Simply Life

51. 2004 was the first year I voted
52. I recently got back into touch with 2 of my friends from Middle School
53. When I was born I weighed only 4 lbs. 12 oz.
54. My dad wanted to name me Josephine (i think, is that right mom?)
55. If I could, I would not work
56. I don't mind washing clothes, but it's almost impossible to find me folding & putting them away.
57. I have an irrational fear of chickens and roosters
58. There are probably about 10 journals floating around my house
59. My dad's birthday was five months to the day apart from mine. (Oct 11 & March 11)
60. I am most definitely a mommy's girl

I made these scrumptious pancakes last Sunday for my family. We all loved them! And, I am not a pancake kind of gal. Let me know if you try them. The recipe comes from Rachael Ray on the Food Network.

By the way, if you make these, please don't do what I did. Remember to add the brown sugar. It's not the same when you have to sprinkle it on top! :0)

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 ounces, 1/4 cup, chopped walnuts
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup whole milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 really ripe bananas, mashed up
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 stick butter, 1/4 cup, melted, plus additional for buttering skillet
Maple syrup or honey, for drizzling

Here’s a great tip: if you cannot find really ripe bananas, just nuke them in the microwave for about 15 seconds and they will become super soft for mashing.
Mix dry ingredients, the first 7, in a bowl. In a another bowl, mix the wet ingredients, the next 4. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined, then fold in the mashed up bananas and the raisins. Stir in the melted butter.

Heat a griddle over medium heat and brush with additional melted butter. Cook pancakes, each about 1/3 cup, until bubbles form on the top, then turn. Cakes will cook in about 2 minutes on each side. Keep pancakes tented with foil as they come off the griddle to keep them hot. Serve with drizzled honey or maple syrup over the top.

How daring of me to put the name of my pre-teen and teen musical faves as a title.
It is daring.
I loved their music and lusted for them!
No, I'm not the only one.
I spent years defending them to my "enemies", my family and even some friends.
My walls were plastered with their beautiful faces.... silly, now that I have pictures for proof.

I still really enjoy listening to Joey McIntyre's voice. It melts me.
My hubby even liked a song by him. Well, before I said who it was.
I felt defensive to my husband about this.
There is a stigma attached to anything "NKOTB" related.
Ugh.

At the beginning of this school year there was a boy student (who still is on my route) that had a CD he had made himself. It was a great mixture of different kinds of music.
He said to me, "Listen to this song. It's cool. It's called Step by Step."
My heart stopped for just a second.
I put on the headphones unbelieving.
And yes, there it was.
"Step by step...ooh baby
Gonna get to you girl. Step by step."

This boy is 12 years old. That means he was born in 1993.
1993. Approximately 3 years after this song was released, he was born.
"Step by Step" is 15 years old?
What?!
I once was a teeny bopper screaming half way back at 5 little dots on the stage.
Where did that time go?

If I were given any super power in the world, at this moment, I would choose the "week ending at the snap of my fingers" power. Ok, so you've never heard of Superman having this power. But, I bet he could have if he wanted to.
Tomorrow there is no school so technically this is Friday for me. Last day of work until Monday. Yipee!
You'll remember (hopefully) that I was feeling sick yesterday. It has carried over to today. Ugh.
Super powers? Where are you when I need you most?! :0)

Sick to my stomach.
My day started off by stopping at Mickey Dee's (McDonalds) for breakfast.
First mistake.
I got a sausage egg bagel.
Second mistake.
Came to work to find we still needed a sub bus for our route (like yesterday)
We got the bumpiest bus in the history of buses.
I feel like I am going to hurl.
I still have 6 hours before I get to scurry home.
Ick.

How is possible that these two cuties are going to be in Kindergarten starting in July?
It boggles my mind. They just turned 5 but it doesn't seem real yet.
They're not even my own children. They are my niece and nephew.
How will I handle this with our own children?
How have you handled something like this? Tears? Denial? How??

(By the way, the picture is from January 2005.)

