What ever happened to.....?

I'm sitting here in Morganton, NC, at a little cafe called Pat's Snack Bar. It's a cute little diner serving the basics. There's a bar right as you walk in and tables going back to the Deserts First which shares the space. To most people, it looks like a hole in the wall I'm sure. But it's a hometown place that makes you feel welcome! And this is the best BLT I've had in a while!
I came in here because it was cold and nothing opens until 11 am. I'm inarch of post cards. Sorry to tell you all but they aren't as popular as they use to be. Which got me where I am.
What happen to postcards and places like Pat's Snack Bar? Obviously, I'm sitting here so there are still a few around. And so are post cards. But they aren't as popular or well known. No one is wondering if there is a small hole in the wall place they can garb a really good cup of coffee and meet some sweet people. And yes they are on birth the coffee and the people!
And why can't I find a postcard? Seriously they are the cheapest thing you could sell to sir if your business or town. And this town has a lot of historical places that would make gorgeous post cards!
It seems people have forgotten the little things. And I'm afraid the new generations never even knew them.
I suppose I'll close with this... If your in Morganton, go to Pat's Snack Bar and grab a cup of coffee and a BLT. You won't regret it. And tell me if you find any postcards!!!

iPhone is going Bye Bye one day SOON!!!

Prince goes to sleep between 8 and 9pm every night. With the help of a sleep aid.
I stay up later. Check email, do some things online and clean up the house some; before I can shower and go to bed. That usually happens around 11pm.

2:00am "MOMMMAAA!.... iPhone!" at normal volume
2:00am I ignore him.
2:01am "MOMMMAAA!.... iPhone!" at top volume, sweet voice.
2:01am "Go to sleep Princey" in my nicest tone, I swear.
2:02am "MOMMMAAA!.... iPhone!" top volume, not so sweet...
2:02am I ignore him
2:03am "MOMMMAAA!.... iPhone!" top volume, very mean
2:03am "Go to sleep Please!" with my eyes closed.
2:04am "Wake up Momma! iPhone!" back to sweet voice.
2:04am "Princey, go to sleep. You can play in the morning." I return the sweet.
It gets quiet....stays quiet....I close my eyes....
2:15am "MOMMAAAA!....TV on?" very very sugary pout...
I get up, turn on his TV, low volume....I go to bed. I close my eyes.
3:00am "MOMMAAA!....iPhone!" ugh....

This is my night, most nights. From around 2am to 4am. If I am lucky he goes to sleep after the TV is on. If I'm not....we are yelling room to room, between my dozing, the same thing over and over....

Yet, in the morning, which is usually around 6 but sometimes 4-5ish. Its this
"Good morning Momma. Time to get up!"
Ugh.... and its 8:50pm right now... to quote The Lion King....

"It starts..."

And before you say, why does your kid have a iPhone? He doesn't. Its an older android he gets to play games on instead of my new phone.

Advice from the Guru of Emotions

I have been told several times that I should be a counselor or therapist of the mental persuasion. I do tend to help people with their problems and usually, even if they do not listen to my advice, I provide them a little hope. Most people do not want advice however and being a counselor or therapist would not be a good idea for advice anyway.

I am very good at being straight forward and not beating a round the bush when it comes to helping out a person in need of emotional advice. I have found though that what people need to hear, and what they want to hear, are never the same thing. But I don't tip toe around. If you need the obvious pointed out then I'm the one to talk to. I have tried the nice way of doing things and it just doesn't do the job. Most of the time, even with being bluntly told that the decision a person is about to make is wrong, they make it anyway and come back later with the classic "you were right".

I'm not being pigheaded when I say, I know. I have never crossed and incident where I have been wrong, at least not in the long term scheme of things. I was blessed with the gift of being very empathetic and intuitive. Its just a fact and I am not being boisterous. But once again no one ever listens so I am left with the dilemma of even trying at all. But yes, I have to try because if you give me your problems then it is obvious you are seeking help, advice or aid in some way.

People may look at my life and wonder, how does she know anything her life is a mess!

Well my lovelies, there is a reason for that. My life is a mess for the same reason your life is a mess. I want to believe. I want to have faith. I want to hope and dream that it will work out. Because I have a heart too. I hope someone will change. I dream of being happy. I pray that things will be better. Its our hearts that hurt us so much. Its our love for people, things, places. Its our dreams that kill us.

Its really hard to follow your own advice.

Most of the time I just tell people what they already know. Its not that hard to know that if Sally Sue was running around on you and has called it quits, then if you patch things up it will never be the same. Or if your grandfather left you this and that and so and so took them, then they harbored ill feelings in your relationship with your departed.

