What's On Donna's Mind?

Memorial Day (observed)

2009-05-25T00:14:00.002-05:00

Remember and honor those that served our country in order that we may live free!!

Until later... donnap

From Kansas to AR-kansas...

2009-05-23T20:51:00.003-05:00

I made it home from Kansas safe and sound. Things went very well with the company I was working with and they are now a part of the Ergon (company I work for) network. They'll be a great asset to the organization too.

Had a couple of close calls on the road on the way home today, even having to stop to make sure one poor kid was alright. Someone cut him off in the traffic and caused him to hit the barrier wall. I could see him up ahead swerving in/out of the lane and then spinning out of control a bit, stopping after he slammed into the wall. Smashed the front left section of his car... probably totaled. I was 2 cars behind him and had to make some snap assessments on what I could do and where I could go. Four of us almost collided. Pretty wild.

The car in front of me was right behind this kid and managed to avoid being hit, then it was my turn to figure out WTF I was going to do. My fear was the kid's car would bounce back into traffic once it hit that wall, but he ended up stopping, yet his rear end was sticking out in the lane. Me and the guy behind me managed to swerve around him and we pulled off on the shoulder, running to go help this kid. He was out of the car by the time we got to him and I swear he wasn't much older than Jonathan. His air bag deployed, so he had some bruising already and the rash from the air bag was evident. Beat his arm up pretty bad and he was extremely shaken, but otherwise he was ok.

We stayed with him until the police arrived, but neither of us saw the car that caused it and of course, they never stopped. Yes, mom, I thanked the dear Lord for saving us all. It was close! Thank heavens I keep a cool head in those situations, huh?

The 2nd was right before I got to W. Memphis (almost home). Up ahead, I saw another car losing control, just like that kid, but he regained control and was swerving to miss a huge piece of metal in the road. I managed to swerve around it with no problem. Was never so glad to see my little dull, plain house! LOL!

I always seem to have some kind of adventure when I travel. LOL! Sheesh!

Anyway, I'm safe and I'm home. SO glad to see my son and furry people. Missed them so much! My dog nearly knocked me down when I walked in the door. This is the longest I've been away from them.

Until later... donnap

Zoo in Wichita

2009-05-17T14:48:00.005-05:00

Visited the zoo in Wichita, KS today. Beautiful weather today and I had a lovely walk through the zoo. Had a nice time. Below are just a few pics I took.

Until later... donnap

Pooper Scooper Service

2009-05-16T20:56:00.002-05:00

Can you believe there is a service here in Wichita, KS that goes to your house to pick up your dog's poop? Can you believe people pay a service to do that? They can't pick up their own dog's poop? How difficult is that, btw? I'm baffled.

Don't believe me? Here's the place: Scooper Joes

Until later... donnap

Away

2009-05-13T20:43:00.001-05:00

In Kansas on business... may not be able to post much while I'm gone. Busy!!

Until later... donnap

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:48:00.001-05:00

Hope all of the mommy's out there have a joyous and wonderful day!!

Until later... donnap

Rainy Day

2009-05-09T09:52:00.003-05:00

Today is a rainy day, but I don't really mind. I'm on call this weekend, so I'm pretty safe from being called out when it's raining. Haven't posted anything in a few days... busy with work and school... my typical excuses, but they're legitimate.

I was thinking today about my son and his dad. I thought how sad it is that my son doesn't mind his dad allowing some strange woman to come stay with him (his dad) because his dad is nicer to him (my son) when she's there. Isn't that sad? Of course, it pisses me off too. His dad is nicer to him just to impress some woman he met over the Internet... well, says he went to high school with her, but that was about 35 years ago. This doesn't surprise me though because he was always nicer to me too when other people were around, especially his family. He always tried to show off and create an image of himself that simply was not true. My son is seeing that side of him now.

The ex is a purely pathetic human being. That's what's on my mind today!

Until later... donnap

Quiz Anyone?

2009-05-02T20:14:00.002-05:00

Got bored... Took some quizzes at BlogThings...

You Are Cowboy Boots

You are incredibly down to earth and happy with yourself. You don't pretend to be someone else.

You also tend to be very practical. You don't really have a lot of room for fluff in your life.

You are a very honest and direct person. You will give anyone a straight answer, even if it's a bit uncomfortable.

While you're quite sensible, you always like a little bit of flash in your life. You don't overdo it, but you do like turning heads.

What Kind of Boots Are You?

You Are Country

You'll take natural beauty and quiet over the hustle and bustle of the city.

You can appreciate the simple things in life, and it doesn't take much for you to feel content.

While you appreciate the many opportunities of the city, you see them as too much of a good thing.

You love living a peaceful life. It's important that you can hear yourself think.

Are You City or Country?

Pet Peeve Time Again...

2009-04-29T21:58:00.003-05:00

Time for me to reveal another of my pet peeves!

Men who speak to women as if they are dumber than dirt!!!

Nothing gets me going more than when a man insults my intelligence simply because I'm a woman.

I know all men aren't this way... but the ones who are know immediately when they've pushed that button with me.

FOR EXAMPLE...

I've been trying to get my A/C repaired through some dipshit repair service my landlord hired. Friend deal... you know the type! I'll spare you the long, gritty details about this problem and get to the pet peeve...

The man asked me tonight on the phone,

"wut is it doin'?"

"NOTHING! It won't blow air!"

"Well, ya know dees things have delayed switches on 'em an dey don come on rite when ya turn it on."

DUH!

"I've left it on for more than 30 frickin' minutes and NOTHING EVER COMES OUT OF THE VENT!!!!! It doesn't take that long to begin blowing. I'M NOT STUPID... I KNOW HOW THESE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK!"

I was livid... what a dipshit. You think just because I'm female, I've never worked an a/c unit before? OMG... it wasn't a nice scene at my house tonight. My dog ran under the coffee table and I had to reassure him I was not mad at him. Poor baby!

Ok... so I'm in a pissy mood here lately because it's getting HOT and I have to sweat while getting dressed for work in the mornings and heaven help me if a hot flash kicks in before the unit is repaired. Y'all pray for me.... NO.... WAIT... better pray for the repair guy because if he doesn't get my air fixed soon, I'm gonna rough somebody up.

Until later... donnap

Went Fishin'!

2009-04-26T20:05:00.003-05:00

We first drove out to Village Creek State Park, but didn't stay long. Too windy and no nibbles. We gave up and went back to a lake close to our house in West Memphis. Although it was pretty windy there too, I managed to bag a nice catfish (pics below). A guy out there fishing caught one too and gave it to us because he didn't want to keep it. Mine is the darker color in the pics. We had no idea you could catch such nice fish from that lake. We'll be back for sure. Had a great time... so did my son!

Filleted the fish... had 'em for supper! YUM YUM! Delicious!

(click photos for enlarged version)

Until later... donnap

My Ex is a MORON!!

2009-04-26T19:35:00.002-05:00

For those of you who know me well, the fact that my ex is a MORON, is not news! LOL! But today I learn from my son that his dad feels he's being taken advantage of because my son and I fail to say "thank you" when he (moron) does something for us. (violins, please)

The big question is... what does he do for me? NOTHING! Donna does for herself! OH... wait... how rude of me... I borrowed his vaccum when mine went on the blitz. Sent a huge note back with the vacuum... THANK YOU!!! Oh heavens... I certainly don't want him to feel unappreciated. *gagging*

*vomiting*

*gagging again*

Excuse me while I get the mouthwash before I vomit again!

DON'T SAY "THANK YOU?" OMG... what a moron... an idiot... a SOB! He really, really does not want me to start talking because I can lower the boom on some stuff. He's a fucking moron, but I don't say "thank you" for what, I haven't a clue. Should I even begin telling about how *well* he treated me during and after the marriage? HUH? No, I didn't think so.

I clearly was not myself when I married him. He stripped every bit of my own identity from me and over the course of the 9 years we lived in the same household, he nearly drove me to a nervous breakdown, which is when I left. BUT... BUT... I didn't say "thank you" for something (still have no clue), so he's feeling unappreciated! LMFAO!! What a good case for the psycho ward! This new woman of his has NO CLUE what she's getting into. LOL!

So, today's theme is ... MY EX IS A MORON! Is yours?

Until later... donnap

Memphis Botanic Gardens

2009-04-25T19:28:00.006-05:00

Today was so beautiful, I could not spend my time indoors. Although I had to cancel my trip (perfect day for horseback riding too), I managed to get some time outdoors with my camera. Went to the Memphis Botanic Gardens today. Very beautiful and peaceful place to spend some quiet time. Took a few photos...

(Click photos to enlarge)

Until later... donnap

My Trip...

2009-04-23T18:36:00.003-05:00

Y'all might remember I was planning a weekend trip to Middle TN for some R&R... well... I've cancelled my hotel reservation I made and I'm staying close to home. :~( Was supposed to go this weekend, but it's a no go.

My A/C has been out and there's a guy working on it while I'm at work (outdoors only), but I have no idea where he stands on it. He has it all closed back up out there, but it still does not work. Trying to get in touch with my landlord, but he has not returned my call, which is unusual. He's usually pretty good about getting back to me quickly. I'll try again tomorrow.

Anyway, I decided I needed to be here this weekend in case the guy needs to get in the house and in case it gets too hot for my furry kids. So I'll have to just enjoy not being in class. Will probably do a little fishing with my son on Sunday... put some time in at the shooting range on Saturday too.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Until later...donnap

Administrative Professional's Day!

2009-04-22T20:19:00.003-05:00

To all of you Administrative Professionals...

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

I brought my three employees flowers today and some cupcakes for snacking. They work shifts, so taking them to lunch was out of the question. But I wanted to give them a little something to show how much I appreciate them and their hard work. They all really liked the flowers and were a bit surprised. The cupcakes went over well too! We shared those with the loaders and drivers, so we appreciated a lot of people today. :-))

I'm tired tonight, so no big post! Take care.

Until later... donnap

New Blog Address

2009-04-21T20:48:00.002-05:00

I've tried to notify my followers that I've changed my blog link address, so I hope you all have found me again.

Now, let me explain why...

I have a nosy ex-husband who got the link for my blog when I forgot to erase it from my email signature when I sent him something about our son. That's the only communication I have with him. Anyway, he's been reading my blog and sometimes I write things he has no business knowing and I know he's only reading it because his ass is nosy and wants to know what I'm up to or thinking. NONE OF HIS BUSINESS!!

SOOOO... I saw where I could change the link to my blog and went for it. Now he will not have access and I will not forget to take it off my email in the event I have to email him something, which is a rare occurence.

Thanks for hanging in there with me... now I can feel comfortable again to write what I want.

Until later... donnap

Stellarium

2009-04-19T08:49:00.004-05:00

If you're into the sun, moon, stars, and planets, here's a great program to play with. I've just recently installed it on my computer and still playing around with it, so I'm not real savvy with it yet. A fellow at work has used it before and is going to show me some things about it. Anyway, it's pretty interesting if you like that sort of thing, which I do. My co-worker hooks his telescope up to his computer while the program is running to help identify what he's looking at. Pretty darn cool! It's like having your own little planetarium.

So, if you're interested... click here:

Stellarium

Download the program and have fun!!

Until later... donnap

Summer Sangria

2009-04-13T13:00:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine sent this recipe to me (Thanks, Mary) and I thought it sounded refreshing. I might try to make some. I like Sangria, but have never attempted it at home.

Although it's not summer yet, those warm, balmy days will be here before we know it. Enjoy!

