running on neutral ground

I ran this morning.  It was cold out and I could see my breath.  

  I ran alone and I needed this run.  4 miles. 

 some of it was jog/walking but still, the invigoration was a welcome friend.

 Having spent Friday evening exclusively with Little A seeing the movie ”new moon”  and just hanging out, Life felt good.   We were glad that we saw the movie at 4 p.m.

this whole big ad campaign by Burger King about Edward (bella’s vampire boyfriend) and Jacob (the werewolf boy) is so much hype!

everybody should definitely vote JACOB:

edward isn’t as ripped, and his color?  I could never get used to it! 

  It seemed that when we came out of our theatre, the crowds were pressed up against the doors so tight to see the 7 p.m show that it made me really glad I chose movie before dinner.

 Little A was beside herself, thanking me over and over.   Big A spent Friday evening at her school dance.  she is such a social girl.  I love them both with all of my heart.   

Had a good dinner at Applebees with a glass of wine and dessert and everything.    The whole day was exactly what I needed. 

Blogging right now, I can’t help but notice that most *if not pretty much all* my male readers have disapeared from reading my stuff.  

 It wouldn’t bother me, but for the fact that men might not like that I seem to do alot of “doug bashing” on here and omg am I so not fair to him or something?

  Am I a hormone laden shrew, that I can’t vent about the prolonged and very rocky past the two of us have without coming off well….

bee-otchy? 

  I’m capable of love.  I will say that.  I’m capable of loving and giving to a man unconditionally, and 14 years (and counting)…

… is a long time to ignore verbal abuse.

   But I can’t help but notice,  maybe that the chick rants have driven the fellas out.  maybe. 

 maybe I’m just imagining it.

Peace to you and yours and thank you for all your support.  Ladies…and Gary.

The comfort Of little A

I did not get to ask Little A what exactly went through her mind yesterday evening when she painted this picture.  I just fell in love with it and wanted to share it with you all.

    So then, today comes along.  Just another unassuming day.  I went to work.  We had Potluck thanksgiving dinner at work. 

 It was a really great day, because of the comraderie of the “family” type workplace we have, the dinner was completely enjoyable. 

 

 

  This morning we had awards ceremony too.  a long one.  I had to take a lot of pictures.  Even the weather was great.  I think it got into the 60’s maybe with sunny skies.  It would have been the perfect workout weather but I was so tired for some reason, maybe the huge lunch, IDK.  

 

 

 So I slept and pretty soon, “HE” came home with little A. 

 and then Big A came home.  

Then,

  Big A,

 came….home. 

 

 

 She was in a bad mood, where hanging with her friends brings the bravery out in her. 

 So she was amazingly snotty to me. 

First off, she wants on the computer, but I am not happy with her room, so I sent her up to clean it, and she comes down in 2.5 seconds.  *ahem*  not really clean.

  she brings the laptop over to me and wants me to type in the pass word. 

 When I refuse, she calls me “lazy” and proceeds to screech at me.

  Now,  she has decided that her own evening will be…in….alone without friends and folding clothes. 

 With this, she said “you suck” and “I hate you”.  

  One more thing came out of her mouth and I got up and steered her to the kitchen, asking “him” to come downstairs.

 

 

 

I should have known better to involve doug in any damn thing where conflict is involved.  shame on me.

  At this point, I have already given her a consequence for her actions: 

 which was to fold clothes, clean the kitchen, and go straight to bed. 

This time,  I give her a stern warning. 

 

 

 ME:  you don’t want to ruin your evening tommorrow do you?  (she shakes her head no because she wants very badly to attend the school dance with her friends)

 

 ME: then I suggest you never talk back to me again.  I am not screaming at you, you will not disrespect me by screaming at me and calling me names.” 

 

   Well…. Big A nods.  Yes, she understands, she was about to proceed to finish the chores, when “he”  got 2 inches from her face and screams at her:

 

 ”Yeah, that’s right!  You’re fucking gonna learn the rules of this house

I’m sick and tired of you disobeying..” 

 

OMG OMG I knew what was coming next. 

  Big A’s eyes welled up with tears, she screams back at him.  “I hate you! Go to hell!” 

  ME: Big A!  No! 

 

 

At this point, the “man” has stepped away but he turns back around and I am in the middle of them.

