Brianna's pic is entered in a contest and you  can vote....just go to link below if you want to participate

 

ok..well as i said a lot going on here....busy with the new job.....but more pressing here is something i need some advice/prayer for....my spaces friends.....please read and send your advice and prayers for raising a difficult teen. i try to leave my personal life out of the discussion here but i need help...

 

My fifteen year old daughter has spent much of the past few years being angry on again and off at her father for various reasons..mainly due to the fact that he has been overly absent from her life ( and that of her siblings') for the better part of 8/9 years. She also does not like my husband (my other kids dont either and don't want him and i married) and due to the problems between my children and my husband as well as his children and myself...we recently seperated and moved into seperate homes to try to relieve the tension while working on our marriage and our "blended family"  

Within the last yr and a half the kids dad has moved back to the state we live in after living in another for these last 8/9 yrs and has been finally more regular with visits with the kids. On occassion Paige has voiced her frustration with "dad" for this reason and that often refusing to go on weekend visits when the other kids went because she was mad at him.... the latest of these spells was the last month when Paige informed me she had argued with dad and didnt want to see/speak with him anymore because he has not ever been there for her or been a good parent for her. When asking "dad" what prompted the latest argument he told me it was mostly over how he dissapproved of her talking to a 19 yr old boy and wanting to date him ..being only 15 herself....(which i said no to as well which made her mad at me too) then she blew up at him and proceeded to rant about how he had no right because he's never been a real dad to her.....

Fast forward to a few days ago when i get a request from  Paige to go on a trip to Tx with him....HUH????. Apparently she's emailed / called dad ...telling him she's sorry for the argument and asked to go see him...and go along on the trip....(backstory.... Paige found out dad and his wife..whom the kids also didnt like...and whom "dad" had problems off and on with for a few yrs..had just left him and they are apparently divorcing....which i think is inappropriate for Paige to hear all the detsils about anyway but that is another issue)..

upon further talking to "dad" he tells me he's as baffled as me at the sudden change of heart with Paige and tells me she also requested to come live with him. SAY WHAT!!!!???? I am in shock... she's thrown this at me before...wanting to live with dad when she doesnt like the rules/ and when she claims she hates my husband and is miserable....i try to talk to her to understand what is going on in her head...but she is very reluctant to talk and is very sassy and hateful...i am heart broken...and not sure what is best...she hates my husband, i have already seperated from him to try to focus on the kids and he is doing the same with his kids...but how much more can i do to cater to her selfish demands.....and "dad" has not been a real parent for so long..i am not sure i trust his abilities to do so....i love my daughter but i am not sure anything  will ever make her happy....do i deserve any happiness here....??? I am always pulled in three directions...my way ..the kids way.. and my husbands way....help.....!!!!! I am tired of all the chaos and just want a happy life/family/marriage......any advice? (please pray for us that we  find the answers and for me to have the strength to do the right thing) I let her go on the trip..cause i think it is a good chance for Paige and "dad" to spend some quality time together....and said we'd all sit down and discuss the living arrangements when they get home next week.....meanwhile i am torn up and heartbroken and am trying to make a right decision..is there a right here...HELP!!

 

 

Zucchini squash is cut in half, pulp is scooped, and the shells are fulled with a ground beef and seasoned crumb mixture. Scroll down to see more zucchini recipes.

Ingredients:

• 4 zucchini, about 6-inches in length
• 1/2 pound extra lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons oatmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce or ketchup
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces
• 1 cup buttered bread crumbs

Preparation:

Split zucchini lengthwise; scoop out centers and chop pulp finely. Mix the chopped zucchini with the ground beef, oatmeal, onion powder, salt, and chili sauce. Stuff zucchini skins with ground beef mixture. Dot each zucchini with a little butter; sprinkle with bread crumbs. Put zucchini halves in a baking dish with about 1/2 cup water. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

Scroll down to see more zucchini bread recipes.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded raw zucchini
• 3 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:

Put zucchini in strainer and press or squeeze with hands to get excess liquid out. Beat eggs, sugar, and oil together. Add flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and walnuts. Mix together by hand. Add drained zucchini. Mix well. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake 55 to 65 minutes at 350°, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out with very little cake clinging to it.

Zucchini Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla (I always use pure vanilla extract)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups grated zucchini (leave skins on)
• 1 cup walnuts

Preparation:

Mix oil and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition; blend in vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda. Add sifted dry ingredients to first mixture; alternating with grated zucchini. Fold in chopped nuts. (Batter will be a bit thin.)
Pour into greased and floured 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes.

