Packing ACK!! &n bsp; I miss the days when I packed what I could in my saddle bags and did without due to a lack of space. I always managed and it took no time to prep.
Add the kids to the mix, hang it up!! They are 11 and 12 so they pack themselves. But if I don't double check, my son ends up in the same shorts and t-shirt with no socks, 12 changes of boxers and his soccer shoes to get thru 3 days lol And you might as well forget the toothbrush and deoderant. This trip is for soccer, so I have to make sure we have that all covered. Cleats, shinguards, ball, both uniforms and all the practice gear. Water jug, power bars, fruit, gatorade yadah yadah! I have spent the morning charging batteries for the cameras and cd players and now its time to go clean out the car Joy Joy!!
In the end I know it will be a great weekend of fun and friends and kick Azzz Sharks Soccer!!
Let me premise this comic with a lil something about myself.
I am as politically illiterate as they come. I understand it's importance, but it confuses me when I try to understand it. And I have tired. When my car breaks, I quickly realize that it is above my abilities and call in an expert. I feel the same about politics.
It's road trip time... We're off to a Soccer Tournament near Tampa. Gonna be ringin' in the new year with our soccer family. Should be a nice change, since I usually sit home or have a few friends over. Probably due to all those years I worked on New Years Eve and was witness to what people do to themselves and others in "celebration" Scary stuff indeed. So this year a few dozen of us will set up party camp by the pool, toss around this years soccer stories and celebrate together. The best part being that we can ride up an elevator and hit the sack.
Not that I need to be within walkin distance due to drinkin. Not me Nope Nope. To date, and thats 30+ years folks I have yet to be drunk. Thats right, I may possibly be one of a very select group who has never been intoxicated!!!
Don't get me wrong, I will have a drink. A beer or maybe a rum runner *yum yum* But that is it. People ask me all the time why I dont drink. It is simple really. When ya have as much fun as I do sober, ya dont need to drink :D Most people I have known who drink eventually puke. *UGH* and me don't puke!! And maybe it's a teensy weensy bit of a control issue. As in I wanna be in control of myself and able to be in control of my friends should they not have the ability themselves.
Am I missin out?? I will prolly never know.
Am I gonna break my 30+ year sober streak? stay tuned to the post New Years Blogs. hehe
Wishing everyone a Happy "SAFE" and prosperous New Year.
I am on my 2 week "Winter break" One could hope to at least sleep past sunrise while on vacation. But nooooooooooooo!! I guess I am programmed because of the crazy azz hours I keep normally.
When you have to get up before the birds, ya gotta learn to be a morning person. But I am a night person as well. Prolly all those years as a Medic, having to jump up bright eyed and clear minded to deal with some tradgedy at all hours. GaWd I miss that!!. Feeling useful and important to those whose paths I crossed. Getting the feeling of satisfaction from helping others. Back in the day when I truly loved my job and couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life.
Then the kids came along. And my work hours did not promote "happy mommy'n" So I opted to sacrafice the job I loved for something that was a tad less dangerous and didn't keep me out of the house for 24 hours straight.
I have had so many jobs since then. Doing whatever I needed to do to fit the "family" needs. I delivered newspapers for a spell even, so that I was home with the kids during the day while daddy was working. I was a zombie, I felt no satifaction in doing the job really. I guess ole Mr. Jones was appreciative that his paper actually arrived before he awoke, but it left me feeling useless in comparison to my career.
I was an evening store manager at our neighborhood gas/convenient store. I worked in a real estate office doing the computer work they couldn't figure out. I worked in a dental office doing eveything from x-rays to impressions until they learned I could do all the computer stuff they didn't know how to do hehe I worked at Wal-mart *one of my favorite jobs* and I landed as a counsilor in a childrens behavior center Loved that job but hated the politics. Lasted 4 years before I told em to F' off.
I never complained. I mean it was all about supplimenting our income to make ends meet a lil nicer along the way. And I don't regret it because I have two beautiful, smart kids to show for the career sacrafice.
