Archive for the ‘Family’


A Quote for now, an update shortly

“I would never write about someone who is not at the end of his rope.” ~Stanley Elkin

Attitude is everything

I have been very negative lately about my divorce. Like the 50% that make it, I started and ended keeping true to my vows, yet I’ve been beating myself up for a failed marriage in which I as a person did not fail.

I wanted my marriage to last forever. Doesn’t everyone when they wisk off to their honeymoon? Time changes people, left over baggage changes people. So instead of staying in an unhappy marriage, I got out. I did that to give myself a chance at happiness yet I’m the most depressed I’ve ever been. Maybe until now, until I really thought this through, I did everything possible. I shouldn’t be beating myself up, but patting myself on the back because I wasn’t a perfect wife, but I was a damn good wife.

Everything has to do with attitude. Mine needs a huge overhaul. It would not only help my fibro, but my outlook on life, my future life. I don’t know what it will be like, but focusing on the darkness that may become doesn’t do me any good but will only lead to a self fulfilling prophecy in which my future WILL become that darkness. If I focus on the good things, my writing, my willingness to get better then my future looks a lot brighter than I ever thought it might be.

Only way I know this is I have good friends who have been there every step of the way, like Camille, like Tiffany, and especially my Mother who I know beyond any doubt, loves me unconditionally.

I don’t have to focus on the fact that I’m part of the 50% that failed, but I’m part of the 50% that might have made the right decision so that I can leave room for happiness and joy.

I have a doctors name on a piece of paper sitting here in front of me that has helped so many people I know personally. All I have to do is make the call. I haven’t done that yet because I was stuck focusing on never getting better. I’m going to call this doctor today, and start the journey of getting better because at this point I can’t get much worse. I don’t want to be bedridden next month and that’s where I’m headed. I have to stop this disease in it’s tracks and try to live while I have the ability.

Today, I want to try. I’ll have my days where my goals are fuzzy especially when that day is a bad fibro day, but if I can go back and read this post the haziness might clear a little even if the sun doesn’t shine.

I can do this ..

I make house calls, tech to the rescue!

When it’s family. My Aunt called me to come over. Seems that Comcast has screwed up their wireless system. That’s what she told me over the phone, but when I got there I found the culprit. It’s that damn Link-sys router that doesn’t work with certain types of Comcast modems. I had the same problem in Florida and here at Mom’s house, and now they are having the problem.

So I’m headed to best buy to pick up a Netgear wireless router that will fix all their problems. My Aunt Donna and Uncle Don have a full Apple network (that tickles me to death, I love it) so it’s nice to finally be a tech for apple products.

I’ll be heading to BestBuy tomorrow to pick up the Netgear wireless router along with some blank DVD’s since Mom and I are running low. I feels good to be needed finally. I’ve felt like a wart on a toads back for so long, I forgot I was actually valuable to people. Plus, I was paid in yummy homemade soup and this homemade cracker spread, vegetarian of course.

No, I will not come to your house if you live in or close to the Greeley area to fix your home networks, but family is family and I’ve been sitting in the basement of my Mother’s house not getting much more interaction than talking to my fur babies and playing World of Warcraft.

I might have more jobs on the horizon. My Uncle Don’s son needs some consulting on a web design for his production company and I’m supposed to talk to him when he comes home from Christmas. Apparently he’s dished out a lot of money for a web site and got screwed. I hear more and more stories about that. It’s a shame.

To add to the geekiness, my friend Brett and I might have a web design project dealing with his band. We’d work together in providing a working web site to promote the band and I can continue to add to my portfolio. That’s exciting and just what I’ve been waiting for.

It’s been a good day so far. I hope it is tomorrow because my job at my Aunt’s house isn’t done yet.

Home sweet Home

Mom and I made it home safe and sound the day after we left. We left Georgia at 10:04am Friday the 13th and made it home on Saturday at 2:45pm. We made some insane miles in a short amount of time. My Mom drive and since she has a lead food we averaged 80-85 the whole way. I also had Jonah and Molly on my lap almost the entire way so by the time we both got home we were covered in animal hair and I felt like I’d been hit by a mac truck.

People come into our lives for a reason and who would have thought it would be my first love? The night before we left Vince called me to tell me good luck and to be safe on the road. We’ve been texting ever since and today he sent me a very supportive quote.

“A smile is a sign of joy. A kiss is a sign of love. A laugh is a sign of happiness. A friend like me, well that’s a sign of good taste.”

Like I told him Thursday night, he’s always made me laugh and that quality of his hasn’t changed a bit. He’s being a great friend to me right now which was completely unexpected but aren’t all great things when we’re in a time of need?

Laughter is medicine, I really truly believe that and I’m happy he’s back in my life.

We went to look at a house yesterday that my realtor thought for sure I’d love but the minute I was in that house, I felt repressed, closed in, and by the time I was leaving my panic attack started. Mom asked me if I like the house or felt peace about it, and I didn’t want to disappoint her with the truth, but I’m not a liar so I had to tell her what I really felt even though she liked it so much. She said I need to be honest in how I feel, and if I don’t feel peace in a decision then it isn’t time to make that decision. I love how she’s given me such good advice throughout my life, I only wish I would have listened to her more so I wouldn’t have made such bad decisions.

Halfway Home

My best friend Camille sent me a link today that I can stamp as fact with my Jenny stamp for being true.

It was about the lack of mens commitment when their wife gets a serious illness. You can find it here.

