Happy Saturday!
(what's left of it)


I hope you all had a great day today! We finally got some rain today...all of about 2 minutes worth! I slept most of the day, but when I left work this morning they were calling for rain all day. Ha! Fat chance! But, I guess we will take what we can get. When I got up this afternoon, had a wonderful dinner going. He fixed meatloaf, masked potatoes, corn, and rolls. It was absolutely delicious!!! What a guy!



The boys just finished up their second week of school and they are both doing great!! Tanner is loving kindergarten and gets good notes from his teacher each day. Austin is loving switching classes still and he is doing fantastic in all of his classes as well. My classes are going well too. I have my first big test is Anatomy & Physiology on Tuesday, so I will probably study all night tonight.

My sister is coming over in the morning to watch the NASCAR race with us. I don't get off work until 8:00 in the morning, so I guess I'll only be getting a few hours of sleep! But that's okay, because I am looking forward to spending time with my sister and my niece! My niece's birthday is Tuesday, so I am going to have to get her something really special for her birthday. We are all gathering at their place on Monday night for cake and such. It should be a lot of fun!

Well, I have to be at work in 45 minutes, so I better get off here. I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend!
-hugs-

Good Morning!



I thought I'd stop in and post real quick before I head off to school! I don't have much going on thus far, but wanted to say hi to everybody! It's cloudy outside, so maybe we'll get lucky and finally get some rain today! Well...gotta go get ready for class! Y'all have a super day! I'll be back to visit everyone when I get home.

Here's my Friday Five:

1. Are you going to school this year?
Yep! I've been back in school for almost three years now! :o)

2. If yes, where are you going (high school, college, etc.)? If no, when did you graduate?
I am attending college at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

3. What are/were your favorite school subjects?
My favorite subjects has always been English & Literature

4. What are/were your least favorite school subjects?
Math! I am not a math person!

5. Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Why was he/she a favorite?
Yes...Mrs Edington was my most favorite teacher. She was my Home Economics teacher. After high school, she was Austin's (my oldest son) very first baby sitter!

-hugs-

Hello Friends!

I've had a rather busy day today. I got home from work about 1:00 this morning, got into bed around 1:30, got up at 8:30 and I've been going ever since! I'm really starting to get tired! I had class plus my lab today, so it was my long day on campus. I had to be back at work at 4:00, so here I am again, posting from work! I asked one of our officers to leave the door unlocked to where this computer is so that I could do some research for school. I love this computer! It is so much faster than my home PC. I will be so glad when we can DSL from my house. I hope it's not too busy here at work tonight so that I can get some serious studying done for my Anatomy & Physiology class...we've got our first big test on Tuesday.

I really am missing my boys. The only time I see them on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays is when they come in to kiss me by on their way out the door for school. I get to talk to hubby on the phone during the day, but I don't get to talk to my little guys at all unless they call me here before they go to bed. I just keep telling myself that in the end, it will all pay off because I will have my education!

It is still miserably hot here. My lawn is just about dead and we are still under a burn ban. It was raining when I got out of class today, it rained so hard on me today on my way to work that I had to pull over. When I got back into our town...DRY. It hadn't rained a drop here. UGH! We really do need some relief here. If you've got rain where you are and could spare some...send it our way!!! :o)

Well, I better get off here and try to get some studying done. Y'all have a great night!
-hugs-

What a day!!!

I have tried to log on to the Internet for hours upon hours today, and just couldn't get through. I thought something was wrong with my ISP, so I called them and tried to get them to fix it. They couldn't find anything wrong with it. Then...I tried to call hubby and the call wouldn't go through. Low and behold...the phone lines were down!!! How frustrating is that?!? At least I finally figured out what the problem was! I am posting from work now...I have been going insane without Internet access all day! UGH!! :o) I called the house a few minutes ago and the phone lines are finally working. Apparently, it was a county-wide thing. When I got to work, the 9-1-1 phones were not working properly either. At any rate...things are back to normal now!

