Follow Friday 40 and Over!! Grand Re-Opening!!!!

Hi Everyone!! I have missed you all so much!!! Welcome back!!!

Welcome to the 56th edition of the 

Follow Friday 40 and Over!!
Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!
Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!

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The RULES to join in are very simple!

1. Grab the button
2. Add your link to the list
3. Visit as many other blogs as you can
4. Follow the ones you like (and comment on their blog to say that you are following)

NOTE:   PLEASE leave your blog address when you leave a comment!!  I have had  several people wanting to follow back but the blogger can't always be  found through the google info page!!

This list is  new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up  each week  for new participants to find your blogs. It will be visible all week to  visit  the blogs listed.

While you are here, make sure you check out the
Over 40 Blogger List!!

Be sure to join if you haven't already!
HAVE FUN!

If you would like to add the linky to your own post, use the code below to copy and paste into your blog:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=884ca66c-8ce4-4944-9c37-6d983dafd50c" ></script>

Reminder!!!

A Little White Lie....

Do you ever have a day that you wish you could just start over?  Well yesterday was that day for me.  I was leaving work and was in my car heading out of the parking garage that I park in...the same one that I have come and go for over 7 months now...I swiped my card...the gate lifted...I drove just a couple of feet...turned the wheel to go down the ramp...and BAM!!!   Smack went the back side of my car into the wall because I obviously cut it too close.  My heart sank!  I didn't know what to do.  I was afraid to pull over and look at it because by the way it sounded it had to be bad!  The whole way home I kept trying to look in the side mirror to see if I could see anything but I couldn't!  I cried the whole way home.  My car is only a year old and only has 8000 miles on it!

When I got home, Joe and Short were next door at my parents swimming so I got out of the car and crept around to the side.  Gulp!  It looked like someone side swiped me!  There was paint missing and a couple of small dents plus some big dents!  I had to tell Joe and I didn't want it to look like it was something I did......sooooooooo...I called him on his cell phone and said, "Joe, someone in the garage hit my car!".   "What!?"  "Someone hit the side of my car!"   "I'll be right up!"

So Joe comes around to the side of the garage and looks at my car.  "Omg!"  "What happened!"  "I don't know...(liar!)...I just saw it when I got home!"  "Wow..someone hit you....did they leave a note?"   "Nope."  "I'm going up there tomorrow and look for the car that has your paint on theirs."   ("You won't find them I'm thinking...because its a WALL!!)......it would be someone that just parked there for the day!"  "Can't you try and use that scratch stuff and fix it??"  "Java...it is worse then a couple of scratches!"

So Joe gets out the scratch stuff anyhow and while he's rubbing it on the dents and scratches, the dust from the concrete wall falls off and I couldn't believe he didn't see that!  I was holding my breath the whole time.  He finishes and it looks a little better but it is definitely noticeable.  "Well this sucks....how much is our deductible?"  "$500"  "That's just great."  "Joe I feel terrible...I need to get out of that garage!"  "Yes you do!  Don't worry about it...its just a car!"  "I know, but I feel terrible about it." 

So Joe goes back down to my parents house and I go inside...feeling bad because I did that to the car and feeling even worse that I lied to Joe!  He is a very understanding man and he would have understood if I would have just told him the truth but somehow it just seems easier to blame it on someone else!  I sat on the couch and held a lengthy conversation to God asking for forgiveness and telling him that there are worse crimes in the world and so maybe he could focus on them and not me!

 I haven't been able to post for a while because where we live just experienced a severe flood!  All from the remnants of Hurricane Lee.  If you want to see some pictures, click HERE.  I live right around all of this flooding and luckily we didn't have any ourselves.  My in-laws had 2 feet of water in their basement.  My boss had water in her house that came up to 6 inches from her 2nd floor.  She found out yesterday that it is condemned and only had $50,000 flood insurance.  So sad.  I was called off of work last Thursday and Friday because I work in downtown Harrisburg which is only a few streets away from the Susquehanna River that crested at 27 feet and it is normally at 7-8 feet. My city had lots of damage and so many people have lost their homes and/or had damage. Please say a prayer for those that were impacted by the flood.  Some of you may have heard about us on the news!  Our boil water advisory was just lifted and we were happy about that!

Some of you will be happy to hear that FOLLOW FRIDAY will begin again on September 23rd!!  That is NEXT Friday!!!  I have missed it just as much as you have and I'm anxious to "see" everyone again and hopefully some new faces!  Hope to see you there!

