Anonymous Comment Response and Request to Felllow Bloggers

I am responding to Anonymous' comment:

I think everything composed was very reasonable. However, what about this?
what if you were to create a killer title? I am not suggesting your content 
is not good, however what if you added a title to 
maybe get a person's attention? I mean "Want To Be A Big Sister" is kinda plain. You should look at Yahoo's front 
page and note how they write news headlines to grab viewers to open the links.
You might add a video or a related pic or two 
to grab people excited about what you've written. Just my opinion, it could make your posts a little livelier.

My web page lung disease and exercise 

I do appreciate your constructive criticism and appreciate the advice and will take it into consideration. So I thank you.

After saying that, not sure who you are. I had conflicts of allowing Anonymous comment because of this very reason. And its easier to act like someone you are not.

I clicked your "web page"' thinking I'll see something about lung disease and exercise. But it isn't. It's a site for Disabled Dating. It was misleading. 

If you have read some of my posts, you will know that I am happily married so your dating site is not of interest. If you had a blog I could be.

I've received several comments I have marked spam from "Anonymous"' that has NOTHING to do with a particular post and it seems like it is you. If it is not, I apologize. But the writing is the same and each time the 'website' is given is never associated with my post or the description of the website.

I am responding to this onein this post but not publishing it because it really doesn't have anything to do with the post but I do appreciate the suggestions.

To my fellow Bloggers, do you get any comments such as these? 

Want To Be A Big Sister

Two years ago I applied to be a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister program. You can see the beginning of my journey here


During my interview two years ago, I had asked him to be honest with me if he thought I would be matched. He assured me that I would but it could take a while because of the number of girls in the program is less than the boys and he didn't see my disability a problem.

Realistically, I knew my disability was going to make it harder to find me a Little. People can tell me anything they want but I know how people can be reserved, As a nurse I had to work harder to prove to patients and employees that I am capable of most things anyone else can do. And I can always improvise to do something that is more difficult for me to do.

After a couple of months, they had found a Little for me but before we met, she got sick and was postponed. I called a week later and they said they were going to look for another one for me.

I had not heard from them since.

Last week, I emailed the case worker regarding my change of address and phone number and requesting the status of me being a Big. I reminded him who I was.

He responded that he remembers me vividly.and thought I had alot to offer a child. He admitted that my disability was an added challenge but the main problem is that there are not as many as girls. He informed that he was going to have a meeting with his staff the following week and see if they can pull all their resources to find me a child.

The following week, as promised he wrote to be again:

I will place a request in to the school counselors to identify a girl 6-9 who faces some of the obstacles that you have conquered in your life. I am touched by your tenacity to become a mentor and will do my best to assist. We will aim to have a kid around August or September as our cut-off for making school-based matches is March. (school matches do not meet in the summer and we want matches to get a significant amount of time together before school ends)This is good as it gives my caseworkers time to search through the schools we serve.Please contact me in late August and I will hopefully have someone identified. I am again sorry about the wait and hope the little we find will make up for the time invested.

So please pray that God sends me a Little that needs someone like me as a mentor. I want to make a difference in a child's life.

Awkward Moment with Priest Because of Disability.

As most people with disabilities, I have to deal with ignorance. Some I have written about. Here is a previous post. As I have aged I let much of it roll off my back. I don't worry about it. You get used to it for the most part. But we are still human and it upsets us sometimes.

Sometimes I find it humorous.  I've seen people, both adults and children, staring at me as they walk not looking where they are going and nearly bump into something or trip. I giggle and think it serves them right.  Hubby sometimes notices and says under his breath, "Take a  picture."

I understand the curiosity. I really do.

I hear adults talking to each other, "Oh like at that poor girl, she is so crippled" etc. I probably could fill a whole book with a collection of what people have said or done. 

Kids are the worse. They are the loudest. They laugh, point and attempt to imitate. Sometimes I want to just go over to them and smack them. But then I remind myself they were not raised properly. It is really not their fault.

For the kids I have come up with some answers. They'll ask in different versions, "Why do you walk funny?" I learn to say, "God made me this way."  Which they don't understand either. Their attention span is so short they move on.

I hate attention to myself immensely. If you read my blog, you know that. 

This past weekend after mass Hubby and I strolled with the crowd to the exit where Father was standing. We just started going back to church and this Priest wasn't there before. 

We make our way and I shake his hand and told him I enjoyed the sermon. It was a great sermon. Then he looks down at my legs and says very LOUDLY, "Oh my! You walk with a limp. What happened to you?" I felt like everyone got quiet and turned. 

Okay, maybe not EVERYONE but some did. It was one of those moments I detest. Everything just blurred. And I am not one to have a quick comeback like I wish I would.

I awkwardly smiled and said"It's just me". 

He continued to stare at my legs, "Your limp is just you? What happened?"

I was not going to stand there and explain to him because 1) There were people behind us waiting for their turn. 2) If I told him he would have no idea what it is anyway. 3) It was one of those moments that I felt very uncomfortable and I was almost speechless. I wanted to run out of there.

The first thing that came into my head would not have been proper to say to a Priest.  So I just responded, "Its the way I walk."

Hubby didn't notice much of it because of the crowd and he sometimes just doesn't pay attention. He was holding my hand but I let go because I just wanted to get away as I could from the scrutiny. 

Later that night, I expressed my feelings to Hubby. He said he heard him but he didn't notice how embarrassed I was. He took it as the Priest being curious. I think he is conditioned as I usually am.

As I thought about it during the night, I because furious and confused. How can a Man of God be so ignorant?  How can this man so blatantly and loudly embarrass a parishioner?

 I talked to my Mom about it this morning. My argument was he is supposed to be the Man of God. He shouldn't have scrutinized me like that. She told me to remember that he is also a Man, a human being with his own faults.

For some reason I can't get that incident out of my head.  I usually brush incidents like that and move on.  I guess because the last person I thought would do something like that was a Man of God.

We won't be going to mass at the church this weekend because we'll be at a retreat. But what about the next time?  

Maybe I should hand him a print out on CP?  I thought about emailing as they do have a site explaining to him my limp and the way he made me feel.   But is it going overboard? 