I had class this morning. You know, I am really worried that this intructor that I have on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is just going to drop dead in class one day. He seems so old and fragile and he told us last week that he has been having kidney problems. He can't stand up for any length of time because he tires out so easily. It really worries me. I think maybe it is time for him to retire. He seems to really enjoy what he's doing. He's a chemist (among other things), and has been for 50 years, and is very intelligent. He's just too sick to be a teacher. Bless his heart...

Well, I guess since I am at work, I better get off here. I will try to sign on again later before I go home and try to visit some of my reads tonight. I hope you've all had a wonderful day!

-hugs-

...Good morning...


How is everyone today?!? I hope you're all having a great week so far. Mine is off to a good start I suppose. I have discovered that I am going to be losing a little bit of weight this semester!! LOL The reason is because I am having to walk from the parking lot in the "back 40" to get to the part of campus where I need to be. You wouldn't believe how far I am having to park from class! It's not so bad now, but when it is 20 degrees outside...oh, it's going to be cold! Speaking of weather, we are still in the middle of a drought here. It's terrible. Now, don't get me wrong, I love summer time but it is just so dry. The temperature is at least 100 every day, the heat index gets up to 110, we've not had any rain in weeks, and now we're under a burn ban. I know this must be really hard on the farmers and those that work outside.

My classes are going well. I am really enjoying my Anatomy & Physiology class. My Chemistry class is going to go well too...all of our tests are going to be open book!! Can't beat that! This is the first time I've ever gone to class during the day...I usually go at night. There is a big difference! All the young kids that live off their mom and dad's money go during the day. They can be really annoying! Freshmen fresh out of high school...you'd think they would act a lot older than they do! I realize that not all college freshmen are that way, but some of them really need to grow up!

I guess I've rambled enough, so I will go. Gotta get ready for class. Y'all have a super day!

Testing

Hi!

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a great weekend. Gosh, it is one hot day here. It's over 100 degrees outside! The heat index is like 110. I just rolled out of bed...got home from work at 8:30 this morning and I was tad bit tired. I usually try not to sleep so late on Sundays since I am off, but I was really tired. I think I have just run myself too much this past week.

I don't have much planned for my days off other than school. I bought some new graphics this weekend and I would like to switch my blog over to those. They are really pretty graphics from Buttercup Graphix. I've just recently discovered her work and she has some really fantastic stuff! I can't wait to get those graphics up so you can all see them. I would like to come up with some sort of new layout, but I have yet to make up my mind. I need to do a lot of updating and re-arranging here, so be ready for lots of changes!

Well, not much else is going on, so I guess I will close for now. All my boys are outside working on hubby's truck. He's got a 1965 Chevy pick-up that he re-did a few years ago and now he's wanting to repaint it. It's white now, but he's got an itch to re-do it. I guess if he enjoys being out in this sweltering heat, more power to him!

Y'all have a great Sunday!
...hugs...

Hello!

Happy Friday! I hope you've all had a wonderful week. Please forgive me for not blogging and visitng much this week. It's been a hectic week for me. With the kids starting back to school, me starting back to school, orthodontist appointment, work, etc...I've just run my butt off this week! Things are starting to settle down now and we should all be settled into our new schedules by the end of the weekend.

Here's my Friday Five:

1. When was the last time you laughed?
Last night! My best friend Amber stopped by to see me at work and we visited for quite some time...she always makes me laugh.

2. Who was the last person you had an argument with?
My oldest son, Austin. We had an argument last week.

3. Who was the last person you emailed?
The last person I sent an e-mail to was a group that I belong to, Website Mommies.

4. When was the last time you bathed?
Yesterday morning...I will be taking a nice long bath in the Jacuzzi here in a bit. :o)

5. What was the last thing you ate?
I just had a hamburger and fries at lunch. We went to a little "hole-in-the-wall" place called the Cottage Cafe. They have really good home cooking there.

