THINGS I KNOW

I’m not a genius by any means. But, I do have a few degrees under my belt so by that standard I would be considered a decently intelligent (how do you spell intelligent?) person. But, that all depends on who you talk to. Anyway, I know a few things and they are basically things I have discovered merely by accident or through trial and error. For instance I know:

*When the male hamster, I was just suckered into buying 7 days ago, has babies they are called pups. As if I didn’t have enough pups.

*Getting caught by the PoPo in Virginia doing 80 (amended down to 75) in a 65 will cost you $111.

* Not paying a speeding ticket you received in North Carolina, on the simple premise of “they won’t catch me, I just won’t drive through North Carolina again” is a very, very stupid way to think. And, when they catch you (and they will) they not only pile on extra fees, interest and penalties they will suspend your license. The state of North Carolina has absolutely NO sense of humor.

*When you put the water hose in the swimming pool at 6:30pm and don’t turn it off until 10:30am the following morning the pool WILL overflow.

*Fancy dancy liquid chlorine you buy at pool supply places is nothing but bleach. For real. Check out the active ingredients on the label. Shame on you pool places!

*When the fancy dancy liquid chlorine splashes on your clothes it will create bleach spots. Hence the whole compare the active ingredients label to a bleach bottle. Damn, I’m smart.

*A competition bow for middles school kid’s costs right at 200 bones. Are you SERIOUS?

*I totally know how to turn water in the swimming pool from lime green to crystal clear.

*The term “Jew them down” is frowned upon. Especially by Jews. Who knew?!?!

*My brother-n-law is a GIANT turd. Or is it terd. Heck, I thought I was smart. I don’t even know how to spell turd/terd. Oh well, you get my point.

*I also know it is 43 days before the love of my life BB comes home. Woo Hoo :~)

Until next time – Rose Baggs

AN AMERICAN SOLDER

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and member of a team. I serve the
people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the
United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am and American Soldier.

THE SIMPLE THINGS

I need to mow the yard
I need to wash clothes
I need to figure out what I’m cooking for supper? Nothing, because…
I need to go to the grocery
I need to clean house
I need to pay bills
I need to balance the check book
Wait a minute. Back up. Balance the check book and then pay bills

It’s never ending. There is always something that needs to be done. And, in my case it needed to be done yesterday. One thing you didn’t see in my list of “Must Do’s” is spend time with Bb and Lou. In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives we seem to push aside the most important things. Family.

I didn’t realize I did it as much as I did until last night. Bb and Lou were sitting down to play a board game and asked if I wanted to play. I responded with “no I have to…… (fill in the blank). Lou said “mom, you always have to do…..and never do anything with us anymore.”

When she made that comment I looked up from my top-priority task and watched her walk out of the room. I felt my stomach sink. She was right. I never have time for them anymore. I spend more time with my dirty duds and Wal-Mart co-workers than I do my own kids.

That comment really hit home. I immediately stopped what I was doing and joined the Plant Earth Trivia game. I will keep the outcome to myself. But, we had so much fun. I didn’t realize how smart they were. They get it from me ya know. Really, they do!

Guess what is here with me tonight? Dirty clothes, a dirty house, a yard that needs a hair cut, an unbalanced check book, unpaid bills and an empty cupboard. Guess what is NOT here with me tonight? Bb and Lou. The point I’m trying to make is: the other stuff will be there the next day but time with your family may not. Don’t take it for granted.

Until next time-Rose Baggs

MEMORIES

Awww, isn’t she pretty? Looks just like her momma.

As I have done in the past I take a picture of Lou on the first day of a milestone event; daycare, pre-school, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and now 6th grade.

Oh, the 6th grade. As I talked to Lou about her first day experience of 6th grade it made me reflect back to my 6th grade. This is what I remember about my 6th grade at Mercer County Elementary School - Home of the fighting Scotties.

~~~

*Bus #181-with Basel Walling behind the helm was my, 60 minute (each way), mode of transportation. Destination? Moberly Road. Sorry I can’t remember the exact address. Things I DON’T remember about high school erased that part from my memory.

