Aniexty

Most people really don't

understand the word

 ANIEXTY

(a.k.a.) Panic Attacks.

Have you ever felt like all of a sudden:

your heart is racing;

then you start having chest pains (you felt like you were having a heart attack);

or your stomach starts to feel upset (like you need to throw up);

maybe you felt a little dizzy or lightheaded ;

possibly had some difficulty breathing.

These are all signs of having a panic attack, which can often be confused for something more serious.

This can be a very real issue for some people. About 3 million people, will have panic attacks at some time in their lives.

Did you know ?

There has to be alot of people out there with Anxiety issues, cause why else is there so many freakin commercials on TV for medications to treat your symptoms.  Which by the way if you didnt know, have million freakin side effects ( don't get me started). Some can be worse than the actual Anxiety attacks you are feeling.  There are many other ways to get help/relief. 

There are Counselors, books (on cd), and even the pastor at your church. Which in my opinion all help way more than any freakin drug.

There are many things that can contribute to these feelings or attacks.

Like :

* stress
* health issues

* germs

* small places

* the subway

Whatever the issue, it seems real to YOU! Because you allow it to get into your head and once it's there, its really hard to shake loose. It can be emotionally disabling. For some people its hard to function at a normal everyday level. The fear of "what if's"  can be so overwhelming that it consumes you.

The worst part is you don't want people to know, you dont want to appear out of contol or someone might judge you.

We do live in a very judegemental society. Like somehow this makes you "crazy". No, actually it doesn't.

However, there is good news, for most people it doesn't last forever, unless you allow it to control you.

So if you have aniexty issues/panic attacks,  I hope this helped.

If you know someone who has issues, cut them some freakin slack man, they probably already have enough on their plate.

I have to tell you,

I know all this first hand

and

I survied it all

without drugs.

What happend to HOME REMEDIES?

Here is a HOT topic, and something that really makes my blood pressure rise.



Do you really need them? The big pharmaceuticals companies think you do. Even some doctors try and make you think you do. But is it in your best interest?

I’m thinking they are making the “big money”, to push these drugs.
When you might not really need them.

What do you think?

Seriously, do you think that you need all those medications that they are giving you? Our society is filled with millions of people who want the “Quick Fix”.


There now is a drug out there for any and all things. What ever happened to “home remedies”?

I'm sure you see all those drug commercials on TV? Have you listened to all the freakin side effects that they are required to tell you about? Half the commercials that are on TV are for drugs and the other half are attorneys advertising (in case you need a lawyer) because of someone who has taken one of these drugs and had serious life altering side effects. Doesn’t that freakin worry you? Is it really worth it? Is your life such a crap shoot?


Or are you just taking the word of your doctor that all will be fine?
I know from personal experience that you have to be your own advocate. PEOPLE, are you listening??? No matter how much you may trust your doctor, in the end you have to be the one to make the final decision. Don’t expect them to do it for you.

Pay Attention.

I know that there are some diseases out there that require people have to take medications, and there is no getting around it. However, remember the saying "less is more"?  If you really have to take medications please completely check it out before you take it.  I’m not trying to be doom and gloom here,  just trying to raise awareness, and make you think about a very important issue.

SO

 do you really need all those medications 

or

 is there another way?

"One Night Stand" Mini Comic

David Hopkins is at it again. He's putting together another mini comic, like "Mine All Mine", with a ton of different artists and I'm doing it again as well. Participating that is. This is a teaser image of my page, why give away the whole thing? Buy the book!

I'll let David tell you about the project himself...

Diamond Comic Distributors will not ship any new comic books for the week of December 30th. There's been some talk about reserving that week for independent creators to provide original material for our favorite comic shops.

A year ago, I created a project called MINE ALL MINE. The mini-comic was a series of one page vignettes -- about thieves, crooks, scoundrels, con artists, etc. Each page, a different artist, written and arranged by me, all about stealing stuff.

I'd like to do a similar comic book to be released on December 30th. It's going to be called ONE NIGHT STAND. Stories about "casual encounters." The stories won't all be overtly sexual or explicit. Like MINE ALL MINE, I'm working with a broad definition. This mini-comic will explore sex and intimacy, guilt and anonymity, risk and fantasy. Lovely stuff.