When I got diagnosed with Fibro a lot of things changed in my marriage, and not for the good. It was around that time Brendan started to distance himself from me. I noticed he would spend more time in the basement, and less quality time with me. On my bad days he would take out his frustrations of my illness on me because he said he didn’t have anyone else to talk to. I noticed that I was walking on egg shells around him more, and his drinking gradually became more frequent.

It got to the point where we were not spending any time together, those egg shells I was walking on became glass, and the drinking had become a nightly occurance.

Toward the end of our marriage, I asked him if we could spend one night a month together. He said it was a lot to ask for and he didn’t know if he could commit to it because of work (he works part-time at Publix)

I guess a person just knows when it’s over and it was that moment I knew I had to get out of that toxic environment, and that my marriage was over.

Moving Forward

Brendan and I signed the divorce papers on the 6th and turned them into the court. I have to come back January 7th to go to court to finalize the divorce. In Colorado you don’t have to go back to court. Sigh.

This has taken more than a toll on me. There were things said tonight that touched the very core of my heart. Not in a good way. It questions my very soul to the post important people in my life. The most important person in my life. I’m not sure what to do, or how to fix it. I thought things were completely opposite than the way they were presented. This goes back decades, even longer. I question who I really am as a person who has too big of a heart and so much love to share and I thought everything was understood and ok, but they aren’t. My very soul is questioned. Love is questioned.

I’ve been doing the right thing ever since 2003 and being the responsible adult doing the right thing, making the right decisions, and loving my friends and family for everything, but .. do they feel it like they deserve? It makes me feel that I’m damaged, that I have been, that it’s permanent. These things I will never forget tho they have been forgiven.

When games over ride a friend in need, where does one go. I don’t know anymore. When there is noting left to say, it’s simple. There is nothing left to say.

I never wanted this divorce. I did everything I could so it wouldn’t come to that, but it has. It’s not only hurting me, it’s hurting my Mom too and I feel that’s somehow my fault. I hate it. I hate all this.

Solution of being a hermit is starting to sound pretty good. I can’t hurt anyone that way. After tonight, I’m at my own breaking point, if it hasn’t happened already. Words are daggers, and they went straight into my soul, and hearts can be repaired. But the soul is a different thing altogether. Souls can just die. If my soul would be a person, it should be in ICU, but there is no such thing. It screams, burden. That’s stamped on my forehead for all to see. It’s what my soul screams and I’m so ashamed. There is no way of coming back from that.

Things happen when they need to

Usually when I wake up in the morning I scroll through all the tweets I missed without really reading them. Not only did I go through each one this morning (I’m sure it was because coffee was still brewing) but I actually read each one. Before coffee!! HA!

Anyway, I found myself a little gem that will make a huge impact on my life. It was a quote. Not only was it exactly what I needed to hear, it was something I needed to believe. Sure, this divorce thing sucks. I’m selling the home I feel in love with without a future home (yet) in the future. I’m actually really trying to act normal as much as possible thinking it will help with the sadness and loss when really I want to curl up in bed and cry my eyes out for the next year with a good supply of kleenex. Can you imagine the monster of a headache you’d have after that? Whoa.

This came from Martin Allsop’s twitter page .. “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us” – Joseph Campbell

Like I told my Mother, I want to get through this whole divorce, moving, etc. thing without any regrets which means I need to be unemotional for a moment to make rational thoughts. Good luck, right?

I was talking to Tiffany last night that I haven’t even heard from my in-laws in over a month. My Mother-in-law and I used to talk/email daily with lots of “I love you’s” and she would always start her letters with her nick name for me .. “Jenny Dear” .. it really hurts and makes me question the whole concept of “family” again. How can you love one of your family members one day, then never speak to them again? It just doesn’t make sense to me .. it just makes me sad, hurt, and in a way abandoned.

Moving forward .. the realtor will be out tomorrow to take pictures of our house and we’ll officially have it on the market with a virtual tour even, hurray!

See you later G8R

This whole divorce thing gets harder everyday. What’s worse, my in-laws have completely cut off all communication with me weeks before divorce was even a thought. I don’t know how the words “love” and “promise” can be thrown around so lightly. I worked so hard to make this marriage work and days later he’s out washing his car that I’m giving him and “returning to his arrogant, sneering prick days, which he really seems to enjoy” to having the worst panic attack ever where I sit with him and hold him and help him feel better while he tells me that he’s always felt him and his ex were perfect (even tho she cheated on him?!) and that our relationship wasn’t even tho he went along with it anyway and strung me along those 4 years based on a lie. This is right after he spent an evening with his friends at an NR rated strip club getting wasted and flirting with the waitress.

Like I said, I’ve done everything I could do for this man, and it’s not like I’m asking for repayment, I mean hell, he’s getting way more than he brought into the marriage, but maybe a little respect or some sort of sensitivity at the situation. When we were talking the night of his panic attack I told him how I gave him my heart and how he used that against me and his reply was “That was your first mistake, never give anyone your heart” .. I thought the safest place to put your heart would be in your husbands hands. He’s right however, pretty stupid of me.

I’m weepy today (which is an understatement). When I said my vows, they were intended to be forever. I never wanted to be divorced. We were on the same path in what we wanted of life, but instead of settling down now he wants “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” … in other words, drop me off at the curb and don’t look back.

This really hurts.

Divorce & Homelessness

It seems when it rains it hails. Not for a day or two, but for months on end. There is no positives going on in my life right now, except for my outlook which is quickly deflating like a flat tire who’s spent too many miles on country gravel roads.

