Nessas Place

Okay, well maybe I won't win it but you can bet your bootie I'm sure going to try. How exciting would it be to win a Spa Weekend in New York at the Cornelia Day Spa? I'm generally not a huge fan of New York since i'm a country girl but hey, who am I to turn down massages, manicures, massages, pedicures, body wraps and oh did I mention massages? For Free? Heck yeah I'm all over that!

New York Vacation Rentals is having a fabulous contest in which a Spa Weekend for 2 women in New York is one of the prizes. I have no idea who I'd take with me if I won since my sisters are all busy and so are my friends. I guess I'd likely take Ash with me since she'd love the idea of being pampered. She's such a girlie girl! Plus she'd be impossible to live with if I took anyone else.

The last time I went to New York it was a miserable experience. The trip was free but I had to be on TV. I was 5 months pregnant with Tyler. It was my first time in a very unfriendly place with way too many people and way too much noise. Especially at night! I'm used to the quiet country nights where the loudest sound is a dog barking in the neighborhood or the hoot of an owl.

On our trip to New York we were up on like the 20th floor in a hotel across the street from Madison Square Garden and all night long all I could hear were sirens. I was there with my sisters and my Mom and well.......it was just literally miserable.

Nooooooow, I'm not pregnant. I know what to expect and there are massages involved. I can buy ear plugs, spend a nice time with my daughter and be pampered. Now if I can just win it! Wish me luck!!

Nessa

Most everyone who knows me has been asking me lately what I'm doing that's got me feeling so good and full of energy. Mostly it's getting off my butt and making sure that I get outside and do things. I truly love the sunshine and I think that working so many hours was contributing to my feeling so poorly. I hardly ever got to spend anytime outside at all.

Now, I make sure I spend at least an hour out there per day. I play in the dirt, I work on the lawn, I lay out. I go sit out in the sun and read a book. Whatever it takes, I get out of this house for a bit.

On top of that I started taking a good whole food multivitamin, a Kelp Supplement, Acai and Bromelain.

The Bromelain helps with pain i sometimes get in my knee from an accident with Diesel. he ran me over when I first got him. Apparently 100 pounds of running dog hitting a knee standing still messes things up. Who knew right? Bromelain is a pineapple derivative and it's MUCH easier on my stomach than Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.

Acai is a fantastic antioxidant. I currently take it in a pill form but am considering trying MonaVie since I've heard really good things about it. It's a liquid form of Acai that contains lots of Phytonutrients and other good stuff to keep you feeling great from the inside out. A friend of mine uses it and swears it's much better than other forms of Acai.

I take Kelp because it's a good source of Magnesium, Potassium, Iron and Iodine which is wonderful for Thyroid health. I tend to be anemic unless I take Iron but Iron supplements tend to make me feel sick. The Kelp doesn't.

The Multi-vitamin is self explanatory. Just good stuff to make sure I get all the nutrients I tend to lose during the Summer by not eating like I should. When it's hot I really don't eat much and that causes problems but it's just because the idea of food in 100 degree heat just sounds like a really bad idea. So the vitamins help make up for what I'm not taking in and allows me to eat lighter like I want without sacrificing nutrients my body needs.

Will this combination work for everyone? Probably not, but for me it's working wonderfully and between this regimen and daily exercise I've never felt better.

Of course you should always check with a doctor before trying any type of supplements or exercise routines, but take the time to see what you can do for yourself and discuss it with your doctor. Sometimes just the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Nessa

1. Gene Simmons Family Jewels: I love this show! I dunno why really, especially when I consider that it's ruined my whole perception of Gene as Rock God. I think it was probably the footie pajama's he wears that did it. I watch it every chance I get though.

2. Snapped: If you don't know what it is, Snapped is about women who have finally just had enough or they're just bad to begin with and one day they snap. It's usually their hubby/boyfriend that suffers the consequences. I like seeing how they are caught in their schemes.

3. Metal Mania: This is several hours of music videos from the 80's hair bands and such. It reminds me of when I was a teenager and every week I looked forward to Friday Night Video's coming on.

4. 4th and Long: I'm a Mega fan of the Dallas Cowboys and this reality show is centered around them and one of my favorite former players, Micheal Irvin. No chance I wouldn't be watching it.

5. House: I think Greg House is just way too hawt lol. I dunno if it's the facial hair or the surly smart ass attitude, or a combo of both. He's just Yummmmmmm

6. Robot Chicken: I swear I feel brain cells dying when I watch this but I still watch it anyway. It's not so much that it's funny, even though it is. It's also gross sometimes but I just can't wait to see what they'll do next.

7. Daisy Of Love: Daisy Delahoya was a finalist a couple seasons ago on Rock Of Love. Now she has her own reality show. She's really a total bimbo with her huge lips and her even bigger boobs but I still watch it all while wondering WHY I watch it lol. I'm positive I know smarter rocks but she's entertaining, or something like that.

8. Criminal Minds: I Love, love love, this show. The cast is fantastic and the story lines are always creepy but believable.

9. Law & Order-SVU: Shhhhhhhhhhh I have a crush on Stabler. Hubba hubba

10. WWE Wrestling: I don't watch this often but when i do it's strictly for the muscles. It's like a really badly written soap opera on steroids, but lordy some of those men are purty!

Nessa

Ash is going to be a Senior this year. Roughly translated, this means I need about 2 more jobs. Between homecoming dresses, prom dresses, senior pictures, senior dues and fee's and gawd knows what else they'll come up with, I'll be broke most of the school year. Not that that's much different than any other time I suppose lol, but I guess i'm thinking it's going to be worse.