I want to use this ONE NIGHT STAND concept as an opportunity to grow as a storyteller. I'd like to work with people who are experienced comic book artists, but also talented artists who have never attempted a comic before. It's only a one page commitment (hence "One Night Stand"), and should be a good opportunity to try something new.

You can help David out by donating to the cause...

Dead@17 Nara Pin-up

Here's a pin-up I completed recently for Josh Howard's Dead@17. It's supposed to appear in an upcoming trade paperback collection. I post again when it comes out. It was fun to do, I like how it turned out. Especially the colors. Hope you like it too.

The NEXT Generation

 Anyone who knows me, knows that I always speak my mind.

  That is what, I am best at. LMAO

So I would like to be frank withyou right now, on my opinion about reaching the next generation of young kids.


I know religion is such a “touchy” topic, But there are changes taking place all around us and I am worried about this "boomerang generation" of kids, who don't see the need to attend/be apart of a church.


I feel like they have information over load and don't know which to believe or what is right for them.


Did you know???? That about 80% of the young kids that are currently attend a youth group will not even attend a church on a regular basis by the time they are sophomores in college. How sad is that.

Something else very interesting, the percentage of people who attend a church goes down each generation. Did you know that?


The Generations:
Silent Generation(1923-1943) 50% attended
Baby Boomer Generation (1945-1960’s) 35% attended
Generation X (1960-1970’s) 15% attended
Generation Y (the Millennials 1970’s- 1990’s) 4% attended
Boomerang generation (2000-current) wanna take a guess?

Am I the only one that is alarmed by this?


What do you think the reason is for this lack of attendance or faith?
Here are some of the reasons I think attendance is down with this new generation of kids.


- Media (Constantly talking about priest who has “fallen” );
- Loss of understanding of different religions (Most don’t understand that not all churches are the same);
- Loss of universal respect for the church (everyone used to respect the church, even if they didn’t attend);
- Belief that you don’t have to go to church to believe in God (which you don’t, but fellowship is very important and you can’t get that by watching sermons on t.v.);
- Colleges teachings (science vs religion);


Some of these things would make me question  going to church, thats for sure.
It’s obvious that current methods are failing, in reaching this generation. So we need to step up.

Aren’t you worried?

Chatty Ladies

Do I look skinny in this color?

Lifes Roads

Where is your “road” taking you?

Are you just shuffling thru your life? Head down plowing thru each day without really stopping to take a look around and enjoy it?

I know how easy it is to get into a “rut” and before you know it you have lost a whole year.


If you’re a working mom you definitely know what I mean. How much is too much, and who are you really doing it all for, if you don’t have the time, patience, or energy to enjoy your time with your family then why do it?


Why? Right? Do you even remember?

Also what about time for yourself? The only people that make time for themselves, is normally people without children. There is a freedom there that they have no idea about, until it’s gone.

At least first time moms have the excuse that they are new at it. But what about the moms who have multiple kids. You should know better. About how short life is.

No one ever really takes this serious. Until tragedy strikes. Then you are filled with regrets. So why not just change things now?

Make more time for family, yourself, and your spouse.


I envy the stay at home moms. Cause they have all the free time in the world to do things for and with their kids. I'm not saying its easier ,but working moms have to juggle working an 8 hour job and then come home and do a full days worth of mommy things in half the time. Thats not even counting the single working moms. There never seems to be enough time. It becomes one big blur and in that process somewhere you spend less and less quality time with your children and/or your spouse.


Next thing you know it and grandma is spending more time with your kid. That in its self is not bad. However, when your so busy with work things that you can’t make it to a school function or your kid is the last one being picked up at daycare/school, that should be a warning sign that something has got to change.
No one starts out like this or wants their life to be like this, it just happens.

Not to mention where in all this is your “quiet time” with your spouse?

Statistics say that more than half of marriages end in divorce, are due to having children. Cause you go from lots of “couple” time to no time alone together. Seriously most men (if not all) need some “quiet time” alone with their spouse. I’m not saying that kids aren’t important, just that remember what it was like before the kids. That will always be important, so don’t lose sight of it.

I know we learn by our mistakes, but at what cost? Why not just relax a little, stop over doing it, stress less about the little things and just enjoy life.

WHY NOT?