Why do we, people with disabilities, always have to explain to people why we walk the way we do or why we do the things we have to do with a disability?  To COMPLETE STRANGERS, no less.

I hope you share your honest thoughts with me and if possible, share this post. How would you have responded?  Eventually, I'll get over it.  Did I overreact?  I usually don't ask anyone to share my posts. I figure if you want to share it, you will.  But I would really like as many people's views of the situation as possible. You can agree or disagree, any feedback is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

LAUGHTER

My BabyGirl and I had our mother/daughter outing last night.  We had one of those laughing until we cried moments. I was telling her a dream I had. I promise you do not want to know the dream.  But I told her because I always tell her my crazy dreams.

It wasn't my 'ordinary' dreams like she being younger or can't find her, losing my car, etc.

She started laughing so hard that she made me start to laugh and then it began. I almost couldn't tell her all of the dream because we were laughing so hard.

It was a warming happy moment to watch her laugh so hard, even at my expense.

After we departed and I was on my way home and before I fell asleep, I started thinking.

When had we laughed so hard like that? I'm sure we had more like them.  Sometimes our drink was coming up through our noses.

I remember a couple of times when her father and I were together. He would do some things and it would put me into a laughing fit. It usually wasn't funny to him and he would get ticked off because I was laughing. I hope he has found some peace and able to laugh more than he did with us.

I don't know why I just wrote that paragraph. I thought about deleting it. But it's true. I hope he is finding more laughter in his life.

Sometimes MyHubby will laugh at something I say or do that wasn't meant to be funny. I kid him saying "You are always laughing AT Me" He says  what I say or do, is just funny sometimes. He says he'll never laugh AT me, always with me.  He is right.

I rather make him laugh than cry anyway.

I laugh at myself all the time. Many people need to do that, laugh at themselves. Lighten up.

I found some quotes about Laughter that I will close with.

An oldie but true: Laughter is the Best Medicine.

"I am thankful for laughter, except when it comes out of my nose." Woody Allen

"Laughter is an instant vacation." Milton Berle

"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it".  Bill Cosby

"Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache, and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and lightness of your life." Joan Lunden.

CAPTCHA and Comment Moderation

I always hated to have to type a CAPTCHA to get on a site or comment.. Mainly because the letters and numbers are so indecipherable at times. Maybe its my damaged brain but sometimes I can't figure out the letter or number for the life of me. They can be so close together or in some sort of obscure font, my damaged brain will not process.  I give myself a minimum of 2 tries and max of 5. If I go over the 5, sorry I'm moving on. Yes, I've come up with some of those ridiculously CAPTCHA's like that. Yes I change it and another crazy CAPTCHA comes up I just can't get.

I totally understand their purpose. But I still don't want it on my blog. I THINK, (I can be totally wrong. And I'm sure I will be informed if I am), adding one more step to comment can turn what could have been a commentator move on without leaving a comment. I have been one of those commentators that moved on occasion. 

I do go through the CAPTCHA the majority of the time especially if I like the person/blog. 

Recently, I've noticed some weird comments on my blog posts. After researching I figured out it was spam so I started thinking and researching.

I had seen Comment Moderation on some blogs and really thought nothing of it. It's their Blog.  It's their preference. It doesn't give me an extra step.

Remember I can be scatterbrained. I do have damage to my brain because of my cerebral palsy, you know? "SMILING"  I am so forgetful and I blame Cerebral Palsy for it too..Just kidding..

I know my mom NEVER let me use my Cerebral Palsy for any excuse to not do something. CAN'T was NOT in my vocabulary according to my loving Mom. I think I said it once or twice and don't remember the consequences. But whatever it was, I dared NOT say it, in front of her anyway. Uh uh. No way!

Anyway, back to my point.

I've noticed some 'advertisers' etc leaving comments on my posts, that I have deleted. It is irritating. If it would have been even a little close to the subject of the post, I might have left it there..but it was way off topic.

Therefore, I am sorry to say that I have initiated comment moderation. I apologize that you won't see your comment immediately. I do have it set up  to send all comments to my email so I  can approve them ASAP.

Thanks for your understanding, support and love. 

Home Buying: Chaos Continues, Lender

Last post I was stressed with losing my Walmart Gift Card and Bank Debit card. My day didn't get better. The mail-lady came later than usual with 2 pieces of certified mail, one for me and one for Hubby as well as 2 other pieces of mail for each, same company. 

If you have been following our atrocious journey in owning a home, we had problems from the get-go. As we look back, we can see where there was times when we should have just walked away from the whole mess. Unfortunately, we didn't. And here we are.

The original Lending Company who gave us our loan sold it to another lending company. Then that lending company sold our loan to ANOTHER one. I think our loan has been bought and sold at least 4 times since January. 

I think that is totally wrong, especially when we weren't notified for each turnover. Why can they change our contract just like that? And we can't? There is definitely something wrong with this industry.

I don't quite understand the whole process but thankfully Hubby does, at least a tad more. Even though the original Lending company sold it, they are still in the mix because if the company that bought out loan doesn't abide by their agreement, the original lending company can do something. I do not know exactly what.

Anyway, last week we also received a rather nasty letter from the insurance company for something because the lending company is not talking with the insurance. 

Since our original move in date was so screwed, it moved our Loan Due date. So our first mortgage payment was for February. Hubby sent it.  It was cashed. 

Let me say since the mortgage lender has changed so many times, it is freaking confusing.  Where we sent the mortgage payment, on the note, it has 4 different addresses and phone numbers. I don't mean same office. The BIlling is in Carolina, Tech support in Texas, and so on. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Hubby has called these people numberous times but can't get anyone. There is something wrong with their phone line because he goes through the automated but once it gets to a real person, its garbled and they are disconnected. He tried it on his phone, my phone and his work. He tried different areas..Same thing.

He has received threatening emails and phone calls, when he can't get to the phone at work. When he attempts to return the call, the call is dropped. I am not saying this happened once or twice. I am talking about 5-10 times, if not more.

