Real World Mom

Tim, the mucho-talented author of The Inflatable Soapbox™ (and my ‘other half’) honored me with the Excellent Blog Award! He said some cool things about me, you can read it all here, “First Blog Award!”

Thank you, Tim, for introducing me to the world of blogging, and for your continued encouragement in my efforts to grow and learn. I love you!The rules state that after receiving the Excellent Blog Award, you must pass it on to 10 more excellent bloggers.

Here are the 10 newest recipients of the Excellent Blog Award:

1. Melinda at Musings by Melinda
2. Maria at Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer
3. Misty at My Dogs Keep Me Sane
4. Misty at Misty’s Words (Because both of her blogs ROCK!)
5. Candi at Bittersweet
6. Caroline at The Bingham Diaries
7. Jill at Caffeine Court
8. Zoeyjane at Mommy is Moody
9. Becca at BeccA’s Buzz
10. Colin at Life

Keep up the great work!! I love you guys!!

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I also wanted to take this opportunity to offer the Real World Mom “You Light Up My Life” award to another blogger buddy who has made a difference to me.

As my humble way of thanking you for your friendship, your support and the way you always make time to keep in touch–as well as the enjoyment I get from reading your blog everyday–today’s “You Light Up My Life” award goes to Kim at Jogging in Circles. If she’s not already on your daily reading list, please go visit her blog and see why she should be!

 

Send me a cup of java!

It’s snowing again in New Jersey. In fact, the “s word” is in the forecast for the next several days!

It was 65 degrees on Monday–just two days ago! And now I look out the back door and see this:

 

Send me a cup of java!

Misty Dawn at My Dogs Keep Me Sane tagged me with the Message in a Bottle Meme, started by the talented Mimi from Mimi Writes.

Here are the rules:
You are about to send a virtual Message In a Bottle across the Blog Ocean. Leave a message in the sand or on the bottle. Write anything you wish. Be a pirate or a poet. Serious or silly. Anonymous or not. What message would you like to send out to the universe?

Message In A Bottle Meme
1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle.
2. Right click and SAVE the blank graphic below.

3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture.
4. Post the Message In a Bottle meme and your creation on your blog along with these rules.
5. Tag a minimum of 5 bloggers - or your entire blogroll - to do the same. Notify them of the tag. Your virtual bottle will remain afloat in the blogosphere ocean for all blogernity (That’s a Mimism for blog + eternity.)

So, if you are tagged by me, go over to Mimi’s and ADD your site to her Mr. Linky list and place your blog’s name and url in a comment HERE to let Mimi know you’ve completed the meme. Mimi will add it to the master list of message bottles. Email mimiwrites2005 at yahoo.com if you have questions. Participation is optional. Just remember she has a dungeon….and some of you are STILL there from the Band Meme. Have fun!

This phrase has been repeating itself in my mind over the last several days, so maybe if I share it here, there will be an exorcism-like effect:

I tag anyone on my blogroll who would like to participate!

 

Send me a cup of java!

I’m borrowing this idea from Jill at Caffeine Court–how I love that name–and her blog, so please be sure to stop by and say hello! What a great way to get to know a little more about each other!

Jill wrote:
“I’d like to do a little roll call. If you don’t mind would you please state your first name and the state you live in. You can give more information if you want.”

Some info about me:

• My name is Stacey and I live in Ocean County, NJ, but I’m originally from PA.
• I have four wonderful children–three boys, ages 20, 18 and 16, and one daughter who will be 13 in only five weeks.
• We have a dog, Madison (you can see her here, here, and here), who is almost six years old, and the sweetest ‘puppy’ ever!
• I’m currently going through the “wonderful” process known as divorce, which is a real pain in the ass quite educational (more info on that here, here and here)!
• I met the love of my life (”T”) in June of 2006, and we’ve been together ever since (tidbits on him here, here, here, and here)!

I’m really looking forward to reading the responses to this post! Have fun, kids!

Send me a cup of java!

A fun meme by Becca at BeccA’s Buzz! Check her out!

The ‘Give Me Five’ Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple, short list! Here’s how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn’t have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.

Sign up for weekly reminder emails at beccagirl@charter.net.

This week’s assignment: Give Me 5 positive traits or accomplishments you admired in a person or persons that you aren’t getting along with or have hurt or offended you in the past.