Emma Frost Pin-up

An Emma Frost pin-up I did for someone who commissioned it as a birthday present for a friend of theirs. He wanted it to be a little Halloween-y.

Is 40 the new 20?

What is it about turning 40?

Seriously, why is there a need to “look younger”?
I have thought long and hard about this subject.

I can tell you at 21 I wasn’t worried about looking older, and at 30 I definitely wasn’t concerned.



But when I hit the BIG 40.  I was like, WTF  It was like overnight I had aged 5 freakin years.

Which then it turned into an obsession of going thru old photos from the last 2 years to see where the hell did my youth go. I was looking to see at what point my eyes looked sunken in or the lovely waddle under my chin appeared. Im pretty sure I did NOT look this old a year ago.

Mostly this concern was kicked off after I went to a happy hour with some co workers. (yes, most of them are 10 years younger than me, so probably should have declined) but should age really have anything to do with anything? Of course it does.

Anyways, in a conversation with one of the “Young gentlemen”(and when i say young i mean 15years younger than me, I could be his freakin mother) he made a comment about me being OLD. WTF!!!! Of course I came completely unglued. I told him that I wasn’t OLD I was just OLDER than him. I also asked him if his mother ever taught him that it was disrespectful to say such a thing to any women of any age. Thank goodness for him, I was not drinking that night or it could have ended badly for him. LMAO

After I left the bar, I then vowed that I was never going to another happy hour with these uneducated young twerps!

Then I proceeded to drive straight from the bar to the nearest department store so I could purchase lotions, face washes, and serums. All of the things that “claim” to give you back your youth. Also at the same time I was texting my daughter to ask her if she thought I looked old. Of course kids lie. Ha!

I work out constantly to try and maintain a figure; I dye my hair to cover the gray; I have even bought a push up bra before, to make sure my boobs are where they should be. What more can one women do?

Why do we feel the need to listen to these young people’s opinions in order to validate if we look young or not?

If I have to hear another person say to me that you are only as old as you feel, I might freakin loose it.

Cause seriously people that is not a compliment!

Honestly, I have a good life, a happy marriage, so why do I care what they think? It's because we as a society always want more, we are never satisfied with what we have.

Now the year is almost over and I have finally come to terms with my age and what I look like now.
It’s not bad, it’s just not what I looked like a year ago.

I still every once in awhile when a commercial  comes on tv with promises of a miracle youth product, my heart skips a beat at the possibility of trying a “new” product that might make me young again.

How crazy is that????

DO I LOOK THIS OLD?

My daughters favorite animal

"Student Driver"

Soon I will officially have a student driver on the road.

Everyone beware!

Although we have been driving already. I have made sure that my son has been driving in an empty parking lot. Just in case. However soon, very soon we will be out on the roads with everyone else. I am so NOT ready for this.

A million thoughts run thru my head. All those little “what if’s”.

What if he side swipes a car? What if he drives thru the garage door?

Currently he is a wiz at going round and round in circles. Since that is soooooo important to know how to do donuts in the middle of the flippin street in the snow. So I can honestly say he is a pro at that.

I don’t know what I am so nervous about. I taught my daughter how to drive and she has done fine. (If you don’t count the 4 wrecks and 4 tickets she has gotten) of course none of them were her fault!

So anyways I have not shared my anxiety with my son over his soon to be driving. I don’t want him to feel any more pressure than he already has. Isnt freakin hard enough to be a teen now a days!

Any suggestions, on how NOT to show panic? I am going to seriouly try not to grip the door handle or use the floor board as a 2nd brake.

I am sure I wouldn’t be so stressed if it weren’t for the fact that he will be driving my new car. Which by the way, my daughter is still pissed about. I never let her drive my car when she was learning how to drive. Even now at 19 she isn’t allowed to drive my car. (Oh, come on she has had 4 freakin accidents remember?)

So as my son is counting down the days till he gets his permit, I am counting down the days in dread. I guess one good thing about him getting his permit. I will have something to hold over his head when he doesn’t follow the rules at home. Sounds mean? Not really, just being a parent and you gotta do what ya gotta do.

Shall I send out a warning to everyone, as to the date of  when he will be offical?

Just in case.