The sad part of it all is life is not cut and dry and everyone is different. What helps one person heal and grow as a human being will not work for another. Everyone needs help. Everyone needs a shoulder. Everyone needs a friend. Even just one. Even me. Don't get hard on yourself for falling for the tricks of the heart, whatever they may be. Learn from it and learn to think with your head next time.

New Years Resolutions

For the new year everyone tries to put their best foot forward and do something good for themselves. We have all done it, made that long list of resolutions that will never, ever, come to pass. I say this simply because we do not set realistic goals as we write out these stupid lists!
We jot down things that we would love to do but have been wanting to do it for years and never gotten around to it for some reason or another and guess what people????? You still aren't going to get around to it!!!!!!!!!!!

 Think about it. If you want to lose fifty pounds this year, then quarter it out. "I am going to lose sixteen pounds every three months this year!"
Do not say, "I am going to lose fifty pounds by March or even June. Give yourself a wide berth (no pun intended).

My point is that we try and try and fail, fail, fail. Its not because we are lazy, arrogant people. Okay well not all of it anyway. Its because we don't care if we let ourselves down. Separate yourself.  Look at yourself and say "I am worth doing this for! I can ____ because I want to, for myself and I will be all the better for it!"

I don't care if all your resolution says is that you want to read five books a month. If you can't finish a novel in a week, you are not going to read five books a month, and you certainly are not going obtain your goal! Don't set goals that you don't need to fulfill at all.  Be practical and you will succeed which is why you need to think before writing things down.
Every one of us can do things we never thought possible. It happens everyday.
All you have to do is want it bad enough. When you accomplish one goal, you will have more of a drive to accomplish more. If you hit a snag or set back, don't let it get you down. PERSEVERE!!
Keep it real and simple! And don't forget to keep your list visible all year long. At your desk, on the fridge, everywhere!

Now I feel like I have to share with you the goals I have made for myself for the coming year.
1) Quit smoking again! (already working on it, slowly)
2) Do more fun things with my son on a daily basis
3) Acquire some form of work or hobby that keeps me busy.
4) Keep up with the house work (this one will give me problems)
5) Finish and send off books one and two of my series for publishing
6) Lose 3-5lbs every month until lose 25-30lbs

Simple and exactly what I need to do, want to do, and can do!

Happy New Year Everyone! May bright blessings shine on you!

Sleep is something I am not allowed.

Okay so I never get to sleep.  And I am not talking sleep in, I am talking sleep period!  There is this cosmic presence hanging over my bed that constantly pokes, prods, tickles and crawls all over me after my eyes close!

I have tried meditating, tried pills, tried waiting up until I am exhausted! I still tossed and turn, hurt and ache, itch and scratch until morning.  And that is if my son lets me sleep until morning!  Most of the time he is up before the alarm clock goes off and often hours before.  Some nights its getting him to sleep and I am up half the night doing that, others it is waking up way early and I have to get up and make sure he is okay.

But honestly, somewhere in those  sex ed or home ec. or whatever they are calling it these days, they should have a huge banner that reads as thus:

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN YOU WILL NEVER SLEEP AGAIN!!!!

This is just a simple fact that they really don't let you in on.  Oh sure, they say  "you aren't going to be getting those extra hours of sleep for the first few months". Or "it will be hard until your child learns to sleep through the night". No. What they don't say is that if your kid is the least little bit hyper you are always going to be up before the chickens and not go to bed until midnight or later!

I don't understand what it is, why my son never sleeps. But if anyone would like to experience this kind of exhaustion, I suggest babysitting my son for a couple hours.  After all the chasing, running and saying "NO Don't do that" you will be just as exhausted as I am on most days.

One day I will sleep past 6am, maybe I will even make it to sleep past 5.  Oh my gosh I would love to go to bed at like 8pm so that even if my son gets up at five I will have gotten some sleep!

Sister and the Christmas Nightmare

Okay well my sister, Lets call her Cathy, has always had to have a real Christmas tree. I have no clue why she doesn't break down and buy a fake one that doesn't require trimming and a stand and all the mess. Truth be told she should because she is very much OCD and likes things to be clean and right.

That being said she got her real tree and decorated it so nice and pretty. She always does a good job being meticulous as she is and its been up for a few days. The presents are all wrapped up nicely underneath, ready for Christmas morning.

Well, here it is, six days before Christmas, and her tree is in the back yard, ornaments still attached, along with the Angel that has topped her tree for years. The presents are all out on the porch and refuses to bring them back in. Why would someone throw out their tree six days before Christmas and throw all the gifts outside?
Because her tree was the nesting place for millions of spider eggs which decided to hatch.

The spider babies created a veil of webbing all down the front of the tree and covered everything. Ornaments, the angel, the lights.  Now it is all out in the back yard, tree lights everything.

Now I only wish my brother was there. To hear him scream and cry over the spiders would be the highlight of the year!
I love ya Sister! Merry Christmas!