We keep getting mail and stating we are in default  All four pieces of mail we received yesterday were the SAME THING.  Alot of wasted postage, wouldn't you say? They tacked on about $300 more dollars. It says it is now in collection and we could foreclose and lose our collateral? Excuse me?

Hubby keeps telling them they cashed the check and he was NOT sending another check until they found the one we sent. They told him to send a copy of his BANK STATEMENT proving it. 

My poor Hubby, who is normally a very patient reasonable person, refuses to do it. He asks (And I totally agree) why do WE always have to prove everything? 

I suggested we offer a copy of the cancelled check but not the bank statement. What is it with these freaking financial institutions?

Hubby has stayed in contact with our original lender's contact we've been dealing with. SHe is sorta the go between and she will get back with him after she finds out what is going on. We refuse to pay the note until they figure out where the hell our first note went.

I told Hubby, it might cost us more but maybe it is time to hire a lawyer for legal advice. 

_____

By the way I did go to Wal-mart and I have to say it went smoothly. I brought them the receipt. They deactivated the old one and gave me a new one with my previous balance. It worked at the gas pump without a hitch! YAY! Finally Wallyworld comes through for me.

You Lose Walmart GIft Card---You are Screwed.

Today I trudged to do my absolute necessary hated errand of the month. If you have followed me I hate shopping and I double hate Walmart.

I go to check out and reloaded my gift card I use to put gas in my car. I also used my bank debit card to pay and get cash back. From that moment to my car I have no clue where they went.  I searched my car 3 times. Emptied my purse many times after. I walked back into the store asking the clerk who waited on me if she saw my cards. She said, "No, but you forgot a bag." It was MyLove's Orange Juice. He needs that Vitamin C.  She suggested I go to the Customer Service.

SO I walked to Customer Service and met up with this mean looking Caucasian employee. I asked her if someone handed in my cards explaining to her what they were. She snobbishly and grumpily said, "Not to me." I asked her if she could ask the others who worked there. She huffed and said, "I don't have time". Boy did I wanna Bitch Slap that Bitch or what? She walked away before I could get her name.

I came home depressed. I unloaded the groceries and saved the groceries HOPING I had stuck them in a bag. No Luck. I check my car again twice. Hubby checked my purse (Yes I allowed hm to snoop in my purse, otherwise my purse is off limits like his wallet is to me. It's just one of those unsaid rules). Still NO Luck.

So I called my bank and they deactivated my card and ordered me another one. My new one will inconveniently arrive 5-7 WORKING days.

I called Walmart Customer service. Debbie, the rep was very nice. She said I had to bring the receipt where with the reload to the MANAGER where I reloaded at and tell them the problem. They will give me another one  I told her what happens if it was stolen or picked up and used. She said that is why I need to go back to the store ASAP to let them know.

I asked if they just couldn't deactivate it and transfer my balance to a new one. She said, She was sorry but I had to go to WALMART again to do that.

SO in the meantime if someone uses it I am screwed. I don't have ALOT of money on it but still...sigh..so guess where I gotta go again tomorrow. I wanna cry..lol

Why I Rather Be a Homebody For the Most Part

Driving is one of the least likable things I do. If I can help it I don't go anywhere.  But there are times I have to drive like go shopping. visit friends and family, doctor appointments etc. 

Yesterday, I drove to Baton Rouge to see an old college friend which I enjoyed the visit so much and the long drive was worthwhile. Even the chaotic traffic was worthwhile.

As I was driving on the freeway I tend to stay in the lane where the sign of my destination  is posted. I was on the far left hand lane going the speed limit. Then a white SUV comes up behind me tailgating me. All of a sudden I see a blue light flash on the dashboard. Of course, my heart started pumping faster. But I looked again and didn't see any signs on the vehicle indicating it was a cop. I had no where to stop an wasn't sure if I was suppose to stop. So I switched lanes and the idiot flew by. I noticed when he got a head of me he was doing the same thing to all other drivers in that lane. 

Why couldn't he have passed me on the lane I switched to? Oh right..He was a complete asshole.

Then today I ventured out. I was supposed to go buy a gift, pick up meds, dropped off a movie at the library, go to the local produce store to get my fresh veggies and fruit and grocery shopped. I did everything except grocery shopped. 

I ended up doing everything except grocery shopped because to put it bluntly my legs were tired and I'm pooped.

When I went to the Produce store I waited for someone to back out of the parking space that is right in front of the entrance. I parked and as I was getting out of the car, I noticed a black male walking towards me with an angry tone but I didn't know what he was saying. I finally saw the Chihuahua in his hands. I guess since I was trying to figure out what he was saying I was sorta staring. As he passes by me he asks, "What are you looking at BITCH?" 

I guess I looked confused. A friendlier black male walking behind the meaner smiled at me and said, "He is ticked off because the dogs ran away and we had to catch them." I said, "OH'.  I was shocked and confused.

But after the nicer guy passed by I made my way into the store and a lady asks me what was his problem. I told her obviously the dogs ran away and he was ticked off. I thought he was talking to me and asked what I was staring at. 

She said she noticed him walking directly towards me cursing and she had her phone out to call 911. I thanked her for her concern. So I am not totally crazy thinking he was talking to me.

Folks, that is why I am more of a homebody vs going out.

Have a great weekend.

Link Your Blog/Funky Mood

I have been in such a funk I don't even like myself sometimes. Have you ever felt that way?

You are sick but don't feel bad enough to stay in bed. But yet you don't want to do anything. It takes all your strength, even to just to go to the bathroom.

Then sometimes the meds make you feel worse than you already do.

I think one of my meds is putting me in LA LA Land. I hate that feeling. I've taken the med before and it has not done that to me before. Or maybe it is the illness itself. Who knows? I guess after I finish the meds and I don't feel that way anymore, it'll be my answer.

I get depressed and sulk. It doesn't last long, thankfully.

MyHubby apologizes when I don't feel well. I tell him he has no reason to be sorry. I don't blame him for sure. He says he wishes he had healing powers. How sweet?  It takes a special kind of man to deal with a person like me and my medical problems.

Tis my life. Always been and I don't see it changing after 50 years.

