A Special Phone Call

When I got up this morning I checked my email from my cell phone & saw that I had a mssg from my swell friend Shashi. It had said that she tried to call me!!! I was so sad I missed her call as I was on the road with Ken. Ok, for most people this would be no big deal to recieve a phone call from their friend right? This phone call meant she could hear again!! Now folks, that rocks my socks!!!

I "met" Shash on Myspace in a MM group 2, maybe 3yrs ago and we've been friends ever since. Man, I couldn't even put into words how much she has influenced my life. She really has. I know I'm a strong person but when I just started dealing with all the not so fun things of MM I was pretty down & out. I refrained from doing things with friends & family. I was flippen scared out of my mind too. I felt alone, even though I have an amazing out of this galaxy husband. But even still, he didn't truly understand what I was feeling...but Shash did. At first we discussed MM crappolla & not long after we started talking about pastimes, our hubby's, family & what not. We found we have way more in common than the MM junk & it became less & less of a topic in our emails. She's been my friend through 3 failed adoptions with my husband & I, the birth of their son, birthdays, holidays, Red Sox winning the World Series (her hubby is a Yanks fan), the many cute things of their son, the love of crafting, she has made me fabulous jewelry, we share Dr appointment stuff & research...but yet we have never met in person. It's on my hope to do list!!!

A year & a half ago was the last time I spoke to her on the phone. That was when she got new "doo daddles" & man, we talked for hours. Then her hearing took a crap & her doo daddles did too...until today!!! She got a new dooo daddle (hearing aid) and is able to use the phone again!! Sooo super cool! I'm such a shmo, I got all teary eyed. But this is a real big thing, her being able to hear. I'm just sooo stoked for her & yes, it was sooo nice to be able to talk to my friend. She will be going to MN again for another fitting & Ken mentioned we'll have to take a ride to go meet her!!! Now how much do you think my Socks would be rocked if we went to meet her!!! Let's just say A LOT!!! I just had to share this ultra fabulous news about my ultra fantabulastic friend Shashica!!!!

Tag!!!

Ok, so here's the dealio...my swell friend Jewel, AKA Ju JU Bear posted this on her blog so being the robo cool gal I pretend to be I decided I'd join in on the fun...here's my version of being tagged.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I reared up a little when I read the mssg from my friend saying she tried to phone me...that meant she is able to hear again!!! And that's pretty flippen cool if you ask me!!!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? sometimes. Like if I put effort into it
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? snoked turkey...shaved, never sliced
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? We have two angel babies. We lost Angel 8-23-95 & Alex 8-31-97. Other than that, no...unless you count our 5 dogs, 2 cats, a tortoise & numerouse fish
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yeah, I would
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? no, neverrrrr.....YES!!!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? it varies.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not always
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? peanut butter twirl...yummmmmm
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their smile
15. RED OR PINK? Red...up until a handful of months ago I was not a red- liker but it's growing on me. I don't only wear red to support my beloved Red Sox now
.16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm a hard core worrier. I worry about such trivial things
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my parents. They passed away when I was 10
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? sure, if they'd like
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm in my night shirt & it's orange & beachy themed
.21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? silence
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? lilacs, lily of the valley, cinnamon rolls
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?my fabu friend Shasi!!!!!
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Jewel is a fantabulous gal & a great friend
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? NASCAR, Baseball & Hockey
27. HAIR COLOR? dark brown
28. EYE COLOR? hazelish...Ken calls them Amber colored. They change
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope
30. FAVORITE FOOD? I'm a chicken breast lover
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings. But I do enjoy a good scary movie...only if my hubby is home though!!
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? That thing about my parents...I think that was the name of it
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? just a night shirt on for me like I mentioned
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. As long as it's not too too hot! I hate being hot
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs. But only from certain people. I'm not too much of a huggy person & rather enjoy my own personal space
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? lemon meragnue pie
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Who knows
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Who knows
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Friday Night Knitting Club and Listening is an act of Love
.40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? the lappy top doesn't have a mouce pad
.41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Nada. We were on our way to Indy in the semi. So I read a book...finished the whoel thing by the time we were in Chicago. Definately recomend "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"!!!
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S) all the ones I hear (I guess knowing what MM eventually does to hearing I appreciate them all) Well minus those high pitched, makes my eyes water sounds.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? to each of the 48 continental United States & most of the Providences in Canada
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can crochet pretty well & do all those crafty, artsy fartsy type things.
.46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Escanaba, MI
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? I met him at the beach. I was in my car with my lil brother, a big chevy truck pulled along side of me, tooted it's airhorn & I was pretty much like, wt??? Then I realized it was my friend Scott in the passenger seat & a cute guy driving. Scott kept asking if I'd date anybody again (I had just got out of a horrible relationship) and I said no over & over again. I finally said "sure, if the guy likes Davey Allison I'd give it a try" The cute guy driving smiled & low & behold the cute guy ended up being my Ken & guess what??? He was wearing a Davey Allison hat!!! The rest is history and we'll be celebrating our 13th anniversary in March =)
49. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? Cancer
50. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? my marriage

On The Road Again....