Summer Sangria

4 oranges: 2 juiced, 2 halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy
1 bottle dry red wine, chilled
2 lemons, thinly sliced
2 cups seltzer or club soda
Chilled ice cubes, for serving

In a large pitcher, combine orange juice, sugar, and brandy; stir well to dissolve sugar. Add wine, orange slices, lemon slices, and seltzer; stir to combine. Fill glasses with ice before serving. Serves 8.

Until later... donnap

HAPPY EASTER!

2009-04-12T07:40:00.001-05:00

Until later... donnap

Free Cat to Any Home!

2009-04-12T01:15:00.002-05:00

My cat has pissed me off today... really bad! She chews wires! I can't believe it. Never had a cat do that before. I can't believe she has not been fried yet because she likes the ones that are plugged in. She ruined two... that's right two, adapters today to my wireless router. Anyone else have cats that do this? I'm just amazed, but not in a good way. She's on my "S" list... at the top! Now I have to either buy a new router or try to find an adapter that will work with it so I can get my wireless back.

Until later... donnap

Tough Week

2009-04-10T22:07:00.002-05:00

It's been a tough week at work! Whew... I'm so glad it's over and hope next week is better. I'd love to get away somewhere this weekend to recover, but I'm On Call, so no rest for me. I'll be juggling school work, work work, and the usual housework, including trying to get my yard mowed. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Jealous? Uh huh... I didn't think so. LOL!

Next week I have to go out of town on business. Thank heavens it's the last time. Been going every quarter for 2 years to the Corporate office for training. Next week is our last installment. YAY!

More good news... I have a little over a week left in my current class! HURRAY! I can't wait to get this one behind me. I'll have a week off after that, then it's Economics. Oh joy!

Well, for lack of better things to write about tonight, I'll close. Have to be at work tomorrow at 6:30am. Wow... that's early... especially on Saturday.

Y'all have a great weekend!

Until later... donnap

You Might Be A Redneck...

2009-04-08T22:11:00.003-05:00

If you go to the grocery store and come out with a pistol! LOL!

In Arkansas, the grocery lists go something like this...

Milk
Bread
Baby Formula
Eggs
Pistol
Cheese
Peanut butter
Beer
Ammo
Butter
Chicken

Yeah... the ultimate redneck experience! "Hey honey... going to the supermarket... sale on guns today!" LOL!

side note: left my laptop case open and the kitty has made herself comfortable in there.

Soooo... I might have a little redneck in me after all. Go figure!

Until later...donnap

Annie Oakley

2009-04-06T21:05:00.002-05:00

This is not the best picture. Taken by my shootin' buddy (coworker) with his cell phone over the weekend when we went to the shooting range.

I learned to wear T-shirts because I got tired of the casings flying down my lower cut shirts... OUCH! Yes, folks, they are HOT! I also now wear those sexy, huge safety eyewear because I got a burn from a casing on my eyelid when one decided to make its way to rest on the top of my glasses. YEE-OW! I have a war wound now. LOL!

Get your kicks off of this... a good laugh! :-))

Until later... donnap aka Annie Oakley

T G I F

2009-04-03T13:06:00.005-05:00

Oh wow... I cannot tell y'all how happy I am that it's FRIDAY!! I hope it's a nice weekend weather-wise. Sure is a beautiful day today. Wish I did not have to work, but gotta make the $$.

What's up for your weekend? I'm doing the usual... school work, housework, etc. Will try to go to the shooting range for a bit with a co-worker tomorrow. If the weather is nice, I might venture out with my camera.

Friday... payday... and I am not on call this weekend! YAY! Pretty sweet deal!

I'll leave you today with this pretty little flower!!

Until later... donnap

Baby Steps

2009-04-02T07:59:00.001-05:00

Well... maybe I'm back on track, but I don't want to get too excited. I've managed to drop 2 more pounds after a very long plateau. Let's hope I don't screw up!

44 lost - 19 to go!!

Until later... donnap

April Fool's Day!!

2009-04-01T11:04:00.002-05:00

No one has fooled me YET! I'm waiting though.

A little history...

"April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, is one of the most light hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar."

Source: InfoPlease.com

Don't be fooled today!!!

Until later...donnap

I Miss the Laughter!

2009-03-31T19:43:00.004-05:00

I don't seem to laugh much these days. I miss it, laughter is good for you. I miss my friends... they make me laugh because we're so goofy and wacky. We don't care what other people think... we laugh... A LOT.

I miss home... very much... and I want to go back. Back to my family... back to my friends... back to a place that I once wanted to leave, but now I long to get back to.

I want to laugh again... A LOT!

Until later.. donnap

Just the answer the question

2009-03-31T14:12:00.003-05:00

Why is it when you ask some people a question you get information you didn't ask for? I find this most common with men. Why is this? Why do people (men) do this?

If I ask a question and I'm seeking something specific, don't return with an answer filled with shit I didn't ask. HUGE PET PEEVE of mine!!

Just answer the question... as it was asked... easy as pie, right?

Until later... donnap

Sometimes...

2009-03-30T19:20:00.010-05:00

Sometimes I just want to hide from the world.

Some days I feel inadequate in every way.

Sometimes I do not feel worthy of my friends.

Some days I'm so lonely my stomach hurts.

Sometimes I feel my future is now.

Some days I feel my past still defines me.

Sometimes I'd rather be alone.

Some days I hate being alone.

Sometimes I don't feel like facing the day.

Some days I just want to stay in bed.

Sometimes I'm ready to conquer the day,

no matter what it brings.

Some days the day scares me.

Sometimes I don't like the person in the mirror.

Some days I cannot smile.

Sometimes I cannot stop laughing.

Some days I'm very content.

Sometimes I wonder where my path is taking me.

Some days I am weak,

even when others always think I'm strong.

Sometimes I am scared,

even when others always see me as brave.

and

most days,

most times,

just

want

and hope that is enough...

to get me

through the day,

through my life.

Until later...donnap

Desperate for R & R

2009-03-29T18:22:00.004-05:00

My current class, Quantitative Reasoning for Business (don't ask), has me terribly stressed! I'm having some difficulties understanding how the formulas work and where the information is coming from. I'm beginning to think this may have been a class I should have taken on ground instead of online. Oh well... too late now. I'm three weeks into the class, so there's no turning back now. I'll push forward and hope I still have my sanity and good health when I'm finished.

*listening to my new mp3 player I bought yesterday...love it*

Since I've been so stressed, I'm planning a weekend trip for some much-needed R & R and fun. I think I mentioned this in an earlier post, but now I'm beginning to finalize my plans. The weekend after my class ends, I'm heading over to Natchez Trace State Park in TN for some horseback riding, then I'll continue to head east further into TN to Cedars of Lebanon State Park and I'm either going to go on a trail ride with them or I'm just going to hit the trails on foot with my camera. BUT... I may do both depending on time. After I leave Cedars, I'm heading to my hotel room to clean up. Found a hotel right off the interstate, which is very close to Henry Horton State Park. I'm going to Henry Horton the following morning before I head back to AR-KANSAS! Man, I'm really looking forward to this trip, so I hope the weather is good and all my plans work out.

I absolutely LOVE middle TN! It's so green and beautiful. So many wonderful places to hike and ride horses. I'm damned and determined to get out to do these things I love this year. Class or no class! LOL! I'm getting ready to purchase a new laptop, so I'll take my classroom with me, if I can't wait until class is over. The beauty of going to school online! I did it many times during my undergraduate program. I'm pretty stubborn, so I usually don't let a lot of things stop me from doing what I want. I'll find a way!!

I mentioned above about my new mp3 player. I've been making an excuse about needing some music to go walking... now I have no excuse. There's 20# still hanging 'round and I'm determined to get it off. If the damn weather would cooperate now. It's been cool the last couple of days here. Isn't it supposed to be SPRING???

Loaded up a mixture of rock and country on my mp3, the two genres I listen to. Toby Keith, Led Zeppelin, 3rd Eye Blind, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, AC DC, and my boyfriend, George Strait (don't tell his wife/lol). It's a 2GB player, so I can put a shitload of songs on here. Just need to figure out what else I want to add. For now, I'm good!

Well, I have some housework to get to, so...

Until later... donnap

P.S. BTW, Anne-Mari... yes, I'll be putting some Dex on my mp3! *wink*

I Love Ponies!

2009-03-26T08:59:00.004-05:00

Right after the first of the year I visited the Memphis Zoo to work with my new lens I bought myself for Christmas. I got some nice shots of this little pony who was enjoying all the attention. Thought I'd share them with you today.

Have a great day!

Until later... donnap

Spring is on the way!

2009-03-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

These are two of my favorite pics I took Sunday out at Lake Wappanocca. I don't know what type of tree the first pic is, but they are everywhere in this area. I think they are the prettiest little trees. Very spring-like! The color of the buds against the blue sky is fabulous, IMO. The 2nd pic is of some little flowers I spotted growing in a cluster on the side of the road, so I *made* a place to pull over to photograph them. I think they are very lovely!

3/25/09 Update: I googled images for "blooming trees" and found out the picture below is a Redbud tree. There are lots of them in this area... very pretty!

Spring just might be around the corner! :-) Enjoy your day.

Until later...donnap

Lake Wappanocca

2009-03-22T22:09:00.005-05:00

Yeah, that's easy for me to say! LOL! I so fondly refer to it as Lake Willy Wonka. LMAO! Anyway, I wrangled my son into going out to Lake Wappanocca with me this afternoon because I was having photography withdrawal. Stuff is still dead out there, but I still managed some decent shots. I can't wait until things are green again. I'm sick of this dull, drab existence that Winter forces us to live with.

Here are a few of my favorite shots... the rest are in the Photos by donnap slideshow and on my Facebook. Hope you enjoy!

Edited by donnap 3/25/09: Removed first two pics. Too much blue tint due to me forgetting to change a setting on my camera.

Until later... donnap

1st Day of Spring?

2009-03-20T08:56:00.005-05:00

Is it? Really? In Memphis today the temp is 50 degrees. That's not Spring weather to me!

Show me the heat!

I'm so ready for some warm weather to stick around longer than one day. I'm ready to go hiking and I need to spend some quality time with my camera. It's been so long since I've been out on a photo adventure, I'm having withdrawal. LOL! I looked at my camera bag laying on the floor this morning as I was leaving for work and I swear I heard it cry out "Mommy, don't leave me again!"

So, if I can my school work done in a timely manner, I think Sunday is supposed to be nice, low 70s, sunny... perfect adventure weather... I'll take a day trip with my baby. :-) If I'm successful with capturing some decent shots, I'll share some here with y'all.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

Until later... donnap

Analyze This!

2009-03-19T08:09:00.003-05:00

Gingerbread men cookies! I love 'em!

I eat mine in a strategic manner though. The same way, every time!

First, I break the head off and eat it.

Second, I go for the arms, one at a time, breaking each one off and eating it.

Third, the legs are next, breaking each one off and eating them, one at a time.

Lastly, the body is consumed in several bites depending on the size of the cookie.

What do you think a psychiatrist would do with this? LOL! I have been buying the 100 calorie Little Debbie gingerbread cookies and I had one this morning after my Lean Pocket Ham & Cheese. It dawned on me that I eat these cookies the same way every time. Interesting, wouldn't you say? Anyone want to take a stab at why I do this? LOL!

I have another cookie for after lunch today... can't wait!! :-)

Until later...donnap

Slim Down, Stupid

2009-03-18T20:21:00.003-05:00

While I was getting dressed for work the other morning, the news station I watch reported of a young woman who was soon to be married. She wanted to drop a few pounds before her wedding. She sees an advertisement on the Internet... you know the kind... they pop up at the top or along the side panel of the page you're browsing.

