Saturday, July 30, 2005

I'm totally chill now

Thank the good lord for small favors... and the goddess too. I got a crink in my neck, pretty bad, couldn't move it - probably stress related. Well you know, I am under quite a bit at the moment even if I do try to laugh it off, which helps. But it doesn't quite pay the bills. Anyway, I had one of those pain pills the dentist gave me for my root canal left over (ok I should have thrown it away a few months ago (Last summer) but I'm never one to waist things that cost an arm and a leg, and a good thing too, that thing loosened up my neck within the hour and I called my ex, to ask if I could possibly hold off sending this months CS for H, and explained why and he was very understanding and said sure and even told me what was wrong with the van (same thing Kenny told me) and how to save a little money when I take it in by asking what parts were needed and going to the auto store and buying the parts myself and having the mechanic install them. Johns cousin Dallas will be the one to work on it this time and John thinks Dallas won't charge me too much. I sure hope not. John is paying for the new tires I need as it is (well he should since he's the primary driver at the moment!)

My mom (bless her) was easy going about the whole thing, I just did not need another person getting upset about something I couldn't have forseen, and it's not as though I'm not trying to find work. I have an application going out almost daily if not more than that. I'm just frustrated. Don't worry people - I'll be my old self in a day or two. Just need to winge - as they say in Australia - now and then.

My son has a terrible summer cold, but it's a bit more than just that because he's been sick to his stomach as well, so he's taken a few days off work which is going to be hurting him. As a parent I of course want to help and I just get angry with myself because I'm unable too. Both my older kids tell me not to get upset, because it's making them tougher as well is more self reliant which I'm glad they have that outlook, but it's KILLING ME! The youngest lives with her dad and she just got her first job so really hasn't had much of an education for making it on her own. She's been the lucky one. (Course the other 2 say she's the 'spoiled' one, but it's all a matter of perspective isn't it?) The real question is this... which ones will be able to have fullfilling lives, stand on their own and know they can make it? I hope all 3, but I'm unsure of the youngest because she's really not ever had to earn the things she's wanted. I love them all more than my own life, I want them to be able to make it in this world and be happy. Success isn't the amount of money you have, it's the people you make into your friends and family along the way. It's how happy you are when you hit 'middle age'. It's how confident you are your whole life.

Toodles.

P.S.
If any of my 3 children just read this - you better know how much I love you guys. And... twice on Sundays.

Friday, July 29, 2005

What's Right?

For the love of everything I hold dear in my life PLEASE tell me what is RIGHT! Because I sure know what's wrong!

Ok so I'm driving my van down the road today for the 1st time in weeks, because John has been using it non-stop since I presently am without a job and he presently is without a car. So I'm driving it, and the front end starts shaking and I start smelling burning rubber. I lean down to make sure the emergency break is off and yes it was (why it would be on anyway since it's as flat as a pancake here I wouldn't know - but he does things like that sometimes so I had to check.) So I pull over to the side of the road and John pulls up beside me (we were taking his company truck back to the offices) and I tell him what's wrong and didn't he notice it earlier today when he was out with it? No he says... hrmmm. Anyway I refuse to go any further in the wrong direction and instead I went home, called Kenny, my mechanic (ok so he's other peoples mechanic too, but when I call he says "whad'ya do to it now" so as far as I'm concerned he's MY mechanic - I just share him.) I describe the problem, he says, sounds like your break lines held up. To repair the break, 60.00, but if he has to replace it ALL... 3-400.00 *choke*. Oh... and DON'T DRIVE IT!

Ok I did mention I don't have a job right now right? So I have to figure out how the hell I'm gonna pay for this because I already know where all of john's money and my mom's money goes, and there isn't any to spare. I have 2 job applications pending, and I guess I will have to break down and go get a miniature minimum wage job (You know... the kind that pays about 6.00 an hour works you to the bone and after the government takes their share your left with cigarette and gas money.) Now if WAL-MART won't even call me in for an interview (which my mother says is because I won't work from 7 bloody am till 11 PM (their loss) then what the hell makes me think McDonalds will call me?

