Tornado

This is a photo of the tornado forming, that touched down on my road in April. The tornado destroyed many homes. My place was not touched, I had someones roof and insulation in my yard. The tornado lifted off the ground about 3 houses down from mine.







This is a photo right in front of my house where you can see the tornado has lifted.

He's Growing Up

I can't believe my little Brat is now a teenager! The years have gone by to fast. The other day, I watched the home videos of him as a toddler. I miss that little boy! It wont be long now before he's driving a car. The thought of him driving scares me to death! Hmmm that's funny, I'm fine with him flying a plane.... but not a car?

Where Has The Time Gone?

Well its been over a year since I've blogged. My life had gotten hectic and alot going on. I was also getting alot of spam. Im ecited to be back and I will update you on my Brats and me.

Hollywood, Paris and Barcelona

To be young wild and free. Adventurous Brat is off on her travels again. She travels at least every three months if not sooner. She never makes a real travel plan.. no not her; she just picks up and goes. Weeks before her travel adventure. I asked where she was going. She never knows honestly. Her plans were to go visit a friend in L.A. for a day or two. Then fly somewhere overseas. She's not sure where yet; but it wont be the UK (shes only been there six times last year) These are her travel plans...really! So where does she stay? Well she does this couch surfing thing, that's interesting, and Hostels. As a parent yea this worries me. I'm always a nervous wreck when she travels. During her travels, she keeps in touch via the internet. If I was young and able to travel, I would do it! I love all her travel stories and photos. My brat has met some interesting people. Adventurous Brat sent me some photos that i want to share with you. She is in Barcelona today. I'm still not sure when she is coming home.

The Long Meandering Road

Tarzan absolutely does not get directions or important facts. A trait very typical of most men. There have been many times, Tarzan and I went somewhere new. As usual I will ask "Do you know how to get there?" "Do you know where we are going?" (important fact here)He will never admit we are lost or that he wasn't sure exactly just where we are suppose to be. This time his latest adventurous stunt has left me annoyed and feeling awkward.
Tarzan came home from work with sad news that one of his co-workers wife passed away. He informed me the viewing and funeral are tonight. Tarzan would like for us to attend. Of course we will attend; I do not know his co-worker and Tarzan...well he doesn't know his co worker very well. When we arrive at the very crowded funeral home. Tarzan asked me to sign the guest registry for us. I signed the registry and picked up the memory card. The parlor was crowded. many people were gathered around the woman laying in the casket. Tarzan and I made our way through the crowd smiling and shaking hands. Then Tarzan whispered "I don't recognise anyone" I asked him "You don't see any of your co-workers?" "No" he answered. I looked at the memory card and asked him "Tarzan what's his wife's name?" "I don't know" was his response. "well what is your co-workers last name?" I asked. "I cant remember" he whispered to me. At that point I marched out to the hall with Tarzan in tow. Once we were in the hall; Tarzan insisted we must find the funeral director. The director will give us the name of Mrs Body's husband. There we stood in the funeral directors office, explaining...no we don't know their names and maybe we are not at the right funeral home. The man told us he was just the assistant and doesn't have the information we seek. The man also informed us that the funeral director will arrive shortly and that down the corridor is another funeral (both deceased are women). He suggested we wander down there and would probably recognise someone. Oh but before we left the office Tarzan had to ask "Do you know if one of the women died of cancer?"....Oh please tell me this is just a dream and not really happening...



So we proceed down the corridor to the next funeral. Where a man thanked us for coming and suggested us to sign the guest registry. Once again I signed MR & MRS TARZAN HAVE ARRIVED and pick up a memory card! Tarzan and I walked around smiling and shaking hands. As I prey oh please nobody ask us a question; cause Tarzan will never admit we are lost and dear God I don't know what he would say! I looked at Tarzan and asked "do you see anyone?"
"no...just let me look"
"I don't see anyone...maybe we should go back to the first one" he said
"ok lets go" was my annoyed reply. Yes we walked back to the first funeral. Tarzan looked around, while i stood there holding two memory cards in my hand. I guess he didn't recognise anyone; because Tarzan suggested we return to the second funeral. So we did. we soon left, knowing we went to the wrong funeral.

Weekend Kitchen Remodel

This past weekend, Tarzan and I redid the floor in our kitchen. This was not a planned project. Our tile floor has been cracking for awhile now. It was looking awful. You could actually pick up the pieces of tile like a puzzle! Our kitchen floor was sagging. Tarzan and his Dad crawled under the house and discovered the support beams were cut into for the plumbing. I have a fairly new home! Oh just so you know Tennessee has lack building codes. Therefore the beams had to have support added and I got a new floor! YES! I chose a brick color because I have no color in my kitchen. This is a wood laminate that snaps together. It is gorgeous and easy to clean. My kitchen looks bigger now and not like a dark hole in my house. lets see counters next and hmmm. Here are some photos of my new kitchen. excuse the mess on my counters.


Many of you know from reading older post that I make wine. Well I had (still do) alot of wine bottles stored everywhere. I was running out of storage. Tarzan made me some awesome wine racks above my cabinets for storage that holds over 100 bottles. They are empty bottles for now. However I do have 20 gallons almost ready for bottling. these are the pics of my wine racks.

