Confessions

This one is a late post because honestly I couldn't think of something. I am not afraid to fess up when I've been caught but I have been leading a pretty honest life in this second life of mine. So I thought I would do some story telling and say I've been caught at the end... that this was all an elaborate story... not the truth. Writers block must have hit me hard. I had a busy day yesterday starting at 9 am and I really didn't get home till after dinner for an extended period of time. Then my daughter wanted to cook a recipe out of her cook book and watch A Smile As Big As The Moon...So blogging didn't come priority yesterday.

I guess I will tell you that I wasn't as always as an honest teen. I did have a bad or mischievous crowd of friends from time to time. Some friends of mine did drugs... I did not. They snuck out I wouldn't dare...

Ah but I did try smoking and I did steal from Helene's purse (my guardian)...

so here are three childhood confessional stories from my (I really didn't think I was a HORRIBLE teen) teen life. 

Helene used to smoke so she was more sensitive to the smell I think. As an ex smoker I can say I am more sensitive to it now then I was then too. Helene's husband used to smoke but no one was allowed to smoke in the house. Even Helene's elderly father had to scoot over to the back door of his downstairs apartment to smoke. Chuck Helene's husband would go out the front door. I don't know why but for some reason I decided to smoke in my room. (I was such an idiot). I had a can by the window sill and I cracked it open enough to blow smoke out and put the cig out in the can. Well apparently I left the pack in my purse and went for a walk. She went into my room for whatever reason and found the pack of cigarettes I blamed it on my friend Stephanie saying they were hers. I had been caught... but she bought my story... I think.

I would be so paranoid outside smoking while walking around the neighborhood with friends because I knew my guardian knew a good bit of the neighbors anyone of them could have called her.

Another story is about a twenty dollar bill. Helene had have several misplaced twenty dollar bills that I wasn't responsible for. My "boyfriend" Nick needed cash for something probably cigarette's or pot.. So I stole twenty and gave it to him. Well he took it to the closest store and bought High Times Magazine with it. Helene had followed us and went into the store and had secretly marked the twenty and we had been caught... Now that I committed a misdemeanor she had committed a felony... so who caught who?

My Guardian had a son named Duane and Duane was married to Sherry. Sherry was rarely ever the big sister people would have thought she would have been to me. Duane was always like a father/brother. Sherry was always a pain in my a$$. I admit there was some jealousy because Helene (my guardian) would buy her gifts for Daughter of the Year (you have your own stinkin' daughter). She would always call her that where I was called hey this is the girl I have custody of... even if I had been in her life almost all of mine. I was never my daughter unless it was "good" for her. I always felt like a black sheep. I rarely felt like Sherry was nice to me. She always seemed against me which made me rebel. The time I came home WAY past curfew and Helene told Sherry to punish me. I think I would have looked at it differently if Sherry had her own kids at this time (now she has 4.) But Sherry was always the bad guy it drove me mad. Okay so the story goes we had sat down for dinner one night and I had secretly dyed my hair with one of those temporary dye's... I wanted auburn hair (I still want more auburn in my hair). Well at dinner one night Sherry had noticed my hair was slightly different... oops the dye was fading and turning a weird shade of purple. It was barely noticeable because Helene had not noticed until Sherry tattled on me. I had a job I earned my own money and bought hair dye. I got in so much trouble. Also near my job at Publix was a Blockbuster Video so I rented Dangerous Minds (you know Michelle Pfieffer is a bad ass teacher to bad ass kids in the hood) and Sherry tattled on me about that as well. I had to return it without even watching it. Yet Charlotte used to let me go into her room and watch scary movies! (She was the cool "sister")

So there ya have it... That's how I got caught and you go to see the confessions from my teen years.

Books that make an impact

You know I was raised in a church. When I was living with my mom she would load my sisters and I up on a bus and we would go to Pinecrest Baptist Church in Morrow, GA. When I lived with my Guardian I went to church every Sunday that I can remember to Trinity United Church of Christ/ Trinity Community Church. I even went during the week to choir, to youth group, to do the Newsletter, to volunteer. I was at church a lot. But on my journey of learning my faith I've had to learn on my own. I have had to follow my own road. My relationship with my spiritual faith is a very personal, deep, faith. Its unlike any of yours.