Always the optimist I guess.

Of course I am... I drive a 17 year old van after all! Dear lord... I'm a grown woman with grown children and have moved back in with my mother who I love dearly but everyday reminds me why the hell I left when i was 18! (If you think I'm an impatient person you have got to meet my mother.) As my bio-dad likes to tell me, "your mom could try the patience of a priest". At least I'm not a lesbian trying to live with my mother all over again. Of course having a sex life at all with your mother in the same house isn't all that fun either! Oh just shoot me now! Here I am in my prime at last with a boyfriend 15 years YOUNGER thank you very much and I have to wait for her to a. Go to bed or b. work late. GAWD it is high school all over again! Why the hell does she have to be so parochial? She was a young adult in the 60's for cryin' out loud! The way she acts you'd think she'd grown up in the Victorian age. Sex is sex woman, how the hell did YOU conceive your three children? Which reminds me, both of my brothers tell me I'm brave. BRAVE! Because I'm living with her. Yes I guess I am or I'm very very stupid. But lets go with brave. I prefer that. So now I'm brave and they are both on the left coast so that leaves me to take care of her because they think she's going to go senile eventually. No she won't. She'll get emphazima and become a royal bitch like my grandmother. Won't that be fun?

Wilmington Star News: Woman accused of killing her mother by stepping on the air hose. "Honest judge, it was an accident!" No seriously, I have these great plans of getting a decent job if someone would just OVER LOOK the 2 years experience part, hire me and let me work... then she can quit her job and sit on the couch all day watching the oxygen channel (GAWD I HATE THAT STATION!) She can 'retire' and I will take care of the house bills because damnit I want to! I want to tell her "I'm paying the bills around here so you'll do what I SAY! How many of you want to be able to say that to your parents? C'mon, don't be shy, raise your hands you know you want to say that! I want to leave the out door lights on and see my yard after sunset and when she bitches about the electricity I am going to say "You're not paying for it, I am" And when she wants to watch something at night I don't want to watch I'm going to say "Excuse me, but I pay for the cable" EVIL LAUGH!

Phewww all that ranting made me feel so much better.
And because I lost my temper and screamed today... I'm not cooking dinner, it's being cooked right now as I'm typing. Maybe I should loose it more often.

Ok in all fairness before I sign off I want to say this... I do love my mother. I appreciate that she has given me a home and allowed me to go back to college and earn my degree (while working too), she's helped me financially and because she is so much stronger than I am, she's taught me to be tough. Yes my brothers love her too, and we all 3 wonder if it wouldn't have been just a bit easier in our life if she had let us see hwe when she was down, cried in front of us once in a while. Then we wouldn't feel like such failures in front of her when we do break down.

Smile - It's the 2nd best thing you can do with your lips! =)

Ta Ta

Thursday, July 28, 2005

It Was So Hot...

How Hot Was It?

Unofficially - but officially according to my world - which I might add is all that counts to me anyway - it was 98 degrees in the shade on my porch. It's so bloody hot I've almost polished off an entire box of Missile Pops (you know... the red white and blue ones that taste wonderful!)

So hot that the fish are begging to be caught so we'll put them in our freezers.
So hot that when the rain hits the pavement you can hear the hissing sound as it dries on contact.

Oooh... my brother called tonight from Ca. He's not using my dad's old camera anymore so he's going to give it to me. YAY! It's actually a FILM camera, I learned on this one when I took photography in high school. I just don't remember what kind it is, or for that matter, anything I was taught way back in the dark ages and dark receses of that era. You know, way back when the Reagans were in the white house the first time? Yeah - that long ago. And what with the passing of time, old age and too much partying back in my youth, well, the memories come slow and hard. ;>

Hard? Did someone say hard? Oooh not that kind. Well then.
I wonder what I'll do tomorrow? Technically it's already tomorrow, but since I haven't been to bed yet it's still today. And afterall this is MY world.