So anyway, I've decided to be proactive as much as possible. For instance, I know that I need to be looking for homecoming dresses so I'm starting now. Remember, Ash wears a size 12 shoe. I almost always have to buy her shoes and then find a dress/clothes to match since the shoe is the hardest part of the equation for her. Plus she's picky as all get out so that makes things that much harder.

I don't remember being that difficult as a teenager. Then again, By her age I had a kid and very soon another on the way. I suppose my Mom would say in that perspective that I was much more difficult. I definitely wasn't as picky about my clothes as Ash is though.

Anyway, I know where to get Ash's shoes this year. That part is going to be slightly easier this year I hope since I have an inside track on shoe sales. Dresses though could be a bigger issue. I did find a site called promgirl.net that looks promising. They have many styles and colors to choose from and all the reviews I've seen so far indicate that they're dresses and customer service are excellent. That's a huge factor when buying online. Their prices are quite reasonable too, another very big factor.

Plus, and I know this sounds silly but have you noticed on some sites how the girls in the prom dresses are making these gestures/faces and such that look almost, ummm, well, slutty? Sorry, there's no other word for it. I see cute dresses but the model looks like she's about to attack the photographer and it really turns me off the dress. Yes, Ashley is 18 and an adult but she's still my daughter. I don't really care to picture my daughter looking like some floozy, especially in a dress that costs me a couple hundred bucks. I want my daughter to look beautiful and happy and untouchable lol. It's a Mom thing I guess.

Anyway, my point is that this particular site seems to help me there too. There are a few pics I could see replaced but for the most part their dresses and their models reflect something I wouldn't feel weird buying for my daughter.

Sooooooooo, with any luck,homecoming dresses 2009 Edition shouldn't be to painful. I hope.

Nessa

I found this over at Tammy's and it looked like fun so maybe I'll try it out for a few weeks. If you'd like to join in feel free. Just click on the button and get started.

1. What would you say is your biggest blessing?
My Kids, the Man in my life and my family.

2. Do you shop on line...Home goods or personal items? Can you tell us what personal items you look for??
I shop online for certain things. Usually pet products, shoes for Ash and other little things here and there. Nothing really spectacular.

3. Name a song from your past that you have always loved. What year was it recorded?
Hmmmm, there are so many! I guess my true fave would be "It's Your Love" By Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, released 1997. It was a couple years before the song really mean anything to me but when it hit me it really hit me.


4. If you found out there was a pedophile living in your neighborhood, would you take any action or ignore the fact??
It wouldn't freak me out but I'd take precautions with Ash and Ty. I'm already careful but i'd be more so. I check those things anyway, it's important to be informed.

5. If you could live in any city In the USA...what would it be.
Hmmmmm, I'd go back to Denver or the surrounding area. I've never seen a more beautiful place.

6. What is the one city you wouldn't live in even if you were paid to!?
Anywhere in Florida! UGH, visiting once was quite enough.

7. If you were strapped for cash would you ask a parent or sibling for money?
If it meant the difference between the kids eating or not yes, otherwise no. My family is very close knit and we help each other as often as needed though so it wouldn't be a big deal.

8. What is your most favorite thing to do to relax when you are not working?
Usually I like to do things with the kids or just read a good book, Depends what the kids are up to really.

Nessa

I'm SICK of hearing about Micheal Jackson's death!!! I'm sorry he died, it's sad and he died relatively young and I feel sorry for his kids and all that but for gawds sake is there NOTHING else going on in the world? If you watch CNN it seems that the answer is no, there really is nothing else going on. Nothing worth talking about for more than a second anyway so they can get right back to cover the same things over and over and over again regarding Micheal's death. I mean I totally get that If they aren't careful someone may fart in front of Micheal Jackson's rented mansion and they could miss it by covering other things. I'm willing to risk it though!!

Don't get me wrong. I don't think this is funny, I find no humor in it at all and I don't think this man's death should be so exploited. I feel terrible for the family and his fans but seriously doesn't anyone see all the tributes as a little hypocritical? I mean before his death was he being hailed as a musical genius? No. He was called a child molester. I don't suppose anyone will ever really know if he was actually guilty or not but regardless, not one of these reporters had ANYTHING good to say about him even last week and now suddenly they're big fans?

Personally, I think the fans are going to mourn his passing in the way they see fit and I seriously doubt they're glued to the tv waiting to see the next breaking news.

There are those of us out here however who are wondering about other things happening in our world that are definitely important. North Korea wants to shoot a missile off towards Hawaii. Is there anyone out there who doesn't think that little creep over there isn't far more dangerous than Micheal was ever accused of being? Yet that danger is ignored and a man's death is exploited for ratings.

Our troops left Baghdad today. Iraqi's shot off fireworks in celebration. It's just a step in bringing our men and women home but it's a step nonetheless and something we should feel hopeful about. What else is going on? Who knows? They're not reporting anything else.

I understand that there are those who see this man's passing as a horrible tragedy, I know there are plenty who find it terribly amusing. I see it as sad and PRIVATE and wish that the media would have some respect. There are 3 children who didn't see him as weird or bad, they just saw him as Dad and they're grieving........let them do it in peace.

Nessa

As I mentioned last week, I turned 39 for the 2nd time. Due to wanting to spend my birthday with certain people we elected to wait til this past Sunday to really celebrate by taking a trip to the zoo. I can't even put into words how bad an idea this turned out to be.

