As Promised...

For Mother's Day, I was given this lovely book made by my dear child Greg. Enjoy faithful readers.

Apparently I am in desperate need of Oil of Olay, and I must quit smoking IMMEDIATELY as you can tell from the lines on my lips. (I have never smoked)

Notice how I like to wear my tennis racket around my neck. And those are stars above my head from being wacked with it.

I also must scream my name at my children so they remember it, lol. Apparently it must really make me mad when I have to do this!

I like to turn on fans FULL BLAST! So I am told.

Ah yes... the Hawk. We've had a problem with a hawk trying to use our bird feeders of a buffet. How sweet of Greg to remind me of the carnage!

Don't let him fool you. He LOVES it when I kiss his face! And No... we don't like to kiss. Not like that. That's just gross.

Apparently I am either hearing impared, I think my children are hearing impared, or I am blind. Something like that! Notice Emily's hair blowing back from me SCREAMING at her!

Here I am shown with a salivating problem. He tells me I'm drooling. :)

I guess I spit when I scream too! lol

Anyone who knows me, knows that THIS is not true. Emily inherited that gene from BOTH Grandma's!

Lovely depiction of my favorite color! LOL!

This one kills me. Apparently I have been watching too much wrestling on TV as I am now taking out my kids with folding metal chairs! POW! RIGHT IN THE KISSER! lol

Ah yes. This is me with a fire on the cake, flower in my hair and me squirting myself in the face with frosting. Such a clean baker I am.

Yeah, me throwing Greg into the pool. THAT will be the day!!

Maybe once he gets over his fear of water... hey wait. That gives me an idea for summer! lol

I haven't forgotten about posting Greg's book. Thing is... I can't remember where I put it! I set it aside so that I would remember to scan it in, and I think it got lost in the shuffle. I will look for it though.

I am a HUGE mental mess right now. I literally feel like a box of rocks. As I mentioned previously, our dear friend Chris is in the battle of his life. He was diagnosed with Leukemia and has been in the hospital since May 4th. I also can't remember if I told you that Chris & his wife Deanna are both Greg's godparents.

When I was younger, my dear friend got Leukemia. I now am thankful that ignorance is bliss. Had I realized the capacity of this, back then... I would have been a total nut case. Even more than I am right now! I just carried on with her as if it didn't even exist, and we had a GREAT time. I'm sure she will agree.

The funny thing is that I know full well that Chris is going to survive this with flying colors. There isn't a seed of doubt in my mind. I can't explain it, but there is NO doubt. This is just a "interruption" in the life of Chris. A crappy one at that. On the other hand, I feel like I'm wearing a straight jacket. We are totally climbing the walls here, and are just furious that he is going through this. It is starting to become very rough on his 3 children too. I'm worried about his wife, also my dear friend, and that she isn't taking proper care of herself to be there for him. She assures me that she is, but I am still worried.

I am happy to say now that fundraisers are being put into place to help with their medical expenses. He is a Sterling Heights Fire Fighter/Paramedic. On a patients darkest days and moments, Chris is there, fighting for their lives. And now we are going to help a brother out.

I will be sure to keep you posted on the fundraisers, in case you would like to contribute.

I Did It!

Algebra... the hardest class I have EVER taken. EVER. I'm talking.... like EVER!!

And I passed. I got a C... and I will take it!

Yeahhhhh ME!!!!!!

I actually started sobbing when I saw my grade. Never in the history of all my credit hours have I ever had a grade impact me the way that did.

Top that off with Emily's team being in FIRST PLACE after today's games! They took all 4 games, but I can't remember the scores. They are starting to run together, lol.

We are back in Richmond at 8:30 tomorrow morning to take on the First Place in the other division.

It's been a GREAT... but draining day. Good Night!

Stand by!

It's late, and we have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow for Emily's tournament. Greg made me a Mothers Day book at school, and let me tell you... it is a total treasure. I don't have time to scan it in right at this moment, but trust me, it's something you don't want to miss. It's funny to see how your kids REALLY think of you. I promise to do it as soon as I get a free moment. Be sure to check back!

Full Swing!