The End....

Of Summer is almost here.  Summer is my favorite time of the year and I always get a little down when its over.  Even though Fall is nice, we all know what comes after....Winter!  Blah!  Okay...enough of that subject!

I have been busy, busy, busy!  One would think that since our household has gone from 6 to 3 that I would have all the time in the world!  But no....taking Grande and Tall to college last Thursday was really hard.  They are in different buildings (same college) and so Joe and I had to run back and forth getting them all set up.  Then we ran to Walmart to pick up some things that they needed...only $100 later!  Prior to that we spend several hundred on "things"....Boy is it ever expensive getting your child ready for college!  Its like setting up an apartment!  And I had 2 at the same time!  I'm sure I'm not the only one and for those that do....you have my sympathy!  From cable wires, to nail clippers!  I think they have pretty much they need...at least for now.  Grande was super excited to go and he was mentally prepared for it because he went for 2 years at a community college but poor Tall on the other hand was very nervous and wanted to come back home with us but I thought it was best if he stayed so he could get settled in and meet some new friends.  Both of them went to high school with their roommates so I am relieved about that. 

We stayed for over 8 hours and then it was time to say goodbye!  Grande practically ushered us out of his room but Tall held on extra tight when I hugged him goodbye.  I didn't cry when I hugged Grande because he clearly could have cared less, but when I was hugging Tall the tears started to fall.  He cried too which made it even harder.  I was so upset by the time I got in the car that I wasn't watching which way Joe was driving and he mistakenly took the highway south instead of north and the next thing you know we were 45 miles the OPPOSITE way and ended up in the next state!  Laugh if you must and yes it is funny now but at the time I couldn't stop yelling at Joe because during the whole 45 miles I kept saying that things didn't look "familiar" and he insisted they did!  I see why I usually do all the driving!  So it took us 3 hours to get home instead of 1!!! 

They are coming home tomorrow (Friday) until Monday!  Short is missing them terribly and boy is our house ever quite!  As much as I miss them I am enjoying not having to worry about what to cook for dinner!  With Joe, Short and myself I can make something quick and everyone is happy but when the boys are here I have to make a full 3 course meal!  And wow the laundry!  I have to actually go around and look for things to make a load!  Amazing!  And the dishes!  Hardly any!  And the bathrooms even stay cleaner!  But I would take all of that if I could trade it for going back in time and having all of my boys here and making time stand still......

Grande and Tall at college

Venti is home (staying at Mocha's parents house) until September 12th when he leaves for San Diego until December 22nd.  After that he is done with the training program and hopefully can stay here or close to here...crossing my fingers!  Their dog Dudley is HUGE.  He is up to 150 lbs!  Here some recent pictures:

My Dad is slowly doing better!  I looked out the window yesterday and he was walking around in the yard and that is the first time that he has done that.  He still has double vision which bothers him but he said that he is starting to see clearer which I was happy to hear.  Thank you all for your words of wisdom and prayers.  It really meant a lot to me.  I read every single comment and they really brightens day!

We had a visit from Hurricane Irene last week!  She left us with a present of a $150 bill for the shingles that blew off of my roof!  Thanks Irene!

My job is going okay.  My job is considered part-time because from the end of October to the beginning of February I will be working 2 week and then off for 2 weeks.  While that does sound wonderful, I don't think we can afford it!  Especially over the holidays!  How am I going to be able to afford gifts let along paying the bills.  I knew this when I took the job but didn't really think about it.  Plus I will still have to pay for my parking space which is $145.00 a month.  I don't know what I'm going to do!  I really wish I could do something at home and make the same amount of money, but I guess I am dreaming.  I have been looking for another job but haven't found anything.  I wish I had more flexibility too.....sigh....

I will be starting the hops back up!!!  I know you all have been waiting patiently and I do appreciate that!  Give me another week or two and things should all be settled by then!

I hope everyone has a very safe and fun filled Labor Day weekend!

He's home!!!

Just a quick update to let you know that my Dad came home on Friday!!  He is doing just okay.  He hasn't improved much and looks like a fragile older man.  It is really sad and I'm hoping that he strengthens back up and gets stronger and stronger.  He has lost 25 lbs.  He is going to the doctors tomorrow so maybe they will be able to do something for him.

