Pain sucks!

I have been having a bad time at work these last few days. I  have continued to have to do care and be on my feet all day.  I now have plantar fasciitis in BOTH feet and my knee is starting to aggravate me again.  Right now it is locking up and hard to straighten.  I may need to go see the Dr again and see what she can do for me if this keeps up.  I cannot be on my feet all day like this.  It just hurts too much.  They wanted me to work tomorrow because the dept of health came in today.  I asked for Friday off if I did, but they said NO!  That would put me working a week straight and I can't take it.  I can't believe I am only 41 and crippled up like this.  I wish I could loose some weight and take some of the burden off my feet.  Ok enough whining.  I guess Travis and the crew made it to N.C. alright and as I am typing this, Travis is down on the beach chasing ghost crabs!  Wish I was there....  Linda

i love mom

Where is everyone?

Some pictures to go along with my journal entries about the tractor pulls!  (((( Mom ))))

The Animal got loose!

Another video from the fair!

Washington Co. tractor pulls

I hope this works this time!  You tube kept saying failed when I put up my videos but for some reason Uncut video worked this time.  Usually I can't even upload anything to them!  So I went ALONE to the Tractor pulls last night.  My friend Dave decided he would rather go to camp and play with his gun this weekend.  So thats ok.  I met up with my friend/co-worker Sheri and her husband and we had a good time until a massive storm rolled in.  They put a delay on the pulls, and it was already 8 PM so I decided to leave.  I was never more scared riding home.  The lightning and thunder was right over me and all I could do was pray and pray I did.  The only other time I was seriously afraid for my life was being out in a small rowboat when a storm came up.  I know I am safe in the car from lightening, I was more afraid of having a tree come down on me!  Travis left last night for N.C.  Please pray for his safety and everyone else.  I worry so when people drive at night that they will fall asleep driving.  Ok time to go to work....  Still getting pulled.  Linda

Washington Co. tractor pulls

I hope this works this time!  You tube kept saying failed when I put up my videos but for some reason Uncut video worked this time.  Usually I can't even upload anything to them!  So I went ALONE to the Tractor pulls last night.  My friend Dave decided he would rather go to camp and play with his gun this weekend.  So thats ok.  I met up with my friend/co-worker Sheri and her husband and we had a good time until a massive storm rolled in.  They put a delay on the pulls, and it was already 8 PM so I decided to leave.  I was never more scared riding home.  The lightning and thunder was right over me and all I could do was pray and pray I did.  The only other time I was seriously afraid for my life was being out in a small rowboat when a storm came up.  I know I am safe in the car from lightening, I was more afraid of having a tree come down on me!  Travis left last night for N.C.  Please pray for his safety and everyone else.  I worry so when people drive at night that they will fall asleep driving.  Ok time to go to work....  Still getting pulled.  Linda

Happy Birthday Travis

Happy Birthday to Travis!  He turned 16 yesterday!  I can't believe in two years he will be "an adult". 

 I didn't get very good sleep last night.  Woke up a lot and then we had a storm come through.  Sarah went to her Dad's for the weekend.  I hate her spending the night there because I don't know if he is getting drunk.  Travis is leaving tonight for North Carolina for a week!  He is going down with family.  My ex-sister in law rents a house in the Outer Banks for a week and gets a bunch of people to go.  The house they rented this year has a pool and a hot tub!  Lucky them!  I wish I could go!  I had to spend money I don't have for him to go however.  Looks like more overtime coming up!   

I had a little party here for Travis last night. We had a good time.  I got him a new movie, 300, and a new video game, Medal of Honor, Vanguard.  Also a big can of cashews and a couple t-shirts.  They all were "wrapped" in a new backpack for school!

I am working today and then planning on going to the tractor pulls at the Washington Co. fair tonight.  I hope everyone has a good weekend!  Linda

Hi Mom

Birthday aftermath

My day yesterday was not cute!  It was downright awful.  I got into work early to find out that we had to go upstairs and work on the floors.  Last year around this time we had a PROMISE from the Administrator that we would no longer be pulled off our job to do care NO MATTER WHAT!  Well, I guess that went right out the window.  We have been getting pulled almost every day this week.  I don't mind doing it depending on what unit they place me on.  I worked as a Unit Assistant/CNA yesterday on 5S and it was ok, but it is a tough, fast paced job.  Then, when I got done there, there was still an hour and 1/2 before I could go home, so me and my co-worker went around trying to get as many of our program people done.  I think they are getting cheap again and not hiring agency staff to come in. 

Anyhow, when I got home I found out that the computer had a Trojan Horse virus.  I had switched servers and thought that I was automatically protected.  WRONG!  So after an hour of fighting with the computer, I managed to run a system restore and then download the appropriate virus protection.  So everything is running good and actually much faster! 