Pork Chops With Zucchini and Tomatoes

Pork chops are cooked with a flavorful tomato sauce, topped with sliced zucchini and mozzarella cheese. Scroll down to see more pork chop recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick
• 1/2 cup raw rice
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups thinly sliced zucchini or summer squash
• 1/2 to 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Preparation:

Mix salt, seasoned salt, chili powder, and pepper. Trim pork chops of fat. Heat oil in skillet; brown pork chops, seasoning with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mixture.

Drain off fat. Add rice, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, olives, and sugar. Arrange sliced zucchini around edge of skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 55 minutes, or until pork is cooked through. Top with the cheese and cover, cooking a few minutes longer, until cheese is melted.
Serves 4.

Squash Casserole With Bacon

Scroll down to see more summer squash recipes.

Ingredients:

• 4 strips bacon
• 5 medium yellow summer squash, or 32 ounces frozen sliced summer squash
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Slice squash about 1/4-inch thick; cook in boiling salted water until tender. Fry bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon and set aside. In bacon drippings, brown onions. Add butter, squash, eggs, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until eggs are cooked. In a 2-quart casserole dish, place half of the squash mixture. Sprinkle with half of the crumbled bacon and half of the shredded cheese. Top with remaining squash mixture, bacon, and cheese. Bake at 350° until hot and cheese is melted.
Serves 4 to 6

 

ok guys, well i first of all apologize for missing Tuesdays entry... I worked a day shift and was all outta whack when i got home...i passed out on the couch right after dinner...so I missed yesterdays entry all together...well anyways...

 

here's the "web walk" for this week, enjoy!

 

With Free Rice you can increase your vocabulary and feed the hungry. Play this online world game and for each word you get right the site donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program.
http://www.freerice.com/

Mortified "is a comic excavation of the strange and extraordinary things we created as kids." Now you can see adults sharing their own adolescent journals, letters, poems, home movies, stories and more.
http://www.getmortified.com/

 

Joy Nash's Fat Rant has made her an Internet "star." Just visit her blog to see for your self why Joy says she's "fat" and proud of it.
http://fatrantblog.wordpress.com/

VBS.TV is "an online broadcast network which streams original content, free for 24 hours a day." The online network features videos from over 20 countries.
http://www.vbs.tv/

Death and Taxes: A Visual Guide to Where Your Federal Dollars Go this site features a poster than shows you how the federal government will spend your federal income taxes this year. Explore this cool piece of art online or order your own poster by visiting Wall Stats.
http://www.wallstats.com/

 

The folks at Warner Bros. have several Viral Batman Web Sites you can check out before seeing the new DARK Knight  Movie. But the Joker has hacked most of the sites so be warned:

• The Dark Knight Movie Trailer
  http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/
• Citizens for Batman
  http://www.citizensforbatman.org/
• why so serious:personality test
  http://www.whysoserious.com/personalityprofile/
• why so serious
  http://www.whysoserious.com/
• I Believe In Harvey Dent Gotham City DA Campaign Site
  http://www.ibelieveinharveydent.com/
• Dana Worthington For Gotham City DA Campaign Site
  http://www.danaworthington.com/
• Trust Garcetti Campaign Site for Gotham City Acting DA Site
  http://www.trustgarcetti.com/
• Gotham City Clerk
  http://www.gothamcityclerk.com/
• Concerned Citizens For A Better Gotham
  http://www.ccfabg.org/
• We Are The Answer A After Gotham Starts With You
  http://www.wearetheanswer.org/
• The Gotham Times
  http://www.thegothamtimes.com/
• The Ha Ha Ha Times
  http://www.thehahahatimes.com/
• A Taste For The Theatrical
  http://www.atasteforthetheatrical.com/
• Maiden Avenue Report
  http://www.maidenavenuereport.com/
• Gotham Police Department
  http://www.gothampolice.com/
• Gotham United School District
  http://www.gothamusd.net/
• Clown Travel Agency
  http://www.clowntravelagency.com/
• Rent-A-Clown
  http://www.rent-a-clown.com/
• Gotham City Rail
  http://www.gothamcityrail.com/
• Gotham Cab Company
  http://www.gothamcab.com/
• St. Swithus Catholic Church
  http://www.saintswithunschurch.org/
• Rossi's Delicatessen
  http://www.rossisdelicatessen.com/
• Betty's House of Pies
  http://www.bettyshouseofpies.com/
• Gotham City Pizzeria
  http://www.gothamcitypizzeria.com/
• Gotham National Bank
  http://www.gothamnationalbank.com/
• Acme Security Systems
  http://www.acmesecuritysystems.com/

 

 

There are new dolls on the market causing a stir around the world. They're called "reborn" baby dolls. They're incredibly real! Look online for photos of them. They look real, they're even weighted to fell like a baby's weight, and they flop like a baby. They're so real, some adults are getting attached to them. In fact, they're SO real, frantic police even smashed a window to rescue a seemingly unconscious baby from a locked car - only to find one of those "reborn" baby dolls. They sell for up to $1,000, are hand painted, with eyelashes, fingernails, and wispy hair.