I have been SUPER busy with him and Grande and Tall are leaving on Thursday together for college!  They are both going to the same college for the first time!  Grande went to a community college for 2 years and so now him and Tall are heading out together.  Their college is only an hour away but I can't imagine going from 3 kids to 1!!  It is going to be difficult and Short is going to miss them as well.  I have been running around trying to get everything they need and that is a task in itself because everything I have to get 2 of everything....my checkbook is being emptied by the minute!  It took me awhile to get their student loans figured out and I think that is all set.  Whew.....one of these days I will be able to take a breather!

Trying to prepare myself for Thursday....keep me in mind and know that I won't have a dry eye all day.....

Truly Humbled....

When I started blogging it was because I love to write and express myself...plus I thought someone somewhere might actually enjoy reading about all of my adventures.  Never did I think that this blog would connect me with people that are genuinely concerned about my well being and that would honestly and truly make a difference in my life.  From being there for me when I messed up Venti's HAIRCUT 2 days before he got married....or when I mistakenly CUT my dress for the Wedding.  All of your kind and encouraging comments about my Dad mean so much to me!  I read every single one and reading each one has lessened my guilt that I was feeling thinking that I was the one that was responsible for him falling.
I do believe that it was God's plan that I stopped to say hi so that I was there to help him when he fell.  I did not know the dog was going to run so therefore it was not my fault.  It was a horrible thing to watch and I still can't get the image out of my head but I have learned to not have that sinking feeling of guilt when I think about him.

He is still in the hospital.  It has been a week and a day and he hasn't really improved much.  He is having double vision, he get confused about things, he can't speak a whole sentence and he has no appetite and is hardly eating anything.  We are doubting the care he is receiving (or lack of) and I am calling tomorrow to speak to the Social Worker about it.  He was on Morphine every 2 hours for the pain in his head but that didn't touch it.  Now they have him on Dilata which is a narcotic too and as soon as they give it to him, he is knocked out which is somewhat good because then he can rest but I'm not sure if that is good for him or not.  They did another Cat Scan this morning and we didn't hear what the results were yet.  Every day we are hoping and praying that he will be better.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers!

On a positive note, my Mom who had broken her leg (or so we thought) went today to have her cast redone because a doctor in the hospital just happened to look at it when he came in to see my Dad and told her that her cast wasn't on right (it was put on by her Podiatrist because he is a friend of hers!).....so she went to an Orthopedic Surgeon today and he took the cast off and said that it was the worse cast he has ever seen and was even going to save it to show as an example of a "bad" cast....they did an x-ray and here it isn't even broken!!  She left cast free and is able to drive which is wonderful because now she can take herself back and forth to the hospital which she is so happy about because she feels like she is an inconvenience (even though she isn't!)....my Dad actually smiled when she told him that they took the cast off!!

Thank you again for being such wonderful friends.  Hugging you all!!!


My Dad and Mom at Venti's Wedding

My Poor Dad.....

My parents live beside us and their house sits on top of a hill.  On Wednesday I was coming home from work and he was standing on the top of his yard with my sister's 9 month old Weimaraner dog (who is out of control and doesn't listen and they are watching him while she went on vacation).....so I put the window down to say hi and to ask how my Mom is because she broke her leg and had just gotten the cast on 2 hrs prior....he said she was good and that she got a green cast and then all of a sudden the dog started running down the steep hill....my Dad wouldn't let go of the dog so he ran with him down the hill (very fast) and ran all the way to the street where he then tripped on the curb and smacked down into the street face first. I watched the whole thing in horror and couldn't do anything to stop it. He was knocked out for 10 minutes...the ambulance came and took him to the hospital and I rode along.
He has a bleed in his brain, a hematoma on the right side and his shoulder separated from the leash pulling him. He is still in the ICU and not doing very good. Plus he has 14 stents in his heart which is worrisome....I feel like its my fault that it happened because I stopped to talk to him. Plus my Mom is in a wheelchair because she broke her fibula bone so the cast is full leg.

My Mom called my sister who was on vacation and they drove straight home from Florida and got home at 4am to pick the dog up.

None of us wanted my parents to watch the dog because he is really hard to control but my sister said she couldn't find anyone else to watch him.  The dog is so bad that my nephews have to "sit" with him during the day while she is at work to make sure that the dog doesn't do anything bad in the house.

Everyone says that its not my fault but I can't help but think that it is.  If I would have just went home and not stopped to say hi then maybe the dog wouldn't have did that and he wouldn't have fallen.

I can't get the image of him falling out of my head and I feel terrible for putting him in the hospital. I am really sad and depressed that I did this to my poor Dad.