A friend and I joke agreeing that we should be used to it by now. I don't think you get 'used' to it. I think you learn to accept it in a way and live day to day. I guess "Go with the flow" would describe it.

It does get tiring though.

Sometimes I ask God what is the reason? I always say God has a reason for everything. So why do some of us struggle more than others?

What is the purpose of a life of medical woes?  What is it suppose to teach me? Hopefully, he'll tell me when he takes me to his home.

People say I am an inspiration with everything I've gone through. I appreciate that so very much. However, think about it. Being an inspiration because I fight through whatever comes at me medically?  Most people do the same thing.

I know many people are worse off than me. And I feel for them.

A priest told me once that my 'suffering' on earth is  my journey to eternal bliss when God calls me home. I sure as hell hope so. Because sometimes I feel like I am in Hell.

*******************
Anyway...enough of that.  On to more pleasant things....

An awesome blogger I follow, Just Thoughts on a Blog, has shared.a way to find other blogs to read and at the same time share your blog.

If you click the tab above "Linking Your Blog" and fill out the short and sweet form, your Blog will be added to the list, I hope. I have yet to have anyone do it on mine. When one of my followers click the link they will see the list of blogs they can visit by just clicking the link.

I think it is a cool idea.

I know I haven't been the most consistent blogger. I noticed many who I follow are not either. There have been countless times I have sat here and started a post but did not finish. I have 98 unfinished drafts. I know! Crazy!

But I do read many of your blogs regularly and comment occasionally.

I noticed some bloggers have had their blogs turn into money-making blogs. I guess they are more dedicated to blogging than I am and more interesting.  I know some have 1000s of followers. Which I think is pretty cool for them.

I started this blog thinking of it as sorta like a diary. I also wanted to share my life to show that although I have a 'disability' and medical challenges I am just like all of you who don't have to deal with such things.

I do appreciate my followers and those who drop by to read my blog. Come back again!!

7 Mile Garage Sale

There's a saying :Someone's junk is another's treasure.  When I hear it I think of garage sales and flea markets.

It is such a beautiful day although the wind is strong. I am sitting on my front porch watching something cool. No worries I am anchored down. Okay I am not but I am on the side of the house where the wind is not as strong.

Yesterday, our next door neighbor, Mr Joe visited. He explained to us that there was a 7 mile garage sale and through the years he has allowed someone set up in the driveway we share together. Obviously, the man doesn't live within the 7 mile radius.

The driveway was used by Hubby's grandfather working the farmland where our home sits. The driveway is between Mr Joe's and I land. According to the city our land shows that it is half our property. Hubby has used it during the torrential rains as it is not as swampy. Otherwise, it is just there.

This morning I looked outside. I normally see vehicles flying by as it is a highway. But today, it is like a slow parade of cars, stopping intermittently.

I walked to the road and saw many neighbors participating. I've been sitting outside for about 1/2 hour counting the cars. There were 60 cars that have stopped. And that is just a half hour period.

I thought "DAMN". If I had known that we could have saved all the stuff we had thrown out or given away and participated. There were flyers posted on poles and in the local grocery store but I just figured it was another ordinary garage sale.

I remember my sister and I did a garage sale long time ago. We vowed never again.

Honestly, we had no clue what we were doing but figured, how hard can it be? Right?

So we prepared. Put the ad in the paper. Gathered our items, it was mostly baby clothes but we had knick knacks etc.  We priced then what we thought was reasonable.

Regardless of the time we put that we were going to start, there were cars parked in front of my house an hour earlier watching his set up. They were like vultures.

Many of the people told us we had our prices too high but we negotiated the prices. We thought we were stiffed a couple of times. We just wanted to get rid of the stuff. We did sell most of what we had but the little money we made, we figured it was not worth our time again.

I've gone to a couple of garage sales etc and found some cool stuff. I think you have to really like that kind of stuff to hold a garage sale.

This 7 mile garage sale runs through 3 little towns.

But as I sit here, watching all the garage sales goers stop by this man's s spot, I am thinking of how I can participate next year. I am sure we can come up with some things to sell.  It is amazing to see the participation and support in this little town.

New Home: Furniture shopping

When we were planning to move, we knew eventually we would need to get some furniture but since it is the two of us, we don't do much entertaining and we have a limited budget we decided to just live in the home for a while to get a feel of what we want.

First, this is what we have. For the bedroom, we have a bed and dresser drawers. We have nothing for the living room because what we had in the living room is now in the entertainment room which is only a Pampasan chair. I also have a recliner but it is so big and can't fit through the entertainment room door where we spend most of the time in.  Also, it has a big stain from my daughter leaving a hair chi on leaving burns. Right now it is sitting in the living room all alone with unpacked boxes. I had wanted to give it away but Hubby said we may still use it. It is so heavy its crazy. We have two bar stools Hubby acquired from his first marriage that were packed away when we were in the apartment because there was no where to put them. We are using them at our kitchen bar but the kitchen bar is really not meant to eat at. We eat mostly at a card table with four chairs in the dining area. We have a few shelves, an entertainment center I've had for years, two desks and two office chairs. Also, I took a black ottoman stool my child had that she didn't know what she was going to do with.

So what we need for the dining room is a small dining table with chairs. As we have been browsing, I feel we have a few options. We can replace the two bar stools and card table with chairs with a small dining table and chairs.  Or we can keep the stools and buy a table that fits the height of the stools but the dilemma is there are only 2 stools, I would like four and I highly doubt we'll find two more exactly like the ones we have.

For the bedroom, we would like a new queen or king sized bed and some bedside tables. We would like a shelf headboard and then it could eliminate the bedside tables.

For the entertainment room, eventually we would like to get a new entertainment center to replace what we have. The one we have was a wedding gift to my ex from my parents. That entertainment center traveled many miles with me through the years. We also would like theater seats with recliners. My thought is we would put the Papasan chair  in the living room with whatever additional furniture we purchase.

