Day 03: MY Views & Opinions on Alcohol

Alcohol is one thing that is a very touchy emotional subject for me. There are lots of people that are very close to me that suffer from alcoholism. It's almost as if I'm watching them kill themselves. 
Drink after drink.
Day by day.
Over and over.
A never ending cycle.
I say suffer like it's not a choice; because after a while-- It isn't. Their bodies NEED alcohol to survive. They depend on it. Alcohol IS a drug, in my eyes. There are people in my family that have died from various diseases caused by alcohol.
Although it's difficult to say, alcohol IS going to kill the people that haven't already passed. Alcohol IS going to be the death of them. Who knows if it's going to be tonight, tomorrow, next week, or 10 years from now, but it is going to happen. 
Alcohol causes LOTS and LOTS of problems, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. I haven't done much research on it, but I've seen it first hand. After writing this, I'm going to do some research and take it upon myself to compare what scientists have found with what I've seen with my own eyes. I really want to know what triggers alcoholism. If it's hereditary. And even if someone parent(s) are alcoholics if they're prone to being one to. 
This post has made me think a lot-- even though I haven't written much. My mind is going a million miles an hour right now. 
I leave you with this: Do you know someone who suffers from alcoholism? Is there anything you can do or say to TRY and help them? 
With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

Day 02: In 10 years.....

In 10 years….

Colleen will be 10 and a half. (Wow!)

I can’t even imagine 10 years from now. I couldn't even see me now, two years ago.

In 10 years I hope to be married to my main man.

In 10 years I hope I have more children running around.

In 10 years I hope to be in a bigger house, on a bigger lot of land.

In 10 years I hope to have a degree in something I love to do.

In 10 years I hope to help my mom to get out on her own again.

In 10 years I hope to be surrounded by friends and family.

In 10 years I hope to see Jamie lying next to me in bed every night.

In 10 years I hope to watch Jamie and our children playing outside.

In 10 years I hope to have an established garden for fresh veggies and such.

In 10 years I hope to be surrounded by a lot of the people I call my friends right now.

In 10 years I hope to have this blog well established.

In 10 years I hope I can say I’ve helped a lot of people.

In 10 years I hope I can still see my Grandparents play with my children.

In 10 years I hope I have the career of my dreams.

In 10 years I hope I have the car of my dreams.

In 10 years I hope to still be writing on this blog.

In 10 years I hope Colleen is my best friend as well as my daughter.

10 years is such a long time. I have lots of hopes and dreams. But sometimes I don’t know if I should take the road less traveled. It’s hard to tell right now. I’m just going to take it one step at a time—Just like my Nanny always told me.

With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

Day 01: Current Relationship

Jamie and I have been together since the beginning of January 2011. We met New Year’s Eve at a friend’s party. He had left early to go to another party but later that night he found me on Facebook and started texting me. I wasn't going to give him the time of day. I made up excuse after excuse to not see him. He kept on and on until I finally caved in. (Persistence really pays off.)

Our first ‘date’ we went to a local pool hall with a few of my friends and played a few games of pool, had some drinks, and ate some food. He was relatively shy, I guess because we were around my friends, but he did text me. LOL.

Fast forward a few months: We really started getting serious that May. I was going through a really tough time and he was the shoulder I liked to cry on. I moved into his late parent’s house with him, his oldest brother, and his brother’s wife. He and his brother were butting heads so bad- because his brother had no respect for me or Jamie.

Jamie’s boss, also a really good friend of ours, allowed us to move into the house that we are in now. Doug, Jamie’s boss, and Doug’s wife Paulina are our landlords. We moved in June of 2011 and have been here ever since. It was a big change in such a little time, but we love it here.

Jamie still works in Alexandria five-seven days a week but he doesn't mind the commute. Depending on which way you go, you can get to Alexandria in an hour. With him being gone so often, it just makes our relationship even stronger. We still have family time and even time by ourselves, but it just makes it that much more bittersweet.

I love this man with every ounce of my being. I wouldn't trade him for ANYTHING. He’s a wonderful man and an awesome father. He’s my best friend, my lover, the second best thing that has ever happened to me.  (He’d be the very best thing if he hadn't given me our daughter.) He’s the man of my dreams, the father of our daughter, the hardest working young man I've ever known. (Pop-Pop and Dad being an exception.) He works for what he wants. He knows how to get what he wants. He’s MY man. My ONLY man. 

I love you both.

With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

30 Day Blogging Challenge

I came across this on Pinterest:

I don't like some of the ideas-- So I came up with my own. :)

30 Days: A Blogging Challenge.

Day 01: Write about your current relationship. If you’re single, discuss how single life is.

Day 02: Write about where you would like to be in 10 years.

Day 03: What are your views on drugs and/or alcohol? You can write about one or both. Did something specific influence your views?

Day 04: Write about your views on religion. Are you religious? Do you believe in life after death? 

Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?

Day 05: Have you ever thought about ending your own life? Write about it. If not, write about a 

fictional character that might have had these thoughts.

Day 06: Write 30 interesting facts about yourself. They can be anything from your favorite color to the worst habit you could never break to the pets you have. Be creative.

Day 07: What’s your Zodiac Sign? Do you think it describes your personality? Why or why not?

Day 08: Write about a moment where you felt most satisfied with your life. Why was that moment so special?

Day 09: Write about your first true love. Are you still with that person today? If not, do you still keep in touch with that person?

