Yah!! Christmas is over and I can put all the decorations away. I can take the leafs out of the table and have room to move around the dining room. My X-mas dinner went fine, although we did discover that we don't have nearly enough serving utensils to have more than a few dishes. I have a fine turkey soup going with the left overs and I am going to make a 15 bean soup with the leftover ham bone. Usually, my older dog would have gotten the bone, but with the addition of the puppy and only one bone, I will make soup with it instead...just to be fair. Tom bought me a cell phone for christmas "in case I have problems with the car". Wouldn't you know it, the car broke down at 5:30 am the morning after christmas. The cell phone came in handy! I am going crazy without the car, but it is supposed to be fixed this weekend.

   New Years Eve will be spent much the same way every other night is spent. Doing nothing but farting around on the computer and maybe watching TV. Unless Tom happens to be playing, NYE is no big deal. Interesting fact though, my uncle played for Guy Lombardo, he was a trumpet player in the band. So whenever I hear "Auld Lang Syne" or whatever its called, I always silently say hi to Uncle Bill.

  Happy New Year!! 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 3:44 PM EST

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If you are reading this, you are probably either a very dear friend or the friend of a friend. In either case, I have one wish for you...that you have the merriest and happiest Christmas and new year.

   We are getting close to the big day. The stress is almost over. I have to clean the house today and get the china washed. My parents are here from Florida and they are doing the big X-mas eve party for my Moms side of the family this year. Some of Moms side have not seen there their new house in Sandown, so it will be a nice way for everyone to be able to see it at once. Mom didn't want to cook Christmas dinner, so I inivted them here. I have to steam clean the entire place because not only am I gone about 65 hours hours a week and don't have a lot of time for such things recently, but Mom is one of those clean freaks. She always has been. Even while we were growing up, you could have never been able to tell there were 3 adults, 6 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats in her house. It wwas always spotless. Not if you listen to her tell it, but it was by everyone else's standards. "this place is a mess" to my mom means that little lone piece of dryer lint that stuck to the clothes and then fell off onto the floorwhile she is carrying them on their way to their proper place of rest.  Oh jeez, if she see's that, out comes the vacuum and the entire room gets a once over. LOL

  Dinner will be a ham and a turkey with all the trimmings. It will be served on my Grandmothers china, which I ended up with last year when my parents moved. I have 7 different kinds of veggies. They are bringing pies, because my dad, the prize winning pie artist, insists on making them instead of me taking the easy route and just buying them. Dinner at their house was always 22 people or so sitting at this huge table my dad would set up in the big living room. They had one room which was 30x18 so they had that luxury of having huge dinner parties. We will be having it right at my little dining room table with no white linen table cloth, fancy table runner, or real silverware. I might light a candle or two for a festive touch. Paper napkins are ok right? This might be a good time to pull out the Pachabel Christmas Cannon in D and other serious songs for the season and leave the Larry the Cable guy x-mas medly cd in hiding. 

   Merry Christmas!!
 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 7:58 AM EST

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I'm sitting here, in the quiet of morning, by myself. The day will soon start with all the noise, voices and laughter of the day. It snowed the day before yesterday and the ground still has a fair amount of snow on it. Today is magic time. All the christmas decorations go up today. We will make some hot cocoa, put on some christmas music ( our favorite is Trans Siberian Orchestra) and we will all work to turn our house into a wonderland fit for Santa Claus himself. We have a lot of antique bulbs and ornaments that came from my grandmothers house. I have the wooden ornaments that my siblngs and I painted many years ago when I was just a child. The story goes that after we were done painting them and went to bed, my mom and dad stayed up and re-painted them with  slightly more attention to detail. We never noticed, we all just thought we did a really fantastic job and my parents wouls show them to all their friends and tell them "the kids painted these all by themselves!". Every year we hang the plastic evergreen and holly letters that spell out Noel, only we hang it backwards so it says Leon. My bother Russell did that one year after a few too many rum and eggnogs and the tradition was born. It actually has the letters and 3 elves that, too me, look more like the rice krispie dudes than elves. Anyway, thay have always been known as the Fags. So the entire decoration is known as "Leon and the 3 Fags". The special bulb that goes on the tree is one Tom ans I found the year we got married, It is a precious moments bulb that depicts a scene of the Mom serving cookies to her husband, who is setted in a chair, while 4 children run around playing. There are 3 boys and a little girl. It is so perfect, because its just like our family. We have the Santas head that was made out of a bleach bottle and yarn that is really quite cute. My mom and I took a ceramics class together the year Kelsey was born and my Mom made me a "shelf sitter" in the shape of a mouse. I didn't know she was making it for me, even though she was sitting right beside me. I have ornaments and figurines that friends and family have gotten us, and everytime they come out of the box, its like pulling out a memory of that person.