I’m sure there are people who are going to say ha ha, serves you right. For them, well, who cares.

I want to end things as peaceful as possible. That’s my goal, who knows if it will turn out that way or not but I want to walk away knowing I did everything I possibly could to make things work. That way I’ll have no regrets in regards to this.

I do feel completely alone in this. I keep thinking of those stupid movies where one woman is getting divorced and all her friends flock around her trying to cheer her up and hook her up with every human with three legs. That’s not been the case with me. My Mother came as support and her hurt and dislike of my husband has been taken out on me which makes me feel like I’m getting ganged up on. I haven’t even began to deal with the love that is now lost and now I’m dealing with everything except myself. I’m pretty sure in situations like this I should be trying to keep myself sane. I haven’t even had a chance for that.

So, this hasn’t been fun. All my friends who have even heard my words the last month are busy with their lives, or whatever and I’m here stuck by myself to figure it all out. I’m wondering when I’ll stop pulling the short straw out of the bunch.

Going Home

Molly chewed through my power cable to my laptop so I’ve been off the grid for a few weeks. I just received my replacement power cable in the mail today, just in time for me to have my laptop for a few hours tonight to post, check weeks worth of email and to check my WoW bank alt and put up some auctions.

Tomorrow is my 3rd wedding anniversary and I’m looking forward to the warm weather in Georgia. I’ll be missing my family here in Colorado big time. It’s been the most wonderful visit and hopefully I can come back soon.

Molly has become really attached to my Mother but she will be joining her brother again once we’re home and it will be a good reunion for them. Now that Molly has grown a little more (and when I say a little, I mean a tiny bit, she’s about the size of a squirrel now) and can jump up a little higher at least to get on the couch keeping Jonah running I’m sure.

My bags are mostly packed except for a few last minute things, like my laptop and such. I’m going to miss the companionship of my wonderful Mother and my cousin Tina. Tina and I have rekindled our relationship after a 10 year hiatus, reason being life mostly and we’ve given each other our words to keep in contact.

I’ve been watching baseball since I’ve been here in Colorado mostly due to my Mother, and I’ve come to really enjoy it. Colorado Rockies will be winning (I hope) tonight keeping them in the game heading (hopefully again) to the World Series.

Now to catch the rest of the game and get some more packing done, to make sure I’ve gotten everything and I don’t leave behind anything important. Here’s to my last night in Colorado. I’ll be sad to go.

Family Rejection – Family Love

I’ve been asleep for the majority of yesterday and half of today. I’m a bit depressed I think (think? know?)  Seems that when it rains it pours and in my forecast there is deadly flooding ahead. All of it has to do with rejection from family.
Things with my Uncle Jim (now known as Jim) didn’t go. Nothing he said was the truth. The most I got from him was a pat on the back, and a hello. He didn’t talk to me like he promised, he didn’t call me right before the party like he promised. Why is it so hard for people to keep their word when it really matters? When it’s really going to make an impact on another persons life? Apparently Jim felt that a pat on the back and him saying hello would erase the last decade he told me to stay away from the family. I don’t understand the insensitivity when it comes to a little effort on ones part to do the right thing.
Then we have my Aunt Charlene (now known as Charlene) who asked me if I wanted anything from Grandma Berry’s around the time she died. The only thing I asked for that was meaningful to me was the china that my Father brought to my Grandmother from Korea. Ever since I was a child my Father used to show me those pieces of China and Charlene is calling me a liar when I tell her which pieces they are. Charlene hasn’t hardly been here until my Father died. I could probably count the times she’s been to see my Grandmother on two hands from the time I was a baby to the time my Father died. The rest of the time my family has taken care of for 29 years. Charlene claims in an email that she’s been behind me on everything, and I can’t think of a single thing she’s ever been behind me for. She hardly knows me. I asked Mom about it and Mom doesn’t have a clue what she’s taking about. The other thing is, I’m the ONLY grandchild left out of the will. In fact, I’m the ONLY one left out of the will period. I believe even her great-grandchildren were on it. That’s been such a huge amount of loss and rejection right there. I didn’t want any money. I wanted validation I was loved, and that’s not something I ever got.
The third thing is my husband. We didn’t exactly part in good terms. In fact, he was supposed to be here with me now. So many people were so excited to see him, including family and friends and again I have to explain why he’s not here, again. It meant so much to my Grandmother that he would be here for her 90th birthday. To see her hurt makes me see red, because it was an extension of me that did that damage to the one remaining Grandmother that I have no doubt loves me. My husband wants us to keep our emails light and simple, but nothing right now in my life is light and simple, except for one small thing….
Molly can now go up and down a huge flight of stairs all by herself.
Now I struggle on staying here or going home. What I need right now is family. I need my Mom, my Grandmother, my cousin Tina. What I also need is friends, the friends I left behind. The friends that have already called me, worried about me, wanting to see me. That’s not something I have in Georgia. I need to be surrounded by love, and I need a place to go when things aren’t going so great.
I just don’t know what to do right now. I know my heart hurts and each piece hurts for a different reason and it’s something I have to overcome, somehow.

Our words that created the foundation thicker than a diamond

I remember when he said these things to me … somehow they have been lost in translation or completely disappeared all together .. I will quote some here.

my point though, is i have a lifetime to figure it out, with YOU. there’s no fear. there’s plenty of questions with no answers and i don’t understand any of it, but we help each other with it all and you saved me and i love you beyond words.”

“but i only feel sweet, gentle love for you, always.”

“::holds you back and never lets go::


sometimes i need you close so bad…”


“..and i love you too, it’s beyond words.”