  Once again, I feel him absolutely “vibrating” with energy.  I don’t know how else to describe it.  It wasn’t him “shaking” so much as his actual self was vibrating like an electric wire.  

 He was full throttle and stuck in high gear. 

 

 

 Again, as in so many other times,  he is close to her and screams into her face:  FUCK YOU!!!!  his own flesh and blood daughter. 

 

 

i want to die.   

i am tired.

it is over between us.

it may not be today.

it may not be tommorrow. 

but it IS most assuredly over between us.

 

 

Big A’s best friend’s dad is a cop here on post.   I called him to have him come over and speak with my ‘husband’ rather than have me call some police on duty and have his name on the blotter tonight. 

 

his response after the talk was to go park himself upstairs and watch wrestling.  I didn’t try to follow him. 

   It quieted him but now, 3 hours later, as I write this, i realize.  I am just biding my time before he and I separate for good.   He just won’t ever get the damage that he has done and Is still doing with these daughters of his.

 

 Because my life has been so negatively touched by abuse almost from my 2nd year of life onward,  I now lack the capacity to do anything but love those who give love back, and no one else. 

I have chosen to sleep on the sofa, with no blanket tonight, wearing “his” army socks  and my dog by my side. 

 I won’t be able to really talk to him anymore after this. 

   

 The picture Little A painted?  was it prophetic?  A comfort to me? 

 or just a picture…. I’ll never know.

 but strangely tonight I am deriving much comfort from it. 

getting to the heart of things

 

 

 

 

SHREK: For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think.

DONKEY: Example?

SHREK: Example? Okay. Uh… ogres are like onions.

DONKEY: They stink?

SHREK: Yes. No!

DONKEY: Oh, they make you cry?

SHREK: No!

DONKEY: Oh, you leave them out in the sun, they get all brown and start sprouting little white hairs.

SHREK: No! Layers! Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I talked to my mom today.  I had to call her before we took our trip. 

 There were those emails.  There were also those other 2 or 3 trips that we took years ago that made us literally sick with regret for going there. 

 

 I was allowing fear to have it’s way with me about this trip. 

 

  When I called her, she sounded really glad to hear from me.  In fact,  I know I heard her voice crack a little when she said,

“I am glad you called”

  I told her I didn’t want to come to Michigan with any misunderstandings. 

 My mom is such a person that I can compare her present personality to a porcupine. 

 

The porcupine uses its quills for defense. The porcupine cannot shoot its quills. When a predator approaches, the porcupine will turn its back, raise the quills and lash out at the threat with its tail.

The porcupine is not an aggressive animal. It will only attack if it is threatened.

~http://www.nhptv.org/NatureWorks/porcupine.htm

Her main method of defense these days is to strike before stricken.  emotions… bad past, and all. 

It takes forever to get to the real mother heart in her.    It’s fair to say, her feelings were hurt about the possibility of our family not coming to visit her and dad at their home too.   Why didn’t she just say that in the beginning?

  yeah it’s the whole porcupine thing…hurt or be hurt.   

  How does a line from Shrek come into play?  My mom believe it or not in her emails, over and over has told me that  her and my dad are “not the ogres people make us out to be”   and “we’ve changed”  

Can I help it if I couldn’t believe that, based on our tumultuous, drama filled life together and the ensuing years of emotional tirade???hmmn? hmn? 

 and it reminded me about the lines in the movie above.

   I am here to tell you…my mother has layers. 

  Unfortunately, I am not the one to really have the strength to peel through those layers to get to the real her, because of my past with her…  in fact, “I am not the one” is the the understatement of the world. lol. 

   Now, I can go to Michigan without feeling afraid at least. 

BIG RED PEN AND OTHER THOUGHTS

     This drawing is for the ladies who read and comment for me, especially lately.  I have been soooo, omg, so out of sorts lately. 

 IDK. But I’m so glad to have all of you girls to laugh with, to comiserate with, to just know that someone is there.    T-H-A-N-K  Y-O-U

 Today it rained.  All day again.  Nevertheless.  The day went fast.  I didn’t think we would get a lot done but we did.  Having the third employee now learning to do some of the work, is more than kewl.  I can breathe.

  When we are typing certain things now, we have a big old laugh at one of our “big” bosses. (we have so darn many)  He is someone who paperwork has to go through to get approved for awards and such, and often, we will type up a very very nice award or medal for a soldier only for him to take his big red pen

(yes.  like a teacher)

and line through in red what he doesn’t like, and often it is some what of an insignificant of a change like a substituted word, a word he likes better. 