I went to class this morning and had lunch with one of my girlfriends and my hubby. It was nice to sit and visit! Now...I am going to visit all my blog buds and then I am going to take a nap. I have to work midnight until 8:00 a.m. tonight, so I'll need the rest. Before I go, I want to share this picture with you...it's my son and me on his first day of kindergarten (if you look real close, you can see my braces, but the scan didn't turn out very well with this picture for some reason)...



Have wonderful Friday and enjoy your weekend!
-hugs-

Whew!

It is hot outside!!

The temperature here is 101 right now with a heat index of 111. Geez!!!

What a week this has been! We all started back to school this week and it has been busy, busy, busy!!!

Austin and I both started back on Monday. He seems to really be enjoying it so far. I think changing classes makes him feel big. My little guy is really enjoying kindergarten. I can't believe he is actually in "big boy" school. It was really hard for me to leave him there. I did well while we were there, but as soon as I got into the car I cried! I know, it sounds crazy, but well...he is my baby!! I took pictures, so I'll be sure to post some for you all to see when I get them back.

Other than school and work, it's been a quiet week so far here (of course, that keeps us busy enough). I promise to visit you all tonight when I get home from work! Have a wonderful day!
-hugs-

Happy Sunday!

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend! Chad and I had a great time at the party we went to. It was nice to get out and do something on the weekend, without the boys. We hardly ever get to go out and it will be even harder since I am starting back to school tomorrow. I rented us a DVD today, so we'll be curling up on the couch together to watch that later. I got Bringing Down the House. I have heard that it is really funny, so I hope we like it!

Austin is home from Chicago! We had to go pick him up from my dad this morning and I think he is glad to be home. I think he is even actually ready to go back to school tomorrow. He's had a very busy summer and it'll do him some good to have some down time from all the running around. Today is his 10th birthday. Can you believe it?!? My son is 10 years old!!! He is so excited to have 2 digits in his age! LOL We are having the family over tonight and we are going to grill hamburgers and hot dogs. They didn't want to go to Chuck E. Cheese's with us last week, so we are all gathering here tonight. We gave him his birthday presents this morning. He LOVED his new X-Box! I haven't seen him get that excited in a long time! :o) In fact, I haven't really seen him since he opened it...he's been in his room playing it ever since.

Well, everyone will be here in about 30 minutes, so I better get off here. I'll visit you all later tonight.
=hugs=

Good Friday Morning!

Are you all having a great week?!? I have. I am glad it is Friday. I have to work midnight until 8:00 in the morning, but I took tomorrow night off. I am so glad to actually have a Saturday night off!!! Hubby and I are going to go do something with some friends...should be a lot of fun. Yesterday, I had to go to campus to get all my books and stuff for school. I have only three classes this coming semester and my books cost $465. Is that not ridiculous?!? I couldn't believe it. They charge outrageous prices for our text books. But, I have to have them so...so be it! I got into the class that I was on the waiting list for, so my schedule is probably going to be a tough one. I have Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Psychology. Whew! What a load! :o)

I took Tanner to get all of his school supplies Wednesday. He is so excited. We had to get one of those mats for him to nap on. He has been laying on it constantly. He thinks it is the coolest thing. He hates taking naps, so I hope that when he starts school Tuesday that he won't give the teacher any trouble over it.

Austin is still in Chicago and having a fabulous time. I talked to him last night and he is not ready to come home yet. Mom said he ordered a 20 ounce steak, baked potato, and a salad and ate every bit of it! That's a lot of food for a 10 year old!!! They went to the Cubs game yesterday and he really enjoyed that. We watched the game on TV here, but didn't see them! (as if we really would have)

Anyway...I've rambled enough I guess. I am taking Tanner and my niece, Kaitlynn bowling today. So, I need to get off here and get ready. I hope you have a radiant day today!