1- My soon-to-be (said hopefully)ex: He has always been a very hard worker.

2- “K”, someone I was best friends with for over 20 years (we are no longer friends): She had a good eye for decorating.

3- My Mom: Her wicked sense of humor. Her strong will and determination, even in the worst of times.

4- My Dad: His intelligence.

5- A previous boss, “I”: She was usually very fair.

I really like this week’s theme. I think it’s healthy to take some of the focus off of the negative by remembering something positive!

Send me a cup of java!

Seventeen months ago today, T asked me to move in with him. I was already spending every weekend here, and those weekends were getting a little bit longer all the time (but never quite long enough!). I’d leave work early on Friday, take Monday off, or leave from here on Monday morning to go to work, etc. (At the time, I lived two, very long hours away.)

Leaving here to go ‘home’ was always very difficult for me. I didn’t want to be away from T for a few hours, let alone a whole week! I’d cry half the drive back to PA.

Then I’d call T to let him know I’d arrived home safely. Hearing his voice and knowing we were so far away from each other would usually get the tears flowing again. (Bless that man for putting up with my emotional side!)

On Sunday, September 17, I was here for the weekend (as usual), and I had taken the next day off from work so I could have extra time with T.

If I remember correctly, he and I were out on the back patio drinking our coffee (still one of our favorite things to do in nice weather), when he asked me if I’d move in with him.

At first I was afraid I’d heard him wrong! It was just too good to be true! But, I did hear correctly, and I think it may have taken me a whole second (or two) to accept!

God knows we’ve had some major ups and downs in this time, but, we’ve managed to face them–and deal with them–together.
So, today, on our 17-month anniversary, I am feeling quite sentimental. I still think of those long, lonely drives home. When I had to force myself to go in the opposite direction of where I really wanted to be.

I’m so happy to be able to share my life, every day, with this man whom I love with all my heart!

Send me a cup of java!

Warning: Author is in the midst of a serious case of PMS. Proceed at your own risk!

• It’s freezing in NJ!
• The stbx is still dragging his feet and refusing to give in cooperate. My daughter informed me that he purchased new carpeting and new furniture last week, and he’s thinking about buying a flat-screen tv. But, when he lies talks to me, he’s “broke.”
• Still haven’t found a source of income.
• My back has been hurting me off and on (mostly on lately) for the last seven months. I’m in NJ, my doctor is in PA, and I have no way to get to her.
• My 40th birthday is in three weeks–how much does that suck?!
• I’m PMSing BIG time (poor T!).

On the plus side…

• My kids are healthy and happy.
• Spring will eventually be here.
• I am loved by some incredible people!
• As for the stbx: What goes around comes around.
• I have my internet connection!

Send me a cup of java!

As a former bank teller, this one is near and dear to my heart. “Oh, Come On. Show Me That Handsome Mug.” (Now available in mug shots!) In York, PA, a hooded-man entered a bank and demanded money. The teller told him to remove his hood, which the idiot man did, allowing police some good videotaped evidence to hold against him in court.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Police in Portland, ME are looking for a man who uses his car to cut-off vehicles being driven by women traveling solo. He then gets out of his car and shows off his ensemble which consists of a garter belt and black high-heeled boots. The article doesn’t say whether he puts on a performance beyond that. Since this has never happened to me, I can’t be sure how I’d react, but I do think I’d pee myself laughing. Guess I’ll have to wait for the video… “Well, He Was Wearing a Garter and Boots”

 

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Do you know of a child who deserves a laptop? Sarabeth from i once was hp is searching for the right person to give this laptop from One Laptop Per Child to. For all the details, see her post, “Technology or Why the OLPC Laptop Won’t Work For My Children.” The deadline is March 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

 

Send me a cup of java!

Send me a cup of java!

In the spirit of the day, three Ohio couples tied the knot yesterday–at White Castle (yes, the fast-food burger place)!

The flower girl sprinkled salt and pepper packets.  The grooms wore employee name tags in lieu of flowers on their lapels.  The wedding cake was designed to look like a tray with burgers, fries and a drink.

So, this wouldn’t exactly be my first choice of a setting for a wedding, but I gotta give them credit for uniqueness!

“Ohio Couples Have White (Castle) Wedding”

Send me a cup of java!