My Last Week

This is my last week of Unemployment!

The Un has been removed!

Took a deep breath and wow my shoulders feel lighter.

The last 13 months have been a very difficult journey, yet I honestly feel as if a lot of good has come from my "Forced Do Over". Concentrating on what is important and what is in the Now has kept the panic at a minimum.

As I exit the phase of "National Unemployment Crisis" and enter the "Rebuilding" phase, staying in the Now will be just as important.

So I am enjoying my last few days of slow mornings with coffee and looking forward to the beginning of my "starting all over" phase.

Return

Beautiful
Adventure
Joyful
Exhausted
Shall Return

We Are Off!

It has been a couple of years since my last visit.

The kids and I are off today to visit my brother and his family. A concert at the beach tonight and who know what else shall follow.

Fly Catcher

Midg is my smallest cat, hence the name Midg short for Midget. Yea yea yea I know it is not politically correct. Anyway, Midg can not weigh more than 3 or 4 pounds and she is full grown. Yet she will break bad on the other cat's, she is my tough little girl.

She is sitting patiently peering at the window...

Because that blasted fly will land and it will be hers!

Give The Girl A Camera...

Was going to blog about dating/relationships but since I don't date and it seems as if I don't do relationships decided to wait on that one.

So on to something I do know about!

Give the Girl a Camera and she goes crazy!

A few months ago I gave Little M (10) full access to one of my older camera's. It has been really cute watching her snap away. But I have to say I becoming very impressed with her ability and style. I have showed her a few trick and introduced her to post editing but I have to be very honest...most she has picked up solo.

When I opened Photoshop this morning the screen fill up with her work.

So I thought I would share a few...all of the following is Little M's work!



Not sure what's up with the tongue thing but hey its her call.

I Am A Lucky Lady!

As most of you know the move has been completed.

Along with the move some adjustment are being made.

One is...I have never had to take care of a lawn...NEVER! In my 42 years, yard work has never been a part of the essence of ME. So the thought of maintaining a lawn was a little overwhelming. A voluntary entrapment behind a motorized machine that produced heat and fumes along with the wonderful southern 90 degree days was not appealing.

Please don't misunderstand me...I LOVE the summer...at the pool or ocean side.

I am a very lucky lady!

This is my oldest son, Big T!

Along with working nights at UPS and school a few days a weeks, he mows lawns as a side job.

When he was helping me move he informed me that he would take care of the lawn.

Another amazing kid I have!

Side note:

I live on a street with several other single mothers and I notice that about three of them had a need to go outside while he was mowing. I didn't think much of it at the time but when he was loading the trailer back up with his equipment one of Little M friends (around 10) spilled the beans on her mother.

"My Mom said your yard guy was hot"

I just smiled and said "oh that's my oldest son"

A strange look came across that little girls face and all she said was "Oh, really? Your son?"

"Yep"

I think she may have been a little grossed out by the fact that Mom was hot for her friends brother. :)

Of course I found tremendous humor in this...and had to share with Big T. Being male he was very amused and flattered that a Mom thought he was hot lol.

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar (yep another one)

Please note: my technical vocabulary is lacking.

To read I am Woman Hear Me Roar 1 here and number 2 is here .

After moving into our 1952 cottage I have discovered an issue...I only have three outlets with a ground hole thingy. So of course the computer is using one, the refrigerator the other and the main TV and DVR box the third. Alright, I am thinking great I have it all under control. Well that was my thought till I tried to plug the dryer in.

My dryer plug has 4 prongs, yep counted them over and over, 4! And seeing how the higher powers that be love to throw a curve ball at me, the box that said 4 prong plug must fit into only had 3! Again I counted them several times as I scratched my head. Of course the words escaping from my lips are WTF.

My oldest son with best intentions suggest that I call his father, because his father will know what to do or will have a friend that can fix it. I inform him that I am well aware that his father, my ex, is the handy man of all handy men...but I'll be damned if I will call him or one of his friends. I am 5 years post marriage, not going to happen lol. I will figure it out...I have a few smarts left in the old brain.

The next day cable guy is here setting up the TV's...so of course I question him about my dilemma. I ask as he is laid out on the living room floor connecting stuff..."Question, I have a 4 prong plug on my dryer but the thing I plug it into only has 3 holes. Could I not find some kind of adapter at one of the mega hardware stores?" He chuckled under his breath..."Nope the whole plug will have to be replaced but you can get a replacement cord at the hardware store."

Okay! I have to replace the whole cord! I will admit, fear crept in. I mean we are talking about electricity here. What if I do it wrong...this is a 1952 cottage...there are no sprinkler systems in this house and I am pretty sure a fire would consume the 900 square feet in record time. Alright, deep breathing....you can do this...get back to your center :).

So off to the mega hardware store with Little Big Man H in tow.

Now which direction do I go...toward the dryers or to the electrical department? Luck was on my side I chose the electrical aisle. I will admit that I stood in that aisle for 20 minuets debating my choices as Little Big Man H played with a huge drill bit thing commenting on the damage it could do (boys, just so different).

Once we got home with the new plug it was off to remove the old one. I paid close attention to what I was removing to be sure I placed it back in the correct spot. I was working off of fear and determination.

So now on to attaching the new plug right? WRONG!

The old plug was color coordinated the one I purchased was dressed completely in grey! WTH!

What to do? As I am sitting on the floor of the little room off the back porch (yea..washer and dryer not actually in the house) with the cobwebs I remember that Google is my friend.

I was right Google is my friend and now Bob Vila is too.

Good old Bob informed me that the middle wire is the ground wire and the others just attach to the side connections...Cool...I can do that!

