A BIG CLUTTER MILESTONE GOAL REACHED!

Monday, January 23, 2012

A BIG CLUTTER MILESTONE GOAL REACHED!

Yes, that is me in February 2010. It was my husband 40th Birthday surprise party, I thought I was looking great, (I was living the life of denial)...little did I know that my weight was another part of the problem with my emotional outlook on life. I was very insecure...yes I said it...I WAS insecure. By December 2010, I was 298 lbs., a size 26, and a physical miserable mess. I think I can honestly say that I was at rock bottom by December 2010. I had a large case, no pun intended, of the guilties for not accompanying my husband to his birth father’s funeral in November of 2010. Then to really test my emotional frame of mind, I got email bashed by an old "So called friend" of my husbands. Funny what happens when a woman (myself), gets the idea in her head, that her (my) relationship is being threatened – how sad and extreme a woman (I) can become. They either run and hide or come back twice as strong. What do you think I did? Don't answer that, you might get it wrong. Believe it or not, I just wanted to withdraw from everyone and disappear, yet at the same time I knew I had to change myself. I kept finding myself asking the same question over and over in my mind, "How the hell did this strong independent women turn into the overweight, lonely, untrusting of anyone, reactive, emotional, co-dependent person I was. Then to add insult to injury, I then somehow had become the naive person I was before I met my husband. My brain was a cluttered mess. I couldn't think or process the easiest tasks. As much as I vowed I'd never be that naive girl again, in my mind, I was exactualy that girl and then some.  OMG! On Dec 7, 2011, my doctor updated my medical status and if I didn't begin to change I would end up a full-fledged diabetic, because of my weight, and a heart attack because of the high level of stress I was under. What it boiled down to...I had to declutter my mind and what was going on within me, in order to start cleaning up what was going on around me.



These are the pants in the first picture.

 To start, I had to put my faults down on paper. This, my dear readers, was a big time wakeup call. A huge reality check if we want to keep the descriptions modern. (Smile). Not only did I have issues, I just couldn’t get over the lack of respect that I had for myself and I realized, If I don't respect myself, then who would? Nobody! Here it is, one year and one month later. SURPRISED - Is the reaction I get from people who haven’t seen or spoken to me since I reached my goal to lose the weight and declutter my mind. People say, “Wow, what diet are you on? What are you doing? Are you exercising? I want to do what you’re doing. You must feel great!” Yes, I do feel great and no I am not on a diet – That response usually quiets a room. I’m serious I didn’t get caught up in a multimillion dollar weight loss program. All I did was stopped drinking soda. I stopped eating junk food and anything that has more than 5 grams of sugar in it, I don’t put it in my mouth. For exercise, I picked up Yoga – LOVIN’ IT! 



Me as a size 12/14



But the biggest thing that I did, and was the most important – I learned to respect myself and began the process of clearing out the clutter of unnecessary thoughts in my mind. I learned that I can’t change the people around me, I can only change myself. I can’t change the way people think, I can only change my way of thinking. The hardest lesson I learned, was that if you want people to hear what you’re saying, you also have show them that you are a good listener.

 

I took all the negative elements in my life and made them work in a positive way for me. My way of thinking, eating, guilt, insecurity, depression, co-dependency, reactiveness, emotional disconnect, thought I was lonely, and yes I even found a way to turn the email from the, “I tell it like it is,” old friend, to work to my advantage. A big thank you to her, you totally inspired me to write one hell of a book. Now if my publishers and I could get on the same page with the cover, they tell me it will one day be a best seller, hands down.  The biggest and final wakeup call - when I learned why she went on to write the words that she did. I think she’d be the one who feels the fool now if she knew that SHE HAD BEEN LIED TO TOO! Sucks doesn’t it! Moving on to better things.



There were my jeans a year ago - Size 26



I let so much negative life stay bottled up in my mind, that it physically paralyzed me. I had to create a positive image in my mind along with my changes in sugar content and food and so, I saw myself thin, I saw myself smiling, I saw myself happy and I saw myself loved. Love can move mountains, and love helped me see the light of change. I didn’t want to bomb bard you with my past, but sometimes reading someone else’s struggles as to why they do what they do to themselves or how others affect people, helps us see that we are not alone in this world. That one time or another, we have all been in a place that we feel is our own rock bottom. It may not have anything to do with weight, yet somehow we can still connect with the feeling of hurt or disappointment. If you want to be happy, than be happy, you can do it! I believe in you, just like I now believe in myself. You only get one shot at this lifetime, grab a hold of it, and make it yours. So what if that dream of being a millionaire hasn’t come true, you’re alive, right? So what if you don’t have a fancy car, you’re still alive. And even when you’re feeling that you are not loved…love yourself and who you are, as there is nobody else like you. Don’t let the influence others dictate who you are, what you want in life, and what you look like. I have taken back my life and I am stronger than ever and I will never let hurtful words or negativity ever claim me again.