So how did the Bible and Gianna impact my life? Well obviously when you attend church you learn about stories in the bible, the history, the future, what God wants for us... etc. That's the easy part to explain. Gianna if your a reader you know I've mentioned that book at least two times. Gianna impacted my life because she is a deeply spiritual woman who didn't let life's challenges or her "deck of cards" change her. I have learned about my own faith through this strong woman. Its been awhile since I read the book but to paraphrase she is asked how do you deal with your issues? She said I give it to God. I wasn't sure what she meant when I read the book. Through my own challenges of life I had to learn it myself. I have posted about my journey in Jesus Take The Wheel

Other posts on Gianna:

Book I've Read That Changed My Views On Something

Giving it to God My Journey

What's My Favorite Book and Why

I read this book shortly after I married Rick. The stories in the book put things in a perspective for me that helped me through my deployment. I had to remember what it would have been like for wives of both the World Wars. How extremely HARD it was for Vietnam and Korean wives because their husbands were fighting in unfavorable wars. Unfavorable like Iraq but the Soldiers and Wives didn't get near the lack of support as the Vietnam Wives and Military Men got. I wasn't a whiny mess during deployment. My world didn't fall apart. I raised two kids on my own with little help from my husband. Sure it was nice to be able to speak to him and get money and its different than being a single mom trust me I've been there to but its

 un-explainable and it differs from couple to couple. Was it the book that helped me? I am not sure but it did give me perspective and showed me even a Military Wife was special.

The last time I laughed so hard, I cried...

Was either when....
    Well Skylar's been hilarious lately. I am not sure her stories here are appropriate. One day on the way to girl scouts she had said something and sometimes she struggles with speech but thankfully its rare. So when she said something to me I thought she was simply mispronouncing something or being silly. Come to find out I was pronouncing a word and she thought I was saying a curse word haha!


We were going past Jimmy's (a strip club) and Rick had commented that they were building a Super Walmart around Jimmy's. So Skylar asks what do they do at Jimmy's? I said they have lady dancers at Jimmy's but not ballet type dancing. I said its for adults only. She said is it like pole dancing? I LMAO... then I turned into the good serious mom and I said Skylar what is pole dancing? She said where you dance with a pole? I said yeah probably where did you hear about it. She said Destiny (her friend from the bus stop) 


Then the last thing that it literally took awhile for me to calm down. I was getting out of my car.and I saw my Siamese cat outside and her name is Cocoa. I saw aww your like a warm cup of  Ca Ca (I meant Cocoa) you warm my heart. I had to beat down the door (it was locked) and hurry into the bathroom because I laughed so hard at myself. I don't know why but I couldn't stop cracking up. Then Skylar was asking what was so funny and every time I tried to tell her the tears welled up again and I started crying and laughing... and laughing. I know its probably not near as hilarious as I thought at the time :)

Something at home/work that serves no purpose.

So Hunter Homes who is a builder in our area likes to design these "faux lofts" You can't go upstairs to reach them (you have to climb a ladder check out the bottom right hand corner of the 1st and 3rd picture. Its very wide but not very deep and 12 feet up in the air. My faux lofts (I have a big one and a small one) don't have electric but they are carpeted. (You want me to vacuum where?) So I think they are really kinda useless. What would you do with these areas?

Oh and did I mention the big one was above my front door? LOL

Oh yeah they are good for Christmas Tree's if you don't mind the extension cords?

So yeah seriously what is your decorating dream with my faux lofts? Should I do a special themed tree next year or the year after (since you've missed the big sale). 

Why I don't like a certain cartoon character.

Special Agent Oso.

If you haven't seen this one (youtube link) This cartoon is annoying because my children can be more intelligent than this stuffed creepy colorful bear that just pops into people's houses. He annoys me because he dumbs everything down. I don't think our kids need things dumbed down for them. 