New Pin-Up

I did another pin-up for Lutu - Warrior of the North by Steve Coffin, published by Ronin Studios. I was in a Fall mood.

How Old is too old for Costumes?

Seriously, How old is too old for a child to be out in a costume trick or treating?

Cause, I'm pretty sure that once you have become a "teen" you shouldn't be knocking on ppls doors expecting candy.  WTF, Am I wrong here to think this way?

Last year I remember we had a group of "older" kids come by, well after the time that most kids would still be out. We of course did not answer the door. You say, well was your light on? Yes it was, but we leave our porch light on every night. In my opinion after 10pm is too late for any age of kid to be out knocking on ppls doors. None the less expecting to get candy!

I mean seriously WTF!

If you don’t answer the door, there is a good possibility that something will happen to your house. I know this isn’t very positive thinking, and might seem a little paranoid. But they are "teenagers" after all and they can be very destructive if they feel the need to be.

So anyways it kinda ruins the enjoyment of seeing all the young children that are dressed up and deserve to be out trick or treating when you have a group of older children show up. Sometimes not even in a costume. What do you say to those older kids that show up and are mixed in with the young kids that deserve the candy, without scaring the small children of course?

On a whole different note. I am a supporter of dressing up your animal for Halloween.
I also think that everyone should have doggie snacks as well for those dogs that trick or treat. Cause I know when we have taken our dog around, he had the best time going up to the door, waiting for "his" treat.
(yes,  my dog did have a costume on and he is under the "teen" age).

Possum on a fence

Nothing like starting your morning, running around your back yard, at 6am in your undies, swinging a bat. I don't think this is on anyones Top Ten list.

This morning was another one of those freakin “possum on a fence” mornings.

Let me back things up here and give you the history of the possum issues and our wiener dog.

Now, that this issue has happened more than once, you would think that we would be pros by now.

No, Not Really

Our wiener dog doesn’t like for other animals to come into “his” yard. As most dogs are like this.
However, dachshunds are the #1 most aggressive dogs. So when an animal comes into our yard its
 “game on” and he will not let go until its dead.

So this morning really wasn’t any different than the last “Possum sighting”.  Does this happen to anyone else? Frequent "Possum sightings" in their yard?
Anyways so my husband comes running in the back door, yelling “possum”!    H E L P!  
Normally, we keep the baseball bats at the back door (just for this purpose) does this seem strange to you?
But this morning there was none.

So I’m running with wet hair in my undies to the basement and then outside with the bat swinging. Our neighbors don't find this alarming anymore (that we are running around our back yard half naked with bats), since it has happened many times before.

In the past the possums are normally hissing and charging the dog (kinda scary). But, this morning we were lucky.  Since the possum was playing dead!

Go figure.

(No possums were harmed during this exercise)

Checking In

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted. I've been really busy wrapping up some book illustrations I've been working on. I did 135 illustrations for the interior of the book and designed the front cover as well. Since it's already solicited for pre-orders on Amazon, I guess I can go ahead and say what it is. It's called She's Crazy, He's a Liar-Now What?: A Single Girl's Guide to Understanding the Sexes by Cecily Knobler. And since that's all that's in the public eye right not, that's about all I can share. Once the book comes out and I'll post some of the other images I did. It was a lot of fun to do, but it was also a ton of work. I'm glad to be finishing it up and can't wait to see the finished product.

I've also worked on a few other things here and there but I can't post them until they come out too.

Some of the work I did for Tesar's Modern Steak & Seafood can be seen on a couple of online reviews for the restaurant.

Here...

First taste of Tesar's Modern Steak & Seafood

And here...

Brad's Adventure in Food: First Look: Tesar's, The Woodlands

I've made a collage of the images. Copyright their respective owners.

Lastly, I'm still working on my graphic novel, Spookytown. All the work I did on the book mentioned above slowed me down, but I'm ready to kick back into high gear. Look for updates soon.

Jeff: Okay, maybe the girl on the front of the book looks a little like Heather.

Fitness

Are you one of those over achievers at the gym? You know, the one who wear itty bitty outfits to show off your muscles? I am talking men and women. The one that is there for hours exercising?

Because I’m here to tell you that it just isn’t fair to all the other average people who go there to get their fitness on. Not everyone can go into the frickin gym already fit. For most people the reason you have joined the damn gym is you’re over weight. Am I Right? So there isn’t a chance in hell that you would be caught dead wearing a little skimpy outfit while working out.

