I'M BACK....I KNOW, THANKS FOR THE WARNING, RIGHT?

Ok, where have I been lately...(as I hang my head down in shame,note:this is what Jim thinks I need to do here,hehe).. well in less than 3 weeks time I have caught up with 5 years (oh please, hold the gasp) of Soprano's...yeah, yeah, yeah...I've already heard, nothing new....My son Steve has been so addicted to this for the past few years and I always wondered what his fascination is with this show, wel,l now I know..I am hooked...I have always loved movies about the mafia and I admit I laugh through the whole thing, murder and all...I know, I could be labeled sick about right here, but I don't care, its just a tv show, you guys, make believe...Now, Steve tells me the new season won't be out until the spring...what's that about? I am still waiting on Season 6 (still not out), but Steve promised to buy it so I can get all caught up as soon as its released...What a son!! Now for those of you who have never watched the Soprano's I must warn you, the language is awful, but the family,well, you gotta love em...Jim thinks I'm still dillusional from the anesthesia, but this series has sure helped me pass the time.... I went to the ortho Dr. today and my knee is still healing and has a ways to go, but I am doing great...I can add a little walking to my day now...Jim was thrilled to hear this...I almost had him convinced that housekeeping was off limits, but the Dr sure put that to a fast death for me today..Now Jim is going to expect things from me...well, i guess its been a great run anyway...I tried to convince Jim that housework makes one ugly, but he thinks I'm way too beautiful for my own good at this point (Yeah whatever) and would love for me to flush it and get busy....what's a girl to do..Well the good news today is, I have lost another 5 lbs this month, making it a total of 28 lbs since mid March when I started WW. This has been all without exercise, but I am really hoping to see some good results now that I can start the walking... One more things to report..My niece, Kathleen may be a mother by the end of the week, or so her Dr. says...I can't wait!!!!! My great nieces and nephews are bringing Jim and I as much joy as their parents did. We have always, always enjoyed our roles as aunt and uncle, and here we are with another generation and we are so young!!!!!!! hahaha....The best part of all of this....we get to visit, stir them up, and leave...hahaha....As for Deven, he's now 6 months old (in a few days) and is eating baby food....have I told you lately he's so cute!!!! Steve is so taken with this baby, and as you know, STeve loves clothes..It appears when he buys clothes now, its one for Steve, one for Deven..haha..never thought I'd see the day, but its here..hahaha...later guys..........

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME?

Wow, today was super....I went back to work today and I made it through..I am a little sore since I've been home, but broke out those coveted meds so I should be feeling good in about 20 minutes..haha..
Today, started off with the alarm ringing at 6:15, with the snoozer being hit about 4 of 5 times (poor Jim its on his side of the bed...haha). I made it to work (ok, so I was late, only 4 minutes..we aren't technically late at work until its 7 minutes past, and no, I don't purposely push that to the limits..........)Jim drove me, as he is not wanting me to be driving just yet, but something really weird happened..When he pulled up to the curb to let me out at the library, its almost like he didn't stop. It almost seemed as though the car was still rolling and when the door opened, I felt a jolt..He swears he wasn't pushing me out of the car, but I wonder....and he had this happy look on his face and his eyes were all glazed over...Not the kind of look that says, have a great day...it was more like HAVE A GREAT DAY,BECAUSE, NOW I AM..Now, he didn't have to verbally say anything, it was more of the attitude and his eagerness to get rid of me...Now, I know this has been a long 6 weeks, ok he says loooooooonnnnnnnngggggg, but hey, when we retire we are going to be together 24/7, and I don't want to feel like I am being thrown to the curb everytime he slows down..Is it possible he could be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome? I mean, could I have been the cause of that(I really was suffering,I can show you the scar), after just a little stay at home? I mean, I try not be any trouble. Really I do!!!Oh thats just great, he returns home after 2 tours to Iraq and survives under enemy fire and spends 6 weeks at home with me, and this is what happens!!!! PTSS, like thats going to get you any sympathy from me....geezzzz, what's a girl to do.....