“but i’m not gonna hold back. i only want to be true…to you, and to myself.”

“but it’s the beauty of the truth of US and you know i feel the same and…i’ll never hold back with you.”

“Jen, I commented on one of your old entries. Look back to around when we met. Have fun with it…ps don’t worry about tonight. Shit happens. I’m still here, and still here for you. Like I even needed to say that.”

“your honesty means a lot to me. it’s so rare. granted it’s the internet and we could both be full of shit but somehow i don’t think so. i think we’re both disgusted and jaded enough to hold nothing back. at least i hope so. i know i am…as for insanity, well, it’s nature for me at this point. i hold it in check with indoctrination, booze and fleeting self-control.”

i like you more with every word i read. i am drunk and being honest and the evil is probably showing. you’ve said a lot yourself and…speechless is a good description. sometimes i want to scream shut up at you because i can’t handle someone so lovely. as for me and being honest, that can never happen. most of me can never be public without an electric chair with my name on it present.”

my initial reaction to this is “stop being perfect”. as in don’t stop. i read this whole thing about five times before this post (over-analysis kicking in) and i suppose i am floored. that i can be evil and not repulse someone. instead you feed it. that we speak the same language. how bout you and me at the end of the world barbecue…more important things than the smell.”

stop being RIGHT cause i can’t deal with it, in the best way.”

nice pics…especially liked the ones of you…”

i forgot to put up my own warning: INTRIGUED.”

you read my lovely run-on rant, that said it all.”

amazing pic. so many ways to interpret. i of course see it a certain way…that’s us.”

Replies are coming (yes you [info]yolospat) and I barely know what I’m saying but you…mean something to me…and I know it’s the fucking net and I trust no one but…fuck…I’M SAYING WAY TOO MUCH AND I WISH MY MAC HAD A BREATHALYZER AND SHUT UP BRENDAN.”

and i would want you to be no other way.”

because once you know you’re dealing with someone genuine (like you and i) there’s just no worries, and honesty is a given, which is rare and lovely.”

and i hope you agree this is fuckin’ beautiful and maybe one day we can take it to the next level.”

This is a huge one, said then, but not honestly.

you’re dealing with someone genuine (like you and i) there’s just no worries, and honesty is a given, which is rare and lovely.”

and i hope you agree this is fuckin’ beautiful and maybe one day we can take it to the next level.”

and that is FUCKING LOVELY


now you’re makin’ ME smile. ha!”


“::speechless::”

“haha i wonder if it’s just my dirty mind or if you’re implying what i think”

“don’t be sorry. it’s cute, it’s you, it’s lovely. and i don’t mind in the slightest.”

“…and we just discussed this, about your moments and how…frequent they are lately.

brendan would have it no other way.

speaking of memory and such, and email is forthcoming…on various topics…”


“YES. thanks jen. indeed it is good. because this is my new thing, that i’ve been waiting on far too long…”

“fuckin’ EXACTLY. sometimes i feel like i’ve wasted so much time and that it’s too late, too late for dreams, but then who knows, you don’t even do anything and something interesting and new and fresh and right drops in 

your lap…like us meeting.”

i’m truly sorry to hear that jen. though i can totally relate. brendan has had far too many of those days lately. hell today was almost one of them. started randomly thinking about the ex at work, next thing i know i’m alone in back fighting off tears. ultimately the standard conclusion was “i so fucking want to feel that again” and my somewhat surprising response to myself was “fuck the feeling. if it comes it comes, but it’s not worth slow death”. ::shrugs:: take from that what you will…”

i hope you have even a small idea of how much your understanding means to me.


and fuck, maybe my mom is right, and i should be a writer.”


“really, wow. thank you jen, that was a high compliment.”

“thus i don’t question us. meant to be.”

“i want to hold you forever.”

“YES. thanks jen. indeed it is good. because this is my new thing, that i’ve been waiting on far too long…”

“see i am the same and it kills me. because ultimately i am holding back. granted, like in your situation and not wanting to apply for something you’d hate, i see no problem with that, even if there wasn’t something else on the horizon. granted, i understand you needing something, and that changes things a bit…fuck. i dunno. it’s all a sick game and we’re just pawns and god is a drooling child holding the controller.”

“as do i. emailed you about it. electric fuckin’ blood, baby.”

“i’m truly sorry to hear that jen. though i can totally relate. brendan has had far too many of those days lately.”

“i hope you have even a small idea of how much your understanding means to me.


and fuck, maybe my mom is right, and i should be a writer.”


“really, wow. thank you jen, that was a high compliment.”

“i’m still blown away that one rant of mine lead to this. really. i’ve done it so many times before…”where have you been all my life” corny joke…”

“thus i don’t question us. meant to be.”

I could go on and on. There is so much foundation there it could hold the words biggest damn I believe but it was and not try to sleep away from you no t matter how much it hurts. I just don’t care anymore. I have to be next to you;. If these aren’t enough words to make you believe that what we have is real, and what we have is the foundation of our life. then I know  then I know what is, except finish repeating the reast of our words together. 

Isn’t this enough?

Marriage that works

I want to talk about marriage for a bit, because it’s been on my mind lately and I’ve always thought I had the right idea about it but I want to see if this makes any sense. I think marriage is only held together by commitment. Commitment starts the day you say “I do” but it doesn’t end there. Your public declaration of commitment on your wedding day is important, but it’s only the beginning. To have a healthy marriage, you have to focus on commitment and make it a priority. Commitment is more than a promise, more than a one-time decision. It is an ongoing focus on your marriage. It increases the value of the relationship precisely because reasons will always exist not to honor it.