Thanks to Donna and the other artist for my snags today! 

Hi MoM!

I'm not shy to say-It's my birthday today!

So I am roaring off into the age of 41!  I hope its a good year for me! 

 

Birthday dinner

Today Dave (good Dave) had a birthday dinner for me at his parents house.  His sister Jen came.  We had steak, corn on the cob, potato salad, regular salad with fresh mozzerella and cake and icecream.  Then came the gifts!  I got a towel set from his parents as well as an African violet.  From Jen I got a gift certificate for a pedicure and from sister Laura (mailed) I got a vermont coffee mug and t-shirt!  Then Dave brought me out to the truck to show me HIS gift!  He got me a BBQ grill!  And a filled propane tank!  I joked and said you know what it means when a man starts buying a woman appliances!  Anyway, tomorrow is my actual birthday!  I'll be 41!  Linda

Native American pow-wow

Some pics from the pow-wow.

Ballston Spa Bicentennial parade

Yesterday was the Town of Ballston Spa bicentennial celebration.  A 3 hr parade was advertised, but it only lasted one hour and 18 minutes.  Afterward, they had a family carnival at the fairgrounds.  They had a band, rides, food and games.  Everything was free except the food and that was reasonable.  We didn't stay for the fireworks.  My legs were starting to hurt and Dave came with us (good Dave) and he can't stay on his feet long. 

Today, we may go up to Roger's Island in Fort Edward to a pow-wow.  I have never been to one and I think the pictures will be good!  My birthday is the day after tomorrow!  Oh boy!  Linda

Time for Bed

OOOOHHHH Hairy backs!

Logan's first haircut

My little man got his first haircut today!  He was so good and didn't cry or fuss at all!  Later on while walking thru the mall we ran into Paris Hilton and one of her dogs!  See the pics!  Linda

Can't forget my WillYum!  He is getting so big.  Holds up his head is is chewing on his hands and toys!  I love these boys!

It's my day off!

This beautiful Fisher has been reportedly terrorizing neighborhoods in nearby Wilton.  People have reported having their cats gone missing, over 100 in 3 years.  Guess they should keep their cats indoors!  I love cats, but I have no sympathy for those that let them roam free and then blame the poor Fisher when the cat is the trespasser.  I saw two new housing developments being built on the way over to a friends last night.  People can't even sell their houses up here if they want but developers are still building more.  Then homeowners wonder why wild animals are in their neighborhoods.  Where else are they supposed to go?  Do they just disappear along with the trees, rocks and plants that were destroyed?

Ok enough preaching...  I'm going to cut this short because I'm going to see Logan get his first haircut!!!  Pics too!!!  Linda

Quick and Easy chili recipe

I made some chili the other day.  Its always good and very easy to make. 

1 LB ground beef  I use 85% or higher/ground turkey may be used too

Large can crushed tomatoes 28oz

1 small can diced tomatoes with green chilis mild (DelMonte) 14 oz

2 cans kidney beans

1 package of McCormicks chili seasoning

Brown the ground beef or turkey in pan until pink is gone then drain.

Put in large pot with remaining ingrediants.  Stir it up and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or longer if you like.  Serve it up!  Yummy!

Take me out to the Ballgame...

Last night, Travis and I went out for our 3rd annual trip to Joe Bruno Stadium to watch the Tri-city Valley Cats.  We had a good time and I ate too much.  Wesley (where I work) sponsors the trip and buys some food.  We had hotdogs, hamburgers, fries and a cookie/brownie platter.  It was Yum-O.  Sorry Rachael Ray, I stole your line!  The game was fun, with music, games in between innings and prizes.  I won a free game of the lottery.  The sunset was beautiful also.  Went to bed at 11:30 and had to get up for work.  I'm pushing it today and not leaving until a little later.  I usually like to get there early.  They pulled me to do care yesterday.  It was ok.  I like to take care of people if I can choose who they are!  Hopefully, if I get pulled again today it will be the same.  I also told them I would work late...  I'm going to be beat by later tonight.  The house is a mess.  I need a maid or a cleaning fairy to come.  Travis does nothing all day except play video games.  I'll leave him a list and see where it gets me.  Probably no where....   Linda

Geocaching the Old Rock City Falls mill

Yesterday afternoon, I dragged Sarah kicking and screaming out to do a geocache at an old mill in the forest.  Once she got there and realized there were interesting things like waterfalls, she was happy.  In this cache, you have to use the date and name to figure out the coordinates for the cache.  While I was there I found the benchmark and gloated because that counts toward a find also!  It was not mentioned in the dialoge for the cache so it was a bonus.  After getting the numbers I needed, we set off.  Sarah wanted to explore the waterfall area first, so we did that.  Then we went up to find the cache.  Exploring the old mill was great.  It was getting very humid in the forest however and after nearly an hour of searching, I had to give up.  I did however, come out with some great photos. 