  Today, he kicked back i think about a dozen of these certificates to one of my co-workers and boy she was MAD.  cuss words were flying.   We have decided what this person is getting for Christmas. 

 A red pen with his name on it!  grrr… it wouldn’t be so bad, but the paper used for all these certificates is sooo expensive.   

  ”the man” was in a mood.  we actually argued at work today…yes, in front of people.  I felt sick afterward, not literally, but kind of like we’d reached a new low.  A WTF moment if you will.

 He remained in a bad mood for all evening while I downloaded some new tunes for my MP3 player for future gym workouts.   I finally got to talk  to him, but we didnt get far.   Butting heads.  then my grown daughter called.    somewhat of a relief. 

 

I think my life is a little bit like the recent weather in Kansas.  There is a low pressure system, swirling about overhead causing prolonged periods of rain and or wintry mix.  

   

The good thing about tonight is that the girls were in a great mood and in a mood to cooperate fully with bedtime and cleaning up and such. 

 I did cook tonight because it was my turn.

  It’s late now and I do have to sleep but….DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.  lol. 

 Tommorrow is training day, but if it rains I will be late because I will be taking the girlz to school.  Lucky me.  Bring on da’ rain….no.  scratch that. 

 make it stop.

____________

“Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
I’m ok, I’m alright
Ain’t gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I’m gonna be free, Lord!Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love? “~QUEEN/SOMEBODY TO LOVE

How do you get your kid to do the dishes? and other thoughts

I knew today was going to be all Monday-like and stuff, (well besides being monday)  because when I got in the car to ride the 1.2 miles to work this morning,  i had to close my eyes.  I was that tired.

Coming home this afternoon, I went straight to bed and slept 4 hours.

    Something about the snow and rain, and being all cozy…  Did you ever fall asleep fully dressed? lol. 

    Big A has made honor roll at her school for the 2nd year in a row. 

Although, we are extremely proud of her,  the bumper sticker goes in the kids box of school stuff, and not on the car.

 

 

 

Sugar found her usual place under the blanket, in the bendy place of my knees.  She sleeps for a couple hours with me like that, and then comes out for air.  I don’t know how she does it.  I’d die from lack of air.  It’s a pretty thick comforter, but that’s where she prefers to be.

 Little A has made herself a new wordpress site just for Sugar.     She’s been hard at work upgrading Sugar’s job qualifications at www.sugarpup.wordpress.com   and she’s pretty good with the paint program on windows. lol.

 

Little A had dishes tonight.  She didn’t do them right away. 

 When I woke up the kitchen was a horror of food/dishes/mess , Doug was out cold next to me.  Little A was watching TV. 

 As soon as I came downstairs I heard her sister say:  “Mom’s up”  and there, like magic, was Little A fake sleeping, although the TV was on and all her homework papers spread out on the couch and floor.  

  I bet she wishes mommies were stupid.

    So I spent the next 20 minutes getting her to load the dishwasher.  I even helped her some.  She fussed and yelled and created havoc

  She even said she was so tired and wasn’t I such a mean mom for making her “stay up” and do dishes.  Then she even said that she was going to lay on the floor and  go to sleep in the kitchen!   I chuckled out loud at that one.

HER:   “What’s so funny?” 

  Me:  “It just tickled me that’s all, you  made a funny picture in my head.”  

 This girl tried everything,

 EVERY

 thing.

 lol.  to get out of her dish night. 

Until I told her, that from the age of 8 years old, i not only washed by hand, dried by hand, and put away every single dish, but I did it every night.  That shut her up.

   Go figure.  Maybe she was really was just tired by then.   Maybe I wore her out.

next time I’m going to show her this picture, of how some people get to do the dishes.

 

  I bet she does the dishes really fast then.

 

So, yes, I missed dinner but had 2 bowls of cereal and some m and m’s for dinner.    so  good for my diet. I’m now ready for some more slumber.     Peace to you and yours tonight.

the Saturday, that “mattered” day, with Big A

 

Today, Big A and I spent bonding time alone together, all day.    We first had breakfast at Mickey D’s although it was more like lunchtime. 