A big hello from Upper Michigan!!! It's been busy here as usual and when that happens I neglect the good ole' blog. I guess I don't mean to but it happens. It seems with stress I pretty much close up and like to keep things more private. It's not like all of cyberspace needs to know EVERYTHING that's going on.

Ken's job has slowed way down, as has many people's jobs. We are currently looking into purchasing a new to us semi (newsed) and handing our new one over. It's a huge decision & one we are not stepping into lightly. We have been weathering this economic storm for some time now. And for us the only logical solution we can think of is to downgrade the semi so we are still able to be business owners. I'm sure it'll all work out in the long run. But there comes a time when if something isn't working it must be modified or changed. Well in our case that's our semi. It'll save us boat loads of $ in the long run & for the past few years I guess I get my thrills off of seeing how much dough I can save!! Must be getting older...or wiser! I hope it's just wiser!! But, then again, I do get some grey hairs that bug the living skittles out of me!!

Last night I spend a good portion of time packing up my jumbo sized suitcase. It's sounding like we will be starting to spend a week on the road at a time now. There's really not much as far as loads go up here & the ones that do exist pay for padooples. So our dispatcher & Ken came up with a plan of keeping us out for a longer time & run freight out of WI. Their freight has picked up....now fingers crossed that works!!!

So, my suitcase is packed, my beach sized bag is chocked full of yarn, crochet hooks, knitting needles & pattern books & this weekend we went to our local library & I stocked myself up on some what will be fantastical books! I've only heard good things about "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky and "Listening is an Act of Love" which is a Celebration on American life from the Story Corps Project edited by Dave Isay. I also picked up the "Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. This is the 1st book...remember I already read "Knit Two" which was the 2nd part. OH! and I also picked up a book on the Jonestown Massacre. I was never a History buff in school but my Kenster was. Well one day he was going on & on about this Massacre & well, me being me had no clue what he was talking about. So miss Kaffy Googled it & how grotesque, but yet it sucked me in & I had to learn more. So, I've got myself oodles to keep me entertained for the week. Here's wishing you all a very swellacious week!!!

Butt Dust!!!

What is butt dust?' Read on and you'll discover the joy in it! These have to be original and genuine. No adult is this creative!!

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister. After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?'

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. 'I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window.

'BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?

'SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said. 'It makes my teeth cough.

'DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?'

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: 'Why is he whispering in her mouth?

'CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in it?

'JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.' Concerned, James a sked: ''What happened to the flea?

'TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?'

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget: this particular Sunday sermon...
'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face, 'Without you, we are but dust...' He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

A recipe, snow & other stuff

Ok, so we're gonna get some verbal whiplash in this post. Ken tells me I do verbal whiplash all the time when I jump from one topic to the next & leave nothing in between. It's a pretty common thing with me...I can't help it that I have so much to say & oodles of ideas bouncin off in my head!! So yeah, this is totally gonna be a post including all sorts of stuff!!! =) Hence why my blog is called A Look Into a Scatterbrain!!

Ok, so firstly, I've been going on the road with my hubbykins a lot lately. It's been insanely awesome! Ok, well it was fartan cold last week but the truck was nice & toasty & the roads were clear. What stunk was letting the 5 pups out to do their "business" in the 20- weather!! Nope, that part was NOT fun at all!! BUT...I did start another book and have it almost finished. Actually when we went to the store to get supplies I wanted to check to see if they had "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. We didn't have much time & I wasn't finding it!! =( That's when a super fab book popped in my face & I knew I HAD to have it!!! It had balls of yarn on the cover!!! And we all know my love, ok, obsession with yarn!! So I buy it, get in the semi & being the robo nerd I am I am reading the front cover & back cover & that's when I read it....The Sequel to the Beloved #1 New York Times Bestseller "The Friday Night Knitting Club"!!!! Shitakee mushrooms!! I bought part 2!!! Grrrrr. Anyfartles, I just couldn't let it sit in the semi & collect dust so I started reading my new book. Oh, and it's called "Knit Two" by Kate Jacobs. It's about a group of women of various ages, in various stages of their lives who are all connected in that they belong to the same knitting group. I don't wanna give too much away but trust me, it's a super fab book & I am totally gonna buy the 1st book!!! Leave it to me to do things backwards!!!

