How in the world did she know.....

...that I was having such a horrible day?

The past 36 hours or so have been kinda on the crappy side.  I came home from work in a really awful mood, for many reasons, the least of which was the hour I had just been stuck in traffic.

I walked into my room, to change out of my work clothes, only to find a package on my bed.  Hmmm...what's this?

Look what I found in the box:

Oh my holy hell!!!  It's SO stinkin' cute!!!!!  My sweet Bloggy Buddy, Ricochet, sent this adorable bag to me, completely out of the blue.  It literally brought tears to my eyes.  It was exactly the bit of joy I needed today.  And, it seriously warmed my heart to know that just because I've been away from the Blogosphere FOREVER, I haven't been forgotten.

Thank you, Ricochet!!  Your kindness is such a blessing!

What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man...

Magnum tried to go to work today, despite me telling him last night that he should consider staying home, thanks to the snow we had coming.  He left about a half hour earlier than usual today, and about 2 1/2 hours later, he walked back in the door.  He said it just wasn't happening today.  (For my local friends, after TWO HOURS, he only made it to 294 and Ogden!!)  The one downside to his "new" job (yes, it's still "new" until he hits his one-year anniversary. :D ) is the commute.  He drives about an hour to an hour and a half each way.

Now, I know I've mentioned a couple times lately that Magnum has been under the weather.  He STILL isn't feeling well.  I'm about 95% certain (after much internet research, and consulting a few friends in the medical field) that he has mono.  It's going on 2 1/2 months since he first got sick, and it's getting ridiculous now.  Naturally, he won't go see a doctor (partly because we currently have no insurance) so we won't really ever know if it's mono or not.  I guess that's fine, since mono is viral, and there's nothing they can do for it anyway.  The only real treatment is REST, which he refuses.  When he came home today, I was hoping he'd get back into bed, even though I knew he'd be working all day.  (One NICE thing about this job is that he can work anywhere he can get online.  The downside to THAT is - he works about 20 hours a day!)  Instead of trying to get some rest, he bundled up, and started the new snowblower!  Argh!  (I thought I had mentioned it when we bought it, but I see I didn't.  With this CRAZY winter we've been having this year, we finally broke down and bought a snowblower.  I'd say we've been getting our money's worth so far!)

He did our driveway, Jean's driveway (my 89 year-old neighbor), and the sidewalk from in front of her house, across our house, and in front of the other neighbor's house.  Then, we went to his parents' house.


Um...yeah...I took these pictures of him from inside the warm truck.  He wouldn't let me help him, and made me get in the truck to wait for him. 

He went across from one neighbor's house to other here, too.

Then, we went to MY parents' house.  They're still in Florida, by the way.  They absolutely picked the perfect time to get out of Dodge!

For the third time, he did the sidewalk across three houses.  Then, he went across the street and did THAT neighbor's driveway as a favor to me.  (That neighbor sometimes beats me to it, and does my parents' driveway with his snowblower.)

Just when he thought he was finished, and could go home and rest, I very selfishly asked if we could stop at Bestest Friend's house.  (You may remember, she only lives a couple blocks from my parents' house)  I was going to do it myself, while he sat in the warm truck and rested.  And, truthfully, I was hoping to finally get a chance to play with our new toy.  Well, naturally, once we got there, he wouldn't let me do anything.  Well, ok, I was able to shovel her walkway to her front door, and her front stoop before he could stop me.  Then, I went back to the truck. =)  Again, he did the sidewalk, neighbor to neighbor.

After finishing SIX driveways, and many yards of sidewalk, we stopped for gas and hot chocolate on the way home.  What do you think happened as we were at the gas station?  Yep, it started snowing again!!  Mother Nature can be such a bitch. :-/

Thank you, honey, for all you do.  This goes out to you!

It seems Christmas came a little early this year =)

I brought a little box of goodies to work today to share with the sweet people I've been working with the past couple weeks.  It was all such a big hit, I just may bring another box tomorrow.

For a little over a year now, I've been a member of the National Consumer Panel.  (I'll try to come back and do a post about it later, and explain what it actually is.)  Several weeks ago, I received an email telling me I won a prize of my choice from a list of about 10 items.  I chose a Kindle Fire HD.  That was quite a while ago, and I never heard anything else about it.  I actually had to call their customer service number a few days ago for something else, and while I had someone on the phone anyway, I asked about it.  I could no longer find the original email letting me know I won, and I wanted to know how much longer until it would arrive.  The woman who was helping me said she saw no record of any such prize being awarded.  Needless to say, I was really bummed.

I've been toying with idea of getting an iPad for about 6 months now.  I actually was saving the reward points from my credit card to get one.  When I got that email about the Kindle, I was really excited because I figured now I wouldn't need to get the iPad.  When the woman from NCP said she had no record of it, I was really unhappy.

Imagine my surprise when I got home from work tonight and found a couple packages on the table.  One was my coffee order from Green Mountain Coffee (YAY!) and the other was....

THE KINDLE FIRE HD!!!

