Sandy is....

...on her way
        
                    source


We are in the direct path of a super powerful Hurricane. They predict two full days of horrendous winds and ocean surges. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate and the rest of us who don't have to leave stay put.

They told us to prepare for 7-10 days without power
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    yikes




Just 14 months ago I was writing about hurricane Irene and now they are telling us that this storm is worse. Its bigger and the winds stronger.

  source



Needless to say I am a bit nervous.

I have gone shopping several times with the last time being just about two hours ago.

I ask myself why do I keep going to the store? I keep saying why didn't I just go all out and do a big grocery haul?  I buy a bit here and a little bit there. Part of me says...how bad can it be? and the other part of me screams and says yes it can be That bad. But finally I was able to get supplies for both me and my Mom.  I feel good knowing that my husband bought lanterns a few weeks ago and that the coolers are filled with ice
                              .
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That feeling of being in control lasts for about a minute


 That nagging feeling that I have forgotten something seeps into my bones...then I remember something very, very important


There is just so much one can prepare for..after that you just have to hang tight and trust God. Yep, and I can think of no other to hold my fears.

Right now the winds  die down a bit, then pick right up again, feels more like a typical fall storm brewing... but I know that tomorrow at this time will be a completely different story.




I fear for people's safety

          God is in charge


I fear flooding


          God is near


I fear power outages and the cold that will result from loss of power


         God's love warms me


No doubt that we will all be talking (God willing) about this storm for years and years to come.


So as I put away cans and put fresh batteries into flashlights ...I pray


        God, we ask for your shield of protection over everyone


                               Amen




Now, I feel better

Normal

 Do any of you have to wait for the spin cycle and reach into the washer to rev it up by spinning the drum like a top?
                             
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Do any of you have to literally hit and bang the heck out of your computer for it to work?

              source






Do dirty socks seem to appear in the oddest places in your home?

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Do your undies get larger every year?
                           
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Do the chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen call out your name over and over until the only way to shut them up is to eat them?

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Do you sometimes envision the pots and pans as weapons...especially when the hubby says something....you know....um..er...STUPID that hurts your feelings?

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Do you turn on the exercise video, sit down on the couch and just watch; then afterwards swear that you've had a work-out?
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During political debates do you yell and talk to the TV screen convinced that they somehow hear your insults?
                               
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Do you manage to always walk down the aisle that someone else has just farted in?

            source





When watching Project Runway do you always like the styles that the judges hate?

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Does your belly and rear-end keep dancing way after the rest of your body stops?
                               
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When on a diet do you constantly open that refrigerator hoping that there might magically appear some no-cal ice cream, chocolate cake, or no-cal fried chicken?

              source




Do you write posts hoping to prove that your "normal" is someone else's "normal" too?




               NO?




                     Um...me neither

Sweater Weather

I think I suffer from a bit of seasonal affective disorder. S.A.D.


Every fall as the trees burst forth with vibrant color and the heat of summer is replaced with the crisp chill in the air, I feel

              uninspired

                    Defeated

                         Melancholy

                                 YUCKY!!!


I can't help it. I miss my springtime and I miss the fun of summer. I hate the fact that the sun sets so early and that my flip flops have to be replaced with socks and sneakers/shoes.


My toesies were just not meant to be confined!!! 
                           
                                                  source



My husband thinks that I waste too much time hating autumn when I should appreciate the the awesomeness of Fall. I do try...






"Oooo look at the pretty colors of the leaves."
                   
                           source

      
           
                 

 "Hot Chocolate. yum"
                     
                                 source




                       "Leaves....Oooo"
             
                          source




OK, I tried.

Seriously I really do try,  but instead of appreciating Fall, I  keep feeling  envious of my bloggy buddies who live in warm states like Florida and California. I even envy my bloggy pals in Australia who are now enjoying springtime in their part of the world.


 I won't give up. I am off to find my bliss in autumn ...will I find it? I hope so....but I think I will play the lottery just in case. If I hit the number then you guys in Florida watch out...I'll be down there in no time in my brand new... 
                            
                                             source


Now, where's my darn sweater?! UGH

A Weekend in D.C.

Wow it has been a while...

        I am sorry


I have not been feeling 100% and My computer is yet again acting up and it takes forever to write anything much less try to post pictures! FRUSTRATING!!!