The living room is the least important and I don't want that much in it. As a matter of fact I don't want that much furniture and 'stuff" I want to keep the wide open spaces and not be cramped like we were in the apartment. We need only enough for when we have company to sit. I have considered putting a slip cover on the recliner but as someone mentioned it may be hard to get one that really fits it.  Hubby's mother offered us a love seat and I think it would match the recliner but we're still deciding.

And I need something for my reading nook I want to have in our library/office. It is a very small area between a book shelf and the door.  I measured the area and it was 32" by the windows.  At first I wanted a cool chaise lounge chair. But as I saw how small the area is and what we have in the room I don't think it is going to fit. 

As we shopped I found a round chair which I thought was so cool.  Some actually swivel. I figured I could use the ottoman with it as I do need to elevate my feet if I am sitting for a long time. We also saw these chairs with ottoman. My brother-in-law has one and they are so comftie. I have entertained putting the Papasan chair in my nook but I have a hard time getting in and out of it as it tilts. I've fallen with it on top of me too many times.

While shopping and looking online we realizedt there is so much to choose from. Hubby's style is Rooms To GO for the most part. He says everything matches so we don't have to worry about buying one piece having to match another.  He knows how I want everything to match. I sorta agree with him but nothing has caught our eye.

I don't know if it is me but the prices on some are outrageous. We have no clue what brand is better than the other. We want to pay as less as we have to but we want quality. We need to do some research.

So that is where we are as far as furniture is concerned. Right now I am sitting on a office chair with my feet propped up until we buy more furniture. When Hubby is here, he shares his Papasan with me when we watch TV. Or he'll hold it if I wanna get in it and he doesn't want to sit there for the moment.

We take a day every weekend and pick one or two furniture stores to browse. After that we're about done.  But it is exciting and interesting. We have similar tastes thank goodness!

If anyone has any ideas etc I am opened for suggestions. I do plan on taking pictures because some of you have requested.  I just want the areas in a more organized way before I do.

As always, I appreciate all of you reading and following my blog. I love comments too. (Hint Hint LOL!)

We Are Finally In our Home

Seven months later we are finally IN OUR HOME.  We're not settled yet but that willl take a while because as usual  the salesman didn't keep his promises so we've had to clean the manufacturer's mess. It was ironic that there was a certificate stating that the home was clean by so and so from the manufacturer taped to our counter.

But I don't want this post to be negative. Although there are issues they will need to take care of when we submit the "punchlist' in a few months, I am enjoying our home.

We haven't emptied all the boxes or removed the dust etc yet. Hubby is working a lot and I'm doing what I can one room at a time. But it amazes us that we had so much stuff in that little bitty apartment.

I love the wide opened spaces. We are not cramped.

I love my walk in pantry and the abundance of cabinet space in my kitchen. We actually have cabinets not being used yet. I joked with Hubby that I need to go shopping to fill the cabinets.

I love the quietness. When we are inside, we hear cars pass as there is a highway but we get used to that. There are no kids screaming on top of their lungs. There is no one above us stomping and running.

I didn't think I would like the many big windows. However, during the day we don't have to put the lights on because the sun is our light. Just totally awesome.

The other day, I had locked myself out of the house so had to wait 3 hours for hubby to come home. As I waited outside I heard the sweet sound of a cow mooing. Yea, now that is country!

It is nice to look out the window and able to see the blue sky during the day and the moon and stars at night. In our apartment these were obscured by trees.

As I was sitting here one day in what I call "MyHubby's Mancave" which is actually the entertainment room,  I saw something move in my peripheral vision. I looked and there were flocks of blackbirds. Not one. Not two. Flocks. They covered our yard as well as our neighbor's yard. Here is a picture of only a fraction of them. It was so cool. It reminded me why I love the country.

We still have a lot of unpacking and decorating etc to do but it is so nice to just be in a place that is ours.  

We are now home!

Home Buying: Summons

When I start to write a post about my journey to buying a home I don't know where to start. It has been one fiasco after another.  I have bought homes before and it has never been this crazy. I have never seen such unprofessionalism as I have with every employee of this dealership we have been dealing with. I have never been through a situation and realized at the end how ass backwards it has been. 

We have been living with my mother-in-law since we moved out of our apartment on New Years Eve. I feel so displaced although she has not been less than warm and hospitable towards us. I have tried helping her with chores etc to lessen the burden we have imposed on her. She reassures us that we are welcome for as long as we need.  We appreciate it but we are so ready to be in our own house.

We finally got the skirting and steps up. They trenched for underground electricity. They finally put the air conditioner. We signed for the closing, after two arguments and having them sign our own documents promising what they said they would do.

Hubby and I have changed cell phone carriers. He kept his phone number but I changed mine. Since I've been the one they've been calling I attempted to call them to inform them of my phone number changed. Although it was within office hours no one answered. No surprise there as it has happened many times before. So I went to their website and filled out the 'Contact Us" form indicatng my phone number changed.

We had ordered to disconnect our previous carriers so I did not have that phone with me. One Monday I happened to enter the room we are staying in and heard my old phone vibrating. I had 3 voicemails. The carrier had not disconnected it yet. Two from Jamie and one from the lender. Evidently, she had been trying to contact me and I wasn't answering. If she would have read my email she would have known to call the right number. 

Her frantic demanding message was "Lisa, you are avoiding me! We really need to get these documents signed! We can fax them to you, you and Hubby can sign them and fax it back. You need to call me NOW."

Excuse me? NOW? 

The other message from her was more frantic and pretty much threatening, "Lisa, you need to call me NOW. We need to get these papers done today! We can fax them. So we can get finally finish this. CALL ME If we don't get these signed today, you will be charged penalties and fines."

Once again, excuse me? They've taken their time these pass months but now that they were over their deadline (December 22) and they want things NOW. I don't think so. It is not our fault. We have been waiting on them. Everything we asked for we either got a roundabout answer or no answer at all. It had been 7 months since this fiasco started. They never gave us a set date for anything. It was always "Maybe" or "We'll try"or "There are others ahead of you." etc.  

The message from the lender was same information but a much better polite tone. As I was listening to the voicemail, Hubby called me. He was out of town working. He had talked to Jamie. She had the same attitude as she had on my voicemail  Hubby was furious. He said after he hung up from her he yelled and hit the wall so loud his coworker who was next door heard him. 