In all the clutter and fog that has been removed from my mind, body and soul, I found my life again and the people I want to share that life with. Yet all of those dear family and friends in my life, they should all know by now, the three most important men in my life, that keep me motivated to keep moving forward and not to give up – My husband, and two sons. I am blessed to have your love and support and that you kept believeing in me, just when I though that all hope had been lost. I Love You Always.  

Conversations With a Stranger

I don't know his name; I don't know if he was married, I don't even know if he had kids. What I do know is that he was a man of many questions. They were questions that I couldn't answer, but have wondered myself more often than not. He's questions were many, yet always going go back to the same two - why have people changed and how did we let things get so bad in America? I got chills just listening to his questioning that he threw out into the vast space around the people walking by him. They merely paid no mind and let his spoken words fall on deaf ears. I didn't have any answers, but I wanted him to know, that he is not the only one that is feeling this way. Life is so different from the world in which we grew up as kids. He looked up at me and smiled.

"Thank You. Thank you for taking the time to hear me." He remarked in a raspy voice.

I immediately felt a loss for words. Here is man that appeared down on his luck, his clothes and sneakers were worn out due to frequent wear and tear, but he had new shoe laces. To know that I took the time to acknowledge him, he began to share how proud he was about his new shoe laces, rather than wanting answers.  To see his excitement on something as simple as a pair of new shoe laces, had me wondering, if part of his quest was just to draw attention to himself so that people would take notice and speak to him.

He never once asked for money or if I could spare a little change. He never gave me this long story that his car broke down and he needed money for a tow. He never asked for anything but an answer to his questions. I had no spare change or answers to give to him, so I gave him my time and attention, even if was for just a few short minutes. People looked at me in a questioning manor, as if I had broken the law to speak to someone that was possibly down on his luck. As I think about this more and more today, I honestly believe that all this man wanted was to be seen and heard - Nothing more. Normally I’d have been the same way as the rest of the citizens walking by, much too busy to take the time to listen to someone else’s stories or troubles. Just keep moving at lightning speed to get to a point of the unknown. How precious time is, and how terrible the thought that it is taken for granted each and every day by so many. That many believe the sun will come up tomorrow and that life will get better. Sure, for most these things will happen, however, what about those who have lost their jobs, their families, their ability to cope in their daily lives. What if the only thing they see is the darkness and that their only shining light is someone taking a small amount of their busy day to acknowledge they are there. How hard is it – really? How hard is it to demonstrate a simple act of kindness that will help someone feel that they still matter in this mass universe? Not only would this bring peace to someone’s day, but it will make your day as well.

I know my day started off pretty rough as I continue to battle the fight against outrageous cell phone expenses in my home. I often wonder if I fight this, because I feel I have nothing better to do, or maybe, just maybe in my heart of hearts I see all the frivolous things we take for granted every day while men, women and children, young and old, out in our world of worlds, are struggling to just get through a day. I can hear some of you now, “You work hard for your money, and why not enjoy it.”  My reasoning to answer your statement, the world is not as it once was. Companies are closing down; to find a job is like winning the lottery or finding gold, and the cost of products and services keeps going up and up. While I stood and spoke with this gentle soul, I smiled and couldn’t help but say to him, things will get better, just take one day at a time. That he should always remember, people hear him and maybe they walk by, because they too, cannot answer his questions, but don’t know how to give of themselves either and so it is easier to avoid a situation than try to make the best of it. He simply smiled. I guess in an indirect way, I had answered his question.  I was the one person in his day that had shown him the world was not completely changed. I took a moment to show compassion for a stranger and that America may be struggling, but there are people out there with the same fears and worries, taking it one day at a time. I believe that life is what you make of it and realize that if tomorrow never comes; I have done for others because I want to and by doing so, I feel better about myself and my place in this world. That I hope for future generations of the world, they go on to live their days by a few golden rules, the same ones we were taught when we were kids. As I walked across the road to go to my truck, I turned to send one remaining smile to the man who acutally made my day - he was gone.

We're taking a Pole - Tell us what you think.

I'm taking a pole for all you married folks with kids. Do you give your spouse a mother’s day or a father's day card? I've had people say no, because a spouse is not your mother or father. I've had the other side say, yes, as they are the mother or father of the children you created together. Please check which one applies to you and your honest response. What do you think?