Here's my Friday Five

1. How much time do you spend online each day?
One to two hours

2. What is your browser homepage set to?
My homepage is set to my blog

3. Do you use any instant messaging programs? If so, which one(s)?
I use AOL AIM and Yahoo Messenger

4. Where was your first webpage located?
My first home page was a Yahoo Geocities page

5. How long have you had your current website?
I have had my current web site for almost a year

=hugs=

Hello!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. We did...a very busy one at that. Austin is now in Conway with my mom and will be leaving for Chicago tomorrow. He is very excited about the flight and the Cubs game. He loves to fly!! Tanner is a little disappointed that he isn't going...I explained to him that he could go when he got a little older. I think Mom is just a little nervous about taking Tanner to such a big place with him being only 5 years old...which I can understand. Maybe he will get to go next year.

My lingerie party went great last night. I had 9 girlfriends come and we had a great time! It was a Petra party. They have such cute stuff!! We really had fun trying it all on, playing games, and eating...the important part! LOL You really must find a consultant in your area and have a few girlfriends over for a party...they are such a blast!

Tanner will be starting kindergarten next Tuesday, which really has me worked up. I think I might need a valium before taking him. I am really starting to feel old. Is that strange?!? His open house was tonight (which I had to miss because I had to work). He and Chad really enjoyed meeting his teacher. His teacher is his best friend's (from preschool) mom...and boy does he think that is cool!! Tanner is so excited, he can hardly stand it. He thinks that riding the bus to his day care after school is the greatest...what is up with that?!?! I remember riding the bus and I absolutely loathed the idea. Then, what was even worse was that when I finally was old enough to drive I had to take my freakin' sister everywhere! :o) LOL I know it is all new to him and eventually, someday, he will hate riding the bus. But, I guess we'll let him enjoy it while it's all still fun for him.

I guess you all know that I will be starting back to school Monday too. I am really looking forward to it...Nursing school is something that I have always wanted to do. I am glad that I am no longer having to pursue a business career, since nursing is my ambition in life. (when I worked at my previous place of employment, they would only pay for business classes) This semester I've got Earth Science, Lifespan Psychology, and Chemistry for Health Occupations, and hopefully I will get into the Anatomy & Physiology class that I want. This should be an interesting semester for me! Wish me luck...I might need it!

Well, it's late (or early, whichever you prefer), I just got home from work, and I am tired so I guess I will hit the sack. I will visit you all when I get up in the morning. I usually chat with my B.O.B., Tammy, via Yahoo in the mornings and I haven't heard from her...I hope she's doing okay. I'm sure she's just busy. Anyway...I'm rambling now, so I'll go! Have a super Wednesday!!

=hugs=

Hello

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday!! I got off work at 8:00 this morning, got into bed about 9:30, and slept until about 1:30. I watched the NASCAR race with the boys and hubby. After that, we all got ready for the big birthday party. Austin will be 10 next Sunday (so we had his birthday party today since school starts the day after his birthday). He decided to have it at Chuck E. Cheese this year. He really likes to play all the games and spend his tickets on those cheesy little toys they have. LOL :o) We had a great turn-out and they all had a great time. Austin will be leaving for Chicago Tuesday or Wednesday. My mom is taking him up there to watch a Cubs game. They did this last summer and he had a fabulous time, so they're going again! He's really looking forward to it.

I am having a lingerie party here tomorrow night. I am really looking forward to seeing all my girlfriends and visiting with them. We always have so much fun when we're together. It seems as though I hardly ever see any of them in the summer time...we all stay so busy. At any rate, it will be nice to see everyone tomorrow night.

My B.O.B. and I have been working on a big project...I can't wait to tell you all what it is!!! When we get things up and running, I'll fill you in. It's going to be a blast!!!

Y'all have a super evening and have an even better week!
=hugs=

I have a story to tell...
>long post today<

I have refrained from writing about this until now because I have been really bothered by the situation. But, here's the story...