go here to learn more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll

 

 

TOP 10 MILEAGE TIPS FROM HYPERMILERS

 

1. Lighten Your Load -- Remove of all but the bare necessities, at least free your ride of things like toolkits, golf bags and whatever other uncritical mass.
2. Keep Your Tires Full -- If you want the best compromise of economy, handling and safety, a great mileage tip is to keep your tires inflated to your car's recommended settings. You can find that information in your owner's manual and on the car itself; most likely on the driver's door jam.
3. Map Out the Shortest Route -- Look for the shortest routes, but consider the flattest and least congested as well.
4. Keep Your Car Aerodynamic -- While you can't eliminate drag, you can reduce it. Do away with extraneous or occasional-use items like bug shields, rooftop carriers and bike/luggage/ski racks.
5. Coast Into Stops -- Just as aggressive takeoffs suck more gas, so too does staying on the gas until the last moment before you brake. If you try coasting a while before braking, you'll notice you don't lose much speed and your mileage will improve.
6. Use cruise control -- Passing and be passed by a driver who can't commit to one speed drains your tank a lot faster. On reasonably mild terrain (steep hills are an exception) and when traffic conditions allow, you could realize substantial gains in mileage.
7. Don't let your engine idle -- Standing still with an idling engine yields 0 mpg. That's not to say you ought to kill your motor at every red light or in stop-and-go traffic, but whenever you anticipate you'll be sitting for 30 seconds or more, it'll save you big.
8. Shift when revs are low -- If you have a manual gearbox, you'll want to reconsider your upshift points. When it comes to managing better gas mileage, keep the RPMs as low as you can without lugging the engine.
9. Watch your mileage in real time -- If your car has the function, pay attention to the current mpg monitor (or pick up one and install it). Either way, you'll be surprised how your driving style impacts your numbers.
10. Don't accelerate hard -- As tempting as it is to mash the gas as soon as the light goes green, hard acceleration tests have shown mileage to drop by over 35%.

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Well I've seen it done to several of you, but now it's my turn I guess. Thanks to Detective Jake and Sheila......I must divulge my darkest deepest secrets....here goes...

 

First off..THE RULES (no hitting below the belt, no biting, shake hands and come out clean...)

 

 If you've been tagged. Post the rules at your Space. List eight things about yourself to share with all of your friends. After the list, choose eight other people to tag, list their names, and link to their Space. Then go to their space and tag them by leaving them a comment under one of their blogs telling them they've been tagged. Tell them to visit your Space to see the rules and what you wrote about yourself. You can copy/paste my blog, make the changes, and then post it at your Space. (Thanks for letting me copy this Sheila/Jake)

 

1. I have a rain man -like talent/sickness, (idiot savant) in that certain lines of songs, films, books, etc...sticks in my head and pop outta my mouth at the wierdest times..(for example...right now the one that comes to mind is "Congratulations, how's it feel to be an all American?" /"I gotta pee.")..if you can name that film...welcome to my crazy club...anyway these things  crack me up personally, because I get where it is coming from....other people however look at me like I am needing to be medicated...lol...which makes it even funnier to me! (My husband gets it and does it too...that's how I knew it was true love!)

 

2. Since we are on the crazy thing here..another wierd unexplainable thing I do..and have done since I was a kid...without even realizing that i am doing it..is...I count things in my head over and over again......like and OCD thing or ?? for example...holes/openings in people's clothing, I count and add them up ..i'll try to explain... like say you have a shirt, pants, undergarments, socks,shoes..that's 14 for men,  18 for women(4 more for women becase we wear a bra)...go ahead count it up..you'll laugh when see i am right....weird right...i am crazy ??? Dont know why i do this..i also will count the people in a room over and over in my head...i do this while i am doing other things, its not like it distracts me...i usually dont know i am doing it until i get still or stop focusing on something and get bored or quiet and the realize what i am doing....lol

 

3. I have an overly sensitive sense of smell...i can smell things that most people dont...again weird i know

 

4. I created/published and dispensed a small human interest newspaper when i was first in respiratory school as an outlet for my writing...it paid for itself from ad space i sold in it...didn't make a profit but had a ball doing it.

 

5. If I could try any career besides the medical field I'd love to try graphic design or forensic science..i am fascinated by both!

 

6. I love to watch educational shows like How It's Made,everything  on History channel, Alaska Experiment, etc..I love to learn something new.

 

7. I too have a love of the vocabulary. When I was in grade school...my teacher tested my reading/spelling comprehension and ability and found me to be able to read with a compreheelnsion level past the 12th grade. She wanted to promote me to high school level reading classes...my mom refused (SEE...idiot savant...)