Have I mentioned I'm usually the fast hot tempered one and Hubby is the patient laid back one?  It takes ALOT to make Hubby angry or impatient. These people have made him both.

He told her, "Oh now that it is costing you money, you want things down now. Not gonna happen right now." He informed her that he was out of town and before he signed anything we had to discuss other things. She said, "Penalties and fines will be given."Hubby responded, "Not my problem."  We couldn't do anything besides they had things to do before we signed. She insisted on faxing. Hubby just  flat out said no.

We had not received the AC and their contractors left a huge mess in our home as well as the yard. It is another post in itself.

Meanwhile Hubby received an email from the lender he didn't read until later, after he talked to the lender. Here it is with the name omitted.

____homes has conveyed that you are not willing to sign your modification and other final documents, which is putting them in a financial bind with the factory that built your home, the subcontractors, etc.  This also creates issues with the warehouse line that your loan was funded off of.  Is there a compelling reason why they can’t fax these documents to you for signatures and have you fax them back to them.  They (_____ Homes) are being hit with a daily (per diem) penalty on the added interest, which they will likely invoice you on, if this continues.  Is there a problem with the home or something you are dissatisfied with?  Please let me know something as soon as possible. 

Hubby had explained to the lender, we did not flat out refuse.  He explained our situation to the lender The lender was okay with that. Hubby told the lender we would be by the office the Friday, when he returned. 

As promised (Although the dealer never owned up to ONE promise they gave us) we showed up that Friday. Hubby and I had discussed how we were going to address issues and what we wanted to point out. 

First thing was Jamie's summons and her obviously calling the lender stating we refused to sign, making it sound like we didn't wan to sign at all.

When we entered the office and after pleasantries we informed her that we were not happy with her summons. I told her if they read the email through "contact' us she would know the number she was calling for me had changed. Hubby told her we did not appreciate her summons. It was like a mother telling her child to do something. It did not sit right with us at all.  She denied she left any message of that sort. 

OMG! Did I want to reach over, grab her by the neck and shake her? Of course the service for that phone finally disconnected and I couldn't retrieve the message.

Also, we confronted her with the misconception she gave the lender that we didn't want to sign. Another verbal confrontation ensued.

Jacob finally entered and asked what was the problem. We related to him how much we did not appreciate Jamie's summons and the misconception she gave the lender.

He became defensive and we were arguing. At some point, Jamie blurted, "I have enough" and just walked out. After she walked out Jacob closed the door and confided that Jamie was having problems at home and maybe it was a bad day when she called. He also said that she was gone for most of the month of December and that's why we were so behind.

I asked him if he had anyone to replace Jamie when she was out and he said no. We thought it was absolutely crazy but it explained why everything was so freaking backlogged.

Jacob sat down and calmly said he takes full responsibility for the screw ups. He agreed with our opinions of the whole thing. I think he was just patronizing us, Hubby said it was the first time he took responsibility. I reminded him of Jacob's motive. MONEY!

But he somehow put out the fire and calmed us. And he actually showed a glimpse of professionalism, finally!

Jacob asked what was it going to take to sign because interest and fines were building up and we needed to get this done. I told him they needed to get the contractors to clean up their mess (Another argument we were having with Jamie since they moved the mobile home to our land) and we wanted every invoice they had from contractors/subcontractors to prove where the money went that they put as "Land improvements." We told him we didn't trust one word any of them said. We wanted everything in writing from then on. He wrote that in writing for us, which was a miracle in itself.

 I recorded most of the conversation that day on my phone and kept it as well.

We signed the papers so they can pay the contractors etc and we can get into our home. He gave us the final papers "Closing Package" to look over and sign and bring back along with the sewer pump certificate when they should have asked for long time ago. We were still waiting on electricity.

That weekend we went to the home and saw the electric company installed our pole and the meter but there is no electricity going to the house. The meter is blinking 000. We flipped the fuse box in the home etc but nothing. We don't have water either. Monday, I called Jacob to ask him if he knew what the problem possibly could be t. He asked if we turned it on from the pole. We do not recall seeing a box he described.

Of course the weather has not been on our side either. It's been raining and flooding. Our home is not in a flood zone but its really muddy and soggy around the home so we have to wait before we go check the box. 

It is a seemingly uphill battle.

Oh, as we went through the "Closing Package" it made us realize how ass backwards this whole process has been with this dealership.  If we had this package before hand, when we were suppose to get it, alot of frustration would have been avoided. We would have understood things more as well.

So we continue to not be in our home. I've felt myself wanting to visit that black hole but fighting it with everything I have.

Home Buying: Grueling Process

I've been away from the internet for a few days because we are in midst of moving. At this time we are at my mother in law's. Our home is on our land but everything is not connected yet and we have no steps for me to at least get into it.

If you are following my blog, you know we have been going through a grueling process with purchasing this home. 

We met the owner a few months ago and we thought the salesman was bad.  OH My! God! The boss is much worse. I can't believe this man is in business. He is an arrogant man with no communication or social skills.

I admit we have become very frustrated. But through the process we have not received  any definite answers to our questions. We have not been getting telephone or emails responses. When they wanted something, we were right there with it. Unless we went to the office it appears nothing was being done.

We've had shouting matches with the owner because he denies things he has told us. He has called me a liar in certain words twice. 

My hubby has more patience than me and he can hold his temper. When he starts raising his voice you know there is something wrong. 

For one instant, it brought back bad memories of the past. I had called the office to get a status. Jacob told me that our file was passed to Jamie, the project coordinator. He told me either he or she would call me before noon. This was at 10 am. So we waited. Of course, as usual, no phone call. 

The following day we went to the office. Luckily the office was about 2 miles from our apartment because since July we've had to go numerous times. The owner, Jacob asked what he could help us with. I reminded him he was suppose to call me back. He denied he said that.

I said, "Yes you did."

He said, "No I didn't."

MyHubby asked, "Are you calling my wife a liar again?"