The Houston Zoo is fairly large and the planners took great care to create as much shade as they possibly could but in 100 degree heat that just means you melt a little slower in the shade than you do out of it. We went early hoping to beat the heat........we failed miserably lol.

If it wasn't obvious to us how hot it was, the animals were quick to demonstrate for themselves. Several were literally at the door to their enclosures looking to go into the inside portion of their cages. I even saw a primate or 2 pulling on the doors. I swear they were saying "Pleeeeeeeeeeease let me innnnnnnnnnnnnn".

All in all, it was still fun. I love the zoo and hot or not, it's always a great place to spend the day. I came home exhausted, slept the rest of the day and woke up feeling great. Not sure if it was the sleep or getting to go to my favorite place. Whatever it was, i'm quite glad of it.

As usual, I took a ton of pics but I think this one pretty much sums up how most of the animals felt.


Nessa

Remember that cute little poem your parents/grandparents said as you went to bed at night? Something like:

Good Night, Sleep Tight,Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite

I always thought it was just a stupid saying. I had nooooooo clue there really were bedbugs. Guess what? There ARE and getting rid of them can be as painful as the actual bits they inflict. As with anything, information is the key. Luckily there are great places to find bed bug infestation treatment information. Not just how to get rid of them, but also things like legal issues for renters and how to be sure that you even have Bedbugs as opposed to something else. The main issues with these little buggeroos seem to be treating as soon as possible and with dedication. They're not easy to get rid of but it can be done.

Nessa

Just another new thing I plan to do on Saturdays. This is my first installment but I think it will be fun since each week is something new.

If you'd like to participate too, click on the lil button above and get started.

My Photo:

These are some of the flags flown by The Patriot Guard Riders at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Bobby Lee Twitty, killed in Ramadi Iraq, July 22, 2007. Bless them for their dedication to our soldiers and we love you Bobby.

Nessa

Yesterday I was trying to find out some info on a movie tavern near me. Before we moved here we used to go to the movies during the matinee time which cost is $3 per person as long as we went before 6PM. I'd usually buy the Bratz a snack before we got there at Wally World for 88 cents for the same size the movie theatre sells for $2 or more. I'd have to buy their drinks at the theatre though since there's no way to sneak in cokes lol. Anyway, for about $5 per person, we could go to the movies as a treat.

Where we live now.........forget it. The least expensive place is $6 for the matinee and $9 regular price. In this economy that's just not do-able for many families. Especially if you have several children. So anyway, I'm wanting to go see the new Transformers movie and I wanted to find the least expensive way to do so. I found a listing for something called a movie tavern and wanted to know more about it. Mostly because I'd never heard of such a thing and it was the least expensive place at $7.50 per ticket.

So I went to do a local search to see if I could find reviews. Apparently it's what it sounds like. It's a tavern and it's a place to see movies. It's basically a local restaurant that serves alcohol and happens to show movies as well. Complete with waiters/waitresses and such. It sounds sort of neat. Kind of like watching a movie at home while eating dinner, but other people are there. LOTS of other people. Some of whom are drinking.......Not sounding like such a hot idea anymore. Alcohol=Obnoxious, Obnoxious=Irritation, Irritation=Someone could get popped in the mouth. Not exactly what i'd call a fun family outing if bail money could be required ya know?

So anyway, I searched the local yellow pages and found a DRIVE-IN! Can you believe that? And not just a Drive-in, it's a Drive-in that shows 2 movies and it costs only $5 per person to watch 2 movies and they're the same new releases in the theatre. Cool huh? Soooooo, now I know what we'll be doing tonight. I can't wait!

This weeks Top Five On Friday:

Top 5 musicians that the years haven't been kind to.

Hmmmmmm, this is proving to be harder than I thought it would be:

#5- Steve Adler ( Guns N Roses Drummer). In recent Interviews he seems to be doing a really good impression of Ozzy. On the upside, he's like that because he had a stroke, likely related to alcohol and/or drug use and the fact he can talk as well as he does is a good thing. So, Yayyyyyyy Steve!

#4- Jani Lane ( Warrant Lead Singer ) OH MY GAWD! He was so freakin' HAWT!!

#3- Ozzy.......I doubt I need to explain this. If I do, you need to get out more. Really! It's not his looks that changed, just his ability to speak lol.

#2- Keith Richards & Mick Jagger Tie.........Lordy is all I can say

#1 Micheal Jackson- is there a more tragic, brilliant figure in music? My answer would be the same whether he'd passed away yesterday or not. Regardless of the person he was in side, whatever that may have been, good or bad, he had it bad on almost every front except his musical genius. Terribly sad.
This is how I choose to remember him



Nessa

With all the health issues Hanna, my niece, has had we're always looking for fun things for her to play with that are also safe. She loves blocks and anything musical or toys that have buttons that can be pushed. Pretty typical really for her age.

Since she's a little developmentally behind due to all the medications and issues she's been dealing with, it's been important to try and find her toys that are not only helpful toward her catching up but safe. Lets face it, kids put EVERYTHING in their mouth and with all the toys that have been recalled in recent times due to lead paint and such, good, safe toys are a wonderful find.

So when I was approached about doing a review for All Modern Baby, I was excited to find a place I could feel comfortable shopping for my nieces and nephews as well as various babies I know. All Modern Baby has a great selection of modern children's furniture such as Maclaren strollers, Stokke Tripp Trapp high chairs, Bugaboo products and much more. They have a great selection and prices to match.

