Ok, so life's really not that bad, but I figured I would use this as a precursor to my crazy life and Halloween!!!! I haven't been posted lately (duh!), but that's because life has taken an interesting twist....I am one week and two days into my second set of training. I didn't go home the first four weeks but Bob did visit one weekend. I got 10 VERY short days at home, then back for five more weeks. This time I'm going home every two weeks, but somehow this stint feels so much longer already!!!!

Our town doesn't really have a REAL trick-or-treat: Today, Benjamin (via the Boys & Girls Club) got to "beg" at the local university. Of course, the college kids went all out, creating a haunted house and had a pizza party for them afterward!!!! Friday at 3pm (YES, 3PM) they can visit the local merchants downtown. THAT'S IT.....REALLY!!!!!! Don't know what the hell's up with these people?????????? OK, most of them are Bible beaters, so it's probably the whole devil/satan/going to hell thing!

PS Sorry to those of you who don’t know about my little secret, but it always seems when I let people in on opportunities I’m pursuing, they always end up jinxed. So just cross your fingers, toes, eyes, whatever will allow this grand opportunity to lend itself to us.

I just got another request for a strapless dress! Just need to get measurements for the two I have and I'll be on my merry way. I also need T-shirts to do the T-shirt quilt and the terry cloth gown is underway! Just a little bit at a time...baby steps!

Have a 7 year-old still wetting the bed...any suggestions?

Cohen is a Mini-Manda & I'm not liking it one bit!!!

I'm forgetting a lot lately, maybe the rheumatologist will find a fix for that in August.

Speaking of August, if you are a prayer soul I need you now more than ever. If not, I need you to cross your fingers. There's a big, life changing event about to occur and with your help, it will happen!!!!!

I finally found the lights I want in the kitchen. They would match perfectly with the multi-colored Fiestaware. They have all sorts of different styles which would make it easy to decorate the entire kitchen/dining combo with peacock feather lights!!!! I also found the Shower I want to install in our Master Bath (someday!).

I just wanted to say hello to all my goofballs out there that like to check in and see what's happening in the world of "Sharp". Not much really, we're dealing with the typical summer chaos. Benjamin goes to the Club everyday and is enjoying immensely. Cohen is having a hayday at Nan & Pap's. Bob has sold some cars, but I don't know if it's enough to clear his guarantee. I'm just trying to keep myself from sleeping too much. I need to finish Ms. Traci's clothes, so she can enjoy them before the Ohio summer fades away. Still waiting on UM to call and offer me the Grant Administrator job, but the good thing is they are also looking for the supervisor to this position, so maybe that's why they are taking so long. Our second batch of little birdies have left the nest in the crook of the porch. We still don't have air conditioning, which is showing to be miserable as the heat index rises. Bob has a few more things to do (which hopefully he'll finish on Thursday) then we have to get the certified guy out there to hook up the last remaining items. I am hoping by July 1, we will have AC. Get to go for a colonoscopy next Friday to determine the origin of all the abdominal discomfort, pain, and bloating (tired of looking like I'm 5 months pregnant when I've lost weight!). Hopefully this will help in the correct arthritis diagnosis as well. Learned my biological nephew has rheumatoid arthritis which may just throw me into that category anyway. We'll have to wait and see...Rheumatologist isn't again until August.

I posted three banners on Etsy this weekend. I just posted my tool rolls on there too for Father's Day. I had wrenches strewn all over the living room over the weekend!!!

Not only did our furnace/ac come on a 40' long semi (which will NOT fit anyway up our driveway), but Bob also received his grout gun (a really cool invention that puts the grout in the seams...with all our tiling projects, we needed this YEARS ago). We also go our new upgraded cell phones. OK, I've never thought I could love a material thing, but this phone is like a computer about the size of a business card. Since I'm so losing my mind (thank you Arthur Itis!!), I have my whole life on a flash drive. Now I can keep it on my phone with a back up on my computer. Ahhhhh, technology. The tree guys have taken another two loads of trees (for all of you playing at home that makes 6 loads of trees). So, we'll be getting our check shortly for all the timber...more Christmas!!! And I'm so excited, Mona was at the house yesterday!!!! Apparently she's been there for a week, but with all the boxes and other crap around the house I didn't notice until yesterday, so it just topped off Christmas in May!!!!