On Tuesday this week, I went to work at 4:00 in the afternoon just like any normal day. (as most of you know, I am a dispatcher for our local police department) Upon my arrival to work, I was informed that we'd had a kidnapping in our city the previous day. A very beautiful two year old little girl was abducted by her own babysitters. Her mother came into the police department the night before in a panic. The officers took the report and a massive search was launched. The next afternoon (the day I came into work), the local news stations aired the story on the 5:00 news...just one hour after my arrival to work. Within minutes, the phone lines were lighting up from people calling in leads and sightings of the little girl. To my surprise, one of the leads that I took over the phone and handed to an officer to check out was the lead that would take us straight to the little girl, Amber. The sweet little girl was returned to her expectant mother unharmed.

Some of you may be familiar with an abduction that happened in our town back in 1995. Morgan Nick was abducted from our hometown from a baseball field and has yet to be returned home. Her family has searched endlessly and still have not given up hope. Needless to say, we are all very relieved that little Amber is back home and safe and sound.

Why do I write this, you might ask? I was very pleased at the response of the citizens of our town and how everyone pulled together to bring this little girl home. In times such as these with the war and the economy being the way it is, Americans are still caring people. It amazes me the way people pull together in times of need. Who says America is falling apart??? Who says Americans aren't strong??? It is Americans with heart and Americans with pride in their hometowns, their states, their country, that returns missing children home to their parents within a matter of hours.

Another reason I am writing about this is because of my own children. Working with everyone at the police department really made me sit back and think about the good things in life and what we take for granted. I know that I am probably guilty of heading home from work each day assuming that my children are always going to be there waiting for me. Who knows if tomorrow will ever come? So I write this to you today to remind you to hug your children, tell them you love them, do something fun with them, read a book together...just spend a little extra time with them!

I hope that you all don't think I am preaching at you, I am just speaking my thoughts. I was really upset by the kidnapping the other day and it has really made me think about things. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I am off to visit my reads. Thank you all for being such wonderful friends and visiting each day.
=hugs=

T.G.I.F.

How is everyone today?!? I am doing wonderful. It's a beautiful, sunny & hot afternoon here. I think the storms have left us for a while...but we sure did need the rain! Isn't it terrible about the tornado that hit Florida so unexpectedly? My thoughts are with everyone there. I just got up...had to work graveyard again last night. I have had a busy couple of days...sorry for not posting or visiting. Austin's birthday party is Sunday afternoon, so we've been busy making plans for that. Monday night, I am having a lingerie party! A lot of my girlfriends are going to be coming...should be a lot of fun!

I am going to get my hair foiled today. I really needs it! My roots are looking pretty rough! :o) I think before I head over there, I will stop and tan. I haven't had time to tan in a couple of days now. I worked a double shift Wednesday night from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. I was so tired when I got home!! But...it will sure look nice on payday!

I guess I better get off here so I can get ready to go to town. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday.

Here's my Friday Five:

1. What's the last place you traveled to, outside your own home state/country?
The last place I traveled to was to Chicago (Arkansas) in December of last year. My best friend and I went up there for a weekend of fun with my Mom. It was great!

2. What's the most bizarre/unusual thing that's ever happened to you while traveling?
I can't really recall anything really bizarre or unusual happening while traveling.

3. If you could take off to anywhere, money and time being no object, where would you go?
Chicago...I love it there!!

4. Do you prefer traveling by plane, train or car?
Definitely by plane.

5. What's the next place on your list to visit?
I will be traveling to Atlanta with my mom next month to see River Dance. I have never seen it, so it should be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to it!!!

Good morning!

It's raining out this morning. We sure did need some rain. Our lawn was starting to turn brown and wasn't looking very pretty. Hubby got the grass mowed and did the weedeating yesterday...thank goodness he got it finished before the rain. I sure hope it greens back up now.

I haven't done much of anythign today. My hubby is a little irritated with me, too! I just haven't had the urge to do much of anything around the house today. I guess tomorrow I've got my work cut out for me!