 

8. Up until four years ago I didn't know how to open an email or navigate the internet at all...I'd had limited use of a computer..with my only education being 7/8 grade comp class with Dr Cuneo on the Apple computers which operated MS-DOS...then when I started college after GED classes, I had to turn in a thesis statement and term paper...I had to learn very quickly..and mostly taught myself...with some help from friends/ classmates if i had a question... now I am teaching my family/friends how to build web pages, edit pics, etc..... ironic huh

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OK..now I am going to list the eight lucky peoples i am tagging.... (Sara,Beth,drufusg,Cindy,Sherry, Liz, JoAnn,Scott)but let me say that if you dont respond within 12 hours....you’ll have the same luck either way, you may /may not love the same GOD as me, and you’ll still be my friend (wink to Det. Jake...haha) ..even if u make fun of my crazy issues..lol....have fun!

 

 

I have been thinking so much lately about my grandpa. We kids called him papaw wee...(Grandpa Weekly). He was a very short man, I'd say about 5'3" or so. Everyone knew him as Shorty, few knew his real name. His hands were knarled and bent by arthritis after years of use as a mechanic his hands were left useless for much at all. He had white curly hair and tan leathery skin from yrs of sun exposure. He smelled of Old Spice, shoe polish and Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. He wore the same outfit everyday, ablue mechanics uniform with a nem patch on the left breast pocket that said "Shorty" and black workman's boots which he polished daily. He had a compassionate heart and was fiercly loyal. It took a lot to make an enemy of him but once you had, you had an enemy for life. With the girls' birthdays this week, it has had my thoughts on him. He died a few months before Paige was born back in 93. He was one of a kind. It pains me to think how he never got to see his great grandchildren. He would have doted on them something terrible, as he spoiled me and my sister and two cousins rotten. There are so many memories that come to mind when I think of him, I'm not sure where to start..... He was never one to go to the doctor or take medicine. When he got sick and had to be admitted to the hospital (for the first time at age 81), it was clear that something was very very wrong. That few weeks was a trying time for him. Besides being ill, He hated having to listen to someone else tell him what to do or worse yet, have people fret over or take care of him. I remember one day I went to sit with him in his hospital room. I asked him how he was doing and I'll never forget his answer..."Oh ok I guess. They done did everything here but stick a bar of soap up my ass and the nurse just said their coming in soon to do that in a bit, so how ya think I'm doin?!" I couldn't help but giggle. He was serious and sarcastic all at the same time, but that was his way. That visit was the last time I ever saw him. That night I was awakened by a loud clap of thunder , i had a very uneasy feeling. I went into the kitchen to get a drink of water. My mom was sitting at the table and I suddenly felt overwhelmed with grief..I said "he's gone isn't he?" She nodded and I just cried. Not a day has gone by since that I haven't missed him.

 

He used to save up all his change, we're talking twenty dollars or so worth of change, and give it to us girls. He'd say "now you girls sit here at the table and divide this up between the two of you and then we'll go shopping." Shopping with grandpa was a real treat! He'd take us to the local convenience store where he had a monthly "tab" and buy us every form of junk food known to man. Cookies, ice cream, snack cakes, candy bars, soda, etc, etc...and take us home where we'd spend the weekend engulfed in our junkapalooza until we were sick to our stomachs from all the sugar. He always had change for us. Sometimes I'll happen upon a quarter or nickel or penny lying out on the ground or somewhere and i like to believe it is papaw weewee sending it to me...it's a nice thought for me to hold on to anyhow.

 

Well one more story comes to mind...one day my sister and I went to his house to visit. We knocked on the door but no one answered. We knew he was home as his car was in the drive. So we opened the door and peered in.  There lie grandpa seemingly lifeless on his back on the couch. We immediately thought the worse...after all he'd been an alcoholic for years, was in his eighties..he was surely dead. We hesitated going in and facing the terrible reality....so after much disputing, I nudged my poor little sister who was around 13 or 14 to go in and see if poor grandpa was indeed dead. She reluctantly edged her way toward his lifeless body....I urged her to check him for a pulse, but not wanting to touch a dead body ..grandpa or not...she opted to place her face down close to his to see if he was still breathing. Her face was right nose to nose with his, all of a sudden he opened his eyes. My sister jumped backwards..my grandpa yelled "what the hell you trying to do, give me a heartatack!!???" He wanted to know what we were doing there...all we could do was apologize but we never did tell him we thought he was lying there dead. I don't know who it scared more me, my sis, or grandpa...lol.

Well that's it for now...just had this all in my head today, thanks for visiting and indulging me my walk down memory lane.

Warning: For those of you that don't have kids, the following blog will probably not entertain you. Also  the following blog may contain bathroom humor. continue at your own risk......

 

For those of you that do have,have had, or will have kids at some point, well you will get it...lol !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Brianna