Not only that but seriously, check out the toys!! If the furniture selection doesn't hook you, the Eco-friendly toy section, among other things will. They have choices ranging from developmental toys to ride on toys. Goodies sure to delight baby as well as your pocketbook all while helping the Earth. You just can't beat that deal.

Myself, Hanna, Mr. Z, Miss Z and Lilybug will have the opportunity to review the Wonderworld 50 Piece Block Set. I can't wait to get in the floor and play with them. The kids that is.......though I do confess I also like blocks myself. I'm sure there will be plenty pictures to share as usual so stay tuned.

Nessa

I thought I was the only person who used the word "thunk" and then I found this blog/meme, Thursday Thunks and instantly felt right at home lol. I found fellow thunkers!!!

What is a Thursday Thunk you ask? Wellllllllll, lemme tell ya. Reading through it today it seems like a really fun weekly meme that I shall endeavour to participate in as much as possible. If you like to Thunk too, feel free to participate. For official "rules" go here.

1. Someone knocks at your door. You answer it. It's a kid from the local school selling candy bars for a fundraiser. Do you buy one?
Only if they have something with Almonds. That's very very important!

2. The end of the world is tomorrow and you are out of milk - do you go buy some?
Of course! Gotta wash that candy down somehow

3. Have you ever picked up the phone and called someone that you hadn't talked to in years?
No but sometimes I accidentally answer when people call me that I've been avoiding for years lol.

4. Whats on your computer desktop background?
Dallas Cowboys Logo

5. What was the very first movie you saw in a movie theater?
As far as I remember it was Jaws.

6. If you had to take a 10th grade science test, do you think you would pass?
Yeah, I love sciencey crap and watch alot of learning channels during the day while I work. Yes I'm a nerd ::sigh::

7. Describe heaven.
all my loved ones, Chocolate, kisses, hugs, smiles, sex and no stalkers.

8. Has a place that you lived ever been infested with some sort of insect or rodent?
UGH, lets just say NEVER move into an old house.

9. When you were a youngin', did you hide in the clothes racks at department stores?
My mom says I did........I think she makes that stuff up though.

10. Is there anything in your vehicle that is broken?
Not that I can think of no.

11. What is something in your house that people would be surprised to find?
Bondage equipment.........JK!!!! I can't think of anything unusual.

12. Do you agree with the death penalty?
I think there are times it's warranted, like for STALKERS for instance since they're obviously really disturbed lol, but it's not a deterrent for murder, molesting, or rape so technically what's the point?

13. Whats your favorite type of bear?
Any that isn't chasing me? After that I guess I like the polar bear best. They're so pretty!

14. Where was the last place you went?
Technically I guess I went outside last, but before that I went inside because I was outside watering the dogs. Are you confuzzled now?

15. What if that person knocking at your door earlier was an adult selling candy bars... would you buy one?
Yeah probably since i have a chocolate fetish but i'd make my sons and Diesel, my Rottie, come to the door just in case. They're big and skeery.

Nessa

Remember when I said our little Poppy, The cat we thought was a boy, is Preggo? Well, apparently she was more preggo than i thought. I went from "uh oh she's a girl", to "oh crap, she just had babies" in less than a month now.

This morning she was acting really strange and she crawled up in my lap for a few seconds then disappeared. I was sitting here working and kept thinking I was hearing something under my chair. Finally I got up to check and sure enough Miss Thang had given birth to 4 teeny little cutie pies. Not a single one of them look like her, they're all Tiger striped so that narrows down who the local neighborhood Lothario is. I wonder if we can sue for Kitty Support? Anyway, So far the little Mommy is doing a great job taking care of her little ones and she's been understanding of the fact that they had to be moved to a safer place. After they were born I moved her and them to a cabinet in the bathroom that I don't use. I laid down an old blankie with some plastic under it so the cabinet is protected and no one has to worry about flopping down in my chair and hurting a baby. So far, so good.
Nessa

Last week I was complaining about how here in my neighborhood, my neighbors are allowing their small children to go to the community lake alone. Kids who can't swim shouldn't be there at all without adult supervision, PERIOD! I'm terrified it's going to take a disaster for these parents to wise up and realize what they're potentially doing to their kids. IF there are adults there, I suppose most will help watch out for unattended children........but really, what sort of responsible parent takes that chance?

Anyway, I heard that Generational Equity LLC teamed up with MidwestSportsFans.Com and DallasSportsFans.Com to reach out to low income children and give them free swimming lessons. Is this not awesome? 8 free weeks of swimming lessons went to low income children who will now have the skills they need to not only be safer than they would be in the water, but to get out and play in the sunshine and water with confidence. I'm all for anything that gets kids off the couch and away from the TV/Video games.

Nothing beats a parent's watchful eye but it's wonderful that lives could potentially be saved through this effort just by teaching children how to swim. Too bad there's nothing like this for our neighborhood.

Nessa

Yep, I am. For the second time. Do the math and if you're smarter than a certain moron, you'll arrive at the correct answer as to how old I really am. I bet ya hardly even have to think about it.

Anyway, We're not doing much today. We're putting off the celebration really due to a complication of someone not being able to be here this weekend. We're planning to go to the zoo for my birthday and out to eat, just at a later date. I'm sure it will be a blast. I love the zoo and at least the entrance fee's help the animals and such. Now that i'm so close I need to look into getting a membership so I can go more often.