Yes I Will Have A New Son!

Many of us make New Years resolutions with the best intentions to keep them. Few of us follow through with our resolutions. I made my 2010 resolution before Christmas. See I took my son to the Dr. for a check up. When Executive Brat stepped on the scale for his weight my heart dropped. Now I knew he put on some weight. In the car ride home it was all I could think about. I know my Brat was thinking about it too. I glanced at him in the rear-view mirror. He simply looked sad. I kept thinking how did this happen. Of course I know how weight gain happens. Our life style changed when we moved to this small town. Before the move, we went hiking alot, played laser tag, bowling, karate and bike riding. This small town we live in just doesn't have much to offer for kids to do. Oh and I'm not hiking anywhere around here. It is not safe! If you didn't know; I live in Tennessee. The Bible Belt. Tennessee is the 2nd fattest state. Its the food that is eaten in Tennessee. On my sons school lunch menu for one day list this!

Breakfast: Chicken and Biscuit
Poptart and milk

Lunch: Salisbury Steak/Gravy
Mac and Cheese
Creamed Peas
Butter Roll
Fruit Cocktail
Choc. Cake


Wow after all that kids are also having big dinners!
Executive Brat is the smallest of his friends! His weight and BMI put him at risk for to many health problems to come. This just isn't acceptable for me. As a mother it is my job to care of him. I threw out all bad foods from my house. I bought and placed an exercise bike in my living room. The rule that applys here is "while playing xbox RIDE the bike!" Also to support his weight loss. I have put me and Tarzan on a diet too! Tarzan has made some complaints when I wont buy some high sugar products. I simply remind him to be an example. I can tell you that this was very hard in the beginning. However I want my Brat to be healthy and happy. He is doing a great job and has lost 9lbs so far. You know before we moved here I use to workout everyday. I watched what I ate and we were healthy. So I'm excited about our weight loss plan. I know we will all feel better. So that's my New Year Resolution!

Coupon Queen

Susan Samtur has been showing us for years how much we can save money using coupons. Now its hard to believe that I can really walk into the grocery store and spend less than $20 for over $100's worth of products. I cut coupons in the past and I never walked out of the store with those type of savings! Im thinking if this really can be done; then Im gonna try harder. I know I can do this! Susan's first tip is to look at the weekly sales flyer; then plan your shopping by it. Also dont buy items because they are on sale or items you have a coupon for. Well this is easy enough. So all week I have been collecting coupons; free money! I could hardly wait for my flyer to come; I'm gonna make my list and go shopping and I will be the domestic goddess for the day! After going thru my flyer and picking only the items I would buy; I really am disapointed. The only sale items that I would buy was BEER! Im not kidding. Now I remember why this just does not work for me. With the price of food rising I need all the savings tips I can get! If you have good tips please let me know.

What A Man Must Know

Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib, not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be superior, but from his side to be equal! Under the arm to be protected, & next to the heart to be loved.

For all those men who say,'why buy the cow when you can get the milk free'. Here's an update for you! nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize its not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!!!!

20 Years Ago

Twenty years ago, I lived in West Germany. I lived there for 4 years, even gave birth to one of my brats there. I have been to check point charlie. Went christmas shopping once in East Berlin. I left earlier in the year; before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today twenty years later... remember. I like this video, pay attention around 1:50 and after. Sorry You will have to turn my music off to hear the video.

Afternoon Tea

This week we are to list five things that we have learned in life. This is what I have learned.

1. Never except less than you deserve.
2. learn to let go of negative relationships, these are the people who wont be there for you.
3. never judge strangers, people circumstances can change and do.
4. Decide how you want to live your life and do it!
5. Love and live passionately

This Moment

This Moment...
I May never see tomorrow there's no written guarantee, and things that happened yesterday belong to history. I cannot predict the future, I cannot change the past. I have just the present moment, I must treat it as my last. I must use this moment wisely, for it soon will pass away, and be lost to me forever as part as yesterday.
I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet, be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete. The unkind things I do today, may never be undone, and the friendships that I fail to win, may nevermore be won. I may not have another chance, on bended knees to pray and thank God with humble heart, for giving me this day.

Thank all of you for your kindness. Everyone of you has helped me heal from the loss of my Dad. I added links on his memorial. These links are who my Dad was. Please visit the links to honor what was so important to my father. Thank you

Mourning, Grief and Emotional Support

Have you ever read the poem in the upper right corner? I do believe in helping others when they need it. So yesterday I was talking to one of my followers, who is hurting from the loss of her child. My heart goes out to her and her family. I told her about the Find A Grave website. Many of you have lost a loved one and know the weight your heart bares. I too have felt that grief, that wouldn't go away. Yes it does get easier as time goes by; but it never goes away. When my father died, I was devastated see I was a Daddy's Girl. Now I must tell you about Find A Grave. Find A Grave website really helped me heal from the loss of my father. On the website, there are groups of people that have lost a loved one too. Through words, tokens, messages, and support of its members I'm thankful. There are people that add memorials from obituary's everyday. You may just find someone you know on that site. For those of you that are aware of Find A Grave or are a member please visit my father I would love to post the memorial link for my followers child, for you to visit as well. However that is her family and her business.