Wednesday, July 31

Home!

YES!!! I will be leaving for home today. I have enjoyed this conference and the college is lovely, but I can't wait to get home!

I miss Leroy and the kids and the dog and the hassle, hussle, and noise. I have enjoyed my time with myself. I have spent time with other people, learned some, went to "out of town" AA meetings, spent time by myself, did some reading, played Monopoly on my Palmtop and more. But when it comes down to it......

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Tuesday, July 30

How Strange

Hi folks! I'm in Evanston, Ill. At NorthWestern University at a Welfare to Work conference. They only have NetScape here and I went to look at my Home page and it looked awful. When I tried to right click and view the source, it was saying I had frames.

Do me a favor, if you will. Go to my Home page....click on the home icon over there on the right. And email me and let me know how it looks to you, okay?

I have some great pictures from here and I will put them on the "Constantly Updated Pictures" area as soon as I get back to Tampa. I have actually seen a fox and a bunny here on this campus!!!

Well, back to the workshops....................................

Saturday, July 27

Chocolate Shortcake
Jake worked 12 hours yesterday. I'm going out of town to Chicago tomorrow. I'm so fat now, I can't get into my clothes and have had to buy new ones.

Friday, July 26

Whisperwood

We went to a wonderful play at the Performing Arts Theater last night. Whisperwood: A Quiet Place to Go. It was wonderful!

Thursday, July 25

Worry

What's really important in my life? Number one, of course, is my family. Does it make a difference what my responsiblility is at work? Folks say that as long as you're getting paid, then that is all that counts. I just tend to feel differently. I like to do a good job, and be appreciated. Is being a appreciated someone telling you, "I appreciate your work"? NO, it's not. People can say anything. Is it the money? Not really. It's being treated with respect and dignity. Having good communication at all levels. That means communicating "with" you, not "about" you. Am I happy with my job? I am happy with my work. I am NOT happy with the way things are going with management right now. I was sick while I was on my treatment (interferon and ribavirin), VERY sick. I still did my job, but not to the quality I, personally, would have liked. Yet we completed tasks in the last quarter of last year that were almost impossible.

The program I coordinate has been running effectively for 5 years under my guidance. I do not have a college degree. I was attending college and when I found out I had Hep C, I decided that school was NOT my first priority. Anyway..........now they have decided to hired a manager for my department. I could deal with that. I thought. But that manager would get MY office and I would be moved to a cubicle. Mmmmmmmmm............something is wrong with that picture.

I try to think of it as God keeping me humble, but this junk just flat bothers me. Seven years. I have learned TONS. I could probably be considered an expert on welfare reform.

My money will remain the same, but is that what it is all about?
Work

Sometimes I wonder.............is it all worth it?

Tuesday, July 23

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE


1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk..

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson..

3. Follow the three R's:

Respect for self,

Respect for others, and

Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think
back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current
situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Monday, July 22

Well, now let's see
I was reading this web log and you know what I noticed......

Every other post starts with "I'm pooped". Guess I stay pooped, huh?
Groups

Well, I have joined groups for Incredimail and learned how to create "tags" and "stats", edit graphics and photos, and had a great time doing it! I have joined another group now called "Mommy Moms". Not sure what goes on there, but I guess you can guess!

I am back to normal work days now, but will going to Chicago on Sunday for a conference. I can't wait to go, but when I get there I will be ready to come home.

I made chicken pot pie for dinner, the frozen kind, it was great. I'm going to bed early tonight. Watch crime shows on TV. Wanna see some of my graphics? Hold on............

Saturday, July 20

Back to normal

I have really been busy lately. I taught the Pulling for Progress class their Steppin' Stones Job Readiness Training class this last week. There were eleven men. I didn't have the company camera with me this trip, but I will have some pictures when their Career Specialist sends them to me.

Tuesday, I took an AA meeting into the county jail; Wednesday, I did a presentation at a church for the "House of Hope" (which is going to be a Christian halfway house for ladies); Thursday, I took the kids to see Eight Legged Freaks at the Funlan Drive Inn. That was one SICK movie. I'll give it a two-thumbs DOWN.

I want to get to the beach today, but first I have to go get groceries. Our finances are NOT the greatest right now, but God DOES provide your needs!

Friday, July 19

Jake has a JOB!!

I have made him wait a long time. I really didn't want him to work at McDonalds. I don't like the atmosphere there. He will be working at Busch Gardens!! I know he will do a good job there! It is such a family oriented place too! Good job, Jake!

Monday, July 15

Dear Lord,

Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.

God bless my mom and dad,
And other family.
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do.
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's not normal
To bless a mother board,
But listen just a second
While I explain to you my Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds & ends
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my FRIENDS.

I know so much about them
The kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendship grew.

Please, take an extra minute
From your duties up above
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love!

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each email inbox
And the person who hits 'Send'.

When you update your heavenly list
On your own CD-Rom
Remember each who've said this prayer
Sent up to God.com.



Amen!!!
Pooped

I am teaching my Pulling For Progress class this week, and I am so tired! As you may know, I teach the Steppin' Stones Job Readiness Training Class once a month for noncustodial parent that are having problems paying their child support. These are young men, who want to begin on a career path. This seems like a special class. Of course I say that about all of them!

Got a call from the Doc today. Lee Lee has to go for an MRI, they say she has a bony overgrowth on her spine at L3 and L4. That's a trip!

I am NOT going to spend all night tonight playing around making graphics! Hopefully.

Sunday, July 14

Did I tell you?