Softball and Baseball are both in full swing! This year Emily is on the Macomb Eagles Fast Pitch team. It is a SMAFF, travel team. She rocks at it. She can jack that ball out of the park, but then gets so excited she forgets to look at her coaches for signals! By the time she reaches her base, she is holding on to her helmet, jumping up and down!

Last weekend they had a tournament in New Haven in which they won all 3 games. The second game they killed the other team, 12 - 2... and I heard the coach of the other team had no business putting those girls in the tournament. They weren't prepared for it and just got annihilated. The down side is that because they were so easy to beat, the third team almost won, because our girls were slacking off. They weren't ready to really "play" again. Regardless, they pulled themselves together and won the tournament.

Emily had a lot of hits, but the best one that I saw was a double. That ball FLEW over the girls heads. The parents were going banana's, the team was cheering her on, and she was so excited, she only made it to second base! Her coach on third was yelling for her, but she didn't look over at him, lol. She'll get the hang of it soon enough. She's a slugger!!!

I LOVE this photo...

Then there is my little leaguer. He is so handsome in is little uniform. Greg expressed interest around the time the sign up form came home. Then it was down hill. We couldn't get him to play catch, he didn't want to do anything... Until he started practicing with the team. That's all she wrote. HE LOVES IT! Greg is a "Knight" on the Coach Pitch League. He is having a GREAT time and takes it soooo seriously!

While Mr. Green Shirt over there is playing in the dirt, some little sneaker looks like he's about to steal third!

We watched a total of 4 games last Saturday. 3 were her's and 1 was his. It was exhausting to say the least, especially with 40 mph winds.... but we figure that this is just temporary. The kids are having fun, and we LOVE watching them. However this is what Emily looked like by the time Greg's game was half over...

This weekend, the insanity continues. She has a tournament in Richmond on Saturday & Sunday. Den has an alumni game at his alma mater on Saturday, and Greg has a game on Saturday at 4.

Calgon... take me away, lol.

She is playing in a tournament in Lansing for you West Side readers.. it will be June 26th - 28th. We'd love to see you there.

Now Hiring

Ok, here it comes... if I haven't said it before, I LOVE Tastefully Simple. I LOVE this company, and love how they operate.

We had our team meeting here last night. We were talking about the economy and people losing their jobs. Oddly enough, our sales were up 57% in March. I have more parties booked than I ever thought possible, and the calls keep coming in. Everyone wants to book for June, however I'm starting to push them into July. It's CRAZY!

We sell food. Although there is a recession, we are not participating in it, because people are still eating. They are still eating dinner, entertaining friends, and having staycations. People NEED TO EAT! We have a recession proof product! I love home parties and have had quite a few of them here, however I really don't need another food storage container, or baking stone. I already have them. They last FOREVER! Beer Bread on the other hand... usually doesn't make it a week in the pantry. EVERYONE loves beer bread.

So! If you need a job. You are looking to make anywhere from $50 to $100 per week, Tastefully Simple is the company you are looking for. There are no pyramid schemes. You don't have to carry inventory. Reorders are plentiful. In fact, I didn't do any parties from last August to December, and still got loads of reorders. It is that easy.

For parties... You may think, "I can't stand up there and talk". Well let's put it this way... I failed speech in college because I was so afraid of speaking in public. Today... I pass a tray and talk. They aren't looking at me, and half the time they aren't even listening to me. They are eating, oohing and aahhhing, and having a GREAT time with their friends. It's an AWESOME job and this October it will be my 2 year anniversary. I LOVE IT!

Sparked your interest... click the link on the right and read up about it. If you want more information, contact me and we'll discuss it. Totally no pressure. I firmly believe people need to do what is right for themselves, and not for anyone else. But if you think the time is right for you... this may be exactly what you are looking for.

No lay-off's, no pay cuts, no one to schedule you, but yourself. Health Care benefits... This is ONE GREAT COMPANY. I'm loving the ride.

My mom...

My mom was 18 when she married my father, the day after her high school graduation. A few months later, my brother was born. 2 years later, another son, then a daughter, and finally me. My mom was very young, raising a large family. We grew up in the country for most of my life. Living there, I learned about hard work, the beauty of nature, how to handle family conflict, or more like how NOT to handle family conflict.