He said, "No but I didn't"

I said, "YES YOU DID. Why would I lie about that?" I recited our whole conversation that previous day.

He said, " You might have misunderstood me!"

I said, "No I didn't because I asked you before noon right and you said yes, someone would call me."

We went back and forth with "Yes you did" and "NO I didn't in various forms. Then it hit me..it so reminded me of my ex doing the same crap to me. I decided in that split second that I was not going to go there again and said, "FIne, I'm a liar. I'm done with you." And shut up.

That particular day he had brought us to Jamie's office and there was the four of us. Jacob kept talking but totally ignoring him, we started talking to Jamie. .

I have to say Jamie is the best yet at that place. The rest of the personnel there are useless pretty much. She has disappointed us a few times but we do consider that she has no idea what transformed through the months (Since July we've been doing this.")

Jacob eventually walked out but I noticed he was across the hall. Jamie was explaining to us what was going on. MyHubby was trying to get her up to speed of what we had bee going through. We reminded her the holidays were coming. 

Actually a few weeks earlier MyHubby betted his paycheck to Jacob that they were going to start moving everything during the holidays and we wouldn't be able to get into it until after the 1st. And sure enough here we are.

Anyway, we kept asking Jamie specifics and she couldn't say definite. "There are others ahead of you." "It depends on the rain." 

They must take a course on how to get around in answering questions.

Our main point we've tried putting across in only the past 3 months has been we closed on October 22. The home was suppose to have been ordered that day or we even gave them a week for some leeway. Jacob had told us once we closed and home ordered it would take 3 weeks and things would start happening (The pad made, etc). They said the home got in while we were on vacation, during the week of the 3rd to the 9th. That was way past 3 weeks! 

And the moron, Jacob told us they didn't call us because they knew we were on vacation. We had told them to call us  and we would think they would want to call us and give us some good news. Jacob's reasoning? "Not everyone wants to do know the step by step process." We were flabbergasted. I had this urge just to punch him. Tell me, wouldn't you want to know the step by step process, especially when your home is in?!

We were hoping we would be in the home by the first. But here we are. We have most of our worldly possessions in storage. MyHubby and his coworker was able to move the big pieces of furniture, the few we have, into the home.

Since they put the pad on our land the first week of December, we figured we would be in it so we gave our one month notice at the apartment so we had to be out by the 31st. 

Instead of enjoying and relaxing during the holiday season we were stressed and moving. It's been so hard on us physically and mentally. My whole body hurt. By the end of day sometimes my legs just wouldn't go anymore. My body just stopped. I was in bed before 9 pm on some days which is a rarity.

Even MyHubby said we should be excited about our new home and happy etc but its been nothing but…we're trying to look forward to the end results.

I'll post more of the process in future.

Cerebral Palsy: Extremely Unsteady Today!

I don't know what it is with me today but I am so off-balance, a lot more than normal.  My gait is much wider as well.

I get up from a chair and oops..butt hits the seat I just got up from. So I have to do it again. Luckily, or may be not,  this apartment is small and cramped so if I weeble there is something I can grab to prevent from badooming! . But the adverse of it is I can fall,  miss and hit the floor and piece of furniture on my way down and conk myself out!

We went to the home center where we are buying our home from. (Another post later date). As we walked my hubby had his hand on my shoulders to try to stabilize me and for in case I go tumbling he had a better chance to catch me. I thanked him because I sincerely appreciated the gesture as I was doubting myself and I seldom doubt myself in this matter.

I was walking a little faster t than usually because walking my usual pace had me teetering and I felt like I was going to fall over. That is not a good feeling.

I can be standing and people will  pass by me closely or just touch me with a finger and I can land on the floor or weeble wobble. Thankfully, I weeble wobble more than hitting the floor!

Today I was standing up talking to someone and in seconds I felt myself shifting and I lost my footing. I wasn't even moving. I was holding on Hubby for dear life LOL.

I have had this happen but not quite extreme. It happens when I am tired or walking in a crowd that is stopping and going or so nervous but never this bad. Also, when I was out of the situation or rested I was fine.

I've been thinking about would be causing this. I am not tired, I wasn't walking in a crowd and I was not nervous. I am not on any new medications so who knows. It has gotten better as the day progressed but LORDEEE!

Ya'll have a good week because I will be away, (Burglars out there, I have a house sitter so don't you dare try). Although I am bringing my computer to check on emails I will not be on  much.

Most importantly, thank you for stopping by and reading and if you comment. It is much appreciated (even if you don't comment.)

If you should have problems commenting as I've been informed by someone,  email me at my yahoo addie: Bellelady1981@yahoo.com. Not sure if I can help but am searching for a resolution.

And The Mystery Meat is....

It finally defrosted and it looks like Pork...the guesses on Facebook were same as my own.

Isn't that some pretty meat? They are definitely pork ribs..not Beef chuck.

So this morning I woke up early, seasoned them with Tony's Cachere's and Jack Daniel BBQ Sauce, threw them in my crock pot and put it on high..

7 hours later and I have some tender pork ribs.

I picked it up with my tongs and they fell apart. Waiting for hubby to return from visiting the Sandman, Herb and butter rice with some kind of veggies will be eaten with them.

Thanks for all the private messages and comments guessing what they were.

Mystery Meat

I have a dilemma. Here is a package of meat I bought from our local Winn Dixie a few weeks back. They have awesome specials on meat every week. When I picked up this package of meat I thought I had picked up pork because it was in the pork freezer. But as you see on the white label (Look at clearer picture below) it says Beef Chuck/Beef for Stew.

The other day I took it out thinking it was Pork chops but realized it said Beef chuck on the label. So I put it back, taking another package that said pork chops on the white label.

Label stating Beef

Pork chop recipe underneath label

Hubby said the Pork Chop label may just be the packaging giving a recipe. My question was why give a pork chop recipe on a package of beef chuck?

Beef and pork are two different animals, hence two different cuts of meat, Am I right or am I losing my mind?

Maybe when I unwrap it after it is defrosted I'll figure it out. I guess I'll have to pay more attention to the packaging!!

Anyone wanna guess what it is?