*excuse me... donnap requires a glass of wine*

*donnap is back... wine in hand ... Rodney Strong, Sonoma County, Chardonnay*

Now where was I... oh yeah, the young woman who wanted to drop some pounds before her wedding. Anyway, she sees this advertisement on the Internet for a product that promises you will lose weight FAST for only $1.95. OH MAH GAWD... Are you shittin' me? Only $1.95??? And it MUST be true because celebrities use this product too. I guess you can figure out what she did... yep... she clicked the ad, got her *miracle* pills, knowing she was just moments away from becoming Twiggy (for you young readers out there, Twiggy was a model back in the day, skinny as a rail. Google her!).

She's taking these pills, waiting for the pounds to fall off, while in the meantime, she continues to get her monthly installment of pills accompanied with increased charges each month. The bill keeps getting higher and higher. Well... no problem right? She can cancel ANY TIME... well... that's what they told her and celebrities use this product too, so it must be a legitimate company, right?

Ok... let's say it together... S-T-U-P-I-D! You're thinkin' it, go ahead and say it! LOL!

Not only is this person stupid for believing she could take a pill that would promote *miracle* weight loss, but to believe it would only cost $1.95? Oh gee... someone get the woman a psychiatrist, please!

BUT WAIT... that's not all. Did you think her stupidity ended there? LOL! NOOOO, my friends. Not only was she stupid to believe the pills would work AND they were so cheap, she went on television to tell her story. Yep... she put her stupidity out there for all to enjoy. I know what some of you are thinking... "well, it was good she went on tv so no one else would be fooled by the scam." Oh please, people... if Internet advertisements REALLY worked, we'd all be skinny, have perfect skin, never get sick, have large boobs & big penises (I originally used another word/lol), and we'd all be with our soul mate. Uh huh... yeah, right... O-K... whatever!

If you want to slim down, stupid, put yourself on a real diet. Count calories, count fat, carbs, whatever. Just eat right and exercise regularly, and you WILL LOSE WEIGHT and improve your health. You don't have to become obsessed, but by making simple changes to your diet and adding some exercise, you can experience a new you in no time. Don't try to lose weight fast... that's unhealthy. Lose it at a slow pace and you are better able to keep it off. That's my 2 cents! Take it or leave it, baby!

Oh yeah, btw, she never did lose any weight. Go figure!

Until later... donnap

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T09:56:00.003-05:00

Did you wear something green today or did you get pinched? Did you want to get pinched? LOL!

Hope you find your pot 'o gold today!

Until later...donnap

May I Have A Break Please?

2009-03-15T17:36:00.002-05:00

With the exception of a 2-hour nap, today I've had my nose buried in textbooks trying to calculate Real GDP, break-even points in units and dollars, contribution-margin ratio, and so on. Sounds exciting, I bet! I know, I know... you're damn jealous... get over it! LOL!

I just needed a break to regroup. My assignment is due tomorrow and it consists of seven questions all of which are complex involving equations and formulas. Is your head spinning? Mine sure is! For some, I've solved fairly easily, but with others, it takes me a few minutes to wrap my brain around. However, once I grasp the concept and "get it" I can reach an answer fairly quickly, like most folks. Some people pick up this stuff easier than others and I wish I was one of those people. LOL! My problem is like with everything else, I overthink the problem and make it more complicated than it really has to be. :-

Quantitative Reasoning... yep, believe it or not, I'll probably need it someday! Who knew?

Until later... donnap

Don't Shoot!

2009-03-13T13:16:00.007-05:00

Last night I took an Introduction to Handguns class at a local shooting range, Range USA (shameless promotion for them). We had about 3 hours of classroom instruction and then we went out to the range to shoot some guns... make some noise... pop some bullets... ok, ok... enough already.

The class was very informative and I recommend such a class for anyone who is considering purchasing a handgun or if you just want to know more about them. If you're in the Memphis area, I highly recommend you go to Range USA (another shameless promotion) to take classes because it's a top notch facility and everyone is very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Definitely worth my $50! And no they did not try to sell me anything, which I appreciated. They genuinely want to teach people about gun safety and help you learn to shoot and improve your shooting ability.

The class is definitely for novices, as it went through the parts of the gun, how to grip the gun, how to squeeze the trigger, importance of cleaning, safe handling, and so much more. They really stress safety, which I appreciated as well. Our instructor, Mike, was AWESOME! He was entertaining, but never lost sight of the reason we were there. He answered questions as we went along and never grew impatient with anyone.

Out on the range... everyone in class paid attention to the instruction. We were there to learn and learn we did. Mike told us of several incidents that have happened during his Intro classes that could have gotten someone injured or killed. We didn't play around... we were serious, but had fun too. Mike recognized that and stated we were one of the best Intro classes he's taught. Stated we meant business when we got out to the range and just went for it, no nerves. It was true. Great people in the class. I had a BLAST... literally! LOL!

This was the most fun I've had in a long time. I discovered too things while out on the range:

I don't like revolvers
I love to shoot handguns

I shot two revolvers and did not like them at all. The trigger was difficult for me to reach and hard to pull, plus I just didn't like the feel of it when it fired. The smaller, snubnose actually hurt my hand when I fired it. So, it's a no go on the revolver.

In addition to the revolvers, I shot three semi-automatic handguns, a 9mm, .40, & .45. I really liked the 9mm & the .45 the best. The recoil on the .40 seemed more prevalent than the other two, even the .45, which surprised me. I shot the 9mm first, then a .38 revolver, then the .40, moving to the .45, ending with the larger revolver. I think I was the only female, or one of two, that went for the big guns! LOL! I want to shoot it all... I don't shy away from much.

I am definitely going back to shoot again at the range. I really enjoyed the class and the experience of shooting the different guns. Shooting is not for everyone, but I really had a great time. So, if you think you might be interested in learning to shoot, take a class, shoot a few types of guns, and see how you like it. You may or may not want to go back... either way is perfectly fine!

As for me... I shall return! :-)

Until later... donnap

Quantitative Reasoning

2009-03-10T18:10:00.002-05:00

Back in class after a wondeful 3-week break. I probably took too long of a break because now I don't want to go back to school. LOL!

Quantitative Reasoning... yikes! I hope I get through the next six weeks without pulling my hair out. This subject will keep me pretty busy, as I'll need to stay focused and concentrate really hard. So I may not be around my blog everyday, but I'll update as often as I can.

Y'all pray for me, think of me, and maybe I'll make it through class alright. :-) I'm going to need all the help I can get. LOL!

Thanks for visiting!

Until later... donnap

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

2009-03-09T08:24:00.003-05:00

Today is my mom's birthday, so let's send a shout out to her...

LOVE YOU, MOM... HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'll call you later.

Your #3...donnap

Decision Made

2009-03-08T15:10:00.006-05:00

I've decided to buy myself a crawfish boiling pot and burner, so I can boil my own instead of having to pay enormous prices in restaurants just to eat one of my favorite foods. The last time my son and I went to eat crawfish, we got the all you can eat dinner and it cost me 60 frickin' dollars. That's outrageous! I cannot and will not pay that much again. I can boil my own and have plenty left over to freeze to use in gumbo or etouffee later.

There are places south of Memphis in Mississippi that sell live crawfish, so I will not have to have it shipped in from Louisiana, which would cost me a limb as well. The season is here and with any luck the temps will continue to warm up, so that means it's CRAWFISH & BEER time baby!!

See that's another advantage of boiling the crawfish at home. I can drink beer with them. :-)) I don't like to drink and drive, but on occasion I will have one drink, or two, while I'm out. However, I really try to avoid it, especially if my son is with me. Trying to set an example, you know!

Well, I have to work today, so I need to go get ready.

Y'all have a wonderful Sunday!

Until later... donnap

Clipart Source: clker.com

Spring Forward!

2009-03-07T19:39:00.004-06:00

TICK TOCK! TICK TOCK!

Time to move those clocks ahead 1 hour!

Time to SPRING FOWARD!

Daylight Savings Time begins tomorrow.

I like having the extra daylight, but hate losing that hour until I get used to it.

Don't forget to adjust your clocks tonight before you go to bed and you will not miss the hour at all.

Until later... donnap

Clip Art Source: Discovery Education

Innocence

2009-03-06T06:17:00.003-06:00

The innocence of a child is their most prized, most precious possession. For someone to steal this from them is the most selfish, cowardice, and horrific act a human can do.

We live in a world today where...

no one is safe,

no one can trust,

no one can love.

As we progress, we should improve... but rather we, as a people are decreasing the value of human beings.

"Understand that you will always have one person upon whom you can depend--yourself." --Sonya Friedman

Until later... donnap

Two Wolves

2009-03-05T07:38:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine sent this to me by email (thanks Lori). It's awesome!! I wanted to share the message...

(I did not take this pic, btw...it came in the email)

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'
-----------------------------------------------------

Until later... donnap

I Need Warmth...

2009-03-03T19:03:00.003-06:00

I'm officially sick of the cold weather. I've had enough. I need warmth... NOW!

As the snow melts and the temps remain COLD... you get ice daggers hanging from your house.

(Those were taken w/my little Pentax, so the quality is not so great... sorry.)

I'm already thinking about a trip to Middle TN to visit a few state parks to ride horses, hike, and spend time with my camera. I want green trees, not dead trees... I want water falls, not ice falls... I want to ride horses w/out the need for a heavy coat... I want to see flowers.

Planning a weekend trip late in April after my next class is over. Next class begins March 10, ending April 20, so I will probably go during my off weekend. Unless I get too antsy and go earlier.

Well, I have done something to my right thumb. It started hurting today at the joint all of a sudden and still hurts. Hard to type. Painful. May have to see a doc... ugh.

Until later... donnap

Creole Crawfish Fest-Southaven, MS

2009-03-01T17:10:00.003-06:00

Ok... where do I begin... I'll start with the good stuff. The crawfish tasted very good. Spicy and juicy. For $10, you got a container of boiled crawfish, one corn, and one potato (should have been two). I expected as much, so the price of the crawfish did not surprise me. What else... Oh yes, the zydeco band was really good.

The downside... You had to pay $5 to park (way too much), $5/person to get through the gate (I knew this ahead of time), and then everything you did inside, except listen to the band and dance was extra. Most festivals are like this... ok... no problem... BUT... there was not much to do. It was very small, very little arts & crafts and nothing creole that I could see. So I'm baffled as to why "creole" is in the name of the festival.

Suggestions: have it later in the Spring when it's warmer, have more food booths that serve creole & cajun food (i.e. red beans & rice, etouffee, alligator, sauce picante, seafood), find crafters who make items related to Louisiana, put the band in a bigger area.

Aside from boiled crawfish, all I saw food-wise were hot dogs, philly cheesesteak sandwiches, pizza, and cotton candy, which is not very creole.

I really hate to give it a bad rating, but I was not very impressed... sorry. I doubt I go back to this festival.

Here are the only pics I took...

$10 crawfish plate

Some people were dancing

The band

That's really all I can say... we left and went to The Boiling Point restaurant. Ate a delicious poboy! Yum!

Until later... donnap

Happy Snowy March!

2009-03-01T10:07:00.004-06:00

I took these this morning after my dog rolled me out of bed...

My car is under there somewhere! LOL!

My front yard...

My back yard...

My little grill...

My funny pooch... licking the snow...

So today is the Crawfish Festival... If I can get across the bridge, I'll be there with pics posted later. Wish me luck!!

Until later... donnap

More Snow Pics

2009-02-28T22:56:00.001-06:00

These were taken about 10:45pm... More snow... still falling...

Got A Little Snow Today

2009-02-28T21:12:00.002-06:00

Well, the weatherman was accurate today... we got a little snow. These were taken shortly after it started. It got thicker as the day wore on. Solid white in my yard now. Not sure how many inches, but my guess from looking out the window is about 3-4".

