It has been a long time since I have been on wordpress. I plan to be on a bit more as I have about 60 hours a week on my hands. “Why?” you ask, because today, I quit my JOB!! No, I did not quit Mary Kay, although that fell to the wayside some time last summer when I went back to Papa Johns. (I have managed to remain an active MK consultant with the few returning customers.) Today, I quit my General Manager position at Papa Johns (PJs). There have been a few things going on lately that made the decision to leave an easy one. Here is whats been up lately: (more…)
Filed under: Family, Kids, Laughs, Life, Love, Random, Thoughts | Tags: Husbands, Love
My husband is out of town for the week on business. Oh, how I miss him. I talk to him a few times a day, so it’s not too bad. I am just used to him being here, always. It is rare he has to leave town on business. I really miss the help with the kids. I have to give the husband credit where credit is due. I thought dealing with the kids in the morning was “no biggy” but apparently, it only was “no biggy” for me because the hubby does it!
The hubby really is a big help with the kids, particularly in the mornings. And, I so miss the coffee being ready when I get downstairs! I am not an early riser and rarely can pull it off. I have overslept on the kids 2 days in a row, having to drive the youngest to school while the other two run around crazy getting ready because I am still comatose! Oh, one more thing. It really is IMPOSSIBLE to keep the house clean 100% of the time. I have told the hubby that it just shouldn’t get messy. Well, now I know better. Stuff is everywhere because we are constantly rushed. (Note to self - clean house before hubby gets home, so he doesn’t know! LOL)
So, this one is for the hubby! He is missed terribly right now, in more ways than one. 
Filed under: Balance, Band, Cheerleading, Exciting, Family, Football, High School, Kids, Life, Love, Marching Band, Papa Johns, Positive, Redskins, Thoughts | Tags: Football, Homecoming, Weddings, Young Love
Saturday, October 20, was Homecoming here in my little town. My oldest attended the pancake breakfast with her friends. Then she was off to join the Homecoming Parade. Since she is in marching band, she had to go a bit earlier than we did. As the oldest headed to the high school, we left to attend my youngest’s football game to watch her cheer. It was the last game before playoffs and although the team did not win, they do have at least 1 playoff game to look forward to. We were then off to the parade. For the rest of my weekend, keep on reading. (more…)
Filed under: AOL, Balance, Donations, Family, Life, Love, Parents, Summer, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: Family, Love, Parents
Have you ever hated something so much that it hurts? The pain unbearable and nothing, absolutely nothing makes it go away? Have you ever felt like you just want to rip your heart out and bury it deep beneath the earth, just so that you don’t feel the ache in it anymore? Have you ever felt so lost because the one person in your life who loved you NO MATTER WHAT, was no longer physically there to hear you when you called? No longer there to hug you when you needed a huge bear hug?? That is what October 19 does to me. (more…)
Filed under: Balance, Family, Kids, Life, Love, Parents, Student, Thoughts | Tags: , Balance, Daughters, Family, Friends, Honesty, Love, Moms
My oldest daughter is and has always been a really good kid. She is 14 (almost 15), very bright, a good student and makes good decisions. We talk a lot. We talk about things that happen in her life, the choices she faces and makes, her school work, her music, her crushes. I am proud to say that she really impresses me at times with her wisdom.
Tonight we went out to dinner, the whole family. Of course the three kids all started talking at once and telling us about their days. My youngest held up her hand and suggested we use a fork as a “talking stick” (from Yours Mine & Ours). My son instantly piped up with “No, you need to have like 16 kids to have one of those.” Meanwhile, my oldest and I share a laugh because OMG! This “talking stick” conversation did however lead to everyone taking turns to speak. We heard lots of stories through dinner. (more…)
Filed under: Books, Hauntings, Jamaica, Legends, Love, Montego Bay, Photos, Travel
On Tuesday, July 17, 2007, we had another tour planned with our driver Winston. This day we planned to head towards Ocho Rios and see the sights along the way. Included in this day trip were Rose Hall Plantation, Columbus Park and Dunns River Falls. I enjoyed our visit to Rose Hall so much that I felt it deserved it’s own post. (See Dunns River Falls post and video here: http://nightowlmom.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/dunns-river-falls-climb-jamaica/ )
The history of the Great House: The house was begun by George Ash, an English planter, in 1750 and completed in 1780 by John Palmer, a wealthy British planter. This was a 6,600-acre plantation, and had more than 2,000 slaves. At the time, it was considerably larger than today. Two additional wings, originally connected to the main house by open breezeways, were never rebuilt. The Great House collapsed into ruins after abandonment that lasted more than 130 years. The house was later restored by members of the Delaware-based Rollins family, owners of the near by Ritz-Carlton, in 1966 and 1971 Listen carefully to the guide. She will probably be in a plaid-patterned dress that emulates costumes standard for that generation. The tale of sexual intrigue, insanity, and murder is one of the hottest celebrity exposés in Jamaica. The dark and brooding Annie’s Pub is on the building’s ground floor in the old dungeon. Enjoy a rum-laced “witches brew” and Johnny Cash songs, including the Ballad of Annie Palmer.
Filed under: Donations, Friends, Jamaica, Kids, Life, Love, Photos, Positive, Travel, Volunteer
While on our trip to Jamaica, we contacted Chef of http://www.chefsjamaicatours.5u.com/ for a day trip to Blossom Garden Orphanage. First, let me say that Chef is an extremely personable man running a tour business in Jamaica. He was kind enough to not charge us for this trip as we were there to donate much needed school supplies. This was a very generous offer as gas prices in Jamaica are equivilant to ours here. We did pay for the gas and tipped Chef as well for his generosity.
As for the orphanage, I was pleasently surprised to see that the center was located in a middle class neighborhood in Montego Bay. The house was rather small for the sheer number of children residing at the center, which at this time is 60 children and currently at capacity. (more…)
I got this in an email and got a big enough laugh that I thought I would share it with you all.
The Guys’ Rules
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down
Finally, the guys’ side of the story.
(I must admit, it’s pretty good.)
To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;
To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give ones self;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived –
This is to have succeeded.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
This particular quote means so much to me and has helped me through many rough times. I hope it can bring something special to you, too.
