I did something I haven't done in a long time - read through my blog posts from the beginning...well...not all 472 of them but just enough to peek at how interestingly challenging my life has been in 2010. I started my blog in 2008 with 3 readers which eventually grew to ten and then where it is today. Some of you have been with me from the beginning, Danica , Julie , Megryansmom , Lin , Veronica Lee , and Buckeroo Mama . A million thanks to you all for not leaving my blog in a cloud of dust. So much happened in 2010. Right when I found strength and courage to start all over again in a new city, I was laid off (in 2009). As much as I wanted to believe that I'd find another job, after countless and disappointing searches, I knew that there had to be a door opening somewhere else. During this time, I was having the time of my life being Momo to Baby Boo, my now ex-Boo's daughter. The bond was unmeasurable and the joy and laughter that came from seeing life through her eyes wa...

1) I'm already feeling sad that I will have to take the Christmas tree down after the New Year. Single Boo and I named our tree, Chubster and we have fallen in love. 2) Christmas time can be the loneliest time of the year. 3) I usually find one Christmas song that I love and play it over and over again. This year, the song is My Christmas Prayer by BeBe Winans and Rob Thomas. 4) I just don't get the purpose of fruitcake. In fact, I've never met a fruitcake I've liked and I think I'll keep it that way. 5) This brought smiles to my face this week. Princess Vivian and her beautiful and talented mommy, Mandy loving the picture I painted for her. I've also learned that you if you click here , you will be able to order one of the best cookbooks ever, written by Mandy. 6) I miss Christmas caroling! In elementary school, we'd get on a bus and go Christmas caroling to all of the teachers houses. The last stop was for a hot cup of cocoa. So much fun!! 7) I'm so v...

Celebrating the holidays just isn't for the kids, although I think my brother in law makes the greatest santa of all. The picture below is of him riding in the city of Compton's annual Christmas parade. There's nothing like being the most awaited and popular guy in the whole parade! Not only that but a few weeks ago, he was at the tree lighting, sitting patiently as each child gave him their Christmas wish. It hit me...I've been asking the wrong guy for stuff! :) My sister has the hook up on getting every thing her heart desires! Even more precious is Single Boo's friend's daughter who is already making her "grown up" Christmas list at 3 years old. But, if I had a chance to make my wishes known to Santa....here is my Grown Up Christmas list.... 1) A sexy, sweet, honest, faithful Christian man who gets me and I can look forward to spending the rest of my life with. 2) An impromptu snowball fight 3) heat controlled, warm, fluffy pajamas 4) lifetime ...

1) Threatening a kid with "If you aren't good, then Santa isn't going to bring you any toys" no longer works. 2) Waving a tampon in my face and saying, "I'll be back, I have to go to the bathroom" when filling out a job application is not a way to make a good first impression. 3) Since moving to Oregon, I've fallen off the wagon as far as washing my car. Why wash it when it will rain five minutes after it's clean? 4) Kittens are under the impression that Christmas trees are their ultimate play toy. Climbing up and through the tree while knocking down every ornament makes for more fun.l 5) Cats know how to ignore the word "no". 6) Some people were never taught to play nice on the playground. Ultimately, they are now obnoxious, rude and bossy adults. 7) As I get older, I get more persnickety about writing with smooth ink pens, buying only certain brands of salad dressing and eating only crunchy apples with stripes. 8) Before I announce t...

Ever since I was a kid, Christmas classics like Little Drummer Boy, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman always brought on the tears and a heart to give. Like the Little Drummer Boy, I always felt like I didn't quite have anything costly or impressive to give. Then there was this song called Eighteen Cents that I listened to over and over again. Back then, it made perfect sense to buy all that she did for just 18 cents...now, it's totally impossible! I remembered one year in elementary school when my class had a gift exchange. My "giver" gave me a lens from an old pair of eyeglasses with a magazine cut out of a cat, glued to the back, and a pin glued to be proudly worn. Even though I'm ashamed to admit it even now, I hated it! I was totally embarrassed to wear an old eye glass lens. It wasn't "cool". But, had I stopped and thought about the giver? Maybe that was all he/she had to give. I wish my parents had reminded me of how it'...

What does that mean? Actually, I have no idea! It was one of the word verification words that I found utterly charming and delightful. Don't ask me why but I did. It's kind of like a mixture between a sneeze and a peek a boo. First it was a fried router and then my keyboard went out. I had to bang and jiggle the cord to make it work and then, halfway through blogging, it stopped working once again. I'm now working with a totally wireless keyboard. I wonder if I can soak in the tub and surf the net at the same time? Hmmm...don't want to even try that one. I can just imagine the headlines, "Woman fried in tub while blogging." Since today is Thursday, I'd have to say that the biggest thing I've learned is, expect the unexpected. Enough said! What have you learned?

I didn't realize how attached I was to my computer and the internet UNTIL the router fried. The technical support lady was gracious enough to ship out another but not until two days later. Both my daughter and I watch tv shows on our computers since we don't have cable. We have an antenna but only get some of the channels but not all. We also use Instant Netflix, which is also an internet goody....so... Without anything else to do, I amused myself by thinking about the lyrics to You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. I am so impressed that Dr. Seuss got by with saying all sorts of mean things about the Grouchy Grinch without having to use a single curse word. Some of these, I think I may even use. I like, "stink, stank, stunk". Which phrase do you like? You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch You're a mean one, Mister Grinch You really are a heel, You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel, Mister Grinch, You're a bad banana with a greasy black p...