I didn't even get excited this time. LOL! Seen it enough living here in Arkansas. Not so exciting anymore. LOL! Stayed inside all day.

Until later... donnap

My Furry Children

2009-02-28T08:45:00.003-06:00

Let me introduce you to my furry children...

Here's my little girl, Rainbow. She's a calico...very beautiful, sweet and funny! We got her from a fella at work. Thanks BE!

Rainbow loves to lay on the roll bar of my exercise machine... she has the greatest balance. She just hangs there and sleeps. LOL!

Here's my handsome furry boy, Gryffin. He's named after Gryffindor House from Harry Potter of which my son and I are huge fans. He's a great dog! We got him from the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter back home in Louisiana. Very funny, very lovable, and loves his little sister, Rainbow.

*queue eerie music* Looks like something from a horror flick, eh? LOL! He was in the hallway and I was at the computer, so I took a picture and the flash did amazing things with his eyes. LOL!

We love our babies... I've always loved animals even as a young child. My nickname growing up was Ellie Mae, from the Beverly Hillbillies. For those of you who do not have a clue what I'm talking about... the show was about some backwoods folks who hit oil on their land, moved the Beverly Hills to a mansion and it was funny seeing how they viewed the modern world. Ellie Mae loved animals more than humans and I'm kind of like that too.

Enjoy your weekend!

Until later... donnap

Maybe It's Just Me...

2009-02-27T07:23:00.006-06:00

Is it just me or do you agree that people who borrow something should say "thank you." Whether they asked to borrow it or you just let them borrow it because you knew they might like it. Shouldn't the person say THANK YOU? Hmmmm... maybe it's just me!

One thing about me, I stopped loaning out my stuff YEARS AGO because I never got it back in the same shape as when I loaned it out OR I never got it back. SO... if I let someone borrow something, IT'S A BIG DEAL! And to not say "thank you" after you've given it back... well that's just rude, in my opinion. But, maybe it's just me!

Again... maybe it's just me, but if I borrowed something, let's just say a book, from someone and I sent it back to them... I would include a note saying thank you and whether I liked the book or not. Is it just me or do you agree?

Maybe I just expect too much of people. Maybe I expect too much from certain people. Maybe I should have no expectations at all.

*thinking*

*pondering that thought*

*tilting head, making face while pondering that thought*

Naaah... you have to have certain expectations of yourself and those around you. Otherwise, you'll have zero standards and I believe people should live by certain standards. Some people set their standards too high, some too low. I try to keep mine in the middle somewhere, but sometimes I set them above the mid-level range and it's obvious I've accepted low level range standards (refer to post "The Ass Magnet"). LOL!

Where do manners fall in the "standards" range? High, medium, or low? *shruggs shoulders* I don't know... you tell me.

Maybe it's just me, folks... but don't forget to say thank you to people and let people know how much you appreciate them... not only over borrowing stuff, but over anything someone might do for you. There's too much attitude floating in the world today, less communication, and not enough manners. But...

Maybe it's just me!

Until later... donnap

--Want to give a shout out to my buddy, BE. You and W are in my thoughts and prayers today as you say goodbye to W's grandmother. God bless!

Drop the Attitude

2009-02-26T07:47:00.004-06:00

Today, I thought I would share some wisdom with you. I often wonder why a lot of the younger generation today has such attitudes. They act as if the world owes them something and they do not have to earn anything. Where's the gratification and satisfaction in having everything handed to you? Just something that baffles me time and time again. So, this brings me back to cowboys (my friends are thinking..."she can always relate something to cowboys"). The real cowboys work hard w/out thinking about the work. They do what needs to be done and gain a true satisfying experience from working hard for what they get in return.

With that said... I have a book, Cowboy Wisdom, by David W. Stevenson and photography by David R. Stoecklein. First, the photography in this book is OUTSTANDING. I can look through the book over and over, never growing tired. The book is filled with little quotes and statements considered as "cowboy wisdom and wit." Here are just a few of those wise and witty statements:

"The shortest distance between two points is riding with a good friend."

"Common sense ain't as common as one might think."

"Do what needs doin', scratch what needs scratchin'."

"A man is best known for the company he avoids."

"There's no need for a man to be any higher than the back of a horse."

"Forgive your enemies, just don't forget their names."

"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their boots.

That way you're a mile away from 'em and you have their boots too."

Those are only a few of the statements in this book... an interesting and humorous read, plus you get the wonderful photographs by David R. Stoecklein. I love this book and certainly recommend it to anyone. You can buy the book here. It's worth the purchase!

Enjoy your day and drop the attitude... no one OWES you a thing... go out, work hard, and earn what you get. Let the cowboys be your role model!

Until later... donnap

Source for quoted material: Stevenson, D.W. (2005). Cowboy wisdom. Hailey, ID: Stoecklein Publishing

New Template

2009-02-25T21:06:00.002-06:00

OOOOO... Look, I changed my blogger template. Aren't you excited? LOL!

Bored at work right now. Waiting for the Mainframe to come back online, so I can do some more work on inventory.

Very, very, very tired!! Been here since 7:30am... employee called in sick, so I'm filling in until my relief gets here at 11:00pm. *yawn*

I'll be back with something more interesting tomorrow. Well, I'll try to make interesting. ;-)

Until later... donnap

Insomnia... AGAIN!!

2009-02-24T23:18:00.003-06:00

Wow... what the heck is going on with me lately? Several months ago I went through a bout of insomnia where I was waking up in the middle of the night EVERY NIGHT. It was awful. Then it seemed to have subsided and I've been sleeping very well all through the night. NOW... for heavens sake, it's back, but this time I crawl in bed thinking I'm sleepy, maybe sleep for 30 mins and then I'm awake. Can't go back to sleep. So here I am tonight with another round... no one online to chat with either.

I opted for a glass of wine instead of my usual chammomile tea. Should have gone with the tea, but wine seems so much more fun. LOL!

I wish I could pinpoint the reason for this, but I just have no idea. Well, I have a slight idea... there is something on my mind, but I don't know if that's what is keeping me from relaxing enough to get to sleep. Who knows!

Let's google "insomnia"...

*googling insomnia*

Some causes are: stress, anxiety, depression... hmmm, do I have any of these? Could be one or a combo. Caffiene, learned insomnia (worrying about not sleeping), poor sleep habits are some other causes.

"Insomnia becomes more prevalent with age. As you get older, changes can occur that may affect your sleep" (Mayo Clinic). States that sleep often is more restless as you age. Sheesh... how do they define "age?" Does 48 qualify? LOL!

Ok... now we're probably getting somewhere... googled "menopause and insomnia"...

"Insomnia is a common complaint during peri/menopause. This insomnia often takes the form of an inability to sleep through the night. Women often wake up in the wee hours of the morning and have great difficulty getting back to sleep" (Power Surge). This is probably more my problem as much as I hate to have to admit it, but I'm at that age. Nothing to be ashamed of... I'm pretty open about stuff and not very modest. So there you have it... I've just self-diagnosed myself. LOL!

Well, I have a chat buddy now...

*takes another sip of wine*

Until later... donnap

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

2009-02-24T18:15:00.002-06:00

Today is Mardi Gras!!! I'm missing it AGAIN... Boo Hoo! Brought some beads to work and had a king cake shipped in from Randazzo's Bakery in New Orleans. Not the same as being there though. Miss the parades, the throws, the food, the fun... the everything! Ho Hum... it's official...

I'M HOME SICK!!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS EVERYONE!!!

Commercials - WTF?

2009-02-22T21:20:00.003-06:00

Started not to write today, but I've had some commercials on my mind lately. Commercials are really different today than in years past. Remember when cigarette commercials were popular? Well, there are no more cigarette commercials, which is fine with me since I don't smoke and can't stand to be around cigarette smoke. HOWEVER...

With the commercials we have today, both tv and radio, I think I'd rather the cig commercials come back. LOL! Let's take a look at some of the things they advertise today:

At work, I listen to a local rock station and it never fails... several times a day I hear, "Let's talk about sex... not getting any or just want more!" Yeah... ok... I'm not answering that either. LOL!

On tv... here's the one that always gets me laughing... Bob and his big p***s! (trying to be nice here) Bob smiles ALL THE TIME because Bob takes male enhancement drugs to make his dick (ok that didn't last long, did it?) bigger and enhanced. Wooooo.... all the ladies LOVE Bob! LMAO! Stupid commercial. Bob is UGLY... I don't care how big his member (back to discretion) is... I would not be interested in BOB!! Ewwww.... Besides... it's not the size of the ship that matters, it's the motion of the ocean baby!!! :-)

What about the maxi pad commercials? OMG... there's the one where the woman is like a super hero. The water tower springs a leak and she jumps into Super Maxi Pad Woman (SMPW) mode using her pad to capture ALL THE WATER IN THE TANK. Yeah right... come on people! How ridiculous is that?

Bring back cigarette commercials for all I care... just take the crap off that we have to watch now. Sheesh... what a joke!

"Let's talk about sex... not getting any or just want more?" GO SEE BOB!!!

Until later... donnap

Wine Anyone?

2009-02-21T19:39:00.002-06:00

I know diddly about wine except that I want it dry... dislike the sweet stuff very much. I usually stand in the wine aisle guessing at which would be good. So today I went to a wine shop while running errands and asked the guy to recommend a dry white and a dry red that was $15 or under. One thing I do know... you can get a good bottle of wine for around $15 or less. I knew better than to go in and just ask for a recommendation w/out giving him a price range. Yeah right... $40 bottle probably. LOL!

Anyway, he thought a minute and selected a 2006 Merlot from Dynamite Vineyards, Sonoma, CA. $15.99/bottle. Very nice, very smooth merlot. I like it very much and do recommend. I do not like an overpowering wine with a strong taste. I want it smooth and flavorful, which this fits the bill. Will no doubt purchase this again.

The white he selected is a 2007 Chardonnay from Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sonoma County, CA. $13.99/bottle. This wine is wonderful! I really love it. Definitely recommend. I've had some chardonnays before that were very strong and overpowering. This is very smooth and full of flavor. I think I've found me a favorite. Will definitely keep several bottles of this on hand. *having a glass now*

*sip of wine* Oh yum, yum, yum! Delicious!

Want to share a bottle? Come on over! :-)

Until later... donnap

U.S. Navy Releases Al Qaeda Terroist!

2009-02-21T08:34:00.005-06:00

The US Navy today announced that it has released a senior Al Qaeda terrorist after questioning him extensively for 27 days while being held prisoner aboard a US aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea .

In a humanitarian gesture, the terrorist was given $50 US and a white 1962 Ford Fairlane automobile upon being released from custody. The photo below shows the terrorist on his way home just after being released by the Navy.

GO NAVY!!

Gotta love it!! Received this by email from a friend (kudos DF) this morning. Has probably been circulating for a while now, but this is actually the first time I've seen this. PRICELESS!!

Until later... donnap

IRS Help Line = Hot Phone Sex???

2009-02-20T21:00:00.003-06:00

WHAT?? Ok... here's what happened. I finally sit down to file my taxes last night. Get through all the tedious steps of Turbo Tax, find out I'm getting a refund from both fed and state, so I go to efile. Hmmm... I either need my 5-digit pin or my 2007 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). NO PROBLEM! I ALWAYS keep an electronic copy handy.

Hmmm..... which flash drive do I have it on? The 8GB or the 4GB ... OR is it still in My Docs on my computer?

*looked in My Docs* Not there.