This story made me laugh. The picture made me laugh more.
Apparently, a herd of Buffalo ended up wandering around an upscale part of Maryland today.
There were about 10 of them. It took a dozen police cars, and helicopters. They disrupted traffic and frightened people before police were able to corral them into a tennis court. Wow!
What would our town have done in this situation?
Has anything as crazy as this happened where you live?
Animals getting loose? Anything?
Click here for the complete Yahoo story.

My bus driver and good friend B has had a long standing problem with her rental house tenants. My hubby and I used to live there, until we bought our home. I'll call him D A for short (Dumb A**) D A has only been on time with the rent once in a year and a half. And, I mean giving her 100 dollars one week, 50 another, and so on until the full $650 is paid. It's ridiculous. She still has a mortgage on the house. He is wrecking her credit.
B is a nice woman. Beyond nice. She gives until it hurts. Literally.
She is fed up. Will she kick him out on his arse? I hope she does. I hope she finds someone who will not take advantage of her generosity.
D A has not only messed with her. There are many other people he has screwed over. He is, quite frankly, a compulsive liar.
Hubby and I are involved in this in more ways than one. D A has worked with my hubby and with B. And, my hubby is a supervisor. He was consulted by his bosses about D A and he made information known that was completely true about the attitude of D A. And, all that D A has done to screw with people.
Now, D A was not invited back to his job for the summer.
Of course, this is all my hubby's fault (uh huh, sure)
Things are being said by D A and others who have the wool pulled over their eyes about my hubby's character.

Let me say...I will take most things that are said about me and get hurt or whatever. But, usually I forgive people.
When someone questions my husbands character and work ethics, etc. I get angry. Mad even.
So many thoughts fill my mind. So many horrible conversations that I could have with them so easily.
My hubby is not perfect. I know that. I'm not naive. But, he is the hardest worker, other than B, that I know.
He is an honest, honorable man. I would trust him to the ends of the earth.
So, when someone questions that, I get ticked off.

Blame me?

My blood is boiling. I almost cannot even put into words how frustrated I am.
You are curious.
I can see you continue to read in the hope that I will elaborate.
Well, I will.
Just for you.
Ok, for me.

Yesterday, Tom, my mom and I were at the grocery store getting a few things. We were in the middle of the self-checkout lane (where most people wait), and this woman mouths off,
"Well, she needs to make up her mind." My mom turned back and looked at her.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you!" the woman said rudely.
My mom stated this fact outloud. (that the woman was indeed being rude)
The woman replied, "Don't talk to me about being rude!"
We left and as Tom was driving us away, we passed the woman getting into her car.
My mom couldn't resist she shouted, "Have a nice day!"
The woman had some (again) rude words and we left.
Sheesh. And, she had her husband and kids with her.
What a lovely example for them! Aargh!

And, there are few things I hate more than gossipy people. I see no point in bad mouthing other people. If you don't like someone, deal with it. Have a problem? Talk to someone who can help.
Don't just talk crap about other people. Especially if it doesn't involve you in the first place.
Ugh.

Here is how it works. Copy this list. Leave in the bands you've seen perform live. Delete the ones you haven't and add new ones that you have seen until you reach 25. An asterisk means the previous person had it on their list. Two asterisks means the last two people who did this before you had that band on their list.

1. Debbie Gibson
2. Diana Ross
3. Kenny Rogers (twice)
4. Beach Boys
5. Alabama*
6. Michael Bolton
7. Celine Dion
8. New Kids on the Block
9. Ronnie Milsap
10. Billy Joel
11. Tommy Page
12. Elton John
13. Third Day
14. Steven Curtis Chapman (twice)
15. Amy Grant
16. Marky Mark (and the Funky Bunch)
17. SheDaisy
18. Toby Keith
19. Harry Luge
20. The Shaw Brothers
21. Neal McCoy
22. Point of Grace
23. Nichole Nordeman
24. Bebo Norman
25. Paul Colman Trio