Through it all, we managed to stay together. While my parents had some rough years, my mom managed to keep the family together, and tried her best to raise her family. All of us kids turned out pretty well I think. We are all homeowners, happily married, and didn't turn out to be drug addicts, wife/husband beaters, or drunks.

Now I look at my parents in awe. There was a lot of turmoil in our lives, yet my mom still managed to provide a nurturing environment. In one case, she saved my brothers from being punished because one of them put their foot through a wall. She just moved her curio cabinet over in front of it, and shortly after the entire family went up north for a vacation. It wasn't until after we returned, that she confessed to my Dad, who still wasn't happy. She did this so that we could still enjoy a very much needed vacation.

Sometimes I think my mom's heart is so much bigger than her brain. She is way too generous to people, yet forgets that she and my Dad are now on a limited income. Today on Mother's Day I rushed out of there with my kids because she started giving them things. While I'm sure she was doing out of her own good nature, I personally don't need another thing in my house!

Yet on the way home, I started to realize how much I am like my mother. While we are just barely getting by, I'm thinking of teacher gifts for the end of the year, or of our dear friends, one of which was diagnosed with Leukemia this week. I'm so worried about their financial situation now that he will be off work for more than a year. While we are barely getting by, I am already pulling out everything in my pockets for them because I love them dearly and do not want to see them suffer.

My mom is an amazing woman who's heart may be bigger than her brain, but one thing is certain. When she leaves this earth, the number of people that she has touched, will be immeasurable.

There once was a time when I shuddered at the thought of being anything like her. Now I can only hope that I become half the woman that she is. I hope that my children will grow up to LOVE the Christmas season, and not for the gifts. I hope that I too will be as loving and giving as she is.

Happy Mothers Day.

Quest for Directions

Today I'm going to the Scrapbooking Megameet with my friends Kim & Michele. In order to avoid the freeway closure at I-275 & I-696, I was on mapquest plotting out map to get there from M-59. That's when I noticed it.... Did you know that on mapquest.com you can actually look up a route by Gas Prices? What the heck? That's... pretty bad.

Obligations

Tonight the first graders are having a musical at the school. Greg does not want to go. He has been telling us this since we first found out about it a while back.

I feel that we should not make him go if he does not want to. Emily on the other hand is very upset that he isn't going. She's carrying on as if the building will shut down because Greg is not there.

We have SO MANY obligations that we are always trying to meet. I do not consider this an obligation. The child REALLY does not want to go. He has already said that he isn't singing, and that he doesn't care for the song selection. He has sung in other musicals before and has been excited for them. This one, he's not so fond of.

I am not making him go. I do not wish to battle the parking lot (imagine about 25 parking spaces for about 700 families), forcing him to go, only to see him not sing. What's the point?

Am I wrong for not making him go?

I'm here

Just studying for a final test. Test scores are 60% of our grade, and I haven't done that well on them. I rocked on the quizzes though. Explain that one! 5/14 is the last day. I can't wait for this class to be over with. In the mean time, factor this...

2x+7y-10

Did I Ask?

When a woman announces her pregnancy, people seem to think that is the green light for them to go ahead and dump their pregnancy or delivery disasters on them. Everyone has had something bad happen, or they try to "out do" the others with their stories.

I didn't have the most wonderful pregnancies. There. I said it. I loved being pregnant, but my body seemed to think otherwise. I survived. So did my children. End of story. I believe that this kind of information shouldn't be "dumped" on to the newly expecting mother because there is no need for it. I mean, why would you do that to someone? "Congratulations! We are so excited for you! But...." I just don't understand that mentality.

That whole scenario brings me to this...

I've told you all that I've switched gears and am aiming for the Nursing program at Macomb. While every one of you have given me a HUGE kudos, there are a great many that have "shared" their major problems with me, even though I NEVER asked for the information.

"FORGET IT! You'll NEVER get in" I've heard. "My son has a 4.0 but didn't score that well on the HESI test, so he didn't get in. Good luck." Oh and then there's... "I've got a 4.0, and scored high on my HESI and I didn't get in"... blah, blah, blah.