*looked on 8GB flash* 2005 & 2006 tax returns are there, but no 2007

*looked on 4GB flash* NOT THERE

By this time I'm getting pissed at myself... some cuss words were yelled... my dog ran under the futon... and I remembered I have a printed copy. Hmmm.... *looked in every place it could be* NOTHING!! Oh wow... I'm really pissed at myself now. Dog scoots further under the futon after he hears more cuss words... worse cuss words than before.

After tearing up every imaginable place this damn return could be, I finally surrendered. Didn't get to bed until nearly midnight. *yawn*

At work today, I'm telling one of my employees what happened. She says, "Oh, don't worry, I can get you a number where you can get your AGI." WOW! Terrific news!!! She makes a phone call... gets me a number...

*dialing the number* WTF??? Ok... when the call connected, I first heard music, thinking ok... I'm immediately thrown on hold... yep, must be the IRS. BUT THEN....

A voice comes on... very unlike IRS reps... sexy and sultry... she wanted to know if I was ready for some hot phone sex with some hot sexy women... WHAAAAT? HOLD THE RAFT, GILLIGAN!! Why is the IRS now offering hot phone sex? Is this part of the Obama stimulus plan? LOL! He can't stimulate the economy, so he'll have the IRS *stimulate* the taxpayers? SHEESH... Talk about desparate!

I hung up the phone, looked around at my employee... must have had a strange look on my face... I told her "THAT was NOT the IRS!!!!" OMG... what a shocker... AND I called the number on a business phone. OH SHIT!! Needless to say, THAT woman was not interested in my AGI. LMAO!

We laughed about it and I finally found my AGI through my student loan application. Completed my efile tonight and all is well... I hope!! At least it will be once I get my money. :-)

Sooo... be careful about the numbers you dial. Make certain you have the right one, unless you're into hot phone sex. If so, let me know... I'll get you the number!

Until later... donnap

Org Leadership Class - Grade

2009-02-19T16:53:00.003-06:00

Real quick post... Happy and proud to announce I managed to earn an "A" in my Organizational Leadership class that just ended. YAY!! Love it! Maintaining my 4.0 GPA... wee hoo!

Until later... donnap

The Ass Magnet

2009-02-18T20:13:00.008-06:00

Everyone fears something-- from small things like spiders and snakes to large things like losing people you love. Do you have one thing you fear the most in life? Some people do--some people don't!

Throughout my life I have not feared much. I've always greeted life headon... a jump right in attitude! However, when I became a mother, life changed. My life was no longer about just me. Life was now about the being growing inside me. My son completely took over my life even before he was introduced to the world; before he left the warm comfort of my womb. For the first time in my life... I feared something--the little being inside me. My son became my fear. Not fear of him--fear of losing him. A fear every mother knows. How do you live with such a fear? You have to let go and let God take over--you pray A LOT!

My son is now 17 years old. I still hold that fear. I don't like to think about losing him. I don't even like thinking about him going away to college. I cannot fathom the thought of not being able to see him every few days. But that time is coming... I know it... I feel it... I fear it.

Now I have a new fear...

As my son gets older and grows more independent, I realize the day is coming when he will not be around... and I will be alone! I have not been alone for an awful long time. Since leaving my husband, my son's father, in Jan 2000, I have not thought about dating or remarrying. I had my son who fulfilled my life very much. I focused on him and gave him my full attention. I've never wanted to date because I feared bringing a jerk in his life and I just couldn't bear it. But over the past year, I can't help but think about my own life, now that my son will be beginning a new chapter of his own that doesn't include a full-time mom. LOL! So what is my new fear?

--Growing old alone--

*shutters* Scary! Although I have joked with my friends about what a great recluse I'd make, the truth is, I really do not want to grow old alone. It's scary to think about, scary to have to face... and I think about it a lot. Too much sometimes. LOL! However, I don't want to be with someone just to keep from being alone... and I certainly have NO interest in marrying again. I just need the right person for me. Unfortunately, I only attract jerks and asses! LOL! A friend told me I was an Ass Magnet!! Funny and apparently true!

When your child, or children, grow up and leave the nest, you begin to feel empty inside. I enjoy time alone, but it gets lonely too. But the funny thing is, I don't think I want someone hanging around ALL THE TIME. Love my space and my independence... love not having to report my every move to someone... love not having to shave my legs everyday. LOL! Oh come on... you knew that was coming. ;-)

All in all, what I've had to face recently and didn't want to face is that I really would not make a good recluse. LOL! I really would enjoy having a good man in my life, but the challenge in that is... finding a GOOD man. Where are they? How do you find a good man when your an Ass Magnet? LOL! Ass Magnet! Too funny. I laugh when I think about her saying that. Love my friends!!

Fears... they can break us if we let them. So, let's not allow them to break us down. I certainly do not live my life curled in a fetal position, but in order to get past a fear, you first have to face it headon. So... this is my headon collision with my fear of growing old alone. *shrugs shoulders* Whatever... such is life... life goes on... and I'll probably end up in a cabin, in the mountains, with a bunch of dogs and cats... with a bunch of asses following me everywhere because after all...

I am the ASS MAGNET!!

*laughing*

Until later... donnap

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

2009-02-17T15:01:00.004-06:00

Looks like there is a light at the end of my tunnel after all... I hope! My thought was I would not finish my Master's Degree until late 2010, but as it seems, barring any complications or set backs, I should finish in April 2010. YAY!! That will work right in with my wanting to move back home next summer after my son graduates high school.

My Academic Counselor built the rest of my class schedule today and the last day of my last class is April 5, 2010. I'll graduate before my son! Imagine that! This is super news for me... gives me some motivation to move forward because I've kind of been burnt out with school. BUT... a light at the end of the tunnel... can you see it? I CAN!!

*donnap is hearing Mardi Gras music in her head*
*second lining to celebrate her good news*

I don't want to get too excited as not to jinx it, but it looks like I'M GOING BACK TO LOUISIANA NEXT SUMMER!!!!! WEEEEE HOO!!!

So much to think about... get a job tops the list. I'm hoping my education pays off for me because I've certainly paid enough for my education. LOL! I'm going to remain hopeful and filled with FAITH!

I firmly believe that things happen in your life for a reason, people come into your life for a reason (even if for only a short time), and whatever is meant for you to have, you will have it. So, if it's meant for me to move back to Louisiana, it will happen. I'm holding out faith that my path will head back south.

Since I've been craving pizza lately, I think I'll cave into my craving tonight and celebrate my good news with pizza and beer! *smacking lips* The diet can resume tomorrow!

Until later... donnap

President's Day

2009-02-16T05:58:00.003-06:00

For those of you think today is celebrated in order to have great white sales at your local department store... well... let me enlighten you! :-)

Today is President's Day... a day to celebrate two great leaders of our country. For "other" great leaders, cities have parades and all-day activities, but for these two great leaders... WHITE SALES. Go figure! I could elaborate my thoughts on that, but we'll just LET IT GO! (Right, T.D. Jakes?)

President's Day is set aside to commemorate the birthdays of:

George Washington, February 22

AND

Abraham Lincoln, February 12.

Some employers give their employees a day off today... NOT MINE! Oh well... even where I worked in Louisiana I did not get President's Day off... BUT... we did get Mardi Gras off.

Enjoy your day!

Until later... donnap

Let It Go!

2009-02-15T19:12:00.003-06:00

You ever get an email or a phone call from a friend that makes you go WOW because he or she is delivering something you needed to read or hear right at THAT EXACT MOMENT in your life? Well, I know I said posts would resume tomorrow, but I just got one of those emails and I'm stilling saying WOW!! (Thank you, Mary!) How do your friends know just what you need at just the right time? GOD, of course! He moves through us all to help friends take care of friends.

A couple of my very close friends will understand why certain parts of this is something I NEEDED to read at this exact time. No one else needs to know! Sorry... Hope you can get as much from this as I did and as I needed.

Before You Can Heal, You Must.....

Let It Go!!

There are people who can walk away from you....
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you.....
Let them walk.!!

I don't want you to try to talk another person into
staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you,
coming to see you, staying attached to you.
When people can walk away from you......
Let them walk!!
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The bible said:
"They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they
were not for us. For had they been of us,
no doubt they would have continued with us."
1 John 2:19

People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go!!

It doesn't mean that they are a bad person
it just means that their part in the story is over.
You've got to know when people's part in your story is over
so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.
You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over.

Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye.
I call it the tenth spiritual gift.... I believe in good-bye.
It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful,
and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay.......
Let Them Go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you
and was never intended for your life, then you need to....
Let It Go!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains.....
Let It Go!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
Let It Go!!

If someone has angered you...
Let It Go!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge....
Let It Go!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction.....
Let It Go!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...
Let It Go!!

If you have a bad attitude.......
Let It Go!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better.....
Let It Go!!

If you're stuck in the past
and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him........
Let It Go!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....
Let It Go!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.....
Let It Go!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed........
Let It Go!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself
and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...
Let It Go!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things.
GOD is doing a new thing for you..............
Let It Go!!!

by T. D. Jakes

WOW... POWERFUL STUFF!

Until later... donnap

Busy, Busy, and Busy

2009-02-15T10:24:00.003-06:00

Today I am very busy trying to finish a paper for class and apologize for nothing more than this post.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. Posting will resume tomorrow!

Until later... donnap

Valentine's Day.... and men

2009-02-14T08:06:00.004-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Hope you have a wonderful day, get lots of chocolates, flowers, dinner, champagne & strawberries, whatever you normally do on this day... and so on and so on.

I'm a bit of a cynic about Valentine's Day because I think men should do nice things for their woman at any point of the year, not wait for a day that might make one feel obligated or pressured to buy chocolates, flowers, and dinner. The same goes for women, but today the subject is men. ;-))

What about people who just begin to date when V-day rolls around... what do you do? There's so much pressure with that, it's really not fair. The man is wondering if she expects something, but he doesn't want to get serious or doesn't like her THAT much and if the woman gets the man something, he'll run for the hills thinking she's trying to TRAP him. LMAO!! Tell me I'm wrong!!! There should be some rules, don't you think? Maybe something like this:

Valentine's Day is to be celebrated IF couples have been dating steadily for at least six (6) months or more prior to February 14. For less than six (6) months, refer to Rule #2.
Occasional, casual sex does not qualify as dating; therefore, you do not have to provide gifts for Valentine's Day. Please refer to Rule #1.
DO NOT buy chocolates for a woman who is dieting... she will slap you... go with flowers ONLY if Rule #1 applies. If not, refer to Rule #2.
If you are unfamiliar with your woman's interests, ASK HER what she would like to do for Valentine's Day... IF Rule #1 applies and if not, refer to Rule #2 and in this case, you might need to refer to Rule #3.
If you do not like what your woman gave you, don't be "polite"... TELL HER, but be nice when you do. Otherwise, you'll get the same thing next year OR Rule #1 and Rule #2 will no longer apply because she has dumped your sorry ass.
If you are not a natural romantic, DO NOT pretend because you only look like a total goof, which is a huge turn off and may result in the cancelling out of Rule #1 and Rule #2.
Last but not least... Never try to impress, JUST BE YOURSELF!! Trying too hard to impress only leads to you never being able to refer to Rule #1 and especially Rule #2!

I really don't understand men, to be honest, and I am convinced there are no more good ones left for us single and single-again gals. Men tell you things they don't really mean... Why? What is wrong with honesty? If a man doesn't really like me or doesn't want to see me anymore, TELL ME... quit all this "polite" shit. That's just a crock and women don't appreciate it. Saying you are being "polite" is just a cover up for a lie or you are just chicken shit. Right ladies??? No games please... seems that's what we get these days, but what we really want is a man who can just be himself, have a good time, and hang out (take that however you want/lol) from time to time.