Just hope it's cooler.

Ta ta.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

If You Think Yesterday Was Bad...

Wed-Jul-27

The National Weather Service has issued a EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING
North Carolina counties
Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson
South Carolina counties
Horry


What this means folks is this: STAY INSIDE! If your boss won't give you the day off, demand hazzard pay. Make your pets stay inside. Make your children stay inside. If you HAVE to go anywhere, drive with 2 fingers until your air conditioner has cooled things off. If you have vynle seats - you're an idiot! If you don't have air conditioning in your car - you're an even bigger idiot for going out today!

TUE JUL 26 2005

.EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. .EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM EDT WEDNESDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN WILMINGTON HAS UPGRADED THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH TO AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING. THE WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. AND AGAIN FOR WED FROM NOON TO 7 PM EDT.

HIGH TEMPS OF 98 TO 103 DEGREES WILL OCCUR AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST BOTH TUES & WED AFTERNOONS. WHEN COMBINED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF HUMIDITY.IT WILL FEEL EVEN HOTTER OUTSIDE. THE HEAT INDEX.WHICH INDICATES THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE HEAT & HUMIDITY.WILL REACH A STIFLING 115 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON.WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY.

THE HEAT & HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES COULD EASILY OCCUR BOTH TUES & WED AFTERNOONS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS. FREQUENT AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM.& STAY OUT OF THE SUN. YOUNG CHILDREN.THE ELDERLY.& PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC AILMENTS WILL BE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE HEAT. BRING IN OUTSIDE PETS & PROVIDE LIVESTOCK WITH PLENTY OF ACCESSIBLE SHADE AND DRINKING WATER.

MON JUL 25 2005

.HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING. .EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUES AFTERNOON TO TUESDAY EVENING.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM EDT.

HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL REACH AROUND 105 FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN WILMINGTON.FOR TUES AFTERNOON. STIFLING HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL REACH AROUND 115 FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

FOR THE HEAT ADVISORY TODAY.THE COMBINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON TEMPS & INCREASING HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS.FREQUENT AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM.STAY OUT OF THE SUN.& CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. PROVIDE OUTSIDE PETS & LIVESTOCK WITH PLENTY OF ACCESSIBLE SHADE & DRINKING WATER.

FOR THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH ON TUESDAY.THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE COMBINATION OF WIDESPREAD 100 DEGREE AFTERNOON TEMPS AND HIGH HUMIDITY TO PRODUCE 115 HEAT INDEX VALUES. THIS WILL CREATE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES COULD EASILY OCCUR. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS.STAY IN AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM.STAY OUT OF THE SUN.& CHECK UP ON THE ELDERLY & INFANTS. BRING IN OUTSIDE PETS.& PROVIDE LIVESTOCK WITH WELL VENTILATED SHADY LOCATIONS ALONG WITH PLENTY OF ACCESSIBLE DRINKING WATER.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

I WON!

First AND second place in the B&W division for the counties Parks and recreations photography contest.

91 photos entered in the contest with only 16 to get 1st, 2nd or 3rd's in the different catagories and 2 honorable mentions in each of the catagories and I got both 1st and 2nd in the B&W's!!! Yeah I am freakin HAPPY about that! (No contest money though... just 2 plaques) But hell, it just makes me feel good to know others found my work to be as pretty as I felt it was.

Beach Access (B&W) S.E. 53rd St Oak Island
the 1st place winner.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Life as I know it...& Other randomeness

I went to Wall World and filled out an application... guess I was over qualified because they still have not called me. That sucks.

My dog has been missing from her home for 3 weeks, and I feel she's dead. She stayed with my ex when we seperated. he hates animals but he had the yard and Grumpy was mine and my sons dog. (His sisters loved her too, but he and I trained her). The dog has never run away in the 11 years we had her. So your guess is as good as mine.