I have found ONE consistancy in EVERY stories I've heard. Every single person that gave me their unsolicited advice... transferred their credits from other colleges. I've heard it through the grapevine (a few years back), that most schools will take most of their own students, before taking transfer students. While I'm not banking on this theory, it does sound that it could be a possiblity. Even still... What makes any one of those story telling people think that I am like all the rest of the candidates? Why would they say these things, trying to undermine my intentions and drive?

You know me. You know that my glass is almost always half full. Even with all of the negativity flying my way, I'm still looking PAST the obstacle at the goal. I can see it on the other side, plain as the nose on my face. The obstacle is "getting in". I am living proof that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Paramedic school was relentless. It was hard, challenging, and extremely rewarding at the same time. I worked my butt off and received all A's. Before I ever got into EMT school, I totally thought it was a pipe dream. It wasn't. It was attainable just as anything else is if you work hard and focus on the finish line.

I am excited. I am so excited and just FULL of energy to complete this next chapter in my life. I LOVE to learn new things, and love to reach the goal. I just wish people would put a sock in it when it comes to their negative comments. I, appropriately named Queen Busta Chops am speechless when it comes to their negativity. I wish I knew the appropriate thing to say to put an end to their unsolicited comments, without sounding like a total jerk.

What would you do?

What the.... Where was I?

I was just looking at the newsletter from Emily's class. There are only 7, yes I said SEVEN more weeks of school left! WHAT THE HELL!! Where in the world has all the time gone?! I'm completely floored and stunned at the same time. They just opened up their Christmas gifts like last week!!!

I'm completely blown away.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Back To Tennessee - Official Music Video (HQ)

There I said it... I like country music too. I like all kinds of music, however Country has my vote right now. Enjoy the video from the Achey Breaky Heart guy. V

"The List"

Last week was pretty bad for Greg. It was spring break. They got out on Thursday, and by Friday night, he had a rip roaring fever. This wasn't so great considering the Easter Celebration was to be held at our house. Alas, we still had it here, but little boy blue was sick in my bed the whole time. By Monday, I had to take him to the Doctor.

Sinus Infection we were told. We were given an Rx and sent on our way. On Thursday, we had him back to the doctor as he was still running a 102 fever. Change and antibiotics, and VOILA! He was better by Friday night.

His little illness put the kabosh on every plan we had for that week. I felt HORRIBLE for him as he was the only one counting down days until his "break". What a break that was.

Emily and I went to see the Hannah Montana movie on Wednesday while Greg stayed home with Den. What a GREAT MOVIE. I totally loved it. Absolutely purchase worthy in our book. Regardless, we heard The Climb the other day in the car. I really like this song and the message that is sent. I asked Emily if she knew what the song was about.

We then started talking about life. I told her about my brother Mike and how he told me about "the dash" poem I posted earlier. She then said, "I love Uncle Mike, they should move up here". I then told her how he and Mary Ann plan to move to Tennessee in a couple of years. Of course, then Peepers pipes up and says, "Let's move to Tennessee! I love it there".

I never realized how unrealistic it is for us to relocate. Not that I'm seriously thinking of moving, but to put things into perspective, I explained that Dennis doesn't have a "normal" job by any sense of the word.

A huge amount of training and education goes into the preparation for the job. Then when a F.D. is hiring, you have to apply. Then you take a test. If you rank high on the test, you get on "the list". Then when your number is called, you have an interview, and a backround check, and an agility test. Then maybe, just maybe, they will hire you. Of course then you are on probation for like 6 months to a year.

I can honestly say in Dennis' 14 years on the department, I don't think I have EVER seen anyone quit. Can you blame them? I have, however, seen many people end up being #1 on "the list" only to have that list expire without them ever receiving a phone call.

Which brings me to this... I found out I have 3 classes to take before the end of Fall, to apply to the Nursing program at the college. Unfortunately I found this out AFTER my priority registration expired. So I ended up being waitlisted for a class I desperately needed to get into. #15 out of 15. Yuk. Then it happened...
#11 out of 15
#7 out of 15 (then they opened up another class, but I didn't need that one, but it made the waitlist smaller...
#6 out of 13
#4 out of 13...
#3 out of 12... and finally yesterday...
#1 out of 12
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This morning... I got in. RELIEF! Now send good karma for an A, please.