Men... if all you want is a roll in the hay, then SAY IT... don't pretend you want more from a woman JUST to get her in the sack. She'll either agree or tell you to "go to hell," but you never know... that woman might only want a roll in the hay as well with no commitments (Refer to Rule #2 above). HOWEVER, if you really like a woman, TELL HER, but please mean what you say. Women appreciate honesty in men, at least I do, and I think I speak for the majority of the women out there as well.

Don't try to impress me... just be yourself!

Until later... donnap

Friday the 13th

2009-02-13T08:10:00.004-06:00

Here's a word for you to chew on... paraskavedekatriaphobia. According to Wikipedia, that is the term for having a fear of Friday the 13th (the day, not the movie).

Where did all this fear come from? Why do people fear this day? I hope they realize another Friday the 13th rolls around next month in March! RUT-ROH... as Scooby Doo would say. Do you think there are people who actually stay inside purposefully on this day for fear something evil and/or weird will happen? Probably... bless their hearts!

The day doesn't bother me and although I am not working today, it's not because it's Friday the 13th. I swear...

If you'd like to know more about the origin of this superstition, because I could care less really, but if you are interested, click here to read more from Wikipedia. Knock yourself out (not literally, please)!

Until later... donnap

Fetishes

2009-02-12T20:48:00.005-06:00

Did I get your attention???? LOL!

FETISH (fet-ish)
1. an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

2. any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion:

3. Psychology. any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.

(Above definitions courtesy of Dictionary.com)

That 3rd definition is interesting, don't you think? *raises eyebrow*

------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do people collect things? Kind of funny, huh? Why is it that people enjoy keeping a bunch of senseless junk and not just a couple of items, but ONE OF EVERY KIND, COLOR, SHAPE, ETC! OMG... what is this collecting stuff all about? What drives people to NEED a hundred different refrigerator magnets, 200 hundred teddy bears, and 500 coffee mugs? WTF is that all about? Man... I am SO GLAD I am not one of those people... *sheepish grin*

OK-OK... I admit it... I have a few fetishes! So sue me! Let's see...

I have a strange attraction to refrigerator magnets (listed above), an even stranger attraction to teddy bears (listed above), and an almost psychotic attraction to coffee mugs (listed above) and glassware. Don't even say it... I'm so weird... I know. LOL! My son tells me all the time, "if you bring ONE MORE coffee mug into this house, I'm going to break it!" Gotta love him! :-)) BUT... I sneak 'em in the house. hehehe He can't be with me 24/7, right?

Don't take me to a Starbucks... OMG... most people stand around the "pick up order" counter while their beverages are being prepared, but where do you think donnap stands? Uh huh... that's right... you'll find donnap over by the what? YOU GUESSED IT... the coffee mugs... staring... studying... wondering... *how can I get some of these in the house without my son noticing*

What is it about coffee mugs that I find so appealing? Let me tell you... I don't just like coffee mugs, I f***ing drool when I see some that are kind of different, strange shapes, nice colors, whatever... I LOVE 'EM! And if you ask my son, he'd probably tell you I really do have 500... but I don't *shaking head no*. I really don't have THAT many *shaking head no again*. Nope... JUST a couple *shaking head yes*... not many at all... no siree, maybe... um... let's see... 1,2,3... 4,5...10...12,13, 14... let's just stop there, won't we? Let's move on, shall we...

Of course, there's my cowboy fetish and my fireman fetish *raises eyebrow* *smiles* but I guess those are better left for a different kind of blog, yes?

Until later... donnap

Are you on the LIST?

2009-02-11T06:09:00.002-06:00

Don't you just love those lists that Forbes Magazine puts out about U.S. cities? The latest is the 10 Most Miserable Cities in America. Usually I just take a peek and pay the lists no mind; HOWEVER, I had to post about this list because I've been saying for 2 1/2 years now how much I dislike the Memphis area for specific reasons. Here's proof that I AM RIGHT!! According to Forbes.com, the 10 Most Miserable American Cities are:

Stockton, CA
MEMPHIS, TN
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Modesto, CA
Flint, MI
Detroit, MI
Buffalo, NY
Miami, FL
St. Louis, MO

LOOK AT THAT.... Memphis tops the list at NO. TWO!!!! Well, I didn't need a list to tell me this because there's high crime (1218 violent crimes per 100,000 residents), mean people (guess they are miserable), high city sale's tax rates, and plenty of gov't employees committing crimes. Those were just some of the factors that lead to their #2 rating. Except for the mean people... I threw that in as my own assessment. By that, I mean that people do not speak, they don't say hello as you pass them, they are horrible, discourteous drivers, and I could go on. I have not been able to warm up to Memphis AT ALL. Sorry Memphians, but it's the truth... face it!

NOW... let's take a look at which city DID NOT make that list. The city that everyone is constantly poking fun at, talking down on, and spewing hatred towards because of something that happened nearly 4 years ago. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!

NEW ORLEANS, LA IS NOT ON THE LIST!!!!!

Just had to point that out!! :-)) And of course, Nashville, TN is NOT on the list either, but I knew it wouldn't be there. I love the Nashville area and it's one of the places on my list to move to when the time comes and I can ESCAPE FROM MEMPHIS!

Y'all have a great day!

Until later... donnap

She's A Real Beauty!

2009-02-10T14:08:00.015-06:00

Sunday, I worked for a few hours to fill in for a vacationing employee. When I arrived, I saw our American Flag laying on the file cabinet, folded, but NOT folded properly. Well, I was a bit offended by that... lol! Bothered me a bit, so I attempted to lay it out and fold it myself... the proper way... yes, I sure do know how to fold the flag. Proud of that fact too! Well, it wasn't working out right, so when my relief came in, I asked her to help me with something before I left. Asked her if she ever folded the flag before... she said "no"... so I took her outside and showed her how it was done. The problem I had though was she would not hold it tight enough, but if you are not familiar with folding the flag, it's common to not want to tug on it... I guess!

Anyway, that got me to thinking (go figure that my brain would go in 5th gear) how not enough people respect our American Flag. The younger crowd today does not see the flag as us older folks do... they don't have the same level of respect for her. Disheartening, to say the least!

I wonder how many people have no idea what the stripes and colors mean. Do you know? Well... let me help you out.

There are 13 stripes, alternating red/white, that represent the original 13 colonies when our country began. The 50 stars represent the 50 states of the union. The colors represent the following:

Red represents hardiness and valor
White represents innocence and purity
Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice

The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Red, White, and Blue... whatever you call it... it's still our American Flag! I love my flag and I love the lump I get in my throat when I see her waving majestically in the wind. I cannot look at our American Flag and not smile! She's a real beauty!

Our flag is more than JUST A FLAG... She represents freedom, independence, pride, and honor. When you look at the American Flag you should not simply see a piece of cloth flapping in the wind. You should see what I see... the faces of every American soldier who fought for our freedom, the faces of every American soldier who died for our freedom, and the faces of every veteran who continues to stand and salute in her honor. You should see opportunity, hope, strength, and courage. You should remember the values this country was built on... the freedom she represents... the hope she gives us all. Yes'sir... I love my flag and everything she stands for!

For the proper way to fold the American Flag... please click the link below:

FOLDING THE AMERICAN FLAG

For American Flag Etiquette, follow this link:

RESPECT THE AMERICAN FLAG

You may see this post again or a similar one June 14, as that is Flag Day!

Until later...

donnap

Crawfish Time, Baby!

2009-02-08T07:40:00.005-06:00

First, a shout out to my buddy on her birthday:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DONNA C!!!!

-----------------------------------------------

Now for today's post... Although I'm stuck in a place that has no clue how to eat...LOL...I was able to find a restaurant since I moved up here that prepares wonderful tasting Louisiana food. They even serve boiled crawfish... MY FAVORITE! Yesterday, my son and I had our first crawfish of the season. Sure, they were small, but spiced to PERFECTION! They were nose running good! LOL!

Disclaimer: These pictures are not my best, so I apologize for their lack of quality. Used my little Pentax w/no flash, so they are grainy and a bit blurry. Forgive me!

The restaurant is located in Southaven, MS, about a 30-minute drive from where we live. Owned and operated by Louisiana folks, so that's why the food is good. :-) Before we left home, I had to prepare. The other day at work, I cut my hands several times on some metal seals we use for railcars. Two cuts (there were more than two) were fairly bad and I had a time getting them to stop bleeding... we're talking dripping bleeding. LOL! Of course, I take a low dose aspirin daily, which makes my blood thinner, so my blood naturally flows more easily when I get a cut. And it did! Anyway, I digress... before we left home, I prepared my hands for eating boiled crawfish. HA! Let me tell you, if you don't know... you get that spicy juice in a cut and OH MY GOSH... you'd wish you'd been stabbed instead. LOL! It burns pretty damn bad. So I bandaged my wounds with water block band-aids. You can't hardly see, but there are band-aids on my right index finger and thumb as well. Here's my handy work:

Nice, huh? LOL! OK... I'm ready now. We went to the movie first. Saw Pink Panther 2. Funny as hell... I love Steve Martin! After the movie, we went straight to the restaurant.

We were hoping they would have the All You Can Eat dinners, but we had to settle for a 3 lb dinner. Seemed to take a while for them to bring it out, but we waited patiently...

(bad hair day... don't judge! lol)

While we waited for the reason we went there... we nibbled on Cajun Popcorn, which is fried crawfish tails served with Remoulade and Cocktail sauces. YUMMY! Here's a mouth-watering look:

NOW... it's time for the main course... Oh those beautiful, tasty little creatures! Aren't they just lovely? They tasted WONDERFUL... small, but spicy.

YES... I SUCK THE HEADS TOO!!!!

One of the best parts of eating boiled crawfish!

Man, I'm really working on that baby, huh? Got my cheeks all sucked in... LMAO! Man, were they good. Not all were juicy, but plenty were and I do love 'em JUICY!

Awww... too bad... ALL GONE (only heads left in that plate, sweetheart)...

Ahhh... it was a good day. Movie and crawfish. Spent time with my son. Enjoyed it very much!

Until later...

donnap

The NEW Battle of New Orleans???

2009-02-07T09:42:00.007-06:00

Some crap video is circulating email called "The New Battle of New Orleans" that I guess most people find funny. I received it in my email this morning from a friend... gee, thanks DF, but instead of forwarding it, I replied to him thanking (note sarcasm) him for the wonderful memories of Katrina. After all, I lived it, I sure as hell do not need to relive it. Hope I wasn't too harsh on him, as I tried to be as "polite" as possible, yet still get my point across. What's my point?

First, let me describe the video a little, as I refuse to include a link. The video shows New Orleans at the time of Katrina, the flooding, the devastation to the city, and of course all of the retards who stole TVs, beer, and other junk they really did not need. The song playing is "The Battle of New Orleans" only the words have been changed depicting a horrible vision of New Orleans. So... that's the gist of the video... let's move on...

Now, please don't misunderstand, I DO NOT in any way condone the acts and behaviors of those RETARDS who committed burglary, shot at the helicopters, or even the ones who just sat around waiting on the gov't for assistance. All of that pissed me off as much as all of you. HOWEVER... what I think most people looking in from the outside fail to know and understand is how many MORE great people were affected by this tragedy. You all have only seen what the damn media showed you, but you don't know what the good, hard-working people of New Orleans (and surrounding areas) had to go through. You are ONLY seeing a micro fraction of the situation and fail to realize that 3-4 times more people lost their homes, their possessions, even some family and friends. And on that note... I really, REALLY resent and am offended by the one picture in that video showing a body floating in the water. HOW DARE SOMEONE DISRESPECT PEOPLE LIKE THAT? THAT, my friends, read carefully DF... is HIGHLY uncalled for.