I house sat for 2 days while it was being painted. The painting crew were 2 women, who've been together for 15 years. They are getting ready to take a vacation of a life time to England to meet up with another couple they've been friends with on line for 2 years. I think it's wonderful. I did that 6 years ago, went to Alaska and loved it. You meet some good folks and some not so good folks on line, have a back up plan but get out there and have some adventures!

The House is meeting this Thursday, July 21 to vote on H.R. 3911, the PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Bill.  Call your Representatives on these Committees and urge them to OPPOSE any expansion of the PATRIOT Act and to SUPPORT the addition of reasonable safeguards, such as those in the bipartisan SAFE Act (H.R. 1526), which would make sure that the FBI isn't left to its own devices but is subject to judicial and congressional oversight. See the Patriot Site for more information.

It's so bloody hot here the asphault is gewy! I kid you not. Right now the T&L is very strong and the sky is black but still no rain. But - my new grass is looking great! I've been keeping busy taking pictures, what I need to do is get to the beach a few more times, but I may wait till terrorist season is over and the roads clear out! But if your interested in viewing any of the photographs, just go to my flickr site link (to the right side of this page) and it will get you there.

Anyway thats about it
Hugs n smootches to my fan club of 1 =D

Thursday, July 14, 2005

We're not Afraid!

We're not Afraid!
Hell no we're not afraid - and they can kiss our asses!

Great photo's and anyone reading this probably already knows about this place. If you don't, it's been on most every television station today so it was rather hard to miss unless you really never turn on the tv.

Enjoy the images.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

The Mystery of the Haunted Vampire: An obituary

Message to my children: When I die - I want you to be as creative as these children were for their mother!
The Mystery of the Haunted Vampire: An obituary: "An obituary
From The News & Observer:

On June 3, 2005 at 10:45 p.m. in Memphis, Tennessee, Dorothy Gibson Cully, 86, died peacefully, while in the loving care of her two favorite children, Barbara and David. All of her breath leaked out. The mother of four children, grandmother to 11, great-grandmother to nine, devoted wife for 56 years to the late Ralph Chester Cully and a true friend to many, Dot had been active as a volunteer in the Catholic Church and other community charities for much of the past 25 years."

Please - go read the rest, it's WONDERFUL! (Ok... it will leave you with your mouth hanging open and you thinking "Is this for real?!")

=D

Ahh GOD the humidity SUCKS!

It's so humid you'd think it was raining here. I can hardly breath, and of course the fact that I smoke doesn't help. I love summer, more than any other season, I just wish 2 things. 1: I owned a swimming pool and 2: I had never smoked a cigarette in my life. But alas I cannot turn back time nor do I have the courage and stupidity to rob a bank in order to own a pool at this time in my life. So, I shall sit here in the dark, looking out my porch screen at all the stars, wishing for a breeze and maybe a down pour.

So now I must mention the hurricaines... since we've had 4 in the atlantic already you could say those of us along the southern coasts are a bit worried... how can we not be? This is the first time in history they have ever recorded 4 hurricains in the month of July! That's more like September. We usually don't watch the weather channel seriously around here until August, and then it's like once a day, but come Sepember, we tune in several times a day or leave it on if there is a system in the atlantic. Here are, July and watching it on and off all day every day! Yeah, we're all nervouse and I need a pine tree cut down desperatly!

Tomorrow is the big day!
We officially submit our photographs for the county amateur photography contest. I have 7 to submit and am a bit nervouse even if family and friends love the pictures. But I have to admit, what was once really nice pictures have turned into some awesome works of art once matted and framed!

Hope you all are well and happy, and having a great summer!

Friday, July 08, 2005

In Loving Memory

This is just a short note... In memory of a dear and loved friend. I found out today that Evan Hunter (also known as Ed McBain) passed away on the 6th. He and several other authors have always come through for me when my depressions hit, their story's never fail to pull me through. I will miss his work very deeply.