It is the attitude that the married couple will make it work together, no matter what it takes from them – and that is precisely the attitude that makes it work. Committed couples have an attitude of winning, of success. They demonstrate and verbalize their commitment to their partner through encouragement and reassurance.
Trust is the sum of hundreds of everyday experiences that affect our ability to connect with another. Little things. Things like keeping promises, showing up on time, not criticizing when angry and refraining from comical jokes when it’s time to be serious because they affect the ability of each partner to become intimate and operate as soul mates.
There is no room for lying (even by omission, one will always look guilty), cheating (physically or emotionally, either shatters the others heart and trust), changing (either physically, mentally, or emotionally) because you married that person for who they are, praise them for being them.
I was at my cousins house the other night and watched the family dynamic very closely and carefully and this is how it worked. My cousin and her husband haven’t had so much as a small fight, nothing ever serious or anything to cry over, at least not for an extended amount of time.
I think I’m doing it the right way… at least this is how I hope I have been in my marriage because all that makes perfect sense to me. I’ve had my shortcomings and most I have been able to get through and truly examine myself.

Family is so important

Just saw a quote on the twitter page called InspirationDay that really makes a lot of sense right now.
“We only have ‘Now’ .. Tomorrow is never here, but what we do today affects our tomorrow”
I had dinner with my cousin and her family tonight. Her famous green chili stood up to it’s name. It was wonderful! I even got 2 hugs and a kiss from shy little Emily, Tina’s 3 year old daughter. I guess since being back here in Colorado, I never realized how much I missed my family and how so many years have gone by without any communication. Although there were reasons for that that are better not discussed here, I’m glad those reasons are no longer valid. To have such support here it’s hard to reason why I moved away in the first place where I didn’t know anyone.
It boggles my mind that I’ve been away 5 years. In such a short span of time, I have forgotten how to get around a town that I used to know like the back of my hand, or how to get to other towns I used to pass for a full year driving two and from college.
I went shopping for the odds and ends that I forgot in Georgia. Molly stayed with my Mother and Grandmother tonight while I went to Tina’s. This is the first time she’s stayed with someone else for an extended amount of time and she did great. Her potty training continues to go well. She now scratches at the back patio door when she wants out. I’m so proud of her. Seems like a lot of habits that I’d rather her not have disappeared when she got to Colorado. 
I installed a wireless router for Mom today so I could have internet without stealing the neighbors. The neighbors wireless went in and out so much and most of the time I would have to sit outside to get any sort of connection at all. Now that Mom has wireless I’m getting full bars even down in the basement.
Off to do some thinking now … or sleeping, or both.

A great new application I found called Storyist

It’s been a long few weeks. After my spine treatment I somehow picked up the stomach flu. Oh boy, wasn’t THAT fun! Then afterwards the tremendous disappointment that the back treatment didn’t work. For the past 6 months I’ve had one goal. To be able to sleep in bed with my husband. I still can’t due to the pain in my back. 

After the procedure it only only got worse, but a lot worse. Along with my back getting worse, everything in my world seems to crash down around me. It happens every time and I hate it. I know it has to do with my poor attitude, but one can only take so much pain before the pot boils over. 
There were three different apologizes I wanted to make to three different people and what better time do it when I already feel worthless, right? Each one of these people pretty much said “ya, whatever, I don’t want to talk about it” and signed off of messenger. No wonder I carry so much baggage. I never get closer in anything. And that my friends is what rots my body to the point that it is. 
My Grandmother fell and broke her hip again today. It took three people to carry her to the ER. Her 90th Birthday celebration is next week too, I feel so bad for her. She’ll be staying with Mom which means Brendan and I will be camping downstairs. We don’t mind, we like the privacy anyway. I’m bringing a ton of work to keep me busy so there won’t be a moment I won’t have anything to do.
I started writing my novella today. Who knows, it could become a full fledge novel by the time I’m done with it. I’ve been working on idea’s for months and when I started writing up the character descriptions and the setting descriptions I couldn’t stop writing. Next is the plot idea which I won’t be talking about.
I’m using the software called Storyist which I like better than any other novel software out there, and yes I’ve tried them all. I guess it’s what fits your taste and this one pushes my button the right way. The husband was curious about it since he writes too and I sent him the software.
I’m falling asleep at my chair again. More tomorrow.
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Driving home from the Marta

On our way home from a doctors appoint which was extremy upsetting. The doctor actually said ge had no idea. What a waste of time. I’m stressed so much. I’ll have health insurance for 2 more weeks and that’s it for me, with no job. I feel like i’m being pushed off a bridge with cinder blocks tied to my ankles. I would like to thank my formor boss for this, thanks George. I mean, who gives someone one month to find a job with the economy how it is, right in the middle of the recession. Thanks, appreciate you kindness. And, yes I’m bitter, it was a shitty thing to. Especially since he knew about all my medical problems.

The marta was right next to the doctors office so we dropped Mom off there to avoid rush hour traffic. We failed at that, we’re stuck right in the middle of it. And I already miss my mom. What a sad few days it’s been for me.

10 Benefits of Having Attention Deficit Disorder

Found this from a blog I often visit and saw this. I’m also sending this to my Mother since she’s had to deal with the brunt of my ADD throughout my life, both through the good and the hard times.

There is a common misconception in the world that having ADD is a bad thing. While the ADD-wired brain certainly presents some challenges, it also offers some incredible benefits.