   We had a fire in our apartment about 11 years ago, just after Thangsgiving. I lost just about everything I owned. Some of the kids ornaments survived the fire, while others did not. Over the years since, we have gathered many decorations. We either bought these on various outings, or they were given to us. Now every piece that I have is special to me because it represents each and every person who loves and cares about us. Toms mom bought us a keyboard and drum ornament when Shawn first got into music. My freind Leslie gave me some brandy snifters which had red bows on the. Last year, Tom and I went up to the Kangamangus Highway to find our tree. We hiked through the woods and gathered pinecones, berries,ect. and put them in the snifters. Kimmie gave me a large bowl hand painted with hollys and such. That looks really pretty filled with not so perfect glass bulbs from my moms youth. A table runner from Wendi, a pine scented candle from my sister. The 2 snowmen having a snowball fight from Tammy. All wonderful memories.

  This year, we started a new one. I am sick of trying to fight with the stockings to get more gifts into them. So I bought canvas tote bags and had each kid decorate them which ever way they saw fit. Yes I realize it means more space to fill in the stocking, but was a lot of fun to see how each person would make it their own. Besides, they came out really nice and who says you have to use what others consider the norm? Hey, if we can have Leon and the 3 fags, we can have christmas totes!!  

              Merry Christmas!!!!

Posted by ann-is-clever at 7:02 AM EST

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I am feeling so much better. Most of the soreness has gone away although I do get twinges of pain in my shoulder if I move it too much. But what can you expect... I did just dislocate it two weeks ago. I suppose I should write about my friend Jen, who was in the car with me at the time of the accicent. We both ended up with concussions, but she also has MS so her aches and pains made that feel worse. She went into work the day after the accident, and that was the last time we have seen her. Her daughter, who was 7 and a half months pregnant, lost her baby last weekend. Jen has been on bereavement the past week. They had a funeral for the infant yesterday. Me and her boss felt so bad about everything that we tookup a collection for her at work and raised a couple of hundred dollars for her. Her partner, who use to work with us, has MS also,  is really bad off and had to quit work a year or so ago. We all know they are struggling. I just can't believe the one day Jen asked for help and we get T-boned.

  On a lighter note, I am putting in for an office job at work. One of my friends transfered to a plant closer to her home so her position is open. She was a service coordinator. I thought if she could do the job, I could do it too. She is a nice girl, but not real bright.  I think I have enough savvy to be able to pick up where she left off. Of course, it means I have to go out and buy new clothes, but the pay is $15000 more a  year than I make now. That should be enough incentive to make me go to the mall God, I hate shopping. I'm tired of babysitting everyone in the department I am in now.I do way too much for way to little pay. For once, I want to be paid what I am worth.

  I decided not to buy that car. The thought of having a car payment that big made me too nervous. I will wait out buying a new one until I have to. Hopefully by then, my paychecks will cover the added expense.My parents left for Florida yesterday so I could use one of their vehicles if I need to. Its not like I don't have options here. Speakin gof money... You know that Monopoly game at Mcdonalds in which you save the game pieces to win prizes?? I don't know of a single person who has won so much as a small fry from that thing. My son and his friend have been playing it and they won $5,000 friday night. No joke..I made them show me the game pieces. We have to mail in the board with the little stickers, but they did win. Hows that for something?? 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 7:45 AM EDT

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I think I have found a car that I can somewhat afford. My brother bought his wife a VW Passat and she hates it. She is so use to driving a big gas sucking boat that she just can't get use to the little car. He offered to sell it to me for what they owe on it. Sure, my payments would be about $240 a month, but the car is in excellent shape and it's a good and dependable car. I am driving the smashed car, but it makes me a nervous wreck driving it. I can literally stick my thumb into the gaps in the door, where before it closed up tight to the body of the car. My mechanic came to look at it yetserday and he said its still a sound car, but just the notion that its crushed is enough to bother me. Plus, it will never pass inspection now.