Goddess bless

Thursday, July 07, 2005

A Sad Day in the World Once Again

Once again terror has been thrown at the world of (for the most part) good people. Anyone who might read this already knows London England was bombed today in 4 different areas, and 2 or 3 other bombs have been found before they went off (thank goodness). And I hope this time the *good people* of the world won't focus on Muslims or jihads, and instead realize that it's a GROUP of bad humans, like as if a section of Baptists got together and bombed a family planning bldg in the name of GOD. Ewps, that really happened! They don't represent the religion as a whole, they represent their own twisted interpretation of it.

I guess this is as good a time as any to get on my soap box and spout out once again why we should have stayed focused on the religious sickos responsible for all of this bullshit and not have gone traipsing off to Iraq and accuse them of being a part of it. And no matter what those sweet natured homeboys in Washington tell me there is no way they will make me believe Iraq had anything to do with the New York and Washington tragedies.

Ok *stepping off my soap box* all that BS aside, I am sooo sorry that London had to experience this tragedy just the day after such a joyous occasion of being named the city to host the Olympics in 2012. But I must admire the way they all pitched in helping (and so did a few American tourists). They are a tough crowd - Bravo!

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

4th of July Bar-B-Q


Bar-B-Q
Originally uploaded by NC Wench.
Directions:
Soak clams in warm water with seasalt, soak shrimp in 2 bottles of beer (1 lb each)
Brown Italian sweet sausage in olive oil and 1 head of crushed garlic (yeah, a whole head!)
Add clams& 1 cup of beer, then add water to cover to top of clams, cook until clams open on medium low heat. Add seasalt, Old Bay (to taste), oregano & pepper and mix well, then add muscles and cook until they open. Now add shrimp and cook only until they turn pink, then drain. You now have a southern coastal beach stew.

This years pork bar-b-q recipe was straight out of Southern Livings July issue page 126. Turned out AWESOME!!! Everyone at the bar-b-q wanted the recipe so I just told them it was in the magazine.

Try it, you won't be sorry! (But follow the directions!)

Monday, July 04, 2005

Saturday - in the park... I think it was the 2nd of Julyyyy

Saturday night we sat in the grass down at Waterfront Park in Southport to listen to "Peace and Love" who sing all the Motown hits from the 60's & 70's. That was very enjoyable. The 82nd Airborn (Army) chorus sang first and they were wonderful!


Today I'm cooking up some clams, shrimp, muscles and sausage to go with the bar-b-q we're having over at Tony's house. I made a rub and a sause yesterday, which Tony put on the pig to marinate it over night and he's started cooking it around 9 this morning. Should all be ready around 4 in the afternoon. (I'll post some pics of the food next)

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Saturday's Competion

We had a really good time Saturday. John and I went over to the fire department and the crew cleaned up the truck and got it all shiny, then we drove into Southport followed by the fire truck. We got there about 9:30 and I tried to find a good spot that would still be in the area that spectators get wet from the fire hoses. Ashley and Nathan showed up around 10 along with other friends, and then my best friend drove down from Jacksonville (NC) with her son to spend the weekend. The Littlest Firefighter I took tons of photos, but most of them with John's Kodak digital camera which is NOT allowing me to up load on my computer so that makes me mad! I'm having to copy them onto disks from Johns computer and then try to open them on mine, but some won't open.... things to do later today. LOL
Dancing in the Street The best part of the whole day though was watching the small children playing in the sprinkler off to the side that the firemen set up every year for them.

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Southport Firemens Competetion


3 Station Fire
Originally uploaded by NC Wench.
Today is the Firemens Competetion. All the fire departments (in the state) are invited down to Southport to compete in fun and games against each other. Winner gets a huge trophy and all firemen & families get a free pig pickin'.


Note:
This years winner was Sunny Point Ocean Terminal (Army Depot) They were fantastic... even if they are a PAID Department and train every week! LOL