Tanner and I went into town and had Burger King for lunch...that's what he wanted, so that's what we had. Austin is at his friend's house again, so I guess I will be getting another "you're a bad mother" lecture from my sister. But you know what...I am not going to let her get to me this time! I don't tell her how to raise her children, and I'll be danged if she is going to preach at me!!!!

Anyway...I need to get off here. I've got to get ready for work. Y'all have a wonderful afternoon.
=hugs=

Good Monday Morning!!

My, my...it sure is beautiful out this morning. The sun is shining brilliantly this morning and it is going to be a hot .

I don't have much planned for today except going to pick up my paycheck and putting it in the bank. I may run by and tan and go to Wal-Mart and get a little shopping done. Other than that...I just don't know! My sister is having to move (if you'll remember, I told you that her landlord sold the land that her house is sitting on and she is moving this weekend), so I may go by and help her pack a little. My mom's birthday is tomorrow, so I need to go by the post office and drop her card in the mail....she might get it in time.

I do need to water all my plants sometime today...they are starting to look a little weak. The house could use a good dusting too! Chad cleaned the carpets yesterday, so they look real nice. I gues I should clean everything else to go along with it!

Anyway, I am going to get off here so that I can go visit all my reads. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
(((hugs)))

Hello there blogging buddies!!!

Happy Sunday to you! I am sorry that I haven't blogged in a day or two. We've had some really, really bad storms here and the lightening has been terrible...naturally, I cannot be online when it is storming the way it has been. The storms were so bad in one local town, that they have been without electricity for 3 days. They had straight-line winds of 80 m.p.h. There have been several homes that have been damaged. They are still calling for more storms in the next couple of days, but I don't think they are suppsed to be as severe.

My husband and I went to a wedding last night . It was a very nice ceremony. One of the officers that I work with, Curtis (who happens to be a very good friend of mine ), got married at a vineyard in Altus, Arkansas last night. The location is beautiful and the ceremony was a small one, but delightful. Their color was purple, which happens to be my favorite.

I had to work midnight until 8:00 a.m. Friday night and last night, so I have spent a lot of my weekend sleeping . Nonetheless, I am off work today and tomorrow. Tonight, I fixed dinner for the first time in a long time. We had mushroom steak, corn, green beans, and biscuits ...it was really good if I do say so myself! Chad has been really good about getting things taken care of around here for me. With my schedule being wacko, it's hard for me to keep up around here!

Anyway, I need to get off here. and I are going to watch a movie together. Y'all have a great night and I will visit all my blog buds tomorrow morning when I get up. Hugs to you all!

Happy Friday!!

I hope your weekend is off to a great start! I just got up and don't plan on doing much of anything today!!! It's supposed to be hot again today, so the boys and I may go swimming again. Well...they will swim and I will bask in the sunshine! I love to lay out by the pool and take in the sunshine!

I really appreciate all of the kind comments you have left on my tag board about what my sister said to me. I really was hurt by what she said and I am not sure why she feels the way she does. I can remember staying with friends for the biggest part of my summer break. I don't see what the harm is in Austin staying 6-7 days with a friend. He wanted to go, he was having a great time, and he was well taken care of. At any rate, he is home now! :o)

Here's my Friday Five:

1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?
On weekday mornings, I usually sleep until about 9:00 or 10:00. I work until midnight, so it is usually 1:00 a.m. or so by the time I get home and get into bed.

2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late?
On the weekends, I sleep during the day because I work the graveyard shift.

3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning?
The first thing I do in the morning is smoke a cigarette. I know, I know...it's a nasty habit.

4. How long does it take to get ready for your day?
Full hair and make-up usually takes me 1 1/2 hours (sad isn't it?!?) If I wear a hat or put my hair up, I can be ready in 45 minutes.

5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast?
We have a little restaurant here locally called Irene's. They have the best breakfast and I go there each Saturday morning when I get off work at 8:00 a.m. Myself and all the local police officers and deputies meet there for breakfast.

Have a great day! Until next time...