 I was disappointed to find that the young man who Doug insulted so badly a couple weeks ago was not there today.  I would’ve apologized to him. 

 

 

 Big A was a chatterbox this Saturday.  I like for her to talk to me, as opposed to being bee-otchy with me.  I like for her to tell me her thoughts, talk about people in school,  laugh.  Oh yes, Laugh.  

 

 

 We went to the antique store and there were a couple things i wanted in there, but actually I was glad I didn’t buy just yet.  Her and I were then off to the almost three-hour long movie “2012″

  I found this movie, about the end of the world, to be depressing although, the special effects are amazing, and will leave you on the edge of your seat the whole movie.

 

 

  The movie has enough tension in it that you often find yourself holding your breath or having a death grip on the arm rest. 

 Big A was like

 

:  OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG…the whole movie.

 

   I think it was worth the 7 bucks we paid to see it, and share the mother/daughter afternoon together.

 

 

It’s a little ironic how almost every movie I see there’s a line or lines that sum up doug and I’s relationship.   this time it’s when John Cusak’s character asks his ex-wife in the movie (amanda pete) if she loves the new husband,  she tells him:  “I love him enough”

To which I am thinking, “enough for what exactly?”

 

 

 

  The weather today was dreary and gray, and we are supposed to get rain tomorrow and possibly even snow. 

 So when we came out of the theatre, it was pretty dark already.  It gets dark here now at 5:30 pm.  

 

 

We just were able to hit one more store before getting home and it was this type of “bargain bin” Store.  that has things spread out over the whole store in every manner of discarded overstocked trinket you can think of. 

 

 

 I found a few things for my doll home, and Big A got a mirror for her locker at school and some ten-cent earrings (yes, 10 cents)  

 It is the type of store with twangy country music emanating from hidden speakers, and people rummaging through bins furiously as the cashier calls out: 

 we’ll be closin’ in 10 minutes! 

  because there wasn’t even an intercom system in there.

 

 

  I must say,  I do have to go back to this place.  either it’s the world’s biggest yard sale, or it’s a very laid back store, but i believe there are more ‘treasures’ to be had there.  

 

 

 

 The whole reason Big A and I were on our own today, was because Doug wasn’t quite feeling well still, and he just plain wasn’t interested in traipsing around today.  for most of the day, he was stuck on the computer, and keeping an eye on little A.

 

 

 The weather being gray and ugly, was not conducive to taking photo essay pictures.  So, tho a little miffed about doug not coming, it was all good.  I think Big A needed to have some alone time with me. 

 

“My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day’s a gift and not a given right…”  

Nickelback/if today was your last day

  

 

Bless this nest with all it’s tangled branches and other thoughts

    It’s tangled branches with seemingly no sense of design, yet built to withstand the winds of life,  the rain of sorrow,  and the cold of seasons changing…

    Blogs to oblige the political correctness in me*  Dear Veterans:  Thankyou… thankyou for spilling your blood.  Thankyou for being far from home.  Thank you for doing without comforts of everyday life.  Thank you for worrying about your loved ones.  Thank you for bearing the burdens, the scars, the responsibility that is war.  Thank you for forging a way for others.  Without You, there is no US and no “U.S.”

~Love Sweetiegirlz

P.S.  I will make an effort to remember you on more than just this one day.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today was okay, i guess. It was a mixture of sad and sweet. 

 I was told by someone today, that someone very close to me has cancer.  

  Just another reminder of how vulnerable we are as human beings and how at any time at all our lives can change dramatically, even when there is a positive outcome, there still remains “the changing” part that leaves indelible reminders of times, we don’t care to remember. 

 I think I am fighting the last stubborn stronghold of this virus.  It started up in my head, went to my throat and now today it is making me cough…a lot.  I’m tired but oh so thankful that this day was a day off for me. 

 I slept in until 11 a.m.  Doug marched in the Parade with the “colors” and he had a great time since this year was near perfect weather and last year ugh,  raining and cold. 

Doug had his free dinner from Applebees in recognition of veterans everywhere.  I had soup by my own choice.  ’

  We did a little Christmas shopping early since we plan on going on vacation on thanksgiving and we are taking Christmas presents with us to save on the mailing.  

 Otherwise I would NOT be shopping early. I never did really get in the mood for Christmas until…Christmas.  go figure.  