  My body is coming around back to a state of normal. My muscles still ache and my shoulder is still sore, but I can get up and move around a bit more than I could a few days ago. I could probably manage doing dishes now and maybe some laundry ( if I have help moving the basket and folding the big stuff), but I think I'll pawn vacuuming off to one of the able bodied people who call this place home. I have a bunch of fabric that I need to dye black for halloween. I think I might need help doing that too. The kids have been really helpful all week. My daughter came home from school on tuesday and vacuumed to the whole house without being asked. But having two dogs and two cats, it needs to be done again. 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 8:02 AM EDT

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The car buying process is about to go into high gear. I was going back up to a main road monday after dropping my friend Jeff off at his house. Some guy ran a stop sign and T-boned my car. His car was unregisitered and uninsured. He lived on the street that he shot out of, but claims he didn't know the stop sign was there. I got banged up, but nothing is broken. My friend Jen was in the passenger seat(the side that got hit) and she is banged up too, but we are both alright. It could have been a lot worse. My poor car is wrecked though. Tom had to close my door with a sledge hammer. We tied them closed at the scene with a dog leash. I was so scared to drive it home, thinking that the leash would break and Jen would tumble to the ground. But, like I said, it could have been worse.

Posted by ann-is-clever at 5:16 AM EDT

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WOW.... quitting sucks!! We haven't actually quit yet but we are both smoking ultra lights and have cut it down to about 10 cigarettes a day each. Tom was a two and a half pack habit and I was a pack and a half, so 10 is really good for us. We are both that type of person who, if on a diet, denies themselves 2 hersey kisses, we end up eating the whole 16 oz bag. Cold turkey is not an option for us.

   We have spent about $150 this week on halloween decor. I think we are well up over $500 so far this year. Our display is going to be awesome. We are contructing a 8x8 "room" in which the kids will have to enter to get candy. Shawn and 3 of his friends will be waiting on the other side of the door for them. I bought pro quality vampire teeth and a prostetic piece which attaches to your neck to make it look like your throat has been ripped out. We are fighting over who will wear the teeth and who will wear the neck thing. I have about a gallon and a half of fake blood...I hope its enough!!

   I bought Tom a truck yesterday. We have been looking for a car for me, but we just haven't found one we can afford yet. So friday, Tom was driving by this truck and noticed the for sale sign. We looked at it yesterday and bought it on the spot. Its a 91 Ford Ranger with the cap. Tom only drives about 6 miles to work each day and the truck will come in handy for all of our home improvement projects. Not to mention, bringing wood home and such. I will still be looking for a car, but at least now we have 2 vehicles again. It would have been cold for him riding his bike to work everyday. Plus, the speed limit on the road he works on is 55 and thats being conservative. Its not the best road to ride on.

  So the plan for today is cleaning. I have had a 3 day weekend and have done nothing so far so I better get my rear in gear . 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 9:47 AM EDT

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Wow, I'm a slacker!! I haven't posted a thing in almost a month. Where to start.

   Tom and I are quitting smoking today. From everything I have read, you are suppose to pick a day and go from there. I did smoke one earlier, but I'm not going to get upset if one of us slides. It happens and you move past it. Besides, I'm the type of smoker who gets up in the middle of the night to smoke and I went for 12 hours straight without one. I just keep thinking of the car I need to buy and this is the best way to save money. Toms car died, so we registered my sons truck so Tom could use it to get back and forth from work. Well, apparently, when my son got in a minor accident last year in the snow, he totaled the truck. So we can't get the truck inspected. We were going to try and buy a brand new nissan, but that turned out to be not a good idea. So I had another car dealer run the credit yetserday and we got pre-approved. We are going today to look at used cars. I really wanted a Nissan, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers. 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 10:06 AM EDT

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So much to do, so little motivation to do it. Everyone is still asleep so I am using that for my excuse for getting nothing done. I did my shopping yesterday so thats out of the way at least. I have to clean and then we have plans to work on the bedroom again today. I need my son to do that though. Tom and I can't hold up the drywall and screw it into place by ourselves. We have to borrow muscle from the kid. We are also suppose to rip down walls in our 3 season room and put in some real windows. Winter is coming fast and this needs to get done by then. It was 45 degrees when I got up thursday morning.