In the meantime today, I imagine we'll goof off outside together. Maybe play a wicked game of badminton or maybe we'll act like fools and play in the sprinkler. Who knows really? If you're lucky i'll let someone video the whole thing lol. Then again, maybe you'd be lucky if I didn't. Guess it's all in how ya look at it.

Nessa

I was doing some research for work and remembered I'd been wanting to let everyone know about the Easy Spirit sale going on. It ummmmm, ends tomorrow but at least I didn't remember AFTER it was over right?

Anyway, they're having a huge sale on the fitness shoes, free shipping over $49.99 and you get a free tote with any fitness purchase. Goooood Goooooooood Sale!!

Nessa

I got this bright idea to plant a garden. Then I got a brighter idea to do a raised garden. The pic shows just one side of it. Now I'm not saying it was a bad idea, I'm just a little worried. See, SOME people, who shall remain nameless, like MOM, thought my garden wouldn't grow and I let their doubt invade my brain lol. Now.......I have wayyyyyyyy too many plants in one leeeeetle bitty space. ALL the seeds are coming up and they're coming up fast. I think I will be able to thin it out and transplant some of them by extending the box out some. I hope anyway. If not I'm going to have one heck of a mess as the veggies get bigger. Hopefully they won't choke themselves out.

On the upside, with all this growing I won't be needing to get anything like Slim n lift anytime soon.

Nessa

I found this meme over at The Music Memoirs and think it's a great way to end the week. Feel free to play along or head over and check it out if you get a chance.

This Weeks Question:
Top 5 songs you'd be happy to never hear again.

I could name about 100 lol, but i'll stick with 5, in no particular order.

1."Don't You Want Me Baby?"-I don't know why really but this song has always just irritated the heck out of me. If it being played on the radio isn't bad enough, now it's on commercials too! It's a conspiracy I tell ya.

2. "Boot Scootin Boogie"- I know it's supposed to be a fun loving song, but I can't think of another country song that makes me want to slap someone the way this one does. And the dance that goes with it? ReallY? Was that TOTALLY necessary?

3. "Goodbye Earl"- it's no secret that I can't stand the Dixie Bigmouths, I mean Uh, Chicks, but this song tops my all time STFU list. Between the rhyming and the overdone accent, it's almost like nails on a chalkboard. PAINFUL to listen to and you can't get the sound out of your head fast enough.

4. "I Was Made For Loving You"- I LOVE KISS! I truly do and I feel like a traitor to them and the Kiss Army for dissing this song but it SUCKS! There's no other way to say it. 4 guys in makeup, leather, platform demon boots and metal studs should not sing DISCO!!! I just can't stress this enough!!!

5. "Achy Breaky Heart"-Do i even really have to explain?

Nessa

When blushing brides force their friends to wear hideous dresses and uncomfortable shoes. Family members melt in the heat as they cry, laugh, beg to be allowed to go indoors out of the sun. I've never understood summer weddings. It seems to me that it's the bride's way of getting back at everyone who ever did her wrong lol. Okay, maybe not, but I dread them regardless.

After my 2 fiasco's I'm deathly allergic to marriage anyway. So it's not something *I* have to worry about per se, but my friends seem to be falling prey to the toll of wedding bells at an alarming pace. I just hope it's not contagious.::shudder::

The latest victim, I mean uh, blushing bride to be, called me at 3:00 this morning to tell me her guy had proposed. I tried to be excited or as excited as I could be at 3 in the morning, which wasn't very much i can tell you. I was also informed I'd be wearing an ugly......I mean uhhhhh, a perfectly delightful dress sometime around now next year. I personally feel like I've been threatened lol. I have to go to a wedding AND wear a poofy dress? TORTURE! I'll need a lot of Benadryl just in case i break out in hives.

Anyway, I'm happy for her. She said that her ring is gorgeous and can't wait to show me this weekend. It's not a set of tacori engagement rings but if i know her fiance well, and I do, it's likely a very nice set just the same. She said that he proposed to her after dinner at their favorite park and that he invited her children to be a part of it. I think that's the sweetest part of the whole thing. Any single Mom wants to know that her kids will be accepted and cared for. The lengths he went to in order to start off on the right foot makes me think he's an even better guy than i previously thought.

So anyway, since i'm apparently going to be forced into this, likely kicking and screaming, I've decided that I shall insist on some cute hair accessories from JR Dunn. That will teach her lol.

Congrats Sarah and Joe, love you both and all smart aleck comments aside I'm extremely delighted for you both.

Nessa

Well, I didn't get to talk to the Superintendent today. He had the head of the transportation department call me and I've got to say If I wasn't already mad, i'm even madder now.

It turns out that the POLICE CHIEF is also the head of the transportation department. I believe that's what he said he was anyway. I'll be calling the city manager tomorrow to confirm this before i put any names out there but here's how the conversation went.

He was rude and it was obvious he had an attitude that I dared question this decision. He basically asked me what my problem was and when i explained my concerns here were his defenses.

A: regarding Sex Offenders around the area. He said and I quote "you should probably move then". When i clarified that they were in the surrounding area NOT in my neighborhood, he said "Oh well then no big deal then". My answer probably surprised him because I got mad and said " Right because Sex offenders never leave their home or their driveway and their victims are never from a street that the sex offenders don't live on! That's a ridiculous statement for you of all people to make". So,where I wondered about the school, i'm now thinking I'm really grateful this moron isn't in charge of my safety in this area.

