Holiday Loot!

Happy Holidays!

Hope you all got what you wanted from Santa! Here is my list of loot received:

Bones Season 5 (most desired item I might add)
Supernatural Season 5
Design Perfume  (my signature scent, which I was wearing on my 1st date w/John and on the day we got married)
Capricorn One DVD
Black fleece jammie pants w/white shirt
2 pair of purple fuzzy socks
Vanilla jasmine bath set
Lavendar vanilla bath set
Elvis Presley calendar
2 stockings full of every kind of chocolate imagineable
Boston Terrier socks
Rainbow socks
Fabrige egg pendant
20.00 target gift card
10.00 target gift card
Vanilla candle set
Banana coconut shampoo/conditioner, lotion, spray, and body wash
Reindeer blend whole bean Caribou Coffee
Nine West purple wallet (that matches my nine west purple purse!)


John's Loot (afterall,this is the OSBOURNE blog, not just April's)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 2
2 star wars tee-shirts
2 star wars action figures (he's a collector)
1 star wars battle scene
Knife set
Nivea body wash/shave/shampoo
2 sets of socks
Grey sweatshirt/pullover
Maroon soft sweater
Turtles made with Cashews
Turtles made with Pecans
Chiltons 1996 Ford F150 manual
Lindor Truffles
Black fleece lounge pants
Ear buds for iPod

not a bad haul huh? :)

Getting Married in Las Vegas

I got married in Las Vegas in April of 1997.

When John and I were 1st planning on getting married, we went to the church I went to from the time I was 4 to talk to my pastor, and to begin making plans. I went and was fitted for a custom wedding dress, chose invitations, all that stuff you do to plan a wedding. As I was doing this, 2 things occurred to me. #1. Its expensive (obviously) and #2. it seems like a lot of the things you do is more about everyone else than about the event itself, which is about you and the person you’re marrying.
So I took my Mom and Dad’s advise and began looking into getting married in Las Vegas. It seemed a lot more adventurous, and more about John and I than everyone else, which is sort of how I feel its suppose to be.
John and I got married at “Las Vegas Wedding Gardens”, and we stayed at The Riviera Hotel & Casino. I still think of the time we had there fondly, and I hope that the Riviera is there for a while because it would mean a lot to me to be able to stay there again and re-experience memories with John, and create new ones.

He's A Rebel

See the way he walks down the street


Watch the way he shuffles his feet

My, he holds his head up high

When he goes walking by

He's my guy
When he holds my hand, I'm so proud

'Cause he's not just one of the crowd

My baby's always the one

To try the things they've never done

And just because of that, they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good

He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should

But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does,

That's no reason why I can't give him all my love

He's always good to me,

Always treats me tenderly

'Cause he's not a rebel, oh no no no

He's not a rebel, oh no no no, to me


 If they don't like him that way,

They won't like me after today

And I'll be standing right by his side when they say


He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good

He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should

But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does,

That's no reason why we can't share a love

He's always good to me

Good to him, I try to be

'Cause he's not a rebel, oh no no no

He's not a rebel, oh no no no, to me

where the heck have I been?!

1st let me apologize, I know I have millions of readers out there wondering where the hell I am, I am constantly being barraged with complaints I don't blog enough. ;)

In late October I was diagnosed with severe Endometriosis - numerous fibrioids, one the size of a baseball. So surgery of a hysterectomy was scheduled on November 15th. Okay, so that has been complete, and I am feeling fine, and am back to work - so all is well with the world again. No worries. 

Mom and Dad are going to more "officially" retire and begin to live their dream, to travel the USA and have Minnesota as their "home base". Right after Christmas, (literally, December 26th) they begin their journey, starting at Arizona, and then moving on to Nevada. Not sure where they will end up next, but they are apprehensively excited. I am happy they are able to do this. 

Crohn's wise all is well. Very strong remission. (knock on wood)

I am no longer on speaking terms with my younger sister and her family, Rachel. I miss the person she was, and wish her the best, which I do mean truely.