Not only was the Kindle in the box, there was also a leather case!  SWEET!!!

So now, I should get off this computer, and open my new toy!!  Although, I've gotta tell ya, the Mommy in me is thinking maybe I shouldn't open it at all, and maybe give it to Stud for Christmas.  His father and I bought him a computer on Cyber Monday (it was a great deal!), but I could probably return it, and give him this instead.  (That money could definitely be put toward a bill or two)  Then again, there's a part of me that thinks, "Hey, YOU did all the work to win this, and YOU deserve it!"  I'm a little torn.  Maybe I'll hold off opening it until I sleep on it.

On that note....Good night!

Thank you...

...to my hardworking man.  Thanks to Magnum's incredible work ethic, and constant drive to be successful at his job, I was able to spend an hour working on this today.  (yeah, I can't believe I'm letting you see my back fat and big rear end, either!)

I actually spent two hours "sunning" today, an hour on each side.  I spent most of that time thinking about how very grateful I am that I was doing that instead of still working at a job that was slowly killing me.  And, thanks to Magnum's generosity, kindness, understanding and love, I was able to relax in my chaise lounge, instead of working at a job that doesn't make me happy.  He told me last year that he didn't even expect me to LOOK for a job for at least a year since I "have post-traumatic stress disorder from all those years at The Hell-Hole!"  He wasn't trying to be funny, he was being completely serious.

And, he's been completely on board ever since.  It's not just something he said in passing, he really meant it.  He has not once, in the year I've been unemployed, said a single word about me looking for a job.  Or, not looking, as the case may be.

I know I haven't been here much lately, and there are LOTS of things that have been going on around here at Casa de ChiTown that I haven't filled you all in on yet.  Clearly, one of those things is that Magnum found a job!  Woo hoo!!  He's been there for two months now, and he LOVES it!  He's been working like a madman, and one of the reasons is so that I don't HAVE to go back to work.  Well, unless I want to, of course, or I'm ready to, whichever the case may be.

God, I love that man!!!  I'm so very lucky, and blessed, that God has chosen this path for us, and our "story."  Yeah, I like to tease him, and facetiously tell him that he owes me 18 years of being at home, for the years I should have been home with our son, but most of the time, he agrees with me.  How great is that?

I mentioned a few posts ago (wow!  was my birthday really almost 6 weeks ago already?!) that things were starting to take an upswing around here, and thankfully, that continues.  I've continued to formulate many, many posts in my head, and I take pictures on a daily basis, with the intent of posting about them.  I think I'm just about ready to jump back into the Blogosphere.

Some of you will be annoyed to know that naturally that means LOTS of posts and pictures of my Monkey!!  Sorry, I can't help it.  I just the love the HELL outta that kid!!  I'm going to leave you with a quick candid shot I snapped yesterday at the Father's Day picnic where we all celebrated with my Daddy.

Wow, look how's she's grown since LAST Father's Day!  (STLL no hair though!! Oy!)

More prayers and a little help needed...

....for my sweet friend, C.  I know lots of you who stop by here also stop by her place, since that's how I found lots of YOU.  If you read C's blog regularly, you know all about the Shit Sandwich the universe has served her recently.  If you don't, click over and look around.

At the urging of her friends, C has started a page on gofundme.com, with the hope that her friends, real life and bloggy, will do what they can to help her during this incredibly stressful time in her life.  Click on the link, check out her story, then do what you can.  Even if you can't give monetarily right now (these are such difficult times for so many people) please share her story and page with as many people as you can.  The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me, so I know there are lots of people out there who would be happy to bless her with some help.

Believe me, this was NOT easy for C to do, and I, for one, am very proud of her.  In your darkest moments, it's easy to forget just how many people there are who love and care about you, and genuinely want to help you.  Even if you can't help out with funds right now, please stop over at her blog, and leave her some words of encouragement.  Send her a joke or a funny picture (the dirtier, the better!) and give her something to smile about today.   There are no kind gestures that are too small.

Crowdfunding

Any pray-ers out there?

I'll take any I can get.  CSJ has a job interview in about an hour for a new job.  If he gets it, it's likely that the salary will literally be DOUBLE what he's making now.  I just may be able to make this unemployed thing a permanent gig.  I've got my fingers AND toes crossed.  PLEASE send some positive vibes, good thoughts, prayers, whatever you can.

Now, it's not that I'm opposed to working in general, so stop judging!  It's just that it would be nice to have that monkey off my back, and to have the breathing room to actually find a job that doesn't just pay the bills, but actually makes me happy.  I don't think I'm asking for too much, do you?  (and if you do, keep it to yourself!)

My day just keeps getting better and better...

...because I have the BEST freakin' friends!!! My Bloggy Buddies are on a roll today. First, Ricochet sends me that adorable video (see below). Then, I went to get my mail, and found a wonderful surprise!