People judge New Orleans based on the few thousand morons who acted so stupid during a time of tragic need. That's very unfair and unfortunate. Think of all the good people who are still, after 3 1/2 years, trying to rebuild and get back home. New Orleans has a lot more to offer than what you saw after Katrina, so WAKE UP PEOPLE! Quit punishing all of the good people, like all of my friends, who went through a living HELL after those levees broke. A LIVING HELL! Quit focusing on the rot gut that has given New Orleans such a bad rep since Katrina and think about the people who deserve better.

I can't state this any better than what I wrote in my reply to my friend, so I'll quote my reply:

"I'm just a little tired of everyone being so down on a city that has terrific qualities and good people, but y'all only want to focus on the retards who don't deserve New Orleans and its surrounding areas. Yes, it's not the same city it once was, but it still possesses the same qualities. All of the good people are still struggling to get back home. Please don't judge them or the city based on the sludge that poisoned the minds of the nation. I still love New Orleans and I've said if I move back to Louisiana I would not move back to the New Orleans area, which is still true. I'd move closer to my family and best friend because I need them as much as they need me."

I'm not mad at my friend... he just pushed a button this morning! He's not the only one who sends me crap like that about the aftermath of Katrina. So PLEASE... people, LISTEN UP... quit sending me that crap. I LIVED IT, I don't want to RELIVE it. DROP IT ALREADY! Katrina is over, New Orleans is trying to get back in shape, and I hope they do... better than ever before.

Don't send me pictures of a flooded New Orleans... those only provide me with a big ole knot in the pit of my stomach because I hate seeing my home go through such devastation. I get ill when I see those pictures... I don't care to relive that... thank you very much.

To all of my friends who continue to call New Orleans home... I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH and this post is for YOU!!!

Until later...
donnap

P.S. To DF... don't know if you'll read this, but please know I still love ya (don't take that literally)... still friends... no hard feelings. Keep on keeping on, dude!! :-))

Think I'll Have A Beer

2009-02-06T18:47:00.004-06:00

On the way home tonight, I stopped at the store for a few things--milk, cereal, water, beer, toilet paper--WAIT A MINUTE! Hold your horses lady! BEER? Yeah, not something I do often, but sometimes... sometimes... you just gotta have a beer. Why is that? Why do you just have to have a beer sometimes? What does beer do for us... hell, the question is what it does TO us not FOR us. LOL!

Beer is best ice cold... why is that? You can drink water at room temperature, iced tea, soft drinks do not necessarily have to ice cold, but BEER... man... it taste sooo good when it's ice cold, doesn't it? I mean, you wouldn't be enticed to stop in for a beer somewhere that advertised "LUKE WARM BEER SERVED DAILY" would you? BUT NOW... "ICE COLD BEER"... say it slowly... ICE - COLD - BEEEER... that makes your mouth water, doesn't it? Hell, I'm drooling now (you are too, huh?) and I have five more in my fridge. :-))

My problem though is I'm dieting, so I have to watch how many I drink. Of course, I drink Coors Light, *thinking about the calories* but let's face it... it's not zero calories. How many calories are in a Coors Light? Hmmm.... *googling* HEY... good news... I just googled "calories coors light" and found out there are only 102 calories in a 12oz bottle! SWEEEEEEEET! I bet I can have another one tonight! :-)) I bet I will!

Some things go better with beer too, don't they? A hot summer day, good friends, boiled crawfish, football games... YES... boiled crawfish! It's very, very difficult to eat boiled crawfish w/out drinking beer. Both, the beer and the crawfish just taste better. They want to be paired together... they need each other... I think it's a law *shaking head yes*.

*huge sigh* But of course, tomorrow my son and I are going to eat some boiled crawfish, but I will not be drinking beer. Bummer! Some rule about not drinking and driving my son learned somewhere. Probably from his crazy mom... what's up with that? How dare her teach her son good morals and good sense? How dare he actually LISTEN! Oh well, I'll live through it. LOL! See why I need my son around... he keeps me grounded.

Well, I think it's about time for another beer folks! Don't worry, I'm not driving anywhere tonight... just have school work to do. Bummer #2!

Go... get out of here... go drink a beer!!!!

Until later...
donnap

You Know Me So Well...

2009-02-05T15:06:00.001-06:00

My close friends know me so well! ☺My bestest friend down in Louisiana called me today JUST to tell me that when she was eating lunch today, a man walked into the place who caught her eye. She immediately thought of me! LOL! DC, you know me SO WELL.

He was wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, button down shirt, and she even noticed the Wrangler jeans! Good girl, DC! ☺ She proceeded to boast about how good-looking he was… George Strait type good-looking, she said, teasing me. I was driving back to work... nearly wrecked the damn car.

YEAH BABY! You just can’t get any better looking than George, but of course he was good-looking… he’s a cowboy! My friends know I love them cowboys. ☺ The only problem with her recap is she didn’t get me a picture. LOL! TAKE YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO! LMAO! Oh well, maybe next time…

Now… my other best friend, I have two, sent me something the other day because she knows me oh so well too. Ms. AMP did have a picture though (sweeeet)… so this picture was… hmmm… *thinking* … well… maybe I’ll keep this story between she and I. LOL! I would hate to cause us some *stiff* embarrassment. Might be *hard* to explain, if you know what I mean! *raised eyebrow*

Until later…
donnap

P.S. Do you think if I ask Santa AGAIN this year, he’ll bring me a cowboy for Christmas? ☺

Metamorphosis!

2009-02-04T18:58:00.013-06:00

I've been on a weight loss mission since April 2008 and although I got off to a slow start, I'm really doing well now. As of this morning, I've dropped 43 lbs total! I have 19 more lbs to go to reach my goal, which I'm hoping to accomplish by April. I'm looking GOOOOD, if I say so myself! LOL! (Those close to me know I never talk about myself in that manner; never try to draw attention to myself either, so this is a stretch for me. lol)

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to see how I've morphed over the last few months, so I've added some pictures for you to see how I've changed. Here we go:

December 2007

2008 (not sure of month)

July 2008

September 2008

December 2008

January 2009

Today

Much Needed Break!

2009-02-03T18:41:00.007-06:00

I'm struggling with a subject tonight... probably because I'm so tired after the frustrations from last night trying to post my assignments for class. You would think with all the money the university charges they could at least spend some to ensure we have a working server. That's the woes of going to school online, but after having a mini-breakdown last night when I emailed my Academic Counselor (bless her heart), I finally got the assignments posted. My AC called me today and we're good! I did apologize.

Anyway... as you know and can see, I usually write some pretty long posts, but tonight... I'M TAKING A BREAK! :-))

I'll sign off with something I'm looking forward too:

The 4th Annual Creole Crawfish Festival

Southaven, MS - Snowden Grove Park

March 1, 2009 - 12pm to 6pm

I cannot wait to get some boiled crawfish!!

Ok... I'm tired... going to bed early tonight! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Until later...
donnap

Dieting? ...don't eat salad!

2009-02-02T05:45:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I wanted a salad for lunch. I love Zaxby's salads, but wasn't sure about the nutritional aspects since I am dieting. You would think salad, any salad, is good for you, right? WRONG!!!! Being the "thinker" that I am, I began to analyze and compare the nutritional values of a Zaxby's Grilled Chicken House Salad with an Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich from Wendy's. After I got some preliminary figures, I added a sour cream & chives baked potato to the Wendy's sandwich and here's what I found:

Zaxby's Grilled Chicken House Salad

Total Calories: 607
Fat Calories: 268
Sodium: 1515 mg
Cholesterol: 135 mg
Sat. Fat: 13 g
Potassium: 0

Wendy's Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich
w/Sour Cream & Chives Baked Potato

Calories: 640
Fat Calories: 100
Sodium: 1000 mg
Cholesterol: 75 mg
Sat. Fat: 3.5 g
Potassium: 2060 mg

Look at the difference!! Although the sandwich has a few more calories, check out the differences in the other areas. The sodium in the salad is over 1500 mg... that's HUGE. The Saturated Fat content is major... 13 g vs. 3.5 g! The sandwich and potato even have a lower cholesterol content AND less calories from fat. The salad offers zero potassium while the Wendy's meal offers a whopping 2060 mg of potassium, which is necessary for your daily dietary intake. INCREDIBLE!

Soooo... donnap had lunch from Wendy's yesterday!! Wee Hoo! Few more calories, but the rest of the nutritional aspects were far less than the salad. Who would have thought? NOW... if you get a salad with fried chicken on it... LOOK OUT... that raises the calories to over 700 with over half of those calories from fat.

DON'T DO IT... STEP AWAY FROM THE FAST FOOD SALADS!!

You are better off getting salad fixings from the store and making your own. That way, you can control the nutritional value and you know what you're putting in your body.

I was just amazed at my findings and so happy I'm a THINKER!

Until later...
donnap

The Secret

2009-02-01T08:35:00.015-06:00

I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about today, but one of my good friends (thank you sonjap) sent me a link to a video by The Offspring that reminded her of me. When she told me why, I was actually touched that she felt comfortable with the subject knowing so much about my past. I appreciated her being so open with me, but then again, she has always given me great support, as have many of my other friends. THANK YOU, FRIENDS!!! I love y'all!!

Some say this is a delicate subject... WHY? It should not be delicate because of the damage it causes its victims. The inner torture, pain, and imprisonment are enough to make a person resort to suicide. What goes on inside a person when he or she endures such a traumatic event cannot be understood or even remotely imagined by another person unless you've lived it. What is this monster that I write about today?

CHILD ABUSE

Delicate subject? No... not anymore... at one time, yes, but never again... we're going to lay it on the line right here today.

I think...I analyze...I wonder...but sometimes I don't laugh

I think about what makes a person want to abuse children, whether it be physical or sexual, it doesn't matter, as it's all abuse and renders a child helpless. The damage abuse does to a child is unthinkable and it goes so much deeper than the act itself. I think that's what most people fail to realize. What happens to this child is carried into his or her adult life. Not only is the child robbed of innocence, the adult is robbed of knowing the person he/she should be, could have been.

Outside you have a seemingly normal life and personality. You smile, joke with friends, laugh, and present a normal person (whatever normal might be). However, inside you are fighting a battle... a sanity battle. Inside you are crying, you are depressed so deeply, you sometimes wonder if you'll make it through another day. There's a constant turmoil going on inside your soul, one that you cannot understand. Outside you are an adult, but inside a child remains because that child is still trying to understand what happened to him/her. Although it happened in childhood, the trauma never goes away. You have to live with it THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! You have to live with the memories, the flashbacks, the guilty feelings because somehow you feel it's your fault... and the worse part is you have to live with THE SECRET. What a horrendous thing to do to a child.

How do I know so much about all of this? Well, if you haven't figured it out already... I am a SURVIVOR... repeating... a SURVIVOR of childhood sexual abuse. I was robbed of my innocence and the person I could have been/should have been. Excuse me, while I write that again...

I'M A SURVIVOR!!!!

Yeah... that feels good! It took me 34 years before I found out I could heal and actually recover from this, but when I realized it, I began my journey. For those of you who wonder why abuse victims need a healing period... because abuse controls every detail of your life. There is not a day that goes by that something does not remind you of what happened. It could be a smell, a song, a word, or just an everyday event. Abuse affects EVERYTHING in your life, from the way you put your clothes on to the way you relate to people. EVERYTHING!

My journey began in 1998... for those of you who have wondered why I use 98 so much in my email addresses and passwords... there you go, there's your answer. 1998 was a liberating year for me... I began a journey to free me from a monster that lived within me. Don't think it was easy... wow... it was the hardest thing I've ever done and it took years before I felt this comfortable with being so open about abuse. But it's a necessary step in the healing process. A process that can either make you or break you.