 While in the store, at least 6 patrons thanked Doug for his service, since he was still in his uniform from the parade.   Proud of him.  I really am.

  Others in the restaurant included some elderly gentlemen, some with canes.  Some wearing their VFW (veterans of Foreign wars) caps.  

 This evening Big A had a couple friends over and we were all in the living room just talking and laughing and having a fun time.  She is not on lockdown anymore, and she can be described as prolly the happiest teen on earth.   I just want her to stay this way:

 

*big A and her best friend*

 

 

*little A guitar hero freak*

 

 

*Big A and her friend that is a boy*

Tommorrow: work.  early.  so, see you all later.  have a great Thursday. (((Hugs)))) SG.

 

 

 

 

Did They or didn’t They? and other Sunday night thoughts

        Our house is on the right.  The one where all the leaves are piled against the house. 

   The neighbor’s house and (clean, leafless yard)   is on the left.

  I’m having a problem deciding:  Did they blow all their leaves onto our yard instead of raking them?  Or is it a coincidence, and the wind blew them all over? 

You, the people must decide.  lol.    (I’m just kidding really, I already know the answer.)  I just thought it was a humorous photo.

 

 

 

 

    Okay, let’s make the question a little harder… 

 

  Let’s play guess the picture. 

Of course it’s photo shopped.  But not very MUCH.  You can trust me.  I wouldn’t lie.   I will show the  original photo if some people guess at it, K?  You might be surprised at what it is.

 

The remodeling of the doll/model house goes on…

  This weekend, I did some custom molding for the kitchen, finished “painting” the walls glidden paint “caffe latte”  color, all 4 walls.  I built a custom molding door frame, and overhang.  and gave the windows some trim…  

 

 

 

   Now i need some advice:

 

     Look at the plastic windows that were built into the wood frame of the house.  They are pretty dirty.  I tried cleaning them and they still appear dingy and a little dirty and some of them are scratched. 

 Like I said,  they are built into the window frame.  So if I wanted them out, I would just have to take them out by cutting with an exacto knife.  

 I feel that dingy windows detract from the house.  What do you think?   are they dirty and scratched enough for me to remove them?

 

 

Here’s an extra picture I took Saturday morning of a goose landing.  the sunrise that early in the morning paints a magnificent goose landing pretty colors.  I enjoyed him very much. 

In about another month or so,  the pond/lake will once again be overflowing/crowded beyond belief with Canadian geese, seeking warmth. 

 I couldn’t help but notice today, that there are plenty of  brand new,  PLEASE DON’T FEED THE BIRDS OR WILDLIFE, Signs about the area now.   

 

I wonder when it changed from last year.  I wondered if someone got bitten. 

 

Proof that they’re evil. *high chick rant warning*

Kids are evil little booger eating minions. 

 Then they hit puberty. 

Once that stage hits, multiply their “shit”nanigans by several times more, and gosh golly gee…don’t we have a great life honey?! 

 Me, you, and these 2 little hormone laden shrews in pint size bodies.  GIRLS.

 

 

  In case you are wondering, Sweetiegirlz has hit the proverbial wall this weekend.    There was no rest for the wicked or the weary (both  describing me, obviously, since I am not the one “resting” my sore throat.) 

 

 

Since Friday, (taking the day off)  Big and Little A had turned me into “angry mime” mom.  since I didn’t want to talk, and only wanted to point angrily, frown deeply and hope they’d get it:  mom needs to rest. 

But that didn’t happen. 

 

 

 that did not.

 

h-a-p-p-e-n.

 

Today sucked with them:

 

Oh sure, I had an early morning of peace.  I got up at 6:30  just as the sun was coming over the horizon, quickly showered, and with still wet hair, and no makeup walked down the street to shoot, more of the nature pond (they call it a lake, but it’s more like a big fishin’ hole).  This time, I left Doug home, perusing facebook.   I just wanted peace.

 

 

  I just wanted pictures of the morning fog over the pond.  Which btw…only happens when there is frost on the ground, and alas, there was no frost.  In fact it was like 50 degrees.  So it was comfortably nippy,  light jacket weather. 

 

 

I got off about 2 good shots, and the rest were all like. “Meh”.   Doug was then willing to go to breakfast with me, and cavort around town in the little shops around town…until he saw the bikers.  “omg, I want to go riding”  which he did when we got home.   