   I come on here with all intents and purposes of filling in some interesting tidbits. I start to write and one of the dogs will come and lay his head down on my lap and stare at me with total adoration. I have no choice but to stop writing and rub the offending head. Then the other dog will come in and push the first dog out of the way so he can get some love too. That usually is the first step. Within minutes, I find myself rolling on the floor with the two giant furballs or playing a pick up game of tug of war. God forbid I pay more attention  to one over the other. They have to have equal Momma time or life will as they know it will end...in their eyes anyway.

  My daughter witnessed her friend getting jumped a few weeks back. She had to go to the police station and give a statement. The boys who beat the other boy are now harrassing her when she sees them out in public. Fortunately, I have been with her both times it has happened. I have been on the other side of the store when  they start with her . She gets scared and wants to leave the store, but I make her march right past the group of kids. She has to learn not to let them spook her. By parading right in front of them, she is showing them that she has no fear. So far, it seems to be working because none of the boys have said anything to her at school. Since I have been with her, they must also realize that I know what they look like and I will make problems for them. These kids try to intimidate others into silence, but this Momma isn't afraid to make a stink. I hate punks!!!

   2 Of my sons friends have gotten mohawks. One of them is really big, about 9 inches up straight from his head. A photographer showed up at school on the first day back and snapped a picture of them, which was put into the paper. Some of the people at work saw the picture and made some comments about the "freaks". I found myself defending the boys, telling people that now that they knew the cover so well, maybe they should read the book. One of the boys is high honors and both of them are just great kids. When my son got jumped, a bunch of his friends showed up at the hospital at 2 am to make sure he was ok. The mohawk boys were both there. I couldn't ask for better friends for my kid and it pissed me off that they would be labeled for what they look like. Maybe thats what they are after, but I don't like it. I was raised not to judge until I gave people a chance. Back home, a guy moved into the neighborhood. He had horrible scars all over him. His face was burned so badly that he barely had lips or eyelids. Everyone felt sorry for him and  they were all friendly and treated him so well..until we all found out he had gotten burnt trying to light his pregnant girlfriend on fire. that was proof to me that you can't know the whole story until you actually know the whole story. Assume nothing.

  I have a large, fuzzy head on my lap, so I better sign off before wrestlemania starts up again 

Posted by ann-is-clever at 9:51 AM EDT

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Salsa

• What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

BK or KFC

• What is your favorite sit down restaurant?

T-Bones

• On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?

at least 15%, sometimes more, unless the waitress calls me Hon, Babe or Darlin, then she gets nothing

• What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?

YOGURT!! I have been eating it daily for years and I never get sick of it

• Name three foods you detest above all others.

Fish, pork, french fries

• What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?

I don't care for chinese food

• What are your pizza toppings of choice?

veggie

• What do you like to put on your toast?

Butter & cinnamon sugar

• What is your favorite type of gum?

anything wintergreen

BI-OLOGY

• What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?

My laugh

• Are you right handed or left handed?

Both

• Do you like your smile?

yes

• Have you ever had anything removed from your body?

gall bladder, teeth. some bone fragments and babies

• Would you like to?

Oh yes!

• Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?

Smell

• When was the last time you had a cavity?

no idea

• What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?

60 to 80 pound condensers at work

• Have you ever been knocked unconscious?

Yes

MISC-OLOGY

• If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?

No. probably not.

• If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?

I dunno, I kinda like my name

• How do you express your artistic side?

Crafts, candles, home improvements

• What color do you think you look best in?

Red or blue

• How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?

Pretty long, I'd try to read a lot.

• Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?

Yes.

• If we weren't bound by society's conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?

no

• How often do you go to church?
Seldom

• Have you ever saved someone's life?
I don't think so
• Has someone ever saved yours? No

DARE-OLOGY

For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.

• Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?

Sure,
• Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?

Absolutley

• Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000?

Yes

• Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
No, I like my fingers thank you. Plus you need your pinkies to show manners when drinking tea. LOL

• Would you never blog again for $50,000?

yes

• Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?

sure, if people didn't like the way I look naked, they could flip the page

• Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?

Sure
• Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000,00?

I don't think I could take a human life at all

• Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed?
I think I would..especially if my hair was long and they would donate it

• Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?

no problem. Someone would have to tape CSI and the Soprano's for me though

Posted by ann-is-clever at 8:43 PM EDT

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