If it is beef chuck (Beef for stew) anyone have any ideas on how to cook it besides stew??

Walmart:No He Couldn't Live Our Lives

There is several reasons why I HATE Walmart as you probably figured out if you follow my blog.  It is so big and to get from point A to Point B is like walking a mile.  It never fails to have an encounter or witness an encounter with a Moron. It's like Walmart shows the WORST of human decency.

Let me tell you about something I witnessed a few months ago.

I had gone alone that nonth. I usually wait for MyHubby to come with me but I had procrastinated long enough and he had been working hard. So I went down only the aisles taking my time.

As I was comparing Lipton rice dishes to the the other brands a  60-ish year old overweight Caucasian lady was driving one of the carts they have for people who can't walk or have trouble walking. She had stopped right behind me and I could see she was getting up to reach something on the lower shelf.

I asked her if she needed help. She thanked me but said she had it.

As she stood up, and slowly made her way off the cart, a gentleman of same age passed the aisle and saw her.

Visualize this, we are half way down the aisle when this man was passing the aisle evidently not needing anything down this particular aisle.

I saw him at a glance as he passed by.  I am always looking to see if I am in the way of someone trying to pass. There was only me, the lady and a 30ish African American lady making her way down the same aisle.

I turned my attention back to my label reading when I heard, "Hey You!" Of course, we all stopped what we were doing and looked in the direction of the call.

The guy that I had just seen pass had walked back.  Let me just say he was about 5'10 and overweight himself, maybe 5-10 pounds less than the lady.

He glares at the lady on the cart and shouts, "You do know there is a weight limit on the cart so you better not put too much in the cart. Maybe you should lose some of that weight." Then he took off. He left before anyone could say anything.

Don't you hate those moments when something crazy as this happens and you can't think of one thing to say at the heat of the moment? But after that moment passes, you think of all the things you could have or wanted to say? Arghh!!

Simultaneously I exclaimed, "OMG! That was so rude. Did that really just happen?" and the African American grunted "ooh  child"  like she couldn't believe it either. She reminded me of the reaction the maid would make on The Jefferson's! (For those who are too young to know who The Jefferson's are, it is a comedy way back when).

The lady on the cart visibly embarrassed and upset bursts, "He has no clue what my life is!"

I sympathized stating " No, he doesn't. Maybe he should walk in your shoes or another disabled person's shoes for a day. He is such a man (NOT) that he ran after he said it not giving you time to respond."

She responded, "No he couldn't handle my life and that just shows how he is really a coward running without giving me a chance to respond. Did you notice he wasn't really a Slim Jim either,"

I laughed and said, "You are so right, he couldn't handle it." After a little chit chat we went different directions. She did tell me that she had just had surgery and wasn't able to walk long distances at that time and although she didn't want to use it, she had to.

I've faced many ignorant people in my life. This man made me angry, especially walking away. Who in the hell he thought he was? Every time I think of it, I stew and boil all over again. And  it was not even directed to ME.

What is this world coming to? We are all guilty of some form of judging but blatantly voicing something like that is WRONG. Where has the compassion gone?

Hubby works at a Home Improvement store and he sometimes comment how these carts are used. The carts are for those who can't walk long distances and are truly disabled but they are being abused by obese patrons as well as children. I remind him to be nice and nonjudgmental.  But it frustrates him that he sees people on the carts that shouldn't be on them. There are only a few of them.

He claims just because you are overweight, doesn't make you disabled and eligible to ride on the car. He has also seen children and lazy people get on them and break them. Or they are left in the parking lot and the battery wears down. So I can understand his reasoning and his view

When BabyGirl was young, she used to ask me why I don't use the carts. I told her I did not need it. She knows how much it takes out of me to walk Wallyworld. When I was having major breathing problems, she saw how I had to stop at the end of few aisles and rest. In her childish mind she couldn't understand why I wouldn't ride one of the carts. It was simple in her mind, I was not like every one else. It was there. Why not use it?

I think she was concerned about me but at the same time SHE was the one who wanted to ride the cart! But I would tell her that there were so few of them and I didn't want to use it because what if someone who really could not walk or really needed it more than me and didn't have one?

However the coward had no excuse of his outburst. It shows how cruel and arrogant the coward was. He could have stood like a man and allowed her to at least defend herself, although he deserves nothing but it could have given her a choice.

I thought afterwards how this could have ruined this woman's day or self esteem. I know how it feels when people judge me without having any clue of who I am. It was just damn WRONG!

I am going to close with this quote of many I have found regarding ignorance.

You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informedopinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” 
― Harlan Ellison

I Was Speechless!

 "You know your my number one right? The one I can always count on no matter what I'm dealing with. You say I'm your rock Mamma. But honestly, it's the Mamma who's the rock for their daughter."
                                                                                                                 My BabyGirl.


Yes, I was speechless. 

My  heart swelled. I cried.  Tears of happiness. Tears of pure Joy. Tears of pride. Tears of Accomplishment.

Me? Her Rock? Awesome! How many parents have heard that from their children?

I honestly never thought of being her rock. I don't know why. 

I always said SHE was my rock. She kept me going when I would have easily hung it all up. She was the reason for my fighting and staying here. She will always be my ROCK.

I am blessed to experience this sort of bond with an extraordinary daughter. 

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

MyHubby and I decided to spend it together alone. He had been working hard and just wanted quiet time. I had been feeling under the weather for the past couple of weeks and was just blahzee. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and it was just a cold he said. It is more aggravating than anything else.

I cooked MyHubby and I a little feast. Cornish hens, rice dressing, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and green beans. I had never cooked Cornish hens but it was easy.

BabyGirl and her girlfriend stopped by in the evening which is always good!

I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful and grateful for my blogger friends and all those who don't blog but take the time to come by, read and sometimes comment! Yes! That's you!   THANK YOU!

I have great family and friends. An awesome daughter and husband who loves me unconditionally. They make my life worth living even during those times I feel like I just wanna hang it all up.

I am thankful for a year of pretty good health. I've had my ups and downs but I can finally say I am healthier.

What more can a girl ask for?

Thanksgiving Dinner