Are you with me so far?  good, you didn’t turn the page. 

 

 

 

  Big A has been the most absolute butt.

  Once her voice goes on “Phuck you mother” mode, it just stays there until I pound some sense into her head. 

  

This girl for one, has a better social life than her dad and I.  She goes bowling, sees movies, goes shopping, hangs out with her friends, one of whom is a dude.   When I told her that she has to come in when Doug and I wanted to go out tonight,  she just freaked out.

  

 She created such a storm that her dad and I didn’t even WANT to go out after that. 

   We explained as in the past, that the rule is:  you are still a kid.  You must stay in the house (no boy allowed) when we are not home! 

Period. 

 

 For her, tho, it is always a question mark followed by eleventy hundred exclamation marks. 

    Like I said,  Doug and I didn’t want to go anywhere after.  he sat at his computer with a frowny face and said “this family makes me sick” 

 

yep.  that’s whaaaat he said.   

anyway,

My voice was strained from yelling at her, and good old Big A to her dad says: 

 ”IM GOING OUT ANYWAY AFTER YOU LEAVE”

 

 

 

        Let’s now insert some comic relief: 

So… needless to say.  Doug is mad at me for as he puts it “being wishy washy” and not going out tonight ‘just to prove something to her’. 

  Big A  is still acting like she owns us, not as parents though, as pets. 

 

 

Last night,  Doug and I were sleeping, he being tired, and I being sick.  Our room was pitch dark…

 I deliberately had turned off the computer right before Big A hit the door on her way in from curfew, so that she wouldn’t turn it on, and talk with her friends, for the next 4 hours, late at night.  

  Sure enough,  I just closed my eyes, when BAM!  my bedroom doorknob hits the wall hard.  She has just busted in and for what? 

 what you say, could be so important that she would risk life and limb to break and enter my most revered sanctuary? 

 

 

HER:  uhhh, yeah.  I just wanted to see if you could turn on the computer?

See what I mean?

  evil. 

 

 

 and Little A OMG, passive-aggressive much? 

 This girl will not do anything without telling her the required 26 and a half times. 

  Of course, she’s very charming while she’s NOT doing what you told her to do 5 hours ago.  Very charming.   

 I made some awesome chicken wings tonight with Korean BBQ sauce, honey, seasoned to perfection.   with steamed rice and a salad.    

 

Little A:  I don’t want to eat chicken, I am not in the mood for it. 

 

 

She proceeds to screw with me for the next 30 minutes, bargaining for waffles instead, promising me she will clean up the kitchen, promising she will eat rice and chicken AFTER her waffles.  yada yada…

Okay.  here’s some more comic relief:

see?  I’m not all about ranting, here. 

 

 

I’m through.  I’m through.

  I sewed for an hour.  I watched COPS.  I watched AMERICA’s MOST WANTED.   I cuddled Sugar.   I made a mental note to do something nice for my neighbors next door, who probably stay pretty in tune with our soap opera over here.  How they put up with us,  I- dont–kn0w….

There was a lot of other special “topics” dealing with Big A and revolving around clothes, shoes, cell phone minutes,  and  cleaning.  but I will spare you.  In fact here’s to ending this rant on a good note:

especially sweet night

           Me,  cleaning, quick swipes of trash assembled around big A on the computer desk.

 her: “don’t touch that…oh.

  that was my snot [rag]“  gah!!!   

  tonight’s been a real diversion from the normal nightly routine.  We as little A’s parents, got invited to her choir musical.    One thing about little A.  she loves to sing–even post surgery, that gurl would not miss her concert!    She promised to lip sync if her throat got to hurting much. 

 

 

 

 

 

      We got to see the Beatles for free, oh wow!

 

 

      and Elvis.  Elvis isn’t dead you know.  He’s alive and well and he just played tonight.  He sounds better than ever too.

Along with being good on my new adjusted caloric intake and food preparation plan  (NOT a diet) 

I went over to Starbucks and had a bran muffin with 2 percent milk for breakfast. 

 I had an apple, a cheesestick and 3 slices of lean smoked deli ham.  I drank water allll day.  not a coke in sight.  

  This morning was especially sweet.  You know if you are reading this blog much that Sugar and Prince, my two dogs do not get along at all.  well, I got up to find them both laying on the couch with big A like this:

 

well, there IS hope for this family after all.  If they can get along…..