Work has been so slow lately so we have to take a load when one comes up. We got word early last week that my Aunt Pat passed away. The funeral arrangements would be on Saturday...which totally works as we're home on the weekends...usually. Well wouldn't ya know it, Ken got a call to go on a load. And like I said, we gotta take what we can get. So we whooshed down to IL & back up, hit some oober yucky weather & made it to Aunt Pat's funeral a tad bit late...but we made it & for that I am glad.

We didn't make it to Ken's works Award Banquet that night. We were both pooperd out to the max. 3000 miles in a handful of days has a tendency of wearing ya out. But my lil brother JJ spent the night. =)

So, today seeing Ken doesn't have a load we decided we'd make a nice din din. I am totally diggin http://www.5dollardinners.com/ It's a way super fab blog with some really awesome recipes!! Tonight we tried the Rosemary Orange Chicken & we had it with steamed brochlii...super delish!! When I asked ken what he thought of it he said "it tastes healthy" but he continued to eat everything off his plate. Now if you know Ken at all if he doesn't like it, he doesn't eat it. So he actually liked it & said I could try it again. You can find the recipe here :http://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/01/rosemary-orange-chicken.html With mine though I baked it (we didn't have ample time to do the crock pot method) and I poured a lil bit of orange juice in the bottom.

It's been snowing here for days on end. Just enough every day to have to shovel or snowblow. I don't mind though & actually LUV winter!! Just not the cold. The picture below is the front sidewalk. We're running out of room to put the white stuff!!!

This is what I call mount Woodbury!! It takes up half of our driveway & half of our neighbors.

And here's the front of the house. I guess the pictures don't do the height of the snow justice. Just believe me...it's at least up to my chest!!!

So, I think that pretty much covers it. I'm working on knitting, still reading my eyeballs out, preparing paperwork for taxes & oh wait!! I do have more!! Totally rented a movie from Redbox today!! And with the code got it for FREE!!!!! How stinkan neato is that!! Another exciting thing, then I'll shut up....Fancast.com!!! Super fab website, totally watch movies & tv programs FREE!!! They even have The Smurfs & Gilligans Island!!! What more could I need!!! We got rid of our satellite but still like to watch programs now & then & this totally let's us do that! PLUS it'll be super fab to utilize when we're on the road & have some down time & want to watch some boob tube-age!!!

Ok, treadmill time!! Peace =)

Three Amazing Men

Ok, so we all know Ken is the man of my life, my dreams, my everything...but, I have to admit, there are a few more special guys I'd like to introduce you to:


Firstly, this is my Dad. He was a joker, a really goofy guy sometimes. I haven't a clue why he was wearing a shower cap...but hey, that was Dad. If he wasn't working to provide for his slew of us 10 kiddos he was watching Archie Bunker snoozan on the couch or just being a goof. He had some mad skills playing the comb around the campfire. For me I don't have lots of fabulous memories of him. He got sick when I was pretty young so the memories I have of him are mostly of him being sick. Today marks 23rs that Dad went to Heaven...and joined Mom. He waited two months & 3 days to join Mom in Heaven. Man, he loved my Mom. His passing was sad but also a blessing. No more suffering, no more pain...This picture is how I want to remember my Dad...full of P&V. When I look at this photo his laugh comes to mind. With the memory of his laugh comes memories of Otter Lake, dad staring at the ceiling singing "Please Release Me" To this day the song makes me cry & laugh at the same time when I hear it. It's so nice to have some good memories. I wish there had been time for more but the man upstairs needed him. Sure do miss him though & am sooo soooo very happy I was able to have

him in my life. The second man in my life is my real Dad Jim. Yesterday was his birthday. He turned 53!!! I may not call him Dad but he's pretty darn tootan special to me!!! We have so many things in common & yup, I have my fair share of "jimmy-isms" I however did not inherit his eating habits of spaghettio's and hotdogs. But we've been known to polish off a can of Pringles & cheese in no time at all!!! =)

Lastly is Ken's Grandpa Woodbury. This man was amazing..beyond amazing!! I have several Heroes & he was one of them. He never complained when his body began failing him, worked hard, loved much, was very frugal. So frugal you could swear his butt squeaked. He had a rough shell but it didn't take long to crack. I could sit & listen to him for hours on end. The stories he had, the intelligence & wisdom he possessed & shared. Gpa was a trucker back in the olden days. Seeing the gleam in his eyes when we pulled up in the semi was the best. I'd find myself sitting back & watching Ken & Gpa talk about anything & everything. Gpa was an avid, ok I mean HARDCORE Red Sox fan his whole life. The year he was born the Bosox won their 1st World Series. He went on for 84 years waiting, and waiting, never giving up on his beloved team. He mentioned in August of 04 that his Bosox were not playing good ball but he continued to watch even though his eyesight had failed him. But the shadows on the tv were good enough for him. Well low & behold, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004!!!!! Gpa was able to enjoy a whole year of his Bosox being the champs & peacefully passed away on January 1, 2006 a short time after the ball dropped. I never really had Grandparents growing up but this man....he might as well been my Grandpa.