Life Made Simple

A friend and I recently had an email conversation about simplifying and facebook.

Ok, I admit it. I'm pretty much done with Facebook. It was fun while it lasted, but honestly, I'm rarely ever on there any more. Plus I found yesterday that my friend posted photos of her little boy and I didn't even know about it, until I clicked on her name. To me, this is front page news! I want my friends stuff to be front and center the moment it hits the web! In all reality, Facebook sucks the time right out of my day and seems to take away from the things I really like to do. Plus, I don't really care to see what other people are doing, except for those that matter most to me.

I also just realized that the voicemail on our home phone had 4 messages on there that are relatively old, but hadn't been heard. I'm seriously thinking about shutting off the voicemail. It is yet just another time consumer, listening to people's "stories" on the voicemail. The people I REALLY want to talk to, know how to reach me.

I hate that I'm in this frame of mind, but in all reality, I feel like I'm trying to get back to the basics. Den and I were just talking today about the News. We rarely ever watch the news anymore because it is all sensationalized, and depressing. They use scare tactics on a regular basis and to tell you the truth, I really don't want my kids watching it at all. They don't need to know the graphic details about child preditors, or molesters. I will tell them what I think they should hear.

I guess I'm just sick of being pulled in so many different directions at once. I just want to have more time for the things I want to do, plus if all goes well, I will have my head buried in school books before we know it. I guess this is the perfect time to start simplifying my life.

I'm Not Ready...

I'm starting to feel like I'm the only blogger left on the planet. I would hate to think Facebook is taking over. While I do like facebook, there is something special about a blog that I love. It's random thoughts, requests for advice, memories of the past, hope for the future, hysterical moments, painfully sad moments, and virtual trips that we all take together.

Facebook is ok, but the novelty has worn off, and sometimes I just don't have the time and energy to keep up with the flow. With blogger, it's a once a day post. Like reading your favorite news article written by your favorite journalist. I feel like I'm the only one left here and I am so sad. I'm not ready to stop blogging yet, but it is painfully obvious that not many people are in to it any more. Rest assured my friends, I check your blogs daily. I understand you are busy. I just miss your different styles of writing, and fear that you've decided to be done with the blogger.... But I'm still here.

Hodge Podge

So yesterday, I was in the WORST mood. It is almost impossible to be happy about anything these days. Everything is always bad on the TV and in the newspapers.

I set off for the post office yesterday. While in the post office, this arrogant butt head starts spouting off to the people in line, including myself. He starts slamming Obama for this, and that. Then he proceeds to say that the democratic people are brainwashed, and if we all think this mess is Bush's fault, we need to learn a thing or two. He c0ntinued with his unsolicited opinion for quite a while.

Let's just say by this time, I was staring at the ceiling, literally biting my lip. I wanted to rip into this a-hole like you can't imagine. Not because of my political views, but more so for feeling the need to give everyone in line his opinion, whether we asked for it or not. This jerk had no idea what kind of day people were having, and just felt the need to voice his opinion.

After the post office, I went to Meijer for a few things. As I approached the check out, I remembered Melanie's rant o' rama about self check outs. You know what... The girl is dead on. Why are we paying MORE for our groceries, only to ring them up and bag them ourselves?! I'm taking a stand against this one. I got into a line with a cashier. I had time to burn and really didn't care how long it took. Come hell or high water, I am NOT ringing up my own groceries, and I am NOT going to bag them either.

Moments later, I hear a woman behind me. She works for the store. She tells me to go down a few aisles and another cashier would ring me up. So I go down there, and guess where the cashier is going to ring me up... Yep! At the self check out! So now I have this angry cashier that is running 8 self check out units, ringing up my groceries and bitching about her supervisor. Next thing I know, she has to STOP ringing up my groceries to go handle another customer's check. Here I am, at the self check out stuck waiting for about 5 minutes for the girl to come back. By this time I couldn't ring myself up because she did something to the screen that changed the view. I should have fooled with it enough to give myself 50% off all my groceries, lol.