~~~

*Wearing a bra was the “in” thing and was simply a must to be in the cool crowd
~~~

*Bonnie Bell lip gloss was the bomb
~~~

*M. Turpin was the meanest girl EVER. I hope she never comes across my blog and reads what I have written about her. She will hunt me down and beat me up. Dude, I’m serious. She was mean!!! To prevent myself from a libel lawsuit:

The above comment regarding M. Turpin is strictly my opinion.

~~~
*Mr. Durr picked his ears with his car keys
~~~

*Mr. Preston doused himself in the ever so popular Old Spice cologne
~~~

*Was convinced the lunch ladies picked up worms that had crawled upon the side walk after a rain and served them to us in our lunch. I KNOW they did, I just know it
~~~

*Ms. Cole had fire engine red hair and was always pregnant
~~~

*Never, ever, ever refer to school as a tragedy. It did nothing but plum piss off Ms. Cole. I think it was that constant pregnancy thing.

~~~

*Clyde & Marie Denney. The traveling Bluegrass Duo / janitors
~~~

*Gathering around the portable cassette player at recess listening to Physical, I Love Rock-N-Roll and Thriller

Isn’t it amazing how time flies? I am now preparing for my 20 year class reunion. Can you believe it? As young as I look no one would ever guess I graduated in 1989. Lord knows I don’t act like I graduated 20 years ago.

CURIOUS???

It's never good when your daughter has the beginning of $5,300 worth of work in her mouth and your most recent conversation goes like this:

Telephone: Buzz, buzz, buzz
Me: Hello
Lou: Mom?
Me: Yeah?
Lou: Um, would it hurt anything if I stuck a magnet to my braces?
Me: Stuck a magnet to your braces? Why would you want to stick - you've already stuck a magnet to your braces haven't you?
Lou: (hesitation) Uh, yeah.
Me: Which one? It wasn't one of the heavy duty Magnetix magnets was it?
Lou: Uh, yeah. But momma they're real weak now because I've had them for years.
Me: Is it still stuck to your braces?
Lou: Nah, I pulled it off.
Me: Lou, don't stick anything to, in or on your braces.
Lou: Ok. Hey, don't forget some drinks on your way home. Love ya.
Me: Love ya too. See you after while.

Only my child! Only. My. Child!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Wow, where do I begin? So much has happened since the last time I posted. I'll bring ya up to date and current as best I can. Ready? Set? Go!

BB Update
BB completed Basic Training and received an Expert Marksman award. I was so proud of him for hanging in there with kids half his age. Literally.

He was in Basic at Ft. Benning, GA which is next door neighbors with hell because it is literally that hot. It was miserable. Why anyone would voluntarily go to that place is beyond me. And by that place I mean Georgia.

BB left GA and is at AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at Ft. Lee, Virginia. Virginia is for lovers ya know. Anyway, Ft. Lee is so much better than Ft. Benning. I have been fortunate enough to visit him on two different occasion; Once on the 4th of July and the other last weekend (7/22). If you ever want to see an amazing firework show it's a must see on a military base.
A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!

BB is also 57 pounds lighter than he was the first day he ever spoke to a recruiter. He is down to 189. He hasn't been in the 80's since the 80's.

All in all BB is doing fine but wants nothing more than to come home. Ditto for me!!!


Bb Update
Bb's bedroom received a makeover. It went from UK to Green Bay Packers. We (me, me, me Bb & Lou) painted the walls and laid new carpet. That's right, laid new carpet. I measured the room, purchased the carpet and laid it. I rented all of the carpet laying tools, googled "how to lay carpet" and proceeded to lay me some carpet. It will not win the next carpet laying contest but I think it looks marvelous.

Bb's baseball season ended and he did a fantastic job. His team tied for first in the league and came in 2nd in the end of the season tournament.

LOU Update
Lou's room is also scheduled for a makeover. Lime green walls with hot pink polka dots. Oooh yeah!

Her softball season has also come to an end. Even though her team didn't finish in the top of the rankings like Bb's she still did an awesome job and I'm just proud of her for even signing up to play. She proclaims she will play again next year to show BB how good she is. If you want to know just how good she is just ask - believe me, she'll tell ya.

We also received the news that she needs braces. Although not happy with the decision she handled it like a pro especially since the Orthodontist pulled 5 teeth even before putting her braces on. He couldn't get 2 of them so we have an appointment with her regular dentist to have those pulled this week. :~(