There you have it..three more very special men who have helped shaped me into what I have become. They have inspired me & even though Dad & Gpa W are no longer with us the memories of them enrich my life every day.

Below is a link to a video of a song that reminds me of these wonderful Men. It reminds me of when the family gathered around Dad's hospital bed & told him it was alright to go, we'd be ok. Of Jim walking me down the aisle giving me away to the love of my life, my Kenny. If Dad were living I would have had both him & Jim give me away. It's one memory I wish I could have had... & of Ken's Grandfather...for the many things he taught me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=532jxGDRjGY

Yarn! Yarn! Yarn!!!! Oh how it consumes me!!

Ok, so remember that New Years list I made...now remember how I listed the problem I have with going a wee bit nuts in the yarn buying department? Well, there's some news to report on that.....

I recently was looking through some of my crochet pattern books & wanted to start an afghan. Now keep in mind...I am only to buy yarn if needed for a project...hence why I checked my gynormous stash before I moseyed my more than happy to purchase butt to the store!! Guess what? I totally had everything I needed!! I substituted peach with yellow & off white with white. But other than that, I have want I need & have to admit I was flap jackin giddy about having the control to follow my words for 2009. I'll have you know, it wasn't easy...there's a pretty strong yearning for yarn with me!!

So, I've been working on that project & in the mean time want to start a hat, scarf, mitten set to match my ski jacket. PLUS I want to learn to knit. Well I know the basics but that was like 2yrs ago. I got so frustrated with knitting & yarn splitting & trying to manage my paws (hands) I am really beginning my left hand is just for decoration...or to flap around when I talk as it seems to have a mind of it's own & doesn't want to do what my brain needs it to do!! Anyways, I totally bought a learn to knit kit the other day...haven't used it yet but I did admire the pretty needles & looked through the projects & all the greek abbreviations. This learning is gonna be a doozy but I am oober determined!! I plan on making all sorts of fancy things...now hopefully they work out.

Of course I will use my friends as guinea pigs with my creations....and I will add a description as to what it is to avoid complete confusion!! This is gonna be so fun & I am already thinking of new words I can use when I get frustrated. I have a tendency of whippin out the cuss box when I get frustrated. I anticipate a fair share of frustration. I know this because just by looking at the project directions I was dumfounded & well, yeah...some words may have slipped out!!!

Now, this brings me to yesterday...our swellacious friends Sammi & Pat came over last night for home made chicken chilli. Sam had to run to Walmart for a couple things so we made a trip out of it. Ok, sooo my addiction set in...the yarn addiction that is. I had at least 10 different skeins of yarn in my hands at different times. Seriously folks, I think yarn is yummy, the colors, the texture & the hope of it making something fabulous just excites me!! Anyways, I kept putting the yarn back, picking up a new skein, putting it back. Then I spotted it!!! The most awesome-ist color ever!!! Yup, a shade of purple!!! AND the color is so close to the color of my ski jacket! I swear it was screaming "buy me, buy me, buy me" .....and I did!!! So what, I lasted a whole
whoppan 10 days into the year before buying yarn. BUT I must add that it has a project it will be used for. I didn't buy it "just because" like I would normally do. In fact after deciding this beautimus yarn would be coming home with me I picked up some more knitting needles (in the shade of purple mind you. I am certain by using these needles will totally give me some knitting mojo) and I picked up another knitting pattern booklet. Now if any luck I will use this pretty purple yarn, pretty purple needles & hopefully my left hand will work with me to knit up a lovely hat & mitten set for meself!!! =)

Bookwormin' it up!!

Ok, this book ROCKS!!!! For serious!!! I took it on the road with me this past week & holy skittles!!!! It was so fantabulastic & the message is sends....well it really hit home for me. Even though Christmas has passed you could still totally read this book & love it!!! Trust me on this one folks!!!


I also started this:

This is also shaping up to be a FANTASTIC read also!!!! I might have to up my book reading goal for the year!!!! =)

Ken's 1st time

Oh my heckles!!! It's been eons since I last posted!!! I didn't plan it that way. But life happens. I went on the road with my hubby for a few days this past week & well before that we had New Years. Speaking of New Years...it rocked!!! Seriously had a BLAST!!! Then New Years Day a group of my family went up to camp & check it out!!!!!! This was Ken's 1st time on snowshoes!!!


Us

All set & ready to go. Wish I had my ski poles with for balancing!! Amazingly neither of us fell!!! My cutie pie head hubby!!!! =) Yup, we'll have to purchase a couple sets to keep the winter blubber butt disease at bay!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Here's to a swellaciously fine 2009!! Hope everybody had a fantastic New Years Eve last night!!