B: Regarding the dangerous cul-de-sac turnarounds. Apparently there really is a very big fear that mailboxes will be dented, maybe even a car. I guess if a child is injured we'll have to see how our tax dollars stretch to pay what the school district will be sued for. Something tells me it'll be alot more than the dented mailboxes or cars would have cost. I'm just guessing though.

C: Apparently as long as no kid has to walk more than 1/4 mile there is no chance they can be harmed, snatched, abused, lost or hit by a speeding car. They decided this was the case when they drove the neighborhood lol.

D: If parents have to do something as mundane as ya know........work......well we should either quit, get a different job or beg other parents to watch our kids. It makes no difference that my tax dollars pay those buses to run in the first place and that's just that.

E: The city needs a police chief with a few more brain cells.

I haven't decided how to proceed at this point. I personally feel like parents should have a bigger say in how this plays out rather than being told what we're going to deal with. I'm just not sure who to turn to next or whether I should get more parents involved first.

Like I said before, the thing is this isn't JUST about my kids, It's about those kids that are not being supervised at all. At least going to and from school those kids could be assumed to be safe til this point. Being made to walk 1/4 mile everyday to catch a bus isn't going to phase the ignorant people who already send their kids who can't swim to the lake on their own. So God forbid something happen to one of them, how long will it be til anyone notices anything happened unless it's witnessed?

Frankly I'm stunned that someone in law enforcement would see sex offenders as no big deal and I think i've definitely decided to either start taking the kids to school myself or go apply to drive a bus for the neighboring district so my kids get a better education and I know they get there safe. At least until a few more brain cells invade the current school district.

Nessa

Despite the fact that I know better, I accidentally left my favorite flip flops in the laundry room. This is only an issue because Sargie comes in at night and sleeps there. it's the only place he can't tear anything up............unless of course we leave it in there for him to get to.

Well, I have to say he at least left them mostly in one piece. That's highly not normal for him. So maybe they just didn't taste good or he figured I was the one person he definitely doesn't want to make mad since I buy his food. Whatever it was that kept him from going as far as he normally does, I'm grateful. The fact remains that now I have 2 little tears in my favorite flip flops.

Sooooooooo now that I can't wear those with my dressier things lol, I need something else. I found some really cute shoes by Patagonia that I think i'm in love with. They're cute and feminine but not TOO girlie and if they're anything like the other pair i have their soooooooooo comfy! Since I'm not one to really spend a lot on shoes, and I seldom ever buy any, I guess I should thank Sargie for being the chewer that he is. I can't wait to get these!

Nessa

I swear the more time we spend with the school district the more I realize I'm dealing with people who probably cannot get a job anywhere else. Not to say that ALL this districts employees are idiots but the smart ones are highly under-represented.

The latest battle? Well, apparently the transportation department powers that be have decided that they'd prefer to punish summer school students rather than have their drivers get up in time to run their routes safely and efficiently.

During the school year, the bus picks the kids up at the house and they drop them off in front of the house again in the afternoon. This is fine, it's the way it should be. Now for Summer School, all kids are being dropped off at the end of their roads. Something the bus barn is calling "Satellite Drops". This is unacceptable.

I called the bus barn this morning to ask if the bus barn decreed this be done or if the driver is being lazy again like she had been just after we moved here. The woman I spoke with indicated that this was a bus barn decision and she cited the fact that the cul-de-sac turn arounds are dangerous as the excuse. Apparently it's dangerous somehow for the bus to make a turn around in a cul-de-sac? I watch them every morning and I have yet to see anything dangerous about it so I haven't the foggiest what the danger she eludes to could be.

I can however count the dangers of their decision.
1. Having kids come to the main street could result in children being hit by speeding cars. The speed limit is 30, 90% of the cars go at least 50. Far bigger problem than a cul-de-sac turnaround if you ask me. At least the buses have those beeping indicators when they are in reverse. What warning does a child have of a speeding car? What warning indicator does a speeding car have of a child in the road for that matter?

2. In the afternoon it's almost always in the 100's in this part of Texas. Now some parents can be at the end of the road to pick up and drop off their kids for the bus, but not everyone can. I have a little more flexibility than others but even I have to work when I can get hours and they aren't always the ones i want. If I miss work, I can lose my job. There are plenty of parents who commute to Houston and leave far before their kids get on the bus and get home far after their child gets off the bus. Walking even 1/4 of a mile in 100 degree heat can be a huge issue for kids, especially if they already have health conditions as some do. So, even if we forget that there are kids in Elementary going to summer school and stick with just teenagers, is a teenager with health issues collapsing in the street not a danger for the school? My own daughter has asthma, the heat alone literally makes it hard for her to breathe, actually walking 1/4 of a mile when already stressed is a bit of a problem. She's not the only one with health issues either.

26. Yeah I skipped from 2 to 26. Why? 26 is the number of sex offenders in a 3 mile radius. Those are JUST the ones who've been caught. Since we all know that they aren't all caught, or haven't yet registered as ordered, how many do you think that leaves out there? Even if it's just 1 one that's not something I'm comfortable with. My daughter is 18. 18 year old girls disappear just like the smaller ones do and they're sometimes never seen again. Sure, i'm looking at worst case scenario but as a responsible adult shouldn't I be? Shouldn't it occur to me that there are people out there who hurt other people, even children? Yet the bus barn, the school district and the state can afford to ignore that? Tell me again about a dangerous cul-de-sac turnaround.