Unfortunatley, because of some of the choices she has made and the actions she has responded with, not only do I forsee her life being more difficult than it needs to be, but as a direct result so will Kathryn's, and thus Tylers. Hind sight is 20/20 though and often we don't see our mistakes until its way too late to remedy them. I hope I am wrong, but I don't  think I am. I am not the only one who sees this and thinks this way. Several family members agree. Maybe someday she will be someone I am able to associate with again.

During the past stressful year, one thing as become clear, I have married the best man on earth. He has stood by me, supported me, loved me and done everything in his power to insure my happiness, health, and love. I don't even want to imagine my life without him, for I would surely be lost. Love you John.

peace, out!

April the bad blogger

I know you've all been waiting breathlessly for me to update my blog ....(pause for wild applause), so here I am. Updating.

John as of now is still unemployed, driving me crazy. AT least he empties the dishwasher now though. THAT is a major improvement. :)

We also have added a new animal to our family.

White kitten named Kashmir.

Sounds so cute, so sweet, so cuddly, right.

Wrong.

She is the kitten from HELL.

She was born on April 1st. Named her Kashmir from the Led Zepplin song. (love that song)

man - she LOVES  to bite. We had to go out and purchase squirt guns (a 6 pack), and place them stragecially throughout the house. In an effort to get her to stop biting fingers, toes, anything her mouth can get on, biting Katie, biting Rommy, biting the iguana's tail, getting into the plants, climbing the screen door, etc. There is about an hour or 2 a day where she IS cute, fluffy, purry, cuddly kitty, the the other 90% of the time, she is a little shit. Hoping she calms down...soon.

In other news (I love saying that), John has a job interview on Wednesday. I am now soliciting prayers from everyone I know. (wink, nudge). IF he gets a new job, we can refinance the house, and at some point get a new car. My 2001 Ford Explorer has 204,000 miles on it. Dad retired from Ford, so I get a nice discount. We're thinking of a Fiesta or a Focus. I'd love a Fusion, but they're a little pricey.

So thats whats new and shaking in my world. I am on "vacation" this week. Yes. I have a to-do list.

Here it is:

Shampoo Carpet (done today)
Scrub Kitchen Floor (did yesterday)
Scrub Entry Floor
Scrub Bathroom Floor (done)
Scrub walls in hallway, bathroom, bedroom (1/2 done)
Clean  the windows 
Organize under bathroom cabinet (done)
Organize hall closet (done)
Change bedding (done)
Clean and change hummingbird feeder (done)
Dust (done)
Clean the fish tanks
Clean the computer desk (Done)

I also mowed the front lawn, weeded the front garden, pulled weeds in the back yard, cleaned & filled the bird bath, filled the bird feeder, cleaned the deck, took the dogs for their 7 mile walk (twice now). 

I did sit still at some point and watched the Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Toy Story. (also went to see Toy Story 3 in the theater, yes, I cried).

Talk to you all soon!
XXOO

April

'Economic Stimulus'

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive another 'Economic Stimulus' payment.



This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format:



Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment ?

A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.



Q. Where will the government get this money ?

A. From taxpayers.



Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?

A. Only a smidgen of it.



Q. What is the purpose of this payment ?

A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.



Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?

A. Shut up and watch your mouth.



Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:





* If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka .



* If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.



* If you purchase a computer, it will go to India, Taiwan, or China .





* If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala ..



* If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea .



* If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan .



* If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.



Instead, keep the money in America by:



1) Spending it at yard sales, or



2) Going to ball games, or



3) Spending it on prostitutes, or



4) Beer or



5) Tattoos.



(These are the only American businesses still operating in the U.S. )



Conclusion:



Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day !



No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.

Important Rules

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!




Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem.

The world will expect you to accomplish something

BEFORE you feel good about yourself.



Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school.

You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.



Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.



Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.

Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping:

they called it opportunity.



Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault,

so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.



Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they



are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes

and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before

you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try

delousing the closet in your own room.



Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life



HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll

give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This

doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.



Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and



very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF.

Do that on your own time.



Rule 10: Television is NOT real life..

In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs..



Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

UNIVERSAL LAWS

\
1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After our hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
3. Law of Probability -The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
5. Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire..
6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
8. Law of Close Encounters -The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach. 11.. Law of the Theater and Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies, and stay to the bitter end of the performance..The aisle people also are very surly folk.
12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
15... Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.
18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.

Did You Know That These Famous People Have/Had Crohns Disease?

Shannen Doherty, actress, has Crohn’s Disease. She has been battling the ailment for years. She will be on Dancing with the Stars this month.



Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th president of the United States suffered from Crohn’s disease and underwent an emergency resection in 1956 while in office.



David Garrard, the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in March of 2004.



Mike McCready, lead guitarist of Pearl Jam was diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of 21.



Rolando McClain, a college football player & NFL draft prospect recently revealed he has Crohn’s. Read about him here http://bit.ly/9UloRU



Anastacia, the American born singer and song writer, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 13. Anastacia has sold over 25 million albums worldwide.



Mary Ann Mobley, crowned Miss America in 1959, was diagnosed in her early 20’s with Crohn’s disease. She starred in sever films with Elvis Presley. She is also the co-chairwoman of the Celebrity Club of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.



These are just a few. If you do a web search you will find many more.



Love, Laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is

Words of Wisdom

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.




2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.



3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.



5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.



7. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.



8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.



9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.



10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.



11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.



12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.



13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.



14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.



15. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.



16. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.



17. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.



18. A closed mouth gathers no foot.



19. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.



20. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.



21. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.



22. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.



23. Never miss a good chance to shut up.



24. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

BITCHOLOGY

BITCHOLOGY




When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.



When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.



When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.



Being a bitch means I won’t compromise what’s in my heart



It means I live my life MY way.



It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.



When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.



The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act

a little selfish.



It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I 'should' be....



I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.



I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!



So try to stomp on me, just try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me.



You won't succeed.



And if that makes me a bitch , so be it.



I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.



B - Babe

I - In

T - Total

C - Control of

H – Herself



B = Beautiful

I = Intelligent

T = Talented

C = Charming

H = Hell of a Woman



B = Beautiful

I = Individual

T = That

C = Can

H = Handle 'anything'

Pick Me Up On Your Way Down

When my sister Rachel and I were little, her favorite song was this old country song by Charlie Walker, “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down” – every time I hear the song now, (its on my iPod), I think of her, and have it as my ring tone for when she calls me on my cell phone. The lyrics really tell a story, and in some ways matches the life Rachel has led.






You were mine for just a while,

now you're puttin' on the style

And you've never once looked back,

to your home across the track

You're the gossip of the town,

but my heart can still be found

Where you tossed it on the ground

pick me up on your way down



Pick me up on your way down,

when you're blue and all alone

When their glamour starts to bore you,

come on back where you belong



You may be their pride and joy

But they’ll find another toy

Then they’ll take away your crown

Pick me up on your way down



They have changed your attitude,

made you haughty and so rude

Your new friends can take the blame,

underneath you're still the same



When you've learned these things are true,

I'll be waiting here for you

When you tumble to the ground,

pick me up on your way down

The Animal Rescue Site

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box ‘fund food for animals for free.’ This doesn’t cost you a thing.



Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here’s the web site!



http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Bad Blogger!

Greetings & Salutations!

I've realized as of late I've been a bad blog owner, as I've not been posting much.

I've been distracted.

Day before Christmas Eve, my husband John was layed off work. Because unemployment still hasn't finished "investigating" his file - he was on a long term contract with a temporary company, evidently that throws up red flags with Minnesota Unemployment people - thus no funds received from them. At one point, I had 10 bucks in my checking account, and was forced to activate a credit card I had promised I was only keeping for emergencies. However, its expected to be done being investigated on January 15th. Which is also the day I get paid (my hours have been cut to 32 hours by the way).

I've begun to apply for a 2nd job, while looking for jobs for John on the internet, and cold emailing out his resume. (why isn't he doing it? he isn't as technologically advanced as I am, heh)

Insert acute depression, anxiety and panic.

All of the above is the reasons I've not blogged. (put have done a lot of praying...)

as soon as things start looking up, I'll blog more.

.....