I AM RECOOPERATING, I AM NOT LAZY

I rolled out of bed at 11:15 today...ahh, it felt great to sleep in late and I got the whole bed to myself after 5 a.m. This is Jim's reserve duty weekend (YES!!!), so I stretched out all over that bed...There is just something about the air being turned way down, a comfy blanket on top of and the covers pulled up over your head... I decided I would get up and play a bit since I had the house to myself..I have the music turned on, and the tv OFF.....wow, it hasn't been off in at least 6 weeks....so what am I going to do until Jim gets home? Well, since I only have 2 more free jobless days, I am going back to bed...hahaha......its so peaceful and I am about to rejoin life next week, so I am going to enjoy it....

Steve is an avid Sopranos fan, so he brought me the first 3 seasons to watch...I literally have many days or should I say weeks of enjoyment on these cd's and I am going to get started today and for some reason I have always loved mafia shows..don't ask me why, I just do......I had my toast and coffe, I'm going to load the dishwasher and start a load of clothes. I know, housework makes you ugly, but if I don't "do something" then Jim will have to make a comment to which I will be forced to comment back and well you know, hahaha. I guess technically he is 'WORKING' today, but as a man, is playing Army a real job?....haha.. After I've done that, then I am going to hit the sack. I will be there by 1:30 and if I want to fall asleep, which I probalby will, then I can always rewind or whatever with these cd's...ahhh, modern technology...And remember, I am not lazy, I am recovering and its my job to rest...Thats what I have to remind Jim of daily...

I am hoping Jim will make his famous soup for me tonight...He is a great cook, but soups are his specialty and since he knows I am down to the wire on my convalescing (?) he will baby me and give me his all over the next 36 hours, while he's around...I don't always whine to get this attention (ok, maybe a little to get it started) but he enjoys us all making over his soup anyway, so really, if you think about it, its for him.....hahaha.....oh well, I am not going to make the 1:30 deadline if I don't get moving............I have to set the computer up in the bed so can see up close........hmmmm, Maybe I'll take a picture of Jim making his famous soup and post it next time..I need to get the hang of putting pictures on here anyway....Oh, well, another day in the life of me......................

CHANGE, NOT ALWAYS 'A GOOD THING'

Ok, I have great news to report....I am going back to work---6 weeks early...wooohooooo......am I excited? You bet your sweet potato sacks I am!!!! This has been the longest 6 weeks of my life!!!!! I have 3 days left...I will sleep in late for the next two days....

Now there is a slight problem that is going to happen come Monday morning..I forgot to mention to them when I told them I could come back to work on Monday, that 8 am really doesn't work well for me anymore, since sometimes I don't roll out of bed until 11....then, there is the issue of the Y&R that comes on at 11....do you think they'd mind me taking an hour break(because I'll still need my hour lunch break) at that time to keep up with my new addiction? ughhhhh...ahhh, ok I have many new issues now that I didn't have before...someone cooks lunch and dinner for me all the time, and dare I say, serves it to me also (said as I am hiding my face behind my hands and peeking through)...I know, spoiled, but its Jim's fault..Also, my couch...I have grown so used to the right side of the love seat...i sit on one end and my laptop sits in front of me on the other..yes, I surf all day..I am multi-tasked however, as I can do this and watch tv, and IM my friends all at the same time....Another thing, I have only worn shoes about 4 times in the past 6 weeks..I know, hillbilly, go ahead and say it....Who cares!!!!! They have this crazy rule at work that says you must wear shoes...I am a rebel, would it work if I accidentally, on purpose forgot somehow to put them on next Monday? I mean, would anyone really notice? And if they did, would they narc on me? Ughhhh...decisions, decisions....last, but not least is the bra...ughhhh...it has been wonderful to pretend I am a child of the 60's and forget wearing the thing, this is the one thing I'm not sure I can get away with doing without...darn it.....