Many Sincere Thanks

I would to express my many thanks to everyone who sent your thoughts and prayers to the Wolford family in their time of sorrow. I will be sure to extend your words to them. I also thank you for your understanding in my choosing to wait until January16, to resume my blog on organizing the clutter and my newest life experience that my family and I shared together. I look forward to writing about my newest in endeavors and to get started working on the big stuff in my want to become fully organized. :)  Keep your fingers crossed, I may appear in my first big book signing event. Something I have dreamed of, for the past 9 years. Keeping my fingers crossed.

See you tomorrow.

WOW - Never expected to get this today!

A Big SHOUT OUT to JD Davis, for posting his horoscope on his facebook page this morning. I checked out the site and this is what mine said - OMG!! Love it, Love it, Love it!

Leo Horoscope for week of January 12, 2012

 LEO (July 23-August 22)

"A writer -- and, I believe, generally all persons -- must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource," said author Jorge Luis Borges. "All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art." I agree that this advice isn't just for writers, but for everyone. And it so happens that you are now in an astrological phase when adopting such an approach would bring you abundant wisdom and provide maximum healing. So get started, Leo: Wander through your memories, reinterpreting the difficult experiences as rich raw material that you can use to beautify your soul and intensify your lust for life.

***

I actually feel that my horoscope for this week is dead on. I decided, just recently, not to hold back as much when writing my blogs. That I am not the only person who has their share of ups and downs in life. I like that people write to me and share that they may have had or have similar things going on in their lives and feel a comfort that they are not alone. None of us are really alone in life; it is just how we decided to interact that makes us feel alone. For some; having a bad day means, I'll stay away from people and keep to myself. Sure the time alone will make you feel great momentarily, but if that time is extended for a longer period, it can change how we are feeling inside about ourselves and the people around us.

I’ve learned in just these last eight months, that depression stinks! I can now stand here today and honestly say that I suffered from years of depression all because I found myself always wondering, after my cancer diagnosis, when would I die, rather than to see the bigger picture – I’m still on this earth and learn to live life to the fullest. I feel that I have been given another chance and for that I am so very grateful. So I say to everyone out there, tell your story, be the person you have always dreamed of, and know that you are not alone. Have a Happy Hump Day!

I heard this song the other day, and I'd like to dedicate it to all my readers. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUf4FEiimwg

Life changes in a struggling economy .

Here it is 2012. The economy has not improved. Prices and going up, people are doing everything they can to get by, the family budgets are becoming more and more restricted and their end of the month figures just are not meeting in the black, as they once did.  But the biggest problem that Americans are having these days, their losing their jobs by the thousands, because of company cut backs, and believe you me, jobs are becoming fewer and far between for all of us. Yes, you see it too, oh the times they are a changing'.  My topic today was inspired by my husband and oldest son.  It is one that has been stewing in my mind for quite some time. Seriously - I never thought I'd have issues until yesterday.  My problem...CELL PHONES!

Now, let me explain before you rip me a new one. I totally get that this technology is at the forefront of our ever changing and constantly growing world. For my family, I see this more as a luxury and an unwanted place to spend our hard earned money. I know cell phones are the must have accessory and I think if you were to stand in the middle of any town or city and asked how many people had one - 9 out of 10 people would raise their hands.  I understand that they make working easier, you can get in touch with people quicker, many people send text messages to communicate so they don't have be confined to a computer, they are great in the event of an emergency and many people opt out of owning a land line phone, for just a cell phone, to cut expenses and other personal reasons. So don't start thinking that I am some old fashioned person that wants to change back to the days of no cell phones. What I want...in my house hold is for my husband and boys to see the expense of something they really don't need endless services on. 

Years ago we used to have phones that would lock us into a two year contract and we paid $200.00 plus, for services every month. This was only for three phones. When we got the phones they were supposed to be emergency/quick call phones only. Pay-As-You go options were not even heard of at the time. My family clearly didn't hear me the day I said the use of the phones were for our family use/emergency use, and so I got rid of them and switched to the Pay-As-You go Net10 phone service, which reduced my spending, at the time, from $200 plus, to $80.00 a month. Great, we saved over $100.00! To my family they were like, it was only $100.00, and what if you used up all your minutes before your service days. Then what? My response, "then you go without. You will have to learn to budget your minutes as if it were money". Yet then they came back saying well if you don't have minutes then you can't make calls if you have an emergency. Get the idea of what I am dealing with. I decided to show it to them on paper as to how much would add up in a year if you put the $100.00 you saved, into a bank account.  I thought sure that seeing the numbers on paper, and the end of the year total of $1,200, would be impressive. Nope. That meant nothing to them and in the long run, they went from using their phones as family only/emergency/update phones, to handing out their numbers like candy. There are just some days when I would like to pull all my hair out and stand naked in my yard and scream...but ya know...I really don't think they'd notice. Ha-ha.