Alright Done...the new 3 prong plug is attached. The moment of truth has arrived. Will I hear the beautiful humming of the dryer or the screams of terror from myself and Little Big Man H.

As we hold our breath, I nervously plug in the new dryer cord.

HUMMING oh what a beautiful sound!

I did it...I know most would think how simple but for me it was a big accomplishment!

I removed one of these:

And replaced it.

I am Woman hear me roar!

A Bit of an Update

I believe the Birthday was a success. Little Big Man H did remove his ban of photo taking and allowed all of 5 shots (hey not complaining 5 is better than none).

He was not thrilled but I explained that I really needed at least one or two to document the turning of 14.

And yes that is all the art work that has not been hung. It's always the last thing I do in a move and it can sit for months. Got to find the right place on the wall lol.

Back to the Birthday.

His request for celebration was simple...a few fresh Tee's and a steak dinner.

It was just Little Big Man and I. His baby sister Little M is at her fathers for the week and his older brother T is at the beach for the week.

Yet both made an effort.

Around 8 AM big brother called from the beach. They talked for about 15 minuets but I could tell it made Little Big Man H feel good that his brother remembered.

Now on Sunday when I took Little M to her fathers I reminded her of the impending birthday. She pulled out her cell phone and made a note in the calendar with the alarm set lol.

At 11:30 AM she called, asked to speak to H and as soon as he said Hello I could hear the chorus of singers. His Grandmother, sister, cousin and uncles girlfriend sang/screamed the traditional Birthday Song. Little Big Man H was grinning from ear to ear.

Around 3:30 PM his father called and invited him to dinner. Little Big Man H declined even as I was whispering "Go if you want to, we can do our thing tomorrow". When he hung up I told him again if you want to go with your dad go. My amazing child said "ummm Nooo, you are the one that supports me and is always there for me, I am hanging out with you tonight".

So off to the mall we went, T-Shirts purchased (amazed me, they come packaged as "Fresh T's") then we walked around for a while. He was not interested in pillow and lien shopping so off to dinner. Had a fabulous steak dinner, he got the 14 oz sirloin and I had the 11 oz.

After we got home one more phone call...it was his uncle and older cousin, his last Happy Birthday for the day.

Now all that transpired may seem like no big deal...but it was.

Last year his father did not even call and the year before he was told that the trip with the fathers girlfriend to the beach was his birthday. He has felt over the past few years that his fathers side of the family had forgotten him or really did not care about him.

So to me the birthday was a success!

The next birthday...Big T will be turning 21 in July...pretty sure I will not be invited to that celebration lol.

Little Big Man

My Little Big Man H is 14 today!

This cute little toddler is now 6 feet tall (ummm I am only 5' 6").


Little Big Man is the child with a huge heart. He tries to act all tough and rough but in the end his heart always wins.

As a small child he always wanted to be like big brother. In his eyes there was no one more amazing than T.

If T could do it then so could Little Big Man!

All through Elementary School he watched over his little sister. Walked her to class and made sure she got on the bus. He would never admit to it, but the staff informed me of how protective he was of her.

This is the child that can walk in the house and know immediately that something worrisome is on my mind. And he will not give up till I spill it. This is the child that always tells me after one of my lame jokes about starting over, that I have no worries because he is going to take care of me when he grows up. His words are "You can't live with me but I am going to buy you a house" lol "I will always be there for you, the same as you are for me".

Little Big Man and I have been through so much, a lot of good and a lot of horrible events as well. He is my heart, a blessing I could not imagine life without.

Happy Birthday Little Big Man
Love you with all my heart and every bit of my soul.

New Beginnings

Enjoying my first pot of coffee in the house we now call home. Thought it would be fitting to blog for the first time in our new home along with my coffee.

It is official, the move is complete!

The kids, animals and I are now residing in a 1952 cottage. Downsizing at its best :)

As many of you know, I have been effected by the economy. Unemployed for the past 13 months and constant dead end roads regarding job hunting. Honestly the past year has felt as if I have been in a state of limbo. No progress on moving forward just the useless effort of hanging on to a life style that was in truth deceased.

So here I am turning 42 on the 21st of this month and I am starting over from scratch. Right in this moment, the NOW, I am the happiest I have been in a long time. After a 17 year marriage that ended in 03/04 and two or three boyfriends that never worked out, the death of my best friend my mother in 07 and then the loss of my job in 08 it has been a long and difficult journey.

Have I arrived at my destination...no...but I do feel as if the sun is shinning on my walk through life. Our worldly possessions and even our status in society has decreased but the kids and I have finally taken a step forward in our "forced do-over" and we have embraced it.

This past week I received a package in the mail. I splurged on myself, justified it as a birthday present to me from me. Ms. Single Mama an amazing blogger and inspiring young mother (check her out if you don't already) created a piece of jewelry that really hit home with me. The focal of the necklaces is a leaf. The message of turning a new leaf...starting over...shouted me me me! After tearing into the package I hung the necklace on my review mirror of the car along with the rosary that another blogger sent me, you can read about it here. I plan on wearing the necklace but for the move I wanted it safe and where it was visible to me. So each trip in the car a little pray is sent along with a touch of the rosary and leaf. A pray for strength and guidance.


One more cup of coffee and back to unpacking and arranging but here are few pictures of our new home.

The living room.

The hallway to the bedrooms and bath.

The kitchen.

The kids are doing great here. Little Big Man H is still in walking distance to his friends and the park. Little M has already made some friends...this picture was taken late yesterday afternoon. Little M is the one at the bottom left...yep she seems happy :).