If your anything like me, I go to the gym in a over sized t-shirt, hair pulled up, and no makeup. This isn’t a fashion show people!

How about all the trainers that stand around. What are they there for? Do they really help? Or do they just cost a bazillion dollars?

I know your thinking that I have had a bad experience in the gym right? Wrong. I am just very observant. I do spend a great deal of my free time in the gym (6 freakin days a week), there’s lots of time to be observant. Did I say I was observant already? Hmmmmmmmm.

I do enjoy working out, it is a great stress reliever. But it sure is freakin hard work, and I tell you that it takes a long time to see results(especially if you snack on powder donuts at midnight) serisouly ppl you have to reward yourself sometimes . Some might even get discouraged by not seeing immediate results for all their hard work. That is, until you go to the gym and you see some hot young athletic man.

Then it makes it all worth it.

Girlfriends

There is nothing more important than a good girlfriend. Every working and non-working mom needs one. It is vital for survival in this parenting world.

They are a must! Everyone should have at least ONE good girlfriend.

I say it is of great importance for good mental health.


Top 5 Reasons you should have a girlfriend.

-Fashion Expertise (so that you don’t walk out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck in the back of your pants);

-A partner for a drink (or two) after a stressful day work;

-A companion to Chick Flick movie (that your spouse would never go see);

-A silent shoulder to cry on (during those super sad moments in life, that only woman get);

-An ear to listen to, all those nasty thoughts you have about men;

I have several close girl friends. I don’t know what I would do with out them. I have a “high school” friend that I share old memories with. I have a “sports” friend, who lets me ramble on and on about soccer. I have a “religious” friend who I can discuss God with. I have a “mommy” friend, who helps remind me of how thankful I am that my kids are grown up now (just kidding). I have a “politics” friend, that I can discuss (but still really don’t understand) politics with. I have a “fashion” friend, who keeps me updated with the most recent trends (not that I really dress that way).

No, these are not all 1 person. But they all have many wonderful qualities. Some of the best moments in my life have been with my best girlfriend.

So you can see why having someone to share things or bounce things off, is so very important.

I am a supporter of NATIONAL GIRLFRIENDS DAY!

GeRms

Where do I start? They are everywhere. Thank goodness for hand sanitizer!!!!!

For most people this is not an issue. For most, they dont realize all those things they touch have millions of germs or maybe they just dont freakin care?
However, I care and it is a BIG issue for me.

If I try not to think about it I’m ok. Otherwise I get so wound up with worry about them that it seriously stresses me out.

I think it is some of the OCD thing I got going on? Your thinking "freak" right? Well I think I'm normal.

I have heard all the reasons from people why this stuff (hand sanitizer) isn’t all that good.

Like, some germs are good; I never use the stuff; and I don’t get sick; or we all survived as a kid without this stuff. Although some of that may be true. I still say that not enough people wash there hands out there in the world, or we wouldn’t have such an issue with spreading germs all around. Now would we????

I never used to be this obsessed with germs. My friends love to give me crap all the time about my frequent use of hand sanitizer. Some would say my “obsessive use” of the stuff. I carry it in my purse, in my car, at home, and at work. I offer it to friends when we are out.

I just say “ you do what ya gotta do”

and if that makes me special, then I guess I'm "special".

But at least I'm a clean special.

Family Vacations

I'm trying to plan a vacation for the fam. We haven’t really had one in awhile. I mean don’t get me wrong. We have gone “places”. You know all the freakin hot spots for soccer tournaments. Woo Frickin Hoo!!

I can tell you that my daughter does not consider those places a vacation. However I can tell you the money that was spent, was enough that we could have taken a really nice vacation.


Sacrifices.

So I’m thinking and planning. Where we could go that would be interesting and fun for a family of four. We now have a lot more options since our kids are older. Of course Vegas is NOT one of those "options" just yet.