I thought this would be a great time to offer a reminder about how being different can be an advantage! The following is a list of characteristics that I consistently see in my clients, friends, and colleagues with ADD.

1. Compassion. People with ADD have a tremendous power to connect with other people. But it goes a step further than that. We also have an advanced ability to empathize with others, and to see many different perspectives.

TV personality Ty Pennington, host of TV’s Extreme Home Makeover, has ADD.

2. Creativity. I’ve never met an ADDer who wasn’t creative! Writers, painters, musicians, film makers, designers, sculptors, comedians – the list goes on! Artistic talents are abundant.

Musician Justin Timberlake has ADD.

3. Drive. When an ADDer is bored with a task, completing it can seem like torture. But give an ADDer an interesting project to work on and watch out! When we want to succeed, and we have the necessary tools to do so, there is no stopping us!

Olympic Gold Medalist and record-breaker Michael Phelps has ADD.

4. Problem Solving Ability. ADDers thrive on solving problems and puzzles. Give us an interesting problem to solve and we won’t be able to drop it until we’ve found the solution!

Important historical inventors such as Thomas Edison is believed to have had ADD.

5. Hyper-Focus. The ability to hyper-focus is something that we ADDers can use to our advantage. When kept under control and directed towards productive tasks, like accomplishing goals and living dreams, it can be an incredible asset that allows us to get the job done, and done well!

David Neeleman, Founder and former CEO of Jet Blue Airways, has ADD.

6. Sense of Humor/Comedic Flair. Most ADDers love to laugh, and many also have a knack for making others laugh!

Famous comedian Howie Mandel has ADD.

7. Resiliency. There’s no denying that even though there are many great qualities that come along with ADD, there are also challenges. But ADDers have an incredible ability to bounce back from those challenges.

Chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence has ADD.

8. Intuition. ADDers have a sharp sense of intuition. This may be due to highly tuned levels of perception, or great insight into the human mind, or something else that we have yet to understand. Whatever the reason, it’s a very useful gift!

9. Idea Generating. ADDers are wonderful idea generators. We don’t usually like to be bothered with details, but we can come up with ideas at lightning speed! We’re a true asset in brainstorming meetings!

Entrepreneur Richard Branson of the Virgin empire has ADD.

10. That “Special Something”. Many ADDers feel that they have a unique way of looking at the world, a perspective that others just don’t understand. That is, until the ADDer meets other people with ADD! You might say that we’re on our own wavelength!

Update on my Nieces afghan’s

Just a quick update on my Nieces afghans that I’m making for them. During the time I was taking these pictures super beetle (easily 2 inches long) came flying in the house as I let Jonah in. I was so scared I thought I’d pee, but I managed to get him under a plastic cup for Brendan to deal with when he got home from the grocery store. That thing was hissing up a storm. Just, gross.

Anyway, Tiffany’s father said that these afghans could be family heirlooms. That made me feel good. Like, really good. I just do it because I love my two little girls :)

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It’s a girl .. we hope

Our whole family has been going through the grieving process this past week which in turn makes this past week, for lack of a better term, suck. After some talk, we’ve decided that Jonah needs a friend in which he can speak dog to. One that is smaller than him so he’s not intimidated. One that doesn’t want to play with my 11 year old Neves and scratch him up to the point that he hides most of the time (he’s really getting social without the fear of a kitten ready to pounce him at any minute). And one with girl bits, not boy bits because

I’ve always wanted a girl pet, and let me tell you, I’ve had a LOT of pets throughout my life. I don’t know how I always get stuck with boys. I’m not sure I planned it that way, I think it just happened but not this time. This time, Jonah is going to have a little sister, a best friend, and a life long companion. Jonah is damn near a perfect dog in all ways. He has such good manners and he would be the perfect role model for a youngin’ to look up to, and adopt those good mannerisms, like how to ask to go to the bathroom, and how to ask for more water or to let us know his food bowl is empty. How not to beg, but sit patiently while us humans are eating our human food even if he doesn’t take his eyes off of each and every bite we take.

We want a little mini wiener dog. Now it’s time for the search and to make sure we are getting a healthy dog. I already called the humane society and they don’t have any we could adopt. It’s always the first place I look.

This isn’t a replacement by any means … nothing can replace our dear Pepper, but just like humans, animals weren’t made to go at it alone.

Proof that someone appreciates my gifts.

It doesn’t have to be a special holiday for me to give gifts. I usually end up giving more gifts to people on a normal day then I do on a holiday. Trying to catching up with my millions of TV shows that are sitting on the DVR (halfway there!) I will sit and crochet with someone in mind. This time it was for my Grandma Reba. She loves pinks and greens so that’s what I picked out for her without it looking too Christmasy. Anyway, when Mom flew back to Colorado on Sunday she made a special trip to Grandma Reba’s yesterday to give her the afghan. Oh by was she happy! She’s always cold, so she can use that to finally warm up.

Grandma in her Afghan

Well, things might actually be looking up. Turns out I have a nice healthy heart with no problems. Couldn’t ask for a better report. I tried to get a picture of the ulta-sound but the lady didn’t have a printer. Bummber. I’m trying to get as many pictures of my insides as possible. So far I have my bronchial scope and the MRI of my lower back (it sort of looks like a staircase) .. that’s what I get for not taking care of it sooner.