Boohbah

Luckily I didn't have to endure Boohbah very long. It aired when Skylar was a toddler. People at the time were giving  criticism  to Teletubbies which I kind of didn't mind nor did I mind Barney but Boohbah to me was just ridiculous. Luckily GPB ( Georgia Public Broadcasting) didn't air the show very long. 

Chuggington

I just watched this for the first time this morning. I knew about it, seen the toys, even watched a review on Youtube about it but I really didn't like the cartoon. Nothing in particular just thought it was dumb. Perhaps its just my loyalty to "Thomas".

South Park

South Park I just don't find funny. As I used to say when I was younger rude, crude and socially unacceptable. I mean do we really need cartoon's like this? Funny how growing up I was banned from watching Beavis and Butthead but I still don't think they are near as bad as South Park. I just don't think being rude is funny. My southern class says Hell no Ya'll to this cartoon. Oh and their voices are one of the most annoying noises ever!

Spongebob Squarepants

I've learned to deal with this other rude, crude, cartoon character but I still refuse to buy products associated  with him. Sometimes Skylar watches it and I just ask her to go somewhere else LOL.

Elmo

I love Sesame Street. I can't imagine the world without it but to make whole episodes or segments with Elmo just makes me batty. More than 5 minutes of his voice and I have to turn it off. The only thing I have ever liked of Elmo is the first version of the Tickle Me Elmo. I think he's going to grow up to be on South Park.

A vacation I hope to take this year...

In 2010 I had to attend my step father's funeral near Mobile Alabama. We had never been there before. We visited Daulphin Island but it was dark and we couldn't do anything but there was this really cool Civil War Fort. Fort Gaines Its one of the nations most endangered historical sites! Article : Here
So I would like to go back to Daulphin Island and explore it more and take the ferry over to Gulf Shores Alabama and enjoy a day at the beach. Maybe we could even find a cabin or hotel at Gulf Shores and Ferry over to Daulphin Island. Then after a day or two of enjoying the Gulf of Alabama maybe head over toward Mississippi or Louisiana and visit a long time friend Danielle.

My Family reuniting after more than 6 years.

You see I run a Mommy Support Group Online and I have ran it for 11 years this past October. Danielle was one of my first members. We were just discussing the other day how we met and we have conflicting stories about how I found her or got her to join. Anyways we talk almost every day by phone but we have never met the 10 years we have known each other online and through the phone.  I have met several other mommy loop members including close friend Kristin. I have actually gotten to see her twice! She is from New York, There is Michelle that conveniently lived 20 minutes from me as well as Lindsay. My Mommy loop has been a blessing for me over the years. Most of us have children that are nearly adults or entering into teen phase but some of us are new or once-again mothers as well. If your interested in joining my mommy loop leave me a comment or email at bellassecondlife@gmail.com for more information. Hopefully I get to meet another Mommy Loop member next month so naturally Danielle wants us to meet up soon! Danielle's daughter as well as Kristin's daughter have been talking to mine! Its so neat! I wonder if I had a bunch of money could I fly all my mommy friends to one resort and have a blast or even bring their families? Can you imagine!

Danielle and Darin's kids

Danielle and Darin

Kristin and I in 2010

Kristin and I in 2011

Chelley, Skylar & I

My Favorite Toy

My favorite toy (retro and current) is my Cabbage Patch Kid. Cabbage Patches have stood the test of time like Barbies. There is one in particular though. My Cabbage Patch I got when I was 3 years old from my Papa Bear (my grandfather) and my Mom. I still have him almost 30 years this Christmas and he is a very cherished possession. My grandmother on my father's side collected dolls and my first husband and I used to collect retro toys and Star Wars figures until he sold the entire collection (that's right for my geeky friends from the late 70's action figures until Episode 1 figures) for some lousy Transformers.
The picture above is a picture I just took of the hutch of my desk. So many better things I could probably do with my hutch LOL. My Cabbage Patch (his name is Ernie Karol) and he is wearing one of Mackenzie's first outfits... anyways I have stuffed animals that are given to m Rick, Skylar, Mackenzie or I up there and some other things like Snow Globes, Plaques, Barbies (Skylar's Snow White, My Star Wars doll, and My Bewitched Barbie lol), and some dolphins figurines. I have tried to collect a bear from every duty station I visit that can be a challenge. I want a bear or hat pin.