The process is very tough because you have to face the past, relive it to bring it to the forefront of your mind. We spend years pushing back those memories, repressing them, that we end up not being able to remember over half our childhood. It's true! The big question is... does it ever go away? NO-NEVER. This is something an abused person has to live with all his/her life; it NEVER GOES AWAY. But... you can learn to face it in order to not allow the abuse to have control over you. You learn to control and tame the monster. I'm at that point... I opened up a big ole can of WHUP ASS on him, roped him, threw him to the ground, and my hands are held high (those of you who like the rodeo will understand that), but the only difference is, I'm not releasing the rope! *evil grin* I'm in control now!!! Yeah baby!

So, I do spend time on occasion thinking about why people abuse, trying to pick it apart in my natural analytical style, but this is one I can only continue to wonder about because there is absolutely NO REASON OR EXCUSE to abuse a child. These are sick, sick people who will never change and never stop abusing. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. No one should.

In 1998, I was broken, but today... my pieces fit together JUST FINE! Although when I reflect on my past sometimes, I get a bit emotional, the best part is, I know I'm still in control. The abuse no longer controls me, which makes me a true survivor and feeds my courage to face each day knowing I'm free, I'm healthy, and I'm ME!

Y'all have a wonderful day!

Until later...

donnap

P.S. Here's the link to The Offspring's video... listen carefully to the words... it's a great song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqvrhSI5siw

10 Things...

2009-01-31T10:42:00.006-06:00

Do you ever think about the one person in your life that has always been there for you no matter what? That one person who knows you better than anyone on the planet... and they like you anyway! LOL! Yeah, that person you call a BEST FRIEND! I have many wonderful friends, but there is one lady who stands out above the rest because for one thing, we've known each other for 42 years... WOW... that's a damn long time, huh? Seems like only yesterday though that we met, living across the street from each other in north Baton Rouge (part of the Iberia St gang) and becoming good friends. GEEEE... was it really 42 YEARS AGO??? That's amazing! Anyway, I miss her a lot and was thinking this morning about the things I like about her the most, so I thought I would list 10 things I love and admire about my best friend, Donna C. Hopefully, it will make you think about those special people in your life. Here goes:

I love the way she smiles ALL THE TIME no matter what's going on in her life, good or bad.
I love the way she never holds a grudge when relationships do not work out (i.e. boyfriends, marriage, friends, etc.)
I love the way she always seems to call me at just the right moment because I'm either upset, worried, or just having a bad day.
She's a fabulous mother to her daughter and I admire her parenting techniques and wisdom.
No matter how many bad things happen to her or whatever seems to be falling apart in her life, she NEVER GETS DEPRESSED or feels hopeless; she KEEPS THE FAITH; always positive.
I love the way she was more worried about the employer who laid her off than the fact she no longer had a job.
She allows me to be silly, goofy, weird, and dumb. We laugh A LOT when we're together and I miss laughing so much.
She doesn't judge people.
She has a kind, special spirit and soul that allows her to always see the good in people.
Last, but not least... she knows more about me, inside and out, than anyone on the planet and yes, ladies and gents... SHE LIKES ME ANYWAY!!!

With people like her in your life, you can never go wrong! Thank you, Donna C, for being a part of my life for sooooo long and sticking with me, even when I was not as supportive of you as I should have been. One day all our dreams will come true... of course that would mean we'd be sitting on the front porch of our ranch in Montana, drinking some Coors Light beers, watching our cowboy ranch hands bend over while mending fences or something. *raises eyebrow*

*slipped into deep thought*

*thinking...*

*still thinking...*

*shakes head to snap back into reality*

One thing I have always found amazing about our friendship is after we reconnected a few years ago (about 8 years, I guess) after a long time period of lost connections, we were talking on the phone and one of us mentioned something we've always wanted to do and if we ever had the money, we'd make it a reality... move to Montana, buy a ranch, and live in the open country with the mountains as our backdrop. We both had, and still have the same dream. One day... one day!

I love you, girl! Miss you lots!

Until later...
donnap

And Babies Make Fourteen!

2009-01-30T21:05:00.002-06:00

WHOA! This lady in California just delivered octuplets... count 'em... that's EIGHT!! The kicker to this story is she already had SIX and she's only 33 years old. FOURTEEN kids? Crazy.

Some fertility doctors are upset because the lady's fertility doctor should never have treated her since she already had six children. I agree with them... where does the need for fertility come in. You already have six kids lady... ENOUGH!

You might think that it's her business how many kids she wants to have, but consider this... who's going to end up supporting all those children? WE ARE, FOLKS! Our tax dollars are going to go straight to her and people like her because they have no regard for moderation, restraint, and control. Reports indicate the lady lives with her parents in a modest house. No reports as to whether she's even employed. OH YEAH... we the taxpayers will be supporting those 14 kids.

Until later...
donnap

Follow Up to Peanut Butter Woes

2009-01-30T20:43:00.002-06:00

On the news tonight they reported that the company in Georgia that distributed the tainted peanut butter products contained peanuts NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Mold and roaches were found in the plant and probably in the food products. ACK... have to fight back the urge to vomit!

How do people have the nerve to treat other humans this way? I will never be able to understand how human beings can knowingly sell tainted products to other human beings. They devalue human life showing utter disrespect for all people. I feel ill just thinking about this.

donnap

Peanut Butter Woes & Cowboys

2009-01-29T22:16:00.003-06:00

I bet you're wondering how the two are connected... Read on...

What in the world is going on with organizations these days? First we have to deal with the unethical practices of companies like Enron, WorldCom, etc. where people lost their life savings because of some selfish I-D-10-Ts. NOW we have to deal with a company trying to kill us all with salmonella poisoning by eating products with peanuts, peanut butter, and this paste they sell to large food companies. Today I hear the plant knew about the problems with mold and shit present where they process the food products. Today I learned the company knew the products were tainted. KNEW THE PRODUCTS WERE TAINTED! Apparently, they would test a portion and if it failed, they would test a different portion and so on until they got a pass. WHAAAAT? Is there no such thing as ETHICS anymore? Is there no such thing as CARING about your customers anymore? Is there no such thing as CONCERN anymore in the business world? Apparently all of these things are rare in the 21st century.

I have book called "Cowboy Values" written by James P. Owen. The subtitle is Recapturing What America Once Stood For. It's a great book, so if you get a chance, read it!! I recommend it highly. I'd quote some stuff from it, but it's out on loan right now. But the book explains how cowboys live by a code, sort of an unspoken code, where things like honor, courage, and respect for others is high priority to the American Cowboy. A cowboy's word is his/her bond and it actually means something and it's honored unlike business today where those values seem almost nonexistent. It's sad really... Owen also points out seven core values of the cowboy:

Courage
Optimism
Self-reliance
Authenticity
Honor
Duty
Heart

These are values everyone should live by, especially in business. Things like those values are important to cowboys and they stand by them and more importantly LIVE THEM. Cowboys' principles are built around loyalty, honesty, and courage. We could all be a lot more like the American Cowboy!

Man, I tell you... Cowboys are the greatest people in my book! I've felt this way about them since I first met a real one many years ago and used to hang out with cowboys. :-) Should have never stopped hanging with the cowboys and cowgirls. They're some of the greatest people on this Earth because of what they stand for, what they live by, and just because they are true to themselves, their friends, their family, and their way of life.

Yep... the business world today can learn an awful lot from the cowboy. We need to seriously bring back a code of ethics in this world that has long escaped corporate America.

"Cowboy Values"... get the book... read it... you'll love it!

Cheers,

donnap

Ice-Ice...Baby!

2009-01-29T18:07:00.007-06:00

HOLY COW! Yesterday I took my first drive in icy conditions. Guess what I discovered? I DID NOT LIKE IT!! LOL! As I attempted to pull out onto the highway from my neighborhood to go to work, my wheels spun a bit and my car slipped a little and I thought... Oh Hell No!! Made it out onto the highway, deciding I'd get on the Interstate down the road a bit. Saw a car pull out of an intersection as I was driving like Miss Daisy... the car's wheels spun, the car skidded, I slowed down (if that was actually possible) and my only thought at that moment was:

GET YOUR ASS BACK TO SOUTH LOUISIANA, IDIOT!!!

But I persevered... kept driving... sloooowly, playing it safe... the whole time thinking of that bridge... the bridge... what about the bridge... Over the Mississippi River. Is it safe, is it icy, will people drive safely, AM I GOING TO DIE TODAY!! LMAO! Ok... it wasn't that bad, but my mind stayed on the bridge. Here it comes... I made it... lots of traffic ahead of me. I thought I was driving slow before, but now... NOW... whew! The traffic was moving less than 10 mph. THANK YOU, GOD, I thought! It was slushy and rough and OMG... I was never so glad to get to work than yesterday morning.

I'm such a wimp, huh? I'm sure some of you are thinking that. Poor little Looziana girl can't drive on ice! LOL! Whatever!!! *rolls eyes* HOWEVER... at least I did it instead of calling in and not going to work at all. Huh? Huh? Like some people did. HEY... IF I MADE IT over the ice, anyone could have. LOL! NOW who's the wimp??? HA!

See how I turned that around? ;-)

Cheers!

donnap

Big Pet Peeve

2009-01-28T17:10:00.004-06:00

I have a lot on my mind today, but I'm going to write about one of my big pet peeves that involves a very good friend of mine. (Gee... hope she doesn't mind! lol)

First... I have some great people in my life, not many close friends, but I only need a few! I only wish they were closer, in distance, to me. Or maybe I should state I wish I was closer, in distance, to them. Hmmm.... *tilts head in thought* Ok... I'm getting off subject! One of those people came to live in the United States from Finland a few years ago. The process to get over here was HORRENDOUS for them (friend, hubby, child, cats) because they had to go through 10 kinds of hell to get the paperwork pushed through. NOW... it seems every year they have problems involving delays getting their visas renewed in order to stay in this country to work and live. WTF? Do you mean to tell me we can allow, and do allow a ton of illegal immigrants to come into this country, give them jobs and seemingly more rights than Americans, but we cannot help honest, hardworking, good as gold people who are trying to live here LEGALLY??? I'll write it again... W-T-F? This mindset does not set well with me and I wonder what the hell is happening to our country?

I do understand we have to be careful who we allow in this country since 9-11, but WAKE UP people, IF we'd been more careful in the first place, would 9-11 have ever happened? (I think...I analyze...I wonder) It seems to me we allow the terrorists and illegals to breeze on in welcoming them with open arms and no paperwork delays while the good folks from other countries are put through the wringer, bogging them down with delay after delay. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE, AMERICA? The problem with all of this is it makes people WANT to go the illegal route because it's such a nightmare going through legal channels. However, I applaud my friend for sticking with it and doing things the RIGHT way. *APPLAUSE* I'm so proud of her and her family because I know the headaches and heartaches she's been through. Breaks my heart... makes me angry... and makes me sad that they have to endure such CRAP in my United States.

I LOVE MY COUNTRY... but let's try harder to get it right when great people want to join us!

Cheers,
donnap

Welcome to my mind!

2009-01-27T21:15:00.003-06:00

My time is occupied mostly in thought. I have to think at work, at home, in school, and I think in life in general. I think about things then pick them apart to try to figure these things out. Drives me crazy... and those who know me well because I usually share these thoughts with them. Sorry y'all! LOL! I also tend to have a warped sense of humor, finding humor in little things that others do not, so read my posts lightheartedly unless I state otherwise. :-) Anyway, to give my friends a choice now, I'll put my thoughts in this blog and hope you'll come back to read often.

Cheers,
donnap