My latest addiction is Incredimail Designs. I'm part of this group, and everyone creates and snags graphics and these really neat Incredimail letters. There is also a link to the regular Incredimail site down on the bottom left here.

Anyway, I have gotten Print Shop Pro and am learning to do graphics and backgrounds. I also have the shareware 20/20. This stuff IS addicting and a LOT of fun!

We had a good service in Church today. It was out of ACTS 12. I made veal and beef with yellow rice about 3 o'clock. Now everyone is hungry again.

I will start changing my webpages you can get to from my HOME page, when I get tired of making the graphics and want to use them

Saturday, July 13

This is from Rush, What do you think?

I think the vast differences in compensation between the victims of the
September 11th casualty, and those who die serving the country in uniform,
are profound.

No one is really talking about it either because you just don't criticize
anything having to do with September 11th. Well, I just can't let the
numbers pass by because it says something
really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country.

If you lost a family member in the September 11th attack, you're going to
get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000,
all the way up to $4.7 million.

If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in
action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of
which is taxable. Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the
surviving spouse, you get $833 a month unti! l you remarry. And there's a
payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18,
those payments come to a screeching halt. Keep in mind that some of the
people that are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are
complaining that it's not enough.

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the
Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same
deal that the September 11th families are getting. In addition to that, some
of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for
compensation as well.

You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of
over fifty years of entitlement politic in this country. It's just really
sad.

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."
-Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.

Every! time a pay raise comes up for the military they Usually receive next
to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle
East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low
rent housing.

However our own U.S. Congress just voted themselves a raise, and many of
you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one-time to receive a
pension that is more than $15,000 per month and most are now equal to be
millionaires plus.

They also do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't
have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20
years and get out as an E-7 you may receive a pension of $1,000 per month,
and the very people who placed you in harms way receive a pension of
$15,000 per month. I would like to see our elected officials pick up a
weapon
and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for
our
sons and daughters who are now fighting.

"When do we finall! y do something about this ??"

If this doesn't seem fair to you, it is time to forward this
to as many people as you can.

What's a Military Family Worth?
by Rush Limbaugh, March 11, 2002

Wednesday, July 10

Wow

So much has happened and I haven't written a word. TC and Mary came down and stayed a few days. TC is a remarkable man. He was shot in the head when he was younger and is a little slow, I guess, but he is just a wonderful person. He tends to be compulsive. He is a compulsive cleaner! Right up my alley!!! His wife, Mary, wasn't too comfortable while she was here. I'm not sure why, but I can kind of understand. I like being at my own home too.

We had a wonderful day the 7th. We all went to Lettuce Lake Park. My Dad, his wife Jane, TC, Mary, all the kids, Leroy and I, plus my friend Darlene from Hawaii was in town. I cooked out--Italian Sausage, hot dogs, hamburers, chicken, etc. We had a spot right on the Hillsborough River and it was really nice!! I have pictures that I will put up on the current picture site soon.

I am learning Paint Shop Pro, and some other graphics softwares. I am just learning how to do moving images. I am really enjoying it. There is a link to Incredimail on the left hand side, down towards the bottom. If you download it, you won't be disappointed. You get to send animated graphics and use wonderful stationary when writing email. I am taking it a bit farther and learning how to do the stationary and the graphics. I love it!!

Leroy has been working on the riding lawn mower for a couple of days. He loves that kind of stuff. It's kind of neat. We both have things we enjoy doing, and we enjoy doing things together as well!! I've talked to a lot of people lately that are not happy in their relationships. I just thank GOD on a regular basis that He has given me my soul mate!

Sunday, July 7

I have had one hectic week!

Managed to get all the kids to the Doc and all of us to the dentist! Had a wonderful holiday, and now, tomorrow, it's time to get back to work. I also learned how to work with graphics this week. I will start adding links to my graphics, and Incredimail designs, soon!

Wednesday, July 3

Okay, I'm pooped

As I said, Leroy's Brother and his wife are coming in today so we have been cleaning house! Looks pretty good so far. I've got some collard greens on the stove. I'm going to do some yellow rice and chicken breast. I really should go to the store and get some black beans I guess and Jiffy mix. I like Jiffy cornbread. I always add some maple syrup to it. It's good!

Tuesday, July 2

Current Photos

On the right you will see a new link to my MSN group of current photos. Since I take so many pictures I will be updating this, adding and deleting, as I go. If you join the group (and it's open to anybody), I will be able to email you when I add new pictures.
Lest We Forget

We were invited last night to a wonderful musical presentation at Idlewild Baptist Church called "Lest We Forget". It was really awesome!! There were a lot of politicians there, but mainly it was nice to see my buddy Bob Buckhorn.....hopefully he will be the next Tampa Bay Mayor. Nice guy. Straight up.

I have taken this week off, to take care of business. Yesterday I took Jake, Destiny and Lee Lee to the Doc for physicals. Lee Lee had special blood tests because she has been having back pain. I also took her in the afternoon to get X rays. Today I have a business meeting at AA. I am the Secretary of the group and after noon Leroy and I have dental appointments. Tomorrow, all the kids except Jake have dental appointments. Also, TC and Mary (Leroy's Brother and sister in law) are coming up from Ft. Lauderdale to spend some time. We are really looking forward to that. The 4th, I am taking the kids to my Dad's house for a while and we are coming back here to do our own 4th celebration. The 5th is Jake's birthday!!!! He also has an appt. with the podiatrist and I have two more physicals to do, this time for George and Jamila.

Since the 8th is Leroy and my anniversary, we are going to have another party the 7th at Lettuce Lake park for Jake's birthday and our anniversary!

WOW!! That's a lot.