My son and I have discussed possible locations, and thought maybe Yellowstone? I lived there for 5 years when I was younger (Casper and Cody). It is a beautiful place. We could stay in a cabin, and do some hiking. Sounds great right? Problem # 1-I hate the cold and Wyoming only has 1 month during the summer that is even close to warm enough for me. Problem # 2-I won’t fly anymore. So we would have to drive(Do you know how fricken far it is to get to Wyoming?). Which brings up Problem # 3- My kids don’t travel well in the car. You would think now that they are older that it would be a breeze. Not so much. We can’t even make it in the car for an 1 ½ trip before all hell breaks loose. Even with all the electronic gadgets. How sad is that?


So we are back to square one.

Honestly, I just want us to go someplace where we are far away from “home” and the normal daily routines. To be together as a family once more, before time runs out and everyone is living their own lives.

You know what I’m talking about.

Family Traditions

Everyone has a “Family Tradition”. What you may think is normal, may seem strange to someone else.


I got to thinking today, with the holidays getting closer. How traditions change over time as the older family members die off or new members are added by birth or marriage into the family.

One tradition that my family has, is no matter whose birthday it is the other sibling also gets one small gift. So that they won’t feel left out. When my husband and I first got married he thought this was absolutely crazy. He had never heard of such a thing. (he had no idea what he was getting into with my family)We still do this even now and my kids are old enough to not feel left out.

Another tradition we have is on Christmas Eve you are allowed to open one small gift. Normally, I have previously marked the box so that I know what’s in the package before hand , and I always make sure it’s their Hallmark ornament. I think the kids are on to me.

As the younger children grow up and take over, old traditions are amended. It sad if you really think about it. No one lives long enough to carry on the original “Tradition”.

With the changes over times, the one thing however that never changes is the fact that you are coming together for a purpose and that is to be with “Family”.

Letting GO

There comes a point in every parent’s life, when its time to let go. (and times when they are a teenagers that you want them to go- LMAO)

I’ll never forget when my daughter first got her license. Every time she left the house and I would hear a siren, I would immediately call her to make sure she was alright.

Now she is 19 and I still call when I know she is in the area and I hear sirens. I don’t think that will ever change. The panic of worrying if they can make it out in the "Real World".

My daughter complains all the time to me. How none of her friends have to check in with their mothers. I honestly don’t tell her she has to check in with me. She is 19 for crying out loud. BUT I do text her and ask her “where are you at? Who are you with? When will you be home?” and she always tells me.
I also remind her about drinking and driving and stay away from people who do drugs. Too late about warning her about tatoos, cause she already has enough on her to last a lifetime.(something I dont agree with, but none the less her choice)

Yes, this is every conversation we have. I want it to stay in her head like a broken record. I feel like she still wants me to be a big part of her life and that I still have some influence on what she does or she would have told me to butt out long ago.

Now she is talking about moving out and getting a roommate. I know its time, but I’m not ready yet. I have told her to warn her roommate that I will pop in at any time, to see how she is doing. Of course her reply was “Really, is that freakin necessary”?

I know people always say this, but I can honestly remember, as if it was yesterday my little girl on her first day of kindergarten. I do want her to be able to make it in the “Real World” without me, but sometimes it just so hard to let go.

Time flys when you’re not looking and then they are gone.

Powder Donuts

That’s not really what I’m going to talk about today. I am going to talk about addictions.

My addictions are powder donuts and starbucks coffee. I drink coffee almost every morning. Which won’t kill me, unless your talking financially. LAMO. or if I dont have it , you might have a stressfull day dealing with me.

I however have had to cut myself off from the donuts. I work out non-stop and that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference,  if I eat half a package of donuts at 1am(every night). OMG, yes go figure. But I still think about them everyday when I walk by the vending machine.

BTW, I have tried to cut out coffee, but it's NOT freakin happenin!

Everyone has an addiction; Some addictions are BAD, some are NOT so bad. But reality is anything that you think you just can’t live without, is probably not all that good for your health..

Here are some examples of the many forms of addictions.

You can be addicted to LOVE;

You can be addicted to DRUGS;

You can be addicted to FOOD;

You can be addicted to PAIN;

You can be addicted to SEX;

You can be addicted to SMOKING;

You can be addicted to CLEANING;(I don’t know too many people with this addiction)

It’s all in how you control it or allow it to control You.

What is your addiction?