I’m 80 pounds lighter since the first of the year. No, I’m not dieting, I didn’t have any radical surgeries (at least ones I wasn’t completely conscious for), I do for the most part eat really healthy but I’ll have the occasional junk food every once in a while. I’m losing it from being sick and losing my appetite. It’s amazing how much faster you move minus 80 pounds tugging along with you. I hope it keeps up actually. Everyone wants to lose weight without doing anything, but … I know they don’t want to suffer through the sickness the whole time.

I am, get this …. I am getting better. I’m taking half the pain meds I used to take. I haven’t taken Oxycodone for 2 weeks and I eliminated my morphine capsule at night. I’m scared because for long periods of time on narcotic pain meds, the pain subconsciously feels worse than what it is. That scares me. Not sure I can handle much more, but it has gone down a bit. i don’t walk through days with an 8 on the pain scale. Right now it’s about a 5.5. That’s progress! I’m also feeling good that every single thing I get out of my closet falls off me. It’s been a long time since that happened. I have to wear a belt with every pair of jeans I have. I can move better, my shortness of breath has nearly gone away.

Nothing with my disease(s)/syndromes are easy fixes. All of them are permanent, but the difference is, I got me some good doctors finally who actually care how I feel. My Pulmonologist took it upon himself to get me into a drug trial for severe asthmatics to try this preventive drug which is most importantly, steroid free. It’s not like I have an appointment wit him … this was an after thought on his point to make sure I’m getting the best treatment available. Finally, I found the right people.

In other news, my Mother is flying down on Saturday to spend the week with us. Since I have Monday off I want to drive to Savannah Georgia. Since I’m getting better I think I’ll be able to handle the car ride fairly well, just as long as Mom and I don’t start one of our fights (like last time). They never last long, I just hate them to begin with. I’ve missed her so much, and I want her to see Spring in Kennesaw. Can’t wait!

As for work, I had a bad few days obviously if you read my twitter. Confidence is back and I’m right there in the middle of he game again getting done what needs to be done. Today I’ve had to give my team a tiny push as the deadline I set for them is coming up and I’m still seeing a lot of tickets in their queue still which is only 50% of the way I’m expecting them to go. We had a 45 second quick meeting reminding them of the impending clock that keeps ticking by not leaving them much time to reach their goal. I have faith, however.

Profound Quote

My Mother-in-law sent this to me. I wouldn’t post it if it didn’t make total sense. Thank you again my Dear Mother-in-law. I love you!

“Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.”

–Lily Tomlin

More later ..

Happy Mother’s Day

This one was the worst yet. Better luck next year kid.

Happy Mother's Day

Medical Updates

I’ve been sleeping for the majority of the time now that I’m not taking my thyroid meds. I think my energy has depleted at least 75% because of it. Something I’m going to point out to Dr. S when I see him next week.

My pulmonary doctor did my allergy test. There were about 80 different things they were testing for. If it wasn’t so ironic and I didn’t already sort of know it anyway, the one and only thing I’m allergic to is my cats, out of 80 different things. That’s good since I’m in allergy america.

I have tell a funny about my husband. They take me out to do a breathing test on one of their machines so as I’m heading back to room 8 where they placed us in the first place I thought I smelled something foul. It got stronger the closer I got to my room and when I walked into my room, BAM.

“Did you fart?
“About a min after you left, you can still smell it?
“You can smell it all the way out in the hall!!!!!!!”

So here I am with two magazines wafting the air, hoping the smell either goes away or just gives up and stops stinking.

I saw my doctor coming so I put away the magazines really fast and sat on the bed. He walks in, looks around and says,

“Um, lets use the room next door, I’ll get one of the nurses to do your allergy test”

My husband cleared a room. With his butt. I was so embarrassed at the time, but the minute I walked out I was laughing. I told him he couldn’t do that and to go to the bathroom next time. He’s the only one I know who can have scentless farts so you never know what your going to get. Not that day. That day, he literally cleared a room.

They did schedule an endoscopy on me for this Thursday to look at the blockage in my airway and take a possible biopsy. They will put me out for a small time and my boss told me if I need to take the day and work from home that would be fine. I told him we’ll see.

Yesterday the majority of us went home because the A/C wasn’t working and it got to be 90 degrees in the office. I was sweating like a whore in church. I hope they have it fixed today.

Not sure why I’m up early but it feels good and I slept in the recliner last night so I don’t have any sort of backache. I give my MRI scans to my pain doc next week. I want to try and scan them all first tho, even if they are a little big. What’s a good stitching program?

Warm Fuzzies

So we have an IRC channel here in the office that connects our support staff with the IT staff we have at different sites around the world. I got some warm fuzzies from it today :)

IRC love

Not much to say

Bad news at the doctor’s office isn’t pleasing. I can’t return to work for another week, and the week after I’m work from home only, unless I want to be hauling around oxygen tanks. They want me on oxygen 24/7 now (instead of just nights or when I need it) and I see one of the big doctors in 2 weeks. Ugh. I don’t even feel like talking about it. I thought this was done and over with. I’m just, upset, angry and everything in between.

Tonight I have a splitting headache. I’ve taken everything under the sun but it doesn’t want to seem to leave. It’s probably because I’ve bottled up everything and I haven’t been writing and vomiting my thoughts each and everyday especially with Mom being here. She’s leaving tomorrow and I think things will start going back to normal. She’s been a big help and altho we’ve had our ups and downs I’m glad she was here.

Sleep/awake/sleeep/awake

That’s the mode I’m in. I’ve been asleep more than I have been awake in the past 24 hours and I’m ready for sleep again, already. My energy is extremely low because I haven’t been eating properly. I’m craving red velvet cake for some reason, but I managed to keep down some yogurt.