And saving the best for last.....ME Update
I have simply been trying to keep my head above water while attempting to maintain my sanity. It is very, very hard being a single mother and I don't like it.

But, just to let you know......
*My Pool is blue - not green
*The weed eater is still missing
*I am still president of the Herndon Road Kennel Club
*Mowing the yard isn't as easy as it looks
*Mainting the 17lbs lost while trying to shed more pounds and
*Heading to Ft. Lee, Virgina this weekend to see my sweetie peetie

All in all I'm hangin' in there and loving life (with caveats). Life is good and could always be worse. Depending on the day I just grin and bear or it smile and cuss it-which ever makes me feel the best.

Dust Off The Cob Webs

It's time to dust off the cob webs off my blog page. Since Lou is playing softball and Bb playing baseball my time is very limited leaving a small window to begin with. And since I write BB every night I find my blog collecting as much dust as my living room and let me tell ya that is quite a bit. If I can't find time to blog do you honestly think I have time to dust? Hell no! Even if I had time to dust do you think I would? Hell no!

Here is a brief run down of the most current events. Ready - Set - Go!

WEIGH IN #4
It's official. I am now in to a double digit weight loss. Yes, another 2 pounds for a grand total of 11. Even though I'm proud of myself I was hoping for a grand total of 12 for an average of 3 per week. Guess I better find that extra pound, or not find it is a better way to say it, before next weeks weigh in.

WEIGH IN #3
Another 2 pounds bite the dust.

FIRST GAME
Lou had her first game. She is batting 2nd and played 3rd. 1st time up she hit the ball. I was jumping up and down like some crazy woman that finally fit in her skinny jeans. She got on first, stole 2nd and ended up scoring. 2nd time up she struck out. Boo Hiss Hiss. But at least she went down swingin'. 3rd time up she walked, ended up stealing 3rd and scoring again. I couldn't have been prouder. However, when Lou discovered I had a shirt that said "Lou's Mom" on the back you could see the shear terror come across her face. I was forbidden, I mean forbidden to let anyone see that shirt in any shape form or fashion. She was absolutely appalled and couldn't believe that I could even coniser the thought of purchasing such a reputation destroying item as a t-shirt that displays "Lou's Mom". "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??? OH MY GOSH!!!" I thought it was a good idea. Guess not!

NOT THE SWINE FLU
About 2 weeks ago Lou & Bb were at the house when Bb suddenly became ill and progressively got worse and quick. Considering it was Sunday I had to take him to the UTC in Lexington. The throat swab for strep came back negative so the Dr. determined it was allergies. Allergies? Do allergies give you a fever of 100+? What do I know I'm not a Dr. but OK. Allergies it is. It's now Tuesday and he's still not better and his temp has now climbed to 104. He went to the family Dr. and long story short it's mono. Yep, mono. Good thing is he's not contagious unless his temp is over 104. 104? I think at that point you have more to worry about than being contagious.

NO GAME FOR YOU
With Bb having the kissing disease no baseball for him for at least 2 weeks. I was really kind of bumbed about that, even though it does keep me hopping with both of them playing, he has really dominated this season.

ALL I WANNA DO IS MOW
I am a strong independent woman. I can take care of myself while BB's gone. Right? Well maybe. Since he has been gone the water heater has gone on the fritz, the lawn mower battery is dead and the truck battery is also dead. So my first attempt at mowing the yard kind of went like this.

Throw up the garage door, jump on the mower and nothing. I mean nothing. I say to myself "Self, this isn't too bad, since I'm doing my weight loss challenge I'll just push mow." Cool, I'll push mow the 2 1/2+ acres of yard. Noooooo problem. I grab the keys jump in the truck to go to the storage building to get the push mower. Turn the key and "click, click, click". Ugh! Now what? Oh, I know, I'll weed eat. Looking, looking, looking. No weed eater. WHERE THE HELL IS THE WEED EATER?????????? To this day I still don't know where the weed eater is. So you know what I did? I bought Round Up. I'll show them. Whose them you ask? Them is they's cousin.

So, in a nut shell it has been main dish of crazy with a side of insanity. But I'm hangin' in there.