No, not this junk mail.
This package from Japan!!My dear, sweet friend, dkuroiwa, sent me some pressies! She feels almost the same about flamingos that I do about penguins. (I say 'almost' because nobody is as big a freak as I am!)There was a sweet note in the package. I had to laugh at what she said about the stationery. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but the stationery is actually turned on its side because the lines are designed for Japanese characters.
How freakin' cute are these!? You can write a little note on the penguin's belly, then you fold up his arms into a hug, and stick it to a gift or anything else you want.
These are cool. They are index stickers, designed to be stuck to the side of pages, like tabs. So cool!
Now, these next three things are really awesome. They are called tenugui. D said they were originally used as bandages and/or just to put around your neck or head on hot days. Now they are also used to "advertise" at festivals, etc.

This one she thought Stud would find interesting. It is covered with different sumo positions. The symbols are Kanji, and she thought Brian might be able to translate. Well, as soon as I unfolded it, Brian said, "Oh, I can read that!"
Here's a close up view of the cloth. How interesting.
This one is a Chinese Dragon Dance.
This third one is extra special, thanks to her explanation. She said she picked it out because of the picture on it, but after her husband translated it, she said she "realized that is is perfect for" me! The picture is Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. She wrote me a special blessing - "May she watch over and protect you and help keep you strong!" How incredibly sweet is she?!


Like I said, I have the BEST friends EVER!!! I'm off to write 'someone' a heartfelt thank you letter!

Random Thoughts....

...can someone PLEASE tell me why the hell my weather widget, at one point today, read 87-mother-scratchin'-degrees?!?! AND, my car thermometer said 91 while I was running errands? Did Mother Nature not check her damn calendar?! It's OCTOBER 9th, beeoch, not July 9th!!

...my daddy was not born here, and English is not his native language. Although he's now been in this country for nearly 50 years (since he was 18), every once in a while, he let's a doozy fly. Today, while we were watching Check, Please, they were reviewing an Ethiopian restaurant. He was a bit turned off by the idea of communal dining, and said to us, "That just not my tea bag." Obviously, he meant to say, "...not my cup of tea." However, he said it with this strange glint in his eye that makes me almost think he said it wrong on purpose. He's kinda silly like that. Either way, it made me laugh.

...Stud's beautiful self-portrait has been ruined. I'm really sad about the whole thing. He was working on it during drama club yesterday (who the HELL knows why!) and one of his friends came over to talk to him. Somehow, while talking, this kid accidentally spit on the picture (yeah, I know, ewww) and somehow this caused a hole in Stud's nose. I think he tried to wipe it or something, who knows. All I know is, in an attempt to cover up the fact that there is now a hole in his nose, Stud drew a freakin' band-aid over it, so it looks like he's got a band-aid on his nose. WTF?! I may just have to take picture of it later to share. He thinks it's hilarious, but I'm not too happy about it. Thank God I took the picture of it for you guys the other day, so I can see what it originally looked like.

...I took Stud and my two nieces to Bakers Square for lunch today. It was delish, thanks for asking! When I was paying, there was a problem with the credit card machine, so it took a few minutes. Seriously, I don't think it took more than 5-7 minutes total. At one point, the manager called the helpline, and he told them that he's had a customer waiting for over 10 minutes. Huh? At that point, I seriously think it had barely been 5. As they were fixing the problem, he asks me what my favorite pie was, and I realized he was about to give me a free pie. I told him that was completely unnecessary, and he says, "Nonsense, you've been stuck here for 15 minutes!" Seriously, it was about 30 seconds after he told the helpline I had been waiting for 10 minutes. Like I said, in under 7 minutes, I was out the door, with a delicious Caramel Pecan Silk Supreme pie, to boot! Thank you Bakers Square! As much as I'd love to just sit down with that pie and a fork...

...I'll be taking it over to Stud's friend's house tomorrow. Stud will, once again, be joining his friend and his friend's dad (and a handful of other friends) at a Bull's game. I figure the boys will definitely get more enjoyment out of the pie than I will. Don't get me wrong, I would enjoy every single, sinful bite, however, I would be beating myself up big time afterward if I ate it! I'd rather pay it forward, anyway.

...I can not wait to watch Saturday Night Live tonight. Jane Lynch is hosting!!! I've always enjoyed her work, but I especially adore her on glee! Despite my excitement, I so afraid I'll be asleep long before the opening skit. Damn. Maybe I can nap...it's only 7pm...I have time...

...Stud finally remembered to bring some art projects home for me to scan. I've been asking him for weeks to bring them home. Every week, the boys have to turn in a drawing based on a theme of their choice. At the end of the project, all the drawings will be put together in a kind of collage. Anyway, Stud chose The Seven Deadly Sins as his theme. The boys also had to choose a symbol in the beginning of the semester, and then work that symbol into all their drawings. He chose an apple. It will all make more sense once I get the pictures scanned and posted here. So far, he's been doing an incredible job. I'll try and post them tonight.

...I guess I'm going to skip my nap and scan some pictures. :)

Glorious morning....

I just woke up from what has to be the BEST night's sleep I've had in longer than I can remember. I'm trying to focus on the positive these days, so I thought I share. Oh, and Daddy will be home in 19 days! ;-)
(I think it's time to make a ticker for that...)