Fanboy Video Interview

Here is an interview I did recently at the Dallas Comic Con. It's with the fine folks at Fanboy Video and Fanboy Radio. Big, big thanks to Oliver Tull for doing the interview and to Luke Hawkins for filming and editing it. These guys and Scott Hinze have always been supportive of me and I really appreciate them taking the time to give me some exposure. Thanks fellas. The goofball on the left is me...

Going GReeN

Recycle



When my kids were little they came home from school, after hearing some teacher talk about saving the planet. I’m thinking are you serious? Next thing you know it we had a million different plastic bins to hold all the crap we were suppose to recycle. Let me just say that BUGS come with recycling. We lasted about a month.

We tried again when the kids were in jr high. On a much lower scale this time, aluminum cans. There’s money in that right? We even bought a can crusher and installed it in the garage. I know we had at least 10 trash bags full of cans. All over the freakin garage. So we finally find a place to take these “bags of cash”. We load them up in the car take them all the way to the recycling center and find out you really don’t make much money. At least not with 10 bags. So once again we have given up.

If you are going to recycle you really have to do it because you want to help save the planet. Cause there is NO real cash in it.

We have now moved onto other ways to help the environment. Going green means a lot of things. We sold our SUV and bought an energy efficient car. We have talked about getting a rain bucket to recycle rain water and use on our plants and flowers in our yard. We use all natural household products to clean with. We eat a lot of organic foods. Some yummy; some not so yummy.

There are a million different ways to go green; you just have to do the research. Going Green is hard work, but don’t you want to help make a positive impact on the world you live in and set a great example for your children?

http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php

New Emma Pin-up By Jennie Wood

Here is the piece by Jennie Wood, which I mentioned in a previous post. She had sent me an jpeg of a work-in-progress image and promised a actual piece to arrival in the mail. It was worth the wait, I love it. It really makes me wish I do watercolor competently, maybe one day I'll give it a try. Thanks again Jennie!
Jennie Wood's Website.

Time for yourself

TiCk ToCk

Why does the world pass by at warp speeds when you don’t want it to and move as slow as a turtle when you’re watching the clock?

There are two kinds of people in this world. There are the ones who watch time tick slowly by. Lonely & or bored with life. Then there are the ones who speed thru life so fast that they don’t take the time to slow down and enjoy it.

Which one are YOU?

If you’re the clock watcher, then stop freakin watching! Live your life like there is no tomorrow.

If you’re the speed racer, slow the fuck down. You have probably already missed out on some major important times that you just can’t get back.

I am one of those “speed racers”. I cant tell you how many times my kids have stood there following me thru the house trying to tell me something that was important to them. But I wouldn’t take the time to slow down and stop to listen.

People, your kids will remember this as they grow old and become adults. How you wouldn’t take the 5 extra minutes to stop multi tasking and pay attention to what your child had to say.

I know how tough it is to be a working parent. I also know how hard it is as a single parent. There is always so much to do and not enough time to do it in. The world today has so much going on and we all seem to want to be a part of it. For the fear that if you’re out of the “loop” you might miss something detrimental.

Who really cares right? Well you do, or you wouldn’t be throwing 15 hours of work and things into an 8 hour day.

Well let me remind you that life is too short and nothing can make up for lost time with the ones you love the most.

Live everyday as if it were your last

Say What?

Is anyone listening to me??????

Blah Blah Blah

Is this universally heard by all men of all ages, when a woman is talking?


Cause I am pretty sure this is what my husband hears when I ask him to do something around our house. It is also what my son hears when I ask him to take care of something.


How do we as women get around this “tuning out” of things? I have read many books trying to understand men. Yes, they all say the same thing. WE are different. No freaking duh! I don’t need to read a book to know that. What I need is the secret code to get them to listen to me.
Is it too crazy of an idea to just have communication? I call it “selective hearing”. I know most women have experienced this with a man/child before. I don’t get it. Do men want women think they are dumb and or lazy?  Sometimes I think it is done deliberately to try and get out of having to help out around the house.

So I am on a new mission. This one is where I don’t wash anyone’s clothes (but my own of course). I don’t fix anyone’s breakfast and I don’t iron anyone’s clothes. I don’t have to worry about dinner, cause I never fix that anyways. Ha!

I give it a week before the complaining starts. And then I am going to turn around and say

“ Blah, Blah , Blah”.