If you ask me, a dinged up car or bus, and paying a driver an extra few minutes is worth far less than a child's life or safety. It only takes ONE person to get hurt to make this a really dumbass decision on their part.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that there's a bus at all and that Ashley is getting the opportunity to go to Summer School and work on her credits
that the other school screwed up so badly on, but punishing her and other kids as well for needing the help is just not right.

Sooooooooooo, I've had it. I called the Superintendent and I spoke with his assistant who agreed this makes no sense and she is having him call me back. We'll see what he says but if this decision isn't reversed I'll be going to the press and anywhere else I can think to go to. I pay my school taxes and I'm sick of dealing with this school district. I've literally almost considered applying to drive a bus for the school district next to us. If I do, the kids can go to the better school district and leave this joke far behind them. At this point i'm willing to do just about anything, but that solves nothing for the other kids who are being treated unfairly and being put in potential danger over this decision. Especially considering this may carry over into the school year according to the woman at the bus barn that I spoke with.

Yep, I've had it alright and I think it's time to let em know it.

Nessa

The kids keep asking what we're doing for vacation this year. My answer has been "I dunno" for the most part. I'm not sure whether to be impressed with their faith in their Mother that there will actually even be a vacation or wonder if they're paying attention to the current financial situation at all?

Work has slowed, but only really because we got new agents and now we can only take so many hours per week. So there are less hours and less call volume to go around, which begs the question as to why in the world we hired new people in the first freaking place. Hopefully that will change soon but in the meantime i've begun applying other places just in case. I do have to say i have a good deal of faith in my Project Manager and if she says it's going to work out then I believe her. She's always been more than fair and that's saying a great deal regarding the company I work for.

Anyway, so i thought about places I'd LIKE to be able to afford to go to IF I could go on a vacation. The last one we took to Denver was great and the kids had sooooooooo much fun, but now that they've been there I'd like to take them somewhere else a bit different. Like maybe one of the Myrtle Beach Resorts that a few friends have told me they enjoyed on their vacations.

I'm not normally one for the beach but a nice change would be good and since Galveston is still pretty much a mess I won't be trying to go there anytime soon. Besides a Myrtle Beach Resort vacation really sounds like a great idea. I've been to Myrtle Beach once and it was simply beautiful. Alot prettier certainly than the Texas and Florida beaches I've seen. Can you say Gag Me? Blech!

Anyway, I have a feeling there won't be a big vacation this year but i'm sure we'll do something fun. We always do. Maybe I can look into just getting a Myrtle Beach Hotel and we can make a road trip out of it since 2 of the Bratz drive now.

Nessa

Most of you know i'm not one to mince words about much of anything but this time I just want to say "UGH!"

Actually I want to say alot more than that, but in the interest of not impressing my readers with how colorful i can really be when I want to, i'm going to pretend that's all.

I'm already disgusted that people like this man exist and I'm even madder though that this could have impacted my own family. My nephew is currently in DC on a school trip. He was across the street from the Holocaust Museum when the shooting happened but only accidentally. He was supposed to have been IN the museum but the bus was apparently running late and the teacher opted to have lunch first. Thank GOD!

I realize only one soul was lost, one soul too many, but had the guards not taken action as quickly as they had how many more would have been hurt? I hate to even consider it. I hate that my nephew heard the shots, I hate that he was anywhere near the area, but i'm thankful that those in the building were spared by quick thinking and brave men who assessed a threat and shot someone undeserving of oxygen much less anything else to keep him from hurting innocent people. May God Bless the family of Stephen T. Johns and the other guards who acted to protect others.

Nessa

Ok, maybe i'm being a little too impatient here but when have i ever been noted for twiddling my thumbs with a smile on my face? For those who don't know me the answer would be....NEVER. Aren't you glad I didn't make you just guess that answer?

Anyway, the previous owner here had left a good deal of things behind when they moved. Most of it i have thrown away here and there but yesterday I decided to deal with the rest and see what if anything could be salvaged and what should be done away with. I loaded my son's truck with a lot that was bad but i did find a squirrel feeder and 2 hummingbird feeders. The Squirrel feeder needs a little work but it's in pretty good shape and I love squirrels so it will be a snap to fix and set up for them. The Hummingbird feeders are in perfect condition and just needed cleaning and filling.

Well their filled now and waiting for little birdies. So far I haven't seen any, but again it's been one day lol so I think i need to just be a little more patient here maybe.

Just in case though, i looked up what the best hummingbird feeders would be and found out something neat. Did you know that most hummingbird feeders are red and orange or pink because they are the colors that stand out to the little guys? They can apparently see all the colors that we see, however, the colors that really grab their attention are near UV colors. Soooooo, now i'm considering buying another red one to replace the blue one i cleaned up and filled lol. I want the best chances of seeing birdies!

Do you have any animals that you try to attract? If so, how do you go about it and does it work?

Nessa

Out here where we live there are several lakes. Most are good for fishing but one, the biggest one, is the neighborhood gathering place. Especially for kids. They go swimming, they hang out, they have fun. Not a bad thing really, especially for the older ones who can swim and look out for themselves.

The problem comes in when it's 4-8 year olds there with no supervision OR older kids who are supervising smaller ones when they need supervision themselves.

2 cases in point.