So now the damage has been done. They are phone addicts and either way, unlimited service or a Pay-As-You go service, they want a phone. I'm cool with that. Paying $50.00 a month for each phone putting us right back where we were when we have Sprint, Nextel, and Verizon family plans - I'm not cool with. My philo and yes you may not agree, and again, it's not you paying my bills each month. We have a working land line at home. People can call us there if it's not an emergency, right? Last I remembered the home phone only concept worked years ago. If you were out, you were out. They'd call back later, or if it was busy, they'd call back later. So my question is - then why do we have to have a cell phone connected to our hip if we are not in a job or skill that requires it be with us 24/7?  My husband's boss is big on, no personal cell phones during the work day, but what happens, my husband still gets occasional calls from every Tom, Dick and Barbara (Made up names) and I know it wasn't 911 related. He complains all the time he hates his phone and tired of people calling him, but never says anything to the callers. Now he gets photo text messages of things that are uncalled for. I decided to just ask the question rather than dwelling on it. Timing is everything - when asking a question that appears confrontational in my family. I questioned why we are paying $50.00 a month for his phone? So he could receive dirty text message and jokes and talk on the phone during working hours? They could have called the house after you get home...right? He was correct in responding that he doesn't get or make calls as much as he did before he changed his number, and I attest to that statement. Work has him so busy; he doesn't have time to chit chats. And so my point again, if you don't use many minutes, then what pay full price for this service. Now my husband is not the only one with a phone, we have my oldest son whose phone is connect to his hip. For a while we were paying $50.00 so my oldest son could have endless texting so he could talk to his girlfriend who lived out of the area, but that has since changed with they stopped seeing one another. And to make the matter worse - now my younger son wants a phone. Oh, I can you hear some of you right now - 'What about you Stacey? You’re doing all this bitchin', what are you doing to conserve your phone use? I'm just Bitchin' the facts, but funny you should ask.

Little did they know, since August of last year, I have been doing an experiment with my own personal cell phone and guess what...it worked.  I have a Net10 Pay-As-You go phone. I don't purchase the $50.00 a month unlimited because you can't accrue service days. Every thirty days you have to buy the unlimited or go back to cards that offer a specific about of minutes.  So I bought a card that gave me, 1000 minutes and 500 service days, so my phone will never shut off if I run out of minutes or when I get to 500 service days. I still have 245 minutes on my phone and 250 plus service days, any why - I don't use it for hour long chatting with friends, endless texting friends, etc.  I use it to let my family know where I am, or call a doctor's office if I am running behind, or if one of the kids get sick and I have to take them to the doctors, my husband is aware. But the best reason I would text - To let people know it is snow outside...BTW its snow in Annapolis right now. WAA WHOO! And that is the text I sent my husband today. There was more to it, but you get the idea.

Now I had pondered this idea for my family for quite a while. I want to change their ways and consider trying, what I had been doing with my phone for some time.  I am still out of work and blogging isn't considered a paying job, so maybe this is a good of a time as any to implement the changes for the whole family. If we don't try things could be getting cut in other areas of the budget, hum like maybe...oh I don't know, let’s say the cable for instance - No way they could live without that.  For right now, I don't accept the reasoning that they plea, as to why they have to have full service phones at all times, and so we are all going to make a change to see just how much we don't have to have them. The deal is, from now on, if people want to chat with you, they call the house phone. If they want to have long conversations with friends etc., use the house phone. Our cell phones are for emergency and quick calls only.  I'd love to capture all this on video. I'd call it - Cell Phone Withdraws of the Average Family. I've heard of many families doing their part in cutting back expenses that are much more drastic than my asking to reduce our cell phone fees. I am taking a very active role in our budget so that we are not hounded by collection agencies, or threats of foreclosure. That we are prepared if we need a new furnace, or the trucks die, or the roof leaks, or someone is sick. My role as a parent and a wife is also to provide for my children and husband. To make sure, since I am home all day, or even if I was out working, we always have heat, hot water, food, the ability to cook that food, oil, clean clothes, a warm place to sleep, shoes on their feet, and the list goes on and on. So while you may think I am trying to be controlling, you are so far from the truth... I am doing what any responsible person would do. My questions to you while everyone is trying to survive in a failing economy - What will you give up?