Last weekend I visited our Nation's Capital.

            AWESOME!

We stayed in Crystal city and it was not only a bit cheaper when it came to the hotel room...it was a short train ride a way on the Metro

We arrived Friday late afternoon and hopped straight on the train to the DC area.

 The first thing we saw was the gorgeous Washington Monument (The Washington Monument is closed for repairs due to an earthquake on August 23, 2011)

Do you know that you can order a flag that has been flown over the capital?

All Americans can get a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol at a very reasonable price by placing an order directly with your elected members of Congress. 


 The next day we visited the Smithsonian and it was a blast.  The museum consists of many many Museums. I feel that there is no way one can see them all in one day. We decided on the Museum of

American History

                                                

Where I took these Pictures...

Dorothy's Ruby slippers

This was one of my favorite exhibits. It  is a huge doll house created and donated by Faith Bradford she spent more than 50 years collecting and constructing the mini furnishings. Even after she donated the house she still sent Christmas cards to the little dolls that lived there!

 Then off to the First Lady's inaugural dress exhibit

This next exhibit was amazingly inspiring. A testament to four young men who decided that they would make a change

Source

"On February 1, 1960, four young African-American men, freshmen at the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, entered the Greensboro Woolworth’s and sat down on stools that had, until that moment, been occupied exclusively by white customers. The four—Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeil and David Richmond—asked to be served, and were refused. But they did not get up and leave. Indeed, they launched a protest that lasted six months and helped change America." quote from source 

And just a short walk away is the World War II Memorial. We visited there both on the night we arrived in DC and then again the next day.

 

There are 4,048 gold stars and each star represents one hundred American service personnel who died or who remain missing from WW II

So many Men and Women who died for the freedom we have today

Each pillar with a beautiful stone wreath represents a state

Now, for a bit of something strange... While we were at the WWII memorial I noticed that there was a stray goat just walking around nervously. How and why it was loose was beyond me, but soon everyone had their phones out and recording the strange occurrence. Soon the owner came and the goat followed him obediently out of the site.

Of course visiting the Lincoln Memorial is awe inspiring.

Since this was my very first time visiting Washington DC I felt the need to celebrate the occasion with another "first"...

My very first time at Krispy Kreme! You see there are no Krispy Kremes in my neck of the woods so I have never had the opportunity to have one.....Goodness, I had no idea how yummy those things are! We got there and the red light was ON! Apparently this is when they make fresh donuts and you buy them nice and hot.

We ended our stay with a visit to the largest Catholic Church in the United States...

I will have those pics for you next week. Right now it is too frustrating to post more pictures,because if I try to post them now I may just have to throw this dilapidated computer out the window!

Teenager in the house....UGH

Hi everyone.

      It's been a hard few days.



I can sum it up in just one word....



                          TEENAGER



Teenage girl to be exact.


         Every time I see a commercial or some TV show  that depicts someone talking and smiling about how close they are with their daughters...

"We're best friends"  and "I love spending time with my Mom"


I want to throw something at the TV.


Suddenly, I am public enemy number one around here


When the Hell ( yeah I said it) did I become the person to avoid?



Am I too strict?

Am I not strict enough?

What The Hell ( yep, I said it again) am I doing wrong?


I say black
She say white



I say no
She shouts "Why not, Why not, Why not,Why not, Why not, Why not, Why not, Why not, Why not,Why not, Why not, Why not , Why not, Why not, Why not,Why not, Why not, Why not , Why not, Why not, Why not,Why not, Why not, Why not!" Even though the "why not"  has been explained several times


I find myself wanting to start a support group of Moms of teen girls

       or perhaps there is already one out there?


If there is where do I sign up? and how early can I get there?



I find myself echoing my mother's words


                      Because I am the boss!

                       My House my rules!

                       OVER my dead body!!!

                      


I need help


It seems everyone else gets the smiley girl and I get

    
                      source



   I am googling self-help books

These are the titles I am looking for.


 I'm OK,  but you're not because you have a teen

How to repair doors that have been slammed too many times
How to tap your teen's cell phone

How to not feel guilty for tapping your teen's cell phone

How to make great camouflage gear to follow teen around town

How to make your teen love your music

Got Teens? Well then you need 1,000 ways to get rid of migraines, nervous ticks and night terrors

Are you there God it's me ...MOM



Wish me luck....I'm going in!