Well, as if thinking of all of this weren't hard enough, Jim has told me that Monday morning, I have to retire my tiara for 8 hours a day..He said no one is going to care that I need to sleep in,and if I do, I can stay home permanently and can never miss another episode of Y&R (well, the nerve!!!). As for the break, who gets a break, and no one is stupid enough to not only cook lunch for me, but serve it to me and the only reason he does is because we signed a contact 28 years ago...he called himself a fool, hey, what's that about? He also said my couch and computer are not leaving the house, my surfing is going to be replaced with actual exercise, its called walking, and I will wear shoes, because no one wants to look at my feet (why?what's wrong with them, they're cute), and I must wear a bra as it will be an occupational hazard for me to leave home without it...What????
He says I'll trip over myself...some men have a lot of nerve...............oh well, I'm off to shine my tiara because I'm going to make the next 3 days a very long 3 days...hahahaha.......................

DIXIE CHICKS-PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES IF YOU WANT TO PLAY

Why do I watch these shows???...I love a good controversy, but geez, don'tcha just think sometimes we should "just do the right thing"...I know all about principals, I have been young and dumb too, and heck no, I wouldn't go back for all the money in the world..too many lessons have been learned and I for one don't want to relearn them..haha.....

I switched to Larry King last night and there they are!!!! The Dixie Chicks..quite frankly, I never knew anything about them until their outrageous behavior in England, just before the war. Yes, we have freedom of speech in this country, and I, for one, count that as one privelege we are so fortunate to have......On the other hand, with that privelege comes responsibility. Do I think we should call for a boycott of their albums? Not especially, but I secretly have to say I was happy they experienced a little of what their behavior brought to them..Though they said last night, it really didn't hurt them in the long run, they were very careful to pick their words. And, they of course, did this at a time when our President is suffering from low support in the polls.. I also found that interesting also..Would their comments have been the same if those poll numbers reflected a higher %....I think not...They actually reminded of what small children do. They have been sticking their toes in the water a little at a time, saying more with each interview, just wading out into the water a little more each time...Just enough to check the reprocutions and get away with just a little more ..ahhh, i remembered that well when Stevie was little....memories........

I believe very strongly in our freedom to speak what is on our minds and in our hearts...I know they wanted "the world" to know that President Bush doesn't speak for them, but excuse me, YES HE DOES........He is the President of our great country and like it or not, he does speak for America as a whole, just as Bill Clinton did for 8 years (did I like it, no I didn't, but I have great respect for the office. It is an entirely different thing to respect a person). He was elected by the majority. My problem is not that they disagreed with President Bush. I have on several things myself, but the platform in which they chose to express it. They were on foreign soil, with America on the brink of war. Whether we are Republican or Democrat or whatever, when the rubber hits the road we should remain united, whether we approve or not. Thats part of being an American, in my opinion...Sometimes, our responsiblity as an American is to not speak and no one has more trouble with that part than me, BUT, we sometimes have to do what is right and sometimes that means keeping our mouths shut....Is it hard? You betcha, especially when we feel very passionate about our beliefs.. I am reminded also, of one of the scenes from a movie, where a soldier lies dying and tells his comrades to "make it count"..Our soldiers are fighting for a cause that many of them don't agree with, but We as Americans need to "make their sacrifice count"..We need to remain United as they are, its for them. They are giving us their very best, and many have given their all, but they remained united, and this is a case where not only their position as a soldier I respect but, also, as a human being I highly respect.....Its our job as an American to remain united when that rubber hits the road, just as families somehow seem to find their way together during hardships and trying times..the may not all agree, but they stick together ..Why? Because they're family..Why should we remain a united front----because we're family, not necessarily bound by blood, but by our right as an American...........hey, just my opinion, but I'm on Texas soil!!