Benjamin has four more days of school and excited to beat hell!!!! He is such a social butterfly. Cohen has been back and forth to Nan & Pap's since Bob's been busy with trees and furnaces and grout, OH MY!!! So he's getting pretty spoiled for his next three month stint at the parental units.

I got to fabric shopping yesterday for a couple of new orders (banners...they are going to be SWEET!!!!)...sorry Traci, not rubbing it in :o) I plan to get my T-shirt quilt done this weekend. Since I'm feeling a bit better I haven't been sleeping at lunch...I'm been doing Quilted Memories projects...it almost makes the first 5 hours worth it!!!!

I have decided I will get one of the jobs at University of Montevallo (read: five miles away from the house)! If I believe it, it will happen, right? This will allow me more time with Bob, the boys, and sewing all these projects I have.

I have started on my Memorial/Independence Day projects: Patriotic table runner, napkins, decorated kitchen towels, coasters, and pot holders!!!! I've also been recruited for another clergy cassock. Then of course, I still have Ms. Traci's alterations, skirts and shirt. UGH! I need to make more of my time.

Had a good Mother's Day with two new beautiful flowers and Benjamin's sentiments from school: "My mom is cute! My mom should be mom of the year because she says goodnight when I go to bed. My mom can help me tak out the trash. My mom can help my dad work and help me do my homework! My mom helps me get ready for school. My mom is nice!!" Such a sweetie!!!!

I worked a whole 2 hours before I left today. I was so tired, I was almost passing out at my desk. Yeah, real comforting thinking I drove an hour home that way!!! It's still storming, saw on MSN where the Southeast is getting tornados. We really need to get these beautiful trees out of the front yard before anymore of them decide to fall on the house...Allstate really doesn't like that!

I got my embroidery machine today and not even in the mood to play with it. Tomorrow is baseball, Sunday is Easter at the parents' house. My grandmother finally goes back to Ohio Monday...thank goodness for Mom!!!

My hubby was so nice to take the boys to Walmart to get groceries so I could have some peace and quiet. Also, so I wouldn't have to go on Sunday...sleep in day for me :o) Lately, every day possible is sleep in day for me. I have such a wonderful hubby...I'm such a bitch and still puts up with me, finds me sexy, and wants to do things for me. I feel so horrible that when I do feel good I have so many other things to get done, he gets shafted and put to the end of the line. I hope someday we can finally get back from whence we came. I miss the way we used to live, love, etc. He does a great job controlling me (and Cohen) though. Don't know who else could conquer that chaos or would even want to...Love you, Bobert...

Working full-time (and driving 1+ hours to get there and home), trying to grow a sewing business (www.quiltedmemories4u.etsy.com), trying to be a mom to two children that act exactly like their mom and dad, and at this point with Bob home, I don't even try to be a wife.

I realized long ago that I am NOT SuperWoman or SuperMom, even though I still try. It's like beating a dead horse, but I just can't get out of my mind that I can do all things woman...clean, cook, teach, mentor, taxi, fornicate, make happy, sleep, sew, satisfy, and on and on and on and on and on. I think my body has given up on this marathon, but my mind is still in the race. Even on drugs I get depressed very easily, but then there are days that nothing can stop me (but my hurting body).

I realize I am evil. I don't have thoughts as others have (however, Bob and Mom are close 2nds!!). I don't look at the world as others do...I'm not Godly, or even spiritual at the moment, I don't have time for that crap. I guess I just take responsibility for my own actions, figure you're going to die whenever the timer goes off, and if you don't like something about yourself, change it. I kinda like being the curly-headed, goth, black humor, off-the-wall, unknown, girl from Cowtown that has a way of corrupting even the best people. I don't fit in anywhere, except on House & Roseanne. Except, I just feel they exploit the personality for comedic entertainment for those who don't (or don't want to) understand people like me. People use these as "feel good" shows; you know like watching "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and thinking...OK, my life can be sooooo much worse, I can handle this. It's the days when you think...OK, I don't want to handle this anymore that become more demanding.

I hear myself keep repeating a portion of a book I used to read to the boys: Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball, so no one can see because I am so small. When the day ends and the sun starts to fall, I do what I do best of all, I find somewhere soft, somewhere cozy and small. And that's where I like to curl up in a ball.