I've decided that I am NO longer going to those self check outs. I'm going to do my part in putting people back to work, by making sure I go into the aisles with an actual human being ringing me up. Period.

On a different and happier note.... I passed my test! Not only did I pass it... I ACED IT! 100%!!!! WHEW!!

I take pride in being an optimistic person, however it is becoming more and more difficult as time goes on. Sometimes I find that I can't even stand myself because of the life sucking mood I am in. I can't tell you enough how much I would love to snap out of this funk.

Comfort and Joy

I love Walgreens. There I said it. I professed my love for a convenience store. We have a Walgreens about 1/4 mile from my driveway. I love that store. Whenever you are in a pinch, it's there. Last night we needed and ice cream fix... Walgreens was there. Gift card, greeting card, make up, shampoo, sugar, cold medicine... Walgreens is there.

Yesterday, Emily and I both finished Professor Layton and the Curious Village on her DS. She worked on her saved game, then I worked on mine. It took a while but we finished it.... and loved it. Emily actually cried when she finished her game. It works you through some crazy puzzles, but they are all so much fun, and sometimes the easiest answer is all you need, even though you've gone through quantum physics only to realize the answer didn't require all that much. (wow, huge run-on sentence there!).

While chilling with the family in sweats, a comfy cotton tee-shirt and my pretty pink and white socks that I just got, she and I decided to run to Walgreens. While I am the first one to rip on people that wear their pajaja's in public, I must say I did go in sweats... and sandals (with socks), lol. Because it's only Walgreens, it was at night, and we needed the fix! I LOVE that store.

The Dash

The Dashcopyright 1996 Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speakat the funeral of a friend.He referred to the dates on her tombstonefrom the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birthand spoke of the following date with tears,but he said what mattered most of allwas the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the timethat she spent alive on earth...and now only those who loved herknow what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;the cars....the house...the cash.What matters is how we live and loveand how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?For you never know how much time is leftthat can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enoughto consider what's true and real,and always try to understandthe way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,and show appreciation moreand love the people in our liveslike we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,and more often wear a smile...remembering that this special dashmight only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being readwith your life's actions to rehash...would you be proud of the things theysay about how you spend your dash?

Uncle Joe

This week our family said good-bye to a very dear family friend. Uncle Joe and Aunt Norma lived next door to my Grandparents in Detroit. Their son Greg is my brothers godfather. I honestly can't remember a family function in which I didn't see them while growing up. We were part of their family, and they were our's. Uncle Joe was always radiant with positivity. He was a handsome man, and dearly loved his wife. They had an amazing marriage. You could see it when they were together, and you can see it from photo's past. They are both extremely special people, whom you would love to be around.

I learned a lot about Uncle Joe today. Things that I never had the opportunity to learn. For this I have regrets. He lived a very interesting life and his glass was always half full. Our hearts are broken, however we are glad he never suffered.

Good Bye Uncle Joe. You made the world a better place. I feel like a better person, just having known you. For that I am so lucky. You will be missed.

Joseph V. Bilpuch
Date:
May 1st, 1918 - March 28th, 2009
Obituary:
BILPUCH, JOSEPH V. March 28, 2009 age 90 of Lake Orion. Beloved husband of Norma M. of 62 years. Dear father of Greg(Sandra) Bilpuch of Lake Orion. Grandfather of Kristen (Kevin) Gretka, Wendy (Jeffrey) Edgett and Michael Nobar. Great-grandfather of Shelbie, Kaden, Tobias, Kendall and Garrett. Brother of John Bilpuch, Edward (Marilyn) Bilpuch and Betty McRoberts. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Bilpuch was an Environmental Engineer for Alpha Electric in Detroit. He was a Veteran of the United States Army serving during WWII where he was a Prisoner of War for 28 months. He was a member of the Lake Orion American Legion Post 233; a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Funeral service Wednesday 10:30 am from the Lake Orion Chapel of the Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home. Family will receive friends Tuesday 2-5 & 6-9 pm. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Orion War Memorial 312 S. Broadway, Lake Orion, MI 48362 A Guest Reflection can be made @ www.sparksgriffin.com