Last night after I went home and Sarah went to her Dads.  I invited a man friend from work to go to the baseball game tomorrow night.  It was a cold call and I was so nervous.  He said he had a birthday party for his Dad however.  Then I decided I wanted to go see Hairspray, so I called him back.  He said he had plans for last night too.  Oh well, two strikes.  So I called my friend Barbara and went with her.  Hairspray was great!  I loved the girl in the movie and John Travolta was a hoot!  After, Barbara and I took a quick walk downtown.  It was cold and she was freezing.  There were about 10 people set up in the bank drivethru area playing drums of all sorts.  The rythem was intoxicating.  I wished I had brought my camera to take pictures of them.  Oh well.  So off I went to home and bed.  I had a phone call at 12:15 am.  They didn't leave a message, but I could here a man's voice murmer in the background.  Maybe a wrong number.  I will have to start bringing the phone with me to bed.  I got rid of my caller ID so I don't know who it was. 

Tomato!

Here I am with my first tomato.  I had a tomato sandwich this morning and the slice was big enough to cover the bread!  It tasted really good too! 

Beautiful isn't it?  The piece missing on the bottom of the slice is because the tomato had a large crack on it. 

I talked to my Mom for a while last night.  She misses me alot already and I miss her.  Maybe I can come down in the spring.  Travis needs braces though and I might have to use my income tax return money to pay for what the insurance doesn't cover.  I will have to notify his father that he has to pay half.  I'm sure he will be thrilled with that.  He was all pissed off a few months ago when I told him that I wanted more child support.  He is paying me what someone on minumum wage at 5.35 an hr pays.  He payed it for a while and then whenever he had financial problems, that was always the first to go.  He is working a different job now, I know he is getting more than minumum. at that too.  What is it with men that don't want to pay support?  They get it free and easy with no kids to burden them and don't even think they should pay the Mom.  I know it goes the other way too, but not as much.  Its raining and dreary today.  Makes me just want to go back to bed.  Sarah has a birthday party to go to tomorrow so we have to go shopping.  The little girl has asked for things to put in a box to send to the troops in Iraq instead of gifts.  I think that is a wonderful idea. 

In 11 more days I will be 41!  Hard to believe I'm that age.  I have to go to the Dr. today and I dread getting on that scale.  I know I'm enormous.  The damn thing will probably say I'm 200 lbs.  I can't believe I let myself get his heavy.  And I can't get if off to save my life.  I lost 3 lbs and they came right back.  I guess I need to try the high fiber diet!  Ok enough rambling.  I need to go shower.  Linda

Geocaching weekend

I've been out geocaching all weekend.  It was alot of fun and I got 9 caches done.  Yesterday, I went out with my Dad and his wife, Nancy.  We took the airboat down the Mohawk river to a couple islands.  It was a great day for boating.  I wish I had taken photos on one island, it looked like something from the prehistoric age with giant weeds and plants.  They just towered over us.  There was no trail, so we had to hack our way through the brush.  Last night Dave, the girls and I went to Saratoga Spa State Park where I collected information about the springs.  I submitted my information for an Earthcache.  This is a form of Geocaching where the cacher will go to the site and learn something about the earth.  I don't know if its been approved yet, I hope so!  Ok got to go get ready for another week of work...  Bye for now! 

Boring week

As you can see, I've had a boring week.  Didn't do much.  It was very hot Thursday and Friday.  Warm today too, but not as humid.  I made spagetti and meatballs.  I made the meatballs out of ground turkey and they were very good.  Then I took Sarah and her friend over to Dave's to swim.  I had him over to dinner.  He is trying to get as much done as possible before he has to get another graft on his foot.  It will be the end of August probably.  Then its the crutches and boot again.  This happened to him last year. 

Sarah is watching Miranda Cosgrove on TV.  She was on Drake and Josh as the annoying little sister.  Now she is getting her own show called ICarly.  She is a cute little girl.  I think she is 14. 

I talked to my Mom tonight.  She is going to send me the money back that I used to buy her airplane ticket.  I can certainly use it!  I am so broke.  I should probably pay the credit card company first and pay off the ticket.  I was supposed to do that to begin with but forgot.  Pay back part anyway and then put the rest in savings.  If any rich people out there want to send me money please feel free!  LOL!  Any philanthropist want to help a single mom with two kids...?  Ok enough of that!  Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  May go boating tomorrow with my Dad.