Day 10: Do you ever think about the future? Write about how you want it to be. Let your imagination run wild. Here’s a chance to write about your hopes and dreams and how you’re going to reach them.

Day 11: Put your music player on shuffle. Write as much or as little as you want on the first 10 songs that play. Just a simple list will be perfect for this one.

Day 12: Write a letter to someone. Living or deceased. Tell them how you feel. Let them know how much you care(d) for them and what they mean to you.

Day 13: Write about somewhere you would like to move or visit. Why did you choose this specific place?

Day 14: Write about your earliest memory. Why do you think you remember this rather than others?

Day 15: Make a list of how your day went. Don’t forget any details!

Day 16: What do you do for work? Are you a stay at home mom? A man in the construction business? Is this where you envisioned yourself 5 years ago?

Day 17: What were your highs and lows of this past year?

Day 18: Write 10 different things to 10 different people that you would never say to their faces. DO NOT include names or personal details.

Day 19: Write about how you feel on disrespecting ones parents, teachers, guardians, etc. Have you ever been disrespected? How did it make you feel?

Day 20: How important do you this education is? Is it more important now than it was 10 or even 20 years ago?

Day 21: What is your favorite television show? Why?

Day 22: How have YOU changed in the past 2 years? Do you think you have changed for the better? Has anything specific changed you?

Day 23: What are you five most favorite things? Post pictures and a very brief description of why you chose those five things.

Day 24: What is your favorite movie? What is it about?

Day 25: Write about some who fascinates you. What is so special about this person?

Day 26: What was your first vehicle? How much did it cost? How much was gas at that point in time? Did this vehicle have any sentimental value?

Day 27: Write about a problem, any problem, that you have had or that you have helped someone else with.

Day 28: Write about something or someone that you miss. Write about specific things you miss about this person or thing.

Day 29: What were your highs and lows for this past month? What do you plan on changing, if anything, for next month?

Day 30: What are your goals for the next 6 months? Why are you choosing these goals? Are you going to succeed?

And since I'm having such a hard time coming up with things to write about--

I'll give this a try to start!

Hopefully it will really help me come up with my own stuff and ideas after the 30 days are over!

I'm working on number one now and it should be up in a few hours!

Feel free to link to me and do this challenge with me!

With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

Daddy is 27!

Jamie turned 27 on Friday.
We had his party at the house on Saturday. Crabs, beer, swimming, and corn hole. It seemed like everyone had a great time. We've got plenty of beer and baked beans left, but that's about it. 
Jamie is a huge seafood lover. He loves crabs, fish, and shrimp the most. I, on the other hand, don't like seafood at all. I don't know if it's the taste of everything or if it has to do with the texture of most of it. (I'm OCD when it comes to textures of things.) I won't eat jello for Christ's sake (unless it's a shooter). I won't eat pancakes with syrup because it makes the texture of the pancakes unbearable. I LOVE pumpkin pie, and I make it from scratch every year, but I will only eat one or two peices, because of the texture. 
Jamie and I are thinking about making corn hole boards and selling them. He'll make them and I'll paint them. Corn hole is a very popular game around here. They have corn hole tournaments at a local restaurant on Thursdays and even have specials on food when the tournament is going on. Corn hole boards sell for $120.00 a piece at the local hardware store and you need two boards to play- so they're making loads of money. I figure if we make two sets and sell them for $100.00 a set, we'll make our money back on those two, plus some. For those of you who don't know what corn hole is:
"Cornhole, also known as bean bag toss Bean Bag Game", corn toss, baggo or bags, is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing bags of corn at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches the score of 21."
Anyways: I've also been thinking about selling Discovery Toys. I grew up with them and they're great learning toys. I just have to find a way to come up with the moneys and get a couple parties booked. If anyone is interested, PLEASE let me know!
With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

This or That

It's really hard for me to come up with stuff to write about and/ or how to word it. I've been making lists/plans about stuff to write lately and am almost on track. I'll be back later with an actual post! LOL. With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

Testing

Test for Signature.
Test for Signature. Test for Signature.

Wordless Wednesday #2

(Because I can't help myself!)

(Click on picture for larger view.)

Wordless Wednesday

15,638,400 Seconds or 260,640 Minutes or 4344 Hours.....

Whichever you prefer-- Doodle Bug is six months old! I can't believe it has been six months already. It still feels like we just brought her home yesterday. 

HER FIRST WORD WAS MAMA!!!!! (Daddy is jelly!)

Since my last post about what she has been eating, she has eaten so much more. Especially since the doctor told me that she can have big girl food as long as it is cut up real small so she doesn't choke on it. She absolutely LOVES jellied cranberry sauce but isn't too sure of fresh (straight out of Nanny and Pop-Pop's garden) cucumbers. And she definitely does not like the Gerber Stage 3 Lasagna and Meat Sauce!

We went to the doctor on Monday, July 8, 2013, as she was due for her 6 month check up and shots. She weighed in at a whopping 17.1 pounds and is 26 inches long! 

Pre-shots Shots!

Post-shots Shots! :'(

& yes-- I cried too. 

She is also sitting up all by herself for hours on end. She hasn't quite figured out how to sit herself up, so she still needs a little help in that area. She loves Mickey Mouse Club House-- and watching Daddy do the "Hot Dog Dance". LOL. She can hold herself up while standing (only for a few minutes) too! 

Since it's late now--- and I just had to chase Autumn around the damn neighborhood, I'll be back tomorrow to post more!

With oceans of love and a kiss upon each wave,

Love always,

Mama!