A few days ago I went fishing over at the lake and watched as 2 young boys walked down the road alone. I couldn't see the house they came from as it was around a bend, which tells you there's no way the children's mother could have seen them either. They were approximately 4 to 5 years old and they were dressed to go swimming. At first I wondered if they'd snuck down to the lake without permission but they're conversation left little doubt that they had permission to be in the water as long as they didn't go over their heads. Gee.......nothing like a boundary there Mom, especially when another statement made right after that scared the living hell out of me. The same boy said "when we learn to swim we can go as far as we want". Sooooooooo, instead of fishing, i was constantly trying to keep an eye on these 2 little guys, terrified that something could happen to them. This is a LAKE, there are no markers that say "over your head". There are drop offs near the shore........i mean seriously this could be dangerous! They finally left over an hour later and I breathed easier but i couldn't help but think this mother was extremely irresponsible in letting these babies go alone.


Then.........a few days later i went fishing again and this time there was a group of kids there already. they ranged between the ages of 6 to about 14. The 14 year old was a boy who obviously had some control issues and quite frankly needed a time out himself. He was throwing mud and rocks at the youngest boy, the youngest boy got mad when he was hit in the face and called the older boy a jerk. The older boy, who we'll call Bully, then instructed the boy to get out of the water "until he lost his attitude". Now i don't know about you but if someone was throwing mud and rocks in my face i'd have an attitude too. It didn't matter apparently that Bully started this, he just kept screaming at the boy to get out of the water. The little guy's older brother who was about 10 finally had enough and decided that he was going to get their Dad so that he could take care of the issue. Bully then began screaming that he didn't care what these boys' father had to say because he was "in charge" and then he began threatening the boys that if they told on him they wouldn't be able to come swimming anymore because they only get to come to the lake because the parents trust him to make the kids behave.

Considering he was throwing rocks and mud at a child I'm not sure these parents don't need mental help if he's the one left in charge of these kids. Anyway, when Bully saw that the other boy wasn't worried about his threats, bully said he was sorry to the older boy but kept yelling at the younger kid to get out of the water. When the kid still refused, the bully picked the boy up out of the water violently and threw him on the bank.

By that point I was pretty much beyond pissed. I don't care who's doing the abusing, child abuse is wrong, period. So being upset i gave up fishing and walked up there where the kids were and sat and watched Tyler swim for a bit. I had decided by that point to wait for a parent to hopefully show up or at least wait and see where these kids went to so i could talk to a parent about the matter.

It was almost dark by the time an adult finally showed up to check on all the kids and they were walking down the road by then. The 2 youngest kids had walked home long ago by themselves with Bully screaming threats and cuss words at them as they walked down the street.

When the parent showed up I told her what had happened and that if I saw it happen again, i'd not bother telling anyone but the cops. She was a little miffed with what I had to say and I didn't bother asking whose Mother she was. She could have been Bully's mom for all I know. It makes no difference really, the fact is that the kids should be supervised.

It makes me wonder if parents just figure that there are other people there and they will watch their kids for them. I don't know about you all, but i'm rather selective about who i choose to watch over my kids. Regardless of what kind of persons may be at the lake, what if a really good person just can't swim and a child is in danger?

Sadly there's not just the danger of drowning or other creepy children to be worried about, there's also the fact that there are truly bad people out there. A search revealed that there are 25 sex offenders within a 3 mile radius of my home, 3 are high risk, the rest are mostly moderate risk with a few being a low or unknown risk. And these people are just sending their kids out? I let Daniel take Ashley and Tyler swimming but i go up there often to check things out and Ash and Ty aren't allowed to go alone, plus we are less than 100 yards from the lake. It turned out that the kids with Bully were walking 5 streets over. I just can't imagine what the hell these parents are thinking........or if they even are thinking at all. My thinking is that they need to be actual parents and watch their children.

In their defense, since I reported the Bully to the other parent i haven't seen any of those kids at the lake again so it's possible he was grounded or something. However, before this the kids were almost always there so it seems like all are being punished for the bully's bad behavior.

Regardless........I really wish parents would realize how fast a bad thing can happen. I pray none of them learn the lesson the hard way.

Nessa

When we moved here to the new house we were none too happy to realize that somewhere between the old and the new house we'd lost a box of documentation. I notoriously keep everything that comes with my electronics. The manuals, the warranty cards......you name it. I don't READ them lol, but i keep it. That counts right?

Anyway, i had lost the paper that tells you how to program your satellite remote so that it controls your tv and your satellite box as well. This was like a disaster lol. After looking for hours for the box the papers were in, i finally gave up and started looking online to see if I could find anything to tell me how to do it. It took almost 30 minutes but I finally managed to find the instructions online. Let me tell you though, my satellite company doesn't make it easy! Genius that I am I saved it to my computer just in case i ever needed it again. Turned out that was even smarter than i realized when a few weeks later i had to program it all over again. Deeeeeep joy.

Anyway, after that whole troublesome issue I've come to really appreciate companies who go that extra mile to take care of the customers after the sale is complete. Sure you can call many companies and they'll walk you through some troubleshooting but how many times have you needed help after business hours? Good customer service shouldn't be hard to come by.

So looking around today for pest control systems after that whole debacle yesterday with the ants, I found some information on controlling Mosquitoes as well. I don't have an issue with them really but a friend of mine sure does. You can literally get eaten up all day over there and that's even coated in repellent. Since I hate the idea of the chemicals anyway, i was wondering if there's another way to control mosquitoes and found something called Mosquito Magnet. After looking around their site i'm super impressed. They have a whole help section covering anything from mosquito magnet repair to information on mosquitoes themselves, the diseases they carry and much more. Oh yes, they also have troubleshooting information. Love it!

Nessa