Calling all Coca-A-Holics

I am from Atlanta Georgia. Well it was where I was raised. In the suburbs actually.... somewhere between the Atlanta airport and the Atlanta Motor Speedway you will find the house I grew up in, the school I graduated from and the place where I had my first date. If your from Atlanta or know a lot about Coca Cola you know it has a rich history in Atlanta or at least in Georgia. Down in Georgia when you order a soda... you don't ask for a soda, or a pop, or anything but a Coke... doesn't matter what brand. As a matter of fact if your in a restaurant which has Pepsi products (poor mislead people!) they will ask you if Pepsi is okay :).
Growing up I wasn't allowed to have much soda. Then when I was 18 I would drink a 2- liter in a day. Soon I turned to cans, because I am picky about how soda tastes. Rick thinks I need to be a coke tester because I can tell if there is a slight variance in it. Which is probably why I can't stand Pepsi. I have even drank Sam's Choice brand before Pepsi back when times were hard and it was the cheapest thing. Now I just stick with Coca Cola through out the day all day and I rarely have anything else. I slowed down for pregnancy (Skylar's I had to quit all together because of kidney problems). I know its bad and I am very addicted. I am more addicted to Coca Cola than I ever was to smoking. I gave up cigarettes 3 years ago cold turkey. I have tried to cut back and my body can even tell the differences in non name brand soda's like Sam's choice. It doesn't have the same amount of caffeine in it or something because I get headaches. I get bad headaches and feel totally drained and become a yawning mess if I ever run out of Coca Cola. Its been problematic this Winter due to Coca Cola's new campaign to save Polar Bears... before I get hate mail just know that I love Polar Bears and I am devastated by their future. I only wish we could save their environment and save them from extinction. However the pesky white cans have a different lemony flavor for me. I know a lot of people who drink Diet Coke put lemon in it to sweeten it. That's what this tastes like for me... Just a slight difference in taste. I have heard Coke pulling them off the shelves but that is all I can find right now is the white polar bear cans. So I am stuck with no Coke at all because that slight variant in taste gets me. I'd rather drink water and limit the amount of bottles (or we'd be broke) of Coca Cola I can have in a day. So I guess I am trying to drink more tap or bottled water to offset the cost. Also when we eat out often times the balance they use is off some how or it doesn't taste right... so I drink water when we eat out. (makes eating out cheaper!) Unless they have bottled Coca Cola like Subway.

I drink Coca Cola like most people drink Coffee. Coca Cola is one of my only addictions I just can't curb yet. I drink Coca Cola everyday all day even though I know the damage its doing to my kidneys, to my teeth and to my waist line. I love Coke though. I love the company and my precious can of Coca Cola Classic lol.

Happy Birthday to Elvis who would have been 77 today! I love Elvis! My Favorite Elvis song at the LINK

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment. This post was party of the Bloggy Mommy Blog Dare! 

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30 Day Song Challenge day 19 - a song from your favorite album

My favorite Album this year? Of all time? This was tough. I think the Bodyguard Soundtrack is one of my most favorite Albums of all time. I also like Pink Floyd the Wall, Aerosmith Greatest Hits, Pink's Greatest Hits (this past year), All of the Taylor Swift Albums, and Pink's Funhouse and Brittany Spears Circus

The 30 Day Song Challenge is Hosted Here...
Day 1 of the 30 Day Song Challenge is Here. 
Day 2 of the 30 Day Song Challenge is Here
Day 3 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here 
Day 4 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here
Day 5 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 6 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 7 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 8 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 9 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 10 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 11 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here

Day 12 of the 30 day song Challenge is Here