AN EXCELLENT RECIPE!! A MUST TRY FOR A COLD NIGHT!!

Santa Fe Soup with Melted Cheese

Makes 8 servings

1 lb. cubed cheddar cheese (I used half Colby/jack and half cheddar)

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

15 1/4-oz can kidney beans, undrained

14 1/2-oz can Rotell diced tomatoes with green chilies

14 1/2-oz can stewed tomatoes

15 1/2-oz can whole-kernel corn, undrained.

2 Tablespoons of your favorite taco seasoning mix.

Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker, cover and cook on high three hours.

I made 2 loaves of split butter top bread to pull apart and dip into the soup.

This soup can also be thickened by adding more cheese and makes a great nacho dip.

Delicious!  Enjoy!

Mom Has No Tolerance & 14 Ain't Fun!

I get up this morning, I'm in a great mood, hubby and I enjoy some quality private morning conversation, and all felt right in the world.  The planets must have been aligned - temporarily. After my husband left for work, I follow the same routine that I have had in place since September of last year. 6:10 am, wake the boys to get ready for school.  Their bus is generally on time with maybe a day here or there that it is late, but for the most part it is dependable.  So this morning, our digital outside thermometer reads 14.2 degrees.  OK, that's cold, no getting around it. The weather here in Maryland is basically mild in the winter months, summer months - that's a blog all its own. 

Without being told, my oldest son Ryan, is dressed as if he is about to scale the polar alps of some far away land that in his mind has never heard of the word heat, or he was the spokesperson for Carhartt subzero gear. Either way, he ate his oatmeal and drank his hot chocolate...he was warm and ready to brave the cold. Now my younger son, Reese, was dressed as if he were about to take a morning tour of Disneyland in California. A sun shield surf t-shirt, a hoodie sweat shirt and jeans. HELLO IT'S WINTER HERE IN MARYLAND…its COLD OUT THERE TODAY!  But he didn't want any part of having to wear a coat.

Now, come on, I'm in a great mood, why in the world would you want to attempt to change that. It's not often you find mothers that are in a great mood, especially in the morning. A good mood, OK yes...sometimes. A great mood and they're even smiling...is like discovering a dinosaur bone in your flower bed.  But I guess today, having mother in a happy state was just not acceptable. I could actually see the thought bubbles above my son's head that read "Test her, test her, you know you want too." And so, let the games begin. His reasoning as to why he didn't want to wear a jacket was that "THEY" get mad.  For me, what does any smart person do when they hear someone blame the "THEY" people...we ask, "Who are THEY and why should I care what "THEY" think?" Needless to say, he didn't like my response. I was informed that the "THEY" people, he spoke of, were his classmates and teachers. Again, why should "THEY" care he wears a coat? He went on to plead his case that he didn't have a locker, which resulted in Ryan chiming in, "Everyone has a locker in school." There nothing like a few negative comments, from the peanut gallery, to really shake things up. Reese just stood there shaking as if his next plan was to punch something. We've had enough of things being punched in this house. Ryan punching his closet door a few months back and Ron recently punching the stairwell wall had me so mad, that I felt like punching something! If I knew any better I'd sign them all up for boxing and let them have at it with each other. I have to find some humor in all of this; otherwise a woman can go mad.

While he stood there shaking his arms and his skin was turning an angry shade of red, I stepped up my mommy role and pushed my good mood aside - dang, I think my planets only align only once every blue moon but I sent the law down. "Put the damn coat on and I don't want to hear another word about it! It's cold and I'm not having you come down with pneumonia. You've had that before; do you really want it again?" I guess by now you know who won this battle.  He put his jacket on and stomped out of the house slamming the door behind him. It was then I realized...he was going to be 15 this year. We just got finished with the mood swings of a boy changing from a younger teen to a young man with Ryan. I don't know why we thought we would be spared the craziness with Reese, but my husband said all boys go through this. In my mind I thought, if they would have had a period, maybe I'd understand it. As a teenage girl going through the change I was called a royal bitch and have perfected it to Cast Iron over the years.  For boys I call it - Total Meltdown, followed by years of rebuilding. I have seen posts on Facebook, parents mentioning what their teens had done this time, but what I am grateful for is that these are the parents who are involved and care about their children and let the rest of us caring parents know, we are not alone.

My Newest In Writings

I will now be writing two blog. Be sure to follow me here and on my newest quest for a grand transformation. 

http://organizingstaceybolinby2013.blogspot.com/

"IT'S 2012"

HELLO WORLD!

WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR

2012!

May it be all that you

can ever dream of,

and so much more.