It’s been a very emotional day, especially between my Mother and I. She’s trying to help and as much as I know this it’s been hard.

I even had a talk with my Aunt Donna today on the phone and she said something to me that she’s never done in my life. She said I need to get over my anger. She told me to write down everything that was making me angry, put it in box and keep it there and “GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!”. My Aunt Donna suffers from Fibromyalgia too which make the whole conversation surprising. So I did that. I wrote down everything that I was angry at, and I put it in a box and I put that box up on the shelf. It actually helped. Then came the tears, the “I’m sorry” and I accepted how rotten I’ve been over the last few days. All the grieving and mourning I haven’t done is on hold and put aside. I finally found my phones that were safely tucked away in my purse and I heard from my Uncle Joe and Aunt Martha. There is something about their words, and them calling that tears me to pieces because I love them so much and for so many years I thought they stopped caring.

Fact is, I’m not getting better. I’m still hacking up green phlegm but not as much as before. Its like it’s getting better and breaking up but it’s going deeper into my lungs. I’m going to bed here shortly so we’ll see how I am tomorrow. I still need to order my prescriptions and pick those up tomorrow but I’ve been asleep all day and I’m tired of Mark invading my dreams.

I’m extremely scared for my job. What if they don’t take me back? What if … what if …

I found something I wanted to share again because my guild master had asked for it. It will be under the read more part so this entry doesn’t take up a million pages.

(more…)

So, the worst career-wise event has happened (I feel so anyway)

No. I didn’t get fired. I have been in the hospital for the last 4 days however with bronchitis, pneumonia and sever asthma problems due to each. I am on strict home oxygen for a straight month. I am not allowed to return to work until the 13th :: glares at doctors note :: and only THEN will it be decided if I get to return for the remainder of the month while on oxygen.

You know why all this is happening? Because some fuckhead felt like coming to work sick (I know of one of them specifically who had bronchitis and girl, you and me are going to have words because I heard at least 5 people tell you to go home because they didn’t want to get sick) because she didn’t want to lose her job. Not once did she think, oh wait, we have people in the office who are on remission from cancer, or people with auto-immune diseases like Fibromyalgia who are magnets to this shit. That’s not even the bad part. This shit put me in the hospital and she’s sure not paying my hospital bill. I’m fairly certain they will have to put someone in my place temporarily until I get back (as my boss promised if I had to ever take medical leave, which, I guess is a test now because my hands are tired. Completely) So because this bitch didn’t want to lose her job or whatever, I got what she had and I when I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital overhearing the EMT say “Ah shit, she’s dropped below 70, upgrade this to critical, stay with me now Jenny, come on Jenny, stay with me Jenny .. can you see me … grab my hand Jenny I was remembering her selfish little words. Pffttt, I don’t want to lose job. I was hoping not to die at that point.

So with my permanent lung damage (like I need more) I’m going to have to call up my boss tomorrow and explain to him that, yes I could do the job. I’d be in right this very fucking second doing it if they would make sure that sick people did NOT FUCKING COME TO WORK. Now I have hospitals bills, I’m strapped to oxygen to keep me alive seeing this promotion slip out of my fingers so fucking fast I didn’t even get to taste victory yet. I’m sooooooooo mad. I’m soooooooooooo pisssed. I had zero choice in this. ZERO.

After the 13th, if they let me work from home I could do that but it’s hard to manage a team that you don’t even see every day. One other person’s wrong choice cost me this. I’m not about revenge, I’m not about payback, all that is bullshit. I am about bringing into prospective what people might have missed tho.

Hospital Stay 2009Anyway, my doctors card and me. The good news is I lost 3 pounds past my 50 lbs for the first of the year. So, thats 53 pounds in 59 days. There it is, this is almost a death sentence to me. Photo 27Going to work actually MAKES me feel better so it’s going to be a long 10 days of getting cabin feather. I do have 5 portable tanks with me but just one of those portal tanks only lasts 4 hours. As for the poor me, I’m getting daily nose bleeds from a dry noise.

The only good thing about the whole experience was I got to walk talk and mingle with this harp player who comes and just plays healing music to everyone who wanted to listen. My roommates thought Jerry Springer was more interesting. It's the music in the hospital that's that's the cure

A decade without Daddy

Ten years ago today my Daddy died. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, sometimes it feels like it never happened. Most days I’m mad at him for leaving, but today I’m going to love him for staying as long as he did.

He made two strong beautiful women out of my Mother and myself, I can’t deny that.

Last night I tossed and turned, getting maybe 1 or 2 hours of sleep. I didn’t even think to look at the date, but the mind and the body remember.

I think my Daddy would be proud of me if he were still here. I think he would be more than proud. He was the worst singer in the world, couldn’t carry a tune to save his life (no pun intended) but that never stopped him from singing to me “Texas Tornado” or “Great balls of fire” or one of the beach boy songs. I’d always sing along with him, our off tune non-record label Father and daughter band.

I love you Daddy. I miss you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This day comes to be bittersweet. Today 10 years ago was the last time I saw my Father alive. I will never forget our day, and our fights we had that day. We parted so upset with each other that we were on a non-speaking basis. Then I get a call from my Aunt Donna who brings my Mother over to my house to tell me the bad news. He’s had a massive heart attack and he died. A small part of my being always held that shame that it was my fault he’s gone, that I was the one that broke the camels back. It never occurred to me his father died when he was 20 from heart disease, and his father before him. Through the year