Now I have the ultimate convenient job. I drive a school bus. Schedule rox! I get nice vacations with my kids. Decent benefits. Daily entertainment for sure. Between the 250 kids I transport everyday and the wild assortment of people who actually are crazy enuff to do this job... Oh yeah! Daily entertainment. *squared*
But thats a different Blog ;)
I still got the lights...but I will always miss the siren! *sigh*
Aren't the holidays are about what "WE" choose to make of them?? It doesn't have to be about buying gifts or having a huge family gathering. Unless we choose to make it so. Money is never easy to come by and getting the family all in one place is near impossible, not to mention dangerous. hehe
Are the materialistic aspects all that impressive?? The most valuable gift t o recieve is a hug or a thoughtful word from someone important to us. It is the intention behind the gift/action that makes it special. That someone took the time and energy to share themself. To dial the phone, to stop by, to say "How are you?" and truly mean it.
Do we express how we feel often enough?? Life is so short and chaotic and full of responsibilties. Shouldn't one of those responsibilities be to tell people how important they are to us? Not just at Holiday times either. But everyday. It takes no money, no fancy card or gift. Just a few words to warm someones heart.
It is only an obligation if we choose to see it that way. If we feel it is an obligation, then maybe it is time to re-evaluate our motives.
This is always entertaining at 3 am. Fairly accurate I guess. But what can truly be discovered about one's character in half a dozen generic questions or less?? Isn't it a little too toasty to be from the sun???
You Are From the Sun
Of all your friends, you're the shining star. You're dramatic - loving attention and the spotlight. You're a totally entertainer and the life of the party. Watch out! The Sun can be stubborn, demanding, and flirty. Overall, you're a great leader and great friend. The very best!
A fellow blogger reminded me of this important quote.
How many people race thru life focused on the destination and miss the journey all together?? I suppose this is the time of year when it catches up with us the most. Everyday life responsibilities like work, children and keeping some kind of order in the household. Factor in holiday festivities, gift preparations and the height of soccer season and one can easily see why the world is so stressed out.
One only has to step into any mall in America this week of Christmas to witness such chaos. Frantic eyed parents quickly hustling thru the stores with wide eyed children in tow. As the parent uses their free hand to rub at the dull ache in their temple, the child is in awe of the brightly adorned trees littering the center corridors.Content to sing along with the familiar Christmas music piped thru hidden speakers only to be quicklyshushed by the harried parent to fain embarrassment.
Next time you’re rubbing your temple in the chaos of life, stop and take a deep breathe. Take a moment to look to the children. Follow a child's path thru the forest, park or even the mall nearest you to become reminded of how to stop and smell the roses.
Don't wait until you have reached your destination to remember that the journey is what makes it all worth it.
The kids are out of school which means I am out of work Yipeee
The storage closet is overflowing with presents that need to be wrapped in less then 3 days to avoid the "Santa was up til 3 am on x-mas eve cause he is a slacker" syndrome. The good news is that the shopping is done. Well except for the kids buying for their dad.
Wrapping always sounds like fun, until I uncover that box of paper and bows and start hunting for the tape. Ugh.
The tree is decked... and DEAD! 20+ years of buying a real tree and I have never had one die! Sheesh and I bought it 9 days ago. Home Depot has a no return policy on fresh cut trees. I imagine that happened after a few very ticked-off families undecked their trees and returned them. My daughter says "Lets take it back mom" I am like sure thing Peanut, lets unstring lights and bulbs off the dead tree and drag it down 3 flights of stairs, strap it to the top of the Buick and take it back. It oughta be bare before we hit the street. It would be the first year mom wouldn't murder Santa for bringing her a new vaccuum, cause mine won't last thru the mess we make in the process.
I am excited for the kids this year. They are at such a fun age. And they both still like hanging out with me. I am savoring that as I know it won't last forever.
